cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P144: Determinants of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in an Overweight and Obese High-Risk African-American Population

Introduction: African Americans (AA) often have low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, explained in prior studies primarily by body mass index (BMI). Given the marked heterogeneity in the ratio of metabolically active lean (muscle) mass versus fat mass, even across ranges of higher BMI, we examined the extent to which higher levels of lean versus fat mass are independently associated with fitness in healthy overweight and obese AA from families with early-onset coronary disease. Methods: Subjects were screened for demographics, smoking, blood pressure, levels of blood lipids, hsCRP, glucose, and insulin; body composition was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; the ratio of lean mass to fat mass was calculated and log-transformed for analysis. Habitual physical activity was assessed with the Stanford 7-Day Physical Activity Recall. Fitness was expressed as VO2peak attained during maximal treadmill testing. Linear regression was used to model VO2peak, adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors and nonindependence of families. Results: Participants (n=195; 69% women) were 44.8 ± 11 years old with mean BMI 34 ± 5 kg/m2. In regression analysis, increased lean to fat mass ratio was associated with increased VO2peak (p Conclusions: The ratio of lean to fat mass was the key determinant of cardiorespiratory fitness, independent of sex, age, and the magnitude of obesity in this cohort of high-risk overweight and obese AAs. The results suggest that interventions that preserve or increase lean mass may increase cardiorespiratory fitness.
Noradrenergic Receptor Mechanisms in Stress Adaptation

The noradrenergic system is one of the key neuronal systems involved in the central response to stress. It is known to be activated by most forms of stress, both emotional and physical, and is thought to participate in a variety of stress-related functions such as arousal, vigilance and anxiety and the coordination of various neuroendocrine and autonomic responses (Aston-Jones, 1985; Rasmussen et al., 1986; Svensson, 1987).
Integrating security-related coding techniques into programming practice

Programming computer applications has always been about sharing and reuse. Different members of development team shared data (as global variables) and shared algorithms (as function code). As applications grew in size and complexity, sharing resulted in unwanted links between subsystems. Global variables and functions became frowned upon and eventually made illegal. The advent of the Internet brought new threats. Since modern programming languages do not support security directly, we build security algorithmically. Thus, software professionals have to learn how to prevent security threats. Meanwhile, when most software professionals were going to school, security awareness was not part of the curriculum. This is why the degree of security awareness among many software professionals remains low. This has to change. This paper describes the efforts to educate software developers at Boston University Metropolitan College. The first direction is adding security-related courses to university degree programs designed for working software professionals. The second direction is integrating security-related topics into existing programming courses. We found that even introductory programming courses could accommodate a number of security-oriented topics provided these topics are adapted to the appropriate level. Learning these topics early prepares software professionals for the further study of the field of software security.
Standin’ tall: criminalization and acts of resistance among elementary school boys of color

ABSTRACTUnjust racial disparities persist in the United States criminal justice system fueled by a school to prison pipeline which, through criminalizing processes, disproportionately and unjustly ...
Circumferential dural reconstruction after excision of recurrent intradural extra medullary spinal meningioma

Abstract Background Meningiomas are the most common benign spinal tumor. Surgery is mostly curative, however, ~10% of benign spinal tumors recur. Meningioma recurrence is associated with dural invasion, degree of resection, and histological characteristics of the tumor. Resection of large ventral spinal tumors remains challenging due to a greater risk of spinal cord injury and difficult proper tumor exposure. Surgical resection techniques include en bloc resection of the tumor and involved dura, or tumor resection with extensive coagulation of the dural bed. This is the first report of successful circumferential spinal dural repair using a synthetic dural graft following resection of a recurrent WHO Grade I thoracic spinal meningioma in a pediatric patient. Case description We report our technique for 360° duraplasty of the thoracic spine following meningioma excision in a pediatric patient. The patient is a neurologically intact 17-year-old female presenting with intradural extra medullary (IDEM) WHO Grade I recurrent ventral thoracic spinal meningioma at the T10–T11 level with intraoperative evidence of nerve root invasion for which complete resection was performed. The resultant 5 cm circumferential dural defect necessitated 360° spinal thoracic duraplasty. No postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak (CSF) or other complications related to the repair were encountered and the patient returned to baseline neurological status postoperatively. Conclusions Further follow-up will provide long-term results of this procedure and further research on the application of this technique in dural repair during different surgeries at all spinal levels is warranted.
Crystal nucleation and growth produced by continuous decompression of Pinatubo magma

