cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Current-Transformer Based Gate-Drive Power Supply with Reinforced Isolation

Wide-bandgap power semiconductors are enabling power electronics to meet higher power density and efficiency thanks to their fast switching frequency and high blocking voltage. In the high-power area, 10 kV, 240 A SiC MOSFET module has recently become a candidate for medium-voltage converters. The particular device characteristics require both high insulation and isolation strength from its gate driver power supply. To address that, this paper presents a complete design and optimization of a high-density 20 kV isolated power supply. Four objectives of high density under high-voltage insulation, low input-output coupling capacitance, fault ride-through, as well as fair voltage regulation and efficiency, have been achieved. The power supply leverages GaN-based LCCL-LC resonant circuit that produces a 1 MHz resonant current source to take multiple isolated loads. Experimental results show 1.67 pF input-output capacitance, 86% efficiency at rated load, and excellent resiliency at load short-circuit fault.
Stronger when combined: Lessons from an interprofessional, jail-based service-learning project

Long recognized as a means for enhancing student awareness of social justice and responsibility, service learning is now also being explored as a means for helping students develop interprofessional teamwork skills. This paper describes preliminary evaluation results of one such pilot program, an interprofessional service-learning project at a county jail. In the model, college students from a range of health professions and inmates work collaboratively with jail staff to design service projects that are implemented in the facility. Qualitative analysis of open-ended surveys completed by student participants identifies key learning outcomes, including awareness of the health and social disparities faced by people incarcerated at the jail, confidence in the ability to engage in culturally-sensitive practice and to address these disparities, and appreciation for the value of interprofessional teamwork. This preliminary evaluation is part of a larger effort to develop tools to measure student and community outcomes in interprofessional serving learning initiatives.
Laser surface treatment of Ti-10Mo alloy under Ar and N2 environment for biomedical application

This paper evaluated the effects of laser beam irradiation based surface modifications of Ti-10Mo alloy samples under either Ar or N2 environment to the corrosion resistance and cell integration properties. The surface morphology and element distributions of Ti-10Mo samples after laser surface treatments were evaluated using a scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Phase analysis was performed with x-ray diffraction. The electrochemical behavior of the Ti-10Mo samples was evaluated in simulated body fluid maintained at 37 ± 0.5 °C, and a cell-material interaction test was conducted using the MLO-Y4 cells. Laser surface modification in the Ar environment enhanced corrosion behavior, but did not affect the surface roughness, element distribution, or cell behavior, compared to the untreated samples. Processing the Ti-10Mo alloy in N2 formed a much rougher TiN surface that improved both the corrosion resistance and cell-material integration compared with the other two conditions.This paper evaluated the effects of laser beam irradiation based surface modifications of Ti-10Mo alloy samples under either Ar or N2 environment to the corrosion resistance and cell integration properties. The surface morphology and element distributions of Ti-10Mo samples after laser surface treatments were evaluated using a scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Phase analysis was performed with x-ray diffraction. The electrochemical behavior of the Ti-10Mo samples was evaluated in simulated body fluid maintained at 37 ± 0.5 °C, and a cell-material interaction test was conducted using the MLO-Y4 cells. Laser surface modification in the Ar environment enhanced corrosion behavior, but did not affect the surface roughness, element distribution, or cell behavior, compared to the untreated samples. Processing the Ti-10Mo alloy in N2 formed a much rougher TiN surface that improved both the corrosion resistance and cell-material integration co...
Found: Middle Men in the Hormone Joint Task Force.

Driving through the country on a lazy summer day with a nice gentle breeze, the lush fields of wheat, corn, and soybean appear peaceful. What you cannot see is the quiet war plants are fighting against the insects and pathogens that have pulled up to a feast of fresh veggies. Unfortunately, crop
Asymptotic laws for knot diagrams

We study random knotting by considering knot and link diagrams as decorated, (rooted) topological maps on spheres and sampling them with the counting measure on from sets of a fixed number of vertices n. We prove that random rooted knot diagrams are highly composite and hence almost surely knotted (this is the analogue of the Frisch-Wasserman-Delbruck conjecture) and extend this to unrooted knot diagrams by showing that almost all knot diagrams are asymmetric. The model is similar to one of Dunfield, et al.
Using Gratitude to Promote Sport Injury–Related Growth

This study explored the efficacy of a gratitude intervention (i.e., gratitude visit) to promote sport injury–related growth. Thirty participants were purposefully assigned to either the experimenta...
Cell Cycle Clocks

