cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Attendance at a Physical Activity Focused Afterschool Program in Elementary School Children.

Afterschool youth physical activity (PA) programs provide opportunities for increasing children’s time engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). However, low program attendance reduces the benefits of participating in these programs. The purpose of this study was to determine if enjoyment, athletic competence and motivation for PA predict youth attendance at a free afterschool PA program from 3rd to 5th grade. Data were collected from a larger randomized community trial examining the effectiveness of an afterschool program for increasing opportunities to engage in MVPA. Data were collected twice annually (fall/spring) over 3 school years (3rd – 5th grade) in 9 schools. Analyses were stratified by grade and sex, and a series of multi-level linear regression models were utilized to determine if baseline levels of the psychosocial determinants predicted annual attendance as a percentage of afterschool sessions attended. Amotivation for PA was negatively associated with attendance in boys and non-self-determined extrinsic motivation was positively associated with attendance in girls in the 5th grade. Age was associated with a 13.72% reduction in attendance in the 3rd grade, a 12.87% attendance reduction in the 4th grade, and a 7.93% attendance in reduction in the 5th grade. Race was also associated with attendance. Non-White youth attended the program 13.56% less in the 3rd grade, 17.35% less in the 4th grade, and 21.53% less in the 5th grade than White youth. The findings suggest that attendance to PA afterschool programming may be associated with children’s motivational characteristics, but that other variables should be identified for further research.
Total Quality Management: An Introductory Text

(1998). Total Quality Management: An Introductory Text. Quality Management Journal: Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 126-127.
Experiences of Foreign-Born Immigrant, Undergraduate Women at a U.S. Institution and Influences on Career–Life Planning

This qualitative study explores the career–life experiences of foreign-born immigrant women pursuing undergraduate degrees. Two conceptual frameworks guided this study: life role salience and syste...
Miniscule differences between the sex chromosomes in the giant genome of a salamander, Ambystoma mexicanum

In the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) sex is known to be determined by a single Mendelian factor, yet the sex chromosomes of this model salamander do not exhibit morphological differentiation that is typical of many vertebrate taxa that possess a single sex-determining locus. Differentiated sex chromosomes are thought to evolve rapidly in the context of a Mendelian sex-determining gene and, therefore, undifferentiated chromosomes provide an exceptional opportunity to reconstruct early events in sex chromosome evolution. Whole chromosome sequencing, whole genome resequencing (48 individuals from a backcross of axolotl and tiger salamander) and in situ hybridization were used to identify a homomorphic chromosome that carries an A. mexicanum sex determining factor and identify sequences that are present only on the W chromosome. Altogether, these sequences cover ~300 kb, or roughly 1/100,000th of the ~32 Gb genome. Notably, these W-specific sequences also contain a recently duplicated copy of the ATRX gene: a known component of mammalian sex-determining pathways. This gene (designated ATRW) is one of the few functional (non-repetitive) genes in the chromosomal segment and maps to the tip of chromosome 9 near the marker E24C3, which was previously found to be linked to the sex-determining locus. These analyses provide highly predictive markers for diagnosing sex in A. mexicanum and identify ATRW as a strong candidate for the primary sex determining locus or alternately a strong candidate for a recently acquired, sexually antagonistic gene.
Cerebral hemodynamic and metabolic alterations in stroke: formal discussion of paper by Dr. Martin Reivich, et al.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss this fine paper by Dr. Reivich and colleagues. There is a considerable amount of correlative data between clinical and laboratory studies presented by these investigators that agrees quite closely with some of our work in this field. Time permits only specific comments referable to three aspects of this work: (1) cerebral auto-regulation, (2) critical cerebral blood flow, and (3) variations in NADH studies with laboratory preparations.
A robust intensity modulated proton therapy optimizer based on Monte Carlo dose calculation.

PURPOSE Accuracy of dose calculation models and robustness under various uncertainties are key factors influencing the quality of intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) plans. To mitigate the effects of uncertainties and to improve the dose calculation accuracy, an all-scenario robust IMPT optimization based on accurate Monte Carlo (MC) dose calculation was developed. METHODS In the all-scenario robust IMPT optimization, dose volume histograms (DVHs) were computed for the nominal case and for each uncertainty scenario. All scenarios were weighted by DVH values dynamically throughout optimization iterations. In contrast, probabilistic approach weighted scenarios with fixed scenario weights and worst case optimizations picked one single scenario - the worst scenario for each iteration. Uncertainties in patient setup and proton range were considered in all clinical cases studied. Graphics processing unit (GPU) computation was employed to reduce the computational time in both the MC dose calculation and optimization stages. A previously published adaptive quasi-Newton method for proton optimization was extended to include robustness. To validate the all-scenario algorithm extension, it was compared with the single scenario optimization target volume (OTV) based approach in clinical cases of three different disease sites. Additional comparisons with worst case optimization methods were conducted to evaluate the performance of the all-scenario robust optimization against other robust optimizations. RESULTS The all-scenario robust IMPT optimization spared organs at risk (OARs) better than the OTV-based method while maintaining target coverage and improving the robustness of targets and OARs. Compared with composite and voxel-wise worst case optimization, the all-scenario robust optimization converged faster, and arrived at solutions of tighter DVH robustness spread, better target coverage and lower OAR dose. CONCLUSION An all-scenario robust IMPT treatment planning system was developed using an adaptive quasi-Newton optimization method. The optimization system was GPU-accelerated and based on MC dose calculation. Improved performance was observed in clinical cases when compared with worst case optimization methods.
Multistream Classification for Cyber Threat Data with Heterogeneous Feature Space

