cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 12141: Body Fat Distribution and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Obese Adults

Background: Differences in body fat distribution may underpin heterogeneity in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk associated with obesity. However, relative contributions of specific adipose tissue depots to CVD risk have not been fully explored. Methods: We analyzed data from obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) participants in the Dallas Heart Study without baseline CVD who underwent dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and MRI assessment of adipose tissue distribution (visceral, abdominal subcutaneous, lower body subcutaneous) between 2000 and 2002. The composite outcome of incident and recurrent CVD events (CV death, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary or peripheral artery revascularization, heart failure, or atrial fibrillation) was assessed over 8 years of follow-up. Associations between adipose depots and CVD events were assessed with multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models using the Wei-Lin-Weissfeld method for recurrent events. Results: The study cohort included 972 obese participants with mean age 44 yrs; 62% women; 54% African-Americans. 91 CVD events occurred in 68 participants (7.0%). After multivariable adjustment for age, sex, race, and traditional risk factors, visceral adipose tissue was independently associated with development of CVD (HR per 1 SD: 1.24 [95% CI 1.02, 1.50]), while lower body subcutaneous adipose tissue was inversely associated with CVD (HR per 1 SD: 0.73 [95% CI 0.54, 0.99], Figure). In contrast, no significant associations with CVD were observed for BMI, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, or abdominal subcutaneous fat. Associations were consistent across components of the composite outcome and in age, sex, race, and BMI subgroups. Conclusions: Among obese adults, excess visceral adipose tissue was associated with higher CVD risk while increased lower body subcutaneous fat had a protective association. These findings highlight the biological importance of fat distribution with regard to CVD risk in obesity.
Thermally Absorptive Blankets for Highly Efficient Snowbank Melting

Fallen snow is one of the most reflective surfaces found in nature. As a result, snowbanks can take many weeks to melt even when the air temperature is above freezing. Here, we introduce a simple and passive method for quickly melting snowbanks by draping a thermally absorptive blanket over the snow. Using controlled experimental conditions, it was observed that snowbanks can melt 300% faster when a thermally absorptive blanket is placed on top. The mechanism is the threefold increase in absorptivity of the spray-coated blanket compared to bare snow, which allows the vast majority of the irradiation to be used to overcome the latent heat of fusion.
Sordid Ironies and the Short-Fingered Vulgarian Alison Jackson's Mental Images

Alison Jackson’s pre-election photographs of Donald Trump’s “private moments” utilize a look-alike to envision Trump in a number of compromising positions. In ways that exceed the artist’s intentio...
Trial-Attitude Formation for a Green Product

The current studies evaluate the trial-attitude formation process for an environmentally friendly product. Environmentally friendly products, also known as green products, are defined as products that minimize the environmental impact of their consumption (Janssen and Jager 2002). In spite of increased attention on environmental issues, consumers have not widely adopted green products. One explanation is that aside from a small group of “green” consumers, many consumers avoid green products because they believe they offer inferior quality at a higher price (Peattie 2001). Increased quality and availability of green products has not helped change these attitudes (Melillo and Miller 2006).
Jaritz, Gerhard and Katalin Szende, eds. 2016. Medieval East Central Europe in a Comparative Perspective. From Frontier Zones to Lands in Focus. Abingdon, UK: Routledge. 265 pp., illus.

Jaritz, Gerhard and Katalin Szende, eds. 2016. Medieval East Central Europe in a Comparative Perspective. From Frontier Zones to Lands in Focus . Abingdon, UK: Routledge. 265 pp., illus.
TCT-759 Valve Size as a Predictor of Permanent Pacemaker Implantation in Edwards Sapien 3 TAVR Valves: A Single Center Experience

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an approved therapy for aortic stenosis in moderate to high risk patients. High degree AV block requiring a permanent pacemaker (PPM) is a known complication of TAVR. PPM implantation rate after balloon expandable valves ranges from 4.3% to 10% and
Next generation media monitoring: Global coverage of electronic nicotine delivery systems (electronic cigarettes) on Bing, Google and Twitter, 2013-2018

