cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Child health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa: A comparison of changes in climate and socio-economic factors

Abstract We compare changes in low birth weight and child malnutrition in 13 African countries under projected climate change versus socio-economic development scenarios. Climate scenarios are created by linking surface temperature gradients with declines in seasonal rainfall sea along with warming values of 1 °C and 2 °C. Socio-economic scenarios are developed by assigning regionally specific changes in access to household electricity and mother's education. Using these scenarios, in combination with established models of children's health, we investigate and compare the changes in predicted health outcomes. We find that the negative effects of warming and drying on child stunting could be mitigated by positive development trends associated with increasing mothers’ educational status and household access to electricity. We find less potential for these trends to mitigate how warming and drying trends impact birth weights. In short, under warming and drying, the risk of more malnourished children is greater than the risk of more children with low birth weights, but increases in child malnutrition could be averted in regions that increase access to educational resources and basic infrastructure.
Low-input and multiplexed microfluidic assay reveals epigenomic variation across cerebellum and prefrontal cortex

Extensive effort is under way to survey the epigenomic landscape of primary ex vivo tissues to establish normal reference data and to discern variation associated with disease. The low abundance of some tissue types and the isolation procedure required to generate a homogenous cell population often yield a small quantity of cells for examination. This difficulty is further compounded by the need to profile a myriad of epigenetic marks. Thus, technologies that permit both ultralow input and high throughput are desired. We demonstrate a simple microfluidic technology, SurfaceChIP-seq, for profiling genome-wide histone modifications using as few as 30 to 100 cells per assay and with up to eight assays running in parallel. We applied the technology to profile epigenomes using nuclei isolated from prefrontal cortex and cerebellum of mouse brain. Our cell type-specific data revealed that neuronal and glial fractions exhibited profound epigenomic differences across the two functionally distinct brain regions.
A microfluidic glucose sensor incorporating a novel thread-based electrode system.

An electrochemical sensor for the detection of glucose using thread-based electrodes and fabric is described. This device is relatively simple to fabricate and can be used for multiple readings after washing with ethanol. The fabrication of the chip consisted of two steps. First, three thread-based electrodes (reference, working, and counter) were fabricated by painting pieces of nylon thread with either layered silver ink and carbon ink or silver/silver chloride ink. The threads were then woven into a fabric chip with a beeswax barrier molded around the edges in order to prevent leaks from the tested solutions. A thread-based working electrode consisting of one layer of silver underneath two layers of carbon was selected to fabricate the final sensor system. Using the chip, a PBS solution containing glucose oxidase (GOx) (10 mg/mL), potassium ferricyanide (K3 [Fe(CN)6 ]) (10 mg/mL) as mediator, and different concentrations of glucose (0-25 mM), was measured by cyclic voltammetry (CV). It was found that the current output from the oxidation of glucose was proportional to the glucose concentrations. This thread-based electrode system is a viable sensor platform for detecting glucose in the physiological range.
Sind Standards objektiv und neutral

Ziel des Aufsatzes ist es, die Frage nach der Objektivitat und Neutralitat von Standards in der Medizin empirisch zu hinterfragen. Vor dem Hintergrund, dass medizinisches Wissen und medizinische Praxis gegenwartig in zunehmendem Mase standardisiert und reguliert werden, wird auf der Basis einer von der Autorin durchgefuhrten qualitativen Studie in der Intensivmedizin untersucht, wie sich Standardisierungsprozesse im medizinischen Alltag tatsachlich auswirken. Hier zeigt sich, dass der Objektivitat und Neutralitat von Standards zum einen immanente (begriffliche und normative) Grenzen gesetzt sind. Zum anderen fuhrt die komplexe Wechselwirkung medizinischer Standards mit anderen (betriebswirtschaftlichen und technischen) Standardisierungsprozessen im stationaren Alltag zu nicht intendierten, teilweise paradoxen Effekten, die weitreichende Auswirkungen auf die Entscheidungsprozesse der Arztinnen und Arzte und damit die medizinische und pflegerische Versorgung haben.
“We Had It Hard... but We Enjoyed It”: Class, Poverty, and Pride in Baltimore’s Hampden

The Hampden community was established as a paternalist manufacturing village in the mid-19th century in Baltimore’s northern suburbs. Since then, its poor and working-class citizens have struggled for power in a variety of ways. A relational view of the paternalist system posits that power structures are composed of relationships between people, classes, and the means of production. Written statements from the past are important sources of information about class and poverty, but the authors of such statements tend to be from the middle or upper classes. The archaeological record provides another line of evidence for understanding poverty. Artifacts and features from the Mackey site (18BC164) illustrate some of the material strategies that people used to navigate the complex and changing class system at the turn of the 20th century. Understanding these strategies has implications for the contemporary community, which bases many planning decisions on its understanding of Hampden’s past.
Spatiotemporal Organization of Pre-mRNA Splicing Proteins in Plants

