cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stability of grip strength during the menstrual cycle.

Early studies of strength fluctuations, using the cable tensiometer and dynamometric instrumentation for grip strength, show premenstrual and menstrual decreases in strength (Dawson, 1935). Although these studies were completed over 40 years ago, they apparently have not been replicated. Mood swings paralleling the menstrual cycle have been documented (Bardwick, 1971 ) , with the premenstrual and menstrual phases associated with negative moods, e.g., depression, irritability, but ability and achievement test performance swings have not been found (Golub, 1976). It is possible that fluctuation in grip strength, if it exists, may be more related to motivational factors than ability. Two groups of women college studencs volunteered. A motivated group (n = 12) were told that we believe observed changes In physical strength during the menstrual cycle are associated with motivational faaors we urge them to overcome; a control group (n = 10) were given standard instructions for grip strength. Subjects came in for testing four times during their menstrual cycles: premenstrually, menstrually, postmenstrually, and in midcycle. Menstrual phases were determined by self-report. For each woman a Lafayette Instrument Co. hand dynamometer (Model No. 78010) was adjusted to a comfortable grip size. Each subject, while standing with her arms at her side and the dynamometer in the self-reported dominant hand, was told to squeeze as hard as possible. Her score was the highest recorded on three consecutive trials. Mean performances during the four phases (premenstrual, menstrual, postmenstrual, and midcycle) were 35.3, 34.7, 33.2, and 34.8 for the motivated group and 34.5, 35.0, 34.2, and 35.0 for the uninformed group, with SDs of 7.1, 6.1, 6.8, 5.5 for the motivated group and 6.3, 5.3, 7.1, and 8.2 for the uninformed group, respectively. A two-way mixed-design analysis of variance (group x menstrual phase) was applied. There was no evidence for fluctuation in grip strength during the menstrual cycle among either group of subjects (P1.20 = .005 for group; P3.60 = 1.52 for phase). Dawson's original findings were not replicated. Since no physiological measures (such as basal body temperature) were obtained, a replication with more careful determination of menstrual phase would be highly desirable. REFERENCES
200 INTRARENAL ANGIOTENSINOGEN IN RADIATION NEPHROPATHY

Radiation nephropathy leads to renal failure, but that evolution may be interrupted by antagonists of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Furthermore, angiotensin II (AII) infusion worsens experimental radiation nephropathy. Assays for renin and AII, systemic and intrarenal, have not shown activation of the RAS in radiation nephropathy. Intrarenal angiotensinogen (AGT) may provide additional insight to the status of the RAS in kidney diseases. We therefore tested intrarenal AGT in this model. 24 barrier-maintained WAG/Rij/MCW rats underwent 17 Gy total body irradiation then syngeneic marrow transplant. 24 control rats were un-irradiated. Intrarenal cortical AGT was measured by Western blot analysis and normalized to b-actin. The ratio of irradiated-to-control AGT to β-actin optical density increased with time after irradiation, being 1.0 ± 0.3 at day one, 1.3 ± 0.5 at day 22, 1.3 ± 1.4 at day 41, and 1.6 ± 0.4 at day 63 (data as means, 95% CI). The individual irradiated to control values were not statistically different for days 1, 22, and 41, but did achieve significance at day 63 (p = .04 for trend). The interval of week 3 to week 10 after irradiation is the time when proteinuria, azotemia, and hypertension develop in this model. The trend toward an early increase in tissue AGT suggests that radiation may stimulate intrarenal AGT production and may play an initiating role in radiation nephropathy. The significant trend with time supports a sustaining role for the intrarenal RAS-mediated injury in radiation nephropathy.
Effects of Acutely Induced Changes in Arterial pH on Pulmonary Vascular Resistance during Normoxia and Hypoxia in Awake Dogs

1. Awake dogs with chronically implanted catheters (pulmonary artery, left atrium, aorta) and electromagnetic flow probe (main pulmonary artery) underwent five types of experiments in succession: (1) slow infusion of 0·4 m-hydrochloric acid; (2) rapid infusion of 1·0 m-sodium bicarbonate; (3) exposure to 30 min of hypoxia (10% O 2 ); (4) exposure to hypoxia after arterial pH had been lowered to 7·30; (5) exposure to hypoxia after pH had been increased to 7·55. Intravascular pressures, pulmonary vascular resistance, cardiac output, arterial gas tension and pH were studied. 2. Acute acidosis (pH 7·21) resulted in a small rise in pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac output and pulmonary vascular resistance, associated with a decrease in P a,co 2 . Acute alkalosis (pH 7·61) was accompanied by a small rise in pulmonary artery pressure, marked increase in cardiac output, a fall in pulmonary vascular resistance and mild elevation in P a,co 2 . During acidosis hypoxia resulted in a more pronounced rise in pulmonary vascular resistance than during alkalosis ( P 3. The study provides evidence that in the intact, awake dog with its compensatory mechanisms acute alkalosis decreases pulmonary vascular resistance by decreasing vascular tone and/or recruitment of pulmonary vascular channels; it diminishes the vasoconstrictive response to hypoxia; conversely, mild acidosis increases the pulmonary vascular resistance slightly and enhances vasoconstriction during hypoxia to a small extent.
Hepatic artery chemoembolization for advanced stage HCC: experience of 650 patients.

