cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microwave Dielectric Properties of Plant Materials

Three waveguide transmission systems covering the 1-2, 3.5-6.5, and 7.5-8.5 GHz bands were used to measure the dielectric properties of vegetation material as a function of moisture content and microwave frequency. The materials measured included, primarily, the leaves and stalks of corn and wheat. Dielectric measurements also were made of the liquid included in the vegetation material after it was extracted from the vegetation by mechanical means. The extracted liquids were found to have an equivalent NaCl salinity of about 10 per mil, which can have a significant effect on the dielectric loss at frequencies below 5 GHz. The results of attempts to model the dielectric constant of the vegetation-water mixture in terms of the dielectric constants and volume fractions of its constituent parts (i. e., bulk vegetation, air, bound water, and free water) are discussed. Additionally, measurements of the temporal variations in the total attenuation at 10.2 GHz are presented for a corn canopy and a soybean canopy.
Design and Optimization of an NMR Flow Cell for a Commercial NMR Spectrometer

We have developed an interface for analytical scale high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/NMR and flow injection analysis (FIA)/NMR. FIA/NMR is less demanding than LC/NMR, so the flow cell was designed to minimize LC/NMR problems and allow the use of a commercial NMR probe for detection. The cell reported here is simple to construct, has reasonable sensitivity, and has good resolution.
Organizational justice and commitment in interscholastic sports

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of three organizational justice dimensions on the commitment of high school student athletes (N = 480) to continue playing a referent sport. The athletes were asked to complete an instrument designed to assess their perceived levels of justice displayed by their coaches in three justice dimensions—procedural justice, distributive justice and interpersonal justice. The findings indicated that justice perceptions did significantly (p < 0.05) influence their intent to continue playing a specific sport. Further analyses found fairness perceptions differed significantly (p < 0.05) when considering the students’ grade level, gender and referent sport, while no differences existed based upon the race of the student athletes. These findings provide insight into organizational justice in sport.
Novel roles for MLH3 deficiency and TLE6-Like amplification in DNA mismatch repair-deficient gastrointestinal tumorigenesis and progression

DNA mismatch repair suppresses gastrointestinal tumorgenesis. Four mammalian E. coli MutL homologues heterodimerize to form three distinct complexes: MLH1/PMS2, MLH1/MLH3, and MLH1/PMS1. To understand the mechanistic contributions of MLH3 and PMS2 in gastrointestinal tumor suppression, we generated Mlh3−/−;Apc1638N and Mlh3−/−;Pms2−/−;Apc1638N (MPA) mice. Mlh3 nullizygosity significantly increased Apc frameshift mutations and tumor multiplicity. Combined Mlh3;Pms2 nullizygosity further increased Apc base-substitution mutations. The spectrum of MPA tumor mutations was distinct from that observed in Mlh1−/−;Apc1638N mice, implicating the first potential role for MLH1/PMS1 in tumor suppression. Because Mlh3;Pms2 deficiency also increased gastrointestinal tumor progression, we used array-CGH to identify a recurrent tumor amplicon. This amplicon contained a previously uncharacterized Transducin enhancer of Split (Tle) family gene, Tle6-like. Expression of Tle6-like, or the similar human TLE6D splice isoform in colon cancer cells increased cell proliferation, colony-formation, cell migration, and xenograft tumorgenicity. Tle6-like;TLE6D directly interact with the gastrointestinal tumor suppressor RUNX3 and antagonize RUNX3 target transactivation. TLE6D is recurrently overexpressed in human colorectal cancers and TLE6D expression correlates with RUNX3 expression. Collectively, these findings provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms of individual MutL homologue tumor suppression and demonstrate an association between TLE mediated antagonism of RUNX3 and accelerated human colorectal cancer progression.
What's So Special about the Arabian Peninsula? A Reply to Groh and Rothschild ∗

My 2008 article suggested that oil wealth, but not Islam, has impeded progress towards gender equality in the Middle East. Groh and Rothschild re-examine one part of my study, which reported a statistical correlation between oil rents and female labor force participation; they argue that the ‘‘deep cultural history’’ of the Arabian Peninsula offers a better explanation for the observed correlations. In this brief reply, I note that they do not accurately describe my conclusions and analysis; that other evidence in the article does not support their argument; and that they have not identified what makes the Arabian Peninsula so different from the rest of the Middle East — apart from its extraordinary oil wealth.
MM-wave transceivers using SiGe HBT technology

