cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perception of traumatic onset, compensation status, and physical findings: impact on pain severity, emotional distress, and disability in chronic pain patients.

The primary purposes of the present study were to investigate the roles of physical findings, financial compensation, and types of pain onset (i.e., trauma vs. insidious onset) on adaptation by chronic pain patients. Comparisons between patients who were receiving or seeking compensation and those who were not revealed that, despite comparable degrees of physical findings, the compensation status was associated with reports of (a) more severe pain, (b) greater disability, (c) higher levels of emotional distress, and (d) greater life interference. The compensation status of 74% of the patients was correctly classified by combination of pain severity, perceived disability, and life interference. Objective indices of physical findings did not significantly improve classification accuracy. In order to eliminate the possible confound of compensation, analyses of the relationship between the types of onset and chronic pain were conducted only for a subset of patients who were not receiving or actively seeking compensation. The results indicated that the patients who attributed their pain to a specific trauma reported significantly higher levels of emotional distress, life interference, and higher levels of pain severity than did the patients who indicated that their pain had an insidious or spontaneous onset, regardless of the extent of objective physical findings.
Vicarious and direct counterconditioning of test anxiety through individual and group desensitization

Abstract Vicarious and direct desensitization were compared for individual and group treatment of test anxiety. Fifty seventh-graders were assigned by stratified random sampling to the following treatment conditions: direct-individual; vicarious-individual; direct-group; group-observing-group; group-observing-model. Twenty-one eighth-graders served as no-treatment controls. Upon completion of the experimental phase, all subjects were administered a measure of test anxiety and a reading test. As predicted, experimental subjects improved significantly, relative to controls, on both outcome measures; as further expected, the experimental variations did not produce significantly different outcomes among treatment conditions. Neither sex of subject nor assignment to alternative therapists qualified the findings.
Use of multiple clips for tubal occlusion in interval laparoscopic sterilization: Circumstances and consequences

The use of multiple clips for the occlusion of the Fallopian tubes has been reported in interval laparoscopic sterilization, but the circumstances leading to the performance of the multiple-clip procedure and its effects on safety and efficacy have not been carefully studied. A data set from international multi-center clinical trials of Filshie clips and Wolf (Hulka) clips was used to examine the possible reasons for performing this procedure for 102 women. Their complications, complaints, and surgical and post-surgical events before discharge and during one month of follow-up were compared with those of the 408 women whose tubes were occluded by single clip. Results indicate that multiple clips were most often used when surgical difficulties (and to a much lesser degree, tubal and/or mesosalpingeal injury) were encountered during the sterilization procedure. No increased risk of short-term complications or complaints (including pelvic pain) was found at one-month follow-up for those patients who received multiple clips.
Lésions cérébrales après revascularisation carotidienne : devenir, mécanismes et possibilités d’amélioration

Rationnelle La complication la plus inquietante de la revascularisation carotidienne est l’atteinte neurologique, se manifestant typiquement comme un accident vasculaire cerebral peri operatoire. Cependant, les patients subissant ces procedures sont a risqued’un grand nombre de lesions neurologiques. Nous avons cherche a realiser une revue des evenements neurologiques apres revascularisation carotidienne pour guider de futurs efforts d’amelioration de la qualite afin de reduire les evenements potentiellement evitables. Methodes En utilisant une strategie de recherche specifique, nous avons evalue les mecanismes des lesions neurologiques, la mesure des resultats neurocomportementaux et l’utilisation de l’imagerie neurologique pour evaluer les resultats des revascularisationscarotidiennes, et l’application de ces techniques dans les registres et les essais cliniques portant sur la revascularisation carotidienne. Resultats Nous avons trouve que les lesions neurologiques apres revascularisation carotidienneavaient trois etiologies principales : embolique, thrombotique, et hypo/hyperperfusion. Uneimportantevariabilite existe entre les etudes evaluant les resultats neurologiques. Des 47 etudes examinant l’effet de l’endarteriectomie carotidienne sur la fonctionneurologique, 25 ont constatees un certain degre d’amelioration des fonctions cognitives, 12 n’ontmontre aucunemodification et 10 un declin sur certains aspects. Il y a une grande variation dans l’evaluation des resultats neurologiques dans les registres et les essais cliniques. Sur 13 registres sur le stenting carotidien sponsorises par l’industrie et 10 essais randomises comparant l’endarteriectomie carotidienne et le stenting carotidien, les registres utilisaient moins frequemment des echelles d’evaluation neurologiques validees,des examens neurologiques independants et l’imagerie neurologique pour evaluer le resultat que les essais randomises. Conclusions En depit d’une necessite evidente, il y a un manque de consensus pour le choix des strategies optimales pour evaluer et decrire des lesions neurologiques et leur effet sur des resultats neurocomportementaux apres revascularisation carotidienne, en particulier dans le cadre des etudes sponsorisees par l’industrie. En consequence, les taux de resultats neurologiques ont varie considerablement entre les etudes, registres et etudes randomises cliniques. Les futurs efforts pour correler les donnees de l’imagerie neurologique avec les resultats cognitifs pourraientpermettre d’ameliorer les methodes visant a diminuer les dommages neurologiques apres revascularisation carotidienne.
Single-dose, multiple-dose, and population pharmacokinetics of pantoprazole in neonates and preterm infants with a clinical diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