UNLABELLED Hepatic artery chemotherapy using cisplatin in various protocols was examined in 650 patients. Overall objective tumor response rate (PR) was 65%. Average survival was 7.5 mo in patients with tumor progression, 18.0 mo for tumor stability and 32.0 mo for PR. 1- and 2-yr survival was 70% and 40% in responders, 20% and 0% in progressors. Prognostic factors were examined in 155 patients treated with cisplatin and gelfoam chemo-occlusion. In survival groups of > 24 mo, 4-24 mo and < 4 mo, similar numbers had cirrhosis, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and alcoholism. Decreased survival was associated with abnormal bilirubin, albumin and prothrombin time. Tumor vascularity and response to chemotherapy were associated with prolonged survival. Tumor vascularity seemed important for tumor response. Portal vein thrombosis occurred in all groups. Lesion number, bilobarity and maximum size had no correlation with response or survival. We analyzed the cause of death in 425 patients. No evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma progression, judged by absence of change in CT scan or tumor marker in the last 4 months of life, was found in 42%. A group of 57 patients were treated with cisplatin in dose range 125-200 mg/m2 alone or with gelfoam. In both groups, responders survived longer than non-responders: cisplatin alone responder mean survival, 29.0 mo, non-responder 11.1 mo, P < 0.0001. There was a strong effect of dose density on median survival for cisplatin alone, but not for cisplatin and gelfoam. CONCLUSIONS A large experience of single-agent cisplatin chemo-occlusion is summarized. Good liver function and tumor vascularity are associated with response to chemotherapy, which in turn is associated with enhanced survival. Many deaths are due to cirrhosis and not hepatocellular carcinoma.
Vascular Function at Baseline in the Hemodialysis Fistula Maturation Study

Background End‐stage renal disease is accompanied by functional and structural vascular abnormalities. The objective of this study was to characterize vascular function in a large cohort of patients with end‐stage renal disease, using noninvasive physiological measurements, and to correlate function with demographic and clinical factors. Methods and Results We analyzed cross‐sectional baseline data from the Hemodialysis Fistula Maturation Study, a multicenter prospective observational cohort study of 602 patients with end‐stage renal disease from 7 centers. Brachial artery flow‐ and nitroglycerin‐mediated dilation, carotid‐femoral and ‐radial pulse wave velocity, and venous occlusion plethysmography were performed prior to arteriovenous fistula creation. Relationships of these vascular function measures with demographic, clinical, and laboratory factors were evaluated using linear mixed‐effects models. Arterial function, as assessed by flow‐ and nitroglycerin‐mediated dilation and carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity, worsened with increasing age and diabetes mellitus. Venous capacitance decreased with diabetes mellitus but not with age. Flow‐mediated dilation was higher among patients undergoing maintenance dialysis than for those at predialysis, and a U‐shaped relationship between serum phosphorus concentration and flow‐mediated dilation was evident. Partial correlations among different measures of vascular function, adjusting for demographic factors, diabetes mellitus, and clinical center, were modest or essentially nonexistent. Conclusions Multiple demographic and clinical factors were associated with the functions of vessels of different sizes and types in this large cohort of patients with end‐stage renal disease. Low correlations between the different measures, controlling for demographic factors, diabetes mellitus, and center, indicated that these different types of vascular function otherwise vary heterogeneously across patients.
Wavelet Transform of Neuronal Responses Induced by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Cortex

Using wavelet techniques, the time-scale representations of evoked complex spike potentials (CSP) induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in rodent auditory cortex were studied. The wavelet transform expanded CSP into a time-scale representation, which allowed the analyst to zoom in on the small scale, fine structure details of CSP or zoom out to examine the large scale, global wave shape. That provided the information about both the time and frequency characteristics of CSP. Wavelet analyses of CSP would potentially suggest the physiological processes undergoing in the brain.
Adaptive Caching in Big SQL using the HDFS Cache

The memory and storage hierarchy in database systems is currently undergoing a radical evolution in the context of Big Data systems. SQL-on-Hadoop systems share data with other applications in the Big Data ecosystem by storing their data in HDFS, using open file formats. However, they do not provide automatic caching mechanisms for storing data in memory. In this paper, we describe the architecture of IBM Big SQL and its use of the HDFS cache as an alternative to the traditional buffer pool, allowing in-memory data to be shared with other Big Data applications. We design novel adaptive caching algorithms for Big SQL tailored to the challenges of such an external cache scenario. Our experimental evaluation shows that only our adaptive algorithms perform well for diverse workload characteristics, and are able to adapt to evolving data access patterns. Finally, we discuss our experiences in addressing the new challenges imposed by external caching and summarize our insights about how to direct ongoing architectural evolution of external caching mechanisms.
Promoting First Relationships®: Randomized Trial of a 10-Week Home Visiting Program With Families Referred to Child Protective Services

