cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Negative Clinical Trials in Cystic Fibrosis Research

The statistical power of 61 negative clinical trials of therapeutic regimens in patients with cystic fibrosis published from 1977 through 1988 was reviewed and the ability of the investigations to detect small, medium, and large standardized differences was calculated. Small, medium, and large standardized differences were defined as ratios of 0.2, 0.5, and 0.8, respectively, of the observed difference compared with the standard deviation. The average numbers (+/- SD) of patients in the treatment and control groups were 14.3 +/- 6.9 and 14.5 +/- 7.9, respectively. None of the studies had 80% power to detect a small or medium standardized difference and only 4 of the reports had 80% statistical power to detect a large standardized difference. The variability of cystic fibrosis causes a decrease in the standardized difference, making it more difficult to demonstrate statistical significance. Statistical power of negative clinical trials reported in the literature deserves more attention from investigators as well as physicians who treat patients with cystic fibrosis.
State feedback simplex control design for systems with non-matching disturbances and uncertainties

This paper considers state feedback simplex control of a linear system affected by disturbances and uncertainties that do not satisfy the matching condition. To achieve robust stabilization and performance, several procedures are proposed whereby the desired sliding hypersurface is designed using Algebraic Riccati Equations (AREs) to bound disturbance effects in the sliding regime. These procedures for designing the sliding hypersurface can also be used in conjunction with any other Variable Structure Control (VSC) scheme that assures the reaching of a sliding mode.
Virological response rates for telaprevir-based hepatitis C triple therapy in patients with and without HIV coinfection.

Objectives Pegylated-interferon/ribavirin dual therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has a lower sustained virological response (SVR) rate in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients than in HCV monoinfected patients, but little is known about the relative effectiveness of teleprevir-based triple therapy in the two groups. Methods Data on 33 coinfected and 116 monoinfected patients were analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. SVR12 was defined as undetectable HCV RNA at week 12 post-end-of-treatment, severe anaemia as haemoglobin ≤ 89 g/L or a drop of ≥ 45 g/L, and advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis as Fib-4 ≥ 3.25. All coinfected patients had well controlled HIV infection. Results The groups were similar in age, gender, percentage with Fib-4 ≥ 3.25 and HCV viral load, but differed in previous treatment response, with more coinfected patients being nonresponders or treatment-intolerant (75.8% vs. 50.0% for monoinfected patients; P < 0.01). During treatment, the percentages of patients with undetectable HCV RNA were similar, but, surprisingly, this percentage tended to be higher in coinfected patients. SVR12 rates were 60.6% in coinfected patients vs. 42.2% in monoinfected patients (P = 0.06). In multivariable analysis, SVR12 was associated with HIV infection [odds ratio (OR) 3.55; P < 0.01], African American race (OR 0.37; P = 0.03) and previous treatment response (OR 0.46; P = 0.03). Rates of severe anaemia (45.5 vs. 58.6% in coinfected and monoinfected patients, respectively; P = 0.18) were similar in the two groups, but rash (15.2 vs. 34.5%, respectively; P = 0.03) and rectal symptoms (12.1 vs. 43.1%, respectively; P < 0.01) were less common in coinfected patients. Conclusions Virological responses of coinfected and monoinfected patients did not differ significantly, but tended to be higher in coinfected patients, who had a 60.6% SVR12 rate. Telaprevir-based triple therapy is a promising option for coinfected patients with well-controlled HIV infection.
On Sequential Bias in Web-Based Reviews

It is widely recognized that online product reviews by users in sites such as amazon.com are biased in several dimensions including those due to the sequence in which the reviews are written as well as the benefit (monetary or otherwise) that the reviewer gains from writing a review. Although the latter is obvious and is often practiced by stakeholders wanting to promote their products (e.g., [2], [3], [4], [7]), the former is not entirely innocuous since subsequent reviews are not completely independent of preceding reviews by others.
Kinematic Dynamo In Turbulent Circumstellar Disks

Many circumstellar disks associated with objects ranging from protoplanetary nebulae to accretion disks around compact stars allow for the generation of magnetic fields by an aαωudynamo. We have applied kinematic dynamo formalism to geometrically thin accretion disks. We calculate, in the framework of an adiabatic approximation, the normal mode solutions for dynamos operating in disks around compact stars. We then describe the criteria for a viable dynamo in protoplanetary nebulae, and discuss the particular features that make accretion disk dynamos different from planetary, stellar, and galactic dynamos.
Testability implications in low-cost integrated radio transceivers: a Bluetooth case study

