cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CHAPTER FIFTEEN – Induced Abortion

Publisher Summary Induced abortions have been used to terminate unwanted pregnancies by artificial measures for centuries. This chapter discusses the history of induced abortion in the world, especially in the United States. It also reviews the reasons a woman or a couple would want an abortion and some of the controversies surrounding this procedure. Governments can be permissive or restrictive in their legislation regulating abortion. Induced abortion is legal in the United States, women of all types use abortion services, and women seeking abortions in the United States tend to be young, poor, or unmarried mothers. A woman or a couple with a wanted pregnancy may choose an abortion because of danger to the woman's physical or mental health, or because the fetus is gravely deformed, genetically at risk, or unwanted pregnancy. Induced abortion procedures are safer and simpler at earlier stages of pregnancy. Most abortion procedures do not influence future fertility. The medical procedures used to induce abortion, and some benefits and problems of these procedures are also summarized. Choosing to have an abortion is usually a difficult decision and involves various religious, moral, psychological, legal, and medical considerations.
Using OpenMP for HEP framework algorithm scheduling

The OpenMP standard is the primary mechanism used at high performance computing facilities to allow intra-process parallelization. In contrast, many HEP specific software packages (such as CMSSW, GaudiHive, and ROOT) make use of Intel’s Threading Building Blocks (TBB) library to accomplish the same goal. In these proceedings we will discuss our work to compare TBB and OpenMP when used for scheduling algorithms to be run by a HEP style data processing framework. This includes both scheduling of different interdependent algorithms to be run concurrently as well as scheduling concurrent work within one algorithm. As part of the discussion we present an overview of the OpenMP threading model. We also explain how we used OpenMP when creating a simplified HEP-like processing framework. Using that simplified framework, and a similar one written using TBB, we will present performance comparisons between TBB and different compiler versions of OpenMP.
Correlation of hypospadias with congenital anorectal malformation in male children

Objective To explore the correlation of hypospadias with congenital anorectal malformations in male children and to obtain more reliable data and biological materials for further research. Methods 300 male children with hypospadias treated at our hospital were selected and retrospectively analyzed. A case-control study was used to investigate the correlation of hypospadias with congenital anorectal malformation in male children. Results Hypospadias positively correlated with congenital anorectal malformation (P<0.05); and the risk causing congenital anorectal malformation in male children with hypospadias was risk 9.89 times that in those without (OR=9.00, 95% CI 4.49-18.03). Balanic hypospadias took the largest proportion, accounting for 47.33%, and perineum type the smallest, accounting for 15.33%. The incidence of congenital anorectal malformation was highest in perineum type hypospadias (68.75%), and scrotum type (21.05%), tentum type (14.42%), and balanic type (7.75%) came next; the correlation coefficient=0.353; the correlation was good and positive. Conclusion Hypospadias positively correlates with congenital anorectal malformation in male children. Children with perineum or scrotum type hypospadias has higher risk in occurring congenital anorectal malformation. There, prenatal diagnosis should be strengthened to guarantee better bearing and rearing. Key words: Male children; Hypospadias; Congenital anorectal malformation; correlation analysis
The Action of C-Type Natriuretic Peptide on Apoptosis and P53 Expression in Human Cardiomyocytes

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is endothelial cell origin and has potent vasodilatory and antimitogenic actions. We reported that CNP was markedly increased in human cardiac tissue with severe congestive heart failure. To date, the effects of CNP on cardiomyocyte growth and death remain unclear. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the actions of CNP on apoptosis and apoptosis-related gene p53 expression in human cardiomyocytes.Human cardiac atrial tissue was obtained from open-heart surgery (n=6). The cardiac tissue was minced and incubated in the special tissue culture system in the absence or presence of CNP (10-7 M) for 24 hours. These studies were repeated with HS-142-1 (HS, 10-6 M), a natriuretic peptide biological receptor antagonist. To detect the DNA fragmentation, in situ terminal deoxymucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was performed. The p53 expression was determined by immunohistochemical staining (IHCS). An average of 1000 nuclei was analyzed for TUNEL and p53 staining studies.
Gideon by the Numbers: The Emergence of Evidence-Based Practice in Indigent Defense

A widespread consensus understands Gideon’s promise to be largely, sadly, unfulfilled. Yet in truth, we possess precious little hard evidence about the state of indigent defense nationally or the actual impact of indigent defense policies on the quality of representation received. A burgeoning but little-noted trend in the field could alter that state of affairs: the push toward adoption of evidence-based practice. Put most simply, evidence-based practice is a paradigm that aims to tether decision-making to empirical, rather than intuitive or experiential, evaluations of practice or policy options. Originating in medicine and already taking hold in isolated sectors of criminal justice policy, evidence-based practice is sprouting in the indigent defense field, spurred on by legislative reform, shifts in federal funding priorities, and the concerted energy of thought leaders in a number of states. The Essay shines a light on this trend through close examination of three states — North Carolina, Texas, and New York — in which indigent defense oversight commissions have placed the development of evidence-based practice at the front and center of their missions. Critically assessing the prospects for evidence-based indigent defense policymaking, the Essay shares in some of the enthusiasm evinced by evidence-based practice’s promoters, but also enumerates significant barriers to a full flowering of the paradigm, and cautions that an expanded evidence base might, ironically, pose barriers to furthering Gideon’s promise of equal access to counsel for the indigent.
Deep learning based feature-level integration of multi-omics data for breast cancer patients survival analysis

