cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How Fractures Are Described: By the Number of Fracture Fragments

The number of fracture fragments can vary from zero up to multiple with significant comminution. Being able to identify the number of fracture fragments is imperative when describing fractures on radiographs. Being able to describe fractures based on the number of fracture fragments aids in understanding correct patient diagnosis, treatment plan, operative technique, and communication of fracture pattern to other healthcare workers.
Conservadurismo y crítica literaria en La Unión de Valparaíso (1960-1966)

Resumen: Este trabajo indaga en el sesgo ideologico que presenta la critica literaria del diario La Union de Valparaiso. Considerando una seleccion de escritos publicada entre 1960 y 1966 bajo la optica de analisis del discurso propuesta por Teun Van Dijk, damos cuenta de las modalidades y del sistema de valores con que los criticos abordan el hecho literario, sosteniendo que estos juegan un papel importante en la seleccion de las obras y su consiguiente interpretacion para la comunidad de lectores. Se concluye que las distintas contribuciones concuerdan, de forma velada o manifiesta, con la linea editorial conservadora del periodico. Palabras clave: Critica literaria; La Union de Valparaiso; sesgo ideologico; conservadurismo. Abstract: This work investigates the ideological bias presented by La Union de Valparaiso literary criticism. Considering a selection of writings published between 1960 and 1966 under discourse analysis perspective proposed by Teun Van Dijk (2003), we realize the methods and the system of values that critics use to approach a literary text, arguing that these play an important role in texts selection and its consequent interpretation for the community of readers. It is concluded that the different contributions concur with the newspaper conservative editorial policy in a concealed or manifest way. Keywords: Literary criticism; La Union de Valparaiso; ideological bias; conservatism
First-In-Human Phase 1 Clinical Trials - A Single-Center Experience In The Era Of Modern Oncotherapeutics

In the era of precision medicine the treatment options for cancer patients and subsequent outcomes are expected to improve. We present a review of patients enrolled in first-in-human Phase1 trials at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Between 1/2015–6/2017, 162 cancer patients (whole cohort, WC) were enrolled on phase1 studies receiving either targeted therapy (TT) or immuno-therapy (IOT). We assessed 90 day mortality (90DM) and time to treatment failure (TTF) to determine the predictors. Of the WC (122 (TT), 40 (IOT)), 90 (56%) received ≥ 2 prior therapies and 38 (24%) ⩾ 5 prior therapies. Overall, Grade 3 or 4 events were observed in 33% (WC) vs 31% (TT) vs 38% (IOT). The 90DM was 9.3% (WC) vs 7.4% (TT) vs 15% (IOT). The median TTF was 4.2 months vs 4.5 m vs 3.6 m. The number of lines of prior therapy and performance status were identified as outcome predictors. Our data reflects the new trend in precision oncology where majority received non-cytotoxic therapeutic interventions. The observation that number of lines of prior therapy and performance status predictive of PFS and 90DM emphasizes the need to consider phase1 trials earlier, preferably upon progression following definitive therapy.
Risk-Based Quality and Compliance Management in Clinical Trials with Combination Products in Changing Global Regulatory Environment.

Newly emerging products which combine drugs, devices, and biologics are expected to provide new opportunities in bridging device and drug capabilities and establish synergies while bringing sophisticated combination products to consumers. The emergence of these novel products has triggered new regulatory, strategic, and technological challenges. While progress has been made at clarifying the issues that arise most frequently, regulatory authorities and product developers continue to struggle with complex regulatory and technical issues encompassing the development programs for combination products. A risk-based approach requires not only a strategy but also tools to define key indicators to measure specific risks. Key risk indicators (KRIs) and risk-based quality management systems should focus on safety of research subjects and data integrity. We analyzed current regulatory guidelines throughout the life cycle of combination products and compared old and new approaches to risk-based quality and compliance management for current good manufacturing practices and during pre-clinical and clinical phases of combination products development. Cause–effect analysis for two major risk categories in clinical trials with combination products was performed. The results of our analysis are based on observations from 15 clinical trials, which were conducted with combination products. Based on our findings, we proposed practical recommendations for the development of KRIs to improve conduct and ensure safety of research subjects in trials with combination products by utilizing risk-based quality management approach. Combination products, due to their specific nature, can increase risks while being tested in clinical trials. Metrics critical to risks and quality management should be linked to particular processes within development program for combination products. Ongoing collaboration between regulators, industry, and other stakeholders is essential to streamlining of the global combination entities development and approval process in a way that will produce safe and effective products for consumers.
Tensile creep behavior of SiCf/SiC ceramic matrix minicomposites

