cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preliminary study: Breast cancers can be well seen on 3T breast MRI with a half-dose of gadobutrol.

Abstract Background Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) breast MRI is highly sensitive for breast cancer and requires gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA)s, which have potential safety concerns. Purpose Test whether breast cancers imaged by 3T DCE breast MRI with 0.05 mmol/kg of gadobutrol are detectable. Methods Analysis of 3T DCE breast MRIs with half dose of gadobutrol from patients included in an IRB-approved and HIPPA-compliant prospective study of breast PET/MRI. Between 11/7/2014 and 3/2/2018, 41 consecutive women with biopsy-proven breast cancer that was at least 2 cm, multi-focal or multi-centric, had axillary metastasis, or had skin involvement who gave informed consent were included. Two breast radiologists independently recorded lesion conspicuity on a 4-point scale (0 = not seen, 1 = questionably seen, 2 = adequately seen, 3 = certainly seen), and measured the lesion. Size was compared between radiologists and with size on available mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, and surgical pathology. Inter-reader agreement was assessed by kappa coefficient for conspicuity. Lesion size comparisons were assessed using the Spearman rank correlation. Results In 40 patients (ages 28.4–80.5, 51.9 years), there were 49 cancers. 10.1% of lesions were 1 cm or less and 26.5% of lesions were 2 cm or less. Each reader detected 49/49 cancers. Conspicuity scores ranged from 2 to 3, mean 2.9/3 for both readers (p = 0.47). Size on half-dose 3T DCE-MRI correlated with size on surgical pathology (r = 0.6, p = 0.03) while size on mammogram and ultrasound did not (r = 0.25, p = 0.46; r = 0.25, p = 0.42). Conclusion All breast cancers in this cohort, as small as 0.4 cm, were seen on 3T DCE breast MRI with 0.05 mmol/kg dose of gadobutrol.
A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing the Impact of a Web-Based Multimedia Intervention Versus an Educational Pamphlet on Patient Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivors with Chronic Secondary Lymphedema.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a Web-based Multimedia Intervention (WBMI) for breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) patients on symptom burden, function, psyc...
Operational Needs of Model Centric Engineering

Model Centric Engineering (MCE) platforms for mixed discipline systems engineering are the subject of various research and prototyping projects under various names, as well as commercially available in early stages of interoperable engineering tool platforms. Commercial platforms offer interoperability and data exchange with a variety of other engineering tools. Some have evolved from a vendor-offered SysML Tool base, others are vendor agnostic. Research prototypes are starting from a technical feature requirements base, exploring the potential and needs for MCE technology. None have started from the operational user needs, but rather focus on platform technical features. The operational users of most import aren’t the end users – those that will use the platform in engineering activity; but rather those that must provide an MCE operational service to the end users that addresses all of their needs for acceptance and employment. This article explores why this is true and the range of operational service needs, and suggests basic requirements that should be addressed when developing or evolving MCE platforms.
Accessing surgical care for pancreaticoduodenectomy: Patient variation in travel distance and choice to bypass hospitals to reach higher volume centers.

Background While better outcomes at high-volume surgical centers have driven regionalization of complex surgical care, access to high-volume centers often requires travel over longer distances. We sought to evaluate travel patterns of patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic cancer to assess willingness of patients to travel for surgical care. Methods The California Office of Statewide Health Planning database was used to identify patients who underwent PD between 2005 and 2016. Total distance traveled, as well as whether a patient bypassed the nearest hospital that performed PD to get to a higher-volume center was assessed. Multivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with bypassing a local hospital for a higher-volume center. Results Among 23 014 patients who underwent PD, individuals traveled a median distance of 18.0 miles to get to a hospital that performed PD. The overwhelming majority (84%) of patients bypassed the nearest providing hospital and traveled a median additional 16.6 miles to their destination hospital. Among patients who bypassed the nearest hospital, 13,269 (68.6%) did so for a high-volume destination hospital. Specifically, average annual PD volume at the nearest "bypassed" vs final destination hospital was 29.6 vs 56 cases, respectively. Outcomes at bypassed vs destination hospitals varied (incidence of complications: 39.2% vs 32.4%; failure-to-rescue: 14.5% vs 9.1%). PD at a high-volume center was associated with lower mortality (OR = 0.46 95% CI, 0.22-0.95). High-volume PD ( > 20 cases) was predictive of hospital bypass (OR = 3.8 95% CI, 3.3-4.4). Among patients who had surgery at a low-volume center, nearly 20% bypassed a high-volume hospital in route. Furthermore, among patients who did not bypass a high-volume hospital, one-third would have needed to travel only an additional 30 miles or less to reach the nearest high-volume hospital. Conclusion Most patients undergoing PD bypassed the nearest providing hospital to seek care at a higher-volume hospital. While these data reflect increased regionalization of complex surgical care, nearly 1 in 5 patients still underwent PD at a low-volume center.
Should infective endocarditis be treated with oral antibiotics

