cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal changes in the refractive errors of children with tears in Descemet's membrane following forceps injuries.

Abstract Background Eyes with tears in Descemet's membrane secondary to forceps injuries frequently develop myopic astigmatism. Little is known regarding the longitudinal changes in the refractive errors of these eyes. Methods We performed a retrospective review of two children with tears in Descemet's membrane following forceps injuries to their left eyes. The refractive errors were followed longitudinally. Results Both patients developed myopic astigmatism in their affected eye and received optical correction and occlusion therapy. In both cases there was reduction in the myopic refractive error during early childhood. While the astigmatic refractive error was stable in one patient it decreased in the second patient. Conclusion Myopia decreased in two children with myopic astigmatism secondary to tears in Descemet's membrane. Myopia in children with tears in Desemet's membrane is likely due to deformation of the cornea rather than form-deprivation.
Characterization of Multivariate Stationary Gaussian Reciprocal Diffusions

Jamison's classification of scalar stationary Gaussian reciprocal processes is extended to multivariate Gaussian reciprocal diffusions (GRDs). The second-order self-adjoint differential equation satisfied by the covariance of a GRD specifies a Hamiltonian matrix whose eigenstructure is employed to parametrize the covariance of stationary GRDs. Characterizations of the conservation matrix and of the covariance matrix of the end point values of a stationary GRD are also provided.
Utilizing the Hotelling template as a tool for CT image reconstruction algorithm design

Design of image reconstruction algorithms for CT can be significantly aided by useful metrics of image quality. Useful metrics, however, are difficult to develop due to the high-dimensionality of the CT imaging system, lack of spatial invariance in the imaging system, and a high degree of correlation among the image voxels. Although true task-based evaluation on realistic imaging tasks can be time-consuming, and a given task may be insensitive to the image reconstruction algorithm, task-based metrics can still prove useful in many contexts. For example, model observers that mimic performance of the imaging system on specific tasks can provide a low-dimensional measure of image quality while still accounting for many of the salient properties of the system and object being scanned. In this work, ideal observer performance is computed on a single detection task. The modeled signal for detection is taken to be very small - size on the order of a detector bin - and inspection of the accompanying Hotelling template is suggested. We hypothesize that improved detection on small signals may be sensitive to the reconstruction algorithm. Further, we hypothesize that structurally simple Hotelling templates may correlate with high human observer performance.
Minimax Policies for Unobservable Inspections

On a finite closed lime interval an inspector wishes lo detect an event as soon as possible after its occurrence. A loss fd is incurred if the event remains undetected for a period d. Generally, f is assumed continuous and monotone increasing. Exactly N inspections are allowed. We seek a randomized inspection policy yielding the minimax expected loss. The problem is reformulated as a two-person zero-sum game between the inspector and an inspectee and a pair of equilibrium strategies is sought. An explicit solution for the linear case, fd = d is obtained and its asymptotic properties N large determined. A computational procedure for calculating the optimal policies in the nonlinear case is presented. Two additional related games are briefly treated. The optimal inspection policies each have the salient property of being a randomization over a one parameter family of pure strategies.
Optimal control of delay-differential inclusions with functional endpoint constraints in infinite dimensions

Abstract This paper is devoted to the study of a general class of optimal control problems described by delay-differential inclusions with equality and inequality endpoint constraints and multivalued initial conditions. We use the method of discrete approximations and advanced tools of variational analysis and generalized differentiation in infinite dimensions to derive necessary optimality conditions in the extended Euler–Lagrange form. This method is fully realized for the delay-differential systems under consideration.
FIR position profiles using an infinitely continuous kernel

Large and fragile systems may require motion trajectories with the highest attainable degree of smoothness. This paper introduces a method to create infinitely continuous motion profiles based on convolving an infinitely continuous FIR kernel with an underlying rate-limited position profile. Conventional motion profiling is limited to blending polynomial between linear segments. Due to the issues of controlling unwanted inflections and the computing of the polynomial coefficient, blending polynomials are usually limited to third order with special cases up to seventh order. Beyond third order, closed form equations do not exists for the coefficients, requiring a set of equations to be solved for each blend. With third order polynomials the highest derivative that can be controlled is jerk. While maximum jerk can be controlled, change in jerk is instantaneous. This inherent instantaneous change in jerk can send shock waves though a system with the possibility of causing damage. The infinitely continuous profiles introduced in this paper overcomes all the shortcomings of polynomial blending. With FIR smoothing of an underlying rate-limited position profile, only a single kernel is needed to be computed off-line before motion starts. The entire process of motion generation consists of rate-limiting desired position updates and then filtering them with an infinitely continuous FIR kernel. The output is an infinitely continuous profile that allows real-time updates of velocity. Two methods are introduced to create the kernels. In the first method the duration of the kernel is minimized for a given maximum value of any derivative. In the second method the maximum value of any derivative is minimized for a given kernel duration. The use of the convolution instead of polynomial fitting to create profiles is simpler, eliminates special cases, and allows real-time updates of velocity while producing maximally smooth profiles.
Partitioning of dissolved organic matter-bound mercury between a hydrophobic surface and polysulfide-rubber polymer

