cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Nonmedical Use of Amphetamines among the College Age Group: Recent Research concerning Epidemiology and Toxicity.

Abstract Amphetamines play a significant role in nontherapeutic drug use by college students. These synthetic psychoactive drugs are central-nervous-system stimulants that act in ways similar to longer acting versions of cocaine. Nonmedical involvement of college students with these drugs first occurred in 1936, but they did not become a significant part of the college drug scene until the 1960s. Their use gradually increased throughout the 1960s, remained somewhat level during the mid-1970s, and began to increase again during the 1980s. In complex intellectual functioning, amphetamines impair accuracy and lessen efficient performance. In athletics, they may increase endurance and enhance performance but they present risks that far outweigh any advantage the athlete may attain. Fatalities have been reported in athletes taking moderate doses under conditions of extreme exertion. Considerable data implicate amphetamines in producing serious psychological and biological adverse effects. Long-term use leads t...
Analysis of brevetoxins by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography and laser‐induced fluorescence detection

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection was used to measure four red tide brevetoxins at sub-attomole levels. The separation of four brevetoxins by MEKC was achieved with a sodium borate/sodium dodecyl sulfate buffer at pH 9.3 Brevetoxins with a terminal alcohol group were derivatized with an acyl azide coumarin to form stable, highly fluorescent products. Brevetoxins with a terminal aldehyde group were reduced to the alcohol with sodium borohydride prior to derivatization with the coumarin. Three derivatized brevetoxins (PbTx-3, PbTx- 5, and PbTx-9) were separated by MEKC and detected using He/Cd laser excitation at 354 nm and fluorescence emission at 410 nm. A fourth brevetoxin (PbTx-2) was converted to PbTx-3 prior to derivatization and was then determined by subtraction. Instrumental detection limits for all four toxins were approximately 0.10 fg or about 10(6)-fold more sensitive than existing liquid chromatographic methods. Brevetoxins were isolated from cell cultures and fish tissue using an alumina column/gel-permeation chromatography procedure. Method detection limits for the brevetoxins in fish tissue were approximately 4 pg/g. These method detection limits are at least 100-fold better than previous chromatographic and/or electrophoretic methods. The MEKC-LIF method reported here allows measurement of brevetoxins at the trace levels considered critical for understanding toxin metabolism and mode of action.
Chemistry and transport of pollution over the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific: spring 2006 INTEX-B campaign overview and first results

Abstract. Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment-B (INTEX-B) was a major NASA (Acronyms are provided in Appendix A.) led multi-partner atmospheric field campaign completed in the spring of 2006 ( http://cloud1.arc.nasa.gov/intex-b/ ). Its major objectives aimed at (i) investigating the extent and persistence of the outflow of pollution from Mexico; (ii) understanding transport and evolution of Asian pollution and implications for air quality and climate across western North America; and (iii) validating space-borne observations of tropospheric composition. INTEX-B was performed in two phases. In its first phase (1–21 March), INTEX-B operated as part of the MILAGRO campaign with a focus on observations over Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. In the second phase (17 April–15 May), the main INTEX-B focus was on trans-Pacific Asian pollution transport. Multiple airborne platforms carrying state of the art chemistry and radiation payloads were flown in concert with satellites and ground stations during the two phases of INTEX-B. Validation of Aura satellite instruments (TES, OMI, MLS, HIRDLS) was a key objective within INTEX-B. Satellite products along with meteorological and 3-D chemical transport model forecasts were integrated into the flight planning process to allow targeted sampling of air parcels. Inter-comparisons were performed among and between aircraft payloads to quantify the accuracy of data and to create a unified data set. Pollution plumes were sampled over the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific several days after downwind transport from source regions. Signatures of Asian pollution were routinely detected by INTEX-B aircraft, providing a valuable data set on gas and aerosol composition to test models and evaluate pathways of pollution transport and their impact on air quality and climate. This overview provides details about campaign implementation and a context within which the present and future INTEX-B/MILAGRO publications can be understood.
Optimizing the Scavenging System for a Two-Stroke Cycle, Free Piston Engine for High Efficiency and Low Emissions: A Computational Approach

