cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical Properties of Nonmetallic Solids for Photon Energies below the Fundamental Band Gap

Publisher Summary There are two chief sources of absorption in a pure solid—namely, lattice vibrations and electronic transitions. For most materials, a sufficiently wide spectral of window exists between these two limits, where the material is transparent. However, this transparent regime displays residual absorption because of multiphonon processes, defects and impurities, phonon assisted electronic transitions in the long-wavelength tail of the fundamental absorption edge, and multiphoton electronic transitions in the case of high-photon flux. This chapter discusses the optical properties of solids in the infrared spectral region that are caused by interaction of electromagnetic radiation with lattice vibrations. In specific, the chapter presents optical interactions in crystals resulting from one-phonon processes and multiphonon interactions both at energies higher and lower than the fundamental one-phonon processes. The chapter also describes phonon processes induced by defects and impurities and their interaction with infrared radiation. Photon-phonon interaction in crystals that have substantial amount of charge carriers is also explored.
Water-level, velocity, and dye measurements in the Chicago tunnels

On April 13, 1992, a section of a 100-year-old underground freight tunnel in downtown Chicago, Illinois was breached where the tunnel crosses under the Chicago River, about 15 meters below land surface. The breach allowed water from the Chicago River to flow into the freight tunnels and into buildings connected to the tunnels. As a result, utility services to more than 100 buildings in downtown Chicago were lost, several hundred thousand workers were sent home, and the entire subway system and a major expressway in the Loop were shut down. The breach in the tunnel was sealed and the tunnel dewatered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and its contractors. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assisted the Corps in their efforts to plug and dewater the freight tunnels and connected buildings. This assistance included the installation and operation of telemetered gages for monitoring water levels in the tunnel system and velocity measurements made in the vicinity of the tunnel breach. A fluorescent dye tracer was used to check for leaks in the plugs, which isolated the damaged portion of the Chicago freight tunnel from the remainder of the tunnel system.
Rehabilitation and service life estimation of bridge superstructures

Abstract: The bridge superstructure acts as the primary conduit to transfer vehicles safely over a crossing. Due to harsh, changing environmental conditions and increased load demands, the safety of the structure can deteriorate over time. Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are often being used to restore the safety and extend the usable life of reinforced concrete bridge components. This chapter examines the use of FRP composites to rehabilitate flexural components, namely bridge decks and girders. A time-dependent reliability approach is presented in order to estimate the safety and remaining service life of a FRP rehabilitated bridge deck.
Biomimetic scaffolds for tissue engineering

A major goal of tissue engineering is to generate living cellular constructs with 3-D, tissue-like organization of cells and matrices. The generation of mechanical forces by the cellular cytoskeleton plays a critical role in the organization of matrix and of cellular colonies. The anchorage of the cytoskeleton to a substrate is essential for cellular tractional processes. We show that placing cells in scaffolds which contain a collagen-related synthetic peptide P-15 allows them to generate highly organized 3-D colonies and matrices. These observations suggest that P-15 may replicate cells' physiological collagen anchorage.
Finding Gateaux-Saddles by a Local Minimax Method

ABSTRACTMotivated by quasilinear elliptic PDEs in physical applications, Gateaux-saddles of a class of functionals J:H→{±∞}∪ℝ, which are only Gateaux-differentiable at regular points, are considered. Since mathematical results and numerical methods for saddles of &#x1d49e;1 or locally Lipschitz continuous functionals in the literature are not applicable, the main objective of this article is to introduce a new mixed norm strong-weak topology approach such that a mathematical framework of a local minimax method is established to handle the singularity issue and to use the Gateaux-derivative of J for finding multiple Gateaux-saddles. Algorithm implementations on weak form and error control are presented. Numerical examples solving quasilinear elliptic problems from physical applications are successfully carried out to illustrate the method. Some interesting solution properties are to be numerically observed and open for analytical verification for the first time.
Generation of Subsurface Voids, Incubation Effect, and Formation of Nanoparticles in Short Pulse Laser Interactions with Bulk Metal Targets in Liquid: Molecular Dynamics Study.

The ability of short pulse laser ablation in liquids to produce clean colloidal nanoparticles and unusual surface morphology has been employed in a broad range of practical applications. In this paper, we report the results of large-scale molecular dynamics simulations aimed at revealing the key processes that control the surface morphology and nanoparticle size distributions by pulsed laser ablation in liquids. The simulations of bulk Ag targets irradiated in water are performed with an advanced computational model combining a coarse-grained representation of liquid environment and an atomistic description of laser interaction with metal targets. For the irradiation conditions that correspond to the spallation regime in vacuum, the simulations predict that the water environment can prevent the complete separation of the spalled layer from the target, leading to the formation of large subsurface voids stabilized by rapid cooling and solidification. The subsequent irradiation of the laser-modified surface ...
Three waves of gay male athlete coming out narratives

