cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of speed of sound ultrasound with single photon absorptiometry for determining fracture odds ratios

The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of ultrasound velocity measurement with that of single photon absorptiometry to determine the odds of history of fracture since age 40, for a population-based study. To do this we computed odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for 809 women and 502 men, aged 50 years and older, who are participants in the prospective phase of the Saunders County Bone Quality Study. These participants received both the ultrasound and single photon absorptiometry bone measurements at the initiation of the study. In addition, a history of all fractures that had occurred to participants since age 40 was obtained. The two bone assessment methods were compared by examining the magnitude of the odds ratios, to determine which produces the highest estimate of the probability of odds of fracture, and by examining widths of the respective confidence intervals to show which estimate of odds ratio is the most precise. Ultrasound velocity estimates a higher probability of odds of both low-trauma fractures and all fractures than distal radius and ulna bone mineral content, but lower than bone mineral density at the same sites for both women and men. However, the ultrasound measure is more precise than bone mineral density, but less precise than bone mineral content. We conclude that ultrasound velocity is as good as single photon absorptiometry in estimating odds of fracture.
Neural reinstatement and the amount of information recollected

Recent functional neuroimaging studies have attempted to understand the cognitive and neural bases of episodic memory retrieval, as well as the extent to which different retrieval judgments reflect qualitative as opposed to continuous changes in neural signals. The present study addressed this issue by investigating the reinstatement of episodic content according to the amount of information available at retrieval. Subjects encoded a series of words in the context of three distinct tasks, while a manipulation of presentation duration (4 or 8s) was also employed. A later recognition memory test was used to segregate trials according to whether or not they were accompanied by the recollection of details from encoding. Functional MRI data acquired during both the encoding and retrieval phases were used in conjunction with multi-voxel pattern-analysis (MVPA) to provide a measure of the degree to which encoding-related patterns of brain activity were later reactivated (reinstated) at the time of retrieval. Critically, the magnitude of reinstatement differed with respect to the encoding manipulation, such that reinstatement was stronger for items associated with the longer presentation duration. Together with duration-related differences in retrieval activity in left posterior parietal cortex, the results provide neural evidence for the reinstatement of different amounts of episodic information, consistent with the idea that recollection is based on a continuous neural signal.
Father's incarceration and youth delinquency and depression: Examining differences by race and ethnicity.

This paper examines associations between biological father's incarceration and internalizing and externalizing outcomes of depression and serious delinquency, across White, Black, and Hispanic subsamples of youth in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Among respondents whose father was first incarcerated during childhood or adolescence, father's incarceration is found to be associated with increased depression and delinquency. On the whole, results indicate that associations between father's incarceration and depression and delinquency do not vary by race and ethnicity or gender. One exception is among Hispanic respondents, for whom having a biological father incarcerated is associated with an even higher propensity of delinquency than among White and Black respondents with incarcerated fathers.
Sexual side-effects of psychiatric drugs

Clinical case reports, clinical series, and a small number of controlled studies provide evidence that many commonly prescribed psychiatric drugs may have untoward effects on sexual function. Both heterocyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors appear to be associated with ejaculatory impairment. Erectile dysfunction and retarded ejaculation have been associated with neuroleptics. Several benzodiazepines have been reported to interfere with ejaculation. This information has clear significance for the prescribing physician.
Beta-SiC Synthesis in a Thermal Argon Plasma Jet Reactor

Ultrafine beta-SiC powders are synthesized in a thermal argon plasma jet reactor by a reaction between methane and silicon monoxide. High temperatures (>10000 K) and rapid quench rates (>106 K/s) lead to a high degree of super-saturation of the chemical vapor, resulting in homogeneous nucleation of ultrafine SiC particles. The maximum conversion of SiO to SiC determined by thermogravimetric analysis is 97%. Particle size analyses show a bimodal distribution with the majority of the particles falling in a size range from 2 to 40 nm. Larger particles with sizes larger than 80 nm are also observed. Characteristically-shaped SiC single-crystal platelets are observed throughout this work.
The relationship between number of medications and weight loss or impaired balance in older adults.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between cumulative medication exposure and risk of two common manifestations of adverse drug effects: weight loss and impaired balance. Design: Cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort. Setting: Urban Connecticut community. Participants: Eight hundred eighty-five community-dwelling residents aged 72 and older. Measurements: Weight loss (≥10 pounds) and balance, a composite of four balance measures. Results: Participants took a mean±standard deviation of 2.2±1.9 medications (range 0–15). After adjustment for age, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, vision and hearing impairments, number of chronic diseases, and number of hospitalizations in the previous year, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for weight loss was 1.48 (95% confidence interval (CI)=0.85–2.59) for those taking one to two medications, 1.96 (95% CI=1.08–3.54) for three to four medications, and 2.78 (95% CI=1.38–5.60) for five or more medications. For impaired balance, adjusted ORs were 1.44 (95% CI=0.94–2.19), 1.72 (95% CI=1.09–2.71), and 1.80 (95% CI=1.02–3.19), respectively. Conclusion: A greater number of medications were associated with increased risk of adverse drug outcomes, after extensive adjustment for chronic illness. Clinicians should consider the adverse effects of total drug use and not merely the benefits or risks of individual medications for specific diseases.
Orofacial Biomechanics and Speech Motor Control

