cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
1 MODE OF DELIVERY, SIZE FOR GESTATIONAL AGE, AND LOW APGAR SCORES IN VERTEX PRETERM INFANTS.

Purpose Decreased mortality has been observed with cesarean delivery (CD) for small for gestational age (SGA) as opposed to appropriate for gestational age (AGA) preterm vertex infants. To assess perinatal morbidity, we compared gestational age (GA)-specific 5-minute Apgar scores between SGA and AGA infants according to mode of delivery, using a national cohort database. Methods We analyzed the National Center for Health Statistics US linked birth/death records, 1997-2001, for 1,033,944 vertex singleton live births at 26 to 36 weeks GA born to mothers without previous CD. Infants were considered SGA ( Results The incidence of low Apgar decreased with increasing GA (10.6-0.2%). At all GAs, low Apgar was markedly higher in SGA (38.4-0.5%) than AGA infants (7.2-0.2%). For AGA, vaginal delivery was associated with lower rates of Apgar Conclusions Large numbers of SGA preterm infants have 5-minute Apgar
Study of blood and serually transmitted diseare among men who have sex with men in Hefei,2008-2011

Objective To investigate the infections of HIV,HCV and syphilis among men who have sex with men(MSM) for the disease control and prevention.Methods Antibodies of HIV,HCV and treponema pallidun(TP) from 2 027 MSM were detected during 2008 to 2011.Results In the MSM samples,there were 48 HIV positive cases(2.37%),9 HCV positive cases(0.44 %) and 270 TP positive cases(13.32 %).Conclusion The infection status of HIV and TP among MSM is not optimistic.Prevention and intervention measures should be taken as soon as possible.
A comparison of incidences of diarrhea between a population-based study and the disease surveillance system in Zhejiang province

Objective To compare the incidences of diarrhea between a population-based study and the disease surveillance system in Zhejiang Province.Methods With the sampling method of PPS and stratified multi-stage random cluster,eight communities and twelve villages from two cities were selected to conduct quarterly the household survey of diarrhea illness for one year.People aged 3months and above were selected to obtain all information with a standardized structured questionnaire by face-to-face interview.Data were analyzed with chi-square test to compare the incidence of diarrhea illness.Results Two-week incidence of diarrhea illness of the population in Zhejiang Province was 0.59percent and the corresponding rate of diarrhea per person per year was 0.15.The peak season were summer and autumn in children5years,while the peak season were winter and spring in older people above 45years.Older people above 60years and scattered children5years were high-risk population and the two-week incidences of diarrhea illness were 0.88%and 2.28%.The incidence of diarrhea illness of the population was 2.48times that from the disease surveillance system during the same period in the same region.Conclusions The incidence of diarrhea illness was lower among population in Zhejiang province.Older people above 45years and scattered children5years were high-risk population and they should be given more care.Management of disease surveillance should be strengthened in rural areas because of the more omission of infectious diarrhea.
On application of precast tubular pile of prestressed high intensity concrete

In combination with practical project example, the engineering quality, cost of manufacture, schedule and application scope etc of the precast tubular pile were systematically introduced.
Stellar Activity as a Source of Radial-Velocity Variability

The key to breaking the activity barrier in exoplanet detections lies in our understanding of the physical origin and temporal structure of stellar RV variability. This chapter provides a review of the manifestations of magnetic activity, their impact on photometric and spectroscopic observations, and the analysis techniques that have been developed in recent years to account for activity-induced RV signals. I also present the target selection criteria I proposed to pick “magnetically manageable” stars for HARPS-N RV follow-up.
Mechanisms to Reduce Risk Potential

Urban agriculture is gaining attention as a means to revitalize abandoned urban properties. The recent interest in this practice over the past decades has provided increased food security for low income families and city residents (Lovell 2010). Urban residents can either grow their own food, be part of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, or gain easier access to affordable supplies of vegetables or fresh produce from local farmers markets – reducing the food deserts in these cities. One of the major challenges of growing vegetables in formerly blighted properties in an urban environment is the possibility of soil contamination. Concerns about the perceived human health risk of gardening in urban soils due to possible or real contamination continue to deter potential gardeners from growing crops on blighted, formerly used properties. Common urban soil contaminants include lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (Spittler 1979; Chaney et al. 1984; Alloway 2004; Roussel et al. 2010). Of these contaminants, Pb is by far the most dominant and wide-spread in urban environments. Soil remediation or managing risk posed by contaminants can be challenging as a result of poor soil quality and the presence of co-contaminants. Options such as raised-bed gardening or soil replacement can be physically and financially restrictive. Therefore, there is a great need for sharing science-based knowledge on risk management associated with Pb and other urban soil contaminants.
Amino Acid Toxicities and Imbalances