Abstract Single fiber-tow minicomposites represent the major load-bearing element of woven and laminate ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). To understand the effects of fiber type, fiber content, and matrix cracking on tensile creep in SiCf/SiC CMCs, single-tow SiCf/SiC minicomposites with different fiber types and contents were investigated. The minicomposites studied contained either Hi-Nicalon™ or Hi-Nicalon™ Type S SiC fibers with a boron nitride (BN) interphase and a chemical-vapor-infiltrated-silicon-carbide (CVI-SiC) matrix. Tensile creep was performed at 1200 °C in air. A bottom-up creep modeling approach was applied where creep parameters of the fibers and matrix were obtained separately at 1200 °C. Next, a theoretical model based on the rule of mixtures was derived to model the fiber and matrix creep-time-dependent stress redistribution. Fiber and matrix creep parameters, load transfer model results, and numerical modeling were used to construct a creep strain model to predict creep damage evolution of minicomposites with different fiber types and contents.
Lipocalin 2 deficiency-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis evokes metabolic syndrome in aged mice

Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) is a multifunctional innate immune protein that limits microbial overgrowth. Our previous study demonstrated that the gut microbiota directly induces intestinal Lcn2 production, and Lcn2-deficient (Lcn2-/-) mice exhibit gut dysbiosis. Coincidentally, gut dysbiosis is associated with metabolic syndrome pathogenesis, and elevated Lcn2 levels has been considered a potential clinical biomarker of metabolic syndrome. Yet whether Lcn2 mitigates or exacerbates metabolic syndrome remains inconclusive. Our objective was to determine whether Lcn2 deficiency-induced compositional changes in gut microbiota contribute to gain in adiposity in aged mice. Utilizing Lcn2-/- mice and their wild-type (WT) littermates, we measured metabolic markers, including fasting blood glucose, serum lipids, fat pad weight, and insulin resistance at ages 3, 6, and 9 mo old. Relative to WT mice, aged Lcn2-/- mice exhibited a gain in adiposity associated with numerous features of metabolic syndrome, including insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Surprisingly, supplementation with a high-fat diet did not further aggravate metabolic syndrome that spontaneously occurs in Lcn2-/- mice by 6 mo of age. Interestingly, chow-fed Lcn2-/- mice displayed marked differences in the bacterial abundance and metabolomic profile of the gut microbiota compared with WT mice. Overall, our results demonstrate that Lcn2 is essential to maintain metabolic and gut microbiotal homeostasis, where deficiency induces spontaneous delayed onset of metabolic syndrome.
Response to re-challenge of a MEK inhibitor in a patient with recurrent low-grade serous carcinoma of the peritoneum

Low-grade serous carcinoma of the ovary/peritoneum is a rare epithelial cancer subtype characterized by younger age at diagnosis, relative chemoresistance, and prolonged overall survival compared with high-grade serous carcinoma. In addition, alterations in the mitogen activated protein kinase pathway are frequent and play a major role in the pathogenesis of this tumor. MEK inhibitors have demonstrated promising activity in the treatment of recurrent low-grade serous carcinoma. Although prevailing wisdom in cancer therapy is that the re-treatment with a drug after emergence of resistance is futile, we report the initial case of a patient with recurrent low-grade serous carcinoma who experienced a partial response when re-challenged with a MEK inhibitor after previously having prolonged stable disease followed by disease progression on a MEK inhibitor.
The Multi-material Actuator for Variable Stiffness (MAVS): Design, Modeling, and Characterization of a Soft Actuator for Lateral Ankle Support

This paper presents the design of the Multi-material Actuator for Variable Stiffness (MAVS), which consists of an inflatable soft fabric actuator fixed between two layers of rigid retainer pieces. The MAVS is designed to be integrated with a soft robotic ankle-foot orthosis (SR-AFO) exosuit to aid in supporting the human ankle in the inversion/eversion directions. This design aims to assist individuals affected with chronic ankle instability (CAI) or other impairments to the ankle joint. The MAVS design is made from compliant fabric materials, layered and constrained by thin rigid retainers to prevent volume increase during actuation. The design was optimized to provide the greatest stiffness and least deflection for a beam positioned as a cantilever with a point load. Geometric programming of materials was used to maximize stiffness when inflated and minimize stiffness when passive. An analytic model of the MAVS was created to evaluate the effects in stiffness observed by varying the ratio in length between the rigid pieces and the soft actuator. A finite element analysis (FEA) was generated to analyze and predict the behavior of the MAVS prior to fabrication. The results from the analytic model and FEA study were compared to experimentally obtained results of the MAVS. The MAVS with the greatest stiffness was observed when the gap between the rigid retainers was smallest and the rigid retainer length was smallest. The MAVS design with the highest stiffness at 100 kPa was determined, which required 26.71 ± 0.06 N to deflect the actuator 20 mm, and a resulting stiffness of 1,335.5 N/m and 9.1% margin of error from the model predictions.
PDede: Partitioned, Deduplicated, Delta Branch Target Buffer

