cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bridging the continuum-discontinuum gap in the theory of diffuse reflectance

A system of equations described by Benford relate the absorption and remission properties of a layer of a material to the properties of any other thickness of the material. R, the fraction of light remitted from an infinitely thick sample, may be calculated from Benford's equations by increasing the sample thickness until the total remission converges to its upper limit. The fractions of light absorbed (a0) and remitted (r0) by a very thin layer may be similarly calculated. The relationship A(r,t) = [(1 – r)2 – t2] / r = (2 – a – 2r) a / r = 2 a0 / r0 = (1 – R)2 / R describes an Absorption/Remission Function for the material as a function of a, r and t, the fractions of light absorbed, remitted and transmitted by a specified layer. This is a more general expression than the widely used Kubelka–Munk equation, but gives results equivalent to it for the case of infinitesimal particles.
Synthesis Of Nonlinear Non-Monotonic Functions In Optical Image Processing

When halftone screens are used to realize monotonic or non-monotonic nonlinear point transfer functions in a coherent optical system, the screens are usually composed of periodically repeated cells which are themselves monotonic in density. This is not necessary, and an algorithm for generating non-monotonic cells yielding a desired transfer function in the first diffraction order is described. In practice, the photographic operations are non-ideal and change the nonlinear characteristics from input to output. The effects of low film gamma and low film saturation density can be calculated, and, to some extent, compensated a priori.© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Analysis of a regional middle Paleozoic unconformity along the distal southeastern Laurentian margin, southernmost Appalachians: Implications for tectonic evolution

The highly allochthonous Talladega belt in the southernmost Appalachian orogen of Alabama and Georgia represents the most completely preserved outboard fragment of the early Paleozoic Laurentian continental margin in this part of the orogen. Palinspastic restoration indicates that this Alleghanian thrust sheet was originally located at or near this continental margin. The Talladega belt is within a structural recess (Alabama recess) in the orogen, which is interpreted to have originated as a continental promontory during the opening and initial closing of the Iapetus ocean. Because continental promontories protrude oceanward along a continental margin, any significant early deformation of this margin should be recorded within this thrust sheet. Regional geologic mapping has revealed a middle Paleozoic regional unconformity within this belt, and distortion of this unconformity by late Paleozoic regional folding provides for examination of subcrop geometries below the unconformity over a large area (∼640 km 2 ). Retrodeformation of the late Paleozoic folds indicates that only very mild deformation predated the unconformity. The origin of this early deformation is unclear. Possibilities include very mild contractional deformation during the Taconic orogeny, or folding associated with wrench or extensional faulting during Silurian(?)-Devonian Acadian successor-basin formation. If the latter is the case, then no vestiges of Taconic deformation can be found in this outboard fragment of the margin, implying that a major continental promontory at the southwesternmost Laurentian margin may have escaped any significant effects of this orogeny.
Memories of suffering: Exploring the life story narratives of twice-widowed elderly women

Abstract Narratives of suffering often reflect remembered accounts of past traumas and other significant events in individuals' lives that they deem worthy of public presentation and feel comfortable enough to share. This paper examines the life stories of three elderly women who were widowed early in life (“off-time”), eventually remarried, and were later re-widowed “on time.” Their narratives illustrate the complexities of the transitions from wife to widow and from widowhood to remarriage and back again. Commonalities and differences in the narrative are explored, including how suffering was revealed, with an emphasis on understanding the utility of what the women chose to remember, tried to forget, and opted to reveal about their lives. Also considered is their outright rejection of the identity “widow.” Within the broader discussion of remembering and suffering, how individual histories contextualize reactions to subsequent events is also explored.
Thermodynamics of dissipative materials with entropic elasticity

Polymer solutions and melts can both dissipate mechanical energy in flow, as well as accumulate elastic energy. If the assumption is made that elastic energy can be accumulated only through a decrease of conformational entropy, the general thermodynamic theory for non-linear viscoelastic materials simplifies considerably. In particular, though no generality is lost as far as the constitutive equation for stress is concerned, the energy equation, which allows in principle a calculation of temperature distributions arising from frictional heating and heat removal, reduces to the usual form which is valid for viscous materials.
Functional determinants of human enteric α-defensin HD5: crucial role for hydrophobicity at dimer interface.