Under a newly introduced setting of multistream classification, two data streams are involved, which are referred to as source and target streams. The source stream continuously generates data instances from a certain domain with labels, while the target stream does the same task without labels from another domain. Existing approaches assume that domains for both data streams are identical, which is not quite true in real world scenario, since data streams from different sources may contain distinct features. Furthermore, obtaining labels for every instance in a data stream is often expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, it has become an important topic to explore whether labeled instances from other related streams can be helpful to predict those unlabeled instances in a given stream. Note that domains of source and target streams may have distinct features spaces and data distributions. Our objective is to predict class labels of data instances in the target stream by using the classifiers trained by the source stream. We propose a framework of multistream classification by using projected data from a common latent feature space, which is embedded from both source and target domains. This framework is also crucial for enterprise system defenders to detect cross-platform attacks, such as Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs). Empirical evaluation and analysis on both real-world and synthetic datasets are performed to validate the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm, comparing to state-of-the-art techniques. Experimental results show that our approach significantly outperforms other existing approaches.
The impact of marital status on health care utilization among Medicare beneficiaries

To explain prior literature showing that married Medicare beneficiaries achieve better health outcomes at half the per person cost of single beneficiaries, we examined different patterns of healthcare utilization as a potential driver.Using the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) data, we sought to understand utilization patterns in married versus currently-not-married Medicare beneficiaries. We analyzed the relationship between marital status and healthcare utilization (classified based on setting of care utilization into outpatient, inpatient, and skilled nursing facility (SNF) use) using logistic regression modeling. We specified models to control for possible confounders based on the Andersen model of healthcare utilization.Based on 13,942 respondents in the MCBS dataset, 12,929 had complete data, thus forming the analytic sample, of whom 6473 (50.3%) were married. Of these, 58% (vs. 36% of those currently-not-married) were male, 45% (vs. 47%) were age >75, 24% (vs. 70%) had a household income below $25,000, 18% (vs. 14%) had excellent self-reported general health, and 56% (vs. 36%) had private insurance. Compared to unmarried respondents, married respondents had a trend toward higher odds of having a recent outpatient visit (unadjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.19, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.10, (CI) 0.99-1.22), and lower odds in the year prior to have had an inpatient stay (AOR 0.84, CI 0.72-0.99) or a SNF stay (AOR 0.55, CI 0.40-0.75).Based on MCBS data, odds of self-reported inpatient and SNF use were lower among married respondents, while unadjusted odds of outpatient use were higher, compared to currently-not-married beneficiaries.
A Language of the Skin

The following article is intended to alert readers of the New Outlook to research which is intended to implement an idea originally suggested in conjunction with mobility device research for the bl...
Dance Pedagogy Turned Inside Out: The Development of an Inside-Out Prison Exchange Course and Relevance in a University Dance Program

This article follows a university dance educator’s journey through shifting pedagogy to create a more equitable learning environment, turning traditional didactic dance education models inside out....
Gaining insight to B2B relationships through new segmentation approaches: Not all relationships are equal

Abstract B2B market segmentation has both structure complexity and computation complexity. The existing market segmentation methods can not directly address these two challenges simultaneously and provide a comprehensive view of the whole problem. Nor are they able to provide guidance on the selection of the most suitable solution among candidates. This study formulates the B2B segmentation as a multi-dimensional optimization problem that integrates both customer behavior and marketing effectiveness. It applies an integrated segmentation method that unifies two market segmentation approaches: the Embedded Exchange Approach (a descriptive model) and the Predictive Satisfaction Approach (a predictive model). It proposes the use of an evolutionary based, multi-objective segmentation method to solve the structural and computational challenges. The method generates a set of Pareto optimal solutions which not only gives a holistic view of possible solutions in the Pareto optimal space but also allows marketers to use solution selection algorithm based on the properties of Pareto optimal sets. The study develops a solution selection algorithm that represents a good tradeoff of two objectives based on the geometric shape of the Pareto optimal solution front.
Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in obese COVID-19 patients

