cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strategies for engaging the private sector in sexual and reproductive health: how effective are they?

The private health sector provides a significant portion of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in developing countries. Yet little is known about which strategies for intervening with private providers can improve quality or coverage of services. We conducted a systematic review of the literature through PubMed from 1980 to 2003 to assess the effectiveness of private sector strategies for SRH services in developing countries. The strategies examined were regulating contracting financing franchising social marketing training and collaborating. Over 700 studies were examined though most were descriptive papers with only 71 meeting our inclusion criteria of having a private sector strategy for one or more SRH services and the measurement of an outcome in the provider or the beneficiary. Nearly all studies (96%) had at least one positive association between SRH and the private sector strategy. About three-quarters of the studies involved training private providers though combinations of strategies tended to give better results. Maternity services were most commonly addressed (55% of studies) followed by prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (32%). Using study design to rate the strength of evidence we found that the evidence about effectiveness of private sector strategies on SRH services is weak. Most studies did not use comparison groups or they relied on cross-sectional designs. Nearly all studies examined short-term effects largely measuring changes in providers rather than changes in health status or other effects on beneficiaries. Five studies with more robust designs (randomized controlled trials) demonstrated that contraceptive use could be increased through supporting private providers and showed cases where the knowledge and practices of private providers could be improved through training regulation and incentives. Although tools to work with the private sector offer considerable promise without stronger research designs key questions regarding their feasibility and impact remain unanswered. (authors)
Gauging Association Patterns of Chromosome Territories via Chromatic Median

Computing accurate and robust organizational patterns of chromosome territories inside the cell nucleus is critical for understanding several fundamental genomic processes, such as co-regulation of gene activation, gene silencing, X chromosome inactivation, and abnormal chromosome rearrangement in cancer cells. The usage of advanced fluorescence labeling and image processing techniques has enabled researchers to investigate interactions of chromosome territories at large spatial resolution. The resulting high volume of generated data demands for high-throughput and automated image analysis methods. In this paper, we introduce a novel algorithmic tool for investigating association patterns of chromosome territories in a population of cells. Our method takes as input a set of graphs, one for each cell, containing information about spatial interaction of chromosome territories, and yields a single graph that contains essential information for the whole population and stands as its structural representative. We formulate this combinatorial problem as a semi-definite programming and present novel techniques to efficiently solve it. We validate our approach on both artificial and real biological data, the experimental results suggest that our approach yields a near-optimal solution, and can handle large-size datasets, which are significant improvements over existing techniques.
Flight Experiment Demonstrating Existence of Re-entry Vehicle Nosetip Transient Shock Waves

A flight experiment to demonstrate the existence of nosetip transient shock waves (oscillating shocks) has been conducted successfully on a re-entry vehicle (R/V) that contained a high-frequency -response pressure sensor. The pressure sensor was a solid-state device located 18% of the R/V length from the nosetip. The nosetip ablated shape was mapped utilizing recession sensors. A wind-tunnel test program was conducted which demonstrated that an oscillating bow shock wave could be detected on the R/V frustum ~ 18%L from the nosetip with the flight pressure sensor in the flight port geometry. The flight pressure data were maximum in the low-altitude regime, where the nose recession data showed a severe asymmetric nose cusp configuration. Power spectral density plots of the flight test pressure data showed the existence of an oscillating bow shock wave in this altitude regime. The frequency of the oscillating shock detected in flight was found to be in excellent agreement with the ground-test data when plotted as a function of Strouhal number.
Highly Charged Ion Modified Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

We have used highly charged ions (HCIs) such as Xe 44+ to modify ultrathin aluminum oxide barriers in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) in order to controllably adjust their electrical properties independently of oxide thickness. We have reduced the resistance area (RA) product of our MTJ devices by up to three orders of magnitude down to our present measurement uncertainty limit of 30 Ω·μm 2 by varying the HCI dose. Preliminary experiments indicate that HCI modified Co/Al 2 O 3 /Co MTJs have a reduced magnetoresistance (MR) of ≈ 1% at room temperature as compared to ≈ 10% for undosed devices. The goal of this effort is to fabricate a magnetic field sensor in current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) geometry with an RA optimized for hard drive read heads. This is an improvement over presently demonstrated CPP architectures based on giant magnetoresistance or tunnel junctions, whose RAs are either to low or too high.
A framework for investments in support building activities (SBAs): support mechanisms and strategic scenarios

The success of a new technology implementation effort is ultimately dependent upon both management and user support for the project. While recent literature is replete with instances in which measures of support have been correlated with measures of success, potential objective analysis has not been well examined. Furthermore, although these effects may be inherently specific to a given organization, existing literature has instead focused on developing industry-wide generalizations. The purpose of the present work is to propose a decision support methodology for pricing and analyzing user/manager support effects on implementation, with associated justifications for investments in Support Building Activities (SBAs).
A Geometry Independent Technique for Solid Propellant Grain Design

