cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Getting there and staying there: supporting and enabling persistent human life on Mars using synthetic natural rubber, self-healing materials, and biological batteries

Planetary exploration requires a balance between preemptive planning and financial feasibility. The risk of mid-mission equipment failure, power shortages, or supply depletion incentivizes precautionary measures, but the financial strain of sending unnecessary mass into space limits this practice. To balance the two, our team explored the advantages of biological solutions, namely the self-sustaining abilities of low-mass organisms, to make planetary exploration more self-sufficient and economical. Prioritizing repair over replacement, we are developing self-healing materials embedded with Bacillus subtilis. For longer-lasting energy, we are designing a "biobactery" using linearly oriented Escherichia coli to generate power. For renewable materials, we are engineering bacteria to synthesize and degrade rubber. Individually, these projects offer sustainable alternatives for repair, power, and materials. But when combined, these consolidated insights can provide us with the power to get to Mars and resources to sustain us while we9re there.
SPINAL MANIPULATION: Current State of Research and Its Indications

Based on the most recent and comprehensive systematic reviews, there is moderate evidence of short-term efficacy for spinal manipulation in the treatment of both acute and chronic low back pain. There is insufficient data available to draw conclusions regarding the efficacy for lumbar radiculopathy. The evidence is also not conclusive for the long-term efficacy of spinal manipulation for any type of low back pain.
Shear axial modes in a PCTSCM. Part V : Transmission spectral holes

Sufficiently thick layers of piezoelectric, continuously twisted, structurally chiral materials (PCTSCMs) exhibit the circular Bragg phenomenon in a narrow frequency regime, when irradiated by a normally incident shear wave. The interposition of a thin layer of the achiral and homogeneous counterpart material between two identical PCTSCM layers is shown to create a spectral hole in the transmittance spectrum.
Exploring miRNA-mRNA regulatory network in cardiac pathology in Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 transgenic mice.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) is elevated in myocardial diseases and its effect is detrimental. To better understand the involvement of NHE1, we have pre...
“Reformed Baptist”: Anachronistic Oxymoron or Useful Signpost?

A growing number of Christian churches around the world describe themselves as “Reformed Baptist.” But while those adopting the moniker believe it to accurately describe their distinct theological heritage, some within the wider Presbyterian and Reformed community strongly disagree. Some Reformed historians and theologians have argued that the term “Reformed Baptist” is an anachronistic oxymoron, an inaccurate label that both distorts our understanding of what it means to be “Reformed” and obscures the real identity of those it purports to describe. This chapter critically engages with these claims from both historical and theological perspectives. While conceding that the term “Reformed Baptist” would not have been easily intelligible to early modern actors, the chapter argues that this historical reality does not imply any logical inconsistency on the part of those adopting the label today. Thus, the term “Reformed Baptist” remains a useful signpost for the twenty-first-century church.
Effect of Viscosity on the Erosion-Corrosion of Steels Exposed to White Liquor Including Abrasives for Extended Time Periods

Erosion-corrosion is a type of corrosion in which mechanical (erosive) and chemical (corrosive) effects combine to accelerate material loss because of corrosion because of its negative impact on the reformation of a protective oxide layer on a metal surface. Erosion-corrosion has been observed in most industries that utilize alkaline streams such as pulping liquors, including the pulp, paper, nuclear, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries. Although erosion-corrosion research has been conducted mainly by studying the effects of changing chemical species and concentrations within the environment and mapping corrosion modes for specific alloys and environments, the mechanical properties of the electrolyte such as its viscosity have been neglected. Erosion-corrosion rate is directly related to flow characteristics such as flow regime, wall shear stress, etc., many of which are directly influenced by viscosity. Furthermore, variable viscosity is a factor in many occurrences of erosion-corrosion, notably black liquor-related corrosion in the pulp and paper industry. To understand such a system, a white liquor electrolyte was spiked with various concentrations of an inert viscosity adjusting additive (agar agar) under alkaline conditions. Corrosion rates were obtained from combinations of white liquor, alumina erodent, and agar agar using mass loss testing over 100 h of C1018 carbon steel, 316L stainless steel, and 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) at 60°C. The results showed that higher wall shear stress resulting from a higher viscosity tended to increase the corrosion rate. Erosion-corrosion surfaces were observed using profilometry and scanning electron microscopy, revealing that higher viscosity led to more severe damage but with fewer damage sites. This indicated a lower number of critical impacts because of the higher resistance to flow but higher damage to the passive film because of higher shear stress. In the two-phase structure of 2205 DSS, preferential dissolution of ferrite was observed at a viscosity of 14.86 cP.
Trace elements in mussel shells from the Brazos River, Texas: environmental and biological control

