cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some Issues in Cohesive Surface Modeling

Abstract A cohesive surface theory of fracture is a phenomenological continuum framework that is closely related to classical fracture mechanics. As such it shares the advantages and disadvantages of any phenomenological continuum frame- work. The continuum is characterized by two constitutive relations: (1) a volumetric constitutive law that relates stress and strain; and (2) a traction versus displacement jump relation across a specified set of cohesive surfaces. The cohesive traction can decrease to zero thereby creating new free surface. The cohesive surface formulation stems from the pio- neering contributions of Barenblatt and Dugdale and provides a means of addressing a variety of issues that are difficult, if not impossible, to address within a conventional fracture mechanics framework. A wide range of phenomena have been analyzed using a cohesive surface framework under both quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions, including for example micro cracking, debonding and void nucleation, fracture in complex microstructures, crack branching and fragmentation. No attempt is made to provide a balanced overview of that literature. Rather, the focus is on issues that have been of interest to me. Various analyses are discussed with attention on capabilities and limitations as well as on opportunities for extending the predictive capability of cohesive analyses of fracture and failure.
Effect of chronic acid loading on rat renal basolateral membrane bicarbonate transport

Abstract The effect of chronic acid loading on the activity of luminal membrane Na + H + exchange and basolateral membrane Na + /HCO 3 − cotransport and Cl − HCO 3 − exchange was investigated using membrane vesicles isolated from rat renal cortex. Na + H exchange activity was increased approx. 50% in brush-border membranes isolated from acidemic compared to control kidneys. Na + /HCO 3 − cotransport and Cl − HCO 3 − exchange activity was increased approx. 45% and 100%, respectively, in basolateral membranes isolated from acidemic kidneys. The increased Na + /HCO 3 − cotransport activity resulted from an increased apparent maximal rate of transport ( V amx ) with no change in affinity ( K m ) for Na + . In contrast to acid/base transport activities chronic acid loading had no effect on the activity of basolateral membrane Na + /dicar☐ylate cotransport. These results suggest proximal tubule cells coordinately increased luminal and basolateral membrane acid/base transport activities to accomodate an adaptive increase in the capacity for transcellular bicarbonate reabsorption.
Instability of rotund capillary bridges to general disturbances: Experiment and theory

Abstract Interfacial tension holds a fixed volume of incompressible fluid between coaxial circular endplates forming a capillary bridge. As the endplates are brought together very slowly the bridge fattens and eventually changes shape. In contrast to the much-studied configuration of slowly separating endplates (slender bridges), the rotund axisymmetric bridge is first unstable to nonaxisymmetric disturbances. We obtain the boundary of marginal stability (constant volume disturbances) as it depends on the aspect ratio and the volume of the bridge using an energy stability method. Furthermore, we map out the stability limit by experiment for a range of aspect ratios using neutrally buoyant fluids to simulate a zero-gravity environment. Theory and experiment are in excellent quantitative agreement and predict instability when the free interface meets each endplate tangent to its flat surface.
Toward a Deeper Understanding of the Meaning of Marriage Among Black Men

Black men benefit from healthy, satisfying marriages in domains of physical, psychological, and financial well-being. Yet marriage among Black men has declined and remains elusive for many. One gap in the research concerns the positive meaning that Black men find in their marriages. Prior research has failed to collect in-depth accounts of Black men’s experiences of marriage. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the meaning of marriage among 52 Black men, using interview data. Findings highlight four themes in the meaning of marriage—secure emotional support, lifelong commitment, enhanced life success, and secure attachment. Two themes emerged from the data related to important influences on the construction of meaning relative to marriage—faith, and the dynamics of give and take. Responses among the men concerning the change in marriage over time related to transitions in American marriages and a deepened respect for marriage. Implications are discussed.
Functional Characterization of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Haplotypes of Human N-Acetyltransferase 2

Human N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) is polymorphic in humans and may associate with cancer risk by modifying individual susceptibility to cancers from carcinogen exposure. Since molecular epidemiological studies investigating these associations usually include determining NAT2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), haplotypes or genotypes, their conclusions can be compromised by the uncertainty of genotype-phenotype relationships. We characterized NAT2 SNPs and haplotypes by cloning and expressing recombinant NAT2 allozymes in mammalian cells. The reference and variant recombinant NAT2 allozymes were characterized for arylamine N-acetylation and O-acetylation of N-hydroxy-arylamines. SNPs and haplotypes that conferred reduced enzymatic activity did so by reducing NAT2 protein without changing NAT2 mRNA levels. Among SNPs that reduced catalytic activity, G191A (R64Q), G590A (R197Q) and G857A (G286E) reduced protein half-life but T341C (I114T), G499A (E167K) and A411T (L137F) did not. G857A (G286E) and the major haplotype possessing this SNP (NAT2 7B) altered the affinity to both substrate and cofactor acetyl coenzyme A, resulting in reduced catalytic activity toward some substrates but not others. Our results suggest that coding region SNPs confer slow acetylator phenotype by multiple mechanisms that also may vary with arylamine exposures.
Benefits of Participating in Internet Interviews: Women Helping Women

