cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of screening young men for Chlamydia trachomatis on the rates among women: a network modelling study for high-prevalence communities.

Objective Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is the most commonly reported sexually transmitted infection in the USA and causes important reproductive morbidity in women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend routine screening of sexually active women under age 25 but not among men. Despite three decades of screening women, chlamydia prevalence in women remains high. Untested and untreated men can serve as a reservoir of infection in women, and male-screening based intervention can be an effective strategy to reduce infection in women. We assessed the impact of screening men on the Ct prevalence in women. Design We created an individual-based network model to simulate a realistic chlamydia epidemic on sexual contact networks for a synthetic population (n=5000). The model is calibrated to the ongoing routine screening among African American (AA) women in the USA and detailed a male-screening programme, Check It, that bundles best practices for Ct control. We used sensitivity analysis to quantify the relative importance of each intervention component. Setting Community-based venues in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Participants Heterosexual AA men, aged 15 to 24, who had sex with women in the past 2 months. Intervention Venue-based screening, expedited index treatment, expedited partner treatment and rescreening. Results We estimate that by annually screening 7.5% of the AA male population in the age-range, the chlamydia prevalence would be reduced relatively by 8.1% (95% CI 5.9% to 10.4%) in AA women and 8.8% (95% CI 6.9% to 10.8%) in AA men. Each man screened could prevent 0.062 (95% CI 0.030 to 0.094) cases in men and 0.204 (95% CI 0.143 to 0.267) cases in women. The model suggested the importance of intervention components ranked from high to low as venue-based screening, expedited index treatment, expedited partner treatment and rescreening. Conclusion The findings indicated that male-screening has the potential to substantially reduce the prevalence among women in high-prevalence communities.
Predicting overdose among individuals prescribed opioids using routinely collected healthcare utilization data.

Introduction With increasing rates of opioid overdoses in the US, a surveillance tool to identify high-risk patients may help facilitate early intervention. Objective To develop an algorithm to predict overdose using routinely-collected healthcare databases. Methods Within a US commercial claims database (2011-2015), patients with ≥1 opioid prescription were identified. Patients were randomly allocated into the training (50%), validation (25%), or test set (25%). For each month of follow-up, pooled logistic regression was used to predict the odds of incident overdose in the next month based on patient history from the preceding 3-6 months (time-updated), using elastic net for variable selection. As secondary analyses, we explored whether using simpler models (few predictors, baseline only) or different analytic methods (random forest, traditional regression) influenced performance. Results We identified 5,293,880 individuals prescribed opioids; 2,682 patients (0.05%) had an overdose during follow-up (mean: 17.1 months). On average, patients who overdosed were younger and had more diagnoses and prescriptions. The elastic net model achieved good performance (c-statistic 0.887, 95% CI 0.872-0.902; sensitivity 80.2, specificity 80.1, PPV 0.21, NPV 99.9 at optimal cutpoint). It outperformed simpler models based on few predictors (c-statistic 0.825, 95% CI 0.808-0.843) and baseline predictors only (c-statistic 0.806, 95% CI 0.787-0.26). Different analytic techniques did not substantially influence performance. In the final algorithm based on elastic net, the strongest predictors were age 18-25 years (OR: 2.21), prior suicide attempt (OR: 3.68), opioid dependence (OR: 3.14). Conclusions We demonstrate that sophisticated algorithms using healthcare databases can be predictive of overdose, creating opportunities for active monitoring and early intervention.
Abstract PO-047: Lorazepam modifies the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumor microenvironment

The aim of this work was to determine the role of the benzodiazepine (BZD) lorazepam, an anxiolytic drug, in modifying the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) tumor microenvironment. PDA is a lethal malignancy. Poor survival rates and tumor intrinsic aspects of the disease, such as altered cytokine pools, promote significant levels of anxiety in patients. Approximately 25% of PDA patients will be prescribed BZDs. Epidemiological evidence suggests BZDs increase the risk of cancer development, but no group has determined the impact of BZDs on the PDA tumor microenvironment. Recent research has established that BZDs promote the signaling of GPR68, a proton-sensing G protein-coupled receptor activated by the acidic tumor microenvironment. GPR68 is expressed on PDA cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and promotes pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic signaling. Additionally, we performed covariate adjusted analyses of pancreatic cancer patients who received chemotherapy at Roswell Park from 2004 to 2020. Patients receiving lorazepam (LOR), an n-unsubstituted BZD that strongly activates GPR68, had shorter progression-free survival (PFS) relative to non-users (HR 3.83 (1.53, 9.57). In contrast, patients receiving alprazolam (ALP), an n-substituted BZD and GPR68 non-activator, had improved PFS relative to non-users (HR 0.38 (0.16-0.92). It is essential that we determine the impact of BZDs and GPR68 activation on the PDA tumor microenvironment and therapeutic response. We hypothesize that BZDs which are strong GPR68 activators will stimulate fibrosis and inflammatory signaling, promoting a more desmoplastic tumor microenvironment, decreasing the efficacy of chemotherapy. Using a subcutaneous KPC allograft mouse model, we found that lorazepam, a strong GPR68-activating BZD, modified the tumor microenvironment by increasing α-SMA (smooth muscle actin) expression, collagen deposition, and ischemic necrosis. Similarly, under acidic conditions, lorazepam-treated primary mouse and human CAFs promoted the mRNA expression of α-SMA and the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6. Overall, this research indicates that lorazepam treatment significantly impacts the PDA tumor microenvironment. Significance: This research may guide the development of new clinical recommendations for prescribing anxiolytic drugs to PDA patients. The results of this research will likely be applicable to other cancer types which are reliant on CAFs for growth, such as colon cancer. Citation Format: Abigail C. Cornwell, Abdulrahman A. Alahmari, Arwen A. Tisdale, Michael E. Feigin. Lorazepam modifies the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumor microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2020 Sep 29-30. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(22 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-047.
Subtle Multicultural Advantages of Online Learning: A Focus on Perspective-Taking