One of the most important parameters which determines the thrust-time history of a solid propellant rocket is the initial propellant grain shape and its variation with time. An alternative technique to the presently available grain design codes is introduced here which can calculate the time evolution of the grain shape for any given initial geometry. This technique is based on the volume fraction method which has been previously used in the modelling of free surface flows. The new technique does not have any restriction on the shape of the grain and is capable of handling any variation in burning rate with time and position along the burning surface. This technique is applied to several grain types, and the rocket thrust and the internal pressure are calculated with time. A power relationship is used to calculate the burning rate from the internal pressure. Also, the effect of the propellant surface curvature on the shape evolution of the grain is discussed.
“In Sickness and in Health”? Disclosures of Genetic Risks in Dating

Individuals who have, or are at risk for, various genetic disorders face many challenges concerning disclosures of genetic information in dating situations. We conducted a qualitative interview study of 64 individuals confronting Huntington’s disease, breast cancer, or Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, examining what issues these individuals encountered, and how they viewed and addressed these—including issues of understandings, privacy, and disclosures of genetic information to various groups (e.g., family members). Incidental to the primary research questions addressed, participants also often described a series of dilemmas in dating situations that they and/or family members, friends, and fellow patients faced of whether to date, and if so, whether, what, how, why, and when to disclose their genetic risk or illness. At times, these individuals feared and experienced rejection, and hence delayed, avoided, or opposed disclosure, or disclosed indirectly or inadvertently. These data are reported in this paper and highlight the importance of patients, their loved ones, genetic counselors, and other health care providers being aware of these issues, and appreciating the complex factors involved, which can affect patients’ coping and social support. This paper, the first to explore several key aspects of disclosures of genetic information in dating, thus suggests needs for public and professional education, and future research in this area.
An Archaeobotanical Perspective on Environment, Plant Use, Agriculture, and Interregional Contact in South and Western Iran

Plant remains from archaeological sites reflect many aspects of the relationship between people, plants, and the environment in which they lived. Plant macroremains—seeds and wood that are visible without a microscope—can address a wide range of questions. The most basic include what crops were grown? What was used for fuel? Do any of the plants come from distant lands? Examples from fourth and third millennium deposits at Farukhabad, Sharafabad, Godin, and Malyan show that within the basic agricultural assemblage of wheat and barley shared by all sites, Sharafabad and Godin have stronger evidence of irrigation, lentil and flax, and Farukhabad appears to be more oriented toward pastoral production than the other sites. This article provides an introduction to archaeobotany using examples drawn from several fourth and third millennium sites in southern and western Iran. Human impact on the vegetation in Khuzestan and Fars appears to have been minimal at this time. A few unexpected finds (a date pit from cold-country/ Sardsir Malyan suggests trade and rice at Parthian Susa may be evidence of a new crop that had long been cultivated in the Indus valley.
Membrane Fluidity and Membrane Activities

Observations that changes in membrane fluidity affect a wide variety of membrane and cellular activities 1–5 greatly stimulated interest in the study of membrane fluidity. It also suggested that such effects could be used to monitor such changes. In this chapter I will discuss selected examples of cases in which membrane fluidity seems to affect membrane enzymes, ion transport and hormone-receptor interactions in both reconstituted and natural membranes.
The Normal, Natural Penis and the Effects of Circumcision

This paper illustrates many of the unintended injuries caused by circumcision in both in infancy and later. The existence and incidence of these injuries are not widely known, either by the general public or, surprisingly, by physicians themselves.
Do Citizens Reward Good Service? Voter Responses to Basic Service Provision in Southern Africa

Theories of democratic governance posit that citizens should reward politicians for good service and punish them for bad. But does electoral accountability work as theorized, especially in developing country contexts? We contribute a new empirical answer to this question. We study Southern African democracies, where infrastructural investment in basic services has expanded widely, but not universally. We first analyze whether increases in local service provision predict increases in voting returns at various levels of geographic aggregation. We then analyze geo-coded, individual-level survey data that allow us to consider the relationship between service delivery, political attitudes and voting intentions. Together, these analyses demonstrate, quite unequivocally, that citizens do not reward good service. We explore the mechanisms that may account for this surprising finding.
Cities Are Physical Too: Using Computer Vision to Measure the Quality and Impact of Urban Appearance

Abstract For social scientists, developing an empirical connection between the physical appearance of a city and the behavior and health of its inhabitants has proved challenging due to a lack of data on urban appearance. Can we use computers to quantify urban appearance from street-level imagery? We describe Streetscore: a computer vision algorithm that measures the perceived safety of streetscapes. Using Streetscore to evaluate 19 American cities, we find that the average perceived safety has a strong positive correlation with population density and household income; and the variation in perceived safety has a strong positive correlation with income inequality.
S-Adenosylamino Acids Thirty Years Later: 1951–1981