Human α-defensins are cationic peptides that self-associate into dimers and higher-order oligomers. They bind protein toxins, such as anthrax lethal factor (LF), and kill bacteria, including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, among other functions. There are six members of the human α-defensin family: four human neutrophil peptides, including HNP1, and two enteric human defensins, including HD5. We subjected HD5 to comprehensive alanine scanning mutagenesis. We then assayed LF binding by surface plasmon resonance, LF activity by enzyme kinetic inhibition, and antibacterial activity by the virtual colony count assay. Most mutations could be tolerated, resulting in activity comparable with that of wild type HD5. However, the L29A mutation decimated LF binding and bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. A series of unnatural aliphatic and aromatic substitutions at position 29, including aminobutyric acid (Abu) and norleucine (Nle) correlated hydrophobicity with HD5 function. The crystal structure of L29Abu-HD5 depicted decreased hydrophobic contacts at the dimer interface, whereas the Nle-29-HD5 crystal structure depicted a novel mode of dimerization with parallel β strands. The effect of mutating Leu29 is similar to that of a C-terminal hydrophobic residue of HNP1, Trp26. In addition, in order to further clarify the role of dimerization in HD5 function, an obligate monomer was generated by N-methylation of the Glu21 residue, decreasing LF binding and antibacterial activity against S. aureus. These results further characterize the dimer interface of the α-defensins, revealing a crucial role of hydrophobicity-mediated dimerization.
The synthesis of a geminally perfluoro-tert-butylated beta-amino acid and its protected forms as a potential pharmacokinetic modulator and reporter for peptide-based pharmaceuticals.

To modulate and report the pharmacokinetics of peptide-based pharmaceuticals, a novel geminally perfluoro-tert-butylated β-amino acid (βFa) and its Fmoc- and Boc-protected forms were designed and synthesized. βFa was incorporated into a model tripeptide via standard solid-phase chemistry. Both the amino acid (free and protected) and the tripeptide show a sharp singlet 19F NMR signal. Reversed-phase chromatography and 1-octanol/water partition measurements demonstrate that βFa is extremely hydrophobic.
Detection of sentinel nodes for endometrial cancer with robotic assisted fluorescence imaging: cervical versus hysteroscopic injection.

Objective Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping with indocyanine green (ICG) detected by robotic near infrared (NIR) imaging is a feasible technique. The optimal site of injection (cervical or endometrial) for endometrial cancer has yet to be determined. We prospectively evaluated SLN mapping after cervical and endometrial injections of ICG to compare the detection rates and patterns of nodal distribution. Methods Twenty-nine subjects with endometrial cancer undergoing robotic hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy by a single surgeon received SLN mapping with robotic fluorescence imaging. Seventeen patients received cervical injections of 1 mg of ICG and 12 patients received hysteroscopic endometrial injections of 0.5-mg ICG. Detection rates between the 2 groups were compared using Fisher exact tests. Continuous variables such as operating room times and body mass index were compared using t tests. Results The SLN detection rate was 82% (14/17) for cervical and 33% (4/12) for hysteroscopic injection (P = 0.027). Sentinel lymph nodes were seen bilaterally in 57% (8/14) of the cervical injection group and 50% (2/4) of the hysteroscopic group. Para-aortic SLNs were seen in 71% (10/14) of patients who mapped after cervical injection and 75% (3/4) patients who mapped after hysteroscopic injection. There was 1 false-negative SLN in the cervical injection group. Conclusions Cervical ICG injection achieves a higher SLN detection rate and a similar anatomic nodal distribution as hysteroscopic endometrial injection for SLN mapping in patients with endometrial cancer.
Hierarchical population structure analysis of the milkweed beetle, Tetraopes tetraophthalmus (Forster)

Hierarchical population structure analysis of the milkweed beetle, Tetraopes tetraophthalmus (Forster)
Markov chain small-world model with asymmetry: A unified and multivariate perspective

An extended Markov chain small-world network model involving asymmetric transitions is further investigated here. Exact results on the maximum mean first passage time are established. These results also unify the special symmetric case, which was studied by Catral, Neumann, and Xu and Higham, respectively. In addition, they allow the model to be approached in a new, multivariate perspective, which is not feasible with existing asymptotic results. An interesting outcome from this study is that the small-world phenomenon on the model is largely enhanced while passing from the symmetric case to the asymmetric case. This is in accordance with some recent results obtained from numerical simulation on an extended Watts-Strogatz model.
A frequency response parametrization of all stabilizing controllers for discrete time systems

In this paper, we present new results that are useful for the synthesis of fixed order digital controllers from plant frequency response data. The main result is a nonparametric characterization of the frequency response of arbitrary order rational discrete time stabilizing controllers. This result shows that the frequency response of the inverse plant imposes constraints on the magnitude, phase, and rate of change of phase of the digital controller's frequency response at certain frequencies.
Services for deploying web-based online courses

Online courses offer students opportunities to participate in classes on their own schedule from anywhere in the world. Offering an online lab-based course, however, has always been a challenge due to the difficulty in accessing a real lab environment. The Department of Networking, Security, and Systems Administration at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has successfully deployed advanced online technologies to develop a series of online lab-based courses including the Web-security auditing course. The auditing course is designed to teach students processes and procedures for auditing Web Applications and Services, and develop students' ability to apply appropriate tools to conduct Web Servers and Applications auditing in the real world. In this paper, the author uses the online Web-auditing course as a case study to demonstrate the use of current advanced technologies for deploying online education. Equipped with only a Web browser, students from all over the world are able to access lecture materials, work on labs in virtual environments, take exams and make presentations. The author believes the model introduced in this paper will be the future model to deliver education services.
A comparison of different methods for the calculation of the chemical potentials of polymer systems

