cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular disease risk factors and oxidative stress among premenopausal women

Oxidative stress is one hypothesized mechanism linking anthropometric, behavioral, and medical risk factors with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We evaluated cross-sectional associations between CVD risk factors and biomarkers of oxidative stress, and investigated these biomarkers as predictors of incident diabetes and hypertension among premenopausal women. F2-isoprostane (F2-IsoP) and metabolite (15-F2t-IsoP-M), reliable biomarkers of oxidative stress, were measured in urine samples collected at enrollment from 897 premenopausal women (ages 35-54) enrolled in the Sister Study cohort without a CVD history. Blood pressure, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI) were measured at enrollment by trained study personnel. Diabetes and cigarette smoking were self-reported via enrollment questionnaires. Over a maximum follow-up of 11.5 years, participants self-reported incident diabetes and hypertension diagnoses on mailed questionnaires. In cross-sectional analyses, both F2-IsoP and 15-F2t-IsoP-M were positively associated with BMI, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, and current smoking. F2-IsoP was elevated among those with diabetes, and 15-F2t-IsoP-M increased with higher systolic blood pressure. Prospective analyses suggested an increased hypertension risk among those with elevated 15-F2t-IsoP-M (highest vs. lowest quartile: hazard ratio=2.34; 95% CI: 1.20-4.56). Our results suggest that urinary F2-IsoP and 15-F2t-IsoP-M are positively associated with adiposity measures, blood pressure, and cigarette smoking. Further investigation is warranted to evaluate 15-F2t-IsoP-M as a predictor of hypertension.
Designing Virtual Laboratories to Foster Knowledge Integration: Buoyancy and Density

In this chapter, we report upon the iterative development of an online instructional unit featuring virtual laboratory activities that target the physical science concepts of density and buoyancy. We introduce a virtual laboratory activity that was designed to facilitate exploration of the relationship of mass and volume to buoyancy. We evaluate the virtual laboratory by measuring the extent to which it fosters meaningful experimentation, appropriate interpretation of evidence, and discovery of new ideas. In the first revision, we simplified the exploratory tools. This revision supported better interpretation of evidence related to a specific claim, but limiting potential for discovery of new ideas. In the second revision, we introduced an intuitive graph-based interface that allowed students to specify and rapidly test properties of virtual materials (i.e., mass and volume). This revision facilitated meaningful exploration of students’ ideas, thereby supporting both valid interpretations of evidence related to false claims and discovery of new ideas. We discuss the role that virtual laboratories can play in the design of all laboratory activities by tracking student strategies and offering opportunities to easily test new features.
Effect of calcination temperature on the electrochemical properties of nickel-rich LiNi0.76Mn0.14Co0.10O2 cathodes for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract High energy density, nickel (Ni)-rich, layered LiNixMnyCozO2 (NMC, x ≥ 0.6) materials are promising cathodes for lithium-ion batteries. However, several technical challenges, such as fast capacity fading and high voltage instability, hinder their large-scale application. Herein, we identified an optimum calcining temperature range for the Ni-rich cathode LiNi0.76Mn0.14Co0.10O2 (NMC76). NMC76 calcined at 750–775 °C exhibits a high discharge capacity (~215 mAh g−1 when charged to 4.5 V) and retains ca. 79% of its initial capacity after 200 cycles. It also exhibits an excellent high-rate capability, delivering a capacity of more than 160 mAh g−1 even at a 10 C rate. The high performance of NMC76 is directly related to the optimized size of its primary particles (100–300 nm) (which constitute the spherical secondary particles of >10 µm) and cation mixing. Higher calcination temperature (≥800 °C) leads to rapid increase of primary particle size, poor cycling stability, and inferior rate capability of NMC76 due to severe micro-strain and -crack formation upon repeated lithium-ion de/intercalations. Therefore, NMC76 calcined at 750–775 °C is a very good candidate for the next generation of Li ion batteries.
3D fully convolutional networks for co-segmentation of tumors on PET-CT images

Positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) dual-modality imaging provides critical diagnostic information in modern cancer diagnosis and therapy. Automated accurate tumor delineation is essentially important in computer-assisted tumor reading and interpretation based on PET-CT. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for the segmentation of lung tumors that combines the powerful fully convolutional networks (FCN) based semantic segmentation framework (3D-UNet) and the graph cut based co-segmentation model. First, two separate deep UNets are trained on PET and CT, separately, to learn high level discriminative features to generate tumor/non-tumor masks and probability maps for PET and CT images. Then, the two probability maps on PET and CT are further simultaneously employed in a graph cut based co-segmentation model to produce the final tumor segmentation results. Comparative experiments on 32 PET-CT scans of lung cancer patients demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Categorization and Similarity Models

