cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural and functional differences in skin of colour

The term, Skin of Colour (SOC), refers to individuals of African, Latinx, Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Indigenous descent. These individuals typically have darker skin tones as compared to white individuals and they often present with unique disorders of the skin or with common disorders that have a unique appearance. Certain skin conditions commonly associated with SOC patients, in contrast to individuals with lighter skin tones, are explained by structural and functional differences between this population and the white population. Variations in functional differences between these two groups are dependent on structural differences in melanosomes, stratum corneum, epidermis and dermis. Understanding the structural distinctions between white populations and SOC populations, will provide insight into common disorders in skin of colour patients, including hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, dry skin, scaliness, xerosis, sensitive skin and keloids. Furthermore, understanding structural and functional skin difference will encourage more research regarding etiology of disease and therapeutic interventions.
Sex and self defense

The fungus Aspergillus nidulans produces secondary metabolites during sexual development to protect itself from predators.
On a Milestone of Empiricism

Quine has presented powerful arguments against the intelligibility of any statement involving quantification into the scope of a non-extensional sentence connective purporting to express logical necessity, logical possibility, or strict implication. He has also presented a fully general argument against the possibility of satisfactory non-extensional connectives. It is easy to be lured into thinking that if definite descriptions (and also, perhaps, proper names) are analysed in accordance with Russell’s Theory of Descriptions — an idea to which Quine is highly sympathetic — then facts about substitution and deduction in primitive notation yield all that is needed to circumvent Quine’s formal arguments. I have claimed as much myself, and so have Carnap, Church, Fitch, Follesdal, Kripke, Marcus, Myhill, Prior, Sharvy, Smullyan, and others. But as far as logical modality is concerned this is a mistake. Only Quine’s general argument is thus undermined, and seeing why leads to an interesting logico-semantic hypothesis, suggested by Quine and Godel, and, as far as I know, hitherto unproved. Furthermore, it would seem that the only way to answer Quine’s original challenge to quantified modal logic is to make the controversial assumption that names of the same object are synonymous and hence intersubstitutable in all contexts. But even this does not provide a full answer; and in fact what has happened is that ideas in the work of Follesdal, Hintikka, Kanger, Kripke, and Quine, have resulted in a metamorphosis of subject matter.
A Comparison of Forecasting Methods For Estimating The Sales of a Retail Firm

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of forecasting techniques for a small retail business. Three forecasting techniques were examined. These included a traditional percentage change calculation, an exponential smoothing program (Adaptive Extended Exponential Smoothing), and a multiple regression analysis. Emphasis was placed on forecast accuracy and ease of utilization to determine which method was most appropriate for forecasting sales of a small retail firm.
SU-E-T-355: Efficient Scatter Correction for Direct Ray-Tracing Based Dose Calculation

Purpose: To propose a scatter correction method with linear computational complexity for direct-ray-tracing (DRT) based dose calculation. Due to its speed and simplicity, DRT is widely used as a dose engine in the treatment planning system (TPS) and monitor unit (MU) verification software, where heterogeneity correction is applied by radiological distance scaling. However, such correction only accounts for attenuation but not scatter difference, causing the DRT algorithm less accurate than the model-based algorithms for small field size in heterogeneous media. Methods: Inspired by the convolution formula derived from an exponential kernel as is typically done in the collapsed-cone-convolution-superposition (CCCS) method, we redesigned the ray tracing component as the sum of TERMA scaled by a local deposition factor, which is linear with respect to density, and dose of the previous voxel scaled by a remote deposition factor, D(i)=aρ(i)T(i)+(b+c(ρ(i)-1))D(i-1),where T(i)=e^(-αr(i)+β(r(i))^2) and r(i)=Σ_(j=1,..,i)ρ(j).The two factors together with TERMA can be expressed in terms of 5 parameters, which are subsequently optimized by curve fitting using digital phantoms for each field size and each beam energy. Results: The proposed algorithm was implemented for the Fluence-Convolution-Broad-Beam (FCBB) dose engine and evaluated using digital slab phantoms and clinical CT data. Compared with the gold standard calculation, dose deviations were improved from 20% to 2% in the low density regions of the slab phantoms for the 1-cm field size, and within 2% for over 95% of the volume with the largest discrepancy at the interface for the clinical lung case. Conclusion: We developed a simple recursive formula for scatter correction for the DRT-based dose calculation with much improved accuracy, especially for small field size, while still keeping calculation to linear complexity. The proposed calculator is fast, yet accurate, which is crucial for dose updating in IMRT optimization.
Conformally Invariant Processes in the Plane

Theoretical physicists have predicted that the scaling limits of many two-dimensional lattice models in statistical physics are in some sense conformally invariant. This belief has allowed physicists to predict many quantities for these critical systems. The nature of these scaling limits has recently been described precisely by using one well-known tool, Brownian motion, and a new construction, the Schramm-Loewner evolution (SLE). This book is an introduction to the conformally invariant processes that appear as scaling limits. The following topics are covered: stochastic integration; complex Brownian motion and measures derived from Brownian motion; conformal mappings and univalent functions; the Loewner differential equation and Loewner chains; the Schramm-Loewner evolution (SLE), which is a Loewner chain with a Brownian motion input; and applications to intersection exponents for Brownian motion. The prerequisites are first-year graduate courses in real analysis, complex analysis, and probability. The book is suitable for graduate students and research mathematicians interested in random processes and their applications in theoretical physics.
The Essential Law Library Journal

