cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving Visitors' Hand Hygiene Compliance in a Pediatric Oncology Unit.

BACKGROUND Hand Hygiene (HH) is the most important method to prevent spread of healthcare associated infections. Parents, family and visitors (PFV) are integral partners with the healthcare team for optimal patient outcomes. We aim at improving HH compliance by PFV upon entering a pediatric oncology inpatient unit. METHODS A performance improvement project implemented several interventions between July and November 2018 in Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles that included baseline data collection phase where a wall-mounted alcohol-based hand gel dispenser was available next to the unit entrance, Cycle1 (HH station and poster just facing the entrance as a visual cue), Cycle2 (visual cue + PFV symptom screen as verbal reminder of infections, without HH instructions), and Cycle3 (visual cue + verbal PFV symptom screen + HH verbal instructions). Pre-defined paper observation tool and scripts for symptom screening and HH, in English and Spanish, were used by patient care associates (PCA) who were positioned at the unit entrance reception desk between 07:00 and 23:00. Percent HH compliance was calculated for each cycle. Only observations with complete documentation were included in the analysis. A goal of 90% compliance by December 31, 2018 was set. The participating PCAs were surveyed regarding process feasibility and sustainability. RESULTS Of 1272 observed visitors, 76% were adults, 14% children, and 7% adolescents. Of 955 (75%) observations with complete documentation, 204 were baseline, 293 Cycle1, 330 Cycle2, but it decreased to 128 observations for Cycle3. The percent HH compliance increased from 5% at baseline, to 16% in Cycle1, 21% Cycle2, and 65% Cycle3. CONCLUSIONS A multimodal performance improvement project improved PFV HH compliance. Direct verbal instructions for HH?was the most effective, but less efficient as suggested by?the?decreased number of Cycle3 complete observations. The PCA survey results will help develop a plan for process sustainability.
Abstract 629: Coffee consumption and risk of colorectal cancer in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort

Coffee consumption is inconsistently associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, and further research on potential differences in associations by sex, colorectal subsite, smoking status, and caffeinated/decaffeinated coffee is needed. To investigate associations of coffee consumption with risk of CRC, we analyzed data from the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition prospective cohort study. This analysis included 46,970 men and 60,007 women without a history of cancer at baseline. Those who completed a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire in 1999 were followed through 2013, and 1,706 verified incident CRC cases were identified. Daily servings of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee were comparable between men and women. Of the total population, 4.6% were current smokers, 46.1% were never smokers, and 47.3% were former smokers (2% missing smoking status). Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association of coffee consumption with CRC risk, adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, alcohol intake, total energy, total calcium (energy-adjusted), red and processed meat, and decaffeinated coffee in caffeinated coffee models and vice versa. For those who consumed 2 or more cups per day relative to those who consumed none or less than 1 cup per month, caffeinated coffee was not associated with CRC risk (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.93-1.20), but decaffeinated coffee was associated with 15% lower risk of CRC (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73-0.99). Current smokers tend to consume more coffee in our study population and in other studies, and smoking is an established risk factor for some molecular sub-types of CRC; therefore, we repeated analyses stratified by smoking status (controlling for smoking duration for non-smokers and dose for current smokers). Among non-smokers (includes never and former smokers), the associations for coffee and CRC risk were similar to the overall results (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.90-1.18 for caffeinated coffee; HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.74-1.02 for decaffeinated coffee). Among current smokers, the adjusted HRs and 95% CIs were 1.60 (0.80-3.22) for caffeinated coffee and 0.45 (0.19-1.03) for decaffeinated coffee. There was no evidence of effect modification by sex or colorectal subsite. Our results suggest that decaffeinated coffee may be associated with lower risk of CRC, but do not suggest potential differences in risk between men and women or by colorectal subsites. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and to explore potential differences in caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. Citation Format: Caroline Y. Um, Marjorie L. McCullough, Mark A. Guinter, Peter T. Campbell, Eric J. Jacobs, Susan M. Gapstur. Coffee consumption and risk of colorectal cancer in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 629.
Evidence-based treatment of Tourette’s disorder and chronic tic disorders.

Introduction: Chronic Tic Disorders and Tourette's Disorder (collectively referred to as TD) are characterized by sudden, rapid, and repetitive motor movements or vocalizations called tics. Children, adolescents, and adults with TD often experience co-occurring psychiatric symptoms and impairments in multiple domains. As a result of tics and other symptoms, patients with TD can develop negative self-views, require considerable accommodations, and experience a poor quality of life. Therefore, the efficient and effective management of TD bears considerable importance. Areas covered: This expert review evaluated the empirical support for behavioral and pharmacological interventions based on the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Behavioral interventions evaluated include habit reversal training (HRT), comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics (CBIT), and exposure response prevention (ERP). Reviewed pharmacological interventions included alpha-2 agonists, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants. Expert opinion: This review identified several efficacious behavioral and pharmacological interventions for TD. However, several gaps in the management of TD include: (1) the access/availability of behavioral interventions, (2) novel and more efficacious treatment approaches, and (3) the development of more comprehensive interventions to manage TD. In order to advance the treatment of TD, additional research is necessary to efficiently, effectively, and comprehensively develop and evaluate new treatments for patients with TD.
ADN-to-BSN Articulation, Academic Progression, and Transition: A Proactive, Holistic Approach.