According to several prominent models of categorization, a perceived item is classified into one category or another depending on the item's psychological similarities to the categories’ mental representations. However, empirical measures of psychological similarity do not always agree with each other and leading models of similarity presume (without explanation) which features are relevant to determining similarity. Moreover, psychological similarity does not always directly predict categorization behavior. Nevertheless, similarity and categorization do exhibit extensive systematicities which should eventually yield to formal treatment by models.
Diffusion Layer Structure in a Thermophoretically Affected Flow Over a Hot Surface

A theoretical analysis is performed to study the distribution of small-size particles in a flow adjacent to a hot wall. Because of the thermophoretic motion, a particle stagnation point is created in the interior of the flow which can produce singularity when particle diffusion is neglected. By including Brownian diffusion and using matched asymptotic expansions, the structure of the inner diffusion layer near the particle stagnation point is resolved and the singularity in the outer solution is removed. The presented results illustrate how the diffusion layer is evolved and its structural variation with a number of parameters.
Developing a Competency-based MPA Curriculum:

ABSTRACTThis article addresses the problem of how to design a MPA curriculum focused on competency-based outcomes. An approach that integrates political science, management, and value-based approac...
Constraining Aerosol Vertical Profile in the Boundary Layer Using Hyperspectral Measurements of Oxygen Absorption

This study attempts to infer aerosol vertical structure in the urban boundary layer using passive hyperspectral measurements. A spectral sorting technique is developed to retrieve total aerosol optical depth (AOD) and effective aerosol layer height (ALH) from hyperspectral measurements in the 1.27‐μm oxygen absorption band by the mountaintop Fourier Transform Spectrometer at the California Laboratory for Atmospheric Remote Sensing instrument (1,673 m above sea level) overlooking the LA basin. Comparison to AOD measurements from Aerosol Robotic Network and aerosol backscatter profile measurements from a Mini MicroPulse Lidar shows agreement, with coefficients of determination (r^2) of 0.74 for AOD and 0.57 for effective ALH. On average, the AOD retrieval has an error of 24.9% and root‐mean‐square error of 0.013, while the effective ALH retrieval has an error of 7.8% and root‐mean‐square error of 67.01 m. The proposed method can potentially be applied to existing and future satellite missions with hyperspectral oxygen measurements to constrain aerosol vertical distribution on a global scale.
The Pig and the Prostitute: The Cult of Zhu Bajie in Modern Taiwan

Before the publication of the famous Chinese novel The Journey to the West, the central characters of the narrative—the Tang Monk, the monkey Sun Wukong, the pig Zhu Bajie, and the monk Sha—were ve...
Cardiovascular Health and Disease Among Asian-Americans (from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey).

Variable propensity toward cardiovascular disease in the different ethnicities in the United States has been reported. We aimed to characterize the prevalence trends of cardiovascular health, as defined by the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 metrics, and cardiovascular diseases amongst Asian-Americans. We used the National Health and Examination Nutrition Survey from 2011 to 2016 to capture self-identified American-born Asian-Americans and foreign-born Asian-Americans. The prevalence trends of cardiovascular health metrics and diseases were evaluated in Asian-Americans and also compared between American-born and foreign-born Asian-Americans. Results were presented as weighted percentages and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. From 2011-2012 to 2015-2016, the prevalence of Asian-Americans reporting no physical activity increased from 21.5% to 32.4% (p for linear trend = 0.001) and the prevalence of Asian-American participants reporting a healthy diet decreased from 44.1% to 36.8% (p for quadratic trend = 0.02). There was a concomitant decline in the prevalence of Asian-Americans with normal weight (body mass index
Robust Control of the Sit-to-Stand Movement for a Powered Lower Limb Orthosis

The sit-to-stand (STS) movement is a key feature for the wide adoption of powered lower limb orthoses (PLLOs) for patients with complete paraplegia. In this article, we study the control of the ascension phase of the STS movement for a minimally actuated PLLO at the hips. A particularly important objective of the design is to ensure robustness to variations in parameters of the users, such as weight. First, we generate a pool of finite-horizon Linear Quadratic Regulator feedback gains, designed under the assumption that we can control not only the torque at the hips but also the loads at the shoulders that in reality must be applied by the user. Next, we conduct reachability analysis to define a performance metric measuring the robustness of each controller against parameter uncertainty and choose the best controller from the pool with respect to this metric. Of course, in practice, the loads at the shoulder are ultimately provided by the user, while the computer control is only applied to the hips. Therefore, in the second part of this article, we remove the assumption of computer control for the shoulder loads and study how the shoulder actions could be learned by a human during rehabilitation and physical therapy. As an abstraction of this process, we choose an Iterative Learning Control algorithm to replace the nominal shoulder control. Indeed, this algorithm obtains torque and forces at the shoulders that result in successful simulations of the STS movement, regardless of parameter uncertainty and factors deliberately introduced to hinder learning. Thus, it is reasonable to expect that the superior cognitive skills of real users will enable them to cooperate with the hip torque controller through training.
Do High-Frequency Traders Improve your Implementation Shortfall?

