cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Waist Trainers on Breathing

Background: Having and sustaining a perfect body is a goal that many people are trying to reach. This is further influenced due to increasing interest in social media. Among these products is a popular trend that has spread rapidly: corset-like belts, or waist trainers. These belts are designed to slim the waist, while providing the illusion of an hourglass silhouette. Because of where the belt sits in relation to the diaphragm, the purpose of this research is to discover what kind of effect it has on breathing. Methods: A pre-test survey was administered to collect non-specific information and to analyze beliefs towards waist trainers and social media. The participants were then instructed to perform a series of breathing techniques while wearing the waist trainer and without it. The three pulmonary function maneuvers selected for this research were the forced vital capacity (FVC) slow vital capacity (SVC) and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) tests. Afterwards, a second survey was administered to analyze subjects9 subjective responses to the bedside pulmonary function test. Permission was granted by University9s Institutional Review Board to proceed with this research prior to data collection. Results: A total of ten women participated in the research. Results of the FVC and SVC tests showed little to no change in lung function while wearing the waist trainer (3.222/3.138 L/s; 3.681/3.441 L/s, respectively). Of the three maneuvers performed for this research, the MVV is the most adjacent maneuver in comparison to exerting force, or exercise. Clinically, MVV results are decreased in patients with pulmonary impairments, likewise with the FVC and SVC. The predicted average of the participants was 113 L/s. The average MVV result quantified without the waist trainer was 77.3 L/s. Significantly, the average MVV with the waist trainer was 68.8 L/s. Juxtaposed with SVC and FVC, the MVV results showed the greatest variation between performance with the waist trainer and without it. MVV results showed the most significant difference (77.3/68.8 L/s). Conclusions: Important findings may be drawn from these results, such as pulmonary impairments, the degree of impairment, and impairment progression. When asked about the MVV, most of the subjects stated that performing the MVV (with and without the waist trainer) was difficult. Moreover, the participants exhibited signs of shortness of breath, sweating, and more pain while wearing the waist trainer.
On the Trade-Off Between Communication and Execution Overhead for Control of Multi-Agent Systems

For multi-agent systems, it is common to encode the task as an optimization problem with two distinctly different solution methodologies - one is to directly apply control inputs as optimization updates, the other is to solve the optimization problem through communications before applying actual control inputs. This reveals an important trade-off between communication and execution overhead for control of multiagent systems. To formally study this trade-off, we restrict our consideration to a class of commonly studied multi-agent problems where the objective function is the sum of a set of edge potential functions. The gradient descent algorithm and Newton's method are viewed as the proxy for the pure execution and the pure communication strategy, respectively. We propose an algorithm based on truncated Newton's method that provides tunable levels of trade-off between communication and execution efforts. Theoretical results on the convergence rate of the purposed algorithm are studied for the consensus problem under different trade-off strategies. The performance of the proposed algorithm is validated through simulation.
Tracking a dysregulated gut-brain axis with biomarkers of the microbiome

Abstract Biological markers that track the physiological mechanisms underlying psychiatric disorders are desperately needed. Microbes that colonize mucosal surfaces, collectively known as the microbiome, and the array of genes that the microbiome encodes, have become a newly recognized source of potential novel disease mechanisms and pharmacological treatment targets. Much research is directed toward the search for measurable biomarkers that reflect both healthy and pathological states of the microbiome. Here, we review direct measures of microbial taxonomy present in gut communities and indirect measures of host responses to gut dysbioses. Direct biomarkers of the microbiome derive from the discovery and analyses of data obtained from deep sequencing projects of biospecimens from psychiatric cohorts. Indirect biomarkers of the microbiome typically entail measurement in blood of components of the toxic cycle of inflammation, gut permeability, and dysbiosis, which affects subsets of individuals with psychiatric disorders. As we progress in our understanding of the benefits and risks of certain combinations of taxa with regard to psychiatric disorders and their clinical manifestations, it will be equally important to characterize host phenotypes that relate to specific microbial compositions. The discovery, development and clinical testing of biomarkers of microbial taxa and of host responses will, in turn, lead to new methods to effectively and individually characterize and treat psychiatric disorders.
Surgical Management of Heterotaxy Syndrome: Current Challenges and Opportunities.

Introduction:Heterotaxy syndrome presents a unique challenge in surgical management, even in the current era. We hypothesized that certain anatomic subsets merit novel strategies.Methods:We analyze...
Developmental pathways from maternal history of childhood maltreatment and maternal depression to toddler attachment and early childhood behavioral outcomes

The current study examined the development of toddler attachment and early childhood behavior among children of mothers with a history of childhood maltreatment and current major depressive disorde...
An ice-binding protein from an Arctic grass, Leymus mollis

Several cold-hardy grasses have been shown to have ice-binding proteins (IBPs) that protect against freeze-thaw injury. Here, we looked for IBP activity in an Alaskan coastal grass that had not previously been examined, Leymus mollis (Pooidae). Rhizome tissue had strong ice-structuring and ice recrystallization inhibiting (IRI) activities, indicating the probable presence of IBPs. The gene sequence of an IBP was obtained. The sequence encoded a 118-amino acid IRI domain that contained eight repeats. A 3D structure of the IRI domain was predicted from the structure of the IRI domain of the perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne . The predicted structure appeared to have the same eight beta-roll coils found in the L. perenne IBP.
Assessing the relationship between patient-provider communication quality and quality of life among rural cancer survivors.

