cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurement of the quality of family planning services

The quality of health services is a subject of increasing interest to health care providers and organizations responsible for financing and promoting health services. The importance of the client's perspective (and by inference, the perspective of potential clients, as well) is now well established, but efforts to define and measure quality have thus far been limited to the perspective of experts even when the experts claim to speak for the clients. In this paper we utilize family planning programs to explore issues of the quality of health services. We propose that a better understanding of the view of quality actually held by family planning program clients will clarify the influence of quality on the use of services, a clarity that has not been possible by looking at quality only as defined by providers, managers or experts. We review the literature on quality of services and identify the gaps in research that must be filled if a better understanding of what quality is and how it relates to service outcomes is to be obtained. A first step must be the research required to develop a set of measures of quality that reflects the multi-dimensional nature of quality, includes the clients' view of services in the definition of quality, and incorporates methodologies required to ascertain the true view of clients. Finally, we suggest that dimensions of quality identified as important for ‘clients’ as a group will be more predictive of use of services than dimensions identified as important to ‘providers’.
The cAMP/PKA Pathway Rapidly Activates SIRT1 to Promote Fatty Acid Oxidation Independently of Changes in NAD +

Summary The NAD + -dependent deacetylase SIRT1 is an evolutionarily conserved metabolic sensor of the Sirtuin family that mediates homeostatic responses to certain physiological stresses such as nutrient restriction. Previous reports have implicated fluctuations in intracellular NAD + concentrations as the principal regulator of SIRT1 activity. However, here we have identified a cAMP-induced phosphorylation of a highly conserved serine (S434) located in the SIRT1 catalytic domain that rapidly enhanced intrinsic deacetylase activity independently of changes in NAD + levels. Attenuation of SIRT1 expression or the use of a nonphosphorylatable SIRT1 mutant prevented cAMP-mediated stimulation of fatty acid oxidation and gene expression linked to this pathway. Overexpression of SIRT1 in mice significantly potentiated the increases in fatty acid oxidation and energy expenditure caused by either pharmacological β-adrenergic agonism or cold exposure. These studies support a mechanism of Sirtuin enzymatic control through the cAMP/PKA pathway with important implications for stress responses and maintenance of energy homeostasis.
Category-Based versus Piecemeal Processes Underlying Evaluations of Restaurants:

This study tested Fiske and her colleagues' impression-formation model in the evaluations of stores. 280 undergraduate students in a business school served as subjects. As the inconsistency between a store and its associated category schema increased, the store was evaluated more slowly, fewer categorization responses were generated, more attribute-oriented responses were produced, the correlation between over-all judgments and category affect became lower, and the correlation between over-all judgments and attribute evaluations became higher, so the results generally supported the prior model of Fiske, et al.
Neuropsychological correlates of self-reported impulsive aggression in a college sample

Abstract The present study examined the neuropsychological correlates of impulsive aggression/violence using a population which is considered to be functioning ‘normally’ by societal standards, college students. Subjects were 12 college students classified as impulsive aggressive by self-report and 12 nonaggressive matched controls. All impulsive aggressive subjects reported a lifetime history of physical aggressive outbursts. The neuropsychological findings suggest that impulsive aggressives share a pathological focus involving specific executive control processes: impulse control and verbal strategic processing. These findings are consistent with the neuropsychological and psychophysiological findings in impulsive aggressive incarcerated criminals and support the notion of a specific behavioral syndrome associated with spontaneous aggressive outbursts.
Prevention of platelet-rich arterial thrombosis by selective thrombin inhibition.

The effect of heparin and of the synthetic competitive thrombin inhibitor (2R,4R)-4-methyl-1-[N2-(3-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-8-quinolinesulfon yl)-L-arginyl]-2-piperidinecarboxylic acid monohydrate (argatroban) on platelet-rich arterial thrombosis was studied in a rabbit model, consisting of a 4-6-mm everted ("inside-out") femoral arterial segment. Intravenous injection of heparin (200 units/kg) failed to prevent occlusion within 60 minutes in all 10 rabbits, whereas intravenous argatroban infusion at a rate of 100 or 200 micrograms/kg/min for 60 minutes, which prolonged the thrombin time more than fourfold, prevented thrombosis in nine of 13 rabbits (p = 0.002 vs. i.v. heparin). Intra-arterial infusion of 200 units/kg heparin over 60 minutes prevented occlusion in six of nine rabbits (p = 0.003 vs. i.v. heparin), whereas intra-arterial argatroban at a rate of 100 micrograms/kg/min for 60 minutes prevented thrombosis in all 10 rabbits (p = 0.00001 vs. i.v. heparin). Patency of femoral arterial segments was maintained after the end of the intra-arterial heparin and intravenous or intra-arterial argatroban infusion for up to 3 hours despite normalization of the thrombin time and partial thromboplastin time. Pathologic examination of the graft revealed that the inverted adventitial surface was covered by layers of platelets without platelet aggregation or fibrin deposition. These findings indicate that thrombin plays an important role in platelet-rich arterial thrombosis, and that the thrombogenic stimulus is rapidly attenuated by short-term infusion of the synthetic thrombin inhibitor. Selective thrombin inhibition can constitute an alternative approach to the prevention of arterial occlusion after angioplasty or thrombolytic therapy in patients with unstable coronary syndromes.
Abstract 2292: Absent E2 liganded AhR inhibits tumor inhibition by ERα in Min mice