This is the fifth or the sixth in a series of S-adenosyl-methionine (AdoMet) revival meetings, the first of which was organized by Dr. Lederer and myself at Gif sur Yvette, in 1973.
An “On-Line” Method for Oxygen Isotope Exchange Between Gas-Phase CO 2 and Water

An “on-line” mixing system has been developed and evaluated for continuous oxygen isotope exchange between gas-phase CO2 and liquid water. The system is composed of three basic parts: equipment and materials used to introduce water and gas into a mixing reservoir, the mixing and exchange reservoir, and a vessel used to separate gas and water phases exiting the system. A series of experiments were performed to monitor the isotope exchange process over a range of temperatures (5–40 °C) and CO2 partial pressures (202–15,200 Pa). Isotopic exchange was evaluated using CO2 having δ18O values of 30.4 and 37.8 ‰ and waters of two distinct oxygen isotope compositions (−6.5 to −5 and 6 to 7.5 ‰). Isotope ratios were determined by isotope ratio mass spectrometry and cavity ring-down spectroscopy. CO2 did not reach oxygen isotope equilibrium under the conditions described here. However, oxygen isotope exchange rate constants were determined at different temperatures and regressed to yield the expression k (h−1) = 0.020 × T (°C) + 0.28. Using this expression, the residence time required to reach oxygen isotope equilibrium may be estimated for a given set of environmental conditions (e.g., δ18O value of water, temperature). System parameters can be modified to achieve a specific δ18O value for CO2. Consequently, the exchange system described here has the ability to deliver a constant flow of CO2 at a desired oxygen isotope composition. This ability is attractive for a variety of applications such as experiments that utilize flow-through reactors and environmental chambers or require static chemical conditions.
Hepatic radiofrequency ablation - an overview from an engineering perspective

Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is receiving increasing attention as treatment for primary and metastatic liver cancer. RF ablation can be performed during open surgery, or minimally invasive through a small incision. An electrode is introduced into the liver tumor, and RF energy is applied. Tissue surrounding the electrode heats up, and is killed above approximately 50 /spl deg/C, where tissue coagulation occurs. Ultrasound imaging is typically used to place the electrode, and monitor the ablation procedure; the exact dimension of the coagulation zone is not visible under ultrasound. Current devices can create coagulation zones between 4 and 7 cm diameter. For large tumors often multiple sequential applications are required, since current devices can only use a single electrode at a time. Current limitations include inadequate imaging modalities, uncontrolled shapes and size of coagulation zones, and inability to reach adequate temperatures close to large vessels. When future devices are available that improve upon these shortcomings, RF ablation may replace classical surgery as the standard treatment for liver cancer.
Participation in Non-Required Activities by Physical Education Major Students

(1938). Participation in Non-Required Activities by Physical Education Major Students. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health and Physical Education: Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 59-61.
Detection of in-progress phone calls using smartphone proximity and orientation sensors

Smartphones are equipped with embedded sensors, which have been widely used for human activity recognition, context monitoring, and localisation. In this paper, we use smartphone sensors to detect in-progress phone calls and classify the caller's activity states. Phone call detection has a number of practical uses: it can be used to monitor activities at places where calls are forbidden and it can be used to assist activity recognition schemes. We propose a real-time phone call detection scheme using smartphone proximity and orientation sensor data and design Android applications to record, upload and display sensor data. We classify the caller's activity states into three categories: sitting/standing, lying down, and walking. Features are extracted from proximity and orientation sensors to train classifiers using different classification algorithms (Naive Bayes, logistic regression, and support vector machine). Experiments show our system achieves an overall accuracy of 91% in successfully detecting and classifying phone calls.
Mindfulness-based interventions for cancer survivors: what do we know about the assessment of quality of life outcomes?

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) refer to the spectrum of integrative mind–body practices used to support wellness and alleviate suffering, thus enhancing the capacity for quality of life (QO...
EpiProfile 2.0: A Computational Platform for Processing Epi-Proteomics Mass Spectrometry Data.

Epigenetics has become a fundamental scientific discipline with various implications for biology and medicine. Epigenetic marks, mostly DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications (PTMs), play important roles in chromatin structure and function. Accurate quantification of these marks is an ongoing challenge due to the variety of modifications and their wide dynamic range of abundance. Here we present EpiProfile 2.0, an extended version of our 2015 software (v1.0), for accurate quantification of histone peptides based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) analysis. EpiProfile 2.0 is now optimized for data-independent acquisition through the use of precursor and fragment extracted ion chromatography to accurately determine the chromatographic profile and to discriminate isobaric forms of peptides. The software uses an intelligent retention time prediction trained on the analyzed samples to enable accurate peak detection. EpiProfile 2.0 supports label-free and isotopic...
An Experimental Model for Porcine Circovirus Type 2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae Co-infection

