cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prospective study of gut hormone and metabolic changes after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has surpassed Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) as the most prevalent bariatric procedure worldwide. While RYGB and SG demonstrate equivalent short-term weight loss, long-term weight loss tends to be greater after RYGB. Differences in the effect of these procedures on gastrointestinal hormones that regulate energy homeostasis are felt to partially underlie differences in outcomes. The objective of this study was to prospectively quantify blood levels of gut hormones of energy and glucose homeostasis at one year follow up to delineate possible reasons for greater efficacy of RYGB over SG in achieving weight loss. Methods Patients undergoing SG (n = 19) and RYGB (n = 40) were studied before surgery and at 2,12, 26, and 52 weeks postoperatively. Blood samples drawn in the fasted state and after a liquid mixed meal were assayed at baseline, 26, and 52 weeks for peptide YY (PYY), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), ghrelin, insulin, glucose, and leptin. Fasting and postprandial appetitive sensations were assessed by visual analog scale. Results At 1 year there was greater weight loss in RYGB compared with SG patients (30% vs 27%; P = 0.03). Area under the curve (AUC) after the mixed meal for PYY was greater in RYGB patients (P<0.001). RYGB patients had significant increases in GLP-1 AUC compared to baseline (P = 0.002). Ghrelin levels decreased only after SG compared to baseline (P<0.001) but were not significantly different from RYGB. There was a trend toward decreased sweet cravings in RYGB patients (P = 0.056). Conclusions Differences in gastrointestinal hormones that regulate energy and glucose homeostasis are a possible mechanism for greater efficacy of RYGB compared to SG.
Neural Modulation in Approach-Avoidance Conflicts in Externalizing Psychopathology

Externalizing psychopathology (EXT) is characterized by poor decision-making in situations that involve simultaneous cues for approach and avoidance behavior (i.e. approach-avoidance conflicts). Previous studies of EXT have examined these deficits primarily using tasks involving decisions between positive reward and negative punishment, suggesting that EXT is characterized by a general bias towards high salience (e.g. temporally proximal or reward) cues relative to low salience (e.g. temporally distal or loss) cues. However, in order to better characterize decision-making in approach-avoidance conflicts, the present study utilized a novel task to examine neural activation in contexts involving both positive reward and negative punishment as well as positive punishment and negative reward by manipulating physical proximity of affective cues. Neuroimaging results indicated that EXT was associated with deficits related to cue prioritization based on salience, suggesting that failure to differentiate relevant from less relevant information contributes to poor decision-making among individuals with EXT.
Policy Diffusion Results: A New Database for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis:

This research note presents a new database of policy diffusion research results useful for research synthesis. This database is a compilation of the results from every event history analysis model ...
Student Pharmacists' Assessment of a Serious Game on Opioid Medication Safety.

Objective: To explore second- and third-year student pharmacists’ perspectives on the design and use of a digital game to teach opioid medication safety. To explore the game-based learning approach to teach about appropriate drug use and pediatric education. Innovation: The lead author developed MedSMA℞T: Adventures in PharmaCity, an educational video game focused on adolescent opioid safety. Second- and third-year students in a Midwestern School of Pharmacy enrolled in an elective course focused on appropriate use of abused drugs, played the digital game during a classroom session on adolescent opioid misuse. Using a small group discussion guide, students summarized their reflections and perspectives on gameplay. Critical Analysis: Students retained fundamental messages of the game including opioid safety and identified that social interactions contribute to decision-making and consequences of opioid misuse. Student pharmacists found the game’s visual appearance engaging, dialogue amusing, and the settings and scenarios relatable. Feedback regarding game controls, environment, dialogue, instructions, and level summaries was provided by students to improve the game design and content. This project provides an example of a thoughtful approach to game-based learning in pharmacy classrooms with the purpose of enhancing student pharmacists’ knowledge about opioid safety education, communication, social collaboration, and critical-thinking. Next Steps: Future projects can further investigate student pharmacists’ preferences of using game-based active learning. Additionally, retention rates of students from joint lectures and game-based learning activities can be analyzed.
Pediatric Brain Death.

