cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigating Predictors of Treatment Attrition Among Court-Ordered Batterers

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in demographic variables and psychological variables between treatment completers and drop-outs among abusive men entering a court-mandated treatment program. Method: The study gathered Domestic Violence Inventory (DVI) scores from 91 men, 66 treatment completers and 25 drop-outs, beginning court-ordered treatment for domestic violence offenses. Results: Logistic regression analyses indicated that none of the demographic variables or the psychological variables differentiated treatment completers from drop-outs. Conclusion: Implications of the findings for improving retention rates among men attending court-mandated batterer treatment programs were explored and discussed.
Serologic response of Babesia equi-infected horses as measured by complement-fixation and indirect fluorescent antibody tests

Abstract Both the complement-fixation test (CFT) and the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) were conducted on weekly serum samples from nine Arab geldings for 28 days before and 256 days after their exposure to Babesia equi of European origin. On an average the IFAT became positive 8 days before the CFT and showed higher relative serum titer increases. Both test procedures successfully detected infection and neither showed an appreciable drop in titer during this time frame, with the exception of the CFT, which showed a transient drop immediately following treatment with imidocarb. A test conducted 540 days after infection showed four of the eight surviving, and presumably infected, horses to be negative on CFT, where as all eight were still positive on IFAT. Comparisons made with the IFAT, on horse sera from B. equi infection of both European and North American origin, utilizing homologous and heterologous antigens, showed significantly higher titers with homologous antigens.
Electronic structure, magnetic properties, and Mössbauer isomer shifts of Fe and TiFe alloys.

The self-consistent discrete variational method and the local X\ensuremath{\alpha} exchange approximation have been employed to obtain the electronic structure of 15-atom clusters representing Fe metal and TiFe alloys. The dependence of the magnetic moment and isomer shift of iron metal on pressure was investigated. Local moments of Ti dilute impurities in Fe were calculated. The ordered (CsCl-structure) intermetallic compound FeTi, which represents a concentrated-impurity limit of the TiFe alloys, was also studied, and an isomer-shift (IS) value obtained. The results show that the cluster approach yields magnetic moments and IS consistent with experimental magnetization, neutron scattering, and M\"ossbauer data.
Self-organized topology of recurrence-based complex networks.

With the rapid technological advancement, network is almost everywhere in our daily life. Network theory leads to a new way to investigate the dynamics of complex systems. As a result, many methods are proposed to construct a network from nonlinear time series, including the partition of state space, visibility graph, nearest neighbors, and recurrence approaches. However, most previous works focus on deriving the adjacency matrix to represent the complex network and extract new network-theoretic measures. Although the adjacency matrix provides connectivity information of nodes and edges, the network geometry can take variable forms. The research objective of this article is to develop a self-organizing approach to derive the steady geometric structure of a network from the adjacency matrix. We simulate the recurrence network as a physical system by treating the edges as springs and the nodes as electrically charged particles. Then, force-directed algorithms are developed to automatically organize the network geometry by minimizing the system energy. Further, a set of experiments were designed to investigate important factors (i.e., dynamical systems, network construction methods, force-model parameter, nonhomogeneous distribution) affecting this self-organizing process. Interestingly, experimental results show that the self-organized geometry recovers the attractor of a dynamical system that produced the adjacency matrix. This research addresses a question, i.e., “what is the self-organizing geometry of a recurrence network?” and provides a new way to reproduce the attractor or time series from the recurrence plot. As a result, novel network-theoretic measures (e.g., average path length and proximity ratio) can be achieved based on actual node-to-node distances in the self-organized network topology. The paper brings the physical models into the recurrence analysis and discloses the spatial geometry of recurrence networks.
Microvessel density in prostate cancer : Lack of correlation with tumor grade, pathologic stage, and clinical outcome

Abstract Objectives. Angiogenesis is believed to play an important role in tumor progression and metastasis. Previous studies have suggested that the microvessel density (MVD) of prostate tumors may be of prognostic value. This study investigated the reliability of assessing MVD in radical prostatectomy specimens and its value as an independent prognostic indicator in men with clinically localized prostate cancer. Methods. One hundred radical prostatectomy specimens from 1993 to 1995 were randomly selected for this study. Thirteen cases were excluded because the patients had undergone neoadjuvant hormonal therapy or tissue blocks were unavailable. The median follow-up time was 36 months. Tumor blocks were immunostained using the endothelial-specific antibody CD31. MVD was counted in areas with the greatest microvessel immunostaining, which were designated “hot spots.” MVD was analyzed for associations with clinical and pathologic factors. In a subset of 60 cases, the same observer repeated the counts three times. Results. Intraobserver reliability for MVD counting was excellent (reliability coefficient 0.82), demonstrating that this method could be reproduced by a single observer. MVD was not associated with Gleason sum, tumor stage, surgical margin status, or seminal vesicle invasion. Of the 87 patients, 20 (23%) had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure during a 36-month median follow-up time. As expected, Gleason sum and tumor stage were strong predictors of PSA failure, with risk ratios of 2.1 and 2.3, respectively. In contrast, MVD was not associated with PSA failure. Conclusions. MVD, as determined by CD31, can be reliably measured by a single observer, but it is not a useful prognostic indicator for men with clinically localized prostate cancer.
Toward an Integrated Model of Purchase Intention of Dietary Supplements in Sexually Oriented Advertising

