cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances in the Inference of Gene Flow from Population Genomic Data

Detecting gene flow between populations or species is a fundamental goal of population genetics and speciation research and is also central for a thorough understanding of the demographic history of lineages. While population genomic data offer an unparalleled opportunity to study gene flow and other evolutionary processes at high resolution, extracting meaningful patterns from such large and complex datasets is rarely straightforward. Recent advances in both theory and methodology have led to a number of newly proposed analytical tools and frameworks for inferring genome-wide patterns of introgression and admixture that can more efficiently leverage population genomic data. Here, we provide an overview of several recent contributions to the problem of estimating gene flow, discuss advantages and potential pitfalls to these approaches, and provide an outlook for future developments. Three prominent areas of recent research progress include (1) improving upon existing test statistics to detect and measure gene flow, (2) developing efficient frameworks for demographic model testing, and (3) applying supervised machine learning to identify introgressed loci across genomes. Over the past several years, contributions to these three areas have greatly enhanced our ability to study gene flow at various scales (i.e., species, populations, and individual genomes). Here, we highlight six relevant studies within these focal areas that represent particularly novel contributions to the goal of gene flow estimation from genome-scale data. The inference of gene flow is a notoriously challenging statistical problem that is an integral component of population genomic research. Our survey of the literature revealed a number of important recent contributions to this problem, from the improvement of admixture tests to demographic model testing and inference of specific regions of the genome likely to have crossed boundaries between populations and species. Although these studies represent only a sampling of the current literature, their contributions, along with those from numerous studies in the expanding field of population genomics, are markers of considerable progress in recent years toward addressing the issue of genomic inference of gene flow.
Transition Metal Atoms Embedded in Graphene: How Nitrogen Doping Increases CO Oxidation Activity

We study 14 transition metals on pristine and N-doped graphene using density functional theory. For double vacancies, nitrogen doping increases the binding strength of harder transition metals to t...
Properties of Diamond Nanomaterials

Nanosized diamond represents an important division of carbon nanostructures and has a large number of potential uses in many areas of science and technology, such as molecular-scale computing devices, drug delivery, material coatings, and reinforcing agents in composite material. Diamond nanostructures are defined as sp 3-hybridized carbon atoms bound to other sp 3-hybridized carbon atoms whose size in the largest performance-sensitive dimension is typically less than 100 nm. Within this division of materials there exist three primary classes or ‘dimensionalities’: pseudo-zero dimensional diamond nanoparticles, one-dimensional diamond nanowires, and two-dimensional diamond nanofilms. In this article, we present an overview of the sizes of the materials, their current and proposed uses, the methods of synthesis and characterization, and their various properties.
Age- and sex-dependent differences in extracellular matrix metabolism associate with cardiac functional and structural changes.

Abstract Age-related remodeling of the heart causes structural and functional changes in the left ventricle (LV) that are associated with a high index of morbidities and mortality worldwide. Some cardiac pathologies in the elderly population vary between genders revealing that cardiac remodeling during aging may be sex-dependent. Herein, we analyzed the effects of cardiac aging in male and female C57Bl/6 mice in four age groups, 3, 6, 12, and 18 month old (n = 6–12 animals/sex/age), to elucidate which age-related characteristics of LV remodeling are sex-specific. We focused particularly in parameters associated with age-dependent remodeling of the LV extracellular matrix (ECM) that are involved in collagen metabolism. LV function and anatomical structure were assessed both by conventional echocardiography and speckle tracking echocardiography (STE). We then measured ECM proteins that directly affect LV contractility and remodeling. All data were analyzed across ages and between sexes and were directly linked to LV functional changes. Echocardiography confirmed an age-dependent decrease in chamber volumes and LV internal diameters, indicative of concentric remodeling. As in humans, animals displayed preserved ejection fraction with age. Notably, changes to chamber dimensions and volumes were temporally distinct between sexes. Complementary to the traditional echocardiography, STE revealed that circumferential strain rate declined in 18 month old females, compared to younger animals, but not in males, suggesting STE as an earlier indicator for changes in cardiac function between sexes. Age-dependent collagen deposition and expression in the endocardium did not differ between sexes; however, other factors involved in collagen metabolism were sex-specific. Specifically, while decorin, osteopontin, Cthrc1, and Ddr1 expression were age-dependent but sex-independent, periostin, lysyl oxidase, and Mrc2 displayed age-dependent and sex-specific differences. Moreover, our data also suggest that with age males and females have distinct TGFβ signaling pathways. Overall, our results give evidence of sex-specific molecular changes during physiological cardiac remodeling that associate with age-dependent structural and functional dysfunction. These data highlight the importance of including sex-differences analysis when studying cardiac aging.
Where Are You From? Perceived Country Homophily and Its Effect on the Implementation of Corporate Political Strategy