Rationale: Growing literature on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) suggests that obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2) is a strong risk factor for increasing disease severity, hospitalization and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). In such critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can serve as salvage therapy. The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) COVID-19 ECMO registry reports that 49% of its patients were classified as obese as of 12/01/2020. However, the morbidity and mortality outcomes of this subgroup remains unclear. As such, this high-risk population merits further examination. Methods: We identified adult COVID-19 ARDS patients who were candidates for either veno-venous ECMO or veno-arterial ECMO between March 13, 2020 and August 31, 2020. The eligibility for ECMO was selected based on our institutional algorithm and the EOLIA Trial criteria (except for high BMI cutoff). Patients were divided into two groups, obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2) and non-obese (BMI < 29.9 kg/m2). We compared the pre-cannulation characteristics including time elapsed between admission to ECMO, intubation to ECMO and respiratory indices. We then examined length on ECMO, ICU or hospital length of stay and disposition. Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze categorical and continuous data. Results: We identified a total of 41 patients, 33 (80.5%) were obese and 8 (19.5%) were non-obese [Table 1]. The average age of the obese and non-obese groups was 47.8 years and 55.5 years respectively. The median BMI was 39.85 kg/m2 (IQR: 35.63, 43.00) in the obese group and 29.05 kg/m2 (IQR: 25.35, 29.39) in the non-obese group (p <0.00001). There was no difference in precannulation characteristics between the groups. In terms of timelines, the obese group was borderline significant with regards to more time elapsed between admission to ECMO (p = 0.058), however, no other significant changes were noted. The ICU length of stay was lower in the obese group with median runtime of 22 days versus 35.5 days (p = 0.029). There was no statistically significant difference in mortality (p = 0.43) or dispositions between the two groups. Conclusion: In our study, the obesity group did not have worse outcomes than the non-obese group. This should encourage consideration of ECMO in carefully selected obese patients with severe ARDS from COVID-19.
The excess smoothness puzzle in consumption

This paper discusses the "excess smoothness" puzzle which means that permanent income is more volatile than consumption. There have been two major explanations of this puzzle. One is that the existence of excess sensitivity spreads the effect of a permanent income innovation over multiple periods. The other is that a significant transitory income component which is independent with permanent income implies a much smoother permanent income than a univariate labor income process predicts;Two questions are suggested. The first one is whether excess smoothness is an independent phenomenon of excess sensitivity. Quah (1990) indicates that the existence of a transitory component of labor income can resolve this puzzle. However, this paper criticizes this by arguing that his idea implies too small a covariance between the first differences of observed consumption and labor income;The second question is that there is significant difference in measured volatility of permanent income between when a simple ARIMA representation of labor income process is applied to Flavin's permanent income and when a nonparametic approach is applied to Gali's alternative formulation. This paper constructs a general model which embodies not only the two formulations of permanent income but also the existence of excess sensitivity and bivariate labor income process which have been suggested as possible explanations for excess smoothness;From empirical analysis, we conclude that these factors can not explain the difference between the two formulations. The transitory component of labor income does not significantly decrease the volatility of Flavin's permanent income, and excess sensitivity probably can not fully explain excess smoothness.
The Forced Surrender of Infants Born to Unwed Mothers in Southern Italy. A Case Study of Late Nineteenth Century Practices in the Town of Forio d’Ischia

For many centuries, unwed mothers in southern Italy were forced to surrender their infants because of a number of social, religious, economic, and political pressures. This study focuses on the policies and practices that were in place in southern Italy regarding illegitimate infants in the late nineteenth century. A detailed analysis of the policies and practices present in the town of Forio d’Ischia during the 20-year period 1880–1899 is also presented. During these two decades, there were 37 illegitimate live births representing 0.70 % of the 5249 live births recorded in this town. Although small in number, these illegitimate births, referred to as spuri in Italian, from the Latin spurius, meaning bastard, were managed by standard predetermined procedures. These included anonymity for the parents, the transfer of such infants to an official town receiver of foundlings, and their transport to Naples’ orphanage, the Real Casa Santa dell’Annunziata. This orphanage maintained fairly detailed records about the children who were delivered to it. After a few days at the orphanage, infants were often entrusted to the care of external wet nurses, preferably outside of Naples. This was done in the belief that infant survival was better assured in more rural environments. The case of an illegitimate infant, Antonino Spinalbese, is presented in detail. Born on 14 February 1882 in the town of Forio d’Ischia, he was brought to the orphanage 4 days later. Following a two-day stay at the orphanage, he was entrusted to an external wet nurse, Michele Mondella, and her husband, Ciro Fiscale di Felice, a mariner in the town of Torre del Greco. The available evidence indicates that Antonino Spinalbese became a mariner like his stepfather. As a crew member of the passenger ship, Vulcano, he made three trips from Naples to New York City in 1922 and 1923.
Supplementing exercise: translational considerations for nutraceutical and lifestyle interventions

