cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PHYLOGENETIC TAPHONOMY: A STATISTICAL AND PHYLOGENETIC APPROACH FOR EXPLORING TAPHONOMIC PATTERNS IN THE FOSSIL RECORD USING CROCODYLIANS

Actualistic observations form the basis of many taphonomic studies in paleontology. However, surveys limited by environment or taxon may not be applicable far beyond the bounds of the initial observations. Even when multiple studies exploring the potential variety within a taphonomic process exist, quantitative methods for comparing these datasets in order to identify larger scale patterns have been understudied. This research uses modern bite marks collected from 21 of the 23 generally recognized species of extant Crocodylia to explore statistical and phylogenetic methods of synthesizing taphonomic datasets. Bite marks were identified, and specimens were then coded for presence or absence of different mark morphotypes. Attempts to find statistical correlation between trace types, marking animal vital statistics, and sample collection protocol were unsuccessful. Mapping bite mark character states on a eusuchian phylogeny successfully predicted the presence of known diagnostic, bisected marks in extinct taxa. Predictions for clades that may have created multiple subscores, striated marks, and extensive crushing were also generated. Inclusion of fossil bite marks which have been positively associated with extinct species allow this method to be projected beyond the crown group. The results of this study indicate that phylogenies can and should be further explored for use as predictive tools in a taphonomic framework.
A role for corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) in ethanol consumption, sensitivity, and reward as revealed by CRF-deficient mice.

Abstract Rationale. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) plays an integral role in mediating stress responses and anxiety. However, little is known regarding the role of CRF in ethanol consumption, a behavior often associated with stress and anxiety in humans. Objective. The present study sought to determine the role of CRF in ethanol consumption, locomotor sensitivity and reward by examining these behaviors in C57BL/6J × 129S mice with a targeted disruption in the gene encoding the CRF prohormone. Methods. Male wild-type and CRF-deficient mice were given concurrent access to ethanol and water in both limited and unlimited-access two-bottle choice paradigms. Taste reactivity (saccharin or quinine vs water) was examined in a similar manner under continuous-access conditions. Blood ethanol levels and clearance were measured following limited ethanol access as well as a 4-g/kg i.p. injection of ethanol. Locomotor stimulant effects of ethanol were measured in an open-field testing chamber, and the rewarding effects of ethanol were examined using the conditioned place preference paradigm. Results. CRF-deficient mice displayed normal body weight, total fluid intake, taste reactivity and blood ethanol clearance, but consumed approximately twice as much ethanol as wild types in both continuous- and limited-access paradigms. CRF-deficient mice failed to demonstrate a locomotor stimulant effect following acute administration of ethanol (2 g/kg i.p.), and also failed to demonstrate a conditioned place preference to ethanol at 2 g/kg i.p., but did display such a preference at 3 g/kg i.p. Conclusions. CRF deficiency may lead to excessive ethanol consumption by reducing sensitivity to the locomotor stimulant and rewarding effects of ethanol.
The Transfer Load-I/O Trade-Off for Coded Caching

Caching has been investigated as a useful technique to reduce the network burden by prefetching some contents during off-peak hours. Coded caching can reduce the traffic load by broadcasting coded messages that can benefit multiple users, but in the case with redundant requests, it requires reading some data segments multiple times to compose different coded messages. Hence, coded caching requires more disk input/output (I/O) than uncoded transmission. This letter proposes the caching and delivery algorithms that combine coded and uncoded transmission to strike a trade-off between the traffic load and disk I/Os. Our algorithms can improve the expected performance in terms of the user requests.
Language and Play in Students with Multiple Disabilities and Visual Impairments or Deaf-Blindness:

This article investigates the relationships between play and language development in students with multiple disabilities and visual impairments or deaf-blindness. The findings indicate that student...
Using Benchmarking Research to Locate Agency Best Practices for African American Clients

Using a collective case study design with benchmarking features, research reported here sought to locate differences in agency practices between public mental health agencies in which African American clients were doing comparatively better on specific proxy outcomes related to community tenure, and agencies with less success on those same variables. A panel of experts from the Ohio Department of Mental Health matched four agencies on per capita spending, percentage of African American clients, and urban-intensive setting. The panel also differentiated agencies on the basis of racial group comparisons for a number of proxy variables related to successful community tenure. Two agencies had a record of success with this client group (benchmark agencies); and two were less successful based on the selected criteria (comparison agencies). Findings indicated that when service elements explicitly related to culture were similar across study sites, the characteristics that did appear to make a difference were aspects of organizational culture. Implications for administration practice and further research are discussed.
Out-of-clinic sympathetic activity is increased in patients with masked uncontrolled hypertension

Masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH) is defined as controlled automated office blood pressure (BP; AOBP <135/85 mm Hg) in-clinic in patients receiving antihypertensive medication(s) but uncontro...
Computational Study of the Driving Forces and Dynamics of Curcumin Binding to Amyloid-β Protofibrils

Oligomeric aggregates of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide are believed to be the primary toxic species that initiate events leading to neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Small molecules that interfere with Aβ aggregation and/or neurotoxicity are being investigated as potential therapeutics for AD, including naturally occurring polyphenols. We have recently shown that curcumin exerts a neuroprotective effect against Aβ40-induced toxicity on cultured neuronal cells through two possible concerted pathways, ameliorating Aβ oligomer-induced toxicity and inducing the formation of nontoxic Aβ oligomers, both of which involve curcumin binding to Aβ oligomers. To gain molecular-level insights into curcumin's interaction with Aβ oligomers, we use all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the dynamics and energetics of curcumin binding to an Aβ protofibril composed of 24 peptides. Our results show that curcumin binds to specific hydrophobic sites on the protofibril surface and that binding is generally associated with the concomitant complexation of curcumin into dimers, trimers, or tetramers. Curcumin also binds to the protofibril growth axis ends but without complexation. Analysis of the energetics of the binding process revealed that curcumin complexation contributes in an additive fashion to curcumin-Aβ protofibril interactions. Favorable curcumin-protofibril binding is driven by a combination of hydrophobic interactions between curcumin and protofibril, curcumin self-aggregation, and solvation effects. These interactions are likely critical in blocking Aβ oligomer toxicity and inducing the growth of the protofibrils into "off-pathway" wormlike fibrils observed experimentally.
Interdisciplinary research: a philosophy, art form, artifact or antidote?

Interdisciplinary research has many faces—a philosophy, an art form, an artifact, and an antidote. It is all of these things because interdisciplinary research attempts to ask questions in ways that cut across disciplinary boundaries. This is not politically correct and universities especially find it difficult to manage interdisciplinarians and their projects. The author argues that interdisciplinary research has persisted as an alternative when traditional research approaches have failed to come up with answers to common problems. Interdisciplinary research will continue to survive as long as there are creative, risk-taking scientists who are dissatisfied with the political and organizational boundaries we establish around disciplines which limit our ability to learn about their commonalities.
Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase activity is required for the anti-ig- mediated growth inhibition of a human B-lymphoma cell line

Stimulation of B lymphocytes through the Ig receptor initiates a cascade of biochemical changes, which can ultimately lead to either activation and growth, or cell-cycle arrest and cell death. One of the critical events that occurs in both cases is the activation of tyrosine kinases, and the resulting phosphorylation of a variety of proteins on tyrosine residues. In this report we identify one of the substrates of phosphorylation as the 85-kD subunit of the enzyme phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), and show that both anti-IgM and anti-IgD stimulation results in an increase in the anti-phosphotyrosine-precipitable PI3K activity. Furthermore, we show that the potent and specific inhibitor of PI3K, Wortmannin, can completely abrogate anti-Ig-mediated growth inhibition without affecting tyrosine kinase induction or protein kinase C (PKC) activation. Treatment of intact cells with Wortmannin results in an irreversible decrease in anti-Ig-induced PI3K activity, suggesting that the effect of Wortmannin on anti-Ig-mediated growth inhibition is caused by its inactivation of PI3K activity. Taken together, these data show that activation of PI3K is a critical component of the anti-Ig-initiated signaling cascade that leads to growth inhibition of human B lymphoma cells.
Genetic algorithms vs. greedy algorithms in the optimization of course scheduling

Genetic algorithms are a recent addition to the computing paradigm and with their arrival, comes the idea that they may be able to replace currently used methods. This is an experiment to determine if genetic algorithms can produce a course schedule and if the algorithm compares to a greedy algorithm in response time.
Waterborne pheromones modulate gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone levels in sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus).

Abstract The relationships between pheromone stimuli and neuropeptides are not well established in vertebrates due to the limited number of unequivocally identified pheromone molecules. The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is an advantageous vertebrate model to study the effects of pheromone exposure on neuropeptides since many pheromone molecules and neuropeptides have been identified in this species. Sexually mature male sea lamprey release pheromones 7α, 12α, 24-trihydroxy-5α-cholan-3-one 24-sulfate (3 keto-petromyzonol sulfate, 3kPZS) and 7α, 12α-dihydroxy-5α-cholan-3-one-24-oic acid (3-keto allocholic acid, 3kACA) that differentially regulate gonadotropin-releasing hormone (lGnRH) and steroid levels in sexually immature sea lamprey. However, the effects of these pheromones on gonadotropin-inhibitory hormones (GnIHs), hypothalamic neuropeptides that regulate lGnRH release, are still elusive. In this report, we sought to examine the effects of waterborne pheromones on lamprey GnIH-related neuropeptide levels in sexually immature sea lamprey. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analyses revealed sex differences in GnIH-related neuropeptide levels in the brain and plasma of immature sea lamprey. Exposure to 3kPZS and 3kACA exerted differential effects on GnIH-related neuropeptide levels in both sexes, but the effects were more prominent in female brains. We conclude that sea lamprey pheromones regulate GnIH-related neuropeptide levels in a sexually dimorphic manner.
Statistics and Models

