cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Etching fission tracks in zircons.

A new technique has been developed whereby fission tracks can be etched in zircon with a solution of sodiuim hydroxide at 220°C. Etching time varied between 15 minutes and 5 houtrs. Colored zircon required less etching time than the colorless varieties.
Novel approach to RF photonic signal processing using an ultrafast laser comb modulated by traveling-wave tunable filters

The analogy between optical frequencies and RFs leads to a novel technique for RF photonic signal processing using a femtosecond laser comb modulated by a traveling-wave tunable filter, such as an acoustooptic tunable filter (AOTF) or a novel electrooptic tunable filter (EOTF). In this new scheme, the recent history of an applied RF waveform to-be-processed slides into the tunable filter and a femtosecond pulse train diffracts off the moving acoustooptically or electrooptically induced dielectric grating, producing a shaped optical pulse train with each shaped pulse as a compressed replica of the RF waveform contained within the device aperture that is sped up by the ratio between the center optical and RF frequency. For a CW RF tone input, only a narrowband group of the frequency comb lines in the incoming laser comb is spectrally filtered and modulated due to the phase-matching condition in the filter and is simultaneously Doppler shifted by that RF due to the traveling-wave grating obeying the conservation of energy. This allows us to use the traveling-wave tunable filter as a spectrally mapped Doppler-shifted modulator that encodes different RF components onto the corresponding optical frequency comb lines. RF signal processing can then be performed by using optical techniques to manipulate the spectrally modulated laser comb. To reconstruct the processed RF signal, the Doppler-shifted and optically processed pulse train is heterodyne detected by beating with a reference femtosecond pulse train from the same laser source. A high repetition rate femtosecond laser comb is modulated by an AOTF to experimentally demonstrate this novel RF photonic signal processing technique. We demonstrate an RF tunable bandpass/notch filter, an RF down-converter, and an RF jammer nuller as novel applications of ultrafast lasers.
Using auxiliary time-dependent covariates to recover information in nonparametric testing with censored data.

Murray and Tsiatis (1996) described a weighted survival estimate that incorporates prognostic time- dependent covariate information to increase the efficiency of estimation. We propose a test statistic based on the statistic of Pepe and Fleming (1989, 1991) that incorporates these weighted survival estimates. As in Pepe and Fleming, the test is an integrated weighted difference of two estimated survival curves. This test has been shown to be effective at detecting survival differences in crossing hazards settings where the logrank test performs poorly. This method uses stratified longitudinal covariate information to get more precise estimates of the underlying survival curves when there is censored information and this leads to more powerful tests. Another important feature of the test is that it remains valid when informative censoring is captured by the incorporated covariate. In this case, the Pepe-Fleming statistic is known to be biased and should not be used. These methods could be useful in clinical trials with heavy censoring that include collection over time of covariates, such as laboratory measurements, that are prognostic of subsequent survival or capture information related to censoring. Information from auxiliary variables that relate to a clinical endpoint can be used to aug- ment information provided by the clinical endpoint in treatment comparisons of overall, or marginal, survival. Some researchers have developed tests that model relationships be- tween progression and survival within treatment specific marginal survival models. Gray (1994) considered a three-state model in which time to progression could influence sur- vival following progression via kernel estimators. Finkelstein and Schoenfeld (1994) used a similar three state model in the semi-Markov case using parametric models for survival given progression. Others have augmented censored failure information on overall survival with fewer as- sumptions on the relationship between prognostic covariates and outcome. Kosorok and Fleming (1993) combined linear rank statistics on primary and secondary endpoints. Malani (1995) suggested a covariate-based modification of Efron's redistribution to the right algo- rithm to estimate survival and adjust the score test from the Cox (1972) proportional hazards model. Robins and Rotnitzky (1992) presented inverse probability weighting strategies for survival estimation and testing, with weights based on models of the censoring distribution
Blood pressure estimation using neural networks

Oscillometry is an indirect method to determine blood pressure. An inflatable and debatable cuff is placed on arm to observe oscillations at different pressure levels. Thus, an envelope obtained from the oscillations is related to the blood pressure. In our work, we extract few features from the oscillometric waveforms, and estimate blood pressure using feedforward neural networks. Feature strength is evaluated by computing the standard deviation of the errors. The results are compared with the traditional maximum amplitude pressure algorithm. A large noninvasively collected database is used for this purpose.
Reproductive Rights Denied: The Hyde Amendment and Access to Abortion for Native American Women Using Indian Health Service Facilities

Restrictions on the use of federal funds to provide abortions have limited the access to abortion services for Native American women receiving care at Indian Health Service facilities. Current data suggest that the vast majority of Indian Health Service facilities are unequipped to provide abortions under any circumstances. Native American women experience disproportionately high rates of sexual assault and unintended pregnancy. Hyde Amendment restrictions systematically infringe on the reproductive rights of Native American women and present a pressing public health policy concern.
Low-power UWB pulse generators for biomedical implants

