cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Principles of Anesthetic Management for Pulmonary Resection

Pulmonary resection, in one form or another, is the most ­commonly performed thoracic surgical procedure. This chapter ­discusses anesthetic considerations for lobectomy and lesser resections (segmentectomy, wedge resection) with attention to common anesthetic issues of thoracic anesthesia (Box 16-2).
Nonlinear dynamic response of soft thick-walled electro-active tubes

Soft electro-active tubes are promising electromechanical transducers. Practical applications of such devices involve periodic loading cycles at high frequency and large strains. Hence, the understanding of their dynamic behaviour is important for an effective design. In this work, the dynamic response of soft thick-walled electro-active tubes, subjected to harmonic or suddenly applied constant electric loads, is theoretically studied within the framework of finite elastodynamics.
Gaze Tracking Accuracy Maintenance using Traffic Sign Detection

Eye tracking technology is becoming an important component of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. Unfortunately, eye tracking systems require calibration to correctly associate pupil positions with gaze directions, and periodic calibration would be necessary because the accuracy will deteriorate overtime. This routine reduces the usability and practicability of in-vehicle eye tracking technology. We propose an approach to automatically perform real-time eye tracking calibration. We apply an object detection algorithm to continually detect objects that would likely attract the drivers' attention, such as traffic signs and lights. Those are, in turn, used as moving stimuli for the gaze accuracy maintenance procedure. The error vectors between recorded fixations and moving targets are calculated immediately and the weighted average of them is used to compensate for the offset of fixations in real-time. We evaluated our method both on laboratory data and real driving data. The results show that we can effectively reduce the gaze tracking errors.
Abstract 282: Increasing Cardiac Fatty Acid Oxidation Protects Against High Fat Diet Induced Mitochondria Dysfunction and Cardiomyopathy in Mice

In the obese and diabetic heart, an imbalance between fatty acid uptake and fatty acid oxidation (FAO) promotes the development of cardiac lipotoxicity. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that...
Understanding Communication Effectiveness, Communication Satisfaction, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Care Management Among Patients With Chronic Disease:

This study investigates channel choice and effective patient-provider communication, patient satisfaction, self-efficacy, and self-care management among patients with a chronic disease by applying ...
Vaginal progesterone is associated with decreased group B streptococcus colonisation at term: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether women using intravaginal progesterone suppositories for preterm birth prevention during pregnancy will have lower rates of group B streptococcus (GBS) colonisation at term, compared with women receiving intramuscular 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate. DESIGN This was a retrospective observational cohort study of women who were prescribed a progestogen during their pregnancy for preterm birth prevention, and who delivered at term. SETTING A tertiary referral hospital in central Ohio. POPULATION Patients who were prescribed a progestogen during their pregnancy for preterm birth prevention between 2004 and 2017 were included in the study. Patients who delivered at <37 weeks of pregnancy, switched progestogen type during the pregnancy, or had a pessary or cerclage placed were excluded. METHODS Baseline characteristics were compared using Mann-Whitney U-test or Chi-square test as appropriate. The association between type of progestogen and GBS colonisation was assessed using bivariate and multivariable analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was GBS colonisation. RESULTS In all, 565 patients were included in the study, of whom 173 received intravaginal progesterone, and 392 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate. Patients receiving intravaginal progesterone were less likely to be colonised with GBS (19.7 versus 28.1%). After adjustments for potential confounders were made in a multivariable logistic regression analysis, receiving intravaginal progesterone suppositories (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.61, 95% CI 0.39-0.95) was associated with reduced GBS colonisation. CONCLUSIONS Intravaginal progesterone is associated with a decreased prevalence of rectovaginal GBS colonisation at term. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT Vaginal progesterone is associated with a lower incidence of rectovaginal GBS colonisation, compared with 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate.
Computational cameras for moving iris recognition

Iris-based biometric identification is increasingly used for facility access and other security applications. Like all methods that exploit visual information, however, iris systems are limited by the quality of captured images. Optical defocus due to a small depth of field (DOF) is one such challenge, as is the acquisition of sharply-focused iris images from subjects in motion. This manuscript describes the application of computational motion-deblurring cameras to the problem of moving iris capture, from the underlying theory to system considerations and performance data.
The Continuum of Traumatic Brain Injuries: Subconcussion to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public health problem and a major cause of mortality in the United States
Wheat germ agglutinin accumulation in coleoptiles of different genotypes of wheat. Localization by monoclonal antibodies.

