cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sleep Patterns and Hypertension Using Actigraphy in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between actigraphy-based measures of sleep and prevalent hypertension in a sample of US Latinos. Methods We analyzed data from 2,148 participants of the Sueno Sleep Ancillary Study of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), who underwent 1 week of wrist actigraphy to characterize sleep duration, sleep efficiency, sleep fragmentation index, and daytime naps. Insomnia was defined as an Insomnia Severity Index ≥ 15. Hypertension was defined based on self-reported physician diagnosis. Survey linear regression was used to evaluate the association of sleep measures with hypertension prevalence. Sensitivity analyses excluded participants with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15 events/h. Results The mean age was 46.3 ± 11.6 years, and 65% of the sample consisted of women. The mean sleep duration was 6.7 ± 1.1 hours. Thirty-two percent of the sample had hypertension. After adjusting for age, sex, ethnic background, site, and AHI, each 10% reduction in sleep efficiency was associated with a 7.5% (95% CI, –12.9 to –2.2; P = .0061) greater hypertension prevalence, each 10% increase in sleep fragmentation index was associated with a 5.2% (95% CI, 1.4-8.9; P = .0071) greater hypertension prevalence, and frequent napping was associated with a 11.6% greater hypertension prevalence (95% CI, 5.5-17.7; P = .0002). In contrast, actigraphy-defined sleep duration ( P = .20) and insomnia ( P = .17) were not associated with hypertension. These findings persisted after excluding participants with an AHI ≥ 15 events/h. Conclusions Independent of sleep-disordered breathing, we observed associations between reduced sleep continuity and daytime napping, but not short sleep duration, and prevalent hypertension.
Effect of hydrophobic surface treated fumed silica fillers on a one-bottle etch and rinse model dental adhesive

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of hydrophobic surface treatment to fumed silica fillers on the bonding performance of a one-bottle etch and rinse model dental adhesive. In this study, 0.5-5 wt.% of Filler 1 and Filler 2 were loaded into BisGMA/HEMA model dental adhesive. Filler 1 was not treated, while Filler 2 was surface treated with a dimethyl silicone fluid making the silica extremely hydrophobic. The prepared adhesives were characterized through measurements of viscosity, degree of conversion, and water contact angle. SEM was utilized to observe the microstructures at the bonding interface. Micro-tensile bond strength (µTBS) test coupled with fracture surface analysis was carried out to study the mechanical properties. From the experiment, the loadings of Filler 2 is favorable to the improvement of µTBS. The µTBS of experimental adhesive with 1 wt.% Filler 2 increased 42% compared to the model adhesive without filler, and 24% compared to the experimental adhesive with 1 wt.% Filler 1. The effectively penetration of the hydrophobic compositions of the adhesive is considered as the main reason that leads to the increased bond strength, which was proved by the contact angle measurement and SEM observations.
Adrenal Insufficiency and CIRCI

The stress system receives and integrates a diversity of cognitive, emotional, neurosensory, and peripheral somatic signals that are directed to the central nervous system through distinct pathways. The stress response is normally adaptive and time limited and improves the chances of the individual for survival. The stress response is mediated largely by activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis with the release of cortisol. In general, there is a graded cortisol response to the degree of stress, such as the type of surgery. Cortisol levels also correlate with the severity of injury, the Glasgow Coma Scale, and the APACHE score. Cortisol effects the transcription of thousands of genes in every cell of the body. In addition, the cortisol–glucocorticoid receptor complex effects cellular function by non-transcriptional mechanisms. Cortisol has several important physiological actions on metabolism, cardiovascular function, and the immune system. Cortisol increases the synthesis of catecholamines and catecholamine receptors, which are partially responsible for its positive inotropic effects. In addition, cortisol has potent anti-inflammatory actions including the reduction in number and function of various immune cells, such as T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils at sites of inflammation. Cortisol is the most important inhibitor of the transcription of pro-inflammatory mediators (inhibits NF-κB and AP-1 by multiple mechanisms).1
Sources of entrepreneurial discretion in kinship systems

Entrepreneurs may wish to be selective about which relatives to include or exclude in their businesses. For example, their child might be inept but their niece might be outstanding. What aspects of kinship systems affect their ability to make these sorts of choices? What enables them to bend their ties of kinship and marriage to the interests of their business? Most broadly, what dimensions of kinship lend themselves to tactical or instrumental actions? This question is sweeping just as my meaning of “entrepreneurs” is very broad: those who take actions with the goal of growing their capital (Stewart, 1991). This capital may take the form of newly started ventures, dynastic firms, or even in precapitalist systems other social forms, for example, rural estates farmed by followers.
ASKED AND ANSWERED: Knowledge Levels When We Will Not Take "Don't Know" for an Answer

