cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oxygen microbubbles improve radiotherapy tumor control in a rat fibrosarcoma model – A preliminary study

Cancer affects 39.6% of Americans at some point during their lifetime. Solid tumor microenvironments are characterized by a disorganized, leaky vasculature that promotes regions of low oxygenation (hypoxia). Tumor hypoxia is a key predictor of poor treatment outcome for all radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapy and surgery procedures, and is a hallmark of metastatic potential. In particular, the radiation therapy dose needed to achieve the same tumor control probability in hypoxic tissue as in normoxic tissue can be up to 3 times higher. Even very small tumors (<2-3 mm3) comprise 10-30% of hypoxic regions in the form of chronic and/or transient hypoxia fluctuating over the course of seconds to days. We investigate the potential of recently developed lipid-stabilized oxygen microbubbles (OMBs) to improve the therapeutic ratio of RT. OMBs, but not nitrogen microbubbles (NMBs), are shown to significantly increase dissolved oxygen content when added to water in vitro and increase tumor oxygen levels in vivo in a rat fibrosarcoma model. Tumor control is significantly improved with OMB but not NMB intra-tumoral injections immediately prior to RT treatment and effect size is shown to depend on initial tumor volume on RT treatment day, as expected.
Thermal diffusion of mixed valence Ce in 6Li loaded silicate glass for neutron imaging

Abstract The creation and characterization of Ce doped surface regions in 6Li enriched silicate glasses for cold neutron detection is described. A diffusion layer of a dried solution containing cerium III acetylacetonate hydrate was thermally diffused into monolithic glass samples under a reducing atmosphere. The diffusion characteristics of the mixed valence cerium compound were assayed with Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry. The Ce diffusion activation energy within the glass was found to be 411 ± 53 kJ/mol (4.26 ± 0.55 eV). Radiation induced color centers formed on the diffusion samples as an effect of using alpha bombardment measurements. The ratio of Ce valence states of the diffused cerium was assayed as a function of depth with X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and the signal from Ce for the color centers was compared to the unirradiated sample surface.
Whither Will They Go

What leads people seeking refuge from violence to select one country over another? One view of refugees as forced migrants suggests that they will flee to the nearest safe space. Another view of refugees as opportunists suggests that they will flee to the most free, wealthiest countries. We use a global sample of over 600,000 directed-dyad-years to test hypotheses concerning refugees' destination choices. Our findings show that while violence in the origin country produces flows, human rights violations and civil war in asylum countries have little impact on asylum choices, though refugees avoid genocides and foreign soldiers. The structure of political institutions and wage opportunities in the country of origin both influence refugees' decision to leave, yet neither political institutions nor potential wages affect the choice of where to seek refuge. The factors that impact asylum choices the most are proximity and the presence of family and friends.
A new strategy to guarantee retirement income using TIPS and longevity insurance

Abstract Retirees investing their savings in stocks and bonds face the risk of ﬁnancial ruin even whenwithdrawing as little as 4% annually. This paper proposes a new investment strategy using TreasuryInﬂation Protected Securities and longevity insurance that would guarantee real annual withdrawalrates in excess of 5% without any risk of ﬁnancial ruin. The strategy can be implemented at minimalcost by retirees and their ﬁnancial advisers. Institutional providers can use this strategy to offerproducts that would provide inﬂation adjusted lifetime incomes and allow retirees to retain controlover most of their savings in retirement. © 2009 Academy of Financial Services. All rights reserved. JEL classiﬁcation: D14 (personal ﬁnance), G22 (Insurance) Keywords: Retirement planning; Withdrawal rates; TIPS; Longevity; Financial ruin 1. Introduction The search for the optimal withdrawal rate, the rate that minimizes the prospect of eitherhaving too small a retirement income or running out of money in retirement, is an ongoingquest for retirees and their ﬁnancial advisers. The current consensus in the literature suggeststhat retirees can expect to withdraw at a real rate of about 4% of their initial savings byinvesting in portfolios of stocks and bonds, though even at this rate they face a small risk ofﬁnancial ruin or running out of money in retirement. The risk of ﬁnancial ruin increasessigniﬁcantly with higher withdrawal rates.
Cloud Area Distributions of Shallow Cumuli: A New Method for Ground-Based Images

We develop a new approach that resolves cloud area distributions of single-layer shallow cumuli from ground-based observations. Our simple and computationally inexpensive approach uses images obtained from a Total Sky Imager (TSI) and complementary information on cloud base height provided by lidar measurements to estimate cloud equivalent diameter (CED) over a wide range of cloud sizes (about 0.01–3.5 km) with high temporal resolution (30 s). We illustrate the feasibility of our approach by comparing the estimated CEDs with those derived from collocated and coincident high-resolution (0.03 km) Landsat cloud masks with different spatial and temporal patterns of cloud cover collected over the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains (SGP) site. We demonstrate that (1) good (~7%) agreement between TSI and Landsat characteristic cloud size can be obtained for clouds that fall within the region of the sky observable by the TSI and (2) large clouds that extend beyond this region are responsible for noticeable (~16%) underestimation of the TSI characteristic cloud size. Our approach provides a previously unavailable dataset for process studies in the convective boundary layer and evaluation of shallow cumuli in cloud-resolving models.
Pediatric Eyelid and Adnexal Trauma