Due to large instruction footprints, contemporary data center applications suffer from frequent frontend stalls. Despite being a significant contributor to these stalls, the Branch Target Buffer (BTB) has received less attention compared to other frontend structures such as the instruction cache. While prior works have looked at enhancing the BTB through more efficient replacement policies and prefetching policies, a thorough analysis into optimizing the BTB’s storage efficiency is missing. In this work, we analyze BTB accesses for a large number (100+) of frontend bound applications to understand their branch target characteristics. This analysis, provides three significant observations about the nature of branch targets: (1) a significant number of branch instructions have the same branch target, (2) a significant number of branch targets share the same page address, and (3) a significant percentage of branch instructions and their targets are located on the same page. Furthermore, we observe that while applications’ address spaces are sparsely populated, they exhibit spatial locality within and across pages. We refer to these multi-page addresses as regions and we show that applications traverse a significantly smaller number of regions than pages. Based on these insights, we propose PDede, an efficient re-design of the BTB micro-architecture that improves storage efficiency by removing redundancy among branches and their targets. PDede introduces three techniques, (a) BTB Partitioning, (b) Branch Target Deduplication, and (c) Delta Branch Target Encoding to reduce BTB miss induced frontend stalls. We evaluate PDede across 100+ applications, spanning several usage scenarios, and show that it provides an average 14.4% (up to 76%) IPC speedup by reducing BTB misses by 54.7% on average (and up to 99.8%).
Revolution, revolt and reform in North Africa : the Arab Spring and beyond

Introduction - Laremont 1 Revolution, Revolt, and Reform in North Africa -Ricardo Rene Laremont 2 Demographics, Economics, and Technology: Background to the North African Revolutions- Ricardo Rene Laremont 3 The Tunisian Revolution: The Revolution of Dignity - Amira Aleya-Sghaier 4 The Egyptian Revolution: The Power of Mass Mobilization and the Spirit of Tahrir Square - Emad El-Din Shahin 5 The February 17th Intifada in Libya: Disposing of the Regime and Issues of State Building - Youssef M. Sawani 6 Morocco: A Reformist Monarchy? - Mohamed Darif 7 Algeria: Untenable Exceptionalism During the Spring of Upheavals-Azzedine Layachi 8 Moving Past Revolution and Revolt: Transitions to Democracy in North Africa- Ricardo Rene Laremont
Ensemble level upscaling for compositional flow simulation

Uncertainty quantification is typically accomplished by simulating multiple geological realizations, which can be very expensive computationally if the flow process is complicated and the models are highly resolved. Upscaling procedures can be applied to reduce computational demands, though it is essential that the resulting coarse-model predictions correspond to reference fine-scale solutions. In this work, we develop an ensemble level upscaling (EnLU) procedure for compositional systems, which enables the efficient generation of multiple coarse models for use in uncertainty quantification. We apply a newly developed global compositional upscaling method to provide coarse-scale parameters and functions for selected realizations. This global upscaling entails transmissibility and relative permeability upscaling, along with the computation of a-factors to capture component fluxes. Additional features include near-well upscaling for all coarse parameters and functions, and iteration on the a-factors, which is shown to improve accuracy. In the EnLU framework, this global upscaling is applied for only a few selected realizations. For 90 % or more of the realizations, upscaled functions are assigned statistically based on quickly computed flow and permeability attributes. A sequential Gaussian co-simulation procedure is incorporated to provide coarse models that honor the spatial correlation structure of the upscaled properties. The resulting EnLU procedure is applied for multiple realizations of two-dimensional models, for both Gaussian and channelized permeability fields. Results demonstrate that EnLU provides P10, P50, and P90 results for phase and component production rates that are in close agreement with reference fine-scale results. Less accuracy is observed in realization-by-realization comparisons, though the models are still much more accurate than those generated using standard coarsening procedures.
Chronic alcohol consumption decreases the survival and compromises the antitumor immune response of mice bearing estrogen receptor positive E0771 breast cancer (TUM2P.898)

Epidemiological data convincingly indicate that chronic alcohol consumption increases the risk of breast cancer, especially estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer in women. The effect of alcohol on antitumor immunity and survival remains to be elucidated. Herein, we implanted ER+ E0771 breast cancer cells into the mammary pad of female C57BL/6 mice consuming 20% w/v alcohol for three months and examined the effect of chronic alcohol consumption on tumor growth, dynamic changes in the antitumor immune response and host survival. Alcohol did not affect primary tumor growth or the body weight of tumor-bearing mice; however, it decreased survival. Alcohol did not alter the percentage of MDSC, Treg, CD4+ T or CD8+ T cells in the spleen and blood, but increased theCD4/CD8 ratio. B cells decreased during tumor growth, and iNKT cells increased in the blood of alcohol-consuming mice. In non-tumor-bearing mice, alcohol increases IFN-γ-producing CD8+ T cells and NK cells. Four weeks after E0771 inoculation, the percentage of IFN-γ-producing CD8+ T cells and NK cells were lower in alcohol-consuming mice compared to water-drinking mice. Alcohol consumption also decreased survival of mice immunized with an E0771 cell lysate and boosted with αGalCer compared to water-drinking counterparts. Collectively, chronic alcohol consumption compromises antitumor immunity and decreases the survival of mice bearing ER+ breast cancer.
Large-Eddy Simulations of Baroclinic Instability and Turbulent Mixing