Breast cancer is the most prevalent and among the most deadly cancers in females. Patients with breast cancer have highly variable survival lengths, indicating a need to identify prognostic biomarkers for personalized diagnosis and treatment. With the development of new technologies such as next-generation sequencing, multi-omics information are becoming available for a more thorough evaluation of a patient’s condition. In this study, we aim to improve breast cancer overall survival prediction by integrating multi-omics data (e.g., gene expression, DNA methylation, miRNA expression, and copy number variations (CNVs)). Motivated by multi-view learning, we propose a novel strategy to integrate multi-omics data for breast cancer survival prediction by applying complementary and consensus principles. The complementary principle assumes each -omics data contains modality-unique information. To preserve such information, we develop a concatenation autoencoder (ConcatAE) that concatenates the hidden features learned from each modality for integration. The consensus principle assumes that the disagreements among modalities upper bound the model errors. To get rid of the noises or discrepancies among modalities, we develop a cross-modality autoencoder (CrossAE) to maximize the agreement among modalities to achieve a modality-invariant representation. We first validate the effectiveness of our proposed models on the MNIST simulated data. We then apply these models to the TCCA breast cancer multi-omics data for overall survival prediction. For breast cancer overall survival prediction, the integration of DNA methylation and miRNA expression achieves the best overall performance of 0.641 ± 0.031 with ConcatAE, and 0.63 ± 0.081 with CrossAE. Both strategies outperform baseline single-modality models using only DNA methylation (0.583 ± 0.058) or miRNA expression (0.616 ± 0.057). In conclusion, we achieve improved overall survival prediction performance by utilizing either the complementary or consensus information among multi-omics data. The proposed ConcatAE and CrossAE models can inspire future deep representation-based multi-omics integration techniques. We believe these novel multi-omics integration models can benefit the personalized diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer patients.
Incarceration exposure and food insecurity during pregnancy: Investigating the moderating role of social support

Abstract This study examines the relationship between exposure to incarceration and maternal food insecurity during pregnancy, and the moderating role of social support in this process. Using data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), logistic regression models were used to assess the association between incarceration of a woman or her partner in the year before birth and the likelihood of experiencing food insecurity. Moderation analyses were conducted by interacting levels of social support and incarceration exposure. Results indicate that exposure to incarceration either personally or vicariously through a partner increased the odds of food insecurity, while women with higher levels of social support were at lower risk for food insecurity. Moreover, study findings demonstrate a negative interaction between social support and incarceration, indicating that social support buffers against the harmful effects of incarceration for maternal food insecurity during pregnancy. Implications of the findings for theory and public policy are discussed
Is Home State Litigation the Way to Fill the Lacuna in Corporate Legal Accountability for Human Rights Violations Perpetrated in Host States

This article looks at home state litigation. Its aim is to put this litigation in context alongside other sources of redress which might be pursued by victims of human rights violations and to analyse whether it offers a means of providing accountability. The hypothesis is that litigation within a common law system such as that of England and Wales can allow for vindication of violations of human rights by corporate actors when such remedies are otherwise absent.
Role of Age in Spread of Influenza, 2011-2019, U.S. Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Network.

Intra-season timing of influenza infection among persons of different ages could reflect relative contributions to propagation of seasonal epidemics and has not been examined among ambulatory patients. We calculated risk ratios derived from comparing weekly influenza cases pre-peak versus post-peak during the 2010-2011 through 2018-2019 influenza seasons using data from the US Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness network. We sought to determine age specific differences during the ascent versus the descent of a season by influenza virus types and subtypes. We estimated credible intervals around the risk ratios using Bayesian joint posterior sampling of weekly cases. Our population consisted of ambulatory patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza enrolled at five study sites during nine influenza seasons after the 2009 influenza A virus subtype H1N1 (H1N1) pandemic. We observed that young children aged <5 years tended to be more often infected with H1N1 during the pre-peak period while adults aged ≥65 years tended to be more often infected with H1N1 during the post-peak period. However, for influenza A virus subtype H3N2 children aged <5 years were more often infected during the post-peak period. These results may reflect a contribution of different age groups to seasonal spread, which may differ by influenza virus type and subtype.
Postpartum Use of Weight Loss and Metformin for the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a Review of the Evidence