As a kickoff to the celebration of the centennial volume of Law Library Journal, Professor Houdek presents a selective, annotated list of "essential" readings culled from the preceding ninety-nine volumes of the Journal. The list represents pieces that anyone involved in law librarianship, whether a novice or someone experienced in the field, should read and absorb.
Matching motivation enhancement treatment to client motivation: re‐examining the Project MATCH motivation matching hypothesis

Aims The current study was designed to re-examine the motivation matching hypothesis from Project MATCH using growth mixture modeling, an analytical technique that models variation in individual drinking patterns. Design, setting and participants Secondary data analyses of data from Project MATCH (n = 1726), a large multi-site alcoholism treatment-matching study. Measurements Percentage of drinking days was the primary outcome measure, assessed from 1 month to 12 months following treatment. Treatment assignment, alcohol dependence symptoms and baseline percentage of drinking days were included as covariates. Findings The results provided support for the motivation matching hypothesis in the out-patient sample and among females in the aftercare sample: the majority of individuals with lower baseline motivation had better outcomes if assigned to motivation enhancement treatment (MET) compared to those assigned to cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT). In the aftercare sample there was a moderating effect of gender and alcohol dependence severity, whereby males with lower baseline motivation and greater alcohol dependence drank more frequently if assigned to MET compared to those assigned to CBT. Conclusions Results from the current study lend partial support to the motivation-matching hypothesis and also demonstrated the importance of moderating influences on treatment matching effectiveness. Based upon these findings, individuals with low baseline motivation in out-patient settings and males with low levels of alcohol dependence or females in aftercare settings may benefit more from motivational enhancement techniques than from cognitive–behavioral techniques.
Transplantation of fetal growth hormone-releasing factor-immunoreactive neurons into the ventricular system of adult MSG-treated rats.

Abstract Fetal (17–18 days of gestation) mediobasal hypothalamic tissue (MBH) was transplanted into the third ventricle of adult, male rats which had been treated neonatally with monosodium glutamate (MSG). MSG treatment caused a marked reduction of growth hormone-releasing factor-like-immunoreactive (GRF-i) perikarya in the arcuate nucleus and GRF-i fibers in the median eminence (ME), as compared to littermate controls. When normal fetal MBH was transplanted into the third ventricle of MSG recipients, numerous GRF-i perikarya were located within the graft four weeks following surgery. GRF-i fibers in the ME of MSG-treated rats were enhanced when MBH grafts were in close contact with the ME, but not when transplants were located dorsally or rostrally in the third ventricle without making contact with the recipient's ME. Fetal cerebral cortex, which was grafted as a control tissue, did not contain GRF-i neurons. These immunohistochemical results suggest that grafted fetal GRF-i perikarya may contact the recipient's ME to increase the content of GRF previously depleted by exposure to MSG.
Hysterectomy status, estrogen use and quality of life in older women: the Rancho Bernardo study.

Objective: To examine the long-term effects of hysterectomy and use of estrogen replacement therapy on health related quality of life and symptom subscales in community dwelling postmenopausal women. Methods: Information on menopausal history including hysterectomy and oophorectomy status, and history of estrogen use was obtained from a sample of 801 women aged 50–96 years at a clinic visit between 1992 and 1996. Within 1 week of the clinic visit, a standardized, validated quality of well-being (QWB) scale was administered over the telephone by a trained interviewer. Results: Among these women, 25.2% reported hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy an average of 28 years earlier, and 11.0% reported hysterectomy with ovarian conservation an average of 26.5 years earlier. Age-adjusted comparisons indicated that women with natural menopause had slightly higher total QWB scores and lower symptom subscale scores than women in either of the hysterectomy groups (p's = 0.06). However, after additional adjustment for estrogen use and other potentially confounding covariates, there was no significant difference in total QWB score or on any subscale scores by hysterectomy and oophorectomy status. After adjustment for age, women who never used estrogen had significantly higher total QWB scores (p = 0.03) and significantly lower symptom subscale scores, indicating fewer symptoms, than those who were past or current users (p = 0.01). These differences persisted after adjustment for age, type of menopause, and behavioral and lifestyle covariates (p's = 0.008). Conclusions: There are no long-term adverse effects of hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy on health related quality of life. Lower total QWB and greater symptom subscale scores by women currently using estrogen may reflect an adverse effect of hormone use on health related quality of life in older postmenopausal women.
Physical attractiveness, attitude similarity, and length of acquaintance as contributors to interpersonal attraction among adolescents