This study investigated the role of dissolved organic matter on mercury partitioning between a hydrophobic surface (polyethylene, PE) and a reduced sulfur-rich surface (polysulfide rubber, PSR). Comparative sorption studies employed polyethylene and polyethylene coated with PSR for reactions with DOM-bound mercuric ions. These studies revealed that PSR enhanced the Hg-DOM removal from water when DOM was Suwannee River natural organic matter (NOM), fulvic acid (FA), or humic acid (HA), while the same amount of 1,3-propanedithiol-bound mercuric ion was removed by both PE and PSR-PE. The differences for Hg-DOM removal efficiencies between PE and PSR-PE varied depending on which DOM was bound to mercuric ion as suggested by the PE/water and PSR-PE/water partition coefficients for mercury. The surface concentrations of mercury on PE and PSR-PE with the same DOM measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were similar, which indicated the comparable amounts of immobilized mercury on PE and PSR-PE being exposed to the aqueous phase. With these observations, two major pathways for the immobilization reactions between PSR-PE and Hg-DOM were examined: 1) adsorption of Hg-DOM on PE by hydrophobic interactions between DOM and PE, and 2) addition reaction of Hg-DOM onto PSR by a complexation reaction between Hg and PSR. The percent contribution of each pathway was derived from a mass balance and the ratios among aqueous mercury, PE-bound Hg-DOM, and PSR-bound Hg-DOM concentrations. The results indicate strong binding of mercuric ion with both dissolved organic matter and PSR polymer. The FT-IR examination of Hg-preloaded-PSR-PEs after the reaction with DOM corroborated a strong interaction between mercuric ion and 1,3-propanedithiol compared to Hg-HA, Hg-FA, or Hg-NOM interactions.
Origin and growth kinetics of platelike abnormal grains in liquid-phase-sintered alumina

The grain-growth behavior of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} compacts with small contents ({le}10 wt%) of various liquid-forming dopants was studied. Equiaxed and/or elongated grains were observed for the following dopants: MgO, CaO, SiO{sub 2}, or CaO + TiO{sub 2}. The platelike grains, defined as the abnormal grains larger than 100 {mu}m with an aspect ratio {ge}5 and with flat boundaries along the long axis, were observed when the boundaries were wet with the liquid phase and the codoping satisfied two conditions of size and valence. These dopings were Na{sub 2}O + SiO{sub 2}, CaO + SiO{sub 2}, SrO + SiO{sub 2}, or BaO + SiO{sub 2}. However, an addition of MgO to the Al{sub 2},O{sub 3} doped with CaO + SiO{sub 2} resulted in the change of grain shape from platelike to equiaxial. Equiaxed grains were also observed for the MgO + SiO{sub 2} doping, indicating that two conditions were necessary but not sufficient to develop the platelike grains. The fast growth rate of the platelike grains is explained by an increased interfacial reaction rate due to the codopants.
Optical properties of fiber tapers and their impact on the performance of a fiber optically coupled CCD x-ray imaging system

Optical properties of the fiber taper used in the fiberoptically coupled CCD x-ray imaging system will affect the image quality of the overall system significantly. In this paper, three important characteristics were studied: optical efficiency and its impact on SNR, contrast degradation caused by stray light, and spatial resolution loss (resulting from misalignment in corresponding pixels in cascaded components) when the fiber taper is coupled with another `pixel array' such as a CCD imager.
Chronic Inhibition of ERK1/2 Signaling Improves Disordered Bone and Mineral Metabolism in Hypophosphatemic (Hyp) Mice

The X-linked hypophosphatemic (Hyp) mouse carries a loss-of-function mutation in the phex gene and is characterized by hypophosphatemia due to renal phosphate (Pi) wasting, inappropriately suppressed 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D] production, and rachitic bone disease. Increased serum fibroblast growth factor-23 concentration is responsible for the disordered metabolism of Pi and 1,25(OH)2D. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that chronic inhibition of fibroblast growth factor-23-induced activation of MAPK signaling in Hyp mice can reverse their metabolic derangements and rachitic bone disease. Hyp mice were administered the MAPK inhibitor, PD0325901 orally for 4 wk. PD0325901 induced a 15-fold and 2-fold increase in renal 1α-hydroxylase mRNA and protein abundance, respectively, and thereby higher serum 1,25(OH)2D concentrations (115 ± 13 vs. 70 ± 16 pg/ml, P < 0.05), compared with values in vehicle-treated Hyp mice. With PD0325901, serum Pi levels were higher (5.1 ± 0.5 vs. 3 ± 0.2 mg/dl, P < 0.05), and the protein abundance of sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter Npt2a, was greater than in vehicle-treated mice. The rachitic bone disease in Hyp mice is characterized by abundant unmineralized osteoid bone volume, widened epiphyses, and disorganized growth plates. In PD0325901-treated Hyp mice, mineralization of cortical and trabecular bone increased significantly, accompanied by a decrease in unmineralized osteoid volume and thickness, as determined by histomorphometric analysis. The improvement in mineralization in PD0325901-treated Hyp mice was confirmed by microcomputed tomography analysis, which showed an increase in cortical bone volume and thickness. These findings provide evidence that in Hyp mice, chronic MAPK inhibition improves disordered Pi and 1,25(OH)2D metabolism and bone mineralization.
Effects of hydrocortisone on the hypercalcemia and plasma levels of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin E2 in mice bearing the HSDM1 fibrosarcoma

