cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Offsetting omnichannel grocery fulfillment cost through advance ordering of perishables

Abstract With the rise of online grocery adoption, customers are now placing more delivery and pickup orders. This mode of interaction allows the grocer to collect advance demand information, which has been shown to reduce inventory costs in non-perishables. For perishable items where spoilage is a major cost driver, the effects of advance ordering on a grocer's daily operation is not yet clear. To investigate this, we develop an MDP-based model that reflects a modern grocer's inventory decision system. Key model characteristics are stochastic demand and random product shelf lives. The model solves for the optimal replenishment policy, and facilitates quantifying how next-day or two-day orders influence profitability. A numerical study is presented for various short-life products, and the results indicate that two-day orders can increase profit, reduce inventory and spoilage, while maintaining the overall availability level. These benefits increase as the replenishment product's shelf life decreases. We show that the average cart value, proportion of short life items, handling time, and order pick rate are strong determinants of the extent that two-day orders can offset omnichannel fulfillment cost. In some cases, there exists an attainable breakeven pick rate, such that the grocer's expected profit is higher with curbside advance orders than with traditional in-store purchases.
Multi-Institutional Practice-Patterns in Fetal Congenital Heart Disease Following Implementation of a Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plan.

Background Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease has been associated with early-term delivery and cesarean delivery (CD). We implemented a multi-institutional standardized clinical assessment and management plan (SCAMP) through the University of California Fetal-Maternal Consortium. Our objective was to decrease early-term (37-39 weeks) delivery and CD in pregnancies complicated by fetal congenital heart disease using a SCAMP methodology to improve practice in a high-risk and clinically complex setting. Methods and Results University of California Fetal-Maternal Consortium site-specific management decisions were queried following SCAMP implementation. This contemporary intervention group was compared with a University of California Fetal-Maternal Consortium historical cohort. Primary outcomes were early-term delivery and CD. A total of 496 maternal-fetal dyads with prenatally diagnosed congenital heart disease were identified, 185 and 311 in the historical and intervention cohorts, respectively. Recommendation for later delivery resulted in a later gestational age at delivery (38.9 versus 38.1 weeks, P=0.01). After adjusting for maternal age and site, historical controls were more likely to have a CD (odds ratio [OR],1.8; 95% CI, 2.1-2.8; P=0.004) and more likely (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.4-3.3) to have an early-term delivery than the intervention group. Vaginal delivery was recommended in 77% of the cohort, resulting in 61% vaginal deliveries versus 50% in the control cohort (P=0.03). Among pregnancies with major cardiac lesions (n=373), vaginal birth increased from 51% to 64% (P=0.008) and deliveries ≥39 weeks increased from 33% to 48% (P=0.004). Conclusions Implementation of a SCAMP decreased the rate of early-term deliveries and CD for prenatal congenital heart disease. Development of clinical pathways may help standardize care, decrease maternal risk secondary to CD, improve neonatal outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs.
Acute care utilization risk among older adults living undiagnosed or unaware of dementia.

BACKGROUND Dementia is associated with increased risk of hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits. Many persons with dementia are undiagnosed or unaware of their diagnosis, however. Our objective was to determine whether undiagnosed dementia or unawareness affects risk of hospitalization or ED visits. METHODS Retrospective longitudinal cohort study of 3537 community-living adults age ≥65 enrolled in the 2011-2017 National Health and Aging Trends Study with linked fee-for-service Medicare claims. Using self or proxy reported diagnosis, proxy dementia screening questionnaire, cognitive testing, and Medicare claims diagnosis, participants were classified as having (1) no dementia or dementia, for which they were classified as (2) undiagnosed, (3) diagnosed but unaware, or (4) diagnosed and aware. Proportional hazards models evaluated all-cause and potentially preventable hospitalization and ED visit risk by time-varying dementia status, adjusting for older adult characteristics. RESULTS Most participants (n = 2879) had no dementia at baseline. Among participants with dementia at baseline (n = 658), 187 were undiagnosed, 300 diagnosed but unaware, and 171 diagnosed and aware. In multivariable adjusted proportional hazards models, persons with undiagnosed dementia had lower risk of hospitalization and ED visits compared to persons diagnosed and aware (all-cause hospitalization aHR 0.59 [0.44, 0.79] and ED visit aHR 0.63 [0.47, 0.85]) and similar risks of these outcomes compared to persons without dementia. Individuals diagnosed but unaware had greater risk compared to those without dementia: aHR 1.37 (1.18, 1.59) for all-cause hospitalization and 1.48 (1.28, 1.71) for ED visits; they experienced risk comparable to individuals diagnosed and aware. CONCLUSION Older adults with undiagnosed dementia are not at increased risk of acute care utilization after accounting for differences in other characteristics. Individuals unaware of diagnosed dementia demonstrate risk similar to individuals aware of the diagnosis. Increasing diagnosis alone may not affect acute care utilization. The role of awareness warrants further investigation.
Buckling of Shells

In many examples in the preceding chapters we have seen that shells can be very thin-walled and that they very often are subjected to compressive stresses in extensive areas. The question arises whether the elastic equilibrium of such shells is stable. To answer this question, one of the standard methods of the theory of elastic stability must be applied: the method of adjacent equilibrium or the energy method. We shall explain here the basic ideas of both methods in the terminology of shells and then consider an Euler column to demonstrate their use simply.
Development of an interactive tailored information application to improve patient medication adherence.

