cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of glottis motion on airflow and energy expenditure in a human upper airway model

Abstract The periodic movement of the glottal aperture during tidal breathing has been long recognized as a physiological factor in regulating the respiratory airflow dynamics. However, studies of the dynamic glottis and its functions are scarce due to the complex respiratory anatomy, lack of glottis kinematics, and challenges in simulating moving structures. The objective of this study is to numerically investigate the influences of the glottis motion on airflow features and energy expenditure in an image-based human upper airway model. To examine the relative importance of glottal motion and tidal breathing, both static and dynamic glottal apertures were considered using large eddy simulation under either constant or sinusoidal breathing profiles. The glottis was specified to move in phase with the inhalation profile, which widens and contracts periodically at an amplitude typical of a human adult. Results show highly oscillating features of the instantaneous main and secondary flows for all breathing scenarios considered, indicating the inadequacy of time-averaged steady simulations in dynamic respiratory studies. The glottal aperture and cyclic flow both modified the laryngeal jet instability and vortex generation by varying the main flow speed. However, the cyclic flow has a greater impact on the main flow instability (streamwise direction), while the glottal motion has a greater impact on secondary flows (transverse direction) associated with swirling flows, flow separation, and vortex shedding. A widening glottis during inhalation was observed to significantly postpone the development of vortices, flow oscillation, and intra-glottal pressure drop, which might have key biological implications in alleviating the diaphragm muscle effort and reducing the risk of pharyngeal wall collapse.
The Academic Market, Intercollegiate Sports, and Academic Standards

Periodically intercollegiate sports programs come under severe attack from professors in departments far removed from the athletic programs of the university. The criticism usually raised is that sports programs employ resources that could otherwise be used in more traditional academic programs; that although sports programs contribute to the entertainment of the student body, they detract from the time students spend studying and from the availability of other learning resources for the rest of the academic community. In defense of intercollegiate sports, athletic directors and coaches are prone to point to the benefits received by the many athletes who participate and to the fact (when this is the case) that the programs are paying their own way. However, supporters of intercollegiate sports have been unable to demonstrate very persuasively that their programs can actually contribute to upgrading the academic standards in other disciplines.
Experimental study on heat transfer and pressure drop of in-house synthesized graphene oxide nanofluids

AbstractIn this article, first, graphene oxide nanosheets were synthesized in-house according to the modified Hummers method, and these nanosheets were used to prepare graphene oxide nanofluids at ...
Computational and Synthetic Investigation of Cationic Rearrangement in the Putative Biosynthesis of Justicane Triterpenoids.

A biomimetic cationic structural rearrangement of the oleanolic acid framework is reported for the gram-scale synthesis and structural reassignment of justicioside E aglycone. The mechanism of the putative biosynthetic rearrangement is investigated with kinetic, computational, and synthetic approaches. The precursor to rearrangement was accessed through two strategic advancements: (1) synthesis of a 1,3-diketone via oxidation of a β-silyl enone, and (2) diastereoselective 1,3-diketone reduction to form a syn-1,3-diol using SmI2 with PhSH as a key additive.
Revising the Psychiatric Phenotype of Homocystinuria.

PURPOSE Associations of psychiatric and psychological symptoms with homocystinuria (HCU) have been described in multiple reports. This retrospective study was undertaken to refine the psychological phenotype among HCU patients and identify biomedical markers that could be used for prediction of those psychiatric or psychological symptoms. METHODS This study examines the prevalence of psychological symptoms within a sample of 25 patients with classical homocystinuria. RESULTS Psychological symptoms were noted in 16 of the 25 patients in the sample (64%), including a high prevalence of both anxiety (32%) and depression (32%) and correlated with IQ < 85. There was no difference in the type or the number of psychological symptoms between those diagnosed from newborn screening and early treated and those treated after 2 years of age. CONCLUSION The results support the possible role of homocysteine as a risk factor for psychological and psychiatric problems and cognitive deficits and suggest that earlier diagnosis and treatment may reduce risk of their occurrences. Although early treatment clearly prevented serious medical complications, psychological and psychiatric symptoms were not associated with medical complications, highlighting the need for continued investigation.
A Study of Interprofessional Collaboration in Undergraduate Medical Laboratory Science and Nursing Education

Interprofessional collaboration in the healthcare setting has been identified as an essential component for decreasing medical errors. Interprofessional collaborative education (IPE) may ease the transition of this requirement into clinical practice. Smaller colleges and universities without medical schools or associated teaching hospitals may have spatial barriers and time constraints that interfere with the implementation of IPE. To address this need the authors constructed a realistic interdisciplinary simulation exercise for nursing and medical laboratory science (MLS) students. Three simulation groups totaling approximately 90 undergraduate students were studied over the course of three semesters. The authors arranged Deliberate Student Engagement (DSE) activities requiring student collaboration. To determine outcomes of the students9 experience a pre- and post- Likert scaled survey tool was used. Data suggesting the benefits of collaborative educational exercises in the healthcare professions is presented. Details are also provided to assist colleagues at similar institutions in arranging interprofessional simulation exercises. ABBREVIATIONS:MLS-Medical laboratory science, IOM-Institute of Medicine, AACN-Association of Colleges of Nursing, NAACLS-National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, NLN-National League for Nursing, DSE-Deliberate Student Engagement
Improvement of sensing margin and reset switching fail of RRAM