Sixty-seven pigs were randomly assigned to four groups. Group 1 served as negative control pigs, group 2 pigs were inoculated with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae), group 3 pigs were dually-inoculated with M. hyopneumoniae and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and group 4 pigs were inoculated with PCV2. Dual-infected pigs had moderate dyspnea, lethargy, and reduced weight gain. The overall severity of PCV2- associated microscopic lesions in lung and lymphoid tissues were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the dualinfected pigs compared to all other pigs. Four of 17 dual infected pigs had lesions consistent with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) whereas none of the singular PCV2-infected pigs developed PMWS. This study indicates that M. hyopneumoniae potentiates the severity of PCV2-associated lesions and increases the incidence of PMWS. This co-infection model closely mimics the field situation were co-infections with PCV2 are commonly observed. In the future this model will be very useful for testing intervention strategies for the control of PCV2-associated disease in growing pigs.
REFLECTION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES FROM HORIZONTALLY STRATIFIED MEDIA

A general analysis is presented for the electromagnetic response of a plane stratified medium consisting of any number of parallel homogeneous layers. The solution is first developed for plane-wave incidence and then generalized to both cylindrical and spherical-wave incidence. Numerical results for interesting special cases are presented and discussed. The application of the results to surface-wave propagation over a stratified ground is considered in some detail.
Finding Low Energy Conformations of Atomic Clusters Using Evolution Strategies

We demonstrate the use of evolution strategies in the search for low energy conformations of atomic clusters. Our results indicate that the search process can be performed efficiently without having to relax the cluster structure as is done in genetic algorithm approaches. The evolution strategy is tested on small clusters of silicon atoms.
Blinded by the height: A case of telemetry T wave overcounting.

Abstract High grade atrioventricular (AV) block, defined as 2 or more non-conducted P waves, is a common indication for permanent pacemaker implantation and can be a cause of syncope or presyncope. A 61 year-old male presented to the emergency department with presyncopal symptoms and high grade AV block confirmed on electrocardiogram. Continuous cardiac telemetry monitoring did not trigger any alarm notification during episodes of AV block, due to T wave overcounting. The limitations of telemetry monitoring are rarely recognized and even more rarely reported in the literature.
Real-Time Traffic Flow Pattern Matching to Improve Predictive Performance of Online Simulation-Based Dynamic Traffic Assignment

In real-time simulation-based dynamic traffic assignment, selection of the most suitable demand from the library of demands calibrated offline improves the accuracy of the prediction. In the era of...
Public Interest or Public Choice? The Beef Trust and the 1906 Meat Inspection Act

This paper challenges the recent research of public interest historians and argues the evidence supports a public choice interpretation of the 1906 Meat Inspection Act. First, the Beef Trust’s slaughter of diseased meat was due to the uncertainty over the science of disease transmission and using it was the only way at the time to make meat affordable to consumers. Second, critics of the Beef Trust’s sanitary practices were often biased and they exaggerated the problem. Third, the evidence is consistent with the argument that the Beef Trust captured the regulation because the law was associated with an increase in their market share, less product choice, and higher meat prices, all of which hurt consumers.
sEmoD: A Personalized Emotion Detection Using a Smart Holistic Embedded IoT System

Scientific mental health crisis analysis through smart Internet of Things (IoT) system is able to provide an overall assessment of personalized emotion state. With recent advancements in IoT technology, we developed an embedded smart IoT system (sEmoD) for emotion detection. We designed and implemented a wearable Cyber-Human System (CHS) with a low power Bluetooth communication module to collect Body Area Sensor's (BAS) data using a smartphone. This wearable IoT device is capable of collecting physiological data over an extended period of time. Experimentation and verification have been conducted on a group of test subjects with different test scenarios including a happy, depressed, stressed, and calm state of being. This study introduces the use of signal processing and machine learning techniques for sensor data analytics to detect a (potential) personalized mental health crisis. The proposed system, sEmoD, can distinguish between the different emotional crises events with a high degree of accuracy (~80%).
Helping each other: a peer supervision group with facilitators of mutual aid groups

Mutual aid groups can help people cope with life’s problems. A peer supervision group can help facilitators to better understand their role and improve their facilitating skills in mutual aid group...
Utilizing End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide to Diagnose Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Prehospital Patients with Hyperglycemia.