We take advantage of a regulatory change that effectively imposed a “tax” on HFT order activity on Canadian equity venues to study the resulting effect on the execution costs of large institutional trades. We find that bid-ask spreads increase and price impact decreases for these trades following the regulatory change. The price impact effect is strongest for informed institutional traders. Our evidence indicates that this tax on high-frequency trading is associated with higher transaction costs for small, uninformed trades and lower transaction costs for large, informed trades. Hence, the tax increased the subsidy for informed traders from uninformed traders.
Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Emergency Department Presentations in an Integrated Health System.

Abstract Objective To quantify the impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic on emergency department volumes and patient presentations and evaluate changes in community mortality for the purpose of characterizing new patterns of emergency care use. Patients and Methods This is an observational cross-sectional study using electronic health records for emergency department visits in an integrated multihospital system with academic and community practices across 4 states for visits between March 17 and April 21, 2019, and February 9 and April 21, 2020. We compared numbers and proportions of common and critical chief symptoms and diagnoses, triage assessments, throughput, disposition, and selected hospital lengths of stay and out-of-hospital deaths. Results In the period of interest, emergency department visits decreased by nearly 50% (35037 to 18646). Total numbers of patients with myocardial infarctions, stroke, appendicitis, and cholecystitis diagnosed decreased. The percentage of visits for mental health symptoms increased. There was an increase in deaths, driven by out-of-hospital mortality. Conclusion Fewer patients presenting with acute and time-sensitive diagnoses suggests that patients are deferring care. This may be further supported by an increase in out-of-hospital mortality. Understanding which patients are deferring care and why will allow us to develop outreach strategies and ensure that those in need of rapid assessment and treatment will do so, preventing downstream morbidity and mortality.
Convergence behavior for traffic assignment characterization metrics

Traffic assignment is used for infrastructure planning, based on metrics like total system travel time (TSTT), vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) and link or path flows. Algorithms for traffic assignment...
Prediction is Local: The Benefits of Risk Assessment Optimization

In most states and jurisdictions, risk assessments are incorporated into justice system practice. Despite decades of use, the methods of tool development are rarely translated to the field. Many ag...
Investigation of COVID-19 lockdown effects on water quality in natural bodies of water in the great lakes region

The purpose of this preliminary investigation is to find the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on water quality parameters in rivers, especially in the Great Lakes Basins. Several rivers and coastal areas in the Great Lakes region are highly polluted due to industrial and agricultural activities. The lockdown has caused industrial activities to shut down, people to work from home, and less waste to be introduced into natural bodies of water. Several studies show that air quality has improved during the lockdown in a variety of places, especially in big cities, but there are fewer studies on water quality parameters. Recent studies, using satellite images, show there are improvements in the water quality of lakes and bays due to less traffic and industrial activities. In this study, with the collaboration of two high schoolers, we want to find rivers with dissolved oxygen data, in the Great Lakes region, and compare the period of lockdown with the same period of time in 2019. The outcome of this study will provide a better understanding of the role of human activities on water quality in natural systems and can be used for public education and awareness of environmental protection. © ASCE.
Plant-Based Diets in the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease

A healthy plant-based diet (PBD), which consists of mostly plant-derived foods and abstains from animal products, has been shown to be effective in managing risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and in reducing adverse CVD outcomes. PBDs have been shown to have beneficial effects in the prevention of coronary artery disease, hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and heart failure and may also reduce cardiovascular mortality. Potential mechanisms for these benefits include reduction in atherogenic lipid levels (LDL-C and non-HDL-C), presence of anti-atherogenic compounds such as polyphenols and fibers, and avoidance of pro-atherogenic compounds found in animal products. Structured PBD/lifestyle programs have been developed, and while each varies in composition, all programs attempt to provide comprehensive recommendations for implementing a PBD to reduce CVD risk. Further research is needed to better understand the full range of benefits, and potential limitations, of a PBD and related structured diet/lifestyle programs. In clinical practice, recommendations for a healthy PBD should align with preferences of the individual patient in order to maximize both quality of life and cardiovascular benefit.
State agnostic planning graphs and the application to belief-space planning