We have produced a library of 18 monoclonal antibodies (mABs) against wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). It was difficult to establish antibody-producing hybridomas when soluble WGA was used for immunization. The frequency of specific hybridomas was increased, however, by injecting mice with insoluble antigen-antibody complex.
Chapter 8 – Feature Logics

Publisher Summary This chapter shows the way the methods of logic, used initially to understand feature-theoretic representations in language, can lead to the development of the mathematics of those representations and even further to applications not only in linguistics but to logic and computer science. Computer science applications that should be pursued more thoroughly include the use of feature-theoretic ideas in the area of terminological logics for artificial intelligence and applications to the design of database systems and database query languages. This last application has a long history because record structures in the typical relational databases are just flat feature structures. Another extension of feature theory that is needed for linguistic applications is to give a treatment of nonmonotonic phenomena. Another objective for feature theory is to reconcile the distinction between the “"total object” perspective of Smolka and Johnson and the “partial object” view stemming from Kasper–Rounds.
Karl Mittermaier and the hands of classical liberalism

Karl Mittermaier (1938–2016) completed a work in 1987 titled The Hand Behind the Invisible Hand: Dogmatic and Pragmatic Views on Free Markets and the State of Economic Theory, published for the first time in 2020. Here I treat Mittermaier's rich meditation, which I interpret as a pursuit of greater coherence in classical liberal thought. Mittermaier emphasises the moral, cultural, and institutional preconditions of a liberal market order, and argues that some of the preconditions depend on people feeling that they have reason to embrace such classical liberal principles. The preconditions, then, depend in part on the perception of coherence and appeal of the liberal order.
Perceived neighborhood disorder and frequency of marijuana use among emerging adult African American females.

Emerging adult African American females are at increased risk for cannabis use disorders. Ecological models suggest that African Americans’ increased risk for substance use disorders and associated...
Comparative analysis of multimodal feature-based 3D point cloud stitching techniques for aeronautic applications

Designing shimming parts in the aircraft manufacturing process is a common task that needs to be solved. In fact, whenever two or more composite parts need to be coupled, a shim could be designed to absorb any assembly tolerance. This process can be effectively improved with an automated analysis of multimodal data (2D and 3D) directly acquired on the field during an assembly process. In this paper, a comparative analysis of SIFT and SURF feature detectors for the automatic registration and subsequent stitching of dense 3D point clouds in the aeronautic field are presented. Results on real data acquired on the field demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach and can be seen as a first step towards the automation of the shimming process.
Accelerated Life Testing Method of Metallized Film Capacitors for Inverter Applications

DC-link capacitors are one kind of reliability-critical component in traction inverters. As such, it is essential to evaluate the degradation characteristics of dc-link capacitors. Accelerated life testing is an effective and standard method to evaluate the capacitors’ lifetime and degradation mechanisms. Therefore, an accelerated life testing method for dc-link capacitors in three-phase inverter applications is proposed in this article. In order to reproduce the same encountered stress, exactly reflecting the real condition for the capacitor under test, a three-phase inverter with the capacitor under test and a three-phase balanced inductor load are used as the evaluation circuit. Due to the employment of the inductor load, the power consumption of the inverter can be reduced, while the full-scale current rating can be maintained so that the capacitor under test is subjected to the practical ripple current stress. In order to estimate a capacitor’s capacitance with high accuracy, an effective and direct condition monitoring method, which is based on the proposed evaluation circuit, is also proposed in this article. By injecting an ac voltage into the dc link, the ac current and voltage components in the dc-link capacitor are generated. Then, the capacitance mathematical model can be developed by analyzing the injected voltage component and the resultant current component. As the proposed method only requires estimating the parameters from the input voltage and current, there is no need to install additional capacitor current sensors, which are usually difficult to install. Moreover, the amount of monitored and processed data can be reduced. Thus, the proposed method is easy to implement for accelerated life testing in practice. In addition, experiments are carried out to verify the analysis and effectiveness of the proposed solution.
CAN STELLAR MIXING EXPLAIN THE LACK OF TYPE Ib SUPERNOVAE IN LONG-DURATION GAMMA-RAY BURSTS?

The discovery of supernovae associated with long-duration gamma-ray burst observations is primary evidence that the progenitors of these outbursts are massive stars. One of the principle mysteries in understanding these progenitors has been the fact that all of these gamma-ray-burst-associated supernovae are Type Ic supernovae with no evidence of helium in the stellar atmosphere. Many studies have focused on whether or not this helium is simply hidden from spectral analyses. In this Letter, we show results from recent stellar models using new convection algorithms based on our current understanding of stellar mixing. We demonstrate that enhanced convection may lead to severe depletion of stellar helium layers, suggesting that the helium is not observed simply because it is not in the star. We also present light curves and spectra of these compact helium-depleted stars compared to models with more conventional helium layers.
The heteromeric PC-1/PC-2 polycystin complex is activated by the PC-1 N-terminus.