We explored relationships between patient-provider communication quality (PPCQ) and three quality of life (QOL) domains among self-identified rural cancer survivors: social well-being, functional well-being, and physical well-being. We hypothesized that high PPCQ would be associated with greater social and functional well-being, but be less associated with physical well-being, due to different theoretical mechanisms. All data were derived from the 2017–2018 Illinois Rural Cancer Assessment (IRCA). To measure PPCQ and QOL domains, we respectively used a dichotomous measure from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey’s Experience Cancer care tool (high, low/medium) and continuous measures from the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). Our sample of 139 participants was largely female, non-Hispanic White, married, and economically advantaged. After adjusting for demographic and clinical variables, patients who reported high PPCQ exhibited greater social well-being (Std. β = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.35, p = 0.02) and functional well-being (Std. β = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.35, p = 0.03) than patients with low/medium PPCQ. No association was observed between PPCQ and physical well-being (Std. β = 0.06, 95% CI: − 2.51, 0.21, p = 0.41). Sensitivity analyses found similar, albeit attenuated, patterns. Our findings aligned with our hypotheses. Future researchers should explore potential mechanisms underlying these differential associations. Specifically, PPCQ may be associated with social and functional well-being through interpersonal mechanisms, but may not be as associated with physical well-being due to multiple contextual factor rural survivors disproportionately face (e.g., limited healthcare access, economic hardship) and stronger associations with clinical factors.
Plant diversity decreases potential nitrous oxide emissions from restored agricultural soil

Abstract Plant diversity has been shown to mitigate nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from soil in some ecosystems. We tested the generality of this diversity effect on ecosystem functioning, as an application of ecological theory by quantifying potential nitrous oxide emissions in grasslands restored from agriculture containing high and low diversity. We performed an initial plant survey to develop the study design from quadrat analyses (used to determine sampling frame size that maximizes variance in plant community structure), semivariogram analyses of plant community PCA scores (used to determine minimum distance between sampling frames), and upper and lower quartiles of plant diversity (Shannon’s diversity). We sampled high (per field n = 6, total n = 60) and low (per field n = 6, total n = 60) diversity (high diversity: mean Shannon diversity index = 1.69; low diversity: mean Shannon diversity index = 0.73) plant communities within 10 to 12 y old restorations co-located at Nachusa Grasslands (Franklin Grove, IL, USA). We found potential N2O emissions were nearly seven times greater in low diversity compared to high diversity communities. Inorganic N availability, relative amounts of nitrification and denitrification, and water extractable C did not explain difference in potential N2O emission from soil with contrasting plant diversity. Although the mechanism for large variation in this ecosystem function corresponding with biodiversity remains undetermined, this work shows that management for plant diversity may reduce N2O emissions from soil.
Aniseikonia, the Bane of Binocularity: With Views on the Management of Monocular Congenital Cataract

Aniseikonia and its correction achieved great importance during the heyday of the Dartmouth Eye Institute. The tools for its correction have changed from size lenses to complex optical prescription...
Comparing Historical Cinema Cultures: The Case of the British West Indies, 1900-1945

This essay evaluates some of the challenges and opportunities posed by comparative history of cinema-going by looking at the history of one understudied world region, Great Britain’s Caribbean colonies. It concludes with a discussion of potential future comparative cinema-going histories involving these territories.
Therapeutic and Anti-therapeutic Relationships

Most clinical encounters that occur in the practice of the “fact-based interview” (discussed in Chap. 4) are undertaken based on a supposition that the patient is participating openly and accurately to aid the clinician in understanding the problems for which they are seeking help. It is widely recognized that the process is more complicated and that communication is better achieved in the setting of a “therapeutic relationship” characterized by empathetic rapport, genuineness, and trust. Breakdowns in communication, in contrast, result in what may be termed an “anti-therapeutic” relationship experienced by both parties in the form of alienation, frustration, and boredom. In instances of unacknowledged Deception and Non-Disclosure (DND), such “countertransference,” responses may represent the clinician’s only source of awareness that a breakdown in communication has occurred.
Asian Americans as racial contagion

The convergence of racism against Asian Americans and the tightening of borders to prohibit and control the entry of Asian immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic, though distressing, is not unprec...
Evaluating the Effect of Stimulus Duration on Vibrotactile Cue Localizability With a Tactile Sleeve

