cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of ferric iron on siderophore production and pyrene degradation by Pseudomonas fluorescens 29L.

The effect of ferric iron [Fe(III)] on pyrene degradation and siderophore production was studied in Pseudomonas fluorescens 29L. In the presence of 0.5 μM of Fe(III) and 50 mg of pyrene per liter of medium as a carbon source, 2.2 mg of pyrene was degraded per liter of medium per day and 25.3 μM of 2,3-DHBA (2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid) equivalent of siderophores was produced per day. However, the pyrene degradation rate was 1.3 times higher and no siderophores were produced with the addition of 1 μM of Fe(III). Similar trends were seen with 50 mg of succinate per liter of medium as a carbon source, although the growth of strain 29L and the succinate degradation rate were higher. In the absence of siderophore production, pyrene and succinate continued to be biodegraded. This indicates that Fe(III) and not siderophore production affects the hydrocarbon degradation rate. Only 18% of strain 29L mutants capable of growth on pyrene produced siderophores, while among the mutants capable of growth on succinate, only 10% produced siderophores. This indicates that siderophores are not required for pyrene biodegradation. Fe(III) enhances pyrene degradation in Pseudomonas fluorescens 29L but it may be utilized by mechanisms other than siderophores.
Protein: Colloid conjugates for surface enhanced raman scattering: Stability and control of protein orientation

Conjugates between cytochrome c (Cc) and colloidal Au particles have been prepared. These conjugates, purified by centrifugation/resuspension, provide a reproducible means of positioning a biomolecule analyte between two metal surfaces: the metal nanoparticle to which the biomolecule is bound and an aggregated Ag sol used as a substrate for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). SERS spectra for Ag:Cc:Au sandwiches made by addition of Cc:Au conjugates to aggregated Ag show that the protein retains its native conformation. Conjugation of Cc to colloidal metal nanoparticles prior to exposure to the SERS substrate can be used as a means of controlling protein orientation with respect to the substrate. In addition, Cc molecules bound to 12-nm diameter Au nanoparticles prior to adsorption to aggregated Ag are more stable to changes in the orientation of the heme with respect to the surface and to surface-induced heme spin state conversion than adsorbed, free Cc. These experiments show that protein:Au conju...
Catheter-related injuries as cause of acute surgical condition within abdomen

Three cases of an acute surgical condition within the abdomen secondary to complications of chronic urethral catheters are reported. Common factors in the history and varying mechanisms for the injuries are discussed. Need for including catheter-related injuries in the differential diagnosis of an acute surgical condition of the abdomen is emphasized.
Determinants of Cue Strength in Adult First and Second Language Speakers of French.

This study investigates the determinants of adult usage of various syntactic and semantic cues in sentence interpretation. Native French speakers and advanced English/French bilinguals were tested for the strength of usage of word order, clitic pronoun agreement, verb agreement, and noun animacy cues in the assignment of the actor role in French sentences. Native speakers showed strong use of clitic pronoun agreement, followed by much weaker use of verb agreement, an even weaker use of noun animacy, and negligible use of word order. This ranking reflects the importance of these cues in naturally occurring French sentences involving conflicts among cues in conjunction with a learning-on-error model. The English/French bilinguals did not manifest English-like strategies of word order preference on the French sentences; rather, they showed a cue ranking very similar to that of native speakers, although detectability may have played a role in their use of verb agreement. The failure of English word order strategies to correctly interpret many naturally occurring French sentences may be responsible for the adaptation of strategies appropriate to the second language.
Similitude of Large-Scale Turbulence in Experiments on Local Scour at Cylinders

The writers’ experiments on local scour at vertical cylinders placed in a sand bed show that similitude of large-scale turbulence is an important consideration influencing equilibrium depth of local scour. For the range of cylinder diameters used in their experiments, the writers identify a direct trend between equilibrium scour depth (normalized with cylinder diameter) and the intensity and frequency of large-scale turbulence shed from each cylinder; values of normalized scour depth increased when cylinder diameter decreased. The writers offer a scour-depth adjustment factor to account for this trend, which essentially is a scale effect incurred with experiments involving three independent length scales: cylinder diameter, bed-particle diameter, and flow depth. The consequent similitude consideration, or scale effect, has general significance for laboratory studies of local scour associated with hydraulic structures in sediment beds.
Using boundary scan with a fault dictionary to test and diagnose clusters of non-scan logic

The VICTORY boundary-scan toolset offers fault-dictionary diagnosis of virtual logic clusters, using the diagnostic data provided by a simulator. Using simulation software such as LASAR V6, a test developer can fault simulate the cluster-under-test and produce a fault dictionary in standard LSRTAP format. At run time on a tester, VlCTORY's Boundary-Scan Intelligent Diagnostics (BSID) module uses the LSRTAP files as part of its diagnostic database to isolate a reported failure and diagnose the fault. This paper discusses the implementation and requirements of this new capability, which is available for L-Series and ZI800-Series ATE as well as third-party testers.
Stochastic reconstruction of multiple source atmospheric contaminant dispersion events