On the surface of most animal and other eukaryotic cells are small rod-like protrusions known as primary cilia. Each cilium is encased by a specialized membrane which is enriched in protein complexes that help the cell sense its local environment. Some of these complexes help transport ions in out of the cell, while others act as receptors that receive chemical signals called ligands. A unique ion channel known as the polycystin complex is able to perform both of these roles as it contains a receptor called PC-1 in addition to an ion channel called PC-2. Various mutations in the genes that code for PC-1 and PC-2 can result in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), which is the most common monogenetic disease in humans. However, due to the small size of primary cilia – which are less than a thousandth of a millimeter thick – little is known about how polycystin complexes are regulated and how mutations lead to ADPKD. To overcome this barrier, Ha et al. modified kidney cells grown in the lab so that PC-1 and PC-2 form a working channel in the plasma membrane which surrounds the entire cell. As the body of a cell is around 10,000 times bigger than the cilium, this allowed the movement of ions across the polycystin complex to be studied using conventional techniques. Experiments using this newly developed assay revealed that a region at one of the ends of the PC-1 protein, named the C-type lectin domain, is essential for stimulating polycystin complexes. Ha et al. found that this domain of PC-1 is able to cut itself from the protein complex. Further experiments showed that when fragments of PC-1, which contain the C-type lectin domain, are no longer bound to the membrane, they can activate the polycystin channels in cilia as well as the plasma membrane. This suggests that this region of PC-1 may also act as a secreted ligand that can activate other polycystin channels. Some of the genetic mutations that cause ADPKD likely disrupt the activity of the polycystin complex and reduce its ability to transport ions across the cilia membrane. Therefore, the cell assay created in this study could be used to screen for small molecules that can restore the activity of these ion channels in patients with ADPKD.
Abstract MP57: A South Asian Mediterranean-style Diet Pattern Is Associated With Favorable Measures Of Adiposity And A Lower Risk Of Incident Diabetes: Findings From The Masala Study

Introduction: South Asians are at a disproportionately high risk for cardiometabolic disease. The Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced risks of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular dis...
Loss of muscarinic M5 receptor function manifests disparate impairments in exploratory behavior in male and female mice despite common dopamine regulation

Abstract There are five cloned muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (M1-M5). Of these, the muscarinic type 5 receptor (M5) is the only one localized to dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra. Unlike M1-M4, the M5 receptor has relatively restricted expression in the brain, making it an attractive therapeutic target. Here we performed an in-depth characterization of M5-dependent potentiation of dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens and accompanying exploratory behaviors in male and female mice. We show that M5 receptors potentiate dopamine transmission by acting directly on the terminals within the nucleus accumbens. Using the agonist oxotremorine, we revealed a unique concentration response curve and a sensitivity to repeated stressor exposure. We found that constitutive deletion of M5 receptors reduced exploration of the center of an open field while at the same time impairing normal habituation only in male mice. In addition, M5 deletion reduced exploration of salient stimuli, especially under conditions of high novelty, yet had no effect on hedonia. We conclude that M5 receptors are critical for both engaging with the environment and updating behavioral output in responses to the environment cues, specifically in male mice. A cardinal feature of mood and anxiety disorders is a withdrawal from the environment. These data indicate that boosting M5 receptor activity may be a useful therapeutic target for ameliorating these symptoms of depression and anxiety. Significance Statement The basic physiological and behavioral functions of the muscarinic M5 receptor remain understudied. Furthermore, its presence on dopamine neurons, relatively restricted expression in the brain, and recent crystallization make it an attractive target for therapeutic development. Yet, most preclinical studies of M5 receptor function have primarily focused on substance use disorders in male rodents. Here we characterized the role of M5 receptors in potentiating dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens, finding impaired functioning after stress exposure. Furthermore, we show that M5 receptors can modulate exploratory behavior in a sex-specific manner, without impacting hedonic behavior. These findings further illustrate the therapeutic potential of the M5 receptor, warranting further research in the context of treating mood disorders.
Curricular-driven screening for atrial fibrillation at community pharmacies.

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of stroke. It can be asymptomatic and patients may be unaware they have AF. Therefore, there is a need to develop a sustainable community model to screen for unrecognized AF. Objective The objective is to assess a curriculum driven model developed by the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy (UNM-CoP) to evaluate AF screening at three community pharmacy sites. Methods Screenings and education for AF were performed by fourth year pharmacy students during their advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) community rotation at pre-selected independent pharmacies. Patients were screened using the KardiaMobile device (AliveCor®, Mountain View, California), an FDA-cleared device that interprets a medical-grade ECG in 30 seconds. All screening materials and devices were provided by UNM-CoP. Semi-structured interviews with each targeted pharmacy were conducted to assess the logistics, value, and sustainability of the program (N=5 pharmacists). Results AF assessment was performed over a 7-month period by 8 students at three pharmacies. Students screened a total of 63 patients (62% female, 56 ± 14 years of age) with 92% of the encounters taking less than 10 minutes to complete. Three patients (4.7%) were found to have possible AF. Positive scores were noted when assessing value to the pharmacy (8.8 ± 0.8, scale 1-10 with 10 being high value) and professionally (9.7 ± 0.6). Discussion Student-pharmacists provides a likely pathway for sustainability for this clinical initiative and provides for a novel and measurable APPE patient interaction. Conclusion Curricular driven AF assessment in community pharmacies was shown to be a feasible model. Additional studies are needed to assess whether population-based real-time assessment and detection of AF can reduce the risk of stroke in previously undetected AF. If stroke reduction is realized, reimbursement for service is likely and can contribute to further sustainability.
Scalable estimation strategies based on stochastic approximations: classical results and new insights