Advantages of face-to-face qualitative interviews for participants have been addressed in the literature. The benefits of participating in qualitative interviews over the Internet, however, have yet to be discussed. Based on the experiences of 40 women who made up the sample for an Internet study on birth trauma, the author describes in this article the benefits reaped by these mothers through their participation in qualitative e-mail interviews. She used content analysis to identify these benefits. Seven themes emerged: experiencing caring by being listened to and acknowledged, sense of belonging, making sense of it all, letting go, being empowered, women helping women, and providing a voice.
Microsoft Excel™ as a Tool for Teaching Basic Statistics:

Many instructors use specialized statistics packages, such as SPSS or SAS/STAT in teaching quantitative and research methods courses. As an alternative to the specialized packages, Microsoft Excel™...
Summary of dynamically discovering likely program invariants

The dissertation dynamically discovering likely program invariants introduces dynamic detection of program invariants, presents techniques for detecting such invariants from traces, assesses the techniques' efficacy, and points the way for future research. Invariants are valuable in many aspects of program development, including design, coding, verification, testing, optimization, and maintenance. They also enhance programmers' understanding of data structures, algorithms, and program operation. Unfortunately, explicit invariants are usually absent from programs, depriving programmers and automated tools of their benefits. The dissertation shows how invariants can be dynamically detected from program traces that capture variable values at program points of interest. The user runs the target program over a test suite to create the traces, and an invariant detector determines which properties and relationships hold over both explicit variables and other expressions. Properties that hold over the traces and also satisfy other tests, such as being statistically justified, not being over unrelated variables, and not being implied by other reported invariants, are reported as likely invariants. Like other dynamic techniques such as testing, the quality of the output depends in part on the comprehensiveness of the test suite. If the test suite is inadequate, then the output indicates how, permitting its improvement. Dynamic analysis complements static techniques, which can be made sound but for which certain program constructs remain beyond the state of the art. Experiments demonstrate a number of positive qualities of dynamic invariant detection and of a prototype implementation, Daikon. Invariant detection is accurate-it rediscovers formal specifications-and useful-it assists programmers in programming tasks. It runs quickly and produces output of modest size. Test suites found in practice tend to be adequate for dynamic invariant detection.
Multiple Tier Fuel Cycle Studies for Waste Transmutation

As part of the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Accelerator Applications Program, a systems study was conducted to evaluate the transmutation performance of advanced fuel cycle strategies. Three primary fuel cycle strategies were evaluated: dual-tier systems with plutonium separation, dual-tier systems without plutonium separation, and single-tier systems without plutonium separation. For each case, the system mass flow and TRU consumption were evaluated in detail. Furthermore, the loss of materials in fuel processing was tracked including the generation of new waste streams. Based on these results, the system performance was evaluated with respect to several key transmutation parameters including TRU inventory reduction, radiotoxicity, and support ratio. The importance of clean fuel processing ({approx}0.1% losses) and inclusion of a final tier fast spectrum system are demonstrated. With these two features, all scenarios capably reduce the TRU and plutonium waste content, significantly reducing the radiotoxicity; however, a significant infrastructure (at least 1/10 the total nuclear capacity) is required for the dedicated transmutation system.
ENHANCEMENT OF PHOTOSPHERIC MERIDIONAL FLOW BY RECONNECTION PROCESSES

We simulate the two-dimensional transport of the open magnetic flux on the surface of the Sun. The temporal evolution of the flux density depends on the advective motions due to solar differential rotation and poleward meridional flow and on an effective spatial diffusive motion. The latter is a result of the uniform diffusion of field line footpoints in the network lanes and a nonuniform diffusion offield lines due to reconnection of open field lines with closed loops on the solar surface. The gradient of the diffusion coefficient represents an effective velocity in addition to the advective velocity. We investigate the behavior of the steady state solution for solar minimum and solar maximum conditions with spatially uniform and nonuniform diffusion coefficients. We find that for solar minimum conditions, the effect of spatial diffusion resulting from reconnection processes enhances the poleward meridional flow due to the large-scale preferred direction in the gradient of the diffusion coefficient. For solar maximumconditions,theneteffectofspatialdiffusionisminimalbecauseoftheisotropicandlocalgradientsofthe diffusion coefficient. Our simulation demonstrates that magnetic reconnection processes on the solar surface can be a mechanism to vary motions on the photosphere, in particular, poleward meridional flow.
Generalized triangle groups

A group G is called a triangle group if it can be presented in the formIt is well-known that G is isomorphic to a subgroup of PSL2(ℂ), that a is of order l, b is of order m and ab is of order n. Ifthen G contains the fundamental group of a positive genus orientable surface as a subgroup of finite index whenever s(G) ≤ 1; in particular G is infinite. Furthermore, if s(G) < 1, the genus of the surface is greater than 1 and consequently G contains a free group of rank 2.
The MaSuRCA genome assembler