The cell cycle, or perhaps more precisely, the cell division cycle (CDC), typically comprises a series of recurrent, relatively discrete, morphological and biochemical events (Fig. 3.1), although the specific elements may vary among different systems (Fig. 3.2). Ordinarily the CDC is loosely considered to begin with the completion of one cell division and end with the completion of the next; the time taken for one such cycle is termed generation time (g). Nesting within its time domain are the ultrafast, the metabolic, and the epigenetic domains (Lloyd et al., 1982b; see Fig. 1.1). Progress through the CDC is usually monitored by observing the overt processes of DNA replication (synthetic, or S, period) and cell division (D; or mitotic, M, period). Thus, the CDC has been divided for more than 30 years (Howard and Pelc, 1953) into four consecutive intervals—G1, S, G2, and M—where G1 and G2, respectively, designate the time gaps between the completion of division and the onset of DNA replication and between the end of replication and the onset of mitosis. We now know that both G1 and G2 (as well as S and M) are characterized by many specific, additional events, such as bud emergence (in budding yeast), chloroplast replication (in plant cells), nuclear division, or the expression of a particular enzyme, and that the CDC perhaps can be still further subdivided. As a consequence, a veritable alphabet soup of cell cycle states has emerged, replete with A, B, Go, and Gq in addition to G1, G2, M, and S [see books by Mitchison (1971), Prescott (1976), John (1981) and Lloyd et al. (1982b) for general treatments of the subject].
Motivations and habits of micro-news consumption on mobile social media

Abstract Micro-news are abbreviated summaries or teasers of news content that are often accompanied with links to longer articles. We investigated motivations and habits of micro-news consumption through mobile social media platforms and how these variables relate to continuation intention. We surveyed 250 U.S. adults and identified six motivations using a uses and gratifications approach: social utility, pass time, entertainment, local information-seeking, salient information-seeking, and financial information-seeking. We found that habits add significant explanatory power on top of motivation in explaining users’ continuance intention. Context stability of time and situation, but not location, was correlated with habit.
Editorial: Replication in Financial Economics

All of the top general-purpose economics journals have a data and code-sharing policy. As of this writing, the Journal of Finance has a code-sharing policy, the Journal of Financial Economics (JFE) requires authors to share code if the results are challenged, and the Review of Financial Studies (RFS) is currently developing a policy. Replication is essential to any scientific endeavor, so why has the area of financial economics lagged behind?
The Effects of Systematic Instruction on Preschoolers’ Use of Stay-Play-Talk With Their Peers With Social Delays:

Using a multiple probe design across peer buddy–target child dyads, we evaluated the effects of an intervention package (i.e., brief training, system of least prompts, visual supports) on peer budd...
7 Patient Selection: Pathways to Surgery

Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for morbid obesity and has favorable and lasting effects on obesity-associated comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea. Perioperative management of this patient population requires a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach with enhanced recovery schemes to improve both short- and long-term outcomes. The specific medical, psychological, and nutritional needs of each patient pose challenging issues that require appropriate consultation and optimization to reduce morbidity. In addition, refined anesthesiology and technical advancements have allowed bariatric procedures to be liberally applied to the treatment of extreme BMIs, adolescents, and well-selected older patients. Aggressive management of the super obese has brought forth staged procedures and revisional surgeries that are often associated with increased complications. In these cases, in-depth anatomical understanding and preoperative planning are required to mitigate risk. Clinical pathways to facilitate the standardization of perioperative care are essential components for bariatric centers of excellence; however, at present, there is no uniformly accepted practice. In this chapter, we review perioperative care interventions and demonstrate how they fit within a clinical pathway designed to enhance patient selection and postoperative recovery.
Molecular margins in head and neck cancer: Current techniques and future directions

Complete tumor extirpation with clear surgical margins remains a central tenet of oncologic head and neck surgery. Rates of locoregional recurrence and survival are both significantly worse when clear margins are unable to be obtained. Current clinical practice relies on the use of frozen sections intra-operatively, followed by traditional histopathologic analysis post-operatively to assess the surgical margin. However, with improved understanding of tumor biology and advances in technology, new techniques have emerged to analyze margins at a molecular level. Such molecular margin analysis interrogates tissue for genetic, epigenetic, or proteomic changes that may belie tumor presence or aggressive features not captured by standard histopathologic techniques. Intra-operatively, this information may be used to guide resection, while post-operatively, it may help to stratify patients for adjuvant treatment. In this review, we summarize the current state of molecular margin analysis and describe directions for future research.
Religiosity and veteran mental health compared with non-veterans.

BACKGROUND While the potential buffering effects of spirituality are well established in the general population, how spirituality affects those in extremely high-stress occupations like the military and law enforcement is less clear. AIMS This paper explores the possibility that spiritual influences may operate differently among military veterans than other people. It specifically proposes that attendance at religious services is an especially important buffer for combat veterans. METHODS This study engaged in a secondary analysis of 74 480 respondents from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health for the years 2013-17. The respondents were split into four groups; veterans with combat experience before September 2001, veterans with combat experience since September 2001, veterans with no combat experience and non-veterans. RESULTS The likelihood of mental illness decreased in the general population along three different measures of religion; the importance of religion, friendships that shared religious beliefs and attendance at religious services. The relationship was weak and disappeared when controls for non-religion variables were included. A major exception was combat veterans, for whom the religious effects were limited to attendance at services, and the effect survived with the addition of non-religion control variables. CONCLUSIONS Mental health professionals, chaplains, pastoral counsellors and clergy need to recognize that among the therapeutic benefits of religious attendance and recognize the value of the religious rituals as ends in themselves.
Association between school-based tobacco retailer exposures and young adolescent cigarette, cigar and e-cigarette use.