Estimation with large amounts of data can be facilitated by stochastic gradient methods, in which model parameters are updated sequentially using small batches of data at each step. Here, we review early work and modern results that illustrate the statistical properties of these methods, including convergence rates, stability, and asymptotic bias and variance. We then overview modern applications where these methods are useful, ranging from an online version of the EM algorithm to deep learning. In light of these results, we argue that stochastic gradient methods are poised to become benchmark principled estimation procedures for large datasets, especially those in the family of stable proximal methods, such as implicit stochastic gradient descent.
Real-Time Imaging of Ground Cover: Relationships with Radiation Capture, Canopy Photosynthesis, and Daily Growth Rate

Cumulative absorbed radiation is highly correlated with crop biomass and yield. In this chapter we describe the use of a digital camera and commercial imaging software for estimating daily radiation capture, canopy photosynthesis, and relative growth rate. Digital images were used to determine percentage of ground cover of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) communities grown at five temperatures. Plants were grown in a steady-state, 10-chamber CO2 gas exchange system, which was used to measure canopy photosynthesis and daily carbon gain. Daily measurements of percentage of ground cover were highly correlated with daily measurements of both absorbed radiation (r(sup 2) = 0.99) and daily carbon gain (r(sup 2) = 0.99). Differences among temperature treatments indicated that these relationships were influenced by leaf angle, leaf area index, and chlorophyll content. An analysis of the daily images also provided good estimates of relative growth rates, which were verified by gas exchange measurements of daily carbon gain. In a separate study we found that images taken at hourly intervals were effective for monitoring real-time growth. Our data suggests that hourly images can be used for early detection of plant stress. Applications, limitations, and potential errors are discussed. We have long known that crop yield is determined by the efficiency of four component processes: (i) radiation capture, (ii) quantum yield, (iii) carbon use efficiency, and (iv) carbon partitioning efficiency (Charles-Edwards, 1982; Penning de Vries & van Laar, 1982; Thornley, 1976). More than one-half century ago, Watson (1947, 1952) showed that variation in radiation capture accounted for almost all of the variation in yield between sites in temperate regions, because the three other components are relatively constant when the crop is not severely stressed. More recently, Monteith (1977) reviewed the literature on the close correlation between radiation capture and yield. Bugbee and Monje (1992) demonstrated the close relationship between absorbed radiation and yield in an optimal environment.
Fluency Shaping With Young Stutterers

This article presents the steps to be used in teaching a child to use slow, normal sounding, fluent speech in place of stuttering. Case selection, reward system, and arrangement of a hierarchy are discussed. Procedures for transferring and maintaining fluency are suggested.
Methodologies for Knowledge-Based Software Engineering

As the science of knowledge representation and automated reasoning advances, AI has the potential to radically change the artifacts, methodologies, and life cycles of software engineering. The most significant change will be when problems are formalized at the level of specifications rather than programs. This will greatly facilitate software reuse and modification. Achieving this potential requires overcoming many technical challenges, particularly the semi-automated synthesis of efficient and correct programs from specifications. The first part of this paper describes several methodologies for program synthesis and compares their ability to control the combinatorial explosion inherent in automated reasoning.
Current efforts in revitalizing electric power engineering at the University of Central Florida

The end of the cold war presents us with the challenge to modernize engineering curricula so as to better address the needs and issues arising from the increasingly competitive global economy. In the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Central Florida (USA), efforts are underway to revitalize and modernize the academic program in electric power engineering. This paper describes these efforts. The goal is to provide students interested in these fields with a broad and deep set of course offerings that will allow them to build a strong foundation in the theory, design, devices and instrumentation issues pertinent to these areas.
A 528 channel system for the acquisition and display of defibrillation and electrocardiographic potentials

A 528 channel data acquisition and display system has been developed which allows the authors to study electrical therapies of the heart. The acquisition system records defibrillation shock potentials and electrograms from the heart. The display system presents animated sequences of potentials or their derivative on a two dimensional projection of the recording array. Using the system, the authors measured the distribution of potentials on the heart during transvenous defibrillation shocks in pigs. For failed defibrillation shocks near threshold, the authors studied the post-shock activation sequences that led to reinitiation of fibrillation. The earliest epicardial activation following failed shocks was in the region of the heart opposite and inferior to the right ventricular electrode. The first few beats were organized and rapid. The rapid activation led to unidirectional block and reentry after 3 or 4 beats. This mapping system provides a comprehensive tool for studying electrical therapies of the heart. >
Kinetics of C-14 Translocation in Soybean: II. Kinetics in the Leaf.

