cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Infographic. Stay physically active during COVID-19 with exercise as medicine.

There are over 35 000 000 reported cases of COVID-19 disease and 1 000 000 deaths across more than 200 countries worldwide.1 With cases continuing to rise and a robust vaccine not yet available for safe and widespread delivery, lifestyle adaptations will be needed for the foreseeable future. As we try to contain the spread of the virus, adults are spending more time at home. Recent evidence2 suggests that physical activity levels have decreased by ~30% and sitting time has increased by ~30%. This is a major concern as physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are risk factors3 for cardiovascular disease, obesity, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, bone and joint disease, depression and premature death. To date, more than 130 authors …
Geographic Variation in Racial Disparities in Mortality From Influenza and Pneumonia in the United States in the Pre-Coronavirus Disease 2019 Era.

BACKGROUND: In 2018, influenza and pneumonia was the eighth leading cause of death in the United States. Since 1950, non-Hispanic blacks (NHBs) have experienced higher rates of mortality than non-Hispanic whites (NHWs). Previous studies have revealed geographic variation in mortality rates by race. The identification of areas with the greatest disparity in influenza and pneumonia mortality may assist policymakers in the allocation of resources, including for the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. RESEARCH QUESTION: Does geographic variation in racial disparity in influenza and pneumonia mortality exist? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database for Multiple Cause of Death between 1999 and 2018 for NHB and NHW decedents ≥ 25 years of age with a Tenth Revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems code for influenza (J09-J11) and pneumonia (J12-J18) was used. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) with 95% CIs were computed by race for Health & Human Services (HHS) regions and urbanization in NHBs and NHWs. RESULTS: In 1999 through 2018, there were 540,476 deaths among NHBs and NHWs 25 to 84 years of age. AAMRs were higher in NHBs than NHWs in each age group and in seven of 10 HHS regions. The greatest disparity was in HHS regions 2 (New York and New Jersey) and 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada). In HHS region 2, NHBs (24.6; 95% CI, 24.1-25.1) were more likely to die than NHWs (15.7; 95% CI, 15.6-15.9). Similarly, in region 9, NHBs (23.2; 95% CI, 22.7-23.8) had higher mortality than NHWs (16.1; 95% CI, 15.9-16.2). Within these regions, disparities were greatest in the core of major metropolitan areas. A very high AAMR in NHBs was noted in large, central metropolitan areas of region 2: 28.2 (95% CI, 27.6-28.9). INTERPRETATION: In 1999 through 2018, the NHB-NHW disparity in AAMRs from influenza and pneumonia was greatest in central metropolitan areas of HHS regions 2 and 9.
Patterns of Death Penalty Abolition, 1960–2005: Domestic and International Factors

On the eve of World War II, eight countries had completely abolished the death penalty and another six had banned it for ordinary crimes. As of early 2008, 92 countries had prohibited capital punishment for all crimes and 10 more had ruled it out for ordinary crimes. The goal of this article is to account for the pattern of national abolition of the death penalty since 1960. We hypothesize that certain kinds of democracies are more liable to end capital punishment than others. Specifically, the negotiated form of democracy produced by parliamentary systems with proportional representation (“consensus democracy” in Lijphart’s terms) is more likely to do away with the death penalty than are other forms of democracy. As previous research indicates, democratic transitions also increase the likelihood of abolition. Finally, international influences can also tip countries toward abolition. We suggest that incentives provided by international organizations, particularly in Europe, have drawn some countries toward abolition. The empirical analysis of approximately 150 countries for the period 1960–2005 confirms our expectations.
An enzymatic self-healing cementitious material

Abstract Concrete is the most widely used material in the world and is responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions. It is inherently brittle, and it requires frequent repair or replacement, which are expensive and generate large volumes of CO 2 . Current methods of repair by agents such as mortar and epoxies result in structures with reduced strength and resiliency due to material mismatch, therefore, a self-healing cement paste (concrete’s main matrix) is needed to overcome this problem. The leading self-healing mechanism is based on the use of bacteria and microbes, which are slow and have limited applications, as well as unknown health effects. Inspired by the extremely efficient process of CO 2 transfer in biological cells, this study introduces a method to develop a self-healing mechanism in a cementitious matrix using trace amounts of the enzyme Carbonic Anhydrase (CA). CA catalyzes the reaction between Ca 2 + ions and atmospheric CO 2 to create calcium carbonate crystals with similar thermomechanical properties as the cementitious matrix. The crystal growth rate using this method is orders of magnitude faster and more efficient than bacterial methods, resulting in the healing of large flaws on timescale orders of magnitude shorter. This method is capable of self-healing samples with millimeter-scale flaws within 24-hours and is significantly faster than all current methods that need a minimum of 28-days for strength recovery of microscale cracks. This inexpensive method is biologically safe, actively consumes CO 2 , and avoids using unhealthy reagents. It can be an efficient mechanism to repair and strengthen the existing concrete structures.
Synaptic control of temporal processing in the Drosophila olfactory system