High-speed wireless technology has been evolving with roughly 2/spl times/ speed improvements every 18 months. Currently the wireless local-area network (WLAN) and wireless personal-area network (WPAN) spaces are developing new standards to increase wireless speeds beyond the 10-54 Mbit/s achieved in the first and second generation IEEE wireless network standards. Challenging issues which must be addressed in these new high-rate standards include FCC restrictions on maximum radiated power and power spectral density, bandwidth limitations in the available 2.4 and 5 GHz ISM bands, and cost and power required to support the high date rates in portable devices. This paper discusses the realization of a mm-wave transceiver in advanced SiGe HBT technology for application in high-speed mm-wave wireless systems. A low-power, integrated 60 GHz transceiver opens up the potential for economical high-speed wireless systems which can take advantage of >5 GHz of unlicensed spectrum available in the 60 GHz ISM band.
Impact of a Statewide ST-Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction Regionalization Program on Treatment Times for Women, Minorities, and the Elderly

Background— Prior studies have demonstrated differences in time to reperfusion for ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in women, minorities, and the elderly, relative to their counterparts. Regionalization has been shown to improve overall STEMI treatment times, but its impact on care differences among these important patient subgroups is unknown. The objective of this analysis was to assess the impact of a statewide system of STEMI care (The Reperfusion of Acute Myocardial Infarction in North Carolina Emergency Departments) on treatment times according to patient sex, race, and age. Methods and Results— STEMI treatment times were determined before (July 2005 to September 2005) and after (January 2007 to March 2007) a year-long implementation of coordinated regional treatment protocols. Times in the pre- and postintervention periods were compared by mixed-effects models. A total of 2063 STEMI patients were analyzed: 1140 at percutaneous coronary intervention hospitals and 923 at non–percutaneous coronary intervention hospitals. The Reperfusion of Acute Myocardial Infarction in North Carolina Emergency Departments was associated with significant improvements in treatment times in women and the elderly, including door-to-ECG, door-to-device, door-in–door-out, and door-to-needle times (all P <0.05). Temporal improvements in treatment times at percutaneous coronary intervention hospitals were not significantly different in blacks than in whites. There was a reduction in baseline treatment disparities in door-to-ECG times in women versus men (4.4-minute reduction in difference; 95% CI, −8.1 to −0.4; P =0.03). After Reperfusion of Acute Myocardial Infarction in North Carolina Emergency Departments, an age–treatment time gap persisted in the elderly, relative to younger patients. Conclusions— A statewide STEMI regionalization program was associated with comparable improvement in treatment times for female, black, and elderly patients compared with middle-aged, white male patients. Nevertheless, there remain opportunities to further narrow treatment differences, particularly among the elderly.
Mobile phone location determination and its impact on intelligent transportation systems

Research and development on the technologies of locating the mobile (wireless) phone caller have been rapidly gaining momentum around the world. Once these technologies are mature enough to be deployed, they will have significant impact on automotive telematics and modern public transit systems. In this paper, we discuss why locating mobile phones becomes a hot topic among telecommunications giants, what technologies are being studied and standardized, when we are going to see the actual deployment, and what services they may provide? We then consider its potential impact on future intelligent transportation systems, including telematics and public transit systems. Many of us have already recognized how important a role the communications systems play in modern transportation. In the near future, if every mobile phone is able to determine its location, advances in our current transportation systems become inevitable.
Contribution of Notch signaling activation to human glioblastoma multiforme

Object Because activation of Notch receptors has been suggested to be critical for Ras-mediated transformation, and because many gliomas exhibit deregulated Ras signaling, the authors measured Notch levels and activation in primary samples and cell lines derived from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) as well as the contribution of Notch pathway activation to astrocytic transformation and growth. Methods Western blot analysis of Notch 1 expression and activation showed that Notch 1 protein was overexpressed and/or activated in Ras-transformed astrocytes, in three of four GBM cell lines, and in four of five primary GBM samples. Expansion of these studies to assess mRNA expression of components of the Notch signaling pathway by cDNA expression array showed that cDNAs encoding components of the Notch signaling pathway, including the Notch ligand Jagged-1, Notch 3, and the downstream targets of Notch (HES1 and HES2), were also overexpressed relative to non-neoplastic brain controls in 23, 71, and 51% of 35 primary...
Qualitative analysis for social scientists: Reading and writing research publications

