cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
VALIDATING THE ASSUMPTIONS OF THE MAYFIELD METHOD

Abstract We tested the assumptions of the Mayfield method (Mayfield 1975) using 416 Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) nests monitored from 1993–1997 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We tested for differences in nest survival throughout the breeding season and throughout the nesting cycle. We compared the Mayfield cumulative survival curve with a modified version of the Kaplan-Meier with staggered entry. In addition, we compared the group of nests found during nest initiation with those found later in the nesting cycle. There was no evidence nest survival varied through the breeding season or with different stages of the nesting cycle. Furthermore, the Kaplan-Meier survival curve agreed with the Mayfield calculation. We found no evidence of heterogeneity. Validation of Mayfield assumptions is important because the method is widely used, allows for statistical comparisons, and is critical for estimating seasonal fecundity in bird populations.
Effect of slow-acting wide dynamic range compression on measures of intelligibility and ratings of speech quality in simulated-loss listeners.

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to determine the extent to which 4-channel, slow-acting wide dynamic range amplitude compression (WDRC) can counteract the perceptual effects of reduced a...
Nuclear Corepressors Enhance the Dominant Negative Activity of Mutant Receptors That Cause Resistance to Thyroid Hormone

The syndrome of resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is caused by multiple distinct mutations in the ligand-binding domain of the thyroid hormone receptor-β (TRβ). Although the mutant receptors are transcriptionally inactive, they inhibit normal receptor function in a dominant negative manner to cause hormone resistance. Recently, a group of transcriptional cofactors, referred to as corepressors (CoRs), was shown to induce ligand-independent silencing of genes that contain positive T3 response elements. CoRs also play a role in the ligand-independent basal activation of genes that are negatively regulated in response to T3. We hypothesized that CoR might play a role in the dominant negative inhibition by TRβ mutants that cause RTH. In gel mobility shift assays, RTH mutants retained interactions with CoRs even in the presence of T3, whereas the ligand dissociated CoR from wild-type TRβ. Using Gal4-TR chimeric receptors and a VP16-CoR fusion protein in an interaction assay, a strong positive correlation was ...
Wafer Level Modeling of Electrochemical-Mechanical Polishing (ECMP)

In this work, we propose a wafer level dynamic ECMP model based on time-evolving current density distributions across the wafer. The wafer is discretized, and the potential and current density distributions are calculated based on the applied voltage zones and metal film thicknesses across the wafer. The copper removal rate is proportional to the current density, and thus the copper thickness (and conductance) can be calculated as a function of position on the wafer and polish time. Using a time-stepping simulation, the model is able to capture the wafer level non-uniformity and time-dependence of ECMP removal. The model is also able to capture the time-varying voltage zones used in ECMP, and can be used to find optimal voltage zone control schemes to achieve improved wafer-level uniformity.
A Phase Domain Approach for Mitigation of Self-Interference in Wireless Transceivers

A novel approach for mitigation of self-interference in highly-integrated wireless transceivers is presented. Several examples of possible applications of this approach in a wireless cellular transceiver system-on-chip (SoC) are listed, and the application of one example is presented in detail. Mathematical analysis, simulation results, measurements, and implementation details are provided for the demonstrated technique, which was designed to minimize jitter induced onto the reference clock of a GSM transceiver's PLL. Excessive jitter on this clock, caused by multiple RF aggressors centered at harmonics of it, creates amplified in-band phase-noise at the RF output of the PLL, resulting in failures in the transmitter's performance. The identification of this highly complex interference mechanism, which represents a significant part of this work, is discussed in detail, as is the implemented solution. The presented phase-adjustment technique, leveraging specific features of the digitally intensive PLL and available digital-signal-processing resources, is demonstrated in a GSM system-on-chip (SoC) based on the Digital RF Processor (DRPtrade) technology in 90 nm CMOS. As it does not involve dedicated hardware, nor does it noticeably increase the current consumption, it represents a cost-free solution in the final product.
Single-cell analysis of the dynamics and functional outcomes of interactions between human natural killer cells and target cells

Natural killer (NK) cells are a subset of innate immune lymphocytes that interrogate potential target cells and rapidly respond by lysing them or secreting inflammatory immunomodulators. Productive interactions between NK cells and targets such as tumor cells or virally infected cells are critical for immunological control of malignancies and infections. For individual NK cells, however, the relationship between the characteristics of these cell–cell interactions, cytolysis, and secretory activity is not well understood. Here, we used arrays of subnanoliter wells (nanowells) to monitor individual NK cell–target cell interactions and quantify the resulting cytolytic and secretory responses. We show that NK cells operate independently when lysing a single target cell and that lysis is most probable during an NK cell's first encounter with a target. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the secretion of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) occurs most often among NK cells that become the least motile upon contacting a target cell but is largely independent of cytolysis. Our findings demonstrate that integrated analysis of the cell–cell interaction parameters, cytolytic activity, and secretory activity of single NK cells can reveal new insights into how these complex functions are related within individual cells.
The availability and current use of marijuana among adults.