Temporal filtering of sensory stimuli is a key neural computation, but the way such filters are implemented within the brain is unclear. One potential mechanism for implementing temporal filters is short-term synaptic plasticity, which is governed in part by the expression of pre-synaptic proteins that position synaptic vesicles at different distances to calcium channels. Here we leveraged the Drosophila olfactory system to directly test the hypothesis that short-term synaptic plasticity shapes temporal filtering of sensory stimuli. We used optogenetic activation to drive olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) activity with high temporal precision and knocked down the presynaptic priming factor unc13A specifically in ORNs. We found that this manipulation specifically decreases and delays transmission of high frequencies, leading to poorer encoding of distant plume filaments. We replicate this effect using a previously-developed model of transmission at this synapse, which features two components with different depression kinetics. Finally, we show that upwind running, a key component of odor source localization, is preferentially driven by high-frequency stimulus fluctuations, and this response is reduced by unc13A knock-down in ORNs. Our work links the extraction of particular temporal features of a sensory stimulus to the expression of particular presynaptic molecules.
Myocardial Lipin 1 knockout in mice approximates cardiac effects of human LPIN1 mutations

Lipin 1 is a bifunctional protein that is a transcriptional regulator and has phosphatidic acid (PA) phosphohydrolase activity, which dephosphorylates PA to generate diacylglycerol. Human lipin 1 mutations lead to episodic rhabdomyolysis, and some affected patients exhibit cardiac abnormalities, including exercise-induced cardiac dysfunction and cardiac triglyceride accumulation. Furthermore, lipin 1 expression is deactivated in failing heart, but the effects of lipin 1 deactivation in myocardium are incompletely understood. We generated mice with cardiac-specific lipin 1 KO (cs-Lpin1-/-) to examine the intrinsic effects of lipin 1 in the myocardium. Cs-Lpin1-/- mice had normal systolic cardiac function but mild cardiac hypertrophy. Compared with littermate control mice, PA content was higher in cs-Lpin1-/- hearts, which also had an unexpected increase in diacylglycerol and triglyceride content. Cs-Lpin1-/- mice exhibited diminished cardiac cardiolipin content and impaired mitochondrial respiration rates when provided with pyruvate or succinate as metabolic substrates. After transverse aortic constriction-induced pressure overload, loss of lipin 1 did not exacerbate cardiac hypertrophy or dysfunction. However, loss of lipin 1 dampened the cardiac ionotropic response to dobutamine and exercise endurance in association with reduced protein kinase A signaling. These data suggest that loss of lipin 1 impairs cardiac functional reserve, likely due to effects on glycerolipid homeostasis, mitochondrial function, and protein kinase A signaling.
Effects of Environmental and Mechanical Variations on Particle Size Distribution of Albuterol HFA Inhalers.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate how factors (ambient temperature, shaking the inhaler before use, suspension of the inhaler in water, and the variation over the lifetime of the inhaler) affect the particle-size distributions from albuterol HFA inhalers. METHODS: We used a laser particle-size analyzer to measure the percentage of particles in the 1- to 5-μm range (fine-particle fraction) serially 2,500 times per second to obtain a window of useful measurements with each inhaler actuation. We compared the inhaler performance results as follows: cold versus hot, full versus partial versus empty inhaler actuations, shaken versus unshaken, and inhaler characteristics after water submersion. RESULTS: The effect of temperature was as follows: fine-particle fraction was 14.4% at 5°C, 37.9% at 24 - 25°C, and 38.1% at 45°C. The fine-particle fraction at the start, middle, end, and past the end of the inhaler’s rated lifetime were 37.9, 26.3, 27.9, and 22.0%, respectively. Shaking the inhaler did not improve the inhaler’s fine-particle fraction. Submerging the inhaler reduced the fine-particle fraction to 14.3% without purging and to 20.5% with purging compared with the 42.1% for the control inhaler, which was not submerged. CONCLUSIONS: Temperature made a difference, with cold inhalers producing a lower fine-particle fraction. The early portion of the inhaler had a better fine-particle fraction than the middle and end of the inhaler’s lifespan. We could not demonstrate that shaking the inhaler had a significant effect on the fine-particle fraction. Submerging the inhaler in water significantly reduced the fine-particle fraction.
Texas Coast Hurricane Flood Protection Studies

The concept and physical features of a comprehensive plan for protection of Texas coastal areas against hurricane floods are described. Technical procedures involved in the computation of hurricane surge hydrographs on the open coast and in the inland bay areas are presented, and supplemental hydraulic model studies are discussed. Hurricane flood protection plans now under study for both large geographical areas and small localized areas are outlined. Typical problems in design and construction of the authorized Freeport and Port Arthur Hurricane Flood Protection projects are discussed briefly.
Moral Autonomy in Kant and Hegel

