cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Importance of Content and Format of Oral Health Instruction to Low-income Mexican Immigrant Parents: A Qualitative Study.

Purpose This study's purpose was to explore how content and format of children's oral health instruction in the dental clinic is perceived by parents and might affect parents' knowledge and behaviors. Methods Thirty low-income Mexican immigrant parents of children age five years and under were recruited from dental clinics in 2015 to 2016. In-person qualitative interviews in Spanish about their children's and their own experiences of dental care and home oral hygiene practices were conducted, digitally recorded, translated, and transcribed. Data analysis involved iteratively reading text data and developing and refining codes to find common themes. Results Twenty-five of 30 parents recalled receiving oral hygiene instruction, and 18 recalled receiving nutrition instruction and were included in analyses. The format and effectiveness of instruction varied. More engaging educational approaches were recalled and described in more detail than less engaging educational approaches. As a result of oral hygiene and nutritional instruction, most parents reported changing their oral hygiene home behaviors for their children; half aimed to reduce purchasing sugary foods and drinks. Conclusions Most parents recalled receiving oral hygiene and nutrition instruction as part of their child's dental visit and reported incorporating the instruction and recommendations they received into their children's home routine.
Rapid affinity purification of intracellular organelles using a twin strep tag.

Cells are internally organized into compartmentalized organelles that execute specialized functions. To understand the functions of individual organelles and their regulations, it is critical to resolve the compositions of individual organelles, which relies on a rapid and efficient isolation method for specific organellar populations. Here, we introduce a robust affinity purification method for rapid isolation of intracellular organelles, e.g., lysosomes, mitochondria and peroxisomes, by taking advantage of the extraordinarily high affinity between twin strep tag and streptavidin variants. With this method, we can isolate desired organelles with high purity and yield in 3 minutes from the post-nuclear supernatant of mammalian cells or less than 8 minutes for the whole purification process. Using lysosomes as an example, we show that the rapid procedure is especially useful for studying transient and fast cellular activities, such as organelle-initiated signaling and organellar contents of small molecular metabolites. Therefore, our method offers a powerful tool to dissect spatiotemporal regulation and functions of intracellular organelles.
Impact of Leadership of Trained Intensivist in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in a Middle Income Country: An Uncontrolled Before-After Study

To evaluate the effects generated by an intensivist in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) on the process of care and patient outcomes. This study was a retrospective observational study conducted in the 16-bedded PICU of a tertiary referral center. Two years (2013–2015) period of the PICU without an intensivist and the following two years (2015–2017) when it was attended by an intensivist who was also the first ever graduate of the fellowship program in Turkey were compared. Number of patients followed in PICU increased more than 2-fold. Number of mechanically ventilated patients increased more than 2-folds and presence of intensivist reduced the mechanical ventilation duration by 59%. Presence of intensivist reduced the mortality rates by 2.18 times. It was shown that management of PICU beds by an intensivist resulted in increased number of patients per year per PICU bed, increased care of true critical care patients who are in need of more intensive therapies and invasive procedures including extracorporeal treatment options, decreased length of stay, decreased number and rate of nosocomial infections, and decreased mortality rate. What transforms a unit full of critically ill patients to an intensive care unit is a dedicated intensivist. The current study demonstrated that intensivist is the crucial component of the PICUs.
Entrepreneurial Hustle: Navigating Uncertainty and Enrolling Venture Stakeholders through Urgent and Unorthodox Action

Entrepreneurs need to act under conditions of uncertainty and resource constraints to bring new, often‐unrecognizable products to market and convince an unknown set of stakeholders to support their endeavours. The type of action entrepreneurs take to navigate uncertain entrepreneurial contexts is underspecified. We analysed 48 interviews with entrepreneurs to inductively identify an action‐oriented construct we labelled as entrepreneurial hustle – an entrepreneur’s urgent, unorthodox actions that are intended to be useful in addressing immediate challenges and opportunities under conditions of uncertainty. In a follow‐up study, we use an experimental vignette approach to assess the impact of an entrepreneur’s hustle on venture stakeholders. Findings suggest that entrepreneurial hustle positively influences stakeholder perceptions of the entrepreneur’s leadership effectiveness and a venture’s legitimacy, mediated by perceptions of the entrepreneur’s ability‐based trustworthiness. We conclude that entrepreneurial hustle is a fundamental behaviour that enables entrepreneurs to enrol new venture stakeholders and lead their entrepreneurial efforts.
Ribosome Collisions Trigger General Stress Responses to Regulate Cell Fate

Problems arising during translation of mRNAs lead to ribosome stalling and collisions that trigger a series of quality control events. However, the global cellular response to ribosome collisions has not been explored. Here, we uncover a function for ribosome collisions in signal transduction. Using translation elongation inhibitors and general cellular stress conditions, including amino acid starvation and UV irradiation, we show that ribosome collisions activate the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) and GCN2-mediated stress response pathways. We show that the MAPKKK ZAK functions as the sentinel for ribosome collisions and is required for immediate early activation of both SAPK (p38/JNK) and GCN2 signaling pathways. Selective ribosome profiling and biochemistry demonstrate that although ZAK generally associates with elongating ribosomes on polysomal mRNAs, it specifically auto-phosphorylates on the minimal unit of colliding ribosomes, the disome. Together, these results provide molecular insights into how perturbation of translational homeostasis regulates cell fate.
Evaluating the role of uniformity on the properties of B4C–SiC composites