Tenth and twelfth grade males and females who knew each other judged, within grade levels, their classmates on physical attractiveness (PA), perceived attitude similarity (PAS), and interpersonal attraction (IA). In addition, a measure of actual attitude similarity (AAS) was computed for each pair of subjects. Regression analyses supported the hypotheses that PA and PAS are positively correlated. Little support was found for the hypothesis that AAS and PAS are correlated. The results of the present naturalistic study also conflict with results obtained in laboratory studies which have found AAS to be correlated with IA.
Effects of oxygen partial pressure on the crystallization of amorphous Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O and Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O + Ag

The temperatures and pathways of crystallization for amorphous Bi–Sr–Ca–Cu–O are strongly dependent on oxygen partial pressure (Po2), the oxidation state of the glass, and the presence of Ag. Reducing the Po2 from 1 to 0 bar lowers the onset of melting 100 °C, but does not change the onset of crystallization. Decreasing Po2 does inhibit the formation of (CaSr)CuO3 (011). Although Ag appears to be immiscible in Bi–Sr–Ca–Cu–O, finely distributed Ag lowers the onset of melting by 20 to 35 °C, depending on Po2. In oxygen-deficient glass, two exotherms are observed upon heating. The first exotherm at 460 °C is independent of Po2, and Ag and corresponds with the formation of Bi2Sr2CuO6 (Bi-2201). The second exotherm occurs at 486 °C with Ag or 500 °C without Ag. The onset temperature of the second exotherm does not change with Po2, but the exotherm decreases in intensity with decreasing Po2. EXAFS indicates that in the as-quenched amorphous material, Cu is in a reduced state. Annealing the amorphous material in oxygen below the first exotherm (i.e., glass relaxation) increases the oxidation state of the Cu to that necessary for the formation of the Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (Bi-2212) without additional oxygen diffusion. This relaxation of the glass increases the crystallization temperature of the Bi-2201 to 500 °C. The crystallization sequence of Bi-2201 to Bi-2212 occurs at all Po2 ≥ 0.1 bar, but the composition of the secondary phases changes in the unrelaxed glass. Relaxing the glass eliminates liquid formation at low temperatures, allowing for rapid formation of the Bi-2212 phase with minimal formation of secondary phases for 0.1 Po2 0.2 bar.
Increasing hemoglobin oxygen saturation levels in sickle trait donor whole blood prevents hemoglobin S polymerization and allows effective white blood cell reduction by filtration.

BACKGROUND Red blood cell (RBC) components from donors with sickle cell trait (Hb AS) often occlude white blood cell (WBC) reduction filters. Techniques were investigated to successfully filter Hb AS donor blood by increasing the Hb oxygen saturation with storage bags and conditions suitable for transfusion products. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Oxygenation kinetics were measured over 3 days in whole-blood units stored in standard-sized 600-mL polyvinylchloride (PVC) bags and whole-blood units divided into three equal parts and stored in standard-sized blood bags made from PVC, tri-2-(ethylhexyl)trimellitate (CLX) plastic, or Teflon. The filterability of Hb AS blood stored for 3 days was tested with whole-blood filters. RESULTS: Oxygen saturation levels did not increase in full whole-blood units from donors without sickle cell trait during 3 days of storage in 600-mL PVC bags. In divided Hb AS whole-blood units stored for 3 days, oxygen saturation levels increased from baseline levels of 45 to 56, 66, and 94 percent after storage in 600-mL PVC, CLX, and Teflon bags, respectively (n = 5, p < 0.02), and all components filtered completely. When full Hb AS whole-blood units from eight donors were stored for 3 days in 1.5-L CLX bags, all units filtered completely, but one had a high residual WBC count. CONCLUSION: Storage of Hb AS whole blood in large-capacity oxygen-permeable bags increases oxygen tension and allows more effective WBC reduction by filtration.
Preliminary observations on maternal rating of health of children: Data from three subspecialty clinics

Although routinely used in health surveys, the factors affecting maternal perceptions of health in children, especially those with health problems, have received little examination. This question has been addressed using a telephone interview of families of 483 children followed in one of three clinics at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: the Neonatal Follow-up Program, the Pediatric Rheumatology Center and the Spina Bifida Program. Limitations in activities of daily living due to the health of the child, medical care use and variables indicative of socio-economic disadvantage were associated with a maternal rating of child health as fair/poor in all groups. The relationship was strongest in the rheumatologic group and less strong in the other two, suggesting that mothers may distinguish between a chronic active disease in a previously healthy child and the disability following a neonatal event in conceptualizing health. The results add to our information about maternal perceptions in assessing child health and suggest ways in which such ratings may prove useful in assessing health and health services for children with health problems.
Total hemispherical emissivity of Inconel 718