Abstract To develop a high voltage read margin ΔVrd, deep reset engineering and defect engineering are proposed. To realize the defect engineering, the amount of oxygen vacancy of the resistor was controlled by optimizing the material of the reservoir (RSV) and switching oxide. We investigated the barrier height modulation, which was formed by the Ru bottom electrode (BE) having a high work function, to demonstrate the concept of deep reset engineering by reducing the set current (Iset) of the HfO2 resistor (1R) to the turn-on current (Ith) of the selector device (1S). Further, we identified the causes of the negative set fail through the chemical analysis of the HfO2/BE TiN interface to improve the reset switching fail. Unstable TiON and TiOx chemical species, which present in the interface of HfO2/BE TiN, take oxygen from the resistor HfO2 and create the parasitic defect (or filament), which was injected from BE TiN. To improve the negative set fail of RRAM, we proposed the O3 surface treatment of BE TiN at a high temperature (∼320 °C) and the BE Ru with a superior oxidation resistance. By using deep reset engineering, we successfully increased the ΔVrd of 1S1R by more than 0.5 V. We also demonstrated that Ru BE and the O3 surface treatment of BE TiN improved both the reset window and the negative set.
Electrical machines for harsh environments

There have been several megatrends over the past several years that have been driving research activities in the area of electrical machines and drives. These include transportation electrification (land vehicles, aerospace, ships, locomotives), expanded role of renewables (wind, solar, wave…etc.), and smart grid among others. One of those megatrends that continues to become more critical is electrical machines for harsh environments. In many applications, production has been moved to remote locations and harsh environments. These include subsea oil exploration, sour/acid gas compression, downhole and geothermal pumps, underground mining, and aerospace applications. This paper will provide an overview of electrical machine for harsh environments as well as the key technology development and research trends.
Back-to-back random-start ovarian stimulation prior to chemotherapy to maximize oocyte yield

To evaluate the feasibility of utilizing back-to-back random-start ovarian stimulation to increase oocyte yield for fertility preservation prior to cancer treatment. A case series of 15 patients who underwent back-to-back random-start stimulation cycles prior to chemotherapy. Of the 15 back-to-back random-start stimulation cases, 13 had breast cancer and 2 had other cancers. The average age was 38 years (range 30–43) and average AFC was 8 (range 3–14). Fourteen of the 15 women (93%) who underwent two ovarian stimulation cycles completed both of them. The average time to complete back-to-back random-start ovarian stimulation was 33 days (range 13–43 days). The average time between the first cycle completion and the second cycle start in our back-to-back random-start stimulations was 9 days (range 0–14 days). Two of the women underwent back-to-back random-start ovarian stimulation prior to starting neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Eleven of our 15 women at least doubled their oocyte or embryo yield relative to their first cycle. Only 1 of the 15 second cycles was canceled. The mature oocyte rate, fertilization rate, and embryo yield were similar among the first and second cycles. Back-to-back random-start ovarian stimulation may be an effective way to maximize fertility preservation, even in time-limited settings.
Interfaces of Gas-Aerosol Particles: Relative Humidity and Salt Concentration Effects

The growth of aerosol particles is intimately related to chemical reactions in the gas phase and particle phase and at gas-aerosol particle interfaces. While chemical reactions in gas and particle phases are well documented, there is very little information regarding interface-related reactions. The interface of gas-aerosol particles not only facilitates a physical channel for organic species to enter and exit but also provides a necessary lane for culturing chemical reactions. The physical and chemical properties of gas-particle interfaces have not been studied extensively, nor have the reactions occurring at the interfaces been well researched. This is mainly due to the fact that there is a lack of suitable in situ interface-sensitive analytical techniques for direct measurements of interfacial properties. The motivation behind this research is to understand how interfaces play a role in the growth of aerosol particles. We have developed in situ interface-specific second harmonic scattering to examine interfacial behaviors of molecules of aerosol particles under different relative humidity (RH) and salt concentrations. Both the relative humidity and salt concentration can change the particle size and the phase of the aerosol. RH not only varies the concentration of solutes inside aerosol particles but also changes interfacial hydration in local regions. Organic molecules were found to exhibit distinct behaviors at the interfaces and bulk on NaCl particles under different RH levels. Our quantitative analyses showed that the interfacial adsorption free energies remain unchanged while interfacial areas increase as the relative humidity increases. Furthermore, the surface tension of NaCl particles decreases as the RH increases. Our experimental findings from the novel nonlinear optical scattering technique stress the importance of interfacial water behaviors on aerosol particles in the atmosphere.
Disclosure patterns and decision making preferences in BRCA 1/2 mutation carriers with young adult and minor children