Abstract Fully dense boron carbide-silicon carbide composites were successfully produced by spark plasma sintering method at 1950 °C under 50 MPa applied pressure. The effect of dry and wet mixing methods on uniformity was observed. Density, elastic modulus, microstructure, Vickers hardness and fracture toughness were evaluated. The results showed that dry mixing did not provide uniformity on composites properties. On the other hand wet mixing provided uniformity in microstructure and consistency in material properties. The hardness of the sample containing 50 wt% B4C was measured to be 30.34 GPa hardness value was found at 50 wt% B4C content sample. The increase in the B4C content of the composites decreased the Young's modulus, shear modulus, bulk modulus and fracture toughness. The highest values were found at 10 wt% B4C sample which were 415 GPa (E), 177 GPa (G), 209 GPa (K), and 2.89 MPa m1/2 fracture toughness (KIc).
Fabrication of Poly(lactic acid) filter media via the meltblowing process and their filtration performances: A comparative study with polypropylene meltblown

Abstract Poly(Lactic acid) (PLA) is considered as a promising alternative for petroleum-based synthetic plastic under the rising concerns over the environmental sustainability of polypropylene (PP) filter materials. To adapt PLA for the meltblown filter media production, it is necessary to establish how PLA polymer properties affect the meltblown process, media structure and filtration performance. We investigated the processability and effects of processing parameters on PLA meltblown structures and filtration performances in an industrially relevant setting by utilizing a commercially available low molecular weight PLA resin and a Reicofil meltblowing production line. We were able to fabricate PLA meltblown media comparable with PP meltblown media both in structures and filtration performances. Increasing airflow rate and decrease throughput reduced fiber diameter of PLA meltblown, but at the given processing condition, PLA meltblown tends to have larger fiber diameters than PP meltblown. However, larger diameter did not deteriorate the filtration efficiency of PLA meltblown. Interestingly, the filtration efficiency of PLA meltblown is higher than those of PP meltblown with similar fiber diameters. We also found the solidity of PLA meltblown lower than that of PP meltblown. This further improved filtration performance by improving air permeability. The quality factors of PLA meltblowns were more than double of PP meltblowns’ quality factors when fiber sizes are similar. PLA also exhibited comparable chargeability and charge stability with PP when corona charged.
Cultivated and Wild Grapevines in Tennessee Possess Overlapping but Distinct Virus Populations.

Viruses and viroids prevalent in a population of 42 wild grapevines (i.e., free-living, uncultivated grapevines; Vitis spp.) were compared with those in a population of 85 cultivated grapevines col...
Tedious, Tiresome, and Dull: An Unrecognized Problem That We Can Solve

Editor's Note: This article is adapted from the virtual address Dr. Polonsky delivered as the recipient of the American Diabetes Association's (ADA's) Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award for 2020. He delivered the address in June 2020 during the Association's 80th Scientific Sessions, held online as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019.
Depth resolution evaluation for an active wideband millimeter-wave imaging system

Active millimeter-wave imaging is in widespread use for security screening and other applications. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has developed a variety of microwave and millimeter-wave imaging systems and technology, including the cylindrical imaging technology that forms the basis of the L3/Leidos ProVision system. Since 2016, PNNL has been actively participating in a working group that is developing a proposed American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard (N42.59) that will be used to evaluate and verify performance of active millimeterwave imaging systems used for security screening of humans. The standard is developing image quality tools (IQTs) that will be used to assess a variety of imaging metrics, such as lateral resolution, contrast, and depth resolution. Depth resolution is vital for high-performance microwave and millimeter-wave imaging because it enables precise focusing over a full 3D volume, and allows for differentiation of reflections from multiple surfaces, such as a layer of clothing over the human body. In this paper, depth resolution is analyzed using theoretical simulations and experimental 3D imaging studies. Presented results examine depth resolution using IQTs developed from a thin partially transparent film placed in front of a metallic surface, creating reflections that are laterally aligned and at variable separation. Coherence between these reflections is investigated as it complicates the interpretation of the imaging results.
Correcting movement syndromes: the role of training load and its effects on muscle activity

Correcting movement syndromes requires utilizing compound movements which maximally activate prime mover muscles such as the gluteus maximus (GM). This study aimed to examine prime mover and synergist muscle activity at varied training loads during the back squat, a common lower body corrective and training exercise. Muscle activity was examined using surface electromyography in the GM, rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), vastus medialis (VM), and semitendinosus (ST) at six intensities (10% intervals) from 40 to 90% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) during the back squat. Repeated measures ANOVAs were utilized in statistical analysis. Training load had a significant effect on the GM, RF, and VL (p < 0.05) during the descending phase and the VL, RF, GM, BF, and ST (p < 0.05) during the ascending phase of the back squat. The GM produced the greater muscle activity at 80% and 90% of 1RM than at 1RM during the ascending phase. The VM produced greater muscle activity at 80% of 1RM than at 1RM in both phases of the back squat. All other muscles were maximally activated at 1RM. These results suggest that when utilizing the back squat as a corrective exercise, the prime movers VM and GM are maximally activated at training loads of 80–90% of 1RM. After this point, synergist muscles are utilized to complete the movement, potentially lowering the muscle activity of the VM or GM.
Bad im Fluss des Lebens