We conducted a community-based randomized control trial with intent-to-treat analysis on Promoting First Relationships® (PFR), a 10-week home visiting program. The study included 247 families with ...
Bone Matrix Maturation in a Rat Model of Intra-Cortical Bone Remodeling

Matrix maturation within cortical bone is an important but oft-neglected component of bone remodeling because of the lack of a suitable small animal model. Intra-cortical remodeling can be induced in rodents by feeding virgin or lactating animals a low-calcium diet. The current study aimed to determine which of these two models is most suitable for studying intra-cortical matrix maturation. We compared intra-cortical remodeling in female rats fed a normal calcium diet (virgin/normal Ca), a low-calcium diet (virgin/low Ca), or a low-calcium diet during lactation (lactation/low Ca). The low-calcium diet was administered for 23 days (induction phase) followed by return to normal calcium for 30 days (recovery phase). At the end of induction, the virgin/normal Ca and virgin/low-Ca animals had no difference in cortical porosity, but the lactation/low-Ca animals had elevated cortical porosity at various diaphyseal sites in the femur and tibia. The distal femoral site had the greatest amount of induced porosity in the size range of rat secondary osteons. Neither global mineralization nor tissue age-specific mineral-to-matrix ratio in the bone formed during recovery were affected in the lactation/low-Ca rats. Serum calcium levels did not differ from controls, but phosphate levels were slightly elevated, consistent with the rapid recovery of lost bone mass. We conclude that the lactation/low-Ca model represents a means to increase intra-cortical remodeling in adult rats with no apparent detrimental effect on matrix maturation. This model will provide researchers with a new tool to study matrix maturation throughout the cortex.
Digging deep: Identification of a hidden crossover

Aim When patients requiring stem cell transplantation have multiple siblings as potential donors, HLA typing of all candidates is performed and haplotypes are ascertained. Recently, we began to routinely include HLA-DP typing in our analysis. Due to a hot spot of recombination between the HLA-DQ and HLA-DP loci, DP mismatches among otherwise HLA-A, B, C, DRB1 and DQB1 matched siblings are not an unexpected occurrence. In the family study shown below, a sibling who was HLA-DP mismatched to the patient was also mismatched at the HLA-DRB * 3 locus. Interestingly, this DRB3 * mismatch would not have been identified had high resolution typing for the HLA-DRB3 * /4 * /5 * loci not been performed. Methods High resolution typing for the HLA-A * , B * , C * , DRB1 * , DRB3 * , DRB4 * , DRB5 * , DQA * , DQB * , DPA * and DPB * loci was performed by SBT and/or SSOP. Results HLA typing results and haplotype assignments are shown below. Sibling 1 and the patient are HLA identical, sharing the “a” and “c” haplotypes. Sibling 2 inherited the alternative maternal and paternal haplotypes (“b” and “d”). Sibling 3 has a unique haplotype (“a/b” and “c”) resulting from a paternal recombination (represented by gray shading in the table below). Conclusions Although likely a rare event, this case illustrates that recombination between the HLA-B and HLA-DRB3 locus resulted in a HLA-DRB3 * mismatch between the patient and a potential donor. Due to sharing of the DRB1 * , DQA and DQB alleles on the “a” and “b” haplotypes, this sibling would have been considered to be only an HLA-DP mismatch with the patient. Collectively, this case illustrates the utility of performing high resolution HLA typing for all the polymorphic HLA loci. Download full-size image
Instructional designers’ perspectives on learners’ responsibility for learning

This study employed a hermeneutic investigative approach to determine instructional designers’ underlying views of learner responsibility for their own learning, and how those views informed design practice. Prior research has examined how instructional designers spend their time, make decisions, use theory, and solve problems, but have not explored how views of learner responsibility might inform design work. Based on intensive interviews of practitioners in the field, this study produced themes concerning how instructional designers balance their own and their learners’ responsibility for learning. Overall, these results suggest that designers feel largely responsible for learning to take place, but are seeking ways of sharing that responsibility with their learners. Other conclusions are discussed and future directions for research are offered.
Crystal Black Feather Gown

This dress was the finale piece in the first annual “Big Hair Ball” fashion show, produced to raise funds for a local family service organization. The inspiration for the design came from trying to make the biggest dress.
The Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

For scalar functions of one variable, the fundamental theorem of calculus is a powerful tool for integration. It says that there exists an associated function, often called an antiderivative, such that the integral of the scalar function can be evaluated by looking at the antiderivative at the endpoints of the interval. Specifically, it is the following theorem.
Ordinary Homology Theory

In this chapter we continue to proceed axiomatically. We assume now that we have an ordinary homology theory, i.e., one that satisfies the dimension axiom, and we assume in addition that the coefficient group is the integers \(\mathbb{Z}\). Throughout this chapter H n (X), or H n (X, A), will denote such a homology group.
Reliability with Fuzzy Elements in Water Quantity and Quality Problems