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses amino-acid toxicities and imbalances. The nutritional value of a protein depends upon the proportions of the various indispensable amino acids it contained, that is, upon its amino acid balance. Animals with an inadequate protein intake can use amino acids derived from the breakdown of more expendable proteins of the body to maintain those that are less expendable. Even a small, nonutilizable surplus of certain amino acids can sometimes increase the need for others when the total protein intake is low. An amino-acid imbalance is a change in the proportions of amino acids in a diet that results in a depression in food intake or growth rate that can be completely prevented by a supplement of the indispensable amino acid present in least amount in the diet in relation to the amount required for optimal performance. Amino-acid imbalances are of two types, one type resulting from addition of a quantity of a protein or an amino acid mixture lacking one indispensable amino acid to a diet containing from a low to a moderate amount of protein and the other type resulting from the addition of a small amount of amino acid or acids to a diet that is low in protein.
The Policy Brief Assignment: Transferable Skills in Action in a Community-Engaged Writing Project

The policy brief assignment in my capstone course in professional writing was designed as a community-engaged project in partnership with a nonprofit organization whose mission is to grow Reading, Pennsylvania's economy. The assignment was intended to do real work in the world: the nonprofit's director, a city council member, and an outreach manager for the city of Reading plan to use the policy briefs to convince Reading's City Council to adopt the recommended policies to enhance citizen participation and representation in local governance and to address deficiencies identified through the STAR Community Rating System(r) (STAR), the nation's leading sustainability framework and certification program (STAR 2016). I welcomed the collaboration and designed the assignment with the goal that students would experience what writing faculty always tell them: fundamental concepts in composition and rhetoric/writing studies are operational in the workplace, and understanding writing and communication rhetorically opens up possibilities for them to enter diverse and unfamiliar writing contexts. Students successfully researched, synthesized, organized, and clearly communicated information in a content area and genre new to them. They presented their policy briefs in written and electronic form to the community partners and explained their work in oral presentations. It was an exciting, nerve-wracking, and challenging endeavor, and, as I will describe, the periods of dissonance led to the best learning experiences--for students and for me.
Mindfulness Meditation and Behavior Change

Although mindfulness meditation has shown beneficial effects on cognition, emotion, health, and brain plasticity, the relationship between brain mechanisms of mindfulness meditation and behavior change is not yet well-established. Does mindfulness help with behavior change, such as smoking cessation or weight loss? Building on the latest research, this chapter proposes a brain-based model and mechanism underlying behavior change through mindfulness meditation, which includes attention control (persistent focus on target or goal), emotion regulation (positive emotion, reinforcement, and reward), and self-awareness (interoceptive observation and monitoring with equanimity). We use smoking cessation and weight loss as examples of behavior change because these are persistent problems in our society, but are difficult behaviors to stop. We also discuss how “focused attention“ and “open-monitoring” mindfulness meditation can support behavior change.
Structured Transition Protocol for Children with Cystinosis.

The transition from pediatric to adult medical services has a greater impact on the care of adolescents or young adults with chronic diseases such as cystinosis. This transition period is a time of psychosocial development and new responsibilities placing these patients at increased risk of non-adherence. This can lead to serious adverse effects such as graft loss and progression of the disease. Our RISE to Transition protocol will provide patients, families, physicians, and all those involved a structured guide to transitioning cystinosis patients. This structured protocol depends on four areas of competency: Recognition, Insight, Self-reliance, and Establishment of healthy habits (RISE). This protocol has not been tested and therefore challenges not realized. With a focus on medical, social, educational/vocational aspects, we aim to improve transition for cystinosis patients in all aspects of their lives.
Catalytic Nitrogen-to-Ammonia Conversion by Osmium and Ruthenium Complexes

Despite the critical role Ru and Os complexes have played in the development of transition metal dinitrogen chemistry, they have not been shown to mediate catalytic N2-to-NH3 conversion (N2RR), nor have M-NxHy complexes been derived from protonation of their M-N2 precursors. To help delineate factors for N2RR catalysis, we report on isostructural tris(phosphino)silyl Ru and Os complexes that mediate catalytic N2RR, and compare their activities with an isostructural Fe complex. The Os system is most active, and liberates more than 120 equiv NH3 per Os center in a single batch experiment using Cp*2Co and [H2NPh2][OTf] as reductant and acid source. Isostructural Ru and Fe complexes generate little NH3 under the same conditions. Protonation of Os-N2– affords a structurally characterized Os=NNH2+ hydrazido species that mediates NH3 generation, suggesting it is a plausible intermediate of the catalysis. Inactive Os hydrides are characterized that form during catalysis.
New terminology-noninvasive follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) and its effect on the rate of malignancy at a single institution.