Medication adherence is increasingly recognized as an important health care problem. Although various factors have been related to adherence, patients’ understanding of their illness and the influence of treatment on it has been shown to affect treatment adherence. Individually tailoring information provided to patients has a greater impact on patient behavior than providing generic information. This paper details the development of an interactive software application that provides individually-tailored information to patients treated with cholinesterase inhibitor medications for memory disorders. The application allows clinician input of information on patient level of health literacy and allows patients to choose among multiple questions related to their illness and its treatment. Output then includes answers to questions in Spanish and English at low or high literacy levels. Pilot data show a high degree of acceptability to users and an association with high sustained levels of adherence.
Health care delivery system reform: accountable care organizations.

Health care reform is moving forward at a frantic pace. There have been 3 documents released from the Senate Finance Committee and proposed legislation from the Senate HELP Committee and the House of Representatives Tri-Committee on Health Reform. The push for legislative action has not been sidetracked by the economic conditions. Integrated health care delivery is the current favored approach to aligning resource use and cost. Accountable care organizations (ACOs), a concept included in health care reform legislation before both the House and Senate, propose to translate the efficiencies and lessons learned from large integrated systems and apply them to nonintegrated practices. The ACO design could be real or virtual integration of local delivery providers. This new structure is complicated, and clinicians, patients, and payers should have input regarding the design and function of it. Because most of health care is delivered in the ambulatory setting, it remains to be determined whether the ACOs are best developed in parallel among physician practices and hospitals or as partnerships between hospitals and physicians. Many are concerned that hospital-led ACOs will force physician employment by hospitals with possible unintended negative consequences for physicians, hospitals, and patients. Patients, physicians, other providers, and payers are in a better position to guide the redesign of the health care delivery system than government agencies, policy organizations, or elected officials, no matter how well intended. We strongly believe—and ACC has proclaimed—that change in health care delivery must be accomplished with patients and physicians at the table.
Fred Brauer: The Man and His Mathematics

When I first met Fred Brauer, he was warning a class of first-semester calculus students about the dangers of applying techniques without thinking. As an example, he wrote on the chalkboard the expression\( \frac{{\sin x}}{n} \). He then proceeded to cancel the n’s from numerator and denominator: $$ \frac{{si\not{n}x}}{{\not{n}}} $$ , leaving six.
Coronal mass ejections: Causes and Consequences—A Theoretical View

A physical model of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and eruptive prominences is discussed in the framework of ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). The initial structure is assumed to be an equilibrium magnetic flux rope embedded in the corona. The flux rope is identified with the prominence cavity and is assumed to contain a hot, low-density plasma component of average density n c and a cold component of average density n p corresponding to the prominence. The eruption of the model flux rope is caused by a form of emerging flux, i.e., an increase in the poloidal flux on the time scale of eruption. The initial eruption and subsequent propagation of the flux rope are investigated. It is assumed that the prominence material eventually falls back to the Sun. It is found that the initial cavity magnetic field and hot plasma component (n c ) can evolve into a structure closely resembling observed interplanetary magnetic clouds at 1 AU and beyond. The flux ropes are stable to the ideal MHD kink mode throughout the eruption and subsequent propagation. In this picture, the classic bright rim of a CME is coronal gas plowed ahead of the expanding flux rope, and the prominence material is dragged along by the flux rope until much of it returns to the Sun. Thus, the CME-cavity-prominence structure represents three parts of one magnetically organized structure. The model results consistently reproduce the observed speeds of CMEs and eruptive prominences near the Sun, magnetic cloud expansion as a function of heliocentric distance, and the macroscopic properties of observed magnetic clouds.
Application of machine learning methods to histone methylation ChIP-Seq data reveals H4R3me2 globally represses gene expression