High-temperature decompression experiments demonstrate that crystal textures preserve a record of the style and rate of magmatic ascent. To reinforce this link, we performed a suite of isothermal decompression experiments using starting material from the climactic 1991 Pinatubo eruption. We decompressed experiments from 220 MPa to final, quench pressures of 75 or 30 MPa using continuous decompression rates of 100, 30, 10, 3, 1, and 0.3 MPa h−1. Amphibole, clinopyroxene, and plagioclase crystallized during the experiments, with plagioclase microlites dominating the assemblage. Total microlite number densities range from 107.6±0.4 up to 108.2±0.2 cm−3, with plagioclase accounting for up to 65% of the total number. Plagioclase microlite area increased systematically from 19 ± 8 to 937 ± 487 µm2 with increasing experiment duration. Our textures provide time-integrated records of crystal kinetics. Average nucleation and areal growth rates of plagioclase are highest in the fastest decompressions (~ 107.5 cm−3 h−1 and 10.1 ± 4.1 µm2 h−1, respectively) and more than an order of magnitude lower in the slowest experiments (~ 105.5 cm−3 h−1 and 0.8 ± 0.2 µm2 h−1, respectively). Both nucleation and growth rates are highest at high degrees of disequilibrium. We find that peak supersaturation-dependent instantaneous rates are generally more than an order of magnitude faster than average rates. We use those instantaneous nucleation and growth rates to introduce an iterative model to evaluate the effects of different decompression rates, decompression paths (continuous, single-step or multistep), and the presence of phenocrysts on final crystallinity and microlite size distribution.
Principles of Measuring Chamber Size, Volume and Hemodynamic Assessment of the Heart

Echocardiography allows for a comprehensive assessment of cardiac structure and function by incorporating data from two dimensional (2-D), three dimensional (3-D), M-mode, pulse wave, continuous wave, color flow, and tissue Doppler echo. This chapter will cover the assessment of left ventricular (LV) size and systolic function by two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), 3-dimensional echocardiography (3DE), and M-mode echo. A guideline-based approach to assessing left atrial, aortic, and inferior vena cava size will also be presented. Next, a stepwise approach to the comprehensive assessment of LV diastolic function utilizing 2DE, pulse wave and tissue Doppler echo will be presented. Finally, hemodynamic principles will be introduced that enable measurement of cardiac output and quantitative assessment of valvular heart disease. These principles will be further elaborated in subsequent chapters dedicated to the assessment of valvular heart disease.
Race, Interstate Migration, and Employment Discrimination Law

During World War I, migration by Blacks from the South to other regions of the United States increased substantially, and in the decades that followed, this migration remained above its prewar level. This chapter contends that the enlarged migration of Blacks to states outside the South created the foundation for law that prohibited race discrimination in employment. From 1945 until the enactment of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, 23 states in the continental United States approved legislation that (1) banned job-related race discrimination and (2) provided a mechanism to enforce the ban. An analysis of state-level data with logistic regression supported the hypothesis of the study: Net of other independent variables, the odds that a state adopted an enforceable statute prohibiting race discrimination in employment rose as the number of Black male migrants into a state between 1910 and 1940 became larger relative to the number of White male residents of the state. Furthermore, this migration had a greater impact on the odds than societal rationality (measured by the percentage of all state residents aged 25+ who as of 1940 had completed four or more years of college), an increase which also raised the odds. Finally, quantitative research on the degree to which such state legislation benefited Blacks economically is examined.
Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Colorectal Cancer Screening, Incidence, and Survival in Kentucky.

Background Kentucky ranks first in the US in cancer incidence and mortality. Compounded by high poverty levels and a high rate of medically uninsured, cancer rates are even worse in Appalachian Kentucky. Being one of the first states to adopt the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion, insurance coverage markedly increased for Kentucky residents. The purpose of our study was to determine the impact of Medicaid expansion on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, diagnosis, and survival in Kentucky. Study Design The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Kentucky Cancer Registry were queried for individuals (≥20 years old) undergoing CRC screening (per US Preventative Services Task Force) or diagnosed with primary invasive CRC from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2016. Colorectal cancer screening rates, incidence, and survival were compared before (2011 to 2013) and after (2014 to 2016) ACA implementation. Results Colorectal cancer screening was performed in 930,176 individuals, and 11,441 new CRCs were diagnosed from 2011 to 2016. Screening for CRC increased substantially for Medicaid patients after ACA implementation (+230%, p Conclusions Implementation of Medicaid expansion led to a significant increase in CRC screening, CRC diagnoses, and overall survival in CRC patients with Medicaid, with an even more profound impact in the Appalachian population.
Early‐Life Adversity and Blunted Stress Reactivity as Predictors of Alcohol and Drug use in Persons With COMT (rs4680) Val158Met Genotypes