One can only be surprised to learn that Hegel in his Lectures on the History of Philosophy 1did not devote even six whole pages to the presentation and critique of Kant’s ethics.2 His History of Philosophy comprises three volumes, totally nearly 1700 pages, and Hegel himself stated once that the Kantian philosophy is the foundation and starting point of modern German philosophy. The general influence of the Kantian works and in particular the influence of Kant’s ethics on Hegel’s Philosophy of Right is well known, and Hegel himself recognized it. This discrepancy between Kant’s influence and Hegel’s overt recognition of it was first pointed out by Karl Ludwig Michelet, the editor of the Lectures on the History of Philosophy. He justified it with a hint about how this book was written: there were additions to the introduction and main text which became more and more extensive and which did not leave Hegel at the end of the semester with sufficient time to cover the period beginning with Kant. 3 Although Hegel’s elaboration of Kant’s ethics is linguistically elegant, it is not philosophically detailed, and if one wishes to shed light on it, he will not be able to do so without the help of certain passages from his other writings, especially from the Phenomenology of Mind and the Philosophy of Right.4
Acceleration of Ethanol Metabolism by High Ethanol Concentrations and Chronic Ethanol Consumption: Role of the Microsomal Ethanol Oxidizing System (MEOS)

Chronic ethanol consumption has been shown to be associated with an acceleration of ethanol metabolism in man (1–3) and rats (4–6). This phenomenon could not be explained by the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase itself, as reviewed elsewhere (7). Some other possible mechanisms have been suggested, including the adaptive increase of the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (MEOS) (5, 8, 9), increased mitochondrial reoxidation of NADH (10–12) and enhanced catalase-H2O2 mediated peroxidation (13, 14).
Advanced Standing versus Regular Two-Year MSW Graduates: Program Evaluation and Employment History

Abstract This investigation compared advanced standing and regular two-year MSW graduates with respect to their employment history, evaluations of their graduate education, and perceptions of the relevancy of their education for jobs obtained after graduation. Results indicated only one difference between the two groups: advanced standing students' areas of specialization and what they chose for their second job were less congruent than for two-year graduates. Results are explained from a socialization perspective.
ADVANCED READING AND WRITING, 2nd Edition, D. Baumwoll and R. L. Saitz

COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE. Joan Young Gregg. DISCOURSE IN ACTION (Reading and Thinking in English, Book 4). INSIGHTS. Austin Flint. READER'S CHOICE. E. Margaret Boudoin et al. READING ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC STUDY. Michael H. Long et al. SKILLFUL READING. Amy L. Sonka.
A Revised Conceptual Model of the Firm-Level Entrepreneurial Process

Research suggests that existing conceptualizations of firm-level entrepreneurship may not be sufficient in fully explaining the construct (Brown, Davidsson, & Wiklund, 2001; Brush, Manolova, & Edelman, 2008). In particular, there is little consensus regarding the organizational attributes that underlie the entrepreneurial act. This study integrates and extends existing conceptualizations to form a new theoretical framework for studying the firm-level entrepreneurial process. It is argued that three attributes: innovativeness, proactiveness, and strategic renewal, are necessary preconditions for firms to be considered truly "entrepreneurial." The role that these three firm-level attributes play in generating important entrepreneurial outcomes is also considered.
Partitioned QoS solution for tactical networks - addressing the of encryption

This paper presents a QoS solution for tactical networks with security consideration. Since encryption prevents the exchange of QoS information between the cipher text side and the plain text side, a partitioned QoS approach is presented. We present measurement based admission control (MBAC) as part of the plain text side QoS solution. MBAC uses real time measurements to regulate the flow of traffic entering a tactical core network based on a computed end-to-end congestion level. This paper discusses the benefits of using MBAC and the possible challenges of such an approach. The paper shows how the measurements can be used to create a Markov chain indicating the severity of path congestion. The paper also presents some simulation results from implementing MBAC in an OPNET model of the warfighter information network-tactical (WIN-T) network
WEB-BASED INFORMATIONAL PRACTICES OF LOGISTICS SERVICE PROVIDERS : AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT

This article reports on a survey of more than 200 logistics service providers (LSPs) regarding their World Wide Web-related practices in order to find out the Web's potential for cutting logistics costs and improving customer service. Nearly all of the providers had Web sites, and the most important function was communicating better with customers.
Promotion of Sexual Health in the United States

Abstract The United States has been experiencing a severe sexual health crisis in the last decade. This paper reviews these sexual health challenges and discusses a major initiative and a “Call to Action” that was launched by the U.S. Surgeon General in 2001 to promote sexual health. This led to several initiatives to overcome obstacles that were preventing the development of a sound, scientifically based public health policy to promote sexual health. This paper specifically outlines the components of the Sexual Health Program housed at the Morehouse School of Medicine's National Center for Primary Care, including the National Advisory Council and the National Consensus Process.
Movie-maps of low-latitude magnetic storm disturbance

[1] We present 29 movie-maps of low-latitude horizontal-intensity magnetic disturbance for the years 1999–2006: 28 recording magnetic storms and 1 magnetically quiescent period. The movie-maps are derived from magnetic vector time series data collected at up to 25 ground-based observatories. Using a technique similar to that used in the calculation of Dst, a quiet time baseline is subtracted from the time series from each observatory. The remaining disturbance time series are shown in a polar coordinate system that accommodates both Earth rotation and the universal time dependence of magnetospheric disturbance. Each magnetic storm recorded in the movie-maps is different. While some standard interpretations about the storm time equatorial ring current appear to apply to certain moments and certain phases of some storms, the movie-maps also show substantial variety in the local time distribution of low-latitude magnetic disturbance, especially during storm commencements and storm main phases. All movie-maps are available at the U.S. Geological Survey Geomagnetism Program Web site (http://geomag.usgs.gov).
Applied Developmental Science of Positive Human Development