Motivation. Second-generation sequencing technologies produce high coverage of the genome by short reads at a very low cost, which has prompted development of new assembly methods. In particular, multiple algorithms based on de Bruijn graphs have been shown to be effective for the assembly problem. In this paper we describe a new hybrid approach that has the computational efficiency of de Bruijn graph methods and the flexibility of overlap-based assembly strategies, and which allows variable read lengths while tolerating a significant level of sequencing error. Our method transforms very large numbers of paired-end reads into a much smaller number of longer “super-reads.” The use of super-reads allows us to assemble combinations of Illumina reads of differing lengths together with longer reads from 454 and Sanger sequencing technologies, making it one of the few assemblers capable of handling such mixtures. We call our system the Maryland Super-Read Celera Assembler (abbreviated MaSuRCA and pronounced “mazurka”). Results. We evaluate the performance of MaSuRCA against two of the most widely used assemblers for Illumina data, Allpaths-LG and SOAPdenovo2, on two data sets from organisms for which highquality assemblies are available: the bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides and chromosome 16 of the mouse genome. We show that MaSuRCA performs on par or better than Allpaths-LG and significantly better than SOAPdenovo on these data, when evaluated against the finished sequence. We then show that MaSuRCA can significantly improve its assemblies when the original data are augmented with long reads. Availability. MaSuRCA is available as open-source code at ftp://ftp.genome.umd.edu/pub/MaSuRCA/. Previous (pre-publication) releases have been publicly available for over a year. Contact. Aleksey Zimin, alekseyz@ipst.umd.edu
Recommended directions of research and development in superconducting electronics

For some time, work has been continuing within the U.S.A. on a "Technology Roadmap for the Superconducting Electronics Industry". A similar roadmap exercise is underway in Europe, and in Japan, recently announced research projects in superconductivity involved a detailed planning process. However, the U.S. Roadmap is not complete, and a consensus of industry opinion has not yet been reached on its recommendations. This manuscript should be regarded as a distillation of inputs from many sources, heavily weighted with the author's own prejudices. He suggests that a system level view of superconducting electronics technology should lead to revisions of today's research priorities. In particular, the importance of the cryocooler and cryopackage in each system has broad implications, even affecting the directions of materials and device research.
SLE - Rituximab in lupus

B cells are essential to the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The chimeric monoclonal antibody rituximab depletes B cells by targeting the pan-B-cell surface marker CD20. Preliminary experience with this agent in SLE and other autoimmune diseases has been encouraging. Controlled trials in SLE will be necessary to determine whether rituximab is useful therapy in this disease, and will teach us more about the roles of B cells in its pathogenesis.
Structured Water and Its Significance in Primary Oil Migration

ABSTRACT Density of lattice water (mainly OH water) in the shales of the Beaufort Basin is estimated to be approximately 1.4 g/cm3, from the study of the porosity cross plot from neutron and density logs made by Youn (1974). It is interesting to note that this density value is quite close to that of bound or structured water closest to the clay surfaces under laboratory conditions (Martin, 1962). The fact that the viscosity of bound water increases toward clay surfaces suggests that shales must expel more viscous water with increasing compaction. This may be one of the reasons for reduced rate of compaction at greater burial depths. During continuous burial the quality of oil usually "improves" in the sense that the viscosity decreases. Therefore, at some point during continuous burial history the viscosity of water being expelled from shales may exceed that of the generated oil. If this happens, oil may move preferentially to water, thereby creating the conditions for significant primary oil migration.
Vascular Effects of GI262570X (PPAR-γ agonist) in the Brown Adipose Tissue of Han Wistar Rats: A Review of 1-month, 13-week, 27-week and 2-year Oral Toxicity Studies

We describe and discuss microscopic findings in the brown adipose tissue (BAT) blood vessels of Han Wistar rats treated with GI262570X, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-∞ agonist (PPAR-∞ agonist) by oral gavage for 28 days, 13 weeks, 27 weeks, and 2 years. Review of these studies revealed a consistent vascular change, consisting of multifocal fatty infiltration in the BAT of treated rats. A similar vascular change was n ot seen in other vessels or organs. Microscopically, fatty infiltration was characterized primarily by round, clear vacuoles within the tunica media an d/or tunica adventitia of small and medium-sized arteries and arterioles. Occasionally, these vacuoles had peripherally located nuclei and morphologi cally resembled adipocytes, suggesting a well-characterized PPAR effect (ie, differentiation of stem cells or preadipocytes into mature adipocytes). H owever, administration of GI262570X up to 2 years failed to induce more severe or progressive lesions in the blood vessels of rat BAT and, in particular, did not result in induction of any atherosclerotic-like lesions or foam cell infiltration. At the longer exposure, there was an apparent reduction of seve rity and/or incidence, indicating a possible adaptive response. These results suggest that the possibility of generating atherosclerotic-like lesion s through prolonged treatment of GI262570X (PPAR-∞ agonist) is highly unlikely in rats.
Radical innovation: triggering initiation of opportunity recognition and evaluation