As the use of wireless communications in daily life increases, attaining low-cost solutions becomes increasingly important due to shrinking profit margins. Cost optimization that solely targets at minimization of the cost of system architecture may result in suboptimal, highly untestable, solutions. Test design and design for testability need to be incorporated into the system design flow to achieve viable solutions. This paper presents an analysis of test requirements, implications and test cost for low-cost Bluetooth systems. Testability problems are identified and possible solutions along with avenues to reduce the test cost by utilizing lower-cost testers are discussed.
Immunohistochemical Staining of Slit2 in Primary and Metastatic Prostatic Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Conflicting roles for Slit2, a protein involved in mediating the processes of cell migration and chemotactic response, have been previously described in prostate cancer. Here we use immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression of Slit2 in normal donor prostate (NDP), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN), normal tissue adjacent to prostatic adenocarcinoma (NAC), primary prostatic adenocarcinoma (PCa), and metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma (Mets). METHODS: Tissue microarrays were immunostained for Slit2. The staining intensities were quantified using automated image analysis software. The data was statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance with subsequent Tukey tests for multiple comparisons or a nonparametric equivalent. Eleven cases of NDP, 35 cases of NAC, 15 cases of BPH, 35 cases of HGPIN, 106 cases of PCa, and 37 cases of Mets were analyzed. RESULTS: Specimens of PCa and HGPIN had the highest absolute staining for Slit2. Significant differences were seen between PCa and NDP (P < .05), PCa and NAC (P < .05), HGPIN and NDP (P < .05), and HGPIN and NAC (P < .05). Whereas the average Mets staining was not significantly different from NDP or NAC, several individual Mets cases featured intense staining. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this represents the first study comparing the immunohistochemical profiles of Slit2 in PCa and Mets to specimens of HGPIN, BPH, NDP, and NAC. These findings suggest that Slit2 expression can be increased in HGPIN, PCa, and Mets, making it a potentially important biomarker for prostate cancer.
The Synthesis of 9-Allyloxyanthracene and 9-Methoxy-10-phenylanthracene

Abstract 9-Allyloxyanthracene could not be prepared by alkylation of anthrone, nor could it be prepared by acid-catalyzed exchange/dehydration of anthrone using allyl alcohol. We report a successful two-step synthesis involving exchange/dehydration with 3-chloro-1-propanol followed by dehydrohalogenation with lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide. 9-Methoxy-10-phenylanthracene was prepared from 10-phenylanthrone and trimethyl orthoformate by exchange/dehydration.
Adenosine receptors: autoradiographic evidence for their location on axon terminals of excitatory neurons

Adenosine receptors were made visible on light microscopy by autoradiography with tritiated cyclohexyladenosine. In the cerebellum, adenosine receptors were absent in Weaver mice, which lack granule cells, and were displaced in Reeler mice, which have displacements of granule cells. Thus, adenosine receptors appear to be located on the axon terminals of excitatory granule cells in the cerebellum. Removal of one eye of a rat depleted adenosine receptors in the contralateral superior colliculus, suggesting that the receptors occur on axon terminals of excitatory projections from retinal ganglion cells. The presence of adenosine receptors on excitatory axon terminals may explain synaptic inhibition by adenosine and the behavioral effects of xanthines.
Engineering a region of bulk tolerance in the 5-HT2A receptor

Anew binding model for ketanserin was constructed; this model and preliminary mutagenesis data suggested that a highly conserved phenylalanine (F340) introduces a potential region of bulk-intolerance into the binding pocket. We tested this hypothesis by evaluating the binding affinities of several novel analogues of the 5-HT2A antagonist ketanserin at both native and mutant receptors. We found that replacing the bulky F340 with a less bulky leucine (F340L) dramatically enhances (37 ± 16-fold; P 0.05 vs. native receptor). This structural modification of the receptor allowed for the increased affinity of low-affinity, bulky ketanserin analogues.
Additive reduction of alcohol drinking by 5-HT1A antagonist WAY 100635 and serotonin uptake blocker fluoxetine in alcohol-preferring P rats.

We found previously that alcohol-preferring (P) rats have fewer serotonin (5-HT) neurons and fibers in key brain regions than alcohol-nonproferring (NP) rats. Because 5-HT uptake blockers increase synaptic 5-HT content and 5-HT 1A receptor antagonists increase 5-HT release by disinhibiting 5-HT autoinnervation, in the present study, our intent was to determine whether increased synaptic 5-HT content and/or 5-HT release in P rats would effectively reduce alcohol consumption. In experiment 1, the 5-HT antagonist WAY 10005 (WAY) was tested on adult female P rats maintained on 24-hr free-choice access to ethanol (10% v/v) and water. Twice daily doses of WAY (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg, subcutaneously) were administered to each rat in a counterbalanced order. Baseline ethanol intake, derived from the mean ethanol Intakes of the three previous non-drug days, was approximately 8 g/kg/day. Results indicated that 0.05, 0.1, and 0.5 mg/kg doses of WAY reduced 24-hr ethanol drinking by 25.30% (p < 0.0l) without affecting 24-hr water intake or body weight. In the second experiment, the effects of WAY (0.5 mg/kg), fluoxetine (1.0 mg/kg), or a combination of both were tested in another group of female P rats. WAY and fluoxotine, each alone, reduced ethanol drinking by around 20% and, when combine, decreased ethanol intake by 50%, whereas the body weight and the total fluid intake were not significantly affected. Taken together, these results indicate that both fluoxetine and WAY preferentially reduce ethanol drinking in the P line of rats and, when administered together, induce ethanol intake in an additive manner. It is proposed that coadministration of these two compounds with distinct mechanisms of action may be a new strategy for reducing alcohol intake.
Active neutron stars