Abstract Total hemispherical emissivity for Inconel 718 was measured in anticipation of its application in Very High Temperature Gas Reactors (VHTRs). A majority of current emissivity data for Inconel 718 is in the form of spectral measurements. The data presented here were obtained with an experimental apparatus based on the standard ASTM C835-06 for total hemispherical emittance. Measurements of Inconel 718 were made for four different surface types including: (i) ‘as-received’ from the manufacturer, (ii) oxidized in air and humidified helium, (iii) sandblasted with aluminum oxide powder, and (iv) with a thin coating of nuclear grade graphite powder (grade NGB-18). The emissivity for the ‘as-received’ sample ranged from 0.21 to 0.28 in the temperature interval from 760 K to 1275 K. Oxidation in air at 1073 K resulted in an increase in emissivity into the range from 0.2 at 650 K to 0.52 at 1200 K. There was no dependence on the oxidation times studied here. Oxidation with humidified helium at 1073 K produced less of an increase in emissivity than the oxidation in air but there was an increase up to the range from 0.2 at 600 K to 0.35 at 1200 K. Sandblasting of Inconel 718 was also observed to increase the emissivity up to the range from 0.43 at 780 K to 0.53 at 1270 K when 60 grit sized powder was used and up to the range from 0.45 at 683 K to 0.57 at 1267 K when 120 and 220 grit sized powders were used. Coating of graphite powder onto the ‘as-received’ Inconel 718 showed no increase in the emissivity whereas the coating of graphite powder onto the 220 grit sandblasted Inconel 718 did show an increase in emissivity up to the range from 0.60 at 650 K to 0.70 at 1200 K. This was apparently due to better adhesion of graphite on the roughened surface.
Preclinical Efficacy of N-Substituted Benztropine Analogs as Antagonists of Methamphetamine Self-Administration in Rats

Atypical dopamine-uptake inhibitors have low abuse potential and may serve as leads for development of cocaine-abuse treatments. Among them, the benztropine (BZT) derivatives, N-butyl (JHW007), N-allyl (AHN2-005), and N-methyl (AHN1-055) analogs of 3α-[bis(4′-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-tropane dose-dependently decreased cocaine self-administration without effects on food-maintained responding. Our study examined selectivity by assessing their effects on self-administration of other drugs. As with cocaine, each BZT analog (1.0–10.0 mg/kg i.p.) dose-dependently decreased maximal self-administration of d-methamphetamine (0.01–0.32 mg/kg/infusion) but was inactive against heroin (1.0–32.0 µg/kg/infusion) and ketamine (0.032–1.0 mg/kg/infusion) self-administration. Further, standard dopamine indirect-agonists [WIN35,428 ((−)-3β-(4-fluorophenyl)-tropan-2-β-carboxylic acid methyl ester tartrate), d-amphetamine (0.1–1.0 mg/kg i.p., each)] dose-dependently left-shifted self-administration dose-effect curves for d-methamphetamine, heroin, and ketamine. Noncompetitive NMDA-glutamate receptor/channel antagonists [(+)-MK-801 (0.01–0.1 mg/kg i.p.), memantine (1.0–10.0 mg/kg i.p.)] also left-shifted dose-effect curves for d-methamphetamine and ketamine (but not heroin) self-administration. The µ-agonists [dl-methadone and morphine (1.0–10.0 mg/kg i.p., each)] dose-dependently decreased maximal self-administration of µ-agonists (heroin, remifentanil) but not d-methamphetamine or ketamine self-administration. The µ-agonist-induced decreases were similar to the effects of BZT analogs on stimulant self-administration and effects of food prefeeding on responding maintained by food reinforcement. Radioligand-binding and behavioral studies suggested that inhibition of dopamine transporters and σ receptors were critical for blocking stimulant self-administration by BZT-analogs. Thus, the present results suggest that the effects of BZT analogs on stimulant self-administration are similar to effects of µ-agonists on µ-agonist self-administration and food prefeeding on food-reinforced responding, which implicates behavioral mechanisms for these effects and further supports development of atypical dopamine uptake inhibitors as medications for stimulant abuse.
An optimal principle in fluid–structure interaction

We study the steady terminal orientation of a fore-aft symmetric body as it settles in a viscous fluid. An optimal principle for the settling behavior is discussed based upon entropy production in the system, both in the Stokes limit and the case of near equilibrium states when inertial effects emerge. We show that in the Stokes limit, the entropy production in the system is zero allowing any possible terminal orientation while in the presence of inertia, the particle assumes a horizontal position which coincides with the state of maximum entropy production. Our results are seen to agree well with experimental observations.
On adelic formulas for the p-adic string

Abstract For the p -adic bosonic string, a simple regularization procedure is applied to the four-particle adelic formula. Arguments that have been made against the validity of the five-particle adelic formula are criticised.
Toward a Buddhist Sociology: Theories, Methods, and Possibilities

This article explores potential links between Buddhism and sociology, highlighting the many commonalities between sociology and Buddhism, with an emphasis on ways that Buddhist thought and practice may contribute to the field of sociology. What could Buddhism offer to our understanding of social institutions, social problems, and to the dynamics and possibilities for social change? The Four Noble Truths, central to Buddhist teachings, are explored in reference to their sociological theory applications. Finally, mindfulness practices that are endemic to Buddhism are explored as tools for sociologists to consider as they work reflexively, develop sociological insights, and pursue social justice.
Right-Lateralized Pain Processing in the Human Cortex: An fMRI Study

Neuroimaging studies of human pain have revealed a widespread “pain matrix” distributed across both hemispheres of the brain. It is not resolved whether the pain matrix is biased toward one hemisph...
Edge Restenosis After Implantation of High Activity 32P Radioactive β-Emitting Stents