Abstract Reconstruction of intentional or accidental release of contaminants into the atmosphere using concentration measurements from a sensor network constitutes an inverse problem. An added complexity arises when the contaminant is released from multiple sources. Determining the correct number of sources is critical because an incorrect estimation could mislead and delay response efforts. We present a Bayesian inference method coupled with a composite ranking system to reconstruct multiple source contaminant release events. Our approach uses a multi-source data-driven Gaussian plume model as the forward model to predict the concentrations at sensor locations. Bayesian inference with Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling is then used to infer model parameters within minutes on a conventional processor. The composite ranking system enables the estimation of the number of sources involved in a release event. The ranking formula allows plume model results to be evaluated based on a combination of error (scatter), bias, and correlation components. We use the 2007 FUSION Field Trial concentration data resulting from near-ground-level sources to test the multi-source event reconstruction tool (MERT). We demonstrate successful reconstructions of source parameters, as well as the number of sources involved in a release event with as many as three sources.
Children With Learning Disabilities Social Goals and Strategies

Research has found that children with learning disabilities are at a greater risk for developing interpersonalproblems than nondisabled children. Thepresent study tested the hypothesis that learning disabled (LO) boys differfrom nondisabled (NLD) boys in terms of the strategies and goals that they independently formulate in interpersonal situations. LD children were hypothesized to be similar to younger NLD children who formulate lessfnendly strategies and less sophisticated goals than older children. Boys (8 to 9years and 11 to 13 years) with and without learning disabilities were interviewed regarding their strate@es andgoals in four hypothetical situations. Each situation was presented in an open-ended and in a multiple-choice format. Analysis of open-ended responses revealed that LD boys'goals were signcantly less sophisticated than those produced by NLD children. However, analysis of the multiple-choice responses revealed that when given a set of strategies and goals to chooseji-om, LD boys chose str...
Extraction and Integration of Human Body Parts for 3-D Motion Analysis of Golf Swing from Single-Camera Video Sequences

We present a framework for analyzing the human body 3D motion of golf swing from single-camera video sequences. The system is different from the methods in the literature as it evaluates the 3D model for each major body part separately to derive a more accurate 3D representation. The human body parts used for the analysis are automatically extracted using a video object segmentation technique. This 2D information estimated from the segmented body parts is utilized to obtain 3D body part models, consisting of head, upper arms, lower arms, body trunk, upper legs, lower legs and feet. The objective of the system is to obtain the 3D motion information for performance evaluation in golf swinging and comparing this information for different players.
A partitioning approach for object-oriented software development for parallel processing systems

A partitioning approach for object-oriented software development in parallel processing systems is presented. The objective of the partitioning approach is to improve the overall performance of a software system by minimizing communication cost among objects. The software system is modeled by a graph, and a bottom-up clustering technique is presented to partition the objects into a set of clusters to achieve this objective. >
Injection System for Multiwell Injection Using a Single Pump

Many hydrological and geochemical studies rely on data resulting from injection of tracers and chemicals into groundwater wells. The even distribution of liquids to multiple injection points can be challenging or expensive, especially when using multiple pumps. An injection system was designed using one chemical metering pump to evenly distribute the desired influent simultaneously to 15 individual injection points through an injection manifold. The system was constructed with only one metal part contacting the fluid due to the low pH of the injection solutions. The injection manifold system was used during a three-month pilot scale injection experiment at the Vineland Chemical Company Superfund site. During the two injection phases of the experiment (Phase I = 0.27 L/min total flow, Phase II = 0.56 L/min total flow), flow measurements were made 20 times over three months; an even distribution of flow to each injection well was maintained (RSD <4%). This durable system is expandable to at least 16 injection points and should be adaptable to other injection experiments that require distribution of air-stable liquids to multiple injection points with a single pump.
Ultrathin, protective coatings of poly(o-phenylenediamine) as electrochemical proton gates: Making mesoporous MnO2 nanoarchitectures stable in acid electrolytes

We have created hybrid organic−inorganic nanoarchitectures by electrodepositing ultrathin (<10-nm-thick) polymer coatings onto nanostructured MnO2 birnessite-type electrodes with surface areas in excess of 200 m2 g-1. By choosing a self-limited growth process, based on the electropolymerization of o-phenylenediamine, the resulting polymer conformally coats the oxide nanoscale network without disrupting the continuous mesoporosity of the initial MnO2 nanoarchitecture. These polymer coatings serve as pinhole-free physical barriers to external, acidic electrolyte, specifically, H2O and hydrated protons, and protect the underlying MnO2 nanoarchitecture from dissolution. The underlying metal oxide remains electrochemically addressable via an electrochemical proton-gating mechanism in which charge-compensating unsolvated protons are transported through the polymer coating. The 3D-templated electrochemical fabrication of polymer at an electrified metal oxide nanoarchitecture provides a new model for the developm...
Synthesis of inherently dissymmetric polyamides