Previously, we showed that E2 and ERα prevent intestinal tumor formation in the Min mouse. Others showed that Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) associates with ubiquitin ligase to down-regulate β-catenin and Wnt signaling. AhR activity also may affect ERα. AhR has endogenous, dietary, and xenobiotic ligands. We hypothesized that the tumor inhibiting function of ERα promotes Wnt signaling in vivo and is antagonized by liganded-AhR in the absence of E2. In groups of 10, ovariectomized Min (OvxMin) mice were treated w/wo AhR ligand 5, 6-benzoflavone (BF; 2,000 ppm) by diet for 17 weeks. Treated mice developed more tumors in the small intestine (54.7±11.1) than controls (38.3±4.5 P Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2292. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2292
Automatic Indexing of Specialized Documents: Using Generic vs. Domain-Specific Document Representations

The shift from paper to electronic documents has caused the curation of information sources in large electronic databases to become more generalized. In the biomedical domain, continuing efforts aim at refining indexing tools to assist with the update and maintenance of databases such as MEDLINE®. In this paper, we evaluate two statistical methods of producing MeSH® indexing recommendations for the genetics literature, including recommendations involving subheadings, which is a novel application for the methods. We show that a generic representation of the documents yields both better precision and recall. We also find that a domain-specific representation of the documents can contribute to enhancing recall.
As-deposited mixed zone in thermally grown oxide beneath a thermal barrier coating

Abstract Gas turbine designers are increasingly using electron-beam physical vapor deposited (EB-PVD) thermal barrier coatings (TBC) to meet the challenge of higher efficiency gas turbine engine requirements. A key feature for expanding the use of TBCs is increased spallation life and reduced spallation life variability. Such a coating system comprises a substrate (Ni-based single crystal alloy), a bond coat (diffusion aluminide or MCrAlY), a ceramic (7 wt.% yttria stabilized zirconia), and a thin thermally grown oxide (TGO) between the bond coat and the ceramic. The TGO is intended to be α-alumina, but evidence reported by other researchers suggests that in some cases the as-deposited TGO may not be entirely α-alumina. The thin nature of the TGO in as-deposited TBCs ( 2 O 3 between the mixed oxide zone and the bond coat; and (2) a mixed oxide zone between the continuous γ-Al 2 O 3 and the TBC layer. An explanation for the creation of the mixed oxide zone found in these TGO morphologies is presented.
Computer technology and the congress

Abstract The vast amount of information necessary for Congressional decision-making necessitates the utilization of the most up-to-date technology. There have been legislative and private sector proposals to create a congressional automatic data processing service. Specific computer applications have been considered for Congressional use. The Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate, and the Legislative Reference Service have already established computerized facilities and information systems which will be increasingly utilized for storing, retrieving and analyzing selection information preparatory to making decisions.
Health care needs of homeless adults at a nurse-managed clinic

Up to 55% of the homeless population report health problems. They often use the emergency department (ED) to obtain care when the health needs are not urgent. Nurse-managed clinics have the potential to reduce nonurgent ED use and improve the health of the homeless. The purpose of this study was to establish baseline health data on homeless persons prior to attending a nurse-managed clinic.1 This study was a cross-sectional, retrospective health survey of homeless clients at a nurse-managed clinic. A total of 110 participants completed a baseline health survey. Of these, 61% reported that prior to coming to the clinic, they used the ED as a source of health care. The most frequent medical diagnoses reported were substance use disorders, depression, back pain, hypertension, and asthma. Providing care for chronic conditions at a nurse-managed clinic has the potential to improve health and reduce use of the ED.
Construction and engineering of a created environment: Overview of the Biosphere 2 closed system

