cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Utilizing an Artificial Neural Network to Predict Self-Management in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Exploratory Analysis

Purpose The main objective of this study was to utilize an artificial neural network in an exploratory fashion to predict self-management behaviors based on reported symptoms in a sample of stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Design and methods Patient symptom data were collected over 21 consecutive days. Symptoms included distress due to cough, chest tightness, distress due to mucus, dyspnea with activity, dyspnea at rest, and fatigue. Self-management abilities were measured and recorded periodically throughout the study period and were the dependent variable for these analyses. Self-management ability scores were broken into three equal tertiles to signify low, medium, and high self-management abilities. Data were entered into a simple artificial neural network using a three-layer model. Accuracy of the neural network model was calculated in a series of three models that respectively used 7, 14, and 21 days of symptom data as input (independent variables). Symptom data were used to determine if the model could accurately classify participants into their respective self-management ability tertiles (low, medium, or high scores). Through analysis of synaptic weights, or the strength or amplitude of a connection between variables and parts of the neural network, the most important variables in classifying self-management abilities could be illuminated and served as another outcome in this study. Findings The artificial neural network was able to predict self-management ability with 93.8% accuracy if 21 days of symptom data were included. The neural network performed best when predicting the low and high self-management abilities but struggled in predicting those with medium scores. By analyzing the synaptic weights, the most important variables determining self-management abilities were gender, followed by chest tightness, age, cough, breathlessness during activity, fatigue, breathlessness at rest, and phlegm. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that self-management abilities could potentially be predicted through understanding and reporting of patient's symptoms and use of an artificial neural network. Future research is clearly needed to expand on these findings. Clinical relevance Symptom presentation in chronically ill patients directly impacts self-management behaviors. Patients with COPD experience a number of symptoms that have the potential to impact their ability to manage their chronic disease, and artificial neural networks may help clinicians identify patients at risk for poor self-management abilities.
Resource description framework based semantic knowledge graph for clinical decision support systems

Abstract Resource description framework (RDF) is used to represent resources from different sources. Although initially used as a knowledge representation framework for the semantic web, it can be used for the knowledge representation in knowledge-based systems. There are several advantages to using RDF for knowledge representation in a knowledge-based system. Moreover, the RDF is used in Simple Knowledge Organization which can be used to organize knowledge in a knowledge-based system. The semantic knowledge graph, which combines the RDF knowledge graph with the simple knowledge organization and link resources to the unstructured data, is a good knowledge representation structure for a knowledge-based system. A good example of an application using the knowledge-based system is the Clinical Decision Support System. The chapter explains how the knowledge representation using RDF-based semantic knowledge graph in a knowledge-based clinical decision support system increases the efficiency and reliability of the system.
Broadband dual-comb spectroscopy for open-path field measurement of H216O and H218O

Simultaneous retrieval of H216O and H218 concentrations at an agricultural site is demonstrated using near-infrared open-path dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS). Initial retrievals of the isotopologue ratio δ18O have a statistical precision of 5‰ at one hour. Work of the US Government and not subject to copyright.
What Makes an Embryo Stick

Implantation of the human embryo into the uterine lining is a crucial step during early pregnancy, yet little is known about the molecular mechanisms involved. In their Perspective, Fazleabas and Kim discuss new work (Genbacev et al .) identifying L-selectin expressed by trophoblast cells of the blastocyst as a crucial mediator of the initial interaction between the embryo and uterine lining, the first step in implantation.
Microbial-Induced Th17: Superhero or Supervillain?

Th17 cells are an effector lineage of CD4 T cells that can contribute to protection against microbial pathogens and to the development of harmful autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. An increasing number of studies suggests that Th17 cells play an important protective role in mobilizing host immunity to extracellular and intracellular microbial pathogens, such as Candida and Salmonella. Furthermore, the generation of Th17 cells is heavily influenced by the normal microbial flora, highlighting the complex interplay among harmless microbes, pathogens, and host immunity in the regulation of pathogen-specific Th17 responses. In this article, we review the current understanding of microbe-induced Th17 cells in the context of infectious and inflammatory disease.
Automated Library Acquisitions and the Internet

Computers and their technology revolutionized the world and the world of libraries as well. This article includes a brief history of this computer technology as it relates to the Internet. In addition, it offers a history of library automation concentrating on acquisitions. Both a traditional model of acquisitions and a new model using the Internet depict the workflow before and after the use of the Internet, respectively. This article and the models are based on the acquisitions activities of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas which runs Innovative Interfaces as the integrated system.
Foliar applied nanoscale and microscale CeO2 and CuO alter cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit quality