News media monitoring is an important scientific tool. By treating news reporters as data collectors and their reports as qualitative accounts of a fast changing public health landscape, researchers can glean many valuable insights. Yet, there have been surprisingly few innovations in public health media monitoring, with nearly all studies relying on labor-intensive content analyses limited to a small number of media reports. We propose to advance this subfield by using scalable machine learning. In potentially the largest contemporary public health media monitoring study to date, we systematically characterize global news reports surrounding electronic cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) using natural language processing techniques. News reports including ENDS terms (e.g., "electronic cigarettes") from over 100,000 sources (all sources archived on Google News or Bing News, as well as all news articles shared on Twitter) were monitored for 1 January 2013 through 31 July 2018. The geographic and subject (e.g., prevalence, bans, quitting, warnings, marketing, prices, age, flavor and industry) foci of news articles, their popularity among readers who share news on social media, and the sentiment behind news articles were assessed algorithmically. Globally there were 86,872 ENDS news reports with coverage increasing from 8 (standard deviation [SD] = 8) stories per day in 2013 to 75 (SD = 56) stories per day during 2018. The focus of ENDS news spanned 148 nations, with the plurality focusing on the United States (34% of all news). Potentially overlooked hotspots of ENDS media activity included China, Egypt, Russia, Ukraine, and Paraguay. The most common subject was warnings about ENDS (18%), followed by bans on using ENDS (13%) and ENDS prices (9%). Flavor and age restrictions were the least covered news subjects (~1% each). Among different subject foci, reports on quitting cigarettes using ENDS had the highest probability of scoring in the top three deciles of popularity rankings. Moreover, ENDS news on quitting and prices had a more positive sentiment on average than news with other subject foci. Public health leaders can use these trends to stay abreast of how ENDS are portrayed in the media, and potentially how the public perceives ENDS. Because our analytical strategies are updated in near real time, we aim to make media monitoring part of standard practice to support evidence-based tobacco control in the future.
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You More Engaged: Rethinking the Link between Organizational Hardship and Organizational Commitment

Research has consistently shown that organizational hardship (e.g., role ambiguity and conflict, work overload, organizational injustice) has a negative effect on organizational commitment. However...
LIVING WITHOUT A LEFT MAIN CORONARY ARTERY

Left main coronary artery atresia is an extremely rare congenital coronary anomaly. The incidence ranges from 0.46% to 1.55% and there are only 64 documented cases. A 55-year-old female presents with shortness of breath with exertion and was found to have a holosystolic murmur at the apex with
Enabling Explainable Fusion in Deep Learning With Fuzzy Integral Neural Networks

Information fusion is an essential part of numerous engineering systems and biological functions, e.g., human cognition. Fusion occurs at many levels, ranging from the low-level combination of signals to the high-level aggregation of heterogeneous decision-making processes. While the last decade has witnessed an explosion of research in deep learning, fusion in neural networks has not observed the same revolution. Specifically, most neural fusion approaches are ad hoc, are not understood, are distributed versus localized, and/or explainability is low (if present at all). Herein, we prove that the fuzzy Choquet integral (ChI), a powerful nonlinear aggregation function, can be represented as a multilayer network, referred to hereafter as ChIMP. We also put forth an improved ChIMP (iChIMP) that leads to a stochastic-gradient-descent-based optimization in light of the exponential number of ChI inequality constraints. An additional benefit of ChIMP/iChIMP is that it enables explainable artificial intelligence (XAI). Synthetic validation experiments are provided, and iChIMP is applied to the fusion of a set of heterogeneous architecture deep models in remote sensing. We show an improvement in model accuracy, and our previously established XAI indices shed light on the quality of our data, model, and its decisions.
Pancreatic Function in Chronic Pancreatitis: A Cohort Study Comparing 3 Methods of Detecting Fat Malabsorption and the Impact of Short-term Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy

ObjectivesReliable pancreatic function tests in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) are needed. This cohort study identified malabsorption in people with CP compared with healthy people and then investigated short-term pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) and fat malabsorption, nutrition
Algorithmic Technologies and Underrepresented Populations

In this work I aim to unpack how algorithmic tools measure and quantify human behavior. I explore algorithms' appropriate contexts of use and their connections to algorithmic bias. This thesis ultimately explores a method of representing subjects of analysis in the design and evaluation of an algorithmic tool. Specifically, I examine ways in which members of an underrepresented group-- older adults-- can be directly incorporated in the creation of an algorithmic tool.
Earth-Based observations of impact phenomena

Earth-based observations at near- and mid-infrared wavelengths were obtained for at least 15 of the SL9 impacts, ranging from the spectacular G, K and L events to the barely-detected N and V impacts. Although there were a few exceptions, most of the IR lightcurves fit a common pattern of one or two relatively faint precursor flashes, followed several minutes later by the main infrared event as the explosively-ejected plume crashed down onto the jovian atmosphere. Correlations with the impact times recorded by the Galileo spacecraft and plumes imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope lead to an interpretation of the twin precursors in terms of (i) the entry of the bolide into the upper atmosphere, and (ii) the re-appearance of the rising fireball above Jupiter's limb. Positive correlations are observed between the peak IR flux observed during the splashback phase and both pre-impact size estimates for the individual SL9 fragments and the scale of the resulting ejecta deposits. None of the fragments observed to have moved off the main train of the comet by May 1994 produced a significant impact signature. Earth-based fireball temperature estimates are on the order of 750 K, 30-60 sec after impact. For the larger impacts, the unexpectedly protracted fireball emission at 2.3 μm remains unexplained. A wide range of temperatures has been inferred for the splashback phase, where shocks are expected to have heated the re-entering plume material at least briefly to several thousand K, and further modelling is required to reconcile these data.
Autism-specific parenting self-efficacy: An examination of the role of parent-reported intervention involvement, satisfaction with intervention-related training, and caregiver burden.