Abstract The mechanical properties (e.g., mass, stiffness, viscoelasticity) of bone, cartilage, muscle, tendon, ligament, fat, and skin among articulatory subsystems involved in speech and gesture ...
EFFECTS OF AGING AND FOOD RESTRICTION ON ALPHA 1-ADRENERGIC RECEPTORS AND G-PROTEIN IN THE RAT PAROTID GLAND

The aim of this study is to investigate age-related changes in alpha 1-adrenergic receptor and G-protein in rat parotid gland, and to examine whether the age-related changes are modulated by food restriction. The binding characteristics of alpha 1-adrenergic receptor were measured in parotid cell membranes from 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month-old ad libitum-fed (AL) and food-restricted (FR) rats. The number of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors (Bmax) increased between 3 and 6 months by 24.5% and 16.2% in AL and FR rats, respectively, with no further significant change up to 24 months of age. The Kd values of [3H]prazosin binding increased by 53.6% in AL rats, but decreased by 16.1% in FR rats between 3 and 6 months, and the changes were maintained up to 24 months of age. The binding activity of G-protein with [35S]guanosine 5'-[gamma-Thio]triphosphate (GTP[gamma S]) in parotid cell membranes was measured in 6- and 24-month-old AL and FR rats. Basal GTP binding capacity decreased by 22.3% and 26.0% in AL and FR rats, respectively, between 6 and 24 months. Epinephrine-stimulated increase in GTP binding capacity decreased by 19.2% between 6 and 24 months in AL rats, but not in FR rats. The Kd values of [35S]GTP[gamma S] binding were not affected by aging or food restriction. In summary: (1) FR decreased maturation-related increase in the number of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors and prevented maturation-related decrease in receptor binding affinity between 3 and 6 months of age. However, between 6 and 24 months of age FR had no further significant effect on the number of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors and on receptor binding affinity. (2) FR prevented age-related decrease in alpha 1-adrenergic agonist-stimulated increase in GTP binding capacity. We conclude that FR may have a modulatory effect on age-related impairment in alpha 1-adrenergic receptor function resulting from altered G-protein binding activity in the rat parotid gland.
Effect of magnesium prophylaxis and preeclampsia on the duration of labor.

Abstract Objective: Our goals were to compare duration of labor at term for (1) women with preeclampsia versus normotensive nulliparous women and (2) nulliparous women with preeclampsia who received magnesium for seizure prophylaxis versus those who did not. Study Design: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all nulliparous, term vaginal deliveries from 1989 through 1995 at University of California, San Francisco. The perinatal database and medical records were reviewed for information on duration of labor, maternal and labor characteristics, and neonatal outcomes. The χ 2 odds ratio, and Student t tests were used to compare categoric and continuous variables between women with preeclampsia and control women and between women with preeclampsia who did and those who did not receive magnesium. Logistic regression was used to evaluate variables predictive of labor duration. Results: Our study subjects were 4083 normotensive nulliparous women and 154 women with preeclampsia. A sample size calculation revealed that 1764 normotensive control subjects were needed to show a 10% difference in labor duration with 80% power and alpha of 0.05. Among women with preeclampsia, 93 (60%) were treated with magnesium and 61 (40%) were not. More women with preeclampsia than normotensive women had induction of labor and received epidural anesthesia, prostaglandin gel, and oxytocin ( P P = .15) or between women with preeclampsia who received magnesium and those who did not ( P = .09). In comparison with normotensive women, those with preeclampsia had a higher rate of postpartum hemorrhage (31% vs 22%, P = .005), and the rate was even higher among preeclamptic women treated with magnesium versus those who received no magnesium (34% vs 26%, P = .002). Logistic regression, with prolonged first stage of labor (>12 hours) used as the outcome variable, indicated that epidural anesthesia (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.9-2.6), oxytocin (odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.6-2.2), and persistent occipitoposterior presentation (odds ratio 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.4) were associated with prolonged labor, whereas preeclampsia (odds ratio 0.9, 95% confidence interval 0.7-1.1) and treatment with magnesium were not (odds ratio 1.1, 95% confidence interval 0.9-1.4). Induction (odds ratio 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.4-0.6) and birth weight Conclusions: In term nulliparous women, neither preeclampsia nor magnesium prophylaxis affected labor duration. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:1475-9.)
γ-Tocotrienol-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy act concurrently to promote breast cancer cell death.

The anticancer effects of γ-tocotrienol are associated with the induction of autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated apoptosis, but a direct relationship between these events has n...
Comparison of Two Procedures for Determination of Cholinesterase in Livestock

Our data indicate that the serum or plasma Bio-Dynamics/bmc automated procedure may be substituted satisfactorily for, or used as an alternative method to the Radeleff procedure for determining cholinesterase activity in cattle, swine, and sheep. The automated procedure is capable of 77 determinations/hr, and the Radeleff procedures about 20/hr. Either serum or plasma may be used, but the sample must be hemolyzed.
Clinical emergencies and outcomes in patients admitted to a surgical versus medical service.