The preparation of polyamides from derivatives of optically active biphenic acid is described. The diacid chlorides chosen were 2,2′-dinitro-6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl-4,4′-dicarbonyl chloride and 2,2′-dichloro-6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl-4,4′-dicarbonyl chloride, the diamines were phenyldiamines (o-, m-, p-) piperazine, trans-2,5-dimethylpiperazine, and 1,2-piperaazolidine. Polymerization was carried out by the method of interfacial polycondensation. The polymers of aromatic diamines were insoluble in common organic solvents but soluble in dimethylformamide containing 5% lithium chloride, triesters of phosphoric acid, and methanesulfonic acid. The polymers of aliphatic diamines were also insoluble in common organic solvents but soluble in trifluoroethanol. All polymers had melting points higher than 280°C.
The Health of Men: Structured Inequalities and Opportunities

I have summarized in this article data on the magnitude of health challenges faced by men in the United States. Across a broad range of indicators, men report poorer health than women. Although men in all socioeconomic groups are doing poorly in terms of health, some especially high-risk groups include men of low socioeconomic status (SES) of all racial/ethnic backgrounds, low-SES minority men, and middle-class Black men. Multiple factors contribute to the elevated health risks of men. These include economic marginality, adverse working conditions, and gendered coping responses to stress, each of which can lead to high levels of substance use, other health-damaging behaviors, and an aversion to health-protective behaviors. The forces that adversely affect men’s health are interrelated, unfold over the life course, and are amenable to change.
Magnetic Nanotubes Influence the Response of Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons to Alternating Magnetic Fields

Magnetic nanotubes hold the potential for neuroscience applications because of the feasibility of controlling the orientation or movement of magnetic nanotubes and their ability to deliver chemicals or biomolecules by an external magnetic field, which can facilitate directed growth of neurites. Therefore, we sought to investigate the effects of laminin treated magnetic nanotubes and external alternating magnetic fields on the growth of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in cell culture. Magnetic nanotubes were synthesized by a hydrothermal method and characterized to confirm their hollow structure, the hematite and maghemite phases, and the magnetic properties. DRG neurons were cultured in the presence of laminin coupled magnetic nanotubes under alternating magnetic fields. Electron microscopy showed a close interaction between magnetic nanotubes and the growing neurites. Phase contrast microscopy revealed live growing neurons suggesting that the combination of the presence of magnetic nanotubes and the alternating magnetic field were tolerated by DRG neurons. The synergistic effects, from both laminin treated magnetic nanotubes and the applied magnetic field on the survival, growth, and electrical activities of the DRG neurons, are currently being investigated.
Integrated RF and microwave components in BiCMOS technology

This paper presents and discusses an approach to exploit conventional BiCMOS technology for monolithic integration of RF & microwave systems. Several components, which are important elements of RF and microwave circuit design and which are not available in current BiCMOS, are described and characterized. The results for integrated spiral inductors in particular show that obvious limitations in comparison to compound semiconductor technology or hybrid configurations can be overcome to a large extent by utilizing the structural design options given with VLSI silicon integration technology.
Isolation of male germ-line stem cells; influence of GDNF.

The identification and physical isolation of testis stem cells, a subset of type A spermatogonia, is critical to our understanding of their growth regulation during the first steps of spermatogenesis. These stem cells remain poorly characterized because of the paucity of specific molecular markers that permit us to distinguish them from other germ cells. Thus, the molecular mechanisms driving the first steps of spermatogenesis are still unknown. We show in the present study that GFRα-1, the receptor for GDNF (glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor), is strongly expressed by a subset of type A spermatogonia in the basal part of the seminiferous epithelium. Using this characteristic, we devised a method to specifically isolate these GFRα-1-positive cells from immature mouse testes. The isolated cells express Ret, a tyrosine kinase transmembrane receptor that mediates the intracellular response to GDNF via GFRα-1. After stimulation with rGDNF, the isolated cells proliferated in culture and underwent the first steps of germ cell differentiation. Microarray analysis revealed that GDNF induces the differential expression of a total of 1124 genes. Among the genes upregulated by GDNF were many genes involved in early mammalian development, differentiation, and the cell cycle. This report describes the first isolation of a pure population of GFRα-1-positive cells in the testis and identifies signaling pathways that may play a crucial role in maintaining germ-line stem cell proliferation and/or renewal.
17-α-HYDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE; AN EFFECTIVE PROGESTATIONAL SUBSTANCE ON ORAL ADMINISTRATION