BACKGROUND Risk for alcoholism may be enhanced by exposure to early-life adversity (ELA) in persons with genetic vulnerabilities. We examined ELA in the presence of a common variant of the gene for the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT, Val158Met, rs4680) in relation to cortisol reactivity, the onset of early drinking, and experimentation with drugs. METHODS Saliva cortisol reactivity to speech and mental arithmetic stress was measured in 480 healthy young adults (23.5 years of age, 50% females) who experienced either 0, 1, or ≥ 2 forms of ELA during childhood and adolescence, provided information on use of alcohol and recreational drugs, and were genotyped for the Val158Met polymorphism. RESULTS ELA led to progressively smaller cortisol responses in the Met/Met and Val/Met allele groups but to progressively larger responses in Val homozygotes, F = 3.29, p = 0.011. ELA independently predicted earlier age at first drink, F = 14.2, p < 0.0001, with a larger effect in Met-allele carriers, F = 13.95, p < 0.00001, and a smaller effect in Val homozygotes, F = 4.14, p = 0.02. Similar effects were seen in recreational drug use. Cortisol reactivity was unrelated to drinking behavior or drug experimentation. CONCLUSIONS ELA leads to blunted stress reactivity and, independently, contributes to potentially risky drinking and drug-use behaviors in persons carrying 1 or 2 copies of the COMT 158Met allele. The results reinforce the impact of early experience on the stress axis and on risky behaviors, and they point to the 158Met allele as conveying a vulnerability to the early environment.
Altruistic values and environmental knowledge as triggers of pro-environmental behavior among tourists.

This study used the value-attitude-behaviour model to test the hypothesized impacts of altruistic values and attitudes on environmentally responsible behaviour and destination loyalty. The study us...
Referral patterns of pediatric dentists and general practitioners to orthodontists based on case complexity.

Objective The objectives of this research were to investigate and compare general and pediatric dentists' subjective judgments of orthodontic case complexity and to determine how their perceptions of case complexity influence their decisions to refer the patient to an orthodontist. Methods Twenty pediatric dentists and 21 general dentists participated in the study. Pretreatment orthodontic records of 20 patients with a variety of malocclusions and a range of American Board of Orthodontics Discrepancy Index (DI) scores were used. Respondents were asked about their background and training in orthodontics. They were also asked to identify the subjective complexity of each case with the use of a 100-point visual analog scale (VAS) and whether they would refer the patient to an orthodontic specialist. A mixed-model multivariate data analysis was used to evaluate the subjective case complexity with the use of fixed factors such as DI score, type of panel member, experience, annual continuing education rate, and gender. Generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate the referral patterns of the general dentists and pediatric dentists. Level of significance was set at P Results General dentists appeared to provide more overall orthodontic treatment than pediatric dentists; many general dentists provide limited orthodontic treatment and clear aligner therapy (P Conclusions General dentists provided more orthodontic care than the pediatric dentists. Both groups identified case complexity similarly, with only minor differences, but pediatric dentists had higher referral rates to orthodontic specialists regardless of the initial case complexity.
Prevalence of profound laryngeal sensory neuropathy in head and neck cancer survivors with feeding tube-dependent oropharyngeal dysphagia

Background Laryngopharyngeal sensory neuropathy (LSN) has been observed to be a contributing factor to swallowing dysfunction in head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors. Methods Retrospective review of 43 tube-dependent HNC survivors was conducted. LSN was assessed with direct palpation of the aryepiglottic fold and by traversing the true vocal folds without eliciting a cough reflex with a flexible laryngoscope. Results The primary tumor sites were oropharynx (51%), larynx (14%), nasopharynx (4.7%), oral cavity (14%), thyroid (4.7%), unknown primary (9.3%), and esophagus (2.3%). The prevalence of profound LSN was 79.1%. Objective fluoroscopic parameters contributing to swallowing dysfunction were diminished laryngohyoid elevation (100%), pharyngeal weakness (67%), and reduced lateral PES opening (37%). Conclusions The prevalence of LSN in HNC survivors with feeding tube-dependent dysphagia is high (79.1%). The data suggest that LSN, in addition to fibrosis, pharyngoesophageal stenosis, and cranial nerve motor deficits contributes to swallowing dysfunction in these patients.
Medicare Enrollment Among Patients With End-Stage Kidney Disease Receiving Dialysis in Outpatient Facilities Between 2005 and 2016.

This study characterizes annual changes in enrollment of Medicare and non-Medicare patients treated at dialysis facilities before and after 2011 payment reforms and 2014 Affordable Care Act changes that influenced reimbursements.
Partially quenched chiral perturbation theory and a massless up quark: A lattice calculation of the light-quark-mass ratio