There is lack of information about the effects of foliar applied nanoparticles on fruit quality. In this study, three week-old soil grown cucumber seedlings were foliar-exposed to nCeO2, nCuO, and corresponding bulk counterparts at 50, 100, and 200mg/L. Respective suspensions/solutions were sprayed to experimental units in a volume of 250ml. Net photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and transpiration rate (E) were measured 15days after treatment application and in 74day-old plants. Yield, fruit characteristics (size, weight, and firmness), Ce, Cu, and nutritional elements were also measured. Results showed a nano-specific decrement on Pn (22% and 30%) and E (11% and 17%) in seedling leaves exposed to nCeO2 and nCuO at 200mg/L, respectively, compared with control. nCeO2 at 50mg/L, bCeO2 at 200mg/L, and all Cu treatments, except nCuO at 100mg/L, significantly reduced fruit firmness (p≤0.05), compared with control. However, nCuO at 200mg/L and bCuO at 50mg/L significantly increased fruit fresh weight (p≤0.05). At 200mg/L, nCeO2 and bCeO2 reduced fruit Zn by 25%, while nCuO and bCuO reduced fruit Mo by 51% and 44%, respectively, compared with control. This study has shown that when the route of exposure is the foliage, differences in particle size are less significant, compared to root-based exposure. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report on the effect of foliar application of nCeO2 and nCuO upon yield and nutritional quality of cucumber.
Gametic disequilibrium measures: proceed with caution

Five different measures of gametic disequilibrium in current use and a new one based on R. C. Lewontin's D', are examined and compared. All of them, except the measure based on Lewontin's D', are highly dependent upon allelic frequencies, including four measures that are normalized in some manner. In addition, the measures suggested by A. H. D. Brown, M. F. Feldman and E. Nevo, and T. Ohta can have negative values when there is maximum disequilibrium and have rates of decay in infinite populations that are a function of the initial gametic array. The variances were large for all the measures in samples taken from populations at equilibrium under neutrality, with the measure based on D' having the lowest variance. In these samples, three of the measures were highly correlated, D2, D (equal to the correlation coefficient when there are two alleles at each locus) and the measure X(2) of Brown et al. Using frequency-dependent measures may result in mistaken conclusions, a fact illustrated by discussion of studies inferring recombinational hot spots and the effects of population bottlenecks from disequilibrium values.
HfO 2 -based In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As MOSFETs (EOT≈10Å) using various interfacial dielectric layers

This work compares device performance for In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As M OSFETs using single HfO 2 gate dielectric with stacked gate dielectrics using various interfacial layers between HfO 2 and In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As substrate including Al 2 O 3 , HfAlO x , LaAlO x , and LaHfO x . Of the gate stacks studied, Al 2 O 3 /HfO 2 , HfAlO x /HfO 2 , and LaAlO x /HfO 2 bilayer gate dielectrics exhibit lower subthreshold swing, higher drive current and transconductance compared to single HfO 2 with similar equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of about 10A. This is believed t o be due to better interface quality between interfacial dielectrics and substrate, and confirmed by frequency dispersion and interface state density measurements.
Status of process simulation using 2D and 3D finite element method ‘What is practical today? What can we expect in the future?’

Abstract Global competition requires that manufacturing industry utilizes practical and proven CAD, CAM and CAE techniques for rapid and cost effective process design and die manufacture. Thus, numerical simulation of bulk metal forming processes is increasingly applied to eliminate forming defects, predicts and optimize process variables, and to predict stresses in dies for preventing premature die failure. This paper reviews the latest state of technology and describes several successful applications. Ongoing developments and future trends are also discussed.
Problems and Prospects in Clinical Research on Family Firms

The qualitative field research technology known as clinical methods offers distinct advantages for research on family firms. This article describes clinical methods and shows how the technique matches the unique properties of family businesses. Some disadvantages of clinical methods are also discussed. Use of the methodology is illustrated in examples from clinical field research in a family-owned and -managed retail concern.
Lichens in a Greenhouse

The discovery of the first species of lichen capable of tolerating cultural conditions in greenhouses opens the possibility for conventional physiological experiments in this group of plants.
The Use of Continuous Culture to Enhance Monoclonal Antibody Production

Hybridoma 14-4-4S, ATCC HB32, was grown in batch and continuous culture in an attempt to increase the production of monoclonal antibody (MAb), and to determine the adequacy of each culturing method...
Plasma and platelet von Willebrand factor defects in uremia

