cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Framing of and Attention to COVID-19 on Twitter: Thematic Analysis of Hashtags

Background: Although past research has focused on COVID-19–related frames in the news media, such research may not accurately capture and represent the perspectives of people from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, research on the public attention to COVID-19 as reflected through frames on social media is scarce. Objective: This study identified the frames about the COVID-19 pandemic in the public discourse on Twitter, which voices diverse opinions. This study also investigated the amount of public attention to those frames on Twitter. Methods: We collected 22 trending hashtags related to COVID-19 in the United States and 694,582 tweets written in English containing these hashtags in March 2020 and analyzed them via thematic analysis. Public attention to these frames was measured by evaluating the amount of public engagement with frames and public adoption of those frames. Results: We identified 9 frames including “public health guidelines,” “quarantine life,” “solidarity,” “evidence and facts,” “call for action,” “politics,” “post-pandemic life,” “shortage panic,” and “conflict.” Results showed that some frames such as “call for action” are more appealing than others during a global pandemic, receiving greater public adoption and engagement. The “call for action” frame had the highest engagement score, followed by “conflict” and “evidence and facts.” Additionally, “post-pandemic life” had the highest adoption score, followed by “call for action” and “shortage panic.” The findings indicated that the frequency of a frame on social media does not necessarily mean greater public adoption of or engagement with the frame. Conclusions: This study contributes to framing theory and research by demonstrating how trending hashtags can be used as new user-generated data to identify frames on social media. This study concludes that the identified frames such as “quarantine life” and “conflict” and themes such as “isolation” and “toilet paper panic” represent the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The consequences could be (1) exclusively related to COVID-19, such as hand hygiene or isolation; (2) related to any health crisis such as social support of vulnerable groups; and (3) generic that are irrespective of COVID-19, such as homeschooling or remote working.
Numbers and Functions: From a Classical-Experimental Mathematician's Point of View

New mathematics often comes about by probing what is already known. Mathematicians will change the parameters in a familiar calculation or explore the essential ingredients of a classic proof. Almost magically, new ideas emerge from this process. This book examines elementary functions, such as those encountered in calculus courses, from this point of view of experimental mathematics. The focus is on exploring the connections between these functions and topics in number theory and combinatorics. There is also an emphasis throughout the book on how current mathematical software can be used to discover and prove interesting properties of these functions. The book provides a transition between elementary mathematics and more advanced topics, trying to make this transition as smooth as possible. Many topics occur in the book, but they are all part of a bigger picture of mathematics. By delving into a variety of them, the reader will develop this broad view. The large collection of problems is an essential part of the book. The problems vary from routine verifications of facts used in the text to the exploration of open questions.
Characteristics of a Television Photometer

Publisher Summary This chapter elaborates the characteristics of a television photometer. The Celescope/Uvicon broadband ultraviolet integrating television photometer is a complex, nonlinear, multiparameter instrument. The mathematical model necessary to calibrate the instrument is a set of nonlinear multivariable equations. Although, a rigorous analysis may be suitable where high accuracy is required and ample time and the help of a large digital computer are available, it is not practical for use in field measurement, which requires quick rather than accurate results. The relationship between the true input and output for a television photometer is presented. The transfer function varies considerably with the location of the image on the faceplate of the Uvicon. The variation of transfer function due to image location is a combined result of two nonuniformities. On the basis of test results in a vacuum optical bench test, the actual accuracy of the simplified model has been determined to be about a factor of two in normal conditions, and a factor of four for the worst case.
Optimum microstrip interconnects

A simple, automated assembly technique that solves the high VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio) and insertion loss problems associated with variable wire inductance in microwave assemblies has been developed. The theory, design, and fabrication of optimum microstrip interconnects from 2 to 20 GHz are discussed. Microstrip interconnects, modeled and measured, are shown to achieve VSWRs of 1:2:1 through 20 GHz, even when several interconnects are cascaded. The technique is tolerant of gap variations between substrates and a misalignment of the microstrip conductors. >
Ultrasonic Technology for Characterizing Laser Damage in Optics

An ultrasonic technique was developed to detect and characterize laser damage in critical optics . During normal usage, sub critical flaws induced by high laser fluence can grow to critical size and potentially can cause unanticipated failure of the optics. This ultrasonic technique monitors the optic in situ and provides a quick, reliable way to quantify the location, number and, ultimately, the size of defects that may initiate and grow during firing of the laser.
Sample Size Determination: Overview

This concerns the evaluation of sample size required for a study before data are collected. This may be done by specifying either the required precision of an estimate, or the power of a test to detect an effect regarded as important. It may be necessary to consider the effects of missing data and of measurement unreliability. Many examples are considered in detail. Keywords: precision; power; significance test; alternative hypothesis; survival analysis; contingency table; analysis of variance; multiple regression; logistic; missing data; measurement error
Inflammatory neuropathies: pathology, molecular markers and targets for specific therapeutic intervention