Uncertainty and imprecision in hydrologic reliability analysis procedures should be explicitly taken into account in both water quantity and water quality problems. A mix probabilistic/fuzzy logic based approach is presented, using the respective examples of flood protection reliability and control of pollutant loading reliability. In the flood protection example, the fuzzy risk-cost is calculated within the framework of a decision model with two states of nature S1 and S2, such that S1: X ≥ X0 and S2: X<X0, X being the flood stage and X0, the protection level. The probability of exceedance is calculated as a fuzzy number (FN) to account for model and sample uncertainty, as well as imprecision in the resistance X0. The protection costs C and the flood losses K are also taken as FN’s. The expected losses corresponding to each action can then be calculated by fuzzy arithmetic, also yielding FN’s. The action that results in the smallest FN is selected. Techniques for ranking FN are briefly discussed, and the fuzzy mean is used as a ranking criterion.
Gas Production from Hydrate-Bearing Sediments: The Role of Fine Particles

Even a small fraction of fine particles can have a significant effect on gas production from hydrate-bearing sediments and sediment stability. Experiments were conducted to investigate the role of fine particles on gas production using a soil chamber that allows for the application of an effective stress to the sediment. This chamber was instrumented to monitor shear-wave velocity, temperature, pressure, and volume change during CO2 hydrate formation and gas production. The instrumented chamber was placed inside the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Seafloor Process Simulator (SPS), which was used to control the fluid pressure and temperature. Experiments were conducted with different sediment types and pressure–temperature histories. Fines migrated within the sediment in the direction of fluid flow. A vuggy structure formed in the sand; these small cavities or vuggs were precursors to the development of gas-driven fractures during depressurization under a constant effective stress boundary condition. We defi...
Enhancing Sustainability Image: Content Analysis of Letters to Shareholders of IT Companies

Sustainable development and corporate environmental responsibility are becoming closely tied with business competitiveness in modern economy. Given the impetus organizations have to enhance their sustainability image, there is a lack of research that examines the relationship between corporations’ messages to shareholders and their environmental and social responsibility. The current paper presents a methodology and preliminary findings of the pilot study of 104 IT and non-IT companies in the USA. Content analysis of letters to shareholders was done to check for significant differences in correlations between sustainability-related content and environmental performance in the sample. The paper also outlines methodology and expected results of the proposed research-in-progress. A similar methodology will be used to study a larger panel dataset of North American, European and Asian IT corporations to assess the dynamics of sustainability-related content over time and across companies and geographic
The International Monetary System and Change: Relations between the Mode of Negotiation and Legal Technique

The Bretton Woods Conference of July 1944 agreed to create an international monetary system governed by a multilateral treaty and administered by the International Monetary Fund. The Articles of Agreement as drafted at the Conference by the representatives of 44 governments established rights and obligations for member countries in relation to monetary matters, and created a pool of resources to assist members to observe their obligations. The new function of ensuring the adequacy of global monetary reserves by allocating to members, or cancelling, a new reserve asset called the special drawing right (SDR), was conferred on the Fund by the first amendment of its Articles, which became effective in July 1969. The Articles, which on June 1, 1977 had been accepted by 130 countries, remain the major legal instrument of the system.1
Current Issues in the Changing Roles and Practices of Community Economic Development Lawyers

This Article, part of a symposium entitled "Lawyering for a New Democracy," explores current issues related to the changing roles of public interest lawyers engaged in Community Economic Development (CED) in a new democracy. After discussing current issues and trends in CED practice, the author concludes that CED is inherently privatized and is becoming more so with the national emphasis on economic self-sufficiency. The author provides lessons from law school clinical practice of enhanced strategic collaborations and highlights current trends and issues involving technology, leadership development, community organizing, asset accumulation, and social capital. Furthermore, leadership development and community organizing are based on a thorough understanding of the economic culture, social capital, and the relationships between assets and race. One particular program at the George Washington University Law School Small Business Clinic (GWUSBC) involved one of the clinic's clients, SiNGA, Inc., a nonprofit jobs-training program in the fashion industry. The author also describes how federally-funded programs, like the Community Renewal and New Markets Initiative of 2000, can be used to encourage private investment and economic development in communities. These federally-funded programs often include economic incentives such as tax credits. Given the opportunities in the new democracy, the author concludes that there is an enhanced role for CED activist lawyers to play in the social, political, and economic dimensions of community revitalization.
Differences in the equine faecal microbiota between horses presenting to a tertiary referral hospital for colic compared with an elective surgical procedure.