This chapter examines key theoretical facets of the applied developmental science approach to knowledge generation and application. Represented by literature pertinent to the goodness-of-fit model proposed by Thomas and Chess, the stage-environment fit model of Eccles and colleagues, Damon's conception of youth charters, and Search Institute's approach to individual and ecological assets for youth development, the importance of the dynamic relation between individuals and their contexts for understanding and promoting healthy development is discussed. These relational models stress that integrated, person-context fusions may be the target of applications designed to facilitate the development of healthy exchanges between the individual and his or her ecology. For instance, youth charters are seen as a means to support healthy development through embedding youth in communities that maximize the positive person-context experiences of youth, thereby promoting the ability of young people to contribute to civil society. In turn, integrating individual and ecological assets can promote positive youth development by engaging young people in community building actions. The chapter concludes by explaining how the diversity of person-context relations may be capitalized on to provide a useful frame for policy and program innovations aimed at increasing the probability of healthy youth development. Keywords: applied developmental science; community charters; developmental assets; developmental systems models; goodness-of-fit model; person-context relations; positive human development
Thermal analysis of the phase transitions of poly(p‐xylylene)

Differential scanning calorimetry is used to analyze the phase transitions of various heat-treated poly(p-xylylene)s, polymerized from 78 to 296 K. The data were extrapolated, as needed, to completely amorphous or completely crystalline polymer. The glass transition was found to be at 286 K; the increase in heat capacity at the glass transition is 37,6 J · K−1 · mol−1. The crystals of the α polymorph change at 504 K to the β1 polymorph (enthalpy of transition of 5,0 kJ · mol−1), then, at 560 K to the β2 polymorph (enthalpy of transition of 1,5 kJ · mol−1), and finally at 700 K to the isotropic melt (heat of transition of 10,0 kJ · mol−1). Both the β1 and β2 polymorphs are assumed to be conformationally disordered (condis crystals). The reversibility of the transitions, annealing peaks, crystallization on heating, abnormally high heat capacities of β1 crystals, and abnormally low heat capacities of α crystals are discussed.
The history of the germ cells of cottus bairdii girard

The primordial germ cells are derived from entodermal giant cells which are found first before the gut is formed and later along the ventral and lateral margins of the gut. Some of these cells pass through the lateral mesoderm to a position dorsal to the gut, where they are distinctly recognizable as germ cells. They are then shifted to the gonad region. Sex could be distinguished first at fifty-two days. The female sex is indicated by early maturation stages and the beginning of the oviducal groove. The male sex is distinguished by the presence of the sperm duct. No tendency toward juvenile hermaphroditism is apparent. A portion of the oocytes formed during the first season matures for the first spawning, which takes place at the age of two years. The remainder form a reserve supply, which is increased each year by oocytes formed from dormant oogonia. Maturation in the male begins in September and continues until spawning-time in April. Spermatogonia lying dormant within the cysts during maturation give rise to the sperm of the next season. ‘Spermatid masses,’ probably formed by the fusion of spermatids, are found in the cysts with the ripening sperm. Definitive sex cells in both sexes have their origin only in primordial germ cells. No transition from somatic cells to germ cells was found at any stage.
A Taste Comparison of Three Different Liquid Steroid Preparations: Prednisone, Prednisolone, and Dexamethasone

Objectives: To determine whether significant differences exist in the taste, texture, smell, and aftertaste of three commonly used liquid steroid preparations: prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone. Methods: This was a double-blind study of medical students and residents. Participants were asked to drink 5 mL of each steroid preparation, and grade each on a one-to-five-point scale for the categories of smell, texture, taste, and aftertaste. A score of 5 was considered most positive, 3 neutral, and 1 most negative. The medications were placed in small cups with the letter A, B, or C on them. The steroids were then administered in an advancing alphabetical format. A saltine cracker and water were administered between tastings in an attempt to remove any residual flavor. Data were analyzed using mean score and standard deviations, and mean rank and standard deviation by the Friedman test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Eighty-six adult volunteers participated in the study: 53 (62%) were male and 33 were female. The overall mean scores and standard deviations (±SDs) for prednisolone, dexamethasone, and prednisone were 3.43 (±1.05), 3.19 (±1.01), and 2.29 (±0.98), respectively. Using the Friedman test, the mean ranks for smell, texture, taste, and aftertaste for dexamethasone were 2.37, 2.06, 2.19, and 2.22. The corresponding mean ranks for prednisone were 1.80, 1.52, 1.31, and 1.27; and for prednisolone, the mean ranks were 1.83, 2.41, 2.51, and 2.52, respectively. Dexamethasone scored better in all four categories than prednisone (p < 0.05). Prednisolone scored better than prednisone in the categories of texture, taste, and aftertaste (p < 0.05); there was no statistical difference in smell. Dexamethasone had a higher mean rank than prednisolone for smell (p < 0.05); for the remaining three categories, there was no statistical difference. Conclusions: In adult volunteers, both prednisolone and dexamethasone liquid were more palatable than prednisone liquid.
Studies on the nucleoside phosphotransferase of carrot I. Partial purification of the nucleoside phosphotransferase