Many teachers have been challenged by the unexpected and rushed transition to online learning, forcing them to modify their courses for a virtual environment in a matter of weeks, or even days. Hopefully, they will soon see pedagogical advantages of virtual learning that may be overlooked during this unprecedented time—in addition to the current benefit of protecting the health of faculty, staff, and students. Four that are presented here are particularly relevant to teachers of culturally diverse students who increasingly enroll in online courses: (1) cycles of reflection, (2) scaffolded integration of content, (3) articulate communication, and (4) visible responsibility for learning. The advantages to both deep learning and perspective-taking—both of particular interest to culturally diverse student populations—are presented for each of the four benefits.
Midlife family financial strain, sense of control and pain in later years: An investigation of rural husbands and wives.

Research focussing on individual biopsychosocial processes leading to physical pain as a health condition is rare. The present study investigated sense of control as a mechanism linking early midlife stress to later-life physical pain for husbands and wives in long-term marriages. Using data from 508 rural husbands and wives over 27 years (1991-2017) with respondents in their early middle years ( 67 years on average) in 2017, this study utilized a comprehensive analytical model in an structural equation modelling framework. Family financial stress (FFS) trajectories in early middle years were associated with depleted sense of control, which was related to increased physical pain in later years after controlling for concurrent physical illness, family income and age. In cross-lagged analyses FFS influenced physical pain over mid-later years. Physical pain also influenced FFS, suggesting a bi-directional association between FFS and physical pain. Findings elucidate how early midlife FFS influences the progression of physical pain over mid-later years through sense of control. Findings suggest effective intervention and prevention programs should focus on FFS in early years of adulthood as well as the maintenance and development of adults' sense of control.
Low-level exposure to lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, and blood pressure among 8-17-year-old participants of the 2009–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract Background Dysregulation of systolic, diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), and pulse pressure (PP) in children may predict elevated blood pressure (BP) in adulthood. Toxicant exposure is widely studied as a risk factor for high BP in adults, but not in children. We assessed the joint associations between lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) exposure and SBP, DBP, and PP among 8-17 year-old participants (n = 1642) of the 2009–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods Participants with at least two BP measures were included. Urinary As and Cd were adjusted for urinary creatinine concentrations. Blood Pb, Hg, and urinary As, Cd were natural log-transformed. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) analyses were conducted to assess the associations between the toxicant mixture and BP measures. Multivariable regression models assessed the associations between individual toxicants, and the four toxicants simultaneously with each of the outcomes. Interactions with sodium intake were tested. Results Exposure to all toxicants was low, with median (5%, 95%) level: Pb, 0.57 (0.26, 1.60) μg/dL; Hg, 0.37 (0.19, 2.12) μg/L; As, 5.61 (1.37, 33.2) μg/g creatinine, Cd, 0.06 (0.03, 0.23) μg/g creatinine. Toxicant mixture showed a statistically significant, inverse association with DBP, but not other BP measures. Linear regressions revealed no association between toxicants, individually or together, and BP measures. No evidence of interaction of sodium intake with any of the toxicants was observed. Conclusions In a nationally representative sample of 8–17 year-olds, we found suggestive inverse association of the mixture of low-level Pb, Hg, As, and Cd, with DBP. Longitudinal studies with multiple toxicants are needed to understand the interactive effects of toxicants on children's BP.
Long-term walnut supplementation without dietary advice induces favorable serum lipid changes in free-living individuals.