Vibrotactile arrays are appealing as wearable haptic devices, since designers can vary parameters including cue location and duration to create distinct haptic icons to represent a wide range of information. Vibrotactile sleeves have typically used cues that vary in duration from 100 to 400 ms, but it is not well understood how cue duration might affect localizability of stimuli. Using an experimental protocol typically employed to understand how our visual system can localize stimuli, we examined localization of tactile cues for tactors spaced at fixed locations along the forearm while we varied cue duration between 100 and 400 ms. To validate our experimental methods and hardware, we also evaluated visual cue localization performance. Our visual cue localization results were in agreement with prior experiments showing that varying noise in visual cues affects cue localization. More importantly, this experimental paradigm allowed us to verify that participants could successfully localize tactile cues regardless of duration. Response variance in tactile localizability was much greater than the visual case. There was also an effect of stimulus location on tactile localization performance. Our findings support the variation of tactile cue duration in the 100 to 400 ms range for tactile arrays positioned on the forearm.
Phase II trial of atezolizumab (A) + carboplatin (C) + pemetrexed (P) + bevacizumab (B) in pts with stage IV non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSq-NSCLC): Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium Study LUN 17-139.

9034Background: The addition of A to C+ Paclitaxel (Pac) + plus B improved progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared with C + Pac + B alone in pts with metastatic NS-NSCLC....
Incidence, risk factors and management of venous thromboembolism in patients with primary CNS lymphoma.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a known complication of malignancy. While brain tumors in general predispose to VTE, the incidence in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is poorly characterized. We sought to characterize incidence, risk factors, management, and outcome of VTE in PCNSL Retrospective study of 78 PCNSL patients from 2/1/2002 to 4/1/2020 at the University of Virginia 31% (24/78) of patients developed VTE. 12.8% (10/78) had deep venous thrombosis (DVT) alone, 11.5% (9/78) isolated pulmonary embolism (PE) and 6.4% (5/78) both. The median time from PCNSL diagnosis to VTE was 3 months. In a univariate competing risks analysis, previous VTE (p < 0.001), impaired ambulation (p = 0.035), baseline hemoglobin < 10 g/dL (p = 0.025) and history of diabetes mellitus (type 1 or 2) (p = 0.007) were associated with increased VTE risk. 34.8% were anticoagulated acutely with heparin (8/23) or 65.2% LMWH (15/23), and 25.0% (6/24) received warfarin, 41.7% (10/24) LMWH, and 33.3% (8/24) DOACs long-term. One adverse event was attributable to anticoagulation (arm hematoma with hemoglobin decrease). Five patients received IVC filters with concomitant oral anticoagulation; one experienced IVC thrombosis after anticoagulation discontinuation. Six of the 24 patients experienced recurrent VTE, four while anticoagulated. Patients with PCNSL are at high risk of VTE, most of which accrues in the first few months. History of VTE, diabetes mellitus (type 1 or 2), impaired ambulatory status, or hemoglobin < 10 g/dL may predispose patients to this complication. While optimal management is uncertain, anticoagulation prevented recurrent VTE in most patients without intracranial bleeding.
Indacenodipyrene Containing Small Molecules and Ladder Polymers

A series of s-indaceno[1,2,3-cd:5,6,7-c'd']dipyrene-containing small molecule and ladder polymers were prepared using a palladium catalyzed arylation reaction. Precursor polymers and their resulting ladder polymers with molecular weights up to 13 kDa were prepared. The rigid, planar materials possessed highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energies of -5.39 to -5.23 eV, lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMO) energies of -2.42 eV to -2.98 eV, and optical gaps of 1.68 to 2.03 eV. Organic field effect transistors were prepared with derivatives giving hole mobilities up to 2.5 X 10-5 cm2V-1s-1.
Colliding Microdrops of Water

Collision of microdrops are important in microwave, chemical nucleation and raindrop studies (Adam, Lindblad and Hendricks (1968), Peterson (1985), Simpson and Haller (1988)). In this chapter, we shall show how to simulate collisions of microdrops of water. Since the interaction during collisions will be independent of gravity, we will neglect long-range forces.
Properties of the Variational Inequality Solution

In the previous chapter we saw that a variational inequality approach to the general moving free boundary problem (2.1) leads to obstacle problems of the form (2.11) which should be investigated in the sequel in a slightly more general setting.
Unlocked and loaded: government censorship of 3D-printed firearms and a proposal for more reasonable regulation of 3D-printed goods