Purpose: Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the prolonged bleeding times and clinical bleeding in chronic renal failure. Recent evidence has implicated an abnormality in the structure or function of the von Willebrand factor or in its interaction with uremic platelets. We investigated this factor in 11 patients with chronic renal failure. Patients and methods: Blood samples for cell counts, chemistries, and coagulation studies were obtained from 11 patients with chronic renal failure and prolonged bleeding times. Concentrations of von Willebrand factor antigen and ristocetin co-factor activity were determined in plasma and platelets. Multimeric analysis of von Willebrand factor in plasma and platelets was conducted. In eight cases, the platelets of uremic patients were purified, and the thrombin- and ristocetin-induced binding of normal von Willebrand factor to these platelets was examined. Results: The mean plasma von Willebrand factor antigen and activity (ristocetin cofactor assay) were elevated 2.77 μ /ml and 1.88 μ /ml, respectively (normal, 1.01 μ /ml and 1.07 μ /ml, respectively). The ratio of activity to antigen in uremic plasma was 0.67 (normal, 1.05). The mean platelet von Willebrand factor antigen and activity in the uremic patients was decreased (0.26 and 0.50 μ /10 9 platelets, respectively) compared with normal patients (0.46 and 0.93 μ /10 9 platelets, respectively). The oligomeric structure of the uremic plasma von Willebrand factor lacked the largest multimers. Collection of the blood for analysis in several protease inhibitors and/or EDTA did not change the multimeric structure. The von Willebrand factor multimeric structure of platelets from uremic patients was normal. The ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation of the uremic platelet-rich plasma was decreased compared with normal plasma samples. Thrombin and ristocetin-induced binding of normal von Willebrand factor to uremic patients' platelets was indistinguishable from the binding to normal platelets. Conclusion: These data suggest that the uremic platelet-binding sites for von Willebrand factor are intact and that the defect in ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation is most likely plasmatic in nature. At least one plasmatic defect was the observed reduction or absence of the largest plasma von Willebrand factor multimer in uremic patients. The platelet von Willebrand content was significantly decreased. These defects may play a role in the prolonged bleeding time and the clinical bleeding observed in patients with uremia.
INFLUENCE OF PLAY ON CREATIVE THINKING

The immediate influence of flexible and highly structured play on the creative thinking of 184 fourth-grade boys and girls was investigated. Following either flexible or highly structured art, drama, and playground activities, children's performances on the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking were evaluated. Children who participated in flexible play experiences showed significantly greater creative thinking than children participating in the highly structured play experiences. No significant differences were found between boys and girls related to effects of flexible and structured play on creative thinking. Implications for curriculum are explored.
Calculation of the thermodynamic and transport properties of aqueous species at high pressures and temperatures: Aqueous tracer diffusion coefficients of ions to 1000°C and 5 kb

Abstract Accurate values of diffusion coefficients for aqueous species are a requisite for predicting mass transfer in many geochemical processes. Tracer diffusion coefficients can be calculated from the limiting equivalent conductances of ions using the Nernst-Einstein equation. A corresponding states approach yields an isothermal/isobaric correlation between the limiting equivalent conductances and the standard partial molal entropies of aqueous species and electrolytes. These correlations, together with an equation of state for the standard partial molal entropies of aqueous species ( Tanger and Helgeson , 1987) and a modified Arrhenius representation of the limiting equivalent conductances of aqueous electrolytes, can be used to predict as a function of temperature and pressure the limiting equivalent conductances of many electrolytes of geologic interest for which no high pressure/temperature experimental data are available. Combining these estimates with the linear dependence of the logarithm of the ratio of the anion to cation transference number for NaCl on reciprocal temperature observed by Smith and Dismukes (1964) permits prediction of the limiting equivalent conductances of ions, and therefore tracer diffusion coefficients at temperatures and pressures to 1000°C and 5 kb. Values of these coefficients are given in tables for 30 monovalent anions, monovalent cations, and divalent cations of geologic interest at high temperatures and pressures. The diffusion coefficients increase with increasing temperature by ~two orders of magnitude from 0° to 1000°C. In contrast, they decrease slightly with increasing pressure.
EPIGALLOCATECHIN-3-GALLATE (EGCG), A GREEN TEA POLYPHENOL, SUPPRESSES HEPATIC GLUCONEOGENESIS THROUGH 5′-AMP-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a main catechin of green tea, has been suggested to inhibit hepatic gluconeogenesis. However, the exact role and related mechanism have not been established. In this study, we examined the role of EGCG in hepatic gluconeogenesis at concentrations that are reachable by ingestion of pure EGCG or green tea, and are not toxic to hepatocytes. Our results show in isolated hepatocytes that EGCG at relatively low concentrations (<or=1 microm) inhibited glucose production via gluconeogenesis and expression of key gluconeogenic genes. EGCG was not toxic at these concentrations while demonstrating significant cytotoxicity at 10 mum and higher concentrations. EGCG at 1 mum or lower concentrations effective in suppressing hepatic gluconeogenesis did not activate the insulin signaling pathway, but activated 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The EGCG suppression of hepatic gluconeogenesis was prevented by blockade of AMPK activity. In defining the mechanism by which EGCG activates AMPK, we found that the EGCG activation of AMPK was mediated by the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase (CaMKK). Furthermore, our results show that the EGCG activation of AMPK and EGCG suppression of hepatic gluconeogenesis were both dependent on production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which was a known activator of CaMKK. Together, our results demonstrate an inhibitory role for EGCG in hepatic gluconeogenesis and shed new light on the mechanism by which EGCG suppresses gluconeogenesis.
The Multiple-Relay Channel with Estimate-and-Forward Relaying