ABSTRACTRecent announcements by Michael Sam, Jason Collins, Robbie Rogers, and others belong to a longer tradition that I label the gay male athlete coming out narrative. I chart this rhetorical genre in three waves, corresponding to the historical moment in which each narrative was published and the rhetorical tactics that each set of authors use to reconcile their identities as gay athletes and argue for the existence and suitability of gay men in professional sports. Of particular note are contemporary third-wave narratives which introduce the actively out, visible, gay male body becoming aware of his place in history as a rhetorical opportunity for social intervention. Even as I recognize the limits of athletes’ ability to represent the diversity of interests, values, and politics of the broader LGBTQ movement, I argue that these narratives should become part of what Charles E. Morris III calls “the diverse domain of the usable past.” These narratives indicate the importance of understanding genre evo...
Pharmacist's guide to pregnancy registry studies.

Objective: To introduce the concept and design characteristics of pregnancy registries and to discuss opportunities for pharmacist involvement. Data Sources: Previous and ongoing pregnancy registry studies that assess the safety of pharmaceutical agents in pregnant women were identified from the medical literature, Internet, abstracts from professional meetings, and personal communications. Data Extraction: The development and use of the pregnancy registry study for evaluating drug safety is described. Then, to illustrate the application of scientific principles to this unique study design, examples are given from previous and ongoing pregnancy registry studies. Data Synthesis: Pregnancy registry studies are increasingly used to assess the safety of drugs and other therapeutic agents during pregnancy. In a pregnancy registry, women who took the study drug while pregnant are identified soon after that exposure and followed until their pregnancy ends and its outcome is determined. Information is compiled from hundreds or thousands of pregnancies and used to make a safety assessment. Conclusion: Pharmacists can explain pregnancy registries to pregnant women and encourage enrollment. Also, pharmacists can use information derived from these studies to help patients and health care providers manage inadvertent drug exposures and optimize pharmaceutical therapy during pregnancy.
The Negentropic Professor and the Online Curriculum

Entropy, the notion of a gradual decline toward disorder, randomness and, eventual collapse, affects all human, living and social systems, including universities. While strictly speaking, entropy is a measure rather than a construct; it has been understood in more metaphorical colloquial ways and has been applied to concepts within the social sciences, such as education. One of the primary negentropic forces in today's university is the enrollment increases that online classes bring as a form of order and integration. This paper focuses on negentropy as it is lived out through online learning, strategically applied in higher education contexts. This paper briefly reviews the literature on faculty work, presents a definition of negentropic faculty work, and proposes the application of this kind of faculty work within the online higher education space.
Botulinum toxins and fillers for treatment of the aging face

We present a comprehensive review of how to best use neuro-toxins and fillers to rejuvenate the aging face. With modern neuro-toxins and fillers, it is now possible to achieve an improvement in the aging changes of young, middle-aged, and older patients. Furthermore, with the appropriate application of these materials, surgical results can be kept looking good without the need for repeated surgical intervention. As it is important to understand the relationship of the different parts of the face when assessing the aging face, we review the best practices as applied to the whole face.
Solid-Phase Synthesis of Azole-Comprising Peptidomimetics and Coordination of a Designed Analog to Zn2+

Peptidomimetics that can coordinate transition metals have a variety of potential applications as catalysts, sensors, or materials. A new modular peptidomimetic scaffold, the “azole peptoid”, is introduced here. We report methods for the solid-phase synthesis of eleven examples of trimeric N-substituted oligoamides that include oxazole- or thiazole-functionalized backbones. The products prepared comprise a diversity of functionality, including a metal-coordinating terpyridine group. The modular synthetic approach enables ready preparation of analogs for specific applications. To highlight a potential use of this new synthetic scaffold, a trimeric azole peptoid functionalized with a terpyridine residue was prepared and studied. The characteristic 2:1 ligand:metal binding of this terpyridine-functionalized azole peptoid to Zn2+ in aqueous solution was observed. These studies introduce azole peptoids as a useful class of biomimetic molecules for further study and application.
Understanding Data Breach: A Visualization Aspect

Data breaches happen daily, in too many places, result in data loss including personal, health, financial information that are crucial, sensitive, and private. The cost of the data breach is not only considered as potentially damaging to the monetary penalty, but also regarding other more severe problems such as consumer confidence, social trust and personal safety. In this paper, we brush up the world’s most significant data breaches in which amount of lost records are more than 30,000 records from 2004 to 2017. From many different aspects, the data visualization technique is used to demonstrate the fact and the hidden information of the data breach phenomenon. We also employ a case study which includes the income data of the residents in the United States and the public transportation data in New York to point out the potential risk of the data breach. Based on the case study, we once again exhibit the real dangers of data breach are out of hands. Based on the analysis and visualization, we find some interesting insights which seldom researchers focus on before and it is apparently the real dangers of data breach are beyond the common imagination.
How Affordance Changes: Based on the Coincidence Model of Technological Innovation