In August 2012, Defense Distributed launched the Wiki Weapon Project.1 The stated mission of the group was to produce a working 3D-printed firearm and then publically release the corresponding data files.2 The group sought to raise $20,000 on the crowdfunding website Indiegogo for the design and creation of the world’s first 3D-printed firearm,3 or a “Wiki Weapon” as the group referred to it.4 Despite several setbacks with funding5 and producing6 the firearm, Defense Distributed announced the successful test firing of a working prototype—the Liberator pistol— less than a year later.7 True to its word—and name—Defense Distributed released the prototype’s data files for the Liberator shortly thereafter.8 Almost immediately after Defense Distributed’s release, the U.S. Department of State contacted Defense Distributed and ordered that all technical data—namely, the computer-aided design (CAD) files—related to the Liberator, along with many other weapon and weapon accessory designs, be removed immediately from the Internet.9 Despite believing that it was legal to make the blueprints available to the public, Defense Distributed immediately and “voluntarily” complied with the order while the Department
Integration of Adenylate Kinase and Glycolytic and Glycogenolytic Circuits in Cellular Energetics

Emerging evidence indicates that adenylate kinase and glycolytic/glycogenolytic phosphotransfer enzyme circuits are essential parts of cardiac system bioenergetics, playing a significant role in muscle energetics by delivering high-energy phosphoryls and conveying energy demand signals to ATP-generating pathways and metabolic sensors. Adenylate kinase phosphotransfer promptly responds to metabolic imbalances, facilitating transfer and utilization of both gand bphosphoryls of the ATP molecule and maintaining energy economy. Adenylate kinase–mediated intracellular AMP signaling coupled with AMP-responsive elements such as AMP-sensitive protein kinase (AMPK), ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP), and AMP-sensitive metabolic enzymes, along with adenosine signaling, comprise a key metabolic sensing system regulating vital cellular processes. Localized in close proximity to metabolic sensors, adenylate kinase– catalyzed AMP signal generation and nucleotide exchange regulate the dynamics and frequency of ligand switching in the intimate sensing zone, facilitating the decoding of cellular information. By instigating AMP signaling, adenylate kinase regulates the activity of glycolytic and glycogenolytic enzymes and provides an integrative node for bioenergetic pathways to respond with high fidelity to increased energy demand. Genetic deficiency of the cytosolic AK1 isoform results in defective muscle energetics and AMP signaling, compromising the response to metabolic stress. Spatial extension of the glycolytic pathway indicates that it comprises a network of phosphotransfer circuits and metabolite shuttles, which facilitate high-energy phosphoryl delivery and lactate/pyruvate and Pi shuttling and thus maintain cellular energy and redox balance. The dynamics of glycogen utilization and synthesis, processes that occur close to myofibrillar and mitochondrial compartments, also suggest the existence of a glycogenolytic energetic circuit. In the proposed glycogen energetic network model, mitochondrial metabolic energy, invested into glycogen through locally generated UTP and G-6-P/G-1-P, is released during glycogenolysis at ATP utilization sites in myofibrils and other cellular compartments. Thus, systemic integration of different energetic and metabolic 265 Molecular System Bioenergetics: Energy for Life. Edited by Valdur Saks Copyright 8 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim ISBN: 978-3-527-31787-5 signaling pathways ensures cellular energy homeostasis and an adequate response to a broad range of functional activities and stress challenges.
Can NGOs make a difference? The challenge of development alternatives

Introduction: can NGOs make a difference? The challenge of development alternatives / Anthony J. Bebbington, Samuel Hickey and Diana C. Mitlin
Evidence that retinal pigment epithelium functions as an immune-privileged tissue.

PURPOSE. Tissues derived from immune-privileged sites sometimes possess special characteristics that promote their own survival when transplanted to a nonprivileged site. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) behaves as an immune-privileged tissue when transplanted extraocularly. METHODS. RPE grafts were prepared from eyes of neonatal C57BL/6 or C57BL/6 gld/gld (deficient in CD95 ligand expression) mice. These grafts (or conjunctival grafts as positive controls) were transplanted into the anterior chamber, the subretinal space, the subconjunctival space, and underneath the kidney capsule of histoincompatible BALB/c mice. Transplant survival was evaluated by histology at selected time points after engraftment. Recipients were tested for acquisition of C57BL/6-specific delayed-type hypersensitivity (DH) and for the ability to suppress DH. RESULTS. Allogeneic neonatal RPE grafts from normal donors showed significantly enhanced survival at all graft sites compared with conjunctival grafts. However, allogeneic RPE cell grafts from gld/gld mice were rapidly rejected after transplantation beneath the kidney capsule. Allogeneic RPE grafts placed in extraocular sites induced systemic DH directed at donor alloantigens, whereas RPE allografts placed intraocularly induced suppression of systemic DH. CONCLUSIONS. Allogeneic neonatal RPE grafts, through constitutive expression of CD95 ligand, promote their own survival at heterotopic sites. Paradoxically, these grafts also display immunogenicity. Thus, neonatal RPE tissue owes its immune privilege to the capacity to prevent immune rejection rather than to inhibit sensitization.
Model Reference Robust Control Scheme for Nonlinear Parametric Uncertain Systems