Background Although improvements have been made in articulation agreements, credit transfers, and concurrent enrollments, meeting the 80% BSN by 2020 goal falls short. Problem Nursing students at key transitional points (such as first- and last-semester students) are faced with numerous academic and career path challenges and opportunities simultaneously, often leaving them overwhelmed and in need of additional support and resources. Approach Guided by Jeffreys' Nursing Universal Retention and Success model, a proactive, holistic approach for facilitating articulation, academic progression, and transition is presented. Outcomes Implementation with fourth/last-semester associate degree nursing students and newly admitted RN-BSN students yielded positive student feedback and survey data. Conclusions Nurse educators can make a positive difference in students' transitional experiences, career path planning, and educational mobility via a coordinated, connected, proactive, holistic approach guided by an evidence-based theoretical framework.
AFST: Influence of quebracho tannin extract fed at differing rates within a high-roughage diet on the apparent digestibility of dry matter and fiber, nitrogen balance, and fecal gas flux

Abstract Sustainable ruminant production is an important element in meeting the high-quality protein requirements of an increasing global population. Gaseous byproducts from ruminant production such as methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) can reduce energy efficiency and be detrimental to the environment. Condensed tannins (CT) are interesting alternatives for improving animal and system-level efficiency due to their potential for improving nitrogen use efficiency and reducing enteric CH4. In this study, a Latin rectangle design using four periods and 8 English crossbred steers (435 ± 17 kg BW) were used to determine the effects of quebracho tannin (QT) extract. We evaluated how QT inclusion at 0, 15, 30, and 45 g/kg of dietary dry matter (DM) within a roughage-based diet affected metabolic parameters and fecal gas emissions. Using metabolism crates, total collection of excreta occurred over 4 d followed by an enumeration of fecal gas fluxes via static chambers. The 45 g/kg inclusion rate affected intake and increased fecal DM production (P ≤ 0.01). Addition of QT affected all digestion coefficients (P
Terrain Trapped Airflows and Precipitation Variability during an Atmospheric River Event

AbstractWe examine thermodynamic and kinematic structures of terrain trapped airflows (TTAs) during an atmospheric river (AR) event impacting Northern California 10–11 March 2016 using Alpha Jet At...
Valorization of food processing by-products via biofuel production

Abstract Food waste is a major global problem, and many technologies are under development to utilize these materials and recover their embodied energy and water resources. Food processing operations generate large volumes of liquid and solid phase wastes, or combinations thereof, and if those wastes are homogeneous and of consistent quality, they are often suitable for conversion into secondary food products or animal feed. Alternatively, mixed wastes or those of varying properties may be better valorized by conversion to biofuels that can then be utilized for thermal energy or electricity generation or as transportation fuel after further purification. This chapter provides a review of processes for valorizing food processing by-products by chemical, biochemical, and thermochemical processes, including anaerobic digestion, fermentation, gasification, and pyrolysis. These processes are also considered within the context of a biorefinery, whereby one or more organic feedstocks are converted into multiple value-added coproducts.
Abstract P2-05-07: Pan-cancer analysis of PARP inhibition reveals a suite of biomarkers that correlate with PARP1/2 activity in breast cancer

The development of multiple PARP inhibitors in BRCA mutant cancers has been one of the most successful implementations of molecularly targeted therapies in oncology. The recent approval of niraparib in BRCA WT Ovarian cancers demonstrates the potential for expansion of PARP inhibitors to other BRCA WT indications. The successful development of PARP inhibitors into new cancer indications will depend on using molecular biomarkers to identify tumors with a unique dependency on PARP1/2 activity. We screened a large (N=523), diverse panel of human cancer cell lines for response to three approved PARP inhibitors: olaparib, niraparib, and talazoparib. Despite differences in relative potency, there was a strong correlation between sensitive and resistant cell lines to all three compounds. In vitro experimentation revealed the inhibitors share a similar biologic mechanism of response, namely a global decrease in PARylation, as well as PARP-trapping at DNA nicks leading to G2 arrest and ultimately cell death. A suite of baseline genomic and proteomic characteristics were found to be strongly associated with response to PARP1/2 inhibition, and were largely consistent between different cancer types. Special attention was paid to BRCA1/2 variants, which represent the only approved patient selection biomarkers. Notably, neither mutations in BRCA1 nor BRCA2 were found to be associated with response to PARP1/2 inhibition in our panel, even when restricting to those with confirmed deleterious ClinVar scores. The molecular predictors of response identified in our screen may ultimately be used to develop diagnostic tools for enrollment into biomarker-enriched clinical trials to expand the use of this promising class of drug into areas of high unmet need. Triple-negative breast cancer represents one of the most intriguing spaces for development. The clinical failures in this space may be partially explained by the lack of empirical predictive biomarkers in the trial design. Our diagnostics may finally allow for the efficacious deployment of PARP inhibitors to triple-negative breast cancer. In particular we have identified a panel of biomarkers that can predict for sensitivity to PARP inhibitors in breast cancer that could be used as patient selection criteria for the expanded clinical development of these compounds into PARP-naive patient populations with high unmet need. Citation Format: Martina SJ McDermott, Dylan F Conklin, Neil A O9Brien, Kevin Chau, Dennis J Slamon. Pan-cancer analysis of PARP inhibition reveals a suite of biomarkers that correlate with PARP1/2 activity in breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-05-07.
Introducing a Dataset of Multi-Scale Geographies of ISIS Ideology from ISIS Sources