In this paper we consider the multiple-relay channel. For this scenario there are two well known results: the decode-and- forward (DAF) result of [Xie and Kumar, 2005] and the estimate-and forward (EAF) result of [Kramer et al., 2005]. However, the EAF result does not lend itself to numerical evaluation due to the large number of parameters to be determined and the non-convex nature of the optimization problem for finding the maximum rate. Therefore, for a given channel we cannot tell what is the EAF rate while keeping the expressions in their general form. We propose a specific assignment for the EAF auxiliary variables that satisfy the feasibility constraints and allow us to obtain an explicit EAF-based rate expression. This expression can be easily computed, and compared against the DAF- based rate. We give an example of a channel where this EAF rate is superior to both the DAF and the point-to-point rates.
Why is white light dispersed by a prism

By consideration of the electric fields emitted by individual electron oscillators, the frequency dependence of the speed of light in glass in discussed. (AIP)
The Spaces of Home in Chicano and Latino Representations of the San Diego–Tijuana Borderlands (1968–2002):

In this paper I examine the ways that artists in the San Diego–Tijuana borderlands have represented the spaces of home from the late 1960s to the present. The historical trajectory is from the agonistic nationalism of the Chicano Movement, which sought to reestablish the homeland of Aztlan, to the Border Art Workshop's more inclusive multiculturalist engagement with ‘the borderlands’, to the flexible combinatorial binationalism that marks the current postborder condition. Works of art characteristic of each phase are discussed.
BIMS/filler interactions. II. Effects of filler concentration and BIMS structure

Brominated isobutylene para-methylstyrene (BIMS) elastomer is a terpolymer of isobutylene, para-methylstyrene (PMS), and para-bromomethylstyrene (BrPMS). Viscoelastic measurements have been used to characterize the blends of this BIMS elastomer with different concentrations of a carbon black (CB) filler, N234. Data in the low temperature/high frequency region suggest that N234 at a concentration less than or equal to 15 vol % in BIMS appears not to affect the Tg of BIMS although a slight increase in relaxation time in the transition zone is observed. Also, the effects of BrPMS and PMS contents in BIMS on BIMS/N234 CB interactions have been qualitatively investigated by using the bound rubber measurements. To assess BIMS/CB interactions with reference to diene rubber/CB interactions, mixing of BIMS with various amounts of a polybutadiene rubber in the presence of CB has been performed. Atomic force microscopy and image processing have been employed to quantify filler phase distributions in these blends for a practical ranking of polymer/CB interactions. Preferential partition of CB in the BIMS or BR phase depends on the BrPMS content in BIMS. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 659–667, 2006
Vanishing knight shift in dirty superconducting aluminum films

Abstract The BCS-Yosida dependence of the Knight shift is obeyed in Al films, even when the mean free path is of the order of 5A.
Blood responses under chronic low daily dose gamma irradiation: I. Differential preclinical responses of irradiated male dogs in progression to either aplastic anemia or myeloproliferative disease.

Male beagles chronically exposed to low daily doses of 60Co gamma rays (7.5 cGy/22h/day) show one of three hematopoietic patterns, which reflect three different distinctly responding subgroups: (1) low radioresistance with progressing aplastic anemia and shortened survival (-S-AA subgroup); (2) high radioresistance with a complex of progressing myeloproliferative disorders (+R-MPD group); or (3) high radioresistance with other nonMPD syndromes (+R-nonMPD group). Blood cell levels (granulocytes, monocytes, erythrocytes, lymphocytes, and platelets) were assessed and fitted to a flexible polynomial spline model, thus defining the (a) initial suppressive and (b) subsequent recovery phases for the subgroups. Results showed that relative to the overall magnitude of blood cell loss as well as to the maximum rate of suppression during the initial phase, the subgroups were generally ranked -S-AA much greater than +R-MPD greater than +R-nonMPD. Relative to the overall strength of the recovery response, the subgroups were generally ranked +R-MPD greater than +R-nonMPD much much greater than -S-AA. In terms of overall maintenance levels of circulating blood cells during the recovery phase, however, the +R-nonMPD subgroup consistently exhibited stronger responses than the +R-MPD subgroup. These results tend to support our contention that selected subgroups of dogs have strong propensities to specific hematopathologies (i.e. aplastic anemia and myeloid leukemia) under chronic irradiation and that these pathology-prone animals exhibit a series of marked differential hematopoietic responses during early preclinical phases, which serve effectively to prognosticate subsequent pathological progression.
The JOBSplus! program: Successful work first through a family‐based approach

This chapter presents the story of a successful welfare reform program and explains how one upstate New York county and community college created a unique and comprehensive methodology.
Willingness of female smokers to tolerate postcessation weight gain