Background—A high restenosis rate has been reported at the edges (“edge restenosis”) of 32P radioactive stents with an initial activity level of 3 to 12 μCi. This edge effect might be due to balloon injury and to a low dose of radiation at the stent margins. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the implantation of 32P radioactive stents with a higher activity level (12 to 21 μCi) combined with a nonaggressive stent implantation strategy could solve the problem of edge restenosis. Methods and Results—We compared the results of lesions treated with single radioactive BX stents with an activity of 12 to 21 μCi (group 2, n=54 lesions) with the results of lesions treated by single radioactive BX stents with an initial activity level of 3 to 12 μCi (group 1, n=42 lesions). There were no procedural events. At the 6-month follow-up, no myocardial infarctions, deaths, or stent thromboses had occurred. Intrastent binary restenosis was 0% in group 1 versus 4% in group 2 (n=2, both at the ostium of the right...
Microstrains and domain sizes in Bi-Cu-O superconductors: an X-ray diffraction peak-broadening study

The two-dimensional layered structure of these compounds makes these materials highly anisotropic and favours the creation of defects, which play a crucial role in the superconducting properties. Report of an attempt to examine how defects influence the lattice strains. Analysis of the specimen x-ray diffraction peak broadening
Neurotensin-containing cell bodies, fibers and nerve terminals in the brain stem of the rat: immunohistochemical mapping.

Abstract Neurotensin immunoreactive perikarya, fibers and nerve terminals, visualized by the indirect immunohistofluorescent method in colchicine-pretreated animals, are localized in many discrete regions of the rat brain stem. Cell body groups are found in the inner aspect of the substantia gelatinosa of the caudal trigeminal nuclear complex, the nucleus of the solitary tract, the parabrachial nuclei, the locus coeruleus, the dorsal raphenucleus, the periaqueductal gray matter, and the ventral tegmental area of Tsai. These areas of cell body density are accompanied by concentrations of fibers and terminals, while the occasional positive perikaryon noted in the dorsal cochlear nucleus is accompanied by only sparse fluorescent fiber/terminal patterns. Other brain stem regions, such as the floor of the fourth ventricle and aspects of the caudal ventrolateral reticular formation, possess substantial numbers of fibers and terminals that are not accompanied by cell bodies. Many aspects of this distribution coincide with the brain stem distribution of the enkephalin pentapeptides, though significant differences in localization are also evident. Interactions of neurotensin with other neurotransmitter candidates are also suggested by its presence in areas enriched in norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and substance P. Certain neurotensin localizations suggest an association of the peptide with functional brain systems preferentially involving these regions. In particular periaqueductal gray and substantia gelatinosa neurotensin synapses are plausible sites for the analgesia elicited after intercisternal injection of low doses of neurotensin.
Temperature dependent absorption cross-sections of O2–O2 collision pairs between 340 and 630 nm and at atmospherically relevant pressure

The collisions between two oxygen molecules give rise to O4 absorption in the Earth atmosphere. O4 absorption is relevant to atmospheric transmission and Earth's radiation budget. O4 is further used as a reference gas in Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) applications to infer properties of clouds and aerosols. The O4 absorption cross section spectrum of bands centered at 343, 360, 380, 446, 477, 532, 577 and 630 nm is investigated in dry air and oxygen as a function of temperature (203–295 K), and at 820 mbar pressure. We characterize the temperature dependent O4 line shape and provide high precision O4 absorption cross section reference spectra that are suitable for atmospheric O4 measurements. The peak absorption cross-section is found to increase at lower temperatures due to a corresponding narrowing of the spectral band width, while the integrated cross-section remains constant (within <3%, the uncertainty of our measurements). The enthalpy of formation is determined to be ΔH250 = −0.12 ± 0.12 kJ mol−1, which is essentially zero, and supports previous assignments of O4 as collision induced absorption (CIA). At 203 K, van der Waals complexes (O2-dimer) contribute less than 0.14% to the O4 absorption in air. We conclude that O2-dimer is not observable in the Earth atmosphere, and as a consequence the atmospheric O4 distribution is for all practical means and purposes independent of temperature, and can be predicted with an accuracy of better than 10−3 from knowledge of the oxygen concentration profile.
Hepatocyte growth factor-like protein is a positive regulator of early mammary gland ductal morphogenesis.

The Ron receptor tyrosine kinase regulates multiple cellular processes and is important during mammary gland development and tumor progression. Hepatocyte growth factor-like protein [HGFL] is the only known ligand for the Ron receptor and recent studies have identified major roles for HGFL during breast cancer metastasis. Understanding the functional importance HGFL during mammary gland development will provide significant insights onto its contribution during tumor development and metastasis. In this study, we assessed the role of HGFL during postnatal mammary gland development using mice that were either proficient [HGFL+/+] or deficient [HGFL−/−] for HGFL. Postnatal ductal morphology and stromal cell associations were analyzed at multiple time points through puberty until adulthood. HGFL deficiency resulted in several mammary gland developmental defects including smaller Terminal End Buds [TEBs], significantly fewer TEBs, and delayed ductal outgrowth during early puberty. Additionally, HGFL deficient animals exhibited significantly altered TEB epithelial cell turnover with decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis coupled with decreased TEB diameter. Macrophage recruitment to the TEBs was also significantly decreased in the HGFL−/− mice compared to controls. Moreover, the levels of STAT3 mRNA as well as the phosphorylation status of this protein were lower in the HGFL−/− mammary glands compared to controls. Taken together, our data provide the first evidence for HGFL as a positive regulator of mammary gland ductal morphogenesis by controlling overall epithelial cell turnover, macrophage recruitment, and STAT3 activation in the developing mammary gland. With a function in early mammary gland development, HGFL represents a potential target for the development of novel breast cancer therapies.
Spherical Harmonic Analyses for the Spheroidal Earth.