Abstract : The long-term goal of this project is to improve our ability to understand, model and predict lateral mixing and the associated submesoscale physical structure and processes in the upper and interior ocean. The main objective of this project is to examine the interaction between baroclinic, mesoscale eddies and turbulence using a large-eddy simulation (LES) model. Cases will focus on strong, baroclinic waves that form in the mixed layer along surface fronts with scales of a few km, and on mesoscale eddies that are imbedded within larger scale frontal regions. Our goal is to quantify, understand, and ultimately parameterize the physical processes that lead to lateral mixing. Simulations will help guide field experiments planned as part of the Lateral Mixing DRI, and provide a tool for understanding observations in the analysis phase of the project.
Pneumococcal Pneumonia in Adults: Epidemiology, Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Therapy

Rates of early mortality, within the first week after the onset of illness, have remained high for over 40 years, suggesting that, despite the availability of potent antimicrobials and intensive care support, prevention must be the keystone of the effective control of pneumococcal disease. A multivariate analysis of 129 adults hospitalized with community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia in Edmonton, Canada, identified a history of smoking, fever, myalgia, chest pain, altered mental state, abdominal pain, and tachycardia as significant predictors of bacteremia. The presence of radiographic findings is key in establishing the diagnosis of pneumonia. Physicians may overdiagnose pneumonia based on patient histories and physical findings alone. With Gram staining and culture of expectorated sputum, rates of pathogen detection in comprehensive epidemiologic studies of CAP are only 30 to 50%, often with paired acute and convalescent serology for atypical organisms. The isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae from cultures of specimens from normally sterile sites is relatively insensitive. Pneumococcal surface adhesin A (PsaA) is a conserved and highly immunogenic protein of S. pneumoniae expressed at the cell surface in all 90 pneumococcal serotypes. Underlying malignancy (both pulmonary and extrapulmonary) and the absence of fever also predicted lethal infection in most of the studies in which the variables were examined. The goal for clinicians and patients is improved survival, the more rapid resolution of disease and thus decreased need for admission and decreased length of hospital stays, and decreased cost.
NFATc1 mediates Pak1 activation in the modulation of chemokine-induced human aortic smooth muscle cell F-actin stress fiber formation, migration, and proliferation and injury-induced vascular wall remodeling (1158.5)

In addition to their role in cell proliferation, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) mediate cell migration; however the underlying mechanisms are not clear. Therefore, the objective of this study is t...
Regulation of the phototrophic iron oxidation (pio) genes in Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE‐1 is mediated by the global regulator, FixK

The pioABC operon is required for phototrophic iron oxidative (photoferrotrophic) growth by the α-proteobacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1. Expression analysis of this operon showed that it was transcribed and translated during anaerobic growth, upregulation being observed only under photoferrotrophic conditions. Very low levels of transcription were observed during aerobic growth, suggesting expression was induced by anoxia. The presence of two canonical FixK boxes upstream of the identified pioABC transcription start site implicated FixK as a likely regulator. To test this possibility, a ΔfixK mutant of R. palustris TIE-1 was assessed for pioABC expression. pioABC expression decreased dramatically in ΔfixK versus WT during photoferrotrophic growth, implying that FixK positively regulates its expression; coincidently, the onset of iron oxidation was prolonged in this mutant. In contrast, pioABC expression increased in ΔfixK under all non-photoferrotrophic conditions tested, suggesting the presence of additional levels of regulation. Purified FixK directly bound only the proximal FixK box in gel mobility-shift assays. Mutant expression analysis revealed that FixK regulates anaerobic phototrophic expression of other target genes with FixK binding sites in their promoters. This study shows that FixK regulates key iron metabolism genes in an α-proteobacterium, pointing to a departure from the canonical Fur/Irr mode of regulation.
Group Dynamics and the Prison Guard Subculture: Is the Subculture an Impediment to Helping Inmates?