Inflammatory neuropathies encompass groups of heterogeneous disorders characterized by pathogenic immune-mediated hematogenous leukocyte infiltration of peripheral nerves, nerve roots or both, with resultant demyelination or axonal degeneration or both. Inflammatory neuropathies may be divided into three major disease categories: Guillain-Barre syndrome (particularly the acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy variant), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy and nonsystemic vasculitic neuropathy (or peripheral nerve vasculitis). Despite major advances in molecular biology, pathology and genetics, the pathogenesis of these disorders remains elusive. There is insufficient knowledge on the mechanisms of hematogenous leukocyte trafficking into the peripheral nervous system to guide the development of specific molecular therapies for immune-mediated inflammatory neuropathies compared to disorders such as psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis. The recent isolation and characterization of human endoneurial endothelial cells that form the blood-nerve barrier provides an opportunity to elucidate leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions critical to the pathogenesis of inflammatory neuropathies at the interface between the systemic circulation and peripheral nerve endoneurium. This review discusses our current knowledge of the classic pathological features of inflammatory neuropathies, attempts at molecular classification and genetic determinants, the utilization of in vitro and in vivo animal models to determine pathogenic mechanisms at the interface between the systemic circulation and the peripheral nervous system relevant to these disorders and prospects for future potential molecular pathology biomarkers and targets for specific therapeutic intervention.
Sputtered A1N Thin Films for Piezoelectric MEMS Devices

Piezoelectric films have been demonstrated to be attractive for micromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. Among the piezoelectric films used, AlN film has been less explored. In this study, AlN resonators and accelerometers, utilizing longitudinal and transverse piezoelectric effects respectively, were demonstrated. Resonators with Q of 1000 and electromechanical coupling (kt 2) of 6.5% were achieved at ~2 GHz. Accelerometers were fabricated and tested with charge sensitivities ranging between 0.06 to 0.45 pC/g depending on device designs. Important material properties of sputtered AlN films - C33 of 435 GPa, e33 of 1.55 C/m2, and e31 of -0.58 C/m2 - were extracted by fitting finite element analysis (FEA) simulated values to measured results.
A retinal scanning display system that produces multiple focal planes with a deformable membrane mirror

Abstract A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) deformable membrane mirror is used to generate realistic 3D depth cues by variable focus. The monocular laser scanning display creates multiple focal planes that are optically superimposed over real world objects allowing augmented reality views to be registered in three dimensions. The display allows the viewer to see 3D objects using the natural accommodative response of the eye, unlike common stereographic displays, which uncouple the accommodation response. The MEMS deformable mirror varies a laser beam divergence simulating a beam from optical infinity to 33 cm distance (0–3 D). Measurements in human subjects show that subjects accommodated appropriately to the display.
Correlation of Aqueous Two‐Phase Partitioning of Proteins with Changes in Free Volume

Phase separation and protein partitioning in polymer-salt aqueous two-phase systems have been correlated with changes in free volume. Both solute partitioning and phase stability are proposed to be related to those changes in liquid structure that can be described by measurements of the free volume of the mixture upon phase splitting.
Markov Data-Based LQG Control

In this paper the Markov data-based LQG control problem is considered. The Markov data-based LQG control problem is to find the optimal control sequence which minimizes a quadratic cost function over some finite interval [0, N]. To solve this problem, we show that a complete input-output description of the system is not necessary. Obviously, a complete state space model is not necessary for this problem either. The main contributions of this paper include: (i) develop a new data-based LQG controller in a recursive form and a batch-form, (ii) derive a closed-form expression for the system's optimal performance in terms of the Markov parameters, (iii) develop an algorithm for choosing the output weighting matrix, and (iv) demonstrate that the amount of information about the system required by the data-based controller design is less than the amount required to construct the full state space model. A numerical example is given to show the effectiveness of the data-based design method.
Structure-sensitivity of hydrodesulfurization of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene over silica-supported nickel phosphide catalysts

The effect of surface area on the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) was studied on a series of supported nickel phosphide catalysts of low (Ni2P/SiO2-L, 96 m2 g-1), medium (Ni2P/SiO2-M, 133 m2 g-1) and high (Ni2P/SiO2-H, 208 m2 g-1) specific surface areas. The best catalyst, Ni2P/SiO2-H, gave a steady-state conversion of 99+% at 613 K, which was higher than that of the Ni2P/SiO2-M (94%) or the Ni2P/SiO2-L (76%). The order (H > M > L) correlated with the dispersion of the catalysts as measured from CO uptakes (125 vs. 99 vs. 59 mmol g-1), and the Ni2P crystallite size as determined from X-ray diffraction (6.5 vs. 7.8 vs. 10.1 nm). Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and elemental analysis measurements showed that the nickel phosphide was partially sulfided and formed a surface phosphosulfide phase in the HDS reaction. The HDS reaction for this molecule is structure-sensitive.
Employee Involvement and Pay at US and Canadian Auto Suppliers