Im Jahr 1654 malte Rembrandt in Amsterdam eine Frau, die in einem Fluss badet. Die Frau hat ihr elegantes, rotes Kleid auf einem Felsen abgelegt; sie watet ins Wasser und hebt ihr Unterhemd bis uber die Knie an, damit es im Wasser nicht nass wird. Es ist Nacht, und die Haut der Frau leuchtet in der Dunkelheit, wahrend ihr Korper langsam ins Wasser eintaucht.
Stratified semigroups

Stratified semigroups include free semigroups, finite nilsemigroups, and homogeneous semigroups (=with homogeneous presentations). Basic properties of this class of semigroups are given, including the role that certain combinatorial structures (homogeneous equivalence relations) play in their construction.
Method comparison for serum protein electrophoretic M-protein quantification: Agarose gel electrophoresis and capillary zone electrophoresis in canine and feline sera.

BACKGROUND Densitometric quantification of myeloma paraproteins (M-proteins) is used to monitor secretory myeloma related disorders in humans and dogs. The previous work in dogs used agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) but did not establish if other methods of serum protein electrophoresis, such as capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE), were comparable. OBJECTIVES We aimed to determine if the densitometric quantification of M-proteins using CZE would yield results comparable to AGE methods. METHODS Fifty-one serum samples from 22 dogs and 18 cats with confirmed monoclonal gammopathies and previously performed AGE were evaluated using CZE on a Sebia Minicap system. Samples were run in duplicate, and their M-proteins were densitometrically measured using the corrected perpendicular drop method previously described. Human-based quality control samples were used to determine the inter-run coefficient of variation (CV). Patient samples were used to calculate the intra-run CV. Method comparison was performed using simple linear regression, Passing-Bablok regression, and Bland-Altman analyses, and Medx evaluations. RESULTS Inter-run and intra-run CVs for CZE were 3.71%-7.65% and 2.89%-4.74%, respectively. Simple linear regression demonstrated an excellent correlation (r > 0.98). Passing-Bablok regression was compatible with the presence of proportional bias in the entire population, and Bland-Altman plots revealed a proportional bias in the feline cases. The Medx evaluation suggested that the two methods did not perform similarly in clinical samples with poor performance at a decision limit of 0.5 gm/dL. CONCLUSIONS Capillary zone electrophoresis is an acceptable method for M-protein densitometric quantification in canine and feline sera but cannot be used interchangeably with AGE-based evaluations.
Health-related quality of life is dynamic in alcohol hepatitis and responds to improvement in liver disease and alcohol consumption.

BACKGROUND The impact of alcoholic hepatitis (AH) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) remains inadequately described. We aimed to describe HRQOL in AH and heavy drinkers (HD), its associations with clinical variables and outcomes. METHODS This is a post-hoc analysis of the TREAT001 study participants (NCT02172898). HRQOL was measured using Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Mean SF-36 scores were compared in AH and HD with two sample t-test. Associations between clinical characteristics, 30-day mortality and SF-36 mental and physical component scores (MC, PC) were investigated with generalized linear and logistic multivariate regression models. Trends of MC and PC scores were analysed using one-way ANOVA. RESULTS Those with AH (n=258) and HD (n=181) had similar demographics. AH cases had mean Model for End-stage Liver Disease score (MELD) of 23(7). AH cases had lower PC scores [37(10) vs. 48(11), p<0.001] but higher MC scores [37(13) vs. 32(13), p<0.001]. MC scores were independently associated with age, male gender and daily alcohol consumption; PC scores were independently associated with age, BMI, ALT, ALP, WBC and ascites. With each 5-point decrease in the baseline PC score, the adjusted odds of dying within 30 days increased by 26.7%(95% CI 1%-46%). Over time, HRQOL in AH improved(day 0-day 180 delta PC score: 4.5±1.7, p=0.008; delta MC score: 9.8±2.0, p<0.001). Those with MELD<15 by day 180 had greater increases in PC scores than those with MELD≥15 (delta PC score 7.1±1.8 vs. -0.7+2.3, p=0.009) while those abstinent by day 180 had greater increases in MC scores than those not abstinent (delta MC score 9.1±1.8 vs. 2.8±2.4, p=0.044). CONCLUSIONS HRQOL is poor in AH and HD in a domain specific pattern. Independent of MELD, poorer baseline HRQOL is associated with higher 30-day mortality. Over time, HRQOL improved with greater gains seen in those with improvements in MELD and abstinence.
Quantum Transport in Small Structures

Nearly all of the transport that has been dealt with in treating devices has its conceptual basis in the Boltzmann transport equation. It is perhaps worthwhile at this point to actually summarize the various approximations and limitations that impact this equation. In general, transport processes are viewed on a coarse-grained time scale t ≫ τ c , τ m , etc., so that many completed, independent collisions occur in the passage of a carrier through the system. In addition, each collision is treated as an irreversible process which is completed prior to the next one, and is (a) local in space (collision spheres do not overlap in space), (b) local in time (instantaneous collisions), (c) independent of any driving fields or other scattering processes (no multiple scattering effects and no field acceleration during the collision), and (d) at low frequency.
Effects of P-ITB and IBA on the rooting response of 19 landscape taxa.