A pivotal claim in research on citizen competence is that the typical citizen knows very little about politics. Public opinion surveys provide a considerable body of evidence in support of this position. However, survey protocols with respect to factual questions about politics violate established norms in psychometric research on educational testing in that “don't know” answers are encouraged rather than discouraged. Because encouraging “don't know” responses potentially confounds efforts to identify substantive understanding, this practice may lead to the systematic understatement of political knowledge. We explore this possibility with data drawn from three split-ballot tests: one conducted as part of a survey in the Tallahassee, Florida, metropolitan area, one conducted as part of the 1998 NES Pilot, and one conducted as part of the 2000 NES. Results reveal that the mean level of political knowledge increases by approximately 15% when knowledge questions are asked in accordance with accepted practices in educational testing.
Migrant Brides in Singapore: Women Strategizing within Family, Market and State

Migrant Brides are women from developing countries who migrate to marry. This article uses the legal case study of Migrant Brides in Singapore to explore broader questions about women’s agency and the Family as a site of power and negotiation. I argue that the background rule systems of immigration, labor and welfare law condition the application of family law on Migrant Brides, resulting in family law having disparate impact on Migrant Brides and Singaporean women. Through in-depth interviews with these women, I map the background rule systems, comprising both formal and informal norms, as the terrain in which Migrant Brides must navigate while in Singapore. I posit that the background rules create vulnerabilities and advantages that are translated into bargaining endowments for Migrant Brides. I demonstrate how the women actively use these endowments in strategizing within the Family, Market and State.Thus, my article provides a crucial corrective to the popular characterization of “third-world” women as passive victims trapped within coercive legal norms. Instead, Migrant Brides are shown to be active agents working within the background rules to shape the distributional consequences of their marriages. They will not be helped by protectionist legislation that restricts their migration into the country. Rather, an increase in options within the background rules, however small, will increase Migrant Brides’ bargaining power within their marriages, and provide possibilities for their creative and strategic action.
Thermodynamic Anomalies near the Liquid-Vapor Critical Point: A Review of Experiments

From the point of view of testing theoretical developments, liquid-vapor systems are representative of 3-dimensional systems with short-ranged forces and scalar order parameters. Liquid-vapor systems are attractive experimental systems because they can be studied in thermodynamic equilibrium (unlike liquid-liquid systems near consolute points). Liquid-vapor systems are free from frozen-in impurities and long-ranged strain fields that occur in crystals. A field conjugate to the order parameter is accessible in liquid-vapor systems, thus the scaling function for the free energy can be measured. These systems lack the symmetry of certain magnets and Ising models. This presents problems for simple-minded analyses of data. Nature does not tell us in advance which variables to use; however, this problem and its associated asymmetries are of interest in their own right. The primary macroscopic inhomogeneity in liquid-vapor systems is a density gradient over the height of a sample because of the earth’s gravitational field. This phenomenon is fully understood and has been exploited for the most delicate measurements of the equation of state.
Promoting scholarship in a community-based internal medicine residency.

The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine Internal Medicine residency implemented a program to enhance scholarship among residents. This residency is part of a small Mid-Western com...
A Scalable Method for Squalenoylation and Assembly of Multifunctional 64 Cu-Labeled Squalenoylated Gemcitabine Nanoparticles.

Squalenoylation of gemcitabine, a front-line therapy for pancreatic cancer, allows for improved cellular-level and system-wide drug delivery. The established methods to conjugate squalene to gemcitabine and to form nanoparticles (NPs) with the squalenoylated gemcitabine (SqGem) conjugate are cumbersome, time-consuming and can be difficult to reliably replicate. Further, the creation of multi-functional SqGem-based NP theranostics would facilitate characterization of in vivo pharmacokinetics and efficacy. Methods: Squalenoylation conjugation chemistry was enhanced to improve reliability and scalability using tert-butyldimethylsilyl (TBDMS) protecting groups. We then optimized a scalable microfluidic mixing platform to produce SqGem-based NPs and evaluated the stability and morphology of select NP formulations using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cytotoxicity was evaluated in both PANC-1 and KPC (KrasLSL-G12D/+; Trp53LSL-R172H/+; Pdx-Cre) pancreatic cancer cell lines. A 64Cu chelator (2-S-(4-aminobenzyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid, NOTA) was squalenoylated and used with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to monitor the in vivo fate of SqGem-based NPs. Results: Squalenoylation yields of gemcitabine increased from 15% to 63%. Cholesterol-PEG-2k inclusion was required to form SqGem-based NPs using our technique, and additional cholesterol inclusion increased particle stability at room temperature; after 1 week the PDI of SqGem NPs with cholesterol was ~ 0.2 while the PDI of SqGem NPs lacking cholesterol was ~ 0.5. Similar or superior cytotoxicity was achieved for SqGem-based NPs compared to gemcitabine or Abraxane® when evaluated at a concentration of 10 µM. Squalenoylation of NOTA enabled in vivo monitoring of SqGem-based NP pharmacokinetics and biodistribution. Conclusion: We present a scalable technique for fabricating efficacious squalenoylated-gemcitabine nanoparticles and confirm their pharmacokinetic profile using a novel multifunctional 64Cu-SqNOTA-SqGem NP.
A Longitudinal and Multidimensional Examination of the Associations Between Temperament and Self-Restraint During Toddlerhood.