When confronted with trauma in the pediatric population, there are challenges differing from the adult patient. The mechanism of trauma varies and can be bizarre in nature, testing the skills of the surgeon in both diagnosis and treatment. Examination may be difficult, making accurate diagnosis challenging. Animal bites and unusual projectiles are found more frequently in children, often resulting in an injury pattern involving multiple aspects of the eyelid and adnexa. The surgeon must also take into consideration anatomic difference in both size and proportion. The additional risk for occlusion amblyopia may limit options available during complex repairs and postoperative care. This chapter discusses the evaluation and management of pediatric lid and adnexal trauma in detail. Examples in clinical and surgical settings help to highlight the principles.
A system for the analysis of automated visual fields using the Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer

Analyzing visual field progression is an important component of glaucoma management. Unfortunately, detecting progression reliably may be difficult. Factors such as short-term (intratest) and long-term (intertest) fluctuation, patient fatigue, patient learning curve, etc., can cause transient visual field changes which may mimic improvement or deterioration of the overall visual field [1–4]. Over a series of tests, these factors should cancel themselves out, i.e., errors in the positive direction and errors in the negative direction should be approximately equal and overall mean sensitivity should stay roughly the same. In practice, one must often repeat a visual field test several times before one can determine whether or not a given degree of depression is due to transient fluctuation or actual pathologic deterioration. However, multiple visual field examinations require a significant expenditure of patient time and effort and may unnecessarily delay diagnosis.
The "Charles Stimson" Rule and Three Other Proposals to Protect Lawyers from Lawyers

Lawyers can be “at the edge” for many different reasons. For purposes of this Article, I define “at the edge” to mean lawyers who for one of two reasons encounter risks of, or actual harm to, their career, freedom, physical safety, reputation, or income. The two reasons are the identity of the lawyer’s client, or the nature of the claim the lawyer is making in court, or both. Lawyers may also be at risk for tactics that bring sanctions. But that is a different kind of risk, a risk of crossing an ethical or legal boundary, and not part of my definition. I will focus on lawyers who risk or suffer harm doing the job they are authorized or required to do. Some of these risks can be addressed and perhaps eliminated or minimized through rules. Some cannot. At a minimum, lawyers who are at the edge simply because they are doing their job can be offered the protection of rules that aim to deter other lawyers from interfering with their professional relationships. I will suggest four such rules, each of which is firmly grounded in the American adversary system of justice. I recognize that my proposed rules have limited value. Lawyers find themselves at risk from individuals who are not lawyers, too. Many of these risks no rule can eliminate. One example is illustrated by the “Buried Bodies” case in upstate New York. Two lawyers, Frank Armani and Francis Belge, suffered because of who their client was and how they represented him. They were assigned to represent Robert Garrow, who was charged with murdering a young man. The alleged crime stoked strong passions in the rural community in which the case was tried. To make matters worse, the client told the lawyers that he had killed three other young people, too, and gave them the location of the bodies. Belge found the body of one young woman in Onondaga County, New York, but he did not move it. Nor did the two lawyers initially reveal the three other bodies because the discovery would likely have implicated their client in additional
Variable Resolution Occupancy Mapping Using Gaussian Mixture Models

Occupancy mapping is fundamental for active perception systems to enable reasoning about known and unknown regions of the environment. The majority of occupancy mapping approaches enforce an a priori discretization on the environment, resulting in a fixed resolution map that limits the expressiveness of the representation. The proposed approach removes this a priori discretization, learns continuous representations for the evidence of occupied and free space to derive the probability of occupancy, and enables occupancy grid maps to be generated at arbitrary resolution. Efficient methods are also presented that accurately evaluate the probability of occupancy in individual cells and enable multi-resolution mapping and local occupancy evaluation. The efficacy of the approach is demonstrated by comparison to state-of-the-art discrete and continuous mapping techniques in both two dimensions and three dimensions. The core contribution of this work is a memory-efficient method for deriving occupancy that is amenable to small or large corrections in pose without the need to regenerate the entire map. The applications under considerations are low-bandwidth scenarios (e.g., multi-robot exploration) and operations in expansive environments, where storing an occupancy grid map of the entire environment would be prohibitive.
Reconfigurable nanoscale soft materials

