cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reaching the difficult audience: An experiment to provide occupational health services to farmers and ranchers in Colorado, U.S.A

From its inception in the late 1970s, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation funded Workplace Health in Agriculture Program at Colorado State University underwent numerous evolutions as the needs of the agricultural community were identified. Direct health and safety consultation with agribusiness met with limited success due to the cost of providing services over a wide geographic area and a general unwillingness within this group of employers to involve themselves with "OSHA"-type regulations. Therefore, the program changed from promotion of, and providing health and safety consultation upon request, to education of specific target groups within the agricultural community supplemented by consultation services when needs were identified. Target groups for educational services included rural health care providers, vocational-agriculture students and teachers, farm/ranch clubs and groups (with special emphasis on farm wives groups), and rural emergency services. These groups became the promoters of health and safety within the agriculture community, which resulted in a direct, positive impact on requests for, and interest in health and safety services provided by the program. Language: en
IMPROVING STUDENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING THROUGH INNOVATIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESSES

Here, I present an innovative strategic planning model based on best practices of Baldrige Award winners that has been implemented and improved upon at Milwaukee Area Technical College for five yea...
A New Expression for Velocity of the Combustion Front during Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis

The method of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) can be utilized to produce a variety of advanced materials. After ignition, due to high exothermicity of the reactions involved, the process is characterized by a combustion wave which propagates through the reacting mixture in a self-sustained manner without requiring additional heat. By assuming that the reaction rate is proportional to the instantaneous surface area of the nonmelting component and to the instantaneous concentration of the melting reactant in the formed outlying melt, a new analytical expression for the velocity of the combustion front is developed. This expression accounts for the influence of temperature, particle size, reactant proportions and inert dilution. Experimental data for front propagation velocity for the titanium-carbon reaction available in the literature are described with good accuracy by the expression developed in this work.
Abortion mortality, United States, 1972 through 1987.

Objective: The aim of our study was to describe risk factors for legal abortion mortality and the characteristics of women who died of legal abortion complications for the period 1972 through 1987. Study Design: We reviewed abortion mortality surveillance data collected by the Division of Reproductive Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and calculated rates by various demographic and reproductive health variables using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's abortion surveillance data as denominators. Rates are reported as legal abortion deaths per 100,000 abortions. Results: Between 1972 and 1987, 240 women died as a result of legal induced abortions. The case-fatality rate decreased 90% over time, from 4.1 deaths per 100,000 abortions in 1972 to 0.4 in 1987. Women ≥40 years old had three times the risk of death as teenagers (relative risk 3.0, 95% confidence interval 1.5 to 6.0), and black women and those of other minority races had 2.5 times the risk of white women (relative risk 2.5, 95% confidence interval 1.9 to 3.2). Abortions at ≥16 weeks were associated with a risk of death almost 15 times the risk of death from procedures at ≤12 weeks' gestation. Women undergoing currettage procedures for abortion had a significantly lower risk of death than women undergoing other procedures. Whereas before 1977 infection and hemorrhage were the leading causes of death, during 1977 through 1982 anesthesia complications emerged as one of the leading causes of death and since 1983 have become the most frequent cause. Conclusions: Although legal induced abortion-related deaths are rare events, our findings suggest that more rigorous efforts are needed to increase the safety of anesthetic methods and anesthetic agents used for abortions and that efforts are still necessary to monitor serious complications of abortion aimed at further reducing risks of death associated with the procedure.
Isolation and identification of porcine embryonic basic protein as a fragment of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein-2☆

Abstract Between days 11 and 12 of gestation, the porcine conceptus undergoes a metamorphosis from a spherical blastocyst to an elongate thread-like form. During this process, the conceptus secretes a variety of products. One of these products is a protein previously referred to as porcine embryonic basic protein (BP). This protein has been shown to be a major secreted product between days 13 and 18. In this study, we report a simple two-step procedure to isolate BP from day 15 porcine conceptus conditioned medium, utilizing ion-exchange chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC. Purified BP was subjected to Edman degradation amino-terminal sequencing and a 25 amino acid residue sequence was obtained. Comparing the N-terminal sequence of BP to sequences in the GenBank database determined that BP shared amino acid homology with porcine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein-2 (PAG-2). The region of identity corresponded to an internal site of PAG-2, suggesting BP was a proteolytic fragment of PAG-2. The purified protein was confirmed to be BP by Western blot using a previously characterized anti-BP antiserum. Also, the BP was immunolocalized within the trophectoderm of day 11 blastocysts. Staining intensity was diminished in spherical blastocysts compared to elongated blastocysts. Although the function of PAG-2 and its cleavage product BP are unknown, the large quantity produced by the porcine conceptus and its sequence conservation across species may indicate a necessary role in early pregnancy.
A simple microscopic method for identifying and quantitating phagocytic cells in vitro

