cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patient Preferences for Preventive Migraine Treatments: A Discrete-Choice Experiment.

Objective To understand treatment preferences of people with migraine and the relative importance of improvements in efficacy and avoiding adverse events (AEs), such as cognition problems or weight gain. Background Current preventive migraine medicines are associated with poor adherence and tolerability. There is an unmet need for effective migraine-specific preventive treatments with fewer AEs. Methods In a web-based discrete-choice experiment survey, respondents who self-reported having ≥6 migraine days/month were offered choices between pairs of hypothetical preventive migraine medicines. Six attributes, each with 3 levels, defined the medicines: reduction in headache days per month (10%, 25%, or 50%), frequency of limitations with physical activities (none, 1-category improvement, or 2-category improvement), cognition problems (no problems, thinking problems, or memory problems), weight gain (none, 5% body weight gain, or 10% body weight gain), how the medicine is taken (daily oral pill, once-monthly injection, or twice-monthly injection), and monthly out-of-pocket cost ($5, $60, or $175). The attributes and levels were informed by clinician input, the clinical literature, and 2 focus groups. An experimental design was used to create the pairs of hypothetical medicines for the discrete-choice experiment questions. Random-parameters logit was used to estimate the relative importance of the medicine attributes, and the results were used to predict the percentage of respondents who would select one medicine profile over another and to calculate willingness to pay for changes in attribute levels. Results The sample included 300 respondents; 72% indicated that migraines make physical activities difficult all or most of the time, and 81% had taken a prescription medicine to prevent migraine in the last 6 months. Respondents reported having, on average, approximately 16 headache days per month. Among noncost attributes, respondents valued a change from a 10% reduction in migraine days to a 50% reduction more highly than avoiding the worst levels of AEs, but were willing to trade off efficacy for less-severe AEs. Avoiding memory problems was more important than avoiding thinking problems. Avoiding a 10% weight gain was more important than avoiding thinking and memory problems. Respondents preferred a once-monthly injection or daily pill to twice-monthly injection. Respondents, on average, were willing to pay $84 (95% confidence interval [CI], $64-$103) per month to avoid a 10% weight gain, $59 (95% CI, $42-$76) per month to avoid memory problems, $35 (95% CI, $20-$51) per month to avoid a 5% weight gain, and $32 (95% CI, $18-$46) per month to avoid thinking problems. Conclusions A preventive migraine medicine with improved efficacy and AE profile and a favorable mode of administration would be valuable to migraine sufferers. Patients may be willing to trade off efficacy for better AE profiles. Clinicians should work with patients to select treatments that meet each patient's needs.
Thermally activated nucleation and growth of cobalt and nickel oxide nanoparticles on porous silica

Integrating mesoscale to the molecular level understanding of nanoparticle nucleation phenomena can drive the bottom-up synthesis approach for target applications. The authors studied the thermal evolution of binary metal oxide (cobalt and nickel oxides) nanoparticle structural phases on porous silica host from over wide spatial scale using multimodal analysis involving scanning transmission electron microscopy, x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy along with density functional theory (DFT) based calculations. The TEM analysis reveals thermally activated nanoparticle clustering and subsequent interaction with the porous host material. The Co and Ni K-edge XANES spectra revealed the evolution from metal hydroxide to metal oxide and subsequently metal silicate composites with calcination temperature. 29Si NMR analysis revealed the role of surface functional groups of silica host for silicate composite formation, which is corroborated by DFT studies.Integrating mesoscale to the molecular level understanding of nanoparticle nucleation phenomena can drive the bottom-up synthesis approach for target applications. The authors studied the thermal evolution of binary metal oxide (cobalt and nickel oxides) nanoparticle structural phases on porous silica host from over wide spatial scale using multimodal analysis involving scanning transmission electron microscopy, x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy along with density functional theory (DFT) based calculations. The TEM analysis reveals thermally activated nanoparticle clustering and subsequent interaction with the porous host material. The Co and Ni K-edge XANES spectra revealed the evolution from metal hydroxide to metal oxide and subsequently metal silicate composites with calcination temperature. 29Si NMR analysis revealed the role of surface functional groups of silica host for silicate composite formation, which is corroborated by DFT studies.
Abstract 238: Healthcare Utilization Among Adults with Non-Fatal Cardiovascular Diseases in the United States