A free piston internal combustion (IC) engine operating on high compression ratio (CR) homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion is being developed by Sandia National Laboratories to significantly improve the thermal efficiency and exhaust emissions relative to conventional crankshaft-driven SI and Diesel engines. A two-stroke scavenging process recharges the engine and is key to realizing the efficiency and emissions potential of the device. To ensure that the engine’s performance goals can be achieved the scavenging system was configured using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), zero- and onedimensional modeling, and single step parametric variations. A wide range of design options was investigated including the use of loop, hybrid-loop and uniflow scavenging methods, different charge delivery options, and various operating schemes. Parameters such as the intake/exhaust port arrangement, valve lift/timing, charging pressure and piston frequency were varied. Operating schemes including a standard uniflow configuration, a low charging pressure option, a stratified scavenging geometry, and an over-expanded (Atkinson) cycle were studied. The computational results indicated that a stratified scavenging scheme employing a uniflow geometry, and supplied by a stable, low temperature/pressure charge will best optimize the efficiency and emissions characteristics of the engine. The operating CR can be maximized through substantial replacement of the burned charge, while short-circuiting emissions can be controlled by late fuel introduction. The in-cylinder flows are important to both NOx and short-circuiting emissions with inadequate mixing (and resulting temperature stratification) the predominant driver of NO production, and fuel penetration to the exhaust valve region the main cause of unburned hydrocarbon emissions.
The effects of stock splits on the bid-ask spread of syndicated loans

Since the seminal article by Fama et al. (1969) that splits are associated with real economic effects, existing literature is still inconclusive on whether stock splits signal private information as the signalling hypothesis predicts. Our study is motivated by the conjecture that stock splits signal private information that affects both bondholders as well as equity holders, and we empirically examine the effect of stock splits on the bid-ask spread of the syndicated loans, which serves as a measure of information asymmetry (or opaqueness) of the borrowing firm. We find that bid-ask spread of the loans significantly decreases around the splits event, implying that splits signal private information to the market, and such signalling reduces the opaqueness of the firm.
Reconstruction of text and feedback

--Subjects reconstructed two sets of scrambled discourse of 26 sentences each. S u b j e c ~ were either given no feedback or limited feedback as confirmation-disconfirmation. with retrieval either immediate or delaved one week. Memory was mezsured as recall of idea units and recognition of original sentences from paraphrases. Concordance was measured by relationship to the original sentence order. Recall was not related to any of che independent variables, but recognition was related to content. The data suggest a modest contribution of feedback to concordance, but this did not lead to differences in achievement. The findings replicate previous research which suggesrs that prior knowledge and local cues for syntax and coherence may diminish the contributions of feedback.
Proactive transmission investment in competitive power systems

We formulate a three-period model for studying how the exercise of local market power by generation firms affects the equilibrium investment between the generation and the transmission sectors. Using a 30-bus network example, we compare the transmission investment decisions made by a "proactive" network planner (who proactively plans transmission investments to induce a more socially-efficient equilibrium of generation investments) with both those made by an integrated-resources planner (who jointly plans generation and transmission expansions) and those made by a "reactive" network planner (who plans transmission investments only considering the currently installed generation capacities). We show that, although a proactive network planner cannot do better (in terms of social welfare) than an integrated-resources planner, it can recoup some of the lost welfare due to the separation of generation and transmission planning by proactively expanding transmission capacity. Conversely, a reactive network planner, who ignores the interrelationship between the transmission and the generation investments, foregoes this opportunity.
The polyketide MPBD initiates the SDF-1 signaling cascade that coordinates terminal differentiation in Dictyostelium.

Dictyostelium uses a wide array of chemical signals to coordinate differentiation as it switches from a unicellular to a multicellular organism. MPBD, the product of the polyketide synthase encoded by stlA, regulates stalk and spore differentiation by rapidly stimulating the release of the phosphopeptide SDF-1. By analyzing specific mutants affected in MPBD or SDF-1 production, we delineated a signal transduction cascade through the membrane receptor CrlA coupled to G1, leading to the inhibition of GskA so that the precursor of SDF-1 is released. It is then processed by the extracellular protease of TagB on prestalk cells. SDF-1 apparently acts through the adenylyl cyclase ACG to activate the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) and trigger the production of more SDF-1. This signaling cascade shows similarities to the SDF-2 signaling pathway, which acts later to induce rapid spore encapsulation.
Dietary intake and nutritional status of US adult marijuana users: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Objectives This study examined dietary intakes and nutritional status of marijuana users and non-current marijuana users in US adults aged 20 to 59 years. Methods We used data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 1988-1994. Information on self-reported drug use, including marijuana, was obtained as part of the NHANES III physical examination component. Nutritional status was assessed using height and weight, and blood biochemistries. Dietary intake was assessed using a 24-hour recall and a food-frequency questionnaire. Results Among adults 20-59 years of age, 45% reported ever having used marijuana in their lifetime. A total of 8.7% reported using marijuana in the past month. Current marijuana users had higher intakes of energy and nutrients than non-current marijuana users; however, body mass index (BMI) was slightly lower. We found higher cigarette-smoking rates and higher consumption of sodas and alcohol, specifically beer, among marijuana users than among non-current marijuana users. Marijuana users also consumed more sodium, fewer fruits, and more pork, cheese, and salty snacks. Nutritional status, using indicators of serum nutrients, serum albumin, haematocrit and haemoglobin, was similar between marijuana users and non-current marijuana users. Serum carotenoid levels were lower among marijuana users, independent of cigarette smoking. Conclusion Dietary intake was different among marijuana users than among non-current marijuana users. Although overall nutritional status was similar, serum carotenoid levels were lower in marijuana users. The long-term health effects of these differences in marijuana users deserve careful consideration in future research.
Global Economic Patterns and Personal Integrity Rights After the Cold War