BACKGROUND The faecal microbiota is emerging as potentially important in intestinal disease. More research is needed to characterise the faecal microbiota from horses with colic. OBJECTIVES To compare the relative abundance of bacterial populations comprising the faecal microbiota in horses presenting for colic compared with an elective surgical procedure. STUDY DESIGN Prospective observational clinical study. METHODS Admission faecal samples were collected from horses presenting for colic and elective surgical procedures. Faecal samples were extracted for genomic DNA, PCR- amplified, sequenced and analysed using QIIME. Species richness and Shannon diversity were estimated for each faecal sample. The extent of the relationship between bacterial communities (beta diversity) was quantified using pairwise UniFrac distances, visualised using principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and statistically analysed using PERMANOVA. The relative abundance of bacterial populations between the two treatment groups were compared using ANCOM. RESULTS Faecal bacterial communities in horses presenting for colic had fewer species (P<0.001) and lower diversity (P<0.001) compared with horses presenting for elective surgical procedures. Based on the PERMANOVA analysis, there was a significant difference in the bacterial community composition between horses admitted for colic vs. elective procedures (P = 0.001). Based on ANCOM test, at the genus level, 14 bacterial lineages differed between the two groups. The relative abundance of known commensal bacteria including Prevotella, Clostridia, Lachnospiraceae were reduced whereas Christenellaceae, Streptococcus and Sphaerochaeta were increased in horses with colic when compared with elective cases. MAIN LIMITATIONS Relative low numbers and a diverse population of horses. CONCLUSIONS Changes in bacterial populations in the faecal microbiota of horses presenting for colic observed in this study concurs with previous studies in veterinary and human patients with gastrointestinal disease. Future studies focusing on different causes of colic, chronic or recurrent disease, and the association with histological changes within the intestine are needed. The Summary is available in Portuguese - see Supporting Information.
Siladifluoromethylation and Deoxo-trifluoromethylation of PV-H Compounds with TMSCF3: Route to PV-CF2- Transfer Reagents and P-CF3 Compounds.

A method for siladifluoromethylation of dialkyl phosphonates and secondary phosphine oxides with TMSCF3 to produce nucleophilic PV–CF2– transfer reagents is disclosed, with multigram scale reactions included. Condition-dependent divergent reactivity under the established conditions is demonstrated by the formation of trifluoromethylphosphines. Both one-pot transformations are operationally simple and employ inexpensive materials. Mechanistic investigations suggest the divergent reactivity originates from a common intermediate, with Li+ concentration directing the chemoselectivity.
Regional Disparity in Asthma Prevalence and Distribution of Asthma Education Programs in Texas.

Objectives. To identify the distribution of asthma education programs that are currently active in Texas and examine whether there is a geographical disparity between asthma prevalence and locations of asthma education programs in the Public Health Regions (PHRs) of Texas. Methods. The data for adult asthma prevalence in PHRs was obtained from the Texas Department of State and Health Services (DSHS) 2015 Texas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Public Use Data File. The Geographic Information System (GIS) program was used to show the distribution of asthma education programs and visually identify the isolated areas for asthma education programs on the maps. To examine the areas covered by the asthma education programs, we illustrated 50 miles and 70 miles of buffer zones from each program by proximity (multiple ring buffer) functions in GIS. Results. We identified that 27 asthma education programs are active in Texas as of July 2019. The analysis showed that PHRs 1, 2, and 7 had the highest rate of asthma prevalence but had fewer asthma education programs. Also, the distribution of asthma education programs is concentrated around major cities, leading to a regional imbalance between asthma prevalence and locations of asthma education programs. The central and western areas of Texas proved to be marginalized areas for asthma education programs, particularly PHRs 2 and 9 because they may not be covered by the buffer zones of 70 miles from any asthma education programs. Discussion. This study revealed the marginalized regions in Texas lacking asthma education programs. The findings could help policymakers and health care professionals enhance opportunities to develop asthma education programs using different venues in isolated areas and prioritize these regions, for funds, to establish new asthma education programs.
Martin Joos’s Readings in Linguistics: A publication history

Summary The book Readings in Linguistics edited by Martin Joos is one of the best known collections of papers ever published in the field of linguistics. In this article I trace its publication history, from Bernard Bloch’s idea in 1946 for an anthology of important work in descriptive linguists, to the several editions of Joos’s reader between 1957 and 1995, to the present day, where citations to the book are still quite frequent. Making extensive use of unpublished material in various archives in the United States, I outline in detail the exchanges between Joos and other linguists around its publication, as well as the critical reviews that were published of the book. I attempt to explain why a collection of papers, the majority of which were published in the 1940s, is still of great interest. I offer two reasons. The first derives from the material in Joos’s prefaces to the various editions and from Joos’s editorial comments on the included articles. Practitioners of every current approach to linguistics have cited some of this material either as an opening wedge against opposing approaches or to express smug satisfaction that we know more about how science works now than we did more than a half-century ago. The second is that it provides a fascinating historical record of how linguistics used to be done — not so long ago that the approach documented is a mere historiographical curiosity, but also not so recently as to be no more than a quaint version of current theory
Streetseen: Factors Influencing the Desirability of a Street for Bicycling