Abstract. In sclerochronology, understanding the drivers of shell chemistry is necessary in order to use shells to reconstruct environmental conditions. We measured the Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and Mn contents in water samples and in the shells of two freshwater mussels (Amblema plicata and Cyrtonaias tampicoensis) from the Brazos River, Texas to test their reliability as environmental archives. Shells were analyzed along growth increments using age models established with stable and clumped isotopes. Shells were also examined with cathodoluminescence (CL) microscopy to map Mn / Ca distribution patterns. Sr / Ca correlated with Mn / Ca, while Mg / Ca and Ba / Ca showed no clear trends. Mn / Ca correlated inversely with the log of river discharge. Because dissolved and inorganic particulate sources of manganese are low during low flow, peak Mn / Ca values may come from elevated feeding or metabolic rates. Shell Mn / Ca values were used to reconstruct river discharge patterns, which, to our knowledge, has previously only been performed with shell chemistry using oxygen isotopes.
The Importance of the Type of Heart Circulation for the Prognosis of Pulmonary Embolism

Aim To study the distribution of the type of heart circulation (left- dominant, right- dominant, and mixed (balanced) in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism of fatal and non-fatal outcome. Materials and methods More than 36,000 case histories, protocols and findings of post-mortem examinations of patients hospitalized in 2003-2012 were subjected to analysis. (ten year period). Statistical processing of the actual material was carried out using the SAS 9 and SPSS 21 software packages. The critical level of significance p for all used procedures of statistical analysis was assumed to be 0.05. Results of the study. The study included 893 cases of pulmonary embolism registered in the data of the case histories and materials of the pathoanatomical studies. Data on the type of heart circulation and a detailed description of the coronary artery atherosclerosis were present in 264 cases: in 171 patients with pulmonary embolism and fatal outcome, and in 93 patients with pulmonary embolism and non-fatal outcome. A clear predominance was found in the group with pulmonary embolism and non-fatal outcome of patients with the right type of heart circulation - 78.5% versus 7% in the group of people who died with pulmonary embolism (pl0.0001). Accordingly, persons with "non-right type of heart circulation" (left and balanced) predominantly prevailed among patients with pulmonary embolism and fatal outcome. At the same time, the dead with the right type of heart circulation in all cases had a stenosis of the right coronary artery (RCA) more than 60%. RCA dominance in the heart circulation with absence its significant stenosis creates more favorable hemodynamic conditions for survival in patients with pulmonary embolism. Owners of other types of organization of coronary blood flow ("non-right type of heart circulation") have a worse prognosis both in the absence of coronary atherosclerosis and, moreover, in its presence, especially in the case of significant atherosclerotic lesion of the RCA pool. At the same time, in patients with the right type of heart circulation and hemodynamically significant atherosclerosis RCA in conditions of pulmonary embolism the prognosis is also unfavorable. In view of the above, in patients with coronary atherosclerosis, timely restoration of blood flow in RCA (coronary artery stenting) is great importance in relation to the prognosis associated not only with coronary heart disease, but also with PE.
Patterns of Help-seeking Strategies in Response to Intimate Partner Violence: A Latent Class Analysis:

Women engage in multiple strategies to cope with the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV). Prior research has focused predominantly on women's service utilization and help seeking as individual acts, yet it is likely that women engage in distinct patterns of multiple help-seeking strategies to achieve safety. As such, the current article examines patterns of service-related help-seeking strategies survivors employ. This article also investigates demographic factors, relationship characteristics, and mental and physical health effects of IPV associated with patterns of help seeking. Using a web-based survey, data were collected from service-engaged adult female IPV survivors (n = 369) in the Southwest region of the United States. Latent class analysis (LCA), a person-centered analytical approach, was used to identify survivors' patterns of help seeking. A 3-class LCA model was determined to be the best fit for the data. Among the sample, 50% of women broadly engaged formal and informal networks, 15% primarily engaged informal networks, and 35% broadly engaged networks but avoided legal systems while seeking other formal services. Findings indicated varying and significant associations between class membership and race/ethnicity, foreign-born status, number of children, IPV severity, and mental health symptoms. The findings reinforce the need for practitioners to be aware of the varied ways women choose or avoid seeking help and explore women's preferences. Comprehensive and collaborative service networks are necessary for early detection and holistic care. Addressing structural factors is imperative for expanding the range of viable support options available to IPV survivors, particularly women of color.
Characterization and Analysis of Insulated Metal Substrate-Based SiC Power Module for Traction Application