1015 Background: Genetic testing of minors for adult-onset diseases has generally been discouraged. Yet, limited data suggests that many BRCA mutation carriers discuss their test results with their...
Improv with Robots: Creativity, Inspiration, Co-Performance

Improvisational actors are adept at creative exploration within a set of boundaries. These boundaries come from each scene having “games” that establish the rules of-play. In this paper, we introduce a game that allows an expressive motion robot to collaboratively develop a narrative with an improviser. When testing this game on eight improv performers, our team explored two research questions: (1) Can a simple robot be a creative partner to a human improviser, and (2) Can improvisers expand our understanding of robot expressive motion? After conducting 16 scenes and 40 motion demonstrations, we found that performers viewed our robot as a supportive teammate who positively inspired the scene’s direction. The improvisers also provided insightful perspectives on robot motion, which led us to create a movement categorization scheme based on their various interpretations. We discuss our lessons learned, show the benefits of merging social robotics with improvisational theater, and hope this will encourage further exploration of this cross-disciplinary intersection.
Sensitized corticosterone responses do not mediate the enhanced fear memories in chronically stressed rats

Abstract Following a stressful event, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis mediates the release of the stress hormone cortisol (corticosterone in rodents; CORT). Elevated CORT binds to glucocorticoid receptors to mediate physiological responses including facilitating memory formation. Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated that male rats exposed to chronic stress demonstrate enhanced contextual fear memories and sensitized CORT responses to subsequent stress exposure; however, this is unknown in female rats. The experiments here tested whether chronic stress enhances fear memory formation in female rats and whether the sensitized CORT response in chronic stress rats contributes to their enhanced fear memory. Studies first examined CORT responses to contextual fear conditioning in male and female rats and examined whether chronic stress enhanced the formation of contextual fear memories 24 h later. Studies then used metyrapone, a CORT synthesis inhibitor, to investigate whether blockade of plasma CORT would eliminate the chronic stress-induced enhancement in contextual fear memory. Results show that female rats have greater CORT responses than males, and chronic stress sensitizes the CORT response to fear conditioning in both sexes. However, female rats do not show enhanced contextual fear memory following chronic stress. Chronically stressed male rats show greater memory acquisition and show greater contextual fear memory 24 h later following fear conditioning. Metyrapone dampens contextual fear memory in all rats but does not eliminate the enhancement in freezing behavior in chronic stress rats. Collectively, these studies indicate sensitized CORT responses in chronically stressed rats is likely not the mechanism by which chronic stress facilitates memory formation.
Severe Hypertriglyceridemia in the Hospitalized Patient

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is prevalent and likely to increase multifold over the next few decades mostly due to the rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM). One of the most untoward complications of severe HTG is acute pancreatitis (AP) requiring hospitalization for intensive treatment. The risk for AP is more clearly defined at triglyceride levels >1000 mg/dL. The prevention of HTG-associated AP requires a multifaceted approach with initiation of weight loss strategies, limiting fat and simple carbohydrates from diet, restriction of alcohol, control of secondary risk factors such as uncontrolled diabetes, discontinuation of offending medications as possible, and initiation of lipid-lowering medications. Pharmacologic options for very high TG include fibrates, niacin, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (OM3FA), composed primarily of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). New agents that are not yet readily available, but have shown significant benefits, include the class of drugs known as the Apo CIII inhibitors. In patients with uncontrolled hyperglycemia, insulin with or without heparin can be very effective in the acute inpatient setting. In some studies, plasmapheresis has also been shown to be an effective modality for urgent lowering of TG levels.
Biaxial Inflation Stretch Test for Printed Electronics

As flexible electronics technology matures, there is a growing need for the development of electromechanical reliability test methods for characterizing electronic materials under real-world loading conditions. To address this need, a new test method is proposed in which a flexible electronic sample is clamped around its periphery and subjected to an inflation pressure to induce a biaxial strain state. Inflation pressure and electrical resistance change are measured simultaneously, while strains are tracked in-situ using three-dimensional digital image correlation. The test data is then aggregated, time-synchronized, and post-processed, allowing for the examination of the electromechanical response of the sample due to a biaxial loading scenario. The efficacy of this test method is examined through monotonic, cyclic, and stretch-and-hold inflation testing of representative, screen-printed conductors on thermoplastic polyurethane substrates. Results are discussed, along with the underlying physical phenomena governing the general test approach, and recommendations are made for extensions of this work.
The Impact of Victimization, Mental Health Problems, and Disabilities on Juvenile Justice Processing: Does Gender Matter?:

Victimization, mental health problems, and disabilities are associated with an increased likelihood of delinquent behavior, and girls in the juvenile justice system report higher rates of past trau...
Diagnostic considerations prior to pediatric tracheocutaneous fistula closure