Four low-power ultra-wide band (UWB) pulse generators for biomedical implants are investigated in this paper. The designs presented have no static power dissipation and start-up times in the neighborhood of 200 ps. All four designs were simulated and three were also fabricated in a modern 65 nm CMOS process. Measured data is also presented. The designs were evaluated for the best performance in a low-power UWB transmitter employing pulse-position modulation.
Measuring CdS/CdTe back contact barrier heights by internal photoemission

The back contact of the CdS/CdTe solar cell is one of the most critical aspects in optimizing efficiency and stability. A fundamental parameter is the barrier height Fbc and its measurement is important to fully understanding the device. Plotting the Internal photoemission (IPE) current response to sub-band-gap light according to the Fowler theory gives an intercept equal to the barrier height. IPE can be applied to completed cells, and to thick, thin, and n/i/p cells. Results are compared for a number of cells from various fabricators, including those with good and bad contacts and electronically thick and thin cells. Results suggest two barriers in parallel: a high one, (∼ 0.9 eV) which agrees well with the observed UPS values and a low one (∼ 0.3 eV) with a much smaller area fraction (1 – 4%) which dominates the contact transport and corresponds more closely to the values observed for efficient cells. For thick cells, IPE results agree well with thermal measurements.
Optimal trade-off between exploration and exploitation

Control in an uncertain environment often involves a trade-off between exploratory actions, whose goal is to gather sensory information, and "regular" actions which exploit the information gathered so far and pursue the task objectives. In principle both types of action can be modeled by minimizing a single cost function within the framework of stochastic optimal control. In practice however this is difficult, because the control law must be sensitive to estimation uncertainty which violates the certainty-equivalence principle. In this paper we formalize the problem in a way which captures the essence of the exploration-exploitation trade-off and yet is amenable to numerical methods for optimal control. The key to our approach is augmenting the dynamics of the partially-observable plant with the Kalman filter dynamics, thus obtaining a higher-dimensional but fully-observable plant. The resulting control laws compare favorably to other more ad-hoc approaches. Our formalism is also suitable for modeling human behavior in tasks which benefit from active exploration.
Early Mississippian Orbital-Scale Glacio-Eustasy Detected From High-Resolution Oxygen Isotopes of Marine Apatite (Conodonts)

Abstract Stratigraphic and geochemical studies from tropical through polar latitude records now recognize that the late Paleozoic ice age (LPIA) began earlier and ended later than traditionally thought and was characterized by discrete, My-scale intervals of increased glacial ice volumes that were separated by My-scale intervals of diminished ice volumes. Whereas the onset of LPIA glaciation now is recognized to have started as early as the Late Devonian, the continuity and patterns of glaciation in the > 15 My interval between this onset date and the well-documented mid-Carboniferous portion of the LPIA are less well understood. This study utilizes detailed cyclostratigraphic and δ18O records from Lower Mississippian (mid Tournaisian) tropical marine deposits and conodont apatite to argue that in addition to evidence for a discrete, My-scale early LPIA glaciation, there is compelling evidence for superimposed high-frequency (orbital-scale) glacial–interglacial climate oscillations driving glacio-eustasy and changes in sea-surface temperature (SST). Cyclostratigraphic evidence includes the development of asymmetric (progressive shallowing) and symmetric (deepening followed by shallowing) subtidal cycles in the Tournaisian Woodhurst Member of Lodgepole Formation which record repeated high-frequency water-depth changes from below storm wave base to above fairweather wave base. δ18O values from samples originating from six cycles range from 17.8‰ to 21.6‰, and intracycle trends record progressive increases in isotopic values from the deepest-water facies (at cycle base for asymmetric cycles or mid cycle for symmetric cycles) into the shallower-water cycle caps. Four of the cycles record average intracycle isotopic shifts of 1.4‰, and two cycles record shifts of ≥ 2.5‰. These co-varying trends between interpreted water-depth and δ18O changes are consistent with the hypothesis that the water-depth changes were controlled by orbital-scale glacio-eustasy. Assuming that the observed intracycle δ18O shifts represent the combined effects of ice-volume and SST changes, calculated glacio-eustatic magnitudes were < 50 m with tropical SST changes of < 4°C. Cycles recording ≥ 2.5‰ shifts may reflect additional SST cooling related to intensification of coastal upwelling during the onset of glacial stages. Orbital-scale glacio-eustatic interpretations imply that in addition to overall long-term Early Mississippian cooling and glaciation, the mid Tournaisian was characterized by superimposed high-frequency orbital-scale climate changes which controlled marked changes in glacial ice volumes, eustatic sea levels, coastal-upwelling intensities, and tropical SSTs. These long-term and superimposed short-term climate changes highlight the dynamic nature of the early LPIA and are reminiscent of climate patterns observed for Cenozoic and Late Ordovician greenhouse-to-icehouse climatic transitions.
Metabolizable energy value of dried corn distillers grains and corn distillers grains with solubles for 6-week-old broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to determine the ileal digestible energy (IDE), ME, and ME(n) contents of corn distillers grains (DDG) and corn distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) for 6-wk-old broiler chickens using a multiple linear regression method. The DDG and DDGS were incorporated into a corn-soybean meal-based reference diet at 3 levels (0, 300, or 600 g/kg) by replacing the energy-yielding ingredients. These 5 diets were fed to 120 male Ross 308 broilers from d 35 to 42 posthatch with 3 birds per cage and 8 replicate cages per diet in a randomized complete block design. The birds were fed a standard broiler starter diet from d 1 to 22 posthatch and a standard broiler grower diet from d 22 to 35 posthatch. The inclusion of DDG and DDGS linearly (P < 0.001) decreased ileal digestibility of DM, energy, and IDE. Supplementation of DDG (linearly and quadratically; P < 0.05) or DDGS (linearly; P < 0.05) decreased metabolizability of DM, N, energy, N-corrected energy, and ME and ME(n). By regressing the DDG and DDGS-associated IDE intake in kilocalories against kilograms of DDG and DDGS intake, the IDE regression equation was Y = -19 + 2,428 × DDG + 2,922 × DDGS, r(2) = 0.97, which indicates IDE values of 2,428 kcal/kg of DM for DDG and 2,922 kcal/kg of DM for DDGS. Similarly, the ME regression equation was Y = -24 + 2,279 × DDG + 2,800 × DDGS, r(2) = 0.98, which implies ME values of 2,279 kcal/kg of DM for DDG and 2,800 kcal/kg of DM for DDGS. For ME(n), the regression equation was Y = -20 + 2,176 × DDG + 2,688 × DDGS, r(2) = 0.98, which suggests ME(n) values of 2,176 kcal/kg of DM for DDG and 2,688 kcal/kg of DM for DDGS. The IDE, ME, and ME(n) values of DDGS were higher (P < 0.01) than those of DDG. From these values, we calculated the advantages in IDE, ME, and ME(n) of DDGS over DDG used in this study to be 20, 23, and 24%, respectively.
Intraplate and interplate faulting interactions during the August 31, 2012, Philippine Trench earthquake (Mw 7.6) sequence