The recently published POET trial breaks with the established paradigm of long-term, high-dose intravenous antibiotics for all patients with endocarditis. The study involved 400 Danish patients who had endocarditis caused by Gram-positive micro-organisms and who had a favourable response to initial intravenous therapy. The IV to oral switch appeared to be non-inferior to continuing intravenous treatment. From the perspective of antibiotic stewardship, this is a step forward because a shorter period of intravenous therapy reduces catheter-associated complications. However, treating clinicians should realise that the study had strict inclusion criteria and that its results apply to selected, low-risk patients only.
Association of Dietary Patterns in Midlife and Cognitive Function in Later Life in US Adults Without Dementia

Importance The association of dietary patterns, or the combinations of different foods that people eat, with cognitive change and dementia is unclear. Objective To examine the association of dietary patterns in midlife with cognitive function in later life in a US population without dementia. Design, Setting, and Participants Observational cohort study with analysis of data collected from 1987 to 2017. Analysis was completed in January to February 2019. Community-dwelling black and white men and women from Washington County, Maryland; Forsyth County, North Carolina; Jackson, Mississippi; and suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota, participating in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study were included. Exposures Two dietary pattern scores were derived from a 66-item food frequency questionnaire using principal component analysis. A Western, or unhealthy, dietary pattern was characterized by higher consumption of meats and fried foods. A so-called prudent, or healthier, dietary pattern was characterized by higher amounts of fruits and vegetables. Main Outcomes and Measures Results of 3 cognitive tests (Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Word Fluency Test, and Delayed Word Recall) performed at 3 points (1990-1992, 1996-1998, and 2011-2013) were standardized and combined to represent global cognitive function. The 20-year change in cognitive function was determined by tertile of diet pattern score using mixed-effect models. The risk of incident dementia was also determined by tertile of the diet pattern score. Results A total of 13 588 participants (7588 [55.8%] women) with a mean (SD) age of 54.6 (5.7) years at baseline were included; participants in the top third of Western and prudent diet pattern scores were considered adherent to the respective diet. Cognitive scores at baseline were lower in participants with a Western diet (zscore for tertile 3 [T3], −0.17 [95% CI, −0.20 to −0.14] vs T1, 0.17 [95% CI, 0.14-0.20]) and higher in participants with a prudent diet (zscore for T3, −0.09 [95% CI, −0.12 to −0.06] vs T1, −0.09 [95% −0.12 to −0.06]). Estimated 20-year change in global cognitive function did not differ by dietary pattern (difference of change inzscore for Western diet, T3 vs T1: −0.01 [95% CI, −0.05 to 0.04]; and difference of change inzscore for prudent diet, T3 vs T1: 0.02 [95% CI, −0.02 to 0.06]). The risk of incident dementia did not differ by dietary pattern (Western hazard ratio for T3 vs T1, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.92-1.22]; prudent hazard ratio for T3 vs T1, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.88-1.12]). Conclusions and Relevance This study found that the dietary pattern of US adults at midlife was not associated with processing speed, word fluency, memory, or incident dementia in later life.
Human Homing Orientation Critique and Alternative Hypotheses

Baker (this volume) has provided a comprehensive review of tests on human orientation which permits a detailed evaluation of this potentially interesting and highly controversial phenomenon. The idea that humans, when blindfolded and displaced, exhibit an unconscious compass sense based on detection of the earth’s magnetic field was first proposed by Baker (1980) and followed up by him with a series of additional experiments (references in Baker’s chapter, this volume). However, the only attempts at replication that have been published (Gould and Able, 1981) failed to support Baker’s hypothesis and there has been, to date, no satisfactory resolution to the controversy.
1 – Chemiosmotic energy transduction

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the fundamental of chemiosmotic theory and provides an overview of energy-transducing membranes. An essential feature of the chemiosmotic theory is that the primary and secondary proton pumps should be functionally as well as structurally separable. The “energy-transducing” membranes include the plasma membrane of simple prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria or blue-green algae, the inner membrane of mitochondria and the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts. Energy-transducing membranes possess a number of distinguishing features. Each membrane has two distinct types of proton pump. The nature of the primary proton pump depends on the energy source used by the membrane. In contrast to the variety of primary proton pumps, all energy-transducing membranes contain a highly conserved secondary proton pump termed the ATP synthase or the H+-translocating ATPase.
Li 2 O Solid Electrolyte Interphase: ProbingTransport Properties at the Chemical Potential of Lithium