In the last decade, biochemical studies have revealed that epigenetic modifications including histone modifications, histone variants and DNA methylation form a complex network that regulate the state of chromatin and processes that depend on it including transcription and DNA replication. Currently, a large number of these epigenetic modifications are being mapped in a variety of cell lines at different stages of development using high throughput sequencing by members of the ENCODE consortium, the NIH Roadmap Epigenomics Program and the Human Epigenome Project. An extremely promising and underexplored area of research is the application of machine learning methods, which are designed to construct predictive network models, to these large-scale epigenomic data sets. Using a ChIP-Seq data set of 20 histone lysine and arginine methylations and histone variant H2A.Z in human CD4+ T-cells, we built predictive models of gene expression as a function of histone modification/variant levels using Multilinear (ML) Regression and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS). Along with extensive crosstalk among the 20 histone methylations, we found H4R3me2 was the most and second most globally repressive histone methylation among the 20 studied in the ML and MARS models, respectively. In support of our finding, a number of experimental studies show that PRMT5-catalyzed symmetric dimethylation of H4R3 is associated with repression of gene expression. This includes a recent study, which demonstrated that H4R3me2 is required for DNMT3A-mediated DNA methylation--a known global repressor of gene expression. In stark contrast to univariate analysis of the relationship between H4R3me2 and gene expression levels, our study showed that the regulatory role of some modifications like H4R3me2 is masked by confounding variables, but can be elucidated by multivariate/systems-level approaches.
Immunocytochemical Analysis of the Cervical Pap Smear

Although immunostained cervical Pap smears are not yet FDA approved for clinical use, it is very likely that they will become widely employed in the near future to identify neoplastic squamous and iendocervical glandular cells when screening liquid-based cytological preparations (i.e., SurePath™ or ThinPrep™). The current problem with cytology complemented by high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is poor specificity. HPV testing provides superior sensitivity, but many women are infected with the virus, while very few have had persistent infections leading to carcinoma. Pathologists routinely use antibodies directed against the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16 (p16(INK4a)) or a combination of antibodies directed against topoisomerase-2-alpha and minichromosome maintenance protein-2 (as in ProEx™ C) to improve diagnostic precision and accuracy in cervical tissue biopsies. This chapter will describe the immunocytochemical methods used by our group to immunostain cervical Pap smears and provide significantly improved positive predictive value when screening for cervical cancer.
Trace Chemical Vapor Detection by Photothermal Interferometry

Photothermal interferometry has been demonstrated as a technique that can detect vapors with extremely high sensitivity (parts-per-trillion levels). Our present research uses a photothermal detection scheme that incorporates tunable sources and a modified Jamin interferometric design to provide high selectivity and sensitivity for organo-phosphate vapor detection. Two possible tunable excitation sources are being studied for this sensor technology, a tunable CO2 laser and difference frequency mixing of a tunable NIR laser with a fixed wavelength NIR laser in a nonlinear crystal. The modified Jamin design imparts superior vibrational immunity by ensuring both interferometer beams encounter common optical elements. Examining the two complementary optical outputs of the interferometer, phase shifts on microradian levels have been detected. Trace chemical vapor detection is accomplished by introducing the tunable excitation laser source across the path of one interferometer beam providing a phase shift due to absorptive heating. Preliminary results indicated parts-per-billion level detection of both DMMP and DIMP using ~ 400mW of CO2 laser power at appropriate wavelengths.
Imaginal correlates of self-reported fear and avoidance behavior.

Abstract Two analogue studies explored the relationship between the content of subjects' imagery and both behavioral avoidance and self-reports of fear. In the first study, reports of aversive imagery in a fearful situation were much more frequent among high- as compared to low-avoidance subjects. Reports of aversive imagery were found significantly associated with both fear and avoidance behavior. In the second study, findings were extended, indicating that imagery content is associated with fear and avoidance when subjects imagine themselves in a fearful situation as well as when they are actually in one. This suggested some degree of functional equivalence between imagined and real situations. However, no relationship was found between image clarity and either fear or avoidance. Since imagery appears to play an important role in mediating fearful behavior, manipulation of imagery might serve as an effective treatment strategy.
Differential effects of a phone reminder on appointment keeping for patients with long and short between-visit intervals.

In the Harborview Medical Center pediatrics clinic, we were interested in testing whether a phone call would increase appointment-keeping behavior and whether the call would have a differential effect depending on the interval between appointments. Ninety-eight patients were studied who had scheduled appointments 3 to 264 days in advance and still had these appointments 3 days prior to appointment time. Patients who were randomly placed in an experimental condition received a reminder call. Control patients received no call. The results indicate some difference between compliance rates of the experimental and control conditions in the expected direction (X2 = 3.715, df = 1, p < .05). Patients whose visits were scheduled more than 14 days prior to the appointment time ("long-interval" patients) were separated from patients whose appointments were scheduled more recently. A significant difference in appointment-keeping rates between the experimental and control groups was found (X2 = 4.908, df = 1, p < .025), but only for the "long-interval" patients. Therefore, the use of a phone cue is particularly recommended for these patients. A SUBSTANTIAL BODY of literature now exists on patient compliance, or noncompliance, in medical practice. Patient behavior has been studied most frequently for medication taking, diet and exercise adherence, and appointment keeping. In the pediatrics clinic of Harborview Medical Center, appointment keeping has typically been less than 50 per cent.1 When large numbers of patients do not show up for scheduled appointments after an initial visit, medical professionals cannot even begin to assess compliance with other aspects of the treat
Implications of Fission-Track Ages from Kaplan Geothermal-Geopressure Zone, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana: ABSTRACT