Background Associations between retail tobacco availability and tobacco use have been mixed. This study examined associations between school-based retail environment exposures and current use of cigarettes, cigar products and e-cigarettes among middle school youth in Cleveland, OH. Methods Retailers selling tobacco products were identified using the 2015 Cleveland Food Retail Database (n=639 stores). Youth survey data were drawn from the 2016 Cleveland Youth Risk Behavior Survey, administered to all 7th/8th graders across the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (n=3778, response rate=83.0%). Past 30-day cigarette, cigar product and e-cigarette use were assessed. Student demographics, number of days walking to/from school each week and number of times youth stopped at a retailer to/from school each week were included. For each school (n=63), tobacco retail density (TRD) and proximity (TRP) to nearest retailer were calculated for each product. Multiple regression analysis assessed associations between retail exposures and youth tobacco use. Results Across all schools, 3.9%, 10.2% and 8.6% of students currently use cigarettes, cigar products and e-cigarettes, respectively, and 15.2% currently use at least one tobacco product. TRD and TRP were not associated with current use; frequency of walking to school and stopping at retailers were strongly associated with current use. Conclusions Although TRD and TRP were not significantly associated with tobacco product use, youth who reported regularly walking to/from school or who reported stopping at a retail store before/after school were significantly more likely to be a current tobacco product user. This may be due to increased exposure to exterior and point-of-sale marketing.
A Distributed Network for Multimodal Experiential Representation of Concepts

The architecture of the cortical system underlying concept representation is a topic of intense debate. Much evidence supports the claim that concept retrieval selectively engages sensory, motor, and other neural systems involved in the acquisition of the retrieved concept, yet there is also strong evidence for involvement of high-level, supramodal cortical regions. A fundamental question about the organization of this system is whether modality-specific information originating from sensory and motor areas is integrated across multiple ''convergence zones'' or in a single centralized ''hub''. We used representational similarity analysis (RSA) of fMRI data to map brain regions where the similarity structure of neural patterns elicited by large sets of concepts matched the similarity structure predicted by a high-dimensional model of concept representation based on sensory, motor, affective, and other modal aspects of experience. Across two studies involving different sets of concepts, different participants, and different tasks, searchlight RSA revealed a distributed, bihemispheric network engaged in multimodal experiential representation, composed of high-level association cortex in anterior, lateral, and ventral temporal lobe; inferior parietal lobule; posterior cingulate gyrus and precuneus; and medial, dorsal, ventrolateral, and orbital prefrontal cortex. These regions closely resemble networks previously implicated in general semantic and ''default mode'' processing and are known to be high-level hubs for convergence of multimodal processing streams. Supplemented by an exploratory cluster analysis, these results indicate that the concept representation system consists of multiple, hierarchically organized convergence zones supporting multimodal integration of experiential information.
Excursions in Numbers

The previous chapter was about numbers. This chapter follows up with some excursive topics related to numbers. Specifically, we explore the size of the set of prime numbers (Euclid’s Theorem) and the size of the set of real numbers (Cantor’s Theorem). This chapter is optional because it is not directly related to symmetry, but is included in order to showcase some of the most beautiful proofs in the history of mathematics.
Novel analysis of clinically relevant diagnostic errors in point-of-care devices.

Summary. Background: To ensure proper clinical decision-making and avoid preventable harm, the quality of point-of-care (POC) device measures is routinely assessed. Traditional analyses may not reveal clinically important diagnostic errors. Objectives: To compare results between a novel analytic framework and traditional analyses. Methods: Patients in four anticoagulation clinics provided two measures of the International Normalized Ratio (INR) at the same visit as part of routine quality assurance: one via a venous sample and one fingerstick. These were assessed with Hemochron POC devices. Traditional, quarterly, quality assurance assessments emphasized correlation analysis. The novel analysis used enhanced graphics and a validated assessment of clinical decision-making. Results: 1518 paired INRs were analyzed. The correlation between the POC and laboratory assessments ranged between 0.84 and 0.91. Traditional quality assurance showed that the Hemochron devices were acceptable for continued use in each quarterly analysis. Enhanced graphical analysis demonstrated that the Hemochron devices never reported seven common INR values. The Hemochron devices systematically inflated values 4, biasing results towards the target INR range. Consequently, the Hemochron devices lead to a different clinical decision than the clinical laboratory measure in 31% of cases (458/1466; 95% confidence interval [CI] 29–34). When the reference INR was low, the Hemochron devices would not result in appropriate dose increases in 52% of cases (95% CI 48–56), placing these patients at risk for a significant adverse drug event. Conclusions: Our novel, clinically relevant analysis revealed previously undetected deficiencies in our POC INR devices, and our approach should be adopted by industry, regulators, and institutions.
Dental Implant Supported Restorations Improve Quality of Life in Osteoporotic Women