The bulk of previous research on marijuana use shares three common features. First, it focuses on “high-risk” student or adolescent populations. Second, researchers have emphasized the “ever-used” category of marijuana use. Third, reported use rates are generally based on the percentage of users in the total population of interest. By using the total population as the denominator when calculating use rates, researchers assume that everyone has an equal opportunity to smoke marijuana. This paper suggests using a use-availability ratio to adjust for potential access to marijuana and to determine which segments of the population are “high risk.”
Chronic stress and obesity: A new view of “comfort food”

The effects of adrenal corticosteroids on subsequent adrenocorticotropin secretion are complex. Acutely (within hours), glucocorticoids (GCs) directly inhibit further activity in the hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal axis, but the chronic actions (across days) of these steroids on brain are directly excitatory. Chronically high concentrations of GCs act in three ways that are functionally congruent. (i) GCs increase the expression of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) mRNA in the central nucleus of the amygdala, a critical node in the emotional brain. CRF enables recruitment of a chronic stress-response network. (ii) GCs increase the salience of pleasurable or compulsive activities (ingesting sucrose, fat, and drugs, or wheel-running). This motivates ingestion of “comfort food.” (iii) GCs act systemically to increase abdominal fat depots. This allows an increased signal of abdominal energy stores to inhibit catecholamines in the brainstem and CRF expression in hypothalamic neurons regulating adrenocorticotropin. Chronic stress, together with high GC concentrations, usually decreases body weight gain in rats; by contrast, in stressed or depressed humans chronic stress induces either increased comfort food intake and body weight gain or decreased intake and body weight loss. Comfort food ingestion that produces abdominal obesity, decreases CRF mRNA in the hypothalamus of rats. Depressed people who overeat have decreased cerebrospinal CRF, catecholamine concentrations, and hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal activity. We propose that people eat comfort food in an attempt to reduce the activity in the chronic stress-response network with its attendant anxiety. These mechanisms, determined in rats, may explain some of the epidemic of obesity occurring in our society.
Do Lower Top Marginal Tax Rates Slow the Income Growth of Workers

Top marginal tax rates are positively correlated with the pretax income growth of the bottom 90 per cent — those who are not subject to the top rates. To explain this correlation, this paper presents and tests a model in which executives can increase firm profitability by (i) increasing the firm's level of technology and (ii) decreasing labor costs. In the model, higher marginal tax rates may reduce pretax inequality by increasing the average income growth of workers. This hypothesis is tested by examining the effect of top marginal tax rates on (unobserved) relative bargaining power between labor and firms and, therefore, on the income growth of workers in the USA. Bargaining power, in both the theoretical and the empirical models, is proxied by private-sector unionization and use of offshore labor resulting in higher imports.
Ethical Administration: An Oxymoron?:

This article argues that education is a fundamentally moral enterprise and that educational administration needs to change in order to reflect ethics at its core, not at its periphery. It suggests ...
Urethroplasty Improves Overactive Bladder Symptoms in Men With Anterior Urethral Strictures.

Objective To assess the effect of urethroplasty on overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. Materials and Methods From March 2011 to November 2014, 47 anterior urethroplasties were performed by a single surgeon (RSP). Of these, 42 men prospectively completed the validated Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) prior to and after urethroplasty. Comparative analysis of preoperative to postoperative OABSS results was performed. Results The median (range) age of men who comprised our cohort was 49 (22-90). Questionnaires were completed preoperatively and at a median of 12 months (2.3-74.6) postoperatively. Stricture location included the following: bulbar (75%), penile (15%), and membranous (7.5%) urethra. Median stricture length was 3 cm (1-6). Half of the men underwent an excision and anastomotic repair, and half underwent buccal mucosal graft. Men experienced significant improvement in urinary flow rate, postvoid residual urine, and OAB symptoms reported on the OABSS. Of the 28/42 men with preoperative, clinically significant OAB (ie, OABSS ≥ 8), 25/28 reported a 54.2% (0%-100%) median reduction in OABSS, with only 1 patient reporting worsening of symptoms following surgery. Those men with the highest preoperative OABSS experienced the greatest improvement in OAB symptoms postoperatively. Conclusion In men with anterior urethral strictures and OAB, urethroplasty decreased reported OABSS by >50% and cured 90% of men with clinically significant OAB symptoms.
Cowpea Curculio: Control in Southern Georgia

Tests were conducted between 1967and 1972in southern Georgia to control Chalcodermus aeneus Boheman on southern peas, Vigna sinensis (Torner) Savi. All insecticides gave variable results. Most effective insecticides applied as sprays at 4-day intervals during pod formation were toxaphene, monocrotophos, carbofuran, leptophos, and carbaryl. Granular insecticides applied over the row showed promise when applied in summer against adults. Foliage sprays applied in spring before pod formation to control overwintered adult immigrants were ineffective, but applied in a coarse spray and directed to the base of the plants they were effective when synchronized with peak immigration.
Where in the (capitalist) world (economy) are regional narratives

