cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quality of location-based crowdsourced speed data on surface streets: A case study of Waze and Bluetooth speed data in Sevierville, TN

Abstract Obtaining accurate speed and travel time information is a challenge for researchers, geographers, and transportation agencies. In the past, traffic data were usually acquired and disseminated by government agencies through fixed-location sensors. High costs, infrastructure demands, and low coverage levels of these sensor devices require agencies and researchers to look beyond the traditional approaches. With the emergence of smartphones and navigation apps, location-based and crowdsourced Big Data are receiving increased attention. In this regard, location-based big data (LocBigData) collected from probe vehicles and road users can be used to provide speed and travel time information in different locations. Examining the quality of crowdsourced data is essential for researchers and agencies before using them. This study assessed the quality of Waze speed data from surface streets and conducted a case study in Sevierville, Tennessee. Typically, examining the quality of these data in surface streets and arterials is more challenging than freeways data. This research used Bluetooth speed data as the ground truth, which is independent of Waze data. In this study, three steps of methodology were used. In the first step, Waze speed data was compared to Bluetooth data in terms of accuracy, mean difference, and distribution similarity. In the second step, a k-means algorithm was used to categorize Waze data quality, and a multinomial logistics regression model was performed to explore the significant factors that impact data quality. Finally, in the third step, machine learning techniques were conducted to predict the data quality in different conditions. The result of the comparison showed a similar pattern and a slight difference between datasets, which verified the quality of Waze speed data. The statistical model indicates that that Waze speed data are more accurate in peak hours than in night hours. Also, the traffic speed, traffic volume, and segment length have a significant association on the accuracy of Waze data on surface streets. Finally, the result of machine learning prediction showed that a KNN method performed the highest prediction accuracy of 84.5% and 82.9% of the time for training and test datasets, respectively. Overall, the study results suggest that Waze speed data is a promising data source for surface streets.
Disorder Modifications of the Critical Temperature for Superconductivity: A Perspective from the Point of View of Nanoscience

Abstract Superconductivity can be modified by various effects related to randomness, disorder, structural defects, and other similar physical effects. Their affects on superconductivity are important because such effects are intrinsic to certain material system's preparation, or may be intentionally produced. In this chapter, we show in the context of a Cooper instability relationship, that introduction of disorder through impurities could possibly lead to an increase in T c . This is an old subject, having been addressed decades ago in the view of simpler substances, including metal alloy materials. Today, with the advances in material science, nanoscience, and atomic level preparation of materials and devices, this subject should be reexamined. That is our purpose here, especially in light of some recent discoveries made in the area of the metal–insulator transition, to be covered herein. One may obtain a formula for T c which is recognizable, and relatable to BCS theory, by using many-body quantum field theory for condensed matter expeditiously, using quantum Green's functions, polarization functions (correlation functions), and vertex functions, to extract out an analytical formula for T c . The reader will find use made of perturbational Feynman diagrammatic techniques, finite temperature quantum Matsubara Green's functions, and quantum perturbational derivations without the diagrams.
Pride Camp: Pilot study of an intervention to develop resilience and self-esteem among LGBTQ youth

Many LGBTQ youth experience rejection and discrimination in their families and schools, and the range of interventions for improving their resilience and well-being is limited. We developed and piloted an LGBTQ-youth-focused intervention to build resilience and promote health equity, called Pride Camp, in an urban environment in the Midwest. Using a mixed-method approach we examined the impact of Pride Camp on resilience and other measures of well-being among LGBTQ high school students who attended camp on a college campus in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Camp attendees and the research sample included a majority proportion of transgender and gender nonbinary (TGN) youth. Pre- and post-test data from our quantitative surveys (n = 28), indicated significant increases in resilience, self-esteem, and quality of life in LGBTQ youth who attended camp. Similar results were found among the TGN participants (n = 19). Qualitative data from focus groups indicated that specifically for TGN youth, the affirming environment at the camp provided social opportunities that they had not found elsewhere. Findings suggest that the Pride Camp intervention provides a platform for LGBTQ youth to meet peers and engage in LGBTQ communities, improving their resilience and outlook on the future. A larger controlled study of the Pride Camp intervention including measurement of additional specific health outcomes over a longer follow-up period is warranted to examine the impact of this program on health equity.
Beige Adipose Tissue Identification and Marker Specificity-Overview

Adipose tissue (AT) is classified based on its location, physiological and functional characteristics. Although there is a clear demarcation of anatomical and molecular features specific to white (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT), the factors that uniquely differentiate beige AT (BeAT) remain to be fully elaborated. The ubiquitous presence of different types of AT and the inability to differentiate brown and beige adipocytes because of similar appearance present a challenge when classifying them one way or another. Here we will provide an overview of the latest advances in BeAT, BAT, and WAT identification based on transcript markers described in the literature. The review paper will highlight some of the difficulties these markers pose and will offer new perspectives on possible transcript-specific identification of BeAT. We hope that this will advance the understanding of the biology of different ATs. In addition, concrete strategies to distinguish different types of AT may be relevant to track the efficacy and mechanisms around interventions aimed to improve metabolic health and thwart excessive weight gain.
Synergistic effects of starch nanoparticles and chitin nanofibers on the stability of oil-in-water Pickering emulsions.