Introduction. The aim of this study is to compare the quality of life (QoL) in partially edentulous osteoporotic women who have missing teeth restored with dental implant retained restorations with those who do not and, secondarily, to report the rate of osteonecrosis in this sample. Methods. 237 participants completed the Utian QoL survey, a 23-question document measuring across psychosocial domains of well-being including occupational, health, emotional, and sexual domains which together contribute to an overall score. The subset of participants having dental implant supported prosthesis (64) was compared to the subset having nonimplant supported fixed restorations (47), the subset having nonimplant supported removable restorations (60), and the subset having no restoration of missing teeth (66). Results. ANOVA showed significant difference in all QoL domains between the four subsets . Although 134 reported oral bisphosphonate and 51 reported IV bisphosphonate use, no signs of ONJ were identified in any participants. Conclusion. These findings show implant retained oral rehabilitation has a statistically significant impact over nonimplant and traditional fixed restorations, removable restorations, and no restoration of missing teeth in far reaching areas including occupational, health, emotional, sexual, and overall QoL. These findings also support future examination of psychosocial outcomes associated with oral rehabilitation and the incorporation of oral health into women’s health promotion.
Data Envelopment Analysis: Theory and Techniques for Economics and Operations Research

1. Introduction and overview 2. Productivity, efficiency, and data envelopment analysis 3. Variable returns to scale: separating technical and scale efficiencies 4. Extensions to the basic DEA models 5. Non-radial models and Pareto-Koopmans measures of technical efficiency 6. Efficiency measurement without convexity assumption: free disposal hull analysis 7. Dealing with slacks: assurance region/cone ratio analysis, weak disposability, and congestion 8. Efficiency of merger and break up of firms 9. Efficiency analysis with market prices 10. Nonparametric approaches to production analysis 11. Measuring total factor productivity change over time 12. Stochastic approaches to data envelopment analysis 13. Looking ahead.
Global Warming Gridlock: Regulating emissions part 1: the enthusiastic countries

The problem of global warming requires policy efforts in three distinct areas. One is regulating emissions that are building up in the atmosphere and causing changes in the climate. A second is boosting investment in new knowledge – so that future efforts to control emissions are better informed and so that cheaper technologies for controlling emissions are closer at hand and easier to deploy. A third is bracing for the large (possibly catastrophic) changes in climate that may occur. Each of these problems is related, but each requires its own distinct policy strategy. In this part of the book – Chapters 3 to 6 – I look at each of these three policy challenges. This chapter and the next are about the first and most central area for policy: regulating emissions. Experts also call this “mitigation.” The best place to start building a theory to predict how individual countries will mitigate is to look at two main groups of countries. This chapter is about the “enthusiastic countries,” and Chapter 4 is about “reluctant countries.” If a reliable world government existed then it might not be so important to look at these two groups of countries separately. The world government would set policy and then firms and people across the planet would comply. But in the real world, international policy is trickier to craft because it hinges on what every nation, individually, is willing and able to implement.
Public ends, private means

Abstract This paper is an empirical investigation into the practices of the Second Bank of the United States during the decade preceding Andrew Jackson's veto of the Bank. A new monthly data set derived from financial publications and Second Bank records of the time is employed to investigate whether the Bank operated in the public interest, as argued by its supporters, or to further its own monopolistic interests, as argued by its detractors. The paper analyzes the role played by this early central bank, and provides an intriguing example of one experiment in the private provision of public goods.
Cell Type-Specific Roles for Tissue Plasminogen Activator Released by Neurons or Microglia after Excitotoxic Injury

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) plays important roles in the brain after excitotoxic injury. It is released by both neurons and microglia and mediates neuronal death and microglial activation. Mice lacking tPA are resistant to excitotoxicity and show very limited microglial activation. Activated microglia are neurotoxic in culture, but this phenomenon is not well documented in vivo. To further understand the sequence of events through which tPA mediates microglial activation and neurodegeneration, we have generated mice that exhibit restricted expression of tPA through introduction of tPA transgenes under the control of neuronal- or microglial-specific promoters into tPA-deficient mice. Neither strain of transgenic mice shows abnormal brain morphology or inflammation in the absence of injury, and unilateral intrahippocampal kainate injections into the transgenic mice induced excitotoxicity and microglial activation reminiscent of wild-type mice. However, there are differences in the kinetics of the resulting pathology. The neuronal tPA-expressing mice exhibit accelerated microglial activation compared with wild-type or microglial tPA-expressing mice. However, microglial tPA-expressing mice exhibit greater neurodegeneration. These data suggest a model in which tPA plays different roles after kainate injection depending on whether it is released by neurons or microglia. We propose that tPA, initially secreted from injured neurons, acts as a cytokine to activate microglia at the site of injury. These activated microglia then secrete additional tPA, which promotes extracellular matrix degradation, neurodegeneration, and self-proliferation. We suggest that an approach to attenuate microglia-mediated neuronal death in vivomight be to pharmacologically prevent microglial activation.
Client-Identified needs and agency-provided services at a harm reduction community based organization in the District of Columbia