Although research has examined when firms will engage in strategies to appease the demands of important stakeholders, stakeholder theories have not thoroughly explained how firms go about executing these strategies. We address this issue by linking institutional theory with the theory of the firm to explore the organizational boundary decision of a foreign firm’s corporate political activities. Our theoretical framework proposes that the degree to which a firm’s host-country stakeholders perceive a firm to be legitimate will influence its choice to internalize or outsource its lobbying functions. We also explore how this cognitive legitimacy effect is moderated by pragmatic legitimacy factors between home and host countries. Empirically, the study examines the political strategy implementation of 2,219 U.S. subsidiaries of foreign firms from 101 countries lobbying in the United States from 1998 to 2012. The findings of this paper advance research in institutional theory, stakeholder management, nonmarket strategy, and transaction cost economics.
Prediction of the deformation behavior of a selective laser-melted Ti-6Al-4V alloy as a function of process parameters

Recent studies have shown that the mechanical properties of Ti alloys produced by additive manufacturing (AM) methods are sensitive to AM process parameters. The mechanical threshold stress (MTS) model is capable of predicting the flow stress behavior of materials; however, the parameters needed in the MTS model are affected by the microstructure that originates from the AM process parameters. To find a relationship between the AM process parameters and the MTS parameters, the effect of process parameters on the mechanical properties of selective laser-melted (SLM) Ti-6Al-4V samples was studied. As the MTS model is sensitive to the microstructure, only near fully dense samples were considered.
Association of Physical Function and Survival in Older-Adult Renal Transplant Recipients.

Abstract There is an increase in older-adult renal transplant recipients in United States. The objective of this study was to assess the association between physical function (PF) and patient survival in renal transplant recipients who are aged 65 years or older. Using United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) data from 2007 to 2016, renal transplant recipients aged 65 years or older were included. Multivariable Cox regression was used to assess associations between survival and functional status adjusted for age, sex, race, donor quality, diabetes, and dialysis vintage. The study identified 26,721 patients. Patient survival was significantly higher in recipients who needed no assistance and lowest in patients in need of total assistance (P
Real Estate Market Evolution and Monetary Policy in Kazakhstan

This paper considers the link between macroeconomic policy and housing demand in an upper middle-income transition economy, Kazakhstan. The paper further explores price cointegration and contagion across cities. We find evidence that some parts of the housing market lead others but that, overall, regional housing markets are only weakly interlinked. The markets also tend to respond weakly to policy interventions – a matter of possible concern to the nation’s central bank.
Hospital Medicine Providers’ Transfusion Knowledge: A Survey Study

Abstract Blood transfusion is one of the most common procedures performed in the inpatient setting. Although ordering a transfusion is a component of routine practice for most hospitalists, prior literature has shown that non-transfusion medicine physicians have poor to intermediate transfusion medicine knowledge (TMK). No recent study has evaluated TMK among hospitalists, including both attending hospitalists and advanced practice providers (APPs). Using a validated exam and a truncated version of a validated survey, we obtained an initial impression of attitudes, perceived and actual TMK. A total of 183 hospital medicine providers nation-wide completed the 12-question online survey and 20 question exam, including 155 attending hospitalists and 28 APPs. The overall mean score was 52% (range 20%-85%). Forty-one percent of participants reported less than 1 hour of training in transfusion medicine. Five of the seven questions with the worst performance (
Response of fish assemblages to restoration of rapids habitat in a Great Lakes connecting channel

Abstract Rapids habitats are critical spawning and nursery grounds for multiple Laurentian Great Lakes fishes of ecological importance such as lake sturgeon, walleye, and salmonids. However, river modifications have destroyed important rapids habitat in connecting channels by modifying flow profiles and removing large quantities of cobble and gravel that are preferred spawning substrates of several fish species. The conversion of rapids habitat to slow moving waters has altered fish assemblages and decreased the spawning success of lithophilic species. The St. Marys River is a Great Lakes connecting channel in which the majority of rapids habitat has been lost. However, rapids habitat was restored at the Little Rapids in 2016 to recover important spawning habitat in this river. During the restoration, flow and substrate were recovered to rapids habitat. We sampled the fish community (pre- and post-restoration), focusing on age-0 fishes in order to characterize the response of the fish assemblage to the restoration, particularly for species of importance (e.g. lake whitefish, walleye, Atlantic salmon). Following restoration, we observed a 40% increase in age-0 fish catch per unit effort, increased presence of rare species, and a shift in assemblage structure of age-0 fishes (higher relative abundance of Salmonidae, Cottidae, and Gasterosteidae). We also observed a “transition” period in 2017, in which the assemblage was markedly different from the pre- and post-restoration assemblages and was dominated by Catostomidae. Responses from target species were mixed, with increased Atlantic salmon abundance, first documented presence of walleye and no presence of lake sturgeon or Coregoninae.
Evaluation of CPS compliance with legally required review of investigations by CAPs