“Why do I need to take statistics?” Every semester that I teach statistics I have students asking this question. It's a fair question to ask. Most of my students want to work as therapists, social workers, psychologists, anthropologists, sociologists, teachers, or in other jobs that seem far removed from formulas and numbers. As students majoring in the social sciences, almost all of them are more interested in people than they are in numbers. For many students (including me, a long time ago), statistics is something to get out of the way so that they can devote their attention to the stuff they really want to do (Rajecki, Appleby, Williams, Johnson, & Jeschke, 2005). The purpose of this chapter is to show you why students majoring in the social sciences have to take statistics. This chapter will also explore some introductory concepts and terminology that are necessary to understand the book. The most important concept introduced in this chapter is models, which many experts use to understand their statistical results. Because my goal is to help you think about statistics like a professional, I will use that perspective throughout the book. Learning Goals • Explain why students in the behavioral sciences need statistics to be successful in their majors. • Outline the general process for designing and executing a research study. • Describe the benefits of using models to understand reality. • Demonstrate why using a model – even if it is not completely accurate – is useful for people working in the social sciences. • Identify the three types of models and describe their characteristics. Why Statistics Matters Although many students would not choose to take a statistics course, nearly every social science department requires its students to take a statistics course (e.g., Norcross et al., 2016; Stoloff et al., 2010). Why? Apparently, the professors in these departments think that statistics is essential to their students’ education, despite what their students may think. The main reason that many students must take statistics is that research in the social sciences is dominated by methodologies that are statistics-based; this family of methods is called quantitative research. Researchers who use quantitative research convert their data into numbers for the purpose of analysis, and the numbers are then analyzed by statistical methods .
Stresses Around Transverse Fissure Flaws in Rails Due to Service Loads

The paper describes analysis related to cracks in rails using the finite element method. Attention has been focused on transverse fissure type of defects in railheads, although the approach is more generally applicable. Elastic stress intensity factors are calculated using the crack closure method and compared against values computed directly from node "opening" displacement. Analyses using idealized polynomial type of stress distributions for embedded cracks are viewed in the light of finite element results. A discussion of stresses that can occur in railheads with flaws for some load situations is included.
148 Expansion of the Michigan system for opioid overdose surveillance (SOS) to inform data-driven community responses

Statement of Purpose Opioid overdose represents an urgent public health problem in the United States, with Michigan ranking among the states hardest hit by the dramatic escalation over the past 15 years. A key barrier to addressing this problem is the lack of timely surveillance data, with data in many jurisdictions lagging by up to 18 months. In response to this need, the University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center partnered with the Michigan High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) to develop a near real-time opioid overdose surveillance system. Methods/Approach The System for Opioid Overdose Surveillance (SOS) collects and automatically cleans data daily from emergency medicine services (EMS) encounters where naloxone was administered, and from Medical Examiner (ME) records where overdoses are suspected (confirmation via toxicology reports are obtained 4 to 12 weeks later). Current coverage is 100% of the state through EMS, and MEs in counties totaling 75% of the state population. County-level summaries generated by SOS are viewable on a public web site. Authorized public health and public safety stakeholders have access to a dashboard that allows customizable demographic and spatio-temporal data summaries in near real-time. This dashboard was designed in part through an iterative process with stakeholders in two Michigan counties. Results Qualitative work completed with community stakeholders in two Michigan counties suggests SOS can be used to improve planning, implementation, and responses to opioid overdoses. Conclusions Timely opioid overdose surveillance in Michigan can have broad implications for both public health and public safety, allowing for focused interventions and resource allocation in communities with the highest rates of opioid overdose. Significance and Contributions to Injury and Violence Prevention Science SOS’s multidisciplinary model can be replicated across the nation to inform data-driven opioid overdose prevention and response efforts with the ultimate goal of reducing overdose injuries and fatalities.
Analysis of Power Supply Noise Induced Jitter of I/O Subsystems with Multiple Power Domains