1. Brooke T. McLaughlin, MD, MPH* 2. James J. Filiano, MD* 1. *Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH A 3-year-old boy was airlifted from a nearby hospital after a motor vehicle collision. At the scene he had a prolonged extraction and was not breathing. He was intubated and experienced cardiac arrest during transport. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed, with return of circulation. On arrival at the emergency department the patient exhibited complete loss of consciousness, vocalization, and volitional and reflex activity. Computed tomographic scans consistent with global cerebral infarction and laboratory results of multiorgan failure indicated little hope for meaningful recovery. The team waited 24 hours from the time of injury and prepared to initiate the brain death examination. The family was despondent and refused to believe that the damage could be irreversible. The team called the chaplain, social worker, and primary care physician to support the family in the subsequent hours. The initial brain death examination found the child unresponsive to painful stimuli, with fixed pupils and absent light, corneal, cough, gag, and oculovestibular reflexes. An apnea test demonstrated no spontaneous respiratory effort to PaCO2 greater than 60 mm Hg. A post–24-hour examination and apnea test confirmed that the child fulfilled the criteria for brain death. The family struggled to accept the news because their child appeared alive to them: his heart was beating and his chest was rising on the mechanical ventilator. Brain death is a legal definition of death recognized in every state in the United States. It is the irreversible cessation of all function of the entire brain, including the brain stem. There is medical, legal, and social consensus that loss of this function equates to death just as definitively as irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory function. However, it remains a challenging issue because brain-dead patients often maintain the appearance of life while on a ventilator (or while receiving other assisted support). This …
Development of a Wheelchair Repair Registry.

Objectives To describe the development of a Wheelchair Repair Registry from large datasets in order to attain an understanding of wheelchair failures and service repairs. Design Guidelines for registry development were applied and anchored around Labor Tracker, a web-based information management system for wheelchair suppliers to manage and track wheelchair repairs. The registry was designed using Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) allowing for rapid data queries from multiple dimensions that enables complex data analysis and discovery. Setting The Wheelchair Repair Registry was developed through an industry and academic collaboration whereby repair data were collected in the field, entered into the Labor Tracker system, deidentified, transferred to the registry and made available for analyses. Participants Wheelchair supplier service technicians reported data from repair services provided to individuals who use power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs and scooters. Interventions Not applicable. Main outcome measures Wheelchair failure and repair data including variables related to scheduling, equipment information (e.g., manufacturer, model, serial number, purchase date), labor, parts and reasons for repairs. Results The Wheelchair Repair Registry has been developed to analyze wheelchair repairs and failures from the Labor Tracker system. Currently, the registry has over 60,000 repairs conducted on more than 5000 wheelchair devices from 25 manufacturers. The devices include 60% power wheelchairs, 35% manual wheelchairs, and 5% scooters. Conclusions The Wheelchair Repair Registry creates opportunities to apply large-data analytic methodologies that will serve to inform quality standards, practice, equipment selection, preventative maintenance routines, product design, and policy.
A Retrospective Review of Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Acute Benzodiazepine Withdrawal at a Midwestern Academic Medical Center

Introduction There is concern that acute benzodiazepine (BZD) withdrawal may result in morbidity and mortality. However, there is a paucity of medical literature regarding clinical characteristics and outcomes of acute BZD withdrawal. We sought to characterize acute BZD withdrawal and its associated clinical outcomes and treatment at a midwestern academic medical center. Methods This was a retrospective study. The medical records of the University of Kansas Hospital, a tertiary academic medical center, were queried for patients with a diagnosis of BZD withdrawal, drug withdrawal, sedative-hypnotic withdrawal, or withdrawal-NOS from January 1, 2009 to January 1, 2016. Data collected included age, sex, month/year of encounter, initial vital signs, type of drug withdrawal (alcohol, opioid, BZD, or other), type of BZD withdrawing from, disposition, duration of hospitalization, seizures, endotracheal intubation, mortality, and pharmacological treatment. Results Eighty-two cases were identified. Cases per year increased over the study period. Thirty-one (38%) cases involved concurrent drug withdrawal with opioids most common (n = 25). Alprazolam (n = 32) was the most common BZD implicated in BZD withdrawal. Thirty-nine cases (47%) were admitted including seven to the ICU. Seizures were reported in 8 (10%) cases. Endotracheal intubation occurred in three (3.6%). Sixty-seven patients (81%) were treated with a BZD, with lorazepam (n = 42) most used. There were no deaths. Upon discharge, 40 (49%) patients received a prescription for a benzodiazepine. Conclusions Cases of acute BZD withdrawal increased over the study period but were associated with only occasional morbidity and no mortality. Further multi-center studies are warranted to characterize the incidence and characteristics of acute BZD withdrawal better.
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/Ag@TiO2 nanocomposite membrane with enhanced fouling resistance and antibacterial performance