Parenting self-efficacy, described as the beliefs parents hold about their ability to successfully parent their children, has been shown to support parent and child well-being. Parents of children ...
On a temperature-volume phase diagram for water and three-phase invariant reactions in pure substances

Phase diagrams are integral to the application and interpretation of materials thermodynamics, and none is more ubiquitous than the common Temperature-Pressure diagram of water and its many icy polymorphs. Inspired by recent advances in isochoric thermodynamics, in this Communication we present a new Temperature-Volume phase diagram for water and five of its solid polymorphs. Fundamental similarities between this T-V diagram and conventional binary temperature-concentration (T-x) diagrams are demonstrated and explained, the notion of isochoric three-phase invariant reactions in pure substances (e.g. a "volumetric eutectic") is introduced, and experimental implications are discussed.
Pathophysiology of Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is initiated by mechanical forces to the head that disrupt neurological function. Pathophysiology may begin immediately with the mechanical forces or evolve as an indirect response in an attempt to alleviate damage. In both instances, pathophysiology can develop into transient and/or persistent clinical symptoms after TBI. The magnitude and duration of pathophysiology and resultant symptoms may differ with injury severity, but hallmark pathophysiological processes are similar across the diversity of TBI. In this chapter, we introduce the common pathophysiology after diffuse TBI as a means to appreciate the complexity of injury, damage, repair, and recovery of injured tissue. Understanding the pathophysiology underlying clinical symptoms can guide therapeutic targets and treatment pathways to mitigate negative outcomes after TBI.
Breathing Frequency (fR) Is No Longer Under Chemoreflex Control During REM Sleep

Objective: To define the contribution of central chemoreception in general and the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) in particular to the regulation of breathing in REM sleep. Methods: EEG, neck EMG, bl...
Detection of pollution outflow from Mexico City using CALIPSO lidar measurements

Abstract We present the evidence of regional scale outflow of particulate pollution from Mexico City using measurements from the space borne CALIPSO lidar. The vertically resolved results are presented for winter months when the large scale biomass burning from nearby areas is minimized, and the aerosol loading is dominated by anthropogenic outflow from the city. The particulate depolarization ratio in the outflowing plume has high values and reflects the influence of mixing of the urban pollution with the ubiquitous dust around the city. This is consistent with the results from previous field campaigns in the city and leads to polluted dust being the dominant aerosol subtype as identified by the CALIPSO algorithm. A first order estimate of the mass flux on two episodes using the aerosol extinction profiles from CALIPSO indicates outflow of several hundred tons per day.
Tractatus: An Exact and Subquadratic Algorithm for Inferring Identical-by-Descent Multi-shared Haplotype Tracts

In this work we present graph theoretic algorithms for the identification of all identical-by-descent IBD multi-shared haplotype tracts for an m ×n haplotype matrix. We introduce Tractatus, an exact algorithm for computing all IBD haplotype tracts in time linear in the size of the input, Omn. Tractatus resolves a long standing open problem, breaking optimally the worst-case quadratic time barrier of Om 2 n of previous methods often cited as a bottleneck in haplotype analysis of genome-wide association study-sized data. This advance in algorithm efficiency makes an impact in a number of areas of population genomics rooted in the seminal Li-Stephens framework for modeling multi-loci linkage disequilibrium LD patterns with applications to the estimation of recombination rates, imputation, haplotype-based LD mapping, and haplotype phasing. We extend the Tractatus algorithm to include computation of haplotype tracts with allele mismatches and shared homozygous haplotypes in a set of genotypes. Lastly, we present a comparison of algorithmic runtime, power to infer IBD tracts, and false positive rates for simulated data and computations of homozygous haplotypes in genome-wide association study data of autism. The Tractatus algorithm is available for download at http://www.brown.edu/Research/Istrail_Lab/ .
Environmental Marketing: A Source of Reputational, Competitive, and Financial Advantage

Corporate reputation is an intangible asset that is related to marketing and financial performance. The social, economic, and global environment of the 1990'shas resulted in environmental performance becoming an increasingly important component of a company'sreputation. This paper explores the relationship between reputation, environmental performance, and financial performance, and looks at the contingencies that impact environmental policy making.
Corporate Ethics Practices in the Mid-1990s: An Empirical Study of the Fortune 1000

This empirical study of Fortune 1000 firms assesses the degree to which those firms have adopted various practices associated with corporate ethics programs. The study examines the following aspects of formalized corporate ethics activity: ethics-oriented policy statements; formalization of management responsibilities for ethics; free-standing ethics offices; ethics and compliance telephone reporting/advice systems; top management and departmental involvement in ethics activities; usage of ethics training and other ethics awareness activities; investigatory functions; and evaluation of ethics program activities. Results show a high degree of corporate adoption of ethics policies, but wide variability in the extent to which these policies are implemented by various supporting structures and managerial activities. In effect, the vast majority of firms have committed to the low cost, possibly symbolic side of ethics management (e.g., adoption of ethics codes and policies, etc.). But firms differ substantially in their efforts to see that those policies or codes actually are put into practice.
Performance analysis of OFDM in frequency selective time-variant channels with application to IEEE 802.16 broadband wireless access