Apatite and zircon mineral separates were extracted from cores from near the bottom of two geopressured-geothermal wells in Vermilion Parish, southern Louisiana, and dated by the fission-track method. Samples were taken in the sandstone units of the Oligocene age Frio Formation. The purpose of the study was to determine if fission-track clocks had been affected by long-term heating within the zone. Downhole temperature measurements indicate that the samples are currently at ~277°F (136°C) and ~338°F (169°C). Fission-track clocks, such as apatite and zircon, lose their tracks when subjected to temperatures of ~212°F (100°C) and ~ 347°F (175°C), respectively, for geologically significant periods of time (1 m.y.). Results show that apatite clocks were reset to 0 m.y. whereas zircon yielded ages of 82 and 88 m.y. (Cretaceous). If bottomhole temperatures are reliable, then the data suggest the following. (1) Zircon ages are relict, reflecting times of cooling of the volcanic, plutonic, or metamorphic source. The Frio Formation in southern Louisiana was at least in part derived from a Cretaceous or older source. Such cooling ages are common in the Ouachitas, southern Appalachians, and the Gulf coast plain. (2) Reset apatite and relict zircon ages suggest that temperatures within the geopressured zone have probably not been any higher than the 347°F (175°C) they are today. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1428------------
Cognitive assessment of social anxiety: Development and validation of a self-statement questionnaire

The recent emphasis on cognitive factors in the treatment of emotional problems has stimulated the development of cognitive assessment techniques. This paper presents the development and initial validation of an instrument to assess self-statements about social interactions. The 30-item questionnaire contains 15 positive (facilitative) and 15 negative (inhibitory) self-statements that were derived from subjects who listed thoughts while imagining difficult social situations. Item selection was accomplished by using judges' ratings of those thoughts. Validity studies with two samples compared scores on the self-statement measure with self-report, judges' and confederates' ratings of skill and anxiety following taped role-play and face-to-face interactions, and with questionnaire measures of social anxiety and skill. The measure appears to be a reliable, valid measure of cognitions associated with social anxiety. Research directions in cognitive assessment are suggested.
Sexual dimorphism in the electrocardiographic dynamics of human ventricular repolarization: characterization in true time domain.

Background—Previous characterizations of sex differences in ST-T waveform voltages have largely focused on amplitudes at selected time points during repolarization, subject to potential distortions from variations in heart rate (HR) or reliance on a JT-normalized time scale. Methods and Results—Using digitized 12-lead ECGs from 553 normal adults (426 males) with HRs confined to 60±1, 70±1, or 80±1 bpm, we derived X, Y, and Z lead voltages and then generated, for each HR category by sex, summary (population mean) resultant spatial vector amplitudes (ST-TXYZ) and instantaneous slopes (dV/dtXYZ) at successive 4-ms intervals following the J point. Within each HR category, there was an early intersex divergence of ST-TXYZ trajectories (95% CIs nonoverlapping), with men exhibiting 2- to 3-fold greater dV/dtXYZ values during the ST segment and achieving greater maximum TXYZ and dV/dtXYZ values than women; descending TXYZ limbs were relatively more concordant between sexes but still steeper in men. The early sex ...
Adaptive/predictive scheduling: review and a general framework

Abstract Abstract. Effective production scheduling can have a dramatic impact on manufacturing productivity. In modern automated manufacturing systems, the ability to revise and adjust the schedule can help reduce indirect costs which comprise a large portion of manufacturing costs in those systems. The objective of the research discussed here has been to study the feasibility of automatically scheduling multi-machine complexes and adjusting the schedule on a real-time basis by a unified computer system. We arc investigating selective real-time schedule adaptation by distinguishing between schedule generation and regeneration tasks (which might not be cost-effective) from schedule adaptation/recovery tasks (basically, causing less cosily disruption of the original plans). The article describes our general framework for automatic adaptive/predictive scheduling that includes five main functions: scheduler; monitor;comparator; resolvcr; recovery adaptor. Some experimental results demonstrating the effectiven...
Interactive Program Debugging and Optimization for Directive-Based, Efficient GPU Computing

Directive-based GPU programming models are gaining momentum, since they transparently relieve programmers from dealing with complexity of low-level GPU programming, which often reflects the underlying architecture. However, too much abstraction in directive models puts a significant burden on programmers for debugging applications and tuning performance. In this paper, we propose a directive-based, interactive program debugging and optimization system. This system enables intuitive and synergistic interaction among programmers, compilers, and runtimes for more productive and efficient GPU computing. We have designed and implemented a series of prototype tools within our new open source compiler framework, called Open Accelerator Research Compiler (Open ARC), Open ARC supports the full feature set of Opencast V1.0. Our evaluation on twelve Open ACC benchmarks demonstrates that our prototype debugging and optimization system can detect a variety of translation errors. Additionally, the optimization provided by our prototype minimizes memory transfers, when compared to a fully manual memory management scheme.
Vesicle recycling at ribbon synapses in the finely branched axon terminals of mouse retinal bipolar neurons.

