cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Value of Media Studies Approaches for the Evaluation of Entertainment Education: A Case Study of "East Los High".

As entertainment education (EE) becomes an increasingly popular medium for delivering health information, evaluation of EE is key to better understanding how it not only influences audiences but also how it can be better implemented. We suggest that EE evaluation has largely focused on impact while its implementation, specifically through narrative, characters, and genre, has remained unexplored. We propose drawing from theories and methods used in media studies to complement current approaches to understanding and evaluation of EE that can help improve EE for health education. East Los High serves as a case study, through which we examine the characters and the narrative demands of the telenovela genre to reveal a disproportional depiction of Latino men and women that ultimately replays familiar Latino stereotypes of criminality and exaggerated sexuality. We discuss the implications this has on the show's ability to do public health work.
Miniature lasers: what does and what does not matter? (Conference Presentation)

Recent years have seen an increase of interest in developing nano-scale sources of coherent radiation. Numerous schemes includes novel confinement techniques such as plasmons and micro resonators as well as novel materials, such as two-dimensional transition metal di-chalcogenides have been investigated. In the process a lot of confusion has been produced by introduction into consideration of numerous parameters such as Purcell factor and the beta (fraction of spontaneous emission going into a given mode). That confusion makes comparative analysis of miniature lasers difficult. In this talk we show that the only parameters defining the laser threshold are the modal loss, quantum efficiency and physical volume of gain medium. Using this method we compare the novel lasers with existing state of the art – DFB and VCSELs and draw conclusions.
Association of Early Postoperative Pain Trajectories With Longer-term Pain Outcome After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Importance Studies to date have not comprehensively examined pain experience after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Discrete patterns of pain in this period might be associated with pain outcomes at 6 to 12 months after TKA. Objectives To examine patterns of individual post-TKA pain trajectories and to assess their independent associations with longer-term pain outcome after TKA. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective cohort study combined data from a national US TKA cohort with ancillary pain severity data at 2 weeks and 8 weeks after the index TKA using a numeric rating scale. All participants received primary, unilateral TKA within the Function and Outcomes Research for Comparative Effectiveness in Total Joint Replacement (FORCE-TJR) national network of community sites in 22 states or at the lead site (University of Massachusetts Medical School). Participants had a date of surgery between May 1, 2013, and December 1, 2014. The data analysis was performed between January 13, 2015, and July 5, 2016. Exposures Pain trajectories in the postoperative period (8 weeks). Main Outcomes and Measures Index knee pain at 6 months after TKA using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) pain scale. Group-based trajectory methods examined the presence of pain trajectories in the postoperative period (8 weeks) and assessed whether trajectories were independently associated with longer-term pain (6 months). Results The cohort included 659 patients who underwent primary TKA with complete data at 4 points (preoperative, 2 weeks, 8 weeks, and 26 weeks). Their mean (SD) age was 67.1 (8.0) years, 64.5% (425 of 659) were female, the mean (SD) body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) was 30.77 (5.66), 94.5% (613 of 649) were white, and the mean (SD) preoperative 36-Item Short Form Health Survey physical component summary and mental component summary scores were 34.1 (8.2) and 53.8 (11.4), respectively. Two pain trajectory subgroups were identified at 8 weeks after TKA: patients who experienced fast pain relief in the first 8 weeks after TKA (fast pain responders, composing 72.4% [477 of 659] of the sample) and patients who did not (slow pain responders, composing 27.6% [182 of 659] of the sample). After adjusting for patient factors, the pain trajectory at 8 weeks after TKA was independently associated with the mean KOOS pain score at 6 months, with a between-trajectory difference of −11.3 (95% CI, −13.9 to −8.7). Conclusions and Relevance The trajectory among slow pain responders at 8 weeks after surgery was independently associated with improved but greater persistent index knee pain at 6 months after TKA compared with that among fast pain responders. Early identification of patients with a trajectory of slow pain response at 8 weeks after TKA may offer an opportunity for interventions in the perioperative period to potentially improve the long-term pain outcomes after TKA.
Anatomical Study of Two Cricothyroid Approaches to the Cadaver Larynx.

Summary Objective The purpose of this study was to measure the angle and depth at which the vocal folds are accessed via transcutaneous injection through two different approaches through the cricothyroid membrane. Methods Twenty-five cadavers preserved with formalin were studied. The larynges were bisected through the thyroid notch, and the skin and soft tissue were removed. A 27-gauge needle was inserted through the cricothyroid membrane, once from just inferior to the thyroid cartilage and once from just superior to the cricoid cartilage, and advanced to the midpoint of the musculomembranous vocal fold (determined as the halfway point from anterior commissure to vocal process), immediately lateral to the vocalis muscle without penetrating the epithelium. The angle of approach was determined after taking multiple measurements with a Castroviejo caliper. The depth of the needle was measured. Results Ten male and 15 female cadavers were studied. Their average age was 85.5 ± 12.4 years. The mean distance from midline for an injection performed with 0° of lateral angle was 5.7 ± 0.7 mm for the males, which was significantly greater than for females (4.8 ± 0.8 mm, P = 0.012). The insertion angle for the infrathyroid approach was 22.2 ± 6.9°, which was significantly different from the supracricoid angle, which was 33.0 ± 5.2° (P Conclusions Comparison of a supracricoid and infrathyroid approach through the cricothyroid membrane to the middle third of the vocal folds demonstrated significant differences in angle of approach. We also identified a significant difference in the angle of entry between male and female larynges in both approaches, as well as an increased depth of insertion required in males for the supracricoid approach.
Matrix stiffness regulates endosomal escape of uropathogenic E. coli

Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) infection in vivo is characterized by invasion of bladder umbrella epithelial cells followed by endosomal escape and proliferation in the cytoplasm to form intracellular bacterial communities. By contrast, UPEC infection in tissue culture models results in bacteria being trapped within Lamp1-positive endosomes where proliferation is limited. Pharmacological disruption of the actin cytoskeleton has been shown to facilitate UPEC endosomal escape in vitro and extracellular matrix stiffness is a well-characterized physiological regulator of actin dynamics; therefore, we hypothesized that substrate stiffness may play a role in UPEC endosomal escape. Using functionalized polyacrylamide substrates, we found that at physiological stiffness, UPEC escaped the endosome and proliferated rapidly in the cytoplasm of bladder epithelial cells. Dissection of the cytoskeletal signaling pathway demonstrated that inhibition of the Rho GTPase RhoB or its effector PRK1 was sufficient to increase cytoplasmic bacterial growth and that RhoB protein level was significantly reduced at physiological stiffness. Our data suggest that tissue stiffness is a critical regulator of intracellular bacterial growth. Due to the ease of doing genetic and pharmacological manipulations in cell culture, this model system may provide a useful tool for performing mechanistic studies on the intracellular life cycle of uropathogens.
Using word embeddings in abstracts to accelerate metallocene catalysis polymerization research

Abstract Natural language processing (NLP) and word embeddings trained neural networks were investigated as a more efficient method to extract useful information on catalytic polymerizations. Thousands of abstracts on metallocene-catalyzed polymerizations were accessed through journal Application Programming Interfaces. These abstracts were then used to create a group of related models to produce word embeddings, making use of the word2vec algorithm. This algorithm turns vocabulary into high dimensional vectors using unsupervised training. These vectors can then be used to show relationships between chemicals, suggest catalysts and activators combinations, understand acronyms, and categorize chemical compounds based on their reagent classification. We hypothesize that one can determine which areas of metallocene catalysis are understudied by comparing the predicted abstract and catalysts combinations with those found in existing abstracts, thereby guiding research to major breakthroughs as scientific literature continues to grow.
A Heuristic Baseline Method for Metadata Extraction from Scanned Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Extracting metadata from scholarly papers is an important text mining problem. Widely used open-source tools such as GROBID are designed for born-digital scholarly papers but often fail for scanned documents, such as Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs). Here we present a preliminary baseline work with a heuristic model to extract metadata from the cover pages of scanned ETDs. The process started with converting scanned pages into images and then text files by applying OCR tools. Then a series of carefully designed regular expressions for each field is applied, capturing patterns for seven metadata fields: titles, authors, years, degrees, academic programs, institutions, and advisors. The method is evaluated on a ground truth dataset comprised of rectified metadata provided by the Virginia Tech and MIT libraries. Our heuristic method achieves an accuracy of up to 97% on the fields of the ETD text files. Our method poses a strong baseline for machine learning based methods. To our best knowledge, this is the first work attempting to extract metadata from non-born-digital ETDs.
D-serine mitigates cell loss associated with temporal lobe epilepsy.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common type of drug-resistant epilepsy in adults, with an unknown etiology. A hallmark of TLE is the characteristic loss of layer 3 neurons in the medial entorhinal area (MEA) that underlies seizure development. One approach to intervention is preventing loss of these neurons through better understanding of underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Here, we show that both neurons and glia together give rise to the pathology that is mitigated by the amino acid D-serine whose levels are potentially diminished under epileptic conditions. Focal administration of D-serine to the MEA attenuates neuronal loss in this region thereby preventing epileptogenesis in an animal model of TLE. Additionally, treatment with D-serine reduces astrocyte counts in the MEA, alters their reactive status, and attenuates proliferation and/or infiltration of microglia to the region thereby curtailing the deleterious consequences of neuroinflammation. Given the paucity of compounds that reduce hyperexcitability and neuron loss, have anti-inflammatory properties, and are well tolerated by the brain, D-serine, an endogenous amino acid, offers new hope as a therapeutic agent for refractory TLE. Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) can be unresponsive to treatment. Here, the authors show that treatment with D-Serine mitigates TLE and acts on neurons and glia, attenuating neuronal loss and reducing astro- and microgliosis in rodents.
The Relationship Between Medicare Advantage Star Ratings and Enrollee Experience