The nontrivial topological structure of the QCD gauge vacuum generates a CP breaking term in the QCD Lagrangian. However, measurements of the neutron electric dipole moment have demonstrated that the term's coefficient is unnaturally small, a dilemma known as the strong CP problem. A massless up quark is one potential solution, as the term could then be absorbed through chiral rotations. Through the light-quark-mass ratio m_u / m_d, leading order Chiral Perturbation Theory appears to rule this scenario out. However, the Kaplan-Manohar ambiguity demonstrates that certain strong next-to-leading order corrections are indistinguishable from an up quark mass. Only a direct calculation of the Gasser-Leutwyler coefficient combination 2 L_8 - L_5 can resolve the issue. We carry out such a calculation, using partially quenched N_f = 3 staggered fermions and hypercubic blocking, and make a quantitative assessment of our systematic error. We find 2 L_8 - L_5 = (0.22 +/- 0.14) x 10^-3, which corresponds to a light-quark-mass ratio of m_u / m_d = 0.408 +/- 0.035. Thus, the massless-up-quark solution to the strong CP problem is ruled out. This is the first calculation of its type to use a physical number of light quarks, N_f = 3, and the first determination of 2 L_8 - L_5 to include a comprehensive study of statistical error.
Information-theoretic sensor planning for large-scale production surveillance via deep reinforcement learning

Abstract Production surveillance is the task of monitoring oil and gas production from every well in a hydrocarbon field. Accurate surveillance is a basic necessity for several reasons that include improved resource management, better equipment health monitoring, reduced operational cost, and ultimately optimal hydrocarbon production. A key challenge in this task, especially for large fields with many wells, is the measurement of multiphase fluid flow using a limited number of noisy sensors of varying characteristics. Current surveillance practices are based on fixed utilization schedules of such flow sensors, which rarely change over time. Such a passive mode of sensing is completely agnostic to surveillance performance and thus often fails to achieve a desired accuracy. Here we propose an active surveillance approach, underpinned by the concept of value of information-based sensing. Borrowing some well-known concepts from Markov decision processes, reinforcement learning and artificial neural networks, we demonstrate that a practical active surveillance strategy can be devised, which can not only improve surveillance performance significantly, but also reduce usage of flow sensors.
Diurnal circadian variations in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: The atherosclerosis risk in communities (ARIC) study

Abstract Background Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) is challenging to diagnose due to its intermittent nature. Circadian rhythmicity has been reported for cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction; whether diurnal variation exists for paroxysmal AF is less known. We characterized the temporal pattern of AF initiation in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, a prospective community-based cohort study. Methods We included 74 ARIC study participants with paroxysmal AF detected by the Zio XT Patch at ARIC Visit 6 in 2016–17. We divided each participant's 2-week continuous monitoring data into 3-h intervals and summed the number of AF episodes in each interval. We performed Poisson regression using generalized estimating equations to estimate the effect of time of day on the number of AF episodes. Results Compared to the reference interval of time 00:00–02:59, the time intervals 12:00–14:59, 15:00–17:59, and 18:00–20:59 had significantly higher frequency of AF initiation. Rate ratios (95% CI) for mean number of episodes in these three intervals were 1.91 (1.11, 2.92), 2.54 (1.42, 4.53), and 1.99 (1.19, 3.25) respectively. Furthermore, we found no significant association between duration of episode and time of day. Conclusion There is diurnal variation in the initiation of AF episodes, with a peak in frequency in the late afternoon. Our finding is consistent with sympathetically driven AF. Pulse palpation or obtaining an electrocardiogram in the late afternoon may produce the highest diagnostic yield for AF.
Non-abelian Cohen–Lenstra heuristics over function fields

Boston, Bush and Hajir have developed heuristics, extending the Cohen–Lenstra heuristics, that conjecture the distribution of the Galois groups of the maximal unramified pro- extensions of imaginary quadratic number fields for an odd prime. In this paper, we find the moments of their proposed distribution, and further prove there is a unique distribution with those moments. Further, we show that in the function field analog, for imaginary quadratic extensions of , the Galois groups of the maximal unramified pro- extensions, as , have the moments predicted by the Boston, Bush and Hajir heuristics. In fact, we determine the moments of the Galois groups of the maximal unramified pro-odd extensions of imaginary quadratic function fields, leading to a conjecture on Galois groups of the maximal unramified pro-odd extensions of imaginary quadratic number fields.
Characterization of a novel endopeptidase Cwl0971 that hydrolyzes peptidoglycan of Clostridioides difficile involved in pleiotropic cellular processes

Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, toxin-producing anaerobe that can cause nosocomial antibiotic-associated intestinal disease. Although the production of toxin A (TcdA) and toxin B (TcdB) contribute to the main pathogenesis of C. difficile, the mechanism of TcdA and TcdB release from intracell remains unclear. In this study, we identified and characterized a new cell wall hydrolase Cwl0971 (endopeptidase, CDR20291_0971) from C. difficile R20291, which is involved in bacterial autolysis. The gene 0971 deletion mutant (R20291Δ0971) generated with CRISPR-AsCpfI exhibited significantly delayed cell autolysis and increased cell viability compared to R20291, and the purified Cwl0971 exhibited hydrolase activity for Bacillus subtilis cell wall. Meanwhile, 0971 gene deletion impaired TcdA and TcdB release due to the decreased cell autolysis in the stationary / late phase of cell growth. Moreover, biofilm formation, germination, and sporulation of the mutant strain decreased significantly compared to the wild type strain. In vivo, the depletion of Cwl097 decreased fitness over the parent strain in a mouse infection model. Collectively, Cwl0971 is involved in cell wall lysis and cell viability, which can affect several phenotypes of R20291. Our data indicate that the endopeptidase Cwl0971 is an attractive target for C. difficile infection therapeutics and prophylactics.
Rimegepant: acute treatment for migraine headaches.