A review of some hard X-ray and gamma-ray sources is presented. These objects are strongly suspected to be associated with neutron stars. Examples include gamma ray bursters, soft gamma repeaters, the June 10, 1974 transient, and Geminga. It is argued that such objects probably constitute the majority of observable galactic neutron stars.
17-β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1: computational design of active site inhibitors targeted to the Rossmann fold

17-beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (17betaHSD1), also called estradiol dehydrogenase, catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of the weak estrogen, estrone, into the more potent estrogen, 17-beta-estradiol. 17betaHSD1 is an attractive drug target in hormone-sensitive breast cancer. Past efforts to develop selective inhibitors of 17betaHSD1 have focused on design of substrate analogs. It is challenging to develop steroid analogs that are devoid of any undesired biological activity. 17betaHSD1 is a member of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) superfamily that includes many hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. Members of the SDR family bind NAD(P)(H) in a motif that is a modified Rossmann fold. We demonstrated previously that the Rossmann folds of classical dehydrogenases can be selectively inhibited by derivatives and analogs of the natural product gossypol. In this study, we have addressed the question whether the modified Rossmann fold in 17betaHSD1 is a target for identification of lead compounds for structure-based drug design. 17betaHSD1 was purified from human placenta. 17betaHSD1 is inhibited by derivatives of gossypol with dissociation constants as low as 2 microM. Inhibition is competitive with the binding of cofactor. Molecular modeling studies using the published coordinates of human 17betaHSD1 suggest that these inhibitors occupy the modified Rossmann fold at the nicotinamide end of the dinucleotide-binding site, extending towards the substrate site. A computational approach was used to design potential new inhibitors of 17betaHSD1. The results suggest not only that derivatives of gossypol represent attractive lead compounds for structure-based drug design but also suggest that appropriate incorporation of a substrate analog into the design of these Rossmann fold inhibitors may provide pan-active site inhibitors that span the cofactor and substrate site, potentially offering specificity and increased potency.
Re)Considerations of Ignorance and Resistance in Teacher Education

This article questions the status of two recurring concepts in teacher preparation: resistance and ignorance. Both of these terms have significant presence within the teacher education literature. Because both of these terms often occur in relation to a particular topic, that of race and multicultural education, we also utilize race as the discourse that frames our consideration of these two important issues. To reframe and reorient our attention to the processes of ignorance and resistance, we turn to psychoanalytic considerations of those terms and consider what such a turn can offer teacher educators as they engage teacher candidates with issues of race.
Analysis of novel iron-regulated, surface anchored, hemin-binding proteins in Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae utilizes hemin and hemoglobin (Hb) as iron sources during growth in iron-depleted environments, and recent studies have shown that the surface-exposed HtaA protein binds both hemin and Hb and also contributes to the utilization of hemin iron. Conserved (CR) domains within HtaA and in the associated hemin-binding protein, HtaB, are required for the ability to bind hemin and Hb. In this study, we identified and characterized two novel genetic loci in C. diphtheriae that encode factors that bind hemin and Hb. Both genetic systems contain two-gene operons that are transcriptionally regulated by DtxR and iron. The gene products of these operons are ChtA-ChtB and ChtC-CirA (previously DIP0522-DIP0523). The chtA and chtB genes are carried on a putative composite transposon associated with C. diphtheriae isolates that dominated the diphtheria outbreak in the former Soviet Union in the 1990s. ChtA and ChtC each contain a single N-terminal CR domain and exhibit significant sequence similarity to each other but only limited similarity with HtaA. The chtB and htaB gene products exhibited a high level of sequence similarity throughout their sequences, and both proteins contain a single CR domain. Whole-cell binding studies as well as protease analysis indicated that all four of the proteins encoded by these two operons are surface exposed, which is consistent with the presence of a transmembrane segment in their C-terminal regions. ChtA, ChtB, and ChtC are able to bind hemin and Hb, with ChtA showing the highest affinity. Site-directed mutagenesis showed that specific tyrosine residues within the ChtA CR domain were critical for hemin and Hb binding. Hemin iron utilization assays using various C. diphtheriae mutants indicate that deletion of the chtA-chtB region and the chtC gene has no affect on the ability of C. diphtheriae to use hemin or Hb as iron sources; however, a chtB htaB double mutant exhibits a significant decrease in hemin iron use, indicating a role in hemin transport for HtaB and ChtB.
Upgrading Light Hydrocarbons: A Tandem Catalytic System for Alkane/Alkene Coupling