Harm reduction case management relies on client-identified goals to drive the provision of care in order to “meet clients where they are at”. This research measured the level of agreement between client-identified needs and agency-provided services at a community based organization (CBO) in Washington DC by examining: (1) the services clients most often identified, (2) the services most often given to clients by the CBO, and (3) the level of alignment between client-identified needs and services provided. Case file reviews were completed for 151 clients who received case management services at the CBO between January 2010 and February 2011. Client-identified needs and agency-provided services were extracted from case files and divided into 9 matching need and service categories: pharmaceutical assistance (e.g., prescription renewal), medical or dental care, housing, mental health services, substance use services, support services (e.g., support group meetings), legal assistance, and employment/job training. Client-identified needs and services provided were analyzed using McNemar’s Chi-square to assess for significant differences in discordant pairs. Clients were mostly Black (90.7 %), heterosexual (63.6 %), HIV positive (93.4 %), and over 40 years old at the time of intake (76.2 %). On average, clients identified 2.44 needs and received 3.29 services. The most common client-identified needs were housing (63.7 %), support services (34.3 %), and medical/dental care (29.5 %). The most common agency-provided services were housing (58.2 %), support services (51.4 %), and medical/dental care (45.2 %). In 6 of the 9 service categories, there were statistically significant (p < .01) differences between those who received services not asked for and those who did not receive asked for services in the categories of pharmaceutical assistance, medical/dental care, substance abuse services, support services, legal assistance, and food access. In each of these matched service categories, the percentage of clients who received services not asked for was significantly higher than those who did not. This research shows that, while there is general alignment between the services that clients most often want and the services most often provided, there are still instances where services are requested but are not being provided.
An Evaluation of Subtotal Gastrectomy for Gastric and Duodenal Lesions: A Postoperative Survey of One Hundred Cases

Summary 1.A series of 100 unselected cases who had undergone subtotal gastrectomy for various conditions has been reviewed. All patients have been seen regularly in our Follow-Up Clinic since 1942. 2.Three hour glucose tolerance tests, fluoroscopic studies and gastric emptying times have been obtained for correlation with the symptoms and the physical status of each patient. 3.As compared with the normal glucose tolerance curve, this series revealed an early hyperglycemia followed by a hypoglycemia which had not returned to the normal level within three hours. This divergence from the normal curve was not found to be a causative factor in producing postoperative symptoms. 4.Fluoroscopy revealed that final gastric emptying times were definitely shorter in this series of stomachs than in unsesected stomachs. Under fluoroscopic observation there was no evidence of abnormal jejunal distention seen in any case during the progress of barium into the jejunum. 5.We were fortunate in not having had a case of the so-called "dumping syndrome". It is possible that our adherence to the Polya antecolic type of anastomosis has been instrumental in this fact. 6.We believe subtotal gastric resection is the procedure of choice when dealing with all benign gastric ulcers, or with duodenal ulcers not amenable to medical treatment.
Effects of Feeding Rate on Habitat Quality in Fish Rearing Ponds

Manufactured feeds are commonly added to earthen ponds to enhance growth and survival of juvenile fish. However, excessive feeding may decrease fish production efficiency and yields by causing hypoxia (dissolved oxygen, DO < 2 mg/L) and stimulating excessive phytoplankton, filamentous green algae, and vascular plant growth. In this study, we quantified the effects of manufactured feed addition (no feeding, 1%, or 3% body-weight/day, BW/d) on DO and inorganic phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) concentrations, plant abundance, and invertebrate prey production in ponds stocked with age-0 channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. We found that the 3% BW/d ponds had lower DO concentrations and greater infestation by filamentous green algae (Rhizoclonium spp.) as compared to the 1% BW/d and no-feeding ponds. Using stable N and carbon (C) isotopes to trace the fate of feed-derived N and C in ponds, as well as analysis of zooplankton abundance, we determined that the supplied feed did not support or enhance production of natural invertebrate prey. To improve fish production efficiency, we recommend that managers leverage natural prey support of growth during early life, then adjust feeding levels to enhance growth of older fish and maintain suitable habitat quality.
A61: Prevalence of Streptococcal Antibodies in Pediatric Non-Rheumatic Fever Syndromes in Areas of Low Rheumatic Fever Incidence