The general organization ofeukaryotic nuclei, including plant nuclei, into functional domains is now widely recognized. Conventional immunocytochemistry and visualization of proteins fused to fluorescent proteins (FP) have revealed that in plants, RNA and protein components of pre-mRNA splicing are spatially organized depending on the stage of cell cycle, development, and the cell's physiological state. Application of some of the latest microscopy techniques, which reveal biophysical properties such as diffusion and interaction properties of proteins, has begun to provide important insights into the functional organization of spliceosomal proteins in plants. Although some progress has been made in understanding the spatial and temporal organization of splicing machinery in plants, the mechanisms that regulate this organization and its functional consequences remain unresolved.
Transcription Control and the Circadian Clock

Circadian rhythms, common to most organisms, from bacteria to human, are driven by circadian clocks. These intrinsic timekeeping systems regulate various biochemical, physiological, and behavioral processes with a periodicity of about 24 h, enhancing the efficiency and survival of organisms by allowing them to anticipate and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Mammalian circadian rhythms are generated in pacemaker cells within the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Pacemakers are composed of molecular oscillators responsible for the control of overt circadian rhythms in the animal’s physiology and behavior. Circadian oscillators are endogenous, cell-autonomous systems that maintain their rhythm even in the absence of external time cues. Importantly, entrainment of the endogenous clock is achieved by specific cues, such as light. It is now well established that peripheral tissues also contain independent oscillators, functionally orchestrated by the central clock within the SCN. The circadian clock is constituted by three conceptual components, the intrinsic pacemaker, the input, and the output pathways. Here we summarize the important molecular and cellular features of the mammalian circadian clock which are critical for the establishment and maintenance of circadian rhythms.
Evolution and field performance of a rescue robot: Field Reports

Robots are slowly finding their way into the hands of search and rescue groups. One of the robots contributing to this effort is the Inuktun VGTV-Xtreme series by American Standard Robotics. This capable robot is one of the only robots engineered specifically for the search and rescue domain. This paper describes the adaptation of the VGTV platform from an industrial inspection robot into a capable and versatile search and rescue robot. These adaptations were based on growing requirements established by rescue groups, academic research, and extensive field trials. A narrative description of a successful search of a damaged building during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is included to support these claims. Finally, lessons learned from these deployments and guidelines for future robot development is discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Redox Status of Bound Pterin Cofactor Determines Whether eNOS Produces NO or Superoxide Anion: [3H]-BH4 Binding Studies Provide Insights into Vascular Pathophysiology

Nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) are a family of bioptero-flavoproteins that convert L-arginine to equimolar quantities of nitric oxide (NO) and L-citrulline. The catalytic mechanism for this reaction is complex, involving electron transfer within NOS from transiently bound NADPH, through flavins in the C-terminal reductase domain, to heme in an N-terminal oxygenase domain — electron transfer is triggered by calmodulin binding to NOS (1). During catalysis, arginine occupies the active site on the oxygenase domain and undergoes two successive heme-dependent monoxygenation reactions, with Nω-hydroxyarginine formed as an isolatable intermediate (2). Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential NOS cofactor (3,4), however its precise role in catalysis has not been established. Notably, one molecule of BH4 is bound in the oxygenase domain of each NOS monomer comprising the functional NOS homodimer. Recent crystal structures have revealed that BH4 binds tightly at the dimer interface of NOSs and makes multiple hydrogen bonds, including interaction with a heme propionate (5,6).
A comparison of genetic algorithms and simulated annealing in maximizing the thermal conductance of harmonic lattices

Abstract Functions of chemical composition are complex and discrete in nature making it impossible to optimize them with gradient methods. Genetic algorithms, which do not use derivative information, are used to maximize the thermal conductance of one-dimensional classical harmonic oscillators constructed from a fixed library of randomly generated molecular units. The ability for the genetic algorithm to build structures with components having no physical increment is important in optimizing molecules from a library of unrelated polymer units. The performance of genetic algorithms in this problem is compared with simulated annealing. Hyper-parameters for these routines are selected from a grid search in order to optimize their expected solution strength. The solutions found via the genetic algorithm consistently outperform those of simulated annealing at the cost of longer computer time. Together, these algorithms are able to find thermal conductor candidates that mirror solutions in continuous media.
Animal ambassador interpretation techniques and its impact on connectedness to nature

This exploratory study examined the effects of naming animal ambassadors on participants’ level of Empathy, Altruism, Connectedness to Nature, and Commitment to Engaging in Environmentally responsi...
Medication Complexity among Disadvantaged African American Seniors in Los Angeles.