A simple method is described for distinguishing phagocytic cells from non-phagocytic cells in a mixed population of leukocytes.
Average depth of blood vessels in skin and lesions deduced by optical fiber spectroscopy

The average depth of blood vessels in a cutaneous site, either normal or diseased, can be specified by a simple rapid noninvasive optical measurement. An optical fiber spectrophotometer delivers white light via optical fibers to a skin site. The light reflected by tissue scattering and successfully collected by optical fibers is carried to a diode array spectrophotometer for spectral analysis. The reflectance spectrum is analyzed to specify the component of the optical density (OD) spectrum which is attributed to the cutaneous blood. Then the ratio of the OD 420 nm /OD 585 nm provides a quantitative indication of the average depth of the blood in the skin site. The purple light (420 nm) less easily penetrates the skin to sample the cutaneous blood content than does the yellow light (585 nm). The calibration of the measurement was accomplished by Monte Carlo simulations of measurements on skin with a layer of blood at various depths. In a study of 47 neonates, the amount of blood content ranged from 4 - 12 mg hemoglobin/g tissue (equivalent to 0.8 - 2.4% of the skin volume being whole blood), and the average depth of blood ranged from 250 - 425 micrometers .
Analyzing and simulating the reduction in PV powerplant variability due to geographic smoothing in Ota City, Japan and Alamosa, CO

Ota City, Japan and Alamosa, Colorado present contrasting cases of a small rooftop distributed PV plant versus a large central PV plant. We examine the effect of geographic smoothing on the power output of each plant. 1-second relative maximum ramp rates are found to be reduced 6–10 times for the total plant output versus a single point sensor, though smaller reductions are seen at longer timescales. The relative variability is found to decay exponentially at all timescales as additional houses or inverters are aggregated. The rate of decay depends on both the geographic diversity within the plant and the meteorological conditions (such as cloud speed) on a given day. The Wavelet Variability Model (WVM) takes into account these geographic smoothing effects to produce simulated PV powerplant output by using a point sensor as input. The WVM is tested against Ota City and Alamosa, and the WVM simulation closely matches the distribution of ramp rates of actual power output.
Growth and electrical properties of (211) BaTiO3 thin films on Pt-coated Si(100) substrates

Abstract Barium titanate (BaTiO3) thin films with high (211) orientation have been prepared on Pt(111)/Si(100) substrates by R. F. magnetron sputtering at a substrate temperature between 550°C and 580°C in an Ar/O2 atmosphere. The I-V curve of a thin film capacitor (Ag-BaTiO3-Pt) has been measured and the C-V curves are obtained for frequencies between 100Hz and 1MHz. Neither the I-V curve nor the C-V curves are symmetrical and a very large change in the slope of all curves is found to occur at ∼+0.5v.
Specificity of a Maximal Step Exercise Test

To adhere to the principle of “exercise specificity” exercise testing should be completed using the same physical activity that is performed during exercise training. The present study was designed to assess whether aerobic step exercisers have a greater maximal oxygen consumption (max VO2) when tested using an activity specific, maximal step exercise test (SET; arms and legs) versus a maximal running test (legs only). Female aerobic step exercisers (N=18; 20.7 ± 1.5 years) performed three maximal graded exercise tests (GXTs): 2 SETs; 1 treadmill test (TMT). The SET consisted of six 3-min progressive stages of alternate lead, basic step, basic step with biceps curls, knee raise with pull-down, repeater knee with pull-down, lateral lunge with pull-down, and side squat with shoulder presses. Stepping rate was 32 steps· min−1 on an 8-in (20.32 cm) step for stages 1–3, and a 10-in (25.4 cm) step for stages 4–6. Submaximal and maximal heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO2) were recorded at the end of eac...
Activated Carbon Fibre Adsorbent Materials

A review discussing the production, chemical modification and application of activated carbon fibre (ACF) adsorbent materials.
Swimming performance of captive-reared Kemp's ridley sea turtles Lepidochelys kempi (Garman)

Abstract Swimming performance of Kemp's ridley sea turtles Lepidochelys kempi (Garman) was evaluated over a 6-month period to determine whether an exercise regine increased swimming capacity in captive reared turtles. Three experimental treatments included: (1) turtles exercised twice weekly and exposed to a weekly stamina test; (2) turtles subjected only to a weekly stamina test; and (3) non-exercised controls exposed to a single stamina test at the end of the study. No statistically significant difference in swimming capacity was detected between treatments 1 and 2, although treatment 1 turtles achieved higher performance levels than those from treatment 2. However, treatment 1 turtles exhibited fewer breaths/min (BRM) and foreflipper strokes/min (FSM) during stamina tests than did treatment 2 turtles. In contrast, control turtles (treatment 3) were unable to achieve the minimum swimming performance level. These results indicate that the swimming performances of exercised turtles significantly improved during captive rearing. The possible effects of an exercise regime on post-release survival potential are discussed.
Energy efficient aircraft engines