Light hydrocarbons, with relatively low fuel value, are abundant from several sources, including mixed alkane/alkene refinery byproduct streams. A tandem system consisting of a compatible combination of a homogeneous alkane dehydrogenation catalyst (known to be kinetically efficient but thermodynamically disfavored at low temperatures) with an olefin dimerization catalyst could effect the coupling of an alkane and alkene to produce a heavier, more valuable fuel molecule (C_nH_(2n+2) + CnH_(2n) = C_(2n)H_(4n+2)), a reaction that is thermodynamically favorable below 250 °C. We have demonstrated that coupling with a tandem homogeneous catalyst, consisting of a pincer-ligated iridium alkane dehydrogenation catalyst and an organometallic tantalum alkene dimerization catalyst; the combination couples 1-hexene/n-heptane to C_(13)/C_(14) products at temperatures ranging from 100 to 150 °C, operating with up to 90 % cooperativity. This particular combination generates alkene products rather than the desired alkanes, however, because the regioselectivity of the dimerization catalyst preferentially yields highly substituted alkenes that are not reactive towards hydrogen transfer. A complete cycle should be attainable by combining the dehydrogenation catalyst with an alternate dimerization catalyst that gives mostly linear and monosubstituted alkenes; we have synthesized a novel class of nickel-exchanged zincosilicates that exhibit the desired dimerization catalytic behavior.
Monte Carlo simulations of slow-positron production from normal and glancing incident targets

Abstract A systematic set of Monte Carlo simulations of slow-positron production by energetic electrons impinging on normal and glancing incident targets are presented. The estimated slow-positron production efficiencies are found to increase linearly with incident electron energy when using converters of optimal thickness. The two targets perform equally well below 20 MeV but at higher energies the glancing incident target is more efficient. This increase in efficiency is caused by a decrease in the converter’s positron production volume, allowing a larger fraction of low-energy primary positrons to escape from the converter and impinge on the moderators. Further increases in the glancing incident target’s efficiency may be possible by altering the arrangement of the converter–moderator system.
Lack of association between obesity and left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that obesity is one of the risk factors for congestive heart failure (CHF). By analyzing a large database, we investigated any association between body mass index (BMI) and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 24,265 echocardiograms performed between 1984 and 1998. Fractional shortening (FS) and BMI were available for 13,382 subjects in this cohort which were used for data analysis. FS was stratified into four groups: (1) FS > 25%, (2) FS 17.5–25%, (3) FS 10–17.5%, and (4) FS 30 kg/m2 (obese). Results: There was no association between different BMI categories and LV systolic function. The prevalence of mild, moderate, or severely decreased LV function (based on FS or subjective interpretation of reading cardiologists) was equally distributed between the groups. Obese patients (BMI > 30%) had normal FS of >25 in 16.9%, mildly decreased FS in 18%, moderately decreased FS in 18.4%, and severely decreased FS in 20.1% P = ns. Conclusion: Our study is consistent with previous trials suggesting that obesity is not related to systolic LV dysfunction. The underlying mechanism for the occurrence of congestive heart failure in obese patients needs further investigation.
Psychosocial functioning, life change, and clinical status in adolescents with cystic fibrosis

Twenty-six adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) were administered the Tennessee Self Concept Scale. The mean overall scores placed the CF patients at the 30th percentile of a normative adolescent population. Eighty-five percent were at appropriate school grade level, 69% participated in physical education classes, and 81% had future plans for college and/or a career. Total Life Event scores of CF adolescents were not significantly different from the normal adolescent population. However, in 22 CF adolescents evaluated with a modified National Institute of Health Scoring System, negative Life Event scores were higher in 10 adolescents with moderate to severely impaired health status than in 12 with lesser impairment. This relationship was not modified by other psychosocial variables.
B cell clonal elimination induced by membrane-bound self-antigen may require repeated antigen encounter or cell competition.

Transgenic mouse experiments indicate that autoreactive B cells are eliminated upon encounter with membrane self-antigen. In this study we tested how B cell tolerance to MHC class I antigens is affected by altering the frequency of antigen-carrying cells in mixed bone marrow (BM) chimeras. When antigen-bearing cells are present at low frequency, the reactive B cells and their antigens may coexist in the peripheral lymphoid organs, but under these conditions the B cells are functionally anergic and have a shortened lifespan. Such putative anergic cells are strongly deleted in the presence of additional, non-antigen-bearing, non-transgenic B cells. Since the antigen concentration on the surface of each antigen-bearing cell should be high, these results suggest that for efficient deletion of auto-reactive B cells multiple antigen encounters may be required, particularly when cellular competition is weak. These results have implications for the therapeutic use of BM chimerism to induce B cell tolerance to grafts.
Association of cortisol with neuropsychological assessment in older adults with generalized anxiety disorder.