Using both survey data and field research, we investigate the effects of employee involvement practices on outcomes for blue-collar workers in the auto supply industry. wages by 3-5%. The causal mechanism linking involvement and wages appears most consistent with efficiency wage theories, and least consistent with compensating differences. With respect to employment stability, we find that employee involvement has a knife-edge character. Plants with intensive programs have larger employment gains, but are also slightly more likely to go out of business. These results are consistent with employee involvement raising quality and productivity, but also increasing fixed costs for liquidity-constrained firms.
Marker-Assisted Selection for Low Linolenic Acid Content in Soybean

ABSTRACT Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] is a major crop in the world and in the United States. In 2006, soybeans represented 57% of the world oilseed production. Because of oxidation problems upon heating and storage of the oil, and because of health risks related to the production of trans-fatty acids during oil hydrogenation, reducing linolenic acid content in soybean oil below 2% is now an important goal in soybean breeding programs. The current methods for evaluation of the fatty acid content in the oil (fat extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the fatty acids) are time consuming and expensive. Our objective was to develop molecular markers that would allow the selection for low linolenic acid lines without the need for analysis of the fatty acid content of the oil. Populations were developed by crossing a low linolenic parent with high-yielding adapted South Dakota lines. We developed a molecular marker that was linked to the low linolenic acid trait in our populations ...
Redox pioneer: professor Irwin Fridovich.

Abstract Professor Irwin Fridovich Dr. Irwin Fridovich (Ph.D., 1955) is recognized here as a Redox Pioneer because as first/last author he has published at least 1 paper on antioxidant/redox biology that has been cited over 1000 times and has published at least 10 papers each cited over 100 times. In collaboration with his graduate student, Joe McCord, Dr. Fridovich discovered the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Subsequently, he and his colleagues demonstrated that the enzyme is ubiquitous among aerobic biota and comprises a critical defense against oxidative stress. With coworkers, Dr. Fridovich identified the first physiological targets of superoxide, the iron–sulfur clusters of dehydratases. They also showed that SOD is just one of several strategies by which cells fend off oxidative stress. It is now clear that organisms are chronically exposed to endogenous superoxide; further, microbes, plants, and mammals all employ superoxide as a weapon to poison their competitors. Thus, the achievement o...
Making the hardware-software connection with PLP

In this paper, we describe a novel platform for Computer Science and Engineering education that helps students to connect software concepts with the underlying hardware. Students often learn about programming languages, computer architecture, assembly languages and compilers in isolation, and fail to see the connections between the hardware and the software. The Progressive Learning Platform (PLP) was designed for students to anchor their conceptual learning about microprocessors and computer architecture, and for them to see the connections between assembly language and trade-offs in architecture. The long-term vision for PLP is to be a free and scalable platform for face-to-face and online education in computing worldwide.
Seasonal variations of D/H and 13C/12C ratios of microbial methane in surface sediments

Appreciable seasonal and spatial variation has been found in the delta D and delta C-13 of gas-phase microbial CH4 produced in the marine sediments of Cape Lookout Bight (CLB), North Carolina. The observations provide indirect evidence that the CLB CH4 delta variation reflects variation in the relative contributions of the main CH4 precursors, acetate and CO2/H2. The delta D-CH4 and delta C-13-CH4 are inversely correlated, indicating that microbial consumption is not responsible for the delta variation. While CLB is not strictly representative of wetlands in general, some of the key microbial processes and environmental characteristics that appear largely responsible for the observed CLB CH4 delta variation are probably similar in typical temperate and high-latitude wetlands.
Brazil's twin deficits: An empirical examination

This paper examines empirically the causal relationship between budget deficits and trade deficits for Brazil from 1973:1Q through 1991:4Q. This relationship is investigated in the context of Granger's test of causality. The final prediction error criterion, as outlined by Hsiao [1981], is applied in determining the appropriate lag length of the two variables. Empirical results suggested the presence of bilateral causality between trade deficits and budget deficits.
A program for infection surveillance utilizing an infection control liaison nurse.

Abstract Today's infection control programs require a practical, efficient, and effective surveillance system. The Epidemiology Section of a 650-bed, university-affiliated hospital has implemented a two-phase approach. Phase I is surveillance by service. Each service receives a minimum of 2 months' concentrated surveillance, with critical care units monitored each month. The entire hospital is covered within a year. Monthly statistics are issued for each surveyed service and the individual patient units within that service. Phase II involves the infection control liaison nurse (ICLN). An ICLN, established in each patient unit, monitors infection control practices and acts as a liaison between the unit and the epidemiology section. Selected candidates are trained by the epidemiology section. The ICLN aids in more immediate identification of problems and better monitoring of aseptic practices. This approach is effective and manageable. Better understanding of unit problems results in more relevant educational programs with time to conduct additional activities. Statistics have more meaning and support for infection control is improved.
Demonstrating the Temperature Gradient Impact on Grain Growth in UO2 Using the Phase Field Method