Medicare Advantage plans, private managed care plans that enrolled 34% of Medicare beneficiaries in 2019, received $6 billion in annual bonus payments on the basis of their performance on a 5-star rating system. Little is known, however, as to the extent these ratings adequately capture enrollee experience. To measure the effect of exposure to higher rated Medicare Advantage contracts on enrollee experience. An instrumental variables analysis using MA contract consolidation as an exogenous shock to the quality of plan enrollees are exposed to. A total of 345,897 MA enrollees enrolled in non-consolidated contracts and 21,405 enrollees who were consolidated. The primary exposure was enrollee star rating, instrumented using contract consolidation. The primary outcomes were enrollee self-reported experience measures. There were no significant effects on increased star ratings on 23 of 27 outcomes. A one-star increase in contract star rating leads to a 5.4 percentage point increase in reporting that pain does not interfere with daily activities (95%CI 2.4, 8.4), and a 4.4 percentage reduction in the likelihood that a physician would talk to the enrollee about physical activity (95%CI: −7.8, −1.1, all p<0.05). A one-star increase in contract star rating led to an 8.4 percentage point reduction in achieving the top score on the received needed information index (95%CI: −16.4, −0.4), and a 1.8 percentage point reduction in responding with the lowest score for the overall rating of care (95%CI: −3.5, −0.1). Exposure to a higher rated MA contract did not appreciably increase enrollee experience. Policymakers should consider reassessing how these ratings and associated bonus payments are currently calculated.
Medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Purpose of review To summarize recent developments in the diagnosis and management of patients with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), with a focus on pathogenesis, systemic therapy, and future directions. Recent findings The addition of mutational analysis to cytological assessment of thyroid nodules has improved the diagnostic accuracy of MTC. The discovery of new genomic alterations and overexpression of certain factors allows for improved prognostication in MTC and provides potentially new therapeutic agents. New data suggest that tumor environment may be more immunogenic than previously thought in a subset of MTCs with identification of a new MTC-specific antigen leading to a revival of investigating immune-based therapy for this disease. The newly approved selective rearranged during transfection (RET0-inhibitors, selpercatinib and pralsetinib, offer promising results, and tolerability for patients with RET-mutated MTC; however, the development of resistance mechanisms may be problematic. Summary MTC has witnessed remarkable advancements in recent years. Our new understanding of some of the driver mutations in MTC allows for therapeutics with more tolerable adverse event profiles. However, there is still a need for more effective treatment strategies for subsets of patients without actionable mutations and for those who develop resistance to currently available therapies.
Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder stenting to prevent acute cholecystitis in patients receiving FCEMS for benign biliary stricture.

Background and study aims Fully covered self-expanding metal stents (FCSEMS) are being increasingly used for benign biliary strictures (BBS); however, they are associated with risk of acute cholecystitis. Prophylactic endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder stenting (ETPGBS) can facilitate continuous gallbladder drainage and prevent acute cholecystitis from occlusion of cystic duct orifice by the FCSEMS. The aim of this study was to assess the technical feasibility, efficacy, and safety of ETPGBS to prevent acute cholecystitis in patients receiving FCSEMS for BBS. Patients and methods This was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database at a single center of all patients who underwent prophylactic ETPGBS with FCSEMS for BBS between December 1, 2016 and November 30, 2020. Results A total of 71 ETPGBS were placed during the study period. Sixteen patients (mean age: 66.4 ± 19.8 years; 81 % male) underwent ETPGBS prior to biliary FCSEMS during the same endoscopic session. FCSEMS were left in place (stent dwell time) for a median of 173 days (range: 69–473; mean 196 ± 121) with resolution of BBS and successful removal of ETPGBS and FCSEMS in 12 patients. There was significant improvement in total bilirubin level (5.25 ± 5.53 vs 0.94 ± 0.85 gm/dL; P = 0.008). No episodes of acute cholecystitis or any other post-procedural complications were noted during the median follow-up of 337 days (range: 150–856; mean 394 ± 236). Conclusions ETPGBS prevented stent-related acute cholecystitis with continued efficacy of FCSEMS for BBS.
On enumerative prose in ESL: The rhetorical structure and learning challenges of one type of collection

A number of researchers (Meyer 1975, 1977a, 1977b; Meyer, Brandt & Bluth 1980; Meyer & Freedle 1984; Carrell 1983; Connor 1984) have claimed that Collection is one of the most rudimentary of expository text configurations. They suggest that, unlike expository configurations such as Comparison, Causation and Problem/Solution, it possesses no top-level structure at all. In this paper, I will re-examine the structure of one type of Collection by building on a set of claims by Tadros (1994) which suggest, contra Meyer and others, a clear basic rhetorical make-up for Collection. I will closely examine a type of Collection referred to by Tadros as Enumeration, to argue that it possesses a well-defined constituent structure and set of interconstituent relationships. I will then analyse randomly selected samples from a body of twenty essays by Cantonese-speaking freshmen enrolled in the English department of a Hong Kong university, to support two claims: 1° the majority of these learners have considerable difficulty conforming to the interconstituent constraints on Enumeration; 2° as a group they show evidence of three developmentally differentiable levels of acquisition of the rhetorical structure of Enumeration. In a final section, I will consider the pedagogical implications of these findings.
Brief of Intellectual Property Law Professors as Amici Curiae in Support of Defendant-Appellee and Affirmance in Omega S.A. v. Costco Wholesale Corp.