Abstract We discuss recent research efforts towards understanding and implementing the physical rules needed to make materials—especially materials composed of nanoscale building blocks—that exhibit the defining characteristics of living systems: adaptive and evolving functional behavior. In particular, we highlight advancements in direct imaging and quantifying of kinetic pathways governing structural reconfiguration in model systems of colloidal nanoparticles as well as emerging opportunities brought by frontier efforts in synthesizing shape-shifting colloids and flexible electronics. Direct observation of kinetic “crossroads” in nanoparticle self-assembly and reconfiguration will offer insight into how these steps can be manipulated to design dynamic, potentially novel materials and devices. Moreover, these principles will not be limited to nanoparticles; when extended to building blocks like soft micelles and proteins, they have the potential to have a similar impact throughout the broader field of soft matter physics.
Psychometric properties of worry and anxiety measures in a sample of african american and caucasian older adults

Objective: The aim of our study was to examine the psychometric properties of commonly used anxiety and worry assessment measures in a community-based, low-income sample of African American and Caucasian older adults.Method: African American and Caucasian participants from three community-based clinical trials testing treatments for late-life worry/anxiety were pooled to examine the factor structure, internal consistency reliability, and convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire-Abbreviated (PSWQ-A), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory-short form (GAI-SF).Results: All three measures demonstrated an adequate fit to a one-factor structure. Internal consistency reliability was adequate for the PSWQ-A and GAD-7 in the total sample and racial subgroups but was acceptable for the GAI-SF only in the African American subgroup. The PSWQ-A and GAD-7 demonstrated good convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity. The GAI-SF has adequate convergent and divergent validity in the African American subgroup.Conclusion: Our study offers preliminary evidence for use of the PSWQ-A and GAD-7 for assessment of anxiety in a sample of low-income, predominantly African American participants. These measures may facilitate identification of anxiety symptoms, which are often overlooked in this population. More research is needed to examine the accuracy of these measures in other racial/ethnic groups.
Knee Cartilage Defect Characteristics Vary among Symptomatic Recreational and Competitive Scholastic Athletes Eligible for Cartilage Restoration Surgery.

ObjectiveTo determine whether there are differences by sport or competitive level in symptomatic knee cartilage defects among recreational, high school, or collegiate competitive athletes undergoin...
Assessing Lysine and Cysteine Reactivities for Designing Targeted Covalent Kinase Inhibitors.

Targeted covalent inhibitor design is gaining increasing interest and acceptance. A typical covalent kinase inhibitor design targets a reactive cysteine; however, this strategy is limited by the low abundance of cysteine and acquired drug resistance from point mutations. Inspired by the recent development of lysine-targeted chemical probes, we asked if nucleophilic (reactive) catalytic lysines are common on the basis of the published crystal structures of the human kinome. Using a newly developed pKa prediction tool based on continuous constant pH molecular dynamics, the catalytic lysines of eight unique kinases from various human kinase groups were retrospectively and prospectively predicted to be nucleophilic, when kinase is in the rare DFG-out/αC-out type of conformation. Importantly, other reactive lysines as well as cysteines at various locations were also identified. On the basis of the findings, we proposed a new strategy in which selective type II reversible kinase inhibitors are modified to desig...
Harmonic RFID Communication Using Conventional UHF System

In this paper, a harmonic radio frequency identification (hRFID) system is proposed to overcome the challenges that limits the capabilities of a conventional UHF radio frequency identification (RFID) system, such as self-jamming and multi-path interference without any extensive modifications to the existing infrastructure. The proposed system exploits the third harmonic generation from the existing RFID chips for communication. The system is realized by designing an additional RF interface layer between the conventional RFID interrogator and an RFID tag. The interface layer transmits the query signal at the fundamental frequency and receives the backscattered harmonic signal from an RFID tag. It down converts the backscattered third harmonic signal to the fundamental frequency, and feeds it back to the conventional UHF interrogator for extracting the information. A dual band antenna design is also shown for improving the radiation efficiency of hRFID tags using a conventional RFID ICs with improved signal to noise ratio (SNR) and increased read range. A path is shown for improving an hRFID system by performing a study that relates the read range, RFID IC’s sensitivity, and the noise level with efficiency. The proposed system can be easily adapted to any of the current RFID applications.
Advanced Software for User Interface, User Control, Data/Image Input, and Test Automation for Infrared Led Scene Projectors

In order to adequately control, test, and analyze Infrared Scene Projectors (IRSP), a user interface needed to be developed to maximize user efficiency. The IRSP control interface was developed for high performance image processing, automated testing, and data capture/analysis.
SOMITE NECROSIS AND DEVELOPMENTAL MALFORMATIONS INDUCED BY VITAMIN A IN THE GOLDEN HAMSTER.