Abstract A novel Polyvinylidene fluoride/Ag decorated TiO2 (PVDF/Ag@TiO2) nanocomposite membrane was successfully prepared using APTES as a crosslinker via phase inversion technique. Synthesized Ag@TiO2 was characterized by Raman spectroscopy and XRD. Nanocomposite membranes were characterized by FTIR, SEM, AFM. Flux performance and flux recovery ratio of PVDF/Ag@TiO2 membranes revealed that the PVDF/Ag@TiO2 nanocomposite membrane exhibited a pure water flux up to 465.8 Lm−2h−1 which is three-fold higher than virgin membrane and a higher BSA rejection of 93.7% after rinsing with DI water followed by UV irradiation. Also, PVDF/Ag@TiO2 nanocomposite membrane shows a faster removal of E. coli. Overall, the incorporation of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix enhanced the antifouling and antibacterial properties of the nanocomposite membrane to a remarkable extent.
A Monoclonal Anti-Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Antibody Decreases Stress-Induced Colonic Hypersensitivity.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a brain-gut disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits. Although the etiology of IBS remains unclear, stress in adulthood or in early life has been shown to be a significant factor in the development of IBS symptomatology. Evidence suggests that aberrant calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) signaling may be involved in afferent sensitization and visceral organ hypersensitivity. Here, we used a monoclonal anti-CGRP divalent antigen-binding fragment [F(ab′)2] antibody to test the hypothesis that inhibition of peripheral CGRP signaling reverses colonic hypersensitivity induced by either chronic adult stress or early life stress. A cohort of adult male rats was exposed to repeated water avoidance stress. Additionally, a second cohort consisting of female rats was exposed to a female-specific neonatal odor-attachment learning paradigm of unpredictable early life stress. Colonic sensitivity was then assessed in adult animals via behavioral responses to colorectal distension (CRD). To analyze spinal nociceptive signaling in response to CRD, dorsal horn extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation was measured via immunohistochemistry. Repeated psychologic stress in adulthood or unpredictable stress in early life induced colonic hypersensitivity and enhanced evoked ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the spinal cord after CRD in rats. These phenotypes were reversed by administration of a monoclonal anti-CGRP F(ab′)2 fragment antibody. Stress-induced changes in visceral sensitivity and spinal nociceptive signaling were reversed by inhibition of peripheral CGRP signaling, which suggests a prominent role for CGRP in central sensitization and the development of stress-induced visceral hypersensitivity. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Targeting peripheral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) with a monoclonal anti-CGRP divalent antigen-binding fragment antibody reduced central sensitization and attenuated colonic hypersensitivity induced by either chronic adult stress or early life stress. CGRP-targeting antibodies are approved for migraine prevention, and the results of this study suggest that targeting CGRP may provide a novel treatment strategy for irritable bowel syndrome–related, stress-induced visceral pain.
Orion Sheds New Light on Star and Planet Formation

The Orion region is known to be a hotbed of star-formation activity believed to be accompanied by the generation of planets. In his Perspective, [Kastner][1] highlights the report by [ BriceA±o et al. ][2], who have performed a detailed survey of a region well removed from sites of ongoing star formation. Their results support earlier suggestions that already a few million years after a parent star is formed, the stage is set for planet formation. Variability is established as a distinguishing characteristic of stellar youth. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/291/5501/57 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/291/5501/93
Efficient topological cleaning for visual colon surface flattening

Conformal mapping provides a unique way to flatten the three dimensional (3D) anatomically-complicated colon wall. Visualizing the flattened 2D colon wall supplies an alternative means for the task of detecting abnormality as compared to the conventional endoscopic views. In addition to the visualization, the flattened colon wall carries supplementary geometry and texture information for computer aided detection of abnormality. It is hypothesized that utilizing both the original 3D and the flattened 2D colon walls shall improve the detection capacity of currently available computed tomography colonography. One of the major challenges for the conformal colon flattening is how to make the input colon wall inner surface to be genus zero, as this is required by the flatten algorithm and will guarantee high flatten quality. This paper describes an efficient topological cleaning algorithm for the conformal colon flattening pipeline. Starting from a segmented colon wall, the Marching Cube algorithm was first applied to generate the surface, then we apply our topological clearance algorithm to remove the topological outliers to guarantee the output surface is exactly genus 0. The cleared or denoised colon surface was then flattened by an Ricci flow. The pipeline was tested by 14 patient datasets with comparison to our previous work.
Purification and properties of an aminopeptidase from Escherichia coli.

Abstract An aminopeptidase from Escherichia coli has been purified to homogeneity and crystallized. This peptidase is responsible for about 65% of the hydrolytic activity found in crude extracts toward the substrate methionylalanylserine. It resembles the so-called leucine aminopeptidase of hog kidney in several respects, including size, metal requirements, and peptide specificity. Evidence based on substrate specificity suggests that this E. coli peptidase is not involved in cleavage of N-terminal methionine from nascent protein chains.
Microwave Heating of Materials

Although the classical fields of electromagnetic wave propagation and scattering theory have their roots in the last century, both have enjoyed vibrant lives over the past 50 odd years. Sophisticated asymptotic and numerical tools have been developed which give scientists and engineers the ability to solve problems of ever increasing complexity. This work has been spurred on by emerging and maturing technologies, primarily concerned with the transmission and retrieval of information. Mathematicians have made many significant and enduring contributions to these fields of applied science.
EigenSpeed: secure peer-to-peer bandwidth evaluation