The three engine programs that constitute the propulsion portion of NASA's Aircraft Energy Efficiency Program are described, their status indicated, and anticipated improvements in SFC discussed. The three engine programs are (1) Engine Component Improvement--directed at current engines, (2) Energy Efficiency Engine directed at new turbofan engines, and (3) Advanced Turboprops--directed at technology for advanced turboprop--powered aircraft with cruise speeds to Mach 0.8. Unique propulsion system interactive ties to the airframe resulting from engine design features to reduce fuel consumption are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the advanced turboprop since it offers the largest potential fuel savings of the three propulsion programs and also has the strongest interactive ties to the airframe.
Novel Anionic Photoacid Generators (PAGs) and Photoresists for sub 50 nm Patterning by EUVL and EBL

A new series of anionic photoacid generators (PAGs), and corresponding polymers were prepared. The thermostability of PAG bound polymers was superior to PAG blend polymers. PAG incorporated into the polymer main chain may improve acid diffusion compared with the PAG blend polymers, which was demonstrated by Extreme Ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) results: the fluorine PAG bound polymer resist gave 45 nm (1:1), 35 nm (1:2), 30 nm (1:3) and 20 nm (1:4) Line/Space as well as 50 nm (1:1) elbow patterned, showed better resolution than the blend sample.
Geometric Singular Perturbations for Multiple Turning Points: Invariant Manifolds and Exchange Lemmas

In this paper, we consider singularly perturbed systems with multiple sets of turning points. Two types of related results contributing to geometric singular perturbation theory are obtained. The first result establishes a new class of invariant manifolds. The second result consists of several exchange lemmas that characterize the evolution of an invariant manifold passing through the vicinity of the slow manifold.
Thermionic Converters in a Large Nuclear Electric Powerplant in Space

A parametric analysis of thermionic converter systems for large space powerplants is presented, and the thermionic systems are compared to the Rankine- cycle turbogenerator on the basis of radiator area per unit of output power. Thermionic performance is computed with the height of the potential barrier above the Fermi levels in the cathode and anode as parameters. The minimum possible radiator area is determined for several configurations as a function of cathode and radiator temperatures. In comparing the thermionic and turbogenerator systems, it is assumed that radiator area is a physically significant index of the powerplant mass, that corrosion limits the liquid metal temperature, and that this limit is the same in both systems. If the liquid metal is used to heat the cathodes, the thermionic system is restricted to peak temperatures the same as those for a turbogenerator, and the thermionic system requires a larger radiator. Incorporating the thermionic diodes into a reactor fuel element and using a liquid metal to cool the anodes allows them to operate at a higher peak temperature for the same corrosion limit. This scheme permits substantial savings in radiator area, up to 50% at a cathode temperature of 1700 deg K and upmore » to 80% at 2300 deg K.« less
An analysis of the cost and revenue of an expanded medical residency

Objective: To analyze the additive costs and revenues resulting from expansion of a medical residency and associated subspecialty programs.
Development of a carrying-capacity model for column froth flotation

The prediction of carrying capacity for a given flotation technology has been commonly achieved using a simplified expression based on a representative particle size and density of the floatable material. However, this expression was derived with several assumptions and limited data ranges that limits accuracy for all materials and conditions. A new expression has been derived which incorporates the effects of particle size distribution and aeration rate. To evaluate the accuracy of the new expression, laboratory, pilot and full-scale data obtained from treating various US coals using the Jameson Cell have been applied to the model. A statistical analysis reveals that the new model provides significant improvement in the carrying capacity prediction. Based on Jameson Cell data, aeration rates below 1.8 cm/s have a significant impact on the carrying capacity. Particle size distribution, which was not included in the earlier expression, was found to significantly affect the carrying capacity by approximately 35% from a narrow to broad size distribution. An analysis, using the mineral data applied to validate the earlier expression, has shown that the new model can be extended to all other column flotation technologies treating feed material other than coal.
Economic evaluation of fourteen methods of estrous detection.

