cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rethinking of Teaching Objects-First

The issues surrounding teaching object-orientation to novice programmers from day one are revisited first. An analysis is then presented showing the harmfulness of teaching objects-first. The attention then is given to addressing the problems of the current textbooks. Furthermore, a remark is made in comparison between teaching objects-first and Reformed Calculus from a closed discipline. Finally, a new structure for introductory programming courses is suggested.
Material Hardship in Families with Children with Health Conditions: Implications for Practice

Abstract Cross-sectional data from the third wave of a ten-year data collection initiative were used to assess the odds of experiencing four material hardships between families who have a child member with a limiting health condition, and families with children who do not have a child member with a limiting health condition. The odds of experiencing material hardship in families with more than one child with a limiting health condition were also assessed. In the multivariable models, having a child in the household with a limiting health condition increases the odds the household will be unable to pay bills, and have their phone service disconnected. Also, having more than one child in a household with a limiting health condition increases the odds of being unable to pay bills, having a phone disconnected, and receiving food stamps. Interventions to assist these vulnerable families are presented.
Argon Scattering off the Surface of Liquid Indium: Exit Angle and Energy Dependence

Energy- and angle-resolved intensities are reported for the scattering of argon atoms off the surface of liquid indium just above the melting temperature, for two different argon incident energies. The higher incident energy results show significant energy transfer from argon to liquid atoms, and the angular distribution of scattered argon atoms is relatively sharply peaked near the specular angle. The lower incident energy results show a small amount of energy transfer from liquid atoms to argon atoms, the energy distribution of the scattered argon atoms is nearly thermal, and the angular distribution is much less sharply peaked, although still not completely thermal. Molecular dynamics simulations of these experiments are performed, and most of the results are in reasonable agreement with experiment. Analysis of the simulation trajectories helps to provide a microscopic understanding of the experimental results.
Airway cooling in asthmatic and nonasthmatic subjects during nasal and oral breathing

Abstract It has been suggested that nasal breathing attenuates the airway obstruction that follows physical exertion in asthmatics. In an effort to determine the reason for this protection, we had nine asymptomatic asthmatics and five normal subjects inhale subfreezing air at equal ventilations through either their noses or mouths in a random fashion while we measured the temperature in the retrotracheal esophagus (Trt). Pulmonary mechanics recorded before and after voluntary eucapnic hyperventilation simulating moderately heavy workloads demonstrated a mean fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (as a representative variable) of 28.6% ± 4.8% (SEM) and 7.5% ± 1.9% from control in the oral and nasal challenges, respectively, in the asthmatic subjects (p
Modulation of transient receptor potential Vanilloid 4-mediated membrane currents and synaptic transmission by protein kinase C.

Transient receptor potential Vanilloid (TRPV) receptors are involved in nociception and are expressed predominantly in sensory neurons. TRPV1, a non-selective cation channel has been extensively studied and is responsible for inflammatory thermal hypersensitivity. In this study, the expression and function of TRPV4 have been characterized and compared with those of TRPV1. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that both TRPV1 and TRPV4 were co-expressed in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuronal cell bodies and in the central terminals of laminae I and II of the spinal dorsal horn (DH). In Ca2+ fluorescence imaging and whole-cell patch-clamp experiments, TRPV1- and TRPV4-mediated responses were observed in a population of the same DRG neurons. Sensitization of TRPV1 has been shown to be involved in inflammatory pain conditions. Incubation with phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu), a PKC activator, resulted in a significant potentiation of TRPV4 currents in DRG neurons. In TRPV4 expressing HEK 293T cells, PDBu increased 4α-phorbol 12, 13-didecanoate (4α-PDD)-induced single-channel activity in cell-attached patches, which was abrogated by bisindolylmaleimide (BIM), a selective PKC inhibitor. TRPV4 is also expressed at the central terminals of sensory neurons. Activation of TRPV4 by 4α-PDD increased the frequency of miniature excitatory post synaptic currents (mEPSCs) in DRG-DH neuronal co-cultures. 4α-PDD-induced increase in the frequency of mEPSCs was further enhanced by PDBu. The expression of TRP channels has been shown in other areas of the CNS; application of 4α-PDD significantly increased the mEPSC frequency in cultured hippocampal neurons, which was further potentiated by PDBu, whereas, TRPV1 agonist capsaicin did not modulate synaptic transmission. These results indicate that TRPV4 and TRPV1 are co-expressed in certain DRG neurons and TRPV4 can be sensitized by PKC not only in DRG neuronal cell bodies, but also in the central sensory and non-sensory nerve terminals. Co-expression of TRPV1 and TRPV4 ion channels, their modulation of synaptic transmission and their sensitization by PKC may synergistically play a role in nociception.
A Predictive Model of Hydrogen Sorption for Metal―Organic Materials