Abstract In retinal bipolar neurons, synaptic ribbons mark the presence of exocytotic active zones in the synaptic terminal. It is unknown, however, where compensatory vesicle retrieval is localized in this cell type and by what mechanism(s) excess membrane is recaptured. To determine whether endocytosis is localized or diffuse in mouse bipolar neurons, we imaged FM4-64 to track vesicles in cells whose synaptic ribbons were tagged with a fluorescent peptide. In synaptic terminals, vesicle retrieval occurred at discrete sites that were spatially consistent over multiple stimuli, indicative of endocytotic “hot spots.” Retrieval sites were spatially correlated with fluorescently labeled synaptic ribbons. Electron microscopy (EM) analysis of bipolar cell terminals after photoconversion of internalized FM dye revealed that almost all of the dye was contained within vesicles ∼30 nm in diameter. Clathrin-coated vesicles were observed budding from the plasma membrane and within the cytosol, and application of dynasore, a dynamin inhibitor, arrested membrane retrieval just after the budding stage. We conclude that synaptic vesicles in the fine branches of mouse bipolar axon terminals are retrieved locally near active zones, at least in part via a clathrin-mediated pathway.
A Case of Diversified Dependency Macrostructural Change and Policy Alternatives in Ecuador

After decades of being primarily dependent upon the United States, Ecuador appears to be experiencing a diversification of dependency as alternative sources for trade and investment have emerged to challenge Washington. This diversification is in turn increasing Ecuador’s political autonomy, as demonstrated by the Correa administration’s policy shift away from the Washington Consensus. Diversified dependency is framing Ecuador’s policy options and may frame those of other peripheral states in the context of an increasingly multipolar global economy. Peripheral states will find themselves under pressure from multiple, often competing core states to enact certain policies; at the same time, diversification should provide them leverage in bilateral relations with each of the core states upon which they depend.Despues de decadas de depender principalmente de los Estados Unidos, el Ecuador parece estar experimentando una diversificacion de su dependencia a medida que surgen fuentes alternativas para el comerci...
Clinical Partnership at a Distance: A Design That Transforms Teaching and Leadership.

In this article we describe a graduate program for practicing teachers at the University of Florida. Offered in a blended format (mostly online but supported by a local faculty member), the program embeds graduate work within school reform efforts in hard to staff schools in partner school districts up to 350 miles away from campus in order to directly address the needs of practicing teachers in their own contexts. The article describes the program, critical design considerations for clinical partnerships at a distance, and presents the results of three completed studies and a description of one ongoing study of program impact.
Portrait of a Geothermal Spring, Hunter's Hot Springs, Oregon.

Although alkaline Hunter’s Hot Springs in southeastern Oregon has been studied extensively for over 40 years, most of these studies and the subsequent publications were before the advent of molecular methods. However, there are many field observations and laboratory experiments that reveal the major aspects of the phototrophic species composition within various physical and chemical gradients of these springs. Relatively constant temperature boundaries demark the upper boundary of the unicellular cyanobacterium, Synechococcus at 73–74 °C (the world-wide upper limit for photosynthesis), and 68–70 °C the upper limit for Chloroflexus. The upper limit for the cover of the filamentous cyanobacterium, Geitlerinema (Oscillatoria) is at 54–55 °C, and the in situ lower limit at 47–48 °C for all three of these phototrophs due to the upper temperature limit for the grazing ostracod, Thermopsis. The in situ upper limit for the cyanobacteria Pleurocapsa and Calothrix is at ~47–48 °C, which are more grazer-resistant and grazer dependent. All of these demarcations are easily visible in the field. In addition, there is a biosulfide production in some sections of the springs that have a large impact on the microbiology. Most of the temperature and chemical limits have been explained by field and laboratory experiments.
Io: the movie

The Keck II Adaptive Optics system and the NIRC2 camera provide a unique facility for high angular resolution imaging and spectroscopy in the near infrared. In this paper, we present the result of a unique project to map the entire surface of Io in the thermal infrared (Lp band centered at 3.8 μm). This project was undertaken by a team from the W. M. Keck Observatory and UC Berkeley to illustrate the power of this instrumentation. The 75-milliarcsec-resolution images, corresponding to ~200 km of linear spatial resolution on Io, have been combined to build a thermal infrared map of the entire satellite. We have identified 26 hot spots including one that was undetected by the Galileo mission. A movie and a Java applet featuring a volcanically active rotating satellite were created.
Semigroups of shift register counting matrices

This is a revised and corrected version of notes from lectures by Andrew Gleason. The goal of the paper is a structure theorem about “onto maps” from the space of infinite Boolean sequences to itself, induced by binary functions on a shift register. The methods of proof involve a close study of the semigroup of counting matrices.
Focus on antipsychotic polypharmacy: evidence-based prescribing or prescribing-based evidence?