On August 31, 2012, a large (M_w 7.6) thrust earthquake occurred within the subducting Philippine Sea plate seaward of a low seismicity region of the plate boundary (9.5°N–11.5°N), possibly as a result of horizontal compressional stress accumulation offshore of a locked megathrust. The mainshock ruptured from ∼30–50 km depth, with high radiated-energy/seismic-moment ratio and enriched short-period P-wave radiation. The nine largest aftershocks with global centroid moment tensor solutions (M_w ∼5.2–5.6) were shallow (10–13 km) normal-faulting outer-rise events, and a waveform template analysis using regional broadband data indicates many (48/110) similar normal faulting events (m_b 4.0–5.5) and a few (8/110) likely shallow thrust faulting events on the megathrust with additional very small unidentified events. Coulomb stress perturbations may contribute to the mix of intraplate and interplate faulting. Geodetic assessment of any slip deficit on the megathrust is essential for quantifying the potential for a future large interplate rupture in this region.
Relative Frequencies of Non-homogeneous Markov Chains in Simulated Annealing and Related Algorithms

We consider a class of non-homogeneous Markov chains arising in simulated annealing and related stochastic search algorithms. Using only elementary first principles, we analyze the convergence and rate of convergence of the relative frequencies of visits to states in the Markov chain. We describe in detail three examples, including the standard simulated annealing algorithm, to show how our framework applies to specific stochastic search algorithmsthese examples have not previously been recognized to be sufficiently similar to share common analytical grounds. Our analysis, though elementary, provides the strongest sample-path convergence results to date for simulated annealing type Markov chains. Our results serve to illustrate that by taking a purely sample-path view, surprisingly strong statements can be made using only relatively elementary tools.
Differences in a K current in Schwann cells from normal and neurofibromatosis-infected damselfish.

Patch clamp techniques were used to study whole cell ionic currents in Schwann cells (SC) from a tropical marine fish, the bicolor damselfish, Pomacentrus partitus. The bicolor damselfish is affected by a disease termed damselfish neurofibromatosis (DNF), being developed as an animal model of neurofibromatosis-type 1 (NF1) in humans. NF1 affects SC, fibroblasts, and perineurial cells. The sole depolarization-activated ionic current present in cultured SC from normal fish peripheral nerve and from neurofibromas of fish with induced or spontaneously occurring DNF was an inactivating K+ current (K current), with a strong dependence on the Nernst potential for K+. This K current activated at depolarizations to -40 mV and above and inactivated during a maintained test pulse (0.2-1 s), but inactivation was significantly greater in tumored SC. Both currents were inhibited by 4-aminopyridine (Kd 1 mM) and by dendrotoxin (15 μM) but were insensitive to extracellular tetraethyammonium (≤ 150 mM), indicating that the whole cell currents were similar pharmacologically. The currents could be distinguished on the basis of their sensitivity to depolarized holding potential, with normal cells less sensitive. Half-inactivation of the current was -32 mV in normal cells and -38 mV in tumored cells. Inactivation curves constructed from the average normalized current for many SC were significantly different in normal and tumored cells. When the depolarized holding potential was maintained between test depolarizations, greater voltage-dependent inactivation in tumored cells was apparent. Normal cells maintained an average of 36% of peak current at a holding voltage of −40 mV, while in tumored cells this average was 12%, a significant difference. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Regional energetic dysfunction in hippocampal epilepsy

