cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensional total least square Prony method for 3D synthetic aperture scatterer localization

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) creates a 2-D (azimuth-range) image from radar pulses collected equally-spaced along a linear aight path. One 3-D scenerio collects these pulses at each collection point along the path from a linear (elevation) array orthogonal to the aight path. From this 3-D data set images (to a pixel accuracy) or array processing (to subpixel accuracy) allows strong scatterers to be located. Streamlined algorithms are needed for such practical image and volume reaectively function formation. Sacchini, Steedly and Moses (1993)3 presents a 2-D Total Least Squares (TLS) Prony method that robustly identiOes 2-D scatterer locations in SAR images. In this method scatterer coordinates are matched by Otting the data in each dimension, Otting the resultant amplitudes in the cross-dimension and then matching the highest energy pairs in both these sets. This matching can produce excellent results for TLS Prony and for other 1-D scatterer localization algorithms. The algorithm is extended here to supply 3-D scatterer locations for simulated 3-D SAR data. Previous results for 3-D data show good localization using 2-D TLS Prony on azimuth-elevation slices and interpolating the range location between slices. Thresholding of the highest energy points, however, is required to Ond the actual location of scatterers. Range accuracy is also limited due to use of only the two closest range samples. Consistency of results is di§erent for di§erent amplitude scatterers. This paper produces results for a new 3-D TLS Prony method. Algorithm accuarcy, bias, robustness in di§erent scenarios are examined.
Isozymes and Cellular Differentiation

Summary Many enzymes exist in multiple isozymic forms within the tissues of a single organism. The pattern of relative abundance of these different isozymes is commonly specific for each tissue at each stage of differentiation. Each of these isozymes, or the constituent polypeptide subunits, may be under the control of a separate gene. Thus, the isozyme pattern may be a reflection of the differential activity of the genes encoding the isozymes. Selective gene function is the foundation for the biochemistry of cell differentiation and is most sharply expressed in the changing isozyme patterns of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) during development. Mammals and birds contain at least three different genes for the synthesis of LDH subunits. Nearly all cells reveal the activity of the LDH A and B genes. In contrast, the C gene for the C subunit of LDH-X shows an extraordinary specificity of cell function, apparently being active only in primary spermatocytes. Moreover, at this stage of spermatocyte differentiation, the A and B genes apparently cease activity. Thus, sperm are essentially equipped with only isozymes composed of C subunits. Each isozyme of LDH has a constellation of kinetic and physiological properties that distinguishes it from all the others. These properties enable the isozyme to play a specific role in the physiology of the cell. The cell specificity of the C4 tetramer of LDH suggests that it must be important in the unique physiology of sperm. The kinetic properties of this isozyme are distinctly different in different vertebrates, and in particular, the substrate specificity is broader than is true for the other LDH isozymes. A variety of different alpha-keto acids, in addition to pyruvate, are readily reduced by the C4 isozyme. In pigeons it is very active on alpha-hydroxyvalerate and in rats on alpha-hydroxygluterate. The subunits of the C4 tetramer can be dissociated and combined with A and B subunits to form functional hybrid molecules of LDH and, thus, it is properly classified as one of the many isozymes of LDH at least fifteen could be formed by mammals and birds if all three subunits were synthesized simultaneously in the same cell. Under the usual conditions of assay, the C4 isozyme has only about one-tenth the specific activity of the A4 isozyme and only one -sixth that of the B4 isozyme. The enzymatic activity of individual C subunits is seemingly enhanced by combination with B subunits in heteropolymeric isozymes. However, these heteropolymers are not abundant in the testes of mammals though their individual physiological roles may be significant. These enormous differences in enzymatic activity and in substrate specificity point to an important metabolic role for the C4 isozyme in sperm metabolism but this role has not yet been discovered.
The Decline of Trust

Trust, unhappily, is not a part of the American, or global, political way of life. In fact, our present national culture—social, economic, even artistic, as well as political, is inhospitable to trust.2 The Pew Charitable Trusts, created and funded a National Commission on Civic Renewal in 1996 to obtain an accurate and balanced portrait of our civic condition and suggest practical steps citizens can take to improve our civic life. The Commission created an Index of National Civic Health (INCH) which measures and combines trends over the past twenty five years in five categories: political participation, political and social trust, associational membership, family integrity and stability, and crime (The National Commission on Civic Renewal, 1998). The Index as a whole showed the overall civic condition of the U.S. has declined markedly since 1974. While the newest measurement announced in 1997 showed an upward movement in civic health, there is still need for significant improvement (Figure 1.1). Two of the components of INCH, trust in the federal government and trust in others, have showed massive declines since 1960 (Figure 1.2).
Locomotion inside a surfactant-laden drop at low surface Péclet numbers