Abstract Background There is significant variability in Child Protective Services (CPS) utilization of medical-forensic experts. In 2016, Missouri legislation (HB 1877) mandated that CPS investigators submit screening forms to a Child Abuse Pediatrician (CAP) to review children Objective To measure compliance with HB 1877, hypothesizing that urban counties would have better compliance than rural counties. Participants and setting This retrospective study included evaluation of screening forms completed by Missouri CPS and submitted to Missouri CAPs during February, July and September of 2017. Methods Compliance was measured in three ways. Compliance Measure 1 (CM1) was the number of screening forms versus the number of eligible CPS investigations. Compliance Measure 2 (CM2) was the average number of days from an abuse report until form submission, and Compliance Measure 3 (CM3) was the percentage of forms with complete information. Urban and rural counties were classified by 2010 census data. t-Tests were used to compare compliance measures between urban and rural counties. Results Overall compliance with CM1 was 69% with 1496 screening forms submitted and 2170 child maltreatment investigations for children less than 4 years of age. For CM2, mean days from abuse report to form submission was 30 days. For CM3, 60.5% of statewide forms were complete. There was no significant difference between rural and urban county compliance. Conclusions Limited compliance with HB 1877 demonstrates the necessity of continued monitoring and improvement for optimal efficacy of legal mandates.
Meaning-Making Activity in the Emotional Experience of Borderline Personalities.

This article describes the mereological constitution of contents in the intentional acts of people affected by borderline personality disorder (BPD) or emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD) in order to shed light on the origin of the emotional instability characterizing this disorder. The article will first discuss the emotional cycle of people affected by this disorder; second, it will focus on the mereological aspect of the meaning-making 1 experience in the intentional act; third, it will show how this meaning-making experience usually interacts with axiological 2 qualities that affect the continuity of their sense of reality. From the investigation, it emerges that the mereological constitution of contents occurs in a way that is disruptive of the continuity of BPD/EUPDs' interaffective lifeworld as it generates intersubjective disturbances on the axiological, logical, and ontological levels. On this basis, as a concluding suggestion, the paper will propose an alternative way to approach the problem, soothe the disturbance, and encourage integration.
Anterior lead location predicts verbal fluency decline following STN-DBS in Parkinson's disease.

Abstract Introduction Verbal fluency (VF) decline is a well-documented cognitive effect of Deep Brain Stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This decline may be associated with disruption to left-sided frontostriatal circuitry involving the anteroventral non-motor area of the STN. While recent studies have examined the impact of lead location in relation to functional STN subdivisions on VF outcomes, results have been mixed and methods have been limited by atlas-based location mapping. Methods Participants included 59 individuals with PD who underwent bilateral STN-DBS. Each participant's active contact location was determined in an atlas-independent fashion, relative to their individual MR-visualized STN midpoint. Multiple linear regression was used to examine lead location in each direction as a predictor of phonemic and semantic VF decline, controlling for demographic and disease variables. Results More anterior lead locations relative to the STN midpoint in the left hemisphere predicted greater phonemic VF decline (B = −2.34, B SE = 1.08, β = −0.29, sr2 = 0.08). Lead location was not a significant predictor of semantic VF decline. Conclusion Using an individualized atlas-independent approach, present findings suggest that more anterior stimulation of the left STN may uniquely contribute to post-DBS VF decline. This is consistent with models in which the anterior STN represents a “non-motor” functional subdivision with connections to frontal regions, e.g., the left dorsal prefrontal cortex. Future studies should investigate the effect of DBS lead trajectory on VF outcomes.
Campaigning in the Twenty-First Century: A Whole New Ballgame?

1. The Modern Campaign 2. Communicating with Voters: The New Media 3. Communicating with Voters: The Old Media 4. Fundraising 5. Independent Voices 6. Taking the Pulse of the Electorate 7. Voter Identification, Contact, and Mobilization 8. Campaigning in the Next Decade
Visual Processing in the Primate Brain

Vision begins with patterns on light landing on the retina of the eye and ends with complex behaviors requiring detailed information about the external world. From the retina onwards, the neural machinery of visual processing is highly specialized with the continuous divergence and convergence of multiple processing streams. By the time signals leave the eye in the optic nerve there are already numerous distinct populations of retinal ganglion cells sending information in parallel to the brain. In the thalamus, the different layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus contain magnocellular, parvocellular, and koniocellular neurons with distinct functional properties that appear to form three parallel pathways. Finally, in the cerebral cortex, the dorsal and ventral processing streams emerging from primary visual cortex project into parietal and temporal cortex conveying spatial and object information, respectively. At the ends of these cortical visual streams, highly complex properties are observed with, for example, regions selectively responding to the sight of specific visual stimuli, such as faces, and single neurons whose properties correlate very closely with perceptual judgments. Ultimately, the information in parallel pathways must be integrated to provide a unified percept, and at all stages of visual processing the segregation of different processing streams is rarely complete with much mixing of signals from different parallel streams. This chapter will follow the visual processing stream in human and nonhuman primates from the retina to high-level cortex highlighting the general principles of organization at anatomical and functional levels. Keywords: parallel processing; primate; vision; dorsal stream; ventral stream
Identifying premature infants at high and low risk for motor delays using motor performance testing and MRS.