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are ranked as the top health problem in the US. Approximately 1 of 3 deaths results from CVD, which is more than cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases...
Impact of skin biopsy on the management of acute graft-versus-host disease in a pediatric population.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of the skin is a common complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) but often represents a diagnostic challenge. The adult literature suggests that histopathology rarely dictates management decisions, but the clinical utility of skin biopsies in pediatric patients with suspected acute GVHD is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency with which skin biopsy leads to a definitive diagnosis of acute GVHD and changes the management of acute GVHD in the pediatric population. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of histopathology results and the associated impact on clinical management based on chart review of pediatric patients who underwent skin biopsy for cutaneous eruptions suspicious for acute GVHD from 1995 to 2016. RESULTS Among 27 pediatric HSCT patients, skin biopsy yielded definitive diagnoses (GVHD or otherwise) in only 15% (4/27) of cases. Overall, dermatology consultation was associated with clinical management changes in 78% (21/27) of cases. A change in management was definitively based on skin biopsy results in only 7.4% (2/27) of cases. The mean duration of time between dermatology consultation and return of biopsy results was 4.8 days (range 1-17). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that skin biopsy of pediatric HSCT patients with findings concerning for acute skin GVHD rarely yields a definitive diagnosis or change in management.
Baboon (Papio ursinus) capture using a blow-dart system

This paper descriptionbes the methodology of capture and the problems experienced while immobilizing baboons in the Okavango Swamp, Botswana, using a blow-dart system. The equipment used and its efficiency is descriptionbed along with the immobilizing drugs and their effects. Problems encountered are descriptionbed within the context of working with habituated animals that are being studied behaviourally. The system was found effective, allowing for a continuous for a continuous slow sampling of baboons with a minimum of disturbance.
A Retrospective Review of Tumor Lysis Syndrome Associated With Colorectal Cancer.

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is a life-threatening oncologic condition that is most commonly linked with hematologic malignancies and uncommonly seen in solid tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, a lack of awareness regarding TLS in CRC could lead to significant morbidity and mortality. This study aims to explore the clinical characteristics and outcomes of TLS in patients with CRC. A systematic review of the literature was performed by searching PubMed using the keywords "tumor lysis syndrome" and "colorectal cancer". The English-language case reports and abstracts that the search results yielded were reviewed, and additional articles of interest were identified from reference lists. Information regarding the patients (age at diagnosis, presentation, and comorbidities), the tumors (histology, grade, and stage), radiologic investigations, treatment modalities (surgery, radiation, and systemic therapy), and the outcomes (response, adverse events) were recorded, when available. Descriptive statistics, such as frequency counts, medians, and ranges, were used to characterize the pooled sample. Nine case reports of TLS in CRC were identified in the literature; one additional case was added from our patient database. The median age of these patients was 58.5 years (range: 42-82 years) with 70% of these patients being male. Of note, 100% of these patients had metastatic colon cancer and 80% had metastatic involvement of the liver; 70% of these cases were associated with therapy-induced TLS with the median time-to-event being three days (range: 18 hours-30 days) after receiving chemotherapy. When looking at laboratory parameters, uric acid and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were consistently elevated in all the cases, but 50% of the cases had hyperkalemia and 50% had hyperphosphatemia. Treatment of TLS included supportive measures with IV hydration. Five out of 10 patients received urate oxidase and only one underwent hemodialysis. The overall mortality was 60%. TLS can occur with CRCs that demonstrate a high tumor burden. While most cases are associated with therapy, some cases are spontaneous in nature. Keeping in mind the high mortality associated with TLS, physicians should have a high degree of suspicion and should be aware of the fatal complications associated with TLS. Timely implementation of prophylactic and therapeutic measures including IV hydration as well as the use of xanthine oxidase inhibitors such as allopurinol can be life-saving in these cases.
Flow among introverts and extraverts in solitary and social activities

Abstract Flow is a state in which one fully and voluntarily concentrates on an activity at hand (Nakamura & Csikszentmihalyi, 2003). Recent research has compared solitary flow and social flow using various operationalizations, but the role of extraversion was neglected. Therefore, an Amazon MTurk survey (N = 165) was designed to investigate flow among introverts and extraverts in solitary and social activities. Results revealed no difference in flow frequency between solitary and social activities, but individuals have more intense flow when they are alone. Results also showed that extraversion moderates the relationship between activity type and flow frequency, as well as the relationship between activity type and flow intensity. Implications of the study are discussed.
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Index: Using a Patient-Reported Outcome on Engagement in HIV Care to Explain Suboptimal Retention in Care and Virologic Control