This paper presents the electrical characterization and drive cycle–based thermal analysis of an insulated metal substrate (IMS)–based silicon carbide power module for high-power traction inverters. The substrate was constructed using a thin layer of polymer–ceramic blend dielectric material with a thick copper core to improve transient thermal performance. The cooling performance of this module has already been validated with promising results. In this paper, an experimental test bed was set up to evaluate the dynamic and static electrical performance of the designed module under a wide range of operating conditions. The characterization results were then used to develop a drive cycle–based thermal model to validate the performance compared to the traditional direct bonded copper– based power module. The results indicate that the IMS-based power module is a suitable solution for high-power traction applications.
Information-theory-based benchmarking and feature selection algorithm improve cell type annotation and reproducibility of single cell RNA-seq data analysis pipelines

Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data are now routinely generated in experimental practice because of their promise to enable the quantitative study of biological processes at the single cell level. However, cell type and cell state annotations remain an important computational challenge in analyzing scRNA-seq data. Here, we report on the development of a benchmark dataset where reference annotations are generated independently from transcriptomic measurements. We used this benchmark to systematically investigate the impact on labelling accuracy of different approaches to feature selection, of different clustering algorithms, and of different sets of parameter values. We show that an approach grounded on information theory can provide a general, reliable, and accurate process for discarding uninformative features and to optimize cluster resolution in single cell RNA-seq data analysis.
A novel fully-decoupled, second-order and energy stable numerical scheme of the conserved Allen─Cahn type flow-coupled binary surfactant model

Abstract In this paper, we establish a binary fluid surfactant model by coupling two mass-conserved Allen–Cahn equations and the Navier–Stokes equations and consider numerical simulations of the developed model. Due to a large number of nonlinear and nonlocal coupling terms in the model, it is very challenging to design an efficient and accurate numerical scheme, especially the full decoupling scheme with second-order time accuracy. We solve this challenge by developing a novel fully-decoupled approach, where the key idea achieving the full decoupling structure is to introduce an ordinary differential equation to deal with the nonlinear coupling terms that satisfy the so-called “zero-energy-contribution” property. In this way, we can easily discretize the coupled nonlinear terms in a fully explicit way, while still maintaining unconditional energy stability. By combining with the projection type method and quadratization approach, at each time step, we only need to solve several fully-decoupled linear elliptic equations with constant coefficients. We strictly prove the solvability of the scheme, prove that the scheme satisfies the unconditional energy stability, and give various 2D and 3D numerical simulations to show its stability and accuracy numerically. As far as the author knows, this is the first fully-decoupled and second-order time-accurate scheme of the flow-coupled phase-field type model.
Use of Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces For and Against Wireless Communication Security

Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRS) have been perceived as a promising and innovative technology for 5G and next-generation communications, which offers the flexibility of re-configuring a wireless communication environment as desired. Their attractive benefits include low cost, energy-saving, and no interference to others, and hence yield high-performance communications. On the other hand, malicious users may take advantage of IRS to conduct attacks such as eavesdropping and jamming. The integration of IRS into 5G and beyond networks will open up new opportunities from the security perspective, which has not been thoroughly studied. This paper presents the recent accomplishment of the use of IRS-based systems for secure wireless communication by grouping into two categories: secure communication utilizing IRS and security threats using IRS. Representative use cases are proposed, e.g., using IRS to enhance Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) for legitimate users, reducing malicious signals via IRS, and increasing SNR for malicious users. Extensive simulations are conducted for these use cases. The results validate the effectiveness of using IRS to increase or decrease SNR and enhance to improve secure communication or threaten the communication.
A 8Kb domino read SRAM with hit logic and parity checker

An 8Kb domino read SRAM with hit logic and parity checker, fabricated in a 65nm SOI CMOS technology (Leobandung, 2005), is described. A key feature is the elimination of the traditional sense amplifier to reduce timing and design complexity. The focus of this paper is to demonstrate a memory array, comprised of 6T cells, that can generate near "rail-to-rail" bit-line voltage differentials that can be driven off macro without the aid of sense amplifiers. Therefore, short, low capacitance bit-line segments (or sub-arrays) are cascaded together to form larger bit-line structures, achieving performance and density goals with robust operation over a wide range of process and environmental conditions.
Single-Sex Schooling: Separate But Equal?