Background. Several publications highlight data concerning multiple chronic conditions and the medication regimen complexity (MRC) used in managing these conditions as well as MRCs’ association with polypharmacy and medication non-adherence. However, there is a paucity of literature that specifically details the correlates of MRC with multimorbidity, socioeconomic, physical and mental health factors in disadvantaged (medically underserved, low income) African American (AA) seniors. Aims. In a local sample in South Los Angeles, we investigated correlates of MRC in African American older adults with chronic disease(s). Methods. This was a community-based survey in South Los Angeles with 709 African American senior participants (55 years and older). Age, gender, continuity of care, educational attainment, multimorbidity, financial constraints, marital status, and MRC (outcome) were measured. Data were analyzed using linear regression. Results. Higher MRC correlated with female gender, a higher number of healthcare providers, hospitalization events and multimorbidity. However, there were no associations between MRC and age, level of education, financial constraint, living arrangements or health maintenance organization (HMO) membership. Conclusions. Disadvantaged African Americans, particularly female older adults with multimorbidity, who also have multiple healthcare providers and medications, use the most complex medication regimens. It is imperative that MRC is reduced particularly in African American older adults with multimorbidity.
An Integrative Total Worker Health Framework for Keeping Workers Safe and Healthy During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ObjectiveThe aim was to recommend an integrated Total Worker Health (TWH) approach which embraces core human factors and ergonomic principles, supporting worker safety, health, and well-being durin...
Secreted and cell surface proteome analysis of pathogenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae reveals proteins relevant to virulence

Abstract Corynebacterium diphtheriae is responsible for the severe upper respiratory tract disease, diphtheria, which can be fatal in healthy individuals without proper treatment. Its interaction with the infected host is crucial to its virulence, secreting diphtheria toxin and a variety of machinery to acquire nutrients for further import into the cell. Additionally, it shares a conserved iron import mechanism with related pathogenic actinobacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and contains sortase-mediated anchored cell wall proteins similar to other gram-positive bacteria. Information obtained from secreted and cell-surface proteomes are relevant for the study of diphtheria and related bacterial infections. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics measurements on samples of pathogenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae culture supernatant and cell-surface digested proteins identified greater than 3 times more proteins than a previous similar study. The diphtheria toxin was identified, as well as pathologically relevant proteins involved in iron-uptake and cell adhesion. For instance, 17 proteins predicted to be on the iron-regulated DtxR promoter were identified in cells grown under different iron concentrations, opening the door to performing comparative quantitative proteomics studies on samples where iron sources are modulated. Results of this study serve as a repository for future studies on pathogenic C. diphtheriae uptake.
Ultrasound for Pleural Disease. Beyond a Pocket of Pleural Fluid.

The evolution of pleural disease imaging modalities through the years has helped the scientific community understand and treat various disease states. Ultrasound (US) has been an image modality tha...
Health and Healthcare Disparities: Impact on Resource Utilization and Costs After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

ObjectiveWe investigated health and healthcare disparities in the treatment of aortic stenosis with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and how they affect resource utilization and costs....
2D THz Studies of GaAs Metamaterials

We apply high-field 2D THz spectroscopy to GaAs metamaterials. We characterize the dynamic response of the metamaterial in terms of two carrier multiplication processes: impact ionization and Zener tunneling.
Polyvagal Theory: A biobehavioral journey to sociality

Abstract A polyvagal perspective clarifies the neurobiological and biobehavioral shifts that occurred during evolutionary transition from asocial reptiles to social mammals. This transition enabled mammals, unlike their reptilian ancestors, to derive a biological benefit from social interactions. This innovation enabled social behavior to function as a neuromodulator that could efficiently regulate and optimize autonomic function to support homeostatic processes. This journey is highlighted by the phylogenetic transition during which the autonomic nervous system was repurposed to suppress defensive strategies to support and express sociality. The product of this transition was an autonomic nervous system with capacities to self-calm, to spontaneous socially engage others, and to mitigate threat reactions in ourselves and others through social cues. Thus, social behavior became embedded with specific neurobiological processes that had capabilities to support homeostatic functions leading to optimized health, growth, and restoration. Polyvagal Theory emphasizes sociality as the core process in mitigating threat reactions and supporting mental and physical health.
Defeating the Greatest Masquerade

Identity theft, medical identity theft, phishing, identity fraud, criminal identity theft and payment instrument frauds are all examples of malicious activity that requires a successful masquerade. Even confidence fraud is a masquerade, of a criminal who claims to be an honest person in a particularly difficult or powerful situation. While networks and databases have made it more difficult to maintain privacy, these technologies have also conversely made masquerade attacks easier. An examination of masquerade attacks can illuminate the importance of credentials, the threats that together create identity theft, and the relationship between privacy and security.
Identification and characterization of rhizosphere-competent bacteria of wheat.