Newly developed hydrogen and MOM (Metal−Organic Materials) potential energy functions for molecular simulation are presented. They are designed to be highly transferable while still describing sorbate−MOM interactions with predictive accuracy. Specifically, they are shown to quantitatively describe hydrogen sorption, including isosteric heats, in MOF-5 over the broad temperature and pressure ranges that have been examined experimentally. The approach that is adopted is general and demonstrates that highly accurate and predictive models of molecular interaction with MOMs are quite feasible. Molecular interactions giving rise to the isosteric heat have been characterized and validated against the experimentally relevant data. Finally, inspection of the isothermal compressibility of hydrogen in MOF-5 reveals that under saturating high-pressure conditions (even at temperatures well above the neat boiling point) the state of hydrogen is characteristic of a liquid, i.e., with a compressibility similar to that o...
Loop-anchor purse-string versus endoscopic clips for gastric closure: a natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery comparison study using burst pressures.

Background The success of natural orifice surgery depends on a reliable, secure closure of the opening in the gut. Few tests of the integrity of these closures have been published. Objective To determine whether a gastrotomy can be closed safely and effectively from within the stomach by using looped T-anchors—a novel, endoscopically placed device. Design Head-to-head comparison trial of 2 closure methods in 9 explanted porcine stomachs. Setting Animal laboratory. Intervention Paired gastrotomies were made in porcine explants. One was closed by using endoscopic clips, and the other was closed by using modified T-anchors in a purse-string fashion. Main Outcome Measurements Gastric transmural pressure gradients at bursting of these closures were measured while the explanted stomachs were inflated with a high-pressure insufflator. Results The mean burst pressure of the looped T-anchors was 27.3 mm Hg, whereas that of the clip closures was 14 mm Hg. By using 10 mm Hg as a threshold for a "secure" closure, 7 of 9 clip closures failed to meet the threshold value, whereas all 9 of the T-anchor closures met or exceeded the threshold value ( P = .0023, 2-tailed Fisher exact test). Limitation Nonsurvival study. Conclusion Looped T-anchors provide a secure gastric closure for natural orifice surgery and are superior to endoscopic clips for this purpose.
Wattch: a framework for architectural-level power analysis and optimizations

Power dissipation and thermal issues are increasingly significant in modern processors. As a result, it is crucial that power/performance tradeoffs be made more visible to chip architects and even compiler writers, in addition to circuit designers. Most existing power analysis tools achieve high accuracy by calculating power estimates for designs only after layout or floorplanning are complete. In addition to being available only late in the design process, such tools are often quite slow, which compounds the difficulty of running them for a large space of design possibilities.This paper presents Wattch, a framework for analyzing and optimizing microprocessor power dissipation at the architecture-level. Wattch is 1000X or more faster than existing layout-level power tools, and yet maintains accuracy within 10% of their estimates as verified using industry tools on leading-edge designs. This paper presents several validations of Wattch's accuracy. In addition, we present three examples that demonstrate how architects or compiler writers might use Wattch to evaluate power consumption in their design process.We see Wattch as a complement to existing lower-level tools; it allows architects to explore and cull the design space early on, using faster, higher-level tools. It also opens up the field of power-efficient computing to a wider range of researchers by providing a power evaluation methodology within the portable and familiar SimpleScalar framework.
Quantitative SEM and Raster Profilometer Analysis of Fracture Surfaces

The characterization of fracture surfaces is usually done by visual examination of light microscope (LM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) or scanning electron microscope (SEM) images.
Use of sequencing constraints for specification-based testing of concurrent programs

This paper presents and evaluates a specification-based methodology for testing concurrent programs. This methodology requires sequencing constraints, which specify restrictions on the allowed sequences of synchronization events. Sequencing constraints for a concurrent program can be derived from the program's formal or informal specification. Details of the proposed testing methodology based on the use of Constraints on Succeeding and Preceding Events (CSPE) are given. How to achieve coverage and detect violations of CSPE constraints for a concurrent program, according to deterministic and nondeterministic testing of this program, are described. A coverage criterion for CSPE-based testing is defined and analyzed. The results of empirical studies of CSPE-based testing for four concurrent problems are reported. These results indicate that the use of sequencing constraints for specification-based testing of concurrent programs is a promising approach.
An ARMA spectral analysis technique based on a fast Euclidean algorithm

An approach to high resolution spectral analysis using rational signal models is presented. This technique is based on a fast Euclidean algorithm for polynomials that has a computational complexity on the order of n log/sup 2/ n. Some background material on Pade approximation and the Euclidean algorithm is presented. Some examples are presented, and the results are evaluated using the exact Cramer-Rao lower bound. This method is shown to perform well in the presence of white and colored noise. >
Exploring the Electron Transfer Properties of Neuronal Nitric-oxide Synthase by Reversal of the FMN Redox Potential

In nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) the FMN can exist as the fully oxidized (ox), the one-electron reduced semiquinone (sq), or the two-electron fully reduced hydroquinone (hq). In NOS and microsomal cytochrome P450 reductase the sq/hq redox potential is lower than that of the ox/sq couple, and hence it is the hq form of FMN that delivers electrons to the heme. Like NOS, cytochrome P450BM3 has the FAD/FMN reductase fused to the C-terminal end of the heme domain, but in P450BM3 the ox/sq and sq/hq redox couples are reversed, so it is the sq that transfers electrons to the heme. This difference is due to an extra Gly residue found in the FMN binding loop in NOS compared with P450BM3. We have deleted residue Gly-810 from the FMN binding loop in neuronal NOS (nNOS) to give ΔG810 so that the shorter binding loop mimics that in cytochrome P450BM3. As expected, the ox/sq redox potential now is lower than the sq/hq couple. ΔG810 exhibits lower NO synthase activity but normal levels of cytochrome c reductase activity. However, unlike the wild-type enzyme, the cytochrome c reductase activity of ΔG810 is insensitive to calmodulin binding. In addition, calmodulin binding to ΔG810 does not result in a large increase in FMN fluorescence as in wild-type nNOS. These results indicate that the FMN domain in ΔG810 is locked in a unique conformation that is no longer sensitive to calmodulin binding and resembles the “on” output state of the calmodulin-bound wild-type nNOS with respect to the cytochrome c reduction activity.
Comparative genetic characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from human and animal listeriosis cases

Listeria monocytogenes isolates from human sporadic and epidemic cases (n=119) and from animal cases (n=76) were characterized by automated ribotyping and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) typing of the virulence genes actA and hly. This combination of typing methods differentiated 39 distinctive strains, each reflecting a unique combination of ribotypes, hly and actA alleles. Simpson’s index of discrimination indicated a high discriminatory ability of ribotyping for both animal (0·867) and human isolates (0·857), which was further increased by the addition of hly and actA typing (0·916 and 0·904, respectively). Ribotype and hly allele data were further used to group isolates into three genetically distinct lineages. Each lineage is composed of several ribotype fragment subsets, each of which contains multiple ribotypes characterized by common ribotype fragments. To determine whether certain clones of L. monocytogenes show indications for unique pathogenic potential or host specificity, frequency distributions for five genetic characteristics (i.e. lineage, ribotype, ribotype fragment subset and hly and actA allele) were calculated for isolates from animal cases, human epidemic cases and human sporadic cases. Lineage III isolates were found less frequently in human cases (1 of 119 isolates) than in animal cases (8 of 76 isolates; P=0·003). These results suggest the possibility of host specificity for non-primate mammals among lineage III strains. In addition, lineage I strains were found more frequently among human cases than among animal cases (P<0·001). Among the eight hly alleles observed, hly allele 1 was more common among human isolates as compared to animal isolates (P=0·002). We also identified one ribotype (DUP-1030) which was significantly more common among animal isolates (P=0·005) and one ribotype (DUP-1038; lineage I) which was significantly more common among human epidemic isolates as compared to human sporadic isolates (P<0·001). These findings confirm the presence of clonal groups of L. monocytogenes, which appear to be characterized by unique virulence or host specificity patterns. This study also establishes baseline data describing the genetic diversity of human and animal L. monocytogenes isolates which can be utilized in future surveillance programmes to track the emergence of new strains.
Anticipatory guidance regarding sex: Views of virginal female adolescents

Purpose: To explore virginal female adolescents' perceptions of potential discussions with physicians regarding sexuality. Methods: Twenty-seven virginal female adolescents from an urban high school completed a semistructured interview that explored perceptions of: (1) physicians as resources for discussions about sexuality; (2) content of potential sexuality discussions with physicians; and (3) risks and benefits of sexuality discussions with physicians. The relative emphasis of responses across the sample are described by mean proportional scores (MPS). Results: Health care professionals were spontaneously identified by 33% of participants as potential resources for discussions about sexuality issues. Participants' perceptions of the potential content of sexuality discussions with physicians emphasized prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (MPS = .37), and physician counseling (MPS = .22). These topics included alternatives to sex and sex refusal skills. The perceived benefits of such discussions were gaining information or assistance regarding pregnancy and STI prevention (MPS = .32), talking with an expert (MPS = .19), and having a supportive relationship with a caring adult (MPS = .16). Lack of confidentiality was perceived as the major risk of adolescent-physician sexuality discussions (MPS = .29). Conclusion: Virginal female adolescents perceive a range of topics regarding sexuality as appropriate for discussions with physicians. This should be considered when providing anticipatory guidance counseling to virginal patients regarding sex. Concerns about confidentiality need to be addressed.
Impact of soil suppressiveness on various population densities of Heterodera schachtii