Summary of Argument: Copyright is not an invitation for businesses to circumvent trademark law, much less to control the distribution of uncopyrightable, functional devices. Amici respectfully submit this brief to explain why Omega’s attempt to stop others from reselling lawfully purchased Omega watches is copyright misuse, as the district court correctly found. The only part of the watch in which Omega claims copyright protection is a tiny insignia engraved on the back of the watch. However, instead of limiting its copyright to the insignia — a merely incidental feature of the watch that Omega strategically tacked on — Omega seeks to leverage the insignia’s copyright to encompass the entire watch, which is functional and cannot be copyrighted. Omega’s leveraging its copyright for a token feature to restrict the entire watch’s redistribution conflicts with both trademark law’s pro-competition policy in allowing resale of lawfully purchased consumer goods and copyright law’s policy of leaving functional devices to patent law for protection. Omega’s conduct is misuse also because it circumvents Costco’s fair use of the incidental insignia.
Attempts to Improve Survivorship and Condition of Pond-Reared Hybrid Striped Bass during Live Transport

AbstractAnecdotal information from fish growers in Illinois has suggested that pond-reared hybrid Striped Bass (White Bass Morone chrysops × Striped Bass M. saxatilis) are more vulnerable to transportation-related stressors than are cage-reared fish. We conducted two simulated transport experiments to verify these reports and explored ameliorative strategies. In experiment 1, we evaluated changes in blood chemistry and water quality during transport of pond- versus cage-reared hybrid Striped Bass. Replicate trials were conducted on 4 d in August 2013. For each trial, market-size fish (weight = 650 ± 13 g, mean ± SE) were harvested from earthen ponds and floating cages, stocked in a two-compartment, semibaffled, insulated, aluminum live hauler supplied with supplemental oxygenation (density = 97 ± 3 g/L), and held for 8 h. Changes in circulating cortisol, glucose, lactate, and osmolality indicated all fish underwent an acute stress response following harvest and transport, but subtle differences in perform...
Data swapping: a risk-utility framework and web service implementation

We describe a risk-utility framework for selecting among swapped data releases, NISS WebSwap-a Web service that performs data swapping, and the NISS WebSwap graphical user interface.
Forgiveness Intervention Model

Abstract The literature suggests that the dynamics of an ongoing, cooperative, mutually supportive relationship between divorced parents are in the best interests of the children, as well as the adults involved. The Forgiveness Model for Coparenting presented here draws upon and synthesizes the literature on forgiveness and empirical studies to offer a therapeutic guide for clinicians working with individuals or couples in this situation. The intervention model is a three-stage conceptual framework, each stage having cognitive, affective and behavioral tasks. The therapeutic goal is to assist former partners to move beyond initial hostilities and resentment to more civil and mutually supportive interactions as co-parents.
Planar inductor structure with variable flux distribution —A benefit or impediment?

The planar inductor with lateral flux pattern has been successfully demonstrated as a substrate for the high density 3D integrated point-of-load (POL) module. By decoupling the flux distribution from the thickness of the core, both an ultrathin core structure and a high power density can be achieved simultaneously. However, the flux distribution in the lateral flux core is very non-uniform, which is totally against the conventional sense of the inductor design, namely the flux should be as uniform as possible. This paper reveals the DC flux and AC flux counterbalance phenomenon, by which the AC flux and core loss in the saturated core are essentially limited. The comparison between the core with variable flux and the core with relatively constant flux is presented, based on a specific high current POL application. The inductance density and the performance factor are proposed as the criteria to evaluate the utilization of the core for different magnetic structures. The variable flux core with multiple DC bias safely extended the operating points into saturation region, which gives better utilization of the core. The FEA simulation and measurement also prove that the core temperature is almost uniform for this planar core with variable flux, despite of 2∼3 times difference in core loss density distribution. Because of the better thermal management capability, the planar core can be pushed to higher core loss density level than the core with relatively uniform flux, to realize lower total core loss and smaller core volume. In addition, the planar core saves more core loss at light load, due to the AC flux and core loss density redistributions.
Is the Mathematical Explanation of Physical Data Unique