Abstract Costs of 14 methods to detect estrus were compared under simulated commercial dairy situations using artificial insemination. Alternative methods were twice or thrice daily visual observation and factorial combinations with various estrous detection aids [teaser bull, heat mount detector, and tail paint (also in combination with visual observation only during routine chores), estrous synchronization by prostaglandin F 2 α , estrous synchronization plus heat mount detector]. A sensitivity analysis was used to compare tail paint and heat mount detector methods. Total costs for labor and other inputs were estimated for alternative 120-cow dairy herds with cumulative conception rate ≥ 90% by considering five labor wage rates, four first-service conception rates, and three detection rates for each estrous detection method. Heat mount detector and tail paint methods with visual observation only during routine dairy chores always had lowest cost when average wage rate exceeded $2.25/h. To make heat mount detectors competitive, corresponding detection rate would have to be at least 10% higher than for the tail paint method. Unaided visual observation with two checks/d was less expensive than heat mount detector methods when labor had few alternative demands and cost less than $2.25/h. These methods were generally less than half as costly as teaser bull and prostaglandin alternatives.
Nonlinear predictive control of periodically forced chemical reactors

A nonlinear model-predictive control strategy is developed to maintain the superior-to-steady-state performance of a periodically forced chemical reactor. The performance of the predictive controller is investigated in the presence of measurement disturbances and parametric uncertainty. It is also shown that statistically inferred input-output models can be a substitute whenever detailed fundamental models are not available. A nonlinear autoregressive polynomial model based on observed plant data is built and incorporated into the control scheme. The catalytic oxidation of ethylene in a periodically-forced, continuous stirred-tank reactor is considered as the test case.
Oropharyngeal dysphagia and aspiration in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia.

Objectives: To determine whether patients with ataxia-telangiectasia exhibit oropharyngeal dysphagia with concomitant aspiration and to examine the relationships among swallowing function, age, and nutritional status. Study design: Seventy patients (mean age, 10.7 years; range, 1.8 to 30 years) had feeding/swallowing and nutritional evaluations. Fifty-one patients, in whom there were concerns about swallowing safety, were examined with a standardized videofluoroscopic swallow study. Results: Fourteen of the 51 patients (27%) with histories suggestive of dysphagia demonstrated aspiration. Of these, silent aspiration (aspiration without a cough) occurred in 10 (71%) patients. Aspirators were significantly older than non-aspirators (mean age, 16.9 vs 10.8 years; P = .002). Advancing age was the strongest factor associated with aspiration during continuous drinking (P = .01). In patients with ataxia-telangiectasia, weight and weight/height were abnormally low at all ages and most compromised in older patients. Patients who aspirated had significantly lower mean weight (P < .002) and weight/height z scores (P < .001) than did patients who did not aspirate. Conclusions: Oropharyngeal dysphagia is common and appears to be progressive in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia. Older patients also have a higher incidence of poorer nutritional status. The relationship between dysphagia and nutritional status deserves further investigation. (J Pediatr 2000;136:225-31)
Cultural Childbirth Practices, Beliefs, and Traditions in Postconflict Liberia

In this qualitative study we used an interpretive, critical ethnographic approach to provide an understanding of childbirth and maternal illness and death in Liberia through the lens of women, families, and communities. We identified three major themes from the data: (a) secrecy surrounding pregnancy and childbirth; (b) power and authority; and (c) distrust of the health care system. The interpretive theory, Behind the House, generated from data analysis provides an understanding of the larger social and cultural context of childbirth in Liberia. Our findings provide a more complete understanding of the contextual factors that impact on the intractable problem of maternal mortality.
Using variable importance measures from causal inference to rank risk factors of schistosomiasis infection in a rural setting in China

Background: Schistosomiasis infection, contracted through contact with contaminated water, is a global public health concern. In this paper we analyze data from a retrospective study reporting water contact and schistosomiasis infection status among 1011 individuals in rural China. We present semi-parametric methods for identifying risk factors through a comparison of three analysis approaches: a prediction-focused machine learning algorithm, a simple maineffects multivariable regression, and a semi-parametric variable importance (VI) estimate inspired by a causal population intervention parameter. Results: The multivariable regression found only tool washing to be associated with the outcome, with a relative risk of 1.03 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.01-1.05. Three types of water contact were found to be associated with the outcome in the semi-parametric VI analysis: July water contact (VI estimate 0.16, 95% CI 0.11-0.22), water contact from tool washing (VI estimate 0.88, 95% CI 0.80-0.97), and water contact from rice planting (VI estimate 0.71, 95% CI 0.530.96). The July VI result, in particular, indicated a strong association with infection status - its causal interpretation implies that eliminating water contact in July would reduce the prevalence of schistosomiasis in our study population by 84%, or from 0.3 to 0.05 (95% CI 78%-89%). Conclusions: The July VI estimate suggests possible within-season variability in schistosomiasis infection risk, an association not detected by the regression analysis. Though there are many limitations to this study that temper the potential for causal interpretations, if a high-risk time period could be detected in something close to real time, new prevention options would be opened. Most importantly, we emphasize that traditional regression approaches are usually based on arbitrary pre-specified models, making their parameters difficult to interpret in the context of realworld applications. Our results support the practical application of analysis approaches that, in contrast, do not require arbitrary model pre-specification, estimate parameters that have simple public health interpretations, and apply inference that considers model selection as a source of variation.
Assessing Clinical Laboratory Quality: A College of American Pathologists Q-Probes Study of Prothrombin Time INR Structures, Processes, and Outcomes in 98 Laboratories.