PURPOSE: To determine specific motor skills in premature infants, match those that correlate with standards tests of motor performance, and MRS measures of abnormal brain biochemistry. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of preterm infants (n = 22). Infant motor assessments were completed at term and 12 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA) using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III at 12 months CGA. Infants (n = 12) received MRS scans at term CGA. Rasch analysis and MRS findings investigated TIMP items well targeted to high and low risk infants. RESULTS: A 10 item subset of motor skill items correlated strongly with full 42-item TIMP at term and 12 week testing ( r> 0.90, p< 0.001 for both), and with Bayley gross motor scores. MRS metabolites in basal ganglia correlated significantly with both TIMP and 10 item motor tests at term, while frontal white matter metabolites correlated with TIMP and 10 item tests at 12 weeks and Bayley motor scores. CONCLUSION: A short motor skill assessment may be representative of a longer standardized test and relate to brain metabolic function in key areas for motor movement and development. Validation of a shortened assessment may improve early identification of high-risk preterm infants.
Formação dos educadores lassalistas: discursos e práticas na integração das escolas e instituições de ensino superior

O artigo apresenta recortes dos discursos e praticas relativas a formacao continuada dos professores que exercem a docencia na Rede La Salle. Para os Lassalistas, a concepcao de educacao esta em consonância com a de formacao e, nesse sentido, direciona-se para a pessoa do educador como ponto de partida para a sua constituicao profissional, buscando resgatar a totalidade da pessoa humana, a importância da valorizacao de sua historia e projeto de vida; seus valores e crencas; seus saberes experienciais; suas motivacoes, expectativas, dificuldades e ate mesmo suas limitacoes. PALAVRAS-CHAVES : Plano de Formacao, Discursos e Praticas de Formacao Continuada; Educacao Basica; Ensino Superior; Rede La Salle. RESUMEN : El articulo presenta citas de los discursos y practicas relativas a la formacion continua de los profesores que ejercen la docencia em la Red La Salle. Para los Lasallistas, el concepto de educacion esta en consonancia con el de formacion y, eneste sentido, se dirige hacia la persona del educador como punto de partida para su constitucion profesional, buscando rescatar la totalidad de la persona humana, la importancia de la valorizacion de su historia y proyecto de vida, sus valores y creencias; sus saberes experienciales; sus motivaciones, expectativas, dificultades e incluso sus limitaciones. PALABRAS-CLAVE : – Plan de Formacion – Discursos y Practicas de Formacion Continua – Ensenanza Basica – Ensenanza Superior – Red La Salle.
Multi-sensory system for monitoring dyskinesia in movement disorders

Movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, ADHD, essential tremor disorder and restless leg syndrome can be difficult to treat due to the complexity of monitoring medication efficacy. Using our multi-sensory system for monitoring dyskinesia disorders, physicians can get insight into the everyday symptoms of their patients. The system we have designed includes an intelligent wristband that has motion sensors to collect and send high quality data of dyskinesia to an application on an Android mobile phone where our signal processing algorithms process the data to be used by physicians for remote healthcare management.
Crisis or creation?a systematic examination of "false memory syndrome".

SUMMARY In 1992, the False Memory Syndrome Foundation (FMSF), an advocacy organization for people claiming to be falsely accused of sexual abuse, announced the discovery of a new syndrome involving iatrogenically created false memories of childhood sexual abuse. This article critically examines the assumptions underlying “False Memory Syndrome” to determine whether there is sufficient empirical evidence to support it as a valid diagnostic construct. Epidemiological evidence is also examined to determine whether there is data to support its advocates' claim of a public health crisis or epidemic. A review of the relevant literature demonstrates that the existence of such a syndrome lacks general acceptance in the mental health field, and that the construct is based on a series of faulty assumptions, many of which have been scientifically disproven. There is a similar lack of empirical validation for claims of a “false memory” epidemic. It is concluded that in the absence of any substantive scientific suppor...
Novel Use of Retro-reflective Paint to Capture 3D Kinematic Gait Data in Non-human Primates