Objectives: Older adults with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have elevated diurnal cortisol patterns and show an increased cortisol stress response, which may increase risk for cognitive dysfunction. The current secondary data analysis examined how neuropsychological assessment as a possible laboratory stressor affects cortisol levels in late-life GAD and, in turn, how cortisol levels affect cognitive performance. Methods: The current sample consisted of 69 individuals with late-life GAD and 39 psychiatrically healthy group-matched comparison participants. Cognitive performance was measured with a neuropsychological battery and salivary cortisol was collected at several time points. Hierarchical regressions were performed to assess the moderating role of cortisol in the relationship between GAD status and cognitive performance. Results: The results revealed that older adults with GAD showed significantly lower cortisol levels during neuropsychological assessment, compared to their baseline levels. Fur...
The prevalence and impact of arthritis in older persons

Objective. To review what is known about the prevalence and impact of arthritis on disability and health care expenditures incurred by older persons. Methods. The current prevalence estimates of osteoarthritis and osteoporosis in the US are examined, and what is known about the relationship of arthritis, broadly defined to disability, and the impact of arthritis-specific disability on home care and nursing home use by older persons are reviewed. Results. Arthritis is a major contributor to disability among older people and is especially disabling for older women, who have higher prevalence rates and greater disability than their male counterparts. Studies of the relationship of arthritis to long-term care use indicate that arthritis can be a risk factor insofar as it can cause disability that results in homeboundedness, which, in turn is a risk factor for nursing home use. It is possible that previous analyses that included arthritis and disability as competing risk factors for nursing home use underestimate the contribution of arthritis because arthritis is a risk factor for disability; thus, the two variables may be strongly correlated. Conclusions. More study is needed to understand the contribution of sex to prevalence of arthritis and severity of arthritis-specific disability. The route through which arthritis affects long-term care use also needs careful longitudinal study. If arthritis is confirmed to be a major risk factor for disability that leads to long-term care use, the development and testing of interventions to prevent/minimize arthritis-specific disability should be a major research priority.
Teaching the concepts of physical and chemical change to elementary school children

Replication of this study on instructional sequence and grade placement is in order. Do all children behave similarly in acquiring a concept of physical and chemical change?
Navigating the New Normal: Transfer Trends, Issues, and Recommendations

This chapter establishes the use of data and effective communications as the foundation of comprehensive approaches to facilitating transfer student success and examines transfer trends and future issues. Recommendations are offered to institutions and individuals for navigating the new normal—collegiate transfer.
Parasitic infection of the bovine perinate: a review

Abstract Factors affecting the frequency and outcome of infection of the bovine perinate are reviewed in relation to 18 recognized parasitic entities.
Effects of casting and post casting annealing on xylene isomer transport properties of Torlon® 4000T films

Abstract Procedures for Torlon ® 4000T membrane formation were developed to provide attractive and repeatable xylene separation properties. Torlon ® 4000T membrane films cast by our method were investigated in terms of thermally induced imidization, molecular weight enhancement, and solvent removal. After development of the Torlon ® 4000T casting procedure, pervaporation of a xylene mixture (i.e. 30% para-xylene, 30% meta-xylene, 30% ortho-xylene, and 10% ethylbenzene) was performed in both Torlon ® 4000T and post casting annealed Torlon ® 4000T films. The xylene pervaporation in annealed Torlon ® 4000T film at 200 °C gave a permeability of 0.25 Barrer and a selectivity of 3.1 (para/ortho) and 2.1 (para/meta) respectively. A so-called “permeability collapse” reflecting an accelerated reduction in the free volume is consistent with significant temperature-induced changes in the films observed after thermal annealing at 300 °C. This conditioning effect is induced by a combination of heat treatment and the presence of the interacting aromatic penetrants. Optical methods were used to verify that the density of annealed samples exposed to xylene for 5 days eventually increased, suggesting that the membrane is originally swollen upon initial xylene exposure, and then relaxes to a more densified, and more discriminating state.
Predictors of Pressure Ulcers in Adult Critical Care Patients

Background Pressure ulcers are one of the most underrated conditions in critically ill patients. Despite the introduction of clinical practice guidelines and advances in medical technology, the prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients continues to escalate. Currently, consensus is lacking on the most important risk factors for pressure ulcers in critically ill patients, and no risk assessment scale exclusively for pressure ulcers in these patients is available. Objective To determine which risk factors are most predictive of pressure ulcers in adult critical care patients. Risk factors investigated included total score on the Braden Scale, mobility, activity, sensory perception, moisture, friction/shear, nutrition, age, blood pressure, length of stay in the intensive care unit, score on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, vasopressor administration, and comorbid conditions. Methods A retrospective, correlational design was used to examine 347 patients admitted to a medical-surgical intensive care unit from October 2008 through May 2009. Results According to direct logistic regression analyses, age, length of stay, mobility, friction/shear, norepinephrine infusion, and cardiovascular disease explained a major part of the variance in pressure ulcers. Conclusion Current risk assessment scales for development of pressure ulcers may not include risk factors common in critically ill adults. Development of a risk assessment model for pressure ulcers in these patients is warranted and could be the foundation for development of a risk assessment tool.
Negotiating cultural ambiguity: the role of markets and consumption in multiracial identity development