Background The cytologic qualities of noninvasive follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features mimic papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) on fine-needle aspiration, leading to difficulty in distinguishing the 2 preoperatively. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of reclassification of noninvasive follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features at our practice. Methods We searched 1,046 patient charts for those cases with preoperative cytology and subsequent follicular-variant papillary thyroid carcinoma diagnosis on resection. Endocrine pathologists reviewed the cases to determine the reclassification of noninvasive follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features. Results Sixty (6%) follicular-variant papillary thyroid carcinomas were identified, 4% (44) in the index nodule. Of the 44 patients, 84% (37) met the criteria for evaluation. Of these, 46% (17) were noninvasive follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features. After reclassification of noninvasive follicular-variant papillary thyroid carcinoma to noninvasive follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features, the overall cancer rate changed from 31% to 29%. Malignancy rates across Bethesda cytologic categories changed as follows: benign (n = 419) from 3.5% to 3.3%; atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance (n = 240) from 17% to 15%; suspicious for follicular neoplasm (n = 104) from 23% to 21%; suspicious for malignancy (n = 85) from 68% to 60%, and malignant (n = 198) from 93% to 92%. Conclusion Reclassification of noninvasive follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features led to a small decrease in the overall malignancy rate. The most affected Bethesda category was suspicious for malignancy. Because the majority of noninvasive follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features will be indeterminate lesions by cytology/molecular testing, thyroidectomy will remain a common treatment modality. Noninvasive follicular neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features classification will primarily affect decision making to avoid excessive treatment/monitoring.
Data Visualization for Low-Frequency Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR)

The purpose of this article was to use ISAR to determine the distance between the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna. Once a systematic approach has been determined, this article could be used on a spacecraft to locate debris in the path of the carrier. Using low frequency radar that has the transmitting pulse built within the converters, the authors transmitted the data and determined the distance between the two antennas according to the time delay of the radar. Using amplified signals, the relationship between the distance and the time delay for the radar were calculated for each case. Additionally, these results were used to visualize in real-time the data transpired between the receiver and transmitter.
Molecular Probes for Detection of Subsurface Methane Leaks

A method for monitoring natural gas leaks was designed based on the highly sensitive measurement of oxygen, which would be displaced in the event of a subsurface volatile gas leak. A fiber optic sensor was made using a gas-permeable polymer cladding, doped with oxygen-responsive porphyrin. The evanescent field at the interface of the core and the cladding was used to detect gas leaks. Tests were carried out using methane gas leaks in a chamber filled with dry and wet sand. Results of sensitivity, response time and reversibility are presented.
Comparing nascent approaches for gathering alter-tie data for egocentric studies

Abstract Egocentric network researchers have recently developed interactive, force-directed, node-link tools to alleviate the burden of collecting information about ties between alters. In this study we use a randomized trial with a common stimulus to compare the effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction of new tools to established tools. We find interactive node-link tools are very satisfying to users and produce accurate data, however it underreported ties, and results differed considerably between users. The results have implications for any research using an interactive node-link diagram or any of the established methods for alter-tie data collection in egocentric network studies.
Studies on uptake of PCBs by Hordeum vulgare (barley) and Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato)

Abstract The uptake of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from soil by barley and tomato plants was investigated. The results indicate a lack of active transport of these compounds. However, plants readily trap airborne PCBs escaping from soil, and a good correlation between vapor pressure of PCBs and their concentration in plant tissue was observed.
Reacting to agreement and error in spoken dialogue systems using degrees of groundedness

Computational models of grounding are extended to include representations of degrees of groundedness. These representations are then used for decision-making in dialogue management for spoken dialogue systems. Several domains will be explored with this model, and an implementation will be tested and evaluated.
Immunodeficiency and cancer.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents evidence indicating a relationship between the immunologic system and malignancy arose partially from a hypothesis presented by Thomas (1959). This hypothesis suggested that a major role of the immune system (and especially the cell-mediated system) may be in the host defense against malignant cells. Thus, subsequent studies relating to immunodeficiency and cancer are the subject of this chapter. It focuses on the experimental models linking immunodeficiency and cancer and human disorders leading to a high risk of cancer. It also discusses drug induced immunodeficiency and virus isolation from immunodeficient individuals. Reports indicating new and frequent viruses in immunodeficient individuals suggest that considerable efforts are warranted in an attempt to isolate new viruses from these people, especially if they are bearing a tumor. All forms of primary and secondary immunodeficiency tend to favor the development of lymphoreticular cancers. It seems quite possible that the increased susceptibility to malignancy in immunodeficiencies reflects a susceptibility to etiologic agents that can operate more effectively in the absence of immunocomponent mechanisms.
Update on the EMI for Infants and Toddlers