BACKGROUND We investigated the prospective association between a brief self-report measure of engagement in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care (the Index of Engagement in HIV Care; hereafter "Index") and suboptimal retention and viral suppression outcomes. METHODS The Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems cohort study combines medical record data with patient-reported outcomes from 8 HIV clinics in the United States, which from April 2016 to March 2017 included the 10-item Index. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the risk and odds ratios of mean Index scores on 2 outcomes in the subsequent year: (1) not keeping ≥75% of scheduled HIV care appointments; and (2) for those with viral suppression at Index assessment, having viral load >200 copies/mL on ≥1 measurement. We also used generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) to estimate the risk and odds ratios of appointment nonattendance or unsuppressed viral load at any given observation. We generated receiver operating characteristic curves for the full models overlaid with the Index as a sole predictor. RESULTS The mean Index score was 4.5 (standard deviation, 0.6). Higher Index scores were associated with lower relative risk of suboptimal retention (n = 2576; logistic regression adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 0.88 [95% confidence interval, .87-.88]; GLMM aRR, 0.85 [.83-.87]) and lack of sustained viral suppression (n = 2499; logistic regression aRR, 0.75 [.68-.83]; GLMM aRR, 0.74 [.68-.80]). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the full models were 0.69 (95% confidence interval, .67-.71) for suboptimal retention and 0.76 (.72-.79) for lack of sustained viral suppression. CONCLUSIONS Index scores are significantly associated with suboptimal retention and viral suppression outcomes.
SIBaR: a new method for background quantification and removal from mobile air pollution measurements

Abstract. Mobile monitoring is becoming increasingly popular for characterizing air pollution on fine spatial scales. In identifying local source contributions to measured pollutant concentrations, the detection and quantification of background are key steps in many mobile monitoring studies, but the methodology to do so requires further development to improve replicability. Here we discuss a new method for quantifying and removing background in mobile monitoring studies, State-Informed Background Removal (SIBaR). The method employs hidden Markov models (HMMs), a popular modeling technique that detects regime changes in time series. We discuss the development of SIBaR and assess its performance on an external dataset. We find 83 % agreement between the predictions made by SIBaR and the predetermined allocation of background and non-background data points. We then assess its application to a dataset collected in Houston by mapping the fraction of points designated as background and comparing source contributions to those derived using other published background detection and removal techniques. The presented results suggest that the SIBaR-modeled source contributions contain source influences left undetected by other techniques, but that they are prone to unrealistic source contribution estimates when they extrapolate. Results suggest that SIBaR could serve as a framework for improved background quantification and removal in future mobile monitoring studies while ensuring that cases of extrapolation are appropriately addressed.
A Pilot Study Evaluating the Timing of Vestibular Therapy After Sport-Related Concussion: Is Earlier Better?

Background:Vestibular dysfunction, characterized by nausea, dizziness, imbalance, and/or gait disturbance, represents an important sport-related concussion (SRC) subtype associated with prolonged r...
Accentron: Foreign accent conversion to arbitrary non-native speakers using zero-shot learning

Abstract Foreign accent conversion (FAC) aims to create a new voice that has the voice identity of a given second-language (L2) speaker but with a native (L1) accent. Previous FAC approaches usually require training a separate model for each L2 speaker and, more importantly, generally require considerable speech data from each L2 speaker for training. To address these limitations, we propose Accentron, an approach that can generate accent-converted speech for arbitrary L2 speakers unseen during training. In the proposed approach, we first train a speaker-independent acoustic model on L1 corpora to extract bottleneck features that represent the linguistic content of utterances. Then, we develop a speaker encoder and an accent encoder to generate embedding vectors for the desired voice identity (L2 speaker’s) and accent (L1 accent), respectively. Lastly, we use a sequence-to-sequence model to transform bottleneck-features to Mel-spectrograms, conditioned on the L2 speaker embedding and the L1 accent embedding. We conducted experiments on the L2-ARCTIC corpus under two testing conditions: the standard FAC setting where test L2 speakers were seen during training, and a zero-shot FAC setting where test L2 speakers were unseen during training. Accentron achieves over 27% relative improvement in accentedness ratings compared to two state-of-the-art FAC systems in the standard FAC setting. More importantly, our results show that Accentron generalizes to the zero-shot FAC setting with no performance loss. Therefore, in practical use scenarios (e.g., computer-assisted pronunciation training software), Accentron can effectively avoid the need to adapt or retrain the model, which significantly reduces computations and the users’ waiting time.
Unrecognized introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into the state of Georgia shaped the early epidemic

Abstract In early 2020, as SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic and surveillance responses ramped up, attention focused primarily on returning international travelers. Here, we build on existing studies characterizing early patterns of SARS-CoV-2 spread within the U.S. by analyzing detailed clinical, molecular, and viral genomic data from the state of Georgia through March 2020. We find evidence for multiple early introductions into Georgia, despite relatively sparse sampling. Most sampled sequences likely stemmed from a single introduction from Asia at least two weeks prior to the state’s first detected infection. Our analysis of sequences from domestic travelers demonstrates widespread circulation of closely-related viruses in multiple U.S. states by the end of March 2020. Our findings indicate that the early attention directed towards identifying SARS-CoV-2 in returning international travelers may have led to a failure to recognize locally circulating infections for several weeks, and points towards a critical need for rapid and broadly-targeted surveillance efforts in the future.
Development and Validation of Analytical Methods to Ensure the Quality and Safety of Dietary Supplements