Many peer-to-peer systems require a way of accurately assessing the bandwidth of their constituent peers. However, nodes cannot be trusted to accurately report their own capacity in the presence of incentives to the contrary and thus self-reporting can lead to poor network performance and security flaws. We present EigenSpeed, a secure and accurate peer-to-peer bandwidth evaluation system based on opportunistic bandwidth measurements, combined using principal component analysis. We test EigenSpeed using data gathered from a real peer-to-peer system and show that it is efficient and accurate. We also show that it is resistant to attacks by colluding groups of malicious nodes.
The Nature of Occupational Violence Against Taxicab Drivers

Objective: This research sought to expand evidence about the nature of occupational violence against taxicab drivers and provide further understanding of occupational violence from their perspective. Design and Sample: Qualitative research using hermeneutic analysis was conducted. Sixteen taxicab drivers were interviewed, transcripts were analyzed, and the themes describing the nature of occupational violence were identified. Results: Study participants reported exposure to violence, including incidents that involved money, interpersonal violence, encounters during night shift, and physical violence and weapons. Verbatim quotes illustrated violent acts that taxicab drivers experienced. Conclusions: The study findings reveal that taxicab drivers are commonly exposed to violence on the job. Acts that the participants reported as violence included racism, disrespect, verbal abuse, and physical violence. These incidents highlighted the perception of foreign-born drivers that their risk for violence on the job is increased because they are members of a visible minority. Community/public health nursing practice implications include actions that: (a) reduce psychosocial risks and disparities from exposure to occupational violence, (b) develop effective prevention measures that reduce exposure of taxicab drivers to violence, (c) consider this worker population when planning community violence prevention programs, and (d) influence public policy related to taxicab driver safety. The investigator advocates and offers recommendations for future research about the nature, effects, and prevention of occupational violence against taxicab drivers. Language: en
Snow water equivalent prediction using Bayesian data assimilation methods

Using the U.S. National Weather Service’s SNOW-17 model, this study compares common sequential data assimilation methods, the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF), the ensemble square root filter (EnSRF), and four variants of the particle filter (PF), to predict seasonal snow water equivalent (SWE) within a small watershed near Lake Tahoe, California. In addition to SWE estimation, the various data assimilation methods are used to estimate five of the most sensitive parameters of SNOW-17 by allowing them to evolve with the dynamical system. Unlike Kalman filters, particle filters do not require Gaussian assumptions for the posterior distribution of the state variables. However, the likelihood function used to scale particle weights is often assumed to be Gaussian. This study evaluates the use of an empirical cumulative distribution function (ECDF) based on the Kaplan–Meier survival probability method to compute particle weights. These weights are then used in different particle filter resampling schemes. Detailed analyses are conducted for synthetic and real data assimilation and an assessment of the procedures is made. The results suggest that the particle filter, especially the empirical likelihood variant, is superior to the ensemble Kalman filter based methods for predicting model states, as well as model parameters.
Photoproduction of Negative Mesons in Deuterium

A 24-in. diffusion cloud chamber filled to 14 atmospheres with tritium-free deuterium gas, operating in a magnetic field of 6 kilogauss, has been placed in the 1040-Mev "hardened" bremsstrahlung beam of the Cornell synchrotron. A total of 310 events of the type $\ensuremath{\gamma}+d\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p+p+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ have been observed and analyzed. Using the "spectator model," a total cross section has been determined for the reaction $\ensuremath{\gamma}+n\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ from threshold to 1 Bev, in good agreement with the results obtained from the measurement of the negative-to-positive pion ratio together with the measured cross section for the reaction $\ensuremath{\gamma}+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}n+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$.The momentum distribution of the low-energy protons in the laboratory system compares very favorably with the internal momentum distribution of the deuteron as calculated from the Hulth\'en or Gartenhaus wave functions. The validity of the spectator model for photons above 200 Mev is experimentally justified, as is expected in consideration of the assumptions of the impulse approximation.A study of the forward-backward asymmetry of the spectator protons in the laboratory system indicates that above photon energies of 250 Mev, there is a 15% deviation from isotropy, favoring the forward beam direction, indicating that the spectator proton is being "pulled along" with the net forward momentum of the rest of the system, through an average forward momentum transfer of about 10 Mev/c.
Non-Invasive Method To Detect The Changes Of Glucose Concentration In Whole Blood Using Photometric Technique

A non-invasive method is developed to monitor rapid changes in blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. The system depends on an optical cell built with a LED that emits light of wavelength 535nm, which is a peak absorbance of hemoglobin. As the glucose concentration in blood decreases, its osmolarity also decreases and the Red Blood Cells (RBCs) swell and decrease the path length absorption coefficient. Decreasing absorption coefficient increases the transmission of light through the whole blood. The system was tested with a constructed optical cell that held whole blood in a capillary tube. As expected the light transmitted to the photodiode increases with decreasing glucose concentration. The average response time of the system was between 30-40 seconds.
The excitation of an independent-particle gas by a time-dependent potential well: Part II