Background:Early identification of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) may improve clinical outcomes. Prior studies suggest exhaled end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) provides a non-invasive, real-time method to screen for DKA in the emergency department (ED).Methods:This a retrospective cohort study among patients who activated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) during a one-year period. Initial out-of-hospital vital signs documented by EMS personnel, including ETCO2 and first recorded blood glucose level (BGL), as well as in-hospital records, including laboratory values and diagnosis, were collected. The main outcome was the association between ETCO2 and the diagnosis of DKA.Results:Of the 118 patients transported with hyperglycemia (defined by BGL >200), six (5%) were diagnosed with DKA. The mean level of ETCO2 in those without DKA was 35mmHg (95% CI, 33-38mmHg) compared to mean levels of 15mmHg (95% CI, 8-21mmHg) in those with DKA (P <.001). The Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) Curve (AUC) for ETCO2 identifying DKA was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.92-1.00). The correlation coefficient between ETCO2 and serum bicarbonate (HCO3) was 0.436 (P <.001) and the correlation coefficient between ETCO2 and anion gap was -0.397 (P <.001).Conclusion:Among patients with hyperglycemia, prehospital levels of ETCO2 were significantly lower in patients with DKA compared to those without and were predictive of the diagnosis of DKA. Furthermore, out-of-hospital ETCO2 was significantly correlated with measures of metabolic acidosis.
A global building network research for advancing healthy and affordable housing

It is widely acknowledged that buildings that are well designed, constructed and operated can generate health, well-being and prosperity benefits. Inadequate ventilation, poor indoor air quality, c...
Shocks propagate in a 2D dusty plasma with less attenuation than due to gas friction alone

In a dusty plasma, an impulsively generated shock, i.e., blast wave, was observed to decay less than would be expected due to gas friction alone. In the experiment, a single layer of microparticles was levitated in a radio frequency glow-discharge plasma. In this layer, the microparticles were self-organized as a 2D solid-like strongly coupled plasma, which was perturbed by the piston-like mechanical movement of a wire. To excite a blast wave, the wire's motion was abruptly stopped, so that the input of mechanical energy ceased at a known time. It was seen that, as it propagated across the layer, the blast wave's amplitude persisted with little decay. This result extends similar findings, in previous experiments with 3D microparticle clouds, to the case of 2D clouds. In our cloud, out-of-plane displacements were observed, lending support to the possibility that an instability, driven by wakes in the ion flow, provides energy that sustains the blast wave's amplitude despite the presence of gas damping.
Development of durable and superhydrophobic nanodiamond coating on aluminum surfaces for improved hygiene of food contact surfaces

Abstract Foodborne illness outbreaks caused by bacterial pathogens may take place on a large scale and result in millions of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths every year throughout the world. One key strategy for dealing with this global issue is the design of smart surfaces and coatings which inhibit and reduce bacterial attachment. This can mitigate contamination and cross-contamination during farm-to-table food processing, promoting food safety, and hygiene. Herein, we reported a durable superhydrophobic coating on aluminum surfaces fabricated by sequential deposition of ultrahard nanodiamond, self-assembly of l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine ( l -dopamine), and chemical modification with an organoflurosilane. This coating achieved static, advancing, and receding water contact angles of 159.0 ± 2.5°,154.0 ± 2.4°; and 153.7 ± 1.7°, respectively, representing water super-repellency with a low overall root mean square (rms) roughness of 173.5 ± 69.6 nm. In comparison to the bare, unmodified aluminum, the coated aluminum surfaces prevented the attachment of 99.5% of applied Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E.coli O157:H7) and 99.0% of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) cells. In addition, due to the presence of nanodiamond building blocks, the coated surfaces demonstrated a high mechanical resistance against scratching and endured at least 10,000 shearing/rubbing cycles with a nylon surface. Overall, we anticipate that implementation of this coating could improve safety and hygiene of food-contact surfaces that require harsher mechanical operational conditions.
An Optimization Method of Distance Protection for Parallel Lines on the same Tower

When used in parallel transmission lines on the same tower or dealing with high resistance fault, the measuring impedance of traditional distance protection becomes inaccurate due to the influence of transition resistance and zero-sequence mutual inductance, thus affect protection range and action speed of corresponding distance algorithm. An optimization method of distance protection for double circuit transmission lines on the same tower is proposed. A fault location method based on the phase relation of sequence currents at local terminal is constructed by using the structural characteristics of parallel lines. It can quickly and accurately identify the fault and obtain the fault location by using single terminal information, and has a wide range of application scenarios. The EMTDC simulation results verify the effectiveness of this method.
Assessing Hepatitis B Knowledge Among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in San Diego.

Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders comprise 6% of the U.S. population, but 50% of chronic hepatitis B cases and have a cancer mortality that is 60% higher than non-Hispanic Whites. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge of HBV transmission, symptoms/sequelae and treatment among NHPIs in San Diego. Self-administered surveys were distributed using convenience sampling at the 24th Annual Pacific Islander Festival in San Diego in 2018. Overall knowledge scores were low (mean: 9.8 out of 28) among participants. Compared to U.S.- born (mean: 11.6), participants born in Pacific Island countries and territories (mean: 8.5) had lower knowledge scores (p = 0.017) and lower self-reported vaccination rates (50% vaccinated vs 27%, respectively, p = 0.025). Lack of HBV knowledge, low vaccination rates and the discordance between knowledge and behavior regarding HBV vaccination elicits an urgent need to collaborate with NHPI communities for HBV education, screening, immunization and treatment.
Unsteady Motion in the Supersonic Flow over a Wall-Mounted Hemisphere