To obtain rhizosphere-competent bacteria which could subsequently be modified for the development of biological control agents, bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of wheat and barley plants by standard techniques. Of these isolates, 60 were selected for field testing as spring wheat seed inoculants in 1985. Isolates were marked genetically for resistance to antibiotics via selection of spontaneous mutants to detect and monitor isolates in the field. Forty-three days after planting, the average log10 CFU/mg (dry weight) of roots and rhizosphere soil for the mutant isolates sampled ranged from 0 to 3.4. Twenty mutant isolates were retested in 1986. A total of 4 isolates were not detected, but the other 16 had an average root colonization value of log10 2.1 CFU and a range of log10 0.9 CFU to log10 3.2 CFU when sampled 32 days after planting. The average colonization value dropped to log10 1.1 CFU 51 days later. Some isolates detected previously were not detected in the second sampling; others had root colonization values similar to those obtained in the first sampling. Mutant isolates of rhizosphere bacteria included Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Streptomyces spp., Xanthomonas maltophilia, and a saprophytic coryneform. Mixtures of isolates from different genera and species were compatible on seeds and roots.
Eliciting perceptions of satisfaction with services and supports from persons with intellectual disability and developmental disabilities: a review of the literature.

Background Assessing the perceptions of individuals with intellectual disability (ID) and developmental disabilities (DD) is an essential part of evaluating and planning services and an important component of respect for self-direction and autonomy. It can be difficult, however, to assess satisfaction in such a way that individuals with disabilities' actual perceptions of satisfaction are accurately represented because of intellectual and communication difficulties they may have, the restricted range and nature of service systems, and the limitations of strategies used by some researchers. Method The purpose of this literature review was to systematically examine research studies designed to solicit personal satisfaction information from individuals with ID and DD. We reviewed 29 studies that met inclusion criteria to determine (1) who were participants in the studies, (2) what processes researchers used to obtain opinions and perspectives of persons with ID and DD, and (3) how researchers ensured the credibility, accuracy and voluntariness of participants' responses. Results Findings revealed that most of the research participants had ID with higher IQs and limited needs for supports. Researchers utilised a variety of processes to elicit perceptions of satisfaction. Most studies employed individual interviews; researchers addressed comprehensibility of questions in a number of ways (e.g. use of visuals, adjusting wording of questions, providing clear examples). Few studies reported training interviewers or taking into account participants' primary language or cultural background. No studies reported educating participants about how to understand the satisfaction information data or how to use it in advocating for more appropriate supports. Conclusions Assessing the satisfaction with supports and services of individuals with ID and DD is complex particularly for persons with extensive support needs. Continued research using varied conceptual frameworks and new technologies is needed. Also helpful will be teaching persons with disabilities about the assessment process and how to use its results.
Myth, Method and International News.

A comparison of international news and myth allows individual news reports to be studied as one of the symbolic forms by which people create and maintain culture, and in which cultures organize and...
Nitrate and Chloride Concentrations in Groundwater beneath a Portion of the Trinity Group Outcrop Zone, Texas

Using a geographic information system and statistics, we evaluated spatial distributions ofnitrate and chloride concentrations in groundwater in an area of north-central Texas with agricultural activity,in addition to oil and natural gas exploration and production. Data were compiled from 40 water wells sampledin 2007. Nitrate concentrations in three wells exceeded the maximum contaminant level (44 mg/L) for drinkingwater. The highest nitrate concentration was 149 mg/L, and concentrations were generally higher in shallowerwells. Chloride concentrations exceeded the 250 mg/L secondary drinking water standard in two wells, with nosignificant association between chloride concentration and well depth. Results of this study suggest localizedhuman impacts, especially for nitrate, and identify areas warranting future monitoring.
Thermoelectric properties of Ag2Sb2Ge46 − xDyxTe50 alloys with high power factor

A comprehensive study of GeTe-based materials where Ge is replaced by 2 at.% Ag, 2 at.% Sb, and additionally by 1 or 2 at.% Dy (Ag2Sb2Ge46 − xDyxTe50 alloys) has been conducted using Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity, and thermal conductivity measurements in the temperature range of 300–750 K, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and 125Te NMR at 300 K. According to our data, at ∼720 K, GeTe, a self-doping degenerate semiconductor, exhibits the highest known power factor (PF) among tellurides, 42 μW cm−1 K−2, but due to high thermal conductivity, the thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, is relatively low, ∼0.8. Replacement of Ge in GeTe by [Ag + Sb] and Dy enhances the Seebeck coefficient and produces a small increase in carrier concentration deduced from 125Te NMR spin–lattice relaxation. The PF of Ag2Sb2Ge45Dy1Te50 at ∼720 K is found to be still high, 40 μW cm−1 K−2, and due to a reduction in thermal conductivity, ZT reaches 1.2. Our data show that relatively high ZT values in tellurides can be obtained primarily due to high PF while thermal conductivity is moderate. The enhancement of the Seebeck coefficient observed in Ag2Sb2Ge46 − xDyxTe50 alloys can be attributed to energy filtering due potential barriers formed by [Ag + Sb] and rare-earth Dy atoms.
Integrating abstraction flexibility with diverse program perspectives