This research proposes a methodology for extracting and analyzing geographical perspectives of terrorists and insurgents from online textual media. The information age has afforded organizations pl...
Designing Technology Entrepreneurship Education Using Computational Thinking.

While Computational thinking (CT) has been adopted in various educational settings, it has not been fully utilized in entrepreneurship education. In particular, technology entrepreneurship education involves project-based learning for creating business value. To help students improve learning outcomes, we propose a new framework of entrepreneurship education that combines business model development and CT. We applied this framework to a capstone course for social innovation, in which undergraduate students were asked to define a social problem, develop a solution, and finally implement the appropriate products and services using Arduino, Raspberry Pi, sensors, and actuators. To evaluate the students’ learning outcomes, we conducted a survey and an interview after the course had finished. The results demonstrate that the students acquired various skills, including technical and implementation skills, and that their awareness of the broad applicability of computing increased. It was also determined that students’ self-efficacy in terms of their software development abilities increased as a result of the course. We discuss the benefits of the various strategies used in the design and implementation of the course and issues that need to be discussed further. Finally, we provide guidelines for designing and implementing CT-based project courses.
Deposit geometry and oxygen concentration spatial variations due to composition change in printed functionally graded components

Abstract Functionally graded materials (FGMs) with site specific chemical composition are commonly manufactured by directed energy deposition (DED). Although previous work fabricated an FGM with a compositional variation between a ferritic and austenitic alloy, difficulties arose due to variations in deposit shape with composition change. This problem also occurs for FGMs in literature; however, unlike other cases, the thermophysical properties of these two alloys were similar throughout the build. Here, we investigate the role of chemical composition and surface-active elements on deposit geometry during the manufacture of FGMs by laser DED. Single-track experiments for the relevant FGM compositions are analyzed with results from a well-tested, three-dimensional, transient numerical heat transfer and fluid flow model and thermodynamic calculations. Experiments showed deposit shape varied as a function of composition for constant laser power and scan speed. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the oxygen solubility in the fusion zone varied significantly for each composition used for the FGM. Numerical modeling revealed that the change in fluid flow caused by Marangoni convection due to dissolved oxygen in the fusion zone were mainly responsible for the changes in deposit shape observed in experiments. Because oxygen can be introduced into the fusion zone through the feedstock as well as the surrounding atmosphere, these findings elucidate a previously unconsidered aspect of process control during DED fabrication of FGMs.
Matroids and the Minimum Rank Problem for Matrix Patterns

Suppose the only thing we know about a matrix is which of its entries are zero. What can we say about its rank? We develop a framework for applying matroid theory to this question. One consequence ...
A Discussion of Three Major Paradigms in the Earth and Planetary Sciences

In this chapter I am relating three major concepts (paradigms), to the operation of our very habitable planet. The continental drift/plate tectonics paradigm is obvious to geo-students and informed citizens today but the concept had a difficult time getting accepted. The time frame for maturation was about 1912 for conception of the idea to about 1968 for general acceptance. The Milankovitch model for climate oscillations on planet Earth had a similar acceptance experience. The time frame for this major concept was about 1910 for initiation with general acceptance occurring about 1976. Thus, it appears that acceptance of major new ideas in the Earth and Planetary Sciences takes about 50–60 years. It is interesting to note that Milankovitch did many calculations on climate variation for planet Mars as well as for Earth.
Microstructure and Creep Performance of a Multicomponent Co-Based L1 2 -Ordered Intermetallic Alloy