General support is given for the call by Alexander Murphy for a study of regions to enable geographers to engage in public debates. However, Murphy’s emphasis upon narrative is challenged and an argument is made for a theoretical framework within which to situate analysis of regions. Moreover, the “meso” scale of the region demands consideration of a larger, or “macro,” scale. World-systems theory is advanced as a framework that defines the global scale as the capitalist world-economy in a way that situates regions and gives meaning to their form and interaction. The empirical approach offered by world-systems theory enhances Murphy’s call for regional narratives and enables geographers to engage in public debates.
Recrystallization Behavior of Ni3 AI(B)

The recrystallization kinetics, structure development, stored energy of cold work, and rolling and recrystallization textures were studied on boron doped Ni 76 Al 24 . The recrystallization kinetics were very slow compared to pure metals or disordered solid solutions, but similar to other intermetallic compounds. The development of the deformed and recrystallized microstructure is similar to metals with intermediate stacking fault energy. Despite a lack of massive deformation twinning the rolling texture is a typical brass type texture. The recrystallization texture is not a brass type recrystallization texture, but consists of components, which are related by a 25° rotation among each other and with the deformation texture. The observed phenomena are attributed to the constraints of grain boundary motion in long range ordered structures. It is further shown that Ni 3 Al does undergo dynamic recrystallization during high temperature deformation.
TESTING ADAPTIVE RADIATION AND KEY INNOVATION HYPOTHESES IN SPIDERS.

We combine statistical and phylogenetic approaches to test the hypothesis that adaptive radiation and key innovation have contributed to the diversity of the order Araneae. The number of unbalanced araneid clades (those whose species numbers differ by 90% or more) exceeds the number predicted by a null Markovian model. The current phylogeny of spider families contains 74 bifurcating nodes, of which 31 are unbalanced. As this is significantly more than the 14.8 expected unbalanced nodes, some of the diversity within the Araneae can be attributed to some deter- ministic cause (e.g., adaptive radiation). One of the more highly unbalanced (97%) bifurcations divides the orb- weaving spiders into the Deinopoidea and the larger Araneoidea. A simple statistical model shows that the inequality in diversity between the Deinopoidea and the Araneoidea is significant, and that it is associated with the replacement of primitive cribellar capture thread by viscous adhesive thread and a change from a horizontal to a vertical orb-web orientation. These changes improve an orb-web's ability to intercept and retain prey and expand the adaptive zone that orb-weaving spiders can occupy and are, therefore, considered to be "key innovations."
Analysis of Clinical Characteristics on Non-occupational Mercury Poisoning Caused by Different Reasons

[Objective] To analyze and compare the clinical characteristics on non-occupational mercury poisoning caused by different reasons.[Methods] Total of 171 hospitalized patients of non-occupational mercury poisoning in Beijing Chaoyang hospital from 2005 to 2009 were divided into three groups according to their exposure reasons,namely environmental pollution group,cosmetic group and folk remedies group.Their clinical symptoms and signs,laboratory indices and therapeutic effects were analyzed.[Results] Among 171 patients,34 cases were in environmental pollution group,90 cases in cosmetic group and 47 cases in folk remedies group.Neurasthenia syndrome,gastrointestinal symptoms,peripheral nerve damage and kidney damage were main manifestations in all patients.Compared with environmental pollution group,the patients in folk remedies group showed more serious symptoms such as irritable,nausea and edema.Compared with application of cosmetics group,it showed more serious symptoms such as irritable,mouth ador,loss of appetite,nausea,abdominal pain,swollen gums and edema,and had more serious proteinuria and significantly increased β2-microglobulin(P 0.05).Urinary mercury level was higher in folk remedies group than the other two groups before treatment by sodium dimercaptosulphonate,and the course of treatment was significantly longer(P 0.05).[Conclusion] The clinical characteristics of non-occupational mercury poisoning caused by various reasons were different.The severer clinical symptoms,the higher levels of urinary mercury,and the longer course of treatment were in patients caused by folk remedies.
Judging doctors-the person and the professional

If society values medical professionals because they possess valuable clinical skills and exercise them with a fiduciary ethic of care towards their patients, we ought to be evaluating physicians on those grounds directly, rather than looking to their behavior after hours.
Reconsidering Gendered Sexualities in a Generalized AIDS Epidemic

Using the threat of a severe AIDS epidemic in a collection of rural villages in South Africa, we illustrate how men and women reconsider gendered sexualities through conversations and interactions in everyday life. We draw from data collected by local ethnographers and focus on the processes through which men and women collectively respond to the threat posed by AIDS to relationships, families, and communities. Whereas previous research has shown that individuals often reaffirm hegemonic norms about gender and sexuality in response to disruptions to heteronormative gender relations, we find that the threat of AIDS provokes reconsideration of gendered sexualities at the community level. That is, our data demonstrate how men and women—through the interactions and exchanges that make up their daily lives—debate, challenge, make sense of, and attempt to come to terms with social norms circumscribing gendered sexual practices in a context where the threat of a fatal disease transmitted through sex looms large....
Longitudinal imaging reveals subhippocampal dynamics in glutamate levels associated with histopathologic events in a mouse model of tauopathy and healthy mice.