Does single-sex education significantly improve an individual’s future labor market outcome? Sherrilyn M. Billger, Illinois State University, attempted to answer this question in her research entitled, Reconstructing School Segregation? The Impact of Single-Sex Schooling on Labor Market Outcomes. Billger presented her findings to Illinois Wesleyan students and faculty on March 10, 2004. This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol12/iss1/9
Fast planning for dynamic preferences

We present an algorithm that quickly finds optimal plans for unforeseen agent preferences within graph-based planning domains where actions have deterministic outcomes and action costs are linearly parameterized by preference parameters. We focus on vehicle route planning for drivers with personal trade-offs for different types of roads, and specifically on settings where these preferences are not known until planning time. We employ novel bounds (based on the triangle inequality and on the the concavity of the optimal plan cost in the space of preferences) to enable the reuse of previously computed optimal plans that are similar to the new plan preferences. The resulting lower bounds are employed to guide the search for the optimal plan up to 60 times more efficiently than previous methods.
VAR Models: Estimation, Inferences, and Applications

Vector auto-regression (VAR) models have been used extensively in finance and economic analysis. This paper provides a brief overview of the basic VAR approach by focusing on model estimation and statistical inferences. Applications of VAR models in some finance areas are discussed, including asset pricing, international finance, and market micro-structure. It is shown that such approach provides a powerful tool to study financial market efficiency, stock return predictability, exchange rate dynamics, and information content of stock trades and market quality.
Development of Polymer ‘Chips’ used in Medical Diagnostics

In recent years, there has been growing interest in creating bio-inspired devices that feature artificial bilayer lipid membranes (BLM), or lipid bilayers. These membranes can be tailored to mimic the structure and transport properties of cellular walls and can be used to selectively transport ions and other species between aqueous volumes. One application of this research is the formation of a standardized BLM contained within a portable and disposable housing for use in medical diagnostics. This concept utilizes a flexible polymer ‘chip’ that has internal compartments for housing both an organic solvent and an aqueous solution, which contains phospholipid molecules, proteins, and specific analyte molecules. The formation of a BLM within the chip enables integration of the chip into an electronic reader to perform diagnostic measurements of the sample. A key element of the bilayer formation process requires a single aqueous volume to first be separated into multiple volumes such that it can then be reattached to form a bilayer at the interface. This process, called the regulated attachment method, relies on the geometry of the deformable ‘chip’ to separate and reattach the aqueous contents held inside by opening and closing an aperture that divides adjacent compartments through the application of mechanical force. The purpose of this research is to develop an optimized chip that provides a controllable method for initially separating the aqueous phase via dynamic excitation. This study focuses on two specific aspects: designing an efficient excitation method for separating the aqueous volume, and optimizing the geometry of the chip to decrease the required input energy and better target the location and duration of the separation. Finite Element (FE) models are used to optimize the chip geometry and to identify suitable excitation signals. A series of experimental studies are also presented to validate the FE models.
A review of the molecular diffusivities of H2O, CO2, CH4, CO, O3, SO2, NH3, N2O, NO, and NO2 in air O2 and N2 near STP

Abstract Accurate knowledge of the coefficients of molecular diffusivity ( D ) of trace gases has important application to global change, atmospheric chemistry, combustion science, studies of indoor air pollution and atmosphere–biosphere interactions. This study reviews and re-analyzes the historical data and some modeling results for D for H 2 O, CO 2 , CH 4 , CO, O 3 , SO 2 , NH 3 , N 2 O, NO, and NO 2 in air, N 2 and O 2 . Because CO and N 2 are isosteric molecules the self-diffusion coefficient for N 2 and D for N 2 in O 2 are also evaluated as an independent check on the determination of D for CO. Also included is the coefficient of self-diffusion of O 2 (D O 2 , O 2 ) because an earlier model parameterized D for O 3 in O 2 in terms of D O 2 , O 2 . Because D is a function of temperature and pressure, all modeling results and data are corrected to 1 atm pressure and then used with a one- and two-parameter regression model to determine optimal values for the temperature exponent and the value of D at 0°C. For most experimental data the loess regression technique is used to identify and eliminate outliers. To simplify comparisons and usage all results and recommendations are standardized to one regression curve. For some gases like H 2 O and CO 2 present results are similar to some (but not all) values cited in current sources. However, the coefficient of diffusivity in air for some very important gases, such as O 3 , NO and NO 2 , have never been measured and therefore, remain relatively uncertain. Based on present recommendations it is suggested that the ratio of the diffusivities of water vapor and ozone should be 1.51 rather than the often cited 1.65.
Interchange instability in the inner magnetosphere associated with geosynchronous particle flux decreases

[1] We simulate the inner magnetosphere during the magnetic storm of September 25, 1998 using the Rice Convection Model with boundary fluxes estimated from geosynchronous data. Model results indicate development of an interchange-like instability in the dusk-to-midnight sector, producing ripple structures in the plasma density, swirls in the subauroral ionospheric electric field pattern, and undulations near the equatorward edge of the diffuse aurora. We suggest that these disturbances might be observable whenever a strong main-phase ring-current injection is followed by a major, sustained decrease in the plasma energy density at geosynchronous orbit, a circumstance that will also produce rapid decay of the storm-time ring current.
Kiss and Tell: Protecting Intimate Relationship Privacy Through Implied Contracts of Confidentiality