It is often argued that correctional officers as a group hold values that are antiethical to helping inmates. This assumption links "guard subculture" values to reinforcing group solidarity among correctional officers. This paper explores some of the literature on correctional officers from the perspective of the social psychology of group dynamics. Its conclusion are that factors which appear to foster group cohesion and group identification among correctional officers are relatively weak or absent. Under conditions of stress, however, these conditions are capable of mobilization. In general, this paperfinds that the guard subculture is not necessarily an impediment to positive guard behaviors.
ATMOSPHERIC NUCLEI IN THE REMOTE FREE-TROPOSPHERE

During May-June of 1990 an extensive flight series to survey aerosol present in the upper-troposphere was undertaken aboard the NASA DC-8 as part of the CLObal Backscatter Experiment (GLOBE). About 50,000 km were characterized between 8–12 km altitude and between 70°N and 58°S. Aerosol with diameters greater than 3nm were counted and sized with a combination of condensation nuclei counters and optical particle counters. Aerosol number and mass concentrations were separately identified with regard to both refractory and volatile components. Regions of the free-troposphere with the lowest mass concentrations were generally found to have the highest number concentrations and appeared to be effective regions for new particle production. These new particle concentrations appear inversely related to available aerosol surface area and their volatility suggests a sulfuric acid composition. The long lifetime of these new particles aloft can result in their growth to sizes effective as CN and CCN that can be mixed throughout the troposphere.
Turning whine into wine: the fiscal impact of comprehensive documentation and billing for nonoperative pediatric surgical services

Abstract Purpose Some pediatric surgeons rarely document nonoperative services, believing that the reimbursement provided for such care is negligible. We evaluated the impact of comprehensive documentation and billing for nonoperative, pediatric surgical care. Methods All bills submitted for inpatient, nonoperative care for 1 year were reviewed. Total receipts for documented admissions, consultations, critical care, and daily care were determined. The Evaluation and Management code billed for each service was recorded, and the total and average payments attributable to each Evaluation and Management code were calculated. Results Fifty-six percent of services were covered by Medicaid and 26% by a commercial insurer. There were 607 billed admission history and physical exams for which reimbursement totaled $43,493. Critical care services were provided to 49 patients and yielded $8964 in payments. Six hundred thirty-nine inpatient consultations were performed with a reimbursement of $42,830. Daily care services were billed 1044 times and produced $71,579 in payments. Overall reimbursement for documented, nonoperative services was $166,866. This represented 16.2% of total, noncontracted income for the practice. Conclusion Despite a payer mix heavily weighted toward Medicaid, comprehensive documentation and billing for nonoperative services increased total, noncontracted reimbursement by almost 20% over what it would have been had only operative services been billed. The yield from properly documented, nonoperative care can be substantial.
The MGIS: a minimal geographic information system accessible to users who are blind

Spatial data are increasingly available, but the ubiquitous use of graphical displays to communicate such data renders it inaccessible to people who are blind or low vision. Not only does this affect the level of access to data, it also results in limited educational opportunities due to a lack of accessible maps and geographic information systems. This lack may be due in part to the challenge of creating a system that provides a usable display without relying on vision. A simple replacement of symbology from a map intended for a two dimensional graphical display with parameters for other modalities such as audio with one primary axis (time) is insufficient. To address the need for an accessible learning materials, we present a minimal geographic information system (mGIS) that uses an auditory display in combination with a tablet with stylus input device. Non-speech audio communicates attribute data, text-to-speech software renders feedback from the application menus, and kinesthetic feedback from actively controlling the stylus conveys location within the display. This paper presents details of the software implementation, discusses the development of an auditory symbology for choropleth maps (maps that display patterns of data over geographic space), and describes initial evaluation of usability.
More Than Enough Guilt to Go Around: Oedipal Guilt, Survival Guilt, Separation Guilt:

The concepts of oedipal guilt, survivor guilt, and separation guilt are examined using clinical material from a child case to demonstrate the intermingling of these constructs. A brief review of their evolution in the psychoanalytic literature reveals a frequent conflation of the terms guilt and fear, the former at times standing in for both meanings. The fear/guilt distinction and the subsequent differentiation of guilt into oedipal, survivor, and separation guilt have implications for how analysts understand and interpret particular kinds of clinical material. Two sets of adult clinical data are next presented: the first illustrates a shift from interpreting a patient's fear of retribution for forbidden desires to interpreting guilt over pursuing those desires. The second vignette illustrates a common dynamic in which a patient's fear/anxiety regarding the ability to lead an independent life defends against deeper feelings of guilt over this same desire. This latter dynamic can play an important role in negative therapeutic reactions and interminable analyses. Developmental research suggests that toward the end of the first year of life, infants' capacity to attribute independent mental states and intentionality to self and others allows for the rudimentary experience of guilt.
Language Intervention at the Middle School: Complex Talk Reflects Complex Thought

Purpose In this article, the author discusses 2 points raised by Kamhi (2014) in his lead article to this clinical forum: (a) the need for speech-language pathologists to consider typical language development as they plan intervention and (b) the importance of addressing complex syntax. Method A hypothetical scenario of a 7th grade English class assignment is presented, and aspects of the assignment that would be quite challenging to middle school adolescents with language impairments are highlighted. The author then describes strategies that a speech-language pathologist could use to enhance students' success with the assignment. This approach emphasizes the importance of collaborating with the classroom teacher and reading specialist, having knowledge of the Common Core State Standards and the language demands of the classroom, and understanding later language development and the reasons why speakers and writers use complex syntax. Conclusion When language intervention incorporates these points, adolesc...
Three stages of the menopausal transition from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study: toward a more precise definition.