When asked how much weight they would be willing to gain if they quit smoking, women smokers replied 5.0 ± 5.8 pounds (2.3 ± 2.6 kg), compared with 10.7 ± 7.6 pounds (4.9 ± 3.5 kg) for men. Seventy-five percent of women, vs. 35% of men, were unwilling to gain more than 5 pounds (2.3 kg). White women were willing to gain 4.2 ± 4.5 pounds (1.9 ± 2.0 kg) compared with 11.1 ± 10.7 pounds (5.0 ± 4.9 kg) for Black women. In women under 25 years of age, 57% were unwilling to gain any weight at all, but even among women older than 40, 39% were unwilling to gain weight. Willingness to gain was negatively correlated with Body Mass Index, but even among nonoverweight women, 33% were unwilling to gain weight. Similarly, willingness to gain was negatively correlated with restrained eating, but even among low-restraint women, 22% were unwilling to gain weight. These findings suggest that unwillingness to gain is endemic among female smokers, that success in persuading them to accept a gain of more than 5 pounds (2.3 kg) as a final outcome is unlikely, and that strategies for postponing gain until cessation is well established, combined with waiting until weight stabilizes before determining what weight-management measures are needed, may be more effective.
miR-132 and miR-212 are increased in pancreatic cancer and target the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor

Numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) are reported as differentially expressed in cancer, however the consequence of miRNA deregulation in cancer is unknown for many miRNAs. We report that two miRNAs located on chromosome 17p13, miR-132 and miR-212, are over-expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tissues. Both miRNAs are predicted to target the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor, Rb1. Validation of this interaction was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay and western blot in a pancreatic cancer cell line transfected with pre-miR-212 and pre-miR-132 oligos. Cell proliferation was enhanced in Panc-1 cells transfected with pre-miR-132/-212 oligos. Conversely, antisense oligos to miR-132/-212 reduced cell proliferation and caused a G(2)/M cell cycle arrest. The mRNA of a number of E2F transcriptional targets were increased in cells over expressing miR-132/-212. Exposing Panc-1 cells to the β2 adrenergic receptor agonist, terbutaline, increased the miR-132 and miR-212 expression by 2- to 4-fold. We report that over-expression of miR-132 and miR-212 result in reduced pRb protein in pancreatic cancer cells and that the increase in cell proliferation from over-expression of these miRNAs is likely due to increased expression of several E2F target genes. The β2 adrenergic pathway may play an important role in this novel mechanism.
Recognizability and Effectiveness of Warning Symbols and Pictorials

In this study we sought to determine the relative effectiveness of pictograms for a group of 139 subjects ranging in age from 17 to 83. We gave a pictogram identification task for 16 pictograms from the Westinghouse Product Safety Label Handbook (1981) to subjects. Pictogram identification ranged from 100% to completely unrecognizable. Generally, pictorials which depicted simple, clearly identifiable hazards or protective equipment were more identifiable than symbols. Pictograms which showed the injury occurring to a hand rather than the entire human figure were also more recognizable. Finally, to explore more than simple pictograms identification, we presented subjects with three pictograms: We asked half of the subjects to list all of the ways they could be hurt, injured or killed as well as any precautions they would take while using a product displaying one of the pictograms. The other half of the subjects endorsed precautions that they would observe on a checklist of possible precautions. In general,...
FINE STRUCTURE OF THE RETINULAE IN THE COMPOUND EYE OF THE HONEY-BEE

The retinula of the compound eye of the worker honey-bee has been examined with the electron microscope. The rhabdom lies on the ommatidial axis; it is usually cylindrical in shape, about 3 to 4 µ in diameter, and lacks an axial cavity. Cross-sections show it to be four parted, although it is formed from eight retinular cells (Figs. 2, 3). Each quadrant of the rhabdom consists of a closely packed parallel array of tubules with long axes perpendicular to the axis of the rhabdom. The tubules in adjacent quadrants of the rhabdom are mutually perpendicular. At the distal end of the ommatidium these tubules are seen to be microvilli of the retinular cells. Immediately surrounding the rhabdom, the cytoplasm of the retinular cells contains a membranous endoplasmic reticulum which is oriented approximately radially with respect to the axis of the ommatidium. Farther away from the rhabdom the cytoplasm contains numerous mitochondria.
The dynamic context of cultural and social sustainability of communities in Southwest Alaska

Purpose – Commercial fishing in Southwest Alaska provides for an opportunity to engage in wage labor jobs while still allowing for time to participate in subsistence hunting and fishing. Salmon therefore is an important part of both the wage labor economy and the subsistence economy. In Southwest Alaska recent studies documenting the subsistence economy and traditional ecological knowledge have centered on the communities that inhabit the Kvichak Watershed. This watershed comprising Iliamna Lake and Lake Clark along with other numerous feeder streams, rivers, and lakes is an important spawning habitat for the Bristol Bay fishery, one of the largest salmon fisheries in the world. Some of these studies are partially due to a proposed copper and gold mine. This paper aims to address these issues.Design/methodology/approach – Interviews for these studies are structured household surveys that document household demographics, subsistence harvest for one study year, and household economics. In addition at the co...
Semiparametric Regression for Time Series of Counts

We study estimation in a parameter-driven semiparametric regression model for time series of counts, where serial dependence among the observed counts is introduced by an autocorrelated latent process {ϵt}. The conditional mean ut of the response variable given {ϵt} is of the form , where Xt and Zt are covariates at time t, is an unknown parameter vector, and η( · ) is an unknown smooth function. We use non parametric kernel estimating equations to estimate the function η( · ) and profile-based estimating equations to estimate the parameter vector . We derive the asymptotic properties of the estimators, and conduct simulation studies to evaluate the finite sample performance of the estimation procedure.
The dosage-response curve for auxin-induced cell elongation: A reevaluation.