Developing self-restraint, or the inhibition of behavior in response to a prohibition, is an important process during toddlerhood. The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of individual differences in the development of self-restraint during toddlerhood by examining stable elements and growth of temperament (i.e., attentional control, behavioral inhibition, negative emotionality), general intelligence, and self-restraint. Participants were 412 same-sex twin pairs (approximately 90% European American) from predominately middle-class households in Colorado. Data were collected at 14, 20, 24, and 36 months. Results indicated that higher behavioral inhibition, attentional control, and intelligence were independently associated with better self-restraint, whereas higher negative emotionality was an independent predictor of lower self-restraint. The associations between temperament and self-restraint generally appeared to be stable from 14 to 36 months.
Advancing Equity in Nephrology: Enhancing Care for LGBTQ+ Patients and Our Workforce.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals face social, economic, legal, health, and health care–related disparities amid evolving threats to sociopolitical advances made in the last decade ([1][1],[2][2]). In response, organizations, including the National Institutes of
Lyapunov Differential Equation Hierarchy and Polynomial Lyapunov Functions for Switched Linear Systems

This work studies the problem of searching for homogeneous polynomial Lyapunov functions for stable switched linear systems. Specifically, we show an equivalence between polynomial Lyapunov functions for systems of this class and quadratic Lyapunov functions for a related hierarchy of Lyapunov differential equations. This creates an intuitive procedure for checking the stability properties of switched linear systems and a computationally competitive algorithm is presented for generating high-order homogeneous polynomial Lyapunov functions in this manner. Additionally, we provide a comparison between polynomial Lyapunov functions generated with our proposed approach and polynomial Lyapunov functions generated with a more traditional sum-of-squares based approach.
Evaluation of Word Recognition Following Typing Produced through Facilitated Communication.

The extant literature on facilitated communication suggests facilitator control rather than independent communication. We used a novel assessment to evaluate a participant's correct identification of words produced during facilitated communication sessions. The participant was unable to recognize common words that she was being facilitated to type, with correct responding varying as a function of the number of distracter stimuli available. These findings are discussed in relation to behavior-analytic evaluations for alternative medical treatments for autism and related disorders.
Primary care providers propensity to order non-recommended surveillance testing after curative breast cancer treatment.

52Background: Team-based cancer care models promote primary care providers taking on a larger role in survivorship care. However, little is known about PCP attitudes toward and propensity to order ...
Performance Function Tests in Assessing Ankle Fitness.

Introduction A challenge for any physician caring for athletes is determining readiness for return to competition after an injury. A wide variety of performance function tests (PFTs) have been described, but no norms or minimum performance levels exist for any of them. In this study, healthy athletes were given a series of PFTs to complete. We propose that there will be a minimum performance level for each of the PFTs that all athletes can complete. We also propose, for tests that assess the right and left legs independently, that performance of the right leg will consistently be within 10% of the left. Finally, we propose that performance on one of the functional tests will be predictive of function on all the tests. Methods Athletes were put through a testing protocol, beginning with range of motion and progressing through a series of functional ankle tests of increasing difficulty. Right and left leg data were recorded separately for the first five tests. For each test, mean values, ranges, and SDs were calculated. Results Eighty-one athletes completed the protocol. A wide variation existed in performance ability between athletes; the SD for any of the tests was too high to determine a minimum performance threshold. However, when comparing right to left leg in any one athlete, the difference in performance testing was always less than 10%. Furthermore, performance on the side hop test was predictive of performance on the other tests. Discussion A wide range of performance was noted in all the PFTs, so it is not possible to define a minimum threshold. However, performance of an injured leg to within 10% of the opposite (uninjured) leg suggests achievement of normal function. The side hop test might be a good test by itself to represent overall ankle readiness.
Biochemical computation underlying behavioral decision-making

Abstract Computations in the brain are broadly assumed to emerge from patterns of fast electrical activity. Challenging this view, we show that a male fly’s decision to persist in mating, even through a potentially lethal threat, hinges on biochemical computations that enable processing over minutes to hours. Each neuron in a recurrent network measuring time into mating contains slightly different internal molecular estimates of elapsed time. Protein Kinase A (PKA) activity contrasts this internal measurement with input from the other neurons to represent evidence that the network’s goal has been achieved. When consensus is reached, PKA pushes the network toward a large-scale and synchronized burst of calcium influx, which we call an eruption. The eruption functions like an action potential at the level of the network, transforming deliberation within the network into an all-or-nothing output, after which the male will no longer sacrifice his life to continue mating. We detail the continuous transformation between interwoven molecular and electrical information over long timescales in this system, showing how biochemical activity, invisible to most large scale recording techniques, is the key computational currency directing a life-or-death decision.
Performance evaluation for manufacturing systems under control-limit maintenance policy