Purpose of review As many as 70% of patients diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) will go on to develop type 2 diabetes (T2DM) within their lifetimes. Implementing strategies to mitigate this progression in the postpartum period when patients are already connected to care is essential in optimizing lifelong health for our patients. Both lifestyle modification and metformin have been investigated as options to reduce type 2 diabetes risk in patients with a history of GDM. Recent findings The current model for postpartum testing and care of patients with GDM has been shown to have poor uptake rates. Similarly, intervening with lifestyle modification postpartum has not resulted in significant diabetes risk reduction in prospective studies. Metformin is known to decrease insulin resistance and is also associated with weight loss. Data from large prospective studies has indicated that metformin may be a useful addition to lifestyle modifications to prevent progression to diabetes, but additional studies are needed specifically in postpartum individuals. Metformin is a safe in the postpartum period and may reduce diabetes risk if started soon after delivery in individuals with GDM, but additional studies are needed to determine which individuals with GDM are most likely to benefit from this medication.
Prior Immunosuppressive Therapy and Severe Illness Among Patients Diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2: a Community-Based Study.

An estimated 10 million people in the USA are immunocompromised, a risk factor for severe COVID-19. Data informing whether immune-mediated medications lead to more severe infection are sparse. Determine whether outpatient immunosuppressive therapies that treat autoimmune inflammatory disease or prevent solid organ transplant rejection are associated with severe illness after diagnosis with SARS-CoV-2 Retrospective cohort study Adults with a positive PCR nasal swab for SARS-CoV-2 from February 25 to September 9, 2020, cared for within a large integrated health care organization Exposure was defined as an outpatient fill of prednisone, immunomodulator, small-molecule, or biologic therapy in the 105 days prior to a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test. The main outcome was either hospitalization, ICU admission, or death within 45 days after diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. Multivariable logistic regression models were adjusted for age, race, gender, body mass index, comorbidities, and autoimmune disease. A total of 39,686 adults had a positive PCR test. In the primary analysis, prior prednisone use was associated with severe illness after diagnosis with SARS-CoV-2 (odds ratio (OR) 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–1.60); however, immunomodulator (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.57–1.34) and biologic/small-molecule therapy (OR 1.26; 95% CI 0.79–2.00) were not. Secondary analyses showed variable risk among therapies: Janus-kinase inhibitors had an increased odds of severe illness (OR 3.35; 95% CI 1.16–9.67), thiopurines/conventionaldisease-modifying antirheumatic drugs had a reduced odds (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.32–0.88), and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors were not associated (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.18–1.08). Outpatient use of prednisone is associated with severe illness after diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. Immunomodulator and biologic/small-molecule therapy were not associated, but different risk subgroups were identified. Our findings can inform risk-benefit discussions in the clinic and risk-based recommendations for patients on these therapies.
Theory of Mind, Social Science, and Mathematical Practice

The Very Idea Of “Mathematical Practice” Implies, Beyond The Transparent Social Turn In Philosophy, Pedagogy, And Didactics Of Mathematics, A Theory Of Mind. Theories Of Mind May Be The Informal Folk Theories Of Our Everyday Lives Or The More Formal Theories Of Professional Students Of Mind. My Conjecture Is That Folk Theories Of Mind Are At Present Still More Influential In The Work Of Students Of Mathematics And The Mathematics Classroom Than Are Professional Theories. The Problem Is That Whichever Theory Prevails In Any Given Setting Or Study, Or For Any Given Researcher, It Is More Likely Than Not To Locate The Mind In The Brain And In The Person. So One Question I Want To Pose Is: Which Theory Or Theories Of Mind Are Built Into Our Theories Of And Approaches To Mathematical Practice? If Turning Our Attention To Mathematical Practice As Opposed To Focusing On Questions Of Foundations Is A Turn To The Social, Perhaps We Should Be Alert To The Possibility Of A Social Turn In Our Theories Of Mind.
Characterizing Early Alzheimer's Disease and Disease Progression Using Hippocampal Volume and Arterial Spin Labeling Perfusion MRI

Searching for biomarkers sensitive to early Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its progression has been a research priority for two decades. MRI has been increasingly used for this endeavor because of its capability of detecting both structural and functional brain patterns without injecting external contrast agent or radioactive tracers. Recent work has shown sensitivity of hippocampal volume and regional cerebral blood flow for differentiating prodromal AD from normal controls as well as AD. This review provides a summary for the existing literature describing the applications of either or both modalities in early AD studies as well as disease progression assessment. The various findings in the reviewed studies lead to a conclusion of assessing hippocampal volume and arterial spin labeling cerebral blood flow as potential markers for disease detection, and progression monitoring though longitudinal studies are still lacking to fully examine their sensitivity and specificity.
BRCA1 function in T lymphocytes: a cellular specificity of a different kind

Recent work by Mak et al demonstrates that mice carrying a T-cell-specific disruption of the brca1 gene display markedly impaired T-lymphocyte development and proliferation in the absence of any increased tendency for the formation of tumors. Interestingly, the extent of these defects was found to be highly dependent on cellular context. Contrasting the rather broad tissue expression pattern of brca1 against its exquisitely selective etiologic role in cancers of the breast and ovary, many of us are left to ponder - where is the specificity?
The Federal Budget Process: Necessary Knowledge for Social Policy Education and Practice