Objectives – There is increasing evidence for a dysfunctional metabolic network in human mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). To further describe this, we evaluated the bioenergetic status in unilateral MTLE inter-regionally and in relation to neuropathology. Materials and methods – We used whole brain high field (4 T) 31P MR spectroscopic imaging to determine in vivo PCr and ATP, studying n = 22 patients (all candidates for hippocampal resection) and n = 14 control volunteers. The degree of bioenergetic impairment was assessed by calculating the ratio of PCr to ATP. Results– Compared to controls, patients demonstrated significant decreases in PCr/ATP from the ipsilateral amygdala and pes (0.84 ± 0.14, 0.87 ± 0.10, respectively, patients vs 0.97 ± 0.15, 0.98 ± 0.16, controls). In patients, the ipsilateral thalamic energetics positively correlated with contralateral hippocampal energetics. In addition, the ipsilateral thalamic and striatal energetics negatively correlated with hippocampal total glial counts. Conclusions– These data are consistent with a view that in MTLE, the bilateral hippocampi, ipsilateral thalamus and striatum are linked in their energetic depression, possibly reflecting the propagation of seizures throughout the brain.
Dietary Selenium Deficiency Partially Rescues Type 2 Diabetes–Like Phenotypes of Glutathione Peroxidase-1–Overexpressing Male Mice

This study was conducted to determine whether dietary Se deficiency precluded overproduction of glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX1) activity in mice overexpressing (OE) this gene and thus rescued their type 2 diabetes-like phenotypes. A total of 20 male OE and wild-type (WT) mice were fed an Se-deficient (<0.02 mg/kg) diet or an Se-supplemented (0.3 mg/kg as sodium selenite) diet from 1 to 5 mo of age. Dietary Se deficiency eliminated or attenuated (P < 0.05) genotype differences in concentrations of blood glucose, plasma insulin, and/or hepatic lipids, insulin sensitivity, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion at the end of the study. Dietary Se deficiency decreased (P < 0.05) OE islet mRNA levels of 2 key transcriptional activators (Beta2 and Foxa2) and removed genotype differences in islet mRNA levels of 7 genes (Beta2, Cfos, Foxa2, Pregluc, Ins1, p53, and Sur1) related to insulin synthesis and secretion. Compared with those of the Se-adequate OE mice, the Se-deficient OE mice had lower (P < 0.05) hepatic mRNA levels of 2 key rate-limiting enzymes for lipogenesis (Acc1) and glycolysis (Gk1), along with lower (P < 0.05) activities of hepatic glucokinase and muscle phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Dietary Se deficiency also decreased (P < 0.05) blood glucose and hepatic lipid concentrations in the WT mice. In conclusion, dietary Se deficiency precluded the overproduction of GPX1 in full-fed OE mice and partially rescued their metabolic syndromes. This alleviation resulted from modulating the expression and/or function of proinsulin genes, lipogenesis rate-limiting enzyme genes, and key glycolysis and gluconeogenesis enzymes in islets, liver, and muscle.
THE EFFECT OF LIGHT INTENSITY ON RATE OF APPARENT PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN LEAVES OF SUN AND SHADE PLANTS

THE RELATIONSHIP between photosynthesis and light intensity has been a subject of investigation by plant physiologists for a great many years. A number of light curves of photosynthesis are presented by Rabinowitch (1951) in his discussion of the light factor. Most of these curves however are for the lower plants. Of the approximately two dozen curves presented only 5 are for higher plants. Data are presented in tables for compensation points of various species but here again the lower plants far outnumber the higher plants. With the exception of the table on maximum yield of photosynthesis under natural conditions it is apparent that most of the available data on compensation point and saturation light intensities are for the algae. That the number of light curves of photosynthesis of higher plants is limited is evidenced by the few citations presented by Thomas (1955). Most of these which he does discuss are for plants growing under field conditions. Information relative to compensation points, saturation light intensities, and maximum photosynthesis at norlnal atmospheric CO2 concentration of a number of species of plants is available in the literature. The diversity of experimental conditions under which these data were obtained, however, makes difficult the comparison of rates of photosynthesis of different species of plants. One can not always be sure whether the differences are inherent differences of individual plants or differences which result from variations in experimental procedure. It was the purpose of this investigation therefore to obtain data relative to compensation points, light saturation and maximum photosynthetic rates of several species of plants under similar experimental conditions. Species of plants from two physiological groups were chosen. Those which could be classed as typical sun plants and those classed as typical shade plants. The experimental procedure was designed such that the exposures to the various light intensities during the actual measurements of photosynthesis would be of short duration so that in the case of shade plants solarization might not occur. MATERIALS AND METHODS.-The apparatus used to follow the course of photosynthesis consisted of a tank of compressed air to provide a uniform concentration of C02, a Plexiglas leaf chamber (fig. 1) in which could be inserted an attached leaf or frond as in the case of fern, a column of Drierite to
Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy associated with endometrial carcinoma