Ageing is the primary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). With the unprecedented increase in the ageing population, the need for effective interventions and an understanding of their mechanism(s) of action is of utmost biomedical importance. Exercise elicits beneficial effects on cardiovascular health in older adults and is an important lifestyle intervention for the primary prevention of CVD. Preclinical studies suggest that the polyphenol resveratrol, a caloric restriction mimetic, potentiates the beneficial effects of exercise and may be a novel intervention for CVD prevention. Recently, Gliemann et al. (2013) conducted a translational investigation to assess the efficacy of concomitant resveratrol and exercise training for improving multiple markers of cardiovascular health including exercise capacity, functional performance and vascular function in older adults, as well as the mechanisms involved therein. Gliemann et al. (2013) randomized older (60- to 72-year-old) sedentary men into two groups matched for aerobic capacity and clinical characteristics. Both groups underwent 8 weeks of exercise training with either placebo or resveratrol supplementation (250 mg trans-resveratrol per day). Resveratrol supplementation with exercise did not provide synergistic benefits on the outcomes assessed compared with exercise alone and blunted exercise-induced improvements in some outcomes. Specifically, while percentage body fat decreased and functional performance increased in both groups, the resveratrol group failed to achieve significant reductions in mean arterial pressure and exhibited a significantly smaller increase in maximal oxygen uptake. Subjects randomized to the resveratrol and exercise group also exhibited increased muscle expression of the procoagulant and vasoconstrictor protein, thromboxane. In contrast to the authors’ hypothesis, skeletal muscle expression of the central metabolic regulator sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) did not change across the intervention period in either group. The findings by Gliemann et al. (2013) suggest that in contrast to select evidence from preclinical studies, concomitant resveratrol supplementation and exercise training do not have synergistic effects to improve markers of cardiovascular health in humans. This contradiction highlights two important issues, i.e. the importance of effective clinical translation of preclinical findings to humans and the importance of hormesis in the maintenance of human health.
Mitral Annular and Coronary Artery Calcification Are Associated with Mortality in HIV-Infected Individuals.

Author(s): Lange, David C; Glidden, David; Secemsky, Eric A; Ordovas, Karen; Deeks, Steven G; Martin, Jeffrey N; Bolger, Ann F; Hsue, Priscilla Y | Abstract: BackgroundHIV infection increases cardiovascular risk. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) and mitral annular calcification (MAC) identify patients at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The purpose of this study was to examine the association between MAC, CAC and mortality in HIV-infected individuals.Methods and resultsWe studied 152 asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and computed tomography (CT). MAC was identified on TTE using standardized criteria. Presence of CAC, CAC score and CAC percentiles were determined using the modified Agatston criteria. Mortality data was obtained from the Social Security and National Death Indices (SSDI/NDI). The median age was 49 years; 87% were male. The median duration of HIV was 16 years; 84% took antiretroviral therapy; 64% had an undetectable viral load. CVD risk factors included hypertension (35%), smoking (62%) and dyslipidemia (35%). Twenty-five percent of individuals had MAC, and 42% had CAC. Over a median follow-up of 8 years, 11 subjects died. Subjects with CAC had significantly higher mortality compared to those with MAC only or no MAC. The Harrell's C-statistic of CAC was 0.66 and increased to 0.75 when MAC was added (p = 0.05). MAC, prior CVD, age and HIV viral load were independently associated with higher age- and gender-adjusted CAC percentiles in an adjusted model (p l 0.05 for all).ConclusionIn HIV patients, the presence of MAC, traditional risk factors and HIV viral load were independently associated with CAC. Presence of CAC and MAC may be useful in identifying HIV-infected individuals at higher risk for death.
Negative emotional responses to motherhood-related support receipt during pregnancy predict postpartum depressive symptoms

ABSTRACTBackground and Objectives: Prenatal stress increases risk for postpartum depression. While social support availability may attenuate this risk, little research has examined support receipt during pregnancy, which has been linked to increased distress in other domains. This study assesses the implications of motherhood-related and motherhood-unrelated support receipt for daily distress during pregnancy and tests whether negative responsiveness to motherhood-related support predicts postpartum depression risk. Design and Method: Thirty-one pregnant women were recruited from the community for a 3-wave study (beginning at approximately 26 weeks gestation, 34 weeks gestation, and 4 weeks postpartum). Each wave included a survey of general characteristics (e.g. depressive symptoms) and a two-week diary period measuring mood, stress, and support. Results: A multilevel model analysis suggested that motherhood-related support predicted greater increases in daily distress than motherhood-unrelated support. ...
Determinants of exclusive breastfeeding cessation in a peer counseling breastfeeding support program for low-income women (1016.4)