PROGESTERONE is most effective when administered parenterally and it is rather rapidly metabolized and excreted. In order to avoid daily injections of progesterone, it is necessary to have either a parenteral form with a prolonged effect (1, 2) or an oral substance with progestational properties. The progestational substance most widely used for oral administration is 20,21-antrydro-17-β-hydroxyprogesterone (pregneninolone, 17-α-ethinyltestosterone). It is the purpose of this paper to introduce and describe a new steroid for oral administration, 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone acetate*, and to compare it with the most widely used oral substance with progestational properties, 20,21-anhydro-17-β-hydroxyprogesterone. PATIENTS AND METHOD Comparative tests were performed on 3 surgically castrated women, who previously had been subjected to other cyclic studies during which it was shown that secretory changes could be induced in the endometria. The tests were performed with anhydrohydroxyprogesterone, and with 17-α-h...
West Meets East: A Conversation with Frank Chin

(1998). West Meets East: A Conversation with Frank Chin. Amerasia Journal: Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 87-104.
Metastatic gastroesophageal cancer and long-term survival

4560 Background: Despite modest therapeutic improvements, resistance to systemic chemotherapy develops in most pts with advanced gastric/GEJ (GE) adenocarcinoma. Median OS rarely exceeds 10 mo. How...
Do Fibromyalgia Flares Have a Neurobiological Substrate

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic central pain sensitivity syndrome manifesting as widespread pain and tenderness with no evidence of soft tissue inflammation [1]. It affects around 2% to 8% of the general population, with a prevalence that increases with age, and marked female predominance [2]. The main clinical manifestations are chronic widespread pain (CWP) with multiple tender points on physical examination, fatigue [3], headaches [4], sleep difficulties, and cognitive disturbances referred to as “fibro fog” [5]. Individuals with FM may also present with nonspecific symptoms of chest, abdominal, or pelvic pain, paresthesias, and lower urinary tract symptoms [6–9]. The 2010 ACR preliminary diagnostic criteria for FM offer nonspecialists a new diagnostic approach that does not require tender point examination and counting, as was the case with the 1990 criteria, and provide a symptom severity scale and a recognition of the importance of cognitive and somatic symptoms in this disorder [10]. Moreover, several functional somatic syndromes (e.g., chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome), rheumatic diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren’s syndrome, and ankylosing spondylitis), and psychiatric disorders occur with FM with a frequency that is significantly higher than that of the general population [6,11–15]. Major depressive disorder (MDD) and/or anxiety disorders are found in one-third to one-half of patients at the time of diagnosis [6]. Furthermore, depressed women with FM presented with more severe symptoms, worse overall physical condition, and lower quality of life compared with controls [16]. While the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) duloxetine and the anticonvulsant pregabalin are both FDA approved as first-line therapies [17,18], nonpharmacological therapies (i.e., aerobic exercises, physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT], and patient education) remain …
Visual Diagnosis: A Rash That Changes Shape

1. Miltiadis Douvoyiannis, MD* 2. Fatima S. Khan, MD† 1. *Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Altru Health System, Main Clinic, Grand Forks, ND. 2. †Department of Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine, and Department of Allergy and Immunology, Altru Health System, Main Clinic, Grand Forks, ND. A previously healthy 9-month-old girl was admitted to the Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis/The University of Oklahoma because of fever and rash. The fever started 2 days before the admission, and her temperature was up to 102.0°F (38.9°C). The rash occurred on the day of admission. It began as red raised lesions on the trunk and progressed to circular and annular lesions of various sizes. New eruptions occurred while previous lesions were changing in shape within a few hours. The rash was progressing, also involving the extremities, despite the use of over-the-counter diphenhydramine. The infant had been diagnosed as having acute otitis media and was on the ninth day of amoxicillin administration. She was fully vaccinated. The rest of her medical history was noncontributory. She lived with her foster father. On physical examination her vital signs were within normal limits. She was in no acute distress, drinking milk from her bottle, and occasionally smiling. Polycyclic, annular erythematous, raised lesions were detected over the infant’s torso and upper and lower extremities (Figure). The rash did not involve the palms and soles. In …
Factors influencing accuracy of electric power system frequency dynamic simulation

Since the parameter of the original model fails to repeat accident curve at the present stage,this paper points out the factors influencing accuracy of electric power system frequency dynamic simulation,including practical system accident data acquisition and preconditioning and system model establishment and parameter reorganization,discusses the mechanism how these factors influencing frequency dynamic process and summaries means adopted at the present stage.
Space Charge Phenomena in Oil-Paper Insulation Materials Under High Voltage Direct Current