of a method for the induction of developmental malformations in the golden hamster by vitamin A. This part will include an analysis of the results, the study of the vulnerability of the different embryonic stages to the drug and it will establish the critical period for the induction of a given malformation by this method. The second part consists of the study of the effect of vitamin A upon embryonic tissues when administered on the 8th day of gestation, this day being the critical period for the induction of cranioschisis and sacral rachischisis. Investigations of the teratogenic effects of vitamin A on young hamster embryos and its probable mode of action in causing cranioschisis and sacral rachischisis are the objectives of this paper. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty virgin female golden hamsters, Mesocricetus auratus, were used for the first part of the experiment. The females were placed with the males in the early evening hours and, if observed to be in estrus, they were left together overnight.
Body size trends in response to climate and urbanization in the widespread North American deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus

Body size decline is hypothesized to be a key response to climate warming, including warming driven by urban heat islands. However, urbanization may also generate selective gradients for body size increases in smaller endotherms via habitat fragmentation. Here we utilize a densely sampled, multi-source dataset to examine how climate and urbanization affect body size of Peromyscus maniculatus (PEMA), an abundant rodent found across North America. We predicted PEMA would conform to Bergmann’s Rule, e.g. larger individuals in colder climates, spatially and temporally. Hypotheses regarding body size in relation to urbanization are less clear; however, with increased food resources due to greater anthropogenic activity, we expected an increase in PEMA size. Spatial mixed-models showed that PEMA conform to Bergmann’s Rule and that PEMA were shorter in more urbanized areas. With the inclusion of decade in mixed-models, we found PEMA mass, but not length, is decreasing over time irrespective of climate or population density. We also unexpectedly found that, over time, smaller-bodied populations of PEMA are getting larger, while larger-bodied populations are getting smaller. Our work highlights the importance of using dense spatiotemporal datasets, and modeling frameworks that account for bias, to better disentangle broad-scale climatic and urbanization effects on body size.
Ankle kinetics and plantarflexor morphology in older runners with different lifetime running exposures

Abstract Running promotes better cardiovascular health and has positive effects on the musculoskeletal system in older adults. However, older adults have lower ankle plantarflexor torques and positive powers during running, and exhibit changes in plantarflexor morphology than young adults. Since older runners who run as much as younger runners exhibit youthful ankle mechanical outputs, running exposure may preserve the locomotor factors that mediate running speed. The purpose of this study was to compare ankle mechanical output during running and plantarflexor morphological characteristics between older runners who have low or high lifetime running exposure. Ten older runners with low lifetime running exposure and nine older runners with high lifetime running exposure performed over-ground running trials at 3.0 m/s (±5%) while kinematic and ground reaction force (GRF) data were collected and used to compute joint angular kinetics. Right medial gastrocnemius morphological characteristics were assessed using ultrasonography at rest and during isometric contractions. Ankle torques, powers, and plantarflexor morphology were compared between groups. Older runners with different lifetime running exposures ran with similar ankle mechanical output (i.e. no effect of running exposure) (p > .05) and exhibited similar medial gastrocnemius morphology during isometric testing. The findings from this study demonstrate that lifetime running exposure does not appear to influence ankle mechanical output or plantarflexor morphology in middle-aged runners.
Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Seasonal Respiratory Viruses: A Tale of Two Large Metropolitan Centers in the United States

Abstract To assess the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on seasonal respiratory viruses, absolute case counts and viral reproductive rates from 2019-2020 were compared against previous seasons. Our findings suggest that the public health measures implemented to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission significantly reduced the transmission of other respiratory viruses.
Use of high-resolution unmanned aerial systems imagery and machine learning to evaluate grain sorghum tolerance to mesotrione

Manual evaluation of crop injury to herbicides is time-consuming. Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and high-resolution multispectral sensors and machine learning classification techniques have the potential to save time and improve precision in the evaluation of herbicide injury in crops, including grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). The objectives of our research are to (1) evaluate three supervised classification algorithms [support vector machine (SVM), maximum likelihood, and random forest] for categorizing high-resolution UAS imagery to aid in data extraction and (2) evaluate the use of vegetative indices (VIs) collected from UAS imagery as an alternative to traditional methods of visible herbicide injury assessment in mesotrione-tolerant grain sorghum breeding trials. An experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design using a factorial treatment arrangement of three genotypes by four mesotrione doses. Herbicide injury was rated visually on a scale of 0 (no injury) to 100 (complete plant mortality). The UAS flights were flown at 9, 15, 21, 27, and 35 days after treatment. Results show the SVM algorithm to be the most consistently accurate, and high correlations (r = − 0.83 to −0.94; p < 0.0001) were observed between the normalized difference VI and ground-measured herbicide injury. Therefore, we conclude that VIs collected with UAS coupled with machine learning image classification has the potential to be an effective method of evaluating mesotrione injury in grain sorghum.
Hierarchical model-based predictive controller for a hybrid UAV powertrain