As diminishing government funding becomes a major American preoccupation, federal social policies are often evaluated more in terms of their impact on the deficit than their effectiveness. This article discusses the current state and future projections of the budget and the two processes that affect fiscal policy: authorization and appropriation measures and budget resolution/reconciliation. Knowledge of the federal budget process shows social work students how budget restraints have been used as weapons against social welfare programs. In addition, this knowledge allows the policy practitioner to recognize certain “decision points,” or places in these processes, at which social workers can intervene.
How Moral Codes Evolve in a Trust Game

This paper analyzes the dynamic stability of moral codes in a two population trust game. Guided by a moral code, members of one population, the Trustors, are willing to punish members of the other population, the Trustees, who defect. Under replicator dynamics, adherence to the moral code has unstable oscillations around an interior Nash Equilibrium (NE), but under smoothed best response dynamics we obtain convergence to Quantal Response Equilibrium (QRE).
The transverse lie. A study of 111 cases.

Abstract 1. 1. An analysis of 111 obstetrical cases with 112 fetuses in persistent transverse presentation which were delivered at the Harlem Hospital Center, New York City, during a 10 year period, is presented. 2. 2. The incidence of transverse lie is 1:355. 3. 3. Possible etiological factors are examined. 4. 4. The study is divided into three groups: immature, premature, and mature infants, according to weight. Treatment and perinatal mortality are given for each group. 5. 5. Thirteen of the patients (11.7 per cent) had no prenatal care. The perinatal mortality in this group was 76.9 per cent. 6. 6. No ruptured uterus attributable to an obstetrical procedure occurred. 7. 7. There are no maternal deaths. Maternal morbidity is 8.1 per cent.
Enhancement of β-Carotene Synthesis by Citrus Products

β-Ionone, a stimulatory compound in the microbiological production of β-carotene by mated cultures of Blakeslea trispora, could be replaced with low-cost agricultural by-products (citrus oils, citrus pulp, or citrus molasses) with as good or better carotene yields. Peak yields (81 to 129 mg of carotene per g of dry solids) were achieved in 5 days. The various citrus products tested did not change the pigments produced; all trans-β-carotene remained the pre-dominant pigment. The acid-hydrolyzed soybean meal and corn used in previous production media could be replaced with unhydrolyzed cottonseed embryo meal and corn in a medium that also contained a natural lipid, deodorized kerosene, nonionic detergent, and a precursor.
Clinical comparison of difco ESP, Wampole isolator, and Becton Dickinson Septi-Chek aerobic blood culturing systems.

The ESP 80A aerobic blood culture of the ESP automated blood culture system (Difco Laboratories. Detroit, Mich.) was compared with two manual aerobic blood culture systems, the Isolator (Wampole Laboratories, Cranbury, N.J.) and the Septi-Chek (Becton Dickinson, Cockeysville, Md.) systems, for the detection of bloodstream microorganisms from 5,845 blood samples for culture collected from adult patients with suspected septicemia. The bottles were incubated for 7 days, and the sediment from the Isolator tube was inoculated onto solid medium and this medium was incubated for 72 h. A total of 609 microorganisms were recovered from 546 blood cultures. There was no statistically significant difference in the total recovery of microorganisms for the ESP 80A system when compared with that for the Septi-Chek system (P = 0.083); however, the Isolator system recovered significantly more microorganisms overall than either the ESP 80A (P < 0.001) or the Septi-Chek (P < 0.001) system. When assessing individual probable pathogens, the Isolator system detected statistically significantly more Staphylococcus aureus and Candida spp. than either the ESP 80A or the Septi-Chek system (P < 0.05). Similarly, the Isolator system detected statistically significantly more bloodstream infections (septic episodes) caused by S. aureus and Candida spp. than either the ESP 80A or the Septi-Chek system (P < 0.05). In blood culture sets which produced growth of the same probable pathogens in the ESP 80A and the Isolator systems, there was no statistically significant difference in the median times to detection for all pathogens combined (P = 0.067). However, a similar comparison showed the Isolator and the ESP 80A systems to have statistically significantly shorter median detection times for all pathogens combined (P < 0.001) when they were independently compared with the Septi-Chek system. The ESP 80A system had 29 (0.5%) false-positive signals. The ESP system required less processing time than the Isolator system and eliminates the hands-on time for the detection of positive cultures required by the manual systems.
Physical studies on the size and structure of the covalently closed circular chloroplast DNA from higher plants.