Lithium (Li) anodes suffer from numerous challenges arising from the chemically inhomogeneous nature of the native solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), which impedes smooth plating and leads to dend...
The United States and Individual and Collective Self-Defense in Northeast Asia

This Essay describes and assesses U.S. positions regarding the international law of individual and collective self-defense with respect to four present-day security imperatives in Northeast Asia: (1) North Korea’s possession of nuclear missiles, and the threats they pose to the United States and U.S. allies, namely Japan and South Korea, both of which host significant U.S. bases and troops; (2) Offensive cyber operations against the United States or U.S. nationals in Northeast Asia, by North Korea or China state actors; (3) China, and the threat it poses to Taiwan over which it asserts sovereignty; and (4) Island Disputes between Japan, China, and South Korea, which would implicate U.S. alliance treaty obligations This Essay proceeds in two parts. The first part reviews the historical background and current status of the international law of grounds for war—jus ad bellum. Particular emphasis is placed on the law of self-defense, both individual and collective, and the grounds for which preemptive defensive attacks are warranted. The second part applies the jus ad bellum elaborated in Part One to the four case studies.
Creation and Evaluation of the Gender, Sex, and Sexual Orientation (GSSO) Ontology

Nearly 17% of LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, agender/asexual, and other umbrella gender/sexual identity minorities) persons report avoiding medical care due to discrimination, with 33% of transgender persons experiencing significant problems with medical providers. These problems are often connected to inappropriate or offensive language resulting in LGBTQIA+ persons feeling uneasy or unable to trust providers. Providers are often not trained in appropriate language use for LGBTQIA+ persons. In medicine, language is modeled using controlled vocabularies or ontologies. Ontologies are common, shared networks which explain information in a domain. Our objective was to create and evaluate an ontology system and resource guide which leveraged LGBTQIA+ terminology …
A Comparison of Genomic Advances in Exfoliation Syndrome and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

This review compares recent progress of the genetics of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and exfoliation syndrome/glaucoma (XFS/XFG). Many common variants and associated endophenotypes have been discovered in POAG through genomic wide association studies (GWAS), particularly in ethnically diverse cohorts. Though the functional significance of these common variants is unknown, these advances have increased heritability estimates and helped create polygenic risk scores. In contrast, few variants have been identified in XFS/XFG, hindering efforts to examine endophenotypes, create satisfactory animal models, and establish a firm genetic basis. Rapid genetic advancements have demonstrated that genes of small effect may contribute a larger role in POAG than previously thought. Given the pace of gene discovery, it is likely that novel therapies and genetic screening tools are future possibilities. Limited progress in XFS/XFG suggests an underlying non-hereditary disease component. A multiomic approach for XFS/XFG may provide further insights.
Export Subsidies, Productivity and Welfare under Firm-Level Heterogeneity

It is well known from Bernard, Eaton, Jensen and Kortum (2003) that exporters are more productive than …rms that sell only in the domestic market. In this context, it seems reasonable to expect that an export subsidy would generate a reallocation of resources from less to more productive …rms and thereby increase aggregate productivity. But what is the eect on welfare? We show that in a small economy with no other interventions ( i.e., no taris or consumption subsidies) such a policy indeed increases productivity but the overall eect on welfare is negative. This is due to a combination of falling variety and adverse terms of trade changes. To explore these ideas we study the eect of export subsidies and taxes, import taris, and consumption subsidies on productivity and welfare in a small economy in the presence of product dierentia- tion, monopolistic competition and …rm-level heterogeneity. We characterize the levels of these policies that allow the economy to reach the …rst best allocation, and then explore the produc- tivity and welfare eects of an export subsidy both with and without an optimal consumption subsidy.
Solar Forcing of Global Climate Change Since The Mid-17th Century

Spacecraft measurements of the sun's total irradiance since 1980 have revealed a long-term variation that is roughly in phase with the 11-year solar cycle. Its origin is uncertain, but may be related to the overall level of solar magnetic activity as well as to the concurrent activity on the visible disk. A low-pass Gaussian filtered time series of the annual sunspot number has been developed as a suitable proxy for solar magnetic activity that contains a long-term component related to the average level of activity as well as a short-term component related to the current phase of the 11-year cycle. This time series is also assumed to be a proxy for solar total irradiance, and the irradiance is reconstructed for the period since 1617 based on the estimate from climatic evidence that global temperatures during the Maunder Minimum of solar activity, which coincided with one of the coldest periods of the Little Ice Age, were about 1 °C colder than modern temperatures. This irradiance variation is used as the variable radiative forcing function in a one-dimensional ocean–climate model, leading to a reconstruction of global temperatures over the same period, and to a suggestion that solar forcing and anthropogenic greenhouse-gas forcing made roughly equal contributions to the rise in global temperature that took place between 1900 and 1955. The importance of solar variability as a factor in climate change over the last few decades may have been underestimated in recent studies.
Robust and efficient interaction with complex systems