Migraine headache treatment is quickly evolving. There have been three new acute migraine treatment options (i.e., lasmiditan, rimegepant, ubrogepant) and four new preventive migraine treatment options (i.e., erenumab, fremanezumab, galcanezumab, eptinezumab) released in the past 3 years. The new migraine treatments are focusing on pathways within the newly, better understood neurovascular hypothesis that further describes the pathophysiology of migraine headaches in more detail than before. The discovery of vasoactive peptides, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide, has led to the development of many of these migraine agents. Rimegepant is one of these newly approved agents for acute migraine treatment in adults with or without aura. Rimegepant has been found to decrease pain and symptoms associated with migraine attacks and is generally well-tolerated.
Supramolecular capture of highly polar amidosquaraine dye in water with nanomolar affinity and large turn-on fluorescence.

A supramolecular dye-capture system comprising anionic amidosquaraine guest and macrocyclic tetralactam host exhibits nanomolar affinity and “turn on” visible fluorescence. Utility is demonstrated with a new fluorescent assay for liposome leakage induced by the biomedically important enzyme phospholipase A2.
Instrumentation for the Saturn liquid hydrogen experiment.

The Saturn IB Yehicle, AS-203, was launched into a nominal 185 km circular orbit on July 5, 1966 as a liquid hydrogen experiment. The primary purpose of the light was to verify the performance of the propellant control system and the J-2 engine chilldown systems of the S-IVB stage. These systems are required for the Saturn V lunar mission. Low gravity fluid behavior and heat transfer data in these areas were very limited; therefore, the liquid hydrogen experiment was required to provide date and to assure confidence in future manned efforts.
Addressable inverter matrix for process and device characterization

The addressable inverter matrix consists of 222 inverters each accessible with the aid of a shift register. The structure has proven useful in characterizing the variability of inverter transfer curves and in diagnosing processing faults. For good 3-micron CMOS bulk inverters investigated in this study, the percent standard deviation of the inverter threshold voltage was less than one percent and the inverter gain (the slope of the inverter transfer curve at the inverter threshold voltage) was less than 3 percent. The average noise margin for the inverters was near 2 volts for a power supply voltage of 5 volts. The specific faults studied included undersize pull-down transistor widths and various open contacts in the matrix.
Effect of phospholipases and lipase on submitochondrial particles.

Abstract 1. Exposure of submitochondrial particles to phospholipases impaired the rate of oxidation as well as phosphorylation. Phospholipase A and phospholipase C were more inhibitory to phosphorylation and to NADH oxidation than to succinate oxidation. 2. At low concentrations of phospholipase A the inhibition of phosphorylation was prevented to a considerable extent by the presence of large amounts of bovine serum albumin preferably during both digestion and assay. At larger concentrations of phospholipase A only slight protection was observed by addition of serum albumin. 3. Exposure of submitochondrial particles to phospholipase C from Clostridium welchii in the presence of Mg++ or Mn++ inhibited the 32Pi-ATP exchange and the P:O ratio by about 30 to 60%. Addition of coupling factors restored phosphorylation associated with oxidation in these particles. Additional exposure of the digested particles to phospholipase C from Bacillus cereus in the presence of Zn++ further depressed the 32Pi-ATP exchange which was no longer restored by coupling factors. Addition of phospholipids partially restored the 32Pi-ATP exchange in these extensively digested particles. Similar effects were noted after prolonged exposure to phospholipase C from B. cereus alone, provided both Mn++ and Zn++ were present. 4. Oxidative phosphorylation was also severely impaired after exposure of submitochondrial particles to phospholipase C from B. cereus in the presence of Mn++ and Zn++. A partial restoration of the P:O ratio was achieved by reconstitution with phospholipids.
The action of proteolytic enzymes on N,N-dimethyl proteins. Basis for a microassay for proteolytic enzymes.