With the end of the Cold War economic issues moved to the fore of the international agenda. The integration of markets, dominated by multinational corporations and orchestrated by international financial institutions, has many concerned for the political and economic rights of the common citizen. This is a comprehensive cross-national study examining the effect of globalization on the attainment of the subgroup of human rights known as personal integrity rights. The impact of global economic patterns on the attainment of these rights is mixed.
Evolution of sexual dimorphism in body weight in platyrrhines.

Neotropical primates show a remarkable range in body size, spanning two orders of magnitude from the tiny pygmy marmosets (100 g) to the woolly spider monkeys (11,000+ g). Even among the "smaller" platyrrhines, the range is large. In addition, these primates demonstrate a wide diversity in degrees and directions of sexual dimorphism, in both body size and canine size, from marked positive dimorphism (males larger than females), through monomorphic species, to negative dimorphism. Potential correlates or causes of the patterns of dimorphism in body size are investigated, including overall body size, natural selection for life history strategies, sexual selection, diet, habitat, and phylogenetic inertia. Focus is especially on those genera that show species-specific variation in dimorphism (e.g., Saguinus, Pithecia). Results are contrary to those for cross-primate or catarrhine studies, but complementary to recent studies on strepsirhines. They suggest that sexual selection is the primary determinant of degree and pattern of sexual dimorphism in platyrrhines, but that there is also a dietary effect. Natural selection may have some effect, although not the parameters analyzed here. Body size, habitat (primary vs. secondary forest preference), and phylogenetic inertia or constraints do not have any effect on the presence of sexual dimorphism in body weights in New World monkeys. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Cult of Martyrs in Asterius of Amaseia's Vision of the Christian City

For what is worth as much as these festival assemblies? And what is so august and all-beautiful as to see the whole city with one's whole race issuing from the town, occupying a holy place to perform pure mysteries of the most genuine devotion?Few Romans of any era would have disagreed with these exclamations, though earlier generations might have been astonished that such familiar sentiments could issue from the mouth of a Christian bishop. The ideal of civic solidarity through worship and celebration was a familiar concept from ancient times, one which Asterius felt to be entirely in keeping with the practice of Christianity at the end of the fourth century. Asterius's festival homilies reveal part of the process whereby views on society and citizens became informed by Christian belief. First he offers a critique of traditional society and religion. Second he promotes Christian politeia, by means of martyr festivals, as the true foundation for social harmony. Three conceptual strategies emerge in Asterius's program for transforming classical politeia: recommending distinctly Christian philosophic virtue, depicting citizenship in terms of familial relationships, and employing an eschatological dimension to patronage.
Antigenic domains of the streptococcal Pep M5 protein. Localization of epitopes crossreactive with type 6 M protein and identification of a hypervariable region of the M molecule

Pep M5, the pepsin-derived N-terminal half of the group A streptococcal type 5 M protein exhibits immunologic crossreaction with type 6 M protein, localizing some of the M6-crossreactive epitope(s) within this segment of the M5 protein. Based on the amino acid sequence of the Pep M5 protein, two structurally distinct domains have been recognized within its coiled-coil structure. We have now found that peptides derived from both the structurally distinct domains of the Pep M5 protein contain antigenic epitopes. Furthermore, only the peptides from the C-terminal domain of the Pep M5 protein crossreacted with rabbit anti-M6 sera, whereas those from the N-terminal domain did not. Consistent with this, sequence analyses of the arginyl peptides of the Pep M6 protein, the pepsin-derived N-terminal half of the M6 protein, revealed extensive homology of some of these peptides with regions within the C-terminal domain of the Pep M5 molecule. While an arginyl peptide of the Pep M6 protein exhibits 84% homology with region 150-186 of the Pep M5 protein, the C-terminal hexadecapeptide of the Pep M6 protein is virtually identical with the corresponding region of the Pep M5 protein. These results are suggestive of conformational similarities in the region around the pepsin-susceptible site within the M5 and M6 proteins. In addition, one or more epitopes of the M5 protein that are crossreactive with the M6 protein may be placed close to the pepsin-susceptible site of the M5 protein. Previous studies have suggested the N-terminal half of the M proteins to be the variable part of the molecule among the different M protein serotypes. The present results suggest that the N-terminal quarter of the M protein may represent the hypervariable domain of the M molecule.
Capacity allocation for self-similar traffic