Grain boundaries (GBs) are driven to migrate up a temperature gradient. In this work, we use a phase field model to investigate the impact of temperature gradients on isotropic grain growth. GB motion in 2D UO2 polycrystals is predicted under increasing temperature gradients. We find that the temperature gradient does not significantly impact the average grain growth behavior because the curvature driving force is dominant. However, it does cause significant local migration of the individual grains. In addition, the temperature dependence of the GB mobility results in larger grains in the hot portion of the polycrystal.
A reoptimization of the five-site water potential (TIP5P) for use with Ewald sums

The five-site transferable interaction potential (TIP5P) for water [M. W. Mahoney and W. L. Jorgensen, J. Chem. Phys. 112, 8910 (2000)] is most accurate at reproducing experimental data when used with a simple spherical cutoff for the long-ranged electrostatic interactions. When used with other methods for treating long-ranged interactions, the model is considerably less accurate. With small modifications, a new TIP5P-like potential can be made which is very accurate for liquid water when used with Ewald sums, a more physical and increasingly more commonly used method for treating long-ranged electrostatic interactions. The new model demonstrates a density maximum near 4 °C, like the TIP5P model, and otherwise is similar to the TIP5P model for thermodynamic, dielectric, and dynamical properties of liquid water over a range of temperatures and densities. An analysis of this and other commonly used water models reveals how the quadrupole moment of a model can influence the dielectric response of liquid water.
Methylene-C14-Dioxyphenyl Compounds: Metabolism in Relation to Their Synergistic Action

The methylene-C14 group is hydroxylated yielding formate-C14 in the microsome-reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate system in vitro and yielding expired C14O2, in living mice and houseflies. Methylenedioxyphenyl compounds apparently serve as alternate substrates for this enzymatic hydroxylation system of microsomes, and thus reduce the rate of metabolism and prolong the action of certain drugs and insecticide chemicals.
Burke's late blooming: Trope, defense, and rhetoric

THE ANXIETY OF INFLUENCE. By Harold Bloom. New York: Oxford University Press, 1973; pp. 165. $4.95 paper. A MAP OF MISREADING. By Harold Bloom. New York: Oxford University Press, 1975; pp. 206. $4.95 paper. POETRY AND REPRESSION. By Harold Bloom. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1976; pp. 293. $6.95 paper. AGON: TOWARDS A THEORY OF REVISIONISM. By Harold Bloom. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982; pp. 336. $19.95. THE BREAKING OF THE VESSELS. By Harold Bloom. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982; pp. 103. $10.00
Prevention of Diabetes in BB/Wor Rat by Single Transfusion of Spleen Cells: Parameters That Affect Degree of Protection

Previous studies have shown that multiple transfusions of spleen cells from histocompatible nondiabetic donors prevent autoimmune diabetes mellitus in diabetes-prone (DP) BioBreeding/Worcester (BB/Wor) rats. In this study, a single transfusion of ≥50 × 10 6 cells from either diabetes-resistant (DR) BB/Wor or Wistar-Furth (WF) rats substantially reduced the incidence of diabetes when given to DP rats 27 or 46 days old but not 61 days old. Transfusion and protection were associated with the appearance of RT6 + donor lymph node cells in recipient rats. In vivo depletion of RT6 + T-lymphocytes in 150-day-old protected animals did not produce diabetes. DR BB/Wor and WF spleen cells were equally efficacious when given either intraperitoneally or intravenously. Mitogen-activated spleen cells were relatively less effective than untreated cells. We conclude that BB rat diabetes can be prevented by one transfusion of spleen cells from histocompatible DR and WF donors, and that the protective effect is dependent on recipient age and cell dose. The effect may be mediated by a population of RT6 + T-lymphocytes that, during a critical developmental period, regulate the expression of autoimmunity in these animals.
Characterization of antisera raised against cultured rat sympathetic neurons.

Abstract Antisera were prepared against monolayer cultures of newborn rat sympathetic neurons and characterized by 51 Cr release microcomplement fixation, cytotoxicity and indirect immunofluorescence assays. After absorption with rat liver, kidney, spleen and thymus to remove activity against common rat antigens, the antisera retained activity against cultured sympathetic neurons, brain and adrenals. Indirect immunofluorescence showed that the antigens recognized were widely distributed in the brain, while in the adrenal gland they were limited to the medullary cells. Absorption with the brain completely removed the activity of the antisera against sympathetic neurons; in contrast, partial activity was retained after repetitive absorption with adrenals. The antisera were also characterized with respect to recognition of the PC12 clonal line of rat pheochromocytoma cells. Under normal growth conditions, PC12 cells resemble their normal counterparts, adrenal chromaffin cells, while after treatment with nerve growth factor, they acquire the differentiated properties of sympathetic neurons. Both untreated and treated cells were recognized by the antisera and indirect histofluorescence on living cells indicated that at least some of the antigens on these cells (as well as on sympathetic neurons) are exposed on the cell surface. However, differences were noted in recognition of nerve growth factor treated and untreated PC12 cells. For example, the former, but not the latter were recognized in cytotoxicity assays. Also, absorption of the antisera with treated cells removed all activity against rat sympathetic neurons, whereas repetitive absorption with untreated PC12 cells removed only part of the activity. Such findings indicate that PC12 cells treated with nerve growth factor and sympathetic neurons exhibit antigenic similarities and that our antisera can be used to identify, isolate, characterize and localize neural-specific surface antigens.
The Italian Connection In Juan De Valdés' Diálogo De La Lengua