Abstract A new root promoting chemical, P-ITB (phenyl indole-3-thiolobutyrate) was compared with IBA (1H-indole-3-butanoic acid) for activity on 19 woody taxa. P-ITB at 0.5% was as effective as 0.5% IBA for the plants tested. For difficult-to-root taxa like Amelanchier arborea, Photinia × fraseri and Zelkova serrata, P-ITB promoted excellent rooting. The chemical is as effective as IBA and was not injurious at the 2.0% level.
SPECIAL ARTICLE PEDIATRIC POTPOURRI

EVER since accepting the kind invitation of your President I have known what I wanted to talk to you about tonight. However, when it came to giving my talk a title—a label which would suggest my main theme—then I was stumped. I want to talk a bit about a number of things—about the Child Research Council, about human growth, about education, about pediatric research, and about the responsibilities of the pediatrician in the half century ahead of us. I might then call the talk a "Pediatric Potpourri." The only difficulty with this title is that Mr. Webster, in his fourth definition of the term, says, "a literary production composed of parts brought together without order or bond of connection." While it may be that some of you will decide by the end of this talk that it has been a veritable potpourri yet I hope to succeed in welding a definite "bond of connection" between the various topics discussed. Perhaps the growth, the development, and the adaptation of the human organism is the cementing substance which should run as a golden thread of continuity from the beginning to the end of my discourse. I have used the term "human development" rather than "child development" because my talk tonight is as much concerned with the development of mature and thoughtful pediatricians as it is with the sound and happy development of children who may some day become physicians, lawyers, engineers, businessmen or senators. In fact I9m going to start talking about the Child Research Council not merely as a particular sort of research approach to child development but also as an educational experience for the investigators involved in the venture.
A stochastic model of the formation and survival of lunar craters: II. Approximate distribution of diameter of all observable craters

Abstract It is assumed that the number density of lunar craters evolves because of the arrival of new craters and the obliteration of earlier craters by the formation of more recent ones nearby. Approximations are developed which permit the calculation of the expected number density of all observable lunar craters as a function of crater diameter and of time. This result is applied to the meteoroidal impact hypothesis for the origin of lunar craters. It is shown that obliteration alone is not sufficient to explain observed crater diameter distributions.
THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF THIAMINE. V. STUDIES CONCERNING PRECURSORS OF THE PYRIMIDINE MOIETY.

Abstract The fact that neither radioactive uracil nor known precursors of this pyrimidine (orotic acid and aspartic acid) are incorporated in any significant quantities into the pyrimidine moiety of thiamine by Escherichia coli indicates that this specific pyrimidine compound is made by a biosynthetic pathway that is different from that by which other pyrimidines are made. Other radioactive compounds that are not incorporated into this pyrimidine to any significant extent are methionine-C 14 H 3 and serine-3-C 14 . Formate-C 14 is incorporated relatively efficiently and acetate-2-C 14 and glycine-2-C 14 are also incorporated, but to a lesser extent by several fold than is formate.
Stability in Activity and Boldness Across Time and Context in Captive Siberian Dwarf Hamsters

Individual personality is an important source of variation in animal behavior. However, few studies have examined the reliability of individual behaviors across both time and context for even common temperament traits such as boldness, especially in mammals. We tested a laboratory colony of Siberian dwarf hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) in two similar assays, a tunnel maze and an open field, both provisioned with a home nestbox for shelter. Animals were tested in each assay at three ages, beginning at weaning. Principal components analysis on each assay identified an axis of activity level in both tests, boldness and reactivity in the tunnel maze, and nestbox orientation in the open field. All traits were moderately (7–18%) heritable. Individual activity level was the most reliably consistent trait, both within and between tests. Tunnel maze boldness, tunnel maze reactivity, and open field nestbox orientation did not correlate at any age. Correlation between boldness and activity changes from positive to negative as animals age, while reactivity was consistently negatively associated with activity. A negative correlation emerged in adults between open field activity and nestbox orientation. These results suggest that either development or habituation results in different personality trait associations in an individual over time. Individual temperament traits such as general activity level may be quite stable, but caution should be used in generalizing single assays to represent boldness across time and across contexts.
Drafting the Basics

This paper outlines the work in progress undertaken by the School of Engineering Technology faculty to identify, assess, and develop a course to address the depth and breadth of drafting/plan preparation and plan reading skills required by the various engineering technology programs offered at Youngstown State University. The methodology used to establish course outcomes and the techniques proposed to accomplish the outcomes are identified. Metrics are developed to evaluate and assess the student’s understanding and application of drafting basics.
Diffeomorphism Groups and Anyon Fields