Universal screening and progress monitoring measures are increasingly of interest to early interventionists who make decisions about the services provided to young children. A measure of infant-tod...
Optoacoustic Diagnostic Platform: Principles, Instrumentation, and Applications

Optoacoustic diagnostics is a novel imaging modality based on detection and analysis of optoacoustic waves induced in tissues. We proposed and tested in animal and clinical studies a number of important optoacoustic diagnostic applications such as diagnostics of cerebral hypoxia, circulatory shock, anemia, thermotherapy monitoring, as well as breast cancer and hematoma detection. Our initial studies were performed with OPO-based systems. Recently, we developed and built FDA-compliant, multi-wavelength, fiber-coupled, highly-compact laser diode optoacoustic systems for imaging, monitoring, and sensing. To provide optoacoustic detection with high SNR, we developed ultra-sensitive optoacoustic probes that incorporate light delivery systems and wide-band acoustic sensors. This optoacoustic instrumentation allows for sensitive detection of optoacoustic signals from small tumors, native, coagulated and frozen tissues, intracranial hematomas, cerebral blood vessels such as the superior sagittal sinus, central veins such as the internal jugular vein, peripheral veins and arteries. We demonstrated also other examples of imaging, sensing, and monitoring with the optoacoustic instrumentation developed by our group including automatic, real-time, continuous measurements of blood oxygenation with high accuracy.
Hydrogen in Ga2O3

Abstract Hydrogen has a strong influence on the electrical properties of transparent conducting oxides where it can give rise to shallow donors and can passivate deep compensating defects. This chapter surveys the properties of the hydrogen impurity in Ga2O3. Vibrational spectroscopy has shown that the introduction of H into Ga2O3 produces a dominant hydrogen center with a strongly polarized vibrational line at 3437 cm− 1. Theory has investigated several O-H structures and assigns the 3437 cm−1 line to a defect with two equivalent H atoms that are trapped at a Ga vacancy. Annealing treatments in an H2 ambient can also produce a reservoir of “hidden” hydrogen in Ga2O3 that can be converted into other hydrogen species by annealing in an inert ambient.
A colorful advantage in iconic memory.

Abstract Synesthesia is a benign neurodevelopmental condition in which stimulation of one sensory modality evokes experiences in a second, unstimulated modality (Simner and Hubbard, 2013). In grapheme-color synesthesia (GCS), which is experienced by 1–2% of adults, synesthetes reliably and involuntarily experience specific colors when viewing blackand-white graphemes. Previous case-studies have identified synesthetes with spectacular memory (Luria, 1968; Smilek, Dixon, Cudahy, & Merikle, 2001) and group studies have found advantages for synesthetes compared to nonsynesthetes in long-term memory (Rothen, Meier, & Ward, 2012). Here, we tested whether similar advantages are also present in earlier stages of memory. We tested visual iconic memory—the sensory store for vision—which has a very large capacity, but decays approximately 1000 ms after stimulus offset (Chow, 1985; Sergent et al., 2013; Sperling, 1960). We tested 20 synesthetes and 20 nonsynesthetes in a direct replication of the Sperling (1960) Partial Report Paradigm using letters (Experiment 1) and non-alphanumeric symbols (Experiment 2) as stimuli. Overall, synesthetes had a greater iconic memory capacity than nonsynesthetes when presented with synesthesia-inducing letter stimuli. This advantage was reduced when they were presented with non-synesthesia inducing symbol stimuli. Critically this advantage was most prominent when memory was stressed by asking participants to remember large arrays. Our results demonstrate that synesthetic memory advantages extend to the earliest stages of memory, and suggest that advantages in later stages of memory may arise from these earlier advantages.
Nature of Science Views and Epistemological Views of College Biology Students

Epistemological views characterise how individuals view the certainty, source and organization of knowledge. Previous research has demonstrated some relationships between epistemological views and nature of science (NOS) views. These relationships may be particularly interesting for biology students who are learning about topics such as evolution which are societally controversial but not scientifically controversial. In this study, we examine the relationship between epistemological views and empirical NOS views for three classes of college biology learners in a Midwestern US university. We used the Learning Contexts Questionnaire to characterise participants’ epistemological Perry levels and question 1 of the VNOS-C to characterise their empirical NOS views. Based on a series of chi-square analyses, no relationship between Perry level and empirical NOS views was identified. Significant relationships between empirical NOS views and gender and empirical NOS views and biology class were identified. These findings and implications for future work are discussed.
Saturation Effects in Laser Cooling of Crystals

Record laser cooling of Yb:Y AG and Yb:KYW under ambient conditions is reported and compared quantitatively with analysis indicating that cooling power can theoretically be improved substantially by saturating the impurity absorption. © 2019 The Author(s)
A convenient synthesis of chiral peptide nucleic acid (PNA) monomers