We investigate the dynamics of a swimming microorganism inside a surfactant-laden drop for axisymmetric configurations under the assumptions of small Reynolds number and small surface Peclet number . Expanding the variables in , we solve the Stokes equations for the concentric configuration using Lamb’s general solution, while the dynamic equation for the stream function is solved in the bipolar coordinates for the eccentric configurations. For a two-mode squirmer inside a drop, the surfactant redistribution can either increase or decrease the magnitude of swimmer and drop velocities, depending on the value of the eccentricity. This was explained by analysing the influence of surfactant redistribution on the thrust and drag forces acting on the swimmer and the drop. The far-field representation of a surfactant-covered drop enclosing a pusher swimmer at its centre is a puller; the strength of this far field is reduced due to the surfactant redistribution. The advection of surfactant on the drop surface leads to a time-averaged propulsion of the drop and the time-reversible swimmer that it engulfs, thereby causing them to escape from the constraints of the scallop theorem. We quantified the range of parameters for which an eccentrically stable configuration can be achieved for a two-mode squirmer inside a clean drop. The surfactant redistribution shifts this eccentrically stable position towards the top surface of the drop, although this shift is small.
Learning to be a doctor: Medical students' perception of their roles in longitudinal outpatient clerkships.

Abstract Objective To understand how medical students perceive their roles in early longitudinal primary care clerkships. Methods Medical students enrolled in one of two longitudinal primary care clerkships – Education-Centered Medical Home (ECMH) or Individual Preceptorship (IP) – participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a grounded theory and constant comparative approach. Results Students (N = 35) in both clerkships perceived benefits of early clinical exposure, reflecting positively on having time to interact with patients. Identified roles ranged from shadower to collaborator to diagnostician; a progression from position-centered to more patient-centered roles emerged. ECMH students also identified as health educators, care managers, and mentors. IP students described the clerkship primarily as an opportunity to acquire clinical knowledge and practice skills, expressing perceptions of being a transient “visitor” in the clinic, whereas ECMH students reported taking an active role in continuity care of patients. Conclusion Students identified benefits of early longitudinal outpatient primary care clerkships, supporting the inclusion of these experiences within medical school curricula. Clerkships with an emphasis on longitudinal and team-based care may further promote student participation in patient care and professional development. Practice Implications Longitudinal, team-based early clinical experiences may best promote student involvement in patient care.
Introductory Overview of Statistical Analysis of Microbiome Data

In this chapter, we first introduce and discuss the themes and statistical hypotheses in human microbiome studies in Sect. 3.1. Then, we overview the classic statistical methods and models for microbiome studies in Sect. 3.2. In Sect. 3.3, we introduce the newly developed multivariate statistical methods. Section 3.4 introduces the compositional analysis of microbiome data. In Sect. 3.5, we discuss the longitudinal data analysis and causal inference in microbiome studies. In Sect. 3.6, we introduce some statistical packages for analyzing microbiome data. Finally, we cover the limitations of existing statistical methods and future development in Sect. 3.7.
Performance boost using spacer-confined cavity for advanced FinFET technology

We present a method to form a spacer-confined cavity to enable the deeper cavity for performance improvement while keeping the lateral width of epitaxial silicon doped with phosphorous (SiP EPI) from creating an EPI bridging issue. An extra non-selective etch step is introduced to leave the sidewall spacer but etch away the Si fin. The SiP EPI is confined between the sidewall spacer for EPI lateral width control. In this work, TCAD simulation shows that the effective gate length (Leff) near the bottom of the fin decreases when cavity depth increases. The deeper junction provides another performance boost on top of the performance improvement from the fin height increase. In addition, the spacer-confined cavity demonstrates a 6% device performance improvement with comparable drain-induced-barrier-lowering at +8 nm cavity depth. The device performance starts saturation when the cavity depth extends beyond +15 nm. The spacer-confined cavity offers a solution to increase cavity depth without suffering from the EPI bridging issue for advance finFET technology.
Using a game-theoretic approach to design optimal health insurance for chronic disease

Health insurance has a significant effect on medical utilization and expenditures. This study analyzes the problem of health care cost-sharing policies to treat individuals with chronic disease. Th...
RSNA/QIBA efforts to standardize shear wave speed as a biomarker for liver fibrosis staging