In this paper, the performance of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing systems in frequency selective and time-variant Rayleigh fading channels is analyzed. Channel variations severely degrade the performance of OFDM by introducing both a complicated multiplicative distortion and an additive intercarrier interference. The IEEE 802.16 standard is designed to provide broadband wireless-services for fixed and pedestrian terminals, and hence, the channel is assumed to be slowly variant during one OFDM symbol. Under this assumption, the multiplicative distortion can be simplified as a sum of two correlated Rayleigh random variables. Based on this simplification, and by observing that the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio of the OFDM system is similar to the expression of the signal-to-noise ratio at the output of an equal gain combiner, we derive a closed form analytical expression for the symbol error rate. The proposed analytical expression is verified through numerical evaluation using the parameters of the IEEE 802.16 standard
A High Field Magnet Combining Superconductors with Water-Cooled Conductors

The term “hybrid” magnet has been coined to describe coils in which part of the field is generated by superconductors and part by non-superconductors. Such systems have the advantage in that they can produce higher fields than can be produced by either of their parts alone. In addition, they can represent a rather economical approach to very high fields for laboratories that already possess either power supplies or refrigerators of reasonable capacity.
Interdependent preference formation

A standard assumption in the economic approach to individual decision making is that people have independent preferences. We study equilibria of the classic common pool resource extraction and public good games when some of the players have negatively interdependent preferences while the remainder are payoff maximizers in the usual sense.
Cyclometalated Ruthenium Alkylidene Complexes: A Powerful Family of Z -Selective Olefin Metathesis Catalysts

The past 5 years have witnessed an enormous growth in the field of Z-selective olefin metathesis. The development of a new class of cyclometalated ruthenium-based catalysts has extended the utility of olefin metathesis to the synthesis of useful Z-olefin-containing small molecules, polymers, and natural products. This review highlights the recent advances in the area of Z-selective olefin metathesis employing cyclometalated ruthenium alkylidene catalysts, with particular focus on its applications and mechanistic basis. A deeper understanding of structure–activity relationships should aid in the future design of even more active and selective olefin metathesis catalysts.
Medical Applications of Dust-free Rooms. III. Use in an Animal Care Laboratory

Bacterial air sampling in an animal care laboratory showed that dense aerosols are generated during cage changing and cage cleaning. Reyniers and Andersen sampling showed that the airborne bacteria numbered 50 to 200 colony-forming units (CFU)/ft3 of air. Of the viable particles collected by Andersen samplers, 78.5% were larger than 5.5 μm. A low velocity laminar air flow system composed of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and a ceiling distribution system maintained the number of airborne viable particles at low levels, generally less than 2 CFU/ft3. Vertical air flow of 15 ft/min significantly reduced the rate of airborne infection by a strain of Proteus mirabilis. Other factors shown to influence airborne infection included type of cage utilized, the use of bedding, the distance between cages, and the number of animals per cage.
Possible spin fluctuation effects on superconductivity in the 4d H.C.P. transition series

Abstract We have investigated the superconductivity of H.C.P. Mo-Ir, Mo-Rh, Ru-Ir, Ru-Pt, Ru-Rh, Ru-Co, and Ru-Ni alloys down to .030 K. When data on T c , χ, and γ are compared for different systems, a correlation emerges between the rates of decrease of T c and increase of χ and γ as the electron to atom ratio increases. This correlation is most readily explained by the theory of spin fluctuations.
The asthma ePrompt: a novel electronic solution for chronic disease management.

Objective. This study tested the ability of an electronic prompt to promote an asthma assessment during primary care visits. Methods. We performed a prospective study of all eligible adult patients with previously diagnosed asthma in three geographically distinct ambulatory family medicine clinics within a 4-month period. The usual clinic visit process was performed at two geographically distinct control sites (n = 75 and n = 55 patients, respectively). The intervention group site (n = 64) had an electronic flag embedded in the Patient Check-in Locator field which prompted the distribution of a self-administered Asthma Management Questionnaire (AMQ) in the waiting room. The primary outcome measure was a documented asthma severity assessment. Results. The front desk distributed the AMQ successfully in 100% of possible opportunities and the AMQ was completed by 84% of patients. Providers in the intervention group were significantly more likely than providers in the two non-intervention groups to document as...
Edd Applegate, Print and Broadcast Journalism: A Critical Examination. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 1996. 224 pp. Cloth, $55

(1997). Edd Applegate, Print and Broadcast Journalism: A Critical Examination. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 1996. 224 pp. Cloth, $55. American Journalism: Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 232-233.
Fluctuation in Soybean Fatty Acids in South Dakota Environments