Low-dimensional chaotic map dynamics has been successfully used to predict the dynamics of high-dimensional systems far from equilibrium. For control, low-dimensional models can be used only if the control force is very small, otherwise hidden degrees of freedom may become excited. We study the control of chaotic map dynamics with extremely small forcing functions. We find that the smallest forcing function, which is called a resonant forcing function, echoes the natural dynamics of the system. This means, when the natural dynamics is irregular, the optimal forcing function is irregular too. If the natural dynamics contains a certain periodicity, the optimal forcing function contains that periodicity too. We show that such controls are effective even if the system has hidden degrees of freedom and if the probes of the control system have a low resolution. Further we show that resonant forcing functions of chaotic systems decrease exponentially, where the rate equals the Liapunov exponent of the unperturbed system. We apply resonant forcing functions for efficient control of chaotic systems and for system identification.
Prosthetic valve endocarditis: Clinicopathologic analysis of 22 necropsy patients with comparison of observations in 74 necropsy patients with active infective endocarditis involving natural left-sided cardiac valves

Abstract Clinical and morphologic features are described in 22 necropsy patients with endocarditis involving rigid-framed prosthetic valves: aortic in 15 patients and mitral in 7. The interval from valve replacement to onset of symptoms of prosthetic valve endocarditis was less than 2 months in 8 patients and longer than 2 months in 14 patients. The most frequent infecting organism was the Staphylococcus (13 patients). In each of the 22 patients the infection was located behind the site of attachment of the prosthesis to the valve ring, and the infection spread to adjacent structures in 13 patients, 11 of whom had aortic prostheses. Prosthetic detachment causing severe regurgitation occurred in 12 ot the 15 patients with an infected aortic valve prosthesis, and in 2 of the 7 with an infected mitral valve prosthesis. Prosthetic obstruction by vegetative material occurred in 5 of 7 patients with prosthetic mitral infection and in only 1 of 15 with prosthetic aortic infection. High degrees of conduction defects developed in seven patients with aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis: complete heart block in five, and complete left bundle branch block in two. Comparison of observations in the 22 patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis with those in 74 patients with active infective endocarditis involving natural left-sided cardiac valves revealed significant ( P
Cooperative Risk Management: Rationale and Effectiveness

Agricultural cooperatives tend to be riskier than investor-oriented firms, both in a business and financial sense. However, cooperative managers are often reluctant to actively manage risk. Although the risk management irrelevance proposition suggests that cooperative managers should be unable to add shareholder value through risk management activities, this study argues that there are several reasons why this is not likely to be the case for cooperatives. Several empirical examples are provided through numerical simulation of pro-forma financial statements from representative agricultural cooperatives. Using mean variance, expected utility and value-at-risk metrics, the results of these simulations show that various risk management strategies can improve the risk-return profile of a typical cooperative. Keywords: cooperative, expected utility, futures, option, risk management, value at risk.
Quantitative estimate of heat flow from a mid-ocean ridge axial valley, Raven field, Juan de Fuca Ridge: Observations and inferences

A systematic heat flow survey using thermal blankets within the Endeavour segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge axial valley provides quantitative estimates of the magnitude and distribution of conductive heat flow at a mid-ocean ridge, with the goal of testing current models of hydrothermal circulation present within newly formed oceanic crust. Thermal blankets were deployed covering an area of 700 by 450 m in the Raven Hydrothermal vent field area located 400 m north of the Main Endeavour hydrothermal field. A total of 176 successful blanket deployment sites measured heat flow values that ranged from 0 to 31 W m−2. Approximately 53% of the sites recorded values lower than 100 mW m−2, suggesting large areas of seawater recharge and advective extraction of lithospheric heat. High heat flow values were concentrated around relatively small “hot spots.” Integration of heat flow values over the Raven survey area gives an estimate of conductive heat output of 0.3 MW, an average of 0.95 W m−2, over the survey area. Fluid circulation cell dimensions and scaling equations allow calculation of a Rayleigh number of approximately 700 in Layer 2A. The close proximity of high and low heat flow areas, coupled with previous estimates of surficial seafloor permeability, argues for the presence of small-scale hydrothermal fluid circulation cells within the high-porosity uppermost crustal layer of the axial seafloor.
Estimating the Bank of Japan's monetary policy reaction function