Tauopathies are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by abnormal intracellular aggregates of tau protein, and include Alzheimer's disease, corticobasal degeneration, frontotemporal dementia, and traumatic brain injury. Glutamate metabolism is altered in neurodegenerative disorders manifesting in higher or lower concentrations of glutamate, its transporters or receptors. Previously, glutamate chemical exchange saturation transfer (GluCEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated that glutamate levels are reduced in regions of synapse loss in the hippocampus of a mouse model of late-stage tauopathy. We performed a longitudinal GluCEST imaging experiment paired with a cross-sectional study of histologic markers of tauopathy to determine whether (1) early GluCEST changes are associated with synapse loss before volume loss occurs in the hippocampus, and whether (2) subhippocampal dynamics in GluCEST are associated with histopathologic events related to glutamate alterations in tauopathy. Live imaging of the hippocampus in three serial slices was performed without exogenous contrast agents, and subregions were segmented based on a k-means cluster model. Subregions of the hippocampus were analyzed (cornu ammonis CA1, CA3, dentate gyrus DG, and ventricle) in order to associate local MRI-observable changes in glutamate with histological measures of glial cell proliferation (GFAP), synapse density (synaptophysin, VGlut1) and glutamate receptor (NMDA-NR1) levels. Early differences in GluCEST between healthy and tauopathy mice were measured in the CA1 and DG subregions (30% reduction, P ≤ 0.001). Synapse density was also significantly reduced in every subregion of the hippocampus in tauopathy mice by 6 months. Volume was not significantly reduced in any subregion until 13 months. Further, a gradient in glutamate levels was observed in vivo along hippocampal axes that became polarized as tauopathy progressed. Dynamics in hippocampal glutamate levels throughout lifetime were most closely correlated with combined changes in synaptophysin and GFAP, indicating that GluCEST imaging may be a surrogate marker of glutamate concentration in glial cells and at the synaptic level. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Foreign Rebel Sponsorship: A Patron–Client Analysis of Party Viability in Elections Following Negotiated Settlements:

This project examines long-term viability of former rebel parties in postconflict elections following negotiated settlements. Building on a growing literature examining the environmental and organi...
The beads of Indian Knoll

Busycon discs, barrels, rings, and columellas, Leptoxis and Prunum shell beads, and stone and coal beads from Webb and Moore excavations at Indian Knoll (15OH2) are discussed in this paper as the a...
Abstract 20227: Global Myocardial Injury as a New Criterion Independent of Infarct Size and Area-at-risk

Introduction: In acute coronary syndromes, the extent of myocardial injury can be substantially greater than the infarct zone. Existing imaging methods identify the infarct zone but do not assess “...
A modular, community-oriented treatment program.

This paper outlines current deficiencies and inadequacies of hospital-based treatment programs for chronic psychotic patients. The author then describes the specific structure and organization of a new and innovative program in which the basic elements are interpersonal and resocialization emphasis, a thoroughly humanistic and therapeutic milieu, individualized and psychosocially-based treatment of a three-stage and two-setting design, an implemented continuity of care principle extended into the community satellite aftercare center and outpatient phases of treatment, expanded and enriched roles and team approach of staff, and considerable flexibility. Finally, Dr. Galin offers six interesting suggestions for research and evaluation which might demonstrate wide applicability of the program.
Trends in the financial burden of medical care for nonelderly adults with diabetes, 2001 to 2009.

OBJECTIVES To examine trends in out-of-pocket spending and the financial burden of care for persons with diabetes between 2001 and 2009, and to examine whether these trends are consistent with trends in access to prescription drugs and utilization of hospital services. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Data are from the 2001 to 2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). The sample includes persons aged 18 to 64 years with diagnosed diabetes. The primary outcome variable is the percent of people with out-of-pocket spending on insurance premiums and services that exceed 10% of family income. Secondary outcome measures include the percent with diabetes-related prescription drug use, perceived access to prescription drugs, hospital inpatient stays, and emergency department use in the past 12 months. Multiple regression analysis is used to control for changes in comorbid chronic conditions and other characteristics of persons with diabetes. RESULTS Both out-of-pocket spending and the percent with high financial burden decreased markedly for persons with diabetes between 2001 to 2003 and 2007 to 2009. The decrease in spending was driven primarily by a decrease in spending on prescription drugs, including diabetes-related prescriptions. The shift from brand name drugs to generics accounts for much of this decline, although decreases in out-of-pocket spending for both brand name and generic drugs also contributed. During the same period, utilization of and access to diabetes-related prescriptions increased, and hospital use decreased. CONCLUSIONS Although the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes continues to increase, treatment is becoming more affordable, especially prescription drugs. This may offset some of the costs to the healthcare system of higher prevalence by reducing complications of uncontrolled diabetes that result in more costly hospital use.
Sensitivity Analysis of Discrete Models and Application in Biological Networks