Abstract In mice bearing the prostaglandin-producing HSDM1 fibrosarcoma, the plasma concentration of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGE2 was elevated before the development of hypercalcemia, and the magnitude of the rise was greater than that of PGE2. When hydrocortisone, which inhibits synthesis of PGE2 by HSDM1 cells in culture, was administered to tumor-bearing mice, the steroid hormone prevented the rises in plasma PGE2 metabolite and calcium concentrations. At the dose levels used, hydrocortisone did not inhibit the calcium-mobilizing action of parathyroid hormone in vivo or the bone resorption-stimulating activity of PGE 2 in vitro . These findings are consistent with our hypothesis that the hypercalcemic syndrome in HSDM1 tumor-bearing mice is due to the secretion of PGE2 by the tumor.
A real-time monitoring system for diesel and gasoline exhaust exposure

An integrated sensor array system is developed for detection and identification of environmental pollutants in diesel and gasoline exhaust fumes. The system includes a low noise floor analog front-end followed by a signal processing stage. Classification methods are used since the pollutants are often encountered as complex mixtures. In this paper, we present techniques to detect, digitize and classify analytes. This is done by extracting appropriate features from sensor data and using pattern recognition methods to identify the analytes. The detection analog front-end achieves 54dB SNR. The low-noise digitization technique is presented along with the feature extraction and classification algorithms. Comparative results are given for a series of pattern classifiers.
The Abyssomicin C family as in vitro inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Summary The antimycobacterial efficacy of the abyssomicin C family of natural products, in addition to a key synthetic intermediate, has been investigated given their reported inhibition of Bacillus subtilis p -aminobenzoate biosynthesis. The naturally occurring (−)-abyssomicin C and its atropisomer were found to exhibit low micromolar growth inhibition against the relatively fast-growing and non-virulent Mycobacterium smegmatis and the vaccine strain Mycobacterium bovis BCG, while their antipodes were slightly less active. (−)-Abyssomicin C and its atropisomer were particularly efficacious against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, exhibiting MIC values of 3.6 and 7.2 μM, respectively. More specifically, (−)-abyssomicin C was bactericidal. This complex natural product and its analogs, thus, hold promise as chemical tools in the study of M. tuberculosis metabolism.
Student Relationships Across Social Markers of Difference in a Baltimore County, Maryland, Comprehensive High School, 1950–1969

This article contributes to our historical understanding of student experience in general, and more particularly, to our understanding of developing cross-group relationships within desegregated schools over the second half of the twentieth century. The article draws from a broader study that examines students' evolving relationships within a matrix of intersecting identities in a Baltimore County comprehensive high school in Maryland between 1950 and 2000. The focus in this article is on Miller High students of the 1950s and 1960s during the early years of desegregation. Relationships remembered by graduates bring to light the hierarchical structure that distinguished white students along class and gender lines within an academically tracked system and the limitations and possibilities afforded African-American youth across class and gender as they encountered Miller High established norms for the first time in 1956 when the school desegregated.
Functionalism and Self-Consciousness

I offer a philosophically well-motivated work-around for a problem that George Bealer (‘Self-consciousness’, Philosophical Review v. 106, 1997) has identified, which he claims is fatal to functionalism. The problem concerns how to generate a satisfactory Ramsey sentence of a psychological theory in which mental predicates occur within the scopes of other mental predicates. My central claim is that the functional roles in terms of which a creature capable of self-consciousness identifies her own mental states must be roles that items could play within creatures whose psychology is less complex than her own.
Declines in Trust in Others and Confidence in Institutions Among American Adults and Late Adolescents, 1972–2012

Between 1972 and 2012, Americans became significantly less trusting of each other and less confident in large institutions, such as the news media, business, religious organizations, the medical establishment, Congress, and the presidency. Levels of trust and confidence, key indicators of social capital, reached all-time or near-all-time lows in 2012 in the nationally representative General Social Survey of adults (1972-2012; N = 37,493) and the nationally representative Monitoring the Future survey of 12th graders (1976-2012; N = 101,633). Hierarchical modeling analyses separating the effects of time period, generation, and age show that this decline in social capital is primarily a time-period effect. Confidence in institutions is also influenced by generation, with Baby Boomers lowest. Trust was lowest when income inequality was high, and confidence in institutions was lowest when poverty rates were high. The prediction of a sustained revival in social capital after 2001 seems to have been premature.
Coordination of KSHV Latent and Lytic Gene Control by CTCF-Cohesin Mediated Chromosome Conformation