Experiments were performed within Rutgers University’s Mach 3.4 wind tunnel to visualize the unsteady flow over a wall-mounted hemisphere using high-speed schlieren imaging and stereoscopic particl...
Temporal Patterns of Plant and Metazoan Evolution Suggest Extensive Polyphyly

Publisher Summary The temporal patterns of plant and metazoan evolution suggest extensive polyphyly. The difficulty in determining whether clades are monophyletic or polyphyletic is, especially problematic when attempting to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the modern flowering plants—the angiosperms—but is also seen in other higher taxonomic groups, such as the gymnosperms, ferns, and mosses. The introduction of molecular evolution studies was greeted with great expectations; it was assumed that the taxonomic ambiguities of plant classification would be resolved. It is documented in an earlier study of cytochrome c sequences and showed that the problem of homoplasy of the plant sequences was significantly different from homoplasy among animal sequences. Molecular sequence information has a potential advantage over morphological character arrays because of the possibility of inferring temporal relationships through the operation of the molecular clock.
Frontiers of commercial biotechnology: US and Japanese potential in a new industry

Abstract With their godlike ability to alter life and cure disease, the new biotechnologies have moved swiftly out of the laboratory and into various scientific and commercial applications. The small, innovative biotechnology firm has been the principal vehicle for the transition and it has been resoundingly supported by US venture capital and equity markets. Wall Street's support, however, could quickly evaporate, especially if major advances against cancer and AIDS are not soon forthcoming. With increasing Japanese interest in this field, there could be major industrial changes at the frontiers of commercial biotechnology.
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: presenting as an unusual gastric lesion.

A case of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, occurring in a 61-year-old male, presented as an ulcerating antral mass lesion and hepatosplenomegaly. The antral mass was demonstrated to be composed of a proliferation of blood vessels and is an unusual presentation for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia of the gastrointestinal tract.
Influence of dust loading on atmospheric ionizing radiation on Mars

Measuring the radiation environment at the surface of Mars is the primary goal of the Radiation Assessment Detector on the NASA Mars Science Laboratory's Curiosity rover. One of the conditions that Curiosity will likely encounter is a dust storm. The objective of this paper is to compute the cosmic ray ionization in different conditions, including dust storms, as these various conditions are likely to be encountered by Curiosity at some point. In the present work, the Nowcast of Atmospheric Ionizing Radiation for Aviation Safety model, recently modified for Mars, was used along with the Badhwar & O'Neill 2010 galactic cosmic ray model. In addition to galactic cosmic rays, five different solar energetic particle event spectra were considered. For all input radiation environments, radiation dose throughout the atmosphere and at the surface was investigated as a function of atmospheric dust loading. It is demonstrated that for galactic cosmic rays, the ionization depends strongly on the atmosphere profile. Moreover, it is shown that solar energetic particle events strongly increase the ionization throughout the atmosphere, including ground level, and can account for the radio blackout conditions observed by the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding instrument on the Mars Express spacecraft. These results demonstrate that the cosmic rays' influence on the Martian surface chemistry is strongly dependent on solar and atmospheric conditions that should be taken into account for future studies.
The use of vascular closure devices and impact on major bleeding and net adverse clinical events (NACEs) in balloon aortic valvuloplasty: a sub-analysis of the BRAVO study.

Objective To determine the impact of suture-mediated vascular closure devices (VCDs) on net adverse clinical events (NACEs) after balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV). Background Ischemic and bleeding complications are common following transfemoral BAV; however, previous studies have been single center and limited by varying definitions of major bleeding. Methods The Effect of Bivalirudin on Aortic Valve Intervention Outcomes (BRAVOs) study was a retrospective observational study conducted at two high-volume academic centers over a 6-year period designed to compare the effect of bivalirudin versus unfractionated heparin. This is a subanalysis of 428 consecutive patients who underwent BAV (with 10–13 French sheaths) to compare the effect of hemostasis with VCDs versus manual compression utilizing standardized definitions. NACE was defined as the composite of major bleeding and major adverse clinical events (MACEs). All events were adjudicated by an independent clinical events committee who were blinded to antithrombin use. Results Preclosure was performed in 269 (62.8%) of patients. While bivalirudin was used more frequently in those with pre-closure (60.6% vs. 37.7%, P < 0.001), a history of prior BAV (11.1% vs. 3.6%, P = 0.04) and peripheral vascular disease (30.7% vs. 19.7%, P = 0.01) was more common in those not undergoing preclosure (n = 159, 37%). Other clinical and demographic features were well balanced between groups. Vascular closure was associated with a significant reduction in NACE (24.5% vs. 10.0% P < 0.001). Results remained significant after adjusting for baseline differences and bivalirudin use (OR 0.38, 95% CI: 0.21–0.68; P = 0.001). Conclusions Our study suggests that suture-mediated vascular closure is associated with a substantial reduction in NACE after transfemoral BAV. Large randomized clinical trials should be conducted to confirm our results.© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and autism.