Abstract Background The merit of rapid response systems (RRSs) remains controversial. A tailored approach to specific groups may increase the efficacy of these teams. The purpose of this study was to compare differences in triggers for RRS activation, interventions, and outcomes in patients on medical and surgical services. Methods A retrospective review RRS events was performed. The incidence of out of ICU cardiac arrests and hospital mortality were compared 2 years prior to and following RRS implementation. Call trigger, interventions, and disposition between medical and surgical patients were compared over a 15 month period. Results Out of ICU cardiac arrest was significantly more prevalent in the medical group both before and after implementation of RRS. The out of ICU cardiac arrest rate decreased 32% in the surgical group ( p =0.05) but hospital mortality did not change. Out of ICU cardiac arrest decreased 40% in the medical group ( p p p Conclusion Implementation of a RRS had greater impact on reduction of out of ICU cardiac arrest and mortality in medical inpatients. Triggers for activation and interventions were similar between groups; however, surgical patients demonstrated substantial risk for decompensation within the first 24h following operation. More research is needed to evaluate the disproportionate benefit observed between cohorts.
Loss of CD73-mediated actin polymerization promotes endometrial tumor progression

Ecto-5'-nucleotidase (CD73) is central to the generation of extracellular adenosine. Previous studies have highlighted a detrimental role for extracellular adenosine in cancer, as it dampens T cell-mediated immune responses. Here, we determined that, in contrast to other cancers, CD73 is markedly downregulated in poorly differentiated and advanced-stage endometrial carcinoma compared with levels in normal endometrium and low-grade tumors. In murine models, CD73 deficiency led to a loss of endometrial epithelial barrier function, and pharmacological CD73 inhibition increased in vitro migration and invasion of endometrial carcinoma cells. Given that CD73-generated adenosine is central to regulating tissue protection and physiology in normal tissues, we hypothesized that CD73-generated adenosine in endometrial carcinoma induces an innate reflex to protect epithelial integrity. CD73 associated with cell-cell contacts, filopodia, and membrane zippers, indicative of involvement in cell-cell adhesion and actin polymerization-dependent processes. We determined that CD73-generated adenosine induces cortical actin polymerization via adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) induction of a Rho GTPase CDC42-dependent conformational change of the actin-related proteins 2 and 3 (ARP2/3) actin polymerization complex member N-WASP. Cortical F-actin elevation increased membrane E-cadherin, β-catenin, and Na(+)K(+) ATPase. Together, these findings reveal that CD73-generated adenosine promotes epithelial integrity and suggest why loss of CD73 in endometrial cancer allows for tumor progression. Moreover, our data indicate that the role of CD73 in cancer is more complex than previously described.
Properties of infrared doped semiconductor Mie resonators (Presentation Recording)

Dielectric optical antenna resonators have recently emerged as a viable alternative to plasmonic resonators for metamaterials and nanophotonic devices, due to their ability to support multipolar Mie resonances with low losses. In this work, we experimentally investigate the mid-infrared Mie resonances in Si and Ge subwavelength spherical particles. In particular, we leverage the electronic and optical properties of these semiconductors in the mid-infrared range to design and tune Mie resonators through free-carrier refraction. Si and Ge semiconductor spheres of varying sizes of 0.5-4 μm were fabricated using femtosecond laser ablation. Using single particle infrared spectroscopy, we first demonstrate size-dependent Si and Ge Mie resonances spanning the entire mid-infrared (2-16 μm) spectral range. Subsequently we show that the Mie resonances can be tuned by varying material properties rather than size or geometry. We experimentally demonstrate doping-dependent resonance frequency shifts that follow simple Drude models of free-carrier refraction. We show that Ge particles exhibit a stronger doping dependence than Si due to the smaller effective mass of the free carriers. Using the unique size and doping dispersion of the electric and magnetic dipole modes, we identify and demonstrate a size regime where these modes are spectrally overlapping. We also demonstrate the emergence of plasmonic resonances for high doping levels and long wavelengths. These findings demonstrate the potential for tuning infrared semiconductor Mie resonances by optically or electrically modulating charge carrier densities, thus providing an excellent platform for tunable electromagnetic metamaterials.
An experimental analysis of behavioral factors in drug dependence.

Many biological scientists have viewed attempts to study the psychological or behavioral aspects of drug action as belonging near the questionable limits of scientific inquiry, if not floating well into the abyss of the objectively unknowable. Such scientific conservatism is not without reason, for as Sidman (62) noted, “A major factor contributing to the slowness of development of a science of Behavioral Pharmacology was the late recognition that behavior is a phenomenon amenable to study by the methods of Natural Science.” The solution lies in the unequivocal demonstration of a viable laboratory approach to the scientific investigation of the behavioral actions of drugs. However, “The use of experimental animals in the analysis of behavioral effects of drugs has been hampered by a paucity of objective, quantitative methods of study” (19). Though an early study by Skinner and Heron (65) pointed the way toward such an objective analysis, it wasn’t until the late 1950’s that this promise began to be realized. The new scientific domain, behavioral pharmacology, grew principally out of an amalgamation of the concepts of an operational analysis of behavior propounded by Skinner (63, 64) and the more firmly established concepts of experimental pharmacology.
Strategic Foresight & Open Innovation