Summary Infectivity of second-stage juvenile (J2) populations of Heterodera schachtii was assayed with radish.The numbers of J2 in three-day-old seedlings were proportional to the numbers of J2 in two differently textured soils.In a microplot trial with a known H.schachtii-supprcssivc soil, half of the plots contained untreated suppressive soil, the other half contained the same soil, but methyl iodide-fumigated and therefore conducive.Both soils were infested with cysts introducing the equivalents of 0, 30, 60 or 120 H.schachtii eggs g-1 soil, kept moist for 2 months, and then planted to Swiss chard.The numbers of J2 in radish roots were proportional to the numbers of H.schachtii eggs introduced into the microplots, at a low level of detection in suppressive soil and at a high level in conducive soil.Growth of Swiss chard was not different at increasing infestation levels in suppressive soil, but growth was reduced in conducive soil proportionally to increasing nematode infestation level.
Complications of spine surgery.

Over the past 2 decades, we have seen an exponential increase in the number of spine surgeries3–5 as a result of an expanding elderly population and explosion of technical innovations. During the period from 1990 to 2001, there was a greater than 220% increase in the number of spine fusions performed for degenerative spine diseases.3 In fact, the rate of spine fusion rose more rapidly in patients older than 60 years than in any other age group,3,4 with a 15-fold increase in the number of complex spine surgeries for elderly patients with spinal stenosis.4 Several clinical studies have shown that complications are greater with the increasing complexity of surgery.1,2,4,6 Studies also revealed that patients over the age of 60 undergoing complex spine surgery are at higher risk for surgical complications.1,2,6 Thoughtful consideration of the complications related to spine surgery is essential. Complications lead to longer hospital stay, higher mortality rate, higher readmission rate, and higher overall cost of treatment,4 all of which lead to diminished efficacy and cost-effectiveness of surgical treatment of degenerative spinal diseases. Although numerous studies have been published on the topic of spine surgery complications in the past, there remains a significant knowledge gap regarding complications related to novel technologies or advanced surgical treatments in the spine that have been developed and gained popularity over the past 2 decades. Critical analysis of past complications can hopefully lead to strategies to avoid future complications and to improve patient outcome. Despite the inherent difficulty involved in getting surgeons to report or discuss the complications encountered, we received an overwhelming response with more than 50 submissions from contributors throughout the world on this topic. A collection of 20 articles that includes reviews of surgical nuances, original articles, and case reports were selected for the current topic. The articles address issues related to diagnostic considerations, complications related to standard surgical techniques such as pedicle screw instrumentation and anterior lumbar interbody fusion, and complications related to more novel treatments such as minimally invasive spine surgery. We hope that you will find the articles from the current issue to be enlightening as you strive to provide the most optimal treatment outcome for all of your patients. (DOI: 10.3171/2011.8.FOCUS11204)
The‘Koreaboom’in West Germany: fact or fiction?

tI has become something of a cottage industry to provide advice for the troubled economies of eastern Europe by drawing historical lessons out of previous economic transitions. The aftermath of both world wars has been called into play in this endeavour. The horrifying consequences of the First World War have been used to provide pessimistic lessons, while the more benign events following the Second have been examined for more hopeful signs. Dornbusch's account of the monetary consequences of the break-up of the Austro-Hungarian empire provides an example of the former choice.2 He emphasized the length of time-about five years-it took to stabilize the currencies in the former empire once the Austrian crown was no longer the universal currency. The latter choice is illustrated by a set of essays on the European recovery after the Second World War drawing lessons for eastern Europe in chapters both from the story of the international organizations created in the late I940s and from national experiences.3 The general tone of accounts of the reconstruction of Europe after the Second World War is self-congratulatory. Historians typically argue that we learned from the disastrous experience of the interwar years and acted in an enlightened fashion. This Whig interpretation fits with our sense of technological progress. Progress is cumulative; we do not have to reinvent the steam engine in every generation. There are, however, some flies in this Whig ideological ointment. There are examples in which technical knowledge has been lost. The Japanese used gunpowder in the fifteenth century and then, for complex reasons, abandoned it and had lost the ability to use it by the time of Admiral Perry.4 And what is a rarity in technological history unhappily is more common in political history. Even today, policy makers dealing with both eastern and western Europe do not seem to have learned much from the past century of economic turbulence.5 This pessimistic note is echoed in the frequent references to the Korean War in narratives of the reconstruction of West Germany after the Second World War. In many accounts of the postwar German economy, notably those by Abelshauser and Giersch, the West German miracle was in some trouble, perhaps even foundering, in
Integration of a Dose Control Circuit with a Vertically Aligned NanoFiber Field Emission Device