In today’s tell-all world, where anyone with internet access can become a “media outlet,” growing numbers of people are finding themselves the victims of former intimate partners who mass disseminate private, highly embarrassing information, including photos and videotapes, about or involving them.In theory, tort law provides the perfect (and exclusive) remedy when one gives widespread publicity to embarrassing, non-newsworthy private facts about a person in a manner that reasonable persons would consider highly offensive. In practice, however, this claim — known as the tort of “public disclosure of private facts” — offers virtually no chance of recovery by plaintiffs. The tort sustained severe, possibly mortal wounds in a series of U.S. Supreme Court cases culminating in Florida Star v. B.J.F. (1989). In its current formulation, it is quite possible that the public disclosure tort is unconstitutional under the First Amendment.The demise of the public disclosure tort has left a large gap in privacy protection for victims of offensive disclosures of private information. This Article proposes a theory to partially fill that gap in some public disclosure situations arising from intimate relationships. Specifically, expanding on an argument advanced by Professor Eugene Volokh that the only constitutionally permissible means for enforcing personal information privacy is contract law, the article argues that an implied contract of confidentiality arises in intimate relationships that the parties will not disseminate through an instrument of mass communication private, embarrassing information about the other acquired during the relationship.
Reactive stroma in human prostate cancer: induction of myofibroblast phenotype and extracellular matrix remodeling

Purpose: Generation of a reactive stroma environment occurs in many human cancers and is likely to promote tumorigenesis. However, reactive stroma in human prostate cancer has not been defined. We examined stromal cell phenotype and expression of extracellular matrix components in an effort to define the reactive stroma environment and to determine its ontogeny during prostate cancer progression. Experimental Design: Normal prostate, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), and prostate cancer were examined by immunohistochemistry. Tissue samples included radical prostatectomy specimens, frozen biopsy specimens, and a prostate cancer tissue microarray. A human prostate stromal cell line was used to determine whether transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) regulates reactive stroma. Results: Compared with normal prostate tissue, reactive stroma in Gleason 3 prostate cancer showed increased vimentin staining and decreased calponin staining ( P In vitro , TGF-β1 stimulated human prostatic fibroblasts to switch to the myofibroblast phenotype and to express tenascin. Conclusions: The stromal microenvironment in human prostate cancer is altered compared with normal stroma and exhibits features of a wound repair stroma. Reactive stroma is composed of myofibroblasts and fibroblasts stimulated to express extracellular matrix components. Reactive stroma appears to be initiated during PIN and evolve with cancer progression to effectively displace the normal fibromuscular stroma. These studies and others suggest that TGF-β1 is a candidate regulator of reactive stroma during prostate cancer progression.
Heritability of Egg Production in White Holland Turkeys

Abstract ESTIMATES of the heritability of egg production in chickens have been reported by several investigators. Although the inheritance of egg production in turkeys has been studied by Asmundson (1938 Asmundson (1941) and Whitson et al. (1944), there is limited information available concerning the heritability of this character. Wilson and Johnson (1946) estimated the heritability of egg production by pooling data from Bronze and Beltsville Small White turkeys. The estimate calculated by means of the offspring-dam regression method was 2 percent. Shaklee et al. (1952) obtained a much larger heritability of 40 percent for egg production in Beltsville Small White turkeys. Their estimates were calculated by means of full-sib and half-sib correlations and intra-sire regressions. Blow and Glazener (1954) calculated the heritability of egg production in their flock of Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys by phenotypic correlations between full-sibs and half-sibs and intra-sire regressions of offspring on dam. An average of the three …
Tutorial CICS-T computational intelligence in cyber security

Computational Intelligence techniques have proven to be flexible in decision making in dynamic environment. They typically include Fuzzy Logic, Evolutionary Computation, Intelligent Agent Systems, Neural Networks, Cellular Automata, Artificial Immune Systems and other similar computational models. The use of these techniques allowed building efficient and robust decision support modules, providing cross-linking solutions to different cyber security applications.
Effect of adrenergic blockade on glucagon and growth hormone secretion in normal and diabetic children.