Herpesvirus persistence requires a dynamic balance between latent and lytic cycle gene expression, but how this balance is maintained remains enigmatic. We have previously shown that the Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) major latency transcripts encoding LANA, vCyclin, vFLIP, v-miRNAs, and Kaposin are regulated, in part, by a chromatin organizing element that binds CTCF and cohesins. Using viral genome-wide chromatin conformation capture (3C) methods, we now show that KSHV latency control region is physically linked to the promoter regulatory region for ORF50, which encodes the KSHV immediate early protein RTA. Other linkages were also observed, including an interaction between the 5′ and 3′ end of the latency transcription cluster. Mutation of the CTCF-cohesin binding site reduced or eliminated the chromatin conformation linkages, and deregulated viral transcription and genome copy number control. siRNA depletion of CTCF or cohesin subunits also disrupted chromosomal linkages and deregulated viral latent and lytic gene transcription. Furthermore, the linkage between the latent and lytic control region was subject to cell cycle fluctuation and disrupted during lytic cycle reactivation, suggesting that these interactions are dynamic and regulatory. Our findings indicate that KSHV genomes are organized into chromatin loops mediated by CTCF and cohesin interactions, and that these inter-chromosomal linkages coordinate latent and lytic gene control.
Effect of Simulated Valvular Stenoticity on Predicted Flow Area for a Bileaflet Valve Using the Gorlin Equation

: The possibility that the discharge coefficient (Cd) for a mechanical heart valve (MHV) is affected by valvular stenosis is addressed. A 29 mm bileaflet (St. Jude Medical) mitral valve is tested on a cardiovascular duplicator (CVD) in its normal state and under two degrees of simulated stenosis. Stenoticity is simulated by bracing the occluders such that full opening is impossible. The pressure drop through the valve is described by a two-term second-order polynomial in flow, from which it is shown that the Q should be a nonlinear function of the flow rate through the valve. The average difference between measured and calculated areas decreased from 74%, when a constant value of 0.7 was used for the Cd, to 3.7%, when the Cd was a nonlinear function of the flow rate.
Evidence for a Role of the Oxytocin System, Indexed by Genetic Variation in CD38, in the Social Bonding Effects of Expressed Gratitude

Oxytocin is thought to play a central role in promoting close social bonds via influence on social interactions. The current investigation targeted interactions involving expressed gratitude between members of romantic relationships because recent evidence suggests gratitude and its expression provides behavioral and psychological ‘glue’ to bind individuals closer together. Specifically, we took a genetic approach to test the hypothesis that social interactions involving expressed gratitude would be associated with variation in a gene, CD38, which has been shown to affect oxytocin secretion. A polymorphism (rs6449182) that affects CD38 expression was significantly associated with global relationship satisfaction, perceived partner responsiveness and positive emotions (particularly love) after lab-based interactions, observed behavioral expression of gratitude toward a romantic partner in the lab, and frequency of expressed gratitude in daily life. A separate polymorphism in CD38 (rs3796863) previously associated with plasma oxytocin levels and social engagement was also associated with perceived responsiveness in the benefactor after an expression of gratitude. The combined influence of the two polymorphisms was associated with a broad range of gratitude-related behaviors and feelings. The consistent pattern of findings suggests that the oxytocin system is associated with solidifying the glue that binds adults into meaningful and important relationships.
Auger Radiopharmaceutical Therapy Targeting Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen

Auger electron emitters such as 125I have a high linear energy transfer and short range of emission (
Motivation for Success in Advanced Math Classes: The Leadership Role c Teachers and Administrators:

Duncanvilte High School has taken measures to ensure more students participate in advanced classes with increased confidence and success. Their experiences show that efforts to increase participation and suc cess in advanced level mathematics classes provide an avenue for achieving this goat.
Aqueous corrosion of aluminum-based nuclear fuel

Abstract Some aluminum-based nuclear fuels may eventually be disposed in a federally approved repository. As part of the qualification process, experiments are being conducted on uranium-aluminide (UAl x ) fuels to describe corrosion under conditions that could arise during permanent storage. Under the action of intermittent drips of well water at 90 °C, a thin silica-substituted hydrous aluminum oxide gel layer forms over the fuel surface. The exposed fuel oxidizes to produce hydrated aluminum and uranyl oxyhydroxide compounds. In accordance with theory and previous observations with UO 2 fuels, the sequence of alteration products progressed from uranium oxides to uranyl oxyhydroxides such as dehydrated schoepite and becquerelite phases although at a rate that was much faster than for UO 2 fuels. The release or leaching of uranium from the fuel was 0.97 mg U/m 2 /d at a pH of 8.4±0.8.
Signal Words and Signal Icons in Application Control and Information Technology Exception Messages—Hazard Matching and Habituation Effects