Planning graphs have been shown to be a rich source of heuristic information for many kinds of planners. In many cases, planners must compute a planning graph for each element of a set of states. The naive technique enumerates the graphs individually. This is equivalent to solving an all-pairs shortest path problem by iterating a single-source algorithm over each source. We introduce a structure, the state agnostic planning graph, that directly, solves the all-pairs problem for the relaxation introduced by planning graphs. The technique can also be characterized as exploiting the overlap present in sets of planning graphs. For the purpose of exposition, we first present the technique in classical planning. The more prominent application of tnis technique is in belief-space planning, where an optimization results in drastically improved theoretical complexity. Our experimental evaluation quantifies this performance boost. and demonstrates that heuristic belief-space progression planning using our technique is competitive with the state of t the art.
Distribution functions from moments and the maximum-entropy method.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses distribution functions from moments and the maximum-entropy method. The use of experimental data such as that contained in titration curves, and the temperature variation of the heat capacity to obtain distribution functions for proteins and nucleic acids is shown. The moments of the distribution function for ligand binding from the binding isotherm that gives the experimental measurement of the average number of ligands bound as a function of the ligand concentration is obtained. A general relation for the mole fractions or probabilities of all different states of binding as a function of the concentration of ligand in solution is derived. It is found that the approximate distribution is a single Gaussian and one obtains a rather poor approximation to the actual function. It is observed that as the number of moments used is increased from six to eight, the goodness of fit increases until the function obtained using eight moments gives an excellent fit to the original distribution function. The exact distribution functions obtained from the two-dimensional Ising model is used to test the accuracy of the maximum-entropy method.
A Quantum Analog to Basis Function Networks

A Fourier‐based quantum computational learning algorithm with similarities to classical basis function networks is developed. Instead of a Gaussian basis, the quantum algorithm uses a discrete Fourier basis with the output being a linear combination of the basis. A set of examples is considered as a quantum system that undergoes unitary transformations to produce learning. The main result of the work is a quantum computational learning algorithm that is unique among quantum algorithms as it does not assume a priori knowledge of a function f.
FACING THREATS TO EARTHLY FELICITY A Reading of Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling

This essay offers a close reading of Fear and Trembling against the backdrop of what the author thinks are weaknesses in how the work has been interpreted by others. Some read the text allegorically, as containing a distinctively Christian message about Pauline soteriology. Others read it anagogically, with an emphasis on the moral psychology of Abraham as a human character. In partial disagreement with each, the present essay assembles and interprets the textual evidence around the threat to human happiness posed by our problematic reliance on what Aristotle calls external goods.
Enhancement of minority carrier lifetime in low quality silicon by ion implantation of arsenic and antimony

The scope of this work is to determine the effect of ion implantation on the minority carrier lifetimes of upgraded metallurgical grade (UMG) silicon solar cells. Two species of atoms, arsenic and antimony, are used to getter impurities on P doped UMG wafers. The lifetimes of these wafers are measured before and after the implant process and after various annealing sequences using photoconductivity measurements provided by a Sinton WCT-120. Devices are then fabricated on these wafers so that lifetime trends measured by photoconductivity can be verified by reverse recovery time transient and quantum efficiency techniques. Ultimately, minority carrier lifetime measurements allow determination of the combination of implant species and annealing techniques that best increase the minority carrier lifetimes of the UMG wafers. Both arsenic and antimony implants proved capable of increasing minority carrier lifetime by a factor of ten.
Models of Melanoma Metastasis: Using a Transient siRNA‐Based Protein Inhibition Strategy in Mice to Validate the Functional Relevance of Pharmacological Agents

While a pharmacological agent may inhibit the activity of a protein in cultured cells by triggering a particular biological process, it may function differently in intact animals. Thus, an assay is needed to rapidly assess whether a drug candidate displays the same mechanism of action in vivo as in vitro. The experimental approach described in this unit utilizes synthetic siRNA in a transient animal assay to define the action of a drug candidate when inhibiting the activity of a particular gene. Commercially available synthetic siRNA is introduced into cancer cells by nucleofection to reduce protein expression. Cells are then introduced into animals and the mechanism responsible for tumor inhibition assessed. The action of a compound identified in vitro is then compared to that noted in vivo following siRNA-mediated inhibition to determine whether it reduces tumor development in the same manner in both systems. Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 38:14.6.1-14.6.15. © 2007 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: melanoma; metastases; siRNA; pharmacological agents; GFP-tagged cells; cancer; protein inhibition
A Data Dictionary Approach to Meeting User Requests for Accounting Information

In this era of massive data accumulation, dynamic development of large-scale data-bases and interfaces intended to be user-friendly, there is still an increasing demand on analysts as actual user access to databases is still not a common practice. A data dictionary approach, that includes providing users with a list of relevant data items within the database, can expedite the analysis of information requirements and the development of user-requested information systems. Furthermore, this approach enhances user involvement and reduces the demands on the analysts for systems devel-opment projects.
Familial Hypercholesterolemia and the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Guidelines: Myths, Oversimplification, and Misinterpretation Versus Facts