Abstract Chiral peptide nucleic acid monomers containing amino acid side chains can be easily prepared from the BOC-protected amino acids.
Sustainable Consumption graduate course: a project-based approach to learning

ABSTRACTThe author of this article was the winner of the Association for the Study of Food and Society’s Pedagogy Award for 2019. This article is based on the winning submission. “Sustainable Consu...
Sugar-Sweetened and Diet Beverage Consumption in Philadelphia One Year after the Beverage Tax

In January 2017, Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) implemented an excise tax ($ 0.015/ounce) on sugar-sweetened and diet beverages. This study is a general population-based study to report on the longer-term impacts of the tax on within-person changes in consumption 12 months after implementation. A quasi-experimental difference-in-difference design was used to contrast Philadelphia vs. nearby comparison cities (Trenton, New Jersey; Camden, New Jersey; and Wilmington, Delaware) at baseline (December 2016–January 2017) vs. 12-month follow-up (December 2017–February 2018). A random-digit-dialing phone survey was administered to a population-based cohort. Analyses assessed changes in 30-day consumption frequency and ounces of sugar-sweetened and diet beverages (and a substitution beverage, bottled water) in the analytic sample (N = 515). After 12 months, relative to the comparison group, Philadelphians were slightly more likely to decrease their frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (39.2% vs. 33.5%), and slightly less likely to increase their frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (38.9% vs. 43.0%). The effects of the tax estimated in the adjusted difference-in-difference analysis were very small (for example, changes in monthly sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in Philadelphia relative to comparison cities was −3.03 times or −51.65 ounces) and confidence intervals were very wide. Results suggested that, one year after implementation, there was no major overall impact of the tax on general population-level consumption of sugar-sweetened or diet beverages, or bottled water. Future studies should test whether the tax’s effect differs in vulnerable sub-populations.
Capnography monitoring in procedural intravenous sedation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Currently, procedural sedation in the clinical setting relies heavily on the use of pulse oximetry to monitor hypoxemia. Different studies suggest that incidence of hypoxemia and incidence of arterial oxygen desaturation are reduced by early intervention via capnography monitoring. The aim of this article was to discuss the importance of implementing capnography monitoring during procedural sedations performed in a dental setting and determine whether additional capnographic monitoring reduces the incidence of arterial oxygen desaturation and the overall complications rate. Two independent reviewers conducted electronic (PubMed and EMBASE) and manual searches up to February 2020. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs), including both patients under procedural sedation monitored by capnography and oximetry, and reporting the incidence of hypoxemia or episodes of oxygen desaturation were included. Risk ratio was used to compare the outcomes (i.e., the incidence of hypoxemia, the episodes of oxygen desaturation, the detection of apnea, the reduction of events of bradycardia, and hypotension) between patients monitored by capnography and standard approach. Fourteen randomized clinical trials fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected. The analysis revealed that capnography monitoring group showed the lower incidence of hypoxemia (RR 0.76, 95%CI 0.70 to 0.83, p < 0.001) and the episodes of oxygen desaturation (RR 0.79, 95%CI 0.71 to 0.87, p < 0.001) compared with the oximetry monitoring group. Apnea was detected in capnography monitoring earlier than standard monitoring (RR 2.60, 95%CI 2.30 to 2.93, p < 0.001). No significant difference was found between capnography and standard monitoring groups in terms of reduction of events of bradycardia (RR 1.17, 95%CI 0.91 to 1.50, p = 0.225) and hypotension (RR 0.96, 95%CI 0.76 to 1.21, p = 0.746). Capnography monitoring reduced incidence of hypoxemia during procedural sedations. Within the limitations of this review, we suggest that the application of capnography during procedural sedation would decrease the frequency of oxygen desaturation events and incidence of hypoxemia. Training and instructing dental providers on using capnography monitoring would help in reducing adverse events during intravenous sedation.
Labor Report: State and Regional Analysis for North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota - Q1 2018

This quarterly labor report provides insight into trends in non-farm employment in the Upper Great Plains. It includes state-level data for North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota and local-level data for the metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) of Fargo, ND-MN; Bismarck, ND; Grand Forks, ND-MN; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI; Duluth, MN-WI; Rochester, MN; St. Cloud, MN; Sioux Falls, SD; and Rapid City, SD. In addition to reporting employment and wage figures, this report provides context for labor market and industry trends by conducting regional comparisons and using economic theory to interpret results. By using data to signal the health and functioning of regional labor markets and local economies, this report seeks to offer meaningful analysis for employers, job seekers and policymakers at the state and local levels.
The evolution of African e-Government websites: a comparative analysis