Breastfeeding peer counseling programs have demonstrated efficacy in improving exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates, but the impact of specific program protocols on this outcome is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To describe associations between individual and combinations of program components and EBF cessation in a peer counseling breastfeeding support program. METHODS: Data was collected for 5,886 low-income women prenatally enrolled in Michigan’s Breastfeeding Initiative Program from 2005-2011. Cox proportional hazards models and chi-square analyses were used to determine the impact of program components on EBF cessation. “Optimal” quantities of contacts were based on program guidelines. RESULTS: Each home, phone and other contact had a similar impact on risk of EBF cessation at three months postpartum (HR (95% CI): 0.92 (0.89, 0.94); 0.90 (0.88, 0.91); and 0.94 (0.91, 0.98) respectively). Women who received a more in-person and less phone contacts than were considered optimum had the lowest risk of EBF cessation ...
Foreword: The Role of Justice in Building Peace

Forward to The War Crimes Research Symposium: The Role of Justice in Building Peace, Cleveland, Ohio 2003.
Temperature influence on greenbug resistance of crops in the seedling stage

The stability of resistance to the greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (C-biotype), of resistant and susceptible selections of sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), rye ( Secale cereale L.), barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.), and oats ( Avena sativa L.) was tested under 3 temperature regimes. Tolerance appeared to influence foliage loss more than antibiosis or nonpreference. Foliage losses and differences between susceptible and resistant selections of cool season grasses (rye, barley, and oats) increased as temperature decreased. In sorghum, foliage loss and susceptible-and-resistant-selection differences increased as temperature increased.
Membrane structure: binary membranes of mitochondrial cristae.

Abstract Sections of mitochondrial cristae membranes show a five-layered structure consisting of two outer and one central stained region with unstained layers between. Membranous fragments obtained by detergent fractionation of the cristae show three layers with stained layers on each side of a central unstained layer. Each of the derivative membranes is half as thick as the original cristae. When the fragments are recombined to restore NADH oxidase activity the five-layered structure is restored. We propose that the cristae membrane is composed of two lipoprotein layers with cytochromes b and c1 in one layer and cytochromes a and a3 in the other layer.
Care of the child in a body cast

Summary Caring for a child in a body cast is a stressful situation for most families and many families state they do not receive adequate information on how to care for their child. This paper presents a comprehensive guide on caring for a child in a body cast. It examines the physical care issues, transportation and cast care. An instrument for assessing the family's ability to cope with caring for a child in a body cast is described, and further resources for parents and nurses are presented.
An interchromosomal gene conversion of the Drosophila dunce locus identified with restriction site polymorphisms: a potential involvement of transposable elements in gene conversion

Females heterozygous for the two alleles dnc2 and dncM14 of the X-linked gene dunce (dnc), and carrying a copy of dnc+ progeny X-chromosomes from recombination experiments. Restriction site polymorphisms have been used as genetic markers to follow the parentage of dnc locus segments in these chromosomes. All six chromosomes are identical with respect to the spectrum of restriction site markers they carry in the dnc+ chromosomal region. In the progeny chromosomes, this region is comprised of sequences like the dncM14 X-chromosome and the translocation copy of dnc+. Sequences flanking the dnc gene in the progeny chromosomes are like the dncM14 chromosome. Internal to the gene but near the 5′ end, is a segment from the dnc+ translocation which has apparently originated from an interchromosomal and premeiotic gene conversion event. In addition, two transposable elements have inserted into the progeny chromosomes, one towards the 5′ end of dnc and the other near the 3′ end. The insertion of these elements occurred premeiotically since all six chromosomes are structurally identical. The data are interpreted with respect to a potential role of transposable element transposition in the process of gene conversion.
Adolescents and sexually transmitted diseases: Diagnosis, developmental ■ issues, and prevention ■

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) continue to be a public health priority; adolescents are the highest risk group for nearly all STDs. Health care providers play an important role in addressing the problem of STDs among teenagers. This article reviews diagnostic approaches, developmental aspects of adolescents, and prevention efforts. Findings related to the STD epidemic in adolescents and the theoretic and pragmatic issues regarding prevention efforts, are presented.
Total synthesis of dan shen diterpenoid quinones

Abstract A photochemical aromatic annulation strategy provides efficient synthetic routes to the diterpenoid quinones (+)-danshexinkun A, danshexinkun B, danshexinkun C, (−)-dihydrotanshinone I, and tanshinone I.
Public Participation and Claimsmaking: Evidence Utilization and Divergent Policy Frames in California's Ergonomics Rulemaking