The gap between a firm’s reservoir of technical knowledge and the formation of a project to explore the commercial potential of a breakthrough technical insight or discovery is the first major discontinuity in the radical innovation lifecycle. The first step toward bridging that gap occurs when the researcher with the technical insight recognizes that it might have commercial potential and decides to alert a research manager. In our longitudinal study of eight radical innovation projects in six large, multi-national, R&D-intensive firms, the initiation of a radical innovation project was neither frequent nor routine. In fact the participants in the study indicated that the initiation of a project – in their terminology, the ‘fuzzy front end of innovation’– was the most challenging and uncertain part of the lifecycle. In this paper we explore the case data to illuminate the nature of the initiation gap. In addition we present an assessment framework that can help researchers decide whether or not to bring their technical idea to the attention of management. If the decision is positive, the assessment tool can help them prepare for the discussion with management and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the case to submitted for evaluation.
KINETICS OF ACID-DISSOLUTION OF PALYGORSKITE (ATTAPULGITE) AND SEPIOLITE

Palygorskite and sepiolite were digested with large excesses of hydrochloric acid at con- stant temperature for various periods of time. The reaction was found to be of first order with respect to the magnesium, aluminum and iron components in the clay and also with respect to hydrochloric acid concentration. The reaction rate constant for Mg is larger than for Fe, which is larger than for A|. Approximately one-third of the octahedral-type cations are extraneous, suggesting that only three of the five octa- hedral positions are filled. The reaction rate constant of Mg in sepiolite is about 240 times that for palygorskite. This may be an indication that sepiolite is less stable to chemical weathering than paly- gorskite. The activation energies for Mg, AI and Fe in palygorskite were found to be the same and equal to about 18.4 kcal per mole. Treatment of partially acid-digested palygorskite with magnesium ions under alkaline conditions resulted in an increase in the X-ray intensity of the 10.5 A spacing, suggesting some of the palygorskite was reconstituted.
Linear discriminant dimensionality reduction

Fisher criterion has achieved great success in dimensionality reduction. Two representative methods based on Fisher criterion are Fisher Score and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). The former is developed for feature selection while the latter is designed for subspace learning. In the past decade, these two approaches are often studied independently. In this paper, based on the observation that Fisher score and LDA are complementary, we propose to integrate Fisher score and LDA in a unified framework, namely Linear Discriminant Dimensionality Reduction (LDDR). We aim at finding a subset of features, based on which the learnt linear transformation via LDA maximizes the Fisher criterion. LDDR inherits the advantages of Fisher score and LDA and is able to do feature selection and subspace learning simultaneously. Both Fisher score and LDA can be seen as the special cases of the proposed method. The resultant optimization problem is a mixed integer programming, which is difficult to solve. It is relaxed into a L2,1-norm constrained least square problem and solved by accelerated proximal gradient descent algorithm. Experiments on benchmark face recognition data sets illustrate that the proposed method outperforms the state of the art methods arguably.
Adeno-Associated Virus-2 (AAV-2) Causes Trophoblast Dysfunction, and Placental AAV-2 Infection Is Associated with Preeclampsia

Shallow invasion by extravillous trophoblast cells into the uterine wall reduces placental perfusion and causes placental dysfunction, but the one or more causes of shallow placental invasion are unknown. We hypothesized that infection with adeno-associated virus-2 (AAV-2) inhibits trophoblast invasion and is associated with preeclampsia, which is a common obstetric complication resulting from placental dysfunction. We determined that transformed extravillous trophoblast (HTR-8/SVneo) cells were susceptible to AAV-2 infection in the presence or absence of adenovirus, which provides helper function for AAV-2 replication, and that AAV-2 infection reduced invasion of HTR-8/SVneo cells through an extracellular matrix before cytopathic effects were detected. In a case-control study, AAV-2 DNA was found more frequently in trophoblast cells from cases of severe preeclampsia (22/40) than from normal term deliveries (5/27, P = 0.002). These results indicate that AAV-2 infection is a previously unidentified cause of placental dysfunction. Additional studies to determine the susceptibility of extravillous trophoblast to other viruses, and the mechanisms by which viral infection impairs placental function, are warranted.
Size Does Matter: Staging of Silene latifolia Floral Buds for Transcriptome Studies

Dioecious plants in the Caryophyllaceae family are susceptible to infection by members of the anthericolous smut fungi. In our studies of the Silene latifolia/Microbotryum lychnidis-dioicae pathosystem, we were interested in characterizing the plant-pathogen interaction at the molecular level before and during teliosporogenesis. This takes place during floral bud development, and we hoped to capture the interaction by Illumina Next-Gen RNA-Sequencing. Using previous literature that documented the stages of the floral buds for S. latifolia, we examined the floral buds from plants grown and infected under growth chamber conditions, using the disserting microscope to determine the stage of floral buds based on the morphology. We compiled the information and determined the size of floral buds that correspond to the desired stages of development for tissue collection, for the purpose of RNA-sequencing. This offers a practical approach for researchers who require a large number of floral buds/tissue categorized by stages of development, ascertaining whether infected/uninfected buds are at comparable stages of development and whether this also holds true for male vs. female buds. We also document our experience in infecting the plants and some of the unusual morphologies we observed after infection.
Information Systems Analyst (ISA): A Professional Certification Based On The IS2002 Model Curriculum