Strategie und Innovation bilden zwei Seiten einer Medaille: Die Strategie definiert den Handlungsrahmen einer Organisation. Sie schafft die Basis, nach der die Organisation handelt, die aber kontinuierlich uberpruft und angepasst werden muss. Innovationen dagegen bringen Erneuerungen in die Organisation. Sie wirken als Impulsgeber fur Neues und bringen Variationen ein. Sie unterstutzten die Lernfahigkeit und Weiterentwicklung einer Organisation und tragen damit auch zu ihrer Existenzsicherung in einer sich verandernden Umwelt bei. Hier liegt die Schnittstelle von Strategie und Innovation: Strategie gibt die „Richtung“ fur eine Organisation vor, Innovationen dagegen bewirken Irritationen, uber die eine Organisation Neues lernt und sich anpasst. Damit tragen Innovationen wesentlich zur Uberlebenssicherung einer Organisation bei, denn sie brechen Routinen auf und initiieren Weiterentwicklung. Genau in dieser Gegensatzlichkeit der Grundcharakteristika der Strategie- und Innovationsmethoden und der damit entstehenden Reibung und Irritation liegt eine fur die Organisation wertvolle Quelle zur Uberlebenssicherung: Einerseits wird uber den Strategieprozess Sicherheit geschaffen, damit die Organisation handlungsfahig bleibt und gleichzeitig wird diese (Sicherheit) uber den Innovationsprozess in Frage gestellt bzw. zugelassen, dass Raum fur Neues entsteht. Die damit verbunden Oszillation, das Pendeln der Organisation zwischen Festlegung (Strategie) und Hinterfragung/Offnung (Innovation), schafft eine Dynamik, die eine Organisation permanent zwingt, sich zu hinterfragen, zu lernen und sich damit weiterzuentwickeln.
Familial predisposition to lung cancer

There can be little doubt that lung cancer is the product of environmental exposures, primarily tobacco but also radioactive ores, heavy metals and petrochemicals. However, the idea that individuals differ in their response to these environmental exposures is at least 30 years old. Recognizing that cigarette smoking was the principal cause of lung cancer, Goodhart [1] noted:’ ... different individuals show wide variation in the type and strength of stimulus needed for a neoplastic reaction so that, although even quite light smokers run a significantly higher risk of lung cancer than non-smokers, nine out of ten of the heaviest smokers never get it at all. Personal idiosyncrasy seems to be an important factor in carcinogenesis and this suggests the hypothesis that the population may be genetically heterogeneous for susceptibility to cancer, some individuals being more ‘cancer-prone’ than others.
Abstract 3539: Targeting levels and oligomerization of mutant nucleophosmin induces differentiation and loss of survival of human AML cells with mutant NPM1

NPM1 is an oligomeric, nucleolar phosphoprotein that functions as a molecular chaperone for both proteins and nucleic acids. NPM1 plays multiple roles in cell growth and proliferation by participating in diverse biological processes, including ribosome biogenesis and transport, centrosome duplication, DNA repair, transcriptional regulation and histone chaperoning. NPM1 has an N-terminal conserved, hydrophobic, oligomerization domain (residues, 1-110), which is common to all isoforms of NPM1 and critical for its chaperone activity. Recently, NSC348884 was identified as a small molecule inhibitor that disrupts NPM1 dimer/oligomer formation, inducing apoptosis of cancer cells. NPM1 is mutated in approximately one-third of patients with AML. The mutant NPM1c+ contains a 4-base insert that results in extra C-terminal residues encoding a nuclear export signal (NES), which causes NPM1c+ to be aberrantly localized in the cytoplasm. Here, we determined the effects of targeting NPM1 in cultured and primary AML cells. Treatment with siRNA to NPM1, which depleted both NPM1c+ and un-mutated NPM1, significantly induced p21, decreased the % of cells in S-phase of the cell cycle, as well as induced differentiation of the AML OCI-AML3 cells that express both NPMc+ and un-mutated NPM1. This was associated with up-regulation of C/EBPα but attenuation of the levels of HOXA9 and MEIS1. Notably, treatment with NPM1 siRNA sensitized OCI-AML3 more than HL-60 cells (expressing only wild-type NPM1) to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and cytarabine. Moreover, inhibition of NPM1 oligomerization by NSC348884-induced apoptosis and sensitized OCI-AML3 and primary AML cells expressing NPM1c+, but not AML or normal CD34+ progenitor cells expressing wild-type NPM1, to ATRA and cytarbine. NSC348884 was also able to sensitize primary AML cells that expressed NPM1c+ as well as FLT3-ITD to ATRA and cytarbine. Addtionally, co-treatment with NSC384884 sensitized these primary AML cells to the lethal effects of the FLT3 kinase inhibitor PKC412 (Novartis Pharma). These results show that attenuating levels or oligomerization of NPM1 selectively induces apoptosis and sensitizes AML cells expressing NPM1c+ alone or with FLT3-ITD to treatment with ATRA, cytarabine and FLT3 kinase inhibitor. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3539. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3539
Adsorption of Four Representative Biological Compounds onto Graphite Nanofibers