This paper discusses the complete integration of the prototype digital electrostatic focused e-beam array direct-write lithography (DEAL) device with the dose control circuitry (DCC). The DCC regulates charge emission from the vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (VACNFs) and prevents resists from being over exposed during the e-beam lithography process. The emission of electrons from the VACNF tip requires relatively high voltage. The I-V characteristic of a typical VACNF based device is presented with threshold voltage of ~75 V. The DCC built using a standard 5 V digital CMOS process cannot handle such voltage levels
Division of Household Work in the United States and Japan

This is one of the few cross-cultural studies of division of household work using American and Japanese samples. Tested is a theoretical model based on time availability, resource exchange, and gender stratification perspectives regarding how much household work each spouse performs. It is found that household work is shared more equally in American couples, and this difference is not accounted for by different levels in predictor variables between the two samples, suggesting structural differences in these two countries. Also found is a more rigid allocation of household work among Japanese couples and weaker explanatory power of the model for them. Although the theoretical model applies weakly to Japanese couples, the article questions the relevance of the model proposed and tested in the United States for families in other societies.
Elemental cycling and fluxes off southern California

California Basin Study (CaBS) is a multi-institutional, multidisciplinary project funded by the Ecological Sciences Division of the U.S. Department of Energy to study processes that control cycling and vertical transport of energy-related materials off the southern California coast. This region is heavily used for such human activities as oil drilling and transport, shipping, electricity generation by nuclear and fossil fuel plants, and disposal of municipal sewage. CaBS emphasis has been on particle transport and transformation and has focused on the Santa Monica and San Pedro basins, immediately offshore of Los Angeles. Earlier work in the Southern California area has been summarized by Eppley [1986].
Good works and assurance of salvation in three traditions : Fides praevisa, the practical syllogism, and merit

In what follows I offer a dyptich on the assurance of salvation and its relation to good works in three Christian traditions, Reformed, Lutheran, and Catholic. The Orthodox Reformed (or the Reformed scholastics in the generations after Calvin) consider the assurance of salvation in terms of the practical syllogism: crudely put, my salvation depends on God's election, but I can tell whether I am among the elect by examining my good works. The Orthodox Lutherans (Lutheran scholastics in the generations after Luther) consider die assurance of salvation in terms of fides praevisa, or (crudely) faith that God foresees, in abstraction from the further question of whether or not God also causes it. Thomas Aquinas, comparable in method and influence, considers the sort of knowledge that observation of one's merits bestows: not certainty but conjecture.y
Using the Rate of Positive High-Risk HPV Test Results for ASC-US Together With the ASC-US/SIL Ratio in Evaluating the Performance of Cytopathologists

We reviewed our experience with 2 indicators of cytopathologist performance: the relative frequency of the interpretations atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) and squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) and the frequency of positive test results for high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) DNA associated with a cytologic interpretation of ASC-US. Data derived for 9 cytopathologists were reviewed. ASC-US/SIL ranged from 0.99 to 4.02 (mean, 1.77) in 2005 and from 0.82 to 3.68 (mean, 1.81) in 2006. The HR-HPV+ rate for ASC-US ranged from 31.5% to 54.6% for individual cytopathologists (mean, 46.1%) in 2005 and from 29.6% to 61.8% (mean, 45.8%) in 2006. Combined data from both years showed only a slight negative correlation for these 2 variables. Both indicators together provide useful feedback to cytopathologists. We provide a working schema for interpreting perturbations in these indicators to assist in improving the quality of gynecologic cytology interpretations.
A fuzzy ARTMAP nonparametric probability estimator for nonstationary pattern recognition problems

An incremental, nonparametric probability estimation procedure using the fuzzy ARTMAP (adaptive resonance theory-supervised predictive mapping) neural network is introduced. In the slow-learning mode, fuzzy ARTMAP searches for patterns of data on which to build ever more accurate estimates. In max-nodes mode, the network initially learns a fixed number of categories, and weights are then adjusted gradually. >
Lignins: Structure and Distribution in Wood and Pulp

Lignin is the stuff that makes trees “woody.” Usually constituting from one-fifth to one-third of wood, lignin strongly influences its chemical and physical properties. A major use of wood is for the production of pulp for paper and paperboard products. The residual lignin in pulp fibers greatly affects paper properties and, therefore, the uses of these pulps. Lignin is a rather unusual substance. Polymerized through radical coupling of propenylphenols, it forms several types of interunit bonds and a three-dimensional network may result. The lignin of gymnosperms (softwoods) is made up mostly of a single monomer type. As a result, the lignins of gymnosperms do not differ much from species to species. However, the lignins of angiosperms (hardwoods) do vary considerably among species because these lignins are derived from two monomer types which are often present in differing proportions. Furthermore, the ratio of monomer types may vary among different cell types and between cell regions within a species. This review, intended mainly for those unfamiliar with the details of lignin chemistry, will provide an overview of the formation, structure and distribution of lignins in wood and of the distribution of lignin in pulp fibers.
Evolving toward the next-generation Internet: challenges in the path forward