Abstract Biosphere 2 is a 1.27 ha virtually airtight environmental research facility located in Oracle, AZ. In this paper we emphasize material selection, super-structure, and sealing and testing methods to maintain a materially closed environment with a leak rate of ≈10% volumetric exchange per year, a specification some 1000 times the commercial building industry standard. The capability to sustain closure was demonstrated over a period of ∼3 years with human inhabitants reflecting one of the most unique and sophisticated structural features of the facility distinguishing it from large greenhouses and phytotrons. A brief introduction to the diverse structures of the enclosed mesocosms is given including the wilderness and human-occupied areas. Key mechanical and electrical systems are summarized and recent modifications affecting the operation of Biosphere 2 as a closed system are described.
Distribution and abundance of large floating plastic in the north-central Gulf of Mexico☆

Aerial surveys were conducted in the north-central Gulf of Mexico from June 1988 to May 1989. Sightings of marine debris and specifically large floating plastics were recorded during these surveys. Five study areas off the Louisiana coast were monitored and seasonal distribution and densities were estimated. Each study area contained plastic throughout the year. The estimated densities of plastic were largest in the offshore areas (4 & 5) and smallest in the inshore areas (1 & 3). Seasonally, density of plastic was smallest in the summer and largest in the fall. The reasons for the differences in seasons and study areas are not apparent but the amount of plastic in each area and season could be affected by variations in currents, winds, discharge from rivers, and human activity.
Preparation and characterization of BaMnO3 and SrMnO3 polytypes

Abstract BaMnO3 was found to have a two-layer hexagonal structure (a = 5.695 A, c = 4.812 A) at normal pressure and a nine-layer structure (a = 5.662 A, c = 20.92 A) at high pressures. Four-layer BaMnO3 prepared at normal pressure is shown to be oxygen deficient; however, BaMnO3 (4H) is very close to ideal stoichiometry when prepared at 90 kbars and 1200°C. SrMnO3 has the four-layer structure at normal pressure (a = 5.449 A, c = 9.080 A) and the six-layer structure (a = 5.448 A, c = 13.30 A) at higher pressures. Magnetic susceptibility data indicated antiferromagnetic behavior for all the BaMnO3 and SrMnO3 polytypes; however, none of these phases exhibited well defined Neel temperatures. Electrical resistivity data indicated semiconducting behavior in all cases.
Preservation of spinal cord function after extensive segmental artery sacrifice: regional variations in perfusion.

Background. Sacrifice of intercostal and lumbar arteries simplifies thoracoabdominal aneurysm surgery and enables endovascular stenting. Little is known about alterations in cord perfusion after extensive segmental artery sacrifice. We explored this question using hypothermia to reduce metabolism. Methods. Twelve juvenile Yorkshire pigs (mean weight, 22.3 kg) were randomized to segmental artery sacrifice at 32°C or 37°C. Cord integrity was assessed with myogenic-evoked potential (MEP) monitoring. Stepwise craniocaudal sacrifice of segmental arteries was continued until MEP diminution occurred; the last segmental artery was then reopened. Fluorescent microspheres were used to measure spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) at baseline, 5 minutes, 1 hour, and 3 hours after segmental artery sacrifice. Hind limb function was monitored for 5 days. Results. All animals recovered normal hind limb function. At 32°C, more segmental arteries, 16.5 versus 15 (p 0.03), could be sacrificed without MEP loss. Baseline SCBF at 32°C was 50% that at 37°C (p 0.003) and remained fairly stable throughout. At 37°C, SCBF to the craniocaudal extremes of the cord (C1 to T3 and L2 to L6) increased markedly (p 0.01) at 1 hour and returned toward normal at 3 hours. Concomitantly, SCBF fell in the middle portion of the cord (T9 to T13) at 1 hour before returning to normal at 3 hours. Conclusions. Almost all segmental arteries can be sacrificed with preservation of spinal cord function. No major change occurs in the central cord in normothermic animals, but there is significant transient hyperemia in segments adjacent to extrasegmental vessels. Hypothermia reduces SCBF and abolishes this possible steal phenomenon. Metabolic and hemodynamic manipulation should enable routine sacrifice of all segmental arteries without spinal cord injury.
Molecular dynamics simulations of the interior of aqueous reverse micelles: A comparison between sodium and potassium counterions

We present the results of a molecular dynamics simulation study of the effects of counterion type on the properties of the interior region of aqueous reverse micelles. The model systems, which treat only the interior region at the atomistic level, are designed to represent water-in-oil microemulsions formed by the aerosol-OT surfactant, either with its usual counterion, Na+, or with the K+ counterion. Our study covers the water content, w0 = [H2O]/[surfactant], range of 1−7.5, where the reverse micelles are approximately spherical and contain tens to hundreds of water molecules in their interior pool. We find that several key structural and dynamical features of the reverse micelle water pool are strongly affected by counterion type. These effects can be ascribed to the differences in headgroup−counterion coordination and to the stronger affinity for water that the smaller Na+ ion exhibits. At low water content, K+ ions are able to coordinate four headgroups, while Na+ coordinates a maximum of three. As w...
A Lecture about Pharmaceuticals Used in Animal Patients