The present study investigates the adsorption of four compounds important in carbon adsorption hemoperfusion. Graphite nanofibers (GNFs) having different carbon plane orientations have structural features that make them potentially attractive in this application compared to activated carbon. Generally, adsorption capacity increased in the order of ribbon > herringbone > platelet fiber types. All fibers were poor adsorbents for creatinine. Herringbone and platelet fibers had sorption capacities less than 25% of activated carbon for all adsorbates on a mass basis. Except for vitamin B12, behavior of ribbon fibers was similar; vitamin B12 adsorption was nearly 50% greater than activated carbon on a mass basis. In contrast, on the basis of surface area, all of the fibers were comparable to or outperformed activated carbon for the adsorption of all adsorbates. This suggests that in addition to BET surface area, interactions between adsorbate and exposed basal planes in carbon are important in determining adsor...
Physical Training and Manual-Material Handling: Literature and Military Applications

Manual material handling (MMH) is performed in 83% of all U.S. Army enlisted military occupations. Studies that have examined the influence of physical training on MMH can be separated into two typ...
Acromioclavicular Joint Injuries Overhead Athletes

Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injury is encountered commonly in the general population, accounting for up to 9% of all shoulder injuries, but it can be seen with a significantly higher prevalence in athletes. In particular, the thrower׳s shoulder experiences significant rotational forces at the AC joint, meriting special focus when formulating treatment of AC joint pathology to preserve effective overhead mechanics. AC joint pathology observed frequently in an athletic population includes traumatic AC joint instability, distal clavicular fracture, and distal clavicular osteolysis. Appropriate treatment requires knowledge of AC joint anatomy and biomechanics, relevant pathophysiology, and both operative and nonoperative options.
National youth sedentary behavior and physical activity daily patterns using latent class analysis applied to accelerometry.

Applying latent class analysis (LCA) to accelerometry can help elucidated underlying patterns. This study described the patterns of accelerometer-determined sedentary behavior and physical activity among youth by applying LCA to a nationally representative United States (US) sample. Using 2003–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, 3998 youths 6–17 years wore an ActiGraph 7164 accelerometer for one week, providing > =3 days of wear for > =8 h/day from 6:00 am-midnight. Cutpoints defined sedentary behavior ( = 2296 counts/minute), and vigorous activity (> = 4012 counts/minute). To account for wear time differences, outcomes were expressed as percent of day in a given intensity. LCA was used to classify daily (Monday through Sunday) patterns of average counts/minute, sedentary behavior, light activity, MVPA, and vigorous activity separately. The latent classes were explored overall and by age (6–11, 12–14, 15–17 years), gender, and whether or not youth attended school during measurement. Estimates were weighted to account for the sampling frame. For average counts/minute/day, four classes emerged from least to most active: 40.9 % of population (mean 323.5 counts/minute/day), 40.3 % (559.6 counts/minute/day), 16.5 % (810.0 counts/minute/day), and 2.3 % (1132.9 counts/minute/day). For percent of sedentary behavior, four classes emerged: 13.5 % of population (mean 544.6 min/day), 30.1 % (455.1 min/day), 38.5 % (357.7 min/day), and 18.0 % (259.2 min/day). For percent of light activity, four classes emerged: 12.3 % of population (mean 222.6 min/day), 29.3 % (301.7 min/day), 41.8 % (384.0 min/day), and 16.6 % (455.5 min/day). For percent of MVPA, four classes emerged: 59.9 % of population (mean 25.0 min/day), 33.3 % (60.9 min/day), 3.1 % (89.0 min/day), and 3.6 % (109.3 min/day). For percent of vigorous activity, three classes emerged: 76.8 % of population (mean 7.1 min/day), 18.5 % (23.9 min/day), and 4.7 % (47.4 min/day). Classes were developed by age, gender, and school attendance since some patterns differed when stratifying by these factors. The models supported patterns for average intensity, sedentary behavior, light activity, MVPA, and vigorous activity. These latent class derived patterns can be used in other youth studies to explore correlates or outcomes and to target sedentary behavior or physical activity interventions.
Chronology of a section of Quaternary speleothems in the Shihua cave, Beijing