Inadequacy is obvious when the conventional capacity allocation (CA) models are applied to IP networks. This paper presents several CA models incorporating the recent achievements in self-similarity analysis. These models can be directly applied to the IntServ and indirectly to the DiffServ.
Signatures of Natural Selection in a Primate Bitter Taste Receptor

Bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) enable animals to detect and avoid toxins in the environment, including noxious defense compounds produced by plants. This suggests that TAS2Rs are under complex pressures from natural selection. To investigate these pressures, we examined signatures of selection in the primate TAS2R38 gene. Whole-gene (1,002 bp) sequences from 40 species representing all major primate taxa uncovered extensive variation. Nucleotide substitutions occurred at 448 positions, resulting in 201 amino acid changes. Two single-nucleotide deletions, one three-nucleotide in-frame deletion, and one premature stop codon were also observed. The rate of non-synonymous substitution (ω = dN/dS), was high in TAS2R38 (ω = 0.60) compared to other genes, but significantly lower than expected under neutrality (P = 4.0 × 10−9), indicating that purifying selection has maintained the basic structure of the receptor. However, differences were present among receptor subregions. Non-synonymous rates were significantly lower than expected in transmembrane domains (ω = 0.55, P = 1.18 × 10−12) and internal loops (ω = 0.51, P = 7.04 × 10−5), but not external loops (ω = 1.16, P = 0.53), and evidence of positive selection was found in external loop 2, which exhibited a high rate (ω = 2.53) consistent with rapid shifts in ligand targeting. These patterns point to a history of rapid yet constrained change in bitter taste responses in the course of primate evolution.
School-Level Correlates of Adolescent Tobacco, Alcohol, and Marijuana Use

Background: School-level characteristics are related to students’ substance use, but little research systematically examined multiple school characteristics in relation to different types of substance use across grade levels. Objectives: This study examines multiple school-level characteristics as correlates of students’ tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and combined substance use across three grade levels. Methods: Students (N = 23,615) from 42 urban and suburban middle schools and 24 high schools in the U.S. reported on their tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use. Students’ mean age was 14 years; 47% were male, 53% African American, and 41% Caucasian. School-level data included poverty, racial composition, academic achievement, student-teacher ratio, absenteeism, and school size. Multilevel logistic and Poisson regressions tested associations between school-level predictors and adolescent substance use in middle school, early high school, and late high school. Results: School-level poverty, more ethnic minorit...
A multi-orientation error separation technique for spindle metrology of miniature ultra-high-speed spindles

Abstract This paper presents a multi-orientation error separation technique to remove the artifact form error from the radial measurements to obtain the radial spindle error motions of miniature ultra-high-speed (UHS) spindles. Unlike the existing approaches, the present technique neither relies on high-accuracy fixtures, nor necessitates measurements from specific orientations of the artifact. Rather, the spindle error motions are measured from a set of arbitrary artifact orientations using laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV). The angle of each artifact-setup orientation with respect to the spindle is determined with high precision through reflectivity measurement of the marks made on both the artifact and the spindle using another LDV. Although the presented approach can be applied by using different sensors (e.g., capacitance probes), we demonstrate the approach using LDVs. With the displacement measurement direction fixed, measurements are conducted from both LDVs for multiple orientations of the artifact. Using the unique implementation scheme developed in this paper, data from these orientations are post-processed to compute the artifact form error and further remove it from the radial motion measurements to obtain the synchronous radial spindle error motions. A thorough experimental evaluation is presented to quantify both the repeatability of the measured artifact form errors as well as the bandwidth of error separation for various number of artifact orientations. The spindle error motions measured from both the sphere and stem portions of a custom fabricated sphere-on-stem artifact mounted on a typical miniature UHS spindle, are seen to be similar in shape and within 5 nm in magnitude across the revolution, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of the technique. Using this technique, spindle error motions at ultra-high speeds up to 150 krpm were successfully quantified. Although the implementation scheme is demonstrated for miniature UHS spindles, it is readily applicable for error separation on macro-scale spindles without the need for any high-precision fixtures and precise setting of angles.
Social identity as a determinant of college enrollment

This paper combines ideas from several branches of the social sciences into an economic model of college enrollment, following recent theoretical work by Akerlof and Kranton (2002). Basic to the mo...
Increased Activity of Renal Glutaminases in Guinea Pig Following Prolonged Administration of Acid or Alkali.