Abstract Maintenance decision-making in large manufacturing systems is complex as it requires the integration of various information. A control-limit policy is popular in practice, where maintenance is carried out when the degradation state of a machine reaches a threshold value. In this paper, by developing a framework based on discrete-time Markov chain models, we evaluate the system performance under the control-limit policy, in manufacturing systems that consist of multi-state machines and intermediate buffers. An exact analysis is performed for a two-machine-one-buffer system and an approximation method based on system decomposition is developed for multi-stage systems. Both steady-state and transient performance is analyzed. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed method and the impact of different parameters (e.g., buffer capacity, uncertainty in the maintenance duration) on the system performance.
The Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool Accurately Predicts Discharge Destination After Revision Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background The Risk Assessment and Prediction Tool (RAPT) was developed and validated to predict discharge disposition after primary total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA). To date, there are no studies evaluating the applicability and accuracy of RAPT for revision THA/TKA. This study aims to determine the predictive accuracy of the RAPT for revision THA/TKA. Methods Prospectively collected data from a single tertiary academic medical center were retrospectively analyzed for patients undergoing revision THA/TKA between January 2016 and July 2019. RAPT score was used to predict their postoperative discharge destination and its predictive accuracy was calculated. Patient risk (low, intermediate, and high) for postoperative inpatient rehabilitation facilities or skilled nursing facilities were determined based on the predictive accuracy of each RAPT score. Other factors evaluated included patient-reported discharge expectation, body mass index, and American Society of Anesthesiologists scores. Results A total of 716 consecutive revision THA/TKA episodes were analyzed. Overall, predictive accuracy of RAPT for discharge disposition was 83%. RAPT scores 8 were deemed high and low risk of discharge to a post–acute care facility, respectively. RAPT scores of 4 to 7 were still accurate 65%-71% of the time and were deemed to be intermediate-risk. RAPT score and patient-reported discharge expectation had the strongest correlation with actual discharge disposition. Conclusion The RAPT has high predictive accuracy for discharge planning in revision THA/TKA patients. Patient-expected discharge destination is a powerful modulator of the RAPT score and we suggest that it be taken into consideration for preoperative discharge planning.
Intraspecies diversity reveals a subset of highly variable plant immune receptors and predicts their binding sites

Abstract Evolution of recognition specificities by the immune system depends on the generation of receptor diversity, and connecting binding of new antigens with initiation of downstream signalling. In plant immunity, these functions are enabled by the family of innate Nucleotide-Binding Leucine Rich Repeat (NLR) receptors. In this paper we surveyed the NLR complements of 62 ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana and 54 lines of Brachypodium distachyon and identified a limited number of NLR subfamilies responsible for generation of new receptor specificities. We show that the predicted specificity-determining residues cluster on the surfaces of Leucine Rich Repeat domains, but the location of the clusters varies between NLR subfamilies. By comparing NLR phylogeny, allelic diversity, and known functions of the Arabidopsis NLRs, we formulate a hypothesis for emergence of direct and indirect pathogen sensing receptors, and of the autoimmune NLRs. These findings reveal the recurring patterns of evolution of innate immunity and inform NLR engineering efforts.
Phase-transition temperature determination using optical spectroscopy in a rotating flow inside a scrape surface crystallizer

Optical techniques offer a practical approach to characterize fluid dynamics due to the complicated nature of the mathematical equations that describe turbulent flows. However, experimental setups such as particle image velocimetry are often restricted to studies with steady flows moving through channels with clear walls to detect the signals from lasers using optical receivers and particles that reflect light. For non-isothermal unsteady flows in scraped surface crystallazers, the signal detecting process is not trivial due to the interference caused by the rotating shaft and the scraper blades that homogenize the solution in the mixing chamber. Also, the cooling jacket installed on the periphery of the agitator obstructs the field of view impeding the study of the interrogation region. The goal of this investigation was to determine the phase-transition temperature of a multi-phase unsteady flow in a scraped surface crystallizer using optical spectroscopy in the UV-VIS range. Temperature, pressure, and spectroscopy measurements were measured in-situ to characterize the mixture by its physical properties to obtain a correlation between the optical signatures before and after the glass-transition temperature. Results showed that optical absorbance successfully detected the physical variations in the phase- transition process of the unsteady flow.
The Quiver of the Pandemic Unknowns: Trauma-Informed Resources