In high-speed interface designs, multiple power domains are used to improve the performance and minimize noise as well as jitter. Power supply noise induced jitter (PSIJ) is one of major sources of timing uncertainties. To analyze PSIJ, empirical methodologies are often derived in frequency and time domains using the individual DC delay (ps) and sensitivity (ps/mV) of key circuit blocks. In this paper, we examine the validity of PSIJ results from these empirical approaches by comparing those to the results obtained from transistor-based SPICE simulations of complete high-speed data and clock paths such as clock tree, phase interpolator, mux, and buffers under multiple power domains. The accuracy of PSIJ methodology of the overall Input/Output (I/O) subsystem is verified against the combined results of multiple circuit blocks when analyzed separately.
Rapid 3D imaging of a seizure model in zebrafish using an electrically tunable lens with adaptive optics correction

Light Sheet Microscopy has many advantages for imaging living model organisms. Its optical sectioning capability and high volumetric imaging speed over a large field of view make it especially favorable for recording highly dynamic biological events, such as neural signaling. The combination of an electrical tunable lens (ETL) and a scanning light sheet allows us to record image stacks at high speed without moving the sample or the detection objective. The performance of the light sheet microscope is affected by aberrations from the sample mounting and the sample itself as well as aberrations introduced by The ETL which limit the usable field of view and focusing range of the system. Here, we present the development of a light sheet microscope optimized for volumetric imaging of zebrafish larvae with adaptive optics correction for extended focusing range and increased image quality at a speed of 0.6Hz over 400 × 400 × 100μm3 using an electrical tunable lens.
Chartering the Future of Intercollegiate Athletics at the City University of New York -- A Legal, Ethical, and Financial Case Study

Big-time college basketball once served as an important part of a vibrant student experience at the City University of New York (“CUNY”). However, after an embarrassing point-shaving scandal in the early 1950s, CUNY deemphasized college sports – shifting its focus almost exclusively to academics. While moving away from NCAA Division I sports has allowed CUNY to avoid some of the ethical challenges that other public university systems have faced, CUNY simultaneously has sacrificed a valuable marketing opportunity by not having its college sports teams featured in the national media. This article explores whether it would be practical for the City University of New York to restore big-time college sports as part of its ongoing rebranding efforts – both in light of the historic role of big-time college basketball as a core part of CUNY’s brand identity, and the changing legal landscape of big-time college sports in the United States. Part one of this article analyzes the history of the City University of New York in terms of both academics and athletics. Part two explores the landscape of college sports in America, including both a discussion of the intercollegiate sports business model and the many ethical concerns associated with this model. Part three considers four strategic alternatives for the future direction of CUNY athletics. Finally, part four concludes by recommending that CUNY break away from the NCAA, and rebuild its big-time college sports program as part of America’s first independent, standalone athletic conference. While this article is written as a case study about the City University of New York, the legal, ethical and financial issues addressed in this article contribute to the broader discourse of law and education policy as related to the offering of intercollegiate sports in the twenty-first century. Many of the lessons learned from this case study, both legally and from a business ethics perspective, provide important insights into thinking about the future charter of intercollegiate athletics at colleges and university systems throughout the nation.
Metastatic Uterine Carcinosarcoma to the Orbit

Metastases of solid tumors to the eye and ocular adnexa are rare. Herein, the authors describe the clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical findings of a patient with a history of adenocarcinoma of the colon and a uterine carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed Mullerian tumor) who presented with proptosis and decreased vision. Positive staining with PAX-8, p16 and negative reaction for CK20 and CDX2 helped to establish the uterine origin of the metastasis. This rare case demonstrates the utility of immunohistochemical probes, especially in patients with a complex oncological history, where multiple primary sources of the metastasis are in the differential diagnosis.
The Capitol Attack and the 5th Terrorism Wave

The January 6 attack was unique in its target and potential consequences. But the methods employed were common in the 5th Wave where far-right demonstrations became common. They began against Presi...
Who needs the help desk? Tackling one's own technological problem via self IT service

Abstract Individuals are becoming more technologically savvy and self-sufficient, often transferring what they have learned in the personal realm of apps and chats into the organizational realm. Self information technology (IT) service, or an employees' attempts to solve their technological problem without first seeking the assistance of the IT department personnel, is a phenomenon that has been witnessed for a while but has not yet achieved sufficient theoretical scrutiny. Grounded in qualitative data collected from IT department personnel, an initial theory of self IT service is presented that denotes self IT service as a distinct concept with its own set of drivers and effects. Our study not only informs and expands existing conceptualizations of IT service, but also provides insights for researchers and organizations on how to harness the self IT service phenomenon for their advantage.
Ionic Selectivity and Permeation Properties of Human PIEZO1 Channels