SummaryIncreased activity of the enzymes involved in ammonia metabolism in the kidneys of guinea pigs was produced by prolonged treatment with acid or alkali. When the results were expressed on a per cell basis, Glutaminase I was increased in acidosis while in alkalosis Glutaminases I and II and the Glutamine synthesizing enzyme were increased. These increases in activity are suggestive of enzyme induction though all the criteria for this process have not yet been fulfilled.
A synthesis-parameter tuning system for autonomous design-space exploration

Advanced logic and physical synthesis tools provide a vast number of tunable parameters that can significantly impact physical design quality, but the complexity of the parameter design space requires intelligent search algorithms. To fully utilize the optimization potential of these tools, we propose SynTunSys, a system that adds a new level of abstraction between designers and design tools for managing the design space exploration process. SynTunSys takes control of the synthesis-parameter tuning process, i.e., job submission, results analysis, and next-step decision making, by automating a key portion of a human designer's decision process. We present the overall organization of SynTunSys, describe its main components, and provide results from employing it for the design of an industrial chip, the IBM z13 22nm high-performance server chip. During this major design, SynTunSys provided significant savings in human design effort and achieved a quality of results beyond what human designers alone could achieve, yielding on average a 36% improvement in total negative slack and a 7% power reduction.
Impotence and aging.

Erectile capability declines even in healthy elderly men. However, impotence is likely to be a problem only in those with the addition of some pathology. If objective assessment techniques of erectile functioning are routinely applied in the evaluation of impotence, the understanding and treatment of the problem should greatly improve.
Musculoskeletal complications of renal transplantation.

Avascular necrosis, nonspecific synovitis, arthralgia, and abnormalities associated with secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism are complications which have become apparent as intermittent hemodialysis and renal transplantation have increased the life span of the patient with terminal renal failure.
Outcome From Central Nervous System Injury

Prediction of outcome after brain injury has been improved by the use of scoring systems, especially when cause of injury, other interactive conditions, and specific neurologic findings are considered. Objective weighting of each component adds value when available. Available data have not been comprehensively integrated, and their application to individual patients remains laborious, with uncertain sensitivity and specificity in most cases. Prominent reports are summarized here by mechanism of injury.
Strategy on the United States Supreme Court: The Legal Model

Why do the justices on the United States Supreme Court behave they way they do? In an attempt to answer this question, Supreme Court scholars have posited three theoretical models: the legal model, the attitudinal model, and various strategic models. Models, according to Segal, Spaeth, and Benesh (2005, p. 20), are “a simplified representation of reality. They do not constitute reality itself. A good model serves two contradictory purposes: It accurately explains the behavior in question and it does so parsimoniously, that is, sparingly or frugally.” One can always maintain that a given model explains the behavior, but in science we expect models to be testable or falsifiable. A simple model might be easier to test and may be accurate enough especially when used to explain behavior averaged over a large number of people or for a long period of time. The legal model is the traditional, nineteenth-century explanation of why the justices behave the way they do. Advocates of this model posit that the justices decide cases based on their interpretation of the relevant legal materials. These materials include the U.S. Constitution, federal and state statutes, local ordinances, and the Court's precedents. The legal model is insufficiently explanatory of decision making on the Court because the justices usually have to interpret ambiguous legal texts and it is uncertain how they ought to do so.
The Planning Process

The design and the workings of a planning system involve every executive and manager in a basically political process. The people within the system determine how, and how effectively, it will work. Patterns of information-flow and decision-making depend heavily on the power and negotiating and persuasive skills of individuals committed to the planning process and to specific plans. Before turning to a comparative description of the five oil companies’ planning systems, therefore, this chapter will discuss briefly how the critical human factor can be taken into account in a planning system. In reading the explanations and comparisons of the oil-company planning systems, the reader would do well to remember that the kinds of systems put in place and the way they work depend on the political and marketing acumen of planning executives and managers.
Tuning Stencil codes in OpenCL for FPGAs

OpenCL is designed as a parallel programming framework to support heterogeneous computing platforms. The implicit or explicit parallelism in OpenCL kernel code enables efficient FPGA implementation from a high-level programming abstraction. However, FPGA architecture is completely different from GPU architecture, for which OpenCL is widely used. Tuning OpenCL codes to achieve high performance on FPGAs is an open problem and the existing OpenCL tools and optimizations proposed for CPUs/GPUs may not be directly applicable to FPGAs. In this paper, we explore OpenCL code optimizations for stencil computations on FPGAs. We propose tuning processes for stencil kernels in both the Single-Task and NDRange modes. Our optimized 1D convolution, 2D convolution and 2D Jacobi iteration kernels can achieve up to two orders of magnitude performance improvement over the naive kernels. Also, compared to Altera design examples our optimized kernels achieve 7.1× and 3.5× speedups for the Sobel and Time-Domain FIR Filter, respectively. This study also includes benchmarking of the FPGA memory system, revealing how code patterns affect the performance of different types of memory on FPGAs.
Bioarchaeology and the Skeletons of the Pre-Columbian Maya