Reading for analytic logic An important preliminary skill to be learned, if only to improve one's writing, is the acquired ability to read research publications for their underlying analytic logics (see, especially, Glaser 1978, pp. 129–30). Of course, everyone reads publications for their ideas, substantive findings, and perhaps, for useful data. But not everyone knows how to examine them for the analytic structures embedded in them. What is meant by “underlying analytic logics” is whether the publication is organized around proof or causality or concern for consequences, or a setting out of strategies or of topologies, or. … Some researchers are quite explicit about the foci of their publications, others are not; and sometimes they themselves are not clear about their analytic purposes. So, it is very good practice for fledgling analysts to be able to read and think in terms of the logic of analysis. Having learned this skill, it helps them to think more clearly about their own writing, to organize it with more facility, and to give critical attention to the presentation of its underlying analysis. It also contributes to the novice researcher's understanding of how grounded theory is developed, and how its presentation often looks quite different from others written in different “qualitative” styles. So the students are presented very early in the seminar with examples of underlying analytic logics; then must practice finding these by themselves. We shall give several examples of such analytic logics, briefly discussed, since once the idea is grasped it only takes a bit of practice to carry out these examinations.
Highly efficient Cas9-mediated gene drive for population modification of the malaria vector mosquito Anopheles stephensi

Genetic engineering technologies can be used both to create transgenic mosquitoes carrying antipathogen effector genes targeting human malaria parasites and to generate gene-drive systems capable of introgressing the genes throughout wild vector populations. We developed a highly effective autonomous Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-mediated gene-drive system in the Asian malaria vector Anopheles stephensi, adapted from the mutagenic chain reaction (MCR). This specific system results in progeny of males and females derived from transgenic males exhibiting a high frequency of germ-line gene conversion consistent with homology-directed repair (HDR). This system copies an ∼17-kb construct from its site of insertion to its homologous chromosome in a faithful, site-specific manner. Dual anti-Plasmodium falciparum effector genes, a marker gene, and the autonomous gene-drive components are introgressed into ∼99.5% of the progeny following outcrosses of transgenic lines to wild-type mosquitoes. The effector genes remain transcriptionally inducible upon blood feeding. In contrast to the efficient conversion in individuals expressing Cas9 only in the germ line, males and females derived from transgenic females, which are expected to have drive component molecules in the egg, produce progeny with a high frequency of mutations in the targeted genome sequence, resulting in near-Mendelian inheritance ratios of the transgene. Such mutant alleles result presumably from nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) events before the segregation of somatic and germ-line lineages early in development. These data support the design of this system to be active strictly within the germ line. Strains based on this technology could sustain control and elimination as part of the malaria eradication agenda.
La traduction, mode du rapprochement

Author posting. © Paris: Editions La Table Ronde/Belin 1996. This is the author’s version of the work. It is posted here for personal use, not for redistribution.
The U.S. Software Industry as an Engine for Economic Growth and Employment

This study is part of a long line of analyses in assessing the direct and indirect economic benefits of information and communications technologies, focused on the software industry rather than the overall ICT sector. To assess the software industry’s general economic impact, we use the Input-Output tables of the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to track the direct value created by the industry in recent years and the flows of goods and services between the software industry and other industries. This analysis highlights both the industries on which the software industry depends and the industries that depend on software. In addition, the study assesses how software affects the operations of other industries by tracking and estimating the share and value of the output of other industries that can be attributed to productivity gains produced by their use of new software. For example, from 1997 to 2012, software industry production grew from $149 billion to $425 billion; and since this growth outpaced the rest of the economy, the software industry’s direct share of U.S. GDP increased from 1.7 percent to 2.6 percent, or more than 50 percent. The use of software also has increased the productivity of other industries, thereby contributing to the growth of their production. Analysis shows that software accounted for 12.1 percent of all U.S. labor productivity gains from 1995 to 2004 and 15.4 percent of those gains from 2004 to 2012. On this basis, we calculate that software accounted for 9.5 percent of all gains in U.S. output from 1995 to 2004, and 15.0 percent of those gains from 2004 to 2012. In 2012, therefore, software and the productivity gains it provides accounted for $101 billion in production by other industries. All told, the software industry in 2012 contributed $526 billion to GDP -- $425 billion + $101 billion -- or 3.2 percent of GDP. We also estimate the impact of software on investment, employment and wages.
Single-Molecule Rotational and Vibrational Spectroscopy and Microscopy with the Scanning Tunneling Microscope