Affordance is a concept that was first coined by perceptual psychologist J. J. Gibson over 30 years ago and now has been widely used in designing man–machine products and systems. The central question we ask is “how does affordance change during technological innovation?” Thus, this paper will examine real technological innovations in order to pursue the trail of affordance, finding out where it comes from and how it changes throughout the process of technological innovation. Technological innovation, which is a creative and dynamic process, forms a chain, and each link of this chain has an interaction between different products. In this respect, the chain acts as an affordance chain. The affordance chain not only provides an interface between designers and machines, but also an interface between machines and users (or consumers). The success of innovation depends on whether consumers (or users) accept the design or not and whether a specific set of criteria was followed. Therefore, affordance helps us to understand and explain the link between designers, products and users. Moreover, as technological innovations experience both the process of transverse development and historical evolution, a two-dimensional space is needed to describe their position. For that reason, affordance should also exhibit some kind of evolutive accumulation.
Effluents from the Municipal Incineration of Plastics

Incineration is an ancient method for disposal of the combustible portion of community wastes which includes a small but increasing proportion of plastics. Too often incineration is also a source of annoying air pollution because of poor combustion or because some of the gaseous, liquid or solid combustion products are carried off in the exhaust gases. This does not have to be. In the United States, excess emissions from incinerators have been tolerated because we have tended “to apologize that waste disposal costs anything at all”. And since incineration, even without good pollution control, costs considerably more than most sanitary landfills, the idea of adding to that cost in order to add equipment to clean up the emissions to the atmosphere has been slow to come to the U. S. However, the emergence of many large successful power-generating incinerators abroad, with elaborate, high-efficiency electrostatic precipitators to capture over 95% of the flyash, has demonstrated that much poorer countries than the U. S. have decided that they want and can afford clean incinerators. Now these are starting to be built by a few municipalities in the U. S. Meanwhile, over 75% of municipal solid waste in the U. S. still goes to open dumps and landfills.
Increasing Interaction in Web-based Instruction: Using Synchronous Chats and Asynchronous Discussions:

Incorporating four levels of interaction characteristic of effective course design are possible in online coursework. These levels, including (a) interaction with the content, (b) interaction with the instructor, (c) interaction with classmates; and (d) interaction with self (Lynch, 2002) are critical to effective instruction and difficult to replicate in an online format. The need for students to be involved in the process of activities such as “discussing issues” may pose a significant challenge. Techniques and strategies to manage and maximize the use of synchronous chats and asynchronous discussions are described.
The Pharmacological Management of Fatigue and Sleepiness in Affective Disorders

Fatigue, daytime sleepiness, and hypersomnia are commonly associated with affective illnesses. In major depressive disorder, they not only accompany the acute episode, but also frequently precede its onset. These symptoms also often complicate the recovery phase itself. In this chapter, the longitudinal course, manifestations, and treatment of sleepiness and fatigue in depression are reviewed. Although many approaches to management exist, this chapter will focus on pharmacological measures, including monotherapy and polytherapy.
Testosterone treatment of cows for use in detection of estrus.

Increased mounting behavior was induced in Angus-Holstein cows by administration of testosterone or testosterone propionate for 20 days and a maintenance regime of testosterone enanthate every 10-14 days. Methods of administration were: 1) im injections of testosterone propionate 2) intravaginal spring loaded coils and 3) testosterone-impregnated foam pessaries. The 3 different procedures were equally effective in increasing serum concentrations of testosterone. Im injection was more reliable since the other 2 methods were associated with retention problems. Such testosterone-treated cows aided detection of estrus in other cows. Such detection is essential for maximum effectiveness in an artificial insemination program.
Dual versus single antiplatelet therapy after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: An updated meta-analysis

Abstract Introduction The potential benefit and risks of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) over single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) in patients who undergo coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) is controversial. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational and randomized clinical trial (RCT) data comparing DAPT to SAPT following urgent or elective CABG. Subanalyses were performed restricted to: a) RCTs; b) stable ischemic heart disease (SIHD); c) extended duration DAPT (≥6 months); and d) follow-up ≥2 years. Results Twenty-two studies comprising 20,315 patients undergoing CABG were included. Of the participants studied, 7481 (37%) received postoperative DAPT and 12,834 (63%) received SAPT. Overall, DAPT was associated with a lower cardiovascular (CV) mortality (OR 0.67; p = 0.02) and a trend towards lower all-cause mortality (OR 0.78; p = 0.08). There were no differences in rates of myocardial infarction or stroke. Subanalyses in RCTs, SIHD, and prolonged follow-up failed to demonstrate improvement in these outcomes with DAPT. However, in studies with extended duration DAPT, stroke was significantly reduced in the DAPT group (OR 0.47; p = 0.04). Saphenous vein graft (SVG) occlusion up to 1 year after CABG was significantly lower with DAPT overall (OR 0.64; p Conclusion While DAPT has been associated with lower CV mortality in observational samples undergoing CABG, such findings were not replicated in RCTs. Lower rates of SVG occlusion with DAPT are offset by a higher rate of major bleeding.
Variability in Real-World Activity Patterns of Heavy-Duty Vehicles by Vocation:

Vehicle activity is an integral component in the estimation of mobile source emissions and the study of emission inventories. In the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Motor Vehicle Emission...
Robotic Isthmocele Repair with Hysteroscopic Assistance

Video Objective To highlight the diagnosis, excision and repair of a uterine isthmocele Setting Urban academic hospital Interventions Da Vinci assisted laparoscopic excision of isthmocele with hysteroscopic assistance Conclusion Isthmocele repair is feasible and safe for symptomatic patients and those desiring fertility preservation.
Ridesharing as an Alternative to Ambulance Transport for Voluntary Psychiatric Patients in the Emergency Department.

Author(s): Blome, Andrea; Rosenbaum, Jennifer; Lucas, Nicole; Schreyer, Kraftin | Abstract: Introduction: Emergency department (ED) crowding is a growing problem. Psychiatric patients have long ED lengths of stay awaiting placement and transportation to a psychiatric facility after disposition.Methods: Retrospective analysis of length of ED stay after disposition for voluntary psychiatric patients before and after the use of Lyft ridesharing services for inter-facility transport.Results: Using Lyft transport to an outside crisis center shortens time to discharge both statistically and clinically from 113 minutes to 91 minutes (p = 0.028) for voluntary psychiatric patients. Discharge time also decreased for involuntary patients from 146 minutes to 127 minutes (p = 0.0053).Conclusion: Ridesharing services may be a useful alternative to medical transportation for voluntary psychiatric patients.
Mixed Copula-Based Uncertainty Modeling of Hourly Wind Farm Production for Power System Operational Planning Studies

An effective model to represent real-world wind power production scenarios is essential for an accurate assessment of the impact of wind power generation on power systems. Such a model should capture the spatial and temporal correlations between different wind turbines that are part of a wind farm. Accurate modeling of these correlations will ensure that the wind power uncertainty can be properly quantified. This is especially critical when analyzing systems with high penetration of wind power productions. This paper addresses this critical need by developing the Hourly Mixed Copula Model , a new probabilistic model, based on Gaussian and Archimedean copulas, to model the uncertainty and variability of wind power generation. This model enables the simulation of realistic scenarios of a wind farm power production. Metrics such as the Euclidean distance and Kullback-Leibler divergence are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed model in incorporating the spatio-temporal dependence among the turbine power productions. The impact of accurate characterization of uncertainty in wind power modeling on power system steady-state operational planning is also demonstrated by case studies. These studies indicate that, in order to correctly evaluate the effect of wind power variation on steady-state operational planning, the dependence among wind power resources should not be neglected for power flow studies.
Symbolic Awards in Buyer–Supplier Relations

Problem definition: Giving out a symbolic “supplier of the year” or “outstanding supplier” award can be beneficial for a buyer as it may incentivize a supplier to exert higher efforts. However, whe...
A register-free abstract prolog machine with jumbo instructions

The majority of current Prolog systems are based on the WAM, in which registers are used to pass procedure arguments and store temporary data. In this paper, we present a stack machine for Prolog, named TOAM Jr., which departs from the TOAM adopted in early versions of B-Prolog in that it employs no registers for temporary data and it offers variable-size instructions for encoding unification and procedure calls. TOAM Jr. is suitable for fast bytecode interpretation: the omission of registers facilitates instruction merging and the use of jumbo instructions results in more compact code and execution of fewer instructions than the use of fine-grained instructions. TOAM Jr. is employed in B-Prolog version 7.0. Benchmarking shows that TOAM Jr. helps significantly improve the performance: the execution speed is increased by 48% on a Windows PC and 77% on a Linux machine. Despite the overhead on standard Prolog programs caused by the adoption of a spaghetti stack to support event handling and constraint solving, B-Prolog version 7.0 compares favorably well with the state-of-the-art WAM-based Prolog systems.
Efficient reasoning with RCC-3D

Qualitative spatial reasoning is an important function of the human brain. Artificial systems that can perform such reasoning have many applications such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), robotics, biomedicine, and engineering. Automation of such analytical processes alleviates manual labor, and may increase the accuracy of the spatial assessments because the reasoning can be done objectively using 3D digital representations of the objects. Herein we introduce an algorithm to determine the spatial relation that exists between a pair of 3D objects when no a priori spatial knowledge is given. A second algorithm is presented to efficiently find the spatial relation that holds between each pair of objects in a set of 3D objects.
The use of meta-level control for coordination in a distributed problem solving network