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic condition resulting in severe, lifelong elevations in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and a marked increased risk of early-onset coronary disease. FH is treatable when identified, yet is vastly under-recognized and undertreated. Although the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines on the treatment of cholesterol presented a paradigm shift, we believe that there have been serious oversimplifications, misinterpretations, and erroneous reporting about the current ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines that have contributed to suboptimal care for these subjects. In summary, the ACC/AHA guidelines place tremendous emphasis on the identification of patients with FH, the initiation of high-intensity statin therapy, the need to obtain follow-up lipid values to assess the efficacy and compliance to lifestyle and medical therapy, and the role of nonstatin drugs when needed for optimal care of the individual patient.
Age-associated alterations in CXCL1 chemokine expression by murine B cells

Background: The CXCL1 chemokines, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (KC), have been shown to play a role in a number of pathophysiological disease states including endotoxin-induced inflammation and bacterial meningitis. While the expression of these chemokines has been identified in a variety of cell types in the mouse, little is known about their expression with murine B-lymphocytes. Results: Here, we demonstrate that highly purified murine splenic B cells are capable of expressing both MIP-2 and KC protein and mRNA upon activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) but not in response to anti-µ and anti-CD40 in combination with interleukin-4 (IL-4) stimulation. Moreover, these chemokines are expressed at higher levels in B cells derived from young (4 m) compared to old (24–29 m) mice. Upon fractionation into distinct B-cell subsets, we found that the expression of MIP-2 and KC by aged follicular (FO) B cells is significantly decreased when compared to the same cells from younger mice, while only MIP-2 production was found to be diminished in aged marginal zone (MZ) B cells. Interestingly, MIP-2 and KC production by newly formed (NF) B cells did not significantly differ with age. Moreover, the potential relevance of these findings is supported by the poor ability of LPS-activated aged B cells to specifically mediate CXCL1-dependent leukocyte recruitment when compared to younger B cells. Conclusion: Overall, the decreased expression of CXCL1 chemokines by aged B cells in response to LPS may have potential implications on the secondary recruitment of leukocytes to sites of microbial infections and inflammation possibly contributing to the increased susceptibility of older subjects to pathogen challenge.
Considering Menu Changes? go to the Customer for Input

Abstract In 1991, the Patient Menu Committee(PMC) at a large Midwestern teaching hospital trimmed patient menu selections in response to budget cuts. The PMC decreased the variety of vegetables which reduced inventory and saved labor costs. Utilization of less expensive vegetables yielded commodity savings. The same 5 vegetables appeared on the menu at lunch and dinner throughout the menu cycle. These vegetables, Corn, Green Beans, Peas, Carrots and Wax Beans, were prepared without seasoning to spread across all menu types. Feedback from Dietitian Assistants and Food Service meal rounds indicated that patients preferred more variety of vegetables. In 1999, the departmental director asked the PMC to expand vegetable options on the patient menu to improve patient satisfaction levels. The PMC developed a survey listing 15 vegetables and asked the patients to circle the ones they would enjoy eating unseasoned while in the hospital. The same survey was filled out by PMC members. Results indicated that Broccoli, Green Beans, Carrots, Corn and Peas were ranked in the top 50% by both groups. Mixed Vegetables and Wax Beans were ranked in the bottom 20% by both groups. The PMC ranked Spinach, Cauliflower and California Blend in the top 50%. Patients instead ranked Beets, Stewed Tomatoes, and Winter Squash in the top 50%. The PMC speculated that these 3 vegetables may have ranked high with patients because they are easy to chew and are popular with some of the geriatric population. The PMC used the results to devise a new vegetable rotation that included the 11 vegetables ranked highest by the 350 patients surveyed. Vegetables receiving the highest rankings were used most often in the 7 day menu cycle. When modifying patient menus, utilize the tastes and preferences of your patient population rather than the preferences of departmental employees.
Evaluating Sustainability and Greening Methods: A Conceptual Model for Information Technology Management

Recently much has been written about sustainability and greening and the issue is likely to continue to resurface on the agendas of decision makers. This paper addresses one aspect of the topic: that of sustainability and greening through information technology management. The authors review existing research and publications on the topic and conclude that while much research is available on methods of enhancing sustainability and greening, less exists on guidelines to help gauge success or failure of these methods. To help alleviate this shortcoming, the authors propose a model-called the Greening through Information Technology Model GITM-based on the framework of Capability Maturity Model.
Manic symptoms and behavioral dysregulation in youth with velocardiofacial syndrome (22q11.2 deletion syndrome).

Mania and bipolar disorder have been reported in adolescents and adults with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS; also known as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome). Children with VCFS have a high prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which may constitute a risk factor for the eventual development of bipolar disorder in this population. Therefore, we sought to determine whether children with VCFS exhibit more manic symptoms than community controls that also may have learning disorders and ADHD. The study population consisted of 86 children with VCFS and 36 community controls from ages 9 to 15 years, using measures of Young Mania Rating Scale–Parent Version, Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children–Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–3rd edition (WISC-III). The results indicate that manic symptoms were not more prevalent in VCFS than in a community sample of children with learnin...
Race, ethnicity, and nativity differentials in pregnancy-related mortality in the United States: 1993-2006.