N,N-Dimethyl proteins were prepared by reductive methylation of their amino groups with formaldehyde and NaBH4. Proteolysis of these alkylated proteins by trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, subtilisin, pepsin, and fungal protease was determined by direct measurement of the bonds split, with the use of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid to determine directly the appearance of new terminal amino groups. The low blank values obtained with N,N-dimethyl proteins has resulted in a greatly increased sensitivity and accuracy not possible with unmodified proteins. On the basis of these studies, an assay of proteolytic activity is described, with N,N-dimethylcasein or N,N-dimethylhemoglobin as substrate, which is from 10 to several hundred times more sensitive than the standard caseinolytic assay of Kunitz.
Active gate driver for fast switching and cross-talk suppression of SiC devices in a phase-leg configuration

This paper presents an active gate driver for Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices to fully utilize their potentials of high switching-speed capability in a phase-leg configuration. Based on the SiC device's intrinsic properties, a gate assist circuit consisting of two auxiliary transistors with two diodes is introduced to actively control the gate voltages and gate loop impedances of both devices in a phase-leg during different switching transients. Compared to a conventional gate driver, the proposed circuit has the capability of increasing the switching speed of the phase-leg power devices, suppressing the cross-talk to below device limits. Based on CREE's 2nd generation 1200-V SiC MOSFETs, the test results demonstrate the effectiveness of this active gate driver under various operating conditions. The switching time decreases by up to 28% during turn-on and 50% during turn-off in the prototype circuit, resulting in up to 31% reduction in switching energy loss. In addition, spurious gate voltages induced by cross-talk are limited within the required range.
Expressivity of Typed Logic Paradigms for Object-Oriented Databases

We investigate three logic paradigms of increasing level of expressivity in modeling strongly typed, polymorphic, object-oriented database systems and their applications. The first paradigm is based on Horn clauses with equality, the second on normal logic programs (with negation in the body) and the third on logic programs that may have an arbitrary first order formula in the clause body. Our contribution is that we make these paradigms object-oriented and strongly-typed with advanced polymorphic facilities. We demonstrate how features of these paradigms are used for high-level semantic specification of a variety of standard database abstractions, both system and application-oriented. The presented strongly typed object-oriented database language departs significantly from either strongly typed programming or database programming languages, as it allows specification of methods associated with an object type (class) in a high-level, logic programming style. It accomplishes the simplicity of non-procedural data languages and the richness of the object-oriented paradigm in modeling complex systems and applications. The associated prototyping tool, based on the paradigm developed in the paper, is a powerful assistant in designing complex database applications in a strongly typed manner, allowing complex design decisions to be tested structurally and behaviorally prior to the major database implementation efforts.
Complementary Fungus‐Derived Micro‐Porosity in Nano Materials

Porous materials are used for a variety of applications including filtration, aeration, materials handling, sorbents, structural materials and sensors. In this paper, we discuss the processing and characterization of nano-structured porous ceramics. In this work, single celled fungi have been used to make pores that are in the micron size range in the material. Porosity of structures formed with nano sized silicon carbide; silicon nitride and silicon dioxide have been studied and characterized using the scanning electron microscope. This procedure of making porous materials can reduce costs during industrial production by reducing the storage space and eliminating the energy needed to remove the fugitive materials normally used.
First Generation Synchrony of Isolated Hyphomicrobium Swarmer Populations

Abstract A method is described for obtaining synchronously growing swarmer cell populations of Hyphomicrobium sp. strain B-522. This was accomplished by isolating young swarmers from random cultures by centrifugation and filtration. Cell multiplication occurred during 38% of the growth cycle in populations synchronized in this manner. Observations were made of the changes in cellular morphology which occurred during the growth cycle. Of the 14.25 h required for the doubling in cell numbers, an average of 5 h passed before the swarmer cells began to develop their hyphae. This time varied over a range of 10 h. The time interval between the beginning of hyphal development and the beginning of bud formation was 3.5 to 4.5 h. The maturation of the first buds and their separation from the mother cells were completed in 5.5 h. The duration of these steps is compared to those measured previously in agar slide cultures.
Marketing under conditions of chaos

Abstract A new concept for the study of marketing phenomena is introduced. Derived from the area of statistical topology and central to the emerging theory of “chaos,” percolation describes a process of deterministic flow through a stochastic medium. Contrasted to diffusion, in which a random flow progresses through a deterministic medium, percolation is suggested as a useful metaphor for marketing management and as a more appropriate source of models for the study of consumer adoption processes. Examples and potential applications are given, and areas for future research are suggested .
Observations of preferential flow during a liquid release experiment in fractured welded tuffs

Author(s): Salve, Rohit | Abstract: To better understand preferential flow in fractured rock, we carried out an in situ field experiment in the Exploratory Studies Facility at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. This experiment involved the release of ~;22 m3 of ponded water (at a pressure head of ~;0.04 m) over a period of 7 months, directly onto a 12 m2 infiltration plot located on a fractured welded tuff surface. As water was released, changes in moisture content were monitored along horizontal boreholes located in the formation ~;19-22 m below. Distinct flow zones, varying in flow velocity, wetted cross-sectional area, and extent of lateral movement, intercepted the monitoring boreholes. There was also evidence of water being diverted above the ceiling of a cavity in the immediate vicinity of the monitoring boreholes. Observations from this field experiment suggest that isolated conduits, each encompassing a large number of fractures, develop within the fractured rock formation to form preferential flow paths that persist if there is a continuous supply of water. In addition, in fractured welded tuffs the propensity for fracture-matrix interactions is significantly greater than that suggested by existing conceptual models, in which flow occurs along a section of fracture surfaces. An overriding conclusion is that field investigations at spatial scales of tens of meters provide data critical to the fundamental understanding of flow in fractured rock.
Beam deflections via computer algebra systems