Objectives As more interest centers on the years surrounding menopause, the inconsistent use of nonspecific terminology to define these years becomes a problem. Our objective was to describe the development of specific criteria that define stages within the menopausal transition and to apply these criteria to classify midlife women into a stage of transition. Design A total of 184 midlife women from the Seattle Midlife Women's Health Study taking no hormones and for whom data were available about initial menstrual cycle changes were studied. Questionnaires about menstrual cycle changes and menstrual calendars were mailed yearly. Intra-individual analyses for type and chronology of menstrual cycle changes during midlife for change in flow amount or duration, cycle length change, cycle irregularity, or skipped periods were conducted. Results Changes in flow or cycle length most frequently preceded irregularity without skipped periods, which preceded skipped periods. Initial changes began in the early 30s and most frequently between ages 40 and 44. Only 14% had irregularity as the initial change. Three stages of the menopausal transition were identified: early (flow and/or cycle length changes), middle (irregularity without skipping), and late (skipped periods). Age did not differentiate the three stages. Conclusions These findings provide evidence for a progression of menstrual cycle events through the menopausal transition, which form the basis for three stages of the transition: early, middle, and late transition. Studies about the entire transition need to include women younger than 45. Both menstrual calendars and questionnaire data are needed to identify these three stages, and precise definitions of irregularity and skipped period are necessary.
Seismic Fragility Study of Fire Sprinkler Piping Systems with Grooved Fit Joints

AbstractA comprehensive analytical model is developed for a pressurized fire sprinkler piping system of a hospital building. A suite of ninety-six artificial triaxial floor acceleration histories is used to generate seismic fragility parameters of the sprinkler piping system. The analytical model accounts for the inelastic behavior of braces, hangers, and wire restrainers. It incorporates an experimentally validated hysteresis model developed, as part of this study, for the moment-rotation relationship of grooved fitted joints. Component fragility parameters were obtained for lateral restrainers, hangers, and pipe joints. Three system-level damage states were defined based on the level of functionality of fire sprinkler systems and severity of leakage after a seismic event and a joint probabilistic model were utilized to obtain system-level fragility parameters. Finally, the seismic fragility of fire sprinkler systems with grooved fit joints is compared to that of a piping system with threaded joints.
Total unimodularity applications in bi-objective discrete optimization

The total unimodularity property of the constraint matrix of biobjective integer programs is not in general a sufficient condition for identifying their efficient solution sets through the solution of equivalent bi-objective linear programs. However, in this paper we identify special classes of bi-objective linear and concave integer programs that can be easily solved when their constraint matrices are totally unimodular.
Efficacy of Aerosol Applications of Methoprene and Synergized Pyrethrin against Tribolium castaneum Adults and Eggs

Experiments were performed to determine the efficacy of a single aerosol application of the insecticides methoprene and piperonyl butoxide-synergized pyrethrin, alone or in combination, and the insecticide carrier, Isopar M, against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), the red flour beetle. The initial test exposed adults to insecticide treatments and placed male/female pairs in flour. All adults exposed to synergized pyrethrin were knocked down for at least 24 h after exposure but they recovered. High adult survival and similar average numbers of living F1 progeny were produced regardless of treatment exposure. In a separate test, insecticide treatments were directly applied to newly laid eggs, which resulted in the suppression of egg hatch. Synergized pyrethrin was the most effective insecticide (P < or = 0.001) for suppressing egg hatch. The effect of flour on insecticide activity to eggs and consequent insect development was also evaluated. An amount of 0.01 g of flour in the exposure arena, 62-cm2 area, was not sufficient for individuals to develop beyond the early larval stages, regardless of the treatment. As the flour amount in the arena increased from 1 to 5 g, the number of eggs that could develop to the adult stage increased, but this number was significantly lower in the insecticide treatments than in the control or carrier treatments. The results of the later tests indicate a high efficacy of the insecticides alone or in combination on T. castaneum egg hatch and development to the adult stage.
Bargaining in Stationary Networks