The pharmacokinetic profile of pantoprazole granules was assessed in neonates and preterm infants with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a multicenter, randomized, open-label trial. Patients were randomly assigned to either the pantoprazole 1.25 mg (approx. 0.6 mg/kg) or 2.5 mg (approx. 1.2-mg/kg) group and treated for ≥5 consecutive days. Blood was sampled either at 0, 2, 8, and 18 h postdose or at 0, 1, 4, and 12 h postdose on day 1 and at 3 and 6 h postdose after ≥5 consecutive doses. Cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) and CYP3A4 genotypes were determined. Safety was monitored. Population pharmacokinetics (popPK) analyses were conducted using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. The popPK modeling of the pantoprazole 1.25 mg and 2.5 mg groups obtained mean (±standard deviation) estimates for the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC) of 3.54 (±2.82) and 7.27 (±5.30) µg h/mL, respectively, and mean estimates for half-life of 3.1 (±1.5) and 2.7 (±1.1) h, respectively. Pantoprazole did not accumulate following multiple-dose administration. The two patients with the CYP2C19 poor metabolizer genotype had a substantially higher AUC than extensive metabolizers. No safety-related discontinuations occurred. In preterm infants and neonates, pantoprazole granules were generally well tolerated, mean exposures with pantoprazole 2.5 mg were slightly higher than that in adults who received 40 mg. While the half-life was longer, accumulation did not occur.
Mechanism of transport of vegetative storage proteins to the vacuole of the paraveinal mesophyll of soybean leaf

Microscopy techniques were used to identify the pathway of transport of soybean leaf vegetative storage proteins (VSPα/β and VSP94) to the vacuoles of a specialized cell type, the paraveinal mesophyll (PVM), where they accumulate. PVM cells are enriched in endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi bodies relative to surrounding mesophyll cells. The margins of medial and trans Golgi cisternae had attached or closely associated noncoated vesicles with densely staining membranes and lumenal contents of the same appearance as material that accumulated in the vacuole. These vesicles appeared to be transported preferentially to the tonoplast, where fusion with the membrane released the granular contents into the vacuole. Cytochemical staining with phosphotungstic acid and silver methenamine supported this interpretation as both the Golgi vesicles and the tonoplast stained intensely with these reagents, unlike the tonoplast of mesophyll cells which do not accumulate VSP. Immunocytochemical localization for VSPα/β labeled the Golgi bodies and associated vesicles, and vacuolar material in PVM cells, but not in mesophyll. Similar labeling was seen in PVM of another legume species previously found to accumulate antigenically similar VSPs. Immunolocalization for VSP94, a lipoxygenase, labeled the PVM cytosol and material in the PVM vacuole, but not the Golgi or vesicles. The results of this study demonstrate that the Golgi pathway is utilized for transport of VSPα/β in the PVM, which follows the mechanism of deposition demonstrated for certain seed storage proteins. VSP94 appeared to follow a separate path for accumulation in PVM vacuoles.
From One Generation to the Next: Childhood Experiences of Antisocial Behavior and Parental Incarceration Among Adult Inmates

The recent climb in U.S. incarceration rates is paralleled by a growing number of children experiencing parental incarceration, including some who follow their parents to prison as second-generation offenders. This study examines the historical experiences of 470 first- and second-generation incarcerated adults. Second-generation offenders reported more conduct disorder behaviors occurring prior to age 15, proportionately more juvenile criminal offending, and more childhood adversity than first-generation offenders. Childhood adversity partially mediated the relation between generation status and conduct disorder, but second-generation status maintained a unique direct effect. Similar analyses regarding juvenile offending among males did not support an adversity mediation model.
Legal prosecution of alcohol-impaired drivers admitted to a level I trauma center in Rhode Island