Given that e-Government Websites continue to evolve, continuous evaluation and study of the contents of the Websites are necessary to provide a snapshot of the development and state of the art of e-Government services in a country, region, continent, or the World. This is even more apparent in Africa due to limited comprehensive research on e-government services in both individual countries and the continent. This paper presents preliminary findings of a comparative analysis of the contents of African e-Government service Websites with data from 2008 and 2018. Our analysis focused on the type of website, type of service, features available, and the number of online executable services on the Websites using similar frameworks, procedures for identification of Websites, and coding of their contents. Analyses of the data revealed differences in terms of the type of services, features available, and the number of online executable services while the type of websites remained largely unchanged. Overall, African e-Government Websites had more services, features, and online executable services in 2018 than in 2008. These results have implications in terms of not only the quality of e-Government services for citizens but also the online presence and visibility of African countries that are constantly competing for investment, tourism, and international recognition for their good governance and e-government service provisions.
The Effectiveness of Equipment Provisions on Rural Middle School Students’ Physical Activity During Lunch Recess

BACKGROUND Environmental provisions can boost students' discretionary participation in physical activity (PA) during lunchtime at school. This study investigated the effectiveness of providing PA equipment as an environmental intervention on middle school students' PA levels and stakeholders' perceptions of the effectiveness of equipment provisions during school lunch recess. METHODS A baseline-intervention research design was used in this study with a first baseline phase followed by an intervention phase (ie, equipment provision phase). A total of 514 students at 2 middle schools (school 1 and school 2) in a rural area of the western United States were observed directly using the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth instrument. Interviews were conducted with stakeholders. Paired-sample t tests and visual analysis were conducted to explore differences in PA levels by gender, and common comparison (with trustworthiness measures) was used with the interview data. RESULTS The overall percentage of moderate to vigorous PA levels was increased in both schools (ranging from 8.0% to 24.0%). In school 2, there was a significant difference in seventh- and eighth-grade students' moderate to vigorous PA levels from the baseline. Three major themes were identified: (1) unmotivated, (2) unequipped, and (3) unquestionable changes (with students becoming more active). CONCLUSIONS Environmental supports (access, equipment, and supervision) significantly and positively influenced middle school students' lunchtime PA levels.
Testing cross wire opens within complex gates

Recent test studies on volume production data suggest that a significant number of CMOS open defects remain undetected by commonly applied TDF timing tests, potentially leading to high defectivity in the shipped parts. This has focused attention on developing tests that explicitly target open faults, in particular transistor stuck open faults (TSOFs). However, while TSOFs cover all open faults in circuits implemented from primitive logic gates, they do not model a type of open fault found only in complex CMOS gates. We refer to these as cross wire open (CWO) faults. In this paper, we develop the first tests that target CWOs. Although we observe that the fault list of potential CWOs can be significantly reduced if the layouts of complex gate cells used in the design are available, we present test generation methodologies both with and without this layout information. CWO fault coverage results for scan based tests are presented for ISCAS89 and ITC99 benchmark circuits that have been resynthesized using an open source cell library containing complex gates.
A semi-blind EMVA for maximum likelihood equalization of GMSK signal in ISI fading channels

In this paper, we examine the maximum likelihood (ML) equalization of Gaussian minimum shift keyed (GMSK) signals in GSM systems. The method we employ is based on the expectation maximization Viterbi algorithm (EMVA). The EMVA is applicable to transmission schemes that can be modeled as a finite state machine (FSM), whose noisy output sequence is thus a hidden Markov chain. The GMSK signal transmitted via an intersymbol interference (ISI) channel is just one particular instance of a hidden Markov model. Our channel identification procedure makes full use of the known training bits available in each GSM frame and thereby results in a semiblind EMVA (SbEMVA). For a static ISI channel, simulation results indicate that the SbEMVA is near-optimal in error performance. For a Ricean fading ISI channel with a spread factor of 0.01, a K-factor of 5, and at a BER of 10/sup -3/, we find that the SbEMVA is about 4 dB better than the ML receiver that uses the channel estimate obtained from just the training data.
The New Division of Labor as Lean Production

This issue of the International Journal of Sociology (IJS) focuses on lean production in the global economy. Given the muted reception of lean production in sociology, in this introduction I describe structural changes that led to lean production, how different versions of the division of labor have emerged, and how lean production has been implemented in different industries around the world. The four articles in this issue examine as-yet unanswered questions about this new division of labor. They investigate a combination of three important processes: (1) the spread of lean production beyond the United States and Japan into France, Canada, Mexico, and China; (2) the use of lean production in the services industries; and (3) an assessment of whether lean production is good for workers, society, and management.
Clinical and Experimental Observations with Regard to the Injection of Certain Agents (Pregl’s Solution) into Chronic Arthritic Joints