In what is one of the first visual preference surveys using Google Street View, adult students viewed a series of paired slides of image of city streets. Participants were asked to choose which image from the pair they preferred based on which street they would prefer to ride a bicycle. Subsequent analyses showed that differences in continent of the respondent impact preferences. This research demonstrates the extent to which certain segment-level factors such as presence of trees along the street, width of the street, presence of sidewalks, and other features are preferred using discrete choice models. The models reveal that increasing vehicle traffic, number of lanes, streetscapes with dense trees, and presence of parking lots decrease the probability of being chosen. Having sidewalks, presence of pedestrians, trees set back from the street, and traffic calming devices are positively associated with respondents’ preferences. The results related to trees may relate to perceptions of safety. For example, dense trees close to a street may limit visibility along a roadway. The models also reveal significant differences in preferences based on respondents’ locations. We conclude that this method is effective in capturing information about bicycling preferences. The survey methodology and analysis techniques introduced in this study can help city planners design streets that are preferred by bicyclists.
“A Necessary Madness”: PTSD in Mary Balogh’s Survivors’ Club Novels

Mary Balogh’s eight neo-Regency novels that comprise her Survivors’ Club series deal with nearly every aspect of PTSD that resulted from the Peninsular War. Balogh’s plots offer resolution, healing and hope not only for her characters but also for her readers who may be suffering from PTSD or may have a relationship with someone who suffers from it. Even though Balogh foregrounds battle-related PTSD, she concurrently draws parallels between it and other forms of trauma caused by behaviour and events that were also forbidden subjects to be discussed during the nineteenth century, such as spousal abuse, abandonment of a child by an alcoholic parent, bankruptcy through gambling, psychological damage from social and familial rejection, rape, spousal infidelity, miscarriages, death of a spouse, death of a child, homosexuality, and the inability of women to follow their dreams and hearts or to have a means to provide financially for themselves and children.
Using historical atmospheric pollution data to prioritize environmental sampling in urban areas

Abstract Even when atmospheric particulate matter (PM) pollution declines in urban settings, the residual effects of PM can still be felt by the community. Specifically, PM containing elevated levels of lead (Pb) can accumulate in soils and pose an ingestion/inhalation risk well after deposition because of the relatively immobile chemical nature of Pb. This short communication utilizes a case study of Memphis, TN, where particulate pollution has been reported at high levels. Through conducting time series analysis of atmospheric Pb concentrations, a Pb pollution hot spot in Southwest Memphis is identified as a location where urban soil Pb testing should be focused because of high particulate Pb concentrations in the past. Furthermore, residents in this area are predominantly low income and of ethnic minority (African-American), reiterating previous literature regarding uneven distribution of demographics exposed to pollution in Memphis. Although Pb PM pollution has decreased in recent decades throughout the United States, the use of past Pb air monitoring data in cities can help target specific areas where additional Pb testing may be needed by governments and researchers, particularly where blood Pb level or historical land use data may be limited.
Approaching the event horizon: 1.3mm VLBI of SgrA*

Advances in VLBI instrumentation now allow wideband recording that significantly increases the sensitivity of short wavelength VLBI observations. Observations of the super-massive black hole candidate at the center of the Milky Way, SgrA*, with short wavelength VLBI reduces the scattering effects of the intervening interstellar medium, allowing observations with angular resolution comparable to the apparent size of the event horizon of the putative black hole. Observations in April 2007 at a wavelength of 1.3mm on a three station VLBI array have now confirmed structure in SgrA* on scales of just a few Schwarzschild radii. When modeled as a circular Gaussian, the fitted diameter of SgrA* is 37 micro arcsec (+16,-10; 3-sigma), which is smaller than the expected apparent size of the event horizon of the Galactic Center black hole. These observations demonstrate that mm/sub-mm VLBI is poised to open a new window onto the study of black hole physics via high angular resolution observations of the Galactic Center.
A DSP Architecture for Distortion-Free Evoked Compound Action Potential Recovery in Neural Response Telemetry System

This paper presents a digital signal processing (DSP) architecture for real-time and distortion-free recovery of electrically-evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs) from stimulus artifacts and periodic noises in bidirectional neural response telemetry (NRT) system. In this DSP architecture, a low computation-cost bidirectional-filtered coherent averaging (BFCA) method is proposed for programmable linear-phase filtering of ECAPs, which can be easily combined with the alternating-polarity (AP) stimulation method to reject stimulus artifacts overlapped with ECAP responses. Design techniques including the configurable folded infinite-impulse response (IIR) filter and division-free averaging are also presented for efficient hardware implementation. Implemented in 180-nm CMOS process, the proposed DSP architecture consumes 10.03-mm2 area and 2.35-mW post-layout simulated power. The efficacy of the DSP architecture in recovering ECAPs from recorded neural data contaminated by overlapped stimulus artifacts and periodic noises is validated in in-vivo electrical nerve stimulations. Experiment results show that compared with the previous coherent averaging technique, the proposed DSP architecture improves the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ECAP responses by 11 dB and achieves a 3.1% waveform distortion that is 17.1× lower.
Corruption Distance and Foreign Direct Investment