Extending the Taylor rule and applying the VAR model, the author finds that the overnight call rate reacts positively to a shock to the inflation gap, the output gap, yen depreciation, stock prices, or the lagged overnight call rate. The response of the overnight call rate to exchange rates or stock prices lasts longer than the reaction to the output gap and the inflation gap. Except for the lagged overnight call rate, the inflation gap and the exchange rate are more influential than the output gap and stock prices in explaining the variance of the overnight call rate. JEL Codes: E52, E58
Contesting the Financialization of Urban Space: Community Organizations and the Struggle to Preserve Affordable Rental Housing in New York City

As cities have become both site and object of capital accumulation in a neoliberal political economy, the challenges to community practice aimed at creating, preserving, and improving affordable housing and neighborhoods have grown. Financial markets and actors are increasingly central to the workings of capitalism, transforming the meaning and significance of mortgage capital in local communities and redrawing the relationship between housing and urban inequality. This article addresses the integration of housing and financial markets through the case of "predatory equity," a wave of aggressive private equity investment in New York City's affordable rental sector during the mid-2000s real estate boom. I consider the potential for community organizations to develop innovative, effective, and progressive practices to contest the impact of predatory equity on affordable housing. Highlighting how organizations employed discursive and empirical tactics as well as tactics that reworked the sites, spaces, and structures of finance, this research speaks to the political possibility of contemporary community practice.
Massively parallel spin–orbit configuration interaction

An implementation of a massively parallel spin – orbit confi guration interaction ( PSOCI ) method is described. This is an extension of a conventional CI method that explicitly includes one-electron spin – orbit operators and certain scalar relativistic effects extracted from relativistic effective core potentials. The performance of the PSOCI code is analyzed on several large-scale computing platforms.
The reproductive ecology of resident manta rays ( Manta alfredi ) off Maui, Hawaii, with an emphasis on body size

In resident manta rays (Manta alfredi) off Maui, sexual maturity appears delayed until growth exceeds 90% of maximum size, an indicator that large body size provides a reproductive advantage at the expense of a shorter reproductive time period. In this study, 286 surveys were conducted between 2005 and 2010 using photo-identification and photogrammetry to study the reproductive ecology of a resident population of manta rays off Maui, Hawaii, and investigate the reproductive benefits of large body size in each sex. Although reproductive activities occurred year-round, mating trains and late-term pregnant females were significantly more likely to be observed during the winter months. Some females were pursued by males during both winter and summer of the same year, suggesting multiple ovulations may be possible in a single year. Males likely detect a female’s reproductive state by positioning directly behind her, or passing through her bodily excretions. The mean pregnancy rate was estimated at 0.56 pregnancies/adult female/year with larger females pregnant more often, and more likely in consecutive years. The operational sex ratio was heavily skewed with 2.68 adult males per reproductively available female. Although males appear to compete with one another for females within a mating train, no direct physical competition was ever observed between males. Evidence of highly dynamic mating trains lasting more than one day suggests endurance rivalry may be the primary mating strategy among males, during which larger males may benefit from greater energy reserves. The study area appears to be an important staging area for mating individuals in this population.
The infant's changing role in mother-infant games: The growth of social skills

This study examined developmental changes in the games played by mothers and infants during normal activities at home. Fourteen mothers and infants were observed when the infants were 6, 8, and 12 months of age; 80 minutes of data were collected at each age. With age, games became more frequent and infants became increasingly likely to initiate them. Games in which infants played a relatively passive role, frequent at 6 months, were replaced by 12 months with games in which infants played an active role, using newly acquired behaviors. In the games that were played at all ages—peekaboo, ball, and vocal—infant participation shifted from passive enjoyment at 6 months to active involvement at 12 months. Finally, rank correlations across age for games were moderately high. The results illustrate the sensitivity of mothers in adjusting their own behavior to keep pace with their infants' development. They also suggest that the structure of mother—infant games may serve both as an index of infants' social skills and as one context in which infants acquire these skills.
Hydrogen in tungsten: Absorption, diffusion, vacancy trapping, and decohesion

Understanding the interaction between atomic hydrogen and solid tungsten is important for the development of fusion reactors in which proposed tungsten walls would be bombarded with high energy particles including hydrogen isotopes. Here, we report results from periodic density-functional theory calculations for three crucial aspects of this interaction: surface-to-subsurface diffusion of H into W, trapping of H at vacancies, and H-enhanced decohesion, with a view to assess the likely extent of hydrogen isotope incorporation into tungsten reactor walls. We find energy barriers of (at least) 2.08 eV and 1.77 eV for H uptake (inward diffusion) into W(001) and W(110) surfaces, respectively, along with very small barriers for the reverse process (outward diffusion). Although H dissolution in defect-free bulk W is predicted to be endothermic, vacancies in bulk W are predicted to exothermically trap multiple H atoms. Furthermore, adsorbed hydrogen is predicted to greatly stabilize W surfaces such that decohesion (fracture) may result from high local H concentrations.
Loop-Shaping Design for an Ill-Conditioned Plant