ABSTRACT Breeding of soybeans with improved oil quality has intensified during the past decade. Stability of performance across environments is essential for consistent production of modified fatty acid levels. This study was conducted in 2004 and 2005 to determine fluctuations of modified fatty acid profiles across diverse northern environments, with the main focus on linolenic acid. We studied the fatty acids most likely to fluctuate (palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic) with changes in linolenic acid concentrations. The experiment was composed of 38 genotypes (maturity groups 0, I & II), derived from two crosses of South Dakota (SD) high-protein genotypes with two low-linolenic parents. The underlying objective was to combine the low linolenic genes with high-protein and high-yield backgrounds. The study included three high-yielding check cultivars, the two low-linolenic parents and the two high-protein parents. All 45 genotypes were tested in seven eastern SD locations in two years. Combined analysi...
Characteristics of the Sony Multiscan 17se Trinitron color graphic display

Technical measurements of the Sony Multiscan 17se were made and are reported in the belief that they would be useful to visual scientists who consider employing this device as a display unit. Luminance, spatial uniformity, luminance additivity between the output of the guns, CIE1931 chromaticity coordinates, and gamma correction parameters were measured. The characteristics of individual monitors will probably be different from the one studied here but it is believed that the results obtained serve as a fair indication of what might be expected from this device.
The automatic sequence controlled calculator — III

WHEN A RELATIVELY LARGE number of values, such as constants or random values of a variable, are to be used by the calculator, and further, when these values are to be used in a prescribed order, they may be supplied to the machine via one of the interpolator mechanisms and a perforated paper tape. Such a tape is known as a “value tape” to distinguish it from a functional tape. Mathematically, the operation of reading from a value tape is the equivalent of zero order interpolation. In order to increase the flexibility of the interpolators when used in this manner, three sequence codes have been assigned to each interpolator mechanism. These require that the tape be stepped forward, stepped back, and that the sensing pins read from the tape.
Attitudinal and experiential predictors of technological expertise

This study sought to clarify which computer and Internet skills and experiences differentiate technological expertise and to identify predictors of this expertise. Two hundred and fifty-eight incoming university students were surveyed on Internet and computer experiences, skills, and attitudes. Six specific Internet and computer uses that differentiate technological expertise were identified based on frequency of use. Males and those who own computers had greater technological expertise. Factor analyses identified two skill factors (Internet skills, Computer/Math skills), three experience factors (Internet, Computer, Recreational Use of Internet), five attitude factors (Importance of Internet and computer knowledge, Computer aversive, Internet and computer comfort/competency, Internet and computer overuse, Technology aversive). These factors as well as gender, computer ownership, and weekly computer and Internet use were entered as independent variables in a general linear model (GLM) which was then used to determine which factors affected technological expertise. The overall GLM was significant (R^2=.414, F=5.85, p<.001). Internet and computer skills and computer abuse were the strongest predictors of technological expertise. Weekly Internet use, Internet and computer comfort/competency also were predictors, and gender was almost significant (p=.056) as a predictor. Neither computer ownership nor other Internet and computer attitudes were significant predictors.
Behavior of the bend elastic constant near the nematic-smectic-A-smectic-C multicritical point.

Mesure directe de la variation en fonction de la temperature au moyen de la deformation de Freedericksz, sur melanges 7S5-8ocb et 7s5-8S5; mise en evidence d'une augmentation monotone de la constante dans la phase nematique a l'approche de la phase smectique C et comparaison aux variations de la longueur de correlation smectique longitudinale et aux variations de la diffusion de la lumiere observees dans les memes conditions; discussion des implications theoriques des resultats
Interaction between pap-encoded pilin and adhesin gene products of uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli are major causative agents of cystitis and pyelonephritis. Most E. coli pyelonephritis isolates express pili encoded by the pyelonephritis-associated pili (pap) gene cluster. The pap DNA sequence encodes pilin monomers that are assem- bled into pili fibers; pap also encodes adhesins that recent results suggest might be lo- cated at the tips of the pilus fibers. The study presented here is a status report of work that has two major goals: to determine (1) if any Pap proteins associate with pili and (2) if Pap proteins not required for pili assembly affect levels of pili-cell surface expres- sion. To address the first aim, antisera to pili were used to precipitate pili from detergent extracts containing 35S-labeled Pap proteins. The results suggested that a protein of 16- kilodaltons apparent molecular mass associated with pili. Other interpretations of the data are discussed. The second aim was addressed by constructing E. coli strains that contained different pap regions. With the use of electron microscopy and a pili ELISA, it was found that E. coli containing a 6.5-kilobase-pair region of pap expressed low levels of pili, but no P-adhesin was detected. Transformation of this E. coli strain with a plasmid containing an additional 3.5-kilobase-pair pap DNA sequence resulted in an eightfold increase in pili expression as well as expression of P adhesin. These results indicated that pili expression was affected by Pap proteins not required for pili assembly.
A method for the simultaneous separation of C19O2 and C19O3 17-ketosteroids and progesterone metabolites by gas chromatography