This article provides an overview of considerations as the academic year begins, and strategies that are needed to support students and staff as classrooms return to school in a variety of differen...
Physiology core concepts in the classroom: reflections from faculty

It is increasingly difficult for faculty to cover all of the content in a physiology course. Given this constraint, recent efforts in the physiology teaching community, and in particular the Physio...
Anticipating vehicle traffic increase on improved inter-urban roads: evidence from three decades of transport projects in developing regions

Consideration of the traffic generated by inter-urban road investments is important for assessing their economic feasibility and external costs and for designing sustainable road maintenance strate...
Counting roots for polynomials modulo prime powers

Author(s): Cheng, Qi; Gao, Shuhong; Rojas, J Maurice; Wan, Daqing | Abstract: Suppose $p$ is a prime, $t$ is a positive integer, and $f\!\in\!\mathbb{Z}[x]$ is a univariate polynomial of degree $d$ with coefficients of absolute value $l\!p^t$. We show that for any fixed $t$, we can compute the number of roots in $\mathbb{Z}/(p^t)$ of $f$ in deterministic time $(d+\log p)^{O(1)}$. This fixed parameter tractability appears to be new for $t\!\geq\!3$. A consequence for arithmetic geometry is that we can efficiently compute Igusa zeta functions $Z$, for univariate polynomials, assuming the degree of $Z$ is fixed.
Brain transcriptomic changes in Japanese quail reveal roles for neurotensin and urocortin 3 in avian parental care

For many species, parental care critically affects offspring survival. But what drives animals to display parental behaviours towards young? In mammals, pregnancy-induced physiological transformations seem key in preparing the neural circuits that lead towards attraction (and reduced-aggression) to young. Beyond mammalian maternal behaviour, knowledge of the neural mechanisms that underlie parental care is severely lacking. We took advantage of a domesticated bird species, the Japanese quail, for which parental behaviour towards chicks can be induced through a sensitization procedure, a process that is not effective in all animals. We used the variation in parental responses to study neural transcriptomic changes associated with the sensitization procedure itself and with the outcome of the procedure (i.e., presence of parental behaviours). Out of the brain regions studied, we found that most differences in gene expression were located in the hypothalamus. Two genes identified are of particular interest, as no role in avian parental care was known for those genes. One is neurotensin, previously only demonstrated to be causally associated with maternal care in mammals. The other one is urocortin 3, causally demonstrated to affect young-directed neglect and aggression in mammals. Our work opens new avenues of research into understanding the neural basis of parental care in non-placental species.
Competence-associated peptide BriC alters fatty acid biosynthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae

ABSTRACT Membrane lipid homeostasis is required for bacteria to survive in a spectrum of host environments. This homeostasis is achieved by regulation of fatty acid chain length and of the ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids. In the pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae, fatty acid biosynthesis is encoded by a cluster of fatty acid biosynthesis (fab) genes (FASII locus) whose expression is controlled by the FabT repressor. Encoded immediately downstream of the FASII locus is BriC, a competence-induced, cell-cell communication peptide that promotes biofilm development as well as nasopharyngeal colonization in a murine model of pneumococcal carriage. Here, we demonstrate that briC is co-transcribed with genes of the fab gene cluster and that a reduction of briC levels, caused by decoupling its transcription from fab gene cluster, negatively impacts biofilm development. BriC elevates fabT transcription, which is predicted to alter the balance of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids produced by the pathway. We find that briC inactivation results in a decreased production of unsaturated fatty acids that impact the membrane properties by decreasing the abundance of di-unsaturated phosphatidylglycerol molecular species. We propose that the link between BriC, FabT and phospholipid composition contributes to the ability of S. pneumoniae to alter membrane homeostasis in response to the production of a quorum-sensing peptide. IMPORTANCE Adaptation of bacteria to their host environment is a key component of colonization and pathogenesis. As an essential component of bacterial membranes, fatty acid composition contributes to host adaptation. Similarly, so does cell-cell communication, which serves as a mechanism for population levels responses. While much is known about the pathways that control the biosynthesis of fatty acids, many questions remain regarding regulation of these pathways and consequently the factors that impacts the balance between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. We find that BriC, a cell-cell communication peptide implicated in biofilm regulation and colonization, is both influenced by a fatty acid biosynthesis pathway and impacts this same pathway. This study identified a link between cell-cell communication, fatty acid composition, and biofilms and, in doing so, suggests that these pathways are integrated into the networks that control pneumococcal colonization and host adaptation.
An Aggressive Liposarcoma Presenting as a Perforated Colon Mass.