Due to their growing social visibility and recognized buying power, multiracial individuals have emerged as a viable consumer segment among marketers. However, there is a dearth of research examining how multiracial populations experience the marketplace. In an attempt to better understand the ways in which multiracial individuals utilize consumption practices as a means of developing and expressing their racial identity, this study examined the lived experience of multiracial (black and white) women. Findings of this phenomenological study indicate that multiracial consumers engage with the marketplace to assuage racial discordance and legitimize the liminal space they occupy. This marketplace engagement is explored through themes such as living in two worlds, the mighty ringlets and forced choice. Multiracial identity is seen to be co-constituted by marketers and consumers. Existing theories proved ineffectual at fully capturing the lived experience connected to the consumer acculturation and socializat...
Anti-Adhesions Properties of Polyelectrolyte Complex Based Films

Adhesions are abnormal fibrous connections between tissues and can occur following virtually any type of surgery (1). They are often painful and can severely disrupt normal organ function. The incidence of adhesions following surgery is very high; some estimate an incidence as high as 80%. Thus, the prevention of adhesions has the potential to save the healthcare market billions of dollars and improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Certain sums of Squares of Vector Fields Fail to be Analytic Hypoelliptic

If m {3,4,5,...} then the partial differential operator in R3 fails to be analytic hypoelliptic. This results from the existence of parameters C such that the ordinary differential equation has a nontrivial solution which remains bounded as
Translocation (7;21) in a lipoma

Cytogenetic analysis was performed on a solitary lipoma from the flank of a 38-year-old male. A translocation t(7;21)(p22;q11.2) was found as the sole clonal chromosomal abnormality. The results are discussed in relation to other cytogenetic abnormalities found in benign adipose tumors.
P‐192: Novel Flexible Photo Sensing Pixel for Large Size Electrophoretic Display with Pen Writing Function

In this paper, we proposed a novel photo sensing pixel circuit for a large-area flexible e-reader utilizing an active matrix electrophoretic display (AMEPD). The photo sensing pixel consists of only 2 amorphous Si:H (a-Si:H) transistors to achieve light sensing, pixel switching and signal amplification functions without extra driving signals. The pixel output signal is up to 2V under illuminations of a common LED laser pointer. No degradation of the pixel output performance is observed after bending of more than 5000 times under 2cm curvature radius.
Ductile crack growth in pre-cracked CVN specimens: numerical studies

Abstract This study describes plane strain, finite element analyses to model ductile crack extension in pre-cracked Charpy specimens subjected to static and impact loading. The Gurson–Tvergaard (GT) dilatant plasticity model for voided materials describes the degradation of material stress capacity. Fixed-size, computational cell elements defined over a thin layer along the crack plane provide an explicit length scale for the continuum damage process. Outside of this layer, the material remains undamaged by void growth, consistent with metallurgical observations. The finite strain constitutive models include the effects of high strain rates on the material flow properties. Parametric studies focusing on numerically generated R -curves quantify the relative influence of impact velocity, material strain rate sensitivity, and properties of the computational cells (thickness and the initial cell porosity). In all cases, impact loading elevates significantly the R -curve by increasing the amount of background plasticity. The strong effects of impact loading on the driving force for cleavage fracture are illustrated through evolution of the Weibull stress. The analyses suggest a negligible, additional effect of tearing on the Weibull stress under impact loading. Validation of the computational cell approach to predict loading rate effects on R -curves is accomplished by comparison to static and impact experimental sets of R -curves for three different steels.
Effect of dynamic exclusion duration on spectral count based quantitative proteomics.

To increase proteome coverage, dynamic exclusion (DE) is a widely used tool. When DE is enabled, more proteins can be identified, although the total spectral counts will decrease. To investigate the effects of DE duration on spectral-counting based quantitative proteomics, we analyzed the same sample via multidimensional protein identification technology while enabling different DE durations (15, 60, 90, 300, 600 s) or turning DE off. Normalized spectral abundance factors (NSAFs) measured for abundant proteins varied little with or without DE, while enabling DE lead to higher peptide counts, higher NSAFs, and better reproducibility of detection for proteins of relatively lower abundance. The optimal DE duration, which generated the maximum number of peptides, proteins, and peptides per protein, was observed to be 90 s in our settings. We developed a mathematical model for analyzing the effects of DE duration on peptide spectral counts. We found that the optimal DE duration depends on the average chromatog...
A new construction for skew multivariate distributions

This paper considers a new approach to develop a very general class of skew multivariate distributions. The approach is based on a linear combination of an elliptically distributed random variable with a linear constraint. Using this approach two different classes of multivariate distributions are constructed based on original distribution. These new classes include different types of skew normal (type A and type B) and other skew elliptical distributions, exist in the literature. We also derive the moment generating function, marginal and conditional density of our proposed classes of distributions. Straightforward explanations are applied to demonstrate the relationships among previous approaches by others with our proposed class of skew distributions.
Secondary aerosol formation from the oxidation of biogenic hydrocarbons by chlorine atoms