In an earlier publication we had presented a Monte Carlo method to calculate the incremental chemical potential between a chain of length v and one of length v+1 at any density. (Ref.9) In this paper we begin by formally proving that the chemical potential of a whole chain of length v can be obtained by sequentially summing the incremental chemical potentials of all chains whose lengths are smaller than v under the same conditions. We then compare the numerical value of chain chemical potentials computed in this fashion to those obtained by inserting whole chains into the simulation cell following the configurational bias procedure proposed by Smit and Frenkel. (Ref.5) It is found, for the two cases considered here, that the results obtained from the two different calculations agree within simulation uncertainty, thus verifying the validity of the proposed arguments.
MEMS Accelerometer Fabricated Using Printed Circuit Processing Techniques

This paper reports a MEMS capacitive-type accelerometer fabricated using printed circuit processing techniques. A Kapton polymide film is used as the structural layer for fabricating the MEMS accelerometer. The accelerometer proof mass along with four suspension beams are defined in the Kapton polyimide film. The proof mass is suspended above a Teflon substrate using a spacer. The deflection of the proof mass is detected using a pair of capacitive sensing electrodes. The top electrode of the accelerometer is defined on the top surface of the Kapton film. The bottom electrode is defined in the metallization on the Teflon substrate. The initial gap height between the bottom electrode and the Kapton film is approximately 40 mum. For an applied external acceleration/deceleration (normal to the proof mass), the proof mass deflects towards or away from the fixed bottom electrode due to inertial force. This deflection causes either a decrease or increase in the air gap height thereby either increasing or decreasing the capacitance between the top and the bottom electrodes. An example PCB MEMS accelerometer with a square proof mass of membrane area 6.4 mm times 6.4 mm is reported. The measured resonant frequency of 375 Hz and the Q-factor in air is 1.5.
Constitutional Subordinate Autonomy: Serving Multiple Masters—A Normative Theory in Practice

This article explores Rohr's concept of constitutional subordinate autonomy: public administrators exercising discretion to maintain the constitutional balance of powers among the three branches. In-depth interviews with mid-level administrators representing nine federal organizations provide rich illustrations that reveal the usefulness and limitations of this concept. The article concludes that although average administrators may not explicitly think of their role in constitutional terms, the concept of subordinate autonomy is relevant to examples from their careers where they have exercised discretion. Furthermore, the concept provides an important way of thinking about the role of the public administrator that both legitimizes and provides a principled basis for responding to situations involving responsiveness to multiple constitutional masters.
Coastal Orographic Rainfall Processes Observed by Radar during the California Land-Falling Jets Experiment

Abstract Radar and rain gauge observations collected in coastal mountains during the California Land-Falling Jets Experiment (CALJET) are used to diagnose the bulk physical properties of rainfall during a wet winter season (January–March 1998). Three rainfall types were clearly distinguishable by differences in their vertical profiles of radar reflectivity and Doppler vertical velocity: nonbright band, bright band, and hybrid (seeder–feeder). The contribution of each rainfall type to the total rainfall observed at the radar site (1841 mm) was determined by a new, objective algorithm. While hybrid rain occurred most often, nonbrightband rain (NBB rain) contributed significantly (28%) to the total. This paper focuses on characterizing NBB rain because of the need to document this key physical process and because of its impact on Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) precipitation surveillance capabilities. NBB rain is a quasi-steady, shallow rain process that does not exhibit a radar bright band...
Polyimidines — A New Class of Polymers

Intensive research has occurred in the last twenty years concerning the synthesis and processing of thermally stable polymers1–3. Early explorations in this area can be traced back to the late fifties impelled by the discovery of heterocyclic and aromatic amide polymers, which had the ability to withstand extreme temperatures.
Inelastic transient dynamic analysis of three‐dimensional problems by BEM

A general direct boundary element formulation and its numerical implementation for solving transient dynamic problems of three-dimensional isotropic homogeneous or piecewise homogeneous solids involving material nonlinearities are presented. The algorithm produces accurate results for static nonlinear problems by using large time steps. When a large value of yield stress is selected, the incremental inelastic transient algorithm produces results identical to those obtained by elastodynamic analysis.
Teaching Creativity and Inventive Problem Solving in Science