Members of the eukaryotic PIEZO family (the human orthologs are noted hPIEZO1 and hPIEZO2) form cation-selective mechanically-gated channels. We characterized the selectivity of human PIEZO1 (hPIEZO1) for alkali ions: K+, Na+, Cs+ and Li+; organic cations: TMA and TEA, and divalents: Ba2+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Mn2+. All monovalent ions permeated the channel. At a membrane potential of -100 mV, Cs+, Na+ and K+ had chord conductances in the range of 35–55 pS with the exception of Li+, which had a significantly lower conductance of ~ 23 pS. The divalents decreased the single-channel permeability of K+, presumably because the divalents permeated slowly and occupied the open channel for a significant fraction of the time. In cell-attached mode, 90 mM extracellular divalents had a conductance for inward currents carried by the divalents of: 25 pS for Ba2+ and 15 pS for Ca2+ at -80 mV and 10 pS for Mg2+ at -50 mV. The organic cations, TMA and TEA, permeated slowly and attenuated K+ currents much like the divalents. As expected, the channel K+ conductance increased with K+ concentration saturating at ~ 45 pS and the KD of K+ for the channel was 32 mM. Pure divalent ion currents were of lower amplitude than those with alkali ions and the channel opening rate was lower in the presence of divalents than in the presence of monovalents. Exposing cells to the actin disrupting reagent cytochalasin D increased the frequency of openings in cell-attached patches probably by reducing mechanoprotection.
Tennis Elbow: Complications of Surgical Treatment and Salvage Procedures for Failed Surgery

Lateral epicondylitis (i.e., tennis elbow) is the most common complaint of the elbow seen in adults, affecting approximately 3 % of people over the age of 40. While different etiologies can contribute to lateral elbow pain, the diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis denotes pathology within the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) tendon origin and, in approximately one-third of cases, the anterior margin of the extensor digitorum communis tendon origin as well. Histological features reveal predominantly hyaline degeneration and neovascularization, compatible with an aborted effort at healing rather than an inflammatory response. Whereas nonoperative modalities remain the mainstay of treatment, with advents in technology and surgical techniques, the number of surgical interventions is increasing. Unfortunately, and common to all surgical procedures, there are associated complications and modes of failure.
Activity on both components of HR 1099

HR 1099 has been extensively studied in many wavelength bands. Fundamental properties of the system have been derived by Fekel (1983). The primary component is a K0-K2 subgiant of 1.4 ± 0.2 MO; the secondary is a G2-G5 dwarf of i.i ± 0.2 MO; the radii are 3.9 ± 0.2 R 0 and 1.3 ± 0.2 R 0 respectively; and the separation of their centers is 12.1 R@. The primary fills approximately 80% of its Roche lobe, and mass transfer can be expected a few million years hence.
Will Mrs. Bond Topple Missouri v. Holland

Carol Anne Bond assaulted her former best friend with some chemicals she took from her workplace when she discovered the former friend was carrying her husband's baby. She was prosecuted not by the local district attorney for the simple assault, but by the U.S. Attorney for violating the federal statute that implements the international treaty against the use of chemical weapons. Mrs. Bond claimed that the federal statute under which she was convicted was an unconstitutional overreach of federal power, intruding into areas of core state sovereignty. The Third Circuit held that Mrs. Bond did not even have standing to raise that constitutional challenge. The U.S. Surpreme Court unanimously reversed. This article explores both the Supreme Court's jurisdictional holding and the merits of Mrs. Bond's constitutional challenge that will now be considered on remand to the lower courts. Essentially, the issue is whether the federal government can expand its own constitutional powers by use of the Treaty Clause, and this Article argues that it cannot.
THE USE OF KES AND FAST INSTRUMENTS: IN PREDICTING PROCESSABILITY OF FABRICS IN SEWING

The experience of the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science with the use of Kawabata Evaluation System for Fabrics (KES‐F) since 1984 and more recently, 1988, with the Fabric Assurance by Simple Testing (FAST) is described. Although previous projects have involved the effect of chemical and mechanical finishing and sponging on the hand and mechanical properties of fabrics, the major emphasis here correlates the processability of fabrics in tailored clothing manufacturing, especially in manually operated overfeed sewing, with the tensile‐elongation and shear properties of these fabrics. It is anticipated that programmable sewing machines will require instructions based on the mechanical properties of the fabrics being processed.
U.S. Supreme Court Justices and Public Mood

Does public mood influence the decisions of U.S. Supreme Court Justices? Under what conditions might Justices vote against their typical ideological leanings and in favor of public opinion? We employ both quantitative and qualitative methods to address these questions. For the quantitative portion, logistic regression analysis indicates a strong relationship between public mood and Supreme Court Justices’ votes both in the aggregate and for a number of liberal and conservative Justices individually during the 1946 to 2011 Court terms. Justices respond less strongly to public opinion when the Court is highly polarized and when the legal issues to be decided are highly politically salient. For the qualitative portion, we examine Justice Harry Blackmun’s personal papers in the Library of Congress for evidence of an apparent “switch” from an attitudinal posture to a public mood posture. We find four cases in which he made such a switch: Planned Parenthood v. Danforth, Committee for Public Education v. Nyquist, Pennsylvania Central Transportation v. New York City, and Maine v. Thibotout. We also closely examine Justice Thurgood Marshall’s normative views on judicial neutrality and the role of public opinion on judging. Our research demonstrates the enduring power of popular influences on the Supreme Court, showing that despite public and scholarly reports about growing ideological intransigence in the Court, the public holds significant sway over the decisions of individual members of the nation’s highest court.
Surface emitting laser technology and its application to the space radiation environment