A new method of imaging with the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is used to study magnesium porphyrin (MgP) molecules adsorbed on Au(110) surface. Hydrogen molecules are deposited onto the surface and diffuse freely until temporarily trapped in the tunnel junction. The vibrational and rotational modes of the H2 are monitored with inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy with the STM. The MgP presents the H2 with a highly localized position-dependent adsorption potential, which causes variations in the energies of both vibrational and rotational modes of the trapped H2 molecule. Imaging at the vibrational and rotational energies of H2 reveals salient features in the chemical structure of the MgP molecule, in particular, the positions of the nitrogen atoms. The electrostatic interaction between H2 and MgP plays a crucial role in determining the imaged features, which provide a visualization of the interaction potential within the MgP molecule.
Trace Proteins in Biological Fluids III. Quantitation of γ-Trace and Major Spinal Fluid Proteins Including β-Trace.

Summaryβ-trace, γ-trace, albumin, transferrin and γ-globulin protein concentrations were determined immunochemically in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with or without neurologic disease. Special reference was made to the relative concentration of the “trace” proteins with respect to total and individual CSF proteins. In normal CSF, the concentration of γ-trace was approximately 0.83 mg% (2% of total proteins), and was 2 fold greater in infants than in adults. The concentration of β-trace was approximately 4 mg% (10% of total proteins,). It was concluded that the β-trace is a major protein constituent of CSF. The absolute levels of both trace proteins were indepedent of the changes in total or individual proteins in CSF from patients with neurologic diseases studied. A mechanism which may account for the accumulation of these proteins in CSF is discussed.
Studies of Perosis in Turkeys I. Experiments Related to Choline

Abstract IT WAS reported (Jukes, 1939) that under certain dietary conditions manganese was ineffective in preventing perosis in turkey poults; indeed, the addition of manganese to the diet seemed to hasten the appearance of this deformity. Subsequently it was found that choline was the missing nutritional anti-perotic factor (Jukes, 1940a). It was also shown that choline deficiency in turkeys resulted in slow growth. A later communication (Jukes, 1940b) stated that betaine was ineffective and reported the anti-perotic values of certain feed stuffs. The present investigation gives the results of further experiments on choline deficiency in turkeys. The basal diet was the same as was previously used. It consisted largely of glucose, casein, yeast, and a salt mixture containing an adequate amount of manganese. Choline is essential for the prevention of perosis on this diet. However, manganese is also essential since, if choline is added to this diet and manganese is omitted . . .
Validation of Bioluminescent Imaging Techniques

Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is frequently cited for its ease of quantification. This fundamental strength of BLI has led to applications in cancer research, cell transplantation, and monitoring of infectious disease in which bioluminescence intensity is correlated with other metrics. However, bioluminescence measurements can be influenced by a number of factors, among them source location, tissue optical properties, and substrate availability and pharmacokinetics. Accounting for these many factors is crucial for accurate BLI quantification. A number of methods can be employed to ensure correct interpretation of BLI results and validate BLI techniques. This chapter summarizes the use of calibrated light-emitting standards, bioluminescence tomography, and post-mortem validation of luciferase expression for validating quantitative BLI measurements.
The Feasibility and Efficacy of Technology-Based Support Groups among Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia

With the aging of the population the numbers of people with a chronic condition such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are expected to increase. Most people with a chronic condition, such as AD, are cared for by a family member. Although caregiving can be rewarding many caregivers experience emotional distress and physical comorbidities. In this regard, there a broad range of interventions aimed at decreasing caregiver stress. Despite the proliferation of these interventions they have only met with limited success for a variety of reasons. Information technology offers the potential of enhancing the ability of caregivers to access needed services and programs. This paper evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of technology-based psychosocial intervention for family caregivers of AD patients. Overall, the results indicated that the caregivers were enthusiastic about the program, found the technology easy to use, and indicated that the intervention enhanced their access to resources, support and caregiving skills.
Proton translocation coupled to mitochondrial electron transport