Engaging learners in the excitement of science, helping them discover the value of evidence-based reasoning and higher-order cognitive skills, and teaching them to become creative problem solvers have long been goals of science education reformers. But the means to achieve these goals, especially methods to promote creative thinking in scientific problem solving, have not become widely known or used. In this essay, I review the evidence that creativity is not a single hard-to-measure property. The creative process can be explained by reference to increasingly well-understood cognitive skills such as cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control that are widely distributed in the population. I explore the relationship between creativity and the higher-order cognitive skills, review assessment methods, and describe several instructional strategies for enhancing creative problem solving in the college classroom. Evidence suggests that instruction to support the development of creativity requires inquiry-based teaching that includes explicit strategies to promote cognitive flexibility. Students need to be repeatedly reminded and shown how to be creative, to integrate material across subject areas, to question their own assumptions, and to imagine other viewpoints and possibilities. Further research is required to determine whether college students' learning will be enhanced by these measures.
A mixed-signal MIMO beamforming receiver

This paper presents a mixed signal MIMO beamforming architecture based on the oversampling and coarse quantization. Due to the strenuous dynamic range and power consumption requirements on analog-to-digital converters (ADC) in fully digital implementations of MIMO systems, a mixed-mode implementation is examined. To achieve an analog implementation of a MIMO beamforming receiver, simultaneous gain and phase-shift control in each receive path is needed. The architecture introduced in this paper both relaxes analog circuit requirements and accomplishes simultaneous gain and phase control for each antenna.
A Best Known Method for Forming a Multi-Fab Cost Reduction Infrastructure and Applying Innovative Cost Reduction Techniques in Diffusion.

In advanced semiconductor manufacturing, capital equipment depreciation drives a significant fixed cost in producing products. In order to remain competitive in the flash memory segment cost reduction aspects need to be in focus and it is imperative to put plans and actions in place in order to reduce the wafer cost in the early stages of the technology development. This paper presents a best known method (BKM) that describes a multi-factory cost infrastructure. The development and implementation of this BKM resulted in cost reduction, and specifically focused on the various cost reduction techniques applied in the diffusion clean room functional area. To date, 22% capital cost reduction has been attained for Intel Corporation in the diffusion area between Q1 '04 to Q2 '05, across the 200 mm network
The Role of Contextual Constraints and Chronic Expectancies on Behavior Categorizations and Dispositional Inferences

The authors examined the roles of chronic expectancies and other contextual information in the dispositional inference process within the domain of ability judgments. Prior to viewing a videotaped performance under either cognitive load or no load, participants in Studies 1 and 2 were given additional information designed to constrain their categorizations of the performance. In Study 2, chronic future-event expectancies also were assessed. Analyses revealed that when under cognitive load, participants’ ability inferences were assimilated to the constraint information (Studies 1 and 2) and to chronic expectancies (Study 2). Furthermore, Study 2 analyses revealed that these effects were mediated by participants’ behavior categorizations. Evidence suggestive of a proceduralized form of correction for task difficulty (Studies 1 and 2) and an effortful, awareness-based correction for the constraint information and for chronic expectancies also was found. Results are examined in light of recent models of the dispositional inference process.
Girls Gone Wild? Heterosexual Women's Same-Sex Encounters at College Parties

Our purpose was to explore a relatively new sexual behavior—heterosexual women kissing one another publicly at college parties. Popular press articles suggest this is a common occurrence among college women, but no known psychological research has been conducted on its prevalence or meaning. In Study 1, we conducted an online survey of students at a private, residential college to ascertain the prevalence of this behavior. Results indicated that a substantial minority of women (33%) had engaged in this behavior, and the majority of participants (69%), both male and female, had observed this behavior. In Study 2, we recruited heterosexual women who reported having kissed another woman at a college party. We collected open-ended responses from 77 women via a questionnaire and 27 of these women also completed a semistructured interview. Thematic analyses revealed characteristics of the social context that encouraged this behavior, including pressure to so engage, high levels of alcohol consumption, heterosex...
Phase Transitions and Thermal Expansion of 10mol%Sc2O3-1mol% CeO2-ZrO2 Ceramics

Phase transitions and CTE of 10mol%Sc2 O3 -1mol%CeO2 -ZrO2 ceramics sintered from two commercial powders produced by Praxair Surface Technologies, USA and DKKK, Japan are studied. Morphology of powders and grain structure of ceramics were studied by SEM and AFM. Ceramics produced from Praxair powder exist in cubic phase while DKKK-based ceramics exhibit slow phase transformation from cubic to rhombohedral (β) phase at temperatures 350–400°C. c-β Phase transition temperature is 440°C obtained by high temperature x-ray diffractometry (HTXRD) and differential scanning calorimetry. Coefficients of thermal expansion of cubic and β-phases were calculated from temperature dependence of lattice parameters obtained by HTXRD in the temperature range of 25–800°C. These results can be further used for the optimal design of SOFC layered structures as well as for determination of their reliability and durability under operational conditions.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Clearing the Air for Efficient Spectrum: A Hybrid Approach Towards Market Driven Reallocation in 2014