This paper studied the space charge characteristics of oil-paper insulation materials by the Pulsed Electro-Acoustic(PEA) method.The effects of applied HVDC on space charge accumulation in oil paper was discussed.This paper also discusses the relationship between space charge and breakdown in oil paper.The result shows that the space charge comes from ionization at lower field stress.When the stress is higher,injection of homo carriers occurs at cathode first and anode later.The space charge inside oil-paper sample results in an electrical field distortion up to 40%.The oil-paper insulation material's conductivity is much larger compared with polyethylene,so the space charge dissipates fast when the applied field is removed.The experiment showed that most of the space charge in oil paper dissipated in 30 seconds after the source was removed,which is very different from other insulation materials such as low density polyethylene(LDPE).The fast dissipation of space charge will play the key role in oil-paper material's insulating performance in condition of polarity reversal under HVDC.The injection and movement of space charge result in the degradation and breakdown of the oil-paper insulation material.When the applied electrical field rose to 50kV/mm-57kV/mm,the oil-paper material got breakdown in a short time.During this process,an obvious movement of space charge was observed.
An Analysis of Depression, Self-Harm, and Suicidal Ideation Content on Tumblr.

Abstract. Background: Social networking about depression can be indicative of self-reported depression and/or can normalize risk behaviors such as self-harm and suicidal ideation. Aim: To gain a better understanding of the depression, self-harm, and suicidal content that is being shared on Tumblr. Method: From April 16 to May 10, 2014, 17 popular depression-related Tumblr accounts were monitored for new posts and engagement with other Tumblr users. A total of 3,360 posts were randomly selected from all historical posts from these accounts and coded based on themes ascertained by the research team. Results: The 17 Tumblr accounts posted a median number of 185 posts (range = 0–2,954). Content was engaged with (i.e., re-blogged or liked) a median number of 1,677,362 times (range = 0–122,186,504). Of the 3,360 randomly selected posts, 2,739 (82%) were related to depression, suicide, or self-harm. Common themes were self-loathing (412, 15%), loneliness/feeling unloved (405, 15%), self-harm (407, 15%), and suic...
Innovation science: between models and machines

ABSTRACTAcademic scientists are increasingly required to acquire industry funding, which affects the scope and purpose of their research. In Denmark, Mode 2 inflected ideas have turned universities’ research toward industrial application where the fabrication of ‘robust knowledge’ is tied to commercial innovation. By analyzing the representative modeling of theoretical physicists that aided the implementation of new control solutions, this paper investigates how Mode 2 challenged traditional disciplinary boundaries between engineering and physics. The paper thus presents a case of non-engineers’ move toward ‘engineering’ from outside the disciplinary boundary of engineering. The physicists’ preference for theoretical rigor resulted in models that despite not being validated with production data were useful to the factory. Questions are raised about the challenges that the physicists’ normative baggage entailed when they engaged in commercial application. The case signifies how Mode 2 inspired neoliberal s...
The Sensitivity and Specificity of Nitrite Testing for Bacteriuria

The sensitivity and specificity of the urine nitrite test were investigated using urine samples from 2,000 patients in order to determine the effectiveness of the test as a screening indicator for bacteriuria in a hospital clinical laboratory. Six of these patients had greater than 2+ microscopic bacteriuria and/or more than 10 WBC/HPF in their urine. Cultures were performed. Comparisons of urine samples that demonstrated positive and negative nitrite tests, pyuria and microscopic bacteriuria with urine culture results revealed disagreements. Among the 45 urines cultured, ten had truepositive nitrite test results, three had false-positive results, eight had false-negative results and 24 had true-negative results. Greater than 105 organisms/mL, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis , Group A beta-streptococci and enterococci, were found in eight of the 40 nitrite-negative urines. Three of the 20 urine samples with positive nitrite tests showed no growth on culture. Of 100 patient urines that had negative nitrite tests, 0-2+ microscopic bacteria and fewer than 10 WBC/HPF, six grew pathogenic organisms. It appears that routine use of the urine nitrite test for detection of occult urinary tract infection in hospitalized patients is neither as specific nor as sensitive as might be desired.
Basis Reduction Problems

In the first chapters of this book we studied the shortest vector problem and the closest vector problem both from an algorithmic and computational complexity point of view. In fact, the algorithms presented in Chapter 2 to approximately solve SVP and CVP do somehow more than just finding an approximately shortest lattice vector, or a lattice vector approximately closest to a given target. For example, the LLL algorithm on input a lattice basis B, outputs an equivalent basis B’ such that not only b’1is an approximately shortest lattice vector, but also all other basis vectors b’2 are not too long. Moreover, LLL reduced bases have relatively good geometric properties that make them useful to solve other lattice problems. In particular, we have seen that if an LLL basis is used, then the nearest plane algorithm always finds a lattice vector approximately closest to any input target point. The problem of finding a “good” basis for a given lattice is generically called the basis reduction problem. Unfortunately, there is not a unique, clearly defined notion of what makes a basis good, and several different definitions of reduced basis have been suggested. In this chapter we consider the most important notions of basis reduction, define approximation problems naturally associated to such notions, and study the relation between these and other lattice problems.
Prisons and Imprisonment