This review explores the past two decades of research on ancient Maya skeletons. The focus is on how this work has contributed to our understanding of health, diet, social change, inequality, migration and mobility, war, violence, and ritual practice, with special attention given to recent methodological developments and debates in the bioarchaeology of the Maya. This review essay highlights the most recent findings in the bioarchaeology of the Maya and how those results were achieved. The essay concludes with suggestions for future research and highlights areas of potential collaboration that have been underutilized to address broader anthropological questions.
Phase I dose-escalation trial of intravaginal curcumin in women for cervical dysplasia

PHS Grant from Clinical and Translational Science Award program [UL1 RR025008]; National Institutes of Health; National Center for Research Sources; Emory Medical Care Foundation [0369]; Center for AIDS Research at Emory University [P30 AI050409]; Emory URC Grant; Coca-Cola Enterprises Research Award by Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
Investigating Associations Between Health-Related Quality of Life and Endocrine Therapy Underuse in Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

Purpose:Endocrine therapy (ET) underuse puts women at increased risk for breast cancer (BC) recurrence. Our objective was to determine if health-related quality of life (HRQOL) subgroups were associated with underuse.Methods:Data came from the third phase of the Carolina Breast Cancer Study. We included 1,599 women with hormone receptor–positive BC age 20 to 74 years. HRQOL was measured, on average, 5 months postdiagnosis. Subgroups were derived using latent profile (LP) analysis. Underuse was defined as not initiating or adhering to ET by 36 months postdiagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated adjusted odds ratios (ORs) between HRQOL LPs and underuse. The best HRQOL LP was the reference. Chemotherapy- and race-stratified models were estimated, separately.Results:Initiation analyses included 953 women who had not begun ET by their 5-month survey. Of these, 154 never initiated ET. Adherence analyses included 1,114 ET initiators, of whom 211 were nonadherent. HRQOL was not significantly ...
Patient Satisfaction Regarding Health Education and Practice Environment Using the PPAESS Survey

The waiting room and the examination rooms are the two central locations patients spend time in a primary care environment. Patient health outcomes and satisfaction are significant contributing fac...
Passive and Active Control of Road Vehicle Heave and Pitch Motion

Abstract Passenger comfort and cargo motion in a road vehicle depend on a combination of vertical motion (heave) and angular motion (pitch). It is first shown that for conventional passive suspensions excited by random roadway unevenness, the heave motion tends to dominate at high speed while the pitch motion tends to maximize at a speed determined by the wheelbase and the suspension parameters. A discussion of control concepts for active or semi-active suspension force generators which would allow adaptation to road roughness and travel speed to control pitch and heave is given.
High temperature thermodynamic properties of some of the rare earths

The design and construction of a high temperature vacuum ice calorimeter is described. It was calibrated from 1100 to 1700 deg C with alpha -Al/sub 2/O/ sub 3/, and the results were compared to other studies made on this material in the temperature range indicated. This instrument was used to determine the heat content of yttrium metal from 1100 to 1675 deg C. The heat contents of lanthanum, praseodymium, europium, ytterbium, and yttrium were studied on 0 to 110O deg C using a conventional Bunsen ice calorimeter. The enthalpy of each metal was expressed as a function of temperature by fitting the data to empirical equations by a least-squares treatment; the form of these empirical equations varied for the temperature regions studied. Thus, for the range from room temperature to the high temperature crystalline transformation, a cubic expression would usually fit the data well; in the high temperature crystalline region and in the liquid, a linear expression could be used. From the empirical equations expressing the enthalpy data, the other thermodynamic functions were derived and evaluated at 50 deg intervals as well as at the transformation temperatures. The heats of crystalline transformation for lanthanum, praseodymium, europium, ytterbium, and yttrium weremore » calculated to be 753, 760, 418, and 1189 calories per mole. The heats of fusion were calculated for lanthanum, praseodymium, europium, ytterbium, and yttrium to be 1482, 1652, 2204, 1830, and 2732 calories per mole, respectively. Quenching of the fcc modification of lanthanum in the room temperature hcp form was reduced by an annealing procedure that provided reproducible results. However, the exact amount of the higher energy form of lanthanum quenched in these studies is not known. Anomalies were found in the heat content curves of europium and ytterbium at 503 and 553 deg K. These small breaks were attributed to contributions to the heat capacity arising from 4f electronic transitions resulting from the presence of some trivalent ions in a predominantly divalent metal. The observed data confirmed density and other measurements that these two metals are primarily in the divalent state.« less
Abstract 13: Consistent Remote Monitoring of Patients With Heart Failure Using Epxheartfailure: A Telemedicine Tool

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is among the most common reasons for hospital admissions, presenting a significant cost burden to the medical system. Patients are monitored at the hospital but oft...
Direct Interaction between the Two Z Ring Membrane Anchors FtsA and ZipA