We make use of unitary representations of the group of diffeomorphisms of the plane to construct an explicit field theory of anyons. The resulting anyon fields satisfy q-commutators, where q is the well-known phase shift associated with a single counterclockwise exchange of a pair of anyons. Our method uses a realization of the braid group by means of paths in the plane, that transform naturally under diffeomorphisms of R 2
Spatiotemporal Patterns of Tumor Occurrence in Children with Intraocular Retinoblastoma

Purpose To accurately map the retinal area covered by tumor in a prospectively enrolled cohort of children diagnosed with retinoblastoma. Methods Orbital MRI in 106 consecutive retinoblastoma patients (44 bilateral) was analyzed. For MRI-visible tumors, the polar angle and angle of eccentricity of points defining tumor perimeter on the retina were determined by triangulation from images in three orthogonal planes. The centroid of the mapped area was calculated to approximate tumor origin, and the location and cumulative tumor burden were analyzed in relation to mutation type (germline vs. somatic), tumor area, and patient age at diagnosis. Location of small tumors undetected by MRI was approximated with fundoscopic images. Results Mapping was successful for 129 tumors in 91 eyes from 67 patients (39 bilateral, 43 germline mutation). Cumulative tumor burden was highest within the macula and posterior pole and was asymmetrically higher within the inferonasal periphery. Tumor incidence was lowest in the superotemporal periphery. Tumor location varied with age at diagnosis in a complex pattern. Tumor location was concentrated in the macula and superonasal periphery in patients 13.2 months. The distribution of MRI-invisible tumors was consistent with the asymmetry of mapped tumors. Conclusions MRI-based mapping revealed a previously unrecognized pattern of retinoblastoma localization that evolves with age at diagnosis. The structured spatiotemporal distribution of tumors may provide valuable clues about cellular or molecular events associated with tumorigenesis in the developing retina.
Elementary Preservice Teachers' Struggles to Define Inquiry-Based Science Teaching

(2002). Elementary Preservice Teachers' Struggles to Define Inquiry-Based Science Teaching. Journal of Science Teacher Education: Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 147-165.
Racial Inequalities in Low-Income Central City and Suburban Communities: The Case of Police Services

Many scholars condemn the presence of multiple units of local government in U.S. metropolitan areas. Fragmentation of political units is presumed to be an institutional arrangement favoring the wealthy by creating inequalities in the distribution of resources and essential services (Hill, 1974; Newton, 1975; Fainstein and Fainstein, 1979; Cox and Nartowitz, 1980; Long, 1967). The condemnation of metropolitan fragmentation is explicitly or implicitly based on an acceptance of propositions underlying a social stratification approach to complex urban structures. A key proposition in this view is that suburbs are predominantly inhabited by the rich (Neiman, 1982). Suburbs are viewed as enclaves that enable the rich to escape their responsibility of paying for essential services needed by lower income families.
Evidence Issues In CINA Cases

The following questions and issues are addressed: Do the Rules of Evidence (Including the Hearsay Rule) Apply?; Parents’ Opportunity to Testify and to Cross-Examine in Shelter Care Hearings; Testimonial Privileges v. Confidential Matters; Competency of Children to Testify; Erroneous Admission of Evidence in CINA Proceedings Is Less Crucial than Erroneous Exclusion; Opinion Evidence: Md. Rules 5-701–5-706; Hearsay Exceptions of Particular Interest regarding Child’s Statements: If the Child Testifies and Is Subject to Cross-Examination Concerning the Statement; Hearsay Exceptions that Apply Regardless Whether the Child-Declarant Testifies or Not (in a non-criminal proceeding); Photographs: Authentication; Character Evidence to Prove Abuse or Neglect; Impeachment; Judicial Notice, Md. Rule 5-201; Burden of Proof.
Verifying the myth: olympic sex testing and the category “woman”

Abstract This paper interrogates the myth of a binary sex–gender system and its application to women through the practice of sex testing in international athletics. Sex testing—in which women athletes are evaluated to determine their suitability for competition as women—is premised upon the assumption that there are, and should be, two and only two forms of the human body—male and female. On the surface, it would appear that testing the sex of women competitors verifies the need for segregation and stratification of sex in athletic competition. Closer examination, however, reveals that the practice of sex testing actually makes visible both the constructedness of sex categories and the oppressiveness of their application.
Reproducibility of rating stages of osseous development. (Tanner‐Whitehouse system)

The descriptions of stages of hand-wrist development by Tanner and Whitehouse were used for assessment of skeletal maturation in the Forsyth longitudinal twin study, because this method facilitates direct comparison of rate and pattern of development between individuals. In a sample of 300 hand-wrist radiographs, reproducibility of ratings by the same observer ranged from 72 to 87%. Assessment by two observers produced equally high agreement for the short and long bones and only slightly lower agreement for the round bones. Differences did not exceed one stage except in rare instances. Each observer produced consistent ratings over time, but the second observer rated at a slightly lower level. The findings at stage level revealed areas of major disagreement in ratings owing to factors such as the definition and duration of stages as well as the interpretation of the radiographic image. Further research relating the attainment of the various stages of the hand-wrist bones with other developmental events is needed to determine which maturity indicators and which developmental centers are most valuable clinically.
Tuberculin skin testing of hospital employees: Infection, “boosting,” and two-stop testing