The size and structure of the covalently closed circular chloroplast DNAs (ctDNA) from pea, lettuce, and spinach plants, have been studied by analytical ultracentrifugation. The values of so20,w,Na+ of the native and denatured forms of the open and closed circular DNAs from these plants have been determined. The absolute molecular weight of purified closed circular pea ctDNA monomers has been determined by buoyant equilibrium sedimentation to be 89.1 (S.D. +/- 0.7)-10(6). The value of the so20,w,Na+ of open circular pea ctDNA and its molecular weight, in conjunction with corresponding values for other sizes of circular DNA, has been used to derive an empirical relationship between so20,w,Na+ and molecular weight for open circular DNAs. Using this relationship, the molecular weights of lettuce and spinach ctDNAs have been determined to be 98.2 (S.D. +/- 1.5)-10(6) and 97.2 (S.D. +/- 1.5)-10(6), respectively. At pH values 12.7 and 13, closed circular lettuce and pea ctDNAs have been found to exist as mixtures of reversibly and irreversibly denatured closed circular DNAs.
Exploring demographic differences in the adoption of mobile money: M-PESA in Kenya

Mobile money is an innovative concept that has a fundamental impact on how marketing exchanges and transactions are consummated. The concept of exchange and payment is at the core of marketing and the ultimate conclusion of an effective marketing strategy. How consumers pay for goods and services profoundly impacts the frequency and quality of products purchased. Despite its diffusion and adoption, mostly in developing countries, scant research exists regarding the characteristics of adopters of mobile money. Using the most successful implementation of mobile money globally, M-PESA in Kenya, demographic differences between adopters and non-adopters of mobile money are examined. Data is collected from 1,975 respondents covering all eight Kenyan provinces. Significant differences between the two groups exist for the variables of gender, age, income, education and location (rural versus urban).
Removing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from human blood using immobilized heparin.

Heparin covalently attached to a water-insoluble resin suspended in HIV-infected aqueous buffer or whole blood captures the virus; subsequent physical separation of the immobilized heparin reduced the viral titers by over 80 and 50%, respectively. The detoxification concept has been validated by both circulating an HIV-1 solution through a column packed with the heparin–sepharose beads and successively mixing an HIV-1 solution with fresh beads.
Association study of IL10, IL1β, and IL1RN and schizophrenia using tag SNPs from a comprehensive database: Suggestive association with rs16944 at IL1β

Abstract Genetic association studies of several candidate cytokine genes have been motivated by evidence of immune dysfunction among patients with schizophrenia. Intriguing but inconsistent associations have been reported with polymorphisms of three positional candidate genes, namely IL1β , IL1RN , and IL10 . We used comprehensive sequencing data from the Seattle SNPs database to select tag SNPs that represent all common polymorphisms in the Caucasian population at these loci. Associations with 28 tag SNPs were evaluated in 478 cases and 501 unscreened control individuals, while accounting for population sub-structure using the genomic control method. The samples were also stratified by gender, diagnostic category, and exposure to infectious agents. Significant association was not detected after correcting for multiple comparisons. However, meta-analysis of our data combined with previously published association studies of rs16944 ( IL1β − 511) suggests that the C allele confers modest risk for schizophrenia among individuals reporting Caucasian ancestry, but not Asians (Caucasians, n = 819 cases, 1292 controls; p = 0.0013, OR = 1.24, 95% CI 1.09, 1.41).
Optimizing spacecraft formations for single-pass IFSAR

Formation structure and relative spacecraft velocities for a multiple baseline single pass IFSAR system are investigated to optimize a composite interferometric observation over several subapertures. Two major system models are developed: (1) relative spacecraft motion, and (2) pixel height measurement variance. Analysis demonstrates that a generalized Keplerian trajectory model with an equal gravity gradient assumption provides sufficient accuracy over typical IFSAR flyby aperture lengths. A pixel height variance model is developed to address issues unique to single pass multiple baseline space-based systems. A bistatic spotlight mode IFSAR system is assumed. Bistatic operation is not necessary, but the reduced future costs of deploying high performance sensor arrays of smaller receiver spacecraft drive the development of this important technology. Modeled noises for the multiple baseline system include internal sensor noise, spatial decorrelation noise, non-parallel ground track (grid rotation) decorrelation noise, and system parameter uncertainties. With expected observation ranges in excess of 500 kilometers, large baselines are required to maximize IFSAR height sensitivity. An analysis of optimal correlation is presented that extends the work of Rodriguez & Martin (1992) to include model uncertainties. Four IFSAR formation scenarios have been investigated. The system trajectory mimics the planned flyby of the Kilauea volcano by the Air Force TechSat 21 multiple spacecraft demonstration. Supposed formations include (1) a free-fall cluster formation, (2) an optimal formation assuming adequate thrust, and (3) a free-fall flyby after optimal initial formation. Results demonstrate pixel height errors at the spotlight aim point to range from 1 to 4 meters over the several 1-second subaperture lengths, and 0.2 to 0.5 meters over the 47-second full aperture length. A fourth scenario investigates performance over a hyperbolic flyby trajectory.
New approach to conformational analysis of heterobiaryls in solution

Abstract Native DNA is used in conformational studies of heterobiaryls. Evidence is presented that the 4-(2′-furyl)pyrimidine and 4-(2′-thienyl)-pyrimidine systems exist in solution in an essentially planar s-trans and s-cis conformation, respectively. The 5-methy1-4-(2′-thieny1)pyrimidine system is also s-cis.
Tinnitus and its risk factors in the Beaver Dam offspring study.