Abstract Starch nanoparticles (SNPs) and Chitin nanofibers (ChFs) have been recognized to be effective for emulsion stabilization. Hence, the use of multiple solid nanoparticles seems to be a promising approach to improve emulsion stability. This work aims to study emulsions stabilized by a combination of SNPs and ChFs at different concentrations over storage time and different environmental conditions. Sonicated emulsions were found to have a significantly higher stability compared to non-sonicated emulsions. Furthermore, SNP/ChF-stabilized emulsions showed smaller droplet sizes and higher stability within a wide range of temperatures and pH, suggesting a synergistic effect between both particles as stabilizers. The addition of NaCl showed limited impact, particularly in concentrations up to 200 mM, on the improvement of the stability of emulsions. The combined use of SNPs and ChFs allowed emulsion stabilization at lower solid nanoparticles concentrations than when only either SNPs or ChFs were used.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Access to Preventative Services among Privately Insured Adults with Congenital Disabilities

Research Objectives Cerebral palsy (CP) and spina bifida (SB) are congenital disabilities. Due to life-long disability, adults with CP/SB are with greater needs for preventative care. Little is known about racial/ethnic disparities in use of preventative services in this population. Our objective was to examine racial/ethnic disparities in use of preventative care. Design Using 2007-2017 private claims data, we identified White, Black, and Hispanic adults (18+) with CP/SB [n=11,635; White=8,935; Black=1,457; Hispanic=1,243)]. Setting We quantified the National Institute of Medicine (NAM) definition of disparity by matching health related variables (age, sex, comorbid conditions, and Elixhauser index) between Whites and each minority subpopulation. Generalized estimating equations were used and all models were adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, income, education, and U.S. Census divisions. Outcomes of interest were: (1) any office visit; (2) any physical therapy/ occupational therapy (PT/OT); (3) annual wellness visit; (4) bone density screening; (5) cholesterol screening; (6) diabetes screening. Participants White, Black, and Hispanic adults (18+) with CP/SB [n=11,635; White=8,935; Black=1,457; Hispanic=1,243)] and their matched counterparts without disabilities. Interventions N/A. Main Outcome Measures Measuring racial/ethnic disparities among adults with cerebral palsy or spina bifida in use of preventative services. Results Rate of recommended services for all adults with CP/SB were low and no significant results were found for most preventative services across race/ethnicity. Compared with Whites, Hispanics had lower odds of annual wellness visit (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.96) but higher odds of diabetes screening (OR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.13, 1.93). Blacks had lower odds of bone density screening (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.31-0.95), and annual wellness visit (OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.24-1.00). Conclusions There were no substantial racial/ethnic disparities in use of preventive services among privately insured adults with CP/SB who had a higher-than-average income and education level. Author(s) Disclosures There is no conflict of interest to disclose.
Reconstructive Surgery for Pressure Ulcers in Special Areas of the Body

These ulcers can develop in insensate patients over bony, prominent areas of the body and are different from ulcers developed from pressure on sitting areas. They occur at different stages of a patient’s life, whether during an acute accident or illness or later on. The etiologies result from some factors that predispose for pressure application on a particular part of the body. These ulcers are outside the pelvic girdle, which means they are not the result of weight-bearing activities like sitting. The majority of these ulcers heal if treated locally and the causative agent is eliminated. These ulcers are not seen clinically on a frequent basis, but they do occur from time to time, secondary to special etiologies. They are seen in insensate patients (patients with spinal cord injury) and in patients with diabetes, peripheral vascular diseases, or neuropathies.
Access to health information: a key for better health in the knowledge society.

Objectives: to illustrate how access to health information is a key determinant to the strengthening of health and healthcare systems, and highlight related current challenges of the evolving knowledge society. Methods: reflections on some of the dimensions of access to health information, with a focus on current evolutions of the World-Wide- Web, unresolved issues and research perspectives. Conclusion: our knowledge society is growing, maturing, and bringing powerful tools that can improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare processes and help citizens manage their health. However, many obstacles and challenges are still facing us. These include our ability to manage information and knowledge rather than data, produce decision-support tools with contents and ergonomics that effectively change behaviors, orient information users in the ever-growing jungle of the social World-Wide-Web, learn how to make sense and enable knowledge discovery in the huge and increasingly connected biomedical data repositories, and bridge the digital divides that exist within communities and across the world.i
Dead if You Do, Dead if You Don’t: How Caspase-8 Causes and Prevents Cell Death