Abstract A systematic comparison is carried out between quantal and classical computer simulations of the excitation of independent particles in a time-dependent potential well undergoing one cycle of oscillation. Eleven values of the diffuseness, up to 25 values of the oscillation frequency, and five Legendre polynomial deformations P 2 , P 3 , P 4 , P 5 , P 6 were examined. Oscillations around the spherical shape as well as around a P 3 deformed shape were considered. The results are compared with the one-body dissipation theory in the form of the wall formula, including corrections for the heating up of the gas, the diffuseness of the surface, the wave-mechanical suppression of dissipation and the reduction in the effective volume available to a quantal gas in a container whose diffuseness is small compared to the particle wavelengths.
Energy budget of the chicken foot

Abstract 1. 1.|A mathematical model predicts the energy loss from a chicken foot provided the following variables are known: body temperature, air temperature, wind velocity, blood flow to the foot, and the relative partitioning of blood flow via two distinct venous returns. 2. 2.|Chickens are capable of keeping their feet from freezing at temperatures as low as −30°C ambient, but at a high energy cost. 3. 3.|Chickens can modulate blood flow to their feet at thermoneutral temperatures enough to vary heat loss to environment by about one-fourth metabolic heat production.
Epithelial cells of Hydra are dye-coupled

In the past decade, a strong correlation has been established between gap junctions, seen in cell ultrastructure studies, and cell coupling (ionic, metabolic or dye coupling) assayed physiologically1. In Hydra, ultrastructural analyses have indicated that the epithelial cells of both cell layers are connected extensively by gap junctions; lap junctions have also been observed between the two layers. On the basis of these results, one would expect electrical and dye coupling between epithelial cells of Hydra. However, de Laat et al. reported that these cells were neither dye- nor electrically coupled, which was unexpected as cells in another coelenterate have been shown to be coupled ionically. Cell-cell coupling in Hydra is particularly interesting because extensive experiments on head regeneration in this coelenterate have led to well-defined models of patterning that require communication between cells of the type that may be provided by gap junctions. We have re-examined dye coupling in Hydra and we report here that, after injection of Lucifer yellow into single epithelial cells, neighbouring cells were observed to contain the dye. We conclude that the pithelial of cells of Hydra are indeed dye-coupled.
High 2-Deoxy-2[F-18]fluoro- D -glucose Uptake on Positron Emission Tomography in Hibernoma Originally Thought to be Myxoid Liposarcoma

Purpose The purpose of the study is to describe the rare tumor on 2-deoxy-2[F-18]fluoro-d-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET).
Development of linear-parameter-varying models for aircraft

This paper presents a comparative study of three linear-parameter-varying (LPV) modeling approaches and their application to the longitudinal motion of a Boeing 747 series 100/200. The three approaches used to obtain the quasi-LPV models are Jacobian linearization, state transformation, and function substitution. Development of linear parameter varying models are a key step in applying LPV control synthesis. The models are obtained for the up-and-away flight envelope of the Boeing 747-100/200. Comparisons of the three models in terms of their advantages, drawbacks, and modeling difficulty are presented. Open-loop time responses show the three quasi-LPV models matching the behavior of the nonlinear model when in the trim region. Differences between the models are more apparent as the response of the aircraft deviates from the nominal trim conditions. ¯
Civil religion in America

The words and acts of the founding fathers, especially the first few presidents, shaped the form and tone of the civil religion as it has been maintained ever since. The God of the civil religion is not only rather "Unitarian", he is also on the austere side, much more related to order, law, and right than to salvation and love. Until the Civil War, the American civil religion focused above all on the event of the Revolution, which was seen as the final act of the Exodus from the old lands across the waters. Fortunately, since the American civil religion is not the worship of the American nation but an understanding of the American experience in the light of ultimate and universal reality, the reorganization entailed by such a new situation need not disrupt the American civil religion's continuity.
Physicians' and nurses' perspectives on increased family reports of pain in dying hospitalized patients.

Many indicators suggest that care of the dying in Oregon has been improving over the past decade. However, results from a recent study suggest that one aspect of care of the dying, pain management, may be worsening. In late 1997, family reports of moderate and severe pain in dying hospitalized patients increased from 33% to 57%. This occurred during a volatile time in the Oregon political climate associated with events surrounding a second vote on physician-assisted suicide. In order to better understand the observed increase better, a statewide sample of physicians and nurses was surveyed to obtain their opinions about factors that may have contributed to the increased family reports of moderate and severe pain in dying hospitalized patients. Seventy-nine percent of respondents endorsed two or more factors as partial explanations. These factors include an increase in family expectations about pain management (endorsed by 96%), decreased physician prescribing (endorsed by 66%), and reduced nurse administr...
Coherent Raman scattering with incoherent light for a multiply resonant mixture: A factorized time correlator diagram analysis