Abstract The partial purification of the nucleoside phosphotransferase of carrot is described. The procedures, which entailed precipitation with acetone, fractionation with ammonium sulfate, and treatment with zinc ions in the presence of ethanol and with calcium phosphate gel, afforded preparations whose specific transferase activity was 40 to 100 times that of the initial extract. The enzyme specimens also exhibited phosphatase activity which could, however, be specifically suppressed by copper or zinc ions. In this manner, good yields of 5′ nucleotides through the transfer of phosphate from phenylphosphate or 5′ adenylic acid to an acceptor nucleoside could be achieved. The acceptor specificity and other properties of the enzyme preparations are also discussed.
Interaction of Oxygen with Nanophase Carbons Investigated by Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy

Interaction of oxygen with three commercial activated carbons (GX203, P1400 and MEED50 supplied by PICA USA Inc., with BET surface areas of 1000, 1150 and 2000 m2/g respectively) is investigated using 9 GHz electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. All three carbons give a single ESR line with g = 2.0028(3), but the linewidth ΔH and the spin concentration Ns, are strongly affected by exposure to oxygen. The ESR parameters (g, ΔH, Ns) are measured for different partial pressures of oxygen. For the highly evacuated samples, δH ? 1.2 Oe and Ns ? 1019/gm and these results are interpreted in terms of uncompensated surface dangling bonds. Oxygen exposure broadens the line and reduces Ns, in direct relation to the surface areas of the carbons and the effect is reversible. Possible effects of the paramagnetic oxygen on dangling bonds are discussed.
Regional Environment and Cultivar Effects on the Quality of Wheat Straw

A study was conducted to determine the effects of cultivar and regional environment on the fiber concentration, crude protein (CP), and in vitro dry-matter digestibility (IVDMD) of wheat straw. Samples were ground and analyzed for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), permanganate lignin (LIG), CP, and IVDMD. No significant differences were observed in fiber content among cultivars within location and year. Cultivars did differ in CP and IVDMD with a significant year×cultivar interaction. A combined analysis showed a significant location×year interaction for all the components tested. Crude protein increased linearly with mean spring temperature, as did ADF concentrations with cumulative precipitation. Environmental factors such as spring temperature and precipitation exerted greater influence on CP and fiber contents, whereas cultivars had little effect on the CP and IVDMD of wheat straw
Infinite-dilution diffusion coefficients of complex ions from solution conductivity data.

A technique is presented for determining infinite-dilution diffusion coefficients of complex ions from solution conductivity data. The method involves measuring the conductivities of dilute solutions in which the distribution of complex ions is systematically varied and statistically regressing the data to an equation that effectively relates individual ion diffusion coefficients to solution conductivity. The procedure is simple and requires no specialized equipment to perform. Unlike methods that require a concentration gradient, the solution composition is homogeneous and at equilibrium during measurements, which is a significant advantage when labile complexes are being studied. In this paper, diffusion coefficients of cuprous cyanide complexes are determined. Statistical analysis yields the infinite-dilution diffusion coefficients of Cu(CN)2-, Cu(CN)32-, and Cu(CN)43- at 25 °C as 1.43 × 10-5 ± 9%, 1.08 × 10-5 ± 9%, and 6.21 × 10-6 ± 22% cm2/s, respectively.
Connecting Men to Academic and Student Affairs Programs and Services

This chapter identifies significant barriers to developing effective programs and services for men and offers a framework for addressing this growing problem.
Google Scholar's Dramatic Coverage Improvement Five Years after Debut

This article reports a 2010 empirical study using a 2005 study as a base to compare Google Scholar's coverage of scholarly journals with commercial services. Through random samples of eight databases, the author finds that, as of 2010, Google Scholar covers 98 to 100 percent of scholarly journals from both publicly accessible Web contents and from subscription-based databases that Google Scholar partners with. In 2005 the coverage of the same databases ranged from 30 to 88 percent. The author explores de-duplication of search results by Google Scholar and discusses its impacts on searches and library resources. With the dramatic improvement of Google Scholar, the uniqueness and effectiveness of subscription-based abstracts and indexes have dramatically changed.
Spurious Also? Name-Similarity Effects (Implicit Egotism) in Employment Decisions

Implicit egotism is the notion that major life decisions are influenced by name-similarity. This paper revisits the evidence for the most systematic test of this hypothesis. Anseel & Duyck (2008) analyzed data from 1/3 of all Belgian employees and found that a disproportionate fraction of them shared their initial with their employer. Using a dataset with American employees I replicate the finding, but new analyses strongly suggest they are due to reverse causality, whereby the documented effect seems to be driven by people naming companies they start after themselves rather than by employees seeking out companies they have a shared initial with. Walt Disney, for example, worked for a company starting with D (Disney World) not because of an unconscious attraction to such letter, but because the company was named after him.
Germ cells carry the epigenetic benefits of grandmother's diet