Clinicians treating patients with antipsychotic medications have long attempted to optimize outcomes in their patients by adapting evidence from clinical trials to clinical practice settings (Stahl, 1999a). However, there is little evidence to guide what to do when patients have poor responses. In such cases, many clinicians attempt innovative combinations of medicines. On the one hand, when such attempts are ahead of the evidence, such as combining agents with different mechanisms of action (e.g. mood stabilizers added to atypical antipsychotics), they can lead to hypothesis-generating ideas that are confirmed with controlled trials (Casey et al., 2003). On the other hand, when such attempts are beyond the evidence, such as combining two fundamentally similar antipsychotics together, they can lack theoretical foundation, generate misleading information, set into motion irrational prescribing habits, and create more costs than benefits for patients (Stahl, 1999b, c, 2002a, b; Stahl and Grady, In Press).
Approximate empirical formula for self-shielding effect in neutron activation

An approximate empirical formula for measuring selfshielding effect in irradiated metals of nearly spherical shape, dissolved before activity measurement, is obtained. An illustrative example is given for indtum grains and plots of specific activity are presented for gold, indium, and silver. (N.W.R.)
The effect of α,α′-bis[3-(N,N-diethylcarbamoyl)piperidino]-p-xylene on human blood platelet structural physiology

Abstract α , α ′-Bis[3-( N , N -diethylcarbamoyl)piperidino]- p -xylene enhances human blood platelet membrane integrity by exerting a stabilizing action at the level of the dense tubular system in surface membrane complexes known to sequester platelet calcium.
Dye-sensitized titania aerogels as photovoltaic electrodes for electrochemical solar cells

Abstract We describe the fabrication and performance of dye-sensitized photoanodes derived from TiO 2 aerogel. Nanocrystalline titania aerogel is a bicontinuous, nanostructured pore–solid architecture featuring specific surface areas of 85–150 m 2 /g and a continuous mesoporous network, allowing chemisorption of high concentrations of sensitizing dye and rapid mass-transport of electron-transfer mediators. Considerable design and processing flexibility arises with aerogels because the continuous pore–solid networks are fixed by the supercritical drying process, allowing the creation of multifunctional, nanostructured films of single or multiple layers. Titania aerogels can be processed as powders and deposited as nearly opaque films from ∼2 μm to >35-μm thick while retaining their bicontinuous nanoscale networks. Two-layer, ∼30-μm-thick TiO 2 aerogel films yield incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) values of ∼85% in the 500–600 nm range and ∼52% at 700 nm with N719 as a sensitizing dye and after correcting for transmittance of the 3.2-mm-thick FTO-coated glass substrates at these wavelengths.
Are study dropouts different from completers

In recent years, researchers have tried to identify possible contributing factors to the dropout rates in clinical trials, usually ranging between 20% and 40% (Feighner and Boyer 1992; Feighner et al 1991). In particular, medication efficacy (Claghom and Feighner 1993; Cunningham et al 1994), side effects (Cochran 1986; Dunner 1994), and doctor-patient interaction (Johnson 1974; Montano 1994) have been viewed as important factors. However, very little is known about how patient characteristics may affect treatment participation (Keller et al 1982). In order to determine whether specific patient characteristics were predictive of failure to complete a clinical trial, we compared depressed outpatients who did not complete an eightweek open trial of fluoxetine with the patients who did complete the same trial. We assessed whether lifetime and current Axis I and II comorbidity, degree of anxiety sensitivity, depression, anxiety, and hostility, level of problem solving ability, or degree of quality of life would differentiate completers from dropouts.
Gene array expression profiling in acne lesions reveals marked upregulation of genes involved in inflammation and matrix remodeling.