Coherent Raman scattering using broadband, incoherent (noisy) light (termed ${\mathrm{I}}^{(2)}\mathrm{CRS}$---the I for interferometric and the superscript 2 for twice acting noisy fields) is treated for a multiply resonant, multicomponent mixture of molecules. Both the resonant-resonant and resonant-nonresonant hyperpolarizability contributions to the signal intensity are included in this formalism. The emphasis is on the physical understanding of this spectroscopy. To this end, factorized time correlator (FTC) diagram analysis is used to characterize the ${\mathrm{I}}^{(2)}\mathrm{CRS}$ signal. The FTC diagram technique also serves to organize the terms that arise through the stochastic averaging of the noise at the intensity level. In addition to the FTC diagram analysis, a spectral filter analogy is employed to provide further insight into the physics behind ${\mathrm{I}}^{(2)}\mathrm{CRS}.$
Computerized generation of secondary structure maps for nucleic acids.

Abstract This paper presents a methodology for the computer processing of electron micrographic images of nucleic acid molecules as exemplified by messenger RNA from adenovirus type 2. Procedures are detailed that deal with the problems of data acquisition as well as contour analysis and that permit the measurement of certain molecular features which are currently measured manually. The result of these procedures is a secondary structure map describing a molecule.
Estimation in compositional data analysis

Compositional data arise naturally in several branches of science, including chemistry, geology, biology, medicine, ecology and manufacturing design. In chemistry, these constrained data seem to occur typically when raw data are normalized or when output is obtained from a constrained estimation procedure, such as might be used in a source apportionment problem. It is important not only for chemists to be aware that the usual multivariate statistical techniques are not applicable to constrained data, but also to have access to appropriate techniques as they become available. The currently available methodology is due principally to Aitchison and is based on log–normal models. This paper suggests new parametric and non-parametric approaches to significantly improve the existing methodology. In the parametric setting, some recent work of Rayens and Srinivasan is extended and a practical regression model is proposed. In the development of the non-parametric approach, minimum distance methods coupled with multivariate bootstrap techniques are used to obtain point and region estimators.
An extension of the Eddington approximation.

Abstract A modification of the Eddington approximation to the equation of radiative transfer is suggested. The basic element of this approach is the derivation of an approximate angular distribution for the specific intensity appropriate to the problem under consideration, rather than an assumption of near isotropy as in the Eddington approximation. The resulting equations retain the simplicity of the Eddington formulation and consist of two coupled first order differential equations for the energy density and radiative flux. Boundary conditions for these equations are derived using arguments from the calculus of variations. The modified formulation reduces to the standard Eddington approximation in those cases for which the latter is an accurate description of radiative transfer. In other instances, the two approximations, while qualitatively similar, give quantitatively different results. Numerical examples indicate that the modified formulation suggested here is substantially more accurate than the standard Eddington approximation. The formulation is given in full geometric generality, but is restricted to grey, steady-state radiative transfer. The basic idea of this approach, however, should also be applicable to time-dependent, multifrequency problems.
Three Trends in Evaluation Research

Building on my role as editor of the Evaluation Review, and on my experience with applied social research of various kinds, I see three broad trends that may be projected into the future: I) the greater use of evaluation research in litigation, 2) increasing integration between the social and natural sciences for certain kinds of evaluation research and 3) a move away from conventional statistics toward data analysis. I briefly address each in turn.
Metabolic pathway balancing and its role in the production of biofuels and chemicals

In the last decade, metabolic engineering benefited greatly from systems and synthetic biology due to substantial advancements in those fields. As a result, technologies and methods evolved to be more complex and controllable than ever. In this review, we highlight up-to-date case studies using these techniques, examine their potential, and stress their importance for production of compounds such as fatty acids, alcohols, and high value chemicals. Beginning with basic rational control techniques and continuing with advanced level modern approaches, we review the vast number of possibilities for controlling metabolic fluxes. Our aim is to give a brief and informative insight about commonly used tools and universalized methodologies for metabolic pathway balancing and optimization.
Long-Term Sub-Antimicrobial Doxycycline (Periostat®) as Adjunctive Management in Adult Periodontitis: Effects on Subgingival Bacterial Population Dynamics:

Previous trials had indicated that various schedules of sub-antimicrobial doxycycline significantly reduced gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) collagenase activity in adult patients with periodontitis with no evidence of emergent tetracycline-resistant (Tcr) marker oral flora. The purpose of this nine-month study was to expand these observations, emphasizing newer microbial diagnostic methods. Subgingival paper point samples were obtained at baseline (BL), 3, 6, and 9 months. Four subject treatment groups in a double-blind design were evaluated by mechanical scaling and root planing (SRP) and/or 20 mg doxycycline BID (Periostat). Thirty-eight patients entered the study at baseline (BL). Dark-field microscopy on 260 samples showed that morphotype distribution was independent of treatment schedule. Culture analysis of the 3 most prevalent isolates recovered showed that Streptococcus and Prevotella species accounted for approximately 85% of the 724 cultures. There did not appear to be any overgrowth or replacement by opportunistic oral flora. Of 658 susceptibility patterns evaluated by Etest, the MIC50/90 and mode MIC showed stable patterns, independent of treatment group. Our findings were different from those of previously published reports, but may be partly explained by the lack of universally standardized methods in oral microbiology and interpretive criteria for susceptibility testing.
A reliability coefficient for maximum likelihood factor analysis