Long-term walnut supplementation without dietary advice induces favorable serum lipid changes in free-living individuals
Hardware-efficient random circuits to classify noise in a multiqubit system

In this work, we extend a multiqubit benchmarking technique known as the binned output generation (BOG) in order to discriminate between coherent and incoherent noise sources in the multiqubit regime. While methods exist to discriminate coherent from incoherent noise at the single and few-qubit level, these methods scale poorly beyond a few qubits or must make assumptions about the form of the noise. On the other end of the spectrum, system-level benchmarking techniques exist, but they fail to discriminate between coherent and incoherent noise sources. We experimentally verify the BOG against randomized benchmarking (RB) (the industry standard benchmarking technique) in the two-qubit regime, then apply this technique to a six-qubit linear chain, a regime currently inaccessible to RB. In this experiment, we inject an instantaneous coherent $Z$-type noise on each qubit and demonstrate that the measured coherent noise scales correctly with the magnitude of the injected noise, while the measured incoherent noise remains unchanged as expected. This demonstrates a robust technique to measure coherent errors in a variety of hardware.
Radiation Therapy in Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma: From Palliation to Ablation

The management of patients with metastatic cancer is rapidly changing. Historically, radiotherapy was utilized for the treatment of localized disease or for palliation. While systemic therapy remains the mainstay of management for patients with metastatic cancer, radiotherapy is becoming increasingly important not only to palliate symptoms, but also to ablate oligometastatic or oligoprogressive disease and improve local control in the primary site. There is emerging evidence in multiple solid malignancies that patients with low volume metastatic disease that undergo local ablative therapy to metastatic sites may have improved progression free survival and potentially overall survival. In addition, there is increasing evidence that select patients with metastatic disease may benefit from aggressive treatment of the primary site. Patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma have a poor overall prognosis. However, there may be opportunities in patients with low volume metastatic soft tissue sarcoma to improve outcomes with local therapy including surgery, ablation, embolization, and radiation therapy. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) offers a safe, convenient, precise, and non-invasive option for ablation of sites of metastases. In this review article, we explore the limited yet evolving role of radiotherapy to metastatic and primary sites for local control and palliation, particularly in the oligometastatic setting.
Long-term effects of metreleptin in Rabson-Mendenhall Syndrome on glycemia, growth, and kidney function.

CONTEXT Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome (RMS) is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the insulin receptor gene (INSR) leading to insulin-resistant diabetes, microvascular complications, and growth hormone resistance with short stature. Small, uncontrolled studies suggest that one year treatment with recombinant leptin (metreleptin) improves glycemia in RMS. OBJECTIVE Determine effects of long-term metreleptin in RMS on glycemia, anthropometrics, the growth hormone axis, and kidney function. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS/INTERVENTION/SETTING Comparison of patients with RMS during non-randomized open-label treatment with metreleptin (≥0.15 mg/kg/day) versus no metreleptin over 90 months (5 subjects in both groups at different times, 4 only in metreleptin group, 2 only in control group). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) A1c; glucose; insulin; 24-hour urine glucose; standard deviation scores (SDS) for height, weight, BMI, and IGF-1; growth hormone (GH), estimated glomerular filtration rate. RESULTS Over time, metreleptin-treated subjects maintained 1.8 percentage point lower A1c vs controls (P=0.007), which remained significant after accounting for changes in insulin doses. Metreleptin-treated subjects had a reduction in BMI SDS, which predicted decreased A1c. GH increased after metreleptin treatment vs. control, with no difference in SDS between groups for IGF-1 or height. Reduced BMI predicted higher GH, while reduced A1c predicted higher IGF-1. CONCLUSIONS Metreleptin alters the natural history of rising A1c in RMS, leading to lower A1c throughout long-term follow-up. Improved glycemia with metreleptin is likely attributable to appetite suppression and lower BMI SDS. Lower BMI after metreleptin may also worsen growth hormone resistance in RMS, resulting in a null effect on IGF-1 and growth despite improved glycemia.
Implementing the New Curriculum

With adoption by the faculty of its report on October 21, 1991, the CRC was dissolved and the focus of attention turned to implementation. The COI met in mid-November 1991 to develop a framework for the implementation process. The key organizational decision was formation of a series of three-person groups, one for each core course. In contrast to the composition of the CRC, whose members were all tenured full professors, each CIC group comprised one senior and one junior faculty member from the division responsible for the course, plus one faculty member from another division. In a similar fashion, theme committees were formed to consult with each of the core course working groups on integrating theme material into their courses. Appointments to these committees were finalized in January 1992. Vice Dean Heal convened these groups as the Curriculum Implementation Committee (CIC) under his leadership. The basic focus of the CIC’s efforts was to transform the course outlines prepared by the CRC and adopted by the faculty into full course syllabi.
Status of the landsat data continuity mission

A new strategy has emerged for continuing the acquisition of Landsat data beyond the mission life of Landsat 7. An initial effort to extend the Landsat program through a commercial data procurement was ended in late 2003. An interagency working group has since convened and recommended merging the Landsat program into the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). The strategy would place a Landsat sensor, called the Operational Land Imager (OLI), on an NPOESS satellite in time for the late 2009 launch of the first satellite in the NPOESS constellation. An earlier "gap-filler" mission is also under consideration due to the age and condition of Landsat 5 and 7. The recommended merger would place the next Landsat mission, called the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM), into a stable operational environment while enhancing the land observation capabilities and services of the NPOESS
Linear and nonlinear optical spectroscopy of semiconductor nanocrystals