The cell surface “death receptors” were named for their ability to activate caspase-8 and thereby trigger apoptotic cell death. Reports that activation of these receptors could nonetheless lead to cell death in the presence of caspase inhibitors were therefore surprising, as was the description of this latter form of death as “necrosis-like.” Of course, we now know that death receptor ligation in combination with caspase inhibition leads to activation of receptor-interacting protein kinase-1 (RIPK1) and RIPK3 and to necroptosis. Furthermore, biochemical and genetic studies have provided a mechanistic explanation for the effect of caspase inhibitors in this setting, by showing that the key initiator caspase of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway, caspase-8, is also required for cell survival because it suppresses RIPK-dependent necroptosis. This chapter will focus on the regulation of necroptosis by caspase-8 and on the functional links between the pathways of apoptosis and necroptosis. I will first briefly present these pathways and will then outline the current understanding of the mechanisms by which caspase-8 suppresses necroptosis. I will then discuss the implications of the functional links between apoptosis and necroptosis for determination of cell fate in vivo and speculate as to why these links may have been favored by mammalian evolution.
A Recommender System for Two-sided Markets: Understanding Customers Sentiment in Social Networks

The increasing popularity of online two-sided market has led to the growth of user-generated content such as customer reviews and social links. This user-generated content can be analyzed to increase both the stand-alone value of products (services) and to expand the network effects in two-sided markets. For this purpose, this study attempts to analyze the user-generated content in two-sided markets to provide recommendations on products (services) and social links. Design science is used as the research method. Social proof theory and homophily theory serve as the theoretical bases to guide the research design. Drawing upon these two theories, the design principles and the recommender system prototype for twosided markets are proposed by combining social network analysis and sentiment analysis.
A new ride-through approach for matrix converter fed adjustable speed drives

In this paper, a new ride-through approach for matrix converter fed adjustable speed drives (ASDs) is discussed and the topology of conventional matrix converter is modified with the addition of three IGBTs and a DC-link capacitor. The proposed modification provides ride-through capability for matrix converter fed ASDs under a short term power interruption. During a power interruption, the matrix converter operates as a conventional PWM voltage source inverter with DC link and forces an immediate transition into the regenerating operation. The proposed scheme maintains rotor flux and keeps synchronization of matrix converter and motor during power outages. In the proposed ride-through approach, it is shown that the matrix converter is able to re-accelerate the motor to the reference speed without current transients. Simulation results are shown to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed scheme and preliminary experimental results are included.
Toughening of Ceramics by Whisker Reinforcement

These studies focus on improvements in the mechanical performance of ceramics by consideration of composite toughening approaches. Analysis of toughening processes indicated that both crack deflection and whisker pull out mechanisms can contribute to the fracture toughness of ceramics which contain strong small diameter whiskers. Results show that these processes can indeed yield high toughness in SiC whisker reinforced ceramics.
Economy-Wide and Industry-Level Impact of Information Technology

Efforts by economists to measure the contribution to output growth of investment in information technology (IT) equipment have proven inconclusive, and studies of the productivity of IT workers are relatively scarce. In the present study, we attempt to fill this gap in our understanding of the impact of IT capital and labor in the production process. We use industry data to extend the previous studies in three ways: 1) by using more recent data (1983 to 1993); 2) by covering manufacturing and non-manufacturing industries, including services; and 3) by treating IT workers and non-IT workers as two distinct categories of labor. We adopt a log-linear production function approach, usually used in conjunction with company data, but apply the model to industries. We first estimate the model for the aggregate economy by pooling eleven cross-sections for 58 industries after establishing that elasticities are invariant over 1983 to 1993. We find that all the economy-wide elasticities are positive and lie between zero and one, consistent with a priori expectations. Also, the sum of the elasticities is about 0.9, implying decreasing returns to scale. In the time-series analysis, the results focus on each of the 58 industries separately. For two-thirds of these industries, the estimated elasticities are non-negative with respect to IT equipment; for ten of them, marginal returns to IT equipment are statistically significant and quite high, with nine exhibiting annual rates of return in excess of 100 percent. Not surprisingly, average returns to IT investment for the entire economy and most of the major industry sectors are not only lower, but also more plausible, a consequence of averaging the diverse results from component industries. We obtain similar results in the case of IT labor. Two-thirds of all industries show non-negative elasticities, with ten showing statistically significant positive coefficients. In five of these industries, both the IT capital and the IT labor coefficients are positive and significant. Though the marginal products derived from the estimated coefficients seem inexplicably high, especially for IT workers, they suggest that the returns to IT labor are quite large in some industries. Marginal products estimated for the entire economy and for major industrial sectors, such as manufacturing and non-manufacturing, however, fall within plausible ranges.
Durability of selected mulches, their ability to control weeds, and influence growth of loblolly pine seedlings