Modifying spherical harmonic analysis of surface geomagnetic field to account for Earth oblateness by two methods
Effect of humidity on granular friction at room temperature

[1] We report on laboratory experiments designed to investigate the microphysical processes that result in rate- and state-dependent friction behavior. We study the effect of relative humidity (RH) (<5 to 100%) in velocity stepping tests (10–20 μm/s) and slide-hold-slide (SHS) tests (3–1000 s) on 3 mm thick layers of quartz and alumina powders sheared at 25 MPa normal stresses. Granular powders are conditioned in situ under controlled RH to create new surface area before shearing. We find a transition from velocity strengthening to velocity-weakening frictional behavior as RH increases. The transition occurs at 30–35% RH for quartz and 55–60% RH for alumina. Frictional healing is negligible at low humidity and increases with increasing RH for both materials. The coefficient of sliding friction is independent of humidity. We use normal stress vibrations in SHS tests to isolate chemically assisted healing mechanisms operative within contact junctions from compaction induced granular strengthening. We find that reorganization of granular particles influences friction but that chemically assisted mechanisms dominate. Our data show that rate- and state-dependent friction behavior for granular materials, including time-dependent healing and steady state velocity dependence, is the result of chemically assisted mechanisms that can be reduced or turned off at low humidity at room temperature in quartz and alumina.
Buckling rate and overhang development at a calving face

Using the finite-element we have modeled the stress field near the calv- ing face of an idealized tidewater glacier under a variety of assumptions about submarine calving-face height, subaerial calving-face height, and ice rheology. These simulations all suggest that a speed maximum should be present at the calving face near the waterline. In experiments without crevassing, the decrease in horizontal velocity above this maximum culminates in a zone of longitudinal compression at the surface somewhat up-glacier from the face. This zone of compression appears to be a consequence of the non-linear rheology of ice. It disappears when a linear rheology is assumed. Explorations of the near-surface stress field indicate that when pervasive crevassing of the surface ice is accounted for in the simulations (by rheological softening), the zone of compressive strain rates does not devel- op.Variations in the pattern of horizontal velocity with glacier thickness support the con- tention that calving rates should increase with water depth at the calving face. In addition, the height of the subaerial calving face may have an importance that is not visible in current field data owing to the lack of variation in height of such faces in nature. Glaciers with lower calving faces may not have sufficient tensile stress to calve actively, while ten- sile stresses in simulated higher faces are sufficiently high that such faces will be unlikely to build in nature.
Reliable Design of TSV in Free-Standing Wafers and 3D Integrated Packages

Through-silicon via (TSV), being one of the key enabling technologies for three dimensional (3D) Integrated Circuit (IC) stacking, silicon interposer technology, and advanced wafer level packaging (WLP), has attracted tremendous interest throughout the semiconductor industry. However, limited work addresses TSV reliability issue, and most of the existing reliability studies focus on the thermo-mechanical performance of TSVs in a free-standing wafer, rather than in an integrated package. In this paper, three-dimensional thermomechanical Finite-Element (FE) models with TSVs in both free-standing wafers and 3D integrated packages have been built and analyzed. In addition, Design of Experiments (DOE) based approach has been used to understand the effect of various parameters. Results show that the selection of underfill materials between stacked dies is the most dominating design factor for TSV/microbump reliability.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Analytical solutions of contaminant transport from finite one-, two-, and three-dimensional sources in a finite-thickness aquifer.

Analytical study of contaminant transport from a finite source in a finite-thickness aquifer is most useful in hydrological and environmental sciences and engineering but rarely investigated in previous studies. This paper provides analytical solutions of contaminant transport from one-, two-, and three-dimensional finite sources in a finite-thickness aquifer using Green's function method. A library of unpublished analytical solutions with different finite source geometry is provided. A graphically integrated MATLAB® script is developed to calculate the temporal integrations in the analytical solutions and obtain the final solutions of concentration. The analytical solutions are examined by reproducing the solutions of some special cases discussed in previous studies. The sensitivities of the line source solutions to source geometry, dispersion coefficients, and distance to the source are tested. The contaminant concentration in the near field is found to be sensitive to the source geometry and anisotropy of the dispersion coefficients. The contaminant concentration in the far field is found to be much less sensitive to the source geometry. The physical insights of the analytical solutions are interpreted.
The median juror and the trial of Socrates