Objectives. To implement a lecture on interesting and clinically relevant facts about animal patients to engage students in a veterinary therapeutics course. Design. Active-learning methods were used to introduce students enrolled in a 2-credit-hour elective course in veterinary therapeutics to critical yet little known facts pertaining to veterinary informatics, pharmacology, pharmacotherapy, and toxicology resources. Assessment. Precourse and postcourse learning surveys were conducted and showed that students had retained clinically relevant facts about pharmaceutical use in animal patients at the end of the course. Student performance on weekly quizzes, discussion board postings, and 2 examinations also suggested comprehension and retention of course content. Conclusion. Using active-learning methods to educate pharmacy students in veterinary therapeutics is an effective way of preparing them to treat the “4-legged patients” they will likely encounter in community pharmacy practice.
Challenging Englishness from the racial margins: William Macready's Irishman in London; Or; The Happy African

William Charles Macready's farce The Irishman in London; Or; The Happy African (1792) can be read as an exploration of Englishness in its relationship to Irishness as presented on the London stage in the period following the French Revolution. This article examines Macready's play as a critique of the common identification of Irishness with blackness that uses stock characters and attitudes to examine English identity. Through a marriage plot displaced from the traditional romantic heroes onto their Irish and black servants, we see English as a commercial identity rather than a cultural one. Linking race to culture and culture to nationality, Macready's play presents Irishness and blackness as culturally rich while calling into question the content of Englishness.
On the role of FOSS business models and participation architectures in supporting open innovation

Most research regarding innovation in free and open source software (FOSS) pertains to identifying supporting conditions for promoting code contribution. This raises concerns about the ability of FOSS communities to remain innovative based only on the perspectives of developer-users. Preliminary research suggests different open source business models may provide motivation to support greater involvement of non-developer users. This research focuses on understanding the relationship between business model and supporting participation architectures, beyond users' code contributions, to enable user participation in design of the software.
Resource choice in orchard populations of Drosophila

Three capture-recapture experiments were performed on natural populations of Drosophila from orchards in California. Two of the experiments investigated choice between known breeding substrates: oranges v. grapefruits and figs v. peaches. The third involved choice between citrus baits in a citrus orchard and both banana and citrus baits in an adjacent almond orchard. Drosophila pseudoobscura showed no fidelity to the bait or area of initial capture. However, a statistically significant but low level of resource fidelity was displayed by D. melanogaster/D. simulans. An index of differential choice is used to compare our results to those of previous studies. Possible biological bases of choice behaviour are discussed.
Predictive factors for prolonged hospital stay in pediatric tonsillectomy patients

Objective: To determine factors that may potentially predict a prolonged hospital stay after scheduled tonsillectomy in the pediatric population. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Subjects and Methods: A review of pediatric patients who had undergone a tonsillectomy at a tertiary medical center from July 2007 to November 2010 was made. Preoperative variables were analyzed to determine predictors of prolonged hospital stay (defined as >24 h) that may have influenced their length of stay. Setting: Tertiary care medical center. Results: 827 patient charts were reviewed. One hundred and one patients (12.2 %) had hospital stays >24 h. Indications for tonsillectomy included obstructive sleep apnea (69.2 %), tonsillitis (13.8 %), and tonsillar asymmetry (0.9 %). Seventy-seven (76.2 %) patients of the extended stay group had a delayed discharge because of poor oral intake. Fever and respiratory complications accounted for 0.5 and 1.8 % respectively of those patients who had extended stays. Patients with extended stays were younger (p < 0.001) and weighed less (p < 0.001). Patients with a history of sickle cell crises, reactive airway disease, bronchodilator use, and anti-reflux medication use (p < 0.05) were more likely to have a prolonged hospital stay. Conclusion: Factors from the history and physical of pediatric patients may predict which children are at higher risk for extended hospital stays after routine tonsillectomy. Predictors of extended stays include those under the age of four and children weighing <20 kg, those with a history of sickle cell crises or reactive airway disease, and those using bronchodilators or anti-reflux medication.
Alcohol-induced impairment of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-dependent dilation of cerebral arterioles: role of NAD(P)H oxidase