Computer algebra software can be used to replace the traditional paper and pencil approach for generating mathematical symbolic solutions. The user must only define problems in a software understandable format, and then the computer rapidly performs the actual calculations. Computer algebra software can be used to supplement traditional solution techniques in mechanics of materials courses. Although most mechanics of materials texts include a number of beam deflection solution methods, students are normally shown only one, or possibly two methods due to course time constraints. Computer algebra software can be used to help automate the beam deflection process. Once a moment equation has been developed, the software is used to perform the integrations, solve for the constants of integration, develop the final deflection equation and then plot a deflection curve. The rapid computational speed of the software allows the user to analyze a large number of problems in a minimum amount of time. An example problem is included to illustrate using computer algebra software as a supplement to traditional double-integration beam deflection hand calculations.
Hail and Farewell—Undergraduate Social Work and the Social Sciences, 1974–1979

Abstract This paper examines a random sample of undergraduate social work program catalogues and compares them with earlier surveys by Sherman Merle and Alfred Stamm to see what changes are taking place in the administrative and curricular relationship of social work to the social sciences. A tendency for programs to separate from social science departments, to increase social work requirements, and to teach more social science courses themselves was noted. Signs of lack of clear direction on the relationship of social work to the social sciences also were detected. The implication of these trends for the future of social work is discussed briefly.
A Survey of Husbandry Practices for Lorisid Primates in North American Zoos and Related Facilities

Zoos and related facilities in North America currently manage five species in the primate family Lorisidae: the greater (Nycticebus coucang), Bengal (N. bengalensis) and pygmy (N. pygmaeus) slow lorises, red slender loris (Loris tardigradus), and potto (Perodicticus potto). We used an online survey to describe institutional housing and husbandry practices for these species and assess the extent to which practices are consistent with established guidelines. Our results show that most captive lorisids are housed solitarily or in pairs. Most individuals occupy a single exhibit space in a building dedicated to nocturnal animals. Facilities are commonly meeting recommendations for abiotic exhibit design and are providing animals with an enriched environment. However, pottos and slender lorises currently occupy exhibit spaces smaller than the recommended minimum, and the impact of cleaning protocols on olfactory communication should be critically evaluated. Few facilities are taking advantage of the benefits of positive reinforcement training for promoting animal welfare. Research is greatly needed on the effects of exhibit lighting on behavior, health, and reproduction; and to determine how best to manage the social needs of lorisids with naturally dispersed social structures. Although captive populations of slender lorises, pottos, and slow lorises are declining, we suggest that improved husbandry knowledge has the potential to positively influence population sustainability and to enhance future efforts to manage the growing pygmy loris population. Zoo Biol. 32:88-100, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Degradation of Thymidine by Lactobacillus acidophilus

Whole cells of Lactobacillus acidophilus are capable of degrading thymidine to thymine, suggesting the presence of thymidine phosphorylase (or thymidine hydrolase). This activity was also demonstrated in cell-free extracts.
Predictors of Functional Outcome Following Stroke

Predicting functional outcome in stroke is challenging to most clinicians, partly because of the complexity of the condition and also because of the lack of validated prognostic models. The strongest predictors of functional outcome are age and motor function at stroke onset. There is a growing literature on predicting recovery of upper limb after stroke; however, literature on prediction of language recovery remains sparse. This review covers the current status of predicting functional outcome after stroke focusing on recovery of activities of daily living, ambulation, upper limb use, and aphasia. Use of clinical factors, imaging, and neurophysiological measures are discussed.
Pollution Control and Energy Conservation: Complements or Antagonists? A Study of Gasoline Taxes and Automobile Fuel Economy Standards

Energy conservation regulations , such as fuel taxes and fuel economy mandates for automobiles , are often assumed to reduce air pollution in lock step with the reduction in fuel consumption . Under the current system of tailpipe emissions regulations in the United States , this is not necessarily true . This paper uses a simple graphical analysis to illustrate the relative impact of fuel taxes and fuel economy standards on pollution levels given the current tailpipe emissions standards and an alternative emissions standard . Under current tailpipe emissions standards , increases in fuel economy would actually raise emissions , and significantly larger fuel taxes would be required to achieve the same level of pollution reduction as under the proposed alternative standard . These results confirm earlier findings that used mathematical and stochastic simulation methods to address this issue .
City of Quartz. Mike Davis; Landscapes of Despair: From Deinstituionalization to Homelessness. Michael Dear and Jennifer Wolch; The Pentagon and the Cities. Andrew Kirby, editor; The Four Little Dragons: The Spread of Indwtriulization in East Asia. Ezra E. Vogel; China's Coastal Cities: Catalysts of Modernization. Yue-man Yeung and Xu-wei Hu, editors