Commercial shear elasticity systems have been available to clinicians for several years for characterizing liver stiffness. The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) established a Quantitative Imaging Biomarker Alliance (QIBA) committee on Ultrasound Shear Wave Speed to help achieve better consistency between the shear wave speed and elastic modulus values reported by different manufacturer systems. An inter-laboratory study of shear wave speed estimation was conducted at academic, industry and clinical laboratories using commercial ultrasound and magnetic resonance elastography systems in elastic (Phase I) and viscoelastic (Phase II) homogeneous, isotropic tissue-mimicking phantoms. In the elastic phantoms, shear wave speeds from different systems were within ±5% of the grand mean of all system measurements. Different appraisers and replicate measurements at a given site were not sources of significant variability in shear wave speed measurements. In the viscoelastic phantoms, shear wave speeds from different systems were within ±15% of the grand mean of all systems, with the stiffest phantoms at the deepest focal depth (7 cm) having the greatest measurement variance. Magnetic resonance elastography measurements at 140 Hz in the viscoelastic phantoms were consistent to within ±5% of thosemade with the ultrasound shear elasticity systems, while measurements made at 60 Hz had a mean bias of -2.6% relative to ultrasound systems. A method for reporting group shear wave velocities using both displacement and velocity data, along with shear wave phase velocity analysis, has been developed as a common calibration approach for the phantoms. An open-source repository of research scanner shear wave sequences and processing code has been created to allow manufacturers to have a calibration standard to assess compliance with the QIBA US shear wave speed profile and to achieve more consistent results to facilitate more rapid clinical adoption of this technology to evaluate liver fibrosis.
Chain Substituted Cannabilactones with Selectivity for the CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor.

In earlier work, we reported a novel class of CB2 selective ligands namely cannabilactones. These compounds carry a dimethylheptyl substituent at C3, which is typical for synthetic cannabinoids. In the current study with the focus on the pharmacophoric side chain at C3 we explored the effect of replacing the C1′-gem-dimethyl group with the bulkier cyclopentyl ring, and, we also probed the chain’s length and terminal carbon substitution with bromo or cyano groups. One of the analogs synthesized namely 6-[1-(1,9-dihydroxy-6-oxo-6H-benzo[c]chromen-3-yl) cyclopentyl] hexanenitrile (AM4346) has very high affinity (Ki = 4.9 nM) for the mouse CB2 receptor (mCB2) and 131-fold selectivity for that target over the rat CB1 (rCB1). The species difference in the affinities of AM4346 between the mouse (m) and the human (h) CB2 receptors is reduced when compared to our first-generation cannabilactones. In the cyclase assay, our lead compound was found to be a highly potent and efficacious hCB2 receptor agonist (EC50 = 3.7 ± 1.5 nM, E(max) = 89%). We have also extended our structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to include biphenyl synthetic intermediates that mimic the structure of the phytocannabinoid cannabinodiol.
Serious Adverse Events Cluster in Participants Experiencing the Primary Composite Cardiovascular Endpoint: A Post Hoc Analysis of the SPRINT Trial.

BACKGROUND Intensively treated participants in the SPRINT study experienced fewer primary cardiovascular composite study endpoints (CVD events) and lower mortality, although 38% of participants experienced a serious adverse event (SAE). The relationship of SAEs with CVD events is unknown. METHODS CVD events were defined as either myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, decompensated heart failure, stroke, or death from cardiovascular causes. Cox models were utilized to understand the occurrence of SAEs with CVD events according to baseline atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. RESULTS SAEs occurred in 96% of those experiencing a CVD event but only in 34% (P < 0.001) of those not experiencing a CVD event. Occurrence of SAEs monotonically increased across the range of baseline ASCVD risk being approximately twice as great in the highest compared with the lowest risk category. SAE occurrence was strongly associated with ASCVD risk but was similar within risk groups across treatment arms. In adjusted Cox models, experiencing a CVD event was the strongest predictor of SAEs in all risk groups. By the end of year 1, the hazard ratios for the low, middle, and high ASCVD risk tertiles, and baseline clinical CVD group were 2.56 (95% CI = 1.39-4.71); 2.52 (1.63-3.89); 3.61 (2.79-4.68); 1.86 (1.37-2.54), respectively-a trend observed in subsequent years until study end. Intensive treatment independently predicted SAEs only in the second ASVCD risk tertile. CONCLUSIONS The occurrence of SAEs is multifactorial and mostly related to prerandomization patient characteristics, most prominently ASCVD risk, which, in turn, relates to in-study CVD events.
Allosteric modulation of metabotropic glutamate receptors in alcohol use disorder: Insights from preclinical investigations

Abstract Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are family C G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that modulate neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission throughout the nervous system. Owing to recent advances in development of subtype-selective allosteric modulators of mGlu receptors, individual members of the mGlu receptor family have been proposed as targets for treating a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders. In this chapter, we highlight preclinical evidence that allosteric modulators of mGlu receptors could be useful for reducing alcohol consumption and preventing relapse in alcohol use disorder (AUD). We begin with an overview of the preclinical models that are used to study mGlu receptor involvement in alcohol-related behaviors. Alcohol exposure causes adaptations in both expression and function of various mGlu receptor subtypes, and pharmacotherapies aimed at reversing these adaptations have the potential to reduce alcohol consumption and seeking. Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of mGlu2 and negative allosteric modulators of mGlu5 show particular promise for reducing alcohol intake and/or preventing relapse. Finally, this chapter discusses important considerations for translating preclinical findings toward the development of clinically useful drugs, including the potential for PAMs to avoid tolerance issues that are frequently observed with repeated administration of GPCR agonists.
Development of a Data-driven Turbulence Model for 3d Thermal Stratification Simulation during Reactor Transients