[1] The chlorine atom (Cl) is a potential oxidant of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere and is hypothesized to lead to secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation in coastal and industrialized areas. The purpose of this paper is to test this hypothesis and to quantify the SOA formation potentials of the common monoterpenes α-pinene, β-pinene, and d-limonene when oxidized by Cl in laboratory chamber experiments. Results indicate that the oxidation of these monoterpenes generates significant amounts of aerosol. The SOA yields of α-pinene, β-pinene, and d-limonene in this study are comparable to those when they are oxidized by ozone, by nitrate radical, and in photooxidation scenarios. For aerosol mass up to 30.0 μg m−3, their yields reach approximately 0.20, 0.20, and 0.30, respectively. For d-limonene, data indicate two yield curves that depend on the initial concentration ratio of Cl precursor to d-limonene. It is argued theoretically that multiple SOA yield curves may be common for VOCs, depending on the initial concentration ratio of oxidant to VOC. SOA formation from the three typical monoterpenes when oxidized by Cl in the marine boundary layer, coastal areas, and inland industrialized areas could be a source of organic aerosol in the early morning.
A Leadership Methodology: Actions, Traits, and Skills that Result in Goal Achievement

For centuries, observers of human achievement have been fascinated with the attributes of successful leaders. The writings of Taylor, Fayol, Likert, and others suggest that there is "one best way" ...
Microphysical modeling of southern polar dehydration during the 1998 winter and comparison with POAM III observations

[1] Stratospheric dehydration and high aerosol extinctions are examined for the 1998 Antarctic winter using the Integrated Microphysics and Aerosol Chemistry on Trajectories (IMPACT) model and data obtained by the Polar Ozone and Aerosol Measurement (POAM) III instrument. The model is applied to individual air parcels which are advected along 3-D trajectories using the United Kingdom Meteorological Office (UKMO) global wind and temperature fields. Model results are compared to water vapor and aerosol extinction measurements obtained with the POAM instrument. Results suggest that the water vapor mixing ratio at the end of the season is predicted with reasonable accuracy. However, dehydration occurs more rapidly in the simulation than is indicated by the POAM data. In addition to dehydration results, the frequency of high aerosol extinction measurements is examined for all model runs and compared to POAM data. The aerosol extinction comparisons are consistent with the assumption that heterogeneous nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) freezing occurs in approximately 1% of all particles. Various model parameters influencing ice cloud microphysics are altered to examine their effects on both the water vapor mixing ratio and high aerosol extinction events. While a reduction in the ice accommodation coefficient and an increase in the ice nucleation barrier both improve the agreement in the water vapor mixing ratio, the agreement in aerosol extinction is worsened. Extinction comparisons suggest that the model results are consistent with either high or low NAT-ice lattice compatibility factors, although intermediate values agree poorly with POAM data. The extent of dehydration is highly dependent on temperature; therefore, an uncertainty as small as ±1 K in the UKMO temperature fields may significantly change the model results.
Acute and repeated administration of sulpiride alters Met-and Leu-enkephalin content of rat brain.

Following acute administration of sulpiride (100 mg/kg, i.p.), Met-enkephalin levels were increased in striatum but decreased in substantia nigra and nucleus accumbens. No effect was observed in hypothalamus or frontal cortex. In contrast, Leu-enkephalin content was decreased in the nucleus accumbens but not elsewhere. Administration of sulpiride (10 or 100 mg/kg, i.p.) for 21 days, followed by 2 days drug withdrawal, caused a dose-dependent increase in Met-enkephalin in nucleus accumbens but decreases in hypothalamus and frontal cortex. No change was observed in the striatum or substantia nigra. Repeated sulpiride administration caused a decrease in Leu-enkephalin content of the hypothalamus and cortex but not elsewhere.
Multi-Robot Pose Graph Localization and Data Association from Unknown Initial Relative Poses via Expectation Maximization

This paper presents a novel approach for multirobot pose graph localization and data association without requiring prior knowledge about the initial relative poses of the robots. Without a common reference frame, the robots can only share observations of interesting parts of the environment, and trying to match between observations from different robots will result in many outlier correspondences. Our approach is based on the following key observation: while each multi-robot correspondence can be used in conjunction with the local robot estimated trajectories, to calculate the transformation between the robot reference frames, only the inlier correspondences will be similar to each other. Using this concept, we develop an expectation-maximization (EM) approach to efficiently infer the robot initial relative poses and solve the multi-robot data association problem. Once this transformation between the robot reference frames is estimated with sufficient measure of confidence, we show that a similar EM formulation can be used to solve also the full multi-robot pose graph problem with unknown multi-robot data association. We evaluate the performance of the developed approach both in a statistical synthetic-environment study and in a real-data experiment, demonstrating its robustness to high percentage of outliers.
Determination Of High-Intensity X-Ray Spectra