Context.— The anticoagulant warfarin has been identified as the second most frequent drug responsible for serious, disabling, and fatal adverse drug events in the United States, and its effect on blood coagulation is monitored by the laboratory test called international normalized ratio (INR). Objective.— To determine the presence of INR policies and procedures, INR practices, and completeness and timeliness of reporting critical INR results in participants' clinical laboratories. Design.— Participants reviewed their INR policies and procedure requirements, identified their practices by using a questionnaire, and studied completeness of documentation and timeliness of reporting critical value INR results for outpatients and emergency department patients. Results.— In 98 participating institutions, the 5 required policies and procedures were in place in 93% to 99% of clinical laboratories. Fifteen options for the allowable variations among duplicate results from different analyzers, 12 different timeliness...
First principles equations of state of MgO and CaO

The ability of local density functional theory to predict properties of oxide minerals at high pressures is tested by computing some thermodynamic properties of MgO and CaO in the B1 (NaCl) and B2 (CsCl) structures. Both static and dynamic contributions to the equations of state are computed ab initio, thus yielding predictions that are completely independent of data. Except for a possible overestimate of the density of B2 phases, the theoretical room temperature isotherms, shock-wave Hugoniots and zero pressure density and elastic parameters are in excellent agreement with data. The predicted B1-B2 transformation pressure for CaO is 32 GPa, compared to the experimental value of 61 GPa. The corresponding pressure for MgO is 205 GPa and is believed to be a lower bound on the actual transformation pressure.
Current Concepts of the Pathogenesis of the Acute Coronary Syndromes

The last decade has witnessed a major reassessment of our perceptions about the acute coronary syndromes. Today, we recognize that thrombosis underlies most acute complications of atherosclerosis, notably unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction. A consensus has emerged that inflammation plays a decisive role in the pathophysiology of these acute thrombotic events (Figure 1). Knowledge of the underlying mechanisms has increased substantially since this topic was last reviewed in these pages 6 years ago. The present article provides an update of this rapidly moving field. Figure 1. Initiation, progression, and complication of human coronary atherosclerotic plaque. Top, Longitudinal section of artery depicting “timeline” of human atherogenesis from normal artery (1) to atheroma that caused clinical manifestations by thrombosis or stenosis (5, 6, 7). Bottom, Cross sections of artery during various stages of atheroma evolution. 1, Normal artery. Note that in human arteries, the intimal layer is much better developed than in most other species. The intima of human arteries contains resident smooth muscle cells often as early as first year of life. 2, Lesion initiation occurs when endothelial cells, activated by risk factors such as hyperlipoproteinemia, express adhesion and chemoattractant molecules that recruit inflammatory leukocytes such as monocytes and T lymphocytes. Extracellular lipid begins to accumulate in intima at this stage. 3, Evolution to fibrofatty stage. Monocytes recruited to artery wall become macrophages and express scavenger receptors that bind modified lipoproteins. Macrophages become lipid-laden foam cells by engulfing modified lipoproteins. Leukocytes and resident vascular wall cells can secrete inflammatory cytokines and growth factors that amplify leukocyte recruitment and cause smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation. 4, As lesion progresses, inflammatory mediators cause expression of tissue factor, a potent procoagulant, and of matrix-degrading proteinases that weaken fibrous cap of plaque. 5, If fibrous cap ruptures at point of weakening, coagulation factors …
RELATION OF THE B VITAMINS TO OVARIAN FUNCTION DURING EXPERIMENTAL HYPERTHYROIDISM1

IT HAS BEEN well established that a relationship exists between the thyroid gland and the reproductive organs. Reiss and Pereny (1928) found that the threshold response of castrated rats to follicular hormone was raised during hyperthyroidism, and Weichert and Boyd (1933) and van Horn (1933) produced diestrus in normal rats by feeding thyroid gland. Halpem and Hendryson (1935) studied the effect of dinitrophenol on the estrous cycle of rats, but found only a slight increase in the length of the cycle, which they interpreted as being due to the toxicity of the drug. Varied interpretations have been given as to the mechanism by which thyroid feeding affects the estrous cycle, and the problem is complicated by the eifect of the concomitant loss of weight, and by the effect of food intake on the estrous cycle (Drill and Sherwood, 1938; Mulinos et al,1939).
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C): we׳ve come a long way, baby.