Several mulches of natural, synthetic, or blends of natural and synthetic fibers were tested around newly planted loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings on a sheared and windrowed site in central Louisiana, USA. The vegetation was primarily winter annuals, some residual grasses and forbs, and sparse woody regrowth. Study 1 was rotary mowed just prior to planting in March 1992, and 35 mulches and an untreated check were established. In Study 2, 15 mulches and an untreated check were established in a 1-year-old rough in March 1993. In both studies, a single loblolly pine seedling formed each plot established in a randomized complete block design, with 10 blocks as replicates. Each block was planted with a separate open-pollinated loblolly pine family.
Supporting Couples, Marriage, and Family Therapy Trainees in Need of Performance Improvement: Implications for Counselor Educators and Supervisors

Couples, marriage, and family therapy (CMFT) educators and supervisors are required to differentiate between typical developmental struggles and more severe competency concerns. This process has th...
Monokine-induced neutrophil chemotactic factor gene expression in human fibroblasts.

Abstract Although fibroblasts are important in providing a structural framework for most tissues, they also appear to be active participants in the inflammatory process via the production of specific mediators. The production of inflammatory mediators by fibroblasts is especially important in relation to their strategic location within connective tissue as they may act as a cellular communication bridge between the interstitium and vasculature. In this paper, we demonstrate that fibroblasts may participate in these inflammatory reactions by the production of a neutrophil chemotactic factor (NCF) with characteristics similar to a recently isolated and cloned monocyte-derived NCF. Either tumor necrosis factor-alpha-, interleukin-1 alpha-, or interleukin-1 beta-stimulated fibroblasts showed both a time- and dose-dependent increase in steady-state levels of NCF mRNA and secretion of chemotactic activity. In contrast, lipopolysaccharide and interleukin-6 failed to induce fibroblast-derived NCF. The expression of fibroblast-derived NCF mRNA was first detectable by 30 min poststimulation, whereas chemotactic activity was significantly observed 3-4 h postchallenge. Heat-inactivated monokine (100 degrees C) failed to induce NCF mRNA expression, suggesting that only the active proteins are capable of inducing NCF. Gel filtration analysis using high pressure liquid chromatography indicated peak chemotactic activity with an approximate molecular mass of 8000 daltons. This peak of NCF activity was found to be relatively stable to both heat and trypsin inactivation. Specificity of the fibroblast-derived neutrophil chemotactic activity was demonstrated with inhibition of chemotaxis by the addition of neutralizing antibody directed against recombinant human neutrophil chemotactic factor. These data provide evidence that monokine-treated fibroblasts can synthesize a potent chemotactic agent with molecular and physicochemical characteristics similar to monocyte-derived NCF and that this factor may contribute to neutrophil-mediated disease processes.
Probing the Role of Region 2 of Escherichia coli σ70 in Nucleation and Maintenance of the Single-Stranded DNA Bubble in RNA Polymerase-Promoter Open Complexes

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP), referred to as the “holoenzyme,” or “Eσ,” is a complex of the “core enzyme” (E) and sigma factor (σ), a type of bacterial initiation factor. The multisubunit core enzyme shows similarities in both sequence and structure to the multisubunit eukaryotic RNAP. The role of the sigma factor is to recognize promoter DNA and to initiate the process of RNAP-induced strand separation to form the transcription-competent open promoter complex. The chapter discusses the major advances in the understanding of transcriptional apparatus achieved with the determination of the structure of the bacterial sigma factor, core enzyme, holoenzyme, and a cocomplex of holoenzyme, with a forked DNA encompassing most of the sequence recognized by RNAP. Relevant features of these structures include: (1) the large total area of contact between core and σ 70 , (2) DNA-binding groups of sigma factor that stick out from the body of the holoenzyme, and (3) the existence of separate tunnels for each strand of promoter DNA. This leads the template strand deep in the hydrophobic core of the RNAP to the active site of the enzyme while keeping the nontemplate strand much closer to the surface.
Gauss harmonic interpolation formulas

Let R be an open, bounded, simply connected region in the (x,y)-plane and let (x*,y*) be a point in R. Assuming R is starlike with respect to (x*,y*), we discuss a method for computing Gauss harmonic interpolation formulas for R and the point (x*,y*). Such formulas approximate a harmonic function at (x*,y*) in terms of a linear combination of its values at certain selected points on the boundary of R. Such formulas are useful for approximating the solution of the Dirichlet problem for R.
An integrated approach to teaching of abstract query languages and their implementations (abstract only)