Non-human primate models are extensively being used to study and understand biomechanical mechanisms of various neuro-motor pathological conditions such as Parkinson's disease. However, collecting full body 3D kinematics using current technologies for obtaining reliable objective biomechanical measures to precisely characterize gait mechanics in non-cooperating primates is laborious and daunting task. We developed a method to reduce data collection and analyses time by using retro-reflective paint, a mixture of reflective powder and petroleum jelly that was applied directly on the primate's skin. 3D kinematic data from three treadmill walking female rhesus primates (one normal and two MPTP treated) was collected using a four infrared camera system. Bilateral joint angle trajectories of hip, knee, ankle, shoulder and elbow for normal primate show 180 degrees out of phase. Step cycle duration and percentage stance are significantly different between the normal (F(9,62)=128.2) and MPTP (F(9,62)=143.1) treated primates. Step cycle duration between forelimb and hindlimb is not significantly different in all primates. However, percentage stance in less affected limbs of both MPTP treated primates is significantly higher in forelimb than hindlimb. Gait pattern of normal primate is diagonal symmetrical gait, one MPTP treated primate showed lateral symmetrical gait and other showed a non-standard gait pattern.
Leukotriene D4: a potent coronary artery vasoconstrictor associated with impaired ventricular contraction

Leukotriene D4 (2 c 10(-9) mole), injected into the left circumflex coronary artery of anesthetized sheep, produced profound coronary vasoconstriction and impaired regional ventricular wall motion. This cardiac effect was neither inhibited by prior treatment of the sheep with a cyclooxygenase inhibitor nor associated with thromboxane B2 release into the coronary sinus. Intravenous FPL 55712 completely abolished the coronary vasoconstriction of leukotriene D4, but a significant reduction of regional wall shortening persisted.
DO COMMON GLOBAL ECONOMIC FACTORS MATTER FOR AFRICA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH?

Empirical research has generally attributed the dismal performance of Africa's economic growth to country-specific socio-economic and geo-political factors. This paper shows that while country-specific issues matter for Africa's economic growth, common global economic factors do matter as well. The importance of common global economic factors has been augmented by increased globalization, the introduction of the World Trade Organization and the current global economic crisis. Using system GMM panel data techniques that extend previous literature on Africa's growth, the estimation results provide new insights into the positive relationship between the world business cycle and the growth rates of African countries. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative autoradiographic study of labeled RNA in rabbit optic nerve after intraocular injection of (3H)uridine.

The distribution of labeled RNA in the optic nerve of the rabbit was studied by quantitative ultrastructural autoradiography after the intraocular injection of [3H]uridine. The highest density of silver grains related to [3H]RNA (27–40 grains/100 µm2) was found in glial cell perikarya; a slightly lower density was present in the glial nuclei (19–20 grains/100 µm2). Axons (4–5 grains/100 µm2) and myelin (2–3 grains/100 µm2) had the lowest grain densities. 74–83% of all counted grains were located outside the axons. By comparing the grain density distribution over the axon with that expected in the case of an exclusive labeling of the surrounding myelin and glial cell processes, it was concluded that the axons contained a number of grains representing [3H]RNA significantly higher than that expected to scatter from myelin and glial processes. Most of these grains were concentrated at the periphery of the axon and were not related to axonal mitochondria.
Altered nitrogen and precipitation along urban gradients affect harvester ants and seed sources

We investigated the effects of nitrogen deposition and precipitation on Messor pergandei (Mayr) harvester ants and plants to identify alterations in the desert food web in California. We measured ant colony attributes and shrub fruit densities, as well as nitrogen and carbon concentrations and stable isotopes, at 18 sites along a nitrogen deposition gradient. Ant nest density increased from low to high deposition sites; however, ant nest mound size and the density of abandoned nests decreased as deposition increased. Nest mound size was positively correlated with the size and age of the colony; therefore, these results suggest that colonization has been more frequent with increased inter-colony competition in areas of high deposition. Nitrogen and carbon isotope values of perennial plant leaves and seeds, annual plant seeds, and ants were significantly enriched in the heavy isotopes from low to high nitrogen deposition regions, indicating the possibility of plants assimilating different sources of both elements, including anthropogenically-produced compounds. Plant carbon isotope discrimination also differed with the decrease in precipitation across the gradient. Considering that deserts are limited by both nitrogen and precipitation, our results suggest that altered nitrogen inputs in conjunction with precipitation may result in cascading effects through trophic levels and drive arid ecosystem change.
Psychogenic erectile dysfunction

Objective:To educate healthcare professionals on the historical aspects, clinical diagnosis, and current treatment methods of psychogenic erectile dysfunction.Method:A topic review of current liter...
Is the 20th century increase in human height entirely nongenetic

The twentieth-century increase in human height in affluent nations may not be entirely due only to such nurturant considerations as food supply and electric lights. A possible genetic role might be found in interactions of food supply, maternal pelvic size, and height-survival/vulnerability links, and in mate selection. Humans seem to be following the paleontological principle that most species tend to evolve larger sizes over time.
New problems complete for nondeterministic log space