Distributed problem solving networks provide an interesting application area for meta-level control through the use of organizational structuring. We describe a decentralized approach to network coordination that relies on each node making sophisticated local decisions that balance its own perceptions of appropriate problem solving activity with activities deemed important by other nodes. Each node is guided by a high-level strategic plan for cooperation among the nodes in the network. The high-level strategic plan, which is a form of meta-level control, is represented as a network organizational structure that specifies in a general way the information and control relationships among the nodes. An implementation of these ideas is briefly described along with the results of preliminary experiments with various network problem solving strategies specified via organizational structuring. In addition to its application to Distributed Artificial Intelligence, this research has implications for organizing and controlling complex knowledge-based systems that involve semi-autonomous problem solving agents.
Acute and chronic effects of ethanol on fluid transport in the human small intestine.

The effect of acute and chronic administration of ethanol on jejunal and ileal water and electrolyte transport was studied in healthy volunteers by the triple lumen intestinal perfusion technique. The acute perfusion of a glucose-free electrolyte solution containing 2 to 10 g per 100 ml of ethanol in the jejunum or ileum did not cause any significant alterations of sodium or water transport. In contrast, the administration of a folate-deficient diet and ethanol for 2 weeks produced a marked reduction in sodium and water absorption or a small net secretion (control, mean ± SE: H2O = 0.91 ± 0.06 ml per min, Na=130 ± 8 μEq per min per 30 cm of intestine versus H2O =- 0.13 ± 0.14 ml per min, Na=−20 ± 29 μEq per min per 30 cm, P
Modeling Solar Variability—Synthetic Models

Observations of the Sun at high spatial resolution show that features that are relatively bright (or dark) at one wavelength are, in predictable ways, also bright (or dark) at all other wavelengths. Using such relationships, the observed intensity of a feature at one wavelength can be used to predict the intensity of that feature at other wavelengths. Solar atmospheric models have been constructed for individual bright and dark features that give calculated intensities in reasonable agreement with the intensities observed with high spatial resolution over a wide range of wavelengths, from soft X-rays to radio waves. Such calculated intensities can be used to fill in the many gaps between the portions of the observed spectrum that are well calibrated. To the extent that the model calculations agree with observations, we can use available solar images at a given time at one or more wavelengths (e.g., in the visible) to define the pattern of bright and dark regions, construct the corresponding images at other wavelengths, and integrate to obtain the spectral irradiance at those wavelengths. Results of such irradiance calculations are discussed by Fox et al. (1997). In this review we summarize the current status of the solar atmospheric models for the different brightness components of quiet and active regions that are used in such calculations of spectral irradiance.
Approximate N-View Stereo

This paper introduces a new mult-iview reconstruction problem called approximate N-view stereo. The goal of this problem is to recover a one-parameter family of volumes that are increasingly tighter supersets of an unknown, arbitrarily-shaped 3D scene. By studying 3D shapes that reproduce the input photographs up to a special image transformation called a shuffle transformation, we prove that (1) these shapes can be organized hierarchically into nested supersets of the scene, and (2) they can be computed using a simple algorithm called Approximate Space Carving that is provably-correct for arbitrary discrete scenes (i.e., for unknown, arbitrarily-shaped Lambertian scenes that are defined by a finite set of voxels and are viewed from N arbitrarily-distributed viewpoints inside or around them). The approach is specifically designed to attack practical reconstruction problems, including (1) recovering shape from images with inaccurate calibration information, and (2) building coarse scene models from multiple views.
Patient-defined goals for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis: a qualitative analysis

Background Patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) at high risk for aortic valve replacement are a unique population with multiple treatment options, including medical therapy, surgical aortic valve replacement and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Traditionally, in elderly populations, goals of treatment may favour quality of life over survival. Professional guidelines recommend that clinicians engage patients in shared decision making, a process that may lead to decisions more aligned with patient-defined goals of care. Goals of care for high-risk patients with AS are not well defined in the literature, and patient-reported barriers to shared decision making highlight the need for explicit encouragement from clinicians for patient involvement. Objective The purpose of this study was to elicit and report patient-defined goals from elderly patients facing treatment decisions for severe AS. Methods This analysis was conducted at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, an academic medical institution. In a retrospective manner, we qualitatively analysed goal statements reported by high-risk, elderly patients with severe AS evaluated for TAVR between June 2012 and August 2014. Results Forty-six patients provided treatment goals during consideration of TAVR and defined preferred outcomes as maintaining independence, staying alive, reducing symptoms or, most commonly, increasing their ability to do a specific activity or hobby. Conclusions In the high-risk patient population considering TAVR, patient-reported goals may be obtained with a simple question delivered during the clinical encounter. Encouraging patients to define their goals may lead to a greater degree of shared decision making, as advocated in current professional guidelines.
Abstract P253: Genome-Wide Association Study of Electrocardiographic Left Ventricular Hypertrophy among Persons of European Ancestry: the Kaiser Permanente/UCSF GERA Cohort