Abstract A model of the mechanism used by the Classical Athenians to prosecute Socrates is presented. Two important features of such trials are, first, both the prosecutor and the defendant propose sanctions and, second, a jury takes a simple majority vote over the two proposals. The Classical Athenians created a mechanism to achieve a median-juror result. This sanction is a Condorcet Winner among all possible sanctions, responds to both the harm of the act and the uncertainty of guilt, and, under reasonable conditions, improves deterrence resulting in fewer crimes being committed.
Theoretical studies of fundamental pathways for alkaline hydrolysis of carboxylic acid esters in gas phase

Fundamental reaction pathways for the alkaline hydrolysis of carboxylic acid esters, RCOOR{prime}, were examined through a series of first-principle calculations. The reactions of six representative esters with hydroxide ion were studied in the gas phase. A total of three competing reaction pathways were found and theoretically confirmed for each of the esters examined: bimolecular base-catalyzed acyl-oxygen cleavage (B{sub AC}2), bimolecular base-catalyzed alkyl-oxygen cleavage (B{sub AL}2), and carbonyl oxygen exchange with hydroxide. For the two-step B{sub AC}2 process, this is the first theoretical study to consider the individual sub-steps of the reaction process and to consider substituent effects. For the carbonyl oxygen exchange with hydroxide and for the one-step B{sub AL}2 process, the authors report here the first quantitative theoretical results for the reaction pathways and for the energy barriers. The energy barrier calculated for the second step of the B{sub AC}2 process, that is, the decomposition of the tetrahedral intermediate, is larger in the gas phase than that of the first step, that is, the formation of the tetrahedral intermediate, for all but one of the esters examined. The exception, CH{sub 3}COOC(CH{sub 3}){sub 3}, does not have an {alpha} hydrogen in the leaving group. The highest energy barrier calculated formore » the B{sub AC}2 process is always lower than the barriers for the oxygen exchange and for the B{sub AL}2 process. The difference between the barrier for the B{sub AL}2 process and the highest barrier for the B{sub AC}2 process is only {approximately}1--3 kcal/mol for the methyl esters, but becomes much larger for the others. Substitution of an {alpha} hydrogen in R{prime} with a methyl group considerably increases the energy barrier for the B{sub AL}2 process, and significantly decreases the energy barrier for the second step of the B{sub AC}2 process. The calculated substituent shifts of the energy barrier for the first step of the B{sub AC}2 process in gas phase are in good agreement with the observed substituent shifts for the base-catalyzed hydrolysis of alkyl acetates in aqueous solution. All of the calculated results are consistent with the available experimental results and lead to a deeper understanding of previously reported gas-phase experimental observations.« less
Investigation of a porous-wall compact diffuser for chemical lasers

An investigation of a novel concept for chemical laser diffusers was conducted at Rocketdyne. This experimental program involved testing a porous-wall, compact diffuser for HF/DH chemical laser systems that utilize a chemical pump system. The concept feasibility was successfully demonstrated in a cold-flow test apparatus with a 93 percent normal shock pressure recovery achieved in a flow length of two nozzle height distances. The design concept uses boundary layer bleed to stabilize a normal shock wave in the supersonic section of the laser diffuser. This suggests that the supersonic section (which in the past required length-to-height ratios greater than 10) could be reduced in length to a short bleed zone necessary to remove the laminar boundary layer by suction. The suction could be provided by a compartmentalized chemical pump designed with a separate, low-pressure section to pump less than 10 percent of the total laser effluents.
Quality in Early Childhood Education : An Anthropologist’s Perspective

I use examples from my ethnographic work on early childhood education and care settings in Japan and France to demonstrate that quality standards are cultural constructs and to question the universality of such core U.S. standards of quality in ECEC as low student-teacher ratios and multicultural curricula. My argument is that quality standards should reflect local values and concerns and not be imposed across cultural divides. In a heterogeneous society such as the U.S., notions of quality should arise out of conversations in local communities among early childhood educators and parents.
Large scale debugging of parallel tasks with AutomaDeD

Developing correct HPC applications continues to be a challenge as the number of cores increases in today's largest systems. Most existing debugging techniques perform poorly at large scales and do not automatically locate the parts of the parallel application in which the error occurs. The overhead of collecting large amounts of runtime information and an absence of scalable error detection algorithms generally cause poor scalability. In this work, we present novel, highly efficient techniques that facilitate the process of debugging large scale parallel applications. Our approach extends our previous work, AutomaDeD, in three major areas to isolate anomalous tasks in a scalable manner: (i) we efficiently compare elements of graph models (used in AutomaDeD to model parallel tasks) using pre-computed lookup-tables and by pointer comparison; (ii) we compress per-task graph models before the error detection analysis so that comparison between models involves many fewer elements; (iii) we use scalable sampling-based clustering and nearest-neighbor techniques to isolate abnormal tasks when bugs and performance anomalies are manifested. Our evaluation with fault injections shows that AutomaDeD scales well to thousands of tasks and that it can find anomalous tasks in under 5 seconds in an online manner.
The algebraic structure of pencils and block Toeplitz matrices