Understanding sensitivity is an important step to study system robustness and adaptability. In this work, we model and investigate intra-cellular networks via discrete modeling approach, which assigns a set of discrete values and a deterministic update rule to each model element. The models can be analyzed formally or simulated in a stochastic manner. We propose a comprehensive framework to study sensitivity in these models. In the framework, we define element influence (activity) and sensitivity with respect to the state distribution of the modeled system. Previous sensitivity analysis approaches all assume uniform state distribution, which is usually not true in biology. We perform both static and dynamic sensitivity analysis, the former assuming uniform state distribution, and the latter using a distribution estimated from stochastic simulation trajectories under a particular scenario. Additionally, we extended the element update functions to include weights according to these computed influences. Adding weights generates a weighted directed graph, and therefore, enables identifying key elements in the model and dominant signaling pathways that determine the behavior of the overall model. In the end, we apply our sensitivity analysis framework on pathway extraction in the intra-cellular networks that control T cells differentiation.
Revisiting History, Rethinking Identity: Some Cabo Verdean Profiles in Afro-Jewish Journeys

Religious diversity dates to the founding of Cabo Verdean society by Portuguese explorers in the mid-15th century. Increasing anti-Semitism that claimed Iberia beginning in the last decades of that...
Lepenski Vir chronology and stratigraphy revisited

This article offers a new look at the stratigraphy and chronology of Mesolithic and Neolithic deposits at Lepenski Vir, particularly based on newly available Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) dating and aDNA genomic evidence. It focuses on a detailed analysis of several key contexts for which new radiocarbon dates are available while at the same time reviewing taphonomic and age-offset problems when dating human remains and other materials affected by the aquatic reservoir effect in the Danube Gorges area. The robust chronological evidence as well as available stratigraphic data overwhelmingly show that the start of the main and iconic phase of the occupation of this site, represented by the architecture of trapezoidal buildings and sculpted sandstone boulders, should unequivocally be dated to the period of the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in the last two centuries of the seventh millennium cal BC. At this time, local forager populations of distinct hunter-gatherer genetic ancestry came into contact and mixed with incoming Neolithic, farming populations of north-western Anatolian genetic ancestry, based on the available genomic data but also supported by studies of material culture traditions. The article deals directly with the recent criticism of this chrono-stratigraphic model for Lepenski Vir.
Electrochemical Mechanism of Tellurium Reduction in Alkaline Medium.

A systematic electrochemical study was conducted to investigate the reduction of tellurium (Te) in alkaline solutions. The effect of various parameters, including tellurite ion concentration, applied potential, and pH was investigated by both linear sweep voltammograms (LSVs) and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). EQCM was essential to understand the reduction of Te(0) to soluble Te 2 2 - (-I) or Te2-(-II). The Tafel slopes for two Te reduction reactions [i.e., Te(IV) to Te(0) and Te(0) to Te(-I)] indicated that the electrochemical reduction of Te is strongly dependent on solution pH, whereas it is independent of the concentration of TeO 3 2 - . At relatively weaker alkaline solutions (i.e., pH ≤ 12.5), the discharge of Te ( OH ) 3 + was determined to be the rate-limiting step during the reduction of Te(IV) to Te(0). For the reduction of Te(0) to Te(-I), the reaction follows a four-step reaction, which consisted of two discharge and two electrochemical reactions. The second discharge reaction was the rate-limiting step when pH ≤12.5 with the Tafel slope of 120 mV/decade. At a higher pH of 14.7, the Tafel slope was shifted to be 40 mV/decade, which indicated that the rate-limiting step was altered to the second electrochemical reaction. Te(0) deposits were found either on the surface of an electrode or in the solution depending on pH due to the different rate-limiting reactions, revealing that pH was a key parameter to dictate the morphology of the Te(0) deposits in alkaline media.
Evidence that eye-facing photophores serve as a reference for counterillumination in an order of deep-sea fishes

Counterillumination, the masking of an animal's silhouette with ventral photophores, is found in a number of mesopelagic taxa but is difficult to employ because it requires that the animal match th...
Inelasticity increases the critical strain for the onset of creases on hydrogels