particularly useful in ApH studies (Kano & Fendler, 1978; Clement & Could, 1981). The fluorescence change corresponding to given pH changes can be calibrated in individual mitochondria by equilibrating them after microinjection in media containing the protonophoric uncoupler FCCP at various pH values. As shown in Fig. I , the relationship between ApH and fluorescence is linear over a wide range of changes of pH. Therefore the fluorescence of the indicator was compared before and after the addition of succinate in mitochondria micro-injected with pyranine and blocked with rotenone. Two typical experiments are shown in Fig. 2. The arrow indicates the time at which succinate was added. The fluorescence change was then converted to the appropriate ApH. It was found to correspond to 0.28&0.03and0.30+0.03(n = 4foreach). Againtheresults are comparable with those obtained with conventional ratliver mitochondria. These considerations indicate the gradients between bulk phases do not play a role in energy transduction in mitochondria. In our opinion the time has come to examine alternatives at the molecular level for the primary mechanism of ASP synthesis from ADP and P, in transducing systems.
Multimodal Imaging of the White Dot Syndromes and Related Diseases

The white dot syndromes encompass a group of rare posterior uveitis conditions that are characterized by outer retinal and/or choroidal hypopigmented lesions that are thought to be inflammatory in nature. The size, shape, and location of lesions in the fundus aid in differentiating these conditions. Multimodal imaging, including modalities such as fundus autofluorescence, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography, among others, has become integral in diagnosing and monitoring many of the white dot syndromes. Furthermore, multimodal imaging modalities have provided insights into the pathogenesis and exact sites within the retina and choroid affected by white dot syndromes.
“Straight” Acting: Changing Image of Queer-Masculinity in Media Representation

In this essay, I critically examine media representation of Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas, with a specific focus on the construction of his masculinity as an outing gay celebrity. The existing critical scholarship has studied various forms of media representation of queer images. But they did not examine how unconventional queer representation interacts with the normative gender performance. This paper investigates mainstream media’s discursive construction of masculine gay male. The findings call our attention to the emergence of macho gay characterization, which supports the hegemonic domination of heterosexual normativity. The stigmatization of gay-ness as the deviated other is rationalized through illegitimating its positions in the public spheres, marginalizing non-masculine gay characters, and erasing the larger socio-political condition that oppresses closeted gay athletes.
“The Most Effective Weapon”: Consumer Activism and the Jewish Labor Committee’s Anti-Nazi Boycott

This chapter discusses B. C. Vladeck’s founding of the Jewish Labor Committee (JLC) and its anti-Nazi boycott campaign in the context of the Depression-era consumers’ movement. Although advertising at the Forward had made ethnicity more salient, Jewish workers maintained distinct political concerns. Consumer activism allowed Jewish workers to participate in international anti-fascist politics. Through the boycott, Vladeck and the JLC pushed the national labor movement to draw attention to anti-Semitism in Europe and acknowledge the links between racial and class oppression. The boycott constituted a form of “social movement consumerism,” drawing on the long-standing cultural practices of Jewish labor. Although concerns about anti-Semitism remained marginal within the national labor movement, the JLC helped make U.S. labor a force for promoting liberal democracy around the world through consumer politics.
Sulfated archaeal glycolipid archaeosomes as a safe and effective vaccine adjuvant for induction of cell-mediated immunity

Archaeosomes are liposomal vesicles composed of ether glycerolipids unique to the domain of Archaea. Unlike conventional ester-linked liposomes, archaeosomes exhibit high stability and possess stro...
Wellness and the Role of Comorbidities in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating and neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system, for which disease modifying therapies (DMTs) are the mainstay treatment approach to reduce inflammatory disease activity and slow worsening disability. In addition to conventional pharmacologic therapy, there is growing interest in the use of lifestyle strategies to support wellness and mitigate disease-related complications in MS. This interest stems from a growing appreciation of the role of certain comorbidities and lifestyle factors on disease activity, disability, mortality, and overall quality of life. While the current literature is not conclusive, there is evidence to suggest a potential role for vitamin D supplementation, tobacco smoking cessation, routine exercise, a plant-based, anti-inflammatory diet, and maintenance of emotional well-being as adjunct therapies to DMTs. In addition to DMTs, lifestyle strategies should be emphasized as part of a management plan focused on overall health and well-being.
Growth and Decay