Abstract The simultaneous development of digital clubbing, incapacitating arthralgias, and progressive pulmonary metastases was observed in a patient with endometrial carcinoma. Nuclide bone scan showed diffuse periosteal uptake along the tubular bones, the pattern which is typical of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. Treatment with indomethacin rapidly relieved joint pain and swelling.
An evaluation of cassava, sweet potato and field corn as potential carbohydrate sources for bioethanol production in Alabama and Maryland

The recent emphasis on corn production to meet the increasing demand for bioethanol has resulted in trepidation regarding the sustainability of the global food supply. To assess the potential of alternative crops as sources of bioethanol production, we grew sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and cassava (Manihot esculentum) at locations near Auburn, Alabama and Beltsville, Maryland in order to measure root carbohydrate (starch, sucrose, glucose) and root biomass. Averaged for both locations, sweet potato yielded the highest concentration of root carbohydrate (ca 80%), primarily in the form of starch (ca 50%) and sucrose (ca 30%); whereas cassava had root carbohydrate concentrations of (ca 55%), almost entirely as
A New Approach for the Study of Chemical Mechanical Polishing

The process of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) can be studied using in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) by intentionally using a high tip/sample interaction force. The nominal removal rate of Al during AFM scratching is studied under a range of conditions including varying tip/sample force, solution pH, and electrode potential. This approach should be useful for CMP process development and furthering the fundamental understanding of CMP mechanisms. © 1999 The Electrochemical Society. S1099-0062(99)09-098-7. All rights reserved.
On Demonized Muslims and Vilified Jews: Between Theory and Politics

In this article I engage the work of three scholars, each of whom speaks to reactions to Muslims or interventions in their lives in the United States and Europe. Each is critical of these reactions and interventions, and traces them to inconsistencies in liberal thought and practice. My purpose is to interrogate their theorizing by applying it to the interface of liberalism with another religious Other, one that tends to generate far less sympathy in the predominantly secular and liberal academy: religiously motivated Jewish settlers in Israeli-occupied territories. The first scholar is Saba Mahmood, who recently argued against U.S. involvement in trying to alter the theology and practices of Muslims in the Middle East. The second is Judith Butler, who in a 2008 article addressed Muslims in the Netherlands, the problems of citizenship, and the right to religious freedom. Finally, Talal Asad has spoken to issues of violence, arguing that suicide bombing is really not so different from state violences perpetrated by the United States and Israel. Each of their arguments contains critiques of secular liberalism and the contradictory ethics and inconsistencies within liberal thought and practice, and each carries different but related implications. My intent is to begin to explore the possibilities of applying the analyses of these writers to the case of conflict between religiously motivated settlers in Israeli-occupied territories and left-wing, secular, and liberal Israeli Jews. Although this case mirrors broader representations of “Islam and the West,” it is rarely considered in comparison when such representations are deconstructed. The questions raised through this uncomfortable comparison will, I hope, contribute to broader conversations about the challenges and complexities of living together with differences that may be threatening if not altogether incommensurable.
Nanosize Effect on the Deliquescence and the Efflorescence of Sodium Chloride Particles

The deliquescence and efflorescence relative humidity values of 6- to 60-nm NaCl particles were measured using a tandem nano-Differential Mobility Analyzer. The deliquescence relative humidity (DRH) increased when the dry particle mobility diameter decreased below approximately 40 nm. The efflorescence relative humidity (ERH) similarly increased. For example, the DRH and ERH of 6-nm particles were 87% and 53%, respectively, compared to 75% and 45% for particles larger than 40 nm. Power law fits describing the nanosize effect are: DRH(d m) = 213 d m −1.6+ 76 and ERH(d m) = 213 d m −1.65+ 44, which are calibrated for 6 < d m < 60 nm with less than 1% RH uncertainty and where d m is the dry particle mobility diameter (nm). Two independent methods were used to generate the aerosol particles, namely by vaporizing and condensing granular sodium chloride and by electrospraying a high-purity sodium chloride aqueous solution, to investigate possible effects of impurities on the results. The DRH and ERH values were...
Full-Thickness Skin Graft Overlying a Separately Harvested Auricular Cartilage Graft for Nasal Alar Reconstruction