Abstract Introduction An airway assessment often occurs prior to tracheocutaneous fistula (TCF) closure in children. Bronchoscopy (MLB) with or without fistula-occluded polysomnography (PSG) helps determine candidacy and localize potential obstruction. To date, little has been published on MLB or PSG findings in children before surgically closing a TCF. Methods A case series with chart review of children between 2017 and 2020 who underwent repair of a TCF after tracheostomy decannulation. Results Thirty-six children were included for review. Mean age was 5.9 years (95% CI: 4.5–7.3), 58.3% were male, and 50% had chronic lung disease. Surgery occurred 13.3 months (95% CI: 11.9–14.8) after decannulation, with 80.6% by primary closure and 19.4% by secondary intention. There was one unsuccessful closure and two patients (5.6%) presented with a postoperative complication. An MLB was performed in 97.2% of children, where 22.9% identified supraglottic pathology, 11.4% had grade 2 subglottic stenosis, and 11.4% had difficult exposure of the larynx. Further, one child had a non-obstructing subglottic cyst, one had a supraglottoplasty for redundant arytenoid mucosa, and two children had suprastomal granulomas requiring removal. A PSG was obtained in 36.1%, with a mean Apnea-Hypopnea Index of 2.4 events/hour (95% CI: 0.9–3.9), nadir Oxygen saturation of 90.5% (95% CI: 87.9–93.0), and peak end-tidal CO2 of 46.1 mmHg (95% CI: 43.7–48.5). Conclusion The selection of candidates for pediatric TCF closure requires careful evaluation of the airway. Surgeons should be familiar with the potential findings on MLB and PSG prior to closure.
Electronic Structure and Bulk Modulus of Silicon Dicarbide: A Glitter Phase

A hypothetical, metallic and hard three-dimensional extended structure is described with the chemical formula SiC. This structure is achieved by replacing the tetrahedral carbon atoms in the previously described glitter lattice with tetrahedral silicon atoms. The new structure, like the parent carbon allotrope glitter, has polymeric substructures that can be carved from the three-dimensional extended structure. These substructures, which make use of the 1,4-disila-2,5-cyclohexadiene (1,4-disilaquinoid) moiety as a common theme, are of a polyquinoid, polyspiroquinoid and polyparaquinoid (polycyclophane) nature. Oligomers of the poly-1,4-disilaquinoid and poly-1,4-disilaspiroquinoid substructures have been synthesized in the laboratory and some of their properties have been investigated. The present report describes theoretical calculations, at the semi-empirical (EHMO) and density functional (DFT) level of theory, of the electronic structure of the three-dimensional SiC lattice and of the synthetically realized poly-1,4-disilaspiroquinoid oligomers. It is seen that a relatively high-lying carbon-silicon σ level causes the ordinarily insulated π and π* levels in SiC to be bridged, so that a conducting, metallic system is achieved. Finally, the bulk modulus of the three-dimensional SiC structure is evaluated at zero pressure using a semi-empirical formula developed by Cohen. The zero-pressure bulk modulus of SiC is one of the highest known in crystalline materials at 230 GPa. The zero-pressure bulk modulus of silicon dicarbide is comparable to that observed in the commonly used industrial abrasive called carborundum (SiC), which has an experimental zero-pressure bulk modulus of 211 GPa. In addition, it is estimated that the bulk modulus at pressure of the silicon dicarbide lattice can attain values in excess of 545 GPa by a mechanism of harmonic compression which has been described earlier for glitter.
The Marketing of Initial Public Offerings

Using a novel measure of marketing during initial public offering (IPO) roadshows, we find that marketing positively predicts underpricing, price revisions, and post-IPO liquidity, but has little effect on fees. We further show that IPO roadshow duration and marketing intensity have decreased dramatically over the last fifteen years, leading up to and continuing through the COVID-19 period. Additional tests suggest these trends are related to technological development and the rise in passive ownership. Our findings are relevant to issuers’ choice between traditional bookbuilt IPOs and other capital raising alternatives (e.g., reverse mergers with special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs)).
Data-driven approaches to advance research and clinical care for pediatric cancer

Pediatric cancer is a rare disease with a distinct etiology and mutational landscape compared with adult cancer. Multi-omics profiling of retrospective and prospective cohorts coupled with innovative computational analysis have been instrumental in uncovering mechanisms of tumorigenesis and drug resistance that are now informing pediatric cancer clinical therapy. In this review we present the major data resources of pediatric cancer and actionable insights into pediatric cancer etiology stemming from the identification of oncogenic gene fusions, mutational signature analysis, systems biology, cancer predisposition and survivorship studies - that have led to improved clinical diagnosis, discovery of new drug-targets, pharmacological therapy, and screening for genetic predisposition. Ultimately, integration of large-scale omics datasets generated through international collaboration is required to maximize the power of data-driven approaches to advance pediatric cancer research informing clinical therapy.
CROSS-RACIAL AND INTERSECTIONAL ALLYSHIP EFFORTS AMONG FACULTY IN A PSYCHOLOGY DOCTORAL PROGRAM