This study was designed to examine antecedent factors that yielded a model of purchase intention of dietary supplements in sexually oriented advertising. Results suggested that sexual cognition, gender difference, individual attitude toward advertisements, and product involvement were yielded as key predictors toward people's purchase intention of dietary supplements. However, sexually oriented advertising did not considerably increase their purchase intention. A regression analysis also loaded sexual cognition and product involvement as two key determinants in the model of purchase intention of dietary supplements. Moreover, people with a more positive level of sexual cognition significantly resulted in their higher degree of purchase intention of dietary supplements.
Acrylamide impairs fast and slow axonal transport in rat optic system.

Effects of single and repeated doses of acrylamide on fast and slow axonal transport of radio labeled proteins following the injection of L-[4,5-3H] leucine have been studied in the optic system of male Sprague-Dawley rats. A single dose of acrylamide (100 mg/kg) had no effect, but higher concentrations (200–300 mg/kg) altered the distribution of fast axonally transported materials in optic nerves and optic tracts. Repeated doses of acrylamide (30 mg/kg/day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks) produced degeneration of tibial nerves but spared optic nerves and optic tracts. Fast axonal transport rate in optic axons was reduced by 50% (reduced to 4 mm/h from 8 mm/h) in acrylamide treated animals. Acrylamide also slowed the velocity of slow axonal transport of labeled proteins in optic axons to 1.0 mm per day from 1.3 mm per day. Since acrylamide impaired the rate of both fast and slow axonal transport in the absence of overt morphological damage, it can be concluded that deficit in axonal transport is an important factor in the pathogenesis of axonal degeneration in acrylamide neuropathy.
Domain Interaction Sites of Human Lens βB2-Crystallin

βB2-crystallin, the major component of β-crystallin, is a dimer at low concentrations but can form oligomers under physiological conditions. The interaction domains have been speculated to be the β-sheets, each of which is formed by two or more β-strands. βB2-crystallin consists of 16 β-strands, 8 in the N-terminal domain and 8 in the C-terminal domain. Domain interaction sites may be removed by destroying the β-strands, which can be done by site-specific mutations, substituting the β-formers (Val, Phe, Leu) with Glu or Asn, strong β-breakers. We have cloned the following β-strand-deleted mutants, I20E, L34E, V54E, V60E, V73E, L97E, I109E, I124E, V144E, V152E, L162E, L165E, and V187E and their corresponding X → Asn mutants. We also made two mutants, V46E and V129E, that were not on the β-strand as controls. Disruption of protein-protein interactions was screened by a mammalian two-hybrid system assay. Protein-protein interactions decreased for all β-strand-deleted mutants except I20E, L34E, and L162E mutants; this effect was not seen in the two mutant controls, V46E and V129E. The sequences around Val-54, Val-60, Val-73, and Leu-97 in the N-terminal region and Ile-109, Ile-124, Val-144, Val-152, Leu-165, and Val-187 in the C-terminal region that formed β-strands appear to be important in dimerization. Some selected mutant proteins that showed strong (V46E and V129E) and reduced (V60E, V144E, V60N, and V144N) interactions were expressed in bacterial culture and were studied with spectroscopy and chromatography. The V60E and V144E mutants were found to be partially unfolded and incapable of forming a complete dimer.
The role of surrogate outcome measures in evaluating medical devices.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL DEVICES for the screening, diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients is a large industry, currently with more than 1800 types of products and 60,000 to 80,000 brands and models.1 Medical devices play a very important role in medical care, and the growth seems likely to continue as technology is applied to medicine. Research and development of medical devices is conducted by both large and small companies even though the cost of bringing a device to the market can be substantial. In 1980, there were 6500 device companies, but by 1995, this number had grown to more than 22,000. More than half of these companies have less than 100 employees. Part of the development process requires approval by the Center for Devices and Radiological Health at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The standards that the review process requires for device approval have been under review and modification (Temple Report).2 The report calls for device evaluation standards that would be similar to standards for drug approval. To minimize the time and cost of research and development, intermediate or surrogate outcome measures have been widely used for drugs, for biologics, and for devices. A surrogate outcome is a laboratory or biologic measure that is used as a substitute for a clinically meaningful and relevant outcome. While the clinical outcome directly measures how a patient feels or survives, the surrogate has no direct value to the patient. The issues surrounding the use of surrogate outcome measures have been discussed by Temple3,4 and have been the main topic of a National Institutes of Health conference.5-8 Some investigators have considered the use of surrogates as an auxiliary to a primary clinical outcome.9-11 In general, total reliance on the use of surrogate outcome measures for the final pivotal evaluation can be misleading unless some very stringent criteria are satisfied—criteria that are rarely met in practice. Much of the discussion has focused on drugs and biologics, but the issues are just as relevant for The role of surrogate outcome measures in evaluating medical devices
NEW RECORDS OF QUEDIUS CRUENTUS (OLIVIER), A PALEARCTIC ROVE BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: STAPHYLINIDAE), IN NORTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA

Abstract Specimens of the Palearctic rove beetle Quedius cruentus have been collected in seven northeastern states (Michigan, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maine, Pennsylvania) and one eastern Canadian province (Quebec) from 2001 to the present as a result of exotic bark beetle surveillance projects. Earliest specimen records, based on collections in New York, date back to the early 1980s. The Quebec records are the first for this immigrant species in Canada. All locality records are listed and mapped. Recognition features are described and illustrated, and a summary of its known biology is provided.
Multispectral imaging for detecting contamination in poultry carcasses

A multispectral imaging system with selected optical filters of 542 and 700-nm wavelength was shown feasible for detecting contaminated poultry carcasses with high accuracy. The analysis of textural features based on co-occurrence matrix (COM) was conducted to determine the performance of multispectral image analyses in discriminating unwholesome poultry carcasses from wholesome carcasses. The variance, sum average, sum variance, and sum entropy of COM were the most significant texture features (P less than 0.0005) to identify unwholesome poultry carcasses. The feature values of angular second moment, variance, sum average, sum variance, and sum entropy did not vary with the distances and directions of COM for the spectral images. When a direction was equal to 0 degrees, the contrast was lower and the inverse difference moment and difference variance were higher (P less than 0.01) than any other direction in the visible spectral images. The characteristics of variance and sum variance texture feature of spectral images varied with the wavelength of spectral images and unwholesomeness of poultry carcasses as well. The sum variance of wholesome was higher (P less than 0.005) than unwholesome carcasses at the spectral image of 542-nm. The linear discriminant model was able to identify wholesome carcasses with classification accuracy of 83.9 percent and the unwholesome carcasses could be identified by quadratic model with 97.1 percent accuracy when textural features of spectral image at 700-nm wavelength were used as input data for models.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Paroxysmal Long R-P Tachycardia

This case highlights characteristic features of atrial tachycardia arising from the mitral annulus. P wave morphologies can provide additional clues regarding the origin of atrial tachycardia on the mitral annulus. The atrial activation sequence is sometimes, but not always, earliest in the His potential electrogram position and may or may not be characterized by proximal-to-distal coronary sinus activation. Careful mapping along the mitral annulus to determine the earliest site of activation with reference to the surface P wave is a reliable method for precisely localizing an atrial tachycardia origin. Catheter ablation can be approached using either a transseptal or retrograde aortic approach.
A Minor Poet Meets Hiram Powers

Perhaps no American sculptor of his generation won such applause as Hiram Powers. Tuckerman's enthusiasm, to be sure, is so characteristic of that generous if none too critical annalist as to weigh only lightly in the scales.1 To his plaudits we may add those of Hawthorne,2 of C. Edwards Lester,3 himself a minor sculptor, and of Henry W. Bellows.4 Lester indeed tells us that the Old World recognized Powers as worthy of standing beside Michelangelo and Thorvaldsen,5 and that Thorvaldsen, who visited Powers' studio in Florence, said “The entrance of Powers upon the field constituted an era in art.”6 To be sure, not every one shared these views. The Cosmopolitan Art Journal in 1860 found little to praise in the Greek Slave,7 but in this was out of tune with its day. Jarves also failed to share the enthusiasm of his contemporaries,8 but these dissenters were exceptions to the rule.
Characteristics of some experimental GaAs-Ge wide-gap emitter transistors fabricated by the epitaxial-diffusion process

Some theoretical aspects of the wide-gap emitter transistor will be reviewed and discussed briefly. A novel process which has been used to produce some experimental pnp wide-gap emitter transistors involving both the epitaxial and the diffusion processes will be described. The transistor uses the p-n GaAs-Ge heterojunction as the emitting junction and the n-p Ge homojunction as the collecting junction. Base width of the order of one micron or less can be obtained reproducibly. Experimental results of units made in the laboratory will be described with respect to the following: 1) Fabrication processes for making the experimental units. 2) The base width control. 3) The I-V and C-V characteristics of the emitter heterojunction and the collector homojunction. 4) The effect of crystal orientation on the geometry of the emitter heterojunction. 5) The current gain and the injection efficiency of the wide-gap emitter diffused-base transistor. The reproducibility of the transistor characteristics by the novel fabrication process has made possible the feasibility study and the evaluation of the wide-gap emitter transistor. Some aspects of the factors pertinent to the control of the fabrication process will also be discussed.
Predicting skin permeability from complex chemical mixtures.