The kinetics of (14)C-assimilates in the soybean leaf were studied in pulse labeling and steady state labeling experiments. (14)C-Sucrose apparently served as the ultimate source, at least, of translocated (14)C-sucrose. However, since the specific activity of leaf sucrose reached a maximum within 5 minutes after pulse labeling, whereas that of exported sucrose did not reach a maximum until at least 20 minutes, it appeared that there were two sucrose compartments in the leaf. A possible physical basis for the two compartments may be the mesophyll (a photosynthetic compartment) and a specialized "paraveinal mesophyll" (a nonphotosynthetic compartment), through which photosynthate must pass on its way to the veins.The (14)C kinetics of sterol glucoside, and probably esterified sterol glucoside, were similar to those for (14)C-sucrose export. Sterol glucoside was labeled only in its glucose moiety and was the only stem lipid which became strongly labeled during (14)C-sucrose translocation. These sterol derivatives may act as membrane carriers of sucrose between the translocation stream and surrounding cells.The kinetics of (14)C-sucrose and its movement to the veins are discussed with reference to compartmentation within the leaf and metabolic exchange with other compounds, particularly with starch. Although a simple compartmental model gave a fairly accurate description of (14)C-sucrose kinetics, an entirely accurate model could not be provided, primarily because of loss of (14)C from sucrose, at an unknown rate, to starch.
Intragenic suppressor mutations that restore export of maltose binding protein with a truncated signal peptide.

Abstract A deletion mutation, malEΔ12–18 , removes seven residues from the hydrophobic core of the maltose binding protein (MBP) signal peptide and thus prevents secretion of this protein to the periplasm of E. coli . Intragenic suppressor mutations of malEΔ12–18 have been obtained, some highly efficient in their ability to restore proper MBP export. Twelve independently isolated suppressors represent six unique mutational events. Five result in alterations within the MBP signal peptide; one changes the amino acid at residue 19 of the mature MBP. Analysis of these suppressors indicates that the length of the hydrophobic core is a major determinant of signal peptide function. The experiments further suggest that the hydrophobic core region serves primarily a structural role in mediating protein secretion, and that other sequences outside of this region may be responsible for providing the initial recognition of the MBP nascent chain as a secreted protein.
Correlation in G1 transit time of sister cells synchronized by mitotic selection.

Abstract Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells synchronized by mitotic selection were monitored by [3H]TdR autoradiography for entry into S phase. Consistent with the transition probability model of cell cycle control [1], the percent of cells remaining in G1 vs time (plotted on semi-log scale) appears linear after a slight initial curve. Analysis of the labeling pattern of sister cells indicates the following. 1. 1. The labeling index, determined from scoring only cells distinguishable as sister pairs, is the same as that for the total population; 2. 2. the proportion of pairs in which one sister is labeled is less than that expected if labeling is random, while the proportion of pairs in which both sisters are labeled is greater than that expected if labeling is random. These results indicate either exit from a hypothetical A state is not random, and/or transit through G1 subsequent to exit from the A state results in significant correlation of sister cell transit time.
Physics and chemistry of upper atmospheres of planets from infrared observations

Abstract An important goal of the study of atmospheres of planets is to provide an understanding of the relationship and interaction among phenomena occurring at different altitude and pressure regions and the effects of external influences on these phenomena. To probe multiple pressure regimes in general requires measurements in different spectral regions and with a wide range of spectral resolutions. This presents formidable technical challenges. To directly probe phenomena in the upper neutral atmosphere (pressures ⩽30 mbar) is particularly difficult. Much of the information on local chemistry and physics is contained in the near Doppler profiles of infrared molecular lines formed in these regions and spectral resolving powers λ Δλ > 10 6 are required to adequately measure the lineshapes. The very high spectral resolution technique of infrared heterodyne spectroscopy capable of making such line measurements is briefly described. Several investigations are described to illustrate the range of phenomena that can be studied and the unique physical and chemical parameters that can be retrieved. These investigations include direct measurement of global thermospheric circulation on Venus using Doppler shifts of nonthermal CO 2 emission lines near 10 μm ; the study of Jupiter's deep interior utilizing spectroscopy of H 2 quadrupole lines (17 and 28.2 μm >) formed in the stratosphere; the evaluation of photochemical processes which determine the composition of Mars and the outer planets by retrieving constituent abundances (O 3 near 9.5 μm on Mars and hydrocarbons on Jupiter and Neptune); and the determination of the compositional and thermal structure in Jupiter's auroral region using line profiles of auroral ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) and ethane (C 2 H 6 ) emission near 10.5 and 12 μm . The value of multispectral and temporal observations for more comprehensive studies of atmospheric phenomena and the internal and external processes driving them are also discussed.
High Frequency Semiconductor Heterostructure Device Analysis