Effect of Adrenergic Blockade on Glucagon and Growth Hormone Secretion in Normal and Diabetic Children
A hybrid thermal/nonthermal model for the energetic emissions from solar flares

We present an alternative interpretation of the high-resolution solar flare spectra obtained in 1981 by Lin et al. In our interpretation electron heating and acceleration are simultaneous and physically linked, rather than heating being a secondary effect of particle acceleration. We show that the observed properties of solar flare X-ray emission can in general be explained through the Joule heating and electric field acceleration of runaway electrons in current channels. We have fitted a hybrid thermal/nonthermal electron distribution, consisting of hot isothermal electrons with a nonthermal tail of runaway electrons, to representative spectra obtained by Lin et al. The hybrid model relaxes the electron number and energy flux requirements for the hard X-ray emission over those of a purely nonthermal model. The low-energy 'cutoff' to the nonthermal part of the X-ray spectrum is determined by the critical velocity in the electron distribution above which runaway acceleration occurs. We relate the fit parameters to the physical properties (such as the electric field strength in the current channels) of the acceleration region.
Activity recognition based on multiple motion trajectories

We propose a method for activity recognition based on multiple motion trajectories. Motion trajectories generated from body parts (hand, feet, and joints) are used as features. We not only recognize each activity but also temporally locate the start and end point of its duration. Input sequences are divided into separate temporal segments based on the number of detected trajectories. Segments with same number of trajectories are temporally segmented using the HMM model for each movement (activity). The experimental results show that our approach can successfully locate each activity in continuous video sequences.
Binary and ternary oscillations in a cubic numerical scheme

Abstract We study a central difference semi-discretization of the cubic scalar conservation law. Both spatial period-2 (binary) and period-3 (ternary) oscillations are stationary solutions of this scheme, and we find where each type is linearly stable. We observe numerically the formation of ternary oscillations, to the left of Riemann shock initial data with ur = 0, while binary oscillations form to the right of Riemann rarefaction data having ul = 0. We derive modulation equations for both wave patterns, using them to show that binary oscillations generated by the scheme are numerical artifacts, while computing an explicit solution for the ternary modulation equations. For positive initial data, the ternary modulation equations remain hyperbolic, while the solutions enter an elliptic region for data of both signs. Conditions under which solutions of the ternary modulation equations can be inverted to yield period-3 oscillations are also discussed.
A MULTISITE EXAMINATION OF YOUTH GANG MEMBERSHIP: DOES GENDER MATTER?*

The nature and extent of female involvement in gangs has been a relatively neglected area of criminological inquiry. Even more rare have been investigations of explanations of female gang participation. This neglect can be attributed, in large part, to a perception that the phenomenon is statistically rare and the behavior substantively unimportant. Our objectives in this research are twofold: to describe gang membership in a general survey of eighth-grade students in a cross section of the United States and to examine differences between boys' and girls' attitudes associated with gang membership
Molecular and Cellular Immune Responses to Ischemic Brain Injury

Despite extensive research into stroke pathology, there have not been any major recent advancements in stroke therapeutics. Animal models of cerebral ischemia and clinical data have been used to investigate the progressive neural injury that occurs after an initial ischemic insult. This has lead researchers to focus more on the peripheral immune response that is generated as a result of cerebral ischemia. The therapies that have been developed as a result of this research thus far have proven ineffective in clinical trials. The failure of these therapeutics in clinical trials is thought to be due to the broad immunosuppression elicited as a result of the treatments and the cerebral ischemia itself. Emerging evidence indicates a more selective modulation of the immune system following stroke could be beneficial. The spleen has been shown to exacerbate neural injury following experimental stroke and would provide a strong therapeutic target. Selecting facets of the immune system to target would allow the protective and regenerative properties of the immune response to remain intact while blunting the pro-inflammatory response generated towards the injured brain.
Catalytic effects of alkaline earth carbonates in the carbon-carbon dioxide reaction

Abstract The results of a thermogravimetric study of the catalytic effects of alkaline earth carbonates in the CCO2 reaction are described. Using graphite powder as the carbonaceous phase the rates of the reaction between 700 and 1100 °C were found to be substantially increased on addition of small amounts of BaCO3 and SrCO3 to the graphite. CaCO3 was a much less active catalyst whereas MgCO3 had only a slight effect on the kinetics. The catalytic process is interpreted in terms of a solid-state reaction between the salt and the graphite to yield the metal oxide which subsequently regenerates carbonate by reaction with gaseous CO2.
Development of a thermal X-radiation source using “hot” hohlraums