Abstract Occupational and environmental exposure to topical chemicals is usually in the form of complex chemical mixtures, yet risk assessment is based on experimentally derived data from individual chemical exposures from a single, usually aqueous vehicle, or from computed physiochemical properties. We present an approach using hybrid quantitative structure permeation relationships (QSPeR) models where absorption through porcine skin flow-through diffusion cells is well predicted using a QSPeR model describing the individual penetrants, coupled with a mixture factor (MF) that accounts for physicochemical properties of the vehicle/mixture components. The baseline equation is log kp = c + mMF + aΣα2H + bΣβ2H + sπ2H + rR2 + vVx where Σα2H is the hydrogen-bond donor acidity, Σβ2H is the hydrogen-bond acceptor basicity, π2H is the dipolarity/polarizability, R2 represents the excess molar refractivity, and Vx is the McGowan volume of the penetrants of interest; c, m, a, b, s, r, and v are strength coefficients coupling these descriptors to skin permeability (kp) of 12 penetrants (atrazine, chlorpyrifos, ethylparathion, fenthion, methylparathion, nonylphenol, ρ-nitrophenol, pentachlorophenol, phenol, propazine, simazine, and triazine) in 24 mixtures. Mixtures consisted of full factorial combinations of vehicles (water, ethanol, propylene glycol) and additives (sodium lauryl sulfate, methyl nicotinate). An additional set of 4 penetrants (DEET, SDS, permethrin, ricinoleic acid) in different mixtures were included to assess applicability of this approach. This resulted in a dataset of 16 compounds administered in 344 treatment combinations. Across all exposures with no MF, R2 for absorption was 0.62. With the MF, correlations increased up to 0.78. Parameters correlated to the MF include refractive index, polarizability and log (1/Henry's Law Constant) of the mixture components. These factors should not be considered final as the focus of these studies was solely to determine if knowledge of the physical properties of a mixture would improve predicting skin permeability. Inclusion of multiple mixture factors should further improve predictability. The importance of these findings is that there is an approach whereby the effects of a mixture on dermal absorption of a penetrant of interest can be quantitated in a standard QSPeR model if physicochemical properties of the mixture are also incorporated.
Variation in the time of annual degeneration of the estuarine sponge,Haliclona loosanoffi

Haliclona loosanoffi occurs in an active form in the Mystic Estuary, Connecticut, during a period which may be as short as 2 months or as long as 5 months, depending upon the year. Variation in the time of degeneration of the sponge is not clearly related to differences in estuarine water temperature or salinity. Early degeneration does not appear to affect sexual reproduction, but it may severely limit gemmule production.
Management of intracranial pressure

Although intracranial hypertension may arise from diverse pathology, several basic principles remain paramount to understanding its dynamics; however, the management of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) may be very complex. Initial management of common ICP exacerbants is important, such as addressing venous outflow obstruction with upright midline head positioning and treating agitation and pain with sedation and analgesia. Surgical decompression of mass effect may rapidly improve ICP elevation, but the impact on outcome is unclear. Considerable effort has been put forth to understand the roles of multimodal intensive care monitoring, osmolar therapy, cerebral metabolic suppression, and temperature augmentation in the advanced management of elevated ICP. Establishing a protocol-driven approach to the management of ICP enables the rapid bedside assessment of multiple physiologic variables to implement appropriate treatments, which limit the risk of developing secondary brain injury.
The surface composition of the gold-palladium binary alloy system

Abstract The surface composition of the AuPd alloy system has been determined by Auger electron spectroscopy. Measurements were performed on polished polycrystalline alloy foils. After cleaning, the intensities of the 71 eV and 2024 eV gold Auger transitions, and the intensity of the 330 eV palladium transition were measured, and then converted to atom concentrations in the surface layer. The surfaces of the annealed samples were found to be significantly enriched in gold with respect to the bulk. This result disagrees with the regular solution theory prediction. After extensive sputtering of the AuPd alloys with 1.5 keV Ar+ ions, a slight surface enrichment with palladium was found, as predicted by the simple theoretical model for sputtering.
A pulsed diffusion technique for the growth of protein crystals for X-ray diffraction

Crystals of proteins suitable for X-ray diffraction have been grown using a method that combines dialysis (Zeppezauer et al., 1968) and relaxation (Salemme, 1972) techniques. This pulsed-diffusion method is useful for (a) eliminating unwanted amorphous precipitate, and (b) reducing the number of crystal nuclei which form and thus growing each individual crystal larger. The method is illustrated for glutamate-aspartate transaminase and thymidylate synthetase. Preliminary crystallographic data are reported for crystals of thymidylate synthetase.
Population genetics of the socially polymorphic ant Formica podzolica