This paper addresses the impact that current FCC spectrum policy has on spectrum distribution, and why current trends in media usage mandate changes to this system that do not include the government’s current repacking plans. The paper argues that the FCC should remove the current FCC allocation system based on communication categories, and implement in its place, a regulatory system that addresses high-level networks with aggregated distribution platforms, and utilize an "open wireless" model where possible to promote innovation and band efficiency. The boundaries on exclusive licenses should be structured around consumption metrics, i.e. bits exchanged, resulting as the sum of all parts of the transferred data. The current controversy over the repacking of the TV bands supports the argument that the FCC should make these proposed changes sooner rather than later to avoid disruption. Several recent laws have given the FCC greater authority to reallocate some of the TV bands to support new wireless data services. This process of repackaging is proving difficult given certain inflexibilities in the current spectrum classification scheme that allocates spectrum based on media platform. As Internet communications have changed the methods by which consumers use media, for example, a TV can be a means of accessing radio, the computer can be a TV source, and the Internet serves most telephone needs, the ability to correctly classify spectrum using traditional means is ineffective. This has resulted in the inefficient distribution of spectrum, and encumbered "white spaces" during a time when spectrum available for wireless broadband applications is under increasing strain.
Prediction accuracy of preinstalled formulas on 2 optical biometers.

Purpose To evaluate how well partial coherence interferometry (PCI) (IOLMaster) and optical low-coherence reflectometry (OLCR) (Lenstar LS 900) predict postoperative refractions using only the formulas that come preinstalled on the machines. Setting Private practice, Saint Joseph, Michigan, USA. Design Retrospective consecutive case series. Methods Eyes were measured with 2 biometers before cataract surgery. Six formulas were ranked by machine. Formulas were also ranked for extremely long and short eyes by averaging the ranks of 6 statistics (mean error, mean absolute error, standard deviation [SD], maximum error, and percentage of eyes within ±0.5 diopter [D] and ±1.0 D of prediction). Results Formulas were ranked by the SD of the prediction errors. The OLCR device outperformed the PCI device using the preinstalled formulas. The Olsen formula performed the best (0.378) but was preinstalled on the OLCR device only. Other formulas had the following SDs (OLCR device first, PCI device second): Haigis (0.393, 0.401), Holladay 1 (0.408, 0.414), Hoffer Q (0.428, 0.432), SRK/T (0.433, 0.440), and SRK II (0.623, 0.633). Rankings for long eye were (first to last) were Olsen, Haigis, SRK/T, Hoffer Q, and Holladay 1. Rankings for short eyes were Olsen, Haigis, Holladay 1, SRK/T, and Hoffer Q. Conclusions The OLCR device outperformed the PCI device using the Olsen formula. The Olsen formula also ranked first for short eyes and long eyes. Other formulas performed about the same on both machines. The SRK II formula should be avoided. Financial Disclosure Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Human Dbf4/ASK promoter is activated through the Sp1 and MluI cell-cycle box (MCB) transcription elements.

Dbf4 is the regulatory subunit of Cdc7 kinase, which is essential for entry into and traversing through S phase. The level of Dbf4, which is critical for the activation of Cdc7, is regulated by transcription and protein degradation. To gain a better understanding as to how the transcription of human Dbf4 (HuDbf4) is regulated, we have cloned and characterized its promoter. We found that HuDbf4 core promoter is localized within −211 to −285 of the translation start-codon. This 75 bp DNA segment contains, among others, a putative MluI Cell-cycle Box (MCB). A point mutation within the MCB dramatically reduced the promoter activity. This is the first example that an MCB element plays an essential role in the activation of a core promoter in mammalian cells. The auxiliary elements required for the full promoter activity are present within 162-bp upstream from the core promoter (i.e., −286/−447). A point mutation within the Sp1 element at −353/−361 resulted in a decrease of promoter activity to the basal level, while the deletion of the putative HES-1 at −326/−331 dramatically increased the promoter activity. Taken together, our data suggests that the MCB element is essential for the core promoter activation, while the Sp1 positive regulator and the HES-1 repressor coordinately determine the efficiency of the HuDbf4 promoter. We have also found: (i) that the major transcription initiations occur at −220, −235 and −245; (ii) that HuDbf4 gene consists of 12 exons, which spread over a 33-kb region.
Surveillance result of the rural drinking water quality in Huanjiang county during 2008-2011

Objective:To explore the quality of drinking water in Huanjiang county and provide scientific evidence for the project of improving drinking water quality in rural areas.Methods:460 rural drinking water samples were monitored from 2008 to 2011.Results:112 of 460 samples were eligible in total,with the eligible rate of 24.3%.Eligible rate had significant difference among different years(P0.005).Items exceeding the standard had no significant difference between factory water and tap water(P0.25).The total plate count,total coliform and heat-resistant coliform had significant difference between dry season and wet season(P0.005).Conclusion:Microbial contamination in rural drinking water was serious in Huanjiang county,so it was important to expand the centralized water supply range and strengthen effective water purification.
Biofunctionalization of PEDOT films with laminin-derived peptides