BACKGROUND: Despite harsh legislation, driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) is exceedingly common, and alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) account for significant morbidity, mortality, and economic loss. Legal sanctions can keep offenders off the road (protecting other drivers and pedestrians) and ensure compliance with treatment programs (reducing recidivism). However, even with clear evidence of a transgression, the law seems to be inconsistently enforced among trauma patients. The purpose of this study was to measure the rate of legal prosecution among impaired drivers admitted to a trauma center after MVCs, and to determine the recidivism rate among these individuals. METHODS: Our trauma registry was queried to identify intoxicated drivers admitted during an 18-month period. Court records identified patients who had been charged with traffic offenses, including prior (2 years) and subsequent (1 year) charges. RESULTS: Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was measured in 387 (74%) of 525 drivers, of whom 137 (35%) had BAC > or =100 mg/dL. Of 113 state residents, 22 (19%) were charged with an offense related to the MVC. Of 12 charged with DUI, 10 were convicted, for an overall DUI conviction rate of just 9%. Seven (32%) of those who were charged had prior or subsequent charges. Of 91 patients not charged for the index event, 31 (34%) had prior or subsequent charges. CONCLUSION: Alcohol is involved in a large percentage of MVCs in our region. The infrequency of prosecution for DUI despite property damage and/or personal injury, and the high recidivism rate, are significant social concerns. These data suggest the need for processes to facilitate legal prosecution--possibly including revision of legislation involving reporting of BACs.
Estimating solar and nonsolar inactivation rates of airborne bacteria

Land application of biosolids is a wide spread practice in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe. Given the potential for biosolid aerosolization during land application, both solar and nonsolar induced inactivation rate information is needed to more accurately predict the fate of bacteria in air. Pilot-scale bioaerosol reactor experiments that independently measure the solar and nonsolar (absence of solar radiation) inactivation rates of airborne Mycobacterium parafortuitum and Escherichia coli were performed. Direct fluorescent microscopy measurements for total airborne bacteria and culture-based assays were used to measure concentrations in a 1 m3 aerosol reactor that was transparent to UV-A and UV-B wavelengths, and to produce decay curves of airborne bacteria under moderate (50–60%) and high (85–95%) levels of relative humidity (RH). E. coli was more susceptible to airborne decay than M. parafortuitum at all RH levels tested. RH strongly influenced solar and nonsolar airborne inactivation rat...
Cardiac Index and Left Ventricular Function Changes in Cirrhosis Measured by Radionuclide Angiocardiography

Radionuclide angiocardiography (RNAC) was used to measure cardiac function in 134 patients with cirrhosis. In 14 patients, with a cardiac outputs range of 4–20 liters/min, RNAC correlated significantl
The relationship between bid–ask spreads and holding periods: The case of Chinese A and B shares

Abstract The Chinese stock markets for A (domestic) shares and B (foreign) shares were completely separated. This study examines the relationship between spreads and holding periods across these segmented markets on the same set of firms. Our major findings are as follows. (1) There is a positive relationship between holding periods and bid–ask spreads in the Chinese stock market. (2) Investors' sensitivity toward liquidity is approximately the same in the A and B share markets, even though bid–ask spreads are substantially different across the two markets. These results provide strong support for the theoretical argument of Amihud and Mendelson [Amihud, Y., & Mendelson, H. (1986). Asset pricing and the bid–ask spread. Journal of Financial Economics, 17 , 223–249.] that stocks with higher spreads tend to be held by long-term investors. Evidence also suggests that liquidity has a role in explaining the B share discount, although the results are less than conclusive.
Computer simulation of the approach to equilibrium in the classical Heisenberg chain

Computer studies of the approach to equilibrium in the classical 3‐component Heisenberg chain, starting from a configuration with a large staggered magnetization (i. e., far from equilibrium) are reported. The equal time transverse and reduced longitudinal correlations g⊥(l, t) and g∥(l, t), respectively, were monitored for times long enough to show the approach to equilibrium. Results for g⊥ confirm predictions by Nelson and Fisher of wave‐like behavior with a propagation speed equal to twice the zero‐temperature spin wave velocity. The equilibration of g∥ was found to be slower and diffusive in nature. The fitted diffusivity appears to be comparable to the value of the spin diffusivity for the corresponding equilibrium problem.
Observations of double arch formation in the Bering Strait

During the time that ice is present in the Bering Strait, it is constantly moving, both northward and southward, subject to wind and current stresses. There were, however, several times in the last decade when the ice was prevented from travelling through the Strait. The blockage of ice was due to the formation of fairly stable double arches that extended across the Strait. Six episodes of double arch formation, resulting in ice blockage in the Bering Strait, were recorded on NOAA satellite imagery spanning the last eleven years; one additional episode was seen on Landsat imagery. All of the incidences of double arching occurred between February and May. In the most extreme case the arches prevented the southward flow of ice through the Strait for at least 27 days during April and May 1980.
Hyperplasia of type II pneumocytes in pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

Abstract Background.—Little is known of the morphology of the pneumocytes lining the parenchymal cysts in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Objective.—To evaluate the structural characteristics of the alveolar epithelial cells in LAM. Methods.—Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies were performed on lung tissue from 22 women with pulmonary LAM. Results.—Epithelial cells that reacted with PE-10 (a mouse monoclonal antibody that recognizes the surfactant apoprotein A in type II pneumocytes) and TTF-1 (an antibody that identifies nuclear transcription factor found in type II pneumocytes) were the predominant cell type lining the surfaces of lesions of LAM and normal areas of lung. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies confirmed that these cells were type II pneumocytes as demonstrated by (1) apical microvilli, (2) electron-dense lamellar bodies, and (3) cytoplasmic projections that extended from the basal surfaces into the underlying connective tissue, where they made extensive c...
Human infections with Vibrio fetus and a closely related vibrio.