The prevalence of tuberculous infection (i.e., reactions greater than or equal to 10 mm to 5 tuberculin units of purified protein derivative; Mantoux skin test) was determined among employees of 10 hospitals located throughout the United States. The risk of infection was strongly associated with age and race/ethnicity; nonwhites and older individuals were at higher risk. The prevalence of infection among hospitals varied threefold, from 7.0% to 21.4%. After adjusting for differences in the characteristics of employee groups (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, and sex), twofold differences among hospitals were still observed. The occurrence of "boosting" on retest was also studied. Among the different hospitals, the rate varied from 0% to nearly 10%. Race/ethnicity and age were the characteristics most closely associated with boosting. From our data and other data in the literature, we conclude that all hospitals should use two-step testing at least on a pilot basis. Our calculations suggest that two-step testing for employees over 35 years of age could be cost effective if the booster rate is greater than 1% of the employees retested.
Spending Today or Saving for Tomorrow: The Influence of Family Financial Socialization on Financial Preparation for Retirement

Many of the factors that motivate individuals occur within the context of the family, and can be influenced through family socialization processes. To better understand the influence family socialization processes may have on financial capabilities and financial behaviors, 334 married couples were sampled. Structural equation modeling was used to examine both direct and indirect associations. Findings indicated direct relationships between materialism and financial strain, between religiosity and determination of needs, and between financial strain and saving for retirement. Indirect relationships were found between materialism and saving for retirement through financial strain. Our study found evidence to support the Family Financial Socialization theoretical framework. Financial counselors may benefit by understanding how couples socialize each other as they prepare for retirement.
Laser-based guidance of a quadrotor uav for precise landing on an inclined surface

This paper is focused on measurement and control schemes for a quadrotor UAV to precisely land on a flat inclined surface without prior knowledge of the surface’s orientation. Assuming that the location of the landing site is known, a quadrotor performs a flyover and uses lasers and a CMOS camera to detect the projections of the lasers on the ground plane to measure the relative ground plane angle of the landing site. This information is then used to design an aggressive landing trajectory such that the quadrotor touches down parallel to the landing surface. During the initial phase of the maneuver, a trajectory-tracking controller guides the quadrotor, and as it nears the landing phase, an attitude-tracking controller ensures that the attitude of the quadrotor matches the slope of the landing platform upon touchdown. This approach is illustrated by numerical examples and preliminary experimental results for laser-based surface angle determination.
Solvent-driven polymeric micro beam device

The response of current hydrogel devices mainly depends on the diffusion of stimuli. However, diffusion is a slow transport mechanism compared to advection, which therefore limits the response speed of hydrogel devices. To overcome this limitation, we introduce a capillary network and elastic instability mechanism. Particularly, an open surface capillary delivers and distributes solvent, thus triggering the swelling and bending of curved polymeric beams. To demonstrate this concept, we fabricate these polymeric microstructures using projection micro-stereolithography (PµSL). Combined with instability criteria analysis based on static beam theory, this device is designed to exhibit two-way snap-through behavior. Our analysis provides the minimum dimensionless stiffness β for the beam device to snap during solvent actuation. Here, β is a well-defined dimensionless parameter in our analysis that indicates whether the device can provide sufficient axial force to trigger the snap-through of the beam. The actuation displacement can be as high as 45% of the length of the beam. We observe a maximum midpoint speed of 3.1 cm s−1 for a beam 2 mm long—20 times higher than that for a beam without an elastic instability mechanism. This device can be used in artificial muscle and as the key component for fluidic-to-mechanical signal transduction in active micro-fluidic circuits.
THERMAL FRACTURE OF CERAMICS WITH TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT PROPERTIES

Some aspects of thermal fracture mechanics of ceramics with temperature-dependent properties are studied. It is first shown that the square-root singular field still prevails in the crack tip region. However, the size of the K-dominant zone may be influenced by the effect of temperature-dependent properties. Then the steady thermal stress intensity factor in an edge-cracked strip is calculated. The results show that the stress intensity factor, which is zero when the temperature dependence of material properties is neglected, can exceed the fracture toughness of the ceramic when the temperature dependence of the material properties is considered. Finally, a temperature-dependent crack-bridging law is proposed to study the R-curve behavior of pofycrystalline ceramics subjected to elevated temperatures.
Uneasy Listening: Pacifica Radio's Civil War. Cambridge, U.K.: Black Apollo Press, 2006

In the interest of transparency, I have to disclose that I was employed as the manager of a noncommercial educational broadcast station affiliated with (but not licensed to) Pacifica Radio from 198...
Ultrastructural aspects of the earwig ovary