We used microsatellite markers to analyze the hierarchical genetic structure of the North American mound building ant, Formica podzolica. About one-third of all colonies were headed by a single queen (monogynous) whose effective mating frequency was close to one (nestmate worker relatedness r = 0.70), while the remaining colonies were polygynous, with low average nestmate relatedness (r = 0.16). The low worker relatedness found in most polygynous colonies furthermore suggested that the numbers of queens in polygynous colonies of this ant are usually high. Contrary to what has been described from other ants with a queen number dichotomy, we did not find an effect of social form variation on the partitioning of genetic variation above the level of the colony. We found no significant differentiation between the sympatric social forms of F. podzolica, nor did differentiation among populations appear to be affected by colony social organization. These unexpected patterns of genetic structure may have resulted from differences either in the spatial distribution of the social forms or in their social flexibility.
Reducing back stress through an ergonomic approach: Weighing a patient

Abstract Back problems are prevalent in nursing personnel. Nursing assistants in a nursing home stated weighing dependent patients was a very stressful task; they manually lifted patients up onto a chair scale. The task was redesigned in two ways: the use of a ramp scale and use of a hoist with a digital scale. With the new methods, perceived physical stress to shoulder, back and body was reduced, compressive force to L5S1 and shear force were reduced (wheelchair scale method), and "patient" feelings of comfort and security were increased.
Effects of iron(III) analogs on growth and pseudobactin synthesis in a chromiumtolerant Pseudomonas isolate.

The growth and siderophore production of a fluorescentPseudomonas species isolated from soil contaminated with chromium was found to be influenced by the presence of trivalent cations. Overproduction of pseudobactin occurred when the isolate was grown in media containing 1 mM Cr(III) under ironlimited conditions but not when Fe(III) was added at 10 μM Pseudobactin synthesis was derepressed in iron-limited cultures containing 1 mM Sc(III) or Y(III), examples of group III-B elements. We found that AI(III), Ga(III) or In(III), representative metals from group III-A, repressed synthesis of pseudobactin under iron-deficient conditions. Analogs of Fe(III) were found to inhibit growth of thePseudomonas isolate in iron-limited media and the trivalent metals listed in order of decreasing toxicity were as follows: Ga > In > Sc > Cr > Y > Al. The inhibition of growth by 1 mM In(III), Sc(III) and Ga(III) was greater during iron-limited growth than in media containing 10 μM Fe(III). These data show that, although the metal analogs of Fe(III) have similar chemical and physical characteristics, the physiological response of the fluorescent pseudomonad when grown in the presence of these metals varied markedly.
Object classification using half-contour features

Abstract We address the problem of classifying objects based upon shape using features of an object's half-contours. Objects belonging to the same category are envisioned to share several shape characteristics, but they may have other dissimilarities in shape, size, color, and orientation. By identifying essential shape features for each category, objects satisfying these shape constraints are classified without the use of statistical and/or syntactical methods. A fast outer contour tracer and interior pixel labeler for extracting object contours are described.
The impact of credit rating announcements on credit default swap spreads

Abstract We document the ability of the credit default swap (CDS) market to anticipate favorable as well as unfavorable credit rating change (RC) announcements based on more extensive samples of credit rating events and CDS spreads than previous studies. We obtain four new results. In contrast to prior published studies, we find that corporate RC upgrades do have a significant impact on CDS spreads even though they are still not as well anticipated as downgrades. Second, CreditWatch (CW) and Outlook (OL) announcements, after controlling for prior credit rating events, lead to significant CARs at the time positive CW and OL credit rating events are announced. Third, we extend prior results by showing that changes in CDS spreads for non-investment-grade credits contain information useful for estimating the probability of negative credit rating events. Fourth, we find that the CDS spread impact of upgrades but not downgrades is magnified during recessions and that upgrades and downgrades also differ as to the impact of simultaneous CW/OL announcements, investment-grade/speculative-grade crossovers, current credit rating, market volatility, and industry effects.
Complement activation in acquired and hereditary amyloid neuropathy

The pathogenesis of the axonal degeneration in acquired or hereditary amyloidosis is unknown. In this immunohistochemistry study, we examined 20 sural nerve biopsies from individuals with amyloid neuropathy (14 acquired and 6 hereditary) for evidence of complement activation. Complement activation products were detected on and around amyloid deposits within peripheral nerves. We found no difference in the extent, location or pattern of complement activation products between the 2 forms of amyloidosis. The presence of early classical pathway activation markers in the absence of antibody in hereditary cases suggests an antibody-independent activation of the classical pathway through binding of C1q. The lack of Factor Bb-suggested alternative pathway activation was not significant in these cases. The detection of C5b-9 neoantigen on amyloid deposits demonstrated that the full complement cascade was activated. Complement activation on amyloid deposits and the generation of C5b-9 in vivo may contribute to bystander injury of axons in the vicinity of amyloid deposits.
A national study of chronic disease prevalence and access to care in uninsured U.S. adults.