The chemistry, thermodynamics and mechanical properties of the L12-ordered Co3(Al,W) γ'-phase are crucial for understanding γ(f.c.c.)/γ'(L12) cobalt-based superalloys. A single-phase γ'(L12) alloy with the composition Co-30Ni-11Al-5.5W-4Ti-2.5Ta-0.10B (at.%) and a γ'-solvus temperature of 1268°C was recently identified using a Calphad-methodology. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy reveals that the single-phase microstructure is stable at 900 and 1000 °C for 1000 h and at 1100 °C for 168 h, without other phases being observed, resulting in similar levels of microhardness for all annealing temperatures. Atom-probe tomography confirms the presence of a single-phase γ'(L12)-microstructure with a composition of (Co,Ni)3(Al,W,Ti,Ta,B). Grain boundaries exhibit depletion of Co, Ni, W and Ta and enrichment of Al and B. A remarkable yield stress anomaly is observed, with the yield strength increasing from ~300 to ~700 MPa from room temperature to 800°C, which is stronger than Co3(Al,W)(L12) and Ni3Al(L12). The creep tests at 850 and 950 °C display power-law behavior with a stress exponent of n = 3.7 and an activation energy for L26 of Qn = 497 kJ/mol, similar to that of single-phase Ni3Al(L12) compound (Qn = 406-421 kJ/mol).
Altering and eliminating irreversible shear thickening of fumed silica slurries using spherical silica

Shear thickening behavior in colloidal dispersions occurs at a wide range of shear rates and concentrations. Using a small gap, parallel plate rheology allows access to shear rates up to 200,000 s−1. Fumed silica suspensions exhibited irreversible shear thickening at critical shear rates above 10,000 s−1, which depended strongly on silica concentration. Introducing 10 nm and 110 nm spherical silica particles to 180 nm fumed silica solutions resulted in increasing the critical thickening shear rate along with reducing the magnitude of thickening. The introduction of sufficient spherical particles to the fumed silica solutions via particle addition at 2 wt% or particle replacement at 7 wt% resulted in no shear thickening or formation of agglomerates. Although shear thickening was tuned by varying the concentration and particle size of spherical silica; hysteresis, i.e., the irreversibility of thickening, remained. In addition, rheo-small-angle light scattering measured the formation of agglomerates greater than 1 μm after shear thickening.
Redox responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae.

The green peach aphid (Myzus persicae) is a phloem-feeding insect that causes economic damage on a wide array of crops. Using a luminol-based assay, a superoxide-responsive reporter gene (Zat12::luciferase), and a probe specific to hydrogen peroxide (HyPer), we demonstrated that this aphid induces accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Similar to the apoplastic oxidative burst induced by pathogens, this response to aphids was rapid and transient, with two peaks occurring within 1 and 4 hr after infestation. Aphid infestation also induced an oxidative response in the cytosol and peroxisomes, as measured using a redox-sensitive variant of green fluorescent protein (roGFP2). This intracellular response began within minutes of infestation but persisted 20 hr or more after inoculation, and the response of the peroxisomes appeared stronger than the response in the cytosol. Our results suggest that the oxidative response to aphids involves both apoplastic and intracellular sources of ROS, including ROS generation in the peroxisomes, and these different sources of ROS may potentially differ in their impacts on host suitability for aphids.
Convergence of cytokine dysregulation and antibody deficiency in common variable immunodeficiency with inflammatory complications

Background Noninfectious complications are the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), but their pathogenesis remains poorly defined. Objective Using high-throughput approaches, we aimed to identify, correlate, and determine the significance of immunologic features of CVID with noninfectious complications (CVIDc). Methods We simultaneously applied proteomics, RNA sequencing, and mass cytometry to a large cohort with primary antibody deficiency. Results CVIDc is differentiated from uncomplicated CVID, other forms of primary antibody deficiency, and healthy controls by a distinct plasma proteomic profile. In addition to confirming previously reported elevations of 4-1BB, IL-6, IL-18, and IFN-γ, we found elevations of colony-stimulating factor 1, IL-12p40, IL-18R, oncostatin M, TNF, and vascular endothelial growth factor A to differentiate CVIDc. This cytokine dysregulation correlated with deficiency of LPS-specific antibodies and increased soluble CD14, suggesting microbial translocation. Indicating potential significance of reduced LPS-specific antibodies and resultant microbial-induced inflammation, CVIDc had altered LPS-induced gene expression matching plasma proteomics and corresponding with increased CD14+CD16− monocytes, memory T cells, and tissue inflammation ameliorated by T-cell–targeted therapy. Unsupervised machine learning accurately differentiated subjects with CVIDc and supported cytokine dysregulation, antibody deficit, and T-cell activation as defining and convergent features. Conclusions Our data expand understanding of CVIDc proteomics, establish its link with deficiency of IgA and LPS-specific antibodies, and implicate altered LPS-induced gene expression and elevated monocytes and T cells in this cytokine dysregulation. This work indicates that CVIDc results when insufficient antibody neutralization of pathogen-associated molecular patterns, like LPS, occurs in those with a heightened response to these inflammatory mediators, suggesting a 2-hit model of pathogenesis requiring further exploration.
Retinoic Acid-Related Orphan Receptor (ROR) Inverse Agonists: Potential Therapeutic Strategies for Multiple Inflammatory Diseases?