Received for publication March 26, 1957. The author wishes to acknowledge with thanks the help given by Dr. Donald S. Martin in the preparation of this manuscript. the bacteriologic and serologic reactions of V. fetus strains isolated from seven additional human infections. The symptomatology of the previously reported cases of blood stream infections and the seven new cases of V. fetus infections in humans is presented briefly in table 2. Also included are reports of four cases of infection caused by a closely related vibrio species designated hereafter as 1'related vibrios.'' The epidemiology of the disease in animals is discussed in
Optical properties and local structure of Ag(1) dopant in ZnSe:Ag nanoparticles

Ag(I) doped ZnSe nanoparticles were synthesized using molecular cluster precursors. In the emission spectrum at 390 excitation, three emission bands, centered at 432 nm, 517 nm, and 484 nm, respectively were observed. The 432 nm and 517 nm bands can be assigned to ZnSe band-edge emission and donoraccepter emission from the vacancies and trap states in the ZnSe lattice to the Ag(I) dopant, respectively. Similarly the 484 nm band could be the result of ZnSe trap state or vacancies to Ag(I) acceptor emission or simply ZnSe trap state emission. X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS) data were collected at the Ag K–edge of the Ag(I) doped ZnSe nanoparticles. From these data it was concluded that the Ag(I) dopant occupied a variety of different environments in the ZnSe lattice.
Autonomous robotics projects for learning software engineering

Software engineering consists of a body of theory and a collection of techniques for designing useful software-based products while minimizing both the development risk and the risk of in-service product failure. Systems engineering and project management techniques are key components of this discipline. While these techniques can be presented in a didactic manner, students generally learn better when "hands-on" experiences are combined with theoretical exposition. Autonomous robotics projects can provide an opportunity for these hands-on experiences. This paper describes a one-semester software engineering course in which student teams successfully undertook robotic development projects with significant uncertainty. These projects provided significant intrinsic motivation and extrinsic measures of success for the student development teams.
The identification and control of unknown linear discrete systems

This investigation is concerned with the optimal control of unknown, time-invariant. linear discrete systems. Of particular interest is the relationship among the identification problem, the specification of the control law assuming the system is known and the overall optimalizing control. For single-stage control with noiseless observations, conditions under which the use of separate identification and control procedures results in overall optimal control are established. The complexity inherent in the control problem is illustrated with a simple single-stage example wherein optimal control calls for filtering of the observed data by a time-varying, data-dependent operator, for which no simple recursive implementation exists.
High-Current-Gain Direct-Growth GaN/InGaN Double Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors

We report high-current-gain n-p-n GaN/InGaN double-heterojunction bipolar transistors (DHBTs) using a direct-growth fabrication processing approach. The impact of the indium composition in the base layer was studied, and a burn-in effect using a constant-base-current stressing method was observed. We found that DHBTs with higher indium composition in the InGaN base layer may help reduce the base resistance and lower the surface recombination current but may result in higher bulk recombination current. A device burn-in effect was also studied. The postprocessing current stressing step helps increase free-hole concentration in the base, reduce the bulk recombination current, and enhance the current gain. As a result, a direct-growth GaN/In0.03Ga0.97N DHBT with a peak current gain of 105 and a collector current density > 6.5 kA/cm2 was demonstrated on a sapphire substrate.
Soil fertility and crop growth under poultry/crop integration

Innovative sources of soil fertility are of utmost importance to growers in light of rising fertilizer costsand environmental concerns. Integrating livestock and crop production is one channel by which agricultural practitioners can enhance soil fertility. For this research, soil fertility was analyzed in pastured poultry/crop agroecosystems to determine whether freeranging birds and pasture could be used to replace or supplement non-manure-based fertilizers. Soils from adjacent cropped areas were compared to plots with a recent history of pastured poultry use on two farms, and crop plants were grown in each type of soil in a replicated greenhouse experiment. Spatial variation in soil fertility was also assessed relative to locationof poultry coops. Pasturedpoultry plots had elevated soil total C, total N, NH4 –N, NO3 –N, Olsen P, exchangeable K, organic matter, cation exchange capacity and electrical conductivity relative to the control of typically managed organic farm soils without pastured animal inputs. These soil fertility changes conferred greater biomass and height to sunflowers and beans grown in these soils relative to control soils for most treatments. Results suggest that pastured poultry can effectively fertilize soil for certain crops but that a need exists for more research into (1) phosphorus management and (2) ensuring a spatially uniform distribution of manure.
A Web-based multimedia diabetes mellitus education tool for school nurses