Background: No recent national studies have assessed chronic illness prevalence or access to care among persons without insurance in the United States. Objective: To compare reports of chronic conditions and access to care among U.S. adults, by self-reported insurance status. Design: Population-based survey. Setting: National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (1999–2004). Participants: 12 486 patients age 18 to 64 years. Measurements: Estimates of national rates of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, active asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, previous cancer, and measures of access to care. Results: On the basis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2004) responses, an estimated 11.4 million (95% CI, 9.8 million to 13.0 million) working-age Americans with chronic conditions were uninsured, including 16.1% (CI, 12.6% to 19.6%) of the 7.8 million with cardiovascular disease, 15.5% (CI, 13.4% to 17.6%) of the 38.2 million with hypertension, and 16.6% (CI, 13.2% to 20.0%) of the 8.5 million with diabetes. After the authors controlled for age, sex, and race or ethnicity, chronically ill patients without insurance were less likely than those with coverage to visit a health professional (6.2% vs. 22.6%) and have a standard site for care (6.2% vs. 26.1%) and more likely to identify an emergency department as their standard site for care (7.1% vs. 1.1%) (P 0.001 for all comparisons). Limitation: The study was cross-sectional and used self-reported insurance and disease status. Conclusion: Millions of U.S. working-age adults with chronic conditions do not have insurance and have poorer access to medical care than their insured counterparts.
COMPARISON OF BLOOD STORED IN ACD AND IN A SOLUTION CONTAINING HEPARIN, PHOSPHATE, GLUCOSE AND ADENINE.

Duplicate blood samples were obtained from six healthy young males, one aliquot was collected in ACD and one aliquot in a solution of heparin-glucose-phosphate-adenine (HGPA). All were stored under blood bank conditions for a total of four weeks. The HGPA samples maintained their ATP and nucleotide adenine levels much better than the ACD samples and had generally higher pH's and faster rates of glycolysis. Their osmotic fragility and plasma K+ levels were similar to those of the ACD samples. Because there was considerably more hemolysis in the HGPA samples than in the ACD samples and in the absence of red cell survival data, the HGPA system is not recommended at this time as a substitute for the ACD system but as a comparative system to reveal metabolic shortcomings of the ACD storage system.
Constraint relationship for reflectional symmetry and rotational symmetry

A novel theorem linking reflectional symmetry and rotational symmetry has been established in this paper. This theorem constrains that, for a rotationally symmetric image with K?1 fold(s) (K-RSI), its number of reflection-symmetric axes must be either K or zero. The novel constraint theorem provides the guidance for the procedure of symmetry detection. It has been demonstrated by the experiments included in this paper.
Case of the season: Glucagonoma syndrome

58-year-old woman with no other significant past medical history presented with approximately 10 years of waxing and waning dermatitis involving the perineum, buttocks, thighs, lower legs, and feet. She had been treated for subacute eczema, without improvement. More recently, she reported an unintentional weight loss over the preceding 4 months. The patient was otherwise without complaints. She was referred to a dermatologist for evaluation of the pruritic dermatitis. Physical examination revealed confluent areas of bronze discoloration, hyperpigmentation, and induration with more acute lesions appearing as erythematous macules and papules involving the perineum, buttocks, and lower extremities (Fig. 1). A dermal punch biopsy was performed. Histology revealed findings consistent with necrolytic migratory erythema. A biphasic CT was obtained (Fig. 2A and B), which supported the clinically suspected diagnosis.
Beyond optimization: Alternative ways of examining animal exploitation

Abstract During the last two decades optimization models have often been used by archaeologists to explain animal exploitation. The employment of these models has had both successes and failures. One failure is that optimization models consider animal resource selection solely from an economic point of view. Two alternative ways of exploring animal exploitation are offered here: 1) ethnohistoric analogy and 2) a structural approach. Ethnohistoric analogy and direct historical approaches can yield new insights into the symbolic roles animals might have played in the past but are limited in their applicability to prehistoric archaeology. A structural approach can simultaneously examine both the symbolic and economic roles of animals and has the additional advantage that it is equally applicable in both prehistoric and historic archaeology. The utility of these alternative approaches is explored using zooarchaeological and artistic data from the Midwestern United States, c. AD 800–1400.
The Topographically Forced Component of the Atmospheric Motion

The zonally asymmetric stationary component of the general circulation is studied for small Rossby number without the beta-plane approximation. The equations for this component are linearized about a mean flow. An analytic solution for the meridional wind is found when the zonal wind and static stability of the mean flow are independent of the vertical coordinate. The solution is used to compute the transports of angular momentum and heat. The angular momentum transports give rise to a net convergence of the order of Rossby number and are balanced by the zonal mean Coriolis torque. However, the heat transports vanish at this order of magnitude.
The Development of a Dynamic Adaptive Driving Simulator