Abstract The emerging trend of vehicle electrification is transforming the transportation industry by replacing traditional mechanical and hydraulic components with higher performing, more reliable, and more efficient electrical components. However, the introduction of a complex electrical network onboard mobile systems poses significant challenges for control design. A notable challenge is the coordination of multi-domain and multi-timescale system dynamics. This article seeks to address this challenge through the design and validation of a model predictive controller for a hybrid unmanned aerial vehicle powertrain. A multi-domain extension of the graph-based modeling framework is formulated and used to model the multi-physics behavior of the air vehicle. An extensive model validation procedure is performed and the validated graph model is used to develop two control strategies: one baseline and one predictive controller. To coordinate multi-timescale system dynamics, the predictive controller leverages a hierarchical control architecture to plan a battery state of charge bound. The control strategies are experimentally validated and show that the advanced controller yields improvements in performance and reliability metrics while reducing fuel consumption by ∼ 10 % .
Diacylglycerol Kinase Inhibition Reduces Airway Contraction by Negative Feedback Regulation of Gq-signaling

Exaggerated airway smooth muscle (ASM) contraction regulated by the Gq family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) causes airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in asthma. Activation of Gq-coupled GPCR...
Impact of race versus ethnicity on infertility diagnosis between Black American, Haitian, African, and White American women seeking infertility care: a retrospective review

ABSTRACT Objective To determine whether infertility diagnoses differ between Black ethnic subgroups. Design Retrospective review Setting An urban safety net hospital. Patients Women seeking infertility care between 2005-2015. Interventions Charts of women with infertility and PCOS ICD-9 diagnoses were reviewed to confirm diagnoses. Data was stratified by race and subsequently by ethnicity to evaluate differences in infertility diagnoses between Black American, Black Haitian, and Black African women. White American women were used as the comparison group. Main Outcome Measures Infertility diagnoses between Black ethnic subgroups and White women. Results A total of 358 women met inclusion criteria including 99 Black American, 110 Black Haitian, 61 Black African, and 88 White American women. Anovulation/polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was the most common diagnosis in each ethnic group, accounting for 40% of infertility among White American, 57% among Black American, 25% among Black Haitian, and 21% among Black African women. There were no significant differences in individual infertility diagnoses between Black and White women. Between ethnic subgroups, multivariate analysis showed significantly higher odds of infertility due to anovulation/PCOS in Black American women compared to Black African women (odds ratio [OR]=4.9; 95% CI=1.4-17.0). Compared to Black African women, higher odds of tubal factor infertility were observed in Black American (OR=4.7; 95% CI=1.16-18.7) and Black Haitian women (OR=4.0; 95% CI=1.1-14.0). Conclusions Infertility diagnoses were not homogeneous across Black ethnic groups. Studies examining infertility should specify ethnic subgroups within race as this may affect results.
Electronic interface modules for solid-state chemical sensors

Plug and play modules for interfacing three common types of solid-state chemical sensors are presented The self-contained (integrated circuit) modules detect a baseline signal from a sensor and auto-zero the signal to compensate for baseline variations, both immediately after fabrication and periodically during the lifetime of the sensor The signal compensation technique is based on the governing transduction principles of the chemical sensor thereby enabling signals to be compensated without distortion. After fabrication, sensors are auto-zeroed at their field operating conditions to ensure that all homogenous sensors begin at the same baseline output. Re-zeroing is completed at a time scale compatible with the drift and lifetime of the sensor and is automated in similar manner to the initial autozeroing step that occurs during calibration. The matching of automated baseline compensation to governing transduction principles for chemical sensors is a novel effort. This paper will present experimental results at the circuit, architecture and system level using chemFETs, composite film polymer chemiresistors and tin-oxide chemiresistors.
Non-heme Iron Proteins V. THE AMINO ACID SEQUENCE OF RUBREDOXIN FROM PEPTOSTREPTOCOCCUS ELSDENII

Abstract The determination of the complete amino acid sequence of Peptostreptococcus elsdenii rubredoxin has shown that the molecule consists of a single polypeptide chain of 52 residues. When it is compared with the sequence of rubredoxin from Micrococcus aerogenes which contains 53 residues, matching amino acid residues are found in 24 positions. The 4 cysteines which are bound to the iron, 2 lysines, 2 tyrosines, and the sole tryptophan occur in identical positions in the two proteins. The possible importance of these findings for the active site of this non-heme iron protein is discussed.
Concurrent storage structure conversion: from B+ tree to linear hash file