Objective:Toevaluatetheaestheticandfunctionaloutcomes of a full-thickness skin graft and a separately harvested auricular cartilage graft for nasal alar defects created by Mohs micrographic surgery. Design: Twenty patients with deep Mohs micrographic surgery defects of the nasal ala who underwent reconstructionwithafull-thicknessskingraftandanauricularcartilagegraftwereprospectivelystudiedatasingle tertiarycareinstitutionbetween2010and2011inanonrandomized, nonblinded study. An ordinal 5-point Likert scale evaluation of overall outcomes was performed by 4 independent surgeon raters. Results: The mean outcome for use of the fullthicknessskinandauricularcartilagegraftconstructwas a score of 2.3 on a scale of 1 through 5, with 1 being excellent and 5 being poor. The mean duration of follow-up was 6 months, with a range of 5 weeks to 23 months. There were no clinically meaningful losses of constructs in the patients studied. Conclusion: A full-thickness skin graft and a separatelyharvestedauricularcartilagegraftarevaluableand reliable tools for reconstructing deep nasal alar defects that require support to prevent alar retraction or collapse, particularly when a single-stage procedure is preferred or necessary because of medical comorbidities.
Improvement in the Use of an Operational Constellation of GPS Radio Occultation Receivers in Weather Forecasting

Abstract As of May 2007, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) implemented a new Global Data Assimilation System. This system incorporated the assimilation of global positioning system (GPS) radio occultation (RO) profiles from the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) mission, which was launched in April 2006. Since then, this new type of observation has been shown to provide additional information on the thermodynamic state of the atmosphere, resulting in a significant increase in the model skill. Recent updates of the analysis and modeling codes have required a revision of the algorithm that assimilates GPS RO data. In addition, some modifications in the processing of the observations have further enhanced the need for a revisiting of the assimilation code. Better characterizations of the quality control procedures, observation error structure, and forward modeling for the GPS RO observations are described. The updated system significantly im...
Management of nocturnal hypertension

Nocturnal hypertension is a common complication of essential and secondary hypertension. Abnormal circadian blood pressure patterns associated with elevated sleep blood pressure include nondipping and reverse dipping, both of which are associated with increased target-organ damage and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Nocturnal hypertension can be treated with several approaches that include both lifestyle changes, such as sodium restriction and potassium supplementation, and pharmacological treatments, primarily through the use of bedtime dosing of antihypertensive agents. Evening administration of blockers of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is the most consistently effective of these treatment strategies. In this review, we provide a detailed discussion of the options available for the management of nocturnal hypertension.
The effect of dietary fiber supplementation in man. II. Alteration in fecal physiology and bacterial flora

Fecal weight and water content and fecal quantitative and qualitative bacterial studies were compared on six volunteer subjects during regular diet periods and when on 5.4 g of diet fiber supplementation. There was a statistical mean stool weight increase for the group from 103 +/- 40 g to 226 +/- 90 g. The water content of the stool remained constant under the diet conditions of this study. The total anaerobic counts increased significantly while the subjects were on the high fiber diet. Trends in bacterial genus changes appeared but were not significant and total aerobic counts were stable.
Scale Bridging Interactions During Penetration of Granular Materials

Rapid penetration tests into granular media were performed using spheres and long rods at a wide range of impact velocities up to 300 m/s. The granular media consisted of natural sand or ground fused quartz. Acceleration data were obtained, from which stress was computed. Analysis of results revealed that stress as a function of velocity did not depend on scale or projectile length-to-diameter ratio. Moreover, stress did not display a simple velocity squared dependence. Instead, there were three distinct regimes indicating three different meso-scale material response modes.
Screening for Possible Drug Carcinogenicity: Second Report of Findings

Cancer development was followed up through 1978 in 143,574 outpatients who were identified on the basis of computer-stored drug-dispensing data as users of various medicinal drugs during the 4-year period starting in July 1969. Screening analyses were repeated for the 95 most commonly used drugs and drug groups, which were reported previously after a shorter follow-up, and it was found that several drug-cancer associations had either gained or lost statistical significance since the report. Screening of 120 additional less commonly used drugs revealed one negative and 43 positive drug-cancer associations. A few of these associations suggested interesting new hypotheses about possible drug effects, but further study is required before conclusions on causality can be drawn. The absence of association with cancer for many drugs provides some provisional assurance for the absence of carcinogenicity, but further follow-up is needed to rule out later effects.
A Survey of Online Mathematics Course Basics

G. Donald Allen (dallen @math.tamu.edu) is a professor of mathematics at Texas A&M University. He has done research in functional analysis, numerical analysis, and mathematical modeling of political processes. His main * A f interest in the past few years has been Internet application of mathematics instruction and distance learning. He has been instrumental in developing a fully online masters of _ -_^^j B ~mathematics degree. This program, now in its third year, has more than thirty graduate students.
Leadership Strategies to Reduce Risks for Nurse Night Shift Workers