Within cognitive experience, traditional philosophy and common sense distinguish two polar epistemological components: those called data and the rational elements called concepts. The former are used as protocol (P) experiences and are taken as authoritative, as the last instances of appeal of any theory; the latter owe their genesis to reason rather than observation, we feel a rational responsibility concerning them and modify them with some freedom. They are constructed as counterparts to data in order to provide a larger measure of coherence and intelligibility than P-experiences alone contain. Whether concepts, originally constructed to satisfy inductive suggestions coming from observations, are ultimately accepted and retained as valid explanations of datal experience depends on the way in which they meet a set of complicated requirements. Primary among these requirements is empirical confirmation, the need for conclusions drawn from theory (which is itself a set of constructs joined by logical and mathematical relations) to be confirmed within a certain tolerance by observations. Other requirements, more vague in their formulation, demand simplicity, mathematical elegance, extensibility, causality in the theoretical transcription of data.
Space Technology 5 (ST5) Mission

First page of article Keywords: space technology 5 (ST5) mission; communications components for small spacecraft
The Los Angeles Latino Eye Study: design, methods, and baseline data

Abstract Objective To describe the study design, operational strategies, procedures, and baseline characteristics of the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study (LALES), a population-based assessment of the prevalence of visual impairment, ocular disease, and visual functioning in Latinos. Design Population-based, cross-sectional study. Participants Six thousand three hundred fifty-seven Latinos 40 years and older from 6 census tracts in Los Angeles, California. Methods A detailed interview and eye examination were performed on each eligible participant. The interview included an assessment of demographic, behavioral, and ocular risk factors and health-related and vision-related quality of life. The eye examination included a measurement of visual acuity, intraocular pressure, and visual fields; fundus and optic disc photography; a detailed anterior and posterior segment examination; and measurement of blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, and blood glucose levels. Main outcome measures Prevalence of visual impairment, blindness, cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration constitute the study's primary outcome variables. Secondary outcomes include odds ratios for risk factors associated with eye disease, health-related quality of life, and vision-related quality of life. Response rates and baseline characteristics are presented. Results Of the 7789 individuals eligible for LALES, 6357 (82%) had a clinical examination; an additional 524 completed only an in-home interview. The majority of participants were female (58%), the average (± standard deviation) age was 54.9 (±10.8) years, and 80.0% were of Mexican origin and 0.4% self-identified as American Indian or Alaskan Native. The age distribution of LALES participants was similar to that of Latinos of Mexican origin in the rest of the United States. Conclusion The LALES has recruited Latinos 40 and older for an ophthalmic epidemiologic study. The LALES cohort will provide information about the prevalence and risk factors of ocular disease in the largest and fastest growing minority in the United States.
The Evolution of Vitellogenins, Cyclorrhaphan Yolk Proteins and Related Molecules

Publisher Summary Vitellogenins are serum proteins that are considered major protein components of the yolk of an egg. Vitellogenins are related to other serum proteins that bind lipid in vertebrates, such as apolipoprotein B (apo B). On the other hand, the yolk proteins are low-molecular weight molecules present in the eggs of cyclorrhaphan Diptera. Using several phylogenetic and statistical approaches, the chapter confirms the relationship between the cyclorrhaphan yolk proteins and the lipases, between the vitellogenins and the apo B family. It exhibits that the lipophorins are also significantly similar to this family. The existence of a conserved region in the deduced amino-acid sequences of vitellogenin genes of three insects— namely, mosquito, boll weevil, and silkworm is also reported. This region is conserved in other vitellogenin genes and contains a region identified as α-helix-rich in the lamprey and that the yolk protein sequences align with this conserved region. The chapter presents an evidence that can indicate either a distant relationship between yolk protein genes and vitellogenin genes or that they have evolved convergently owing to ligand binding constraints.
VARIABLE EUV EMISSION IN THE QUIET SUN AND CORONAL HEATING

We review the characteristics of the variable emission from the small scale structure in the quiet sun, in view of the recent theoretical proposals that microflares are responsible for the heating of the corona and the solar wind. We consider the observational properties of the variable emission in quiet regions and coronal holes. Our results are based primarily on simultaneous multiwavelength EUV observations, supplemented by combinations of simultaneous cm radio, He I 10830 A, X-ray and line of sight photospheric magnetic field measurements. We show that the variable emission from the small-scale structure has surprisingly well-defined properties. Yet, within the limit of the temporal and spatial resolution of data currently available, the radiative losses, from this component of the emission, are a factor of ten smaller than that in the quiet sun. Hence, the theory of microflare heating cannot rely on these observations for support.
ZnO nanowires–polyimide nanocomposite piezoresistive strain sensor