The ICCP, ICCP Education Foundation and a coalition of universities have produced an exit examination, and a new professional certification, Information Systems Analyst, based on the IS2002 Model Curriculum. The examination is also the basis for administering IS program evaluation services by a new Center for Computing Education Research.
Effects of a predictive preventive model for prevention of Clostridium difficile infection in patients in intensive care units

Background Health care-acquired Clostridium difficile infection (HACDI) is associated with adverse outcomes at both the organization and patient level. Factors that increase risk for development of HACDI have been identified. Objectives of this study were to develop a predictive screening tool to identify patients at risk for HACDI and implement a bundle of mitigation interventions. Methods A predictive screening tool was developed based on risk factors identified in the literature and validated by retrospective analysis of all HACDI cases occurring in critically ill patients during 2013. The tool was used to screen all patients admitted to an intensive care unit. Evidence-based interventions (bundle) were implemented for patients identified as being at high risk for HACDI. Effectiveness of the model was measured by reduction of HACDI rate during the intervention period compared with the preintervention period. Results During the 12-month intervention period 217 high-risk patients were identified as infected with Clostridium difficile . Sixty-two of these met exclusion criteria, resulting in a study population of 157 patients. During the preintervention phase, 10 cases of HACDI occurred (overall incidence rate, 14.7). During the 12-month study period, 2 cases of HACDI were identified (incidence rate, 3.12). The reduction was statistically significant. Conclusion A strategy for identifying patients at increased risk and implementation of multidisciplinary risk-mitigation strategies is effective in reducing incidence of HACDI.
Early life stress elicits visceral hyperalgesia and functional reorganization of pain circuits in adult rats.

Early life stress (ELS) is a risk factor for developing functional gastrointestinal disorders, and has been proposed to be related to a central amplification of sensory input and resultant visceral hyperalgesia. We sought to characterize ELS-related changes in functional brain responses during acute noxious visceral stimulation. Neonatal rats (males/females) were exposed to limited bedding (ELS) or standard bedding (controls) on postnatal days 2–9. Age 10–11 weeks, animals were implanted with venous cannulas and transmitters for abdominal electromyography (EMG). Cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was mapped during colorectal distension (CRD) using [14C]-iodoantipyrine autoradiography, and analyzed in three-dimensionally reconstructed brains by statistical parametric mapping and functional connectivity. EMG responses to CRD were increased after ELS, with no evidence of a sex difference. ELS rats compared to controls showed a greater significant positive correlation of EMG with amygdalar rCBF. Factorial analysis revealed a significant main effect of ‘ELS’ on functional activation of nodes within the pain pathway (somatosensory, insular, cingulate and prefrontal cortices, locus coeruleus/lateral parabrachial n. [LC/LPB], periaqueductal gray, sensory thalamus), as well as in the amygdala, hippocampus and hypothalamus. In addition, ELS resulted in an increase in the number of significant functional connections (i.e. degree centrality) between regions within the pain circuit, including the amygdala, LC/LPB, insula, anterior ventral cingulate, posterior cingulate (retrosplenium), and stria terminalis, with decreases noted in the sensory thalamus and the hippocampus. Sex differences in rCBF were less broadly expressed, with significant differences noted at the level of the cortex, amygdala, dorsal hippocampus, raphe, sensory thalamus, and caudate-putamen. ELS showed a sexually dimorphic effect (‘Sex x ELS’ interaction) at the LC/LPB complex, globus pallidus, hypothalamus, raphe, septum, caudate-putamen and cerebellum. Our results suggest that ELS alters functional activation of the thalamo-cortico-amydala pathway, as well as the emotional-arousal network (amygdala, locus coeruleus), with evidence that ELS may additionally show sexually dimorphic effects on brain function.
Photochemical E-Z isomerization of meta-terphenyl-protected phosphaalkenes and structural characterizations.