In this paper, we study a special case of the robust performance problem studied in the companion paper (4). When the weightings used to describe the uncertainty and performance specifications vary only with frequency, then it is possible to strengthen the results in that paper by deriving both upper and lower bounds upon the structured singular value. Both sets of bounds are stated in terms of the coupling coefficients introduced in (4), and essentially yield necessary and sufficient conditions for the structured singular value to be small. We use this information to suggest a strategy for compensator design to achieve robust performance despite plant ill-conditioning. Applying our strategy to an example, we see how the design tradeoffs quantified by the Bode gain-phase relation manifest themselves in the robust performance problem. Finally, we compare our design with one obtained using the "?-synthesis" approach.
Social ties, social support, and perceived health status among chronically disabled people.

Abstract Social ties can be particularly useful to disabled people, but little is known about the nature of social support in this population. This study investigated social ties, perceived support, received support, and perceived health status in a sample of 332 disabled persons living in a southeastern metropolitan area of the U.S. Major disability groups represented were musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiac, and end-stage renal disease. Size of kin networks was inversely related to respondents' socioeconomic status. Disabled women were less likely than disabled men to be married, more likely to be single-parent heads of household, and more likely to be socioeconomically disadvantage. Perceived support from family was high for all respondents. Perceived health status did not vary with amount of perceived support, but within disability groups, perceived health status tended to vary with amount of received help.
Effects of Priming on the Naming Accuracy of Preschoolers With Word-Finding Deficits

Eight preschoolers with word-finding (WF) deficits and 16 controls with normal word-finding abilities (8 preschoolers and 8 adults) named 40 pictured objects under primed and unprimed conditions. E...
Self-assembly of robotic micro- and nanoswimmers using magnetic nanoparticles

Micro- and nanoscale robotic swimmers are very promising to significantly enhance the performance of particulate drug delivery by providing high accuracy at extremely small scales. Here, we introduce micro- and nanoswimmers fabricated using self-assembly of nanoparticles and control via magnetic fields. Nanoparticles self-align into parallel chains under magnetization. The swimmers exhibit flexibility under a rotating magnetic field resulting in chiral structures upon deformation, thereby having the prerequisite for non-reciprocal motion to move about at low Reynolds number. The swimmers are actuated wirelessly using an external rotating magnetic field supplied by approximate Helmholtz coils. By controlling the concentration of the suspended magnetic nanoparticles, the swimmers can be modulated into different sizes. Nanoscale swimmers are largely influenced by Brownian motion, as observed from their jerky trajectories. The microswimmers, which are roughly three times larger, are less vulnerable to the effects from Brownian motion. In this paper, we demonstrate responsive directional control of micro- and nanoswimmers and compare their respective diffusivities and trajectories to characterize the implications of Brownian disturbance on the motions of small and large swimmers. We then performed a simulation using a kinematic model for the magnetic swimmers including the stochastic nature of Brownian motion.
RHETORICAL THEORY AND FAMILY THERAPY PRACTICE

The study found that a connection exists between rhetoric and therapy because both fields are interested in using language as a tool for generating change. Persuasion is viewed as inherent in human communication, even though people do not necessarily intentionally attempt to persuade others. Following a brief (but detailed) explanation of the theoretical stance which informs the implementation of rhetorical techniques in therapy, three pragmatic exemplars are offered to demonstrate the employment of two classical rhetorical concepts, the parastasis catalogue and syncrisis.
Distribution of atrial electrogram types during atrial fibrillation: Effect of rapid atrial pacing and intercaval junction ablation