Abstract Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophenes) (PEDOT) have been extensively explored as materials for biomedical implants such as biosensors, tissue engineering scaffolds and microelectronic devices. Considerable effort has been made to incorporate biologically active molecules into the conducting polymer films in order to improve their long term performance at the soft tissue interface of devices, and the development of functionalized conducting polymers that can be modified with biomolecules would offer important options for device improvement. Here we report surface modification, via straightforward protocols, of carboxylic-acid-functional PEDOT copolymer films with the nonapeptide, CDPGYIGSR, derived from the basement membrane protein laminin. Evaluation of the modified surfaces via XPS and toluidine blue O assay confirmed the presence of the peptide on the surface and electrochemical analysis demonstrated unaltered properties of the peptide-modified films. The efficacy of the peptide, along with the impact of a spacer molecule, for cell adhesion and differentiation was tested in cell culture assays employing the rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell line. Peptide-modified films comprising the longest poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacer used in this study, a PEG with ten ethylene glycol repeats, demonstrated the best attachment and neurite outgrowth compared to films with peptides alone or those with a PEG spacer comprising three ethylene glycol units. The films with PEG 10 -CDPGYISGR covalently modified to the surface demonstrated 11.5% neurite expression with a mean neurite length of 90 μm. This peptide immobilization technique provides an effective approach to biofunctionalize conducting polymer films. Statement of Significance For enhanced diagnosis and treatment, electronic devices that interface with living tissue with minimum shortcomings are critical. Towards these ends, conducting polymers have proven to be excellent materials for electrode-tissue interface for a variety of biomedical devices ranging from deep brain stimulators, cochlear implants, and microfabricated cortical electrodes. To improve the electrode-tissue interface, one strategy utilized by many researchers is incorporating relevant biological molecules within or on the conducting polymer thin films to provide a surface for cell attachment and/or provide biological cues for cell growth. The present study provides a facile means for generating PEDOT films grafted with a laminin peptide with or without a spacer molecule for enhanced cell attachment and neurite extension.
Maternal pre-gravid obesity and early childhood respiratory hospitalization: a population-based case-control study.

Inflammation in utero is linked to childhood respiratory and infectious complications. Obesity is an increasingly common chronic inflammatory state, yet little is known about its role in childhood respiratory illness. We sought to examine the association between maternal pre-gravid BMI and early childhood respiratory hospitalization. We conducted a population-based case–control study using the Washington State Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System and linked birth certificate data. Cases were children age 0–5 years, born in Washington state, with a respiratory hospitalization between 2003 and 2008. We identified 15,318 cases, frequency matching each case to two controls by birth year (total 31,060 controls). We used logistic regression to estimate the risk (approximated by odds ratios) of early childhood respiratory hospitalization according to maternal pre-gravid body mass index (BMI) category (underweight, normal, overweight, obese), after adjustment for maternal and infant characteristics. An elevated maternal pre-gravid BMI was associated with increased risk of childhood respiratory hospitalization, with an adjusted odds ratio OR [95 % CI] = 1.08 [1.03–1.14] for overweight mothers (BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2), and OR = 1.29 [1.22–1.36] for obese mothers (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2). An elevated maternal pre-gravid BMI was associated with higher risk of early childhood respiratory hospitalization. Childhood respiratory illness may be an important complication of excess maternal weight that should be shared with expectant mothers.
Nursing Home Setting

More people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience better health and longer lives than in previous years. Although fewer individuals reside in congregate care settings, there remains a subset of children, youth, and adults, primarily those with severe IDD and medical complexity, who require intensive nursing and medical supports that cannot be provided in the home setting for a variety of reasons and are not appropriate for acute care settings. This chapter reviews the evolution of nursing home care for people with IDD, the characteristics of people residing in these settings, reasons for placement, and type of care provided. Challenges and controversies pertaining to nursing home care are also discussed.
SELECTIVE STAINING OF HISTONES WITH AMMONIACAL-SILVER

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses selective staining of histones with ammoniacal silver. A staining procedure for histones that has a high degree of selectivity for basic proteins and the unique ability to visualize qualitative variations in terms of color changes is presented in the chapter. It is a valuable adjunct to the available methods for investigating the nature and function of basic proteins such as the histones and protamines. The A-S procedure has been shown to possess unique advantages in investigations of the nature and function of nuclear histones. When applied to isolated histones, the A-S staining varies in a predictable fashion with the type of histone. When applied to DNP complexes, the staining appears to be related to the relative reactivity of the chromophilic groups. Accordingly, the procedure is capable of revealing differences between cell nuclei that are not apparent from studies of isolated histones.
Abdominal Trauma Evaluation for the Pediatric Surgeon