Information technology (IT) users encounter signal words (e.g., “Warning”) and signal icons (e.g., an exclamation point) in “exception messages.” The first of two experiments reported in this paper examines the “arousal strength” associated with signal words and icons that commonly appear in exception messages. An elicitation exercise was completed by 316 participants, in which each viewed exception messages containing combinations of signal words and icons and provided their perception as to the severity of a computer problem communicated. The results allow “hazard matching”; whereby, the severity of hazard implied by the exception message can be matched to the level of the hazard. The second experiment reports a strong habituation effect in that users exhibit decreased attention to an exception message after repeated exposure, with a corresponding decrease in compliance. The effect was also found to be mitigated by increasing the arousal strength of the exception message.
Spatial pattern analysis of cruise ship-humpback whale interactions in and near Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska

Understanding interactions between large ships and large whales is important to estimate risks posed to whales by ships. The coastal waters of Alaska are a summer feeding area for humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) as well as a prominent destination for large cruise ships. Lethal collisions between cruise ships and humpback whales have occurred throughout Alaska, including in Glacier Bay National Park (GBNP). Although the National Park Service (NPS) establishes quotas and operating requirements for cruise ships within GBNP in part to minimize ship–whale collisions, no study has quantified ship–whale interactions in the park or in state waters where ship traffic is unregulated. In 2008 and 2009, an observer was placed on ships during 49 different cruises that included entry into GBNP to record distance and bearing of whales that surfaced within 1 km of the ship’s bow. A relative coordinate system was developed in ArcGIS to model the frequency of whale surface events using kernel density. A total of 514 whale surface events were recorded. Although ship–whale interactions were common within GBNP, whales frequently surfaced in front of the bow in waters immediately adjacent to the park (west Icy Strait) where cruise ship traffic is not regulated by the NPS. When ships transited at speeds >13 knots, whales frequently surfaced closer to the ship’s midline and ship’s bow in contrast to speeds slower than 13 knots. Our findings confirm that ship speed is an effective mitigation measure for protecting whales and should be applied to other areas where ship–whale interactions are common.
Outcomes of Participatory Decision Making Evidence from Albania

Citizen participation in decision making is being promoted in many countries transitioning from centralized to decentralized governance. Despite their common underlying premise, participatory progr...
Chaotic streamlines inside drops immersed in steady Stokes flows

Motivated by the recent work of Bajer & Moffatt (1990), we investigate the kinematics of bounded steady Stokes flows. Specifically, we consider the streamlines inside a neutrally buoyant spherical drop immersed in a general linear flow. The Eulerian velocity field internal to the drop, known analytically, is a cubic function of position. For a wide range of parameters the internal streamlines, hence the fluid particle paths, may wander chaotically. Typical Poincare sections show both ordered and chaotic regions. The extent and existence of chaotic wandering is related to (i) the orientation of the vorticity vector relative to the principal axes of strain of the undisturbed flow and (ii) the magnitude of the vorticity relative to the magnitude of the rate-of-strain tensor. In the limit of small vorticity, we use the method of averaging to predict the size of the dominant island region. This yields the critical orientation of the vorticity vector at which this dominant island disappears so that particle paths fill almost the entire Poincare section. The problem studied here appears to be one of the simplest, physically realizable, bounded steady Stokes flows which produces chaotic streamlines.
Exchangeability in the case-crossover design

In cohort and case-control studies, confounding that arises as a result of differences in the distribution of determinants of the outcome between exposure groups leading to non-exchangeability are addressed by restriction, matching or with statistical models. In case-only studies, this issue is addressed by comparing each individual with his/herself. Although case-only designs use self-matching and only include individuals who develop the outcome of interest, issues of non-exchangeability are identical to those that arise in traditional case-control and cohort studies. In this review, we describe one type of case-only design, the case-crossover design, and discuss how the concept of exchangeability can be used to understand issues of confounding, carryover effects, period effects and selection bias in case-crossover studies.
Maternal febrile illnesses, medication use, and the risk of congenital renal anomalies

BACKGROUND Renal anomalies occur in about three infants per 1000 live births and have been associated with several environmental risk factors. Researchers have yet to assess the effect of maternal febrile illnesses on renal anomalies, even though febrile illnesses have been associated with other birth defects. Our objective was to determine whether maternal illness, fever, or medication use during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with the occurrence of renal anomalies. METHODS In this population-based case-control study, we evaluated 192 infants with renal anomalies (renal agenesis [n = 44], obstructive defects [n = 134], and renal duplication defects [n = 14]) and 3029 infant without birth defects, all of whom were born in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, from 1968 through 1980. Maternal illness was defined as reported flu-like illness and/or episodic illness during the first trimester. RESULTS Our adjusted multivariate analyses showed that among the 192 case-infants, 38 had mothers with an illness (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15–2.52), 20 had mothers who reported a fever (AOR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.07–3.02) and 26 had mothers who reported taking medication (AOR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.07–2.68). Fifteen mothers reported a fever and medication use (AOR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.05–3.45). Nonprescription aspirin-containing medication use showed the strongest association (AOR, 3.45; 95% CI, 1.36–8.75) with renal anomalies. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that maternal exposure to illness, fever, and medication (particularly aspirin) may increase the risk of congenital renal anomalies. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Consultation Interventions Successes, Failures, and Proposals