Shows that the efficient reorganization of a B+ tree file into a linear hash file can be done concurrently with user transaction processing. This conversion is motivated by a change in database processing, in which efficient sequential and direct access were originally needed, but now only efficient direct access is needed. This is quite reasonable for a database system which accommodates new and changing applications. Several existing database systems, e.g. INGRES, IMS and IDMS allow this type of reorganization, but the reorganization is performed offline. The author devises an algorithm which performs the conversion and presents an analytic model of the conversion process. The author uses a typical database simulation model to evaluate the reorganization scheme. The results from the analytic model are within 3% (on the average) of the observed simulation results. >
Influence of oxygen microenvironment on microfluidic glucose sensor performance

We propose a novel method to overcome significant problems of baseline drift and sensitivity degradation in amperometric biosensors based on oxidase enzyme reactions. A novel glucose microsensor with a built-in electrochemical oxygen manipulation microsystem is introduced to demonstrate three novel functionalities; one-point in situ self-calibration (zero-point), broadening of dynamic range and increase in sensitivity. The influence of electrochemically generated oxygen microenvironment on the sensor output within a fluidic structure is investigated.
Blame Welfare, Ignore Poverty and Inequality: Welfare Reform and Moral Entrepreneurship: Promoting Marriage and Responsible Parenthood and Preventing Teenage Pregnancy

For most Americans, welfare reform meant “ending welfare as we know it” – abolishing Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), dramatically increasing the work requirements and sanctions, and imposing time limits. Welfare was no longer going to be “a way of life.” Perhaps less noticed, but a central feature of the reform agenda, were “family values.” In fact, three out of the four purposes of the new legislation dealt with “family values.” In addition to the first goal of providing assistance to needy families, the goals of Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) are to “(2) end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; (3) prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies; (4) encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.” The legislation stated a series of findings to justify these goals. Among them are the following: Marriage is the foundation of a successful society. Marriage is an essential institution of a successful society that promotes the interests of children. The increase in the number of children receiving public assistance is closely related to the increase in births to unmarried women. The increase of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and births is well documented. An effective strategy to combat teenage pregnancy must address the issue of male responsibility, including statutory rape culpability and prevention. The negative consequences of an out-of-wedlock birth on the mother, the child, the family, and society are well documented.
The specific inhibition of 11-cis-retinyl palmitate formation in the frog eye by diaminophenoxypentane, an inhibitor of rhodopsin regeneration

The antischistosomal drug 1,5-di-(p-aminophenoxy) pentane (DAPP), an inhibitor of rhodopsin regeneration in the vertebrate retina, is shown to completely block the production of 11-cis-retinyl palmitate in the frog eye. An untreated frog generates a large amount of 11-cis-retinyl palmitate during 1-2 days in the dark after a strong bleach. Also, it is demonstrated that DAPP can deplete the stores of 11-cis-retinyl palmitate in the dark-adapted frog eye. The specificity of DAPP's inhibition of dark-adaptation is explored, and the usefulness of employing retinotoxic drugs to investigate the physiology and biochemistry of rhodopsin regeneration is discussed.
Experimental Poliomyelitis in a Monkey without Demonstrable Lesions in the Central Nervous System

Conclusion1. A Macacus rhesus monkey infected with the virus of poliomyelitis ran an unusually slow course, which simulated the diphasic type found in the human. 2. The histo-pathological findings of the cerebro-spinal axis were essentially normal, but the diagnosis of poliomyelitis was made by successful passage of cord emulsion into other monkeys.
Model Reward and Imitation: The Effect of the Presence of the Experimenter and the Model Rewarder

Summary To assess the effects of the presence of the experimenter (E) and/or modelrewarder (MR), elementary school children observed a model emit specific sequences on a button pressing task in two separate experiments (N = 50 and N = 80). The first design was a 2 × 2 factorial involving the presence-absence of the E/MR and model reward vs. model no-consequences; the second design was a 4 × 2 factorial with all possible combinations of presence-absence of the E and/or MR, and model reward vs. model no-consequences. It was found that model reward increased imitation only in the condition in which the E was present and the MR was absent.
An Update on Relations of Body Image and Body Size with Eating Disordered Behaviors

The present study examined body image and body size with eating disordered behaviors in a sample of 130 female college students to see if these problems still occur despite the publicity that this issue has received. Students (n = 35) who reported engaging in eating disordered behaviors reported being less satisfied with their bodies than students who did not report engaging in eating disordered behaviors. Also students who engaged in eating disordered behaviors perceived their body size as larger than that for students who did not report engaging in such behaviors. There was, however, no significant difference found in preference for body size between groups.
NOTES ON CASTING SLIP IN PRODUCTION1

The conclusions regarding eleven properties of a casting slip as to their influence on the loss record of shop and kiln are given. A description of the test is given with each conclusion when the standard test was not used. A list of properties for a daily record of the character of a casting slip is given.
Get-Tough Juvenile Justice Reforms: The Florida Experience:

Get-tough reforms aimed at juvenile offenders have become commonplace in the United States. In the last decade, almost every state has modified laws relating to juvenile crime in some way, and the direction of the reforms has been very clear. States are getting tougher on juvenile offenders either by shifting away from traditional rehabilitation models to punishment-oriented juvenile justice or by legislating new or expanded legal means by which greater numbers of juvenile offenders may be moved to criminal court for adult processing and punishment. The present study focuses on a major set of juvenile justice reforms in Florida and the impact on actual practice. Florida is unique in a historical sense because it has transferred large numbers of juveniles to criminal court for two decades, and, currently, because it has more juveniles in its prisons than any other state. Despite incremental get-tough reforms, the new transfer provisions have had a negligible impact. The effects of Florida's get-tough laws ...
Lattice imaging study of a martensite-austenite interface

Abstract The lattice planes up to, and through, a martensite-austenite interface are revealed directly for the first rime by the high resolution, lattice image technique of transmission electron microscopy. Both conventional and unique data may be derived by suitable analysts of such images. Thus, in the shape memory alloy NiTi, the orientation relationship and habit plane are found to be identical to those established by conventional experiments. The two phases are seen to be fully coherent at the end of the growing martensite plate with the first interfacial dislocation occurring about 260 A back from the plate tip. Lattice distortions adjacent to the plate are detected but no significant features are demonstrated at the end of the plate where growth had ceased. Characteristic premartensitic contrast could not be associated with significant static lattice displacements. Whether or not transformation dislocations exist in the martensite-austenite interface requires further, more detailed investigation.
Preliminary identification of the antibacterial principle “Madronin” from the leaves of Arbutus menziesii

Abstract The antibacterially active compound “madronin” from the leaves of Pacific Madrona tree has been tentatively identified as a mixture of gallotannin and catechol tannin in addition to varying amounts of their degradation products, gallic acid, m‐digallic acid, possibly trigallic acid, catechol, phloroglucinol, and glucose. Experimental evidence includes results of qualitative physical and chemical analyses, light absorption, paper chromatography, and microbiological fermentation tests. A simple modified laboratory extraction and purification procedure for the active principle is given. The previous observations made on madronin are explained according to its newly determined composition. Since tannin has been shown to be a rather potent antibacterial substance for many micro‐organisms, its possible influence upon the various surveys for antibacterial agents in higher plants should be considered.
Investigation of hearing protection effects in an extreme noise environment with an alarm location problem

Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine optimum locations of alarm devices and the effects of hearing protection in an extremely noisy environment. A machining facility has been selected as a working environment because it usually generates extremely high noise level. First, an analytical model is presented for predicting the optimal number of alarm devices, their locations, and their sound intensities if equipment operators have no hearing protection (Case 1). LINGO ® , optimization software of LINDO Systems Inc., is used for an analytical tool in this study. Second, the optimal solutions are evaluated for their feasibility in the following two cases: the first case in which some operators have hearing protection at or above 90 dBA (Case 2) and the other case in which all operators have hearing protection regardless of noise levels (Case 3). Tukey–Kramer tests of the three cases are conducted to find if the significant effects of hearing protection devices exist. The results support the maximum permissible noise level of 85 dBA. Thus, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard of hearing protection should be stricter because hearing loss may be expected due to high alarm sound by a masking effect of background noise in extremely noisy manufacturing facilities. Relevance to industry The study provides facility planners and safety engineers with a model that may assist in positioning alarms in a noisy environment. The results may help to support the national standard of hearing protection use. In addition, the results may provide guidelines to solve other alarm location problems relating to the intensity of sound.
When is a Kiva? And Other Questions About Southwestern Archaeology, by Watson Smith, edited by Raymond H. Thompson, The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1990

Like the career of Watson Smith, When is a Kiva? is a bit difficult to describe. Perhaps because this book works so well on so many different levels, it is hard to pinpoint exactly how it should be praised. At its heart is a selected sample of Watson Smith's archaeological writings, comprising a series of lucid essays on some of the knottiest problems of Puebloan prehistory. Beyond this, however, When is a Kiva? is Raymond Thompson's affectionate and well-crafted tribute to his long time friend and mentor and one of the great figures in Southwestern archaeology. As such, this work is a nested set of aesthetic triumphs.
Effects of remote and in-person verbal interactions on verbalization rates and attention to dynamic spatial scenes

This study focused on how teams allocated attention between a driving-related spatial task and a verbal task, and how different kinds of verbal interactions affected performance of the driving-related task. In Experiment 1, 29 two-person teams performed an interactive verbal task while one team member also performed a simulated driving task. Of the team members performing only the verbal task, half could see their partner's spatial situation, as a car passenger can (in-person condition), and half were remotely located, similar to someone speaking to a driver using a cell-phone. Teams interacted verbally at an overall slower rate during remote than in-person interactions, suggesting that remote verbal interactions are more difficult than in-person interactions. Verbal interactions degraded situation awareness for driving-related information while performing the spatial task; and this degradation was not greater during remote than in-person interactions. Experiment 2 used a faster-paced verbal task and found greater degradation of situation awareness due to the verbal task. These findings are potentially relevant to the issue of how passenger and cell-phone conversations affect driving performance.
A perspective for the interpretation of limbic system function