Retinoic acid-related orphan receptors (RORs) function as ligand-dependent transcription factors. Several (oxy)sterols have been identified that activate or repress ROR transcriptional activity by functioning as either ROR agonists or inverse agonists. RORs are involved in the control of many biological processes, including the regulation of differentiation and function of neural, immune, and metabolic tissues, bone, and heart. Many of the processes and functions regulated by RORs play a critical role in various pathologies, including autoimmune and other inflammatory diseases, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, neurological and psychiatric disorders, and cardiac injury. Together, these studies raised the possibility that modulation of ROR activity by synthetic ligands might be a useful approach to intervene in these diseases. This led to the identification of many synthetic ROR (inverse) agonists that repress or induce ROR transcriptional activity. Most studies have been focusing on RORγt inverse agonists that repress the generation of interleukin 17 (IL-17)-producing immune cells and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-17, which play a critical role in various inflammatory diseases. Treatment of autoimmune disease in several experimental rodent models with RORγ inverse agonists was shown to reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and ameliorate the disease. Thus, ROR (inverse) agonists may potentially provide new therapeutic strategies to treat various pathologies.
Overregullation and Other Problems of Nuclear Power

As the world awaits the discussions and agreements at Kyoto, one fact stands out - that of all the alternate fuels nuclear power is alone in producing no appreciable particulate air pollution, not contributing global warming and, with a breeder reactor being able to produce power for 100,000 years at modest cost. The present problem is that the cost has risen considerably in the last 25 years and begins to approach the costs of some of the solar energy alternatives.
The influence of histamine upon the circulating leukocyte level in patients with the leukemias.

Forty patients with various types of the leukemias received infusions of 0.2 to 0.�) milligrams of histamine (as base) intravenously, at a constant rate, over a period of 3() to 60 seconds. Two patients were studied twice and a thir(l patient ��:is studied on three ocelisions. The major changes in the leukocyte number at 60 seconds and after 2 minutes in the arterial samples were selected for tabulation and comparison is’ith the data ol)taille(l iii nonleukemic patients.
/spl Lscr//sub /spl infin//-optimal control of SISO continuous time systems and its rational approximations

After a brief introduction to /spl Lscr//sub /spl infin//-optimal control the paper is organized as follows: In Section 2 the authors introduce some mathematical preliminaries. In Section 3 the authors formulate their optimisation problem. In Section 4 they analyze the problem, obtain exact solutions to two classes of systems and discuss briefly approximation methods. In Section 5 the authors present and study in detail one of the approximation methods,-the EAS method. Finally the authors indicate how to select weights to get stability, zero steady state error as well as desired time responses. >
Analytic Fits to Separable Volumes and Probabilities for Qubit-Qubit and Qubit-Qutrit Systems

We investigate the possibility of deriving analytical formulas for the 15-dimensional separable volumes, in terms of any of a number of metrics of interest (Hilbert-Schmidt [HS], Bures,...), of the two-qubit (four-level) systems. This would appear to require 15-fold symbolic integrations over a complicated convex body (defined by both separability and feasibility constraints). The associated 15-dimensional integrands -- in terms of the Tilma-Byrd-Sudarshan Euler-angle-based parameterization of the 4 x 4 density matrices \rho (math-ph/0202002) -- would be the products of 12-dimensional Haar measure \mu_{Haar} (common to each metric) and 3-dimensional measures \mu_{metric} (specific to each metric) over the 3d-simplex formed by the four eigenvalues of \rho. We attempt here to estimate/determine the 3-dimensional integrands (the products of the various [known] \mu_{metric}'s and an unknown symmetric weighting function W) remaining after the (putative) 12-fold integration of \mu_{Haar} over the twelve Euler angles. We do this by fitting W so that the conjectured HS separable volumes and hyperareas (quant-ph/0410238; cf. quant-ph/0609006) are reproduced. We further evaluate a number of possible choices of W by seeing how well they also yield the conjectured separable volumes for the Bures, Kubo-Mori, Wigner-Yanase and (arithmetic) average monotone metrics and the conjectured separable Bures hyperarea (quant-ph/0308037,Table VI). We, in fact, find two such exact (rather similar) choices that give these five conjectured (non-HS) values all within 5%. In addition to the above-mentioned Euler angle parameterization of \rho, we make extensive use of the Bloore parameterization (J. Phys. A 9 [1976], 2059) in a companion set of two-qubit separability analyses.
Late urinary system complications following radical hysterectomy for carcinoma of the cervix.

Abstract Urinary system complications which are incompatible with life are common complications of untreated carcinoma of the cervix as recently emphasized by necropsy studies of Henriksen. 1 This study 1 and others 2, 3, 12 have pointed out the urological complications and the importance of urological follow-up studies in those patients with carcinoma of the cervix treated by irradiation therapy. With the revival of the surgical approach to the problem of cervical malignancy, urinary system complications remain one of the hazards of treatment with resultant urinary fistulas and their sequelae as reported by Meigs 4 and Thomas and associates. 5 This study is a report of late urological complications in a small group of patients with carcinoma of the cervix treated by radical operation. It is the purpose of this study to present the various types of postoperative urinary system complications as seen in our clinic.
Treatment of vulvar dystrophies with topical testosterone propionate.