Presents a Web-based diabetes mellitus education program for school nurses, called WebDiamen. Compared with existing systems for medical education using computer-assisted technologies, WebDiamen exhibits the advantages of a powerful browsing capability, a friendly GUI, an individualized presentation schedule tailored to each user based on their special browsing interests, powerful online processing and annotation capabilities, and powerful querying capabilities. The system is being evaluated for school nurses in Onondaga County, NY, USA.
Design and optimization of a tube-wall reactor

Abstract Optimization of a tube-wall reactor and comparison with an optimized conventional fixed-bed reactor shows the wall reactor to have several significant advantages. Among these are higher productivity and yield, smaller reactor volume, less catalyst, lower pressure drop, and improved sensitivity and control. It is also shown that the Hooke-Jeeves pattern search optimization algorithm is rather severely hampered by the imposition of a length constraint.
A global model for joint lemmatization and part-of-speech prediction

We present a global joint model for lemmatization and part-of-speech prediction. Using only morphological lexicons and unlabeled data, we learn a partially-supervised part-of-speech tagger and a lemmatizer which are combined using features on a dynamically linked dependency structure of words. We evaluate our model on English, Bulgarian, Czech, and Slovene, and demonstrate substantial improvements over both a direct transduction approach to lemmatization and a pipelined approach, which predicts part-of-speech tags before lemmatization.
(2S)‐(−)‐3‐exo‐(Dimethylamino)Isoborneol [(2S)‐(−)‐DAIB]

(2S)-(−)-3-exo-(Dimethylamino)isoborneol, [(2S)-(−)-DAIB] R (−)-Camphorquinone 1 I (2S)-(−)-3-exo-Aminoisoborneol 2 (1R,2S,6R,7S)-1,10,10-Trimethyl-4-oxo-5-aza-3-oxatricyclo [5.2.1.0] decone 3 N-methyl-(1R,2S,6R,7S)-1,10,10-trimethyl-4-oxo-5-aza-3-oxatricyclo [5.2.1.0] decone 4 P (2S)-(−)-3-(−)-exo-(Dimethylamino)isoborneol 5 Keywords: amines (and salts), aliphatic; alcohols and diols, substituted; reduction, CN CH2NH2; annulation, heterocyclic-[5]; heterocycles, five-membered, one nitrogen, one oxygen; alkylation, N-alkylation; acylation (including formylation and Friedel-Crafts reactions); alkylation, N-alkylation; heterocycles, five-membered, one nitrogen, one oxygen; reduction, miscellaneous; amines (and salts), aliphatic; alcohols and diols, substituted; DAIB, decomposition in air
Integration of reactive navigation with a flexible parallel hardware architecture

AuRA (autonomous robot architecture), a hybrid, schema-based software architecture encompassing aspects of both deliberative and reactive control is described. A flexible, real-time, message-passing hardware platform for the development of AuRA and other software architectures is also presented. To demonstrate their flexibility and portability, they were integrated within a very short period to be used in a mobile robot competition. The experience confirmed the advantages of onboard computational capability in mobile systems. >
Surviving privatization in the era of neo-liberalism: A case study of Mexico's oil company (PEMEX)

Abstract Mexico's oil company (PEMEX) is a particularly interesting deviant case study in the context of the privatization literature. The literature on the causes of privatization indicates that PEMEX should have been privatized a long time ago since it is suffering from: declining levels of competitiveness, low productivity, and corruption. Economic variables alone do not explain the lack of privatization of the state-owned oil company. Why was the Mexican oil company, PEMEX, not privatized? I maintain that dependence on oil revenues, economic nationalism, labor union strength, and the role of international actors (the International Monetary Fund, and the United States government) explain why Mexico's oil company remains state-owned.
The influence of different types of alcoholic beverages on disrupting highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) outcome.

Aims: Studies have yielded conflicting results regarding alcohol's influence on HIV outcomes, particularly after highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). Discrepant findings may be related to confounding variables, including gender, patterns of alcohol abuse and type of alcohol beverage beyond the amount consumed. Methods: Using a cohort study, differences in HAART effectiveness after 24 weeks of therapy were compared as a function of amount and preference for alcohol, drinking only liquor (LI, n = 55) or only wine or beer (BW, n = 110). Given the critical role of thymus on HAART response, changes in thymus size, CD4s, naive lymphocytes and viral loads were assessed. Results: After HAART, positive increases in both CD4s (+12 cell counts/mm3) and thymus size (+0.7 mm3) were evident in the BW group. In contrast, the LI subgroup exhibited a decline in both parameters (−4 CD4 cells/mm3 and −0.6 mm3 in thymus size). Women in the LI group exhibited significantly lower CD4 (163.4 ± 46.2) and naive counts (178 ± 69.5) than LI men (CD4: 281.6 ± 203, P = 0.05; lymphocytes: 301.4 ± 198, P = 0.04). In adjusted regression models, the LI compared to the BW subgroup had greater odds of maintaining detectable viral loads (RR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.04–1.75; P = 0.03), increased thymus volumes (RR = 3.8, P = 0.04) and replenished naive cells (RR = 13, P = 0.02). Conclusions: Liquor was associated with thymus deterioration and thus with poorer viro-immune outcomes after HAART. Subtyping participants by alcohol consumption patterns seems to be clinically relevant and needs to be accounted for in future studies.
Butyric acid induces apoptosis by up-regulating Bax expression via stimulation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase/activation protein-1 pathway in human colon cancer cells.