Objective To compare trends in and causes of pregnancy-related mortality by race, ethnicity, and nativity from 1993 to 2006. Methods We used data from the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System. For each race, ethnicity, and nativity group, we calculated pregnancy-related mortality ratios and assessed causes of pregnancy-related death and the time between the end of pregnancy and death. Results Race, ethnicity, and nativity-related minority women contributed 40.7% of all U.S. live births but 61.8% of the 7,487 pregnancy-related deaths during 1993-2006. Pregnancy-related mortality ratios were 9.1 and 7.5 deaths per 100,000 live births among U.S.- and foreign-born white women, respectively, and slightly higher at 9.6 and 11.6 deaths per 100,000 live births for U.S.- and foreign-born Hispanic women, respectively. Relative to U.S.-born white women, age-standardized pregnancy-related mortality ratios were 5.2 and 3.6 times higher among U.S.- and foreign-born black women, respectively. However, causes and timing of death within 42 days postpartum were similar for U.S.-born white and black women with cardiovascular disease, cardiomyopathy, and other pre-existing medical conditions emerging as chief contributors to mortality. Hypertensive disorders, hemorrhage, and embolism were the most important causes of pregnancy-related death for all other groups of women. Conclusion Except for foreign-born white women, all other race, ethnicity, and nativity groups were at higher risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes than U.S.-born white women after adjusting for age differences. Integration of quality-of-care aspects into hospital- and state-based maternal death reviews may help identify race, ethnicity, and nativity-specific factors for pregnancy-related mortality. Level of evidence III.
Chlorpromazine dosage and duration of tonic immobility: biphasic effects.

Abstract Five groups of 2-1/2 to 3 week old chickens were injected with an average of 3.4, 7.4, 18.2, 46.3, 89.4 mg/kg of chlorpromazine (CPZ). Low doses of the drug produced a significant enhancement of tonic immobility but high doses depressed the reaction relative to control subjects. Other investigators have found only enhanced immobility with CPZ, creating a paradox of a tranquilizer potentiating what is thought to be a fear reaction. This report extends the dose-response curve and resolves the paradox.
The Rise and Growth of American Politics: A Sketch of Constitutional Developments by Henry Jones Ford

“It is the rule of our politics that no vexed question is settled except by executive policy,” noted Henry Jones Ford (1851–1925) in his 1898 work describing the state of national politics. “Whatever may be the feeling of Congress towards the President, it cannot avoid an issue which he insists upon making,” Ford wrote as he continued with his discussion of the central role played by the president as the leader of his party (283–84). Even presidents whose congressional party members turned their backs on the leadership of their presidents were needed to provide their parties in Congress with an agenda, as was the case with Presidents John Tyler, Andrew Johnson, and Grover Cleveland. “Although repudiated by the parties which elected them, [they] furnished the issues upon which party action turned,” noted Ford (284). Even though he may have arrived at his views through shaky research means and was often inaccurate in his predictions about the direction of American politics, in the late nineteenth century Ford noted the special energy provided by the presidency to our political system. He anticipated the soonto-come activist presidencies of Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.
Do Gel Phase Lipid Bilayers Behave Like Euler Elastica

The elasticity of fluid phase lipid membranes can be characterized using the Helfrich Hamiltonian, which depends only on the square of the total curvature and the Gaussian curvature and the corresponding curvature moduli: the mean bending modulus and the Gaussian curvature modulus. Even at large curvatures approaching the inverse bilayer thickness, the effect of higher order terms of the elastic energy are minimal. Recently, a method has been developed to derive the bending modulus for fluid membranes from the stress-strain relationship of a buckled membrane [1,2]. The method also predicts the shape of the membrane, an Euler Elastica, and this serves as a check that the membrane indeed follows quadratic curvature elasticity. Using a coarse-grained lipid model, we analyze the shape of a buckled membrane in a gel phase and show that it does not behave like an Euler Elastica, even at low curvatures. The deviation from the theory suggests that higher order terms of the total curvature reduce the energy penalty for high curvatures. We present an extended version of the Helfrich Hamiltonian that captures this effect and show that it describes the shapes that we observe in simulations. We then calculate the bending modulus, as well as the modulus describing higher order corrections.[1] Noguchi H., “Anisotropic surface tension of buckled fluid membranes”, Phys. Rev. E 83, 061919 (2011).[2] Hu M., Diggins P., and Deserno M., “Determining the bending modulus of a lipid membrane by simulating buckling”, J. Chem. Phys. 138, 214110 (2013).
Sediments in the Atlantic Corner seamounts: Control by topography, paleo-winds, and geochemically-detected modern bottom currents