Imprisonment is the punishment for most violent crimes, serious property crimes, and serious drug trafficking in most countries. In most countries, prisons hold all convicted offenders and pretrial detainees. In the United States, federal and state ‘prisons’ hold offenders sentenced to terms of a year or longer, and ‘local jails’ hold pretrial detainees and offenders sentenced to terms of less than a year. Countries vary enormously in how imprisonment is used. In 1998 incarceration rates ranged from 680 per 100,000 residents in the United States and Russia to 60 to 120 per 100,000 in most Western countries and 30 to 50 per 100,000 in many Asian countries. In some countries, such as Scandinavia, large percentages of offenders are sentenced to prison sentences, many for only a few days. Other countries, including Germany and Austria, sentence smaller percentages of offenders to prison but for longer terms. Most prisoners are young, male, and unmarried, and most have long criminal records, come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and committed their crimes under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Disproportionate and increasing numbers of prisoners in most countries are members of ethnic and racial minorities. Although in the 1970s, most scholars concluded that prison treatment programs cannot be shown to reduce recidivism rates, by the 1990s credible research showed that drug treatment, cognitive skills training, some sex offender treatment, and some vocational training programs do reduce recidivism. Prison policy has become an important subject in electoral campaigns in the United States, England, and Australia (but not in most of continental Europe) and punishment policies have become much harsher.
Preparing for the first breath: in the developing lung, maternal overnutrition takes centre stage.

Clinical observations link maternal obesity to neonatal respiratory complications. However, a direct mechanistic link between maternal overnutrition and neonatal respiratory outcomes is difficult to establish. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
An automatic system for measuring dielectric properties of foods: Albumen, yolk, and shell of fresh eggs

Abstract An automatic measurement system for measuring temperature-dependent dielectric properties was developed to increase the efficiency of the measurement process. The system was able to measure dielectric properties of samples over a range of temperatures for several hours without human supervision. The system was used to measure the temperature-dependent dielectric properties of the albumen, yolk, and shell of fresh eggs collected within a day of laying. In general, the dielectric constants of all three egg components decreased with frequency, although the temperature dependence of the albumen and yolk was more complicated. The loss factor of all three components generally decreased with frequency and increased with temperature.
Adsorption of short chain carboxylic acids from aqueous solution by swellable organically modified silica materials

The adsorption of C2–C6 short chain carboxylic acids was measured for swellable organically modified silicas (SOMS), hydrophobic polysilsesquioxane based materials prepared via the sol–gel process. Adsorption was measured for SOMS materials that were either hydrophobic or incorporated variable amounts of quaternary amine groups to serve as ion exchange sites. Batch equilibrium experiments were performed for carboxylic acids and alcohols to standard hydrophobic SOMS. Results show that SOMS has partition coefficients for short chain alcohols that are approximately 3× greater than liquid–liquid extraction into octanol, and 10× greater for the extraction of short chain carboxylic acids. Affinity for valeric acid was similar to commercially available Amberlite XAD-4 resins, however the organosilica derived sorbent had a 3× higher total adsorption capacity which was attributed to the ability of the pores to expand. Column experiments using SOMS were used to measure breakthrough curves for valeric acid across a wide range of concentrations. The isotherm for dynamic adsorption was linear indicating that capacity to adsorb valeric acid was controlled by equilibrium and not limited by set pore volume capacity. Addition of quaternary amine sites to SOMS improved adsorption affinity of valeric acid at low concentrations, but those modifications reduced the swelling of the matrix and lowered capacity at higher concentrations. Overall, SOMS was found to be poorly suited to extract organic acids at concentrations < 10 mM, but has high capacity for adsorption at higher concentrations (up to 700 mg/g). Adsorbed valeric acid could be recovered by solvent rinse.
A Model for Binocular Vision

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a model for binocular vision. The present study aims to develop a mathematical model for the entire process of binocular vision and the tracking of a moving object using binocular vision. A model of this type would be useful in the areas of robotics and the diagnosing of abnormalities in human vision. This model for binocular vision and tracking involves the following stages. A simplified physical model of the eye is constructed and is used to develop a mathematical representation for the motion of the eye. This model is used to simulate a single eye tracking an object in two dimensions. This object is assumed to be a point object. The eye model is then expanded to the case of binocular vision, where there are two eyes tracking the object rather than one. Once the tracking model for the vision problem has been obtained, the question of observability is considered. A model for monocular vision with a single eye has been developed.
Physical Properties of Biomolecules at the Nanomaterial Interface.