We study the effects of “corruption distance,” defined as the difference in corruption levels between country pairs, on bilateral foreign direct investment (FDI). Using a “gravity” model and the Heckman (1979) two-stage framework on a data set of 45 countries from 1997 to 2007, we find that corruption distance adversely affects the volume of FDI to be invested in a host country. However, we do not find statistical evidence that corruption distance influences FDI’s decision on whether to invest or not. The volume reduction effect of corruption distance varies across different source-host-country-pair samples. Further, we identify the asymmetric effect of corruption distance and find that the positive corruption distance, defined as the corruption distance from a high corruption source to a low corruption host country, is the prominent one that affects the behavior of bilateral FDI. Again, the degree of such asymmetric effect varies across different country-pair samples.
iSTART stairstepper-using comprehension strategy training to game the test

Literacy skills are critical for future success, yet over 60% of high school seniors lack proficient reading skills according to standardized tests. The focus on high stakes, standardized test performance may lead educators to “teach-to-the-test” rather than supporting transferable comprehension strategies that students need. StairStepper can fill this gap by blending necessary test prep and reading comprehension strategy practice in a fun, game-based environment. StairStepper is an adaptive literacy skill training game within Interactive Strategy Training for Active Reading and Thinking (iSTART) intelligent tutoring system. StairStepper is unique in that it models text passages and multiple-choice questions of high-stakes assessments, iteratively supporting skill acquisition through self-explanation prompts and scaffolded, adaptive feedback based on performance and self-explanations. This paper describes an experimental study employing a delayed-treatment control design to evaluate users’ perceptions of the StairStepper game and its influence on reading comprehension scores. Results indicate that participants enjoyed the visual aspects of the game environment, wanted to perform well, and considered the game feedback helpful. Reading comprehension scores of students in the treatment condition did not increase. However, the comprehension scores of the control group decreased. Collectively, these results indicate that the StairStepper game may fill the intended gap in instruction by providing enjoyable practice of essential reading comprehension skills and test preparation, potentially increasing students’ practice persistence while decreasing teacher workload.
The utility of therapeutic plasma exchange in Hyperviscosity syndrome associated with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: A case report.

Hyperviscosity syndrome (HVS) is a life-threatening syndrome caused by high concentrations of large plasma proteins like IgM, rheumatoid factor, and other immune complexes, leading to increased blood viscosity and symptoms such as visual abnormalities, neurological impairment, bleeding diathesis, and thrombosis. While Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia accounts for 80% to 90% of cases, HVS may develop in other clinical settings characterized by elevations in plasma proteins. Limited evidence currently exists describing the safety and efficacy of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for the management of HVS secondary to non-neoplastic conditions. We report a case of recurrent HVS associated with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and Felty syndrome that demonstrated improvement in clinical symptoms following initiation of TPE. These findings suggest that TPE may be utilized as an adjunct treatment option in patients with HVS secondary to autoimmune disorders.
Diagnosis of Pulmonary Infections Due to Endemic Fungi

Endemic mycoses including Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, Paracoccidioides, and Talaromyces are dimorphic fungi that can cause a variety of clinical manifestations, including respiratory infections. Their pulmonary presentations are variable, and diagnosis is often delayed as they can mimic other infectious and non-infectious causes of pulmonary disease. Delay in diagnosis can lead to unnecessary antibiotic use, repeat hospitalizations, and increased morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of endemic fungal pulmonary infections often relies on multiple diagnostic tests including culture, tissue histopathology, antigen assays, and antibody assays. Due to the increased use of immunosuppressive agents and the widening geographic ranges where these infections are being found, the prevalence of endemic fungal infections is increasing. Physicians need to be aware of the clinical manifestations of pulmonary infections due to endemic fungal in order to ensure that the proper diagnostic work up is obtained promptly. A high index of suspicion is particularly important in patients with suspected pulmonary infections who have failed to improve despite antibiotics in the appropriate setting. We present a review diagnostic testing for pulmonary infections due to endemic mycoses.
Three-dimensional Dendritic Needle Network model with application to Al-Cu directional solidification experiments

We present a three-dimensional (3D) extension of a previously proposed multi-scale Dendritic Needle Network (DNN) approach for the growth of complex dendritic microstructures. Using a new formulation of the DNN dynamics equations for dendritic paraboloid-branches of a given thickness, one can directly extend the DNN approach to 3D modeling. We validate this new formulation against known scaling laws and analytical solutions that describe the early transient and steady-state growth regimes, respectively. Finally, we compare the predictions of the model to in situ X-ray imaging of Al-Cu alloy solidification experiments. The comparison shows a very good quantitative agreement between 3D simulations and thin sample experiments. It also highlights the importance of full 3D modeling to accurately predict the primary dendrite arm spacing that is significantly over-estimated by 2D simulations.
T2‐weighted prostate MRI at 7 tesla using a simplified external transmit‐receive coil array: Correlation with radical prostatectomy findings in two prostate cancer patients