ARVD/C was recognized as a clinical entity in 1982 with the referral of patients with ventricular tachycardia who had advanced disease [1]. The diagnosis was straightforward since they had markedly enlarged right ventricles, abnormal right ventricular function, and ventricular tachycardia originating from the right ventricle. The electrocardiograms were strikingly abnormal with the majority of patients having T-wave inversion beyond V2. Subsequently, large-scale studies of this ECG parameter in healthy young and middle-aged population have established that T-wave inversion beyond V1 is present in less than 1% of these healthy young and middle-aged adults [2]. Although anterior precordial T-wave inversion is relatively common in black athletes, they can be distinguished as normal by having ST segment elevation that is rare in patients with ARVC [3]. There was no possibility of genetic confirmation in the original series of patients since the abnormal desmosomal genes had not been discovered at that time. In addition, evaluation by 2D echocardiogram and MRI did not have excellent quality, and imaging interpretation was limited by the few number of patients who were recognized with this disease.
Dead-end driven learning

The paper evaluates the effectiveness of learning for speeding up the solution of constraint satisfaction problems. It extends previous work (Dechter 1990) by introducing a new and powerful variant of learning and by presenting an extensive empirical study on much larger and more difficult problem instances. Our results show that learning can speed up backjumping when using either a fixed or dynamic variable ordering. However, the improvement with a dynamic variable ordering is not as great, and for some classes of problems learning is helpful only when a limit is placed on the size of new constraints learned.
Reference escape analysis: optimizing reference counting based on the lifetime of references

In reference counting schemes for automatically reclaiming storage, each time a reference to an object is created or destroyed, the reference count of the object needs to be updated. This may involve expensive inter-processor message exchanges in distributed environments. This overhead can be reduced by analyzing the lifetimes of references to avoid unnecessary updatings. This paper describes a technique for reducing the runtime reference counting overhead through compile-time optimization. We present a compile-time analysis called re~erence escape analysis for higher-order functional languages that determines whether the lifetime of a reference ezceeds the lifetime of the environment in which the reference was created. Using this statically inferred information, a method for optimizing reference counting schemes is described. Our method can be applied to reference counting schemes in both uniprocessor and multiprocessor environments.
Do prescription drug advertisements educate the public? The consumer answers

Increasing reliance upon direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) to promote prescription medications has intensified debate about advertising effects on patients and the educational merits of the advertisements. This research investigates, from the consumers’ point of view, the capacity of drug advertising to educate. We conducted focus groups to examine consumers’ drug information needs as well as their perceptions of DTCA’s usefulness and quality. Information needs reported by participants included drug purpose, risks, benefits, cost information, and treatment options. Participants felt DTCA raised awareness but provided limited information about the benefits, harms, and uses of specific drugs. Perceived limitations of DTC advertisements include garbled messages, poor formats, and sparse details about clinical research, costs, and comparative therapies. Findings indicate drug advertisements may not serve to educate consumers in the way DTCA proponents contend. The educational value of DTCA could be improved by requiring advertisements to provide specific drug and medical condition information in a format easily understood by lay audiences.
Rotational invariance in analytic first, second and third energy derivative studies in molecular electronic structure theory

Abstract The analytic determination of second and third energy derivatives in Hartree-Fock theory will probably become routine during the next few years. Rotational invariance may be exploited to reduce the number of truly unique integral derivatives in such theoretical treatments. A systematic treatment of these invariance properties is presented here.
Materials problems affecting reliability and yield of wire bonding in VLSI devices.

Materials problems have always been a significant cause of wire bond failures in microelectronics. However, modern VLSI materials, processing, and packaging methods combined often result in new or masked versions of old failure mechanisms. This paper describes the classical Au-Al intermetallic compound problem as described by a new two-dimensional finite element diffusion model and demonstrates that diffusion in poor welds is more rapid than in bulk couples. Failures resulting from modern bonding material couples (e.g., Cu-Au, Al-Ag, etc.) can result in bond failures superficially resembling Au-Al type failures. Failures resulting from bonds made to contaminated gold electroplated films are described, and a new failure model resulting from hydrogen in these films is shown.
Spatial Imaginaries Research in Geography: Synergies, Tensions, and New Directions

Human geographers have produced a diverse, and growing, body of literature documenting the existence and consequence of spatial imaginaries. However, reviews explaining and evaluating how geographers conceptualize and empirically verify spatial imaginaries, along with the field's tensions and potential directions, are lacking. This article addresses this gap by assessing geography's spatial imaginary literature. I identify shared features across the literature, while arguing geographers have, in fact, verified three different kinds of spatial imaginaries: imaginaries of places, idealized spaces, and spatial transformations. The article recommends researchers better account for these three, both their differences and relationalities. I also explain and evaluate geography's four competing conceptions of spatial imaginaries' ontology. Some geographers see them as semiotic orders, other geographers believe them to be worldviews, yet spatial imaginaries are predominantly viewed as representational discourse. Recently, however, some geographers have argued them to be performative discourses. This article advocates viewing spatial imaginaries as performative; arguing this view – among other things – clarifies the association between spatial imaginaries and material practices while offering new research directions for the field.
RELATIVE VERSUS ABSOLUTE REINFORCEMENT EFFECTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR PREFERENCE ASSESSMENTS