The current study examined events by which four faculty members who teach in the same psychology doctoral program engaged each other in an allyship development process primarily related to race ove...
E-106 Timeline of occlusion for intracranial aneurysms treated with pipeline embolization devices

Introduction/Purpose The Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) is commonly used to treat intracranial aneurysms. The rate of aneurysm occlusion at pre-specified timepoints after PED treatment is known from clinical trials, but the actual time evolution of aneurysm occlusion is not known. In this study, we take advantage of real-world variability in the timing of angiographic follow up to characterize the time evolution of aneurysm occlusion. Materials and Methods Data from a large, urban, tertiary care center was retrospectively analyzed. Only saccular, unruptured aneurysms treated with PED were included in this study. Aneurysm occlusion over time was characterized with Kaplan-Meier analysis. Aneurysms were censored after angiographic confirmation of complete aneurysm occlusion. Aneurysms were grouped by size (small 10 mm) or number of PED’s deployed (1 vs >1). Kaplan-Meier curves were compared using a log-rank Mantel-Cox test. Time to occlusion as reported as median (95% CI). Results 291 aneurysms in 222 patients were included in this analysis. Large aneurysm size was significantly associated with a lower probability of complete occlusion at 5 years (figure 1A, p=0.037). Aneurysm size was not significantly associated with time to aneurysm occlusion. Median time to occlusion was similar across sizes: 7.7 months (CI 6.7-9.8) for small aneurysms, 6.9 months (CI 6.6-7.6) for medium aneurysms, and 8.0 months (CI 7.1 -17.7) for large aneurysms. When stratified by number of PEDs deployed, survival curves were not significantly different (figure 1B, p=0.479). Median time to occlusion was 7.2 months (CI 6.7-7.8) for aneurysms treated with 1 PED and 7.7 months (CI 6.9-11.8) for aneurysms treated with multiple PEDs. Conclusion Aneurysm size and number of PEDs did not significantly alter aneurysm behavior at early angiographic follow up. However, large aneurysms demonstrated an earlier plateau in their likelihood of complete occlusion. These findings are relevant for determining optimum angiographic follow up schedules and providing anticipatory guidance to patients. Disclosures S. Cler: None. D. Lauzier: None. A. Kansagra: 2; C; Penumbra, Microvention, iSchemaView.
Lymphopoiesis in the thymus and other tissues: functional implications.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the evidence relative to the life span and turnover times of the lymphocyte populations in the various organs with special emphasis on the thymus, and relates these life span studies with the many advances that have come from studies of lymphocyte fate and function. The formation of long-lived small lymphocytes is controlled by the thymus and may be mediated by a humoral factor produced by the epithelial cells of the thymus. Thus neonatal thymectomy prevents the formation of the long-lived population and thymectomy of the young adult prevents new cells from being added to the already existing pool. The long-lived population is highly radiosensitive and the thymic epithelium is required to mediate the regeneration of a new population in heavily irradiated animals. Animals made deficient in long-lived small lymphocytes by such methods as chronic lymphatic drainage, neonatal thymectomy, or irradiation, show a deficiency in their ability to reject a homograft or heterograft and in other immunological reactions. This immunological incompetence may be restored by injecting long-lived small lymphocytes from an isogenic strain.
Quantitative In Situ Hybridization and Determination of mRNA Content

The determination of mRNA levels by in situ hybridization in brain tissue is a prominent topic of concern of workers in this field. Two degrees of quantitation are theoretically possible. The ability to provide a minimum estimate of mRNA amounts for comparing conditions is the easier the two. The ability to measure absolute amounts of mRNA by in situ hybridization is a much less certain and more contentious proposition, as discussed below. In both cases, it is necessary to convert grain densities to tissue radioactivity to, finally, mRNA levels. The first conversion is discussed in the second portion of this chapter. Briefly, for isotopes with higher energy than tritium, emulsions of uniform thickness are required to eliminate variability in grain density due to variations in emulsion thickness. For this purpose, one can use x-ray film or emulsion-coated coverslips (1). In addition, one must simultaneously expose standards containing known amounts of the isotope used in the experimental sections (2).
A linear time algorithm for timing directed circuit optimizations

This paper describes an algorithm for doing timing directed circuit optimizations in linear time. An optimal gate input reordering scheme for performance improvement, and a gate sizing scheme for both performance improvement and area reduction is presented. The algorithm uses a combination and extent of partial validity of timing delays in obtaining linear runtime performance. The algorithm has been applied for gate input reordering and BiCMOS deselection in designs targeted for a BiCMOS gate array. At an average in linear time, a 50% reduction in BiCMOS site utilization, and a 5% gain in design performance through reordering has been achieved. >
Two Curricular Settings of an HIV Education Unit Related to Secondary School Students' HIV Knowledge and Attitude.