Two-terminal heterostructure diodes present many potential opportunities for high frequency operation, even into the millimeter wave frequency regime. Motivated by this fact, we have developed an algorithm which is globally convergent for solving the nonlinear Poisson equation. By appropriate numerical techniques, the nonlinear Poisson equation is coupled to the current continuity equations which can then be employed for high frequency, small signal, ac simulations. Numerical results for the AlyGa1-yAs system with layers as thin as a few hundred angstroms in thickness are provided.
HIV vaccine development and clinical trials

The magnitude of HIV pandemic has made the development of HIV vaccines an urgent biomedical research priority. Although the biologic problems in designing a vaccine for a chronic viral infection like HIV are formidable, there has been encouraging progress. More than a dozen first generation prophylactic HIV vaccine candidates have completed phase I human trials that have established the safety and immunogenicity of these products in adults. A phase II trial of two HIV subunit envelope vaccines in adults at high risk of HIV infection is underway in the United States, and preparations for phase III efficacy trials have begun. Preliminary studies are under way to evaluate the potential application of active and passive immunization for preventing vertical transmission of HIV. Because of the higher rate of HIV transmission and a more abbreviated time course to disease, it may be more efficient to evaluate the efficacy of HIV vaccines in HIV infected pregnant women and their offspring than in adults who are exposed sexually to HIV.
Comparative risk assessment of energy systems

Abstract Nearly all energy systems entail some significant forms of health, environmental, or socio-political risks. But there is considerable difference among various energy systems in the magnitude, timing, and nature of their associated risks. It is this difference that allows a degree of choice, or policy, with regard to selecting energy alternatives. The National Academy of Sciences Committee on Nuclear and Alternative Energy Systems compiled a detailed analysis of risks associated with different types of energy use. A condensed table of that analysis is presented. The issue of assessing risks is also discussed, to give the reader an idea of the complications involved in making valid risk assessments, and the worth of risk assessment as a public policymaking device. Among questions raised: Can risks and benefits be measured in the same units? Can we, for example, compare the risk of climatic change with the risk of accidental injury or death? How much do we value the future? Are we willing to invest money today to save a life tomorrow? (This is known as valuing or discounting the future, a difficult economic value question.) Moreover, public perception of risks affects policy response to risks. There are, of course, uncertainties. The likelihood exists that many factors have not yet been assessed and that unidentified risks of a serious nature could surface. As more and more aspects are studied, additional risks will be uncovered. Because of the uncertainties and diversity of both risks and benefits associated with alternative energy systems, our embryonic methods of risk analysis must be improved. The public and its leaders must be familiar with the basics of risk analysis and be able to distinguish between issues of fact, and value issues. It is clear that we cannot rely solely on one form of energy. Diversity will provide a hedge against unforeseen risks. Risks will be proportional to the total energy produced and consumed by society. Therefore, it is essential that global population be kept in check so that total energy usage can be minimized, while per capita consumption is not too low. If more and more people use energy to improve standards of living, the ultimate adverse health, environmental and social impacts could well outweigh the benefits.
Dependency graph approach to load balancing distributed volume visualization

We present a framework that uses data dependency information to automate load balanced volume distribution and ray-task scheduling for parallel visualization of massive volumes. This dependency graph approach improves load balancing for both ray casting and ray tracing. The main bottlenecks in distributed volume rendering involve moving data across the network and loading memory into rendering hardware. Our load balancing solution combines static network distribution with dynamic ray-task scheduling. At the core of the dependency graph approach are the flex-block tree, introduced in this paper, and the cell-tree. The flex-block tree is similar to a kd-tree except that leaf nodes are cells containing a combination of empty space and tightly cropped subvolumes, or flex-blocks. A main contribution of this paper is the moving walls algorithm, which uses dynamic programming to create a flex-block partition. We show results for optimizing distributed ray cast rendering using a time cost function. We compare data distribution using the moving walls algorithm, with distribution using a recursive solution, and with a grid combined with a local kd-tree partition on each render-node.
A Computational Exercise Illustrating Molecular Vibrations and Normal Modes