Technically, because of the limited dimensions of the presentation media, and psychologically, because of the limited human attention span, graphical program visualization in computer assisted reverse engineering becomes increasingly difficult with scale. This problem becomes compounded when multi-perspective visualization is taken into consideration. In this research we present a system called HVIEW, which attempts to overcome the problem of scale by logical decomposition. HVIEW can present a graphical visual of a computer program at various abstraction levels from diverse perspectives as interactively requested by the user. HVIEW logically formulates abstract function and data objects to construct compressed immediate program representations and organizes them into independent data and function hierarchies. Whereas, these hierarchies provide the mechanism of flexible abstraction, a user specifiable query filter creates an assortment of perspectives on the rendered visual of the modelled code. >
Neurotoxicity of Glia Activated by Gram-Positive Bacterial Products Depends on Nitric Oxide Production

The present study examined the mechanism by which bacterial cell walls from two gram-positive meningeal pathogens, Streptococcus pneumoniae and the group B streptococcus, induced neuronal injury in primary cultures of rat brain cells. Cell walls from both organisms produced cellular injury to similar degrees in pure astrocyte cultures but not in pure neuronal cultures. Cell walls also induced nitric oxide production in cultures of astrocytes or microglia. When neurons were cultured together with astrocytes or microglia, the cell walls of both organisms became toxic to neurons. L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, protected neurons from cell wall-induced toxicity in mixed cultures with glia, as did dexamethasone. In contrast, an excitatory amino acid antagonist (MK801) had no effect. Low concentrations of cell walls from either gram-positive pathogen added together with the excitatory amino acid glutamate resulted in synergistic neurotoxicity that was inhibited by L-NAME. The induction of nitric oxide production and neurotoxicity by cell walls was independent of the presence of serum, whereas endotoxin exhibited these effects only in the presence of serum. We conclude that gram-positive cell walls can cause toxicity in neurons by inducing the production of nitric oxide in astrocytes and microglia.
Commentary on high flow, non-ischemic, priapism.

High-flow, non-ischemic priapism is a rare condition, with which many urologists and andrologists are unfamiliar. There are three types of high-flow priapism: traumatic, neurogenic and post-shunting. Traumatic high-flow priapism may arise from penetrating or blunt trauma to the penis resulting in rupture of the cavernous artery or its branches. Despite the unregulated large arterial flow, this does not result in rigid and painful erections, as seen in low-flow, ischemic priapism, because the venous channels are still competent. The neurogenic type is seen after irritation or injury to the central nervous system, and this is typically self-limiting. If this type persists, then it may change to ischemic priapism, and should be treated accordingly. Post-shunting high-flow priapism is a result of reactive hyperemia in response to the hypoxic and acidotic state of ischemicpriapism that lasts more than 24 hours. This condition will continue only if the shunt remains open. Once the hyperemic state subsides, the minimal flow in the flaccid penis will not be able to keep the shunt open leading to its spontaneous closure in most cases. In general, since blood circulation into and out of the corpora cavernosa is not impeded in cases of high-flow priapism, the condition is not painful, the penis is not completely rigid, and the prognosis is excellent if it is treated properly.
Chemisorption of CO on ultrathin films of Pd on Mo(100)

Abstract The altered bonding that exists at bimetallic interfaces can affect the properties of metal monolayers and thin films. We have probed the chemisorptive properties of ultrathin films of Pd on Mo(100) by studies of CO adsorption on these surfaces. Our investigations were carried out using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), low energy electron diffraction (LEED), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), and high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). The heat of adsorption of CO is reduced from 36.5 kcal/mol on Pd(100) single crystal surfaces to 20 kcal/mol on the pseudomorphic Pd monolayer. In addition, a 34% reduction in the initial sticking probability of CO occurs on the Pd monolayer at 150 K relative to thick (20 layers) Pd films. Both the heat of adsorption and the sticking probability of CO increase with Pd film thickness indicating that the chemistry of these surfaces can be “tuned”. However, the origin of this tuning is not clear. On the Pd monolayer, HREELS shows that hollow and bridging sites are populated first, followed by atop sites at higher CO coverages. This is consistent with the site preference on bulk Pd(100) surfaces. The bonding of CO at bridging sites is clearly destabilized on the Pd monolayer and to a lesser extent on thicker films. The vibrational spectra of chemisorbed CO are shown to be a sensitive probe of the structure of Pd films of this type. The alterations in CO adsorption on the Pd monolayer and thin films on Mo(100) compared with that on bulk Pd surfaces are consistent with those observed for ultrathin Pd films on other early transition metal substrates such as Nb, Ta, and W. CO bonding on the pseudomorphic monolayer of Pd on Mo(100), which has a highly strained PdPd lattice, is not weakened as much as on the relatively less strained Pd monolayers on Nb(110) and Ta(110), indicating that lattice strain is not sufficient to account for the origin of the weakened CO interactions.
Power to the People: Electric Utility Restructuring and the Commitment to Renewable Energy