SUMMARYThe article reassesses the connection between Juan de Valdes' (c. 1495-1541) Diâlogo de la lengua (1535) and the Italian Renaissance by demonstrating that Valdes was thoroughly familiar with the Italian literature on language and the concept of its possible rebirth. It is shown that the Italian humanist Pietro Bembo's (1470-1547) argument, as laid down in his seminal work Prose della volgar lingua (1525), that great writers contribute significantly to the normalization and enrichment of a language constitutes the frame of Valdes' work from which flow the author's concerns about culture and linguistic theory. Valdes' appropriation of and reaction to the Italian literature on language reflect the views prevalent in the intellectual circles of Europe at the time.RESUMEDans le present article, Fauteur propose une nouvelle evaluation du rapport du Dialogo de la lengua (1535) de Juan de Valdes (c.1495-1541) avec la Renaissance italienne. Il demontre que Valdes etait bien familier avec la discussion contemporaine sur la langue en Italie et la possibilite de sa renaissance. En particulier, Valdes connaissait tres bien l'ouvrage fondamental de l'epoque, a savoir le Prose della volgar lingua (1525) de Pietro Bembo (1470-1547), dans lequel Bembo soutient l'opinion que les grands ecrivains contribuent, d'une facon significative, a l'enrichissement et la regularisation d'une langue. Une telle conception de la culture et de la langue est a la base de l'argument de Valdes. En effet, son appropriation de la litterature italienne concernant le langage et sa reaction envers elle ne reflete qu'une pensee assez repandue parmi les cercles intellectuelles de l'Europe.ZUSAMMENFASSUNGIn dem Beitrag geht es um eine Neubewertung der Beziehungen des Diâlogo de la lengua (1535) von Juan de Valdes (c.1495-1541) mit der italieni-schen Renaissance. Es wird der Nachweis erbracht, das Valdes sehr gut mit der zeitgenossischen italienischen Sprachdiskussion vertraut war. Namentlich Pietro Bembos (1470-1547) grundlegende Schrift Prose della volgar lingua (1525), in der die Meinung vertreten wird, das grose Autoren entscheidend zur Bereicherung und Normalisierung einer Sprache beitragen, ist fur Valdes und seine Auffassung von Kultur und Sprache gleichermaBen wichtig, welche in dieser Auspragung als typisch fur die europaischen intellektuellen Kreisen vor-herrschende Ansichten gelten kann.
Rolling contact fatigue life model incorporating residual stress scatter

Abstract There has been a considerable body of research concerned with predicting the service life of rolling contact components. It is well known that the prevailing cause of failure in rolling contact components is fatigue crack. Although the trend has been toward the use of surface integrity in fatigue life prediction, one aspect missing in most models has been a consideration of the residual stress scatter in the subsurface. Since the fatigue life of a manufactured component depends on its weakest point, the local extreme is most relevant for the fatigue life prediction. This study thus incorporates the residual stress scatter into the rolling contact fatigue life model to predict the fatigue life closer to the experimental life. It is noted that residual stresses vary significantly at the same depth. After the residual stress scatter is incorporated into the model, the predictions agree well with the experimental lives.
Gene flow and endangered species translocations: a topic revisited

Understanding the evolutionary role of gene flow is pivotal to the conservation of endangered populations. Gene flow can be enhanced through population translocations that are conducted to maintain genetic variation and combat the negative consequences of inbreeding depression (two of the major concerns in the conservation of subdivided or isolated populations). While researchers have given extensive consideration to the idea that gene flow can act as a creative evolutionary force by maintaining genetic variation or spreading adaptive gene complexes, the focus of this paper is to investigate gene flow as a force that constrains local adaptation. I briefly review the theoretical basis of and summarize empirical studies that indicate gene flow can constrain local adaptation, and may thereby lower short-term population fitness. This review suggests that knowledge of gene flow rates and understanding ecological differences among populations is necessary before embarking on a program to artificially enhance gene flow.
A musculoskeletal outreach screening, treatment, and education program for urban minority children