Publisher Summary Semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) represent a class of quasi-zero-dimensional objects, or quantum dots. Bulk crystalline structure is preserved in NCs, but due to quantum confinement NCs have molecular-like discrete energy spectra, which exhibit strong size dependence. NCs bridge the gap between large molecules and bulk materials. The boundaries between molecular, NC, and bulk regimes are not well defined and are strongly material dependent. The NC regime occurs over a size range of approximately 10 2 –10 4 atoms per cluster. The lower limit of this range is determined by the stability of the bulk crystalline structure with respect to isomerization into molecular structure. The upper limit corresponds to sizes for which the energy level spacing is approaching the thermal energy kT, meaning that carriers become mobile inside a NC. Depending on the ratio between NC radius, a , and the bulk-exciton radius a x , three different confinement regimes can occur. In the strong-confinement regime, the Coulomb electron–hole ( e–h ) interaction is negligibly small in comparison with confinement energies. Therefore an electron and a hole can be treated as independent particles. In the regime of weak confinement ( a/a x » 1), the electron and hole motions are strongly correlated via the Coulomb interaction and NC energy spectra are determined by quantization of the motion of the exciton center of mass. In the intermediate-confinement regime ( a/a x ∼ 1), energy structures in NCs are determined by a complex interplay between quantum confinement and the Coulomb e–h interaction.
Building automatically a business registration ontology

We discuss a domain-independent, corpus based method for dictionary-less automatic extraction of ontological knowledge from domain-specific unannotated documents. We present the architecture, algorithms, and results for ONTOSTRUCT---a new system that uses machine learning and statistical techniques to analyze text sources, discover terms, link equivalent terms into concepts, learn both hierarchical and non-hierarchical conceptual relations, and build an extensive, semantically sound hierarchy of concepts. We report on ONTOSTRUCT's results in constructing a domain-specific ontology for the business registration domain, and evaluate the performance of two of its modules.
Low Temperature Molding for High Space Coverage Microlens Arrays

This paper presents SF 6 /O 2 plasma lens-mold-etching and low-temperature-molding to produce 100% coverage microlens arrays. The methods can successfully fabricate microlenses with different focal lengths (432.7-826.5μm) on a substrate in batch processes.
Collisional broadening cross-sections for HD∗ (B1Σ+u)−HD(X1Σ+g) and HD∗(B1Σ+u)− He from peak absorbancy measurements

Abstract Preliminary broadening cross-sections of HD undergoing the transition B 1 Σ + u ( v ′ = 3, J ′ = 2) ← X 1 Σ + g ( v ′ = 0, J ′ = 1), in collision with ground-state ( X 1 Σ + g ) HD molecules and helium-4 have been determined by measurement of the pressure dependence of the peak absorbancy of argon 1066 A resonance radiation. The cross-sections found are (165±75) A 2 and (28.8±9.6) A 2 , respectively. A technique for the determination of self- and foreign-gas quenching is also described.
Systemic acquired resistance activation in solanaceous crops as a management strategy against root‐knot nematodes

BACKGROUND Activators of systemic acquired resistance (SAR), such as salicylic acid (SA) and its synthetic functional analogues benzo(1,2,3)thiadiazole-7-carbothionic acid-S-methyl ester (BTH) and 2,6-dichloroisonicotinic acid (INA), were tested on tomato, eggplant and pepper for the control of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. Effects on plant fitness, nematode reproduction and root galling were screened in relation to different methods of application, to different applied dosages of chemicals and to different plant growth stages. Dosages applied to plants were in relation to plant weights. These chemicals were also tested for their possible nematotoxic activity in vitro. RESULTS Soil drenches of SA and INA and root dip application of SA and BTH inhibited nematode reproduction, at specific dosage ranges, without affecting plant growth. SA and INA were able to reduce root galling as well. Foliar sprays of both SA and BTH were ineffective against nematode attacks. Plants tolerated SA more than the other chemicals tested. BTH at elevated concentrations increased the mortality of nematode juveniles and reduced egg hatching in vitro. CONCLUSIONS SAR activators at concentrations suitable for different plant growth stages and applied by the proper method can possibly be included in IPM programmes for nematode management. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
General Strain Theory

Crime prevention programs are successful to the extent that they effectively address the major causes of crime (Agnew and Brezina in Juvenile delinquency: causes and control. Oxford University Press, New York, 2012). General strain theory (GST) identifies many of these causes, including criminogenic strains or stressors and the factors that increase the likelihood that individuals will cope with these strains through crime. Most of the causes described by GST are addressed in existing crime prevention programs, although GST suggests certain new strategies for preventing crime. This chapter provides an overview of GST and then describes the implications of GST for crime prevention, taking note of existing programs that are compatible with GST and suggesting new programs.
Identification of genetic factors influencing chip color in diploid potato (Solanum spp.)