The goal of the present study was to determine the role of NAD(P)H oxidase in alcohol consumption-induced impairment of nNOS-dependent reactivity in cerebral arterioles. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed an alcohol diet for 2-3 months. We measured the effects of acute (1 hour) and chronic (1 month) treatment with a NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitor, apocynin, on responses of parietal pial arterioles to nNOS-dependent agonists (NMDA and kainate) and an nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-independent agonist (nitroglycerin). In addition, we measured the expression of NAD(P)H oxidase subunits and superoxide production in parietal cortex. Topical application of NMDA and kainate produced dose-related dilation of pial arterioles. However, the magnitude of vasodilation to these agonists was significantly less in alcohol-fed rats. Treatment with apocynin (acute and chronic) did not alter vasodilation in nonalcohol-fed rats, but significantly improved vasodilation in alcohol-fed rats. Response of pial arterioles to nitroglycerin was similar in nonalcohol-fed and alcohol-fed rats, and was not affected by apocynin. In addition, we found an up-regulation of gp91phox and p47phox in parietal cortex of alcohol-fed rats. Finally, alcohol consumption produced an increase in superoxide production under basal conditions and in the presence of NADPH. Acute treatment with apocynin suppressed alcohol consumption-induced superoxide generation. Our findings suggest that NAD(P)H oxidase plays an important role in chronic alcohol consumption-induced impairment of nNOS-dependent dilation of cerebral arterioles.
Momentum transfer in relativistic heavy ion charge-exchange reactions.

Relativistic heavy ion charge-exchange reactions yield fragments (Delta-Z = + 1) whose longitudinal momentum distributions are downshifted by larger values than those associated with the remaining fragments (Delta-Z = 1, -2,...). Kinematics alone cannot account for the observed downshifts; therefore, an additional contribution from collision dynamics must be included. In this work, an optical model description of collision momentum transfer is used to estimate the additional dynamical momentum downshift. Good agreement between theoretical estimates and experimental data is obtained.
Light Emission in Aperiodic Thue-Morse Dielectrics

Using Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PE-CVD) we fabricated silicon rich, light emitting SiNx/SiO2 Thue-Morse (T-M) multilayer structures in order to investigate the generation and transmission of light in deterministic aperiodic dielectrics. We found that light emission is significantly enhanced at the wavelengths corresponding to T-M resonant states with field enhancement, in agreement with optical transmission data. Emission enhancement effects by almost a factor of 6 with respect to a reference homogeneous SiNx dielectric have been experimentally measured. The unprecedented degree of structural flexibility of T-M systems can provide alternative routes towards the fabrication of optically active multi-wavelength photonic devices.
Uvulopalatoplasty using laser-assisted techniques

Habitual loud snoring affects nearly a quarter of the adult population. The advent of office-based uvula and palate procedures has resulted in a keen interest in the treatment of snoring. This interest also has spawned increasing attention to the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. The carbon dioxide laser provides a convenient means for performing office-based uvulopalatoplasty for the treatment of snoring. Advantages, disadvantages, and techniques for performing laser-assisted uvulopalatopasty are discussed. The importance of identifying the presence or absence of obstructive sleep apnea is also addressed.
An Implicit Monolithic Time Accurate Finite Element Scheme for Incompressible Flow Problems

The objective of this paper is to develop an implicit, monolithic, finite element (FE) scheme for the solution of the incompressible Navier-Stokes (NS) equations. The design of the method is based on the pressure stability properties of an implicit second order in time fractional step (FS) method, which is conditionally stable. The final monolithic scheme preserves the second order accuracy of the FS method, and it is unconditionally stable (i.e. stable for all timestep sizes). In addition, it is shown that the final pressure stabilizing term is practically the same fourth order pressure term added by some authors, but following different arguments, to obtain high order accurate results. It is also shown that the final stabilized convective term is a formally second order discretization of the advective operator. Finally, a non-linear numerical switch was designed to lower the discretization order in flow regions where the solution could present over or undershoots, which can inhibit the algorithm convergence. Some numerical examples are presented.
The Professional Ex- Revisited: Cessation or Continuation of a Deviant Career?

An ongoing question is whether participation in deviance is fluid or stable. In a 1991 article, Brown introduced the concept of the “professional ex-,” an individual who uses former deviant status as a springboard into a counseling career. The professional ex- thus exits a deviant career, transforming it into a legitimate status. In the current article, the authors present a different perspective, grounded in self-control theory. The 1990s substance abuse treatment industry scandals in Texas provide the framework. A case study of one agency, in-depth interviews with fifteen professional ex-s employed by the agency, official records, and newspaper accounts of the scandals are used to explore the issues of stability and generality. Findings suggest that at least some professional ex-s continue to engage in other forms of deviance, providing support to Gottfredson and Hirschi's claim that the propensity to engage in deviance is both general and stable.
Women's Role Involvement in Family Businesses, Business Tensions, and Business Success:

This paper is based on a study of 391 family-business-owning couples where the husband is the business owner. The purpose of the study was to examine the work involvement of the wife in the business, the business tensions, and the impact of those tensions on family business success. Fifty-seven percent of wives worked in the business, 47% of whom were paid. Forty-two percent of wives were considered major decision makers. Having more than one decision maker in the business impacted certain types of inclusion tension. Business and family success outcomes varied by level of tensions. There was initial evidence of a threshold where business tensions begin to affect business success negatively.
Using fMRI to investigate a component process of reflection: prefrontal correlates of refreshing a just-activated representation.