SAM, a plant-level system analysis tool for advanced reactors (SFR, LFR, MSR/FHR) is under development at Argonne. As a modern system code, SAM aims to improve the predictions of 3D flows relevant to reactor safety during transient conditions. In order to fulfill this goal, one approach is to implement modeling of turbulent flow in SAM through establishing an embedded surrogate model for Reynolds stress/turbulence viscosity based on machine learning techniques. The proposed approach is based on an assumption that there exists a functional dependency relationship between local flow features and local turbulence viscosity or Reynolds stress. There have been very limited studies performed to validate this assumption. This paper documents a case study to examine the assumption in a scenario of potential reactor applications. The work doesn't aim to theoretically validate the assumption, but practically validate the assumption within the limited application domain. From the methodological point of view, the approach used in this paper could be classified into the so-called Type I machine learning (ML) approach, where a scale separation assumption is proposed claiming that conservation equations and closure relations are scale separable, for which the turbulence models are local rather than global. The CFD case studied in this work is a 3D transient thermal stratification tank flow problem performed using a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes turbulence model in STARCCM+ code. Flow information of all geometric points in all timesteps is collected as training data and test data.
“In My Own Opinion”: Negotiation of Rabbinical Authority Online in Responsa Within Kipa.co.il:

AbstractThis study explores how Israeli Jewish rabbis negotiate their authority through the practice of online Responsa, a Jewish tradition of rabbinical questions and answers (Q&A). A total of n =...
The attractiveness of various household baits to Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) (Diptera: Drosophilidae).

While Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) has been well studied for its scientific uses as a model organism, not as much work has been put into controlling them as pests across the world. These fruit flies are a common nuisance to households everywhere, and can present health issues through spreading bacteria and other pathogens it comes into contact with onto the food we consume. Controlling them is largely done with baited traps which they are attracted to, but finding what substances they are most attracted to can improve the effectiveness of these traps. For this experiment, seven household substances including, apple cider vinegar, 20% sugar water, simple syrup, banana slices, mushroom slices, beer, and wine, were used to bait traps. These were all placed outside, to compare and test their attractiveness to D. melanogaster. It was found that after eight days out, bananas attracted the most flies, followed by mushrooms, apple cider vinegar, wine, beer, simple syrup, and then the 20% sugar solution. The results were mostly consistent with what was expected considering what compounds fruit flies are attracted to. The results were able to demonstrate what household items prove most effective in attracting fruit flies in order to remove the pests from wherever it is needed. Additional research could look into the attractiveness of each of the active chemicals fruit flies are attracted to, and also find what concentrations and mixtures of these are most attractive to better make a bait for the flies.
"Video unavailable": analysis and prediction of deleted and moderated YouTube videos

YouTube strives to moderate its content by censoring, demonetizing or removing videos that allegedly violate their community guidelines. Such strategies, especially if seen as unjust by the affected users, could be met with resentment, anger, and in some cases, violence. In addition to YouTube removing videos, uploaders sometimes delete their videos for a variety of reasons such as paraphrasing or preserving online self-image. In this paper, we provide a detailed analysis of deleted/removed videos on YouTube. To do this, we tracked over 73,000 recent YouTube videos for one week and identified those that got deleted or removed. We have then conducted a large-scale analysis of this data and reported on the most informative features that distinguish deleted/removed videos from the ones that remain available. Based on our analysis, we have developed machine learning prediction models that predict videos that will get deleted/removed at different stages of a video's lifetime, viz., at the time of posting, and after up to seven days have elapsed. Our findings indicate that we can predict video deletion/removal with high accuracy even at the time of posting---a strategy that could help users perceive the removal of their videos as fair as well as reduce public and moderators exposure to problematic videos.
Perceptions and lessons from web-based interviews for the reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship application cycle.