The initiation of Escherichia coli cell division requires three proteins, FtsZ, FtsA, and ZipA, which assemble in a dynamic ring-like structure at midcell. Along with the transmembrane protein ZipA, the actin-like FtsA helps to tether treadmilling polymers of tubulin-like FtsZ to the membrane. In addition to forming homo-oligomers, FtsA and ZipA interact directly with the C-terminal conserved domain of FtsZ. Gain-of-function mutants of FtsA are deficient in forming oligomers and can bypass the need for ZipA, suggesting that ZipA may normally function to disrupt FtsA oligomers, although no direct interaction between FtsA and ZipA has been reported. Here, we use in vivo cross-linking to show that FtsA and ZipA indeed interact directly. We identify the exposed surface of FtsA helix 7, which also participates in binding to ATP through its internal surface, as a key interface needed for the interaction with ZipA. This interaction suggests that FtsZ's membrane tethers may regulate each other's activities.IMPORTANCE To divide, most bacteria first construct a protein machine at the plane of division and then recruit the machinery that will synthesize the division septum. In Escherichia coli, this first stage involves the assembly of FtsZ polymers at midcell, which directly bind to membrane-associated proteins FtsA and ZipA to form a discontinuous ring structure. Although FtsZ directly binds both FtsA and ZipA, it is unclear why FtsZ requires two separate membrane tethers. Here, we uncover a new direct interaction between the tethers, which involves a helix within FtsA that is adjacent to its ATP binding pocket. Our findings imply that in addition to their known roles as FtsZ membrane anchors, FtsA and ZipA may regulate each other's structure and function.
Not all brain regions are created equal for improving bimanual coordination in individuals with chronic stroke.

Abstract Objective The now standard cortical stimulation approach of inhibiting contralesional primary motor cortex (cM1) disrupts bimanual coordination while facilitating ipsilesional M1 (iM1) fails to enhance paretic arm function, in severely impaired individuals. We propose an alternative target, enhancing contralesional dorsal premotor cortex (cPMd) to improve bimanual coordination and compare its effects to iM1. Methods Fourteen participants with stroke received 5-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on cPMd or iM1 in a repeated cross-over design. Bimanual force/neuromuscular coordination and cortical excitability were assessed. We also examined the relationship of baseline motor function/interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) to participant’s responses to each stimulation target. Results We identified two patterns of responses. Participants with more severe impairment and weaker IHI improved bimanual force/neuromuscular coordination, ipsilesional activations and reduced IHI after cPMd-rTMS; whereas, those with milder impairment and stronger IHI improved only after iM1-rTMS. Conclusions Cortical stimulation protocols could be tailored to the types of tasks and to individuals’ severity of impairment. Facilitation of cPMd may improve bimanual coordination especially for individuals with limited arm/hand function. Significance Our study is the first to identify cortical stimulation strategies for improving bimanual coordination for individuals with different level of severity of stroke.
A stabilizer-free weak Galerkin finite element method on polytopal meshes

Abstract A stabilizing/penalty term is often used in finite element methods with discontinuous approximations to enforce connection of discontinuous functions across element boundaries. Removing stabilizers from discontinuous Galerkin finite element methods will simplify formulations and reduce programming complexity significantly. The goal of this paper is to introduce a stabilizer free weak Galerkin (WG) finite element method for second order elliptic equations on polytopal meshes. This new WG method keeps a simple symmetric positive definite form and can work on polygonal/polyhedral meshes. Optimal order error estimates are established for the corresponding WG approximations in both a discrete H 1 norm and the L 2 norm. Numerical results are presented verifying the theorem.
The Future of Pain Therapeutics

New chronic pain therapeutics are desperately needed, as many current treatments do not adequately treat pain in many patients. Ongoing preclinical research has found promising new techniques to better diagnose pain mechanisms and to treat pain. In this chapter we will focus on cutting edge technologies that show the most promise to provide relief for the millions of chronic pain patients seeking treatment. The chapter will cover the potential for the emergence of new pharmaceuticals, implanted devices, genetic therapies, and behavioral modifications that may well be available in the coming years.
Generation of Verification Artifacts from Natural Language Descriptions

This chapter describes the generation of formal verification artifacts from natural language (NL) hardware specifications. Difficulties in the formalization process are described, including the linguistic variation problem which causes the mapping from NL to formal artifacts to be many-to-one. The use of semantic parsers is described as an approach which can map NL to formal models while addressing problems including linguistic variation. This chapter presents two approaches which use semantic parsing to generate formal models. The first approach uses an attribute grammar to generate SystemVerilog properties, and the second approach generates bus transactors which can be used as golden models of bus behavior.
An Economic Evaluation of Over 200,000 Revision Total Hip Arthroplasties: Is the Current Model Sustainable?