Electrocardiographic (ECG)-derived left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a recognized phenotype of hypertensive target organ damage and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality, and has been shown to be 20 to 40% heritable. A major prior collaborative study (EchoGen) relied on echocardiography measurement of LVH. We report here the results of the first genome-wide association study of an ECG index of LVH, the Cornell voltage, in a large US, population-based cohort. The Kaiser Permanente/UCSF Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging (GERA) Cohort enrolled 110,266 persons, of whom 84,760 (77%) were of European ancestry (EA). Twelve-lead ECGs (obtained as part of routine medical care) were available in 59% (n=52,423; 62% female, mean age ± SD, 62 ± 13 years) of EA members of the GERA cohort. For those with more than 1 ECG (75%), one was selected at random. We programmatically derived from the digital tracings the Cornell voltage as R in aVL plus S in V3 (in...
MATERNAL EMPLOYMENT AS A DETERMINANT OF FEAR OF SUCCESS IN FEMALES

Fear of success was measured for 83 female high school seniors. It was hypothesized that daughters of working mothers would exhibit lower fear of success than daughters of non-working mothers, and such fear would be affected by three aspects of maternal employment, level, duration, and volitionality. Also, it was hypothesized that fear of success would be greater among parochial than among public school females. Results were somewhat supportive.
Next-Generation Space Telescope design reference mission

The Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST) Design Reference Mission (DRM) represents a suite of potential astronomical programs and targets along with their expected physical properties, and desired observation modes. This broad science program is being used to drive the observatory design in a way as fundamental as traditional engineering parameters. Astronomers use the DRM to communicate their desires in a quantitative fashion to the engineers who will eventually construct the observatory. The DRM is also the primary tool used to measure the relative value of NGST mission architectures and technological readiness of the program. Specifically, the fraction of the DRM completed by a given observatory configuration in a given time is, to first order, a measure of the value of the design. Those designs which complete a higher fraction of the observations listed below are more capable than those complete lesser fractions.
Metastable and equilibrium phase diagrams of unconjugated bilirubin IXα as functions of pH in model bile systems: Implications for pigment gallstone formation

Metastable and equilibrium phase diagrams for unconjugated bilirubin IXα (UCB) in bile are yet to be determined for understanding the physical chemistry of pigment gallstone formation. Also, UCB is a molecule of considerable biomedical importance because it is a potent antioxidant and an inhibitor of atherogenesis. We employed principally a titrimetric approach to obtain metastable and equilibrium UCB solubilities in model bile systems composed of taurine-conjugated bile salts, egg yolk lecithin (mixed long-chain phosphatidylcholines), and cholesterol as functions of total lipid concentration, biliary pH values, and CaCl2 plus NaCl concentrations. Metastable and equilibrium precipitation pH values were obtained, and average pKa values of the two carboxyl groups of UCB were calculated. Added lecithin and increased temperature decreased UCB solubility markedly, whereas increases in bile salt concentrations and molar levels of urea augmented solubility. A wide range of NaCl and cholesterol concentrations resulted in no specific effects, whereas added CaCl2 produced large decreases in UCB solubilities at alkaline pH values only. UV-visible absorption spectra were consistent with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions between UCB and bile salts that were strongly influenced by pH. Reliable literature values for UCB compositions of native gallbladder biles revealed that biles from hemolytic mice and humans with black pigment gallstones are markedly supersaturated with UCB and exhibit more acidic pH values, whereas biles from nonstone control animals and patients with cholesterol gallstone are unsaturated with UCB.
The effect of valvulotomy on the flow rate through the saphenous vein graft: Clinical implications * ** ★

Potential differences in flow rates between reversed and in situ saphenous vein bypass grafts were evaluated. One hundred ten greater saphenous vein segments containing isolated valves were examined with fiber-optic angioscopy during pulsatile and nonpulsatile flow. Valve competency was determined, and the degree of luminal obstruction caused by the valve during reversed flow was calculated with caliper measurements of the video image. Flow measurements were obtained before and after valvulotomy, in reversed and nonreversed vein orientations. Increased flow rates occurred during pulsatile irrigation only, after valvulotomy in vein segments with diameters less than 2.5 mm (p less than 0.001, Bonferroni t test). In these small-diameter vein segments, the flow rate in reversed valve-intact vein was 94.4 +/- 28.9 ml/min (mean +/- 1 standard deviation), the flow rate in reversed valve-disrupted vein was 136.4 +/- 36.5 ml/min, and the flow rate in nonreversed valve-disrupted vein was 137.8 +/- 31.3 ml/min. In 22 vein segments, luminal obstruction caused by the intact valve was measured angioscopically. A small valve orifice was found to be related to a large increase in flow rate after valvulotomy (p less than 0.02, least-squares regression). In addition, veins with diameters less than 2.5 mm have significantly smaller valve orifices compared with veins with diameters greater than 2.5 mm. These results present important clinical implications as the number of distal extremity reconstructions increases.
The application of multivariate permutation methods based on distance functions in the earth sciences