Abstract When a soft material (gel, elastomer, or biological tissue) is compressed beyond a critical strain, its smooth surface forms creases. During this process, a material particle near a crease undergoes a path of load and unload. If the material is elastic, the load and unload do not dissipate energy, and the crease sets in at a critical strain about 0.35. If the material is inelastic, however, the load and unload dissipate energy, and the crease is expected to set in at a higher critical strain. Here we study the effect of inelasticity on the onset of creases using alginate-polyacrylamide hydrogels. Such a hydrogel consists of two interpenetrating polymer networks: a polyacrylamide network of covalent crosslinks, and an alginate network of ionic crosslinks. The former is stretchy and elastic, while the latter unzips at a small stretch and causes inelasticity. We prepare alginate-polyacrylamide hydrogels with various degrees of inelasticity by varying the concentration of alginate. Our experiment confirms that larger degree of inelasticity leads to larger critical strain for crease. This study shows an example that the chemistry of materials affects the mechanics of creases.
When Sociology Meets Geography: Spatial Variations in Jewish Family Types

This paper provides additional data to complement Harriet Hartman’s open systems model of family presented as part of her Sklare address. Recognition of spatial variations in Jewish family types is important in understanding the “environment” in which Jewish families operate. The impact of family type on Jewish connectivity, which in Hartman’s open systems model can be viewed as a “family output,” is also addressed.
Empiric evidence of ethnic disparities in coronavirus positivity in Washington State.

Early reports from the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic reveal ethnic disparities in coronavirus incidence, severity, and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between ...
DO CONHECIMENTO MÍSTICO AO CIENTÍFICO: QUEM EXPLICA O UNIVERSO?

O homem, visando compreender o universo, produz uma pluralidade de conhecimentos: lendas, mitos, conhecimento cientifico entre outros. Assim, conhecer os diferentes tipos de conhecimento e fundamental para a valorizacao e respeito aos aspectos socioculturais dos diferentes povos. Nessa perspectiva compartilho uma experiencia de sequencia didatica com abordagem sociocultural estruturada a partir dos tres momentos pedagogicos de Delizoicov para uma turma do ensino fundamental de uma escola publica de Serra –ES a partir da tematica ‘O universo’. Palavras-chave: Ensino de Astronomia. Ensino de Ciencias;.Sequencia Didatica. Sociocultural.
Oxide Films Formed on Inconel 600 and Inconel 690 in Simulated PWR Primary Water Environment

In this paper, we have investigated the surface films formed on Inconel 600 and Inconel690 in high-temperature and high-pressure water by using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.The inner layer of the surface film on Inconel 600 is a thin continuous Cr2O3 layer, and the outer layer is composed of discrete FeCr2O4/NiFe2O4 particles. The surface film on Inconel 690 is consisted of Cr2O3 solely. There are at least two possible explanations for the discrepancies in the identities of the surface oxides as found in the present SERS study versus those reported by other researchers. First, there is a significant difference in the time of corrosion. Second,it might also be explained by differences in the concentrations of aqueous metal cations. In this paper, the correlation between surface films with the corrosion time, materials of construction for the autoclaves and water loops is discussed.
Evaluation and Management of Toxicological Causes of Delirium

Delirium secondary to a toxic ingestion is a common presentation in the emergency department. The offending drug is often unknown, and history is often limited, making identification of the culprit xenobiotic difficult. We present a review of commonly ingested drug overdoses and toxidromes to assist in rapid diagnosis and treatment of these clinically challenging patients. There is a frequent overlap in the clinical presentation of many toxic ingestions. Key physical exam, electrocardiographic, and toxic-metabolic findings can help identify these drugs and direct early therapy. There are limited randomized controlled trials for many treatment strategies in the intoxicated patient, but recent large observational and meta-analysis have improved the understanding and utility of common antidotes. Early identification of the correct toxidrome and offending agent is important to initiate life-saving treatment. Early involvement of local toxicologists is essential to assist in management of these patients.
By wind or wing: pollination syndromes and alternate bearing in horticultural systems.

Cyclical fluctuations in reproductive output are widespread among perennial plants, from multi-year masting cycles in forest trees to alternate bearing in horticultural crops. In natural systems, e...
Race Differences in Patterns of Risky Behavior and Associated Risk Factors in Adolescence

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), this study expands on previous research by (a) examining differences across race in patterns or "subgroups" of adolescents based on nine self-reported behaviors (e.g., delinquency, substance use, risky sexual practices) and (b) comparing the risk factors (e.g., peer association, parenting, neighborhood cohesion), both within and across the race-specific subgroups, related to membership into the identified latent classes. The data used in this study include respondents aged 13 to 17 who participated in Waves 1 and 2 of the Add Health in-home interview. Latent class analysis (LCA) identified key differences in the number and characteristics of the latent classes across the racial subgroups. In addition, both similarities and differences in the risk factors for membership into the latent classes were identified across and within the race-specific subgroups. Implications for understanding risky behavior in adolescence, as well as directions for future research, are discussed.
Marital Agreements and Private Autonomy in the United States