The Shihua cave is located at the northeastern end of the synformal belt at the edge of the Fangshan granite intrusion in Beijing and faces the Peking Man (Homo erectus pekinensis) site. The strata are composed of limestone of the Middle Ordovician Majiagou Formation formed 460 Ma ago. The basic form of the cave began to form in the Pliocene at 25 Ma BP and the speleothems in the cave began to form in the middle Pleistocene at 0.37 Ma BP. Among Chinese karst caves, the Shihua cave has the largest number of layers and a complete range of speleothems in the caves. There are many large cave stone shields deposited by fissure infiltration water, the superimposed relationship of stalagmites deposited by dripping water is evident, moonmilk deposited by pool water is well developed, and the micro-layering of Holocene stalagmites is clear. The basic form of the cave reflects the history of the neotectonic movement in the Western Hills, Beijing, which may be correlated with the physiographic stage of North China and terraces of the Yongding River; the speleothems in the cave recorded the paleoenvironmental change in the Western Hills, Beijing, since the middle Pleistocene, which may be used to set up a Quaternary section for a correlation with the section of clastic sediments in the Zhoukoudian caves. The calcareous plate has U-series ages of 334.99-366.74 ka, thus named the Gaiban Formation. The wide stalagmites have U-series ages of 169-235 ka and ESR ages of 130-518 ka, which are middle Pleistocene deposits and may be named the Yunshuidong Formation. The rod-shaped stalagmites have U-series ages of 14.9±2.1-100.3±11.1 ka, which are upper Pleistocene deposits, named the Shihuadong Formation. In Holocene stalagmites, there is usually a ~1 μm thick, dark streak between two micro-layers, which serves as a mark for determining the number of micro-layers. Stalagmites with micro-layering have 14C ages of 0.58-2.50 ka and AMS 14C ages of 130±100-670±130 a, named the Shoubeizhidong Formation.
The diagnosis and treatment of male infertility in the new millennium.

Treatment of male infertility accomplished far-reaching advances in the past decade. Semen analysis has given rise to sperm function tests. Microsurgery, e.g., reversal of vasectomy, has reached new heights in sperm retrieval directly from the testis/epididymis and in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Furthermore, genetic testing-for an ever-widening range of anomalies-is the norm in modern clinical practice. This review of what is possible, and now even common, in male infertility treatment focuses on sperm function, and then deficits/anomalies and their treatment; and testicular function and dysfunction, with descriptions of hormonal and surgical techniques that now offer fatherhood to men with types of infertility that strongly imply the need for genetic counseling.
Deconditioning reduces mineral content of the third metacarpal bone in horses

Diet and exercise are two manage- ment factors that affect bone density and strength. We proposed that bone density and calcium status would be affected by deconditioning for 12 wk and by dietary Ca concentration. Eleven highly conditioned Arabian horses were taken out of training and placed in stalls for 12 wk. Horses were walked on a mechanical walker in two 30-min sessions, 7 d/wk. Diets were designated CC (.36% Ca) and HC (.62% Ca). Data were collected every 21 d. Serum or plasma were analyzed for total and ionized Ca, parathyroid hor- mone, osteocalcin, hydroxyproline, electrolytes, and blood gases. Bone mineral content (BMC) of the left third metacarpal bone was estimated by radiographic photometry using an aluminum step wedge, which was exposed in each radiograph, as a reference standard for an image analysis system. During deconditioning, BMC decreased by approximately 1.1 g/2 cm, or .45% per week. This decrease was un- affected by dietary Ca. Serum Ca concentration increased with deconditioning. The results suggest that dietary Ca at twice the currently recommended level did not prevent the loss of BMC in response to deconditioning. Loss of BMC during 12 wk of stall confinement may weaken bones, increasing the risk of skeletal injuries when training is resumed.
Reply to “Using postmortem blood and urine norfentanyl/fentanyl ratios in the investigation of fentanyl-related deaths”

Sir,We read Dr Ruan’s letter with interest. His suggestion that a smaller ratio of norfentanyl to fentanyl represents a higher probability of acute fentanyl intake with coexistent fentanyl abstinen...
Home Intelligence: Personal Computer-Based Intelligent Home Networks

In this chapter, we change the architecture of a typical personal computer to process, learn and remember, switch and access, and carry out routine input/output (I/O) functions. In its new configuration, the processor accomplishes the following functions: Artificial intelligence (AI)—service switching point/service transfer point—type processing/routing. CD ROM and disk-based DBMS (service control point) type memory and lookup. Time-division multiplexing (TDM) bus-control-based access (service switching point) type switching. Routine input/output.
Uterine phlebography. Correlation of clinical diagnoses with dye retention.

Abstract The injection of radiopaque media into the fundus of the uterus demonstrated a variation in the sites of the venous outflow. By our method, a 20 second delay film showed a variation in the rate of outflow with a moderate to marked amount of dye in the intramural, ovarian, or uterine vessels being accepted as congestion. Normals in only one out of 11 cases showed a delay in outflow of dye. Twenty-two patients with the pelvic congestion syndrome had a delay in the outflow of dye injected into the fundus of the uterus, with 18 of these being mainly in the uterine veins. Fifteen of these patients came to operation with 13 having hysterectomy. No pathologic diagnosis other than mild chronic cervicitis was found. Parity, pelvic relaxation, chronic cervicitis, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, position of the uterus, and patient age within the reproductive range were found not to alter the circulation significantly. In 11 of the 14 patients with cervicitis and erosion, moderate to marked congestion was seen. After adequate treatment of the cervicitis the phlebograms returned to normal. Six postpartum patients showed delay in the outflow of dye injected into the fundus. The majority of this dye was seen in the ovarian pedicles, and with time this delay in outflow is decreased.
Initial Results of Applying Single Transducer Thickness-Independent Ultrasonic Imaging to Tubular Structures