The purpose of this systematic review is to identify leadership strategies to help mitigate risks associated with nurse night shift work. An electronic literature search for “Strategies to reduce risks for nurse night shift workers” was conducted using Pubmed, CINAHL, and Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition databases. Inclusion criteria used was English language, full text available, and published dates between January 1, 2005 and May 1, 2015. Based on the search criteria a total of 107 articles were identified. Abstracts for the articles were reviewed for relevance and duplicate citations removed for a total of 16 studies being included in the review. Several strategies were identified that helped increase transparency and control of shift scheduling. One idea was the utilization of open-shift management technology to allow staff to volunteer for open shifts within a multi-site healthcare system. This idea fit well with the self-scheduling model. The literature indicated that that level of control over schedule contributed to improved health and sense of well-being for shift workers. The individual factor of hardiness was found to have protective effects for shift work tolerance. Furthermore, specific guidelines for fatigue management and practice guidelines for shift management standards help reduce risk for staff and patients. Education for staff regarding health risks, sleep management, and circadian approaches were addressed as leadership responsibilities. Other shift work strategies that produced positive outcomes focused on the rate, duration, and direction of rotating shifts.
Long-term results of treatment in coxa plana. A follow-up study of eighty-eight patients.

In eighty-eight patients with 100 hips with coxa plana re-examined ten to forty-five years after treatment, the results were classed as good or excellent in 64 per cent, fair in 17 per cent, and poor in 19 per cent. Treatment for most patients was rest in bed with or without traction. The earlier the age of onset the better the result. When the disease was bilateral, the results were slightly better and usually the final result was the same in each hip. In this series bed rest and traction for a variable period of time was the treatment used for fifty-four patients, more than six months of bed rest without traction was used for seventeen patients, and none or less than six months of bed rest was used for twenty-one patients. Prolonged bed rest did not ensure a good result, and thirteen out of the eighteen treated by none or less than six months of bed rest had good or excellent results. This apparent paradox seemed to be related to the severity of the disease and this could not be correlated with the findings at onset. It was evident after long follow-up that mild to moderate deformity of the femoral head (flattening or coxa magna) is compatible with satisfactory function, with an amount of discomfort and loss of motion that is acceptable to most patients. A progressive deterioration in function with later years did not appear to take place.
Direct comparison of current-induced spin polarization in topological insulator Bi2Se3 and InAs Rashba states

Three-dimensional topological insulators (TIs) exhibit time-reversal symmetry protected, linearly dispersing Dirac surface states with spin–momentum locking. Band bending at the TI surface may also lead to coexisting trivial two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) states with parabolic energy dispersion. A bias current is expected to generate spin polarization in both systems, although with different magnitude and sign. Here we compare spin potentiometric measurements of bias current-generated spin polarization in Bi2Se3(111) where Dirac surface states coexist with trivial 2DEG states, and in InAs(001) where only trivial 2DEG states are present. We observe spin polarization arising from spin–momentum locking in both cases, with opposite signs of the measured spin voltage. We present a model based on spin dependent electrochemical potentials to directly derive the sign expected for the Dirac surface states, and show that the dominant contribution to the current-generated spin polarization in the TI is from the Dirac surface states. Spin-polarized states arising from either Rashba splitting or topological effects are expected to produce current-induced spin polarization with different magnitude and sign. Here, Li et al. observe current-generated spin polarization in both Bi2Se3(111) and InAs (001) films, with opposite signs of the spin voltage.
Observations Relating to an Inter-Hospital Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Role of Antimicrobial Therapy in Infection Control

Clinical, bacteriologie, epidemiologic and hospital infection-control observations related to an inter-hospital outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are described. The outbreak involved 66 patients at the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center (UOHSC) and its closely affiliated VA hospital, the Portland VA Medical Center (PVAMC). No environmental source of infection was identified; person-to-person transmission was most likely responsible for its spread. Surveillance cultures demonstrated nasal colonization in house staff and nursing personnel at both hospitals. Inter-hospital transfer of infection was, in all likelihood, achieved via nasal carriage by a single physician. Case-control analysis indicated a significantly increased risk (p 0.05) when related variables were controlled by multivariate analysis. Prevention of spread of infection by routine infection control measures was less effective at PVAMC than at UOHSC. Patients at PVAMC were significantly older and had longer durations of hospitalization (p < 0.05). Antimicrobial therapy of colonized patients and personnel appeared to assist in the control of the outbreak at PVAMC. Antimicrobial therapy with topical bacitracin and oral rifampin, alone or in combination with oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, was effective in eliminating colonization with methicillin-resistant S. aureus. [Infect Control 1981; 2(6):453-459.]
Ventricular function and fatty acid metabolism in neonatal piglet heart.