Purpose. A hospital-based outreach program was initiated to screen minority children in medically underserved areas of New York City for musculoskeletal diseases. We examine the number of such diseases in this population, and evaluate the program's success to facilitate referral and follow-up of children with referral conditions. Methods. Screenings were conducted at schools and day-care centers. Children requiringfurther evaluation were referred to the sponsoring hospital, a major referral center for musculoskeletal diseases. Bilingual educational strategies, transportation reimbursement, and coverage for uninsured children were used to foster participation and increase follow-up. Results. A total of 2,523 children were screened, 168 (6.7%) of whom were referred forone of 45 different musculoskeletal disorders, including scoliosis and back problems, foot problems, in- and out-toeing, knee or hip pain, and problems of joint range of motion. Sixtyseven percent of those referred had a follow-up medical consultation. Conclusions. A substantial proportion of urban minority children have previously undiagnosed musculoskeletal disorders that, if left untreated, have the potential to lead to significant disability in later life. Targeted screening programs can be effective in identifying such disorders, and providing an apportunity for early diagnosis, treatment, and education.
How Accurate Are Americans’ Perceptions of Their Own Weight?

As obesity/overweight has increased in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009), studies have found that Americans’ perceptions of their own weight often are not aligned with their actual body mass index (BMI; Brener et al., 2004; Christakis, 2003; Johnson-Taylor et al., 2008). Taylor, Funk, and Craighill (2006) found that half of Americans whose BMI indicated they were overweight perceived their weight to be just about right. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that influence the accuracy of weight self-perceptions and whether accuracy influences health behaviors. Using data from the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey, the authors compared respondents’ weight self-perceptions to their actual BMI to determine the accuracy of their weight self-perceptions. About 28%of respondents were obese, 35%were overweight, 35%were of normal weight, and 2%were underweight. About three quarters of the sample's self-perceptions of weight were aligned with their BMI. Ab...
Synthesis and evaluation of isatin analogs as caspase-3 inhibitors: Introduction of a hydrophilic group increases potency in a whole cell assay

A series of isatin analogs containing a hydrophilic group, including a pyridine ring, ethylene glycol group, and a triazole ring, have been synthesized, and their inhibition potency for caspase-3 was measured both in vitro (i.e., recombinant enzyme) and in whole cells (HeLa cells). The analogs having a hydrophilic group, including 12, 13, 16, 38, and 40, have dramatically increased activity in vitro and in HeLa cells compared to the corresponding unsubstituted N-phenyl isatin analogs.
Online support of patients and survivors of cancer.

Objectives To provide information on current use of a type of online support, Internet cancer support groups, by patients and survivors of cancer, and the factors that influence their usages. Data Sources The literature systematically searched and retrieved through the PUBMED, PsycInfo, and CINAHL databases. Conclusion This literature review indicated five factors that influence the use of Internet cancer support groups (disease, background, cultural, need, and Internet use). Implications for Nursing Practice Health care providers need to give careful attention to multiple factors that may influence the use of online support.
An Experimental Study of Heat Transfer From Small Horizontal Cylinders at Near-Critical Pressures

An experimental study of the free convection heat transfer from horizontally held wires to carbon dioxide at near-critical pressures has been performed. In the experiments, platinum wires of 25.4 μm, 76.2 μm and 100 μm, as well as a 101.6 μm diameter nichrome 60/20 wire were used. The pressure (P) and bulk temperature (Tb ) of the fluid were varied in the range: 6.34 MPa ≤ P ≤ 9.60 MPa and 10 °C ≤ Tb ≤ 33.3 °C, respectively. Visual observation of the flow was realized using a high speed camera. The bulk fluid temperature is introduced as a new reference temperature for the calculation of fluid properties. Correlations were developed to predict the natural convection heat transfer rate at both subcritical and supercritical pressures. The correlations developed predict almost all the experimental data from the current study and those reported in the literature to within ± 15%. No bubble-like flow pattern was observed for both platinum and nichrome wires.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Sodium bromide by instrumental neutron activation analysis quantifies change in extracellular water space with wound closure in severely burned children.

Abstract Background. The ability to measure extracellular water (ECW) in critically ill patients can significantly enhance current methods of assessing fluid homeostasis, body composition, and response to nutritional therapy. We measured corrected bromide space to determine change in ECW with wound closure among acutely burned children. Methods. Fifteen children with burns over 30% of their total body surface area had their ECW determined following hemodynamic stabilization and when wound closure was complete. Plasma samples were obtained at baseline and 4 hours after receiving 25 mg/kg of sodium bromide. Plasma bromide was quantified by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Results. Mean CBS decreased with wound closure (9.1 ± 4.1 vs 7.9 ± 3.9 liters; P =.04), indicating a significant decrease in ECW over the course of recovery. A decline in weight also occurred over the same period (32.4 ± 15.2 vs 29.1 ± 13.5 kg; P =.007); however, change in corrected bromide space as a proportion of weight was not statistically significant. Conclusion. A significant decrease in ECW accompanies the weight loss observed in patients following wound closure. Measurement of bromide dilution space is a convenient method for monitoring ECW that can be done at the bedside. (Surgery 2003;133:396-403.)
Comparing the difficulty of letter, semantic, and name fluency tasks for normal elderly and patients with Parkinson's disease