Intervening with an intervention is to enter into a human or organizational system of relationships for the purpose of making a helpful difference. If done properly, interventions can transform deficits into assets, initiate influence in the proper places, and create a climate for creative problem solving. Selecting the proper intervention is preceded by understanding the problem context, completing an accurate diagnosis, including the assessment of system variables that will support or hinder a given intervention, taking ownership of the problem, and determining consultee client readiness. Intervention failures are caused by too much or too little diagnosis, by setting goals impossible to reach, or by implementing the wrong intervention. In addition, because of the intricacies of selecting and implementing the proper intervention, it is essential that the consultant's definition of consultation be articulated to the consultee.
Robust estimation using context-aware filtering

This paper presents the context-aware filter, an estimation technique that incorporates context measurements, in addition to the regular continuous measurements. Context measurements provide binary information about the system's context which is not directly encoded in the state; examples include a robot detecting a nearby building using image processing or a medical device alarming that a vital sign has exceeded a predefined threshold. These measurements can only be received from certain states and can therefore be modeled as a function of the system's current state. We focus on two classes of functions describing the probability of context detection given the current state; these functions capture a wide variety of detections that may occur in practice. We derive the corresponding context-aware filters, a Gaussian Mixture filter and another closed-form filter with a posterior distribution whose moments are derived in the paper. Finally, we evaluate the performance of both classes of functions through simulation of an unmanned ground vehicle.
Newton and the Rosicrucian Enlightenment

The aspect of the Yates thesis that has become the point of so much contention can be summed up as follows: modern science originated as the result of a new and optimistic view of human nature which fostered the belief that man had the ability to improve both himself and the world in which he lived. This optimistic assessment of man’s nature first emerged in the writings of the late Florentine Neoplatonists and was carried into the seventeenth century through the subterranean channels of occult philosophy. The very idea that man could change his environment for the better and harness the powers of nature to his own advantage had its roots in the magical world of Renaissance Hermeticists, and the twin concepts of progress and reform, which are the hallmarks of modern science, emerged from the grandiose schemes of Renaissance magi. In Yates’ view the Rosicrucian Manifestos of the early seventeenth century were perfect expressions of the new and exhilarating view of human potential and prowess that made the scientific revolution possible. With their call for the “Universal and General Reformation of the whole world” and their conviction that creation can be brought back to the state in which Adam found it, the Rosicrucian Manifestos provided a bridge between Renaissance Hermeticism and modern science. On the basis of this evaluation of their importance, Yates suggested the word “Rosicrucian” should enter the vocabulary of serious historians to describe the kind of activist, reforming mentality that paved the way for modern science.1
Radical-Mediated Enzymatic Polymerizations.

Polymerization reactions are commonly effected by exposing monomer formulations to some initiation stimulus such as elevated temperature, light, or a chemical reactant. Increasingly, these polymerization reactions are mediated by enzymes―catalytic proteins―owing to their reaction efficiency under mild conditions as well as their environmental friendliness. The utilization of enzymes, particularly oxidases and peroxidases, for generating radicals via reduction-oxidation mechanisms is especially common for initiating radical-mediated polymerization reactions, including vinyl chain-growth polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization, thiol–ene step-growth polymerization, and polymerization via oxidative coupling. While enzyme-mediated polymerization is useful for the production of materials intended for subsequent use, it is especially well-suited for in situ polymerizations, where the polymer is formed in the place where it will be utilized. Such polymerizations are especially useful for biomedical adhesives and for sensing applications.
Cerebrovascular Disease/Transient Ischemic Attack

Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are temporary focal neurologic deficits attributed to temporary arterial ischemia, usually lasting minutes to hours, but not up to 24 hours, as conventionally believed. The clinician must take care in assessing the history of TIA since its character will offer clues as to its etiology. The most common causes of TIAs are extracranial occlusive disease, that is, carotid bifurcation stenosis, and cardiogenic emboli, predominantly from arrhythmias, primarily atrial fibrillation. Evaluations to discover the cause(s) of TIAs should begin in the hospital as soon as possible, because of the high occurrence of strokes in the vascular distribution of the carotid bifurcation stenosis and with cardiogenic emboli in the first 2 weeks of symptom onset. Important in the treatment of TIAs due to carotid bifurcation stenosis (≥70%) is carotid endarterectomy by an experienced surgeon or in some cases carotid artery stenting; important for cardiogenic emboli is anticoagulation with warfarin to keep the international normalized ratio (INR) between 2.0 and 3.0. As emphasized in the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, the JNC-7 report, healthful lifestyle changes are an important part of reducing vascular risks. But critical to the success of implementing these behavioral changes is the active and committed involvement of the physicians in motivating their patients. Transient ischemic attack is an important warning symptom for a potentially devastating stroke and therefore requires a workup for its cause(s) with institution of appropriate preventative therapy.
Multifunctional Polyurea Aerogels from Isocyanates and Water. a Structure-property Case Study