This essay is a draft of a chapter that will appear in Marital Agreements and Private Autonomy in a Comparative Perspective. It provides a critical overview of the current American law on the enforceability of premarital and marital agreements in the United States. The book as a whole will provide such an overview for a selection of countries in Europe and elsewhere. Each chapter also describes the default rules that apply in the absence of an agreement.
John A. Turner: Longevity Policy: Facing Up to Longevity Issues Affecting Social Security, Pensions, and Older Workers

This book has four basic purposes. The first is to define the problems created for all countries by the increasing longevity of the workforce. The increased longevity of the workforce itself, given the current customary retirement age, increases the number of years that recipients would draw on a retirement system relative to the years spent paying in, thus representing additional cost to a retirement system. This effect is compounded by the setting of low early retirement ages; that also adds to the number of years workers draw on a system. Even though the benefit level may have been reduced, the increased longevity may more than offset the cost saving. The second is consideration of the issues surrounding whether or not older workers can successfully extend their working lives. Not only are workers living longer, but they have improved levels of general health and lower disability rates than two decades ago. In addition there has been a decline in the physical effort required in many jobs. Both of these trends imply that it would be feasible for older workers to extend their working lives. The policy issue is really how to remove barriers to older workers finding employment, such as age discrimination. The third purpose is to consider the specific problems relating to the U.S. Social Security system. The U.S. Social Security System is a “pay-as-you-go” system, with current workers contributions paying for the benefits of those who have retired. On key issue is the dependency ratio which is the number of people drawing benefits relative to the number of workers paying for those benefits. The aging population has produced a rise in the dependency ratio which raises the cost to current workers of providing the benefits for current retirees. The policy prescriptions, detailed below, are designed to stabilize the dependency ratio by changing the ages of eligibility for drawing benefits. J Labor Res (2012) 33:284–285 DOI 10.1007/s12122-012-9137-x
A data review and re-assessment of ovarian cancer serum proteomic profiling

The early detection of ovarian cancer has the potential to dramatically reduce mortality. Recently, the use of mass spectrometry to develop profiles of patient serum proteins, combined with advanced data mining algorithms has been reported as a promising method to achieve this goal. In this report, we analyze the Ovarian Dataset 8-7-02 downloaded from the Clinical Proteomics Program Databank website, using nonparametric statistics and stepwise discriminant analysis to develop rules to diagnose patients, as well as to understand general patterns in the data that may guide future research. The mass spectrometry serum profiles derived from cancer and controls exhibited numerous statistical differences. For example, use of the Wilcoxon test in comparing the intensity at each of the 15,154 mass to charge (M/Z) values between the cancer and controls, resulted in the detection of 3,591 M/Z values whose intensities differed by a p-value of 10-6 or less. The region containing the M/Z values of greatest statistical difference between cancer and controls occurred at M/Z values less than 500. For example the M/Z values of 2.7921478 and 245.53704 could be used to significantly separate the cancer from control groups. Three other sets of M/Z values were developed using a training set that could distinguish between cancer and control subjects in a test set with 100% sensitivity and specificity. The ability to discriminate between cancer and control subjects based on the M/Z values of 2.7921478 and 245.53704 reveals the existence of a significant non-biologic experimental bias between these two groups. This bias may invalidate attempts to use this dataset to find patterns of reproducible diagnostic value. To minimize false discovery, results using mass spectrometry and data mining algorithms should be carefully reviewed and benchmarked with routine statistical methods.
Some Techniques of Reducing the Dangers of Combinatorial Explosion in Automatic Knowledge Acquisition

The danger of getting into a combinatorial explosion has remained probably the most serious impediment to using knowledge-based systems for real-life problems. Justifiable heuristics must cut down the size of potentially huge search spaces to a realistic and manageable size - without jeopardizing the success of finding satisfactory solutions. This paper describes some techniques that have proved to be effective in the operation of two different systems: the Quasi-Optimizer (QO) and the Generalized Production Rule System (GPRS). The QO is a domain-independent automatic knowledge acquisition tool that can obtain, verify, fuse and optimize human expertise. It generates computer models, descriptive theories, of human decision making strategies, and can also select and combine the best components of several such models into a single strategy which may be considered a normative theory in the statistical sense. The techniques developed to reduce the danger of combinatorial explosion with the QO include selecting the most independent (near-orthogonal) decision variables, chunking conceptually coherent decision variables, eliminating statistical outlier values, and using dynamically evolving experimental designs to result in a near-uniform reliability distribution of the strategy responses. The GPRS can estimate/predict values of hidden variables and can thus serve as a module of an expert system in need of numerical or functional estimates of hidden variable values. (Hidden variables can be observed and measured only intermittently and at irregular points of time and space - in contrast with open variables whose values can be identified at any time and location.) The estimation is based on generalized production rules expressing stochastic and potentially causal relations between known values of hidden variables and certain mathematical properties of the open variable distribution. A multi-dimensional learning process adds to, consolidates and optimizes the generalized rule base. It gradually merges “similar enough” production rules, and eliminates spurious and statistically not justifiable ones. Such processes reduce the danger of combinatorial explosions in knowledge acquisition. Finally, we note that human decision makers appear to resort to similar methods, although in a less systematic manner, when they are confronted with very large decision spaces.
Hubble space telescope pointing control system simulation

A time domain simulation of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) pointing control system is described. The simulation was developed to aid in the evaluation of moving target pointing algorithms and to serve as an analysis tool. The HST pointing control system is briefly described, and the time domain simulation is discussed. A typical simulation result for moving target tracking is presented.
Isolation of a disulfide-stabilized, three-chain polypeptide fragment unique to the precursor of human collagen.