Abstract The problem of the study was to compare the effects of an HIV education unit (HEU) within two curricular settings upon secondary school students' knowledge of and attitude toward HIV prevention behaviors. It was hypothesized that an HEU within a health education class would have a more positive impact that an HEU in a non-health class. Health education and biology classes from three secondary schools in the Midwest participated in a quasi-experimental study. Experimental groups in biology classes (n=38) and health education classes (n=91) received a 5-session HEU, while the control group (n=131) did not receive an HEU. The HEU consisted of lessons from a government-sponsored school AIDS curriculum (Yarber, 1989). All subjects were administered a 45-item questionnaire as a pre-test, posttest, and a four week delayed posttest to determine changes in the dependent variables. No significant changes in HIV prevention knowledge were established. Subjects in the health education classes had a significan...
Shakedown at Gucci Gulch: A Tale of Death, Money & Taxes

Ever since Mancur Olson's 1965 classic The Logic of Collective Action was published, the dominant view of politics in the academy and the popular understanding has featured the special interest model. Small groups with high stakes in legislative outcomes solve their coordination and free-rider problems and then descend on Washington and other bastions of power, seeking rents. In this model, the special interests are the predators, the legislators the prey. In this paper, we argue that in an important set of cases, the process works in reverse. Legislators pro-actively solve the coordination and free riding problems identified by Olson so that they can then shake down the groups so formed for campaign contributions. We illustrate this model of a reverse Mancur Olson phenomenon with the extended example of estate tax repeal/non repeal, and suggest further extensions. The key properties of the phenomenon are small groups with high stakes that Congress has helped to frame or set up; plausible action; two or more sides; plausible longevity for any legislative action. The key predictions are that, once Congress has found rich territory for the game, it will string matters along, frequently voting, never really acting, and avoiding sensible compromises at every turn.
Effects of Feeding Iowa-Grown Field Pea on Finishing Pig Performance

The objective of this study was to investigate an alternative feedstuff, Iowa-grown field peas, for finishing pigs. Field peas (winter, spring, and summer types) grown in southeast Iowa during 2005 and 2006 were sampled and analyzed for nutrient content. Overall, the peas averaged 86% DM, 2.8% ether extract, 5.7% crude fiber, 3% ash, 19.3% CP, 1.54% lysine, 0.20% methionine, 0.18% tryptophan, and 0.74% threonine. Finishing pigs, barrows (n = 64), were randomly assigned to 16 pens with four pigs each. There were four replications per treatment group. Each pen was assigned one of the four diets. The four diets were: 1) winter pea 30% of the total diet (by weight), 2) summer pea 30%, 3) spring pea 30%, and 4) corn-soybean meal as the control. The three pea diets contained corn but no soybean meal. Each of the four diets had 0.64% lysine based on calculated analysis. Crystalline amino acids (lysine, tryptophan and threonine) were added to the pea diets. The pigs started the experiment at 80 ± 2.5 kg live weight and were fed the experimental diets for This project was supported by Hatch Act, State of Iowa funds, USDA-SARE grant and Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. The authors gratefully acknowledge ISU Swine Nutrition Research Farm staff for animal care and A. Penner for help with the data collection. Mention of company or product names is for presentation clarity and does not imply endorsement by the authors or Iowa State University, nor the exclusion of any other products that may be suitable for application. Correspondence: 32 Curtiss Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50010 (phone: 515-2944621; fax: 515-294-6210; E-mail: honeyman@iastate.edu). Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University
A novel dead-time elimination method using single-input enhanced phase-leg configuration

A single-input enhanced phase-leg configuration is proposed that eliminates the need for introducing dead-time intervals into the control of standard inverter phase legs. As a result, the need for dead-time compensation in pulse-width-modulated (PWM) inverters that often requires additional current sensors and fast dedicated logic is also eliminated in many applications that now require it. Only a single digital signal is needed to simultaneously turn the phase-leg switches on and off in a complementary fashion without any danger of shoot-through. Very low levels of both harmonic distortion and nonlinearity are demonstrated using this new phase-leg configuration, making it attractive for many motor drive applications including low-frequency sensorless vector control, flux estimation, and open-loop voltage control. The operation of the new phase leg configuration is described in detail, and a combination of analytical and experimental results are provided to verify its performance.
Light Pipes: a light controlled MIDI instrument

In this paper, we describe a new MIDI controller, the Light Pipes. The Light Pipes are a series of pipes that respond to incident light. The paper will discuss the design of the instrument, and the prototype we built. A piece was composed for the instrument using algorithms designed in Pure Data.
Breastfeeding Resources in Maternity Hospitals and Birth Centers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (USA): A Content Analysis of Discharge Packets.