A genetic map was constructed with a combination of isozymes, restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs) to apply quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis to identify genetic factors that contribute to chip color in potato. The diploid population used was a cross between aSolanum tuberosum haploid andS. chacoense hybrid used as female parent and aS. phureja clone used as male. Chip color was determined visually on samples fried from tubers stored at 10C. On a scale of 1 (light color) to 10 (dark color), the population ranged from 2 to 8 while the parents average chip color was 3.5. Based upon one-way ANOVAs (P < 0.05), 13 genetic markers showed significant associations which represent a total of six QTLs. A multiple locus model based upon the markers that have the largest effect per QTL explained 43.5% of the phenotypic variation for chip color in the population and increased to 50.5% when one significant epistatic interaction was included in the model. All the significant marker associations were identifed in theS. tuberosum-S. chacoense hybrid. Through preliminary data, the results of this study suggest that additive effects contribute a significant portion of the genetic variation for chip color. The identification of these QTLs for chip color variation provides the means to apply marker-assisted selection to introgress these genes into the cultivated potato germplasm.
Video object annotation, navigation, and composition

We explore the use of tracked 2D object motion to enable novel approaches to interacting with video. These include moving annotations, video navigation by direct manipulation of objects, and creating an image composite from multiple video frames. Features in the video are automatically tracked and grouped in an off-line preprocess that enables later interactive manipulation. Examples of annotations include speech and thought balloons, video graffiti, path arrows, video hyperlinks, and schematic storyboards. We also demonstrate a direct-manipulation interface for random frame access using spatial constraints, and a drag-and-drop interface for assembling still images from videos. Taken together, our tools can be employed in a variety of applications including film and video editing, visual tagging, and authoring rich media such as hyperlinked video.
Do We Need Experimental Data To Evaluate the Impact of Manpower Training On Earnings

This article assesses several recent studies in the manpower training evaluation literature claiming that (1) nonexperimental methods of program evaluation produce unreliable estimates of program impacts and (2) randomized experiments are necessary to produce reliable ones. We present a more optimistic statement about the value of nonexperimental methods in analyzing the effects of training programs on earnings. Previous empirical demonstrations of the sensitivity of estimates of program impact to alternative nonexperimental procedures either do not test the validity of the testable assumptions that justify the nonexperimental procedures or else disregard the inference from such tests. We reanalyze data from the National Supported Work Demonstration experiment (NSW) utilized by LaLonde and Fraker and Maynard and reexamine the performance of nonexperimental estimates of the net impact of the NSW program on the posttraining earnings of young high school dropouts and adult women. Using several simple strategies for testing the appropriateness of alternative formulations of such estimators, we show that a number of the nonexperimental estimators used in these studies can be rejected. Although we eliminate a number of nonexperimental estimators by such tests, we are able to find estimators that are not rejected by these tests. Estimators not rejected by such tests yield net impact estimates that lead to the same inference about the impact of the program as the experimental estimates. The empirical results from our limited study provide tangible evidence that the recent denunciation of nonexperimental methods forevaluating manpower training effects is premature.
Literary Activism, Social Justice, and the Future of Bioregionalism

Whereas the political battle between literary activists and industry over the tenets of bioregionalism in the American West has ignored the question of social justice, effectively silencing a sizeable population—the working poor—by creating an economic situation in which labor must choose between two oppressors, mutual aid as championed by Petr Kropotkin offers more potential for reform than the model of political competition has yielded thus far. If literary activists were to extend Jared Diamond’s call to social action in Collapse by becoming advocates of laborers injured by industrial catastrophes, and if eco-activists were to imagine economic alternatives to the policies they oppose, then bioregionalism could hope to gain more ground as a grassroots movement.
Transvaginal ultrasound–assisted gynecologic surgery: evaluation of a new device to improve safety of intrauterine surgery

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new device that couples any standard transvaginal ultrasound transducer to a special tenaculum by means of a specially designed adaptor that enables real-time ultrasound imaging and guidance of intrauterine surgical procedures. Study design Forty-five patients who underwent intrauterine surgical interventions were evaluated. Forty of these patients had pregnancy terminations. Three patients had curettage for early pregnancy complications. One patient had a polyp removed, and one patient underwent hysteroscopic submucous myomectomy. Five attending physicians performed 26 procedures. Four residents in training performed 19 procedures. All operators were instructed in the assembly and use of the device before their first procedure. Evaluation of the device was done by means of a detailed questionnaire. Results The procedures were completed successfully and without complications. The time that was involved for the various components of the surgical procedures was recorded; 83% to 90% of the time the operators felt that the technique increased safety and accuracy for the parameters that were evaluated. They required fewer intrauterine instrument manipulations; in 85% of the cases, they could detect the exact end point of the procedure more accurately. In 12% of cases, the operators felt that the device interfered with the performance of the procedure. Conclusions The transvaginal ultrasound-assisted gynecological surgery system provided high-resolution images of the cervical canal and the uterine cavity during all stages of the procedure and provided improved indication of the procedure's end point. The increased safety and accuracy that was reported by most users was encouraging. The transvaginal ultrasound-assisted gynecologic surgery system appears to provide an enhanced alternative to transabdominal ultrasound guidance for intrauterine surgical procedures.
Knowledge sharing using codification and collaboration technologies to improve health care: lessons from the public sector