The treatment of abstract query languages such as Relational Algebra, Relational Calculus, and Datalog in introductory database courses varies considerably across the various computer science departments around the world. We propose an integrated approach in which students learn how to express a natural language query in Domain Relational Calculus (DRC), apply a query-transforming algorithm to the DRC expression tree to produce Datalog Rules (DLG), and finally apply another query-transforming algorithm to the DLG rules to produce an equivalent Relational Algebra (RA) expression. This systematic approach works very well for "forall-queries" in which the forall-quantifier is necessary in the DRC expression. To make this approach even more effective, the students are required to use DRC, DLG, and RA interpreters that allow them to execute query expressions as well as produce equivalent expressions. The students are also involved in implementing these interpreters to get a deeper understanding of querying in relational systems.
Piezoelectric Effects in Liquid Crystals

A theory of the relationship between curvature strains and electric polarization in liquid crystals is developed in analogy to piezoelectric theory in ordinary crystals. The theory may explain some recently observed phenomena in nematic liquid crystals.
Separation-of-variables approximation to the Boltzmann equation

We have tested a separation-of-variables approximation for the electron velocity distribution function in the Boltzmann equation. In this approximation, the distribution function ${\mathit{f}}_{\mathit{e}}$(z,${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\mathit{z}}$,${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\mathit{r}}$,t) is represented as the product of two functions F(z,${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\mathit{z}}$,t) and G(z,${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\mathit{r}}$,t). This approximation can represent very anisotropic distributions, while effectively reducing the dimensionality of the calculation. We have implemented this approximation using a method of characteristics, and have applied it to argon and neon gas for a wide range of applied electric fields.
Analysis of the long-range internuclear potentials of B(3Π0u+)-state Br2 and Cl2

Abstract Recently calculated RKR potentials for the B( 3 Π 0u + ) states of Cl 2 and Br 2 are combined with theoretical C 5 potential constants to yield estimates of the C 6 coefficients for these states. The approach used is analogous to that which Stwalley recently applied to ground-state (X 1 Σ g + ) Mg 2 . The implications of the present results with regard to a recently developed method of determining dissociation limits and long-range potentials from vibrational spacings are discussed.
Capacity of Byzantine consensus in capacity limited point-to-point networks

In this paper, we investigate the problem of maximizing the throughput, i.e., achieving capacity, of Byzantine consensus in point-to-point networks, in which each link has a capacity constraint. We derive an upper bound of the capacity of consensus in general point-to-point networks, and prove its tightness in 4-node complete networks by construction. We also provide a probabilistically correct algorithm that achieves the upper bound in general networks.
Automated localization of macula-fovea area on retina images using blood vessel network topology

In this paper, we propose a simple yet robust unsupervised algorithm for automated localization of macula-fovea area on retina images. The small sizes and weak contrast of the macula-fovea area on retina images make it unreliable to detect it directly. As such, we extract the retina blood vessel network topology based on local energy function of blood vessel widths and densities and use it as the main image cue to position the macula-fovea area. Regardless of the severity of most retinal diseases as well as variations in field clarity, the high level topology of the retinal blood vessel flows remains fairly predictable. Compared with conventional algorithms, our method can effectively localize the macula-fovea area on retina images with inadequate field clarity and diseased conditions. The algorithm is tested on both STARE and DRIVE retina image databases and gained satisfactory detection results.
Conformational Behavior and Aggregation of α-Synuclein in Organic Solvents: Modeling the Effects of Membranes†

Intracellular proteinaceous inclusions (Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites) of α-synuclein are pathological hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple systemic atrophy. The molecular mechanisms underlying the aggregation of α-synuclein into such filamentous inclusions remain unknown, although many factors have been implicated, including interactions with lipid membranes. To model the effects of membrane fields on α-synuclein, we analyzed the structural and fibrillation properties of this protein in mixtures of water with simple and fluorinated alcohols. All solvents that were studied induced folding of α-synuclein, with the common first stage being formation of a partially folded intermediate with an enhanced propensity to fibrillate. Protein fibrillation was completely inhibited due to formation of β-structure-enriched oligomers with high concentrations of methanol, ethanol, and propanol and moderate concentrations of trifluoroethanol (TF...
Self-reported somatic symptoms in type A and type B middle-aged males

The type A behaviour pattern has been documented as an independent risk factor for the incidence of coronary heart disease. Previous research with myocardial infarction patients suggests that denial of symptoms is associated with type A characteristics, and laboratory research has demonstrated that when faced with challenging tasks, healthy type A students report fewer psychological symptoms than type B students. This pattern of reduced symptom awareness or reporting could lead to life-threatening consequences if type A individuals experience coronary heart disease symptoms and fail to seek appropriate and immediate medical care. The present study was designed to examine the relative frequency of symptom reporting in 154 middle-aged type A and type B working males who had not reported a positive coronary heart disease medical history. Results indicate that type A men reported significantly fewer cardiovascular symptoms. These findings are discussed in terms of their relevance to understanding the symptom-reporting pattern in the context of the daily characteristics of the general work environment.
Infrared and Raman spectra and molecular mechanics calculations of 4H-pyran and related molecules