Abstract A variety of potential applications involving two classes of multivariate permutation methods based on distance functions are presented. These methods avoid the impossible distributional assumptions (knowing the analytic description of real data) associated with classical multivariate parametric methods. The relaxed distributional assumptions of permutation methods yield new statistical analyses which would be exceedingly difficult to formulate in terms of parametric methods. Applications of the first class include detection methods for various types of group difference, single and multiple clumping of rectilinear and cyclic phenomena, regular patterns, and first-order autoregressive occurrences (e.g., greenhouse effects). Applications of the second class include methods for evaluating numerical model output agreement with observed data and multivariate distribution-free linear-model analysis procedures.
Pneumonectomy after chemoradiation: the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women's Hospital experience.

BACKGROUND. The current study was conducted to examine the outcomes of pneumonectomy after induction chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS. All patients undergoing pneumonectomy after induction therapy at the Brigham and Women's Hospital were retrospectively evaluated for 30-day and 100-day mortality and treatment-related complications with Institutional Review Board approval. Multivariate and univariate analyses for clinical factors correlating with toxicity and/or survival were calculated. RESULTS. Between 1995 and 2005, 73 patients underwent pneumonectomy for NSCLC after induction therapy. All patients received radiation (median dose of 54 gray [Gy]) and 69 patients (95%) received concurrent chemotherapy. The median age was 62 years and 43 patients (59%) were male; Thirty-seven patients (51%) had American Joint Committee on Cancer stage IIIA NSCLC, 27 (37%) had stage IIIB, 6 had stage IIB, and 4 had stage IV NSCLC because of a resected solitary brain metastasis. A majority (44; 60%) of patients received the combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel, whereas 15 (21%) received the combination of cisplatin and etoposide. Forty-five patients (62%) underwent left pneumonectomy. With a median follow-up of 28 months, the 1-year and 2-year overall survival rates were 70% and 49%, respectively. The 30-day and 100-day mortality rates were 6% and 10%, respectively. Only 4 of 73 patients (6%) died of acute respiratory distress syndrome. The rate of nonfatal treatment-related morbidity was 11%. On univariate analysis, right-sided pneumonectomy was associated with a higher risk of treatment-related mortality (P = .099). CONCLUSIONS. With an acceptable mortality rate, a single-institutional series demonstrated that trimodality therapy including pneumonectomy can be safely accomplished in patients with advanced NSCLC. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Macroscopic porosity generation in outer hydrogel membranes to offset sensitivity loss in implantable glucose sensors

The function of implantable glucose sensor is hindered by post-implantation effects such as biofouling and negative tissue responses both of which lead to permeability reducing fibrous encapsulation. Utilization of drug-eluting composite coatings based on dexamethasone-containing poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) microspheres and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel matrix has been shown to suppress inflammation over a period of 1–3 months. Herein, it is shown that these coatings provide another auxiliary venue to offset the negative effects of protein adsorption through generation of macroscopic porosity following microsphere degradation. Long-term studies in serum have indicated that, while biofouling clogs the microporosity of the hydrogel, it has been offset by the generated macroscopic porosity following microsphere degradation. This resulted in a two-fold recovery in sensor sensitivity as compared to controls. These findings suggest that the use of macroscopic porosity can reduce biofouling-induced sensitivity losses, an approach synergistic with drug-delivery based methodologies to mitigate negative tissue responses.
Forcing a connection: Impacts of single‐molecule force spectroscopy on in vivo tension sensing

Mechanical tension plays a large role in cell development ranging from morphology to gene expression. On the molecular level, the effects of tension can be seen in the dynamic arrangement of membrane proteins as well as the recruitment and activation of intracellular proteins. Forces applied to biopolymers during in vitro force measurements offer greater understanding of the effects of tension on molecules in live cells, and experimental techniques involving test tubes and live cells can often overlap. Indeed, when forces exerted on cellular components can be calibrated ex vivo with force spectroscopy, a powerful tool is available for researchers in probing cellular mechanotransduction on the molecular scale. This review will discuss the techniques used in measuring both cellular traction forces and single-molecule force spectroscopy. Emphasis will be placed on the use of fluorescence reporter systems for the development of in vivo tension sensors that can be used for calibration with single molecule force methods.
Race and Words: A Note on the Sociolinguistic Divisiveness of Race in American Society