Abstract Background & Aims: The colonic epithelial cells near the top of the crypt have been shown to undergo apoptosis. Because butyric acid (BA) is the major short-chain fatty acid produced by fermentation of dietary fiber in the large bowel, it may be an important regulator of apoptosis in colorectal cancer. We investigated which signaling pathway is triggered by BA to undergo apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells. Methods: Human DiFi and FET colorectal cells were treated with BA to undergo apoptosis and were assayed for activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), transcription factor activation protein 1 (AP1) and NF-κB, and the proapoptotic molecule Bax. The contribution of specific pathways was assessed by examining the effects of dominant-negative mutants of JNK/AP1 or NF-κB on BA-induced Bax expression and apoptosis. Results: BA-mediated DNA fragmentation and Bax induction were preceded by early stimulation of JNK, and the DNA-binding activities of AP1 and NF-κB. BA-induced enhancement of DNA fragmentation and stimulation of Bax promoter activity were blocked by the expression of dominant-negative mutants of JNK1 or AP1 but not NF-κB. Conclusions: These findings suggest that apoptosis triggered by BA involves transcriptional stimulation of the Bax gene via activation of the JNK/AP1 pathway in colonic epithelial cells. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2001;120:71-78
High-Performance Chemical Sensing Using Schottky-Contacted Chemical Vapor Deposition Grown Monolayer MoS2 Transistors

Trace chemical detection is important for a wide range of practical applications. Recently emerged two-dimensional (2D) crystals offer unique advantages as potential sensing materials with high sensitivity, owing to their very high surface-to-bulk atom ratios and semiconducting properties. Here, we report the first use of Schottky-contacted chemical vapor deposition grown monolayer MoS2 as high-performance room temperature chemical sensors. The Schottky-contacted MoS2 transistors show current changes by 2–3 orders of magnitude upon exposure to very low concentrations of NO2 and NH3. Specifically, the MoS2 sensors show clear detection of NO2 and NH3 down to 20 ppb and 1 ppm, respectively. We attribute the observed high sensitivity to both well-known charger transfer mechanism and, more importantly, the Schottky barrier modulation upon analyte molecule adsorption, the latter of which is made possible by the Schottky contacts in the transistors and is not reported previously for MoS2 sensors. This study show...
A Unified Framework For Automatic Evaluation Using 4-Gram Co-occurrence Statistics

In this paper we propose a unified framework for automatic evaluation of NLP applications using N-gram co-occurrence statistics. The automatic evaluation metrics proposed to date for Machine Translation and Automatic Summarization are particular instances from the family of metrics we propose. We show that different members of the same family of metrics explain best the variations obtained with human evaluations, according to the application being evaluated (Machine Translation, Automatic Summarization, and Automatic Question Answering) and the evaluation guidelines used by humans for evaluating such applications.
On the uniqueness of the sources of electromagnetic fields

Two uniqueness theorems are presented for those electromagnetic fields that are magnitude-integrable functions of time. In such cases, one may draw stronger conclusions than are allowed by the classic uniqueness theorems; e.g., the tangential components of such fields on any mathematical surface contained in a bounded dielectric material uniquely determine the fields at all other points in the dielectric both inside and outside the mathematical surface. Moreover, we may conclude that both the location and the strength of any sources imbedded in the dielectric are also uniquely determined. These results imply, for example, that the size of the antenna aperture does not place a fundamental limitation on the resolution capability of a radar system.
A low-cost digital control scheme for Brushless DC motor drives in domestic applications

Electric motors are an integral part of industrial plants with no less than 5 billon motors built worldwide every year. Residential and commercial appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioning systems have been using conventional motor drive technology. The machines in these applications typically have low efficiencies and high maintenance. Brushless DC (BLDC) drives are known for higher efficiency, lower maintenance and higher cost. In a market driven by profit margins, the appliance industry is reluctant to replace the conventional motor drives with the advanced motor drives (BLDC) due to their higher cost. Therefore it is necessary to have a cost-efficient, but effective BLDC motor controller. This paper lays the groundwork for the development of a new low-cost IC for control of BLDC motors. A simple novel digital Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) control has been implemented for a trapezoidal BLDC motor drive system. Due to the simplistic nature of this control, it has the potential to be implemented in a low cost Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The novel controller is modeled and verified using simulations. Experimental verification is carried out using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) to validate the claims presented.
Doppler tracking of planetary spacecraft