J.E.M. (Tommy) Thomson was born in Los Angeles, California in 1989, of “pious and scholarly” parents with “evangelistic...interests” [3]. His grandfather had been a missionary bishop in the Methodist Church. He attended Evanston Academy and then Northwestern University. While he began his medical studies at Texas Christian College, he completed his medical education at Rush Medical College in 1915. He took an internship in Chicago, where his mentors reportedly included Drs. Edwin Ryerson (first President of the AAOS), John Ridlon, and Dallas Phemister [3]. In 1916 he began medical practice with H. Winnett Orr in Lincoln, Nebraska. During WW I he served in the University of Nebraska Overseas Base Hospital No. 49. He returned to practice after the war in 1919 and remained in Lincoln during his professional life. In addition to his professional interests, he and his wife shared an interest in cattle breeding and for a while had extensive ranching interests in Nebraska. The last few years of his life were spent in semiretirement in Rancho Santa Fe, California.
Radiofrequency Fields and SAR for Transverse Electromagnetic (TEM) Surface Coils

The ability to predict transmit characteristics in vivo is an important and necessary tool for the development and understanding of radiofrequency (RF) coils in high-field magnetic resonance imaging systems. Accurate simulation provides the coil developer a means to determine the RF fields produced by the coils and the RF power deposition in the sample/subject. This is especially important currently where arrays of multielement surface coils are proposed to maximize transmitted RF magnetic fields. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations provide detailed RF field information for single and multielement RF coils and on field optimization techniques such as B1+ shimming. Confidence in simulations guides the development of future RF coils and optimization strategies. This article discusses the basics of the FDTD methodology and outlines important details of modeling RF coils. Keywords: RF; surface coil; SAR; TEM; shimming; FDTD; high-field MRI
Conceptualization of a holistic brand image measure for fashion-related brands

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize the holistic nature of brand image for fashion-related products and to complete the initial stage of scale development, determining content validity, for a new brand image measure. Design/methodology/approach – The conceptualization of brand image was based on a review of academic and industry literature and analysis of qualitative data from 11 in-depth interviews. To help assess content validity, four trained judges assessed the face validity of the initial 140 items generated; 137 scale items were retained. Findings – Analysis of the interview data revealed that cognitive (mystery), emotional (intimacy) and sensory (sensuality) dimensions were important for brand image of fashion-related products. The results aligned with major themes proposed in the literature, but one additional theme (self-congruity) was uncovered. These findings support content validity of the brand image scale items. Research limitations/implications – The interviews were limi...
Barriers to acceptance of the human papillomavirus prophylactic vaccine

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. In June 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18 recombinant vaccine. Indicated for young girls and women aged 9 to 26, Gardasil is the first vaccine approved to prevent transmission of HPV types 16 and 18. In order to move toward universal acceptance of the HPV vaccine by the general population, both mandated HPV vaccination and HPV vaccination-specific issues must be addressed. Identifying and understanding factors associated with the acceptance of the HPV vaccine has been and will continue to be important so physicians can assist parents and adolescents in their decision to refuse or accept the vaccine. Despite the potential social and cultural barriers to a universal HPV vaccination program, numerous studies have indicated a willingness among many women to accept the vaccine for their daughters. It is clear that education will play an important role in the implementation of such a vaccination program.
The hormonal regulation of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase activity in plasma.

We have previously reported that certain fetal tissues including the lung and kidney have an increased platelet-activating factor (PAF) content and enzymatic mechanism for its elevated biosynthesis during the latter stages of pregnancy. In contrast, in the maternal plasma compartment of both the rabbit and human, a decreased capacity to inactivate PAF has been demonstrated. The PAF acetylhydrolase in the fetal plasma is also suppressed. The present study was undertaken to determine the mechanism(s) involved in the regulation of PAF acetylhydrolase. The 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol was administered (intraperitoneal [i.p.] 2.5 mg/kg body wt 5 days) to female and male rats. The plasma PAF acetylhydrolase activity decreased 5-fold. A decrease was observed when a concentration of the estrogen as low as 50 micrograms/kg was employed. The injection of dexamethasone (i.p., 1.3 mg/kg body wt, 5 days) to male and female rats resulted in a 3-fold increase in the plasma PAF acetylhydrolase activity. The activity returned to the values prior to hormone treatment 4 days after cessation of treatment. Testosterone and progesterone were without effect on plasma acetylhydrolase activity. The change in PAF acetylhydrolase activity caused by estrogen and the glucocorticoid was reflected by a change in the activity in the HDL fraction and not due to the presence of an inhibitor or activator in the plasma of the hormone-treated animals. Human serum obtained from a group of women, in which the 17 beta-estradiol concentration was elevated in preparation for an in vitro fertilization procedure, showed an inverse relationship between the plasma estrogen concentration and the PAF acetylhydrolase activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
II: Scientific comment basic science of Dupuytren's disease