Publisher Summary The expanding use of innovative botanical ingredients in dietary supplements and foods has resulted in a flurry of research aimed at the development and validation of analytical methods for accurate measurement of active ingredients. The analysis of food and dietary supplements is constantly evolving in order to keep pace with new, innovative ingredients and products. The explosion in the use of botanical ingredients and nutraceutical products is perhaps one of the most challenging tasks to face the analytical community. The tremendous popularity of these products has resulted in increased scrutiny from consumers, health professionals and regulators about the quality and levels of active ingredients in these products. The ultimate goal is to address and overcome the challenges associated with the analysis of the products. Many of these hurdles are not encountered by other types of products in developing and validating analytical methods for dietary products. The active constituents are not known and appropriate marker substances must be selected. The natural variability of many of these products also complicates method development and validation. When instability of many of the active components and marker compounds after removal from the plant matrix is factored in, the need for agreement on a single, rugged, thoroughly validated analytical method becomes clear.
The XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism, sunburn, and non-melanoma skin cancer: evidence of gene-environment interaction.

XRCC1, a protein directly involved in the repair of DNA base damage, contains at least three common polymorphisms. One of these, the codon 399 arg→gln variant, has been associated with several cancer-related biomarkers, suggesting it may have functional significance in exposure-induced cancers. However, results from case-control studies have yielded conflicting results. We investigated the XRCC1 arg399gln polymorphism and its interaction with carcinogen exposure in a large, population-based case-control study of non-melanoma skin cancer. Cases were derived from an incident survey of all newly diagnosed non-melanoma skin cancer in New Hampshire, and controls were population based and frequency matched to cases on age and sex ( n = 1176). Exposure information was derived from a detailed interviewer-administered questionnaire, and XRCC1 genotype was determined from blood-derived DNA using a PCR-RFLP method. Overall, the XRCC1 homozygous variant gln399gln genotype was related to a significantly reduced risk of both basal cell [BCC; odds ratio (OR) 0.7, 95% confidence interval 0.4–1.0] and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; OR 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.3–0.9). There was no significant gene-environment interaction of the variant XRCC1 genotype and a history of therapeutic X-ray exposure. However, there was a statistically significant multiplicative interaction of XRCC1 genotype and lifetime number of sunburns in SCC [likelihood ratio test (2 d.f.), P XRCC1 variant (gln399gln) is associated with a lower risk of non-melanoma skin cancer and suggest that the etiology of sunburn-related SCC may be significantly different by XRCC1 genotype. These data, using the classic skin carcinogenesis model, provide new insight on the role of the XRCC1 399 polymorphism in neoplasia and may help explain the conflicting results relating this polymorphism to cancer risk at various sites.
Data Squashing by Empirical Likelihood

Data squashing was introduced by W. DuMouchel, C. Volinsky, T. Johnson, C. Cortes, and D. Pregibon, in Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on KDD (1999). The idea is to scale data sets down to smaller representative samples instead of scaling up algorithms to very large data sets. They report success in learning model coefficients on squashed data. This paper presents a form of data squashing based on empirical likelihood. This method reweights a random sample of data to match certain expected values to the population. The computation required is a relatively easy convex optimization. There is also a theoretical basis to predict when it will and won't produce large gains. In a credit scoring example, empirical likelihood weighting also accelerates the rate at which coefficients are learned. We also investigate the extent to which these benefits translate into improved accuracy, and consider reweighting in conjunction with boosted decision trees.
Head-Up Tilt Testing for Neurocardiogenic Syncope

Head-up tilt testing has been used to identify patients with syncope in whom hypotension with bradycardia is likely to develop [1]. The term “neurocardiogenic syncope” [2] is used to describe this abnormal response, previously termed vasovagal by Lewis [3]. In many patients the phenomenon of neurocardiogenic syncope is characterized by prodromal symptoms of yawning, nausea, sweating, warmth or dizziness, whereas in others loss of consciousness may be abrupt. Syncope may also be followed by fatigue which may last for hours in some instances. The role of head-up tilt testing in syncope is reviewed.
Numerical Simulation of Supersonic Free Shear Layers