In this paper we consider the design of a model reference robust controller for a class of SISO, minimum phase, nonlinear systems. The design of the controller does not require the existence of the matching conditions or the feedback linearisability property in the strictest sense; rather, the controller requires a set of assumptions which allow the original nonlinear system to be transformed into the so-called observable canonical form. The robust control scheme guarantees that the overall states are globally uniformly bounded (GUB) and that the output tracking error is globally uniformly ultimately bounded (GUUB).
Expectancy Theory, Decision Theory and Occupational Preference and Choice

Abstract : Expectancy Theory and Decision Theory research predicting occupational preference and choice is reviewed. The results provide strong support for both approaches. Applications of Decision Theory models to problems of occupational selection are also discussed. A summary perspective suggests that both theories can provide practical insights for occupational guidance and counseling.
A novel 2-sided multi-chip-module used to create a 50,000 gate programmable logic device

A 32-layer ceramic multi-chip-module was created to support a 50,000-gate programmable logic device. The high gate-count was achieved by combining four 12,500-gate PLDs and one programmable interconnect on both sides of a 32-layer ceramic substrate. A known-good-die process has been developed for one of the active components by using the module itself as a test bed. In addition, an assembly process has been developed which maximizes rework yield. Made possible with MCM technology, this high-density device is intended for gate array prototyping.
Terlipressin therapy for reversal of type 1 hepatorenal syndrome: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background and Aim: Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a serious complication of advanced liver disease and carries a poor prognosis. Recent trials have indicated that terlipressin may be effective in reversing HRS. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of terlipressin therapy in reversing type 1 HRS defined as a serum creatinine <1.5 mg/dL during treatment. Methods: Randomized controlled trials in which patients with type 1 HRS received at least 3 days of terlipressin therapy and albumin in the intervention arm were included after a systematic search of the published English reports. Studies with other vasoconstrictor therapies in the control group were excluded. Results: A total of 223 patients with HRS type 1 in four different trials, were included in the final analysis. Alcohol-related cirrhosis was the most common underlying etiology. The risk ratio for reversal in type 1 HRS with terlipressin therapy was 3.66 (95% confidence interval 2.15–6.23). Recurrence of HRS was low (8%). Serious side-effects requiring discontinuation of therapy were seen only in 6.8% of patients on terlipressin therapy. There was a trend towards improved transplant-free survival at 90 days in the terlipressin group (relative risk 1.86 95% confidence interval 1.0–3.4, P = 0.05). Conclusions: Terlipressin is effective in reversing HRS type 1. Recurrence of HRS is rare with at least 14 days of therapy. Serious side-effects requiring discontinuation of therapy are less common. There appears to be a survival benefit in patients with HRS treated with terlipressin.
Institutional Norms and Evaluative Standards for Parks and Recreation Resources Research, Planning, and Management

Researchers claim that the structural and evaluative standards approaches to determining acceptability of social and resource conditions in recreation settings are measures of social norms. This paper argues that structural and evaluative standards approaches do not constitute social norms. Social and resource conditions are not directly concerned with behavior and have not been shown to have sanctioning and self-correcting consequences. This paper proposes that social and resource conditions be recognized as institutional norms, that is, rules or standards formulated and implemented by administrative authorities and enforced by them through formal external sanctions. This definition recognizes the institutional utility of social and resource condition standards, while distinguishing them from social norms, which deal with social interactions and individuals’ behaviors.
Mung bean nuclease I. IV. An improved method of preparation.

Summary An eight step procedure leading to a 25,000 fold purification of the enzyme is described. The overall yield is 20%, the final potency ‡ is 3,300. The purified preparation approaches homogeneity.
Progressive Crush Response of Multi-Element Foam-Filled Preform RTM Structures, I: Architecture and Rate Effects

The application of composites in automotive structures has been a topic of increasing interest in recent years. This has largely been driven by the need for energy efficiency, increased safety requirements, economics related to fabrication, and the designers need for enhanced flexibility in form through increased materials and processing options. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of multi-element preform fiber architectures for a resin transfer molded structural (rather than the tube-type element usually used) component on compressive response, progressive crush and energy absorption. Six different architectures based on a stiffened plate-type structural shape were tested under two loading rates, and behavioral characteristics in terms of failure loads, energy absorption per unit structural deformation, and damage mechanisms were studied. Absorbed energy is seen to increase with loading rate, whereas failure load decreases or remains constant. It is seen that the increasing us...
Oxygen binding of hemerythrin

Abstract The binding of perchlorate ion to hemerythrin is known to occur at a site near the iron locus. This binding has a profound effect on the oxygen-binding properties of this protein. The maximum effect observed occurs at neutral pH and a 1:1 stoichiometry of iron to anion. The effect is absent in mildly alkaline media.
Recovery of brain blood flow changes from diffuse correlation spectroscopy data using a layered Monte Carlo forward model

We use a layered Monte Carlo model of diffuse correlation spectroscopy together with multi-distance measurements to more accurately recover cerebral blood flow changes. We also suggest a method to estimate skull/scalp thickness from the data.
Investigation into the use of low cost MEMS accelerometers for vibration based damage detection