To the Editor .— The recent article by Makela et al1 provides no meaningful data on any possible association between the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. This manufacturer-supported study is biased toward a negative result. Using hospital admissions is designed to underestimate the …
Note on the interpretation of Pt and Pd values in vegetation near the limit of determination with a graphite furnace technique

Platinum and palladium uptake by vegetation was reported earlier. Initially, the spectrophotometric method applied to the analysis of Pd in plant ash was affected by errors typical of values near the limit of determination. No appropriate method for Pt was available for these low values. A method published earlier for metallic alloys and ores, which is based on a double extraction of an iodide chelate of Pt and Pd from unfiltered digests into MIBK, was adapted, with some modifications, to ashed vegetation. These modifications consisted of a single extraction; the addition of benzene to the MIBK, to promote a better phase separation; and the use of a smaller volume ratio of solvent to water, to increase the sensitivity of the method. Quantitation was with a graphite furnace analyzer (GFA).
Meconium per vaginam secondary to ileal atresia and meconium peritonitis

A neonate was referred for an abdominal mass and passing meconium per vaginam. The anorectum was normal. Roentgenograms revealed a small-bowel obstruction and hypogastric peritoneal calcifications. Findings at celiotomy were: ileal atresia, meconium peritonitis, and two meconium-filled pseudocysts draining through the female genital tract. Excision of the inflammatory masses, resection of the atretic segment, and primary ileoileostomy were followed by an uneventful recovery. Only two similar cases, both fatal, are reported in the English literature. Meconium peritonitis should be considered in the neonate passing meconium per vaginam.
Networked virtual environments: design and implementation

1. The Promises and Challenges of Networked Virtual Environments. What Is a Networked Virtual Environment? Graphics Engines and Displays. Control and Communication Devices. Processing Systems. Data Network. Challenges in Net-VE Design and Development. Network Bandwidth. Heterogeneity. Distributed Interaction. Real-Time System Design and Resource Management. Failure Management. Scalability. Deployment and Configuration. Conclusion. References. 2. The Origin of Networked Virtual Environments. Department of Defense Networked Virtual Environments. SIMNET. Distributed Interactive Simulation. Networked Games and Demos. SGI Flight and Dogfight. Doom. Other Games. Academic Networked Virtual Environments. NPSNET. PARADISE. DIVE. Brick Net. MR Toolkit Peer Package. Others. Conclusion. References. 3. A Networking Primer. Fundamentals of Data Transfer. Network Latency. Network Bandwidth. Network Reliability. Network Protocol. The BSD Sockets Architecture. Sockets and Ports. The Internet Protocol. Introducing the Internet Protocols for Net-Ves. Transmission Control Protocol. User Datagram Protocol. IP Broadcasting Using UDP. IP Multicasting. Selecting a Net-VE Protocol. Using TCP/IP. Using UDP/IP. Using IP Broadcasting. Using IP Multicasting. Conclusion. References. 4. Communication Architectures. Two Players on a LAN. Multiplayer Client-Server Systems. Multiplayer Client-Server, with Multiple-Server Architectures. Peer-to-Peer Architectures. Conclusion. References. 5. Managing Dynamic Shared State. The Consistency-Throughput Tradeoff. Maintaining Shared State Inside Centralized Repositories. Reducing Coupling through Frequent State Regeneration. Dead Reckoning of Shared State. Conclusion. References. 6. Systems Design. One Thread, Multiple Threads. Important Subsystems. Conclusion. References and Further Reading. 7. Resource Management for Scalability and Performance. An Information-Centric View of Resources. Optimizing the Communications Protocol. Controlling the Visibility of Data. Taking Advantage of Perceptual Limitations. Enhancing the System Architecture. Conclusion. References. 8. Internet Networked Virtual Environments. VRML-Based Virtual Environments. Virtual Reality Transfer Protocol. Internet Gaming. Conclusion. References. 9. Perspective and Predictions. Better Library Support. Toward a Better Internet. Research Frontiers. Past, Present, and Future. References. Appendix: Network Communication in C, C++, and Java. Using TCP/IP from C and C++. Managing Concurrent Connections in C and C++. Using TCP/IP from Java. Managing Concurrent Connections in Java. Using UDP/IP from C and C++. Using UDP/IP from Java. Broadcasting from C and C++. Broadcasting from Java. Multicasting from C and C++. Multicasting from Java. References. Index. 0201325578T04062001
Changes in the Somatotrophic Axis Associated with the Initiation of Lactation