This chapter focuses on growth and decay. Reproduction is assumed to be carried out continuously by all population members, at an average per capita rate r. This constant is the net difference between the per capita birth and death rates averaged over the entire population. For large N , the distinction between a continuous or integer-valued population becomes blurred and the smoothness requirement is not a serious restriction. If one ignores the fact that populations can reproduce themselves and can also die, the net change in the population within a closed environment can only be because of the flow across environmental boundaries. A closed habitat involves only two species with no outside interference. The principle of competitive exclusion in ecological modeling suggests that two strongly competing species cannot coexist within the same habitat. A pesticide spray kills both the predator and the prey; the indiscriminate use of man-made controls can worsen rather than ameliorate the natural balance.
Human replication licensing factor Cdt1 directly links mitotic kinetochores to spindle microtubules

Robust kinetochore-microtubule (kMT) attachment is critical for accurate chromosome segregation. G2/M-specific depletion of human Cdt1, a protein that localizes to kinetochores in an Ndc80 complex-dependent manner, leads to abnormal kMT attachments and mitotic arrest indicating an independent mitotic role for Cdt1 in addition to its prototypic DNA replication origin licensing function. Here, we show that Cdt1 directly binds to microtubules (MTs). Transiently expressed Cdt1 localizes to mitotic spindle MTs. Deletion mapping revealed that the C-terminus of Cdt1 carrying a winged-turn-helix domain is necessary but not sufficient for MT-binding. Mitotic kinase Aurora B interacts with and phosphorylates Cdt1. Aurora B-phosphomimetic Cdt1 exhibited attenuated MT-binding and its cellular expression induced defective kMT attachments and mitotic progression. Thus we provide evidence for a Cdt1-mediated MT-attachment site at kinetochores. We propose that Cdt1 links the loop domain of Ndc80 to MTs and enables an optimal MT-binding state for the complex.
The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach as an Alternative Non-mammalian Animal Model to Investigate Virulence, Pathogenesis, and Drug Efficacy

Many aspects of innate immunity are conserved between mammals and insects. An insect, the Madagascar hissing cockroach from the genus Gromphadorhina, can be utilized as an alternative animal model for the study of virulence, host-pathogen interaction, innate immune response, and drug efficacy. Details for the rearing, care and breeding of the hissing cockroach are provided. We also illustrate how it can be infected with bacteria such as the intracellular pathogens Burkholderia mallei, B. pseudomallei, and B. thailandensis. Use of the hissing cockroach is inexpensive and overcomes regulatory issues dealing with the use of mammals in research. In addition, results found using the hissing cockroach model are reproducible and similar to those obtained using mammalian models. Thus, the Madagascar hissing cockroach represents an attractive surrogate host that should be explored when conducting animal studies.
Developments Leading to Human Gene Therapy

The development of recombinant-DNA technology has provided an exciting research stimulus to the field of human genetics. The building of the human gene map, the establishment of new linkage methods, the isolation of many disease-related genes, and the application of molecular genetics to the problems of Huntington’s chorea and Duchenne muscular dystrophy all indicate the power of this technology. Currently, several groups are exploring the use of these methods for a new therapeutic purpose—development of gene-replacement therapy (Cline, 1982; Anderson, 1981, 1984). The purpose of this review is to examine the elements needed for in vivo gene transfer and to assess the potential for human gene therapy.
Experimental and numerical investigation of splicing of concrete-filled fiber-reinforced polymer tubes

Abstract The structural performance of spliced, concrete-filled FRP tubes was evaluated. The splices consisted of an internal FRP collar adhesively bonded to the tube segments and a concrete reinforcing cage of carbon fiber composite cable (CFCC). Spliced beams were tested to determine the splice flexural capacity. Adhesive bond strength and CFCC development lengths were experimentally determined. Splice behavior was investigated with 3D finite-element models employing a modified concrete damage plasticity model and cohesive interfaces. Model predictions were in good agreement with the experiments; the predicted capacity was 13.8% greater than the 113.1 kN average failure load of the splice.
The Less Responsive Subject