The unique size and material dependent properties of nanoparticles have made them highly attractive for biological and medical applications. However, combining nanoparticles with biomolecules and biological environments has faced many challenges. These interface issues often involve protein denaturation, steric hindrance, and orientational issues for the biomolecule, which can impair function and decrease overall performance of the nanoparticle–biomolecule conjugate. Historically, our understanding of the physical and chemical properties of nanoparticle–biomolecule conjugates as appropriate tools and experimental techniques had to be determined. We discuss here selected examples investigating the fundamental physical properties of the interface between nanoparticles and DNA and proteins and protein coronas and how they have provided insight into the properties of the biomolecule when it is interfaced to a nanoparticle.
Linear-space best-first search: summary of results

Best-first search is a general search algorithm that always expands next a frontier node of lowest cost. Its applicability, however, is limited by its exponential memory requirement. Iterative deepening, a previous approach to this problem, does not expand nodes in best-first. order if the cost. function can decrease along a path. We present a linear-space best-first search algorithm (RBFS) that always explores new nodes in best-first order, regardless of the cost function, and expands fewer nodes than iterative deepening with a nondecreasing cost function. On the sliding-tile puzzles, RBFS with a weighted evaluation function dramatically reduces computation time with only a small penalty in solution cost. In general, RBFS reduces the space complexity of best-first search from exponential to linear, at the cost of only a constant factor in time complexity in our experiments.
Timing of Epiphysiodesis to Correct Leg-Length Discrepancy: A Comparison of Prediction Methods.

Background:The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of different methods used to predict ultimate leg lengths and residual leg-length discrepancy in a group of patients treated with epiphysiodesis at our institution.Methods:Seventy-seven patients with adequate preoperative radiographs,
VAMP8 contributes to TRIM6-mediated type-I interferon antiviral response during West Nile virus infection

Members of the tripartite motif (TRIM) family of E3 ubiquitin ligases regulate immune pathways including the antiviral type I interferon (IFN-I) system. Previously, we demonstrated that TRIM6 is involved in IFN-I induction and signaling. In absence of TRIM6 function, optimal IFN-I signaling is reduced, allowing increased replication of interferon-sensitive viruses. Despite numerous mechanisms to restrict vertebrate host9s IFN-I response, West Nile Virus (WNV) replication is sensitive to pre-treatment with IFN-I. However, the regulators and products of the IFN-I pathway important in regulating WNV replications are incompletely defined. Consistent with WNV9s sensitivity to IFN-I, we found that in TRIM6 knockout (TRIM6 KO) A549 cells WNV replication is significantly increased. Additionally, induction of Ifnb mRNA was delayed and the expression of several IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) was reduced in TRIM6 KO cells. IFNβ pre-treatment was more effective in protecting against subsequent WNV infection in wt cells, indicating that TRIM6 contributes to the establishment of an IFN-induced antiviral response against WNV. Using next generation sequencing, we identified potential factors involved in this TRIM6-mediated antiviral response. One identified gene, VAMP8, is a soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNARE) in the vesicle-associated membrane protein subfamily. Knockdown of VAMP8 resulted in reduced STAT1 phosphorylation and impaired induction of several ISGs following WNV infection or IFNβ treatment. Therefore, VAMP8 is a novel gene involved in the regulation of IFN-I signaling, and its expression is dependent on TRIM6 function. Overall, these results indicate that TRIM6 contributes to the antiviral response against WNV by regulating the IFN-I system.
Cohort Trends in Union Dissolution During Young Adulthood

Objective To determine whether recent birth cohorts of women experienced more union dissolution during young adulthood (18-25) than previous birth cohorts. Background The union formation and dissolution patterns of young adult women in the U.S. have changed dramatically over the last twenty-five years. As a result, this life stage is demographically dense as women experience a bulk of relationship experiences, including coresidential unions and dissolution. Method The author uses data on women's marital and cohabiting dissolutions between the ages of 18-25 from the National Survey of Family Growth 1995, 2002, and continuous surveys 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 (N = 14,211). The sample is nationally representative. The author uses generalized ordinal logistic regression to examine the likelihood of dissolution during young adulthood across birth cohorts. Results Women born between 1985 and 1989 experience more union dissolutions during young adulthood than women born between 1960 and 1979. However, the shift in cohabitation behavior accounts for this instability. Conclusion Women's relationship formation experiences in young adulthood are characterized by nonmarital relationships (cohabitation) and more union dissolution compared to older birth cohorts. Theoretical and empirical studies need to evolve to include this more complicated sense of young adulthood, union formation, and instability.
Intrinsic and extrinsic control of freeze casting