The dosage-response curve for auxin-induced growth of coleoptile sections has been reevaluated, using initial growth rates than rates obtained hours after application of auxin. The curve is sigmoid rather than the “classical” bell-shape; i.e., the growth rate increases as the IAA concentration is raised from 10-8 M, but then the same optimal rate prevails over the range of 3×10-7 to 10-3 M. In the absence of sucrose this sigmoid shape persists, but with sucrose present the shape slowly changes into a modified bell-shaped curve. It is suggested that the classical bell-shaped curve is due, at least in part, to an auxin-sucrose interaction, and that it is not a true reflection of the kinetics of auxin-induced elongation.
Cyclical Fashion Movement: Women's Day Dresses: 1860-1980:

The purpose of this study was to investigate cyclical fashion movement via women's day dresses from 1860 to 1980. A sample of 489 illustrations of garments was drawn from periodicals based upon a s...
WE‐G‐500‐08: Novel Multilayer Detector Design Using Polycrystalline CdTe for Radiation Therapy Imaging Applications

Purpose: In radiation therapy treatments the standard approach of taking a planar portal or CIAO image offers setup verifications crucial to accurate radiation delivery. A substantial detector thickness necessary for MV photon absorption is a limitation due to large signal spreading; the requirements of large areas (up to 40×40 cm) and commercial viability dictate the use of non‐crystalline semiconductors. We propose a detector based on thin‐film CdTe technologies recently developed for photovoltaic applications. It utilizes a stack of CdTe photovoltaic layers, each having a built‐in electric field. This 3D structure adds a depth signal reading to the traditional 2‐D pixilation allowing for the photon energy and position resolution. Methods: We modeled the energy deposition under mono‐energetic photon sources of 0.5 to 18MV with depth by Monte Carlo simulation package MCNP5. The results yield the charge carrier generation profiles in structures having 3 to 30 layers, and CdTe thickness of 2–10 microns. The profiles were used as input for modeling of current‐voltage (I–V) characteristics with device operation modeling software SCAPS‐1D. Results: Based on the modeled I–V we established variations of the output signal in each layer with depth (layer number), and developed an algorithm for extracting the position dependent source energy. Our design includes an original read‐out approach where, under the global short circuit conditions, the voltages across individual layers are exponentially sensitive to their corresponding generation rates, a ∼1% difference in deposition energies translates into ∼100% difference in the corresponding voltage readings. Conclusion: The micron‐range thickness of layers overcomes known limiting factors of the low hole mobility and electron trapping typical of thick crystalline CdTe detectors. A new algorithm allows extracting information on radiation intensity and spectra from the data on the layer photo‐voltages leading to enhancement in spatial resolution.Acknowledgment: this research is supported through NRC grant No.: NRC‐HQ‐12‐G‐38‐0042; This project is part of a faculty development award supported by the NRC grant No.: NRC‐HQ‐12‐G‐38‐0042
Modeling methodologies and defect printability maps for buried defects in EUV mask blanks

A detailed analysis of FDTD simulations of EUV multilayers is performed for off-axis illumination angles. The reflections from the top half of the multilayer escape very easily, leading to fast ramp in the reflected field, however, convergence lulls can occur as the multitude of reflections within the bottom of the structure gather coherence before finally escaping and adding to the final reflection. FDTD simulations may need to be run 2-3X longer to ensure proper convergence when simulating EUV multilayers. Additionally, very small wavelength changes of 0.2% caused by numerical dispersion inside of FDTD can shift the Bragg reflection conditions in the multilayer to produce erroneous reflection results for angles >10°. Defect printability maps are generated with a ray tracing methodology for both 2D and 3D defects coated with both a standard and a smoothing deposition process. Defect volume is found to be critical in determining the printability of defects. Finally, FDTD and the ray tracing method are used to simulate defects located inside of the multilayer where a particle may fall on a partially coated multilayer during the deposition process. The ray tracing methodology was found to accurately predict defect printability when compared to FDTD results for defects residing below the 20th bilayer. The maximal printability impact for defects within the multilayer occurs when the defect is placed on the middle bilayer (20th) of the stack. Above this location, the defect impact is lessened since the multilayer is split into two sections and the bottom section is able to retain enough unperturbed multilayers to produce higher reflectivities.
Witsenhausen's counterexample as Assisted Interference Suppression

Motivated by the existence of an implicit channel in Witsenhausen's counterexample, we formulate a vector extension that can be viewed as a toy wireless communication problem "Assisted Interference Suppression" (AIS). Information-theoretic lower and upper bounds (based respectively on ideas from rate-distortion theory and dirty-paper coding) are then derived on the optimal cost and the asymptotic optimal cost is characterised to within a factor of 2 regardless of the problem parameters. Restricted to the scalar problem, it is shown that the new lower bound can be better than Witsenhausen's bound by an arbitrarily large factor.
Modifying the proliferative state of target cells to control DNA expression and identifying cell types transfected in vivo.