Abstract Fifteen patients with vulvar dystrophy, classified histologically as lichen sclerosus et atrophicus or hyperplasia, were treated with a testosterone propionate ointment applied directly to the vulva. Evaluation of the data was based on pre- and post-treatment biopsies, observation of gross changes in the vulva, and a quantitative judgment of symptom relief by both observer and patient. All 15 of the patients had symptomatic relief and some improvement in the gross appearance of the vulva. Twelve of the 13 patients who had posttreatment biopsies showed histologic change toward a more normal epithelium. Plasma androgen and 17-ketosteroid excretion levels remained within normal limits during treatment in the 5 patients upon whom each of the determinations were made. Side effects were minimal and limited to mild to moderate clitoral hypertrophy in 2 patients and an increased libido in 4 patients.
Correlates and Accompaniments of Promiscuous Sex among Male Homosexuals

Until the past decade or thereabouts the psychoanalytic perspective has dominated writings on homosexuality. This almost inevitably entailed a concentration on the search for its etiological origins (Weinberg and Williams, 1974, pp. 3--4). As a consequence, the issue of the nature of the various styles of homosexual expression has been relatively neglected. An exploration of the "disconcerting variability" (Tripp, 1975, p. 133) of homosexual lifestyles is an extremely recent topic among researchers. Too often in the past homosexuality has been conceived of as a uniform entity: its contrasts with heterosexuality were exaggerated and similarities within homosexuality were overemphasized. Variation in modes of homosexual expression cries out for empirical attention (Bell and Weinberg, 1978, pp. 21--25). It is our intention in this paper to undertake an empirical exploration of some accompaniments of one dimension of homosexual behavior--having sexual experiences with a large number of partners. Far from asserting that this is characteristic of many or most homosexual men, we seek to differentiate them and understand to what extent the lives of men at the upper end of this continuum are intertwined with other, typically negatively regarded aspects of sexual life.
Modeling on-chip interconnect lines in RF circuits using "biointelligence"

Fully automated simulators have been quite successful at modeling on-chip interconnect in digital circuits. RF circuits, however, lend an extra set of challenges that make full automation difficult and often impractical. The need for accurate coupled inductance and substrate modeling are two of the difficulties. Furthermore, a more detailed knowledge of the circuit (such as which lines compose a differential pair) is often required. Rather than extraction from a nearly finished layout, the problem definition, in this work, starts and ends with the user. Lower level functionality is then provided to minimize the tedium, to make experimentation of the layout easier, and to help the user best understand the effect of each line and each parasitic on the circuit. As important, an equivalent compact model is provided without excessive generation time and without severely increasing the circuit simulation time.
Comparison study of nonlinear controllers for a single generator-infinite bus power system

This article compares the performance of six output feedback control schemes used as power system stabilizers. The power system provides a good testbed for a comparison of modern control techniques since the power system has many nonlinearities and can be subjected to many perturbations. In addition, the power system model (even for a single generator-infinite bus system) can be of a size large enough to allow for nontrivial control design. The control schemes used in this article are fuzzy control, sliding mode control, model reference adaptive control, two Lyapunov-based robust control methods (one linear, the other nonlinear) and a standard linear PSS. Every effort was made to tune the controllers for similar nominal behavior. This was done so the controllers' ability to handle perturbations could be examined objectively. It is found in this article that the fuzzy and linear robust controllers had the best overall behavior with the least amount of control effort.
Comparison methods for a class of function valued stochastic partial differential equations

A comparison theorem is derived for a class of function valued stochastic partial differential equations (SPDE's) with Lipschitz coefficients driven by cylindrical and regular Hilbert space valued Brownian motions. Moreover, we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for the positivity of the mild solutions of the SPDE's where the sufficiency follows from the comparison theorem. Thereby it is, e.g., possible to identify a class of SPDE's, which can serve as stochastic space-time models for the density of particles. As a consequence we can construct unique mild solutions of SPDE's on the cone of positive functions with non-Lipschitz drift parts including the case of arbitrary polynomialsR(x) withR(O)≧O and leading negative coefficient.
Explanation Exploration: Exploring Emergent Behavior

Understanding emergent behavior(s) exhibited in simulations poses an interesting challenge. Emergence can represent a valid behavior arising from seemingly unrelated phenomena, or it can reflect an error in a model or its implementation. We propose a new method for gathering insight into emergent behavior in simulations using the model adaptation technique, COERCE. COERCE allows a user to efficiently adapt a model to meet new requirements and can be employed to explore emergent behavior exhibited in a simulation. A subject matter expert (SME) can coerce a simulation to gather insight into characteristics of the emergent behavior as the simulated phenomenon is driven toward conditions of interest.
1437 POST-EXTUBATION ATELECTASIS |[ndash]| THE ROLE OF NASAL VERSUS ORAL ENDOTRACHEAL INTUBATION