Abstract The infrared and Raman spectra of 4H-pyran have been analyzed and assigned in terms of C2v symmetry. Molecular mechanics calculations (MM3) have been carried out for this molecule and also for 1,4-cyclohexadiene and 1,4-dioxin in order to compare the calculated vibrational frequencies with those observed. In most cases the MM3 calculations do a reasonable job of estimating the frequencies. Band type calculations were carried out to aid with the assignments.
Spinal cord dose reduction using an anterior 13 MeV electron field situated between a split anterior 60Co supraclavicular field.

Abstract As part of the treatment for lymphoma, disease involving the supraclavicular region has been treated with megavoltage 60 Co photons to a midline dose of 30 to 45 Gy through an anterior involved field and a supplementary posterior field when necessary. The spinal cord was shielded with a 5 cm lead block during treatment to the posterior field. A typical 40 Gy treatment results in a dose to the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord in the range of 22 to 26 Gy, a level that could compromise subsequent mediastinal treatment in the event of a relapse. To reduce this cord dose, the midportion of the anterior supraclavicular 60 Co field was replaced with a high-energy (13 MeV) electron port, which reduces the dose to the cord to below 6 Gy in the average adult patient. This modification of the routine supraclavicular treatment allows greater flexibility in future treatment in the event of a mediastinal relapse.
Effects of sodium chloride and lactates on chemical and microbiological changes in refrigerated and frozen fresh ground pork

Abstract Changes in fat oxidation and color of freshly ground pork, 14% fat, during storage at 2 °C for 15 days and at −20 °C for up to 70 days were determined. The fresh meat was further treated with NaCl (1 and 2%, by weight), sodium or potassium lactate (2%), and combinations of NaCl and lactates. The microbial stability of the refrigerated meat was enhanced by the lactates, and their combinations with NaCl were more effective than lactates alone in delaying the onset of spoilage. Changes in TBARS were seen in the untreated meat only after it was judged spoiled when stored at 2 °C (day 7), and after 69 days at −20 °C. Among treatments, fat stability was highest in lactate-treated meat, and TBARS values were generally similar to those in untreated meat. NaCl enhanced fat oxidation, and the effects of 2% salt were significantly higher than those of 1% (P
Teaching statistics to elementary school students

We describe a short special statistics program presented to 24 students, ages 8 to II years, selected for their ability in mathematics. The contentof the program of the reactionsof the students are reviewed. we found that young studentscan grasp; understand and retainsimple statistical notionwhen inspired by gamesor newspaper or articals and that special programs; such as this one can help to improve studentsattitude towards mathematics in particularand school in general. ofofofancs^r-tionQf the students ars reviewed. We found that young students can grasp, understand, and retain simple statistical notions when inspired by games or newspaper articles and that special programs, such as this one, can help to improve students' attitudes toward mathematics in particular and school in general
Hydrogen and Methane Adsorption in Metal−Organic Frameworks: A High-Pressure Volumetric Study

We report hydrogen and methane adsorption isotherms in two prototypical metal−organic framework compounds (i.e., MOF5 and ZIF8) over a large temperature (30−300 K) and pressure (up to 65 bar) range using a fully computer-controlled Sieverts apparatus. We find that, in a volumetric method, a proper choice of real gas equation of state is critical for obtaining reliable isotherm data. The widely used van der Waals equation of state (EOS) is not adequate to describe H2 and CH4, while the modified Benedict−Webb−Rubin (MBWR) EOS works well, even at very low temperatures and high pressures. With the known sample mass and bulk density, the skeleton density and the specific pore volume of MOF5 and ZIF8 were also measured. In addition to excess and absolute adsorption isotherms, we also introduce an “effective adsorption” which compares the amounts of gas adsorbed in a container with and without the adsorbent. At low temperatures, the maximal excess adsorption capacities of H2 and CH4 in MOF5 are found to be 10.3 ...
Moving up the food chain: supporting e-commerce applications on databases

Database systems have enjoyed a tremendous market because they have served many applications really well -- transaction processing in the beginning, and then decision support. Today, with over 200% cumulative growth rate in certain segments of E-Commerce, it is clear that this new class of applications will be a strong driver for databases to grow, commercially, as well as from a Research perspective. This paper outlines some of the issues that I have learnt in dealing with E-Commerce applications that may well be the focus of some of the research in database systems over the course of next few years.
Metabolic cost of daily activities and effect of mobility impairment in older adults.