It is shown that a variety of problems have computational complexity equivalent to that of finding a path through a directed graph. These results, which parallel those of Karp at a lower complexity level, concern satisfiability of propositional formulas with two literals per clause, generation of elements by an associative binary operation, solution of linear equations with two variables per equation, equivalence of generalized sequential machines with final states, and deciding theLL(k) andLR(k) conditions for context-free grammars. Finally, several problems are shown equivalent to reachability in undirected graphs, including bipartiteness and satisfiability of formulas with the “exclusive or” connective.
Ellipsometry: a sophisticated tool for optical metrology

Ellipsometry is a sensitive optical technique for non- invasive in-situ (in any optically transparent environment) and ex-situ (in air) characterization of surfaces, interfaces, and thin films which is based on measurement of the polarization of light before and after reflection from a given sample at different angles of incidence and as a function of wavelength. The spectral range of spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) -typically 1-6eV of photon energy- has been extended to the mid and far IR on one side and to the VUV, EUV, and X-ray region on the other. Significant advances and sophistication of available instrumentation and supportive software have resulted in extensive use of ellipsometry in biology, chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering, and industrial applications over the past two decades. Fast ellipsometers are used for real- time on-line monitoring and feedback process control of various thin films and for the fabrication of pre-engineered multilayer and graded-composition structures. As a metrology tool, ellipsometry yields information on dielectric functions of layered optically isotropic or anisotropic materials, film thicknesses, interface roughnesses, and compositions (void and alloy fractions) and depth profiles of inhomogeneous thin films.
An equation of motion method for deriving microscopic effective interactions in a correlated model space

Abstract Starting from a diagrammatic analysis of the equation of motion method, we derive an effective interaction theory for a correlated model space where the basis vectors correspond physically to the addition of valence particles and/or holes to the true ground state of the core nucleus. The resulting effective interaction V is valence linked and connected, energy independent, and contains folded diagrams. In addition, it gives directly model eigenvectors with amplitudes that correspond to spectroscopic factors. With terms having the same number of folds grouped together, the general structure of V is very simple. This is very useful in the application of the present theory to actual microscopic nuclear structure calculations. The treatment of core projection insertions is discussed in some detail. A proof of the cancellation of the disconnected diagrams is given. When folded diagrams are summed up using a partial summation method, the present effective interaction theory is shown to be consistent with the usual Green function theory for many-body problems.
Pathways to Work: Social Structural Differences in the Relationships between College Expectations, Planfulness, and Intense Adolescent Work

This research examines variation in the relationships between college expectations, planfulness, and intense adolescent work by socioeconomic factors using data from Add Health (n = 8,836). Results show that higher college expectations are related to higher odds of intense school-year work among lower social class youth, but lower odds of intense work among youth from higher social class backgrounds. Moreover, planful adolescents are more likely to work intensely during the school year among youth from disadvantaged neighborhoods, but less likely to work intensely among those from advantaged neighborhoods. Results also show less variability in these relationships when considering summer work.
Effects of the Polymer Fiber on the Flow Field from a Slot Melt Blowing Die

Exxon slot melt blowing dies consist of dual, rectangular, converging jets and are used in the industrial melt blowing process to attenuate molten polymer fibers. The air flow creates a drag force that accelerates the polymer and rapidly reduces the fiber diameter. For previous experimental and computational fluid dynamics studies, the effect of the fiber on the air was assumed to be negligible. By including the fiber as a boundary in the computational domain, this assumption was tested. A modified version of the Reynolds stress model was used to simulate the turbulent air flow field. It was determined that the centerline air velocity (located halfway between the fibers) has an increased maximum due to the presence of the fiber. In addition, the turbulence in the flow field is dampened by the presence of the fiber. The jet spreading rate is higher halfway between the fibers than at the center of the domain, where the fiber is located. The air flow around the fiber is nonuniform, leading to varied shear st...
Supply-chain networks: a complex adaptive systems perspective

In this era, information technology is revolutionizing almost every domain of technology and society, whereas the ‘complexity revolution’ is occurring in science at a silent pace. In this paper, we look at the impact of the two, in the context of supply-chain networks. With the advent of information technology, supply chains have acquired a complexity almost equivalent to that of biological systems. However, one of the major challenges that we are facing in supply-chain management is the deployment of coordination strategies that lead to adaptive, flexible and coherent collective behaviour in supply chains. The main hurdle has been the lack of the principles that govern how supply chains with complex organizational structure and function arise and develop, and what organizations and functionality are attainable, given specific kinds of lower-level constituent entities. The study of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS), has been a research effort attempting to find common characteristics and/or formal distinctio...
A fictive tail flick reflex in the rat.