Environmental influences on epigenetics are important for understanding the mechanisms and inheritance of biological variation. Some of the best models for mammalian epigenetics are the yellow alleles of agouti in mice. Alleles such as A vy produce readily distinguished agouti, yellow, and mottled coat-color epigenetic phenotypes. Dietary and genetic variations during development affect the epigenetic phenotypes of offspring (1, 2). Little is known regarding the gestational timing of dietary treatments to affect epigenetics. Although the epigenetic phenotype is partially maternally, and grandmaternally, inherited (1, 3, 4), transgenerational effects of grandmaternal diets have not been reported. In this issue of PNAS, Cropley et al. (5) report the effects of specific timing of maternal dietary methyl supplementation on the coat color of offspring. Surprisingly, they find that maternal supplementation only during midgestation substantially affects offspring coat color. Importantly, they also find that this effect is inherited by the next generation, presumably through germ-line modifications during grandmaternal supplementation.
Reduction in Cholesterol and Sialic Acid Content Protects Cells from the Toxic Effects of β-Amyloid Peptides

Abstract β-Amyloid (Aβ) is the primary protein component of senile plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease and has been implicated in the neurotoxicity associated with the disease. A variety of evidence points to the importance of Aβ-membrane interactions in the mechanism of Aβ neurotoxicity and indicates that cholesterol and gangliosides are particularly important for Aβ aggregation and binding to membranes. We investigated the effects of cholesterol and sialic acid depletion on Aβ-induced GTPase activity in cells, a step implicated in the mechanism of Aβ toxicity, and Aβ-induced cell toxicity. Cholesterol reduction and depletion of membrane-associated sialic acid residues both significantly reduced the Aβ-induced GTPase activity. In addition, cholesterol and membrane-associated sialic acid residue depletion or inhibition of cholesterol and ganglioside synthesis protected PC12 cells from Aβ-induced toxicity. These results indicate the importance of Aβ-membrane interactions in the mechanism of Aβ toxicity. In addition, these results suggest that control of cellular cholesterol and/or ganglioside content may prove useful in the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
The impact of revascularization on mortality in patients with nonacute coronary artery disease.

Abstract Background Although early revascularization improves outcomes for patients with acute coronary syndromes, the role of revascularization for patients with nonacute coronary artery disease is controversial. The objective of this meta-analysis was to compare surgical or percutaneous revascularization with medical therapy alone to determine the impact of revascularization on death and nonfatal myocardial infarction in patients with coronary artery disease. Methods The Medline and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases were searched to identify randomized trials of coronary revascularization (either surgical or percutaneous) versus medical therapy alone in patients with nonacute coronary disease reporting the individual outcomes of death or nonfatal myocardial infarction reported at a minimum follow-up of 1 year. A random effects model was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) for the 2 prespecified outcomes. Results Twenty-eight studies published from 1977 to 2007 were identified for inclusion in the analysis; the revascularization modality was percutaneous coronary intervention in 17 studies, coronary bypass grafting in 6 studies, and either strategy in 5 studies. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 10 years with a median of 3 years. The 28 trials enrolled 13,121 patients, of whom 6476 were randomized to revascularization and 6645 were randomized to medical therapy alone. The OR for revascularization versus medical therapy for mortality was 0.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-0.88). A stratified analysis according to revascularization mode revealed both bypass grafting (OR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.50-0.77) and percutaneous intervention (OR 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68-0.99) to be superior to medical therapy with respect to mortality. Revascularization was not associated with a significant reduction in nonfatal myocardial infarction compared with medical therapy (OR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.72-1.15). Conclusion Revascularization by coronary bypass surgery or percutaneous intervention in conjunction with medical therapy in patients with nonacute coronary artery disease is associated with significantly improved survival compared with medical therapy alone.
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study assessing the efficacy and tolerability of desvenlafaxine 10 and 50 mg/day in adult outpatients with major depressive disorder

In an effort to establish the lowest effective dose of desvenlafaxine (administered as desvenlafaxine succinate), we assessed the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of 10- and 50-mg/day desvenlafaxine vs placebo for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Adult outpatients with DSM-IV–defined major depressive disorder and a 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17) total score ≥20 were randomly assigned to receive placebo or desvenlafaxine (10 or 50 mg/day) after a 6- to 14-day single-blind placebo lead-in period in an 8-week, phase 3, fixed-dose trial. The primary efficacy measure was change from baseline in the HAM-D17 score analyzed using analysis of covariance. Efficacy analyses were conducted with the intent-to-treat population, using the last observation carried forward. The intent-to-treat population included 673 patients. Change from baseline to final evaluation in adjusted HAM-D17 total scores was not significantly different comparing desvenlafaxine 10 mg/day (-9.28) and desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day (-8.92) with placebo (-8.42). There were no differences among treatment groups in the rates of treatment response or remission. Discontinuations due to adverse events occurred in 1.8%, 0.9%, and 1.8% of patients in the placebo and desvenlafaxine 10- and 50-mg/day groups, respectively. Overall rates of treatment-emergent adverse events with both doses were similar to placebo. Both doses of desvenlafaxine failed to separate from placebo. However, in a companion study reported separately, desvenlafaxine 50 mg, but not 25 mg, separated from placebo. Taken together, these studies suggest that 50 mg is the minimum effective dose of desvenlafaxine for the treatment of major depressive disorder. NCT00863798 http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00863798?term=00863798&rank=1 .
Mathematical Optimization Techniques for the Simultaneous Apportionments of Reliability and Maintainability