Background:Few studies have analyzed patient education materials provided at discharge. To the best of our knowledge, there are no comprehensive studies analyzing and reporting the content of breas...
Biofuels and bio-based chemicals from lignocellulose: metabolic engineering strategies in strain development

Interest in developing a sustainable technology for fuels and chemicals has unleashed tremendous creativity in metabolic engineering for strain development over the last few years. This is driven by the exceptionally recalcitrant substrate, lignocellulose, and the necessity to keep the costs down for commodity products. Traditional methods of gene expression and evolutionary engineering are more effectively used with the help of synthetic biology and -omics techniques. Compared to the last biomass research peak during the 1980s oil crisis, a more diverse range of microorganisms are being engineered for a greater variety of products, reflecting the broad applicability and effectiveness of today's gene technology. We review here several prominent and successful metabolic engineering strategies with emphasis on the following four areas: xylose catabolism, inhibitor tolerance, synthetic microbial consortium, and cellulosic oligomer assimilation.
In-situ Characterization of Moisture Absorption and Desorption in a Thin BT Core Substrate

Bismaleimide-triazine (BT) resin/glass fiber laminates are commonly used as a substrate core material in microelectronic packaging. Their moisture absorption and diffusion behavior have a significant impact on package reliability. The traditional method to determine moisture absorption relies on a weight gain measurement metrology with an analytical balance. This approach is generally not suitable for thin films. In this study, the moisture absorption-desorption behavior of a thin BT core was characterized in-situ using a sorption TGA over a temperature range of 30 to 80degC, in an environment of up to 80% relative humidity. From the experimental results, the moisture diffusivity and the saturated moisture content have been determined. Within the experimental temperature range, the diffusivity can be described by the Arrhenius equation and the activation energy can be computed. The obtained results are compared with literature data. The impact of moisture diffusion in BT core on the reliability of ultra-thin stacked chip scale packages (UT/SCSP) will be discussed.
Design Of Low Noise, High Performance X-Ray Charge-Coupled-Device Cameras

This paper describes some of the critical details of the MIT X-ray CCD camera design. Special attention is given to those portions of the system that deviate from conventional practice in the design of CCD cameras. Furthermore, an attempt has been made to generalize the design so that both optical and X-ray requirements can be satisfied whenever possible. Currently, noise levels of less than 8 electrons rms are routinely achieved with this design, and even lower levels (less than 5 electrons) should be realizable.
Interfacial Aspects of Reinforcement of Wood by Mineral Fibers

Significant aspects of fiber reinforcement of wood are introduced. The effectiveness of three different silane coupling agents; one monomeric 3-aminopropyltrimethoxy silane, two polymeric aminosilanes (one dimethoxy- and another trimethoxy substituted), was compared by measurement of interfacial shear strength in silane treated single filament composite (SFC) specimens, under dry and wet conditions. The trimethoxypolymeric silane was found to be inferior to the other two, which warrant further investigation in strength tests with basalt fiber reinforced wood specimens. Acoustic emission measurement during the SFC tests has provided evidence for the sizing effect of polymeric silane coatings, as well as for moisture attack at severe surface flaws on the fiber during silane treatment.
Asian economic integration: a perspective on South Asia

Abstract This paper argues in favor of open regionalism and continent-based integration in Asia. These are the effective instruments of outward-oriented development. The enlargement of trading blocs into continent-based integration also serves as a countervailing power to stem the excesses of economic globalism. The case made in the paper shows the need for institutional changes for promoting economic development. Institutional changes along with open regionalism are essential to enhancing outward-oriented development in South Asia. Respectable progress has been made in these areas across the continents in general, and in Asia in particular (ASEAN, SAARC, APEC). Efforts on these initiatives must be redoubled as we start the 21st century.
Ophthalmoplegia and Dissociated Nystagmus in Abetalipoproteinemia

• A characteristic pattern of acquired exotropia, progressive paresis of the medial rectus muscles, and dissociated nystagmus on lateral gaze was found in three patients with abetalipoproteinemia. Study with electronystagmography of the eye movements of one patient revealed abnormally slow voluntary saccades and slow or absent fast components of vestibular nystagmus, optokinetic nystagmus, and jerk-type, dissociated nystagmus. Defects in central nervous system centers generating saccadic eye movements are postulated.
Studies of Gadolinium(III)-Modified Hectorite Clays as Potential Oral MRI Contrast Agents

Hectorite type clays modified with gadolinium(III) were prepared by ion-exchange of natural (SHCa) hectorite and synthetic (SLH) hectorite. Results show that Gd(III) content in the clay increases with increasing gadolinium(III) in the exchange solution within the range between 0 and 25% of the Gd/clay weight ratio. Studies relevant to the in vivo stability and efficacy of Gd(III) ion-exchanged hectorite as an oral MRI contrast agent are detailed. The stability of Gd(III) ion-exchanged hectorite at low pH as well as in the presence of sodium ion at concentrations relevant to the gastrointestinal tract has been evaluated. The room-temperature relaxivities (1/T1 vs [Gd]) of aqueous Gd(III)-exchanged hectorite suspensions at different stirring time, concentration, and pH were measured at 40 MHz and room-temperature. The type of clay and the gadolinium loading as well as the amount of clay in suspension and the stirring time were found to have a profound effect on the relaxivity.
The Integrability of Ovals: Newton's Lemma 28 and Its Counterexamples