Abstract Objectives. This study examined the anatomic distribution types and possible determinant of atrial electrogram types during atrial fibrillation. Background. Different types of atrial electrograms during atrial fibrillation have been observed and classified, but their anatomic distribution patterns, determinants and potential usefulness in guiding future catheter ablation are unknown. Methods. Two animal models of atrial fibrillation were used: the sterile pericarditis model (n = 10) and the rapid atrial pacing model (400 beats/min for 6 weeks, n = 6). The atrial electrogram of atrial fibrillation and the atrial effective refractory period were obtained from multiple sites of the right and left atrium. In addition, decremental rapid atrial stimulation was applied to the site of shortest and longest atrial effective refractory periods until atrial fibrillation induction in a subgroup of nine dogs. Ablation of the intereaval junction was performed using the radiofrequency catheter technique in dogs with atrial fibrillation duration > 1 min. Results. In both models, organized atrial electrograms (type I) were predominantly observed at the left atrial sites and the right atrial appendage, whereas disorganized atrial electrograms (type III) were mainly observed at the right posterolateral atrium. The distribution of the atrial electrogram types closely followed that of the atrial effective refractory period, with the shortest atrial effective refractory period corresponding to organized atrial electrograms (type I) and the longest atrial effective refractory period corresponding to disorganized atrial electrograms (type III). The correlation of atrial electrogram type with the atrial effective refractory period was further demonstrated by the effect of rapid atrial stimulation. When rapid atrial stimulation was applied to the site with the shortest atrial effective refractory period, disorganized atrial electrograms were observed at sites with the longest atrial effective refractory period, whereas 1:1 atrial capture was still present at the stimulation site. Ablation of the intercaval junction made atrial fibrillation noninducible or tended to shorten the atrial fibrillation duration (from 26.4 ± 24.2 to 8.8 ± 22.6 min in the pericarditis group, p = 0.02, and from 33.7 ± 29.2 to 12.1 ± 23.8 min in the rapid pacing group, p = 0.09) bud did not change the atrial electrogram types during atrial fibrillation. Conclusions. Various types of atrial electrograms are present at different locations during atrial fibrillation. The atrial electrogram characteristics of atrial fibrillation at a specific location are related to the atrial effective refractory period, with short effective refractory periods associated with organized atrial electrograms and long effective refractory periods associated with disorganized electrograms.
NF-κB as a therapeutic target in chronic inflammation: recent advances

Abstract The family of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) transcription factors is a topic of intense interest in the biomedical community stemming from the role NF-κB plays in almost every aspect of cell regulation: stress responses, immune cell activation, apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation and oncogenic transformation. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of recent developments in the field with an emphasis on the role of NF-κB in chronic inflammation, and to discuss the feasibility of therapeutic approaches based on the specific suppression of the NF-κB pathway.
Microbiology test reliability in differentiation of Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria polysaccharea.

We read with interest the report by Cunningham and colleagues ([1][1]) regarding the inability of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to differentiate Neisseria meningitidis from Neisseria polysaccharea. As highlighted in the article, these
NC TEACH and NC TEACH OnLine: Viable Alternative Routes to Teaching in North Carolina.

Abstract Since 2000, North Carolina has offered an alternative route to licensure for adults who desire to move into teaching from other careers. NC TEACH is a statewide alternative teacher preparation program aimed at recruiting, supporting, and retaining highly skilled mid-career professionals who seek to enter the teaching profession through the lateral-entry pathway. NC TEACH has undergone several cycles of improvement and refinement since its inception. While continuing to be offered in its original face-to-face version, the program's strong cohort model has been replicated in a completely online environment with the development of NC TEACH OnLine in 2004. This article examines the main components of the NC TEACH program. Although the details of NC TEACH are specific to North Carolina, the experience with a viable, ever-evolving, statewide alternative licensure program can provide guidance to other states that wish to consider a similar approach to meeting the demand for new teachers.
Dynamic modeling of polyethylene grade transitions in fluidized bed reactors employing nickel-diimine catalysts

Dynamic simulations of grade transitions are conducted for an industrial fluidized bed polyethylene reactor using a nickel−diimine catalyst. The reactor process model incorporates a kinetic model that predicts polymer properties for nickel−diimine ethylene polymerization. The relationships between reactor process variables and the end polymer properties are determined to be more complex than for conventional early transition-metal catalysts. In this respect, the kinetic model is demonstrated to be an effective tool for mapping out the reactor steady-state operating regions for a range of polyethylene grades and for examining process issues specific to using these catalysts. Temperature, monomer concentration, and hydrogen composition are the primary manipulated variables for achieving grade transitions in polymer density and melt index. Transitions involving changes in temperature require continual simultaneous adjustment of hydrogen and monomer feed rates to maintain the desired gas composition. Thus, wh...
Determination of the Crush Stiffness Coefficients of a Typical Aftermarket Frontal Protective Guard Used in Light Trucks and Vans with Comparisons between Guard Stiffness and Frontal Vehicle Crush Coefficients