Present and future space-based applications such as sensors, low-weight and low-power data links for satellites, communication between electromagnetically-shielded modules, and short-distance cross-links within satellite constellations may benefit from the inclusion of small, low-power, and high-efficiency lasers such as the recently-developed Vertical Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL). Many factors influence the application of these devices to space. Temperature response, operational lifetime and reliability, and power consumption are all important considerations for space applications. In addition, the space radiation environments must be considered. In this work, the effects of ionizing radiation on VCSELs are studied with an emphasis on proton damage, and with comparisons to related neutron and gamma-induced phenomena. The influence of proton irradiation is studied in-depth for selected VCSEL structures by the use of an ion microbeam. The experiments indicate that VCSELs exhibit much less threshold current shift for a given radiation dose, compared to the more traditional edge-emitting semiconductor lasers, but that self-heating is a more important consideration for VCSELs. The high current densities associated with VCSELs also lead to a strong influence from forward-bias annealing. These effects are common to various VCSEL types (780 nm and 850 nm) and their magnitude at a given dose is strongly dependent onmore » device size. This indicates that, while VCSELs appear to be very insensitive to ionizing radiation when compared with alternative technologies, there are a number of factors that must be taken into account when optimizing for the space environment.« less
On deception detection in multi-agent systems and deception intent

Deception detection plays an important role in the military decision-making process, but detecting deception is a challenging task. The deception planning process involves a number of human factors. It is intent-driven where intentions are usually hidden or not easily observable. As a result, in order to detect deception, any adversary model must have the capability to capture the adversary's intent. This paper discusses deception detection in multi-agent systems and in adversary modeling. We examined psychological and cognitive science research on deception and implemented various theories of deception within our approach. First, in multi-agent expert systems, one detection method uses correlations between agents to predict reasonable opinions/responses of other agents (Santos & Johnson, 2004). We further explore this idea and present studies that show the impact of different factors on detection success rate. Second, from adversary modeling, our detection method focuses on inferring adversary intent. By combining deception "branches" with intent inference models, we can estimate an adversary's deceptive activities and at the same time enhance intent inference. Two major kinds of deceptions are developed in this approach in different fashions. Simulative deception attempts to find inconsistency in observables, while dissimulative deception emphasizes the inference of enemy intentions.
The differential effects of child abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder on schizotypal personality disorder

Abstract Objective Previous findings suggest a relation between trauma exposure and risk for schizotypal personality disorder (SPD). However, the reasons for this relationship are not well understood. Some research suggests that exposure to trauma, particularly early trauma and child abuse, as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may play a role. Methods We examined subjects (n = 541) recruited from the primary care clinics of an urban public hospital as part of an National Institute of Mental Health-funded study of trauma-related risk and resilience. We evaluated childhood abuse with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and the Early Trauma Inventory and SPD with the Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality. We assessed for lifetime PTSD using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Results We found that of the 3 forms of abuse analyzed (emotional, physical, and sexual), only emotional abuse significantly predicted SPD ( P .001, R = 0.28) when all 3 abuse types were simultaneously entered into a regression model. Lifetime PTSD symptoms also significantly predicted SPD ( P .001, R = 0.26). Posttraumatic stress disorder was specifically predictive of 4 of the 8 SPD symptoms ( P ≤ .001): excessive social anxiety, a lack of close friends or confidants, unusual perceptual experiences, and eccentric behavior or appearance. Using a Sobel test, we also found a partial mediation effect of PTSD on the relation between emotional abuse and SPD ( z = 3.45, P Conclusions These findings point to the important influence of emotional abuse on SPD and suggest that PTSD symptoms may provide a link between damaging childhood experiences and SPD symptoms in traumatized adults.
Symptomatic Valvular Myxomatous Transformation (The Floppy Valve Syndrome) A Possible Forme Fruste of the Marfan Syndrome

The clinical course of nine patients, aged 14 to 49, who either at surgery or autopsy demonstrated myxomatous valvular transformation, has been described. Five females presented with symptomatic mitral insufficiency. Two of them had had endocarditis whereas in the others a heart murmur was detected during childhood. Three of the four men had a recent onset of aortic insufficiency associated in one case with aneurysm of the ascending aorta. The fourth experienced sequential arterial rupture and finally aortic dissection, his asymptomatic valvular lesion becoming manifest only at autopsy. The electrocardiographic, roentgenographic, angiographic, and catheterization findings resembled those seen in rheumatic heart disease, except that neither fibrosis, calcification, nor stenosis was found. The histologic appearance of the valve leaflets was identical to that which has been described, primarily as an incidental lesion, in the Marfan syndrome. Only one of the nine patients, however, demonstrated arachnodactyl...
Numerically intersecting algebraic varieties via witness sets