Molecular vibration plays an important role in chemistry, both in chemical reactions and in the characterization and measurement of molecular structure and bonding. Normal modes provide the conceptual framework for understanding molecular vibrations. For example, the analysis of infrared spectra, an important tool for chemists, relies heavily on the concept of normal modes; yet, undergraduate students, even chemistry majors, seldom gain a thorough understanding of normal modes through the traditional chemistry curriculum. In fact, the most commonly used physical chemistry textbooks give only a cursory introduction to this concept, leaving out the substantive development. This occurs presumably because normal modes emerge from a multistepped mathematical analysis of the molecular dynamics. While the mathematical skill needed for each step typically has been covered in an introductory calculus course, the full development is a lengthy process and skipped in the texts. Thus, students have little opportunity to develop a sound conceptual understanding of ‘vibrational modes’ and ‘fundamental vibrational frequencies,’ even though they inevitably encounter these terms in their future work.
Telephone smoking cessation quitline use among pregnant and non-pregnant women.

To describe characteristics, referrals, service utilization, and self-reported quit rates among pregnant and non-pregnant women enrolled in a smoking cessation quitline. This information can be used to improve strategies to increase pregnant and non-pregnant smokers’ use of quitlines. We examined tobacco use characteristics, referral sources, and use of services among 1,718 pregnant and 24,321 non-pregnant women aged 18–44 years enrolled in quitline services in 10 states during 2006–2008. We examined self-reported 30-day quit rates 7 months after enrollment among 246 pregnant and 4,123 non-pregnant women and, within groups, used Chi-square tests to compare quit rates by type of service received. The majority of pregnant and non-pregnant callers, respectively, smoked ≥10 cigarettes per day (62 %; 83 %), had recently attempted to quit (55 %; 58 %), smoked 5 or minutes after waking (59 %; 55 %), and lived with a smoker (63 %; 48 %). Of callers, 24.3 % of pregnant and 36.4 % of non-pregnant women were uninsured. Pregnant callers heard about the quitline most often from a health care provider (50 %) and non-pregnant callers most often through mass media (59 %). Over half of pregnant (52 %) and non-pregnant (57 %) women received self-help materials only, the remainder received counseling. Self-reported quit rates at 7 months after enrollment in the subsample were 26.4 % for pregnant women and 22.6 % for non-pregnant women. Quitlines provide needed services for pregnant and non-pregnant smokers, many of whom are uninsured. Smokers should be encouraged to access counseling services.
Abuse History, World Assumptions, and Religious Problem Solving

At a Christian university, 167 subjects completed questionnaires measuring worldview assumptions, religious problem solving, physical and emotional abuse, and subjects' beliefs about whether they had been “abused.” Results indicated that worldview assumptions were not related to actual abuse histories. Instead, such assumptions were related to the subjects' beliefs that they had been abused. Subjects who believed that they had been abused had more negative views of the impersonal world, people, and themselves; they were also more likely to see events as random. Both actual abuse history and subjects' beliefs that they had been abused were related to religious problem-solving styles. Finally, problem-solving styles were related to various worldview assumptions. Results are discussed in terms of previous research on abuse and in the psychology of religion.
Treatment and outcome of venomous snake bite in children at Port Moresby General Hospital, Papua New Guinea

Abstract The case reports of 54 patients from 2 to 16 years of age admitted with snake bite to Port Moresby General Hospital, Papua New Guinea, over a period of 38 months were reviewed. The case fatality rate was 7·7%. The commonest pattern of toxicity was a combination of neurological deficit and coagulation disturbance, but other patterns were recorded. Treatment included antivenom in 49 patients and endotracheal intubation in 16. The response to treatment was analysed to discover factors associated with a complicated course or a fatal outcome. Early administration of antivenom reduced the need for intubation. Reactions to antivenom were reduced by the use of hydrocortisone and promethazine together. Children 5 years of age or less formed a high risk group. Recommendations are made concerning the use of antivenom, hydrocortisone plus promethazine, and intubation, which may result in the saving of both lives and money.
Insights into the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and prognosis of black Americans with acute coronary syndromes

Abstract Background Disparities in prognosis for black and white patients with coronary heart disease have been widely reported. For several reasons it is unclear to what extent biologic factors contribute to these differences. Methods The current medical literature regarding the pathophysiologic characteristics of cardiovascular disease is reviewed with emphasis on how racially mediated biologic differences may affect the manifestation, treatment, and prognosis of patients with coronary heart disease, particularly patients with acute coronary syndromes. Results Black patients with coronary heart disease have a higher prevalence of ischemic heart disease risk factors, including hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, diabetes, and tobacco use. Other factors related to atherosclerosis, vascular reactivity, and thrombolysis that quantitatively and functionally differ among racial groups are identified. Prospective, randomized trials comparing outcomes among patients with acute coronary syndromes have included only a fraction of the available black population, although they reveal a similar short-term mortality rate for black and white patients. Several factors, including enhanced fibrinolysis among black patients with acute myocardial infarction, may in part counterbalance better understood and more prevalent comorbidities to equalize short-term (30-day) survival. All-cause, long-term (1-year) mortality appears worse for black patients compared with white patients with similar cardiovascular risk profiles. Conclusion As racially mediated biologic differences between black and white patients become better understood, targeted interventions to prevent coronary heart disease and treat acute coronary syndromes in black patients can be developed. (Am Heart J 1999;138:1073-81.)
Conceptualizing knowledge use: A theoretical framework and empirical study