The measurement of Doppler shift on microwave links that connect planetary spacecraft with the Deep Space Network is described. Such measurements are made by tracking the Doppler effect with phase-locked loop receivers. A description of equipment and techniques as well as a summary of the appropriate mathematical models are given. The two-way Doppler shift is measured by transmitting a highly stable microwave (uplink) carrier from a ground station, having the spacecraft coherently transpond this carrier, and using a phase-locked loop receiver at the ground station to track the returned (downlink) carrier. The largest sources of measurement error are usually plasma noise and thermal noise. The plasma noise, which may originate in the ionosphere or the solar corona, is discussed; and a technique to partially calibrate its effect, involving the use of two simultaneous downlink carriers that are coherently related, is described. Range measurements employing Doppler rate-aiding are also described. >
Experiential features used by patients with schizophrenia to differentiate ‘voices’ from ordinary verbal thought

BackgroundDetermining how patients distinguish auditory verbal hallucinations (AVHs) from their everyday thoughts may shed light on neurocognitive processes leading to these symptoms.MethodFifty patients reporting active AVHs (‘voices’) with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Data were collected to determine: (a) the degree to which patients distinguished voices from their own thoughts; (b) the degree to which their thoughts had verbal form; and (c) the experiential basis for identifying experiences as voices versus their own verbal thoughts. Six characteristics of acoustic/verbal images were considered: (1) non-self speaking voice, (2) loudness, (3) clarity, (4) verbal content, (5) repetition of verbal content, and (6) sense of control.ResultsFour subjects were eliminated from the analysis because they reported absent verbal thought or a total inability to differentiate their own verbal thoughts from voices. For the remaining 46 patients, verbal content and sense of control were rated as most salient in distinguishing voices from everyday thoughts. With regard to sensory/perceptual features, identification of speaking voice as non-self was more important in differentiating voices from thought than either loudness or clarity of sound images.ConclusionsMost patients with schizophrenia and persistent AVHs clearly distinguish these experiences from their everyday thoughts. An adequate mechanistic model of AVHs should account for distinctive content, recognizable non-self speaking voices, and diminished sense of control relative to ordinary thought. Loudness and clarity of sound images appear to be of secondary importance in demarcating these hallucination experiences.
Low cost clutter filter for 3D ultrasonic flow estimation

3D blood velocity estimation in medical ultrasound systems is revolutionizing the diagnosis of vascular diseases. However, the accuracy of blood velocity estimation is greatly affected by clutter signals from the vessel wall and the tissues surrounding the vessel. Filters used today to remove clutter are computationally expensive, limiting their practicality in portable 3D systems. In this paper, we present clutter filters for arterial flow that reduce computational complexity by orders of magnitude while maintaining the clutter removal performance of existing techniques. We achieve this goal by combining the existing Hankel-SVD clutter filter with the power iteration method to eliminate unnecessary SVD calculations. For the filters which use power iteration exclusively, we achieve excellent filtering performance with only 14.2% computational overhead to our previous flow estimation system. With these filtering methods, our pipelined architecture can compute velocity fields at a rate of 85 frames per second.
Correction of error in respiratory resistance measurements made with the flow-interruption technique during mechanical ventilation: evaluation of the puritan bennett 7200 and 840 ventilators.

BACKGROUND: Calculation of total inspiratory resistance (R tot) for patients on ventilatory support is typically based on measurement of airflow velocity and airway opening pressure during end-inspiratory occlusion by the inspiratory valve in the ventilator. Systematic error is introduced into R tot measurements because the inspiratory valve closes over a period of time (not instantaneously, so gas continues to flow into the circuit while the valve is shutting) and because the circuit tubing is a distensible compartment between the occluding valve and the respiratory system. The Rtot-measurement error can be minimized with a rapidlyshutting occlusion valve positioned at the airway opening, or, alternatively, by mathematical correction that accounts for the valve-closure period and circuit tubing characteristics. METHODS: In a bench study we measured Rtot with the Puritan Bennett 7200 and 840 ventilators (using the inspiratory valves that are built into those ventilators) and compared those measurements to measurements made with a rapidly-shutting valve at the airway opening. We deemed the rapid-occlusion-valve measurements the best available (benchmark) values. We also studied the closure characteristics of the ventilators’ inspiratory occlusion valves and created equations for mathematical correction of Rtot values measured with those valves. RESULTS: Compared to the benchmark measurements, the measurements from the Puritan Bennett 7200 averaged 23.2% relative error and 2.6 cm H2O/L/s absolute error. Measurements from the Puritan Bennett 840 averaged 7.3% relative error and 1.0 cm H2O/L/s absolute error. Mathematical correction for the circuit tubing and valve-closure time reduced the average relative and absolute error to 3.0% and 0.4 cm H2O/L/s, respectively, for the Puritan Bennett 7200, and to 4.5% and 0.3 cm H2O/L/s, respectively, for the Puritan Bennett 840. CONCLUSIONS: The Puritan Bennett 840 measures Rtot more accurately than the Puritan Bennett 7200. Our equations to mathematically correct Rtot measurements made with the PB7200 and PB840 are useful in settings where very accurate Rtot measurements are necessary. Key words: ventilator, mechanical ventilation, monitoring, airway resistance, measurement error, respiratory physiology . [Respir Care 2004;49(9):1022–1028. © 2004 Daedalus Enterprises]
The \mathcal{I}\mathcal{Q} system: A deductive database Information Lens for reasoning about textual information