Background/Purpose: Streptococcus pyogens infect an estimated 5 million children in United States/year. Various syndromes are attributed to elevated Streptococcal antibody titer (SAT) & are treated with prophylactic penicillin therapy (PPT). We hypothesize the elevated SAT has no diagnostic & PPT has no therapeutic significance in pediatric non-Rheumatic Fever Syndromes in areas of Low Rheumatic Fever Incidence. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective electronic chart review was conducted. Patients who met the criteria had tics, chronic pain syndrome (CPS) or joint symptoms as presenting complaints, had streptococcal antibody titers (SAT) performed & were seen by pediatricians in past 5 years at Women's and Children's Hospital. Patients were classified into 3 subgroups. Group 1: 184 presented with joint pain with or without (w/o) swelling, Group 2: 105 presented with tics & Group 3: 324 presented with CPS. Reference lab values were: Antistreptolysin O (ASO);0–1 yr:0–200 IU/mL, 2–12 yrs: 0–240 IU/mL, 13 yrs & older: 0–330 IU/mL & DNAse-B Ab; 0–6 yrs: Less than 250 U/mL, 7–17yrs:Less than 310 U/mL, 18 yrs & older: Less than 260 U/mL. Elevation of titers by ≥1.5 times for age was considered abnormal for research purposes. Results: Six hundred and thirteen charts were reviewed. Chi-square test was used to identify proportion of abnormal ASO & DNAse-B Ab among the 3 diagnostic groups ranged from 26% (JS) to 35% (TICS), and 25.5% to 26.7% respectively; the difference in the abnormal ASO & DNAse-B Ab in the 3 groups was not significant (ASO p = 0.25, DNAse-B Ab p = 0.97). An exact Pearson chi-square test compared the proportion of abnormal ASO & DNAse-B Ab on patients w/o PPT. The proportion of abnormal results w/o PPT were 5.88% (8/136) & 10.87% (5/46) for ASO & 5.88% (8/136) & 4.35% (2/46) for DNAse-B Ab, which was not statistically significant (p = 0.74 for ASO, p = 0.32 for DNAse-B Ab). McNemar's test revealed that the proportion of abnormal ASO results (178/613 = 29.04%) was significantly higher (P-value = 0.0002) than of DNAse-B Ab (158/613 = 25.77%). For both ASO & DNAse-B Ab, odds of abnormal results in males were about 1.73 times higher than in females (CI = 95%, OD = 1.19, 2.51); the highest probability of abnormal results occurred around 129 months. Mean Ab test costs for CPS was $426, JS was $377 & Tics was $556. While 137 patients received PPT, 47 received no therapy; there was no difference in abnormal SAT in both groups at 6 months. Conclusion: In low Rheumatic Fever Incidence areas, abnormal SAT in Pediatric non-rheumatic fever syndromes have poor diagnostic & therapeutic value; repeat testing adds cost without treatment value.
A new gamasid mite species, Haemogamasus limneticus sp. n. (Parasitiformes, Gamasoidea), from Kyrgyzstan

A new mite species of the genus Haemogamasus Berlese is described from the muskrat in Kyrgyzstan. Differential diagnoses of species of this genus from Kyrgyzstan are given.
Characterization of BSA unfolding and aggregation using a single-capillary viscometer and dynamic surface tension detector

Abstract A dynamic surface tension detector (DSTD) has been equipped with an additional pressure sensor for simultaneous viscosity measurements, as a detector for flow injection analysis. The viscosity measurement is based on a single capillary viscometer (SCV) placed in parallel configuration with the DSTD. The viscometer in the optimized conditions consists of a PEEK capillary (i.d. = 0.25 mm, L = 75 cm) kept at constant temperature using a thermostatic bath, which leads on the two sides to the two arms of a differential piezoelectric pressure transducer with a range of 0–35 psi. The DSTD, described previously, measures the changing pressure across the liquid/air interface of 2 μL drops repeatedly forming at the end of a capillary. SCV performance has been evaluated by measuring dynamic viscosity of water/glycerol mixtures analysed in flow injection and comparing the results with the values reported in the literature. The detection limits of SCV and DSTD, calculated as 3σ of the blank, were 0.012 cP and 0.6 dyn cm−1, respectively. The FI-SCV-DSTD system has been applied to the study of temperature-induced denaturation/aggregation process in bovine serum albumin (BSA). The results have been supported and discussed with respect to BSA conformational analysis performed using Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy.
Experimental Detection of Auto-Ionizing Transitions in Krypton by Electron Impact

A NUMBER of investigators1 have discussed the contribution of auto-ionization to the shape of the ionization efficiency curves obtained by electron impact; but, at least in the case of the rare gases, no direct correlation has been found between the structure observed in these curves and the energy-levels known to be strongly auto-ionizing from ultra-violet absorption spectroscopy2. I wish to present ionization efficiency curves for the Kr+ ion which exhibit discontinuities in slope at electron energies that lie quite close to the levels found in absorption. Both the intensity and separation of these levels fall off rather rapidly at higher energies, so that only those that lie directly above the normal 2P°3/2 ionization-level can be expected to be resolved. Using the Paschen notation3 for clearness in the figures; these levels are:
Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism Is Associated With Segment-Specific Extracranial Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickening

Background and Purpose Apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism affects plasma cholesterol and may influence risk of atherosclerosis. We investigated the association of apoE with carotid artery wall thickening (an index of atherosclerosis) in individuals with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods ApoE phenotypes were resolved in 260 individuals equally represented by angiographically determined CAD case subjects and disease-free control subjects. Carotid artery intima-media thickening (IMT) was evaluated by B-mode ultrasound. Associations of apoE (E2, E3, or E4) with risk factors and IMT were evaluated in general linear models adjusted for age, sex, and CAD status with and without other traditional risk factors. Results Total cholesterol (TC) and LDL cholesterol were associated with apoE isoforms. Mean TC and LDL cholesterol were lower in E2 (n=33) carriers than E3 (n=155) and E4 (n=66) carriers (each P<.001). IMT also varied by apoE. E2 carriers had less common carotid IMT than E3 and E4 carrier...
Valuation Methodologies and Emerging Markets

Correctly applying the valuation methodologies is important. Sabal (2007), using a well-designed example, shows that various methods give identical results, and asserts that APV is more convenient for the emerging market. However, a few issues are questionable which we intend to clarify, including (1) the evidence regarding target debt ratio; (2) the relationship between the WACC/APV and the capital structure; (3) the inconsistencies in the CCF application; and (4) why using the framework by Fernandez (2004) does not necessarily prove Sabal's assertion. Our study and Sabal's work are both integral parts in contributing to the better understanding of business valuation.
CHROMOSPHERIC MAGNETIC FIELDS ASSOCIATED WITH SUPERGRANULATION.

Some theoretical models are given which illustrate the structure of chromospheric magnetic fields associated with supergranulation. It is found that the chromospheric fields depend critically on whether or not there are large-scale vertical motions at the level where the horizontal supergranule motions are observed. In the absence of such motions, the concentration of field produced in the photosphere does not persist more than a few scale heights into the chromosphere; however, the chromospheric mass density is increased above the supergranule boundaries in this case. Completely different results-such as a chromospheric potential field-may be obtained by the inclusion of vertical motions. It is concluded that a rather wide range of chromospheric-field structures is consistent with present observational knowledge of the supergranulation.
Mature results from a phase II trial of postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy for poor prognosis cancer of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction.

Introduction: Mature results are presented from a phase II trial of postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with poor-prognosis cancer of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction after primary surgical resection. Methods: Resected patients with a pathologic stage of T3, N1, or M1a were eligible for this trial. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy was begun between 6 and 10 weeks after surgery and consisted of radiotherapy (1.8 Gy/d to a planned dose of 50.4-59.4 Gy), concurrent with two cycles of 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m 2 /d) and cisplatin (20 mg/m 2 /d), both given as 4-day continuous intravenous infusions during the first and fourth weeks of the radiation. Results: Between 1995 and 2006, 50 patients were enrolled. The median age was 59 (range, 33-76) years, and most patients were male (86%), Caucasian (96%), and had undergone a transthoracic esophagogastrectomy (74%) for what proved to be a node positive (86%) adenocarcinoma (86%). Postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy was accompanied by neutropenia requiring hospitalization for fever in only four patients (8%) and no toxic deaths. With a median follow-up of 47 (range, 36-124) months, the Kaplan-Meier 4-year projected overall survival is 51%, freedom from recurrence 50%, distant metastatic control 56%, and locoregional control 86%. An earlier pathologic stage was the only predictor for a better outcome. Conclusions: This schedule of postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy has acceptable toxicity for patients with poor-prognosis esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer after surgery. Outcomes are better than historical results after surgery alone and justify further investigation of this approach.
The Association Between Consumer Debt and the Likelihood of Divorce

As part of the Center for Financial Security’s 2010 symposium, this study examined the association between consumer debt and divorce. Longitudinal data from the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 4,574 couples) indicated that consumer debt was positively associated with divorce. Financial conflict completely mediated this association for both husbands and wives and marital satisfaction also completely mediated the association for wives. These findings suggest that when families take financial steps to secure their financial stability they may also be taking steps to secure their relationship stability.
Applications of the Fredholm theory in Hilbert space to infinite systems of renewal type integral equations

Abstract In this article an infinite system of renewal-type integral equations that arise in age-dependent branching with arbitrary state space is studied, using a modern version of the Fredholm theory in Hilbert space. The results of this article are preparatory to the study of the limiting behavior of solutions to infinite systems of renewal-type integral equations. A detailed outline of the article's contents is given in Section 1.
Consumer perceptions of extended warranties and service providers