Abstract The use of two new stationary phases for high temperature gas chromatography has allowed the simultaneous separation of the principal 17-ketosteroids and progesterone metabolites present in human urine.
Structure and yield of a chronically irradiated winter rye-weed community*

Holt B.R. and Bottino P.J. Structure and yield of a chronically irradiated winter rye—weed community . Radiation Botany 12 , 355-359, 1972.-The response of a rye crop ( Secale cereale ) and its weed associates ( Capsella bursa-pastoris, Conyza canadensis and Lepidium virginicum ) to a gradient of chronic gamma radiation was examined in the Brookhaven gamma field. Plants were counted and shoots harvested in three 0·25 m 2 quadrats at each of fifteen distances from a 4100 Ci 60 Co source. Exposure rates varied from 610 to 3·4 R/day. Rye dominated the biomass and productivity of the community at exposure rates below 50 R/day; weeds dominated between 50 and 610 R/day. The productivity of the community declined markedly as rye was eliminated, but stabilized between 50 and 500 R/day as the major weeds sequentially assumed dominance. Responses of individual species were correlated with their inherent radiosensitivities as predicted from variations in interphase chromosome volume. Within the rye crop, the radiosensitivity of agronomic yield components increased with proximity to seed maturation. Rye seed production was twice as radiosensitive as shoot production.
Iron Curtain: From Stage to Cold War – By Patrick Wright

At first glance, the subtitle of this book puzzled the reviewer. How is a stage related to this post‐World War II conflict? The first pages of the book, however, cleared up the apparent enigma. The...
Peripheral nerve signal recording and processing for artificial limb control

In order to take full advantage of modern multiple-degree of freedom prosthetic limbs, robust and natural control signals are needed. Previous work has shown that beamforming provides a method to extract such signals from peripheral nerve activity [1]. This paper describes in vivo experiments done to validate that method in a more realistic case. A 16-channel Flat Interface Nerve Electrode was used to record from the Sciatic nerve in Rabbit, while the distal Tibial and Peroneal branches were stimulated. Beamforming provided R2=0.7±0.2, an improvement of 0.12±0.06 over the a posteriori chosen best channels. When more realistic signals were generated using kHz-level stimulation, the beamforming filters were able to distinguish which branch was being stimulated, and in many cases how strongly, over a large range of stimulation intensities.
Balancing Safety and Privacy: The Case of Room Locks in Assisted Living

Assisted living settings are charged with protecting privacy and choice of residents while guaranteeing safety and providing services. This article uses qualitative data from seven distinct assisted living settings to illuminate the challenge of balancing these expectations to maximize quality of life for residents. The simple object of door locks serves as the focal point for narrative from residents, family, staff, and administrators regarding the daily dilemmas of balancing these goals. Results show that there is a lack of consensus on the relative importance of locks and security within and across groups and settings. As residents age in place, sustaining the balance is likely to become even more challenging.
Forced, Stationary Waves in a Linear, Stratified, Quasi-Geostrophic Atmosphere

A finite difference model and an approximate WKB analysis were employed to test the validity of three of the Smagorinsky conclusions (1953) regarding the influence of diabatic heating upon the resultant stationary eddies. The conclusions comprised a necessity of including surface friction to avoid resonance, to account for stratospheric influence to accurately estimate the magnitude of the disturbances in the upper third of the troposphere, and the adequacy of the linear model for describing the gross features of sea-level normals at middle and high latitudes. Results of the WKB analysis of the effects of orography and diabatic heating demonstrate that streamfunctions are produced when orography forces a stationary solution. The surface friction is concluded to have a negligible effect on the solutions when the wind speeds are low. The solutions, however, require the presence of a lid for the middle troposphere to eliminate resonance responses.
Chronic intracerebroventricular infusion of angiotensin II increases brain AT1 receptor expression in young rats

Abstract The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of chronic intracerebroventricular infusion of angiotensin II (ANG II) on the expression of brain AT1 receptors in young (3–4 weeks) rats. One week of icv ANG II infusion produced a significant increase in brain AT1 receptor protein (Western blot) and mRNA (relative RT-PCR) expression. These data raise the possibility that ANG II may play a role in postnatal expression of brain AT1 receptors.
Diagnostic assessment of Mycoplasma genitalium in culture-positive women

Detection of Mycoplasma genitalium-mediated, chlamydia-negative nongonococcal urethritis and other M. genitalium-linked infectious etiologies has been very challenging. Although M. genitalium is considered a leading cause of genitourinary symptoms in men and women, extreme difficulties in its cultivation due to its highly fastidious nature and the lack of routine and effective diagnostic tests have slowed the generation of clinical data which directly implicate the presence of M. genitalium in disease pathogenesis. In this study, we compared enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and immunoblot and PCR assays in M. genitalium culture-positive women over 1 to 3 years of clinical visits to determine the usefulness of independent diagnostic strategies. Furthermore, the value of combinatorial diagnostic assessments is described, which provides insights into the dynamics of M. genitalium-host interactions. Overall, we show that neither ELISA nor PCR, alone or in combination, provides the sensitivity required to confidently predict the existence of viable M. genitalium organisms in cervical and vaginal samples. Additionally, culture-positive women exhibited a range of antibody responsiveness to M. genitalium based upon ELISA and immunoblot assessments, indicating immune diversity among this high-risk population.
Space-time trade-off optimization for a class of electronic structure calculations