We compared results obtained in two previous studies on reinforcer identification (Fisher et al., 1992; Pace, Ivancic, Edwards, Iwata, & Page, 1985) by combining methodologies from both studies. Eight individuals with mental retardation participated. During Phase 1, two preference assessments were conducted, one in which stimuli were presented singly (SS method) and one in which stimuli were presented in pairs (PS method). Based on these results, two types of stimuli were identified for each participant: High-preference (HP) stimuli were those selected on 75% or more trials during both preference assessments; low-preference (LP) stimuli were those selected on 100% of the SS trials but on 25% or fewer of the PS trials. During Phase 2, the reinforcing effects of HP and LP stimuli were evaluated in reversal designs under two test conditions: concurrent and single schedules of continuous reinforcement. Two response options were available under the concurrent-schedule condition: One response produced access to the HP stimulus; the other produced access to the LP stimulus. Only one response option was available under the single-schedule condition, and that response produced access only to the LP stimulus. Results indicated that 7 of the 8 participants consistently showed preference for the HP stimulus under the concurrent schedule. However, when only the LP stimulus was available during the single-schedule condition, response rates for 6 of the 7 participants were as high as those observed for the HP stimulus during the concurrent-schedule condition (1 participant showed no reinforcement effect). These results indicate that, although the concurrent-schedule procedure is well suited to the assessment of relative reinforcement effects (preference for one reinforcer over another), absolute reinforcement effects associated with a given stimulus may be best examined under single-schedule conditions.
Evaluation of Peripheral Neuropathy of Unknown Origin in an Outpatient Foot and Ankle Practice

Background:The foot and ankle surgeon can see peripheral neuropathy in the treatment of foot and ankle conditions. The purpose of this study was (1) to evaluate the demographics and presenting complaints of patients diagnosed with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy during an examination by a foot and ankle surgeon and (2) to identify the type and frequency of subsequent diagnosis of medical causes of neuropathy.Methods:This was a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy in our practice between January 1997 and December 2008. Ninety-five patients were identified, and demographic data, presenting complaints, and medical comorbidities were extracted from the medical record. Examination findings of decreased sensation to Semmes Weinstein 5.07 monofilament testing were documented, and electromyogram and nerve conduction study results were reviewed when available. Laboratory values were noted, as were neurologic evaluations performed to diagnose medical conditions associated...
Management of chemotherapy-induced side-effects.

As well as having antiemetic effects, mirtazapine is also effective in treatment of depressive symptoms, pain, anorexia, anxiety, and insomnia— comorbidities that are common in patients with cancer and have been linked to poor quality of life and compliance with treatment. 2–5,7
Noise control using adjoint-based optimization

Attempts to control the jet noise have been hampered by an insufficent understanding of its mechanisms, resulting in a reliance on trial-and-error experimentation to reduce noise. This paper aims to explore the noise mechanism using adjoint-based noise control in conjunction with a direct numerical simulation. A control problem is formulated with the objective of reducing acoustic intensity on a line in the sound field. The cost function that quantifies this is used to force the adjoint of the compressible flow equation, which are solved numerically in the same way we solve the flow equations. The adjoint variables provide the sensitivity of the noise, as we have specifically defined it, to changes in actuation. Using this approach, the noise radiated from a two-dimensional mixing layer with convective Mach number Mc = 0.4 and Reynolds number based on vorticity thickness Reω = 500 was reduced by 6.3dB. This flow is a model of the near nozzle region of a jet and generalization of the technique to a jet is straightforward. Despite the substantial reduction in the noise, the changes of the flow field are small, as seen by examination of the turbulence kinetic energy and the momemtum thickness before and after control is applied. We conclude that the controler makes subtle changes to the radiating portion of the flow without drastically altering its energetics. Our preliminary investigations into the nature of the automatically identified control reveal little of how it works.
One of These Laws is Not Like the Others: Why the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act Raises New Constitutional Questions

In 2003, the United States Supreme Court issued its only two opinions regarding the constitutionality of sex offender registration and notification statutes. The two opinions, Smith v. Doe ("Smith") and Connecticut Department of Public Safety v. Doe ("DPS"), upheld the Alaska and Connecticut registry and notification laws against Ex Post Facto Clause and due process challenges. Three years later, the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act ("SORNA") was passed as part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. The federal statute was very different from the state statutes that the Court reviewed. Most notable among the differences was the creation of the federal crime of "failure to register" which was punishable by up to ten years imprisonment. Despite the significance of the disparities between the state and federal laws, district courts across the country have virtually rubber stamped the criminal provisions of SORNA as constitutional. The district courts' reasoning has been almost entirely based upon superficial, mechanical applications of the Court's decisions in Smith and DPS. This article contends that most district courts have been severely misguided in reading the two Court opinions and the statutory provisions of SORNA. Consequently, this article concludes that either Congress should amend SORNA or courts should strike down portions of SORNA on Ex Post Facto Clause, due process, and Commerce Clause grounds.
Highly predictive support vector machine (SVM) models for anthrax toxin lethal factor (LF) inhibitors