The \(\mathcal{I}\mathcal{Q}\) system, described in this paper, addresses two current problems in information retrieval (IR) from document repositories: (i) the “glut-of-information” that threatens to overwhelm the users of these systems and (ii) the loss of informational value as the documents are moved from their organizational setting into a machine-readable format. The answer to these problems discussed in the paper, proposes to restore much of this information by creating a context-base to store the additional recovered knowledge. The technology used is the \(\mathcal{L}\mathcal{D}\mathcal{L}\) deductive database: we demonstrate how to use the rule-extensions to declare levels of abstraction in the information that can be used to “zoomin” or “pan-out” as required by the user (an “Information Lens”). The system takes extensive advantage of the World-Wide Web and enlists the capabilities of JAVA for information display. We discuss some of the performance issues that were experienced and conclude with a description of future R&D ideas along the lines started here.
Pharmacists' perceptions of patients' needs for counseling

Pharmacists in Wisconsin were surveyed about their assessment of patients' needs for medication counseling and factors that hinder or facilitate counseling. Pharmacists attending regional meetings for a state board of pharmacy project completed the survey. The questionnaire was pretested on pharmacists from one area and refined; the study population then included pharmacists from all areas except this one. Questions were asked about criteria for determining the amount and content of oral counseling, the importance of oral versus written counseling, and factors that impede or facilitate counseling. Responses concerning criteria, barriers, and facilitators were grouped by two judges trained in content analysis. Information was collected about years spent in practice, counselor role orientation (scored on responses to eight statements), type of practice setting and position, and use of technicians and daily prescription volume in that setting. Of 708 pharmacists asked to complete the survey 697 (98%) provided usable responses. Seventy percent of respondents were in community practice; 63% were managing pharmacists; 74% of their practice sites used technicians, and 40% averaged 76-150 prescriptions per day. Patient motivation was the most frequently cited determinant of the amount and type of counseling, followed by type of medication, patient abilities, and time available for counseling. Sixty-one percent of respondents indicated that it was important to give both oral and written counseling. Pharmacists in different practice settings and positions reported different barriers to and facilitators of counseling. Pharmacists in this survey said patient-oriented criteria and type of medication determined the amount and content of counseling given to patients. They said it was important to provide both oral and written counseling.
Gestational weight gain and preterm birth in obese women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Prepregnant obesity is a global concern and gestational weight gain has been found to influence the risks of preterm birth. Objective To assess the relationship between gestational weight gain and risk for preterm birth in obese women. Search strategy Four electronic databases were searched from 18 February through to 28 April 2015. Selection criteria Primary research reporting preterm birth as an outcome in obese women and gestational weight gain as a variable that could be compared to the 2009 Institute of Medicine's recommendations. Data collection and analysis Two reviewers independently assessed trials for inclusion. The Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to assess study bias. Main results Our search identified six studies meeting the inclusion criteria; five were conducted in the USA and one in Peru. Four studies with a total of 10 171 obese women were meta-analysed. Significant heterogeneity was found between studies in the pooled analysis. Results for indicated preterm birth in obese women with gestational weight gain above the Institute of Medicine's recommendations showed increased risk (adjusted odds ratio 1.54; 95% CI 1.09–2.16). Conclusions Available science on this topic is limited to special populations of obese pregnant women. Generalisable research is needed to assess the variation in risk for preterm birth in obese women by differences in gestational weight gain and class of obesity controlling for significant variables in the pathway to preterm birth. This research has the potential to illuminate new science impacting preterm birth and interventions for prevention. Tweetable abstract A meta-analysis of gestational weight gain in obese women and preterm birth.
Magnetooptic storage

The current status, i.e., the storage density and READ-WRITE rate of magnetooptic technology is reviewed. From the discussion of subsystems, it is clear that at present magnetooptical technology is mainly aimed at high-activity data base applications. The major problems for magnetooptic technology in mass storage are storage medium and transducer cost. Results on the recent developments of solid-state injection lasers are presented. This represents a breakthrough in transducer and beam control cost that is needed for the technology. The material requirements will also be discussed. Assuming future development in the above mentioned areas, we make a technology forecast on both short term and long term basis. For the short term it seems that the improvement made in both the transducer and the storage material will ameliorate the cost performance of the technology to the point that a class of magnetooptic files consistent with the mass storage requirements can be developed. For the long term, optimistic projections in light deflection and holographic techniques enable one to configure mass storage systems with throughput that can balance that of the memory.