Although the majority of current gene transfer techniques have focused on increasing the ability of the DNA to enter the cell, it is possible that changing the proliferative and migratory state of cells will influence the cells ability to take up and express plasmid DNA. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that growth factors (basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF)) used to alter the proliferative and migratory state of cells can alter plasmid DNA uptake and expression. In vitro studies indicate that enhancing cell proliferation with growth factor exposure enhances plasmid DNA uptake and expression. Furthermore, dual localized delivery of bFGF and plasmid DNA in vivo increases the expression, 3–6 times over control, as compared to plasmid delivery alone. Dual delivery of a factor promoting cell proliferation and a plasmid led to a further increase in the expression of the plasmid encoding bone morphogenetic protein-2 in a rat cranial defect by specific cell populations. The results of these studies suggest that increasing the proliferative state of target cell populations can enhance non-viral gene transfer.
18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for tuberculosis diagnosis and management: a case series

F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is increasingly used to investigate for malignancy in the evaluation of pulmonary nodules, yet both active tuberculosis (TB) and malignancy have high uptake of FDG. Definitive diagnosis of TB can be further hindered in patients without growth of the organism from sputum. We describe a series of four representative cases of TB in varying disease state originally imaged by FDG-PET during evaluation for malignancy. Decisions regarding treatment for active TB in the presence of negative cultures and the evolving understanding of the spectrum of the TB disease state are discussed. FDG-PET may possess a role in the diagnosis of active TB infection in settings where conventional microbiological methods are unavaiable and holds particular promise for monitoring response to therapy in cases of unsettled treatment duration such as multidrug-resistant TB or in extrapulmonary TB.
A Donor−Acceptor Dyad with a Highly Lewis Acidic Boryl Group

A donor−π−acceptor dyad with a highly electron-deficient B(C6F5)2 group as the acceptor has been prepared. 5-Diphenylamino-5‘-bis(pentafluorophenyl)boryl-2,2‘-bithiophene (3) was fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. The solid-state structure of 3 shows the presence of multiple π-stacking interactions rather than Lewis acid−base bonding between boron and nitrogen. Cocrystallized benzene molecules are incorporated into a channel-like framework of 3. The electronic structure and photophysical properties were investigated by UV−visible absorption and emission spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The absorption and emission maxima experience a strong bathochromic shift relative to the non-fluorinated analogues, the origin of which has been further examined by DFT calculations.
Does single parenthood increase the probability of teenage promiscuity, substance use, and crime?

There is longstanding evidence that youths raised by single parents are more likely to perform poorly in school and partake in “deviant” behaviors such as smoking, sex, substance use, and crime. However, there is not widespread agreement as to whether the timing of the marital disruption differentially impacts youth outcomes. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth and its Young Adult Supplement, we find that an additional 5 years with the biological father decreases the probability of smoking, drinking, engaging in sexual activity, marijuana use, and conviction by approximately 5.3, 1.2, 3.4, 2.2 and 0.3 percentage points, respectively.
Infrared linear dichroism study of a hydrolytically degraded poly(ester urethane)

Static and dynamic infrared linear dichroism data have been used to supply additional insight into changes in tensile properties as a consequence of hydrolytic degradation of a segmented poly(ester urethane). Unaged material responds to tensile deformation with the soft (polyester) segments supplying the elasticity and the hard (polyurethane) segments supplying strength. Upon hydrolytic degradation, the static and dynamic data indicate altered orientational responses at the molecular-level, which are interpreted as resulting from cleavage of the soft segment chains and altered hydrogen-bonding interactions for both segments.
Diffuse Optical Measurements of Cerebral Blood Flow and Blood Oxygenation during Head Elevation in Healthy and Brain-Injured Adults

We employed near-infrared and diffuse correlation spectroscopies to investigate variation in cerebral blood flow and hemoglobin concentration during head elevation in both healthy and brain-injured cohorts.
Role of Ethylene in Fruit Ripening.