A single transducer ultrasonic imaging method that eliminates the effect of thickness variation in the image, and its application to hollow tubular/cylindrical structures, are described. The method, based on the measurement of ultrasonic velocity, thus isolates ultrasonic variations due to material microstructure. Its use can result in significant cost savings because the ultrasonic image, and consequently assessment of material and manufacturing quality, can be interpreted correctly without the need for precision thickness machining during nondestructive evaluation stages of material development. Additionally, it may be applicable to net shape parts having nonuniform thickness. The method has been commercialized via a cooperative agreement between NASA Lewis Research Center and Sonix, Inc.
Do Targeted Written Comments and the Rubric Method of Delivery Affect Performance on Future Human Physiology Laboratory Reports

We investigated how students performed on weekly two-page laboratory reports based on whether the grading rubric was provided to the student electronically or in paper form and the inclusion of one- to two-sentence targeted comments. Subjects were registered for a 289-student, third-year human physiology class with laboratory and were randomized into four groups related to rubric delivery and targeted comments. All students received feedback via the same detailed grading rubric. At the end of the term, subjects provided consent and a self-assessment of their rubric viewing rate and preferences. There were no differences in laboratory report scores between groups (P = 0.86), although scores did improve over time (P < 0.01). Students receiving targeted comments self-reported viewing their rubric more often than students that received no comments (P = 0.02), but the viewing rate was independent of the rubric delivery method (P = 0.15). Subjects with high rubric viewing rates did not have higher laboratory report grades than subjects with low viewing rates (P = 0.64). When asked about their preference for the future, 43% of respondents preferred the same method again (electronic or paper rubric) and 25% had no preference. We conclude that although student laboratory report grades improved over time, the rate and degree of improvement were not related to rubric delivery method or to the inclusion of targeted comments.
Portable Standalone PV Systems for Disaster Relief and Remote Areas

This chapter deals with the portable solar systems for disasters and remote areas. It starts with a list of the features and types of portable solar systems. The four types of portable systems: compact solar systems, solar backpack, solar suitcase/brief, and solar foldable systems for disasters and remote areas are discussed. The chapter is concluded by two case studies: a compact solar system and a solar suitcase. The first case study deals with the development of compact portable systems for developing counties by a US nongovernment organization (NGO) committed to helping people who are experiencing energy poverty. The second case study deals with a solar suitcase for medical and nonmedical purposes developed by a US NGO, We Care Solar and We Share Solar in developing countries and remote areas of the world that have no access to the electric grid. Examples of collaboration between US educational institutions and NGOs who have helped to assemble and donated solar suitcases to developing countries are also described.
Decision-Theoretic Monitoring of Cyber-Physical Systems

Runtime monitoring has been proposed as an alternative to formal verification for safety critical systems. This paper introduces a decision-theoretic view of runtime monitoring. We formulate the monitoring problem as a Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP). Furthermore, we adopt a Partially Observable Monte-Carlo Planning (POMCP) to compute an approximate optimal policy of the monitoring POMDP. We show how to construct the POMCP for the monitoring problem and demonstrate experimentally that it can be effectively applied even when some of the state-space variables are continuous, the case where many other POMDP solvers fail. Experimental results on a mobile robot system show the effectiveness of the proposed POMDP-monitor.
The world’s smallest owl, the earliest unambiguous charadriiform bird, and other avian remains from the early Eocene Nanjemoy Formation of Virginia (USA)

New avian remains from the early Eocene Nanjemoy Formation in Virginia (USA) are described. The material stems from the Fisher/Sullivan site and consists of isolated bones. These belong to at least 13 species, most of which have not yet been reported from the Nanjemoy Formation. The fossil material includes the oldest unambiguous record of a charadriiform bird and a new species of protostrigid owl, which represents the smallest known owl species. Other specimens are tentatively assigned to the Procellariiformes, the suliform Fregatidae, the gruiform Messelornithidae, and the apodiform Eocypselidae. A complete and well-preserved tarsometatarsus of the psittacopasserine Halcyornithidae provides new data on the osteology of these enigmatic birds, and a distal tibiotarsus is tentatively assigned to the Trogoniformes. The identification of a number of fossils is uncertain, with the bones showing similarities to Threskiornithidae and extinct taxa from the early Eocene of Europe (Microena, Morsoravis). All bird fossils from the Nanjemoy Formation are three-dimensionally preserved and, therefore, allow a detailed assessment of osteological features, which complements studies of compression fossils from lagerstatten-type fossil sites.
Time-dependent Measurements On The SCA/FEL

A new diagnostic system has made it possible to measure the time development of optical and electron beam spectra within a single macropulse. This system has allowed the measurement of several FEL effects, including the wavelength shift during laser start-up, and the development of side-bands during high-gain operation.
The retention protocol

This article was completed following communication with a number of well-established and experienced orthodontists, including well-respected academicians, from around the world (see Acknowledgement section). Post-treatment irregularity observations were put in perspective with those factors generally known about retention.
Vesnarinone for congestive heart failure

Source Citation Feldman AM, Bristow MR, Parmley WW, et al. Effects of vesnarinone on morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure. N Engl J Med. 1993 Jul 15;329:149-55.
Abstract 15203: Long Term Survival After Surgical or Transcatheter Interventions for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD): A Study From the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium (PCCC)