Abstract High temperature (“hot”) hohlraums are being developed to heat samples to high temperatures for opacity or other atomic physics studies. Hot hohlraums have been fielded at the National Ignition Facility [D.E. Hinkel, et al., Phys. Plasmas 12 (2005) 056305] and the OMEGA [M.B. Schneider, et al., Phys. Plasmas 13 (2006) 112701] lasers. They reach high radiation temperatures by coupling a maximum amount of laser energy (10 kJ) into small, i.e., 400–800 μm diameter, gold hohlraums in a 1 ns pulse causing the hohlraums to fill with gold plasma. Radiation temperatures of 370 eV have been measured in the laser entrance hole (LEH) region of these targets [D.E. Hinkel, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 96 (2006) 195001]. However, the LEH radiation is not the radiation drive of interest as the sample can neither be shielded from the non-thermal components of this radiation nor protected from the gold plasma. To mitigate these problems the source we are developing uses the radiation from the X-ray burnthrough of thin walls of a pair of hot hohlraums to heat a sample. We report on the measured radiation drive of this source and its use to heat a surrogate sample. We characterize the radiative heating of the sample by measuring its thermal expansion.
Environmental change, agricultural innovation, and the spread of cotton agriculture in the Old World

Abstract Recent excavations at the site of Kara-tepe in northwestern Uzbekistan revealed evidence for the production of cotton (Gossypium sp.) in domestic contexts dated to ca. 300–500 AD. These archaeobotanical remains help to document the spread of Old World cotton production, and predate the existing evidence for its cultivation in Central Asia. The context in which these remains were found—in temperate Eurasia at a time of intense environmental and social change—suggests that the spread of cotton agriculture to this region occurred when new plant varieties were incorporated into domestic production regimes as part of local adaptive strategies. The development and transmission of cotton as a global cultigen was initiated by these small-scale innovations aimed at the expansion of economically and environmentally sustainable subsistence practices in Central Asia. Subsequent worldwide transmission occurred when emerging empires helped to spread cotton agriculture more widely across the Old World.
Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma (HNPCC) and HNPCC-like families: Problems in diagnosis, surveillance, and management

BACKGROUND To the authors' knowledge, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma (HNPCC) is the most commonly occurring hereditary disorder that predisposes to colorectal carcinoma (CRC), accounting for approximately 2–7% of all CRC cases diagnosed in the U.S each year. Its diagnosis is wholly dependent on a meticulously obtained family history of cancer of all anatomic sites, with particular attention to the pattern of cancer distribution within the family. METHODS The objective of the current study was to illustrate various vexing problems that can deter the diagnosis of HNPCC and, ultimately, its management. This was an observational cohort study. Sixteen HNPCC and HNPCC-like families were selected from a large resource of highly extended HNPCC families. High-risk patients were selected from these HNPCC families. An ascertainment bias was imposed by the lack of a population-based data set. Personal interviews and questionnaires were used for data collection. RESULTS There was an array of difficulties highlighted by limitations in compliance, lack of a clinical or molecular basis for an HNPCC diagnosis, ambiguous DNA findings, problems in genetic counseling, failure to meet Amsterdam or Bethesda criteria, small families, lack of medical and pathologic documentation, poor cooperation of family members and/or their physicians, cultural barriers, economic stress, frequent patient fear and anxiety, perception of insurance discrimination, and limited patient and/or physician knowledge regarding hereditary cancer. CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis and management of HNPCC is predicated on physician knowledge of its phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity, in concert with the multifaceted problems that impact on patient compliance. Cancer 2004;100:53–64. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
bigVAT: Visual assessment of cluster tendency for large data sets

Assessment of clustering tendency is an important first step in cluster analysis. One tool for assessing cluster tendency is the Visual Assessment of Tendency (VAT) algorithm. VAT produces an image matrix that can be used for visual assessment of cluster tendency in either relational or object data. However, VAT becomes intractable for large data sets. The revised VAT (reVAT) algorithm reduces the number of computations done by VAT, and replaces the image matrix with a set of profile graphs that are used for the visual assessment step. Thus, reVAT overcomes the large data set problem which encumbers VAT, but presents a new problem: interpretation of the set of reVAT profile graphs becomes very difficult when the number of clusters is large, or there is significant overlap between groups of objects in the data. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm called bigVAT which (i) solves the large data problem suffered by VAT, and (ii) solves the interpretation problem suffered by reVAT. bigVAT combines the quasi-ordering technique used by reVAT with an image display of the set of profile graphs displaying the clustering tendency information with a VAT-like image. Several numerical examples are given to illustrate and support the new technique.
Viable circulating tumor cell enrichment by flexible micro spring array

We demonstrated a high throughput versatile platform capable of isolating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from clinically relevant volumes of blood while preserving their viability and ability to proliferate. The enrichment is based on the fact that CTCs are larger compared with normal blood cells. The incorporated system allows size-based separation of CTCs at the micro-scale, while taking advantage of a high throughput and rapid processing speed. Testing results of model systems using cell lines show that this device can enrich CTCs from 7.5 mL of whole blood samples with 90% capture efficiency, higher than 104 enrichment, and better than 80% viability in approximately ten minutes without any incidence of clogging.
Psychological processes and stimulant use among men who have sex with men