The fundamental construct of numerical algebraic geometry is the representation of an irreducible algebraic set, A, by a witness set, which consists of a polynomial system, F, for which A is an irreducible component of V(F), a generic linear space L of complementary dimension to A, and a numerical approximation to the set of witness points, [email protected]?A. Given F, methods exist for computing a numerical irreducible decomposition, which consists of a collection of witness sets, one for each irreducible component of V(F). This paper concerns the more refined question of finding a numerical irreducible decomposition of the intersection [email protected]?B of two irreducible algebraic sets, A and B, given a witness set for each. An existing algorithm, the diagonal homotopy, computes witness point supersets for [email protected]?B, but this does not complete the numerical irreducible decomposition. In this paper, we use the theory of isosingular sets to complete the process of computing the numerical irreducible decomposition of the intersection.
The Effect of Matrix Shrinkage on Damage Accumulation in Composites

This study addresses residual stress and its effect on the performance of thermoset filamentary composites. Both cure shrinkage and thermal shrinkage in the matrix generate various residual stresses. In this work, a molecular additive was used to nearly eliminate the cure shrinkage of the cast thermoset resin and thereby to significantly reduce the residual stress in the composite.In spite of the reduction in residual stress, the damage accumulation behavior was un changed : transverse cracking studies of (02/902)s laminates showed identical crack onset and crack accumulation in both control and experimental composites (with and without additive, respectively). The surprising lack of effect of reduced residual stress on damage accumulation is explained by considering the effect of the additive on elastic constants and fracture sensitivity.
A computational study of DEA with massive data sets

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is computationally intensive. This work answers conclusively questions about computational performance and scale limits of the standard LP-based procedures currently used. Examples of DEA problems with up to 15K entities are documented and it is not hard to imagine problem size increasing as new more sophisticated applications are found for DEA. This work reports on a comprehensive computational study involving DEA problems with up to 100K DMUs. We explore the impact of different LP algorithms including interior point methods as well as accelerators such as advanced basis starts and DEA specific enhancements such as ''restricted basis entry'' (RBE). Our results demonstrate that solution times behave close to quadratically and that massive problems can be solved efficiently. We propose ideas for extending DEA into a data mining tool.
Cervical chemodectoma with extensive pulmonary metastases.

An unusual case of malignant cervical chemodectoma with pulmonary metastasis is presented. The rarity of diffuse visceral spread is emphasized and the distinction from benign pulmonary chemodectomatosis is made by both clinical and pathologic features.
Modelling and testing for market volatility

Three types of nonlinear models of volatility of market returns based on the conditional variance models and the logistic and cubic versions of chaotic dynamics are critically reviewed here and empirically tested against three types of market indices: value weighted equally weighted and Standard and Poor's return index for the New York Stock Market. Econometric results provide valuable insights into the temporal variations of the conditional variances and skewness of market returns.
Argentine jewry: ethnicity and problems

Naomi Meyer, a reporter of Argentine Jewry forThe American Jewish Year Book wrote in 1973 of ‘a steady decline in circumcision’ A Jewish cultural decline was also indicated by the demise ofComentano, a magazine published by the Institute Argentino Judio (affiliated with the American Jewish Committee) possessing a greater Jewish content than the AmericanCommentary Also, the Jewish community was unable to fund a chair in Judaica at the University
Simulation of digital video recording to maximize solid-state disk lifetime

Solid-state disk drives (SSDs), based on flashmemory technology, have emerged as popular alternatives to conventional magnetic hard disk drives (HDDs). There is a strong motivation to use flash-based media for digital video recording (DVR), especially in mobile and handheld devices, but the recording and playback process must be carefully designed to take into account the unique properties of SSDs in order to maximize the lifetime of the drive. This outlines features that can be added to a SSD file system to increase drive lifetime, and simulation results.
Nonreactive measures in psychotherapy outcome research

Abstract Attempts to assess outcomes of psychotherapy have relied too heavily on measures likely to be highly reactive, by which is meant that the processes of measurement affect what is being measured. Commonly employed measures of outcome such as therapist ratings or self-report are especially susceptible to effects attributable to knowledge of what is being measured. There are advantages in developing and using measures that, even though imperfect in other ways, are minimally reactive. Nonreactive measures should be considered as supplementary and not as substitutes for other measures. Problems with nonreactive measures involving ethics, validity and other psychometric limitations are troublesome but not insurmountable. Promising categoires of nonreactive measures include physical traces of past behaviors, archival records, nonverbal behaviors and observations carried out in contrived situations. Measures with dependably low levels of reactivity, including physiological measures, should also be considered for use.
On Tribbia's High-Order Initialization Procedure

Abstract A simple alternative formula for normal Mode initialization is shown to be exactly equivalent to Tribbia's procedure. It is then argued that although Tribbia's procedure gives excellent results for some problems, it can have convergence problems in other cases.
Cystic fibrosis carrier screening in a North American population.