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLS) is a high-grade sarcoma that usually arises from a well-differentiated liposarcoma, which most commonly presents as a retroperitoneal mass. DDLS involving the colon is extremely rare, and only a few cases have been reported. We present a case of a DDLS that was found in the cecum and adjacent mesentery. This aggressive sarcoma developed within six months based on computed tomography (CT) findings and initially presented as a perforated colon mass. The patient was taken for emergent exploratory laparotomy including right hemicolectomy with en bloc resection. There was no metastatic disease at time of presentation, but at three-month follow-up, CT scans demonstrated metastatic disease to the liver, lungs, and multiple peritoneal implants. This case highlights a rare form of colon cancer and its aggressive nature of progression.
Solubility, Viscosity and Density of Refrigerant/Lubricant Mixtures

This report presents results for low refrigerant concentration (70, 80, 90 and 100 weight percent lubricant) mixtures of the following fluids: CFC-12/ISO 32 naphthenic mineral oil, HCFC-22/ISO 32 naphthenic mineral oil, CFC-12/ISO 100 naphthenic mineral oil, HFC-134a/ISO 22 pentaerythritol ester mixed acid, HFC-134a/ISO 32 pentaerythritol ester mixed acid [number sign]1, HFC-134a/ISO 68 pentaerythritol ester mixed acid, HFC-134a/ISO 100 pentaerythritol ester mixed acid, HFC-134a/ISO 32 pentaerythritol ester mixed acid [number sign]2, HCFC-123/ISO 32 naphthenic mineral oil, HCFC-123/ISO 100 naphthenic mineral oil, HCFC-123/150 SUS alkylbenzene, HCFC-123/300 SUS alkylbenzene. These data have been reduced to engineering form and are presented in the form of a Daniel Chart. Equations are given along with statistical measures of goodness of fit.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress in wake‐active neurons progresses with aging

Fragmentation of wakefulness and sleep are expected outcomes of advanced aging. We hypothesize that wake neurons develop endoplasmic reticulum dyshomeostasis with aging, in parallel with impaired wakefulness. In this series of experiments, we sought to more fully characterize age-related changes in wakefulness and then, in relevant wake neuronal populations, explore functionality and endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis. We report that old mice show greater sleep/wake transitions in the active period with markedly shortened wake periods, shortened latencies to sleep, and less wake time in the subjective day in response to a novel social encounter. Consistent with sleep/wake instability and reduced social encounter wakefulness, orexinergic and noradrenergic wake neurons in aged mice show reduced c-fos response to wakefulness and endoplasmic reticulum dyshomeostasis with increased nuclear translocation of CHOP and GADD34. We have identified an age-related unfolded protein response injury to and dysfunction of wake neurons. It is anticipated that these changes contribute to sleep/wake fragmentation and cognitive impairment in aging.
Public health informatics: a CDC course for public health program managers.

Information science and technology are critical to the modern practice of public health. Yet today's public health professionals generally have no formal training in public health informatics--the application of information science and technology to public health practice and research. Responding to this need, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently developed, tested, and delivered a new training course in public health informatics. The course was designed for experienced public health program managers and included sessions on general informatics principles and concepts; key information systems issues and information technologies; and management issues as they relate to information technology projects. This course has been enthusiastically received both at the state and federal levels. We plan to develop an abbreviated version for health officers, administrators, and other public health executives.
Spectral over-bounding of frequency data for modeling product variability in hard disk drive actuators

This paper presents a method of finding a control relevant, low-order weighting filter that over bounds the uncertainty variations in measured frequency domain data. Frequency response measurements of hard disk drive actuators are used to model manufacturing and mounting variation. A polynomial positivity condition is use to guarantee that a minimal phase representation of the uncertainty that is found and linear constraints in the frequency domain are used to bound the magnitude of uncertainty model. The positivity condition can be formulated as a linear matrix inequality and linear constraints are used to shape the filter. Manufacturing and mounting variations in hard disk drives are modeled as a multiplicative uncertainty and a low-order over bound is found from data on a finite grid. This application compares a linear programming based methods for finding uncertainty models with the purpose of designing a robust controller.
Olfactometry with mice

A computer-controlled, multiple-channel odor generator, operant test chamber, and discrimination training procedure for mice are described. The odor generator allows controlled presentation of any one or combinations of eight odors to an odor-sampling port that contains a liquid reinforcement delivery tube that also serves to detect responses. A modified discrete trial operant conditioning procedure provides measures of both response accuracy and response rate during anticipation of stimulus delivery and in the presence of two different odor stimuli. Results from numerous experiments demonstrate that, with these methods, mice reliably and rapidly acquire odor detection and a variety of odor-discrimination tasks, and that response rate in the presence of the odor reflects the incentive motivation of stimuli that are or are not associated with reward.
Stochastic Analysis of Structured Language Modeling