Introduction Revision total hip arthroplasties (rTHAs) are typically more complicated than primaries and may have a greater economic burden. To date, the current economic model supporting these procedures has not been evaluated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the 10-year temporal changes in charges, reimbursement rates, and net losses in patients undergoing an rTHA utilizing a large, nationwide database. Materials and methods A query was performed from 2005 to 2014 to identify patients who underwent rTHA. Analyzed outcomes included trends in costs of care, reimbursement rates, and net losses per annum within the last 10 years. Charges are defined as those by the provider to the insurance company, whereas, reimbursements were those payments received from the insurance company. Net losses were calculated as the difference in charges from reimbursement rates. Results Total charges increased from $1,119,725,881 in 2005 to $2,066,842,547 in 2014. Total reimbursements increased from $287,461,852 in 2005 to $478,430,569 in 2014. Per patient charges increased 67.4% from 2005 to 2014 and from $51,963.18 in 2005 to $86,791.07 in 2014. There was an increase in reimbursement per patient of 61.4% from $12,450.70 in 2005 to $20,090.31 in 2014. Net losses increased 68.80%, from $39,512.48 to $66,700.76 from 2005 to 2014. Conclusion This study indicates substantial increases in charges and reimbursements over a 10-year period for patients undergoing rTHA. However, reimbursement increased at a lower rate than that of charges, resulting in major net losses. This study highlights the need to reevaluate the economic models behind rTHA for longer-term sustainment.
Designing an Occupational Exposure Report for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting

Despite the known carcinogenic hazards encountered by Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) personnel on the job, little is known about what reportable components should be documented from ARFF i...
Sensing in Airspace for Sequential O-D Aircraft Routing

Aircraft in the National Aviation System (NAS) often rely on wind information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to calculate favorable paths. However, wind conditions are dynamic and the NOAA information becomes quickly outdated because it is based upon sparse sampling both in space and time. This leads to inefficient, slower, paths used in practice. A goal of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) NextGen program is to use dynamic information to reduce inefficiencies. One such way to obtain high quality dynamic information and reduce inefficiency is to use en-route aircraft as ‘sensors’. This raises a natural question, “if a fraction of the aircraft can be used for sampling, how should aircraft be routed to provide most useful information for other aircraft to minimize system costs?” To answer this question, we begin with a stylized model of the aircraft routing problem, and capture the uniquely spatial and temporal correlations in wind dynamics. This allows us to model spatial and temporal correlation between the travel time along different paths, and formulate the travel time as a Brownian surface. Under this uncertainty structure, we answer two questions: (i) if an offline schedule of paths to be sampled is desired, what is the optimal sampling schedule? and (ii) if the paths to be sampled are to be chosen in real time according to flight schedules, what is a near-optimal sampling policy? We provide answers to these questions with provable guarantees. We also generate a comprehensive testbed from real-world flight data and computationally evaluate the performance of our sampling policies. Our testbed consists of seventeen origin-destination airport pairs, with five short haul, seven medium haul and five long-haul pairs. Our results show that collecting the right information and utilizing it to plan future aircraft routes could reduce a flight's travel time and associated fuel burn by 5$\%$ on average. Our modeling framework and results are also applicable to smaller, intra-city aircraft and unmanned aircraft such as UAVs and drones.
Inhibition of IL-6 in the LCWE Mouse Model of Kawasaki Disease Inhibits Acute Phase Reactant Serum Amyloid A but Fails to Attenuate Vasculitis.

Objective Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most common cause of acquired pediatric heart disease in the developed world. 10% of KD patients are resistant to front-line therapy, and no interventions exist to address secondary complications such as myocardial fibrosis. We sought to identify proteins and pathways associated with disease and anti-IL-1 treatment in a mouse model of KD. Methods Vasculitis was induced via Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract (LCWE) injection in 5-week-old male mice. Groups of mice were injected with LCWE alone, LCWE and IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra, or saline for controls. Upper heart tissue was assessed by quantitative mass spectrometry analysis. Expression and activation of STAT3 was assessed by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blot, and IL-6 expression by RNA-seq and ELISA. A STAT3 small molecular inhibitor and anti-IL-6R antibody were used to evaluate the role of STAT3 and IL-6 in disease development. Results STAT3 was highly expressed and phosphorylated in cardiac tissue of LCWE-injected mice, and reduced following anakinra treatment. Il6 and Stat3 gene expression was enhanced in abdominal aorta of LCWE-injected mice and reduced with Anakinra treatment. IL-6 serum levels were enhanced in LCWE-injected mice and normalized by anakinra. However, neither inhibition of STAT3 nor blockade of IL-6 altered disease development. Conclusion Proteomic analysis of cardiac tissues demonstrates differential protein expression between KD-like, control and anakinra treated cardiac tissue. STAT3 and IL-6 were highly upregulated with LCWE and normalized by anakinra treatment. However, both STAT3 and IL-6 were dispensable for disease development indicating they may be bystanders of inflammation.