The stability and mixing characteristics of planar supersonic free shear layers are investigated by the numerical solution of unsteady Navier-Stokes equations. An implicit, conservative time marching solution scheme is used. The solution is validated by comparison with schlieren and pitot probe data for a shear layer separating streams of Mach numbers 2.0 and 4.0. The effects of the pressure ratio and velocity ratio across the shear layer on the mixing characteristics are studied. For the range of parameters considered, the supersonic shear layer remains thin and remarkably stable compared to its subsonic counterpart.
Algorithms in Genesis

This paper introduces an algorithmic design language called Genesis. The purpose of this language is to introduce the concepts of algorithm design to beginning programmers. Genesis allows algorithms to be defined that are largely machine-independent, reusable, easily translatable to typical procedural languages, while maintaining an appropriate level of abstraction. Three features of Genesis are proposed to replace basic iteration. Generators allow the user to specify a desired pattern of access to a data stream or structure. Filters allow the user to specify processing for an arbitrary stream of access points. Pipes connect generators to filters to allow the processing defined by the filters to be applied at the access points defined by the generator. This separation of traditional loops into pipelines reduces the complexity for writing many classic algorithms. Another advantage of the new notation is that it provides sufficient abstraction with minimal syntax that allows a student to effectively write an algorithm without having to think in terms of traditional procedural code (e.g. Java or C).
Chronic hypoxia increases the importance of BKCa channels to bradykinin-mediated pulmonary vasodilation in fetal sheep (1089.18)

Bradykinin-induced activation of the pulmonary endothelium triggers a nitric oxide (NO)- signaling pathway. Pathway activation causes vasodilation and is critical to the fetal transition at birth, ...
Binary Interactions in Star Clusters

Over the past decade, a very considerable amount of effort in stellar dynamics has gone into the study of interactions between binary systems and other stars. The asymptotic analytic results obtained by Heggie (1975) for binary-single star encounters have been largely confirmed and extended by later numerical experiments (Hills 1975, Hut and Bahcall 1983). Binary-binary interactions have been studied by Mikkola (1983).
Analysis of carrier lifetime effects on HV SIC PiN diodes at elevated pulsed switching conditions

Future Army power systems will require utilizing high-power and high-voltage SiC devices in order to meet size, weight, volume, and high power density for fast switching requirements at both component and system levels. This paper presents the modeling and simulation of a high voltage (>12kV) silicon carbide PiN diode for high action pulsed power applications. A model of a high power PiN diode was developed in the Silvaco Atlas software to better understand the extreme electrical stresses in the power diode when subjected to a high-current pulse. The impact of carrier lifetime on pulsed switching performance of silicon carbide (SiC) PiN diode was investigated.
A framework for the automated design of analog subsystems

The advantages and capabilities of module generators in the design of primitive analog circuit blocks have been previously demonstrated. The authors propose a framework for a knowledge-based design system which incorporates these module generators to develop higher-level functional blocks. They explore the viability of these concepts on a system that uses resistor- and op amp-generators. >
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners’ Perceptions of the Revictimization of Rape Victims

While Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner programs have improved the treatment of rape victims by offering more compassionate and thorough treatment, SANEs believe victims continue to face revictimization by the medical, criminal justice and legal systems. The purpose of this research is to explore SANEs' perceptions of the revictimization of rape victims by the police, legal system and medical system. Data from interviews with 39 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners from four East Coast states reveal that most SANEs believe that the medical, criminal justice, and legal systems wield the power to revictimize rape victims. SANEs were more likely to cite the criminal justice system as a source of revictimization, followed by the medical system and legal system. According to SANEs, police contribute to victims' distress through failure to ask questions in a sensitive manner, failure to proceed with investigations, and by asking victim-blaming questions. Revictimization by the legal system results when charges are never filed, cases are postponed or dropped, plea bargains are unsatisfactory, and victims' character and credibility are questioned. Revictimization by the medical system is marked by long waits for medical attention.
Neuroimaging of Cerebral Ischemia and Infarction

The imaging workup for patients with suspected acute ischemic stroke has advanced significantly over the past few years. Evaluation is no longer limited to noncontrast computed tomography, but now frequently also includes vascular and perfusion imaging. Although acute stroke imaging has made significant progress in the last few decades with the development of multimodal approaches, there are still many unanswered questions regarding their appropriate use in the setting of daily patient care. It is important for all physicians taking care of stroke patients to be familiar with current multimodal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging techniques, including their strengths, limitations, and their role in guiding therapy.
National Science Foundation News

This issue has three parts. The first is a report on the NSF 1992 budget and the President's 1993 budget request relevant to the AI community. The second contains information on the President's High Performance Computing and Communications Initiative and the third is an update on relevant NSF workshops.
Gender Imbalance in Accounting Academia: Past and Present