This paper sets forth mathematical means for optimizing the simultaneous apportionments of reliability and maintainability by means of two techniques. Lagrange multipliers and dynamic programming. Since one of the constraint equations involves allocating both variables, this simultaneous apportionment problem differs from the usual two-dimensional dynamic programming problems. Two cost problems are treated the first minimizes cost while satisfying availability requirements under the assumption that an unlimited ceiling exists for the cost, and the second maximizes reliability and maintainability given a fixed budget. Although these problems appear closely related, step functions usually preclude considering them together. The paper also considers two numerical examples, an interesting cost model for maintainability, and using computers with its models.
Passive network design for stochastic vibratory energy harvesters

This paper considers the use of optimal control theory to design circuits for small-scale, single-transducer vibration energy harvesting applications, in which the external disturbance is a broadband stochastic process. Specifically, we investigate the use of a lossless passive two-port network terminated by a single-directional DC/DC converter, to impose transducer voltage feedback laws on energy harvesting systems. Such an implementation requires external power only to gate one MOSFET in a PWM cycle, and requires no active feedback. The optimization of harvested energy reduces to the optimal design of the input admittance Y (s) of the terminated network, which reduces to a positive-real-constrained, sign-indefinite ℋ 2 optimal control problem. This class of optimization is nonconvex, and a numerically-efficient means of finding its global minimum remains an open problem. Here we introduce conservatism into the problem in such a way as to make the optimization practical, albeit still nonconvex, and we illustrate its solution in the context of a base-excited piezoelectric bimorph cantilever.
Prevalence and Secular Trends of Excess Body Weight and Impact on Outcomes After Myocardial Infarction in the Community

Objectives To determine the trends in the prevalence of overweight and obese individuals among patients with myocardial infarction (MI), and to assess the association between weight and outcomes after MI. Design Population-based cohort study. Methods MIs occurring in Olmsted County, MN, between 1979 and 1998 were validated using standardized criteria. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were ascertained from community medical records. The prevalence and trends of excess weight and its association with outcomes were analyzed. Results Sixty-four percent of the 2,277 subjects with incident MI were overweight or obese. The prevalence of overweight/obese patients increased from 58% in the period from 1979 to 1983, to 72% in the period from 1994 to 1998 (p Conclusion The prevalence of overweight and obese individuals among patients with MI is high and increased over time. Despite a higher prevalence of other cardiovascular risk factors among patients with excess weight, these patients did not experience worse outcomes, underscoring the need to further study the paradoxical relation between weight and post-MI outcomes.
HUMAN CAPITAL AND LIFE‐CYCLE EFFECTS ON RISK AVERSION

This paper provides additional evidence on life-cycle patterns of relative risk aversion, using spline functions generated on Consumer Expenditure Survey data. Human capital is hypothesized to affect relative risk aversion; age has been used in previous work as a proxy for human capital. The objective of this study is to determine whether there is a life-cycle pattern that is independent of the effect of human capital. The results suggest an affirmative answer. Moreover, this independent life-cycle pattern is the opposite of that estimated in a previous study that used age as a proxy.
Further to the death of Sigurd B. Myhre at Camp Abruzzi, Rudolf Island, Franz Josef Land, during the Ziegler Polar Expedition, 16 May 1904

In the spring of 1904, during the Ziegler Polar Expedition led by Anthony Fiala, Sigurd B. Myhre, a Norwegian from Trondheim who served on-board the expedition ship America as a fireman, fell ill and died. The papers of Dr George Shorkley, surgeon to the Ziegler Polar Expedition, contain hints that Myhre may have died from causes other than natural causes.
Synthetic Biology: From Parts to Modules to Therapeutic Systems