As previously introduced, the Structured Language Model (SLM) operated with the help of a stack from which less probable sub-parse entries were purged before further words were generated. In this article we generalize the CKY algorithm to obtain a chart which allows the direct computation of language model probabilities thus rendering the stacks unnecessary. An analysis of the behavior of the SLM leads to a generalization of the Inside–Outside algorithm and thus to rigorous EM type re-estimation of the SLM parameters. The derived algorithms are computationally expensive but their demands can be mitigated by use of appropriate thresholding.
A Citation Analysis of the Influence on Research of Skinner’s Verbal Behavior

The influence of Skinner's Verbal Behavior on the generation of verbal behavior research was examined in a citation analysis that counted the citations of the book from January 1957 to August 1983 and described the fields in which the citations occurred. In a subsequent content analysis, citations were classified as directly influenced by the book if they selected at least one of Skinner's classes of verbal behavior for empirical examination. Directly influenced citations were sorted as descriptive, applied, or basic. The total number of citations of the book (836), the increasing annual number of citations, and the range of fields in which the book has been cited are evidence of its broad influence. However, empirical investigations employing at least one of Skinner's classes of verbal behavior are only a small proportion (31/836) of the citations. Of this small proportion an even smaller number constitutes experimental analyses (19/836). The small proportion of empirical studies suggests that Verbal Behavior is primarily cited for reasons other than as source material for research hypotheses in the study of verbal behavior. Some speculations are offered to account for the book's limited influence on research.
Genetic modifiers of Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that directly affects more than 1 in 10,000 persons in Western societies but, as a family disorder with a long, costly, debilitating course, it has an indirect impact on a far greater proportion of the population. Although some palliative treatments are used, no effective treatment exists for preventing clinical onset of the disorder or for delaying its inevitable progression toward premature death, approximately 15 years after diagnosis. Huntington's disease involves a movement disorder characterized by chorea, as well as a variety of psychiatric disturbances and intellectual decline, with a gradual loss of independence. A dire need exists for effective HD therapies to alleviate the suffering and costs to the individual, family, and health care system. In past decades, genetics, the study of DNA sequence variation and its consequences, provided the tools to map the HD gene to chromosome 4 and ultimately to identify its mutation as an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat in the coding sequence of a large protein, dubbed huntingtin. Now, advances in genetic technology offer an unbiased route to the identification of genetic factors that are disease-modifying agents in human patients. Such genetic modifiers are expected to highlight processes capable of altering the course of HD and therefore to provide new, human-validated targets for traditional drug development, with the goal of developing rational treatments to delay or prevent onset of HD clinical signs.
Poetic Reflections: Change in The Wind

J. Iain Prattis. ed. Reflections: The Anthropological Muse. Washington, DC: American Anthropological Association, 1985. 283 pp. Members, $16.00, nonmembers, $24.00 (paper).
Incomplete partial fractions for parallel evaluation of rational matrix functions

Abstract Frequently, one needs to evaluate expressions of the form [p(A)]−1q(A)b, where A ∈ R N × N , b ∈ R N , and p and q are polynomials with degree q ⩽ degree p, and such that no zero of p is an eigenvalue of A. Algorithms based on the partial fraction representation of q p when evaluating [p(A)]−1 q(A)b lend themselves well to implementation on a parallel computer, but might yield poor accuracy. We discuss how to determine an incomplete partial fraction representation of q p which allows parallel computation, while retaining high accuracy.
Self-reported childhood sexual and physical abuse and adult HIV-risk behaviors and heavy drinking

CONTEXT: Although studies of clinical samples have identified links between childhood abuse, especially sexual abuse, and adult health-risk behaviors, the generalizability of these findings to the population and the relative importance of different types of abuse in men and women are not known. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of self-reported adult HIV-risk behaviors and heavy drinking that is associated with self-reported childhood histories of physical and/or sexual abuse for men and women in a general-population sample, after controlling for age and education. A second objective is to determine whether, among women, early and chronic sexual abuse is associated with heightened risk compared to later or less extensive abuse. DESIGN: A population-based telephone survey, the 1997 Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), asked a representative sample of adults whether they had ever been physically or sexually abused in childhood, and if so, the age at first occurrence and number of occurrences. The survey also asked about levels of alcohol use and, for those under 50 years, about HIV-risk behaviors. PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand four hundred seventy-three English-speaking non-institutionalized civilian adults in Washington State. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported HIV-risk behaviors in the past year and heavy drinking in the past month. RESULTS: We identified associations between reported abuse history and each health-risk behavior that we examined. For women, early and chronic sexual abuse (occurring without nonsexual physical abuse) was associated with more than a 7-fold increase in HIV-risk behaviors (odds ratio O., 7.4; 95% confidence intervals C. 2.4 to 23.5); and any sexual abuse, combined with physical abuse, was associated with a 5-fold increase in these risk behaviors (OR, 5.0; 95% CI, 2.2 to 11.5). For women, only combined sexual and physical abuse was associated with heavy drinking (OR, 6.2; 95% CI, 2.2 to 16.9). Physical abuse alone was not associated with either health-risk behavior for women. For men, any sexual abuse was associated with an 8-fold increase in HIV-risk behaviors (OR, 7.9; 95% CI, 1.8 to 35.1). Physical abuse alone was associated with a 3-fold increase in risk of HIV-risk behaviors (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.3 to 7.9) and a similar increase in risk of heavy drinking (OR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.8 to 5.5). Although only 29% of the women and 19% of the men who were asked about HIV-risk behaviors reported any history of childhood abuse, these accounted for 51% and 50% of those reporting HIV-risk behaviors, respectively. For heavy drinking the corresponding figures were 25% of the women and 23% of the men reporting any abuse, who accounted for 45% and 33% of those reporting heavy drinking, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to prevent or remediate adult health-risk behaviors should consider the possibility of a history of childhood abuse, as one third to one half of those reporting HIV-risk behaviors or heavy drinking in a general-population survey also reported childhood abuse. Language: en
High responsivity AlAs/InAs/GaAs superlattice quantum dot infrared photodetector