Abstract With electric generation responsible for 41 percent of U.S anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from energy use, development of clean energy sources is essential if the United States is to reduce release of greenhouse gases and slow global warming. Many proponents of sustainable energy anticipate that electric generation from renewable sources would thrive in a deregulated market, driven by consumer demand for “green” energy and the end of incentives to build large central power plants under the cost-plus profits guaranteed by state utility commissions. This paper examines the flaws in this expectation. After reviewing the highly cyclical nature of U.S. energy policy making in recent decades, the study links the ineffectiveness of policy with the institutional setting. Under electric utility market restructuring, renewable energy generation (wind, biomass, solar, geothermal, and small-scale hydro) must overcome barriers such as price distortions, lack of storage capability, discriminatory...
Cephalometric analysis of long-term airway space changes with maxillary osteotomies

The cephalometric radiographs of 13 patients without sleep apnea who had undergone isolated maxillary surgery were studied. The authors found increases in both the nasopharyngeal and hypopharyngeal airway spaces 3 to 5 years after surgery. The results suggest that adaptive processes occur in both the upper and lower jaw, which contribute to an enlarged airway after surgery.
A four-component mixing model for water in a karst terrain in south-central Indiana, USA. Using solute concentration and stable isotopes as tracers

The study area lies in a highly karstified carbonate terrain in south central Indiana. Sinkholes, conduits, and caves form large secondary pathways for the subsurface flow. As a result, the discharge from a main emergence point for the subsurface flow system, the Orangeville Rise, quickly responds to the storm events and shows wide variations in flow rate, water chemistry, and stable isotopic compositions. These responses are attributed to the mixing of water in secondary pathways. In the study area, recharge occurs through the thick, mantled karst plain and the sinkhole plains, and the role of soil layer and epikarst in the recharge process is of great importance. Rain (DIC: 2 HCO3− mg/l, δ13CDIC: −7‰), soil water (DIC: 544 HCO3− mg/l, δ13CDIC: −14.7‰), epikarstic water (DIC: 224 HCO3− mg/l, δ13CDIC: −13.6‰), and phreatic diffuse flow water (DIC: 299 HCO3− mg/l, δ13CDIC: −11.8‰) generally showed unique and constant dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and δ13CDIC values over time. Using DIC and δ13CDIC as tracers, a four-component mixing model was established for the karstic flow system. By constructing the discharge hydrograph separation curves, the mixing ratio of each component, rain (10.6%), soil (3.1%), epikarstic (52.3%), and phreatic (34.0%) water, was determined for the Orangeville Rise discharge over the testing period of 104 h after the storm event of 10/4/90. Vadose water occupied 55.4% of spring discharge and this demonstrates the importance of the unsaturated zone, especially the epikarst, in the karstic flow systems.
A DATABASE SYSTEM FOR PAVEMENT CONDITION EVALUATION

Abstract This study presents the design of a database system that allows storing and manipulating pavement condition data in a systematic manner. The principal design process consists of generating a relational database and developing application interfaces. The database design follows defined functional specifications and places emphasis on the structuring of relation scheme and the manipulation of data. Furthermore, issues of data validation and data conversion are addressed. The developed database is utilized for the design of forms, menus, reports, and programmatic interfaces to facilitate condition evaluation of pavement structures. The user interface and other important design aspects of the system are evaluated and discussed. It is concluded that the developed database system has the capabilities of integrating various levels of data applications.
Evolution of atmospheric aerosol particle size distributions via Brownian coagulation numerical simulation

Abstract Current atmospheric observations tend to support the view that continental tropospheric aerosols, particularly urban aerosols, show multimodal mass distributions. One of the obvious mechanisms causing the multimodality is the mixing of different primary sources. Other modes involve dissimilar aerosol formation processes in the atmosphere. Fine aerosol particles are generated from secondary processes such as nucleation, condensation and chemical reaction, whereas coarse particles usually consist of dust, fly ash and mechanically generated aerosols. With the use of a newly developed computer code GROWTH in our laboratory, we report here the simulated results of Brownian coagulation dynamics involving multimodal mass density functions for long periods of time. In our model calculations we assume that the aerosol particles are well mixed in an atmospheric volume so that spatial variation in the distribution is negligible. Our accurate numerical simulation of the Brownian coagulation dynamics indicates that once formed, an atmospheric multimodal aerosol distribution in the range ∼ 0.1 to ∼ 100 μ m will maintain its identity for a very long period of time (at least hours) unless “atmospheric perturbations” such as meteorological instabilities, rain-washout and gravitational settling occur. It is our belief that understanding the complex domain of atmospheric aerosols requires systematic investigation of each process. This paper is a continuation of such an investigation.
Development of mutual responsiveness between parents and their young children