Studies conducted in the late 1980s and early 1990s reflected a gender imbalance in the accounting academy as the proportion of female professors fell far below the percentage of women accountants in practice. For a sample of doctoral-granting and nondoctoral-granting Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) institutions, the authors in this study examined changes in gender ratios in accounting academia during the period 1994 to 2004. Important findings revealed that, relative to nondoctoral granting programs, terminally qualified female accounting educators were no longer under-represented at doctoral-granting institutions. In addition, although far from reflecting an appropriate gender balance, the proportion of women in senior faculty and administrative positions had improved dramatically.
First report of a freshwater sponge (Porifera: Spongillidae) from the West Indies

A freshwater sponge is reported from St John, US Virgin Islands, the first report of a freshwater sponge from the West Indies. Study of the spicules and gemmules using light and scanning electron microscopy reveals characters indicative of a group of sponges generally considered to be closely related to, if not identical with, the cosmopolitan spongillid Ephydatia fluviatilis.
A Ratiometric Fluorescent Viscosity Sensor

The development of a dual probe that provides ratiometric measurements of fluid viscosity is described. The design is based on coupling of a primary fluorophore with viscosity-independent fluorescence emission (blue unit) with a secondary fluorophore that exhibits viscosity-sensitive fluorescent emission quantum yield (red unit). Excitation of the secondary fluorophore can be achieved via Resonance Energy Transfer. The ratio of the fluorescence emission of these fluorophores provides an accurate, ratiometric measurement of solvent viscosity.
The Energy-Release Rate in the Growth of a One-Dimensional Delamination

Utilisation de la methode de l'integrale J pour obtenir une expression algebrique du taux de liberation d'energie en termes de la solution de postflambage de la plaque delaminee
Challenges for Supporting the Development of Afterschool Tutors Who Tutor Children with Learning Disabilities.

The purpose of my study was to examine how volunteer tutors without teaching experience who received minimal training perceived their ability to effectively tutor children with learning disabilities. I found that the tutors initially felt that they could improve their tutee's literacy skills; however, the data suggest that the tutors struggled with unrealistic expectations regarding the tutoring process and ultimately perceived that they lacked the expertise to help their tutees improve their literacy skills. Sadly, these perceptions left the tutors questioning if they were the right person to effectively tutor their tutees and considering if they should quit tutoring children altogether. In order to make the tutoring process beneficial to both tutors and tutees, several suggestions are offered to afterschool tutoring programs who utilize volunteer tutors without teaching experience who may work with children with learning disabilities.
Optical orthogonal neural network associative memory with luminescent rebroadcasting devices

The operation of high-resolution luminescent rebroadcasting devices is described, including analog addition and multiplication. The outer-product formulation reminiscent of Hebb's learning rule, is used to store associated vectors for a 32-bit orthogonal heteroassociative memory. Experimental results show that the luminescent rebroadcasting material is ideal for this type of associative memory. The authors expect the material to be used for developing more complex neural network associative memories. >
Reactive-state spin-dependent diastereoselective photoisomerization of trans,trans-2,3-diphenylcyclopropane-1- carboxylic acid derivatives included in zeolites.

The asymmetric induction facilitated by a chiral auxiliary during the photoisomerization of trans,trans-2,3-diphenylcyclopropane derivatives depends on the medium (solution vs zeolite) and the reactive state (singlet vs triplet). Within zeolites, direct excitation most likely proceeds via a zwitterionic intermediate, while triplet sensitization most likely proceeds via a diradical intermediate.
Dimensional Structure of Judgments of Crimes1

This research explored the correlates and dimensionality of judgments of crimes varying widely in seriousness, and the structure of their mental representation. In Experiment 1, 27 crimes were judged independently along 12 scales. A principal-factors analysis of interscale correlations yielded a major factor of evaluation, best defined by scales of seriousness, moral wrongfulness, and severity of deserved punishment. Judgments concerning perceptions of probability of conviction, punishment given, likelihood of physical harm, offender dangerousness, and degree of understanding also loaded on the evaluation factor. The second factor was Frequency of Occurrence. The results were generally stable at the local levels of person crimes and nonperson crimes. In Experiment 2 crime stimuli were subjected to pairwise similarity judgments that were analyzed using the Kruskal-Shepard MDSCAL and Sattath-Tversky ADDTREE procedures. MDSCAL yielded an interpretable two-dimensional representation and permitted approximate recovery of the seriousness ordering of crimes. The ADDTREE solution yielded two major partitionings, of person versus nonperson crimes, and several psychologically significant nested subsets clustered within each partition. The two psychometric outcomes were congruent. The overall results confirm a primary dimension of evaluation/seriousness. Implications for research in criminology and the comparative merits of similarity judgments versus single-scale seriousness ratings of crimes are discussed.
Organophosphate insecticide poisoning