The recent emphasis on neuromodulators may provide a new perspective for understanding the basis of action of the limbic system. A summary of neuromodulary effects on the hippocampus itself, as well as known hippocampal modulatory effects on the neuroendocrinic systems, is provided first. Then, evidence supporting the view that certain behavioral consequences of hippocampal damage can be alleviated by pharmacologic intervention which are also relatively slow in onset after damage is presented. Both are taken as evidence that destruction of the hippocampus produces some of its behavioral effects because of secondary reactions in other systems, probably components of the forebrain basal ganglia system. It is proposed that the normal function of the hippocampal formation may be to act as a neural neuromodulator of the basal ganglia and the hypothalamus.
Identification and comparative analysis of quantitative trait loci associated with parthenocarpy in processing cucumber

Parthenocarpy (seedless fruit) is an economically important yield-related trait in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.; 2n = 2x = 14). However, the genomic locations of factors controlling parthenocarpic fruit development in this species are not known. Therefore, an F 2: 3 mating design was utilized to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for parthenocarpy using a narrow cross employing two gynoecious, indeterminate and normal leaf lines [2A (parthenocarpic) and Gy8 (non-parthenocarpic)]. QTL detection was performed employing 2A- and Gy8-coupling phase data using the parthenocarpic yield of 126 F 3 families grown at two locations at Hancock, WI in 2000. The QTLs detected in this study were compared with the map locations of QTLs conditioning first-harvest yield of seeded cucumber characterized in a previous study. There were 10 QTLs for parthenocarpy detected defining four genomic regions, in which three QTLs also mapped to the same genomic regions as QTLs detected for fruit yield at first-harvest as reported in a previous study. The eight fluorescence amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers linked to parthenocarpy through QTL mapping defined herein (four each in linkage groups I and 4) are candidates for use in marker-assisted selection programmes where breeding for increased levels of parthenocarpy is an objective in the elite-processing cucumber populations.
A STUDY ON THE STATISTICAL MODELING OF FADING AND ITS EFFECTS ON SYSTEM PERFORMANCE USING SIRP AND SDP METHODS

Many statistical models (mainly due to physical propagation studies and field measurements) have been proposed to characterize the statistics of the NLOS flat-fading wireless communication channel. There appears to have no known statistical theory on the formation of many of these fading envelope statistics. We offer the statistical modeling of fading envelope statistics under the NLOS assumption based on the SIRP representation. In practice, these channel statistics cannot be modeled with certainty. We advocated the use of moment-bound theory to obtain bounds on the system performance metrics. In this paper, we combine the theory of moment bounds with that of SIRP, and the use of the SDP optimization method to show how sharper bounds of the error rate and ergodic channel capacity of a communication system can be computed.
Direct photon in 200 GeV p+p, d+Au and Au+Au from PHENIX.

Direct photons were measured with the PHENIX experiment in p + p , d + Au , and Au+Au at s N N = 200 GeV . To tackle the p T region below 5 GeV/c, direct photons were measured through their internal conversion into e + e − in Au+Au collisions.
From protein damage to cell aging to population fitness in E. coli: Insights from a multi-level agent-based model

Abstract Aging is an important process affecting many organisms, including bacteria that appear to divide symmetrically. Recent research has established much of the mechanisms underlying aging in Escherichia coli, including the role of damaged protein aggregates (DPAs) that are transported by diffusion within the nucleoid-free intracellular space, which leads to their polar localization and asymmetric inheritance (i.e. aging). This provides an opportunity to develop a mechanistic model of E. coli and use it to assess the role of this process at the population level. Is there a fitness benefit to asymmetric inheritance of DPAs? Here we explore this question using a multi-level agent-based model, which simulates a population of individual cells, each with a population of individual DPAs. The model is compared to relevant data compiled from four published studies, which shows it reproduces the main patterns observed, including intracellular localization and inheritance of DPAs, their effect on growth rate, differences in growth rate between sibling pairs, under unstressed and heat shock conditions, for wild type and a mutant that partitions DPAs symmetrically. The model is used to estimate population growth rates of the wildtype and mutant, which shows a statistically significant benefit of aging by asymmetric DPA segregation. However, the benefit is very small and probably not relevant in the context of the ecology of the bacteria's primary habitat (the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals). But, at an evolutionary time scale even this small benefit may be relevant for bacteria with large population sizes and short generation times.