Notice and comment provisions in agency rulemaking provide an important mechanism for the public to contribute to policy. Yet there is limited research on how interest groups participate in this process. California's passage of an ergonomics standard in 1997, the only current state statute in the country, provides a useful, high salience policy case for examining public commentary. Between an initially proposed comprehensive standard and the enactment of a much weaker regulation occurred the largest public response in California's state Occupational Safety and Health Administration history. Through a detailed content analysis of the notice and comment submissions we identify features of participation and claimsmaking that differ between business and nonbusiness submissions. Business groups were the large majority of participants and also presented a disproportionate amount of evidence, using an “abstract-technical” policy frame to assert the illegitimacy of the ergonomics standard. Labor, public health organizations and private citizens represented less than one-third of the participants and relied primarily on experiential information and a “concretized-moral” characterization of policy issues in support of the standard. The existence of these distinct “interpretive communities” that mobilize different resources raises questions about whether public commentary can fulfill its purported “democratic accountability” purpose as well as underline the limitations of appealing to scientific expertise for solving complex policy problems.
Is prophylactic neck irradiation indicated in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus

Purpose To determine the proportion of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus who will fail in regional nodes without elective neck treatment and to identify any prognostic factors that may influence neck control. Methods and materials From 1971-1995, 42 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus were seen at our department for curative treatment. There were 35 males and 7 females, with a median age at diagnosis of 63.5 years (range, 42-77 years). One tumor was classified as T1, 5 had T2, 15 had T3, and 21 had T4 disease. Four of 42 patients (9.5%) had cervical lymphadenopathy at initial presentation. Thirty-three patients had surgical resection and radiotherapy and nine had radiotherapy alone. None of the 38 patients with clinical N0 necks received elective treatment to the cervical nodes. Results Median overall survival was 30 months for all patients. Of the 38 patients with N0 disease, 11 (28.9%) had neck recurrence. Of the 11 neck failures, 9 were ipsilateral only, 1 was contralateral, and 1 had bilateral neck recurrence. The most common site of neck failure was in the upper neck (submandibular and jugulodigastric lymph nodes). Four of the 38 patients (10.5%) had isolated neck failure. Only tumor stage was found to be significant for neck relapse, with T1 and T2 doing worse compared to T3 and T4 tumors. Location of tumor (infrastructure vs. suprastructure), involvement of the oral cavity/oropharynx, nasal cavity, nasopharynx or orbit did not predict for cervical node relapse. Local control at the primary site was likewise not prognostic. The median overall survival for patients who remained N0 was 80 months and for those with initial cervical involvement or recurred in the neck without elective neck irradiation was 25 months (p = 0.05). Conclusion Based on the 28.9% rate of neck recurrence and the poor median survival of patients who recur in the neck, we recommend prophylactic ipsilateral neck irradiation in patients with T1-T4 squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus.
Lugworm (Arenicola cristata) larvae in toxicity tests: Survival and development when exposed to organotins

A test is described for the exposure of the lugworm Arenicola cristata to toxicants. Embryos of A. cristata were exposed for 96 and 168 h to bis(triphenyltin) oxide (TPTO), triphenyltin chloride (TPTC), bis(tri-n-butyltin) oxide (TBTO) and tributyltin acetate (TBTA). The toxic effects were death and abnormal development of larvae. Concentrations that killed all animals were 4 μg L−1 (96 h) and 2 μg L−1 (168 h) TPTO; 10 μg L−1 (96 h) and 5 μg L−1 (168 h) TPTC; 4μg L−1 (96 h) TBTO; and 10 μg L−1 (96 h) and 5 μg L−1 (168 h) TBTA. Abnormal morphology was caused by 0.75 μg L−1 TPTO, 1 μg L−1 TPTC and 5 μg L−1 TBTA. Several developmental stages, from embryo to swimming larva, were exposed to TPTO. The most sensitive stages were early trochophore and early settled stage. The range of concentrations between 100% survival and 100% mortality was narrow in all tests. The exposure system is simple and detects teratogenicity.
Reducing risk of entry into confined space manure storages

Background Death from asphyxiation and poisoning when entering confined-space manure tanks is a serious hazard in animal agriculture. Often, multiple fatalities occur when farmers try to rescue friends or relatives overcome by the noxious gas atmosphere. Purpose To reduce human risk of entry into confined space manure storages. Methods This research work spanned nearly 8 years to develop computational fluid dynamics protocols to simulate removal of noxious contaminant gases, by forced ventilation, from solid and slotted floor covered confined space, on-farm manure storage tanks. These simulation protocols were then used to determine ventilation requirements (air exchange rates, fan and air outlet locations, and operation times) to reduce concentrations of contaminant gases to levels below gas specific TLVs for human entry. Results and Outcomes This work has been published in a series of five journal articles. Subsequently, an international engineering safety standard, Ventilating Manure Storages to Reduce Entry Risk , was written and approved by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). An educational programme was developed to inform extension educators, engineers, regulators, and farmers about the standard and how to use its provisions. Significance For the first time ever, engineers, builders, regulators and producers have a consensus standard for constructing, installing and entering confined space manure storages with a minimum level of risk.
Rates of Conception by Artificial Insemination of Dairy Cattle