Maximum likelihood factor analysis provides an effective method for estimation of factor matrices and a useful test statistic in the likelihood ratio for rejection of overly simple factor models. A reliability coefficient is proposed to indicate quality of representation of interrelations among attributes in a battery by a maximum likelihood factor analysis. Usually, for a large sample of individuals or objects, the likelihood ratio statistic could indicate that an otherwise acceptable factor model does not exactly represent the interrelations among the attributes for a population. The reliability coefficient could indicate a very close representation in this case and be a better indication as to whether to accept or reject the factor solution.
SMART Designs in Observational Studies

To the Editor— We appreciate Jackson and Gagne’s1 enthusiasm for our recent study demonstrating that chronic opioid analgesic use (OAU) is significantly associated with risk of depression.2 We agree that utilizing medical record databases to inform clinical practice is possible. Their insights highlighted methodological challenges in studying opioid use and incident depression. We concur that additional research is needed to improve depression diagnostic algorithms, including validation studies in which gold standard diagnoses are derived from structured interviews. We also agree that caution is warranted when identifying depression in patient populations in which depressive symptoms are not routinely monitored. As recommended by Townsend and colleagues,3 our depression outcome was identified in a health care system (Veterans Health Administration) in which annual screening is standard of care. We employed a published algorithm4 with high positive predictive value (84 %) that required two or more outpatient diagnoses or one inpatient diagnosis for depression in the same 12-month period. Jackson and Gagne1 raise the possibility that propensity scores (PS) may not reflect treatment decisions when predictors of opioid therapy in the PS model include those measured up to onset of depression. In an ongoing study of OAU, depression, and incident heart disease, we are using PS models with predictors of opioid therapy up to the time of opioid initiation. These PS models perform as well as those using predictors of opioid therapy up to the time of disease onset in balancing patient characteristics across opioid treatment status. Additional information about propensity score (PS) weight distributions from our published analyses2 is provided in the next paragraph. Across the three opioid groups (1–90 days, 91–180 days and > 180 days), mean PS weights were 1.0 (SD ± 0.04); 0.99 (SD ± 0.36) and 0.99 (SD ± 0.36), and median PS weights were 0.99, 0.90 and 0.83. PS weights ranged from 0.92 to 1.43 for opioid group 1–90 days; from 0.39 to 3.36 for opioid group 91–180 days, and from 0.18–6.91 for opioid group > 180 days. Following Cole and Hernan’s5 suggestions, a mean of 1.0 with overall range from 0.18 to 6.91 is consistent with assumptions of PS weighting without bias due to truncating. We believe that growing sophistication in methods and measurement will expand the use of observational cohorts and advance evidence-based medicine. Indeed, Jackson and Gagne point to the fact that observational cohort designs using medical record data can be the preferred choice over randomized controlled trials (RCTs) when alternative methods are unethical or not feasible in terms of time and money.
Attempts to immunize hamsters to West Nile virus; passive, passive-active and active methods.

SummaryBoth passive-active and active methods of immunization of hamsters to WN virus were tried. The passive-active method gave very poor results; the active method gave satisfactory results. A procedure in which the hamsters are given 1 or 2 doses of 0.5 cc of freshly prepared WN vaccine, followed 1 week later by 100 hamster LD50 of WN virus, produced a satisfactory and rapid method of immunization. Hamsters immunized by vaccine plus active virus, when given large doses of cortisone and challenged with 108.5 LD50 of virus survived. These hamsters and similar immunized control animals not given cortisone had all failed to develop increased neutralizing antibody titers 3 weeks following the virus challenge. These results are interpreted to indicate that cortisone probably did not substantially reduce previously acquired immunity to disease or to infection.
Passing under separation: comics representations of the Holocaust and the Berlin Wall

This article analyses two comics works – Art Spiegelman’s Maus and Flix’s Da war Mal was – and their employment of the comics form in portraying the horror behind cultural separationalism at the heart of two of the most extreme separational regimes in history: the Nazi regime and the GDR. This is demonstrated through a focus on scenes depicting attempts to defy imposed separation mainly through what is defined, following the Fanonean term, as different acts of ‘passing’. The juxtaposition of these works through this prism shows that while both differ from the medium’s comical genesis and from the sex-drugs-violence satirical approach of underground comix, they nevertheless remain loyal to the comics traditions in their depiction of the Holocaust and the Berlin Wall era. Hence, they explore separationalism at its extreme through a literary form that defies the fundamental dichotomy between the textual and the visual. By doing so they allow a discussion that examines the human experience under any separatin...
Weighted logistic regression and robust analysis of diverse toxicology data