Abstract Ultrastructural studies of the pre-vitellogenic ovaries of Euborellia annulipes indicate an overall structure basically similar to that of other insect ovaries. The membrane surrounding the pore connecting the nurse cell and oocyte is coated with a thick electron dense material, whereas the cytoplasmic bridge contains few microtubules. All evidence indicates a unidirectional flow of materials synthesized or assembled in the nurse cell into the developing oocyte.
Fat Separation in Evaporated Milk I. Homogenization, Separation, and Viscosity Tests

Summary The problem of fat separation in evaporated milk can be divided into at least three factors. The extent of fat separation is inversely related to the viscosity, directly related to the square of the radii of the fat particles and directly related to the density difference between the fat particles and the suspending phase. A suggested procedure is given for determining the effectiveness of homogenization. This method is based on the total effect, or the result of the rate of travel, of the fat particles. Extending the same logic, a method is given for determining the extent of gravity fat separation during storage. In addition, the procedure and description are given for a modified Gardner Mobilometer as a means of measuring viscosity. These methods were applied to samples of commercially prepared evaporated milk, and the correlation between the tests was highly significant.
Chronic topical administration of WIN-55-212-2 maintains a reduction in IOP in a rat glaucoma model without adverse effects.

Abstract Glaucoma, one of the leading causes of blindness, is associated with high intraocular pressure (IOP) as a risk factor. The aim of this study was to examine both local and systemic effects of chronic topical administration of the synthetic CB 1 /CB 2 agonist, WIN-55-212-2 and its potential to sustain ocular hypotension. WIN-55-212-2 (0.5%) or Tocrisolve™, the vehicle, was administered topically three times daily to rats with surgically created glaucoma for 4 weeks, followed by a 1-week washout period. IOP, blood pressure and heart rate were measured weekly along with confocal microscopy and slit lamp biomicroscopy to detect ocular toxicity. IOP decreased rapidly by up to 47% in the WIN-55-212-2 treated group from 14.1±0.7 to 6.6±0.2 mmHg. The decrease was maintained during the treatment period. After the washout period, IOP (12.3±0.2 mmHg) was not different from baseline. In the contralateral eye, IOP showed a downward trend. Tocrisolve™ alone had no effect on IOP. No changes in blood pressure, heart rate or indicators of ocular toxicity were noted within either group. Topical application of WIN-55-212-2 significantly deceased IOP for duration of treatment. The decrease was sustained without the development of tolerance. Following cessation of therapy, IOP rapidly returned to baseline. No significant cardiovascular effects or ocular toxicity were noted during chronic topical therapy with either drug or vehicle.
Correlation between flash points and vapor pressures of organic compounds

Abstract Correlations between flash points and vapor pressures at 25 °C for pure organic compounds were investigated. It was found that classification of organic compounds according to their chemical-structural characteristics (e.g., functional groups) was necessary for the correlation study. Under this classification, linearity seems to be the most appropriate correlation to explain the relationship between the inverse of flash points (°K) and the logarithm of vapor pressures (mm Hg) at 25°C for pure organic compounds. A test study to evaluate the validity of a regression line as an estimation of an unknown flash point from a known vapor pressure was carried out with a data set containing 31 alkanes and aromatics; 55% of the flash points were predicted within ±5°Cand89% were within ±10°C. Within limits of ± 5 to 10°C the procedure is useful but should be improved.
Pro- and anti-apoptotic roles of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in ethanol and acetaldehyde exposed rat hepatocytes.

Abstract We have examined the significance of the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) by ethanol and acetaldehyde in rat hepatocyte apoptosis. Acetaldehyde induced rapid and transient (15 min) activation of p42/44 MAPK followed by activation of JNK, which remained above control up to 1 h. Ethanol activated JNK for up to 4 h. Both ethanol and acetaldehyde caused apoptosis as determined by DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation and 2′[4-ethoxyphenyl]-5-[4-methyl-piperazinyl]-2,5′-bi-1H-benzimidazole (Hoechst 33342) staining. Ethanol-induced apoptosis was blocked by JNK inhibitor 1,9-pyrazoloanthrone (SP600125), indicating that JNK activation is pro-apoptotic. In contrast, acetaldehyde-induced apoptosis was not suppressed by this inhibitor. In fact, SP600125 potentiated acetaldehyde-induced apoptosis, suggesting that JNK activation is anti-apoptotic. Inhibition of p42/44 MAPK by MAPK kinase (MKK1) inhibitor, 1,4-diamino-2,3-dicyano-1,4-bis(2-aminophenylthio)butadiene (U0126), potentiated apoptosis by acetaldehyde or ethanol, suggesting anti-apoptotic role of p42/44 MAPK. The activation of JNK by ethanol or acetaldehyde was insensitive to the genistein (tyrosine kinase inhibitor), GF109203X (2-[1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-1H-indol-3-yl]-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)maleimide, protein kinase C [PKC] inhibitor) and N-acetylcysteine (N-AC) (antioxidant), whereas p42/44 MAPK activation by acetaldehyde was inhibited by genistein and GF109203X. Furthermore, p42/44 MAPK activation is not necessary for the JNK activation. In summary, transient activation of JNK by acetaldehyde is anti-apoptotic, whereas sustained activation of JNK by ethanol is pro-apoptotic. The activation of p42/44 MAPK appears to be anti-apoptotic for both ethanol and acetaldehyde. Thus, JNK activation by ethanol and acetaldehyde can be both pro- and anti-apoptotic in hepatocytes.
Automated Health Alerts Using In-Home Sensor Data for Embedded Health Assessment