A method for determining high intensity x-ray spectra from diagnostic x-ray units is described. The method combines direct measurements of low intensity, constant potential x-ray spectra with digitized measurements of current and voltage waveforms at high intensity to determine high intensity x-ray spectra. The effect of ripple in the voltage waveform on the resulting x-ray spectra is also shown.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Characterization of Contact Resistance Stability in MEM Relays With Tungsten Electrodes

The impact of device operating parameters on the ON-state resistance (RON) of microelectromechanical relays with tungsten (W) electrodes is reported. Due to the susceptibility of W to oxidation, RON increases undesirably over the device operating cycles. This issue is aggravated by Joule heating when the relay is in the on state. The experimental results confirm that shorter ON time, as well as shorter off time, provides for more stable RON with respect to the number of ON/OFF switching cycles.
Thermally Generated Second Order Correlations in OCT, Noise or Diagnostic Approach?

We have recently demonstrated that second order correlations (SOC) in conventional OCT demonstrate quantum mechanical properties. This paper examines OCT SOC for diagnostic purposes, such as local refractive index measurements, rather than a noise source.
Factors affecting the fracture resistance of silicon nitride ceramics

Abstract In order to separate the intrinsic grain boundary fracture resistance of a hot-pressed silicon nitride ceramic (NC132) from microstructural contributions, such as crack deflection and crack bridging, synthetic grain boundaries were fabricated by a novel diffusion bonding and hipping procedure. By comparing the crack lengths, produced by indentation on the boundary, along and perpendicular to the grain boundary, the fracture energy relative to that of the bulk material, G gb G M , is obtained. This is found to have a value of ca. 0.3, which is higher than that considered favorable for interfacial fracture and fiber debonding in composites. This is consistent with observations of crack trajectories in the material, which indicate little crack deflection at the fibrous β-Si 3 N 4 , and indentation measurements, which indicate almost no R-curve behavior. The indentation measurements also indicate that there is a significant residual stress between the silicon nitride and the intergranular glass phase in the NC132 ceramic, with the glass phase being in tension.
Geochemistry of tectonically expelled fluids from the northern Coast ranges, Rumsey Hills, California, USA

Abstract Tectonic compression has created abnormally high pressure on deep basinal fluids causing their expulsion from areally exposed Upper Cretaceous rock along the eastern margin of the California Coast ranges. The fluids emerge as near-neutral, perennial sodium chloride springs at high elevations with flow rates as high as 10 L per min. Higher spring discharges are more common around the exposure of a west-vergent fault propagation fold axis. Spring waters range from ~1000 to 27,000 mg/L TDS. The least saline water ( δ 18 O = −7.5‰ ) closely represents local meteoric water that mixes with saline fluid ( δ 18 O = +5.3‰ ) and forms a slope of ~3.5 on a δD vs. δ18O plot. A Na (125 to 8000 mg/L) vs. Cl (150 to 17,000 mg/L) plot shows a linear dilution trend that extends close to, but below, the values for modern seawater. Calcium (75–3000 mg/L) is considerably enriched relative to seawater and forms a nonlinear trend with chloride. In detail, the “Na deficit,” defined by the difference between the measured Na content and the Na concentration on a hypothetical seawater dilution line, is approximately balanced by the Ca excess, similarly defined by the seawater dilution line. This relationship strongly suggests that the fluid is diluted seawater that is being modified by active albitization of plagioclase at different depths. Simultaneous B and 18O enrichment of the fluids, accompanied by deuterium depletion, further suggest that the seawater modification is influenced by clay diagenesis. Bicarbonate and SiO2 concentrations show an inverse correlation with Cl, with most waters being saturated or slightly oversaturated with calcite and quartz at the discharge temperatures. Some freshwater springs with near-meteoric stable isotope values may represent mixing of young groundwater from perched aquifers, but in many cases, the freshwater springs emerge along the same structures and have the same perennial nature as the saline fluids, and expulsion of an older fresh groundwater component that is under abnormal fluid pressures cannot be ruled out. Basinal fluids elsewhere commonly show dilution trends with local meteoric water, and in the case of the Rumsey Hills, some of the dilute saline waters may indicate deep penetration of meteoric water (> 1 km) in the Pleistocene before the latest tectonic uplift. Geothermometry of the spring waters (maximum ~90°C) suggest an origin from as deep as 4.0 km. This depth is consistent with the depth of the core of a fault propagation anticline below the surface of the Rumsey Hills developed by active internal deformation of an east-tapering wedge beneath the southwestern Sacramento Valley. Active tectonic compression causes near-lithostatic fluid pressures in the shallow subsurface below the Rumsey Hills and volume strain within the core of the anticline that results in upward expulsion of the saline fluids from the indicated depths.