We study an infinite horizon game in which pairs of players con nected in a network are randomly matched to bargain. Players who reach agreement are replaced by new players at the same positions in the network. We show that all equilibria are payoff equivalent. The payoffs and the set of agreement links converge as players become patient. Several new concepts—mutually estranged sets, partners, and shortage ratios—provide insights into the relative strengths of the positions in the network. We develop a procedure to deter mine the limit equilibrium payoffs for all players. Characterizations of equitable and nondiscriminatory networks are also obtained. (.JEL C78, D85) Competitive equilibrium theory assumes large and anonymous markets in which every buyer can trade with every seller. Underlying these assumptions are standard goods and services that may be traded at low transaction costs by agents who are not in specific relationships with one another. However, in many markets goods and services are heterogeneous (e.g., cars, apartments) or need to be tailored to particular needs (e.g., manufacturing inputs, technical support). Furthermore, trad ing opportunities may depend on transportation costs, social relationships, infor mation, advertising, trust, technological compatibility, joint business opportunities, free trade agreements, etc. In such cases it is natural to model the market using a network, where only pairs of connected agents may engage in exchange. New theories are needed to explore the influence of the network structure on market outcomes. Many questions arise: How does an agent's position in the net work determine his bargaining power and the local prices he faces? Who trades with whom and on what terms? When are prices uniform in the network? One possible conjecture is that an agent's bargaining power is determined by his (relative) number of connections in the network. However, this simple theory is implausible. Consider the network of four sellers (located at the top nodes) and nine buyers (located at the bottom nodes) depicted in Figure 1. Assume that each seller supplies one unit of a homogeneous indivisible good, each buyer demands one unit of the good, and all buyers have identical values for the good. The buyer located in the middle has the largest number of links in the network, as he is connected to each
HIGH-CYCLE SPRING FATIGUE TEST MACHINE

A fatigue-test machine for simultaneous testing of up to 12 compression springs is described. The test machine successfully generates fatigue failure data in a short time at low cost. A cumulative probability plot is shown to illustrate the results of one of the tests run on this machine.
Nonparametric association analysis of exchangeable clustered competing risks data.

Summary. The work is motivated by the Cache County Study of Aging, a population-based study in Utah, in which sibship associations in dementia onset are of interest. Complications arise because only a fraction of the population ever develops dementia, with the majority dying without dementia. The application of standard dependence analyses for independently right censored data may not be appropriate with such multivariate competing risks data, where death may violate the independent censoring assumption. Nonparametric estimators of the bivariate cumulative hazard function and the bivariate cumulative incidence function are adapted from the simple nonexchangeable bivariate setup to exchangeable clustered data, as needed with the large sibships in the Cache County Study. Time-dependent association measures are evaluated using these estimators. Large sample inferences are studied rigorously using empirical process techniques. The practical utility of the methodology is demonstrated with realistic samples both via simulations and via an application to the Cache County Study, where dementia onset clustering among siblings varies strongly by age.
Verb noun construction MWE token supervised classification

We address the problem of classifying multiword expression tokens in running text. We focus our study on Verb-Noun Constructions (VNC) that vary in their idiomaticity depending on context. VNC tokens are classified as either idiomatic or literal. We present a supervised learning approach to the problem. We experiment with different features. Our approach yields the best results to date on MWE classification combining different linguistically motivated features, the overall performance yields an F-measure of 84.58% corresponding to an F-measure of 89.96% for idiomaticity identification and classification and 62.03% for literal identification and classification.
Role of X, Y and Z cells in secondary immunological response.

ACCORDING to many authors1–4, the secondary immunological response should consist of responses of cells endowed with immunological memory (Y cells in the scheme of Sercarz and Coons3) acquired during contact with antigen administered in the previous immunization, and of cells which had come into contact with the antigen for the first time (X and Z cells according to Sercarz and Coons).
Efficient updating of kriging estimates and variances

This short note presents a method for efficiently updating ordinary kriging estimates and variances when one or more additional samples are incorporated into the kriging system. First, the foundation linear algebra result is presented. Then the update equations are derived. Finally, an illustrative application of updating is briefly discussed.
Academic culture and citizenship in transitional societies: Case studies from China and Hungary

Through organizational case studies conducted at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in China and Central European University in Hungary, this paper examines academic culture and citizenship in societies transitioning from communist to market-driven social and economic structures. The article presents a new model of citizenship, representing types of citizenship along the dimensions of locally informed to globally informed and individualist to collectivist. Implications emphasize the hybridization of academic culture and a reinterpretation of cosmopolitan professional identity in faculty life, expanding the concept from Gouldner’s focus on disciplinary loyalty to commitments in a global sphere.
On the outputs of linear control systems

Abstract This paper studies autonomous, single-input, single-output linear control systems on finite time intervals. The object of interest is the output operator O , which associates to each input function and initial state vector the corresponding system output. Main result: If the system has relative degree r ∞ , then for any “admissible” Banach space U of inputs, O is a bounded operator taking U × C n onto the “Sobolev space” of complex functions f ∈ C ( r − 1 ) ( [ 0 , T ] ) for which the ( r − 1 ) -order derivative f ( r − 1 ) is absolutely continuous, with f ( r ) ∈ U . This completes recent results of Jonsson and Martin [Ulf Jonsson, Clyde Martin, Approximation with the output of linear control systems, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 329 (2007) 798–821] who showed that if the system is minimal and U is either L 2 ( [ 0 , T ] ) or C ( [ 0 , T ] ) , then O : U × C n → U has dense range.
Investigation of GaAs]-x_x P crystals using the pseudo-kossel X-ray and photoluminescence techniques