Using fMRI, we investigated the functional organization of prefrontal cortex (PFC) as participants briefly thought of a single just-experienced item (i.e., refreshed an active representation). The results of six studies, and a meta-analysis including previous studies, identified regions in left dorsolateral, anterior, and ventrolateral PFC associated in varying degrees with refreshing different types of information (visual and auditory words, drawings, patterns, people, places, or locations). In addition, activity increased in anterior cingulate with selection demands and in orbitofrontal cortex when a nonselected item was emotionally salient, consistent with a role for these areas in cognitive control (e.g., overcoming “mental rubbernecking”). We also found evidence that presenting emotional information disrupted an anterior component of the refresh circuit. We suggest that refreshing accounts for some neural activity observed in more complex tasks, such as working memory, long-term memory, and problem solving, and that its disruption (e.g., from aging or emotion) could have a broad impact.
Patterns and exchangeability

In statistics and theoretical computer science, the notion of exchangeability provides a framework for the study of large alphabet scenarios. This idea has been developed in an important line of work starting with Kingman's study of population genetics, and leading on to the paintbox processes of Kingman, the Chinese restaurant processes and their generalizations. In information theory, the notion of the pattern of a sequence provides a framework for the study of large alphabet scenarios, as developed in work of Orlitsky and collaborators. The pattern is a statistic that captures all the information present in the data, and yet is universally compressible regardless of the alphabet size. In this note, connections are made between these two lines of work- specifically, patterns are examined in the context of exchangeability. After observing the relationship between patterns and Kingman's paintbox processes, and discussing the redundancy of a class of mixture codes for patterns, alternate representations of patterns in terms of graph limits are discussed.
Efficient scan-window based object detection using GPGPU

We describe an efficient design for scan-window based object detectors using a general purpose graphics hardware computing (GPGPU) framework. While the design is particularly applied to built a pedestrian detector that uses histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) features and the support vector machine (SVM) classifiers, the methodology we use is generic and can be applied to other objects, using different features and classifiers. The GPGPU paradigm is utilized for feature extraction and classification, so that the scan windows can be processed in parallel. We further propose to precompute and cache all the histograms in advance, instead of using integral images, which greatly lowers the computation cost. A multi-scale reduce strategy is employed to save expensive CPU-GPU data transfers. Experimental results show that our implementation achieves a more-than-ten-times speed up with no loss on detection rates.
Is globalization good for your health

Four points are made about globalization and health. First, economic integration is a powerful force for raising the incomes of poor countries. In the past 20 years several large developing countries have opened up to trade and investment, and they are growing well--faster than the rich countries. Second, there is no tendency for income inequality to increase in countries that open up. The higher growth that accompanies globalization in developing countries generally benefits poor people. Since there is a large literature linking income of the poor to health status, we can be reasonably confident that globalization has indirect positive effects on nutrition, infant mortality and other health issues related to income. Third, economic integration can obviously have adverse health effects as well: the transmission of AIDS through migration and travel is a dramatic recent example. However, both relatively closed and relatively open developing countries have severe AIDS problems. The practical solution lies in health policies, not in policies on economic integration. Likewise, free trade in tobacco will lead to increased smoking unless health-motivated disincentives are put in place. Global integration requires supporting institutions and policies. Fourth, the international architecture can be improved so that it is more beneficial to poor countries. For example, with regard to intellectual property rights, it may be practical for pharmaceutical innovators to choose to have intellectual property rights in either rich country markets or poor country ones, but not both. In this way incentives could be strong for research on diseases in both rich and poor countries.
Alternate forms of the PWM switch models

Vorperian's pulsewidth modulation (PWM) switch model consists of a PWM transformer and a nonlinear resistor. The recognition that any of the three transformer terminals can serve as the common terminal leads to two alternate PWM transformer models and the corresponding two alternate PWM switch models. For a given PWM dc-dc converter, one of the three PWM switch models is more "natural" for graphic-oriented analysis/design, e.g., it allows the idealized converter to be analyzed by inspection. Furthermore, all three PWM transformers may be used to graphically manipulate the converter circuit to a form that can be analyzed by inspection. The alternate forms of the PWM transformers and the PWM switch models are effective as graphic-oriented teaching and learning tools for PWM converters. This is demonstrated using examples based on the boost converter and the Cuk converter.
A Method for Esterification of Valproic Acid for Gas-Liquid Chromatography: Clinical Data from Epileptic Patients

A flame Ionization gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) method is presented for the determination of serum levels of valprolc acid (n-dipropylacetic tanolc acid) using cyclohaxylacetic acid (cyclohexaneacetlc as an internal standard. Methyl ester derivatives of both compounds are formed using 1.25 mol/liter HCi in methanol. The derivatives are separated using a 6-ft. glass column packed with 5% OV17 on Gas Chrom Q converted to an acid phase. Data from 258 epileptic patient samples is presented. Serum levels of 47% of this group were above 40/Jg/ml.
Seasonal changes in physiology and development of cold hardiness in the hatchling painted turtle Chrysemys picta.