Summary Organophosphate insecticides are widely used agents which are quickly absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes. The effects of acute exposure to these agents can be severe and intensive therapy may be required. Specific drugs are available to reverse the muscarinic, nicotinic and central effects of these poisons. When given early they are very effective and early diagnosis and treatment may therefore be life-saving. A case of acute poisoning with an organophosphate anticholinesterase insecticide is reported. The signs and symptoms of acute poisoning are described and a rational approach to specific treatment is discussed.
The Verbal and the Visual in Science: A Heideggerian Perspective

ArgumentHeidegger's philosophy of science is notable for the prominence it gives to visuals and visualization. This is because for Heidegger, truth – including scientific truth – is the consequence of unconcealment, the lifting of a veil. But as scientific truth is a special kind, its visualization is also special: scientific truth reveals itself to us as, in Heidegger's words, “a calculable nexus of forces.” This nexus unconceals itself largely by means of instrumentation: it is this process of revelation that turns objects into objects of science. Despite its focus on visualization, however, Heidegger's philosophy of science cannot be applied directly to scientific visuals. His categories are not designed with visual exegesis in mind. For that purpose, semiotics, the science of meaning as defined by Charles Peirce, is a necessary intermediary between the abstract and the concrete, a taxonomy of icon, index, and symbol that can be employed as a set of hermeneutic probes that permit the exploration of scientific visuals as embodiments and carriers of scientific meaning. But not their sole embodiments and carriers. In achieving scientific semiosis, the verbal and visual must combine their particular strengths. This is also in accord with a Heideggerian view: science moves methodically from the visual to the propositional, though it never leaves the visual behind.
Biomechanical Evaluation of a Wide-Diameter Short Dental Implant for Use in Compromised Bone Quality Regions by Finite Element Method

The success rates of dental implant treatments in posterior mandible and maxilla could be compromised due to the increased masticatory forces and poor bone quality. In addition, the length of the implant is limited by maxillary sinus and mandibular canal in these regions. Wide-diameter short (WDS) implants provide a good alternative to increase the stability and the reliability of the implants in such conditions. The objective of this study is to evaluate the biomechanical properties of a wide implant by performing finite element analyses (FEA). Comparison of the strain distribution induced in the bone by a WDS implant and by a narrow-diameter long (NDL) implant, in clinical scenarios exhibiting different amounts of crestal bone, and under varying insertion depths demonstrated that WDS implant can be used safely and should perform as well as its NDL counterpart.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Synergism analysis of biochemical systems. I. Conceptual framework

Abstract The detection of synergisms – deviations from additive or linear behaviour – is often an important step in uncovering mechanisms of biochemical processes. Yet, a theoretical background for systemic analysis of synergisms in metabolic networks is lacking. Based on suitable mathematical models, such a theoretical approach should allow predicting synergisms and analysing what mechanistic features contribute to specific synergisms. This work presents a conceptual framework and formalism that fulfil these purposes. The synergism between perturbations of a pair of parameters is quantified as the difference between the response to the simultaneous perturbation of both parameters and the sum of the individual responses to the perturbations of each parameter. A generalisation measures deviations from multiplicative or power-law behaviour. These deviations were called log-synergisms, as in logarithmic coordinates they are quantified in the same way as the synergisms are in Cartesian coordinates. For small perturbations, synergisms and log-synergisms are approximately proportional to the second derivatives (in Cartesian and logarithmic coordinates, respectively) of the observable to the perturbed parameter(s). These derivatives, here called synergism or log-synergism coefficients, measure how steeply the responses diverge from linearity/additivity or power-law/multiplicativity. The formalism now presented allows evaluating (log-)synergism coefficients for systemic steady-state responses, and relates these coefficients to intrinsic kinetic properties of the underlying processes. A robust homeostasis of metabolite concentrations requires that these have moderate systemic log- and relative-synergism coefficients.
An Analysis of Photobleaching Techniques for the Radiation Hardening of Fiber Optic Data Links