This comprehensive study of mutual responsiveness examined 102 mothers and 102 fathers interacting with their children at 7 and 15 months. Responsiveness was studied from developmental and individual differences perspectives, and assessed using macroscopic ratings and microscopic event coding. The latter captured parents' reactions to children's negative, positive, and physical bids, and children's reactions to parents' social-interactive bids, mood regulation attempts, and influence attempts. Responsiveness depended on bid type and child age, and reflected developmental changes in children, parents, and relationships. Mothers were more responsive than fathers; children were equally responsive to both parents and coherent in their responsiveness. Ratings revealed dyadic mutuality and longitudinal continuity of responsiveness. Parent-child responsiveness from 7 to 15 months was consistent with assumptions of a parent-driven process.
Contrast coating for the surface of flat polyps at CT colonography: a marker for detection

To assess the frequency of oral contrast coating of flat polyps, which may promote detection, and influencing factors within a screening CT colonography (CTC) population. This was a retrospective, observational study performed at one institution. From 7,426 individuals, 123 patients with 160 flat polyps were extracted. Flat polyps were defined as plaque-like, raised at most 3 mm in height and reviewed for contrast coating. Factors including demographic variables such as age and sex, and polyp variables such as polyp size, location and histology were analysed for effect on coating. Of 160 flat polyps (mean size 9.4 mm ± 3.6), 78.8 % demonstrated coating. Mean coat thickness was 1.5 mm ± 0.6; 23.8 % (n = 30) demonstrated a thin film of contrast. Large size (≥10 mm) and proximal colonic location (relative to splenic flexure) were predictive variables by univariate logistic regression [OR (odds ratio) 3.4 (CI 1.3–8.9; p = 0.011), 2.0 (CI 1.2–3.5; p = 0.011), respectively]. Adenomas (OR 0.37, CI 0.14–1.02; p = 0.054) and mucosal polyps or venous blebs (OR 0.07, CI 0.02–0.25; p < 0.001) were less likely to coat than serrated/hyperplastic lesions. Age and sex were not predictive for coating (p = 0.417, p = 0.499, respectively). Surface contrast coating is common for flat polyps at CTC, promoted by large size, proximal location and serrated/hyperplastic histology. Given the difficulty in detection, recognition may aid in flat polyp identification. • Oral contrast coats the surface of most flat colorectal polyps at CT colonography. • Large size, proximal colonic location and serrated/hyperplastic histology increase polyp coating. • Contrast coating increases diagnostic confidence for flat polyps. • Contrast coating may help in flat polyp detection at CTC.
Coincidence measurements in mass spectrometry

The detection of coincidental emissions (electron-ion, ion-ion, photon-ion) can enhance the amount of information available in desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) by identifying physical, chemical and/or spatial correlations. This paper outlines the conditions for coincidence measurements and the methodology for identifying correlations. Applications of coincidence-correlation mass spectrometry include the study of the composition and structure of polyatomic ions, the process involved in ion production from solids and the chemical Microhomogeneity of surfaces.
Asymptotic Theory of Sequential Fixed-Width Confidence Interval Procedures

Abstract Consider a sequence of confidence intervals {I n }. Sequential procedures are based on stopping rules which, for specified constants w and p, terminate sampling at a value n for which I n has width approximately w and noncoverage probability approximately p. Asymptotic analyses of such procedures have previously concerned only w → 0 with p fixed. This article presents a novel and general approach for the case p → 0 with w fixed. Application is made to procedures based on the sample mean and median, and the corresponding asymptotic relative efficiencies are evaluated for selected values of w for the normal, Laplace, logistic, and uniform distributions.
Non-Minimal B-L Inflation with Observable Gravity Waves

Abstract We consider non-minimal λ ϕ 4 inflation in a gauged non-supersymmetric U ( 1 ) B − L model containing the gravitational coupling ξ R Φ † Φ , where R denotes the Ricci scalar and the standard model singlet inflaton field Φ spontaneously breaks the U ( 1 ) B − L symmetry. Including radiative corrections, the predictions 0.956 ≲ n s ≲ 0.984 and 0.007 ≲ r ≲ 0.1 for the scalar spectral index and tensor to scalar ratio r lie within the current WMAP 1- σ bounds. If the B − L symmetry breaking scale is of order a TeV or so, one of the three right handed neutrinos is a plausible cold dark matter candidate. Bounds on the dimensionless parameters λ , ξ and the gauge coupling g B − L are obtained.
Chitosan-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Bone defects requiring grafts to promote healing are frequently occurring and costly problems in health care. Chitosan, a biodegradable, naturally occurring polymer, has drawn considerable attention in recent years as a scaffolding material in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Chitosan is especially attractive as a bone scaffold material because it supports the attachment and proliferation of osteoblast cells as well as formation of mineralized bone matrix. In this review, we discuss the fundamentals of bone tissue engineering and the unique properties of chitosan as a scaffolding material to treat bone defects for hard tissue regeneration. We present common methods for fabrication and characterization of chitosan scaffolds, and discuss the influence of material preparation and addition of polymeric or ceramic components or biomolecules on chitosan scaffold properties such as mechanical strength, structural integrity, and functional bone regeneration. Finally, we highlight recent advances in the development of chitosan-based scaffolds with enhanced bone regeneration capability.
Variation in singing behaviour among morphs of the sand field cricket, Gryllus firmus.