The ability to drive a car is an important skill for individuals with a spinal cord injury to maintain a high quality of life, particularly their freedom and independence. However, driving with a physical disability often requires the installation of an adaptive driving system to control steering, gas, and braking. The two main types of adaptive driving controls are mechanical and electrical, also known as drive by wire (DBW). DBW controls work by converting electric signals to mechanical actuators. Driving simulators are useful tools for adaptive driving systems because they allow users to test different control devices, to practice driving without the dangers of being on the road, and can be used as a safe way to evaluate disabled drivers. This study focused on the development of a dynamic driving simulator using DBW controls because most studies focus on mechanical controls and not DBW controls and often use static simulators.The simulator was developed using the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) virtual reality system. The CAREN system (Motek Medical, Amsterdam, Netherlands) includes a six degree of freedom motion base, an optical motion capture system, a sound system, and a 180-degree projection screen. The two DBW controls, a lever device to control the gas and brake and a small wheel device to control steering, sent an electric signal to a Phidget board, which interfaced with the CAREN system. Several different driving scenarios were created and imported into CAREN’s D-Flow software. A program was developed in D-Flow to control the scene and motion of the platform appropriately based on the DBW controls via the Phidget. The CAREN system dynamically controlled the motion platform based on the user’s input. For example, if the user applied the brake suddenly, the user felt a deceleration from the motion platform moving backwards. The driving simulator showed the capability to provide dynamic feedback and, therefore, may be more realistic and beneficial than current static adaptive driving simulators. The dynamic adaptive driving simulator developed may improve driving training and performance of persons with spinal cord injuries. Future work will include testing the system with and without the dynamics from the moving platform to see how this type of feedback affects the user’s driving ability in the virtual environment.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Hydrocortisone administration retards axon sprouting in the rat dentate gyrus

Abstract Glucocorticoids were administered to rats after lesions of the entorhinal cortex and axon sprouting and astrocyte reactivity were assessed in the hippocampus. Glucocorticoids caused a decrease in axon sprouting and elicited hypertrophy of astrocytes.
Origin of the ν=1/2 fractional quantum Hall state in wide single quantum wells

We study the effect of subband energy separation and asymmetry on the quasiparticle excitation gaps of the \ensuremath{\nu}=1/2 and coexisting fractional quantum Hall (FQH) states in wide single quantum wells. A new even-denominator FQH state at \ensuremath{\nu}=3/2 and a dramatic subband-mixing-driven phase transition from a one- to two-component FQH state at \ensuremath{\nu}=2/3 are observed. Our results reveal the two-component origin of the \ensuremath{\nu}=1/2 FQH state, and allow us to construct an experimental phase diagram for electron states at half filling.
Knee recurvatum in gait: A study of associated knee biomechanics

Abstract Objectives: To quantitatively evaluate peak knee extensor torque values imparted to the posterior knee structures during gait in patients with knee recurvatum compared with torque values observed in control subjects, and to assess the predictive value of the degree of knee hyperextension and other clinical factors in estimating peak knee extensor torque. Design: A retrospective analysis of clinical and quantitative gait data obtained from patients and control subjects. Settings: A gait laboratory. Subjects: Forty-one consecutive patients with neurologically based impairments presenting with knee hyperextension during gait (52 limbs) and 46 able-bodied control subjects. Main Outcome Measure: Peak knee extensor torque during the stance period of the gait cycle. Results: Although overall, the patient average peak extensor torque was significantly greater ( p p r 2 of .53. Conclusion: Patients with knee recurvatum have variable peak extensor torque values associated with their knee hyperextension. Knowledge of knee hyperextension angle and other clinical factors are only partially useful in predicting a patient's peak knee extensor torque imparted to the posterior knee structures during walking.
Effect of dosing regimen on efficacy and safety of doxazosin in normotensive men with symptomatic prostatism: A pilot study

Objectives In this pilot study, the effect of dosing schedule on the efficacy and safety of the long-acting alpha1-adrenergic blocker doxazosin (DOX) was evaluated in 48 consecutive, normotensive men (mean age, 61.2 years) with symptoms of prostatism.
Extending Net-Centricity to Coalition Operations

To bring the advantages of network-centric warfare to coalition warfighting, we must significantly improve our ability to quickly share critical information while still satisfying security requirements. Here, the authors explore a services-based approach to such information management.
Constructing essentialism: Computers and Composition and the “‘risk’ of essence”

Abstract Feminist authors in Computers and Composition have generally favored social constructionist approaches to identity, yet a subtle reliance on essentialist assumptions about women (sometimes tied directly to the body) still exists. In order to explore this phenomenon, I rely on the theories of Diana Fuss and Elizabeth Grosz to unpack the essentialist/constructionist binary. Then, relying on Laura Brady's explication of “strategic” and “tactical” deployments of essentialism in composition studies, I discuss two previous articles in Computers and Composition that successfully negotiated issues of women's identity partly through essentialist assumptions. The ways in which the articles under discussion here essentialized teenage girls become stepping stones toward a reconstruction of girls’ identities. Thus, although essentialism can be problematic, feminists interested in writing and technology can still take what Diana Fuss calls a “‘risk’ of essence” to further feminist goals.
The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale and maternal identity.