Trauma is the leading cause of pediatric mortality and abdominal injury is a significant contributor to morbidity. The assessment of abdominal trauma in children must be conducted expeditiously and thoroughly. Physical examination, laboratory testing, and imaging are central to trauma evaluation. In children with minor injury, protocols may help to limit the use of ionizing radiation. Children with significant abdominal injury who are unstable should be resuscitated with blood products and undergo emergent surgical intervention.
Diagnosis and Updates in Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder induced by gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. It can result in intraintestinal and extraintestinal manifestations of disease including diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, osteoporosis, or lymphoma. Diagnosis of celiac disease is made through initial serologic testing and then confirmed by histopathologic examination of duodenal biopsies. Generally celiac disease is a benign disorder with a good prognosis in those who adhere to a gluten-free diet. However, in refractory disease, complications may develop that warrant additional testing with more advanced radiologic and endoscopic methods. This article reviews the current strategy to diagnose celiac disease and the newer modalities to assess for associated complications.
A phase II study of radiation therapy (RT), paclitaxel poliglumex (PPX), and cetuximab (C) in locally advanced head and neck cancer (LA-HNC).

6059 Background: RT + cisplatin in LA-HNC showed a survival benefit over RT alone, but with significant toxicity. Addition of C to RT demonstrated survival benefit without increased RT-related toxicity. PPX consists of paclitaxel linked to a biodegradable, water-soluble polymer of glutamic acid. PPX has a radiation enhancement factor of ≈8 in a radiocurability murine model. This study addresses the combined use of intensity modulated RT (IMRT), PPX, and C in patients with LA-HNC. Methods: Eligible patients had untreated stage III/ IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, or unknown primary, ECOG PS 0-1, and adequate bone marrow function. Patients received C 400 mg/m2 day 1 and 250 mg/m2 weekly for 7 weeks. PPX was administered at 40 mg/m² weekly for 7 weeks. IMRT began on day 8 consisting of 69.96 Gy delivered in 2.12 Gy daily. Results: 38 patients with LA-HNC are included in this report and evaluable for response. 24 (63%) had CR and 14 (37%) had PR. HPV status is 2...
High Tragedy in the Hyperion Project

Chapter 7 shifts the conceptual premises of the Hyperion project from theodicy to tragedy. In Hyperion, Keats’s appropriation of Milton is mediated through Wordsworth’s prior appropriation of Milton in the “Prospectus,” and shows Keats rejecting the notion of recoverable paradises. As Chapter 7 proceeds, the argument dismisses Oceanus’ paean to progress for its unresponsiveness to tragic victimization, claims that Keats refers tragedy to an existential ground beyond political determination, and suggests that the encounter with Moneta in The Fall of Hyperion shows the poet reconsidering his earlier belief in amoral chameleonic empathy. The final subsection offers valedictory assessments of Otho the Great, King Stephen, and Keats’s epitaph.
A Copula-Based Trend-Renewal Process Model for Analysis of Repairable Systems With Multitype Failures

Reliability analysis of multicomponent repairable systems with dependent component failures is challenging for two reasons. First, the failure mechanism of one component may depend on other components when considering component failure dependence. Second, imperfect repair actions can have accumulated effects on the repaired components and these accumulated effects are difficult to measure. In this paper, we propose a parametric statistical model to capture the failure dependence information with general component repair actions. We apply the maximum likelihood method to estimate the model parameters by utilizing the historical failure data. Statistical hypothesis tests are developed to determine the dependence structure of the component failures based on the proposed reliability model. The proposed methodology is demonstrated by a simulation study and case studies of a car body assembly process and a forklift vehicle system.
Environmental heterogeneity and biotic interactions as potential drivers of spatial patterning of shorebird nests

Species distributions are driven by a wide variety of abiotic and biotic factors, including nest placement for breeding individuals. As such, the spatial distribution of nests within a landscape can reflect environmental heterogeneity, habitat preferences, or even interactions with predators and other species. We determined the extent to which environmental heterogeneity and predation risk accounted for the observed spatial distribution of nests. We assessed the spatial distribution of 112 nests of a migratory shorebird, the Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica), at Beluga River, Alaska, from 2009 to 2012, and explicitly tested for the relative influence of habitat characteristics and predation risk on nest locations. We also evaluated the effect of nest location, distance to conspecific nests, and proximity to roads on nest fate using 64 nests that were monitored through completion. Hudsonian Godwit nests were clustered across the landscape despite a lack of significant spatial autocorrelation (i.e., patchiness) in vegetation characteristics at either the micro- or landscape scale. Nest fate also was not predicted by either the distance to the nearest conspecific neighbor or proximity to roads. Thus, neither habitat characteristics nor predation risk explained the clustering of godwit nests. These results suggest that godwits may select nest locations based more on social cues than underlying heterogeneity in vegetation or predation risk. As such, intra- and inter-specific interactions should be considered when developing management plans for species of conservation concern.
Abstract 159: Current Treatment with Clotting Factors Does not Improve Outcome from Intracranial Hemorrhage After Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Objective & Background: Significant intracranial hemorrhage (sigICH), defined as either symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage SICH or parenchymal hematoma type 2 (PH2), is a concerning complication ...
Helically Reduced Wave Equations and Binary Neutron Stars