Research on the effect of Parkinson's disease (PD) on verbal fluency has produced conflicting results. In this study, 88 PD patients with no dementia, 11 PD patients with questionable mental status, 15 PD patients with dementia, and 46 elders free from mental disorder were administered a variety of semantic, letter, and name fluency tasks. The results revealed that, contrary to popular assumption, semantic fluency was not always superior to letter fluency. Rather, verbal fluency was influenced by the nature of the individual categories. Interestingly, the relative difficulty of many categories was fairly stable across groups. The results also indicated that the individual fluency tasks were differentially sensitive to the mental status of the PD patients. Overall, the findings suggest that closer attention to the nature of the tested categories may help clarify the inconsistent effects of PD on verbal fluency.
Wake Flow About the Mars Pathfinder Entry Vehicle

A computational approach is used to describe the aerothermodynamics of the Mars Pathfinder vehicle entering the Mars atmosphere at the maximum heating and maximum deceleration points in its trajectory. Ablating and nonablating boundary conditions are developed which produce maximum recombination of CO2 on the surface. For the maximum heating trajectory point, an axisymmetric, nonablating calculation predicts a stagnation-point value for the convective heating of 115 W/cm(exp 2). Radiative heating estimates predict an additional 5-12 W/cm(exp 2) at the stagnation point. Peak convective heating on the afterbody occurs on the vehicle's flat stern with a value of 5.9% of the stagnation value. The forebody flow exhibits chemical nonequilibrium behavior, and the flow is frozen in the near wake. Including ablation injection on the forebody lowers the stagnation-point convective heating 18%.
Efficient frontiers in revenue management

We consider the problem of generating the efficient frontier (or Pareto set) between two business goals in a pricing and revenue management context. We show that, under standard conditions on the demand function, the efficient frontier between revenue and profit will be continuous, bounded, downward-sloping and concave when pricing a single product. For the single-leg revenue management problem, we show that the efficient frontier between any two goals that are linear in load, such as revenue, load factor and operating contribution, can be efficiently generated using a weighted-sum (or scalarization) approach. We give some numerical examples of the weighted sum approach applied to the discrete-time single leg revenue management problem, as well as applied to an Expected Marginal Seat Revenue heuristic. We discuss possible extensions to a general choice model and to a full network.
An unusual axonless cell in the thalamus of the adult cat

Abstract An unusual axonless cell of very small size has been found in the ventral nuclei and intralaminar complex of the thalamus in adult cats. As revealed by variants of the rapid Golgi method, the cell shows characteristics which are different from any known neuron or neuroglial type although its general appearance is somewhat suggestive of cerebellar granules or small glial cells. Functional similarities to retinal amacrine cells are postulated if the element is, in fact, neuronal in nature. Its consistent absence in descriptions of perinatal thalamus suggests that its appearance or maturation (or both) occur rather late in the postnatal period, thereby providing an example of a cellular element comming “on line” well after thalamic activity is underway.
Analytic elements for multiaquifer flow

Abstract The objective of this paper is to present an analytic element formulation for groundwater flow in multiaquifer systems. Analytic element equations are presented for wells, line-sinks, and circular infiltration areas. Each analytic element is a solution to the governing system of differential equations, and thus simulates the leakage between aquifers exactly; the head, discharge, and leakage may be computed analytically at any point in the aquifer. Superposition of these analytic elements allows for the simulation of regional multiaquifer flow. A hypothetical example is presented of a system with three aquifers, a river network, and three pumping wells. It is demonstrated that the leakage between aquifers may vary significantly over short distances and that each aquifer has its own water divide.
NiTi–Al interface strength in ultrasonic additive manufacturing composites

Abstract Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (UAM) is a new rapid prototyping process for creating metal-matrix composites at or near room temperature. The low process temperatures enable composite materials that have tailored CTEs through utilizing recovery stresses generated by highly prestrained Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) fibers embedded within the matrix. The strength of the fiber–matrix interface, which is the limiting factor in UAM composites, has not been characterized. In this study, we characterize the shear strength of the fiber–matrix interface and study the bonding between the fiber and matrix in composites fabricated with prestrained NiTi embedded in an Al 3003-H18 matrix. In heating the composite, stresses develop due to the blocked behavior of NiTi and the difference in CTE of the matrix and fiber. Differential scanning calorimetry is used to observe composite failure temperatures; an average interface shear strength of 7.28 MPa is determined using constitutive models of the NiTi element and Al matrix. The constitutive models describe the thermally-induced strain of the composite, showing an effective CTE of zero at 135 °C. The models show that by increasing the embedded fiber length, interface failure temperatures can be increased so that zero CTE behaviors can be utilized without irreversibly changing the NiTi prestrain. Results from energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicate that the bonding between the fiber and interface is mechanical in nature with no evidence to support chemical or metallurgical bonding.
Nonvascularized fibular autograft to treat recurrent giant cell tumor of the distal radius