A series of phosphaalkenes, E-ArPC(H)Ar‘ (Ar = 2,6-Mes2C6H3, Ar‘ = Ph (1a); Ar = 2,6-Mes2C6H3, Ar‘ = p-C6H4Br (2a); Ar = 4-Br-2,6-Mes2C6H2, Ar‘ = Ph (3a); Ar = 4-Br-2,6-Mes2C6H2, Ar‘ = p-C6H4Br (4a...
Characterizing the longitudinal relations between depressive and menstrual symptoms in adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the association between depressive and menstrual symptoms in adolescent girls in a 3-year longitudinal study. It was hypothesized that menstrual symptoms would increase in early adolescence and decrease in later adolescence, that girls with greater depressive symptoms would report greater menstrual symptoms, and that effects would persist after adjusting for general somatic complaints. METHODS A community sample of girls (n = 262) enrolled in an observational study by age cohort (11, 13, 15, 17 years) completed three annual visits. At each time point, girls completed the Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire, Children's Depression Inventory, and the Youth Self Report to assess general somatic complaints. RESULTS Menstrual symptoms increased significantly across adolescence (p = .006) and began to plateau in later adolescence (p = .020). Depressive symptoms at study entry were significantly associated with menstrual symptoms (p < .001). When general somatic complaints were included in the models, the effect of depressive symptoms on menstrual symptoms remained significant for the sum score (p = .015) and the menstrual somatic symptoms subscale (p = .001). After adjusting for somatic complaints, initial report of depressive symptoms predicted change in menstrual symptoms only for girls with the lowest menstrual symptoms sum score (p = .025). Initial report of somatic complaints predicted change in menstrual symptoms (p = .020). CONCLUSIONS Girls with higher depressive symptoms and higher somatic complaints are at greater risk for experiencing menstrual symptoms and increasing symptoms across adolescence, with a heightened vulnerability for girls with lower baseline menstrual symptoms.
SPECIES AND STAGE SPECIFICITY OF LEISHMANIA DONOVANI ANTIGENS

Monoclonal antibodies D2 and D13 were produced in mice using Leishmania donovani promastigote membrane fractions. To study the species and stage specificity of the antigens recognized by these antibodies, we examined amastigotes prepared in vitro and cultured promastigotes by indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies D2 and D13. Monoclonal antibody D2 showed weak reactivity for 9 of 9 strains of L. donovani complex promastigotes and 8 of 9 amastigotes. In contrast, only 2 of 22 strains from other complexes yielded equivocal reactions. Monoclonal antibody D13, however, had much broader reactivity. D13 reacted with all the promastigotes and amastigotes of L. donovani complex isolates as well as with 10 of 22 promastigotes and 8 of 13 amastigotes from other complexes. The high degree of species specificity seen with monoclonal antibody D2 provides a rationale for further study of this antibody and its purified antigen for parasite identification and serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis. The strong fluorescent signal noted with D13 and the presence of the D13 epitope on all L. donovani complex parasites supports studies on its role as an antigen in immunoprophylaxis of visceral leishmaniasis.
Pascal's Wager: A Decision-Theoretic Approach

(1990). Pascal's Wager: A Decision-Theoretic Approach. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 63, No. 5, pp. 321-325.
Comparison of a protein binding displacement method with a double isotope derivative method for determination of plasma progesterone.

Two methods for the determination of plasma progesterone were compared by means of multiple replicate analysis. The results show that the technically simpler and much more rapid protein binding displacement method gives results virtually identical to those obtained with the double isotope derivative method. The protein binding method is satisfactory for the majority of situations in which the determination of progesterone is required.
Sex education of the adolescent female.

Sexuality encompasses the total person: one acts, thinks, and functions physiologically as a male or female. The adolescent’s role changes with physical growth and development, increasing independence and responsibility, and the acquisition of knowledge, experience and emotional maturity. Sex education must then encompass all these aspects of developing human sexuality.
Management of symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus in very low-birth-weight infants.

A retrospective study of 39 infants under 30 weeks' gestation was carried out to analyze the incidence, management, and morbidity resulting from symptomatic patent ductus arteriosus. Symptomatic pa...
Proximale Humerusfrakturen — Moglichkeiten und Grenzen der minimal invasiven Versorgung mit dem Titan-Wendel / Proximal Humeral Fractures: Possibilities and Limitations of the Minimally Invasive Treatment with the Helix Wire

Prospektiv angelegte Studie zur Evaluation einer neuen, minimal invasiven Technik am proximalen Humerus des alteren Patienten. Seit 1998 haben wir 37 Patienten mit einem Titanwendel versorgt. Der Titanwendel ist ein intramedullarer Krafttrager mit folgenden Merkmalen: Dynamische 3-Punkte-Abstutzung, kraftige Verankerung im spongio-sen Humeruskopf und zusatzliche Zuggurtung durch den umgebenden Muskelmantel. 13 Patienten wurden bisher nach einem Verlauf von uber 1 Jahr standardisiert nachkontrolliert. 10 mal kam es zur Ausheilung, 3mal muste wegen einer Non-Union ein Verfahrenswechsel eingeleitet werden. Zunehmend haben wir das Verfahren mit der perkutanen Schrauben-osteosynthese kombiniert. Der Titanwendel stellt als weichteilschonendes, minimal invasives und technisch einfaches Implantat eine interessante Alternative zu den bisherigen Verfahren dar.
Intramolecular H-bonds in cytosine nucleosides. 1H NMR and quantum-chemical data