Since the base line of suggestibility has been found to be higher in the general population than was formerly supposed (Barber & Calverley, 1963), some subjects who are not sufficiently suggestible to experience a change in the perception of their own awareness as a consequence of undergoing an induction procedure will nevertheless be able to respond to suggestions of low or moderate difficulty, even though they may later assert that they “didn’t feel any different,” or that the experience was “not like I thought it was going to be,” or they may even flatly state, “I don’t think it worked on me.”
The Path of US Fertility: Micro Decisions with Macro Consequences

This chapter describes fertility levels and immigration patterns since the 1800s. It looks at the evolution of fertility rates across racial and ethnic lines. The chapter provides economic explanations for fertility declines and increases, and outlines an economic model of the demand for children. Policies since the 1800s that have affected fertility including the extension and protection of childhood, contraception and abortion laws, and immigration policy are discussed. The potential macroeconomic consequences of below replacement-level fertility are described. The chapter suggests policies that could increase the demand for children including paid parental leave, universal childcare, college subsidies, stronger gender equity legislation, subsidies for onsite day care, and afterschool programs.
Perceptual Similarity Ranking of Temporal Heatmaps Using Convolutional Neural Networks

Similarity ranking is central to various analytic tasks. While current approaches work well on low-dimensional datasets, it becomes difficult to define similarity for more complex data types, like event sequences with multidimensional attributes. Often, its definition needs to be manually tuned according to the target domain or dataset. Visualizations are similarly manually tuned by analysts and can contain important clues about relevant features. In this paper, we propose using computer vision techniques on visualizations as a means for similarity ranking. We visualize sequential datasets as temporal heatmaps and show through user studies with 132 participants that humans agree in ranking results to a query based on perceptual similarity. We design and implement Heat2Vec, a convolutional neural network (CNN) to learn latent representations from heatmaps using color, opacity, and position. We evaluate our method against 11 baselines using a wide range of techniques and show that Heat2Vec provides rankings that are most consistently in line with human-annotated similarity ranking.
Dietary Fiber Is Independently Related to Blood Triglycerides Among Adults with Overweight and Obesity

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of visceral adiposity-related risk factors, affects approximately 35% of the United States population. Although improvement in diet quality is an important approach to reducing MetS risk, the role of particular dietary components remains unclear, especially among younger adults. Individual dietary components have been implicated in ameliorating or exacerbating MetS risk; however, the extent to which these factors contribute to MetS prevention has received little attention. Objective This cross-sectional study aimed to assess relations between diet and individual MetS components in young to middle-aged adults who are overweight and/or obese. Methods Participants aged 25-45 y (N = 117) with overweight and obesity, but no other diagnosed metabolic disease, recorded dietary intake over 7 d. MetS components (waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides [TGs], and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL]) were measured. Visceral adipose tissue was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Linear regression was used to assess relations between diet and MetS risk factors, adjusting for age, sex, and visceral adipose tissue. Results MetS prevalence in this sample was 32%. Energy-adjusted total fiber intake (β = -0.21, P = 0.02) was inversely associated with TG concentrations. No significant relations were observed between other dietary factors and MetS components. These findings indicate that among MetS components, TG concentrations are potentially sensitive to fiber consumption. Conclusions These results provide cross-sectional evidence supporting the protective influence of dietary fiber on MetS components among young to middle-aged adults. Additional, well-designed clinical trials are needed to assess the causal relations between various types of dietary fiber and metabolic disease.
Increasing access to tobacco cessation support for cancer patients: Results of an institution-wide screening and referral program in an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center.

1566 Background: Guidelines from ASCO and other national organizations recommend assessment of tobacco use and structured tobacco cessation support for cancer patients. However, most oncology provi...
Enveloped Viruses as Models for Membrane Assembly

Viruses are small, highly organized nucleoprotein particles that require entry into and exit from a cell in order to propagate. Almost every kind of organism in the biosphere- from the bacteria to man- are infectable by viruses that are often lethal to their host. Virus particles are also highly diverse in structure and composition: their genomes may be either DNA or RNA which can range in size from as little as 2,000 to over 300,000 nucleotides and this nucleic acid can be packaged in particles that include relative simple, highly symmetrical icosahedral structures as well as large, complex pleomorphic shapes. Many virus nucleo-proteins are surrounded by a lipid bilayer which they acquire from their host cell. These viruses are called “enveloped” and they include a number of important human pathogens such as influenza virus and the AIDS virus, HIV. The virus envelope serves to both protect the genome and to facilitate entrance and exit of the virus during its replication in the eukaryotic cell.
Computational Investigation of Substituent Effects on the Formation and Intramolecular Cyclization of 2′-Arylbenzaldehyde and 2′-Arylacetophenone Oxime Ether Radical Cations