Abstract In this paper, we report a significant piezoresistive effect found in ZnO nanowires–polyimide nanocomposite. ZnO nanowires were synthesized through a simple hydrothermal route and subsequently mixed with polyimide matrix to form ZnO nanowires–polyimide nanocomposite. Electrical properties of the nanocomposite films, such as electrical conductivity, relative dielectric permittivity, impedance spectrum and electrical I–V curve, change with weight ratio of ZnO nanowires were characterized. Electrical measurement results indicated that the percolation threshold of the nanocomposite is about 15% weight ratio of ZnO nanowires. Piezoresistive effect of the nanocomposite was investigated and large gauge factor was observed for this nanocomposite. Strain sensors based on the nanocomposite thin films using interdigital electrodes were fabricated and used to measure the static and dynamic strain in a cantilever beam and the results were validated by theoretical calculation and measurements by other technique. With excellent flexibility, simple fabrication process, and large piezoresistive gauge factor, this novel ZnO nanocomposite can be used for strain sensors in many mechanical, civil, aerospace, and medical applications.
A batch-fabricated silicon capacitive pressure transducer with low temperature sensitivity

A batch-fabricated solid-state capacitive pressure transducer has been developed using silicon integrated-circuit technology. The fabricated devices exhibit a dynamic range of 350 mmHg and a pressure sensitivity of about 1100 ppm/mmHg. The temperature coefficient of zero-pressure offset is about +50 ppm/°C (less than 0.05 mmHg/°C) and the temperature coefficient of pressure sensitivity over the -20 to +50°C temperature span is about +275 ppm/°C (less than 0.04 mmHg/°C) when the device is used with an open or vacuum-sealed reference cavity. These temperature coefficients are substantially lower than those of previously reported monolithic devices and are low enough that expensive temperature trims can be eliminated for many applications.
Design of a controlled-brake orthosis for regulating FES-aided gait

A hybrid FES / orthosis system is being developed which includes a long-legged brace with controllable friction brakes at the knee and hip joints. The intent of this system is to achieve acceptable lower limb trajectories by utilizing the stimulated muscles as a source of unregulated power and to regulate this power at each joint through control of the brakes. The design of a laboratory version of the orthosis to test this concept is described.
Alternative medicine use by patients with epilepsy.

Abstract Purpose. The objectives of this study were, first, to determine the prevalence, characteristics, and demographic patterns of alternative medicine (AM) use in patients with epilepsy, and second, to ascertain the extent to which these patients inform the neurologist of AM use. Methods. Surveys were distributed randomly to patients attending a tertiary care epilepsy clinic. The survey assessed use of specific herbal medicine/dietary supplements, along with other forms of AM. Results. Of 150 surveys distributed, 92 were used for analysis. Twenty-two patients with epilepsy (24%) used AM, and only 31% of AM users reported such to their neurologists. Massage and herbs/supplements were used the most, and only two patients used AM specifically for treatment related to epilepsy. Conclusions. A sizable minority of patients with epilepsy who visit our tertiary care clinic use AM. Health professionals should actively monitor therapies to ensure safety and effectiveness with combined traditional medicine and AM use.
Recognition models evaluated: a commentary on Keren and Baggen.

In a recent paper (1981), Keren and Baggen proposed two new models for alphanumeric confusion data, based on Tversky’s (1977) feature model of similarity, and compared them with Luce’s (1963) biased choice model. On the basis of their data, they concluded that, although the choice model fit slightly better, their models were to be preferred on grounds of parsimony and interpretability. It is shown here that both of these models are special cases of the Luce model, so that the general Luce model will necessarily fit better. This leads to considerable reinterpretation of Keren and Baggen’s conclusions. Finally, better methods of estimating parameters and evaluating goodness-of-fit are suggested, taking advantage of this relation between the models.
Cervical dysplasia in pregnancy: a multi-institutional evaluation

Objective This study was undertaken to identify the prognostic indicators associated with postpartum regression of cervical dysplasia diagnosed in pregnancy. Study Design A retrospective cohort study of pregnant women referred for colposcopy from 2004-2007 at four academic centers. Results One thousand seventy-nine patients were identified. Colposcopic impression by cervical cytology is detailed later in the text. Of patients who underwent biopsy, results correlated with or were less severe than colposcopic impression in 83% with CIN 1 and 56% with CIN 2/3. Fifty-seven percent had follow-up postpartum, with 61% reverting to normal. Resolution of cervical dysplasia was inversely associated with smoking ( P = .002). No progression to cancer occurred during pregnancy. Conclusion Colposcopic impression in pregnancy correlated with cervical biopsy results and postpartum colposcopic findings when performed by expert colposcopists. A high proportion of cervical dysplasia regressed postpartum. Cervical biopsies in pregnancy may not be necessary unless invasive cancer is suspected.
Recoil 18F chemistry. Superexcited molecules from non-thermal F-for-F substitution in CF4

Abstract Nuclear recoil F-for-F substitution reactions have been studied in gaseous CF 4 over the effective pressure range 1.0–44.5 kTorr. At 1.0 kTorr 76.7% of the initially formed CF 3 18 F undergoes secondary decomposition and 12.4% undergoes 20.4 eV endoergic complete dissociative atomization. An approximate phenomenological technique is described for characterizing the CF 3 18 F excitation energy probability density distribution.
Application of a computational glass model to compute propagation of failure from ballistic impact of borosilicate glass targets