Over 41 mo, 1004 first and second service inseminations were evaluated in Holstein cows and heifers of breeding age. Cattle were inseminated either at the end of the heat check in which they were observed in heat (0 h) or at the end of the next heat check (12 h). Rate of conception was affected by estrous behavior at 12 h, site of semen placement in the reproductive tract, sire, and environmental temperature the day after insemination. Service number, time of day at which insemination occurred, inseminator, and timing of insemination in relation to the onset of estrus had no effect on fertility. With twice daily heat checks, a single daily service produced acceptable rates of conception.
Prime ideals in differential operator rings and crossed products of infinite groups

Abstract We use a version of the Martindale ring of quotients to study prime ideals in extensions of a ringR corresponding to two cases. IfG is a group of automorphisms ofR we form the crossed product R ∗ G . If g is a Lie algebra of derivations of R we have the twisted differential operator ring, denoted byR ∗ g (sometimes known as the “twisted” smash product R#t u ( g )). We obtain analogues of Incomparability for crossed products of nilpotent groups, and differential operator rings of solvable Lie algebras. In the case of crossed products, the incomparability result of D. S. Passman and M. Lorenz for the infinite cyclic group (also proved by G. Bergman) is generalized.
The Combination of Gas Chromatography With Mass Spectrometry

Abstract The coupling of the techniques of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry has provided the chemist with one of his most powerful analytical methods. The analysis of such diverse substances as fuels, air pollutants, food flavors, smokes, protein hydrolyzates, pesticides, lipid extracts, etc. may all require the separation and identification of the components of extremely complex mixtures.
True diverticula of the stomach.

Diverticula of the stomach may produce epigastric distress and dyspepsia, but since they usually occur on the posterior surface near the cardia they are difficult to demonstrate by x-ray or surgical exploration unless specifically searched for.
A scaling law for wall shear rate through an arterial stenosis

Atherosclerosis of the human arterial system produces major clinical symptoms when the plaque advances to create a high-grade stenosis. The hemodynamic shear rates produced in high-grade stenoses are important in the understanding of atheromatous plaque rupture and thrombosis. This study was designed to quantify the physiologic stress levels experienced by endothelial cells and platelets in the region of vascular stenoses. The steady hemodynamic flow field was solved for stenoses with percent area reductions of 50, 75, and 90 percent over a range of physiologic Reynolds numbers (100-400). The maximum wall shear rate in the throat region can be shown to vary by the square root of the Reynolds number. The shear rate results can be generalized to apply to a range of stenosis lengths and flow rates. Using dimensions typical for a human carotid or coronary artery, wall shear rates were found to vary from a maximum of 20,000 s-1 upstream of the throat to a minimum of -630 s-1 in the recirculation zone for a 90 percent stenosis. An example is given which illustrates how these values can be used to understand the relationship between hemodynamic shear and platelet deposition.
What measures of habit strength to use? Comment on Gardner (2015).

In this comment on Gardner's (2015) thoughtful review of the habit concept in health behaviour, we largely agree with his definition of habit, although we also suggest the benefits of grounding suc...
Optimal riser design for metal castings

The optimal design of a casting rigging system is considered. The casting geometry is systematically modified to minimize the gate and riser volume, while simultaneously ensuring that no porosity appears in the product. In this approach, we combine finite-element analysis of the solidification heat-transfer process with design sensitivity analysis and numerical optimization to systematically improve the casting design. Methods are presented for performing the sensitivity analysis, including the sensitivity of important solidification parameters such as freezing time, temperature gradient, and cooling rate. We also present methods for performing Newton-Raphson iteration for solidification models that use the boundary-curvature method to represent the sand mold. Finally, the methods are applied to design risers for an L-shaped steel plate to control microporosity and for a steel hammer to control macroporosity. It is demonstrated that the size of a conventionally designed riser can be reduced by a significant amount while retaining the quality of the cast product.
Calibration of satellite sensors in the thermal infrared

The addition of a calibration capability in the 8-14 micron thermal infrared region to the current ground-based calibration of orbiting sensors is discussed. Radiance- and reflectance-based methods are compared. An infrared thermometer was selected as the favored instrument for the determination of ground truth. Three methods to determine the effect of sky background on the thermal emittance of the ground are presented, along with use of LOWTRAN 7 to determine atmospheric effects.
Minimum number of modes for the approximation of the solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations in two and three dimensions

Abstract As proved in an earlier publication, the 2-D solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations can be described in the limit t → ∞ by a finite number of Fourier modes. This property is extended to the 3-D case and it is shown that the minimum number of modes necessary for a qualitatively correct representation of the exact 3-D solutions is proportional to the third power of the corresponding number in the 2-D case.
Attitudes toward rape among mental health professionals.