Knowledge management (KM) enables the public sector to support knowledge transfer across organizations and communities. This case study tells the story of how one U.S. Government agency has been able to support change within the health-care industry to adopt and use information and communication technologies. The study focuses on the role and use of codification and collaboration technologies in KM practice. The study also describes the agency's emphasis on evaluation of these techniques in support of continuous quality improvement of KM practice. Building on previous work in KM, the study extends the traditional dialectic on codification and collaboration, blurring the lines between formal and informal forms and suggesting that both approaches may be necessary to achieve desired impacts on government and societal challenges.
Sumoylated MEF2A Coordinately Eliminates Orphan Presynaptic Sites and Promotes Maturation of Presynaptic Boutons

Presynaptic differentiation of axons plays a fundamental role in the establishment of neuronal connectivity. However, the mechanisms that govern presynaptic differentiation in the brain remain largely to be elucidated. We report that knockdown of the transcription factor MEF2A in primary neurons and importantly in the rat cerebellar cortex in vivo robustly increases the density of orphan presynaptic sites. Remarkably, the sumoylated transcriptional repressor form of MEF2A drives the suppression of orphan presynaptic sites. We also identify the gene encoding synaptotagmin 1 (Syt1), which acts locally at presynaptic sites, as a direct repressed target gene of sumoylated MEF2A in neurons, and demonstrate that repression of Syt1 mediates MEF2A-dependent elimination of orphan presynaptic sites. Finally, we uncover a role for the MEF2A-induced elimination of orphan presynaptic sites in the accumulation of presynaptic material at large maturing presynaptic boutons. Collectively, these findings define sumoylated MEF2A and Syt1 as components of a novel cell-intrinsic mechanism that orchestrates presynaptic differentiation in the mammalian brain. Our study has important implications for understanding neuronal connectivity in brain development and disease.
Mass-producible microtags for security applications: calculated fabrication tolerances by rigorous coupled-wave analysis

We develop a method for encoding phase and amplitude in microscopic computer-generated holograms (microtags) for security applications. An 8{times}8 cell phase-only and an 8{times}8 cell phase-and-amplitude microtag design are fabricated in photoresist using an extreme ultraviolet (13.4-nm) lithography (EUVL) tool. Each microtag measures 80{times}160{mu}m and contains features 0.2 {mu}m wide. Fraunhofer-zone diffraction patterns can be obtained from fabricated microtags without any intervening optics and compare very favorably with predicted diffraction patterns [Descour {ital et al.} (1996)]. We present the results of a rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) of microtags. Microtags are modeled as consisting of subwavelength gratings of a trapezoidal profile. Transverse-electric (TE) and TM readout polarizations are modeled. The analysis concerns the determination of optimal microtag-grating design parameter values and tolerances on those parameters. The parameters are grating wall-slope angle, grating duty cycle, grating depth, and metal coating thickness. Optimal microtag-grating parameter values result in maximum diffraction efficiency, which is calculated at 16{percent} for microtag gratings in air and 12{percent} for microtag gratings underneath a protective dielectric coating, within fabrication constraints. TM-polarized readout illumination is diffracted with higher efficiency than TE-polarized illumination by microtag gratings. {copyright} {ital 1998 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.}{ital Key words:} computer-generated holograms; security and anticounterfeitingmore » devices; grating fabrication tolerances; rigorous coupled-wave analysis. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers}« less
Thermoreflectance of IV–VI compounds☆

We have measured thermoreflectance spectra of epitaxial PbS, PbSe, PbTe, and SnTe films from 0.7 to 5.6 eV, at room temperature and 77 K. Fine structures associated with the usual reflectivity peaks are observed, most of which agree in spectral position with electric field and wavelength modulation results. Δer and Δei have been obtained through a Kramers-Kronig analysis of our Δ R/R spectra. In the absence of experimental symmetry information, tentative assignments are made based on (1) comparison of temperature coefficients with theoretical deformation potentials, (2) comparison of δe curves with theoretical lineshapes, and (3) matching the structures with existing band structure calculations and related information.
Investigating directional structures in weather radar imagery