Most people would agree that the Internet is one of the great technical and business success stories of the 20th century, notwithstanding the financial losses that have been experienced by overly optimistic and speculative investors. Even in the context of the current dramatic slowdown in telecommunications investment, the Internet and its supported applications are continuing to revolutionize almost all aspects of our business and personal lives - mostly for the better. The author reviews a subset of the challenges that lie ahead in evolving the Internet to meet the growing and changing needs of its users.
Characterization of electron surface scattering in single crystalline metallic nanowires

The research presented in this paper is on the modeling and characterization of electrical resistivity for single crystalline silver nanowires. Silver nanowires were self-assembled on vicinal silicon in a high-vacuum environment with high purity metal sources. These wires are atomically smooth and have little to no contaminants. Current-voltage curves were measured in direct contact using a four-point probe measurement within the high vacuum environment.
Clearing the smoke in chronic liver diseases

In the 1930s, serious concerns about the health risks of cigarette smoking (CS) began to surface. During subsequent decades, scientific reports linking CS and specific ailments rapidly accumulated [1,2], but it was not until 1964 that the Surgeon General’s Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health finally acknowledged that CS was linked to specific diseases and to increased mortality. Today, the evidence is robust: The adverse effects of CS on several cancer outcomes as well as on cardiovascular and respiratory disease are established [3, 4]. Although in the US the prevalence of CS has been decreasing [5], the overall worldwide prevalence is steadily rising. Independent of prevalence rates, the absolute number of smokers everywhere keeps increasing due to population growth.
Fluid mechanics analysis of a spring-loaded jet injector

A syringe jet injector is a device designed to administer a drug quickly and painlessly through the skin. Though syringe jet injectors have been in use for almost 50 years, current designs still suffer from inconsistent performance. To better understand the fluid mechanics of jet injection and gain insight into how the design might influence performance, two theoretical analyses to determine the fluid pressure profile at the exit orifice were conducted. The first was a continuum analysis assuming static incompressibility. Results demonstrated that the maximum jet pressure was highly sensitive to the spring constant, initial piston velocity, and piston cross-sectional area while the time to achieve the maximum pressure was most sensitive to the injection chamber length, initial piston velocity, bulk modulus of the injectant, and the piston cross-sectional area. The second analysis was a shock wave analysis. Results demonstrated a stepwise pressure-time plot that was similar in magnitude to that for the continuum analysis assuming static incompressibility. Results from these two investigations are useful for design modification of the jet injector to achieve desired pressure-time profiles at the orifice. Control of pressure-time profiles may help to achieve a more consistent and effective injection process.
Dopamine Receptors: Novel Insights from Biochemical and Genetic Studies

Dopamine receptors are targets for drugs with antipsychotic potency, and they are also the primary target in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Molecular cloning has identified five genes that code for dopamine receptors. These receptors belong in two functionally distinct classes of G-protein-coupled receptors, known as the D1 class of receptors (D1 and D5) and the D2 class of receptors (D2, D3, and D4). The diversity of dopamine receptor subtypes that belong to the same functional class, their high degree of structural similarity, and the lack of antagonists with selectivity for each of the individual subtypes have challenged studies on the function of the individual receptor subtypes. This review focuses on the recent progress made with studies on the expression and function of D1, D2, and D3 receptors. It summarizes results of studies that suggest that these receptor proteins are expressed in monomeric and oligomeric forms and reviews results of a growing number of gene-targeting studies that begin...
Stability of the Baseline Holder in Readout Circuits for Radiation Detectors

Baseline holder (BLH) circuits are used widely to stabilize the analog output of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for high-count-rate applications. The careful design of BLH circuits is vital to the overall stability of the analog-signal-processing chain in ASICs. Recently, we observed self-triggered fluctuations in an ASIC in which the shaping circuits have a BLH circuit in the feedback loop. In fact, further investigations showed that methods of enhancing small-signal stabilities cause an even worse situation. To resolve this problem, we used large-signal analyses to study the circuit’s stability. We found that a relatively small gain for the error amplifier and a small current in the non-linear stage of the BLH are required to enhance stability in large-signal analysis, which will compromise the properties of the BLH. These findings were verified by SPICE simulations. In this paper, we present our detailed analysis of the BLH circuits, and propose an improved version of them that have only minimal self-triggered fluctuations. We summarize the design considerations both for the stability and the properties of the BLH circuits.
Recommended direct simulation Monte Carlo collision model parameters for modeling ionized air transport processes