The discharges of motor axons participating in the tail flick reflex were recorded from nerve filaments innervating the medial longissimus muscles of anesthetized rats. The reflex discharges evoked by stimulation of the tail with either noxious radiant heat or pinch were recorded before and after paralysis of the animals. Nociceptive discharges recorded from motor axons in the paralyzed state showed a strong correlation with those observed in the absence of the paralytic agent. For this reason, the electrophysiological response triggered by noxious input was termed a ‘fictive tail flick reflex’. To evaluate the potential applicability of this model in the analysis of pain blocking mechanisms, vaginal stimulation was found to produce a profound reduction of the nociceptive discharges of the fictive tail flick reflex. By eliminating movement artifacts from the experimental paradigm, this model expands our ability to study a basic nociceptive response which was previously limited to behavioral observation.
NOTCH1–RBPJ complexes drive target gene expression through dynamic interactions with superenhancers

The main oncogenic driver in T-lymphoblastic leukemia is NOTCH1, which activates genes by forming chromatin-associated Notch transcription complexes. Gamma-secretase-inhibitor treatment prevents NOTCH1 nuclear localization, but most genes with NOTCH1-binding sites are insensitive to gamma-secretase inhibitors. Here, we demonstrate that fewer than 10% of NOTCH1-binding sites show dynamic changes in NOTCH1 occupancy when T-lymphoblastic leukemia cells are toggled between the Notch-on and -off states with gamma-secretase inhibiters. Dynamic NOTCH1 sites are functional, being highly associated with Notch target genes, are located mainly in distal enhancers, and frequently overlap with RUNX1 binding. In line with the latter association, we show that expression of IL7R, a gene with key roles in normal T-cell development and in T-lymphoblastic leukemia, is coordinately regulated by Runx factors and dynamic NOTCH1 binding to distal enhancers. Like IL7R, most Notch target genes and associated dynamic NOTCH1-binding sites cooccupy chromatin domains defined by constitutive binding of CCCTC binding factor, which appears to restrict the regulatory potential of dynamic NOTCH1 sites. More remarkably, the majority of dynamic NOTCH1 sites lie in superenhancers, distal elements with exceptionally broad and high levels of H3K27ac. Changes in Notch occupancy produces dynamic alterations in H3K27ac levels across the entire breadth of superenhancers and in the promoters of Notch target genes. These findings link regulation of superenhancer function to NOTCH1, a master regulatory factor and potent oncoprotein in the context of immature T cells, and delineate a generally applicable roadmap for identifying functional Notch sites in cellular genomes.
Temperature and pressure variations of the elastic constants of KBr

Abstract The principal adiabatic elastic constants have been evaluated as a function of temperature and pressure for crystalline KBr using a realistic potential of the form A 1 R −9 + A 2 R −6± A 3 R −1. The normal-mode frequencies of a strained crystal were obtained from the local dynamics of two ions in a unit cell. These two ions were allowed to oscillate in the static potential field of all the remaining ions which were assumed to be at rest in their mean positions. The temperature and pressure dependences of the principal elastic constants are examined in comparison with the available experimental data, and reasonable agreement is observed.
Overview of Vibrational Structural Health Monitoring with Representative Case Studies

In the field of nondestructive evaluation and damage detection, there is continued interest in the utilization of vibrational techniques. Structural damage will result in permanent changes in the distribution of structural stiffness. These changes may be detected through structural monitoring. Because of the direct relationship of stiffness, mass, and damping of a multi-degree-of-freedom system to the natural frequencies, mode shapes, and modal damping values, many studies have been directed at using these dynamic properties for the purpose of structural health monitoring. The use of vibrational monitoring is a developing field of structural analysis and is capable of assisting in both detecting and locating structural damage. Vibrational data have been shown to be most useful when used in conjunction with other monitoring systems if a remote and robust damage detection scheme is desired. This paper includes a literature review that summarizes the basic approaches to vibrational monitoring, suggested guidelines for sensor selection and monitoring, and concludes with three example case studies.
For routine postoperative oxygen administration in the PACU.

We must always remember to temper the desire to cut costs with our responsibility for providing our patients with the best and safest care. Strong economic forces are forging necessary changes in our habits; the elimination of routine oxygen administration to PACU patients may provide one source for savings. However, at this time, the data supporting that position are incomplete. Instituting such a policy change would be premature and possibly dangerous. Examination of the process through which any PACU oxygen therapy is delivered provides additional compelling arguments against making changes to the standard policy. Until the data provide a definitive reason to the contrary, let us continue to promote a policy known to be the safest: one that mandates routine PACU oxygen administration.
EFFECT OF GONADECTOMY ON SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE ADULT MOUSE TO COXSACKIE B1 VIRUS INFECTION.