To determine whether a particular type of endotracheal (ET) tube plays a role in post-extubation atelectasis, 86 consecutive admissions to the IICU of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia were prospectively studied. All required >48 hrs. intubation. The infants were admitted for the following conditions: 70(81.4%)-respiratory distress syndrome; 5(5.8%)-apnea; 4(4.6%)-birth asphyxia; 3(3.5%)-persistent pulmonary hypertension; 3 (3.5%)-sepsis; 1(1.2%)-congenital anomalies (non-respiratory). Infants were assigned randomly to either an oral (OT) or nasal (NT) endotracheal tube for their entire hospitalization. Mean birthweights were: OT 1895±112 SEM gms.; NT 1903±143 SEM gms. (NS). Mean gestational ages were: OT 32.1±.6 SEM wks.; NT 32.9±.5 SEM wks. (NS). Fifteen of 43 (34.9%) of infants in the NT group developed post-extubation segmental or lobar atelectasis, whereas 5/43 (11.6%) of infants in the OT group had post-extubation atelectasis (p<.025). Eleven of the NT babies (25.6%) and five (11.6%) of the OT babies required reintubation (NS). This study suggests that nasal ET tubes result in a significantly increased incidence of post-extubation atelectasis in the neonate as compared to oral ET tubes. Since the human newborn is an obligate nose breather, nasal intubation for greater than 48 hrs may lead to significant edema and increased upper airway resistance after extubation. Oral ET tubes, especially for the premature baby with RDS, may therefore be the preferred route of intubation.
Examining perceptual and conceptual set biases in multiple-target visual search

Visual search is a common practice conducted countless times every day, and one important aspect of visual search is that multiple targets can appear in a single search array. For example, an X-ray image of airport luggage could contain both a water bottle and a gun. Searchers are more likely to miss additional targets after locating a first target in multiple-target searches, which presents a potential problem: If airport security officers were to find a water bottle, would they then be more likely to miss a gun? One hypothetical cause of multiple-target search errors is that searchers become biased to detect additional targets that are similar to a found target, and therefore become less likely to find additional targets that are dissimilar to the first target. This particular hypothesis has received theoretical, but little empirical, support. In the present study, we tested the bounds of this idea by utilizing “big data” obtained from the mobile application Airport Scanner. Multiple-target search errors were substantially reduced when the two targets were identical, suggesting that the first-found target did indeed create biases during subsequent search. Further analyses delineated the nature of the biases, revealing both a perceptual set bias (i.e., a bias to find additional targets with features similar to those of the first-found target) and a conceptual set bias (i.e., a bias to find additional targets with a conceptual relationship to the first-found target). These biases are discussed in terms of the implications for visual-search theories and applications for professional visual searchers.
Studies on the metabolism of virus-infected tissues. III. The effect of influenza virus on ribonucleic acid fractions of chick chorio-allantoic membranes

Abstract Chromatography on cellulose ion-exchange columns of ribonucleic acid of (RNA) extracted by phenol from isolated chick chorio-allantoic membranes yielded a number of RNA fractions which exhibited differential rates of incorporation of glycine-1-C 14 and adenine-8-C 14 . Propagation of influenza A virus in this tissue was associated with an alteration both in the metabolic behavior and Chromatographic behavior of the RNA fractions isolated. The base composition of certain of the RNA fractions were considerably altered in the virus-infected tissue.
Effect of Group Delay Variation on Time Tracking for Frequency Hopped Satellite Systems

Group delay variation introduced by phase non-linearity in radio frequency (RF) components causes an unexpected type of distortion in tracking signals used with systems transmitting frequency-hopped signals. This paper will describe this type of distortion and present and analyze data collected from simulations and from a satellite system test bed.
Nocturnal awakenings and difficulty resuming sleep: their burden in the European general population.

Abstract Objectives To (1) define the prevalence and importance of nocturnal awakenings (NA) in the general population, and (2) investigate its associations with daytime impairment, physical diseases, and psychiatric disorders. Methods This is a cross-sectional telephone study conducted in the general population of France, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain. A representative sample consisting of 22,740 non-institutionalized individuals aged 15 or over was interviewed regarding sleeping habits, health, sleep and mental disorders. Nocturnal awakenings were evaluated according to their frequency per week and per night and their duration. Results At the time of the interview, 31.2% (95% confidence interval: 30.6–31.8%) of the sample reported waking up at least 3 nights per week and 7.7% (7.4% to 8.0%) of the sample had difficulty resuming sleep (DRS) after they woke up. Duration of the symptom was longer than one year in 78.8% of the cases. DRS had greater impacts on daytime functioning than any other kind of NA or other insomnia symptoms with odds ratios five to seven times higher than individuals waking up once or twice within the same night. Individuals with painful physical condition or with a psychiatric disorder were more than four times more likely to have DRS. Other significant factors associated with NA were hypertension, cardio-vascular disease, upper airway disease, diabetes, and heavy caffeine consumption. Conclusions Nocturnal awakenings are highly prevalent in the general population and strongly associated with various physical diseases and psychiatric disorders. There is also a dose response effect in the associations: odds ratios increased with the number of awakenings during the same night and the difficulty resuming sleep once awakened. The study shows that nocturnal awakenings are complex and should be assessed systematically.
Traveling Libraries: The Arabic Manuscripts of Muley Zidan and the Escorial Library