Studies in which subcellular systems were used suggest that neonatal myocardium has a sharply limited capacity to metabolize fatty acids. The relationship of these findings to the intact heart was tested on piglets, 8 h to 12 days of age. Left ventricular (LV) performance, O2 consumption (MVO2), and fatty acid (FA) uptake and oxidation were measured. Hearts were perfused at 70 cmH2O pressure with buffer containing 2% bovine serum albumin, insulin (100 microU/ml), 5 mM glucose, and 1.5 mM lactate. 14C-labeled palmitate was added (net FA, 0.5 mM). Washed erythrocytes were used to assure adequate O2 delivery. LV end-diastolic pressure (EDP) was controlled with a fluid-filled balloon. FA oxidation was estimated by measuring 14CO2 production. Hearts less than 24 h (group I, n = 6), those approximately 3 days (group II, n = 5), and those 6-12 days of age (group III, n = 10) were compared. Measurements at a low EDP (2-4 cmH2O) and at a higher EDP (7-9 cmH2O) were compared. At the low EDP, rates of FA oxidation for groups I-III averaged 30.0 +/- 3.0, 31.4 +/- 2.9, and 50.2 +/- 2.6 nmol.min-1.g-1, respectively. These values increased to 43.8 +/- 3.7, 42.6 +/- 2.5, and 63.8 +/- 4.0 nmol.min-1.g-1, respectively, at the higher EDP level (P less than 0.01 for each group). Thus within a few hours of birth, pig hearts are able to oxidize long-chain FA, and the rate of oxidation is linked to mechanical function. However, both the oxidation rate and the percentage of MVO2 accounted for by FA oxidation are greater in older hearts.
Unforeseen distance-dependent SERS spectroelectrochemistry from surface-tethered Nile Blue: the role of molecular orientation

Covalent immobilization of redox-active dyes is an important strategy to evaluate structure–activity relationships in nanoscale electrochemistry by using optical readouts such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Here we investigate the role of the tether length in the SERS spectroelectrochemistry of surface-attached Nile Blue. Differential pulse voltammetry and a potential-dependent SERS derivative analysis reveal that the Nile Blue molecules adopt a different orientation with respect to the electrode surface as the number of carbons in a carboxylic acid-terminated alkanethiol monolayer is varied, which leads to unique SERS spectroelectrochemical behaviors. We use the relative molecular orientations and spectral characteristics to propose a model in which tethers shorter than the length of the molecule limit molecular motion under electrochemical perturbation, but tethers longer than the length of the molecule allow dye intercalation into the hydrophobic self-assembled monolayer, producing an unexpected decrease in the SERS intensity when the molecule is in the oxidized form.
Object-Oriented Domain Modelling of Constructed Facilities for Robotic Operations

Construction is an important industrial sector in the economy of most countries. However, it has lagged behind other sectors in terms of technological innovations and productivity gains (Warszawski, 1984). Robotic technology is emerging from the controlled manufacturing environment and its application in construction will potentially: reduce labor costs through automation thus resulting in productivity increases, achieve better and more consistent quality because of the accuracy and the precision of robots, and improve safety in construction by having robots perform tasks involving high risks.
Advancing Financial Literacy Education Using a Framework for Evaluation

This chapter provides an overview of a wide range of financial evaluation initiatives aimed at improving Americans’ financial literacy. The chapter reviews the current program evaluation evidence and highlights challenges faced by providers of financial education programs as they evaluate program effectiveness. The chapter describes and outlines Jacobs’ five-tiered approach to program evaluation, a comprehensive framework for evaluation that can provide guidance for those currently or planning to deliver a financial education program.
Family Financial Stress and Adolescent Sexual Risk-Taking: The Role of Self-Regulation

The ability to control one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors is known as self-regulation. Family stress and low adolescent self-regulation have been linked with increased engagement in risky sexual behaviors, which peak in late adolescence and early adulthood. The purpose of this study was to assess whether adolescent self-regulation, measured by parent and adolescent self-report and respiratory sinus arrhythmia, mediates or moderates the relationship between family financial stress and risky sexual behaviors. We assessed these relationships in a 4-year longitudinal sample of 450 adolescents (52 % female; 70 % white) and their parents using structural equation modeling. Results indicated that high family financial stress predicts engagement in risky sexual behaviors as mediated, but not moderated, by adolescent self-regulation. The results suggest that adolescent self-regulatory capacities are a mechanism through which proximal external forces influence adolescent risk-taking. Promoting adolescent self-regulation, especially in the face of external stressors, may be an important method to reduce risk-taking behaviors as adolescents transition to adulthood.
Holoportation: Virtual 3D Teleportation in Real-time

We present an end-to-end system for augmented and virtual reality telepresence, called Holoportation. Our system demonstrates high-quality, real-time 3D reconstructions of an entire space, including people, furniture and objects, using a set of new depth cameras. These 3D models can also be transmitted in real-time to remote users. This allows users wearing virtual or augmented reality displays to see, hear and interact with remote participants in 3D, almost as if they were present in the same physical space. From an audio-visual perspective, communicating and interacting with remote users edges closer to face-to-face communication. This paper describes the Holoportation technical system in full, its key interactive capabilities, the application scenarios it enables, and an initial qualitative study of using this new communication medium.