The characteristics of quantum dot infrared photodetectors (QDIPs) in which InAs self-organised quantum dots are embedded in an AlAs/GaAs superlattice matrix are reported. An extremely large peak responsivity, R/sub p/=2.5 A/W, is measured at T=78K for V/sub bias/=-1.5 V. A dark current density as low as 3.2/spl times/10/sup -4/ A/cm/sup 2/ for V/sub bias/=-2.0 V is also measured at T=300K.
Some aspects of bivariate regression subject to linear constraints

Abstract This paper considers a two-equation linear model when a subset of the parameters in one of the equations is subject to zero constraints. Inference procedures are presented both in the Bayesian and sampling theory framework. Specifically, posterior distributions and confidence distributions of the parameters, as well as various test procedures, are derived and illustrated with examples. The effect of the zero constraints on these procedures are discussed, and a comparison of the Bayesian with the sampling results is given.
Parallel Operation of Electrochemical Rectifiers

Electrochemical rectifier systems generally consist of two or more six-pulse units in parallel. System arrangements, regulation methods, and the number of paralleled units depend on process requirements, harmonic considerations, and economics. Fault protection of rectifier equipment must take into account contribution from the paralleled units and energy stored in the cell line.
Inverse Sensitivity/Uncertainty Methods Development for Nuclear Fuel Cycle Applications

The Standardized Computer Analyses for Licensing Evaluation (SCALE) software package developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory includes codes that propagate uncertainties available in the nuclear data libraries to compute uncertainties in nuclear application performance parameters (responses). We report on our recently commenced eorts to extend this capability to develop an inverse sen- sitivity/uncertainty (IS/U) methodology that identies the improvements in nuclear data that are needed to compute application responses within prescribed tolerances, while minimizing the cost of such data improvements. We report on our progress to date and present a simple test case for our method. Our methodology is directly applicable to thermal and intermediate neutron energy systems because it addresses the implicit neutron resonance self-shielding eects that are essential to accurate modeling of thermal and intermediate systems. This methodology is likely to increase the eciency of nuclear data eorts.
Urinary Incontinence, Condition-Specific Functional Loss, and Psychological Distress

1. George J, Bleasdale S, Singleton SJ. Causes and prognosis of delirium in elderly patients admitted to a district general hospital. Age Ageing 1997;26:423–427. 2. Inouye SK, Viscoli CM, Horwitz RI et al. A predictive model for delirium in hospitalized elderly medical patients based on admission characteristics. Ann Intern Med 1993;119:474–481. 3. Inouye SK, Charpentier PA. Precipitating factors for delirium in hospitalized elderly persons. JAMA 1996;275:852–857.
Pelvic organ prolapse is associated with alteration of sphingosine-1-phosphate/Rho-kinase signalling pathway in human vaginal wall

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a debilitating condition of unknown aetiology affecting > 50% of women over 40 years of age. In POP patients, the vaginal walls are weakened allowing descent of pelvic organs through the vagina. We sought to determine if sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signalling, which regulates smooth muscle contractility and apoptosis via the RhoA/Rho-kinase (ROK) pathway, is altered in the vagina of women with POP. Utilising anterior vaginal wall specimens, we provide novel demonstration of the S1P pathway in this organ. Additionally, comparing specimens from women having pelvic reconstructive surgery for POP and control subjects, we reveal increases in mRNA expression of the three major mammalian S1P receptors (S1P1-S1P3), and RhoA and the ROK isoforms: ROKα and ROKβ in POP patients, which correlates with a decrease in elastic fibre assembly pathway constituents. Taken together, our data suggest the S1P/ROK pathway as a novel area for future POP research and potential therapeutic development.