It is well-known that isocyanates and water yield polyureas; however, that reaction is not generally associated with the synthesis of the latter, being used instead for environmental curing of films baring free NCO groups or for foaming polyurethanes. Here we report that careful control of the relative isocyanate/water/catalyst (Et3N) ratio in acetone, acetonitrile, or DMSO prevents precipitation, yielding instead polyurea (PUA) gels convertible to highly porous (up to 98.6% v/v) aerogels over a very wide density range (0.016−0.55 g cm−3). The method has been implemented successfully with several aliphatic and aromatic di and triisocyanates. PUA aerogels have been studied at the molecular level (13C NMR, IR, XRD), the elementary nanoparticle level (SANS/USANS), and the microscopic level (SEM). Their porous structure has been probed with N2-sorption porosimetry. Despite that the nanomorphology varies with density from fibrous at the low density end to particulate at the high density end, all samples consis...
High-speed atomic force microscope imaging: Adaptive multiloop mode

In this paper, an imaging mode (called the adaptive multiloop mode) of atomic force microscope (AFM) is proposed to substantially increase the speed of tapping mode (TM) imaging while preserving the advantages of TM imaging over contact mode (CM) imaging. Due to its superior image quality and less sample disturbances over CM imaging, particularly for soft materials such as polymers, TM imaging is currently the most widely used imaging technique. The speed of TM imaging, however, is substantially (over an order of magnitude) lower than that of CM imaging, becoming the major bottleneck of this technique. Increasing the speed of TM imaging is challenging as a stable probe tapping on the sample surface must be maintained to preserve the image quality, whereas the probe tapping is rather sensitive to the sample topography variation. As a result, the increase of imaging speed can quickly lead to loss of the probe-sample contact and/or annihilation of the probe tapping, resulting in image distortion and/or sample deformation. The proposed adaptive multiloop mode (AMLM) imaging overcomes these limitations of TM imaging through the following three efforts integrated together: First, it is proposed to account for the variation of the TM deflection when quantifying the sample topography; second, an inner-outer feedback control loop to regulate the TM deflection is added on top of the tapping-feedback control loop to improve the sample topography tracking; and, third, an online iterative feedforward controller is augmented to the whole control system to further enhance the topography tracking, where the next-line sample topography is predicted and utilized to reduce the tracking error. The added feedback regulation of the TM deflection ensures the probe-sample interaction force remains near the minimum for maintaining a stable probe-sample interaction. The proposed AMLM imaging is tested and demonstrated by imaging a poly(tert-butyl acrylate) sample in experiments. The experimental results demonstrate that the image quality achieved by using the proposed AMLM imaging at a scan rate of 25 Hz and over a large-size imaging (50 $\ensuremath{\mu}\text{m}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}25$ $\ensuremath{\mu}$m) is at the same level of that obtained using TM imaging at 1 Hz, while the probe-sample interaction force is noticeably reduced from that achieved using TM imaging at 2.5 Hz.
Breaking the Delegation Barrier

Failure to master the act of delegation is one of the most frequently encountered reasons that managers fail. Although there are many reasons why managers should delegate, there are also many reasons why delegation does not come naturally to most managers. This paper discusses the process of delegation, reasons why managers are reluctant to delegate, and reasons why managers should delegate. Some suggestions for improving delegation habits are offered.
Room temperature CW operation of 1.3um quantum dot lasers on a Si substrate by Pd-mediated wafer bonding

Room temperature CW operation of a 1.3µm InAs quantum dot laser integrated on a Si substrate is demonstrated using palladium mediated wafer bonding. This integration offers excellent electrical and thermal contact for Photonic Integrated Circuits.
Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis by Modal Superposition

A modified modal superposition method is developed and used to evaluate the nonlinear dynamic response of a cable network composed of a linkage of straight members with lumped masses. The method is compared with Newmark's B method for accuracy and the time interval requirements for stability. To show the usefulness of the method a number of parameter studies are presented using the cable network as an example.
Increased expression of CD14 in macrophages after inhibition of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway by lovastatin.