(Book 1, Sect. 6), Newton's Lemma 28 on the algebraic nonintegrability of ovals has had an unusually mixed reception. Beginning in 1691 with Jakob Bernoulli (who accepted the lemma) and Huygens and Leibniz (who rejected it and offered counterexamples), Lemma 28 has a history of eliciting seemingly contradictory reactions. In more recent times, D.T. Whiteside in 1974 gave an “unchallengeable counterexample,” while the mathematician V.I. Arnol'd in 1987 sided with Bernoulli and called Newton's argument an “astonishingly modern topological proof.” This disagreement mostly stems, we argue, from Newton's vague statement of the lemma. Indeed, we identify several different interpretations of Lemma 28, any one of which Newton may have been intending to assert, and we then test a number of proposed counterexamples to see which, if any, are true counterexamples to one or more of these versions of the lemma. Following this, we study Newton's argument for the lemma to see whether and where it fails to be convincing. In the end, our study of Newton's Lemma 28 provides an answer to the question, Who is right: Huygens, Leibniz, Whiteside and the others who reject the lemma, or Bernoulli, Arnol'd, and the others who accept it?
Turbulence models for wall boundary layers

Boundary - layer equations with boundary conditions corresponding to a wide range of plane, two-dimensional flows, including the 14 mandatory test cases of the 1968 AFOSR-IFD-Standford Conference and those over the sub- and supercritical airfoils of Nakayama, have been solved. Results were obtained from turbulence models based on an algebraic eddy-viscosity formula, the equations for turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate, and equations for the Reynolds stresses and dissipation rate. They are shown to depend upon the model in an almost random manner. The cost penalty associated with the higher order model is quantified and it is concluded that, for the flows considered, a well-founded algebraic eddy-viscosity model is preferred.
Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines based on benthic macrofauna responses.

Toxicity-based sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) are often used to assess the potential of sediment contamination to adversely affect benthic macrofauna, yet the correspondence of these guidelines to benthic community condition is poorly documented. This study compares the performance of 5 toxicity-based SQG approaches to a new benthos-based SQG approach relative to changes in benthic community condition. Four of the toxicity-based SQG approaches—effects range median, logistic regression modeling (LRM), sediment quality guideline quotient 1 (SQGQ1), and consensus—were derived in previous national studies in the United States, and one was developed as a regional variation of LRM calibrated to California data. The new benthos-based SQG approach, chemical score index, was derived from Southern California benthic community data. The chemical-specific guidelines for each approach were applied to matched chemical concentration, amphipod mortality, and benthic macrofauna abundance data for Southern California. Respective results for each SQG approach were then combined into a summary metric describing the overall contamination magnitude (e.g., mean quotient) and assessed in accordance with a set of thresholds in order to classify stations into 4 categories of expected biological effect. Results for each SQG approach were significantly correlated with changes in sediment toxicity and benthic community condition. Cumulative frequency plots and effect category thresholds for toxicity and benthic community condition were similar, indicating that both types of effect measures had similar sensitivity and specificity of response to contamination level. In terms of discriminating among multiple levels of benthic community condition, the toxicity-based SQG indices illustrated moderate capabilities, similar to those for multiple levels of toxicity. The National LRM, California LRM, and the chemical score index had the highest overall agreement with benthic categories. However, only the benthos-based chemical score index was consistently among the highest performing SQG indices for all measures of association (correlation, percent agreement, and weighted kappa) for both toxicity and benthos. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2012; 8: 610–624. © 2011 SETAC
Parabolic flows in complex geometry

An informal introduction is provided to some current problems on canonical metrics in complex geometry, from the point of view of non-linear partial differential equations. The emphasis is on the parabolic flow approach and open problems.
Neutrino moments, masses and custodial SU(2) symmetry☆

Abstract We identify and exemplify a new mechanism which leads to a nonzero magnetic moment for a neutrino, while suppressing the neutrino's mass. The mechanism requires that the contribution to the neutrino mass of the new particles that are responsible for its magnetic moment is approximately canceled by a contribution from neutral particles, related by a custodial SU(2) symmetry.
Gendered Commodity Chains: Seeing Women’s Work and Households in Global Production. Edited by Wilma Dunaway

This collection’s subtitle aptly captures the editor’s objective: to make visible the diverse ways in which women’s labor is woven into the production networks that structure the world capitalist e...
Tympanic membrane temperature of term and preterm neonates

Abstract Deep body temperatures of 70 term and 24 preterm newborn infants were measured at two sites: deep rectum (5 cm beyond the anus) and tympanic membrane. A significant correlation was found between deep rectal and tympanic membrane temperatures in both term and preterm infants. Mean deep rectal and tympanic membrane temperatures in term infants were 37.01°C and 36.83°C, respectively. Mean deep rectal and tympanic membrane temperatures in preterm infants were both 36.69°C.