Purpose To report design of a simplified external transmit-receive coil array for 7 Tesla (T) prostate MRI, including demonstration of the array for tumor localization using T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) at 7T before prostatectomy. Materials and Methods Following simulations of transmitter designs not requiring parallel transmission or radiofrequency-shimming, a coil array was constructed using loop elements, with anterior and posterior rows comprising one transmit-receive element and three receive-only elements. This coil structure was optimized using a whole-body phantom. In vivo sequence optimization was performed to optimize achieved flip angle (FA) and signal to noise ratio (SNR) in prostate. The system was evaluated in a healthy volunteer at 3T and 7T. The 7T T2WI was performed in two prostate cancer patients before prostatectomy, and localization of dominant tumors was subjectively compared with histopathological findings. Image quality was compared between 3T and 7T in these patients. Results Simulations of the B1+ field in prostate using two-loop design showed good magnitude (B1+ of 0.245 A/m/w1/2) and uniformity (nonuniformity [SD/mean] of 10.4%). In the volunteer, 90° FA was achieved in prostate using 225 v 1 ms hard-pulse (indicating good efficiency), FA maps confirmed good uniformity (14.1% nonuniformity), and SNR maps showed SNR gain of 2.1 at 7T versus 3T. In patients, 7T T2WI showed excellent visual correspondence with prostatectomy findings. 7T images demonstrated higher estimated SNR (eSNR) in benign peripheral zone (PZ) and tumor compared with 3T, but lower eSNR in fat and slight decreases in tumor-to-PZ contrast and PZ-homogeneity. Conclusion We have demonstrated feasibility of a simplified external coil array for high-resolution T2-weighted prostate MRI at 7T. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2015;41:226–232. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sexuality as Focus of Therapy: A Case Study in Attribution

The case of a patient who presented for treatment while the author was a psychiatry resident is discussed. Issues raised include treating a patient who presents her sexual orientation as the problem and how to help psychotherapists, especially trainees, become comfortable in treating gay and lesbian patients.
Similar dynamics of intraapheresis autologous CD34+ recruitment and collection efficiency in patients undergoing mobilization with or without plerixafor.

Background Compared with growth factor (G) alone, the combination of G with plerixafor (G + P) increases peripheral blood CD34+ count (PB-CD34+) and improves CD34+ collection yield (yCD34+) in multiple myeloma and lymphoma patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic progenitor cell (AHPC) mobilization. It is unknown whether the improved yCD34+ with G + P results entirely from expansion of PB-CD34+ or also from increased intraapheresis CD34+ recruitment and collection efficiency. Study Design and Methods We retrospectively studied 192 patients who underwent AHPC mobilization and collection with G (n = 73) or G + P (n = 119) to compare the adjusted relative efficiency (aRE), the proportion of the circulating CD34+ pool that is captured for each blood volume processed. Additionally, in a prospective cohort of nine patients mobilizing with G and 11 with G + P, PB-CD34+ after leukapheresis allowed calculation of the recruitment coefficient (RC), proportion of the initial CD34+ pool recruited from the marrow into peripheral blood for each blood volume processed. Results There was no difference in aRE between G and G + P (0.50 vs. 0.46; p = 0.37) and no substantial decline in aRE with higher blood volumes processed in either group. RC was also not different between G and G + P (median, 0.39 and 0.38, respectively; p = 0.7). Prediction of yCD34+ was determined essentially by PB-CD34+ and not affected independently by plerixafor. Conclusion Kinetics of intraapheresis CD34+ recruitment and collection is proportional to PB-CD34+ but not influenced further by plerixafor.
Investigation of ENSO variability using cyclostationary EOFs of observational data

¶The variability of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on all time scales, ranging from months to decades, has been studied from the perspective of sea-surface temperature anomaly (SSTA), sea-level pressure anomaly (SLPA), and surface wind anomaly (SWA) fields using a statistical tool called cyclostationary empirical orthogonal function (CSEOF) analysis. The analysis indicates that a significant fraction of variability in the tropical Pacific can be explained in terms of an irregular interplay of two dominant modes: the low-frequency mode and the biennial mode. These modes, and in particular the biennial mode, are well defined coupled modes of the tropical ocean-atmospheric circulation system, as suggested by strong correlation (> 0.9) in the evolution of the different physical variables. The low-frequency mode and its PC time series are very similar to the so-called “interdecadal” mode identified by earlier investigators. The corresponding PC time series of the low-frequency mode has a broad spectral peak at 5.3 yrs. The biennial mode represents the oscillation pattern of El Nino and La Nina and has a clear biennial cycle, the amplitude of which varies on a longer time scale. There is a broad spectral peak also at 5.3 yrs in the principal component (PC) time series of this mode. Unlike in earlier studies, this biennial mode is clearly separable from the low-frequency mode, since these two modes have different physical evolution patterns. Results of the present study also indicate that the biennial component, having a clear phase-locking tendency, is not as variable as has been suggested in some previous investigations. It is shown that much of the inter-El Nino variability can be explained in terms of an irregular interplay between the biennial mode and the low-frequency mode. Finally, the role of the low-frequency mode in the tropical Pacific seems to be more important than has been suggested previously. Specifically, recent warming events since 1975 are shown to be associated with the low-frequency mode rather than with the biennial mode.