Crush stiffness coefficients were determined for a typical I-beam constructed frontal grill guard used in the aftermarket on vehicles classified as light trucks or vans. These crush coefficients were determined by virtual impacts of a typical guard construction into a rigid barrier using finite element analysis (FEA) methods and collision stiffness computations. It was found that the addition of a frontal protection guard is capable of significantly changing the frontal stiffness of the vehicle to which it is attached. The federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSSs) require vehicles to give a certain crash response in order to protect occupants. Engineers have designed features such as frontal and rear crash zones to dissipate crash energies to meet the FMVSS requirements. Changing the stiffness of the vehicle by the addition of a frontal guard may alter the crash response and airbag deployment of the vehicle to which it is attached, along with the crash response of the guard-struck vehicle. The determination of the crush stiffness coefficients for a frontal guard will allow a comparison with the engineered frontal stiffness of vehicles in order to start the examination of the effect of frontal guard stiffness on crashworthiness of the collision partners. In addition, the determination of these coefficients will allow accident reconstructionists to assess the change in velocity of vehicles involved in collisions with frontal guards from guard crush damage.
Do Family Caps on Welfare Affect Births Among Welfare Recipients? Reconciling Efficacy and Effectiveness Estimates of Impact through a Blended Design Strategy:

Abstract This paper proposes a blended experimental and quasi-experimental research strategy which we believe will help improve the external validity of evaluations of welfare reform and other social policies. We draw upon data from New Jersey’s imposition of a family cap, where welfare benefits instead of increasing remained the same for women who conceive and bear a child while on public assistance. We directly compare estimates of the policy’s effectiveness on the state’s welfare population using (a) a point-in-time sample randomly assigned to experimental and control group conditions; (b) an initial cohort sample similarly assigned; and (c) a before and after policy implementation of the entire welfare caseload. We find that these estimates can differ dramatically, reflecting sensitivity to a time-induced heterogeneity we have labeled the Heraclitus effect. We discuss how multiple estimates of effectiveness can be used to bound expectations of a welfare reform policy impact when population dynamics data are available.
Dielectric Response of β-HMX at THz Frequencies Calculated by Density Functional Theory

We present calculations of ground state resonance structure associated with the high explosives β-HMX using density functional theory (DFT), which is for the construction of parameterized dielectric response functions for excitation by electromagnetic waves at compatible frequencies. These dielectric functions provide for different types of analyses concerning the dielectric response of explosives. In particular, these dielectric response functions provide quantitative initial estimates of spectral response features for subsequent adjustment with respect to additional information such as laboratory measurements and other types of theory based calculations. With respect to qualitative analysis, these spectra provide for the molecular level interpretation of response structure. The DFT software GAUSSIAN was used for the calculations of ground state resonance structure presented here.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
A temperature-index model of stream flow at below-freezing temperatures in Taylor Valley, Antarctica

We model runoff from glaciers in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica, with summer (December–January) average air temperatures from 1990 to 2002 for the purpose of estimating decades- to millennial-scale glacial runoff into Lakes Fryxell, Hoare and Bonney. The relationship between summer temperatures and melt is found to be exponential near the melting temperature. We propose a variety of simple models that are calibrated using measured discharge from a number of streams draining from ten glaciers in Taylor Valley. The surface melting rate is constrained by mass-balance measurements from four of the glaciers. A model based solely on temperature produced good results (coefficient of determination, r2 = 0.71) for the south-facing glaciers, but poor results for the north-facing glaciers (r2 < 0). The inclusion of a solar radiation index increased the modeled melt from the north-facing glaciers and thus improved the results (r2 = 0.73) for the north-facing glaciers, with little change from the south-facing glaciers. Including a wind index did not improve the correlation between modeled and measured runoff.
The Debate about Increasing College Student Psychopathology: Are College Students Really Getting “Sicker?”

In the past couple of decades, there have been numerous claims made about the increasing severity of college student mental health issues. While the question of increasing severity seems to be well documented by the perception-based surveys of university counseling center directors, very limited data exists to prove that this trend is actually occurring. This article reviews several studies that have attempted to substantiate this perceived trend, and alternative explanations are posed to account for the reasons that these perceptions have lingered in the absence of hard data. Implications for future research are discussed.
C. elegans piRNAs Mediate the Genome-wide Surveillance of Germline Transcripts

Piwi Argonautes and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) mediate genome defense by targeting transposons. However, many piRNA species lack obvious sequence complementarity to transposons or other loci; only one C. elegans transposon is a known piRNA target. Here, we show that, in mutants lacking the Piwi Argonaute PRG-1 (and consequently its associated piRNAs/21U-RNAs), many silent loci in the germline exhibit increased levels of mRNA expression with a concomitant depletion of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP)-derived secondary small RNAs termed 22G-RNAs. Sequences depleted of 22G-RNAs are proximal to potential target sites that base pair imperfectly but extensively to 21U-RNAs. We show that PRG-1 is required to initiate, but not to maintain, silencing of transgenes engineered to contain complementarity to endogenous 21U-RNAs. Our findings support a model in which C. elegans piRNAs utilize their enormous repertoire of targeting capacity to scan the germline transcriptome for foreign sequences, while endogenous germline-expressed genes are actively protected from piRNA-induced silencing.