This study examined the attribution of blame in rape among mental health professionals from one state. Thirty-eight professionals (76% of the total population) completed the Attribution of Rape Blame Scale, a 20-item questionnaire reflecting different ways people account for rape. The responses were factor analyzed yielding four clear factors: Societal Blame, Victim Blame, Assailant Blame, and Sociological Status Blame. Analyses of variance were then performed on the participants' four factor scores to determine if there were differences in blame attribution across age or gender of respondents. The only significant finding was a gender difference on the societal blame factor. RESULTS of the factor analysis, ANOVAs as well as implications for training of professionals are discussed. Language: en
Hierarchical multicast techniques and scalability in mobile Ad Hoc networks

Abstract Many potential applications of Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) involve group communications among the nodes. Multicasting is an useful operation that facilitates group communications. Efficient and scalable multicast routing in MANETs is a difficult issue. In addition to the conventional multicast routing algorithms, recent protocols have adopted the following new approaches: overlays, backbone-based, and stateless. In this paper, we study these approaches from the protocol state management point of view, and compare their scalability behaviors. To enhance performance and enable scalability, we have proposed a framework for hierarchical multicasting in MANET environments. Two classes of hierarchical multicasting approaches, termed as domain-based and overlay-driven, are proposed. We have considered a variety of approaches that are suitable for different scenarios such as multicast group sizes and number of groups. Results obtained through simulations demonstrate enhanced performance and scalability of the proposed techniques.
Xeroderma pigmentosum cell susceptibility to SV40 virus transformation: lack of effect of low dosage ultraviolet radiation in enhancing viral-induced transformation.

SV40 is an oncogenic DNA virus capable of both tumorigenesis in vivo and of transformation in vitro, i.e., loss of contact inhibition and subsequent overgrowth of otherwise contact-inhibited cells. Marked increased susceptibility to SV40 transformation of skin fibroblasts is present in Down's syndrome and Fanconi's anemia, both of which are associated with a high incidence of neoplasia. The question arose as to whether skin fibroblasts from patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) which show an otherwise normal incidence of SV40-induced transformation, might, on exposure to UV radiation, show enhanced transformation. Can the biologic defect in relation to carcinogenesis in XP be enhanced susceptibility to the triggering by sun exposure of viral oncogenesis? Both XP and normal skin fibroblasts were exposed to low-dosage UV radiation immediately prior to infection with SV40 and the incidence of T-antigen, an early marker of SV40 infection, and of gross transformation, the morphologic late end point in vitro, were noted. No increase in transformation either absolute or relative to cell survival post irradiation was seen. In no instance was transformation seen in noninfected, but irradiated, control cultures.
Heterozygous carriers of Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome have a distinct gene expression phenotype

Autosomal recessive diseases are those that require mutations in both alleles to exhibit the disorder. Although most recessive conditions are rare, heterozygous carriers of recessive mutations are quite common. In this study, we show that carriers of Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome (NBS) have a distinct gene expression phenotype that differs from that of noncarriers and also from that of carriers of a similar syndrome, Ataxia Telangiectasia (AT). We found 520 genes whose expression levels differ significantly (P ≤ 0.001) between NBS carriers and controls. By linear discriminant analysis, we found a combination of 16 genes that allows 100% correct classification of individuals as either NBS carriers or noncarriers in a training set with 25 individuals, and in a test set with 52 individuals. When applied to AT carriers, the discriminant function misclassified only one out of 18 AT carriers as an NBS carrier. Our result shows that NBS carriers have a specific gene expression phenotype. It suggests that heterozygous mutations can contribute significantly to natural variation in gene expression. This has implications for the role that heterozygosity for recessive diseases plays in the overall genetic architecture of complex human traits and diseases.
Activation of protein kinase C delta by the c-Abl tyrosine kinase in response to ionizing radiation.

The c-Abl protein tyrosine kinase is activated by ionizing radiation (IR) and certain other DNA-damaging agents. The present studies demonstrate that c-Abl associates constitutively with protein kinase C δ (PKCδ). The results show that the SH3 domain of c-Abl interacts directly with PKCδ. c-Abl phosphorylates and activates PKCδ in vitro. We also show that IR treatment of cells is associated with c-Abl-dependent phosphorylation of PKCδ and translocation of PKCδ to the nucleus. These findings support a functional interaction between c-Abl and PKCδ in the cellular response to genotoxic stress.
Temperature dependence of the thermal conductivity for tellurium dioxide

Abstract The thermal conductivity of tellurium dioxide is reported as a function of temperature. At 77K, the thermal conductivity is 0.09 W/cm-K and it decreases approximately as the inverse of the temperature to a value of 0.02 W/cm-K at 300K. The anisotropy between the a- and c-axes is less than 20% over the entire experimental temperature range, with the a-axis more conductive than the c-axis. By making some simplifying assumptions, the phonon mean free paths and relaxation times are deduced.