The capacity of nucleosides to form inter- and intramolecular H-bonds is essential for understanding of the functioning of nucleic acids. It was shown theoretically [1] and experimentally [2] that formation of intramolecular H-bonds in nucleosides and nucleotides (especially between basic and glycosylic parts of the molecules) are important for their conformations. In this report there is presented a consideration of intramolecular H-bonds in cytidine (Cyd) and deoxycytidine (dCyd) inferred from 1 H NMR (Broker 200, Varian 300, DMSO-d6) and quantum-mechanical data(MNDO/H).
Palliative care for chronic illness: driving change

In its 2015 Quality of Death Index report, the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Canada 11th in overall quality of death and 18th in availability of palliative care services.[1][1] For efforts to develop and promote palliative care, Canada scored 3 out of 5, putting us behind Mongolia and Panama.
The Interaction of Bis (dimethylamino) Chloro-borane with α, ω-Diamines

Abstract The interaction of bis (dimethylamino) chloroborane with N, N'-dimethyl-δ,ω-diamines yields primarily 1,3-dimethyl-2-dimethylaminodiazaboracyclo-alkanes. No 2-chloro heterocycles are obtained but tris (dimethylamino)-borane is formed as by-product.
Sparse image coding using learned overcomplete dictionaries

Images can be coded accurately using a sparse set of vectors from an overcomplete dictionary, with potential applications in image compression and feature selection for pattern recognition. We discuss algorithms that perform sparse coding and make three contributions. First, we compare our overcomplete dictionary learning algorithm (FOCUSS-CNDL) with overcomplete independent component analysis (ICA). Second, noting that once a dictionary has been learned in a given domain the problem becomes one of choosing the vectors to form an accurate, sparse representation, we compare a recently developed algorithm (sparse Bayesian learning with adjustable variance Gaussians) to well known methods of subset selection: matching pursuit and FOCUSS. Third, noting that in some cases it may be necessary to find a non-negative sparse coding, we present a modified version of the FOCUSS algorithm that can find such non-negative codings
First-class effect reflection for effect-guided programming

This paper introduces a novel type-and-effect calculus, first-class effects, where the computational effect of an expression can be programmatically reflected, passed around as values, and analyzed at run time. A broad range of designs "hard-coded" in existing effect-guided analyses — from thread scheduling, version-consistent software updating, to data zeroing — can be naturally supported through the programming abstractions. The core technical development is a type system with a number of features, including a hybrid type system that integrates static and dynamic effect analyses, a refinement type system to verify application-specific effect management properties, a double-bounded type system that computes both over-approximation of effects and their under-approximation. We introduce and establish a notion of soundness called trace consistency, defined in terms of how the effect and trace correspond. The property sheds foundational insight on "good" first-class effect programming.
Tracing Knowledge and Engagement in Parallel in an Intelligent Tutoring System.

Two of the major goals in Educational Data Mining are determining students’ state of knowledge and determining whether students are affectively engaged with the task and in positive affective states. These two problems are usually examined separately and multiple methods have been proposed to solve each of them. However, little work has been done on tracing both of these states in parallel and the combined effect on a student’s performance. In this work, we propose a model for tracing student engagement in parallel with knowledge as the student uses an Intelligent Tutoring System. We then compare this model to existing methods of tracing student knowledge and engagement.
In Vitro Selection of Nucleic Acid Enzymes

Among the enormous quantity and diversity of enzymes found in nature, researchers have confirmed the existence of only seven distinct classes of biological catalysts that are made of RNA rather than protein. As currently understood, the natural functions of these ribozymes are limited to phosphoester transfer and phosphoester hydrolysis reactions that occur with RNA or DNA substrates (Kruger et al. 1982; Guerrier-Takadaet al. 1983; Peebles et al. 1986; Paddy et al. 1986; Buzayan et al. 1986; Sharmeen et al. 1988; Saville and Collins 1990; Zimmerly et al. 1995). Although ribozymes are exceedingly rare and their biochemical functions are limited, they serve as essential components of the metabolic machinery of all living systems. It has been proposed that nucleic acids preceded proteins in the evolutionary history of biocatalysis, and that these primitive ribozymes catalyzed many of the reactions performed by modern protein enzymes (Gilbert 1986; Benner et al. 1989; Hirao and Ellington 1995). Over the course of 4 billion years of evolution, it appears that nature has determined that proteins are a superior format for constructing enzymes; however, the true capacity of nucleic acids for catalytic function remains to be fully defined.
2017 Top ten tech cars

You can show people an Italian supersedan that set a lap record on the famed Nurburgring circuit. You can point them to a sleek, affordable electric runabout that can go from Paris to Luxembourg on a single charge. But they'll probably just want to know one thing: When are cars going to drive themselves? The specter of the fully autonomous, virtually self-aware car has captured imaginations and dominated headlines like no other automotive story in decades. And for at least one very good reason: Such vehicles promise to dramatically reduce or even eliminate deaths and injuries in automobiles.
Analysis of focused indirect ultrasound via high-speed spatially localized pressure sensing and its consequences on nucleation