Objective To evaluate the experience and perceptions of reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship applicants and program directors (PDs) regarding the current and future use of web-based interviews (WBIs). Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Nationwide cohort. Patient(s) Reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship applicants and PDs participating in the 2020 application cycle. Intervention(s) Anonymous survey sent to applicants and PDs. Main Outcome Measure(s) Descriptive study evaluating the experience and satisfaction of applicants and PDs with WBIs. Result(s) Forty-six percent of applicants and eligible PDs responded to our survey. Most applicants and PDs responded that WBIs were adequate for conveying a sense of a program’s strengths, faculty, diversity, clinical training, and research opportunities, but less than half responded that WBIs were adequate in providing a sense of the program’s clinical site and facilities. After WBIs, both applicants (73%) and PDs (86%) were able to rank with confidence. The cost of WBIs was significantly lower for both applicants (median: $100) and programs (median: $100) than the costs previously reported for in-person interviews. The applicants interviewed at more programs than they would have if the interviews were on-site, and Zoom was the highest rated platform used. Most applicants and PDs responded that WBIs were an adequate substitute, and that they should continue after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Furthermore, most of the PDs were planning to continue to use WBIs in some capacity. Conclusion(s) Both applicants and PDs had favorable experiences with and perceptions of WBIs, and most endorse the continued use of this interview modality. The findings of this study can help guide and optimize future WBI practices.
General Circulation of the Atmosphere

The “general circulation” refers to the broadscale, mean preferred circulation of the atmosphere. Heating near the Equator causes air to rise, producing a thermally induced low pressure belt near the Equator. This initiates a pressure gradient force that pulls near-surface air from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres toward the Equator, initiating convergence, whereupon the Coriolis effect deflects them slightly to the right of the flow in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left of the flow in the Southern Hemisphere. The resulting deflected winds are named the Northeast Trades (or Northeast Trade Winds) and Southeast Trades (or Southeast Trade Winds), with the former existing in the Northern Hemisphere and the latter existing in the Southern Hemisphere. Locations around 30°N and 30°S that have cooler conditions (and therefore denser air) at the surface than the surrounding areas will have higher pressure than other adjacent locations, generating the subtropical anticyclones. Cold, dense air at poles produces sinking and high surface pressure at the North Pole and another at the South Pole. These two semi-permanent anticyclones are known as the Polar Highs. The clockwise surface circulation associated with the Arctic Polar Cell and the counterclockwise circulation of the Antarctic Polar Cell drive surface easterly winds around them. In the mid-latitudes, west-to-east winds persist, overlain by even faster west-to-east winds with some north-to-south or south-to-north turns embedded in the west-to-east flow. More specific names for each of these features are provided in the text.
Exploration of dietary beliefs and social cognitive factors that influence eating habits among college students attending a rural Midwestern university.

OBJECTIVE College students are in a critical period of life where many lifestyle changes occur that influence health. The dietary changes that occur in college can persist throughout life and influence health and weight status. Several factors influence eating behaviors and dietary habits during college, and this study explores the dietary beliefs of college students and the factors that influence students' diets. Participants:Students (n = 49; 20% male; 76% female; 4% other) attending a rural Midwestern university. Methods: Focus groups (n = 7) were used for exploratory research. Demographic and food security data were also collected. Focus group data were analyzed using open coding methods. Themes and subthemes emerged from analysis. Results: Four major themes emerged across focus groups: 1) food and health beliefs; 2) social influence; 3) university influence; and 4) body image beliefs. Conclusions: Findings support offering nutrition education that incorporates foundational nutrition knowledge and cooking skills to all college students.
Identity Communication in Virtual Teams: Insights from Interviews with Working Professionals.

Organizations are increasingly using virtual teams to gain competitive advantages in the marketplace, but managers face a tradeoff between the benefits that such virtual teams provide and their inherent weaknesses. This paper examines identity communication in virtual environments, arguing that identity communication can counteract some of the negative aspects of virtual teamwork. Using coded transcriptions from 35 semi-structured interviews with working professionals who participate in virtual teams, we explore the process of identity communication in virtual teams and the role of technology in influencing and enabling these processes. Using established identity and media theories as a guide, we formulate, and then refine, a framework to summarize consistent themes in the interview data. Our findings lay the groundwork for future theoretical development in this relevant area of research, and we argue that further advances in this domain will allow organizations to more effectively leverage a virtual workforce with effective collaboration technologies.
Traumatic lumbar puncture at diagnosis adversely affects outcome in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The effect of traumatic lumbar puncture at the time of initial diagnostic workup on treatment outcome in children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was investigated. The findings of the first 2 lumbar punctures performed on 546 patients with newly diagnosed ALL treated on 2 consecutive front-line studies (1984-1991) at St Jude Children's Research Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Lumbar punctures were performed at the time of diagnosis and again for the instillation of first intrathecal chemotherapy. The event-free survival (EFS) experience for patients with 1 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample contaminated with blast cells was worse than that for patients with no contaminated CSF samples (P =.026); that of patients with 2 consecutive contaminated CSF samples was particularly poor (5-year EFS = 46 +/- 9%). In a Cox multiple regression analysis, the strongest prognostic indicator was 2 consecutive contaminated CSF samples, with a hazard ratio of 2.39 (95% confidence interval, 1. 36-4.20). These data indicate that contamination of CSF with circulating leukemic blast cells during diagnostic lumbar puncture can adversely affect the treatment outcome of children with ALL and is an indication to intensify intrathecal therapy.
Locating feminisms: The collapse of secular and religious discourses in the Mashriq