This paper investigates an approach for identification of small-scale precipitation structures within significantly larger-scale structures in weather radar imaging. The technique utilizes directional smoothing filters to extract directional information which not apparently observable within large precipitation events. The main goal is to track these directional characteristics over time, and thus, to predict the overall motion of large structures for the purpose of forecasting. The objective of this work is not to compete against other weather radar imagingbased forecasting techniques, but to supplement them. Experimental results illustrate how tracking of directional structures can be effectively performed.
Interaction of the Oxygen Effect and Radiosensitization Produced by Base Analogues Incorporated into Deoxyribonucleic Acid

A series of experiments was made to study the radiosensitivlty produced by base analogues on several thymineand purine-deflcient mutants of Escherichia coli in either O2 or N2. The base analogues studied were bromouracil, iodouracil, thioquanine, 6-mercaptopurine, and 2-aminopurine, and thymine and adenine were used as controls. The results show that all the analogues tested made E. coli more radiosensitive in O2 than the controls but that some analogues did not produce any radiosensitivity in N2.
Poisson's Law and the Frequency of Hurricanes

POISSON'S law, or the ‘law of small probabilities’ as it is sometimes called, is used at times for describing the probabilities that no, one, two, etc., particular events of a relatively infrequent character will occur in a single year. It has been used in the estimation of the probability of one or more hurricanes striking a given area, say, New England, in a year. The purpose of this communication is to point out weaknesses inherent in this treatment, and to suggest one or more alternative approaches.
Measurement of the pair potential in aligned Pb-Cd lamellar eutectic composites

Thermal-conductivity measurements have been used to study the pair potential in multilayer superconductor-normal-metal lamellar composites. Lamellar Pb-Cd eutectic samples were prepared by a high-speed directional solidification technique which generates large single-grain samples with all the lamellas lined up in the same direction. For thin Cd layers where the pair potential $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ is expected to be uniform throughout the Cd, the pair potential is found to be \ensuremath{\sim}40% of the value in bulk Pb. This gives direct experimental evidence that the boundary condition requireing continuity of $\frac{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{\mathrm{NV}}$ applies in the clean regime. Surprisingly, the electron mean free path in the Cd is longer than the width of the lamellas implying that Andreev scattering is suppressed at the Pb-Cd interface.
The Awareness of the Profession of Audiology Among Entering College Students

Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop and pilot test a survey of entering college students' awareness of the profession of audiology and to report the preliminary results of the survey. ...
A morphological and genetic characterization of metamorphosis in the ascidian Boltenia villosa

Ascidian metamorphosis is a critical life history stage for exploring chordate evolution and conserved chordate developmental signaling pathways. The vast majority of research on ascidian development has been focused on embryogenesis. Thus there is still little known about the development of ascidian post-larval structures, including differentiation of the chordate pharyngeal gill slits and endostyle along with the heart, blood cells and gut. In this paper, we present our research on metamorphosis in the solitary ascidian Boltenia villosa. Through careful analysis of phalloidin staining in young juveniles, we have discerned a highly coordinated series of developmental events underlying the differentiation of the gut and body wall musculature. Additionally, we have employed subtractive hybridizations to isolate genes that are differentially transcribed during Boltenia metamorphosis. Some of these genes are expressed throughout ascidian development and some appear to be uniquely expressed during metamorphosis. Here we characterize several transcripts with potential developmental functions and discuss their possible roles in the differentiation of adult structures during solitary ascidian metamorphosis.
Elastic characterization of diamond films by acoustic microscopy

Abstract As the development of diamond-like films (DLFs) progresses and emerges from the research environment, the need for rapid, large-scale non-destructive inspection becomes ever more important. The metrology or reflectometer mode of the acoustic microscope is used to inspect the layered structure consisting of DLFs deposited on silicon substrates. A measured acoustic material signature (AMS) for DLF on silicon is used to determine the surface acoustic wave (SAW) velocity and the dispersion in the layered substrate. The variation of the measured SAW dispersion with film parameters, obtained in a completely non-destructive manner, may then be used to ascertain the film quality, such as film thickness, adhesion and texture. In the particular example of a DLF on a silicon substrate, the SAW velocity increases with frequency and film thickness (positive dispersion). The physics of the metrology mode (AMS) is described and applied to the determination of important film quantities in layered structures of gold and DLF on silicon. The measured SAW velocities of DLF on two crystalline orientations of silicon and with film thickness between 0.7 and 9.0 μm are reported at frequencies up to 600 MHz. These are compared with computed SAW dispersion based on the bulk properties of diamond. A preliminary interpretation of these results and the implications for material properties of these films are presented.
X-ray Data for the Chrome-Urania System, Cr 2 O 3 ·2UO 3

A NEW binary compound in the chrome-urania system has been briefly described by Borchardt1. This compound has been prepared by mechanically mixing 78 weight per cent uranium oxide (UO2) and 22 weight per cent chromium oxide (Cr2O3), pressing the mixture into pellets and firing to 1,250° C. in platinum dishes. The samples were reground and refired and then examined by chemical, optical, and X-ray techniques. A trace of free chrome was observed optically in mixtures where the chemical analysis indicated excess chromium over a Cr: U atom ratio of 1. The X-ray powder patterns indicated only one phase.
Thermodynamics and Mechanism of the Block Copolymer Micelle Shuttle between Water and an Ionic Liquid