We describe ongoing work towards construction—via multidomain, modal, spectral methods—of helically symmetric spacetimes representing binary neutron stars. In particular, we focus on the influence of both the helically reduced wave operator and boundary conditions on the self-consistent field method, a widely used iterative scheme for the construction of stellar models.
A physics-based approach to modeling real-fuel combustion chemistry – II. Reaction kinetic models of jet and rocket fuels

Abstract We propose and test an alternative approach to modeling high-temperature combustion chemistry of multicomponent real fuels. The hy brid chem istry (HyChem) approach decouples fuel pyrolysis from the oxidation of fuel pyrolysis products. The pyrolysis (or oxidative pyrolysis) process is modeled by seven lumped reaction steps in which the stoichiometric and reaction rate coefficients are derived from experiments. The oxidation process is described by detailed chemistry of foundational hydrocarbon fuels. We present results obtained for three conventional jet fuels and two rocket fuels as examples. Modeling results demonstrate that HyChem models are capable of predicting a wide range of combustion properties, including ignition delay times, laminar flame speeds, and non-premixed flame extinction strain rates of all five fuels. Sensitivity analysis shows that for conventional, petroleum-derived real fuels, the uncertainties in the experimental measurements of C2H4 and CH4 impact model predictions to an extent, but the largest influence of the model predictability stems from the uncertainties of the foundational fuel chemistry model used (USC Mech II). In addition, we introduce an approach in the realm of the HyChem approach to address the need to predict the negative-temperature coefficient (NTC) behaviors of jet fuels, in which the CH2O speciation history is proposed to be a viable NTC-activity marker for model development. Finally, the paper shows that the HyChem model can be reduced to about 30 species in size to enable turbulent combustion modeling of real fuels with a testable chemistry model.
Gender-specific association of functional prodynorphin 68 bp repeats with cannabis exposure in an African American cohort.

Background Cannabis use disorders (CUDs) cause substantial neuropsychiatric morbidity and comorbidity. There is evidence for gender-based differences in CUDs, for instance, a greater prevalence in males than in females. The main active component of cannabis is delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC), a partial agonist of the cannabinoid type 1 receptor. Preclinical studies show that genetic or pharmacological manipulation of the kappa opioid receptor/dynorphin system modulates the effects of delta 9-THC. Methods In this case-control study of adult African Americans (n=476; 206 females, 270 males), we examined the association of the functional prodynorphin 68 bp (PDYN 68 bp) promoter repeats with categorical diagnoses of cannabis dependence (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV criteria), as well as with a rapid dimensional measure of maximum lifetime cannabis exposure (the Kreek-McHugh-Schluger-Kellogg cannabis scale). Results The PDYN 68 bp genotype (examined as short-short [SS], short-long [SL], or long-long [LL], based on the number of repeats) was not significantly associated with categorical cannabis-dependence diagnoses, either in males or in females. However, in males, the PDYN 68 bp SS+SL genotype was associated with both greater odds of any use of cannabis (p<0.05) and earlier age of first cannabis use, compared to the LL genotype (ie, 15 versus 16.5 years of age; p<0.045). Males in the SS+SL group also had greater odds of high lifetime exposure to cannabis, compared to the LL group (p<0.045). Of interest, none of the aforementioned genetic associations were significant in females. Conclusion This study provides the first data on how the PDYN 68 bp genotype is associated with gender-specific patterns of exposure to cannabis. Overall, this study shows that PDYN 68 bp polymorphisms affect behaviors involved in early stages of nonmedical cannabis use and potentially lead to increasing self-exposure. These data may eventually lead to improvements in personalized medicine for the prevention and treatment of highly prevalent CUDs and neuropsychiatric comorbidities.
Review: Some alcohol screening tests have acceptable test properties for use in general clinical populations of U.S. women

Source Citation Bradley KA, Boyd-Wickizer J, Powell SH, Burman ML. Alcohol screening questionnaires in women. A critical review. JAMA. 1998 Jul 8;280:166-71.
Where's the Winning?

Donald Trump premised his successful campaign for the United States presidency on a pledge that his supporters would "start winning again." This paper evaluates the extent to which this promise became a reality for those voters. By comparing votes at the county level, I show that Trump support is not associated with any significant relative improvement in either employment or housing prices. In fact, counties that voted for Hillary Clinton have performed significantly better in the housing market, even after controlling for previous differences in prices and growth rates. There is simply no evidence of superior economic performance in the regions that had fallen behind under previous presidencies.