The convergence and polarization hypothesis is tested using the standard English vocabulary score in the General Social Survey. Blacks scored significantly lower than whites, and this finding is consistent over the test period, and holds within similar educational, financial status and social class groupings. The hypothesis is not supported with General Social Survey data. Conditions maintaining nonstandard language usage apply to blacks in America, and sociolinguistic measures could be used to supplement the assessment of divisiveness of race in survey data.
CMA as a byproduct of the manufacture of fuel ethanol

Abstract Probably the lowest cost source of industrial fermentable sugar will be the crude syrup resulting from xylan hydrolysis during the production of fuel alcohol from wood chips. Steam explosion of wood chips destroys xylan, and the products are mostly pentose sugars that are highly soluble in water. The best yeast for fermenting glucose to ethanol find these sugars unacceptable, but bacteria convert them to acetate in good yields. When biomass refining produces both fuel alcohol and calcium magnesium acetate, the economics are better than for alcohol alone.
The Vulnerability Framework Integrates Various Models of Generating Surplus Revenue.

Budgets operationalize the strategic planning process, and institutions must have surplus revenue to be able to cope with future operations. There are three approaches to generate surplus revenue: increased revenue, decreased cost, and reallocation of resources. Extending their earlier work, where they established strategic benchmarks for annual funds and endowment payout, the authors demonstrate how each of the surplus revenue-generating approaches can be combined into an integrated vulnerability model. This integrated vulnerability model provide a taxonomy for institutions to identify appropriate environments in which to emphasize one or more of the surplus generating approaches, which in turn should improve the institution's strategic planning process.
An approach for aggregation of experts' qualitative evaluations by means of fuzzy sets

This paper discusses an approach for the processing of qualitative expert evaluations in the process of group decision-making under uncertainty. The approach is based on the use of triangular fuzzy numbers. It is assumed that the opinions of experts are expressed by linguistic variables like very bad, not very bad, problematic, good and so on. The technique of conversion of experts' quantitative opinions to triangular fuzzy numbers is considered. A simple method of expressing experts' opinions by triangular fuzzy numbers is introduced. A new approach to determining experts' degrees of importance is proposed. The proposed methodology is discussed and its algorithm is described. An illustrative example is given.
Analysis of residual stresses in railroad car wheels based on destructive test measumenents

Abstract This paper summarizes numerical results on residual stresses in railroad car wheels and the corresponding saw-cut opening/closing displacements. Two cases of residual stress analyses were treated. In the first case, the residual stress was simulated by a temperature distribution and the resulting saw-cut displacements were analyzed. In the second case, the saw-cut displacement profile was assumed to be known and the residual stresses in an uncut wheel were calculated. In both cases, three finite element models were used; a 2-D constant thickness model, a 2-D variable thickness model and a 3-D wheel model. Numerical results on residual stresses and saw-cut displacements obtained from these three finite element models were compared and the accuracy of each method is discussed in this analysss. In addition, approximate methods for residual stress reconstruction based on saw-cut measurement data were studied and stress intensity factors for rim cracks in a 2-D wheel model were calculated using both singularity elements and crack closure methods.
A LIFE COURSE APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING POVERTY AMONG OLDER AMERICAN ADULTS.

A relatively new strategy for studying the prevalence of poverty in America is to analyze it as a potential life course event. This approach is used in order to examine the likelihood of both incom...
An optical frequency comb for infrared spectrograph calibration

Radial velocity measurements are also an important complement to photometricmissions such as Kepler and CoRoT, which survey vast numbers of stars simultaneously but which require followup measurements for positive identication of planets.The chief objective in the search for exoplanets is the identication of habitable Earth-like planets in closeproximity to our solar system. Of the currently detected exoplanets, only a few are Earth-like,
Sodium redistribution between oxide phases

Alkali transport between a glass substrate and an oxide over layer occurs by a mechanism of ion exchange between the alkali and protons. Thermodynamics requires that the difference in chemical potential of the alkali and the proton be the same in both phases at equilibrium. The influence of chemical composition of the glass on the chemical potential of alkali ions is discussed. Good agreement between predictions of the direction of alkali transport and observed transport is obtained.
An optimal (expected time) algorithm for minimizing lab costs in DNA sequencing

The final step for obtaining very accurate DNA sequence data is known as "finishing." Most steps of DNA sequencing are highly automated, but it is only recently that researchers have looked at automating the finishing step. Our perspective is to look at automated finishing as an optimization problem, with the goal to minimize lab costs.We give new algorithms for solving this problem. We look at a model of the problem for which previous researchers gave an O(n4) algorithm (where n is the length of the DNA measured in reads). We give an algorithm that runs in O(n2⅓) worst case time. We then show that the algorithm runs in O(n) expected time, if we make an assumption, accepted by many molecular biologists, about randomness in the input data.