Abstract We restate several results on the Kronecker structure obtainable after a given matrix pencil is affected by an arbitrarily small perturbation, and state some new results on the Kronecker structure after a new row is appended or a column deleted. The results are simple consequences of a theory of majorization for semi-infinite integer sequences. The bounds after a new row is appended correspond to bounding the controllability indices after adding a single input to a linear time-invariant dynamical system. We illustrate the known relations between the Kronecker indices, the Segre characteristics, and the nullities of certain block Toeplitz matrices constructed from the original pencils and discuss how those nullities change when the pencil is affected by a perturbation or a new row.
Chebychev optimized approximate deconvolution models of turbulence

Abstract If the Navier–Stokes equations are averaged with a local, spacial convolution type filter, ϕ ¯ = g δ ∗ ϕ , the resulting system is not closed due to the filtered nonlinear term uu ¯ . An approximate deconvolution operator D is a bounded linear operator which satisfies u = D ( u ¯ ) + O ( δ α ) , where δ is the filter width and α ⩾ 2 . Using a deconvolution operator as an approximate filter inverse, yields the closure uu ¯ = D ( u ¯ ) D ( u ¯ ) ¯ + O ( δ α ) . The residual stress of this model (and related models) depends directly on the deconvolution error, u - D ( u ¯ ) . This report derives deconvolution operators yielding an effective turbulence model, which minimize the deconvolution error for velocity fields with finite kinetic energy. We also give a convergence theory of deconvolution as δ → 0 , an ergodic theorem as the deconvolution order N → ∞ , and estimate the increase in accuracy obtained by parameter optimization. The report concludes with numerical illustrations.
Thyroid hormone analysis of thyroactive iodinated casein.

Abstract The iodinated amino acids of the thyroactive iodinated casein, Protamone, were separated. With two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography, at least 21 iodinated components were demonstrated in the initial n -butanol extract of Protamone hydrolysate. Four of these compounds remained when the alkali-washed hydrolysate was also chromatographed two-dimensionally. Two of these four compounds were identified as thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The concentrations of these two compounds in Protamone were determined to be 0.79 and 0.61%, respectively. The combination of these two values is biologically equivalent in the rat to 3.28% thyroxine. It is concluded that the combined thyroxine and triiodothyronine content of thyroactive iodinated casein is sufficient to account for all of its thyroidal activity in mammals.
Dental Surgery and Antiplatelet Agents: Bleed or Die

In patients taking antiplatelet medications who are undergoing dental surgery, physicians and dentists must weigh the bleeding risks in continuing antiplatelet medications versus the thrombotic risks in interrupting antiplatelet medications. Bleeding complications requiring more than local measures for hemostasis are rare after dental surgery in patients taking antiplatelet medications. Conversely, the risk for thrombotic complications after interruption of antiplatelet therapy for dental procedures apparently is significant, although small. When a clinician is faced with a decision to continue or interrupt antiplatelet therapy for a dental surgical patient, the decision comes down to "bleed or die." That is, there is a remote chance that continuing antiplatelet therapy will result in a (nonfatal) bleeding problem requiring more than local measures for hemostasis versus a small but significant chance that interrupting antiplatelet therapy will result in a (possibly fatal) thromboembolic complication. The decision is simple: It is time to stop interrupting antiplatelet therapy for dental surgery.
Acculturation-related predictors of very light smoking among Latinos in California and nationwide

The prevalence of light smoking has increased among Latinos. The purpose of this study was to identify demographic and acculturation-related factors associated with very light smoking, defined as smoking 1–5 cigarettes per day (CPD), among Latinos in California and nationwide. Latino smokers in the 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) or the 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) were analyzed. Logistic regression assessed factors associated with very light smoking. Among NHANES smokers, those born in Mexico or who lived fewer years in the US were more likely to be very light smokers than 6+ CPD smokers. Among CHIS smokers, those born in Mexico, in another Spanish speaking country, or who spent smaller percentages of their life in the US were more likely to be very light smokers. Findings from this study can be used to design tobacco control media campaigns that include very light smokers.
How to Teach Mathematics

Guiding principles Practical matters Spiritual matters Difficult matters A new beginning Appendices The irrelevance of calculus reform: Ruminations of a sage-on-the-stage Mathematical content Personal thoughts on mature teaching Remember the students Reflections on Krantz's $\textit{How to Teach Mathematics}$ A different view Are we encouraging our students to think mathematically? Big business, race, and gender in mathematics reform Will this be on the exam? Teaching or appearing to teach: What's the difference? Why (and how) I teach without long lectures The joy of lecturing--with a critique of the romantic tradition in education writing Teaching freshmen to learn mathematics Bibliography Index.
Curvature Study With Application in MEMS Packaging

This paper presents a theoretical derivation of curvature equation for a dual stacked structural system whose material properties are temperature dependent. The thickness of the two structural layers are supposed to be in the same magnitude, and the curvature equation for a situation where a thin layer is coated on a thick substrate is given as a special case. The primary goals of this paper are to provide guidance for choosing materials for MEMS sensor packaging and for designing a package aiming at low stress and low deformation.Copyright © 2002 by ASME