The micelle shuttle utilizing block copolymer micelles as nanocarriers for transportation between water and a hydrophobic ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIM][TFSI]), is examined in detail. Rhodamine B, a dye with a high molar absorptivity and fluorescence quantum yield, is conjugated to a short poly(1,2-butadiene) homopolymer and then loaded in amphiphilic poly((1,2-butadiene)-block-ethylene oxide) (PB−PEO) block copolymer micelles. The round-trip transportation of the micelles between water and the ionic liquid is simply triggered by temperature; it is fully reversible, quantitative, and without leakage. Quantitative fluorescence analysis reveals that the micelle distribution in the biphasic system has a very strong temperature dependence, which is favorable for control of the transportation. The standard Gibbs free energy change (ΔG°), standard enthalpy change (ΔH°), and standard entropy change (ΔS°) of the micelle shuttle are extracted from the temperatur...
Evidence that glutamic acid is the neurotransmitter of baroreceptor afferents terminating in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS)

Abstract The possibility that l -glutamic acid ( l -Glu) might be the neurotransmitter of baroreceptor afferents terminating in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and affecting activity of the autonomic nervous system was tested using a variety of techniques. Effects on blood pressure and heart rate of microinjections of l -Glu and antagonists into the NTS supported this contention. Use of blocking agents was confirmatory. Biochemical studies provided evidence that the agent (glutamic acid) is synthesized, stored and reaccumulated in these nerve endings. Furthermore, it was shown that l -Glu is released from the NTS in vivo. Degeneration of afferent terminals due to removal of the nodose ganglia reduced l -Glu levels in the NTS. After discussion of this and additional evidence that l -Glu is the transmitter and a consideration of reasons for eliminating other possibilities (substance P, etc.) it was concluded that l -glutamic acid is the neurotransmitter of baroreceptor afferents.
Kernel Survival Function Estimation Based on Doubly Censored Data

This work concerns the estimation of a smooth survival function based on doubly censored data. We establish strong consistency and asymptotic normality for a kernel estimator. Moreover, we also obtain an asymptotic expression for the mean integrated squared error, which yields an optimum bandwidth in terms of readily estimable quantities.
A Titration Method for Measuring the Amount of Liquid Amine-Based Antistrip Additive in Asphalts and Pavements

A titration method for measuring the weight percent of amine-based liquid antistrip additives in asphalts and pavements was developed. The technique involves measuring the alkalinity of the sample and relating that to the measured alkalinities of both the pure asphalt and the pure additive in order to ascertain the additive concentration. This approach proved to be at least semi-quantitative, capable of measuring additive concentrations to within about 0.2% out of total additive concentrations of around 1.0%. It is required that samples of both the pure additive and the pure asphalt be available for comparison; it will not be possible to avoid this requirement due to chemical similarities between the additives and the asphalts. It is, however, possible to measure the difference in additive concentrations between two samples of pavement with a sample of just the pure additive; a pure asphalt sample is not necessary.
Diel carbon monoxide cycling in the upper Sargasso Sea near Bermuda at the onset of spring and in midsummer

Rapid bio-oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO), a photoproduct of dissolved organic matter, results in diel cycles reflecting photochemical-biogeochemical-physical interactions. These cycles were characterized by time-series studies of hydrography, meteorology, insolation, optics, and CO concentration ([CO]). Diel patterns of near-surface [CO] generally varied little seasonally, despite different forcings. In summer 30% of CO was below the mixed layer (ML); ML depths and optics indicate that two-layer photochemistry is common elsewhere. [CO] decayed at similar rates in both isolated layers. In spring CO extended to 150 m, reflecting nocturnal mixing. Cruise-average profiles indicated a shallower ML defined by CO than that defined by density, illustrating short-lived CO's sensitivity to recent mixing. Below the ML, [CO] dropped exponentially with depth on scales controlled by photoproduction in summer but mixing in spring. Mass-balance modeling of diurnal variations in CO column burden (CB) gave similar production rates in summer and spring (∼50 μmol m -2 d -1 CO), but different bio-oxidation rates, 1.5 ± 0.2 d -1 (summer, 0-50 m) and 0.52-0.66 d -1 (spring, 0-200 m). Outgassing averaged 4% of bio-oxidation in summer and 14% in spring. Similar production and differing sinks resulted in different CBs: 39.3 μmol m -2 (summer) versus 94.9 μmol m -2 (spring). Insolation-normalized CO productions were 1.8 times those in the oligotrophic equatorial Pacific. Improved, well-blanked analyses found [CO] at 200 m always <0.1 nmol L -1 in summer, and usually in spring. Prior reports of [CO] systematically ≥0.2 nmol L -1 at depth in well-stratified, oxic blue waters may be high because of method artifacts.