Abstract Ultrasonication is frequently used to promote crystallization and chemical reactions, with many papers reporting the effects of ultrasonic parameters. High-speed pressure inducers (aka pinducers) and signal processing are used here to gain insights into the spatial localization of energy dissipation that occurs during ultrasonication, facilitating a design that allows ultrasonication to be spatially localized inside a tube, without requiring that the probe directly contact the solution. The fluid pressure measured inside of a flexible silicone tube pressed against an ultrasonic probe is observed to move between nearly constant amplitude oscillations to variable shape and amplitude waveforms that deviate significantly from being periodic. Ultrasonic power is transferred to the fluid inside the tube, generating a wide frequency range including via bubble oscillations. Discrete Fourier Transform analysis indicates complex interactions within the experimental system, in addition to the energy transferred inside the tubing at the expected ultrasonic source frequency. The total acoustic intensity decays exponentially with distance from the zone, dropping by more than two orders-of-magnitude for each 1 cm increase in distance. The pinducer data analyses guide the design of an experimental setup in which crystals nucleate within fluid inside the zone in the tube, right under the ultrasonic probe.
Dietary fat/cholesterol-sensitive PKCβ-RB signaling: Potential role in NASH/HCC axis

// Wei Huang 1 , Devina Mehta 2 , Said Sif 1 , Lindsey N. Kent 3 , Samson T. Jacob 3 , Kalpana Ghoshal 3 and Kamal D. Mehta 1 1 Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA 2 Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA 3 Department of Cancer Genetics, OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA Correspondence to: Kamal D. Mehta, email: Mehta.80@osu.edu Keywords: dietary fat, protein kinase Cβ, retinoblastoma phosphorylation, tumor suppressor Received: November 02, 2016 Accepted: March 30, 2017 Published: May 15, 2017 ABSTRACT Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a frequent form of cancer with a poor prognosis, and environmental factors significantly contribute to the risk. Despite knowledge that a Western-style diet is a risk factor in the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and subsequent progression to HCC, diet-induced signaling changes are not well understood. Understanding molecular mechanisms altered by diet is crucial for developing preventive and therapeutic strategies. We have previously shown that diets enriched with high-fat and high-cholesterol, shown to produce NASH and HCC, induce hepatic protein kinase C beta (PKCβ) expression in mice, and a systemic loss of PKCβ promotes hepatic cholesterol accumulation in response to this diet. Here, we sought to determine how PKCβ and diet functionally interact during the pathogenesis of NASH and how it may promote hepatic carcinogenesis. We found that diet-induced hepatic PKCβ expression is accompanied by an increase in phosphorylation of Ser780 of retinoblastoma (RB) protein. Intriguingly, PKCβ -/- livers exhibited reduced RB protein levels despite increased transcription of the RB gene. It is also accompanied by reduced RBL-1 with no significant effect on RBL-2 protein levels. We also found reduced expression of the PKCβ in HCC compared to non-tumorous liver in human patients. These results raise an interesting possibility that diet-induced PKCβ activation represents an important mediator in the functional wiring of cholesterol metabolism and tumorigenesis through modulating stability of cell cycle-associated proteins. The potential role of PKCβ in the suppression of tumorigenesis is discussed.
Perspectives for future research on the uterus.

The papers presented in this symposium represent a good part of the research on the uterus. These areas of research are important and will continue to bring us new and exciting information. In this paper, I will describe several areas of the uterine research which need further studies.
Introduction to Sexual Medicine

Sexual medicine is a field of medicine that focuses on sexual function and dysfunction. Sexual health is a fundamental aspect of physical and emotional well-being. Studies showed that approximately 43% of women and 31% of men suffer from some form of sexual dysfunction. The most commonly experienced male sexual disorder is premature ejaculation; in females it is female sexual interest/arousal disorder. Other common dysfunctions are erectile disorder and female orgasmic disorder. In 2013, the DSM-5 was released, recategorizing, condensing, and redefining sexual dysfunctions. Propensity for sexual dysfunction can be heightened by biological, psychological, social, and environmental risk factors including diabetes mellitus, excessive alcohol use, hormone imbalances, trauma such as sexual assault, depression, tobacco use, spinal cord injury, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic illnesses. Treatment needs to integrate biological and psychosocial interventions including hormonal treatments (such as testosterone, estrogen), pharmaceutical treatments (such as PDE-5 inhibitors), surgical (such as penile implants), devices (such as vacuum devices), psychotherapy, and sex therapy. Sexual medicine is evolving, expanding, and advancing with recent strides in pharmacology, psychology, and relationship counseling, while focusing on the couple as the central hub for treatment is essential to a healthy sex life. Given the multifactorial aspects of sexual relationships, the implementation of the biopsychosocial model is vital to encompass the psychological, emotional, physiological, and social components of sexual function.
Corrections to “Degradation of Superconducting Nb/NbN Films by Atmospheric Oxidation” [Jun 17 Art. no. 1100505]

Presents corrections to the paper, “Degradation of superconducting Nb/NbN films by atmospheric oxidation,” (Henry, M.D., et al), IEEE Trans. Appl. Supercond., vol. 27, no. 4, Jun. 2017, Art. no. 1100505.