A systematic approach for calibrating the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) collision model parameters to achieve consistency in the transport processes is presented. The DSMC collision cross section model parameters are calibrated for high temperature atmospheric conditions by matching the collision integrals from DSMC against ab initio based collision integrals that are currently employed in the Langley Aerothermodynamic Upwind Relaxation Algorithm (LAURA) and Data Parallel Line Relaxation (DPLR) high temperature computational fluid dynamics solvers. The DSMC parameter values are computed for the widely used Variable Hard Sphere (VHS) and the Variable Soft Sphere (VSS) models using the collision-specific pairing approach. The recommended best-fit VHS/VSS parameter values are provided over a temperature range of 1000-20 000 K for a thirteen-species ionized air mixture. Use of the VSS model is necessary to achieve consistency in transport processes of ionized gases. The agreement of the VSS model trans...
New reversal agent for factor Xa inhibitors shows promise

Commentary on: Siegal DM, Curnette JT, Connolly SJ, et al. Andexanet alfa for the reversal of Factor Xa inhibitor activity. N Engl J Med 2015;373:2413–24.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have emerged as alternatives to vitamin K-antagonists (eg, warfarin) for the long-term management of stroke prevention for non-valvular atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolic disease. Favourable side-effect profiles and absence of therapeutic monitoring are important benefits of these newer agents. Warfarin is readily reversed with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or prothrombin complex concentrates.1 The first reversal agent for DOACs, idarucizumab recently received Food and Drug Administration approval as the reversal of the direct thrombin inhibitor, dabigatran. A reversal agent for the factor Xa-inhibitors, Andexanet Alfa is the subject of a recent Phase 3a trial and the core topic of this commentary.2 In a two-part, randomised, placebo-controlled study, healthy, older volunteers were established on 5 mg of apixaban twice daily or 20 mg of … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DN%2BEngl%2BJ%2BMed%26rft.volume%253D373%26rft.spage%253D2413%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1056%252FNEJMoa1510991%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F26559317%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1056/NEJMoa1510991&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=26559317&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F21%2F3%2F96.atom
Women in Academic Sociology, 1925–75

Abstract The career patterns of two distinguished sociologists, Arnold and Caroline Rose, exemplify male-female differentials in academic career patterns in sociology. Arnold's career was a straight and steep line of progression; Caroline's, despite her record of scholarly productivity, existed on the fringes of academia—night school, correspondence courses, and extension and part-time teaching. Examination of the authors and reviews in the American Journal of Sociology and the American Sociological Review confirms this model of women at the academic margins: over the years, women have written a far greater proportion of the book reviews than of the articles. This pattern parallels that women in academic life generally, although not all of it can be attributed to discriminatory factors. While the participation of women in mainstream academic life has increased in very recent years, these historic patterns indicate the possible need for different formal models of male and female academic careers.
PCT: Partial Co-Alignment of Social Networks

People nowadays usually participate in multiple online social networks simultaneously to enjoy more social network services. Besides the common users, social networks providing similar services can also share many other kinds of information entities, e.g., locations, videos and products. However, these shared information entities in different networks are mostly isolated without any known corresponding connections. In this paper, we aim at inferring such potential corresponding connections linking multiple kinds of shared entities across networks simultaneously. Formally, the problem is referred to as the network "Partial Co-alignmenT" (PCT) problem. PCT is an important problem and can be the prerequisite for many concrete cross-network applications, like social network fusion, mutual information exchange and transfer. Meanwhile, the PCT problem is also very challenging to address due to various reasons, like (1) the heterogeneity of social networks, (2) lack of training instances to build models, and (3) one-to-one constraint on the correspondence connections. To resolve these challenges, a novel unsupervised network alignment framework, UNICOAT (UNsupervIsed COncurrent AlignmenT)), is introduced in this paper. Based on the heterogeneous information, UNICOAT transforms the PCT problem into a joint optimization problem. To solve the objective function, the one-to-one constraint on the corresponding relationships is relaxed, and the redundant non-existing corresponding connections introduced by such a relaxation will be pruned with a novel network co-matching algorithm proposed in this paper. Extensive experiments conducted on real-world co-aligned social network datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of UNICOAT in addressing the PCT problem.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN MANAGED CARE : QUALITY QUESTIONS REMAIN

Primary care physicians are often the professionals to whom older patients turn for advice about medical coverage in Medicare managed care health plans. To assist in this dialogue, these authors outline current characteristics and financial arrangements for psychiatric and mental health services in Medicare managed care. Advantages and disadvantages of Medicare managed care for enrollees with mental disorders are outlined. Mental health "carve-out" and "carve-in" models are defined, and questions are raised about the number of psychiatrists and other mental health care providers needed to provide appropriate care for a plan's enrollees.
β Adrenergic Receptor Kinase C-Terminal Peptide Gene-Therapy Improves β2-Adrenergic Receptor-Dependent Neoangiogenesis after Hindlimb Ischemia