The pathogenesis of acne has been linked to multiple factors such as increased sebum production, inflammation, follicular hyperkeratinization, and the action of Propionibacterium acnes within the follicle. In an attempt to understand the specific genes involved in inflammatory acne, we performed gene expression profiling in acne patients. Skin biopsies were obtained from an inflammatory papule and from normal skin in six patients with acne. Biopsies were also taken from normal skin of six subjects without acne. Gene array expression profiling was conducted using Affymetrix HG-U133A 2.0 arrays comparing lesional to nonlesional skin in acne patients and comparing nonlesional skin from acne patients to skin from normal subjects. Within the acne patients, 211 genes are upregulated in lesional skin compared to nonlesional skin. A significant proportion of these genes are involved in pathways that regulate inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling, and they include matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 3, IL-8, human β-defensin 4, and granzyme B. These data indicate a prominent role of matrix metalloproteinases, inflammatory cytokines, and antimicrobial peptides in acne lesions. These studies are the first describing the comprehensive changes in gene expression in inflammatory acne lesions and are valuable in identifying potential therapeutic targets in inflammatory acne.
Generalized Franz-Keldysh theory of electromodulation

We present a detailed generalization of the Franz-Keldysh theory of electromodulation which takes into account the presence of a dc surface electric field, ${\mathit{scrE}}_{\mathrm{dc}}^{\mathit{s}}$. We demonstrate rigorously that when the ac modulating electric field is small compared to ${\mathit{scrE}}_{\mathrm{dc}}^{\mathit{s}}$, the period of the Franz-Keldysh oscillations yields ${\mathit{scrE}}_{\mathrm{dc}}^{\mathit{s}}$. This result is independent of the relation between the width of the space-charge region and the penetration depth of light. The effects of broadening also are considered.
A Developmental Study of Retinal Rivalry

In a developmental study of retinal rivalry, 141 Ss were each tested for 3 consecutive minutes. Male and female Ss were selected from kindergarten, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th grades, and college students. The rivalry stimulus was a monocular horizontal line and a monocular vertical line (approximately 1 mm. retinal size). Reliability of Ss' report was checked using a simulated rivalry technique. Rivalry rate increased significantly as a function of age, and females' rates were higher at every age tested.
Nanocomposite hydrogen-bonded multilayer ultrathin films by simultaneous sexithiophene and Au nanoparticle formation

Terthiophene-functionalized poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP3T) was incorporated successfully as a reductant to form Au nanoparticles within hydrogen-bonded complexed multilayer thin films. By employing polymer pendant terthiophene moieties, this eliminated the need for an external reducing agent. The redox reaction with HAuCl4 yielded Au nanoparticles simultaneously with the formation of electrooptically active sexithiophene units. The nanocomposite films were characterized by TEM, XPS, UV−vis, photoluminescence, FT-IR, and ellipsometry measurements. The TEM images confirm unequivocally the formation of well-dispersed nanoparticles within the multilayer structure with a range of size distributions dependent on the preparation conditions. Interestingly, we observed the growth of dendritic nanostructures within the PVP3T/poly(acrylic acid) multilayers with modifications to the preparation procedure. On the basis of these results, this method yields a unique approach for the fabrication of nanocomposite multilaye...
Potential misidentification of trichlorophenylethanol in imported peppers.

During regulatory analyses for the determination of pesticide residues on agricultural commodities, a frequently encountered trichlorinated compound was misidentified by the NBS library search routine. This case history illustrates the need for more rigorous confirmation criteria when dealing with multi-chlorinated compounds where fragmentation can be dominated by methyl loss followed by loss of CO and HCl.
Ultracentrifugation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for metal–protein equilibrium studies

Abstract The coupling of separation by preparative ultracentrifugation and metal detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been explored for metal–protein equilibrium determinations. This study characterizes the stoichiometry as well as apparent (K app ) and intrinsic (K int ) binding affinities of the metal–protein association for a model protein. In particular, the affinity of Cu 2 + for the high affinity binding site in bovine serum albumin (BSA) is determined. Once equilibrium is established between Cu 2 + and BSA, preparative ultracentrifugation moves the metalloprotein away from the meniscus, leaving unbound equilibrium copper in the protein free solution. Since the initial (total) concentrations of purified BSA and Cu 2 + can be determined, the free copper concentration at equilibrium can also be determined by taking a small aliquot above the sedimenting boundary for analysis using ICP-MS. This analysis allows for the determination of free Cu 2 + ion, which is identical to the equilibrium concentration prior to ultracentrifugation. From these data K app and K int were determined at two different conditions, 100 mM Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris) at pH 9.53 and pH 7.93. log K app values of 17.6 and 14.6 were determined at pH 9.53 and pH 7.93, respectively. Furthermore, pH-independent log K int values of − 1.43 and − 1.04 were determined at pH 9.53 and 7.93, respectively. While the log K int at pH 9.53 was in good agreement with literature values obtained from alternative methods, K int at pH 7.93 was about 2.5 × larger than previously reported. BSA undergoes a structural rearrangement between pH 7–9, and the generally accepted pH-dependency of protein tertiary structure may be responsible for the variations in the “intrinsic” binding constant. The Cu–BSA binding affinity was also monitored in 100 mM Tris 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution at pH 7.93 in order to determine the effect of a denaturant on metal binding. Results for both log K app and log K int were similar to those obtained in the absence of 0.1% SDS at pH 7.93. Overall, this study validates and shows the efficacy of combining preparative ultracentrifugation with ICP-MS detection for interrogating metal–protein associations while causing minimal equilibrium perturbations as a result of the separation and measurement processes. Advantages and disadvantages of this methodology are discussed as it relates to alternative methods for metal–protein studies.
Novel design and approach to latent fingerprint detection on paper using a 1,2-indanedione-based bi-functional reagent