Objectives: To compare metabolic equivalent (MET) values of common daily tasks in men and women aged 70 and older with normative criteria and to determine the effect of having mobility impairments. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Setting: University-based research clinic. Participants: Forty-five participants aged 70 to 90 (mean 76.3 ± 5.1) volunteered to complete 17 daily activities, each lasting 10 minutes. Measurements: Oxygen consumption (VO2 = mL/kg per minute) was measured through a mask using a portable gas analyzer, and MET values were calculated as measured VO2/3.5 mL/kg per minute. Values were compared with normative values and between participants with and without mobility impairments. Results: Measured METs were different from the established normative criteria in 14 of 17 tasks performed. Normative values underestimated walking leisurely (0.87 ± 0.12 METs) walking briskly (0.87 ± 0.12 METs), and making beds (1.07 ± 0.10 METs) but overestimated gardening (1.46 ± 0.12 METs) and climbing stairs (0.73 ± 0.18). Participants with impairments had significantly lower METs while gardening, vacuuming or sweeping, stair climbing, and walking briskly, although when METs were adjusted for performance speed, the metabolic costs were 16% to 27% higher for those with mobility impairments. Conclusion: Metabolic costs of daily activities are substantially different from normative values in older adults, and having mobility impairments increases this metabolic cost. These results may have implications for practitioners to appropriately prescribe daily physical activities for healthy and mobility-impaired older adults.
Transcriptional responses of neonatal mouse lung to hyperoxia by Nrf2 status

Abstract Hyperoxia exposure can inhibit alveolar growth in the neonatal lung through induction of p21/p53 pathways and is a risk factor for the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. We previously found that activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45-related factor (Nrf2) improved survival in neonatal mice exposed to hyperoxia likely due to increased expression of anti-oxidant response genes. It is not known however, whether hyperoxic induced Nrf2 activation attenuates the growth impairment caused by hyperoxia in neonatal lung. To determine if Nrf2 activation modulates cell cycle regulatory pathway genes associated with growth arrest we examined the gene expression in the lungs of Nrf2 −/− and Nrf2 +/+ neonatal mice at one and 3 days of hyperoxia exposure. Methods Microarray analysis was performed in neonatal Nrf2 +/+ and Nrf2 −/− lungs exposed to one and 3 days of hyperoxia. Sulforaphane, an inducer of Nrf2 was given to timed pregnant mice to determine if in utero exposure attenuated p21 and IL-6 gene expression in wildtype neonatal mice exposed to hyperoxia. Results Cell cycle regulatory genes were induced in Nrf2 −/− lung at 1 day of hyperoxia. At 3 days of hyperoxia, induction of cell cycle regulatory genes was similar in Nrf2 +/+ and Nrf2 −/− lungs, despite higher inflammatory gene expression in Nrf2 −/− lung. Conclusion p21/p53 pathways gene expression was not attenuated by Nrf2 activation in neonatal lung. In utero SUL did not attenuate p21 expression in wildtype neonatal lung exposed to hyperoxia. These findings suggest that although Nrf2 activation induces expression of anti-oxidant genes, it does not attenuate alveolar growth arrest caused by exposure to hyperoxia.
Metagenomic study of the oral microbiota by Illumina high-throughput sequencing

To date, metagenomic studies have relied on the utilization and analysis of reads obtained using 454 pyrosequencing to replace conventional Sanger sequencing. After extensively scanning the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, we identified the V5 hypervariable region as a short region providing reliable identification of bacterial sequences available in public databases such as the Human Oral Microbiome Database. We amplified samples from the oral cavity of three healthy individuals using primers covering an approximately 82-base segment of the V5 loop, and sequenced using the Illumina technology in a single orientation. We identified 135 genera or higher taxonomic ranks from the resulting 1,373,824 sequences. While the abundances of the most common phyla (Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Fusobacteria and TM7) are largely comparable to previous studies, Bacteroidetes were less present. Potential sources for this difference include classification bias in this region of the 16S rRNA gene, human sample variation, sample preparation and primer bias. Using an Illumina sequencing approach, we achieved a much greater depth of coverage than previous oral microbiota studies, allowing us to identify several taxa not yet discovered in these types of samples, and to assess that at least 30,000 additional reads would be required to identify only one additional phylotype. The evolution of high-throughput sequencing technologies, and their subsequent improvements in read length enable the utilization of different platforms for studying communities of complex flora. Access to large amounts of data is already leading to a better representation of sample diversity at a reasonable cost.
Involuntary attentional capture by abrupt onsets.