Sepsis, which is the product of a poorly controlled inflammatory response, is a major health problem. Adequate therapies for sepsis are unavailable, and patient care is mainly supportive. Statins, widely used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, have been found to be antiinflammatory, but the mechanisms responsible for this alteration in the inflammatory response are not well understood. We investigated the effect of statins on CD14 expression, the major binding site for bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the macrophage surface. CD14 is found in both a membrane-bound form on the cell surface (mCD14) and in a soluble variant in circulation (sCD14). Treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with lovastatin resulted in elevated mCD14 levels and decreased sCD14 levels after LPS stimulation. The increase in mCD14 was dependent on depletion of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) and subsequent inhibition of Rho GTPases, whereas the effect of lovastatin on sCD14 was independent of this pathway. The increase in mCD14 expression correlated with an enhanced response to LPS, at least at the level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α secretion. These results suggest that statin treatment can modulate macrophage functon, which may have an impact on inflammation and the outcome from sepsis.
War, Strategy, and Military Effectiveness: Clausewitz out, Computers in: Military Culture and Technological Hubris

One of the greatest understudied aspects of military history concerns the institutional cultures through which officer corps come to grips with the dynamic and ambiguous problems of war and peace. That institutional culture shapes the understanding of the strategic, operational, and tactical choices before the professional soldier, and it also implants broader assumptions concerning the historical framework in which those choices find their meaning. It is a process that proceeds by means of formal education, informal acculturation, and practical experience. Actual events on the battlefield have traditionally exercised the principal reality check on the understandings and assumptions of institutional military culture, this despite ample evidence that military institutions sometimes prove astonishingly resistant to learning from their experiences. And as difficult as they are to learn in combat, how much harder must it be to learn the lessons of war in peace, absent the harsh, unpredictable, and unforgiving world of death and destruction. Consequently, it is doubly important that in peacetime military professionals work to frame the right kind of questions and generate realistic assumptions. For the most part, however, the historical record suggests peacetime military institutions postulate answers rather than questions, and adopt assumptions that speak more to their own intellectual comfort zones than to reality. American military culture has generated exceptions to this rule during the past century, in some cases dramatically so. But a major cultural shift now appears to be underway that does not bode well for the future, one that is liable to return us to a part of our past experience that is better discarded.
Effects of Managed Care Contracting on Physician Labor Supply

We examine the effect of managed care contracting on physician labor supply for office-based medical practices. We extend the standard labor supply model to incorporate choices regarding the patient base. Empirical tests use data from the 1985 and 1988 national HCFA Physician Practice Costs and Income Surveys and InterStudy Managed Care Surveys. We use physician-level information on participation in managed care contracting to estimate changes in work hours. Managed care contracting is generally associated with lower physician work hours. However, accounting for motivations to participate in contracts and the extent of contracting, the effect on hours is reduced in magnitude and significance. We conclude that relying on broad aggregate measures for policy analysis will likely be misleading as underlying motivations and contracting incentives change over time.
Mineral-Interesting Places in Colorado

(1965). Mineral-Interesting Places in Colorado. Rocks & Minerals: Vol. 40, No. 12, pp. 908-909.
A Taxonomy Approach to Introductory Programming

A brief premise is given that computer programming is becoming the specialized domain of a few. The Taxonomy of Sequential Programming is presented as an organized approach to teaching programming so that the student fully understands the ideas. Concurrence is used to extend the taxonomy from the sequential only to the sequential and parallel programening arena. Examples from Pascal and Ada are given which demonstrate the use of taxonomy.
Restoration of Mesenchymal RPE by Transcription Factor-Mediated Reprogramming.

Purpose Transforming growth factor β-mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a major component of the wound healing response and a negative determinant of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) differentiation. We have shown previously that inhibition of TGFβ signaling restored the capacity of mesenchymal RPE to differentiate; however, the potential lessens with extensive passaging. We investigated TGFβ-independent mechanisms that regulate RPE differentiation following repetitive passaging. Methods Retinal pigment epithelium-EMT was induced by repetitive passaging of fetal RPE at subconfluence. Suppression of EMT was achieved by the addition of A-83-01, a TGFβ receptor kinase inhibitor. Transcriptomic analysis was used to identify potential TGFβ independent processes that prevent differentiation after extensive passage. Downregulated transcription factors were identified and transduced into highly passaged RPE to restore cell differentiation. Restoration was evaluated according to morphology, expression of RPE/mesenchymal markers, transcriptomic analysis, cell doubling time, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity. Results A-83-01-treated RPE failed to differentiate after 7 passages (P7). This failure was concomitant with downregulation of RPE genes, misregulation of cell cycle genes, a decline in proliferative potential, and cell senescence. Exogenous expression of MYCN and OTX2 in conjunction with A-83-01 restored P7-RPE differentiation to a status similar to minimally passaged RPE. Moreover, the treatment allowed cells to maintain their differentiation capacity after extended passaging. Conclusions Retinal pigment epithelium subjected to chronic wound stimulus undergoes TGFβ-mediated EMT, loss of expression of signature RPE genes, and senescence. Targeting these aspects with a TGFβ receptor kinase inhibitor, a RPE transcription factor, and a cell cycle regulator restores the capacity of highly passaged RPE cells to regenerate and differentiate.