In 1612, a Spanish fleet captured a French ship whose stolen cargo included the entire manuscript collection of the Sultan of Morocco, Muley Zidan. Soon, the collection made its way to the royal library, El Escorial, transforming the library into an important repository of Arabic books, which, since then, Arabists from across Europe sought to visit. By focusing on the social life of the collection, from the moment of its capture up through the process of its incorporation into the Escorial, this article examines three related issues: the first regards the social trajectories of books and the elasticity of their meaning and function, which radically altered in nature. The second part of the article examines the circulation of the Moroccan manuscripts in relation to a complex economy of restrictions over the reading and possession of Arabic manuscripts in early modern Spain. Finally, the third part focuses on the political and legal debates that ensued the library’s capture, when the collection became the locus of international negotiations between Spain, Morocco, France and the Dutch United Provinces over Maritime law, captives, and banned knowledge. By placing and analyzing the journey of Zidan’s manuscripts within the context of Mediterranean history, the paper explains (1) why Spain established one of the largest collections of Arabic manuscripts exactly when it was cleansing its territories of Moriscos (Spanish forcibly converted Muslims), and (2) why the Moroccan collection was kept behind locked doors at the Escorial.
High-Altitude Cosmic-Ray Neutron Density at the Geomagnetic Pole

Two successful balloon flights were launched near the geomagnetic North Pole, bearing low-energy cosmic-ray neutron detectors. The neutron maximum was found to occur at 75\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5 mb. A value of 161 mb was found for the mean absorption depth, $L$.
Evidence for the Existence of a Potassium Rhenium Hydride and its Bearing on the Nature of the (−1)-Oxidation State of Rhenium

THIS is a preliminary report of some observations we have made on the product of the reduction of potassium perrhenate with potassium metal in ethylenediamine–water solution. According to Bravo, Griswold and Kleinberg1, and also Floss and Grosse2, rhenium is reduced to the (−1)-oxidation state in this reaction, and the solid rhenide KRe.4H2O may be isolated from the products.
Use of 1,2,4-Dithiazolidine-3,5-Dione (DtsNH) and 3-Ethoxy-1,2,4-Dithiazoline-5-One (EDITH) for Synthesis of Phosphorothioate-Containing Oligodeoxyribonucleotides

Previous methods for the preparation of phosphorothioate-containing oligodeoxyribonucleotides rely on the reaction of phosphite triesters with sulfurizing reagents such as tetraethylthiuram disulfide (TETD) and 3H-1,2-benzodithiol-3-one 1,1-dioxide (Beaucage reagent). However, these and other sulfurizing reagents suffer from several disadvantages, and there is great impetus for the development of improved methods for sulfur transfer that are fully compatible with standard automated DNA synthesis. The present report describes the use of 1,2,4-dithiazolidine-3,5-dione (DtsNH) and 3-ethoxy-1,2,4-dithiazoline-5-one (EDITH) as effective sulfurizing reagents that meet these needs. Both reagents are easily prepared, and are stable upon prolonged room temperature storage in acetonitrile solution. The reagents are used at low concentrations (0.05 M) and for short reaction times (30 s). The methodology has been proven for the automated synthesis on 0.2-1.0 micromol scales of oligodeoxyribonucleotides, of length 6-20 bases, containing the phosphorothioate substitution at either a single site or at all positions.
Add-on Pricing by Asymmetric Firms

This paper uses an analytical model to examine the consequences of add-on pricing when firms are both horizontally and vertically differentiated and there is a segment of boundedly rational consumers who are unaware of the add-on fees at the time of initial purchase. We find that consumers who know the add-on fees can be penalized---and increasingly so---by the existence of boundedly rational consumers. Our consideration of quality asymmetries on base goods and add-ons, plus the inclusion of boundedly rational consumers, leads to several novel findings regarding firm profits. When quality asymmetry is on base goods only and with boundedly rational consumers, add-on pricing can diminish profit for a qualitatively superior firm and increase profit for an inferior firm i.e., a lose--win result, compared to when add-on pricing is prohibited or infeasible. When quality asymmetries exist on both base goods and add-ons and without boundedly rational consumers, the opposite win--lose result prevails. When quality asymmetries exist on both base goods and add-ons and with boundedly rational consumers, the result can be win--win, win--lose, or lose--win, depending on the magnitude of quality differentiation on add-ons. This paper was accepted by J. Miguel Villas-Boas, marketing.