Abstract When a structure is damaged there is often a concomitant localized change in structural stiffness, which may affect the dynamic characteristics of the structure. One characteristic that has proved suitable for damage identification and location is the operational curvature shape which exhibits changing features at locations of stiffness change. A method that finds theses features, SIDER, employs an algorithm that operates on broadband operational curvature shapes. To obtain data for SIDER, a small number of accelerometers, typically about four, is installed on the structure and the structure is then excited at a large array of test points using a ‘roving hammer’ technique. Frequency response functions are individually measured between each excitation point and the reference accelerometers, and the required operating curvature shapes are determined from the resulting array of frequency response functions. While setup of the experiment is reasonably quick, data acquisition can be time consuming and it is not easily amenable to automation. This paper investigates an alternative approach, which relies on the reciprocity theorem. An array of response transducers is installed on the structure, and then only a few locations are excited. There are significant benefits to this method, including the possibility of automation and remote sensing. The cost of hundreds of conventional accelerometers can be prohibitive, and therefore this project investigated using an array of low cost MEMS accelerometers. MEMS are also attractive in that they may be embedded into a composite structure during manufacture. In the study reported here the roving hammer and MEMS array methods are compared by testing a composite vertical stabilizer (tail plane) from an Airbus A320 aircraft. Despite the different test procedures, and the lower quality of the MEMS transducers, it is shown that an array of low cost MEMS transducers can determine results comparable with those obtained using high performance transducers.
The Localization of Anthropological Practice: From area studies to transnationalism

■ By examining the history of migration in the 19th century, the author finds grounds for contending that the view of transnationalism as a qualitatively different phenomenon is exaggerated, and the rejection of such terms as 'com munity', 'culture' and 'region' unnecessary or premature. The Caribbean region emerges as representative of an earlier transnational (or international) era, beginning with conquest, enslavement and the plantation economy.
Computational methods for wide-field reconstruction of transoesophageal echocardiographic images

Abstract Transoesophageal echocardiography imaging is limited by the proximity of the transducer to many cardiovascular structures. The location of the transducer causes these structures to appear near the apex of the backscatter image, and since the angle of the scan cannot exceed 90°, much of the image information appears in a constricted area. We describe a computer-based, wide-field reconstruction technique which pieces together the picture fields from adjacent sector scans to form composite images. This description includes information regarding lessons learned, as well as technical details of the algorithms, in sufficient depth to permit reproduction of the system by interested parties. Significant aspects of wide-field image reconstruction, including computational complexity, image-pair alignment processes, requirements of alignment resolution, and image acquisition techniques, are addressed in depth. We believe that wide-field presentation of echocardiographic backscatter data enhances the utility of the transoesophageal approach, particularly when dealing with posteriorly located cardiovascular lesions.
Fluoxetine in post-traumatic stress disorder†

Fluoxetine was given to five nonveteran patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The maximum doses ranged from 20 to 80 mg/day, and treatment was continued for between 8 and 32 weeks. In contrast to published reports of other drugs, which were noted to improve only the intrusive symptoms of PTSD, fluoxetine was associated with marked improvement of both intrusive and avoidant symptoms. Facilitative effects of fluoxetine were noted on trauma-focused psychotherapy in two adult victims of childhood sexual trauma. In part, these effects were related to modulating effects of the drug upon the intensity of core PTSD symptoms. Serotonergic drugs appear to hold promise for the treatment of PTSD.
Automated lookahead data migration in SSD-enabled multi-tiered storage systems

The significant IO improvements of Solid State Disks (SSD) over traditional rotational hard disks makes it an attractive approach to integrate SSDs in tiered storage systems for performance enhancement. However, to integrate SSD into multi-tiered storage system effectively, automated data migration between SSD and HDD plays a critical role. In many real world application scenarios like banking and supermarket environments, workload and IO profile present interesting characteristics and also bear the constraint of workload deadline. How to fully release the power of data migration while guaranteeing the migration deadline is critical to maximizing the performance of SSD-enabled multi-tiered storage system. In this paper, we present an automated, deadline-aware, lookahead migration scheme to address the data migration challenge. We analyze the factors that may impact on the performance of lookahead migration efficiency and develop a greedy algorithm to adaptively determine the optimal lookahead window size to optimize the effectiveness of lookahead migration, aiming at improving overall system performance and resource utilization while meeting workload deadlines. We compare our lookahead migration approach with the basic migration model and validate the effectiveness and efficiency of our adaptive lookahead migration approach through a trace driven experimental study.
Diethylstilbestrol, Genetics, Teratogenesis, and Tumor Spectrum in Humans