Hatchling painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) commonly hibernate in shallow, natal nests where winter temperatures may fall below -10 degrees C. Although hatchlings are moderately freeze-tolerant, they apparently rely on supercooling to survive exposure to severe cold. We investigated seasonal changes in physiology and in the development of supercooling capacity and resistance to inoculative freezing in hatchling Chrysemys picta exposed in the laboratory to temperatures that decreased from 22 to 4 degrees C over a 5.5 month period. For comparison, we also studied hatchling snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina), a less cold-hardy species that usually overwinters under water. Although Chrysemys picta and Chelydra serpentina differed in some physiological responses, both species lost dry mass, catabolized lipid and tended to gain body water during the acclimation regimen. Recently hatched, 22 degrees C-acclimated Chrysemys picta supercooled only modestly (mean temperature of crystallization -6.3+/-0.2 degrees C; N=6) and were susceptible to inoculation by ice nuclei in a frozen substratum (mean temperature of crystallization -1.1+/-0.1 degrees C; N=6) (means +/- s.e.m.). In contrast, cold-acclimated turtles exhibited pronounced capacities for supercooling and resistance to inoculative freezing. The development of cold hardiness reflected the elimination or deactivation of potent endogenous ice nuclei and an elevation of blood osmolality that was due primarily to the retention of urea, but was not associated with accumulation of the polyols, sugars or amino acids commonly found in the cryoprotection systems of other animals. Also, Chrysemys picta (and Chelydra serpentina) lacked both antifreeze proteins and ice-nucleating proteins, which are used by some animals to promote supercooling and to initiate freezing at the high temperatures conducive to freezing survival, respectively.
Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Nanofibers for Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Nanocomposite Cementitious Materials

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are quickly becoming two of the most promising nanomaterials because of their unique mechanical properties. The size and aspect ratio of CNFs and CNTs mean that they can be distributed on a much finer scale than commonly used microreinforcing fibers. As a result, microcracks are interrupted much more quickly during propagation in a nano- reinforced matrix, producing much smaller crack widths at the point of first contact between the moving crack front and the reinforcement. In this study, untreated CNTs and CNFs are added to cement matrix composites in concentrations of 0.1 and 0.2% by weight of cement. The nanofilaments are dispersed by using an ultrasonic mixer and then cast into molds. Each specimen is tested in a custom-made three-point flexural test fixture to record its mechanical properties; namely, the Young's modulus, flexural strength, ultimate strain capacity, and fracture toughness, at 7, 14, and 28 days. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to discern the difference between crack bridging and fiber pullout. Test results show that the strength, ductility, and fracture toughness can be improved with the addition of low concentrations of either CNTs or CNFs. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0000266. © 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
How Secular Should Democracy Be? A Cross-Disciplinary Study of Catholicism and Islam in Promoting Public Reason

AbstractI argue that the same factors (strategic and principled) that motivated Catholicism to champion liberal democracy are the same that motivate twenty-first-century Islam to do the same. I defend this claim by linking political liberalism to democratic secularism. Distinguishing institutional, political, and epistemic dimensions of democratic secularism, I show that moderate forms of political and epistemic secularism are most conducive to fostering the kind of public reasoning essential to democratic legitimacy. This demonstration draws upon the ambivalent impact of Indonesia's Islamic parties in advancing universal social justice aims as against more sectarian policies.
CLARK WISSLER, 1870–1947

ON AUGUST 25, 1947, death removed one of the most widely known and respected of the elder generation of American anthropologists. Clark Wissler was born on a farm in Wayne County, Indiana, on September 18, 1870. He was the eldest child of Benjamin Franklin Wissler and Sylvania (Needler) Wissler. Through his father, who at various times was a farmer, a school superintendent, and the editor of a county newspaper, he was descended from a line of "Pennsylvania Dutch" ancestors, who had migrated from Swabia in Germany to Pennsylvania and thence to central Indiana. On June 14, 1899, Wissler married Etta Viola Gebhart, who survives him, as do a son, Stanley Gebhart Wissler, and a daughter, Mary Viola Wissler.
Neurofeedback and traumatic brain injury: A literature review