MARGOT BADRAN explores the complexities inherant in feminism among Islamic women of the Mashriq
Modeling of H2O/D2O Condensation in Supersonic Nozzles

We have developed a steady state 1-D model to examine the formation and growth of H2O/D2O droplets in a supersonic nozzle. The particle formation rate is predicted using Hale's scaled nucleation model. Droplet growth is modeled with five different growth laws. Both isothermal and nonisothermal growth laws are considered. We compared the predicted droplet sizes and number densities, to the values determined by in situ small angle x-ray scattering experiments (SAXS) conducted under similar conditions. Contrary to our expectations, the isothermal calculations are closer to the experimental results than anticipated. Nonisothermal droplet growth does not quench nucleation rapidly enough and almost always overpredicts the number density and, therefore, underpredicts the droplet sizes.
Dynamic fracture toughness of ceramic composites

The dynamic fracture toughness vs crack velocity relationships of TiB2 particulate-reinforced SiC-matrix and SiC whisker-reinforced Al2O3-matrix composites were determined at both room temperature and 1200 C with impacted, single-edge notched three-point bend specimens. Rapid crack initiation and propagation were monitored by a laser interferometric-displacement gage system. A FEM model that transmitted the measured outside-impact load to the specimen within the furnace was used to characterize the entire loading system-specimen unit. Small differences were measured between the room temperature and 1200 C dynamic responses.
Virtual agents based simulation for training healthcare workers in hand hygiene procedures

The goal of our work is the design and implementation of a virtual agents based interactive simulation for teaching and training healthcare workers in hand hygiene protocols. The interactive training simulation features a virtual instructor who teaches the trainee the Five Moments of hand hygiene, recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and the World Health Organization, via instructions and demonstrations in a tutorial phase. In an interactive training phase, a virtual health care worker demonstrates by interacting with a virtual patient and the patient's environment in ten randomly generated virtual scenarios. After watching each scenario the trainee evaluates if the virtual healthcare worker's actions are in accordance with the Five Moments of Hand Hygiene procedure. In a feedback phase, the trainee receives feedback on their performance in the training phase after which the trainee can either exit or return to any phase of the interactive simulation. We describe the design and development of the hospital environment, simulated virtual instructor, health care worker and patient, and the interactive simulation components towards teaching and training in healthcare best practices associated with hand hygiene.
Boundary-compensated wavelet bases

We investigate the formulation of boundary compensated wavelet transforms supported on a finite interval. A unified approach to boundary compensated wavelet transforms is presented which fosters new insights into previous constructions, including both continuous and discrete approaches to the problem. The framework enables the design of boundary-compensated transforms with specific properties, including among others arbitrary frequency response, matching moments, and staggered supports.
Sulfobromophthalein sodium metabolism in newborn infants.

With the use of a standard dose of sulfobromophthalein sodium (BSP), the metabolism of this substance was studied in a group of full-term and premature infants (normal, hypoxic, and hyperbilirubinemic). Elevated total BSP and BSP conjugate at birth in normal full-term and premature infants approached normal adult levels toward the end of the third week of life. There was no significant difference between the rate of decrease of total or conjugated BSP in the full-term and premature infant. During the first 20 days of life the decrease in total BSP levels proceeded at a faster rate than the decline in BSP conjugate in both normal groups. The mean concentrations of total BSP and BSP conjugate were higher in infants with hypoxia, hyperbilirubinemia, and hemolytic disease of the newborn than in normal infants, but the difference was not statistically significant.
National Healthcare Systems: A Worldview

To best understand American health care, one must compare it to other systems of national health care. Here we examine Canada, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of South Korea as a broad international sampling of health-care systems in countries with various geopolitical, historical, and economic trajectories. This group exemplifies health systems across multiple tiers of the global economy. Insurance in this sample is unanimously universal and—with the exception of Switzerland’s highly regulated private insurance industry—is provided publicly by the governments of each of these countries. Differences in the design, implementation, and results of these different national health-care systems can be found in the following analyses of these countries’ different geopolitical, historical, and economic attributes.
Pituitary extract for dystocia due to uterine inertia in the first stage of labor