There have arisen two schools of thought concerning the role of ethylene in fruit maturation: the classic view of Kidd and West (26) and Hansen (22) that ethylene is a ripening hormone, and a recent interpretation by Biale et al. (7, 3, 4) that it is a by-product of the ripening process. The original presentation of the by-product theory in this journal (7) was tempered with the reminder that 0.1 ppm ethylene may stimulate ripening, so that "in the absence of any information correlating the internal ethylene content with the rate of ethylene production, one can advance the argument that small quantities sufficient to induce ripening are produced prior to the rise of respiration, but measurable amounts are detected only after the onset of the climacteric." The development of highly sensitive gas chromatographic instruments makes it feasible to appraise critically those instances in which fruits have been reported to produce ethylene not at all or only after the climacteric has started, and also to determine the content of ethylene within a fruit at the onset of the rise in respiration. Results of such experiments are reported in this communication, and they have a direct bearing on the problem of whether or not ethylene is a natural ripening hormone.
E. Digby Baltzell: Moral Rhetoric and Research Methodology

The ways in which values are assimilated to social research differ according to the theoretical frame of reference informing the research. An example from the writings of E. Digby Baltzell illustrates how a moral commitment shaped his assumptions about the nature of the social matrix and his research strategies. A Western moral rhetoric fares well if the researcher chooses a methodologically individualist framework. The framework assists a moral rhetoric by providing it with concrete rather than abstract social actors and with a basis for explanation in terms of motive rather than situational forces. Along the way moral statements can appear in the form of empirical generalizations and historical laws. Should sociologists deem ethically neutral social research desirable, this study suggests that concentration on scientific method, without exploring the value bases for selecting a frame of reference, is not a promising approach. A value analysis, especially around Weber's "value relevance," may function propaedeuticly. Language: en
Preoperative mechanical bowel preparation does not offer a benefit for patients who undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Background. Mechanical bowel preparations (MBPs) are commonly administered preoperatively to patients who undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD); however, their effectiveness over a clear liquid diet (CLD) preparation remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether MBP offers an advantage to patients who undergo PD. Methods. In this retrospective review, we analyzed the clinical data from 100 consecutive PDs performed on patients who received preoperative MBP from March 2006 to April 2007, and we compared them with 100 consecutive patients who received a preoperative CLD from May 2007 to March 2008. Results. No differences were observed between the MBP and CLD groups in the rates of pancreatic fistula (13% vs 14%; P = 1.0), intra-abdominal abscess (11% vs 13%; P = .83), or wound infection (9% vs 8%; P = 1.0). Trends toward increased urinary tract infections (13% vs 5 %; P < .08) and Clostridium difficile infections were found in the MBP group (6% vs 1%; P = .12). The median duration of postoperative hospital stay was 7 days in each group, and the 12-month survival rates were equivalent (74% vs 75%; P = 1. 0). Conclusion. There is no clinical benefit to the administration of a preoperative MBP for patients undergoing PD.
Devising the Optimal Preclinical Oncology Curriculum for Undergraduate Medical Students in the United States

A third of women and a near majority of men in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes. To prepare future physicians for this reality, we have developed a preclinical oncology curriculum that introduces second-year medical students to essential concepts and practices in oncology to improve their abilities to appropriately care for these patients. We surveyed the oncology and education literature and compiled subjects important to students' education including basic science and clinical aspects of oncology and addressing patients' psychosocial needs. Along with the proposed curriculum content, scheduling, independent learning exercises, and case studies, we discuss practical considerations for curriculum implementation based on experience at our institution. Given the changing oncology healthcare landscape, all (new) physicians must competently address their cancer patients' needs, regardless of chosen specialty. A thorough and logically organized cancer curriculum for preclinical medical students should help achieve these aims. This new model curriculum, with accompanying strategies to evaluate its efforts, is essential to update how medical students are educated about cancer.
The mystery of the missing referent: objects, procedures, and the problem of the instruction follower

An omni-relevant issue for workplace studies is how participants engaged in joint activity make sense of the objects that constitute their shared material environment. In this study we examine a surgery taped in a teaching hospital to explore how formal procedures make relevant certain sorts of objects and, at the same time, are constituted through them. We proceed by unpacking one particular strip of talk and demonstrate how its determinate sense rests upon a vernacular understanding of unfolding procedure. We treat surgical procedures as sequences of projected instructions. Competent design of technologies intended to support cooperative work must rest ultimately on an intimate understanding of that work's organization. The practices of instantiating objects and followintg procedures are foundational to that organization. This paper is intended to provide method and vocabulary for studying and describing such matters.
Hollywood, Bike Messengers, and the New Economy:

The sociological study of popular cinema provides an analytic entry point for exploring how economic realities are given meaning through cultural products. In this paper, I compare how two Hollywood movies about bike messengers, Quicksilver and Premium Rush, position their main characters in relationship to the new economy. Both films provide commentaries on work and social class, but, as products of unique socio-historical periods, I argue that their commentaries differ significantly. Produced in the 1980s, Quicksilver uses messengering as a form of middle-class redemption, allowing the protagonist to return to the world of capitalist finance. By contrast, as a product of the Great Recession, Premium Rush offers a utopian vision of self-determination for low-wage service workers at the same time that it reifies the uncertainty, unpredictability, and riskiness that increasingly characterize American labor. I also show that both films converge in their portrayal of women and working-class blacks.