Abstract The topography in the Corner seamounts area in the western North Atlantic was studied to determine its relationship to the sedimentation pattern. The areas of anomalously thick sediment accumulation that are found on the north side of the seamounts are related to volcanic activity as well as paleocurrent and wind patterns. An irregular sediment surface has been formed by slump structures and actively eroding bottom currents, the latter as evidenced by high particulate iron concentrations in the bottom water.
Sticking Coefficient-Orchestrated Selection in a Kinetic Model for the First Origin

The mathematical formalism of the steady-state Poisson equation is applied to a variant of Freeman Dyson's "Toy Model" for a first origin. Our kinetic approach allows for an examination of the requisite conditions under which metabolism is quantized into discrete eigenstates (e.g. Dyson's disordered, saddle point, and metabolically active toy cell states). The surface reaction machinery additionally allows for more realistic modeling, whence the crucial role of sticking coefficients (catalyst precursors) as prebiotic selectors emerges. In our interior source model, a steady influx of vent nutrients fuels the intracellular synthesis of (impermeable) monomers within a rock-encradled cavity. Random adsorptions and desorptions occur at inactive "cell" wall sites (where the inert monomers remain impermeable until their eventual return to the intracellular metabolite pool). Occasionally, metabolizing reactions also occur due to endogeneous source monomers adsorbing at their "active" sites. Dyson's mean field approach is used to simplify the species-specific sticking coefficients at empty active (substrate) sites to functions of the fraction x of sites occupied by (catalytically) active monomers. In short, our work suggests that disorder-order transition models based on random drift between discrete metabolic eigenstates (Dyson's Toy Model) do not, in general, extend to more realistic metabolisms. From a perspective based on quasi-random feedback kinetics, the contraindication for discretization (spontaneous generation) in non-autocatalytic metabolisms is consistent with the emergence of ordered metabolism under hydrothermal driving forces, a provisio the occurrence of each period of vent dormancy coincides with a discrete zero-source (dormant) metabolic state. Cell drift to higher order is induced by the random reactions which happen to enhance the substrate specificity (chemical selectivity) of the sticking coefficients for active monomers. The result is stronger sink effects for metabolizing species, whence active adsorptions are promoted in favor of inactive adsorptions at substrate sites. Positive feedback plays a crucial role in preserving ("propagating") order in the cell wall reaction kinetics and is held in check by negative feedback inhibition of excessive cell growth. Finally, the eventual desorption of randomly growing dysfunctional proteins is postulated as a deterrent to deterioration catastrophes.
The Effect of Ralstonia pickettii on Environmental Fatigue Crack Growth of 7xxx Series Aluminum Alloys

As more industries and nations focus on environmental protection, the desire to develop non-toxic, sustainable coatings to protect against corrosion becomes a primary focus. One of the areas on the cutting edge of new coating development is the use of bacteria in corrosion prevention coatings. For many years the focus in the corrosion community was on microbial influenced corrosion with the assumption that all bacteria had negative consequences for corrosion and corrosion fatigue. More recently it has been documented that a variety of bacteria can protect against general surface corrosion. None of the work to date on bacteria preventing general corrosion has shown that the inhibitive effects could also be applied to corrosion fatigue. Researchers at the United States Air Force Academy discovered that a bacteria, Ralstonia pickettii, is capable of reducing the fatigue crack growth rate of AA7075-T651 and AA7475-T7351 in 0.06M NaCl to near that of chromate. In cycles to failure testing in 0.06M NaCl the sample life was extended approximately 5 to 6 times depending on the fatigue loading variables compared to samples in 0.06M NaCl without the bacteria. The mechanism behind the corrosion fatigue protection is being investigated in hopes that it could lead to the development of new coatings to reduce corrosion fatigue. The current theories behind how the bacteria slows corrosion fatigue crack propagation are (1) presence of a biofilm, (2) metal sequestration and replating on the crack surface, (3) desalination of the test solution, and (4) oxide layer development and repair.
Heparin Prophylaxis for Intraocular Fibrin

The authors have evaluated the use of heparin as a method to prevent postoperative intraocular fibrin clot formation in the rabbit after vitrectomy and cyclocryotherapy. In addition, they have studied the effect of a heparin infusion on intraocular bleeding after sectioning of retinal vessels. Heparin was administered by several different routes. The extent of the postoperative fibrin clot, as well as the number of days until its clearing, were recorded. A single anterior chamber injection, heparin supplementation of the infusion solution, or a single intravenous (IV) injection, all resulted in a statistically significant reduction of postoperative intraocular fibrin. Once daily subcutaneous injections alone did not produce a reduction in postoperative fibrin. No ocular bleeding complications developed postoperatively. A constant heparin intraocular infusion of 10 IU/cc did not change the bleeding time after sectioning of a retinal vessel.
Problems Associated With Evaluating Student Performance In Groups