Purpose: To determine the effect of demonstrating the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) on the development of a maternal identity. Design: Quasiexperimental design with matched groups. Methods: As part of a larger longitudinal study examining maternal identity, pregnant women were recruited during prenatal classes or routine obstetrical visits; they then completed questionnaires assessing demographic, psychosocial, and maternal identity variables. All women were visited in the hospital after delivery. Three weeks after delivery, the women completed a question-naire packet assessing demographic, psychosocial, maternal identity, and infant variables. Demonstration of the NBAS in the hospital after delivery was included as a pilot project within the larger study. For the pilot project, 22 women who received a demonstration of the NBAS were matched on age, parity, and socioeconomic status with 22 women from the larger study who did not receive the demonstration. Results: No significant differences between groups were noted on any prenatal or postnatal psychosocial or maternal identity variables. However, women who received a demonstration of the NBAS found their infants to be significantly more predictable than infants of women in the control group. Clinical Implications: Demonstration of the NBAS had little effect on the development of a maternal identity in the women studied. However, the NBAS was a useful teaching tool for helping mothers anticipate their infants' responses to environmental stimuli. Further research is needed in this area.
Endogenous voting in a partisan model with rational voters

Abstract This paper introduces endogenous voting into a partisan political business cycle model. Voters' preferences between inflation and employment levels are assumed heterogeneous. Each individual votes for the political party whose election would yield him the least cost ex post. The election of a liberal government implies a partisan surprise that lowers unemployment but gives higher equilibrium inflation. The election of a conservative government implies the opposite. The magnitude of the partisan surprises depends inversely on party popularity, so both the equilibrium of the model and its comparative statics properties are modified when voting is endogenous.
Phosphorimeters for analysis of decay profiles and real time monitoring of exponential decay and oxygen concentrations.

Abstract A phosphorimeter which can be assembled at low cost from mainly commercially available components and which has better time resolution, data acquisition rate, sensitivity, and flexibility than commercially available instruments is described. As a phosphorescence analyzer the instrument can measure phosphorescence lifetimes ranging from ∼ 30 μs to seconds from samples with variable intensity, excitation, and emission spectra and which may follow complex decay behavior. Configured as a phosphorescence monitor it is designed for fast, repetitive calculation of phosphoresence lifetime, assuming single-exponential decay, and can be used to calculate oxygen concentration in biological samples in real time.
Is atherosclerosis a conditioned pyridoxal deficiency

Abstract Atherosclerosis has been produced in the monkey and hypertension in the rat by deficiency of vitamin B6. The possibility exists that human atherosclerosis and/or hypertension is influenced by B6 deficiency. In support of this thesis are the following observations: 1. 1. B6 is concerned with the formation and utilization of unsaturated fatty acids and deficiency can cause intimal lesions. 2. 2. A diet high in saturated fatty acids might result in (a) an excess of less soluble esters of cholesterol, (b) a physical change in the character of body fat and lipoproteins, especially if a pyridoxal-enzyme system were overloaded. 3. 3. The American diet is probably marginal in B6 with reference to some cooked and processed foods. 4. 4. The American human body contains many “abnormal” trace elements, several of which could compete for an essential metal in a pyridoxal-enzyme system and reduce the amount available for metabolism, thus producing a conditioned deficiency. 5. 5. The combination of marginal vitamin intake and high saturated fat loading with or without trace metal competition could result in an abnormality of fat metabolism such as occurs in atherosclerosis, with an alteration in the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids, and possibly a further alteration in the physical properties of some phospholipids, lipoproteins, and cholesterol esters. There are many unknown links in the chain of reactions presented by this hypothesis. As a working system evolved from available information, however, it may help to point the way toward investigative work aimed at elucidation of pathogenetic factors. There is little or no experimental evidence against the hypothesis; in fact, most of what is known appears to fit. The pyridoxal-enzyme system may be the “other factor” in atherogenesis so often postulated. Proof or disproof awaits facts backed by clinical experiments.
Modeling the interaction of intense electromagnetic pulses with gaseous media

Results obtained from recent theoretical investigations of the interaction of intense electromagnetic pulses with gases when the field strength is above the threshold for avalanche breakdown are presented. It is shown how the breakdown affects the shapes of the pulses. In addition, the accuracy of the calculational models is discussed by comparing some calculations with experimental data. It is noted that this is not a comprehensive review of the field of microwave breakdown. >