Parametric studies were conducted using a recent computational glass model [1] to assess its ability to replicate the rate and extent of damage resulting from ballistic impact of borosilicate glass. Penetration and the position of the failure front were determined as a function of time in experiments using long and short rods at two impact velocities, nominally 1000 m/s and 2100 m/s. Simulations were conducted of the experiments and the results compared to the experiments. Parametric studies examined the effects of very slight changes in the initial impact velocity, time-dependent failure, the inclusion of the third deviatoric stress invariant (J3), mesh resolution, and changes in the strength of intact glass. Results are compared and contrasted, and conclusions drawn on the effect of model parameters in simulating results of impact experiments in different velocity regimes.
Top decay physics at CDF and measurement of the CKM element V{sub tb}

Now that the top quark`s existence has been firmly established by the CDF and D0 experiments{sup 1,2)}, we begin to measure its properties. Branching fractions are of particular interest in the case of the t quark, since they probe the couplings of the top quark to gauge bosons and other quarks, and because ``the top quark is the only quark with reasonable mass``{sup 3)}. Because the top quark is the only quark with mass comparable to the electroweak scale, its decays, particularly non-standard decays, might shed some light on what makes the top quark different from lighter quarks, and the role it plays in electroweak symmetry breaking. This paper describes some recent measurements on the decay of the top quark using the CDF detector, a general purpose detector designed to study p{bar p} collisions at {radical}s=1.8 TeV; it has been described in detail elsewhere{sup 4,1)}. The analyses presented use 100-110 pb{minus}{sup 1} of data collected between 1992 and 1995 at the Fermilab TeVatron.
Efficacy of Atropine as a Chronotropic Agent in Heart Transplant Patients Undergoing Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography

Background After heart transplant (HTX), the heart is completely denervated. While sympathetic reinnervation is likely to occur, there is conflicting evidence regarding parasympathetic reinnervation. Accordingly, it is unclear if atropine is efficacious as a chronotropic agent in HTX patients undergoing dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE), since cholinergic cardiac stimulation is required for atropine to exert its effect. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that atropine can sufficiently increase the heart rate (HR) in HTX patients undergoing DSE. Methods A retrospective review was performed on 68 HTX patients who underwent DSE as part of their routine annual HTX follow-ups. Dobutamine was administered in the standard fashion of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 mcg/kg per minute with blood pressure and electrocardiographic monitoring. If target HR was not attained, atropine was administered to aid in achieving 85% of maximum age-predicted HR. Results Mean patient age was 58 +/- 10 years. Mean period since transplant was 9 +/- 4 years. Forty-seven (69%) patients received dobutamine only, and 21 (31%) required additional atropine to reach target HR. Of the 21 patients who received atropine, 10 (48%) reached target HR. Neither time from transplant, age, gender, resting HR, medications, nor atherosclerotic risk factors predicted responsiveness to atropine. Those responding to dobutamine had a significantly greater resting HR than those receiving additional atropine. Conclusions The adjunctive use of atropine in HTX patients during DSE aids in reaching 85% of maximum predicted HR in some patients. Furthermore, resting HR may predict the additional need of atropine during DSE.
FDG PET of pleural effusions in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE. We determined the ability of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) to differentiate benign and malignant pleural effusions in patients with non—small cell lung cancer.MATERIALS AND METHODS. Over a 6-year period, we reviewed all patients with primary non—small cell lung cancer and a pleural effusion on staging CT who underwent FDG PET. We examined 25 patients (18 men and seven women; age range, 37-86 years; mean age, 65 years). FDG PET revealed positive findings if pleural activity was greater than background mediastinal activity; FDG PET revealed negative findings if pleural activity was the same as or less than background mediastinal activity. Results of FDG PET were correlated with pathologic diagnosis determined with thoracentesis or pleural biopsy.RESULTS. All patients had effusions on the same side as the primary tumor. Twenty-two patients had a malignant pleural effusion confirmed with thoracentesis (n = 19) or biopsy (n = 3). FDG PET revealed positive findings i...
Organizational Stories as a Window on Affect in Organizations

Research on organizational culture has provided much needed subtlety in understanding organizational events. However, it has a cognitive bias which leaves implicit the treatment of emotional phenomena. Organizational stories can provide a window on affect in organizations if we view stories as symbolically embedded appraisals of wellbeing. Presents an illustrative case to demonstrate how such enquiry might proceed.
Synthesis and Self-Assembly of an Oligonucleotide-Modified Cyclobutadiene Complex

An oligonucleotide-functionalized cyclobutadiene complex and its hybridization to a double-stranded organometallic DNA-object are reported here.
Phragmoplasts in the absence of nuclear division