(1992). City of Quartz. Mike Davis; Landscapes of Despair: From Deinstituionalization to Homelessness. Michael Dear and Jennifer Wolch; The Pentagon and the Cities. Andrew Kirby, editor; The Four Little Dragons: The Spread of Indwtriulization in East Asia. Ezra E. Vogel; China's Coastal Cities: Catalysts of Modernization. Yue-man Yeung and Xu-wei Hu, editors. Urban Geography: Vol. 13, No. 4, pp. 392-400.
Features Influencing Patient Selection for Fibroid Treatment with Magnetic Resonance–guided Focused Ultrasound

Of 333 women inquiring about minimally invasive image-guided treatments for fibroids, 209 (63%) were clinically eligible for magnetic resonance–guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) according to criteria specified by the Food and Drug Administration and our institution’s institutional review board. One hundred three clinically eligible patients had pelvic MR imaging, and 26 (25%) were anatomically eligible for MRgFUS. A substantial proportion were anatomically ineligible for more than one reason, including too much fibroid volume (19%), presence of bowel in the ultrasound beam path (13%), and significant adenomyosis (12%). Overall, 14% of women inquiring about minimally invasive image-guided treatments for fibroids were eligible for MRgFUS, a percentage that increased when additional institutional review board restrictions were lifted.
Genetic Control of Lipid Metabolism in Tribolium

GENE blockages of protein synthesis in micro-organisms are now classical to the study of gene action. While a few metabolic defects are well known to be under genetic control in higher organisms, including man, experimental evidence of genetic control of lipid metabolism is not known. Therefore, discovery of a gene in Tribolium which apparently influences the metabolism of fatty acids may be of general interest.
Production of Azoospermia in Man from the Use of α-Estradiol Benzoate (Progynon-B).

SummaryThe subcutaneous injection of 6,000 to 10,000 r.u. of α-estradiol benzoate, 4 to 6 times weekly, for 26 weeks, produced an azoospermia in a 72-year-old man. The duration of treatment, the daily dosage, and the variation in the spermatozoa counts are presented in the graph.
Does postmastectomy radiation reduce mortality in women with stage T1-2 node-positive breast cancer?

Does postmastectomy radiation reduce mortality in women with stage T1–2 node-positive breast cancer?
The Childcare Environment and Children’s Physical Activity

Background With increased numbers of children attending child care, this setting presents an ideal opportunity to promote physical activity and the early development of healthy behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the childcare environment and physical activity behavior of preschool children. Methods Aspects of the environment hypothesized to influence children's physical activity were assessed in 20 childcare centers using the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) instrument. Physical activity behavior was assessed over 2 days using direct observation. Results Children in centers with supportive environments achieved more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (15% of observations vs 9%; effect size [ES]=1.17), spent less time in sedentary activities (50% vs 61%; ES=–1.52), and had higher mean physical activity levels (2.68 vs 2.43; ES=1.41) compared to centers with less supportive environments. Facets of the physical and social environment related to physical activity behavior included active opportunities, portable play equipment, fixed play equipment, sedentary environment, and physical activity training and education. Conclusions Previous research indicates that the childcare center that children attend significantly affects physical activity behavior. The current findings extend this evidence by identifying aspects of the childcare environment that relate to the physical activity behavior of children. These factors should be considered when identifying determinants of physical activity and designing interventions.
Hidden identity of Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells

The identity of Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (H/RS) cells has been a subject of intense investigation. Only recently has there been conclusive evidence that H/RS cells are derived from germinal center B cells in the large majority of Hodgkin lymphomas (HL).[1][1] However, H/RS cells usually do not express
Sequential segmental analysis of congenitally malformed hearts: Advances for the 1990s

Abstract Although the concept of sequential segmental analysis is now widely accepted for description of congenitally malformed hearts, some aspects remain controversial. Our concepts have changed little since our initial descriptions, although we have improved the words we use to describe anatomic features. In this review, we give an outline of the steps needed, prerequisites for application of the steps, and the limited anatomic possibilities available at each step. We emphasise that our analysis of the atrial chambers, following the so-called morphologic method, uses the arrangement of the junctional morphology between the atrial appendages and the venous components of the atriums as the arbiter of morphological rightness and leftness. At the atrioventricular junctions, separate analysis of the connections of the muscle masses from the arrangements of chambers within the ventricular mass clarifies controversies concerning the “univentricular” heart. At the ventriculo-arterial junction, we focus on the need to identify a solitary arterial trunk, together with the fact that precise junctional morphology is conditioned by the semilunar attachments of the leaflets of the arterial valves. We argue that application of these principles will distinguish between those controversies which are semantic as opposed to those reflecting persisting scientific disagreements.