Abstract A novel 1,2-indanedione-based bi-functional reagent was designed for the development of latent fingerprints on paper substrates. The reagent was synthesized using a concise five-step protocol and applied using a modified multi-metal deposition (MMD) process. Positive images of latent fingerprints were developed showing preferential binding to the fingerprint ridges. Fingerprints that contain both amino acids as well as oily substances were successfully detected supporting the reagent’s efficiency.
Ab initio MRD-CI calculations for the propagation step of cationic polymerization of oxetanes based on localized orbitals

In the propagation step of the cationic polymerization, oxetane reacts with the protonated oxetane formed in the initiation step, with concomitant ring opening of the protonated oxetane. To describe properly bond making or bond breaking, it is necessary to use MC-SCF or CI calculations. We have carried out ab initio MODPOT/VRDDO MRD-CI calculations (by the multireference double excitation–configuration interaction technique of Buenker and Peyerimhoff into which we have also meshed a number of desirable computational options for ab initio calculations on large molecules). The CI calculations were carried out on strictly orthogonalized localized occupied and virtual orbitals in the reaction region, with the remainder of the occupied molecular orbitals being folded into an effective CI Hamiltonian. The calculated potential energy surfaces indicate that a preferred pathway for this reaction resembles an SN2 reaction with the oxygen of the oxetane attacking linearly along the C4O direction of the protonated oxetane and inversion of the hydrogens around the C4 atom.
Study of surface passivation of InP

The effects of various surface preparation procedures, including chemical treatments in HF, HNO3, o-H3PO4 and H2SO4 solutions and anodic oxidation, on the passivating properties of InP have been investigated in order to optimize the fabrication procedures of n+p or p+n InP solar cells made by thermal diffusion. The InP substrates used in this study were p-type Cd-doped to a level of 1.7 × 1016 cm−3, Zn-doped to levels of 2.2 × 1016 and 1.2 × 1018 cm−3 and n-type S-doped to 4.4 × 1018 cm−3. The passivating properties have been evaluated from photoluminescence (PL) data; good agreement was found between the level of surface passivation and the composition of different surface layers as revealed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis.
Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 1,2-dihydro-4(3H)-carbazolones. Formal total synthesis of murrayaquinone A

Two sequential palladium-catalyzed reactions are the key steps in a novel synthetic route to 1,2-dihydro-4(3H)-carbazolones. The steps are an intermolecular Stille cross-coupling followed by a reductive N-heteroannulation. A formal total synthesis of murrayaquinone A, employing this sequence, is reported.
Adaptive proximate time-optimal servomechanisms: Discrete-time case

Following a brief review of the continuous time proximate time-optimal servomechanism (PTOS), a discrete time PTOS is developed, along with conditions for its stability. An algorithm is proposed for adapting PTOS when the plant parameters are not known yielding APTOS (adaptive PTOS). Under ideal conditions APTOS is shown to be uniformally asymptotically stable. Simulation results demonstrate the predicted performance, and experimental results validate the practicality of APTOS.
In Vivo Three-Dimensional Analysis of the Facet Joint Surface Center

Facet joints are considered to play important roles in controlling spinal segmental motion and load transmission. It has been reported that 15–45% of low back pain is caused by facet joint diseases (1). Numerous studies on facet joint orientation have been reported in the literature; however, data on facet joint position is limited. Since the so-called “three-joint complex” is comprised of an intervertebral disc and two facet joints, it is important to determine the spatial relationship among these components to understand motion segment kinematics. Three-dimensional (3D) location of the facet joint may also provide important information for the studies on lumbar canal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. There has been no study, to our knowledge, to evaluate 3D position of the facet joint within the spine. The aim of this study was to determine accurately the facet joint position by using a subject-based computed tomography (CT) model and 3D measurement techniques, and analyze level, gender, ages and effects.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
In situ electrochemical studies of lithium-ion battery cathodes using atomic force microscopy

Abstract Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have been implemented for numerous applications, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) and pure electric vehicles (EV). In an effort to prolong battery life, it is important to understand the mechanisms that cause reduced battery capacity with aging. Past studies have shown that morphological changes occur in aged cathodes. In situ electrochemical studies using atomic force microscopy allow for the direct observation of the morphology of the Li-ion battery cathode, at a nanometer scale resolution, during the cycling of an electrochemical cell. A simple electrochemical cell designed for in situ characterization is introduced. Charge/discharge curves and morphology data obtained during charging and discharging of cells are presented, and relevant mechanisms are discussed.