The effects of light signals propagating within a fiber optic waveguide on the magnitude, spectral character and stability of radiation-induced optical absorption have been investigated. In particular, the prospects for the utilization of photobleaching techniques to increase the radiation hardness of fiber optic links has been assessed for typical state-of-the-art optical fibers. Both steady state and pulsed light sources have been employed. Fibers fabricated both from high purity synthetic silica and selectively doped silicas have been utilized. The nature of the photo-bleaching process in silica-based glasses is discussed and the characteristics of the photoluminescence accompanying the bleaching process are reported. It is concluded that the selective use of optical bleaching in irradiated fiber optic waveguides provides a useful method for increasing the operational hardness of a data link. This can be accomplished at modest power levels achievable with present day solid state light sources, and the system can be configured such that the transmitted and bleach signals are identical. The technique is most effective in pure silica core materials and promises to primarily impact systems with modest length requirements in which high light intensities can be launched throughout the link. Second generation waveguides with lower intrinsic losses will make the photobleaching approach useful even for extended ranges. The possibility of self-photobleaching waveguides containing luminescent ions is also discussed.
A catalog of models for multiplication and division of whole numbers

The above catalog contains fifteen headings, each of which indicates a collection of families of models for multiplication and division of whole numbers. The catalog refers to somewhat more than sixteen families of models which are easily distinguished one from the other.
Fine structure of the midgut epithelium in the developing brown shrimp, Penaeus aztecus.

The midgut epithelium of larval and early postlarval brown shrimp has been studied with light and electron microscopy. Ultrastructurally the features of the midgut do not change during these stages of development. On the basis of electron density, two epithelial cell types can be distinguished, and these are referred to as light and dark cells. The dark cells contain more rough endoplasmic reticulum and more free ribosomes than the light cells. Mitochondria in the dark cells have a matrix which is less electron dense than the mitochondrial matrix of the light cells. Both cell types have a microvillous border with a surface coat. The microvilli lack microfilaments within their core, and a terminal web is not differentiated in the stages examined. Tubular smooth endoplasmic reticulum is abundant in the basal portions of the cells. Electron dense, membrane bound vesicles are consistently seen in association with the Golgi apparatus, apical cell surface, and gut lumen and therefore are believed to be secretory granules. Cells in the anterior portion of the midgut often contain very large lipid droplets in the cytoplasm.
Role of Wavelets in the Physical and Statistical Modelling of Complex Geological Processes

— Today, wavelets are recognized to have a wide range of useful properties that allow them to treat effectively multifacet problems, such as data compression, scale-localization analysis, feature extraction, statistics, numerical simulation, visualization, and communication. Second-generation wavelets represent a recent improvement of the wavelet algorithm, allowing for greater flexibility in the spatial domain and other computational advantages. We will show how these wavelets can be employed to extract large-scale coherent structures from (1) three-dimensional turbulent flows and (2) high Rayleigh number thermal convection. We will discuss the concept of modelling via decomposition into coherent and incoherent fields, taking into account the effect of the incoherent field via statistical modelling. We will discuss wavelet properties and how they can be utilized and integrated in handling large-scale problems in earthquake physics and other nonlinear phenomena in the geosciences.
A characterization of competition graphs

Abstract Characterization of competition graphs for arbitrary and acyclic directed graphs are presented.
The transmissibility response of the rat during whole body vibration along its long-axis

Vibration exposure has been suggested as a painful injury mechanism, but the relationship between mechanical loading and pain is unknown. The rat provides a useful model system for such pain studies, but the vibration response of the rat has not been studied. Moreover, in vivo systems preclude the use of implantable transducers needed to measure accelerations. This study used image-based and accelerometer-based methods to determine the transmissibility response of the rat for whole body vibration. Resonance was found at 8 Hz, with no difference in the responses using either image or accelerometer analyses.
Gender differences in stress reactivity among cocaine-dependent individuals.

Recent investigations suggest that stress reactivity may play an important role in the relationship between stress and substance use. Important gender differences, such as reasons for using substances, have been well documented, and it is likely that men and women also differ in their stress response. In this study, gender differences in stress reactivity to two laboratory stress manipulations were examined among 18 men and 21 women with current cocaine dependence. Participants completed a psychological stress task, the Mental Arithmetic Task (MAT), and a physical stress task, the Cold Pressor Task (CPT). Subjective stress responses (i.e., feelings of stress, anxiety, nervousness, pain, mood), physiological stress responses (i.e., heart rate, skin conductance), and cocaine craving were assessed. In response to both the MAT and the CPT, significant increases in subjective and physiological stress were observed among participants. Women, however, demonstrated greater subjective reactivity, as evidenced by significantly higher ratings of stress, nervousness, and pain as compared to men. Women also immersed their hand in the cold water bath for a significantly shorter period of time as compared to men. The current findings are among the first to report on gender differences in stress reactivity among cocaine-dependent individuals. The findings suggest that the mechanisms linking stress and substance use may be gender-specific, and that stress reactivity may play a different role for women than for men. Future research and implications for clinical interventions are discussed.