Simpson, Carroll, Zhou and Guth (1996) developed an ordinal response regression approach to meta-analysis of data from diverse toxicology studies, applying the methodology to a database of acute inhalation studies of tetra-chloroethylene. We present an alternative analysis of the same data, with two major differences: (1) interval censored scores are assigned worst-case values, e.g., a score known to be in the interval [0,1] is set equal to 1; and (2) the response is reduced to a binary response (adverse, nonadverse). We explore the stability of the analysis by varying a robustness parameter and graphing the curves traced out by the estimates and confidence intervals.
High-Risk Infants of Teenage Mothers: Later Candidates for Special Education Placements?

Almost 600,000 infants are bom to teenage mothers each year. These teenage mothers and their infants are at multiple risk to impaired birth and growth—physically, socially, and cognitively. This article reviews some of the more relevant research on the problem of teenage pregnancy, the special educational needs of the infants of these teenage mothers, and the current intervention programs for teenage mothers and infants. Recent research demonstrates that intervention programs for teenage mothers and infants can have an impact on infant mortality, morbidity, and prematurity as well as on the infant's social and cognitive development. In addition, these programs can have an impact on the mother's graduation from high school, employment, repeat pregnancies, and parenting skills. Enhancing parenting skills has been found to affect children's cognitive development. It would seem wise for society to invest more money and effort into preventing untoward pregnancies, preventing birth deficits, and enhancing and s...
Design Study of a Whole-Body PET Scanner With Improved Spatial and Timing Resolution

Current state-of-art whole-body PET scanners achieve a system spatial resolution of 4-5 mm with limited sensitivity. Since the reconstructed spatial resolution and image quality are limited by the count statistics, there has not been a significant push for developing higher resolution whole-body PET scanners. Our goal in this study is to investigate the impact of improved spatial resolution together with time-of-flight (TOF) capability on lesion uptake estimation and lesion detectability, two important tasks in whole-body oncologic studies. The broader goal of this project is the development of a new state-of-art TOF PET scanner operating within an MRI while pushing the technology in PET system design. We performed Monte Carlo simulations to test the effects of crystal size (4 mm and 2.6 mm wide crystals), TOF timing resolution (300 ps and 600 ps), and 2-level depth-of-interaction (DOI) capability. Spatial resolution was calculated by simulating point sources in air at multiple positions. Results show that smaller crystals produced improved resolution, while degradation of resolution due to parallax error could be reduced with a 2-level DOI detector. Lesion phantoms were simulated to measure the contrast recovery coefficient (CRC) and area under the LROC curve (ALROC) for 0.5 cm diameter lesions with 6:1 activity uptake relative to the background. Smaller crystals produce higher CRC, leading to increased ALROC values or a reduction in scan time. Improved timing resolution provides faster CRC convergence and once again leads to an increase in ALROC value or reduced scan time. Based on our choice of timing resolution and crystal size, improved timing resolution (300 ps) with larger crystals (4 mm wide) has similar ALROC as smaller crystals (2.6 mm wide) with 600 ps timing resolution. A 2-level DOI measurement provides some CRC and ALROC improvement for lesions further away from the center, leading to a more uniform performance within the imaging field-of-view (FOV). Given a choice between having either an improved spatial resolution, improved timing resolution, or DOI capability, improved spatial or timing resolution provide an overall higher ALROC relative to a 2-level DOI detector.
Estimating the Effects of Resource Development Programs on Regional Employment

M/! ANY variables interact to determine the pattern of employment lv M changes occurring within an area. Changes in investment levels that shift the supplies of critical resources often occur concurrently with changes in the demands for products, supplies of other resources, firm production possibilities, and the number of firms. Each of these separate types of changes can have a substantial effect upon labor employment. A continuing problem is how the relationships among these variables can be identified and taken into account in attempts to assess the separate employment effects of resource development programs. An important element is the consideration of how equilibration in product and factor markets is affected by programs designed to change the supplies of resources and, in turn, how changes in product and factor prices affect the level of output and resource employment within the recipient area. A general approach to this type of problem has been suggested by Tolley and Schrimper [3, p. 115], and Schrimper [1; 2, p. 141]. Their approach simultaneously considers aggregate and micro adjustments in product and factor markets. In the first part of this paper, we will consider a theoretical framework for determining the separate effects of resource investment programs on changes in regional employment of labor. This model is a special case of the more general formulation by Tolley and Schrimper and is a variant of the regional adjustment model developed by Schrimper [1]. The second part of this paper will be directed to a discussion of possible alternative empirical investigations of the relationships suggested by the model.