1. Trade-offs play a fundamental role in the evolution of many traits. 2. In wing-polymorphic field crickets, the long-winged morph can disperse from unfavourable environments, but has lower reproductive success than the short-winged morph, because of costs associated with flight capability. 3. However, long-winged individuals may minimise costs in favourable environments by histolysing their flight muscles and becoming flightless. 4. Few studies have examined how flight-muscle histolysis affects male signalling and mate attraction. 5. We examined differences in singing activity and song characteristics among the flightless (short-winged and histolysed long-winged) and the flight-capable male morphs, and female preferences for male song, in the sand field cricket. 6. We found: (i) both flightless morphs sang more than the flight-capable morph, (ii) song characteristics varied among the three morphs, and (iii) females preferred songs characteristic of the long-winged morphs. 7. Histolysis should increase mating success of long-winged males because it increases singing activity. 8. Histolysed long-winged males may have higher mating success than short-winged males as they sing as frequently but produce more attractive songs. 9. Therefore, plasticity within the long-winged morph may reduce costs of maturing in environments from which dispersal is not advantageous; non-flying morphs may be pursuing different reproductive tactics.
Solution of the radial equation for hydrogen by the Laplace transform method

The radial equation for the hydrogen atom is solved by the method of Laplace transformation. The standard approach for solving the radial equation requires special consideration of the asymptotic form of the function and the use of the associated Laguerre polynomials. The transformed radial equation can be treated with a simple series expansion valid over the entire range. The summation limits are determined by the values of the quantum numbers nand I.A simple recursion relation is obtained for the coefficients of the series. Inverse transformation of the solution yields the exact radial functions.
Scaling effects in the perception of higher-order spatial correlations.

Human texture discrimination depends both on spatial-frequency content and on higher-order or multi-point correlations. Spatial-frequency discrimination exhibits a high degree of scale invariance over a range of several octaves, but the scaling behavior of sensitivity to higher-order correlation structure is unknown. We explored the scale dependence of texture discrimination for image ensembles which shared the same power spectrum, but differed in their higher-order correlations. Literally scaling the ensembles so that they occupy larger retinal regions results in discrimination performance that is largely independent of scale over a 3 octave range. Holding the display size constant and scaling the texture being sampled within the display over the same range produces performance that varies with scale appreciably. The ideal observer performance is computed, and the absolute efficiency is seen to be quite small, on the order of 10−2−10−1. As the texture is scaled down, increasing the number of checks within the fixed display size, performance increases while the efficiency decreases. These dependencies remain when the stimulus onset asynchrony is increased from 50 to 500 msec. We created sets of textures which varied both in check number and correlation strength, for which ideal observer performance was equated. For the human observers, efficiency was significantly higher for textures with higher correlation strength, but fewer checks. These results are consistent with a model in which a fixed number of checks is processed in a scale-invariant manner, while the remainder of the display is processed much less efficiently.
Molecular mechanisms of visual excitation: A concatenation of nonlinear cellular processes

The mechanism of transduction in the photoreceptor remains the least understood link in the chain of molecular and cellular processes that are responsible for vision. This paper reviews the molecular species and processes involved in the absorption of light and subsequent biochemical responses of the photoreceptor cell. The cells' electrical response and the probable ionic basis of the response are described. We develop the outlines of a mechanistic model that attempts to link biochemical and electrophysiological responses of photoreceptors of the vertebrate retina.
N-Halamine-coated cotton for antimicrobial and detoxification applications

Abstract A new N -halamine precursor, 3-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decane-2,4-dione (TTDD diol), was synthesized and bonded onto cotton fabrics. Fabrics with variable amounts of chlorine loading were prepared by using several concentrations of TTDD diol. A second N -halamine precursor, 3-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)-7,7,9,9-tetramethyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decane-2,4-dione (TTDD siloxane), was also synthesized and bound to cotton for comparison purposes. The coated cotton fabrics contained two types of N–Cl moieties after chlorination of the amine and amide groups. Swatches with variable chlorine loadings were challenged with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7 as a function of contact time. The biocidal test results showed that the chlorine loadings and surface hydrophobicities influenced the antimicrobial efficacies. The chlorinated swatches have also been employed to oxidize the simulant of chemical mustard to the less toxic sulfoxide derivative.