Summary At a cellular level, the major phenomenon in Dupuytren's contracture is an increase in proliferating fibroblasts, rather than an alteration in the type of fibroblasts. The collagen and glycosaminoglycan changes observed in the tissues of Dupuytren's contracture are likely to be secondary to changes in fibroblast density. Oxygen free radicals released from narrowed microvessels and from the fibroblasts themselves may play a role in stimulating fibroblast proliferation. Messina's experiments with continuous distraction and the success of limited fasciotomy indicate a role for physical forces in the pathogenesis of Dupuytren's contracture. The mechanism whereby physical events stimulate biochemical changes are undertermined, but preliminary investigations suggest that electrical fields and ion channels may be important. The future of Dupuytren's contracture rests with the delineation of these chemical and physical processes and their application and rigorous testing in the clinical setting.
A domain specific language framework for non-visual browsing of complex HTML structures

We present a general framework for navigating complex structures - specifically, tables, frames, and forms?found in web-pages. Our framework is based on an (automatically or manually created) program written in a domain specific language that captures the semantic structure of the table/frame/form as well as specifies the strategy to be used for navigating it. We describe our general framework and the domain specific language we have designed.
Toxicity of CdSe Nanoparticles in Caco-2 Cell Cultures

Potential routes of nanomaterial exposure include inhalation, dermal contact, and ingestion. Toxicology of inhalation of ultra-fine particles has been extensively studied; however, risks of nanomaterial exposure via ingestion are currently almost unknown. Using enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells as a small intestine epithelial model, the possible toxicity of CdSe quantum dot (QD) exposure via ingestion was investigated. Effect of simulated gastric fluid treatment on CdSe QD cytotoxicity was also studied. Commercially available CdSe QDs, which have a ZnS shell and poly-ethylene glycol (PEG) coating, and in-house prepared surfactant coated CdSe QDs were dosed to Caco-2 cells. Cell viability and attachment were studied after 24 hours of incubation. It was found that cytotoxicity of CdSe QDs was modulated by surface coating, as PEG coated CdSe QDs had less of an effect on Caco-2 cell viability and attachment. Acid treatment increased the toxicity of PEG coated QDs, most likely due to damage or removal of the surface coating and exposure of CdSe core material. Incubation with un-dialyzed in-house prepared CdSe QD preparations, which contained an excess amount of free Cd2+, resulted in dramatically reduced cell viability. Exposure to CdSe QDs resulted in cultured intestinal cell detachment and death; cytotoxicity depended largely, however, on the QD coating and treatment (e.g. acid treatment, dialysis). Experimental results generally indicated that Caco-2 cell viability correlated with concentration of free Cd2+ ions present in cell culture medium. Exposure to low (gastric) pH affected cytotoxicity of CdSe QDs, indicating that route of exposure may be an important factor in QD cytotoxicity.
Primary Health Care and its Unfulfilled Promise of Community Participation: Lessons from a Salvadoran War Zone

Primary health care (PHC) as initially conceived required "community participation." This aspect was considered essential if beneficiaries of aid programs were to understand the causes of their health problems and become "agents of their own development." Participatory development was designed to privilege equity and democratic process. Nevertheless, this concept has been notoriously difficult for most large-scale, national PHC programs to put into practice. This article evaluates community participation in a PHC program with a strong community base which developed in repopulated villages of a former war zone in Chalatenango, El Salvador, and compares this NGO-supported health initiative with El Salvador's USAID-designed community health promoter program. This analysis emphasizes process-oriented criteria and highlights the key role of lay health promoters, while identifying other components of the NGO program that enhance community participatory in rural Chalatenango, in contrast to the national program ...
Mass Rearing of the Tobacco Hornworm. I. Egg Production

The biological potential, behavior, and the conditions under which maximal yield of eggs can be realized from tobacco hornworm moths, Manduca sexta (Johannson), were studied. From these studies, a procedure was developed whereby eggs in excess of 50,000 weekly were obtained. High egg production occurred from May to mid-October, when each moth produced an average of 80 eggs nightly and lived for 9 days. Egg output declined in mid-October to less than half the summer value and this depressed output was not alleviated until mid-May the following years.
HYPEROSMOLAR HYPERGLYCEMIC CRISIS: AN ACUTE LIFE-THREATENING EVENT IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Objective: To discuss the initial clinical manifestations and management of 8 obese African American children and adolescents who presented with a severe hyper-osmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) and...
A Comparison of Selected Measures with Psychological Scale Values of Language Development

Four linear multiple—regression analyses were used to determine the best composite for predicting scale values of language development derived from children of four different age categories. For th...