The accurate modeling of the electronic structure of atoms and molecules is very computationally intensive. Many models of electronic structure, such as the Coupled Cluster approach, involve collections of tensor contractions. There are usually a large number of alternative ways of implementing the tensor contractions, representing different trade-offs between the space required for temporary intermediates and the total number of arithmetic operations. In this paper, we present an algorithm that starts with an operation-minimal form of the computation and systematically explores the possible space-time trade-offs to identify the form with lowest cost that fits within a specified memory limit. Its utility is demonstrated by applying it to a computation representative of a component in the CCSD(T) formulation in the NWChem quantum chemistry suite from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Specific distribution of metabolic alterations in cerebral cortex following apomorphine administration

The topographic distribution of dopaminergic receptors in the cerebral cortex closely parallels that of the dopaminergic innervation1–6. In the rat, dopaminergic axons which originate in the mesencephalon are confined to a few discrete regions of the neocortex—anterior cingulate cortex, entorhinal cortex, frontal cortex (particularly anteromedial and supragenual areas) and the transitional zone between the neocortex and the pyriform cortex1–4. Moreover, biochemical examinations of processes generally considered to be indicative of dopaminergic neurotransmission—neuronal uptake of labelled dopamine or dopamine-activation of adenylate cyclase activity5,6—have confirmed a highly restricted locus of action of dopaminergic systems in the cerebral cortex. We describe here data obtained using the 2-deoxyglucose technique7 in conjunction with conventional neuropharmacological techniques, suggesting that the influence of dopaminergic systems on cortical function extends beyond the known confines of the mesocortical dopaminergic system.
Nitrate reductase activity in Zostera marina

Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) has access to nutrient pools in both the water column and sediments. We investigated the potential for eelgrass to utilize nitrate nitrogen by measuring nitrate reductase (NR) activity with an in vivo tissue assay. Optimal incubation media contained 60 mM nitrate, 100 mM phosphate, and 0.5% 1-propanol at pH 7.0. Leaves had significantly higher NR activity than roots (350 vs 50 nmoles NO 2 − produced g FW−1 h−1). The effects of growing depth (0.8 m MLW, 1.2 m, 3.0 m, 5.0 m) and location within the eelgrass meadow (patch edge vs middle) on NR activity were examined using plants collected from three locations in the Woods Hole area, Massachusetts, USA, in July 1987. Neither depth nor position within the meadow appear to affect NR activity. Nitrate enrichment experiments (200 μM NO 3 − for 6 d) were conducted in the laboratory to determine if NR activity could be induced. Certain plants from shallow depth (1.2 m) showed a significant response to enrichment, with NR activity increasing from >100 up to 950 nmoles NO 2 − g FW−1 h−1 over 6 d. It appears that Z. marina growing in very shallow water (0.8 m) near a shoreline may be affected by ground water or surface run-off enrichments, since plants from this area exhibited rates up to 1 600 nmol NO 2 − g FW−1 h−1. Water samples from this location consistently had slightly higher NO 3 − concentrations (1.4 μM) than all other collection sites (0.7 μM). Thus, it is possible that chronic run-off or localized groundwater inputs can create sufficient NO 3 − enrichment in the water column to induce nitrate reductase activity in Zostera leaves.
Vibration insensitive interferometric optical testing

The measurement accuracy of an interferometric optical test is generally limited by the environment. This paper discusses two single-shot interferometric techniques for reducing the sensitivity of an optical test to vibration; simultaneous phase-shifting and spatial carrier interferometry.
YBCO and Bi2223 Coils for High Field LTS/HTS NMR Magnets: HTS-HTS Joint Resistivity

This paper presents our latest experimental results on high-temperature superconducting (HTS) splice joints for HTS insert coils made of YBCO and Bi2223, that comprise a 1.3 GHz low-temperature superconducting/HTS nuclear magnetic resonance magnet currently under development at Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory. HTS splice joint resistivity at 77 K in these insert coils must be reproducible and <; 100 Ω·cm2. Several YBCO tape to YBCO tape (YBCO-YBCO) splice joint samples were fabricated, and their resistivity and Ic were measured at 77 K. First, we describe the joint splicing setup and discuss the parameters that affect joint resistivity: pressure over joint surface, solder, and YBCO spool batch. Second, we report results on YBCO-YBCO joints at 77 K in zero field. Measurements have shown that spool batch and solder are primary sources of a wide range of variation in YBCO-YBCO joint resistivity. By controlling these parameters, we expect to reproducibly achieve HTS-HTS resistive joints of resistance <; 100 nΩ·cm2.
Breastfeeding and risk of ovarian cancer in two prospective cohorts