Using small groups in student cooperative learning enterprises has become a major trend in American higher education (Cheng and Warren 2000). However, several practical issues involving the assessment of an individual's performance in groups have sometimes created resistance to the method from both students and parents (Kagan 1995). This article evaluates the case for using cooperative group assignments and the problems associated with evaluating the performances of individuals working in groups. Practical suggestions for minimizing some of the potential problems associated with group grading are offered and some philosophic perspectives on this form of grading are advanced.
An estimate of the covariance between variables which are not jointly observed

Situations sometimes arise in which variables collected in a study are not jointly observed. This typically occurs because of study design. An example is an equating study where distinct groups of subjects are administered different sections of a test. In the normal maximum likelihood function to estimate the covariance matrix among all variables, elements corresponding to those that are not jointly observed are unidentified. If a factor analysis model holds for the variables, however, then all sections of the matrix can be accurately estimated, using the fact that the covariances are a function of the factor loadings. Standard errors of the estimated covariances can be obtained by the delta method. In addition to estimating the covariance matrix in this design, the method can be applied to other problems such as regression factor analysis. Two examples are presented to illustrate the method.
Pharmacokinetics and Safety of a Fully Human Hepatocyte Growth Factor Antibody, AMG 102, in Cynomolgus Monkeys

Purpose AMG 102, a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), is a potential cancer therapeutic agent because of its ability to disrupt HGF/c-Met signaling pathways which have been implicated in most tumor types. To support a phase 1 study, the pharmacokinetic and safety profile of AMG 102 was assessed in cynomolgus monkeys.
Interactions Between a Zinc Dialkylphosphorodithioate and Lubricating Oil Dispersants

Direct infrared spectrophotometric evidence of interactions between lubricating oil dispersants and a zinc dialkylphosphorodithioate (ZDP) is presented. Increasing the concentration of the dispersants polyamino monoalkenylsuccinimide, barium thiophosphonate, and basic barium dinonylbenzene sulfonate in a mineral oil containing 1.2% by weight of a ZDP decreased the intensity of the phosphorus-oxygen-carbon and phosphorus-sulfur infrared bands, and caused the appearance of a new band at 668 cm−1. The dispersants barium dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate, calcium petroleum sulfonate, and alkaline petroleum sulfonate decreased the intensity of the phosphorus-sulfur bands only after the solutions had aged, and independently of dispersant concentration. It is speculated that chemical reactions cause these interactions between the ZDP and the dispersants, and that ionic metal phosphorodithioates are formed. The possibility of association, isomeric, and complexation effects is also explored. Regardless of the exact mec...
Relationships of rock cleavage fabrics to incremental and accumulated strain in the conococheague formation, U.S.A.

Abstract Pressure solution coupled with twin gliding, and recrystallization acted to form two geometrically distinct cleavages in the Conococheague Formation, northwest Virginia and West Virginia. Limestone layers contain a penetrative cleavage (Sp) formed by pervasive pressure solution (Coble creep), with twin gliding in more highly deformed zones. Dolomite layers contain a spaced solution cleavage (Ss) formed by pressure solution, also with twin gliding in highly deformed zones. Recrystallization textures occur in highly deformed zones of limestones and dolomites. Incremental strain shows that layering was initially inclined as much as 30° to shortening, and that the deformation was locally non-coaxial, as viewed by the deforming material on the fold limbs. Spaced cleavage zones are curved, and closely match the initial and final orientations of incremental elongation. Penetrative cleavage parallels the elongation axis of accumulated strain (measured using deformed ooids). Pressure solution surfaces in dolomites concentrate insoluble materials. Deformation, together with twin gliding, and recrystallization are greatest in the hinge zones of folds and least on shallowly dipping limbs of asymmetric folds. The deformation mechanism path of calcite and dolomite are similar; changing from pressure solution to twin gliding with recrystallization as strain rate (strain energy density) increases.
Design optimization using hyper-reduced-order models

Solving large-scale PDE-constrained optimization problems presents computational challenges due to the large dimensional set of underlying equations that have to be handled by the optimizer. Recently, projection-based nonlinear reduced-order models have been proposed to be used in place of high-dimensional models in a design optimization procedure. The dimensionality of the solution space is reduced using a reduced-order basis constructed by Proper Orthogonal Decomposition. In the case of nonlinear equations, however, this is not sufficient to ensure that the cost associated with the optimization procedure does not scale with the high dimension. To achieve that goal, an additional reduction step, hyper-reduction is applied. Then, solving the resulting reduced set of equations only requires a reduced dimensional domain and large speedups can be achieved. In the case of design optimization, it is shown in this paper that an additional approximation of the objective function is required. This is achieved by the construction of a surrogate objective using radial basis functions. The proposed method is illustrated with two applications: the shape optimization of a simplified nozzle inlet model and the design optimization of a chemical reaction.