Cultured human diploid fibroblasts were labeled with [3H]-tryptophan, and the three-chain precursor of collagen in the medium was identified by immunoprecipitation and gel electrophoresis. [3H]Tryptophan was incorporated into the nonhelical, NH2-terminal extensions of the pro-α1 and pro-α2 chains of the precursor. Collagenase digestion of the helical segment of the precursor molecule left intact a disulfide-assembled protein fragment which contained all of the incorporated radioactivity. Reduction and alkylation of the fragment confirmed that it consisted of three chains of similar molecular weight. Large scale recovery of the labeled fragment was performed using gel filtration, collagenase digestion, and ion exchange chromatography. Immune precipitation showed that the isolated fragment was still antigenically reactive. The molecular weights of the fragment and its constituent chains were determined from their electrophoretic mobilities in sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gels, from their elution positions in Sephadex gels, and by analytical ultracentrifugation. The latter two methods gave a molecular weight of 75,000 to 80,000 for the intact fragment and 25,000 for the component chains released by reduction. The electrophoretic data gave somewhat higher molecular weights, which were judged to be anomalous. The fragment had an amino acid composition quite different from that of collagen: it was poorer in glycine and proline, it contained half-cystine residues, and 23% of its residues were derived from aspartate and glutamate.
Elucidation of RNA initiation (DNA promoter?) sequences in T4 DNA transcription using Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and dinucleoside monophosphates.

The RNA polymerase reaction can be divided into four main steps: (a) binding to DNA, (b) chain initiation, (c) chain propagation, and (d) chain termination. Steps (a) and (b) seem to be intimately related to each other.
Effect of Some Lubricant and Engine Variables on Instantaneous Piston and Ring Assembly Friction

The Instantaneous IMEP method has been used to measure piston and ring assembly friction in a production Chevrolet 1.8 litre L-4 and a 5 litre V-8 engine modified for single-cylinder operation. Friction measurements are reported at different loads and speeds up to 1640 RPM under firing and motoring conditions with various oils and before and after break-in of the oil ring. Oils used were SAE viscosity grades 30, 50 and 30 with a friction modifier. Differences were found between motoring and firing friction, especially on the power and exhaust strokes. These differences diminished at higher speeds and lower loads where lubrication was more hydrodynamic. Differences in response to viscosity and friction modifier changes were noted between the two engines.
WHY ARE URBAN TRAVEL TIMES SO STABLE

Personal travel time in U.S. urban areas has been stable, clashing with the assertion that urban sprawl greatly lengthens travel. Average commute time rises by 7.7 percent with each cross- sectional doubling of Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) jobs. Using the RELU-TRAN structural computable general equilibrium model of the Chicago MSA, we simulate the equilibrium effects of a 24 percent population increase projected from 2000 to 2030 by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. If no new road capacity is added, then congestion per mile increases. Although the urbanized land area increases by 19 percent, indicating sprawl, the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per car-trip decreases by 1.31 percent and the VMT per car-trip to work decreases by 2.78 percent. Car travel time increases by only 6.25 percent and commuting time by only 4.54 percent, from 30.3 minutes in 2000 to 31.7 in 2030 or 3.4 seconds per year. We further explore the effects of new road capacity, gasoline prices, public transit speed, fuel economy gains, limits on suburban construction, and importantly, the cross-elasticity of public transit use with respect to car times. The availability of public transportation, economizing on nonwork travel, and land use adjustments that increase job-residence proximity keep times stable.
Going Regional: The Evolution of an Organizing Strategy in Detroit:

In contexts of entrenched metropolitan inequality and limited local resources, organizers and community activists often feel a sense of urgency to target higher levels of government. This paper off...
Failure of Xanthopterin to Influence Hematopoiesis and Growth in Rats.

Summary1. A purified diet containing sulfathiazole produced a hemolytic anemia of variable intensity which could not be completely reversed either by pteroylglutamic acid or by xanthopterin in any of the doses used.2. Rats fed a purified diet containing succinylsulfathiazole developed leukopenia and an inhibition of growth which responded to PGA, but not to xanthopterin.3. In similar rats fed a purified diet containing succinylsulfathiazole, but made anemic by repeated hemorrhage, PGA induced definite erythropoietic, leukopoietic and growth responses, while xanthopterin was inactive.