Abstract Although large injections of posterior pituitary extract are admittedly dangerous when given in labor, this does not mean that small doses cannot be given with reasonable safety and advantage in prolonged first stage of labor due to poor labor pains. In 62 such cases (definitely in labor at term and with normal children) there was efficient and lasting stimulation of pains in 42. Five patients given pituitary extract plus artificial rupture of the membranes had good stimulation. Some patients were given two or more courses of repeated doses, good results for the individual courses being about 50 per cent. This percentage was approximately the same for primiparas and multiparas and also for different degrees of cervical dilatation, except for 6 cm. or more dilatation in multiparas where there was good effect in all 5 instances. In this series of 62 very difficult cases, intervention before full dilatation of the cervix was required in only 3, these being among those with only slight or temporary stimulation. That the method is not entirely free of danger is shown by the fact that there was one case of tetanic contraction of the uterus after a 2 minim injection without detectable injury to mother or child. Because of this experience and for other reasons, we recommend that the initial dose be no larger than 1 minim. One maternal death followed difficult operative delivery after full dilatation of the cervix and was not ascribable to use of pituitary extract in the first stage. The child in this case was subjected to craniotomy. Three other babies died in utero, but with evidence pointing to difficult labor rather than use of pituitary extract as the cause. There were no neonatal deaths or diagnosable birth injuries in the 58 babies born alive.
Risk Factors and Mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis: Obviously and Obviously Not.

In their article, Chen and Fernandez (3) present a viewpoint in which they briefly consider the roles of the aging process, and risk factors associated with age-related degenerative diseases, in the pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease (AD). The authors forward both the general perspective, and a specific mechanism which they suggest underlies most cases of AD. They propose that 1) several known risk factors most likely play a critical role in the late-onset sporadic AD, and 2) plaques and tangles occur spontaneously during aging as a result of a natural decline of energy metabolism and Ca signaling. My responses to these two major conclusions are that 1) obviously, genetic and environmental risk factors play important roles in the pathogenesis of AD, and this is certainly not a new perspective; and 2) the proposal that a decline in energy metabolism and Ca signaling is central to the pathogenesis of AD is obviously not correct. In the following paragraphs I will elaborate on these two points. It is obviously the case that there are several important risk factors that increase the probability of developing AD. The aging process is the strongest risk factor for AD, and the molecular and cellular changes that occur in the brain dur-
Catechol-O-methyltransferase activity in erythrocytes of women taking oral contraceptive steroids

We have measured catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity in erythrocytes (red blood cells, RBCs) obtained from 64 women taking oral contraceptives steroids and compared these values with those found in RBCs obtained from 73 women using nonsteroidal contraceptives. The COMT activity in the RBCs of women taking oral contraceptives steroids and of women not taking contraceptive steroids was 9.1 +/- 0.28 (mean and standard error) and 8.8 +/- 0.26 nmoles 2-methoxyestrone X ml-1 RBC X hr-1, respectively. This difference in the COMT activity in RBCs from these two groups of women was not statistically significant. This finding differs from that of others who found that COMT activity in RBCs of women taking oral contraceptive steroids was greater than that of women not taking such drugs.
Over-the-counter medications: Risk and safety in pregnancy

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are among the most commonly used products in pregnancy. Similar to prescription medications, for many products there is a lack of adequate data on safety of use in pregnancy. Assumptions of safety for these products based on long experience and OTC status, in the absence of data, may be ill founded. Examples of four OTC products used to treat common conditions in pregnancy are described. Potential links to adverse short- and long-term infant outcomes for these products are reviewed, and the strengths and limitations of data to support these. Research to detect or rule out these risks is essential.
Wavelet transform for image data compression

Derives a new compactly supported wavelet using the Daubechies approach. The construction of a "mother wavelet" is based on the notion of multiresolution analysis and is derived using the theory of compactly supported wavelet bases. The FIR filter related to this wavelet has 22 taps which leads to a regular wavelet with a high number of vanishing moments. The new wavelet and its dilated and shifted versions serve as a basis function for the measurable, square-integrable functions space L/sup 2/(R). To construct an orthonormal basis function for L/sup 2/(R/sup 2/), the authors simply take two one-dimensional bases and form the tensor product function. The new basis function is then implemented in a discrete form, and is used to decorrelate the data in an image, followed by a data compression scheme. >
Prevalence of Heart Failure Signs and Symptoms in a Large Primary Care Population Identified Through the Use of Text and Data Mining of the Electronic Health Record

Abstract Background The electronic health record (EHR) contains a tremendous amount of data that if appropriately detected can lead to earlier identification of disease states such as heart failure (HF). Using a novel text and data analytic tool we explored the longitudinal EHR of over 50,000 primary care patients to identify the documentation of the signs and symptoms of HF in the years preceding its diagnosis. Methods and Results Retrospective analysis consisted of 4,644 incident HF cases and 45,981 group-matched control subjects. Documentation of Framingham HF signs and symptoms within encounter notes were carried out with the use of a previously validated natural language processing procedure. A total of 892,805 affirmed criteria were documented over an average observation period of 3.4 years. Among eventual HF cases, 85% had ≥1 criterion within 1 year before their HF diagnosis, as did 55% of control subjects. Substantial variability in the prevalence of individual signs and symptoms were found in both case and control subjects. Conclusions HF signs and symptoms are frequently documented in a primary care population as identified through automated text and data mining of EHRs. Their frequent identification demonstrates the rich data available within EHRs that will allow for future work on automated criterion identification to help develop predictive models for HF.
Interferon induction of polyamine-dependent protein kinase activity in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