We present an example of unobtrusive, continuous monitoring in the home for the purpose of assessing early health changes. Sensors embedded in the environment capture behavior and activity patterns. Changes in patterns are detected as potential signs of changing health. We first present results of a preliminary study investigating 22 features extracted from in-home sensor data. A 1-D alert algorithm was then implemented to generate health alerts to clinicians in a senior housing facility. Clinicians analyze each alert and provide a rating on the clinical relevance. These ratings are then used as ground truth for training and testing classifiers. Here, we present the methodology for four classification approaches that fuse multisensor data. Results are shown using embedded sensor data and health alert ratings collected on 21 seniors over nine months. The best results show similar performance for two techniques, where one approach uses only domain knowledge and the second uses supervised learning for training. Finally, we propose a health change detection model based on these results and clinical expertise. The system of in-home sensors and algorithms for automated health alerts provides a method for detecting health problems very early so that early treatment is possible. This method of passive in-home sensing alleviates compliance issues.
Invariant template matching with tangent vectors

Template matching is the search for a known object, represented by a template image, at an arbitrary location within a larger image. The local measure of match is often desired to be invariant to certain transforms, such as rotation and dilation, of the template. Although a variety of solutions have been proposed, most are designed to provide invariance to a specific transform or set of transforms, and often involve significant computational demands. When invariance to “small” transformations of the template (e.g., rotation by a small angle) is sufficient, local linear approximations to these transforms may be used to allow template matching with invariance to arbitrary transforms, without significantly increased computational requirements.
Synthesis of [Carbonyl‐14c] labeled carbonate and carbamate esters

A two-step synthesis of three carbonate and four carbamate esters labeled at the carbonyl with carbon-14 is described. The method utilizes the readily available [14C]-phosgene which is first converted to an isolable [14C]-labeled alkyl or aryl chloroformate and subsequently reacted with the appropriate alcohol or amine to give the corresponding ester.
Black Carbon and Kerogen in Soils and Sediments. 2. Their Roles IN Equilibrium Sorption of Less-Polar Organic Pollutants

The first paper of this series reported that soil/sediment organic matter (SOM) can be fractionated into four fractions with a combined wet chemical procedure and that kerogen and black carbon (BC) are major SOM components in soil/sediment samples collected from the industrialized suburban areas of Guangzhou, China. The goal of this study was to determine the sorptive properties forthe four SOM fractions for organic contaminants. Sorption isotherms were measured with a batch technique using phenanthrene and naphthalene as the sorbates and four original and four Soxhlet-extracted soil/sediment samples, 15 isolated SOM fractions, and a char as the sorbents. The results showed that the sorption isotherms measured for all the sorbents were variously nonlinear. The isolated humic acid (HA) exhibited significantly nonlinear sorption, but its contribution to the overall isotherm nonlinearity and sorption capacity of the original soil was insignificant because of its low content in the tested soils and sediments. The particulate kerogen and black carbon (KB) fractions exhibited more nonlinear sorption with much higher organic carbon-normalized capacities for both sorbates. They dominate the observed overall sorption by the tested soils and sediments and are expected to be the most important soil components affecting bioavailability and ultimate fate of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs). The fact that the isolated KB fractions exhibited much higher sorption capacities than when they were associated with soil/sediment matrixes suggested that a large fraction of the particulate kerogen and BC was not accessible to sorbing HOCs. Encapsulation within soil aggregates and surface coverage by inorganic and organic coatings may have caused large variations in the accessibility of fine kerogen and BC particles to HOCs and hence lowered the sorption capacity of the soil. This variability posts an ultimate challenge for precisely predicting HOC sorption by soils from the contents of different types of SOM.
Dynamics of the Gulf Stream/deep western boundary current crossover. Part II: Low-frequency internal oscillations

Abstract A low-frequency oscillation in the Gulf Stream/deep western boundary current (DWBC) system is identified and its influences on several important aspects of the basin-scale circulation are investigated. An eddy-resolving regional primitive equation model is used to demonstrate that feedbacks between the Gulf Stream, with its associated northern and southern recirculation gyres, and the upper core of the DWBC can lead to self-sustaining large amplitude internal oscillations of roughly decadal frequency. The oscillator cycle is described as follows: The upper core of the DWBC is entrained under the Gulf Stream through interaction with the eddy-driven northern and southern recirculation gyres, as described in Part I of this study. Once entrained, the low potential vorticity DWBC water stabilizes the Gulf Stream and suppresses the eddy fluxes that maintained the interior recirculation gyres. This causes the upper DWBC to switch to a southward path along the western boundary, thus removing the source o...