We report a 22-year-follow-up of a giant cell tumor treated by en bloc excision of the distal radius and replacement with an autogenous fibular bone graft. There has been no recurrence of the tumor. The patient has a good functional result and is free of pain except with extremes of wrist motion.
Relationship Between Dissociative and Medically Unexplained Symptoms in Men and Women Reporting Childhood Sexual Abuse

The relationship between the dissociative and somatic symptoms in a clinical sample of 216 women and 35 men survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) was examined. Symptom patterns were measured by the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Somatization Scale of the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and the Hypochondriasis, Hysteria, Health Concerns, and Harris–Lingoes Somatic Complaints Scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. Somatization and dissociation were related, but not at a great enough magnitude to suggest that somatic symptoms as a generic category are an integral component of dissociation. With the exception of one of the measures of somatization, the SCL-90-R somatization scale, no significant differences were found between men and women CSA survivors in symptom levels. However, the relationship between somatization and dissociation was stronger in women than in men. The findings of this study should be considered preliminary and interpreted with considerable caution, since the scales used probably are of limited validity.
Motion control of mechanical manipulators

The theory and implementation results of a recently developed class of adaptive and repetitive controllers used for motion control of robot manipulators are presented. The repetitive controller, which learns the input torque corresponding to a repetitive desired trajectory, requires no explicit knowledge of the manipulator equations of motion. The adaptive controller, on the other hand, which estimates the robot dynamic parameters on-line, may be used for more general trajectories but requires more detailed modeling information. Both schemes are computationally efficient and require no acceleration feedback of any kind; only standard position and velocity feedback information is utilized.
Effect of montelukast on bacterial sinusitis in allergic mice.

Background In mice, allergic rhinitis augments the infectious and inflammatory response to Streptococcus pneumoniae -induced sinusitis. Objective To investigate the effects of cysteinyl leukotriene antagonism on the severity of bacterial infection. Methods We performed 3 parallel, placebo-controlled experiments. In the first, mice were ovalbumin sensitized and ovalbumin challenged to show the effects of montelukast on the allergic inflammation; in the second, we evaluated the effect of montelukast on S pneumoniae infection; in the third, we used mice that were both allergic and infected. Montelukast was given starting 2 days after sensitization until the day before euthanasia. One day after drug treatment began, the mice were inoculated intranasally with S pneumoniae in the infected groups. Nasal hypersensitivity was measured with histamine challenges before the first sensitization and on the day before euthanasia. On the fifth day after infection, mice were euthanized, nasal lavage was performed, bacteria were cultured, and inflammatory cells in the sinuses were quantified. Results Mice that were infected only tended toward having increased bacterial counts from nasal lavage in the montelukast-treated group. The mice that were allergic and infected experienced significantly higher bacterial counts ( P Conclusions Montelukast reduces the manifestations of allergic rhinitis in mice. Surprisingly, montelukast led to an increase in bacterial growth in infected mice. This suggests an effect of the cysteinyl leukotrienes on the innate response to bacterial infection.
Matriarchal marketing: a manifesto

The article articulates a new view of markets by reflecting a matriarchal philosophy and by drawing from the work of new age philosophers and feminist economists. The paper also employs a holistic and activist approach to research. The neo-pagan movement has shifted toward agitating for large-scale social change in recent years. It was stated that extracting the difference between the emergent earth-based philosophy and the world’s leading religions is an important first step. The neo-pagan movement is not anti-science, but it takes its inspiration from those forms of science that are grounded in observation and respect for connectivity, and departs from mechanistic, artificially separated units of analysis and conceptualizations of social life.
Immunogenicity of virus-like particles containing modified human immunodeficiency virus envelope proteins

Extensive glycosylation and variable loops of the HIV envelope protein (Env) are reported to shield some neutralizing epitopes. Here, we investigated the immunogenicity of mutated HIV Envs presented in virus-like particles (VLPs). We immunized mice with simian human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) VLPs containing mutant HIV Env with reduced glycosylation (3G), variable loop-deleted mutations (dV1V2), or combinations of both types of mutations (3G-dV2-1G), and evaluated immune responses. Immune sera from mice that received VLPs with modified HIV Envs (3G or dV1V2) showed higher neutralizing activities against the homologous HIV 89.6 virus as well as heterologous viruses when compared with wild type SHIV VLP-immunized mice. Lymphocytes from immunized mice produced HIV Env-specific cytokines, with the 3G-dV2-1G mutant producing high levels of cytokines. Interestingly, both dendritic cells and B cells were found to interact with VLPs suggesting that VLPs are effective immunogens. Therefore, this study suggests that VLPs containing modified HIV Env have the potential to be developed as candidate vaccines capable of inducing cellular and humoral immune responses including neutralizing activities.