Abstract Freeze casting is a versatile material fabrication process that is known for its ability to create porous scaffold structures from effectively any constituent material. One of its advantages is that a wide variety of alterations to the processing conditions can result in drastic changes to the final micro- and macro-structure of the freeze-cast scaffolds and, therefore, its properties. Here, the authors present a novel view on these numerous control methods, through the concept that each of these methods for controlling freeze casting can either be considered to be an intrinsic or extrinsic control method. Intrinsic control methods act within the freezing process by altering the characteristic repulsive and attractive forces that govern the interactions between the solid loading particles and approaching freezing front during freezing of the slurry. Extrinsic control methods act upon the freeze process through the application of additional forces or energies, often external to the freezing process. This new system of understanding control over freeze casting is presented so as to inspire new work on the advanced control of freeze-cast scaffolds, specific work into extrinsic control methods and the interactions between intrinsic and extrinsic control methods.
Preoperative Allergy Testing for Patients Reporting Penicillin and Cephalosporin Allergies is Cost-Effective in Preventing Infection after Total Knee and Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Routine preoperative allergy testing in patients reporting penicillin and cephalosporin allergies increases the number able to receive cefazolin, which should reduce the risk of infection after total knee and hip arthroplasty (TKA/THA), but it remains unclear whether this practice is cost-effective. Using a break-even analysis, we calculated the cost-effectiveness of routine preoperative allergy testing for infection prevention in total joint arthroplasty patients reporting penicillin and cephalosporin allergies. Methods The cost of a penicillin allergy evaluation, the cost of revision arthroplasty for prosthetic joint infection (PJI), and baseline rates of PJI in patients receiving a noncefazolin antibiotic in the perioperative period were derived from existing literature. A break-even economic model using these variables was constructed to calculate the absolute risk reduction (ARR) in infection rate needed for preoperative allergy testing to be cost-effective. The number needed to treat (NNT) was calculated from the ARR. Results Preoperative allergy testing before TKA and THA in patients reporting penicillin and cephalosporin allergies was cost-effective if the initial infection rate decreased by an ARR of 0.810% (NNT = 123) and 0.655% (NNT = 153) for TKA and THA, respectively. Cost-effectiveness was maintained with varying allergy consultation costs, infection rates, and costs associated with PJI treatment. Conclusion Routine preoperative allergy testing and clearance are cost-effective infection prevention strategies among patients reporting penicillin and cephalosporin allergies in the setting of elective joint arthroplasty. Widespread adoption of this practice may considerably reduce the economic and societal burden associated with prosthetic infections.
Stacking fault energies on {112} planes of an AlNbTaTiV BCC high-entropy alloy from first-principles calculations, analyzed with inferential statistics

Abstract BCC refractory high-entropy alloys (HEAs) are of interest to the materials science community due to their promising high temperature properties. Stacking fault energy (SFE) is investigated in the present work due to its use in modeling mechanical and deformation behavior, such as nano-twinning. The possible stacking faults of the BCC {112} plane are reviewed and classified with a new naming convention of TS n , twinning sense, and NTS n , non-twinning sense. Five stacking faults are identified and investigated in the present work. Density functional theory and special quasirandom structures are used to calculate the SFE of a candidate single-phase BCC AlNbTaTiV HEA. The SFE for each fault are calculated for several pure elements and compared to computational and experimental literature when available. Inferential statistics allows the properties of the total population to be predicted from a sample set of calculations. The results indicate that a sample of only 20 values are required for precise calculations. Inferential statistics are then used to place predictive error bars on the HEA SFE calculations and sampling procedure. All sample SFE values were well within the predictive error bars when compared to the SFE calculated from the total population. Finally, inferential statistics parameters are used to predict the properties of a global population based on a sample set of calculations, demonstrating the usefulness of the technique developed here for application to materials property database generation.
STELLAR ACTIVITY IN THE BROADBAND ULTRAVIOLET

The completion of the GALEX All-Sky Survey in the ultraviolet allows activity measurements to be acquired for many more stars than is possible with the limited sensitivity of ROSAT or the limited sky coverage of Chandra, XMM, or spectroscopic surveys for line emission in the optical or ultraviolet. We have explored the use of GALEX photometry as an activity indicator, using stars within 50 pc as a calibration sample representing the field and in selected nearby associations representing the youngest stages of stellar evolution. We present preliminary relations between UV flux and the optical activity indicator R'HK and between UV flux and age. We demonstrate that far-UV (FUV, 1350-1780 A) excess flux is roughly proportional to R'_(HK). We also detect a correlation between near-UV (NUV, 1780-2830 A) flux and activity or age, but the effect is much more subtle, particularly for stars older than ~0.5-1 Gyr. Both the FUV and NUV relations show large scatter, ~0.2 mag when predicting UV flux, ~0.18 dex when predicting R'_(HK), and ~0.4 dex when predicting age. This scatter appears to be evenly split between observational errors in current state-of-the-art data and long-term activity variability in the sample stars.