After hindlimb ischemia (HI), increased catecholamine levels within the ischemic muscle can cause dysregulation of β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) signaling, leading to reduced revascularization. Indeed, in vivo β2AR overexpression via gene therapy enhances angiogenesis in a rat model of HI. G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) is a key regulator of βAR signaling, and β adrenergic receptor kinase C-terminal peptide (βARKct), a peptide inhibitor of GRK2, has been shown to prevent βAR down-regulation and to protect cardiac myocytes and stem cells from ischemic injury through restoration of β2AR protective signaling (i.e., protein kinase B/endothelial nitric oxide synthase). Herein, we tested the potential therapeutic effects of adenoviral-mediated βARKct gene transfer in an experimental model of HI and its effects on βAR signaling and on endothelial cell (EC) function in vitro. Accordingly, in this study, we surgically induced HI in rats by femoral artery resection (FAR). Fifteen days of ischemia resulted in significant βAR down-regulation that was paralleled by an approximately 2-fold increase in GRK2 levels in the ischemic muscle. Importantly, in vivo gene transfer of the βARKct in the hindlimb of rats at the time of FAR resulted in a marked improvement of hindlimb perfusion, with increased capillary and βAR density in the ischemic muscle, compared with control groups. The effect of βARKct expression was also assessed in vitro in cultured ECs. Interestingly, ECs expressing the βARKct fenoterol, a β2AR-agonist, induced enhanced β2AR proangiogenic signaling and increased EC function. Our results suggest that βARKct gene therapy and subsequent GRK2 inhibition promotes angiogenesis in a model of HI by preventing ischemia-induced β2AR down-regulation.
Leaky tumor vessels: consequences for tumor stroma generation and for solid tumor therapy.

Our results may be summarized as follows: 1) The tumor microvasculature is hyperpermeable to macromolecular tracers, as compared with the vessels supplying many normal tissues. 2) In the case of the several solid transplantable animal tumors studied, leaky vessels are well-differentiated venules and small veins, lined by a continuous endothelium with mostly closed interendothelial junctions. Leaky vessels are concentrated at the tumor-host interface and in bands of stroma interspersed between tumor nodules; in contrast, tumor-penetrating vessels exhibit little or no leakage of macromolecules. 3) The mechanisms of vascular leakage have yet to be established but apparently cannot be attributed to vessel immaturity, structural defects, interendothelial cell gaps, vessel injury or development of a specialized (e.g., fenestrated or sinusoidal) endothelium. 4) Macromolecules that extravasate from leaky vessels also accumulate in tumors at higher concentrations than in the blood or control tissues. Increased tracer accumulation in tumors is attributable to increased tracer influx and possibly also to reduced tracer clearance (perhaps resulting from the absence or obstruction of lymphatics). However, the high molecular weight FITC-D tracers that extravasate into solid tumors remain largely confined to tumor stroma, do not extend far from the vessels from which they leaked, and make little contact with malignant cells. 5) In contrast, smaller tracers (e.g., 3 kD FITC-D) extravasate from tumor-penetrating vessels, from the capillaries of normal tissues, as well as from hyperpermeable vessels, and, unlike larger FITC-D, diffuse readily throughout solid tumors.
Semi-Groups and Groups

The theory of groups is one of the oldest and richest branches of abstract algebra. Groups of transformations play an important role in geometry, and finite groups are fundamental in Galois’ discoveries in the theory of equations. These two fields provided the original impetus to the development of the theory of groups.
Palliation of advanced esophageal carcinoma by permanent intubation

Sixteen patients with severe dysphagia due to nonresectable carcinomas of the esophagus had insertion of Celestin tubes for palliation of dysphagia and/or control of tracheoesophageal fistula. Thirteen patients survived 1 to 11 months (average 4.1 months) following the operation and had good relief of dysphagia. Tracheoesophageal fistula was well controlled in 3 of 4 patients. Esophageal perforation occurred in 2 patients with one death, and blockage of the tube by food boli occurred in 3 patients. Peroral intubation with the Celestin tube is at present our treatment of choice for nonresectable carcinoma of the esophagus with severe dysphagia and/or tracheoesophageal fistula.
Efficacy of Four Insecticides Against Alfalfa Weevil with Comparison of Impacts on Beneficial Species, 2016

The alfalfa weevil is a key pest of alfalfa throughout North America, especially in the High Plains region. Overlapping generations of larvae can cause extensive defoliation and reduction in forage yields, and stalk-feeding by adults can impede regrowth after cutting. Most fields in Kansas receive at least one application of insecticide for weevil control in spring, and often multiple applications. However, alfalfa is also a crop that supports a large number of beneficial arthropods, especially aphid predators, due to the perennial presence of various aphid species which are secondary pests, rarely reaching economic levels. Thus, there is a need for materials that are both effective against alfalfa weevil, and selective for the many aphid predators that complete their first spring generation in the crop. A plot trial was laid out in a 40 acre, 3-yr-old alfalfa field that had been over-seeded with oats earlier …