Synthetic biology is revolutionizing how we conceptualize and approach the engineering of biological systems. Recent advances in the field are allowing us to expand beyond the construction and analysis of small gene networks towards the implementation of complex multicellular systems with a variety of applications. In this talk I will describe our integrated computational / experimental approach to engineering complex behavior in living systems ranging from bacteria to stem cells. In our research, we appropriate design principles from electrical engineering and other established fields. These principles include abstraction, standardization, modularity, and computer aided design. But we also spend considerable effort towards understanding what makes synthetic biology different from all other existing engineering disciplines and discovering new design and construction rules that are effective for this unique discipline. We will briefly describe the implementation of genetic circuits and modules with finely-tuned digital and analog behavior and the use of artificial cell-cell communication to coordinate the behavior of cell populations. The first system to be presented is an RNAi-based logic circuit that can detect and destroy specific cancer cells based on their microRNA expression profiles. We will also discuss preliminary experimental results for obtaining precise spatiotemporal control over stem cell differentiation for tissue engineering applications. We will conclude by discussing the design and preliminary results for creating an artificial tissue homeostasis system where genetically engineered stem cells maintain indefinitely a desired level of pancreatic beta cells despite attacks by the autoimmune response, relevant for diabetes.
The intelligent building telecommunications infrastructure

The telecommunications infrastructure required for an intelligent building to support the overall telecommunications utility is considered, focusing on the wiring system. Emerging national standards that embrace all components of the telecommunications infrastructure are described. Basic infrastructure concepts are explained, and component details are examined. Important links between the infrastructure components and the emerging national standards are shown. >
Development of an autonomous vehicle highway merging strategy

In this paper, we propose a highway merging method to enhance vehicle autonomy in the highway travelling. The proposed decision making algorithm includes a Modified Intelligent Driver Model (MIDM) based vehicle distance adjustment and path prediction for collision avoidance. In order to maximise the safety and driving efficiency, a time optimal target is selected when the front and rear gap conditions that secure the merging safety are not satisfied. The suggested algorithm is implemented by a lane change manoeuvre and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) that are based on a control strategy inspired by the brain limbic system. In order to demonstrate the performance of the suggested merging strategy, the concept of Level of Service (LOS) is utilised in the simulations.
Number of fetuses and conceptus growth throughout gestation in lines of pigs selected for ovulation rate or uterine capacity.

Selection for 11 generations in swine for ovulation rate (OR) or uterine capacity (UC) resulted in 19.6% greater prenatal survival at term in UC compared with OR. Our objective was to characterize the number of fetuses throughout gestation in each line, including an unselected control (CO) line. Five hundred ninety-three gilts produced over 4 farrowing seasons were subjected to unilateral-hysterectomy-ovariectomy at 160 d of age and mated within line at 280 d of age. Gilts were assigned within sire family to be slaughtered (± 2 d) at d 25, 45, 65, 85, or 105 of gestation. Ovulation rate and number of live and dead fetuses were recorded for each pregnant gilt (n = 402). Fetal and placental weights were also recorded. Ovulation rate of OR line gilts (18.0 ± 0.3 ova) exceeded (P < 0.001) CO and UC lines (15.0 ± 0.3 and 14.0 ± 0.3 ova, respectively). Line and gestational age interacted to affect number of live fetuses (P < 0.001). Least squares means for CO were 10.1, 8.3, 7.2, 6.7, and 7.3 live fetuses for d 25, 45, 65, 85, and 105, respectively (average SE = 0.46 fetuses). Corresponding means for OR were 13.4, 8.3, 7.9, 6.5, and 6.7 live fetuses, respectively (average SE = 0.44 fetuses). Means for UC were 10.2, 9.0, 8.5, 7.5, and 8.0 live fetuses, respectively (average SE = 0.47 fetuses). In each line, number of live fetuses at d 25 was approximately 72% of ovulation rate. Mortality to d 45 was greatest in OR, intermediate in CO, and least in UC. Reductions in live fetuses continued to occur from d 45 to 105, but line differences at d 45 were essentially maintained to d 105. Number of live fetuses in gilts at d 114 was estimated from each of the survival curves and predicted values of 7.0, 5.9, and 7.8 per uterine horn for CO, OR, and UC lines, respectively. Selection for uterine capacity improved fetal survival primarily during the time period between d 25 and 45. Relative growth rate coefficients throughout gestation for placental tissue indicated a change in rank of the line means, implicating a relative later growth pattern of placental tissue in the UC line.
Scatterometry measurements of line end shortening structures for focus-exposure monitoring

Spectroscopic critical dimension (SCDTM) metrology on line gratings has previously been shown to be a sensitive and useful technique for monitoring lithographic focus and exposure conditions. Line end shortening (LES) effects are sensitive to focus and potentially more sensitive to focus variation than side wall angle or other profile parameters of line gratings. Rectangular line segment structures that exhibit line-end shortening behavior are arranged in a rectangular two-dimensional (2D) array to provide a scatterometry signal sensitive to the profile of the thousands of line ends in the measurement beam spot. Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE)-based scatterometry measurements were carried out on 2D array targets of rectangular features exposed in a focus-exposure matrix (FEM). The focus and exposure sensitivities of multiple shape parameters were found to be good and uniquely separable. In addition, the side wall angle of the line ends was found to be nearly linearly dependent on focus and provide necessary focus direction information. Focus and exposure can be determined from SCD measurements by applying a model generated to describe the focus-exposure behavior of multiple shape parameters using KLA Tencor's KT Analyzer software. Several different models based on different combinations of shape parameters were evaluated. Focus measurement precision of 3nm 3σ was obtained, which will be useful for lithography processes with tight depth of focus.