The aim of this study was to compare the mutation frequency distribution for a 32-mutation panel and a 69-mutation panel used for cystic fibrosis carrier screening. Further aims of the study were to examine the race-specific detection rates provided by both panels and to assess the performance of extended panels in large-scale, population-based cystic fibrosis carrier screening. Although genetic screening for the most common CFTR mutations allows detection of nearly 90% of cystic fibrosis carriers, the large number of other mutations, and their distribution within different ethnic groups, limits the utility of general population screening. Patients referred for cystic fibrosis screening from January 2005 through December 2010 were tested using either a 32-mutation panel (n = 1,601,308 individuals) or a 69-mutation panel (n = 109,830). The carrier frequencies observed for the 69-mutation panel study population (1/36) and Caucasian (1/27) and African-American individuals (1/79) agree well with published cystic fibrosis carrier frequencies; however, a higher carrier frequency was observed for Hispanic-American individuals (1/48) using the 69-mutation panel as compared with the 32-mutation panel (1/69). The 69-mutation panel detected ~20% more mutations than the 32-mutation panel for both African-American and Hispanic-American individuals. Expanded panels using race-specific variants can improve cystic fibrosis carrier detection rates within specific populations. However, it is important that the pathogenicity and the relative frequency of these variants are confirmed. Genet Med 16 7, 539–546.
Increased cortisol in the cerebrospinal fluid of women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Context: The proximate cause of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) is reduced GnRH drive. The concomitant increase in circulating cortisol suggests that psychogenic stress plays an etiologic role, but others have argued for a strictly metabolic cause, such as undernutrition or excessive exercise. Indeed, our finding that the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentration of CRH was not elevated in FHA cast doubt about the extent of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activation in FHA and, therefore, we wondered whether central cortisol levels were elevated. Objective: We tested the null hypothesis that CSF cortisol levels would be comparable in FHA and eumenorrheic women (EW). Design: The study is a cross-sectional comparison. Setting: The study was set in a general clinical research center at an academic medical center. Participants: Fifteen women with FHA who were of normal body weight and 14 EW participated. Intervention: Blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals for 24 h, followed by procurement of ...
Structural basis of the in vivo induction of micronuclei.

Abstract The structural basis of the in vivo induction of micronuclei was examined with CASE, a structure-activity relational method. The CASE program identified a number of structures associated with this activity. When used to predict the activity of chemicals not included in the learning set, these structural determinants gave a concordance in excess of 85%. The existence of a structural basis for the induction of micronuclei will permit an investigation of the mechanistic basis of this phenomenon.
Structure-function studies of human TSH: New advances in design of glycoprotein hormone analogs

Recent progress in structure-function studies of glycoprotein hormones has provided new insights into the molecular mechanisms of action of these hormones and has further supported the concept that physiological modulation of assembly, bioactivity, and clearance of these hormones is dependent on specific structural components. This review emphasizes current advances in the structure-function relationships of human TSH, which have contributed to further elucidation of common and hormone specific features within the glycoprotein hormones family. Novel strategies are now being applied to investigate the role of individual structural elements. The principks discovered in such studies are essential to understand the physiological regulation of hormone bioactivity and allow for the rational design of novel analogs with potential therapeutic applications.
Taking Foreign Languages in High School

ABSTRACT This study examined variability in foreign language courses taken by students in American high schools. The conceptual model for the study depicted engagement in language courses as being shaped by (1) the school's offerings; (2) school policies and practices that determine access for some or all students, and (3) student choice: the focus of the study was on the first two of these. Data consisted of actual course catalogues of three hundred forty public and private high schools, and transcripts of approximately twenty-four thousand students who graduated from those schools in 1994. Course offerings in specific languages and summary measures of offerings were examined by school sector, enrollment, urbanicity, and socioeconomic status. Course-taking, with total credits and advanced study considered separately, was summarized for the student sample. Finally, course-taking was examined in a statistical model that included school demographic characteristics, school policies (language requirements; advanced language offerings), and student characteristics including academic track. In addition to providing descriptive information about language offerings and course-taking, the investigation underscored the importance of advanced offerings (especially for more able students), the effects of school-wide language requirements (especially for lower-track students), and the deleterious effect of tracking on foreign language study.