Purpose – This paper aims to assess consumer perceptions of extended warranties that are marketed by the manufacturer for an independent service provider as applied to the purchase of a computer by mail catalog, telephone ordering, or the internet.Design/methodology/approach – A descriptive survey of a large sample of consumers in the USA was conducted using data collection by the internet. Measurement was responses to eight Likert scales of agreement and two demographic items.Findings – Significant differences between perceptions of females and males were observed. Overall, there was no relationship between perceptions and age, although there were significant differences for some scale items. There were no interaction effects of gender and age. A major finding is that although service is provided by an independent service company, consumers believe it to be provided by the manufacturer.Originality/value – This is the first known examination of the specific research questions underlying the study.
The lactose repressor system: paradigms for regulation, allosteric behavior and protein folding

In 1961, Jacob and Monod proposed the operon model for gene regulation based on metabolism of lactose in Escherichia coli [1]. This proposal was followed by an explication of allosteric behavior by Monod and colleagues [2]. The operon model rationally depicted how genetic mechanisms can control metabolic events in response to environmental stimuli via coordinated transcription of a set of genes with related function (e.g. metabolism of lactose). The allosteric response found in the lactose repressor and many other proteins has been extended to a variety of cellular signaling pathways in all organisms. These two models have shaped our view of modern molecular biology and captivated the attention of a surprisingly broad range of scientists. More recently, the lactose repressor monomer was used as a model system for experimental and theoretical explorations of protein folding mechanisms. Thus, the lac system continues to advance our molecular understanding of genetic control and the relationship between sequence, structure and function.
Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer

A technique is described that has made it possible to build a multichannel analyzer with the final resolution determined by a set of identical filters rather than a series of different filters.
El pícaro en la narrativa y en el teatro: Lazarillo de Tormes como subtexto de Los intereses creados

Al comienzo de Los intereses creados de Jacinto Benavente el personaje de Crispin, que ya ha declarado que es ‘del libre reino de Picardia’,1 afirma que su interes es ‘llegar a buen puerto […] rema...
Ventilatory response to square-wave forcing of carbon dioxide at the carotid bodies.

Abstract A prompt and sustained ventilatory output, greater than could be accounted for by the elevation of mean arterial carbon dioxide tension, occurred in response to a square-wave fluctuation of CO2 at the carotid bodies of dogs. Step perfusions with mean increments of 6.9 and 14.7 mm Hg Pco over control were associated with ventilation ratios of only 1.13 and 1.27, respectively. In contrast, during repeated square-wave perfusions, mean VR was 1.24 for a mean increment in Pco2 of only 4.9 mm Hg. The mean Pco2, of the square-wave perfusions was significantly lower than those of both step perfusions, and the mean VR of the square-wave perfusions was significantly higher than that of the lowest group of step perfusions. There was no evidence of adaptation of ventilation during the repeated square-wave perfusions. These findings support the concept that the pattern of application of a Co2 stimulus may provide an additional component to the chemical stimulus to respiration.
Finding a nursing role in the prevention of eye injuries in the construction trades

Abstract Construction workers have mostly preventable eye injuries. This pilot study investigated a convenience sample of 75 (72 men, 3 women) apprentice operating engineers. Most (S2%) of the apprentices had been injured twice on the job. Injury was associated with age and longevity in the construction industry. There were no significant differences in health perceptions as measured by the Health Self-determinism Index when the safety glasses wearers were compared with nonwearers of safety glasses (t[S2] = -.94, P > .0S) and the injured group was compared with the noninjured group (t(62) = -.38, P > .0S). Literacy issues, recall, and underreporting of injuries may have affected the results. Nurses need to teach health promotion strategies to operating engineers.
Soil disturbance and hydrologic response at the National Training Center, Ft. Irwin, California

Abstract Military training exercises at the National Training Center (NTC), Ft. Irwin, California have led to the degradation of large areas of the Mojave Desert. Soil physical properties in areas subjected to low and high disturbance at interspace and plant (Larrea tridentata) mound microsites were quantitatively compared to undisturbed surfaces of both well-developed soils formed on Pleistocene age alluvial deposits and weakly developed soils formed on Holocene age alluvial deposits. Results indicate that geomorphically young and old soils differ in hydraulic and pedogenic properties with and without anthropogenic disturbance. Multi-tension infiltrometers showed that young coarser textured surfaces had saturated conductivities (Ksat) that were nearly twice those of older surfaces. Mound microsites were more sand-rich than interspace locations although Ksat was not significantly different. After both low and high disturbance by tracket vehicles, bulk density was significantly increased from 1.54 to 1.62 and 1.80 g cm−3, respectively. Similarly, penetration resistance increased following low and high disturbance from 1.32 to 1.47 and 3.90 kg cm−2, respectively. Although low disturbance increased Ksat, high disturbance resulted in significant reductions in both Ksat (2.4 to 1.3 cm h−1 (p