Anthrax is a highly lethal, acute infectious disease caused by the rod-shaped, Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus anthracis. The anthrax toxin lethal factor (LF), a zinc metalloprotease secreted by the bacilli, plays a key role in anthrax pathogenesis and is chiefly responsible for anthrax-related toxemia and host death, partly via inactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK) enzymes and consequent disruption of key cellular signaling pathways. Antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones are capable of clearing the bacilli but have no effect on LF-mediated toxemia; LF itself therefore remains the preferred target for toxin inactivation. However, currently no LF inhibitor is available on the market as a therapeutic, partly due to the insufficiency of existing LF inhibitor scaffolds in terms of efficacy, selectivity, and toxicity. In the current work, we present novel support vector machine (SVM) models with high prediction accuracy that are designed to rapidly identify potential novel, structurally diverse LF inhibitor chemical matter from compound libraries. These SVM models were trained and validated using 508 compounds with published LF biological activity data and 847 inactive compounds deposited in the Pub Chem BioAssay database. One model, M1, demonstrated particularly favorable selectivity toward highly active compounds by correctly predicting 39 (95.12%) out of 41 nanomolar-level LF inhibitors, 46 (93.88%) out of 49 inactives, and 844 (99.65%) out of 847 Pub Chem inactives in external, unbiased test sets. These models are expected to facilitate the prediction of LF inhibitory activity for existing molecules, as well as identification of novel potential LF inhibitors from large datasets.
Ultrasonic treatment of PP/CNT composites during twin‐screw extrusion: Effect of screw configuration

PP/CNT composites were prepared by means of an ultrasonic twin extruder with three screw configurations at ultrasonic amplitudes up to 13 μm to compare their efficiency in dispersing CNT in PP. Using these screw configurations, the pressure in the ultrasonic treatment zone was varied in order to elucidate the effect of pressure on ultrasonic cavitation behavior in PP and PP/CNT composites. Rheological and mechanical behaviors were analyzed to reflect the dispersion of CNT. The results indicated that the dispersion of CNT in PP is more related to the number of kneading elements in the screw configuration and less to the residence time. This was explained by simulating the mixing effect using the flow analysis network. Comparison of the complex viscosities of untreated and treated PP indicated that at the same amplitude of ultrasonic treatment, PP degraded more at lower ambient pressure. At the lowest ambient pressure, the cavitation in the polymer matrix was intense at the highest amplitude but it had not always led to the best dispersion due to the suppression of the cavitation in the agglomerates. Therefore, the ultrasonic treatment increased the dispersion level of CNT in PP with the best improvement not always occurring at the highest amplitude. Composites prepared at an ultrasonic amplitude of 10 μm in the screw configuration providing an intermediate pressure exhibited elongation at break as high as 320% compared to 247% for the untreated composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2695–2706, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
An Improved Delves Cup Atomic Absorption Procedure for Determination of Lead in Blood and Urine

The Delves [ Analyst (London) 95 , 431 (1970)] cup atomic absorption procedure for determination of lead in blood has been studied in detail and modified to permit the direct use of aqueous standards. Precision has been improved by stabilizing the burner mount. The small nonspecific absorption is caused by molecular sodium chloride and potassium chloride, and can be compensated for by including sodium chloride in the aqueous standards. If the cups are pre-coated with albumin, aqueous standards can be used and the more complicated method of additions is obviated. A similar technique was used to examine the analysis of lead in urine.
Evaluating ITU-T G.9959 Based Wireless Systems Used in Critical Infrastructure Assets

ITU-T G.9959 wireless connectivity is increasingly incorporated in the critical infrastructure. However, evaluating the robustness and security of commercially-available products based on this standard is challenging due to the closed-source nature of the transceiver and application designs. Given that ITU-T G.9959 transceivers are being used in smart grids, building security systems and safety sensors, the development of reliable, open-source tools would enhance the ability to monitor and secure ITU-T G.9959 networks. This chapter discusses the ITU-T G.9959 wireless standard and research on ITU-T G.9959 network security. An open-source, software-defined radio implementation of an ITU-T G.9959 protocol sniffer is used to explore several passive reconnaissance techniques and deduce the properties of active network devices. The experimental results show that some properties are observable regardless of whether or not encryption is used. In particular, the acknowledgment response times vary due to differences in vendor firmware implementations.