Background Prior research established that psychological factors are associated with the frequency of stimulant (i.e., cocaine, crack, and methamphetamine) use among substance-using men who have sex with men (MSM). The present investigation examined whether and how psychological factors are associated with engagement in any stimulant use in the broader population of MSM.
An agency perspective on service triads: Linking operational and financial performance

We explore one prolific type of service triad, the franchise triad, involving three primary stakeholders: the franchisor, the franchisee and the customer. In this triad, franchisees use their affiliation with the franchisor's brand to attract customers to their local outlets. In exchange for the right of assuming the identity of the brand, the franchisee pays the franchisor royalties and retains residual profits. Applying Agency Theory, this paper examines the inherent conflict of interests between a principal (i.e., franchisor) that controls and manages brand equity as a shared resource and an agent (i.e., franchisee) that retains pricing right and profits from the identity of the brand by interacting directly with customers. We empirically isolate the effect of triad structure on outlet performance by matching two unique datasets. One set of data captures operational performance in the form of aggregated online review scores and the other financial performance including average daily hotel rate and revenue per available room. We find that franchisees charge higher prices than their corporate counterparts even when controlling for operational performance. Even though franchisees charge higher prices they maintain similar financial performance in terms of revenue per available room. These results suggest that the triad structure plays a significant role in franchisees’ ability to free-ride on shared brand equity and have important managerial implications for effective outsourcing, contract design and performance evaluation for a wide range of service industries.
The Rh protein family: gene evolution, membrane biology, and disease association.

The Rh (Rhesus) genes encode a family of conserved proteins that share a structural fold of 12 transmembrane helices with members of the major facilitator superfamily. Interest in this family has arisen from the discovery of Rh factor’s involvement in hemolytic disease in the fetus and newborn, and of its homologs widely expressed in epithelial tissues. The Rh factor and Rh-associated glycoprotein (RhAG), with epithelial cousins RhBG and RhCG, form four subgroups conferring upon vertebrates a genealogical commonality. The past decade has heralded significant advances in understanding the phylogenetics, allelic diversity, crystal structure, and biological function of Rh proteins. This review describes recent progress on this family and the molecular insights gleaned from its gene evolution, membrane biology, and disease association. The focus is on its long evolutionary history and surprising structural conservation from prokaryotes to humans, pointing to the importance of its functional role, related to but distinct from ammonium transport proteins.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE I AND TYPE 2 NEONATAL ENCEPHALITIS IN NEUROLOGICAL OUTCOME

24 infants consecutively treated with acyclovir or vidarabine for neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis were followed up for 6 months to 3 years to assess neurological and developmental outcome. 15 patients had HSV-2 and 9 had HSV-1 encephalitis. Infants with HSV-2 encephalitis presented with a higher frequency of seizures, greater pleocytosis and protein concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid, and more frequent evidence of structural damage on computerised tomographic scans of the brain than did those with HSV-1 encephalitis. 1 patient died. All 9 HSV-1 patients were normal at follow-up (mean 19.4 months) compared with only 4 (23%) of the 14 surviving HSV-2 infected infants (p = 0.003). Among infants with HSV-2 encephalitis, 50% became microcephalic; 57% had seizure disorders; 64% had ophthalmological defects; 64% had cerebral palsy; and 57% had mental retardation. Infants with neonatal HSV-1 encephalitis treated with systemic antiviral chemotherapy have excellent neurological outcomes; the neurological morbidity of those with HSV-2 encephalitis is still high.
Grafted nanoparticles as soft patchy colloids: Self-assembly versus phase separation

We investigate the thermodynamic behavior of a model polymer-grafted nanoparticle (GNP) system on a fine lattice, using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations, to compare and contrast the validity of two different models for GNPs: “nanoparticle amphiphiles” versus “patchy particles.” In the former model, continuous self-assembly processes are expected to dominate the system, whereas the latter are characterized by first-order phase separation into novel equilibrium phases such as “empty liquids.” We find that, in general, considering GNPs as amphiphiles within the framework of a recent mean-field theory [Pryamtisyn et al., J. Chem. Phys. 131, 221102 (2009)] provides a qualitatively accurate description of the thermodynamics of GNP systems, revealing either first-order phase separation into two isotropic phases or continuous self-assembly. Our model GNPs display no signs of empty liquid formation, suggesting that these nanoparticles do not provide a route to such phases.