AbstractObjective: To assess the prevalence of tinnitus along with factors potentially associated with having tinnitus. Design: Data were from the Beaver Dam Offspring Study, an epidemiological cohort study of aging. Study Sample: After a personal interview and audiometric examination, participants (n = 3267, ages 21–84 years) were classified as having tinnitus if in the past year they reported having tinnitus of at least moderate severity or that caused difficulty in falling asleep. Results: The prevalence of tinnitus was 10.6%. In a multivariable logistic regression model adjusting for age and sex, the following factors were associated with having tinnitus: hearing impairment (Odds Ratio (OR) = 3.20), currently having a loud job (OR = 1.90), history of head injury (OR = 1.84), depressive symptoms (OR = 1.82), history of ear infection (men, OR = 1.75), history of target shooting (OR = 1.56), arthritis (OR = 1.46), and use of NSAID medications (OR = 1.33). For women, ever drinking alcohol in the past year...
Decoding with the A:I wobble pair is inefficient

tRNAs with inosine (I) in the first position read three codons ending in U, C and A. However, A-ending codons read with I are rarely used. In Escherichia coli, CGA/U/C are all read solely by tRNAICGArg. CGU and CGC are very common codons, but CGA is very rare. Three independent in vivo assays show that translation of CGA is relatively inefficient. In the first, nine tandem CGA cause a strong rho-mediated polar effect on expression of a lacZ reporter gene. The inhibition is made more extreme by a mutation in ribosomal protein S12 (rpsL), which indicates that ribosomal binding by tRNAICGArg is slow and/or unstable in the CGA cluster. The second assay, in which codons are substituted for the regulatory UGA of the RF2 frameshift, confirms that aa-tRNA selection is slow and/or unstable at CGA. In the third assay, CGA is found to be a poor 5' context for amber suppression, which suggests that an A:I base pair in the P site can interfere with translation of a codon in the A site. Two possible errors, frameshifting and premature termination by RF2, are not significant causes for inefficiency at CGA. It is concluded that the A:I pair destabilizes codon:anticodon complexes during two successive ribosomal cycles, and it is suggested that these properties contribute to the rare usage of codons read with the A:I base pair.
Miniaturized Single Circular and Single Ring Patch Antenna for MIMO Communications Exploiting Pattern Diversity

This paper proposes an annular-ring microstrip antenna for a 2×2 MIMO communication system. A single annular-ring microstrip antenna with two feed probes is used to generate two orthogonal radiation patterns. Radiation pattern associated with each probe is generated by FEKO simulations and shown that the patterns are orthogonal to each other. Orthogonal radiation patterns are needed to exploit pattern diversity instead of space diversity. Miniaturization is achieved by using a ferrite substrate instead of using a pure dielectric substrate. A ferrite annular-ring antenna with a single feed probe was manufactured and tested. Also a ferrite single circular patch antenna was manufactured and measurement results are presented.
Is Nicotine Depression of Neonatal Motor Behavior Exerted Through ACTH Release

Prenatal exposure to nicotine tartrate (0.25 mg/kg/pregnant female, gestation days 3 through 21.2x daily IP) markedly decreases ambulatory activity and the number of stop and go movements in 15 day old neonatal rats. Postnatal nicotine tartrate administration alone (0.05 mg/kg SC daily from birth) does not affect these movements nor does it further the motor depression induced by prenatal nicotine treatment. Thus the critical period of neural susceptibility to nicotine appears to be during prenatal life. However, when nicotine is given both pre- and postnatally, horizontal movements are increased in the 15 day old animals, an increase that may be due to inhibition of other types of movement. These alterations in motor behavior are correlated with sharp increases in plasma ACTH levels. As our previous studies [1,25] have shown ACTH to affect neonatal motor behavior, it is suggested that nicotine-evoked ACTH release may mediate some of the motor responses attributed to the drug.
Highly flat and stable optical frequency comb generation using intensity and phase modulators employing quasi-quadratic phase modulation

We present an optical frequency comb with, to the best of our knowledge, unprecedented flatness, high stability and a large number of spectral lines, which allows for high quality pulse compression using single mode fiber.
Fiscal 1982 Budget highlights R&D

Geophysical research and development programs show growth beyond inflation in the $739.3 billion budget for fiscal 1982 that Jimmy Carter sent to Congress 5 days before completing his term. Included in the budget are provisions for increased support for the Ocean Margin Drilling Program and funds for an interagency Geological Applications Program, funds for an agriculture and resource surveys program that relies on remote sensing, and funds for the Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar mission. Ronald Reagan is expected to make changes in the budget as early as late February, although in mid January the heads of the scientific agencies could not characterize possible changes. Some Washingtonians say sharp cuts are inevitable, with basic research a prime candidate. Others, however, contend that the Reagan administration's push for productivity and innovation could prevent severe carving. Eos will track the FY 1982 budget changes through congressional approval.
Description of brittle failure of non-uniform MEMS geometries