Abstract Treatment of Ehrlich ascites tumor cell cultures in vitro with interferon induces a protein kinase activity that is activated by the polyamines, spermidine and spermine. Putrescine antagonizes the activation. The protein kinase yields a phosphorylated endogenous polypeptide of M r 68,000–70,000. The polyamine-dependent protein kinase activity cofractionates with a double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase activity during affinity chromatography on poly (I) ·poly (C) - agarose or by chromatography on phosphocellulose. The double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase also phosphorylates an endogenous polypeptide of M r 68,000–70,000. Unsuccessful attempts to discriminate between these two protein kinase activities on the bases of their respective capacities to be activated by either double-stranded RNA or spermidine/spermine, suggest that a single protein kinase enzyme may be activated by these strikingly dissimilar modifiers.
The stress‐strain behavior of materials exhibiting andrade creep

The stress-strain behavior of a material exhibiting Andrade creep (for which the creep compliance is linear in the cube-root of time) has been calculated for loading at constant strain rate and at constant stress rate for the limiting case of linear viscoelastic behavior and at constant for one type of nonlinear viscoelastic response. The recoverable strain after the stress has been removed has also been calculated for these three cases. The results of the calculations are compared with experiment.
Preparation of Gadolinium Gallium Garnet [Gd3Ga5O12] by Solid-State Reaction of the Oxides

We have prepared dense polycrystalline gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) by solid-state reaction of the oxides. The oxides were prereacted at 1350°C, ground, pressed, and sintered at 1650°C, yielding 97% dense samples. Ga2O3 evaporated from the sample surface leaving Gd4Ga2O9 that could spall off the sample. For the short times needed to sinter samples, the bulk composition of the material remained essentially constant. The microhardness of the GGG was 11.8 ± 1.2 GN · m−2.
Managing brown bears and wilderness recreation on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, USA

The Russian River-Cooper Lake-Resurrection River trail system, on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, traverses essential brown bear habitat. To set management guidelines for this area, the trail system was monitored using questionnaire cards and electronic trail counters from 1984 through 1987. This helped to determine the extent and type of human use and human-bear encounters in the area. Management recommendations were intended to reduce the potential displacement of brown bears by hikers and to inform wilderness users of the proper camping techniques to avoid attracting bears to the campsite. An average of 5800 visitors hiked or camped along the trail system each year. Encounters between hikers and brown bears averaged 7/yr while encounters with black bears averaged 35/yr. Minor problems occurred with both the electronic trail counters and the questionnaire. Modilications to these methods are discussed. A Limits of Acceptable Change format should be considered for the trail system to determine the character and future direction of recreational activities and monitoring of the trail system should continue in the future.
Feeding and Reproduction of Rats fed Calcium Cyclamate

WITH the increased production and consumption of calcium cyclamate as a sweetening agent in foods for dietary uses, a series of feeding trials on rats was initiated at the request of, and under contract with, the Sugar Research Foundation, Inc.
Deception in social science research: is informed consent possible?

he principle of informed consent generally includes two necessary conditions for the proper treatment of human subjects in experimentation. The first condition, which has been widely discussed, is that the consent be obtained from subjects who agree to participate voluntarily, where voluntarism is understood negatively as the absence of coercion. The second condition, which is less often discussed, is that the consent must be informed. The Articles of the Nuremberg Tribunal and The Declaration of Helsinki both state that the subjects must be told the duration, methods, possible risks, and the purpose or aim of the experiment. The most recent HEW regulations agree: informed consent has not been obtained if there has been any element of deceit or fraud. These guidelines reflect our ordinary moral view that deception is morally unacceptable. During the past quarter-century the size of the scientific research establishment has vastly increased. Medical, sociological, and psychological research is being carried out at our universities and other institutions at a rapid rate. The success of this effort, measured in terms of the amount of knowledge gained, has been well documented. In some of this research, however, the human beings serving as subjects are deceived as to the purpose of the experiment. In social psychology, for example, the incidence of the use of deceptive research designs has been estimated to be as high as 38 percent,l and even though deception is less common in medical research, many examples are available.2 One immediate response is to say that "the experiment ought not to be performed and the desired knowledge should be sought by means of a different research design."3 But this response overlooks the crucial point that certain bits of knowledge cannot, for logical reasons alone, be obtained without the use of deception. The testing of some hypotheses, within both psychology and medicine, requires that the subjects not be informed of the purpose or aim of the experiment being conducted. We are faced then with a moral dilemma. Since the search