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is the first example of transplacental carcinogenesis in humans, as evidenced by an excess of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina and cervix in exposed women. We hypothesize that: 1) in utero DES exposure will be responsible for a broader spectrum of cancer with variable age of onset as a function of latency effects in exposed humans of both sexes; 2) teratogenicity of DES will be more far-reaching than currently recognized and will harbor cancer implications in the face of known associations between teratogenesis and carcinogenesis; and 3) genetic heterogeneity will be a critical etiologic discriminant in DES associated cancer. This hypothesis embraces a prodigious body of data at the infrahuman level, as well as extant pharmacogenetic and ecogenetic observations in humans which signify heritable variations in response to environmental carcinogenic exposures. This hypothesis has important implications for drug testing with appropriate preventive strategies. Herein, particular restraints with monitoring through governmental legal channels must be employed. Past experience has clearly indicated negligence in shouldering this responsibility by both the pharmaceutical industry and government regulatory bodies.
Human Skin Fibroblasts in Culture: Procollagen Synthesis in the Presence of Sera from Normal Human Subjects and from Patients with Dermal Fibroses

Various dermal fibrotic conditions, such as progressive systemic sclerosis, localized morphea and familial cutaneous collagenoma, are characterized by excessive deposition of collagen in the skin. In the present study, we examined the possibility that a circulating serum factor(s) is responsible for increased collagen production in these diseases. The effects of human serum on the synthesis of procollagen were examined by incubating normal human dermal fibroblasts with [ 3 H]proline and varying concentrations of dialyzed heat-inactivated serum. The synthesis of procollagen was measured as formation of nondialyzable [ 3 H]hydroxyproline and collagenase-digestible 3 H-polypeptides. In the absence of serum little procollagen was formed but the synthesis was markedly stimulated by the addition of normal serum in a concentration-dependent manner. The ratio of genetically distinct 3 H-procollagens of type I and type III, assayed by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after limited pepsin proteolysis, was unaffected by the addition of serum. Thus, normal human serum contains a nondialyzable factor(s) which stimulates the synthesis of procollagens type I and type III equally. Sera from 5 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis, 3 with localized scleroderma, and 2 with familial cutaneous collagenoma were also tested. Sera from these patients failed to stimulate 3 H-procollagen production more than sera from healthy age-matched controls. Therefore, no increased quantities or qualitatively aberrant factors were shown to be present in the sera of these patients.
Convergence criteria for systems of non-linear elliptic boundary value partial differential equations

Abstract This paper deals with convergence criteria for a special system of non-linear elliptic boundary value partial differential equations. A fixed point algorithm is used which iteratively solves one linearized elliptic partial differential equation at a time. We establish conditions which help predict the convergence of the fixed point algorithm. We prove, under reasonable hypotheses, that the algorithm converges. Experimental results are reported which show that algorithm converges in wide variety of cases and the convergence is well correlated with the theoretical conditions introduced in this paper.
Sticker Shock: An Exploration of Supply Charge Capture Outcomes

Do you find supply item charge stickers in shocking places in nursing units? Capturing supply item charges to increase net revenue or achieve break-even are based on efficiency. To determine practical efficiency for a hospital in supply charge capture, the authors examined the quantity of supply charge capture items, volume, and relative size of the hospital in 10 hospitals in the midwestern and southeastern United States. What differences in supply charge capture information can determine if a hospital can break even? Results show that hospital size and number of supply charge capture items to manage are important factors.
Acquired coronary artery fistulae after right ventricular myotomy and/or myomectomy for congenital heart disease

Abstract We conclude that coronary artery fistulae may develop in patients undergoing right ventricular surgery and can be diagnosed during early postoperative echocardiographic evaluation. The most common site of drainage is the right ventricle. Careful imaging and color Doppler examination are needed to accurately assess postoperative patients for such fistulae. Finally, further echocardiographic follow-up is needed in order to determine the long-term consequence of these fistulae, with special attention to right ventricular volume and function.
Immunization of chickens with quail and turkey perivitelline membrane proteins: production of antibodies and their effects on fertility

The cross-reactivity of antibodies developed against zona pellucida proteins and their subsequent deleterious effect on fertility in heterologous species is well documented. However, similar investigations have not been undertaken in avian species. In Experiment 1, White Leghorn hens were immunized with intact germinal discs (GD) of quail and chickens. Chicken GD proteins did not elicit an immune response in chicken hens, whereas quail GD proteins were highly immunogenic. Anti-quail GD antibodies did not bind with chicken inner perivitelline membrane (IPM) proteins as determined by immunoblot analysis. To examine the fertility of immunized hens, artificial insemination was performed at weekly intervals for 4 wk following the booster immunization. No significant differences were detected in fertility or hatchability of immunized hens when compared with unimmunized control hens. In Experiment 2, White Leghorn hens were immunized with intact turkey GD, solubilized turkey perivitelline membrane (PM) modified with dinitrophenol (DNP), and solubilized chicken IPM modified with DNP. High titers of antibodies were detected against the turkey GD and the DNP-modified turkey PM proteins. A weak immune response was observed in hens immunized with modified chicken IPM proteins. The fertility and hatchability of eggs laid by immunized hens, however, were not significantly different from those of unimmunized hens. Antibodies from immunized hens were further analyzed using an in vitro assay that assesses sperm penetration of intact IPM. Sperm penetration of intact IPM was inhibited to the same extent when IPM was preincubated with preimmune as well as anti-PM immunoglobulins. Collectively, these results suggested that the antibodies developed in these hens did not cross-react with the chicken IPM proteins involved in sperm-egg interaction and thus did not influence the fertility.
On the relation between in-plane anisotropy and technical magnetic properties of as-quenched amorphous alloy ribbons