Abstract The description of probability of failure of polysilicon micromachined components with complex geometries using a single set of Weibull parameters was investigated. Strength data from both uniform tension and from twelve non-uniform specimen geometries with central perforations were employed. These perforations allowed for twelve different combinations of stress concentration factors and radii of curvature. Two methods were applied to determine the Weibull parameters: in the first method, only the strength data from uniform tension specimens were used to determine the Weibull modulus and the material scale parameter. In the second approach, the strength data from all non-uniform tension geometries were used to calculate the material scale parameter and the Weibull modulus using the maximum likelihood method. The non-uniform stress state in each perforated specimen was taken into account through an elasticity finite element model and the use of the integral form of the Weibull probability function. Using the first method, an analysis considering active flaw populations at the top specimen surface or the specimen sidewalls indicated that the active flaw population is not the same at all scales: for 1–3 μm radius perforations and small stress concentration factor ( K = 3) the active flaw population was located at the specimen top surface, e.g. surface roughness, which, as the analysis indicated, was also the case for uniform tension specimens. For higher stress concentration factors (nominal K = 6 and 8) the analysis indicated that the active flaw population was located at the hole sidewall surface. As a result, for a given material the geometry of the specimen and the local state of stress determine the active flaw population from all flaws generated during fabrication and processing. Therefore, it is important that all potential failure modes be considered when extrapolations to other geometries and loadings are made using the Weibull probability function.
Optimizing demand response price and quantity in wholesale markets

We propose a method to create a supply curve for demand response (DR) analogous to, but separate from, a generation supply curve. This new demand side “supply curve” is used to offer DR into the wholesale market as a demand resource, not a competitive generation source and therefore, unable to set locational marginal price (LMP). This DR supply curve is based on the value of increased gross margin due to load modifications. While this supply curve is based on optimizing a load serving entity's gross margin, the maximum level of DR allowed in the market is based on the amount of DR that brings the market balance to zero (i.e. wholesale revenue equals generator and DR expenses). The proposed method is compared to compensation according to FERC Order 745. We find that while compensation according to Order 745 always results in a negative balance (less revenue than expenses) and a need to allocate that cost, the proposed method achieves a positive balance for low levels of DR, zero balance at an optimal DR level, and a negative balance only if too much DR is purchased.
Effect of curvature on stationary crossflow instability of a three-dimensional boundary layer

An incompressible three-dimensional laminar boundary-layer flow over a swept wing is used as a model to study both the wall-curvature and streamline-curvature effects on the stationary crossflow instability. The basic state is obtained by solving the full Navier-Stokes (N-S) equations numerically. The linear disturbance equations are cast on a fixed, body-intrinsic, curvilinear coordinate system. Those nonparallel terms which contribute mainly to the streamline-curvature effect are retained in the formulation of the disturbance equations and approximated by their local finite difference values. The resulting eigenvalue problem is solved by a Chebyshev collocation method. The present results indicate that the convex wall curvature has a stabilizing effect, whereas the streamline curvature has a destabilizing effect. A validation of these effects with an N-S solution for the linear disturbance flow is provided.
How Financial Oversight Failed & What it May Portend for the Future of Regulation

This paper analyzes the role that well-intentioned policies contributed to the crisis and increased its severity. It also examines the principal-agent problems in the public sector that enabled many of the principal-agent problems in the private sector often blamed for the crisis. The legacy of the crisis is a massive series of bailouts by public authorities in Europe and the United States that risked the equivalent of nearly one-fifth of world GDP in taxpayer funds. This moral hazard will lead to deeper and more frequent crises unless countered by a new approach to regulation that places greater emphasis on market discipline by creditors and counterparties.
Metamaterials based on intersubband polaritons

We will discuss metasurfaces based on strong coupling of quantum-engineered electron states in multi-quantum-well semiconductor structures and electromagnetic modes in plasmonic nanostructures. This concept allows for creating active, reconfigurable, and highly nonlinear polaritonic metamaterials. Experimental results on voltage-tunable spectral response and nonlinear optical response in these structures will be presented.
A Temperature Programmed Desorption Technique for Investigation of Practical Catalysts

Abstract Thermal desorption of gases from solids can be used as a simple technique for probing into the details of bonding between a gas and a solid. The flash filament method, a specific version of thermal desorption, involving use of ultra-high vacuums to follow desorption of an adsorbate from a rapidly heated filament, is a well-established technique that has provided a great deal of very valuable information on adsorption of gases on clean metal surfaces.
Porcine TLR3 characterization and expression in response to influenza virus and Bordetella bronchiseptica

We have provided a detailed structural analysis of porcine alveolar macrophage TLR3 extracellular domain (ECD). The porcine TLR3-ECD contains 18 leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) consisting of blocks of consensus motifs and non-consensus motifs containing insertions. Excluding the N-terminal and C-terminal LRRs, porcine TLR3 has two LRRs with insertions, resulting in one LRR of 39 amino acids and another LRR of 34 amino acids. Furthermore, we have conducted the first examination of the regulated expression of porcine alveolar macrophage TLR3 during in vivo co-infection with influenza virus and Bordetella bronchiseptica. There was a bi-phasic upregulation of porcine TLR3 during influenza virus infection (day 1 and day 10 post-infection). Co-infection resulted in an enhanced expression of porcine TLR3 only at day 1 post-infection. Interestingly, B. bronchiseptica induced an upregulation in alveolar macrophage TLR3 expression at day 10 post-infection. Based on our work and that of others, TLR3 likely plays a key role in the immune response of lung cells to influenza virus infection in several mammalian species.
On Rankine—Hugoniot conditions for Maxwell liquids