The paper develops a theoretical framework to conceptualize knowledge use, a frequently utilized dependent variable in knowledge management research. The model identifies innovative use, conceptual use, and affective use as three dimensions of the knowledge use construct which is theorized to be part of a nomological network that includes knowledge quality and procedural justice as two antecedents to knowledge use. This conceptualization is empirically examined through a matched-pair survey study. Findings support the theoretical framework at both the measurement and the structural levels. Implications for KM researchers are discussed.
Robustness of Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction to Phylogenetic Uncertainty

Ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) is widely used to formulate and test hypotheses about the sequences, functions, and structures of ancient genes. Ancestral sequences are usually inferred from an alignment of extant sequences using a maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic algorithm, which calculates the most likely ancestral sequence assuming a probabilistic model of sequence evolution and a specific phylogeny—typically the tree with the ML. The true phylogeny is seldom known with certainty, however. ML methods ignore this uncertainty, whereas Bayesian methods incorporate it by integrating the likelihood of each ancestral state over a distribution of possible trees. It is not known whether Bayesian approaches to phylogenetic uncertainty improve the accuracy of inferred ancestral sequences. Here, we use simulation-based experiments under both simplified and empirically derived conditions to compare the accuracy of ASR carried out using ML and Bayesian approaches. We show that incorporating phylogenetic uncertainty by integrating over topologies very rarely changes the inferred ancestral state and does not improve the accuracy of the reconstructed ancestral sequence. Ancestral state reconstructions are robust to uncertainty about the underlying tree because the conditions that produce phylogenetic uncertainty also make the ancestral state identical across plausible trees; conversely, the conditions under which different phylogenies yield different inferred ancestral states produce little or no ambiguity about the true phylogeny. Our results suggest that ML can produce accurate ASRs, even in the face of phylogenetic uncertainty. Using Bayesian integration to incorporate this uncertainty is neither necessary nor beneficial.
The SUNTA Leeds Award, Anthony Leeds, and Me

The 1999 SUNTA Anthony Leeds Prize in Urban Anthropology awarded to Roger Sanjek for The Future of Us All: Race and Neighborhood Politics in New York City (1998). Leeds' theoretic cal writings were especially important to this book and to this author, who edited a collection of Leeds' essays, Cities, Classes and the Social Order (1994). Foremost for Sanjek among Leeds' urban anthropological concepts were his grounding of social analysis in observable events, his conception of interlocking social orders (from local to global),his operational approach to the components of power (resources, organization, numbers), and his insistence on fusing ethnography, comparative theory, and historical and political-economic contextualization. [Leeds, Anthony, power, social order, theory]
Ultrasound for the air medical clinician.

Introduction Recent advances in technology have made the use of ultrasound (US) a possibility in air medicine. A handheld US machine that appears promising as a diagnostic tool within the helicopter theater was developed recently (Sonosite Corp., Bothell, Wash.). Several air medical programs have begun using US as the focused abdominal sonography for trauma (FAST) examination during helicopter transport. Diagnostic US greatly enhances the evaluation of patients with a variety of presentations. After its rapid evolution during the previous decade and wide availability in operating suites and emergency departments, US technology now is being introduced into the out-of-hospital arena. Many patients who present with unstable or time-critical medical problems require on-the-spot diagnosis and intervention. These patients may benefit from rapid, goal-directed, limited ultrasonography performed and interpreted by flight clinicians. We integrated the use of a Sonosite 180 US device in our flight program at Life Link III in April 2001. This article describes our training program for flight clinicians, proposes a platform for subsequent program development, and shares the results of our experience in air medicine.
Remote probing of the atmosphere using a CO 2 DIAL system

An overview of our laser remote sensing effort is presented. Using both fundamental and frequency-doubled CO 2 laser radiation in a differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL) system, background concentrations of CO, NO, and C 2 H 4 in the atmosphere as well as increases due to localized emission sources have been measured. These species have been detected using the backscattered laser radiation from topographic targets at ranges to 2.7 km with a sensitivity of ± 10 ppb. In addition, using a dual-laser DIAL system, the effect of induced correlation of the LIDAR returns due to atmospheric turbulence has been investigated. These results have been used to help quantify the accuracy of the DIAL measurements and are shown to be consistent with theory.