Background Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback whereby a patient can learn to control measurements of brain activity such as those recorded by an electroencephalogram. It has been explored as a treatment for sequelae of traumatic brain injury, although the use of neurofeedback remains outside the realm of routine clinical practice. Methods Google Scholar™ was used to find 22 examples of primary research. Measures of symptom improvement, neuropsychological testing, and changes in subjects' quantitative electroencephalogram were included in the analysis. A single reviewer classified each study according to a rubric devised by 2 societies dedicated to neurofeedback research. Results All studies demonstrated positive findings, in that neurofeedback led to improvement in measures of impairment, whether subjective, objective, or both. However, placebo-controlled studies were lacking, some reports omitted important details, and study designs differed to the point where effect size could not be calculated quantitatively. Conclusions Neurofeedback is a promising treatment that warrants double-blind, placebo-controlled studies to determine its potential role in the treatment of traumatic brain injury. Clinicians can advise that some patients report improvement in a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms after undergoing neurofeedback, although the treatment remains experimental, with no standard methodology.
Incorporating Outcomes Assessment and Rubrics into Case Instruction

Outcomes Assessment (OA) has emerged as the systemic mechanism for academic institutions to demonstrate to their stakeholders their viability as institutions that create and disseminate knowledge. Properly implementing outcomes assessment plans has been of paramount concern to postsecondary academic institutions whose accrediting bodies are requiring that institutions demonstrate that they have in fact achieved their goals and objectives. This study posits a preliminary methodology (a before/after study) for using grading rubrics, an instrument developed through outcomes assessment programs, for analyzing students’ oral and written analyses of business cases. Results from the first round of data gathering from students’ oral presentations are presented.
The synthesis of alpha, beta, and delta peptide chains by reticulocytes from subjects with thalassemia or hemoglobin Lepore

Abstract The incorporation of radioactive amimo acids into the α and β chains of hemoglobin A, the α and δ chains of hemoglobin A 2 , and the α and non-α chains of hemoglobin Lepore by reticulocytes from nonhemoglobinopathic, Lepore trait, and thalassemic patients has been compared. Significant imbalance of α and β chain production was detected only in thalassemic subjects. This was characteristic of thalassemia minor as well as thalassemia major. The relative rates of δ chain production were greater than those of β thalassemia chains. There was little depression of the synthesis of the non-α chains of hemoglobin Lepore relative to α chain formation in vitro by reticulocytes from patients heterozygous for hemoglobin Lepore when compared with control subjects.
The Effects of Wearing a Transradial Myoelectric Prosthesis on Range of Motion of the Elbow

Prosthetists know that the height and design of the trim lines of a transradial prosthesis can affect the range of motion of the elbow and the forearm. However, the extent of trim line effects has not been documented. The purpose of this study, as part of a larger range of motion study, was to determine the differences between ranges of motion of elbow with and without the effects of the trim lines of the transradial myoelectric prosthesis.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release is both necessary and sufficient for SK channel activation in ventricular myocytes

SK channels are upregulated in human patients and animal models of heart failure (HF). However, their activation mechanism and function in ventricular myocytes remain poorly understood. We aim to t...
Prediction of Brucellosis Epidemiological Trends Using Gray Model

Objective: To predict the trends of brucellosis prevalence in Inner Mongolia autonomous region between 2013 and 2018.Methods: The grey model was established using brucellosis epidemic data in Inner Mongolia autonomous region between 2006 and 2012.Results: The grey forecasting model for the incidence of brucellosis in Inner Mongolia autonomous region(1/100 000) is Yt =(33.23 + 43.66/0.06) e0.06t-43.66/0.06(t = 0,1,2,…,7).The model fitting accuracy is qualified by fitting test(C = 0.46,P = 9.11),and the model could predict the long and medium-term trends of brucellosis incidence.Conclusion: The brucellosis incidence has an upward trend in Inner Mongolia autonomous region between 2013 and 2018.
Penile Flow Index Utilizing a Doppler Pulse Wave Analysis to Identify Penile Vascular Insufficiency

A Doppler ultrasound probe was used in 42 men to evaluate penile circulation. Twenty-six patients had confirmation of vascular anatomy by pelvic arteriography. The average penile acceleration (peak velocity over pulse rise time) relative to the radial artery acceleration was expressed as the penile flow index. Eleven potent men had a penile flow index of 3.4 plus or minus 0.4 standard error, while 13 impotent men with vascular disease on arteriography had a penile flow index of 21.7 plus or minus 5 standard error (p less than 0.01). Patients with intermediate penile flow index values had variable degrees of erectile failure. This relatively simple, non-invasive technique identifies a vascular component of impotence, thus aiding in the selection of appropriate management.