Objective To describe the association between breastfeeding and ovarian cancer risk in two prospective cohorts.
Pain and pain relief experienced by hospice patients with cancer

The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the pain intensity and pain relief experienced by hospice patients with cancer and the variables that might be associated with that pain. The sample consisted of 118 consenting patients and their primary caregivers receiving hospice care in their homes. Methods involved a secondary analysis of data from a study of quality of life. The Hospice Quality of Life Index (HQLI), used in the study, assesses multidimensional aspects of quality of life including pain relief. Each item is assessed on a 1 (worst) to 10 (best) scale. To eliminate pain-free patients from the analysis, an additional item asks how severe pain is when it is at its worst. Both patients and caregivers were asked to evaluate the patient's quality of life on admission and after 3 weeks of hospice care. Relationships were sought among items on the HQLI and between pain and demographic characteristics. Results revealed that most patients experience pain (82%) but that caregivers were not able to accurately estimate that pain. Pain relief, even after 3 weeks of hospice care, was less than optimal, with many patients (42%) reporting pain relief at a level of 5 or less. A significant difference in pain at its worst was found by type of cancer. Although there were differences by gender, these were not significant. Pain was found to be weakly related to enjoyable activity, sleeping, fatigue, physical care, hope, and anger. Results support the idea that pain is important to overall quality of life, but despite its importance, pain in hospice patients with cancer still is not well managed.
13.56-MHz Inductively Coupled Card Compatibility to Conducting Surfaces

The drive toward multiple-application SmartCards eliminates the need for multiple cards but requires that multiple programming and reading processes be accomplished with high performance and low cost. 13.56-MHz inductively coupled cards require reading and writing environments that are free of interference from electromagnetic sources, and of self-induced interference from conductive surfaces. Both parallel and non-parallel conductive surfaces are found to detune the card and affect the coupling. The 13.56-MHz inductively coupled card compatibility to the conductive surfaces illustrates a need to factor in all of the processing environmental factors during design.
Pahala’s Last (Bon) Dance: The Dead Are Not Dead

Based on conversations, excavated memories, and family stories, this autoethnographic narrative represents an evocative account of spirituality, loss, identity, and home. The author’s summer visit ...
Emancipatory potential of storytelling in a group.

Purpose: To examine the health-promoting functions of storytelling in a group of women. Design: Secondary analysis, descriptive. A convenience sample of 28 women of African descent living in the Seattle-Tacoma region of the United States was used. Methods: Narrative analysis of 115 stories. Data were audio-taped in four focus groups convened during a 6-week period in 1992. Findings: Six major functions of storytelling were identified: (a) contextual grounding, (b) bonding with others, (c) validating and affirming experiences, (d) venting and catharsis, (e) resisting oppression, and (f) educating others. Conclusions: Storytelling is useful for learning more about historical and contextual factors affecting the well-being of women of African descent and for improving their lives. Group storytelling can create an environment that supports evaluation of experience and promotes problem-solving.
Automated Construction of Classifications: Conceptual Clustering Versus Numerical Taxonomy

A method for automated construction of classifications called conceptual clustering is described and compared to methods used in numerical taxonomy. This method arranges objects into classes representing certain descriptive concepts, rather than into classes defined solely by a similarity metric in some a priori defined attribute space. A specific form of the method is conjunctive conceptual clustering, in which descriptive concepts are conjunctive statements involving relations on selected object attributes and optimized according to an assumed global criterion of clustering quality. The method, implemented in program CLUSTER/2, is tested together with 18 numerical taxonomy methods on two exemplary problems: 1) a construction of a classification of popular microcomputers and 2) the reconstruction of a classification of selected plant disease categories. In both experiments, the majority of numerical taxonomy methods (14 out of 18) produced results which were difficult to interpret and seemed to be arbitrary. In contrast to this, the conceptual clustering method produced results that had a simple interpretation and corresponded well to solutions preferred by people.
Birth order and self-concept in adolescence.

The effect of birth order on self-concept was examined in a sample of adolescent boys and girls. Based upon self-theory, which suggests that the two main processes of self-concept formation (e.g., reflected appraisals and social comparisons) are affected by the power and role relationships associated with ordinal position in the family, several hypotheses were tested: (1) The self-evaluations of only and oldest children are more positive than those of younger siblings; (2) middle-borns have the lowest self-evaluations; (3) these relationships are affected by the sex and spacing of nearest sibling; and (4) the self-conceptions of oldest and only children are more similar to those of their parents than the self-conceptions of younger siblings and their parents. Using analysis of variance and several different measures of self-evaluation, very little support was found for any of these hypotheses. The strongest support was found for the hypothesis on middle-borns, but even these relationships were not large. Several explanations are offered for these weak and inconsistent findings.