Abstract We discuss the jump conditions which must hold across discontinuities in the solutions of the equations governing the motion of upper and lower convected Maxwell liquids. In two space dimensions, we can also give such jump relations of Johnson—Segalman fluids.
Improved Method For Analyzing Ignition Data From The Cone Calorimeter In The Vertical Orientation

Extensive research has been conducted on the use of the Cone Calorimeter to obtain flammability properties of materials for modeling. Ignition properties such as surface temperature at ignition (Tig) and thermal inertia (kρc) are typically determined on the basis of piloted ignition times measured at different heat flux levels. A specific functional relationship between piloted ignition time and heat flux is used to correlate the data and estimate the material properties. The functional relationship is based on the solution of a simplified form of the heat conduction problem in the Cone Calorimeter. Previous ignition studies have always assumed that the surface heat losses involve Newtonian cooling, which is characterized by a constant convection coefficient. However, earlier measurements obtained by the author show that the convection coefficient in the Cone Calorimeter for specimens in the vertical orientation could be more appropriately expressed as a quadratic function of the heat flux. This paper presents the experimental data and analysis that resulted in this proposed quadratic relationship. The solution of the modified conduction model is derived, and its use for the analysis of ignition data is illustrated for six solid wood species.
Developing a global model of magnetospheric substorms

The magnetospheric substorm is a collective response of the magnetosphere and ionosphere to a set of conditions in the solar wind. The concept of magnetospheric substorm was first proposed a quarter century ago in a classic paper by Akasofu [1964]. The magnetospheric substorm is unquestionably a global phenomenon produced by the solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere interaction. It is not a phenomenon of the plasma dynamics in the plasma sheet alone, nor is it exclusively a phenomenon of aurora (“northern lights”) in the upper atmosphere.
Birth Parameters of Maine-Anjou Ayrshire and Maine-Anjou Holstein Calves in Quebec

Abstract Birth records on 927 Maine-Anjou Ayrshire and 2372 Maine-Anjou Holstein crossbred calves born in Quebec in 1974 were analyzed for estimates of parameters of birth. The length of the gestation of the two hybrids was identical to the mid-parent average. The average birth weights of the hybrid calves were close to weights expected from birth weights for the respective purebred calves. Gestation length and birth weight were correlated positively. Calvings were difficult in about 10% of the birth events of hybrid calves. Neonatal mortality was not evaluated because data for stillborn calves were not reported with sufficient consistency by the dairy farmers. The ratio of twin births was low, 3/1000 in Maine-Anjou Ayrshires and 4/1000 in Maine-Anjou Holsteins.
Quantitative Decision Analysis for Sport Fisheries Management

Abstract Fisheries managers often are faced with difficult decisions on how to satisfy needs of the public while maintaining or restoring important sport fisheries. Such decisions are fraught with complexity and uncertainty associated with both ecological systems and multiple management objectives and alternatives under consideration. Quantitative decision analysis provides a means to formalize these complexities into a framework consisting of probabilistic relationships among management actions, sources of uncertainty, and management outcomes. We present an example of quantitative decision analysis for managing largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in West Point Reservoir, Georgia. We developed the decision model to choose among four length limit alternatives: no minimum, 305-mm, 356-mm, and 406-mm minimum total length limits. The model consisted of population dynamics components from published studies, estimates of future reservoir trophic status, and a composite angler satisfaction score. The model i...
Evaluation of the "Olson equation", an isotope dilution method for estimating vitamin A stores.

Isotope dilution methods have been successfully used to estimate vitamin A status in human populations as well as to evaluate the impact of vitamin A interventions. The most commonly applied isotope dilution method is the retinol isotope dilution technique, which is based on the 1989 "Olson equation" for estimating total body vitamin A stores (sometimes equated to liver vitamin A) after an oral dose of labeled vitamin A. The equation relies on several factors related to absorption and retention of the dose, the equilibration of label in plasma vs. liver, and timing of a blood sample for measurement of labeled vitamin A. Here, the assumptions underlying these factors are discussed, and new results based on applying model-based compartmental analysis [specifically, the Simulation, Analysis and Modeling software (WinSAAM)] to data on retinol kinetics in humans are summarized. A simplification of the Olson equation, in which plasma tracer is measured 3 days after administration of the oral dose and several factors are eliminated, is presented. The potential usefulness of the retinol isotope dilution technique for setting vitamin A requirements and assessing vitamin A status in children, as well as the confounding effects of inflammation and likely variability in vitamin A absorption, are also discussed.