Abstract The demands of early lactation in dairy cattle are met through a coordinated physiological response that causes partitioning of nutrients for milk production. Among the hormones involved, growth hormone (GH or somatotropin) assumes a pivotal role in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Growth hormone's actions are transduced by the cell-surface GH receptor (GHR). The molecular regulation of the GHR is complex because at least three promoters control GHR transcription. Transcription of GHR 1A mRNA is controlled by GHR promoter 1 (P1). The GHR 1A mRNA is found in liver of adult animals where it represents the bulk of the GHR mRNA. Binding of hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 (HNF-4) to GHR P1 may cause liver-specific expression of GHR 1A. Transcription of GHR 1B and 1C mRNA is controlled by GHR P2 and P3. The activity of GHR P2 and P3 depends on an enhancer element that binds Sp1 as well as an unknown transcription factor. The liver GHR 1A is decreased at calving and then subsequently increases during the early postpartum period. The decrease in liver GHR 1A mRNA coincides with a period of liver refractoriness to GH when GH-dependent IGF-I synthesis and secretion are decreased. We hypothesize that the decrease in liver GHR 1A at calving leads to a decrease in the concentration of GHR in liver and a decrease in GHR second messenger signaling in early postpartum cows. Failure to regain GHR 1A expression during early lactation may compromise GH-dependent functions in liver and affect total milk yield.
State energy policies: Federal funds for paper programs

The states have not demonstrated that they can assume leadership in energy policy in their responses to federal energy legislation. Reviewing state responses in the form of energy programs and spending to determine why these responses are so varied, the author finds little economic, technological, or political rationality in the patterns of implementation. He concludes that state programs exist primarily on paper, with little relationship to state needs or resources. He finds the closest relationship between federal and state energy spending is on highway spending. 2 tables. (DCK)
The interpretation of proton magnetic resonance linewidths for lecithin dispersions. Effect of particle size and chain packing.

Abstract Two previously reported theoretical treatments of the effect of sonication on the PMR spectrum of phospholipid bilayer membranes have led to divergent conclusions regarding the effects of sonication on the structure of the bilayer membrane. In this report these two theoretical treatments will be critically reviewed, and it will be shown that only the theory of Seiter and Chan (Seiter, C.H.A. and Chan, S.I. (1973) J. Am. Chem Soc. 95, 7541–7553) yields predictions which are in agreement with experiment. Analysis of available and newly acquired NMR results for sonicated bilayer vesicles of different sizes, both above and below the thermal phase transition, indicates that sonication does disrupt the regular molecular packing of the phospholipid molecules in these systems.
Raw-Score Conditional Standard Errors of Measurement in Generalizability Theory

A comprehensive, integrated treatment is provided of both conditional absolute (A-type) standard errors of measurement (SEM) and conditional relative (a-type) SEMs from the perspective of generalizability theory. Results are provided for univariate singlefacet designs, multivariate single-facet designs, and designs with multiple random facets. Some previously derived conditional SEMs are shown to be special cases of results derived here. Average values (over examinees) of certain conditional SEMs are shown to be related to the error variances in coefficient a and stratified a. It is shown that the conditional A-type SEM is the standard error of the mean for the within-person design. As such, it is unaffected by the across-persons design and relatively easy to estimate. By contrast, the conditional 8-type SEM is necessarily influenced by the across-persons design and often quite complicated to estimate, especially for multifacet designs. Almost all estimators are illustrated with data from the Iowa Tests o...
Thermodynamic study of ternary nickel-cobalt-hydrogen solid solutions

Abstract The solubility of hydrogen in NiCo f.c.c. solid solutions in equilibrium with H2-gas at constant pressure has been measured as a function of temperature (623–1273 K) in the composition range 0–50 at.% Co. The partial thermodynamic functions of the H-atoms dissolved in the substitutional matrix at essentially infinite dilution were derived from the solubility measurements and shown to be in good accord with the cell model for ternary solid solutions. Concomitant elastic measurements on the NiCo binary system showed that the effect of dilations in the substitutional matrix effected by changes in its composition have only a small effect on the partial functions of the H-atoms in the NiCoH ternary system.
Bilinear functionals on the grassmanninan manifold

Let V be an n-dirneasional unitary space with inner product (x y) and let A: V → V be an hermitian operator with eigenvalues λ1 ⩾⋯ ⩾ λn. For each m1 ⩽ m ⩽ n let be the mth exterior space over Vand let G m denote the Grassman manifold, i.e., all decomposable elements of of norm 1. The map C m(A): is the induced compound of A. This paper is concerned with the structure of the set consisting of all complex numbers vary over all orthonormal pairs in Gm . The first result states that is a closed disc centered at the origin. If λ1 …, λn are the eigenvalues of A then the maximum and minimum eigenvalues of Cm (A) are respectively λα. and λβ where both λα = λα1… λαmand λβ = λβ1… λβmare products taken m at a time of the λi i = 1,…,n. The radius of is always at most then has radius ρ iff α and β agree in m− 1 places. For hermitian matrices A this implies that the values of a nonprincipal subdeterminant of U * AU, as U runs over unitary matrices, fills up a disc whose radius depends on the position of the subdeterminant.