Two indirect methods of determining composition in GaAs1-x xP films grown epitaxially on GaAs substrates are discussed in this paper. In the first method precision lattice parameters, obtained using the pseudo-Kossel technique in back reflection, are compared to compositions determined with the electron microprobe. A plot of corrected lattice parameter vs. %GaP (microprobe) over the range of composition investigated (0.10 < x < 0.55) shows that Vegard’s law holds very closely in this system. The slope of the line is -0.002042 A/%GaP while the intercept is within 0.028% of the established lattice parameter for GaAs. No point lies farther than 0.003 A from the line describing Vegard’s law.
Impact of Medicare Part D on independent and chain community pharmacies in rural Illinois--A qualitative study.

Abstract Background Although the sustainability of rural pharmacy services is a concern of long standing, the rural marketplace is not monolithic. Enhanced understanding of different experiences, strengths, and potential weaknesses of rural chain and independent pharmacies could help inform health policy debates, legislation, and consideration of disparities and access. This study compared and contrasted experiences by pharmacists in chain and independent community pharmacies during Medicare Part D implementation. Objective The objective was to obtain and describe experiential narratives from rural Illinois pharmacists regarding the implementation of Medicare Part D. Similarities and differences experienced in chain and independent community pharmacies were examined, as well as pharmacists' perceptions about potential implications of the newly implemented Act on the accessibility of rural pharmacy care and services. Methods A semistructured qualitative research approach was used, involving focus groups and telephone interviews, to elicit the subjective experiences of rural Illinois pharmacists. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to include representative perspectives of independent and chain community pharmacists in rural areas across the state. Using a systematic, iterative coding process, recurrent themes were identified in 8 substantive categories. Results Areas of similarity between the 2 groups included universal criticism of the initial implementation processes, but consensus belief that Medicare patients ultimately benefited if they did not have previous prescription drug coverage. Pharmacists in independent drugstores expressed more concern about their future viability. Corporate communications and infrastructure support were available in chain pharmacies and believed to present them with competitive advantages and a stronger long-term financial position. Conclusions The findings showed a disparate impact of Medicare Part D on the initial experiences and perceived viability of independent community pharmacies, in comparison with their chain pharmacy counterparts. The long-term implications of changing regulatory environments and customers' pharmacy needs in underserved communities should be carefully considered and monitored.
Molecular biology of transplantation.

The past decade has witnessed an explosion in our understanding of the molecules involved in transplant rejection and acceptance. This review highlights our current understanding of antigen recognition, signal transduction, and effector mechanisms of the immune system. Such information has proven important in understanding the action of immunosuppressive drugs and will prove useful in the design of new immunotherapies.
Neuroscience: Towards functional connectomics

To understand the brain, the thousands of synaptic connections made by each of billions of neurons should be mapped and related to neuronal function. First steps towards this formidable goal are now reported. See Articles p.177 & p.183 Connectivity forms the basis of functional computations performed by neural circuits, but it is notoriously difficult to follow the complex structural wiring between neurons to the function of individual cells. Now, using a combination of functional imaging and three-dimensional serial electron-microscopic reconstruction at an unprecedented scale, two groups present detailed representations of the connectivity of single cells in the mouse visual system. Davi Bock et al. in Clay Reid's lab investigate connectivity in the primary visual cortex, and find that inhibitory neurons receive input from excitatory cells with widely varying functions, consistent with predictions from recent physiological studies of the mouse cortex. Kevin Briggman, Moritz Helmstaedter and Winfried Denk show that direction-selective ganglion cells receive more synapses from a starburst amacrine cell dendrite if their preferred directions are opposites, suggesting that the directional sensitivity of retinal ganglion cells arises from the asymmetry in their wiring with amacrine cells.
Amygdaloid Suppression of Hypothalamically Elicited Attack Behavior

Electrodes were implanted in the hypothalamus and in the amygdala of adult cats. Electrical stimulation of the amygdala suppressed attack behavior elicited by the hypothalamic stimulation.
The value of action and inference in dynamic decision making.

Abstract The use of action- versus judgment-oriented decision strategies in a dynamic decision task is investigated. Subjects engaged in a simulated medical decision-making task, where the goal is to select treatments in order to cure patients suffering from an unknown disease. The experiment manipulated two task factors that were predicted to influence the effectiveness and efficiency of action- and judgment-oriented strategies: (1) the availability of a decision aid that promotes the interpretability of outcome feedback in the task and (2) the level of risk associated with treatment choices, which influences the opportunity for corrective actions to compensate for earlier decision errors. Results indicated that these manipulations did in fact influence performance. However, most subjects did not use action-oriented strategies even when they would have led to superior performance. Possible explanations for this finding are discussed and the implications for theoretical accounts of strategy acquisition and selection are considered.