Abstract The magnetic anisotropy constants before and after annealing have been measured for Fe 40 Ni 40 P 12 B 8 and (F (Fe 0.1 Co 0.5 Ni 0.4 ) 78 Si 6 B 16 amorphous alloys by means of both the work of magnetization and magnetic torque curve. The results show that the main part of the in-plane magnetic anisotropy which does not change with annealing completely reflects the surface shape anisotropy and has no direct effect on the process of technical magnetization.
SiGe-on-insulator prepared by wafer bonding and layer transfer for high-performance field-effect transistors

SiGe-on-insulator material was fabricated by wafer bonding and hydrogen-induced layer transfer techniques. The transferred SiGe layer is strain relaxed and has a Ge content ranging from 15% to 25%. High-quality strained Si layers were grown on the SiGe-on-insulator substrates by the UHV/chemical vapor deposition process at 550 °C. An electron mobility of 40 000 cm2/V s in a modulation-doped Si/SiGe heterostructure was achieved at 30 K on a SiGe-on-insulator substrate.
Scattering results for measure potentials with unbounded support

The eigenfunction expansion theorem and its application to the scattering operator and the scattering matrix is extended to Schrodinger operators with measure potentials with unbounded support on ℝn that are known to generate wave operators that are strongly complete. Analyticity conditions of the eigenfunctions and the scattering matrix are presented.
Forensic imaging of the living: A short stab at long distance ☆

Abstract The emergence of the sectional imaging modalities, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), has had a substantial impact on the mediolegal investigation of death. The “virtual autopsy” is gaining world-wide acceptance as a supplement to and, in some venues, a substitute for conventional autopsy. These modalities, especially CT, also have greatly expanded the usefulness of the radiological method in forensic investigation of the living in such areas as accident investigation and reconstruction and in evaluation and reconstruction of instances of accidental or inflicted trauma. This report of a criminal case of intentional stabbing illustrates the ability via radiological imaging to determine the extent of, and damage from, such a wound, and the influence this information may have on a jury. Additionally, an unusual method of exhibiting and explaining these findings at long distances is described.
Robust centerline extraction from tubular structures in medical images

Extraction of centerlines is useful to analyzing objects in medical images, such as lung, bronchia, blood vessels, and colon. Given the noise and other imaging artifacts that are present in medical images, it is crucial to use robust algorithms that are (1) noise tolerant, (2) computationally efficient, (3) accurate and (4) preferably, do not require an accurate segmentation and can directly operate on grayscale data. We propose a new centerline extraction method that employs a Gaussian type probability model to build a more robust distance field. The model is computed using an integration of the image gradient field, in order to estimate boundaries of interest. Probabilities assigned to boundary voxels are then used to compute a modified distance field. Standard distance field algorithms are then applied to extract the centerline. We illustrate the accuracy and robustness of our algorithm on a synthetically generated example volume and a radiologist supervised segmented head MRT angiography dataset with significant amounts of Gaussian noise, as well as on three publicly available medical volume datasets. Comparison to traditional distance field algorithms is also presented.
The effects of gold thioglucose on mouse fibroblasts in vitro. Morphological and laser microprobe studies.

Abstract Gold thioglucose, an obesifying agent in mice, was studied in an established mouse fibroblast line using light and electron microscopy, histochemistry and the laser microprobe. Consistent cytopathic effects were produced at 2 and 4 mg/ml and were most striking at 4 mg/ml at 48 hours. This correlated well with the laser studies, which showed that: (1) the amount of gold absorbed by the cell system was directly related to the initial concentrations and (2) increasing the exposure time to 48 hours significantly increased the uptake. A cellular gold concentration greater than 2.5 pg was necessary to produce a visual cytopathic effect. Histochemical studies demonstrated cytoplasmic gold granules, which were present in a greater percentage of cells at 4 mg/ml. Electron microscopic studies of treated cells revealed increased numbers of cytoplasmic microfilaments, particularly around the nucleus, membrane-bound acid phosphatase-positive dense bodies (lysosomes), and striking nuclear infoldings. Increased numbers of autophagic vacuoles and lipid droplets were also seen. All of these changes were found in a larger percentage of cells at concentrations greater than 2 mg/ml. Intranuclear inclusions were not seen.