SummaryThe Coxsackie B1 virus used in this experiment was unusually virulent for adult “Swiss albino” mice; approximately 15% of the infected animals died and the survivors were severely ill. However, following gonadectomy the death rate fell significantly. This protective effect of castration was not sex-linked and was no longer present 30 days after surgery. Possible hormonal mechanisms responsible for this altered susceptibility are discussed.
Modelling excitable cells using cycle-linear hybrid automata

Cycle-linear hybrid automata (CLHAs), a new model of excitable cells that efficiently and accurately captures action-potential morphology and other typical excitable-cell characteristics such as refractoriness and restitution, is introduced. Hybrid automata combine discrete transition graphs with continuous dynamics and emerge in a natural way during the (piecewise) approximation process of any nonlinear system. CLHAs are a new form of hybrid automata that exhibit linear behaviour on a per-cycle basis but whose overall behaviour is appropriately nonlinear. To motivate the need for this modelling formalism, first it is shown how to recast two recently proposed models of excitable cells as hybrid automata: the piecewise-linear model of Biktashev and the nonlinear model of Fenton-Karma. Both of these models were designed to efficiently approximate excitable-cell behaviour. We then show that the CLHA closely mimics the behaviour of several classical highly nonlinear models of excitable cells, thereby retaining the simplicity of Biktashev's model without sacrificing the expressiveness of Fenton-Karma. CLHAs are not restricted to excitable cells; they can be used to capture the behaviour of a wide class of dynamic systems that exhibit some level of periodicity plus adaptation.
The Use of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Hard Drugs by Rural Adolescents: A Review of Recent Research

SUMMARY This article reviews 65 reports of research on rural youth usage of alcohol, marijuana and hard drugs. Alcohol use is the same for both rural and urban youth, aid rural youth are closing the gap in regards to marijuana smoking. However, with the exception of inhalants and stimulants, use of hard drugs was lower among rural youth. The article explores factors associated with use by rural youth and concludes that factors identified by research are similar to those commonly found to explain use by urban youth. Greater utilization of criminological theories by rural-based research is recommended.
Disulfido iron-manganese carbonyl cluster complexes: Synthesis, structure, bonding and properties of the radical CpFeMn2(CO)7(μ3-S2)2

Abstract Two new compounds CpFeMn2(CO)7(μ3-S2)2 (2) and Cp3Fe3Mn(CO)4(μ3-S2)2(μ3-S) (3) were obtained by the treatment of [CpFeMn(CO)5(μ3-S2)]2 (1) with CO at room temperature in the presence of room light. Compound 2 contains two triply bridging disulfido ligands on opposite sides of an open FeMn2 triangular cluster. EPR and temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements show that it is paramagnetic with one unpaired electron per formula equivalent. The electronic structure of 2 was established by DFT and Fenske-Hall (FH) molecular orbital calculations which show that the unpaired electron occupies a low lying antibonding orbital that is located principally on the iron atom. The cyclic voltammogram of 2 exhibits one reversible one-electron oxidation wave at +0.34 V and one irreversible one-electron reduction wave at −0.66 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Compound 3 contains three iron atoms and one manganese atom with two triply bridging disulfido ligands and one triply bridging sulfido ligand and has no unpaired electrons. The molecular structures of compounds 2 and 3 were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.
Unique phase transition in as-cast FeAl-based material

The FeAl-type materials are being developed for use in structural applications because they are able to maintain a high level of resistance to oxidation and corrosion in hazardous environments, in addition to their low density, and reasonable strength up to about 700 C. The aim of this work is therefore, to evaluate the phase transitions occurring in an as-cast ternary Fe-Al-Mo material from ambient and beyond its melting temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements will be used to monitor the phase transformations and study the kinetics in the Fe-Al-Mo material, while optical microscopy and x-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques will be used to reveal the microstructure and identify the different phases that form during or after thermal cycling.
Inhibitors of picornavirus uncoating as antiviral agents

The discovery of the antiviral drugs known today can be attributed primarily to the tenacity of researchers and the serendipity of circumstances. Their development, however, has been carefully orchestrated by intense study of the mode of action of these compounds and increased understanding of molecular events involved in virus replication. We are presently entering a new era of development in antiviral chemotherapy characterized by the synthesis of chemicals designed to inhibit specific viral targets. One target of chemical interference is the process of viral uncoating, an essential step in viral replication which results in the release of the viral genome into either the cytoplasm (RNA viruses) or nucleus (DNA viruses) of the cell. Our goal has been to synthesize and develop compounds which inhibit the uncoating process of picornaviruses. If successful, this could result in the identification of compounds effective in the treatment of diseases caused by the enteroand rhinovirus members of the picornavirus family, including the causative agents of aseptic meningitis, poliomyelitis and the common cold.
Emaciation and enteritis of cottontail rabbits infected with Hasstilesia tricolor and observations on a fluke to fluke attachment phenomenon.

Emaciation and enteritis of the small intestine were observed in three cottontail rabbits, Sylvilagus floridanus, which had died shortly after their capture from the wild and introduction into outdoor enclosures. These symptoms were associated with very heavy infection of intestinal flukes, Hasstilesia tricolor. Histological sections collected from the intestine of one rabbit revealed extensive villi destruction attributed to the parasite. Attachment of flukes to one another by ventral suckers was also observed. The high prevalence of infection of this parasite in Montgomery County, Virginia, indicates that it may be of local importance as a pathogen causing fatal consequences in its host.