Introduction: We aim to study long term survival in the cohort registered in the PCCC after surviving interventions for CHD between 1982 and 2003. The PCCC is the longest standing registry of outco...
Mitigating bitline crosstalk noise in DRAM memories

DRAM cells in deeply scaled CMOS confront significant challenges to ensure reliable operation. Parasitic capacitances induced by certain bit storage patterns, or bad patterns, create coupling noise that can cause crosstalk-induced faults when the coupling exceeds tolerable margins. These margins decrease and their variabilities increase with scaling, leading to weak cells that are highly susceptible to this form of crosstalk. This paper explores coding techniques to address row-based crosstalk. First, n-to-m bit encoding is explored to remove bad bit patterns from code words. Second, a Periodic Flip Encoding (PFE) technique is proposed to flip specific bits in a repeated pattern with different offsets and produce multiple code word candidates. PFE encoding can be used in a fault-oblivious or fault-aware fashion. Fault-oblivious PFE mitigates faults when the location of weak cells is unknown by minimizing the number of bad patterns in the encoded data. Fault-aware PFE avoids faults when the location of the weak cells is known by selecting the code word in which the center of any bad pattern does not coincide with a weak cell. Fault-aware and fault-oblivious PFE provide two fault tolerance solutions with a trade-off between reliability improvement and performance and power overheads. Experimental evaluation demonstrates that PFE outperforms n-to-m bit encoding as well as other leading approaches, including error correction pointers (ECP) and error correction codes (ECC). For example, when 0.01% of the cells are weak, fault-aware PFE achieves an Uncorrectable Bit Error Rate (UBER) smaller than 3×10−12 compared to 1.4×10−6 for ECP and 6.8×10−6 for ECC-1. When a relatively high 1% of the cells are weak, fault-aware PFE improves the UBER more than two orders of magnitude compared to ECC-1 and one order of magnitude compared to ECP. This is accomplished in both cases with a low performance overhead of between 1--2%, depending on the hardware implementation.
Biologically Complex Planar Cell Plasma Membranes Supported on Polyelectrolyte Cushions Enhance Transmembrane Protein Mobility and Retain Native Orientation.

Reconstituted supported lipid bilayers (SLB) are widely used as in vitro cell-surface models because they are compatible with a variety of surface-based analytical techniques. However, one of the challenges of using SLBs as a model of the cell surface is the limited complexity in membrane composition, including the incorporation of transmembrane proteins and lipid diversity that may impact the activity of those proteins. Additionally, it is challenging to preserve the transmembrane protein native orientation, function, and mobility in SLBs. Here, we leverage the interaction between cell plasma membrane vesicles and polyelectrolyte brushes to create planar bilayers from cell plasma membrane vesicles that have budded from the cell surface. This approach promotes the direct incorporation of membrane proteins and other species into the planar bilayer without using detergent or reconstitution and preserves membrane constituents. Furthermore, the structure of the polyelectrolyte brush serves as a cushion betwee...
Book Review: Capital Punishment and Contingency

This book review of David Garland’s “Peculiar Institution: America’s Death Penalty in an Age of Abolition,” assesses Garland’s contributions both to the literature about the American death penalty and to the broader debate about the nature and causes of American penal exceptionalism. Garland’s perspective is considered in light of the work of James Whitman, Franklin Zimring, Michael Tonry, Nicola Lacey, and William Stuntz. After situating Garland in the larger conversation, the review goes on to illustrate and deepen Garland account of the contingency of America’s recent death penalty story by imaging three counterfactual (and extremely divergent) American death penalty stories-that-might-have-been.This article is available to view and download on the Harvard Law Review website.
Abortion incidence and services in the United States, 1995-1996.

Context In the 1980s, the number of abortion providers in the United States began to decline, and more recently, so has the number of abortions performed. Whether the decline in service providers, which was last documented in 1992, is continuing and whether this influences the availability and number of abortions is of public interest. Methods In 1997, the Alan Guttmacher Institute conducted its 12th survey of all known abortion providers in the United States. The number and location of abortion providers and abortions were tabulated for 1995 and 1996, and trends were calculated by comparing these data with those from earlier surveys. Limited data were also gathered on types of abortion procedures. Results Between 1992 and 1996, the number of abortions fell from 1,529,000 to 1,366,000, and the abortion rate decreased from 26 to 23 per 1,000 women aged 15-44. The number of providers fell 14%, to 2,042, with the greatest decline among hospitals and physicians' offices rather than clinics. Eighty-six percent of counties had no known abortion provider, and 32% of women aged 15-44 lived in these counties. Of the country's 320 metropolitan areas, 89 had no known abortion provider, and for an additional 12, fewer than 50 abortions each were reported. Seventy percent of abortions were performed in specialized clinics and only 7% in hospitals. In the first half of 1997, early medical abortions were being offered in about 160 facilities, virtually all of which were also providers of surgical abortions. Conclusions While abortion services in some areas of the country have declined since 1992 and many women continue to have limited access to providers, other factors have probably had more influence on the level of abortions performed. Early medical abortion methods are too new to be a measurable factor in abortion access.