All land plants (embryophytes) use a phragmoplast for cytokinesis. Phragmoplasts are distinctive cytoskeletal structures that are instrumental in the deposition of new walls in both vegetative and reproductive phases of the life cycle. In meristems, the phragmoplast is initiated among remaining non-kinetochore spindle fibers between sister nuclei and expands to join parental walls at the site previously marked by the preprophase band of microtubules (PPB). The microtubule cycle and cell cycle are closely coordinated: the hoop-like cortical microtubules of interphase are replaced by the PPB just prior to prophase, the PPB disappears as the spindle forms, and the phragmoplast mediates cell plate deposition after nuclear division. In the reproductive phase, however, cortical microtubules and PPBs are absent and cytokinesis may be uncoupled from the cell cycle resulting in multinucleate cells (syncytia). Minisyncytia of 4 nuclei occur in microsporocytes and several (typically 8) nuclei occur in the developing megagametophyte. Macrosyncytia with thousands of nuclei may occur in the nuclear type endosperm. Cellularization of syncytia involves formation of adventitious phragmoplasts at boundaries of nuclear-cytoplasmic domains (NCDs) defined by radial microtubule systems (RMSs) emanating from non-sister nuclei. Once initiated in the region of microtubule overlap at interfaces of opposing RMSs, the adventitious phragmoplasts appear structurally identical to interzonal phragmoplasts. Phragmoplasts are constructed of multiple opposing arrays similar to what have been termed microtubule converging centers. The individual phragmoplast units are distinctive fusiform bundles of anti-parallel microtubules bisected by a dark mid-zone where vesicles accumulate and fuse into a cell plate.
Importance of Highly Conserved Anionic Residues and Electrostatic Interactions in the Activity and Structure of the Cardiotonic Polypeptide Anthopleurin B

Several polypeptide toxins from sea anemones cause delayed inactivation of mammalian voltage-dependent sodium channels, resulting in a positive inotropic effect on the heart. Anthopleurin B (ApB), a toxin produced by the sea anemone Anthopleura xanthogrammica, is the most potent of all known anemone toxins. Previous studies in this laboratory have both defined and revealed an important role for the cationic cluster of Arg-12, Arg-14, and Lys-49 in the expression of ApB's biological activity. In the present investigation, we explore the role of all remaining charged residues by producing and characterizing mutants of ApB at Asp-7, Asp-9, Lys-37, His-39, and His-34. Recombinant toxins have been purified to homogeneity and their abilities to enhance veratridine-dependent sodium uptake in cell lines expressing either the neuronal or cardiac isoform of the sodium channel evaluated. Replacement of Asp-7 results in a product that fails to fold, while muteins H39A and H34A have activities very similar or identica...
High-calcium pyroxene as an indicator of igneous differentiation in asteroids and meteorites

Our analyses of high quality spectra of several S-type asteroids (17 Thetis, 847 Agnia, 808 Merxia, and members of the Agnia and Merxia families) reveal that they include both low- and highcalcium pyroxene with minor amounts of olivine ( ~0.4. High-calcium pyroxene is a spectrally detectable and petrologically important indicator of igneous history and may prove critical in future studies aimed at understanding the history of asteroidal bodies. The silicate mineralogy inferred for Thetis and the Merxia and Agnia family members requires that these asteroids experienced igneous differentiation, producing broadly basaltic surface lithologies. Together with 4 Vesta (and its smaller "Vestoid" family members) and the main-belt asteroid 1489 Magnya, these new asteroids provide strong evidence for igneous differentiation of at least five asteroid parent bodies. Based on this analysis of a small subset of the near-infrared asteroid spectra taken to date with SpeX at the NASA IRTF, we expect that the number of known differentiated asteroids will increase, consistent with the large number of parent bodies inferred from studies of iron meteorites.
Noise analysis of Mach–Zehnder squeezer for nonclassical input state

The squeezing by a nonlinear symmetric Mach–Zehnder interferometer is investigated when the input state of the pump is nonclassical. No linearization approximation is made. The analysis shows that the homodyne noise between the two outputs of the squeezer is suppressed well below the standard quantum limit if the uncertainty of the input photon number is not large. This fact suggests that, even if each output has large phase uncertainty, the two outputs are strongly phase correlated.
Calibration of on-orbit IR sensors by off-board illumination of neighboring satellites

Space borne overhead non-imaging (non-focusing) infrared (ONIR) sensors require on-orbit calibration to validate performance of sensor payloads. Typically this is accomplished by the use of ground based observations including laser illumination of the calibrated sensor. This provides a-priori knowledge of the laser characteristics and atmospheric propagation thereby providing the sensor operators a method for deducing the true system level performance. Of concern is the need to avoid laser illumination of other satellites to prevent inadvertent damage or temporary mission degradation. The complex predictive avoidance process is necessarily bureaucratic and time-consuming due to the need to entertain the interests of multiple stakeholders. Herein is described a method for mutual calibration of co-orbital ONIR sensors by use of incoherent off-board illumination of a sample with known spectral reflectivity. The method will not involve laser illumination, will be less threatening to neighboring spacecraft, and will not require predictive avoidance processes.