Five experiments were carried out to examine the extent to which brief abrupt-onset visual stimuli involuntarily capture spatial attention. A fundumantal limitation on the conscious control of spatial attention is demonstrated. Data obtained reveal conditions under which the control of spatial attention is completely involuntary: attention is captured by an irrelevant event despite subjects' intentions to ignore the event. The paradigm used provided strong incentives to ignore the distracting abrupt onset, but these were insufficient to prevent capture. Results suggest that voluntary control of attention is limited to focusing attention in advance on locations, objects, or properties of interest. Under appropriate conditions, spatial attention can be involantarily drawn to abrupt-onset events despite the intention of subjects' to ignore them.
The effect of encoding tasks on free recall: Stages and levels

The effect of a classification, or encoding, task on intentional free recall was examined. Examination of the serial position curves for both immediate and final recall shows clear effects that would be assigned, in a stage model, solely to long-term store. Consideration of the effects in terms of levels of processing gives a parallel account that differs only in terminology and emphasis. The argument that the two approaches are not opposed but are complementary is presented.
The decay and learning of an y axis orientation behavior: the offshore escape response of the shrimp Palaemonetes vulgaris (Say)

Abstract The shrimp Palaemonetes vulgaris (Say) lives along shorelines and, when frightened, uses solar cues to orient in an offshore direction. The decay and learning of this behavior were studied. The persistence of this behavior in the absence of daytime celestial cues was investigated both by holding the shrimp in the laboratory under constant conditions for 2–24 h, and by collecting the shrimp before sunrise, and then, in both cases, testing them in an outdoor arena. This elevated arena allowed the shrimp to view celestial cues but removed slope and landmarks as orientation cues. The behavior is a time-compensated menotactic orientation that decays after 7–24 h under constant conditions and overnight. Therefore, after extended periods of complete cloud cover and each morning after sunrise, the shrimp must relearn the relationship between the skylight cues and the offshore direction. The shrimps' ability to learn new offshore directions was demonstrated by placing shrimp in a cage on an unfamiliar shoreline for various periods of time before testing. After 2.5–4 h in the cage, the animals learned to orient in the new offshore direction, using celestial cues. Both the decay and learning of this orientation behavior appear rapid relative to similar behaviors of other arthropods. Since Palaemonetes live along convoluted shorelines, it is likely that they will encounter new offshore directions to learn on a daily or even hourly basis. Their rapid learning ability then may be necessary for efficient avoidance of shoreline predators.
Terrestrial analogs of martian jarosites: Major, minor element systematics and Na-K zoning in selected samples

Natural jarosites selected for study have mixed domains of jarosite, KFe3+ 3 (SO4)2(OH)6, and natrojarosite, NaFe3+ 3 (SO4)2(OH)6. Minor elements include Al in the octahedral B-site, and P, As, Mo, and V in the tetrahedral T-site. High abundances of As are detected in some samples. Oscillatory zoning of Na and K in a subset of these samples has been explored using BSE images, X-ray maps, and a 1 μm EDS beam. Our work shows that zoning is composed of less than micrometer-sized bands of near end-member compositions. This agrees with the XRD work of Desborough et al. (2006), where 32 natural hypogene and supergene jarosites were found to be mixtures of near end-member compositions and showed <5% solid solution. This indicates a wide solvus (miscibility gap) between jarosite and natrojarosite. It also suggests that special crystallization effects are active in solid-solution and aqueous-solution interactions. Here, the optimal conditions for the crystallization of end-member compositions are at low temperatures (<100 °C), and when the two end-members of a binary solid-solution series have different solubilities, as do jarosite and natrojarosite (Glynn 2000). These conditions are commonly found in supergene environments, and are best illustrated by spectacular oscillatory zoning of jarosite and natrojarosite in samples from the Apex Mine, Arizona and Gold Hill, Utah.
Fatigue in women treated with bone marrow transplantation for breast cancer: A comparison with women with no history of cancer

As more individuals undergo autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT), there is growing interest in the impact of treatment side effects on quality of life. Fatigue is a potentially disruptive treatment side effect that has not been systematically assessed following BMT. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the severity of fatigue and its impact on quality of life is significantly greater in women who had undergone BMT for breast cancer than in women of similar age with no history of cancer. Another aim was to identify the medical and psychosocial correlates of fatigue in women who had completed BMT. A group of women treated with autologous BMT for breast cancer (n = 43; mean age = 44; mean time since BMT = 20 months) and a group of women of similar age with no history of cancer (n = 43; mean age = 46) participated in this study. Subjects completed measures of fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sleep habits. Medical data were obtained from computerized patient records. Women who had completed BMT for breast cancer reported significantly more frequent and severe fatigue than women with no cancer history. In addition, fatigue had a significantly greater impact on daily functioning and quality of life in BMT recipients than in women with no cancer history. Fatigue following BMT for breast cancer was related to both medical factors (i.e., time since BMT) and psychosocial factors (i.e., anxiety, depressive symptoms and sleep difficulties). Following BMT for breast cancer, women may experience fatigue that is worse than might "normally" be expected and can interfere with daily functioning and quality of life. Future research should focus on identifying the biological correlates of fatigue, psychological and physiological mechanisms by which fatigue is produced, and interventions to alleviate fatigue.