This work describes our computational study of substituent effects on the formation and cyclization of 2'-arylbenzaldehyde and 2'-arylacetophenone oxime ether radical cations. Recent experimental work by de Lijser and co-workers has demonstrated that these reactive intermediates, which are generated through photoinduced electron transfer (PET) with a photosensitizer, undergo intramolecular cyclization to yield substituted phenanthridines. The experimental study further showed correlations between the yield of cyclized products and the Hammett σPara+ parameter of the substituent on the aryl group, with both strongly electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents shown to significantly reduce the product yield. By analyzing the ΔGPET associated with radical cation formation as well as the thermodynamics and kinetics of radical cation cyclization, we provide an explanation for these observations. We then computationally extend this mechanistic analysis to 2'-arylbenzaldehyde oxime ethers with substituents also present on the central benzene ring and show that such substituents generally have a larger impact on the PET-induced cyclization than those on the aryl group. Overall, this work extends our understanding of the overall scope of this photooxidative route toward substituted phenanthridines as well as makes clear predictions as to how the formation of oxime ether radical cations can be tuned by substituents.
The Shining Path

Sendero Luminoso in Peru is an exemplary illustration of the theory of incubation in action in a real-world context. This chapter systematically analyzes Sendero’s prewar activities and demonstrates how this organization successfully underwent the full gamut of incubation processes outlined in Chapter 3. In so doing, this chapter was guided by three central questions. First, among Peru’s political and contextual milieu, how did Sendero manage to get anyone to buy into its particular narrative at a time when most discontents were committed to nonviolent collective action? Second, why did it take a decade before Sendero actually launched its revolutionary campaign?
Who cannot work from home? Characterizing occupations facing increased risk during the COVID-19 pandemic using 2018 BLS data

Abstract Introduction As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads globally, public health guidance is advising all workers to work from home. However, not all workers are employed in occupations which can be done from home. These workers are at an increased risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2due to increased interaction with the public and other workers, and also potentially at an increased risk for job displacement as more extreme public health measures (such as closing of retail operations or enforcing shelter in place) occur. Methods To characterize the occupations least likely to be able to work from home, national employment and wage data maintained by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) was merged with measures from the BLS O*NET survey data, which ranks occupations by a variety of physical, ergonomic, psychosocial, and structural exposures. Noting that the work that could most easily be done at home would be work done on a computer that does not rely on interaction with the public, O*NET measures quantifying the importance of computer use at work, and the importance of working with or performing for the public at work were utilized. Results From this analysis, 19.5% (28.2 M) of the United States workforce covered by O*NET are employed in occupations where working from home would be difficult, due to minimal use of computer at work, and a high level of interaction with the public. These workers tend to be in service occupations, including retail and food service, protective service occupations, and transportation occupations such as bus drivers. About 25% (35.6 M) of the United States workforce covered by O*NET are employed in occupations where working from home could likely be more easily accommodated, as these workers do much of their work on computers and interaction with the public is not important. These workers tend to be in technology, computer, management, administrative, financial, engineering, and some science occupations, which typically have higher pay than occupations which cannot be done at home. Conclusions The workers in occupations that have minimal computer use, and high interaction with the public are least likely to be able to work from home during a public health emergency. These workers could also be at an increased risk for job displacement if public-facing establishments close or alter their business model in the face of increased public health restrictions. Occupations where working from home is not possible tend to have lower annual median incomes than occupations where working from home is possible, increasing the vulnerability of these workers. Characterizing which occupational groups are least likely to be able to work from home can inform public health risk management and prioritize occupational sectors where additional workplace protections are necessary.
Chapter 1 – Nuclear Reactions

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the basic nuclear reactions that undergo in a nuclear power reactor. The chapter starts with a comparison study of the nuclear energy with fossil fuels energy to help understand different ratios of energy created to the masses of fuel consumed and the profound differences in the quantities of by-products produced. About 50 million times energy is released from the nuclear fission of a uranium nucleus compared to energy released from the chemical combustion of a carbon atom. Nuclear reactions for the most part take place in two stages. The chapter explores nuclear reactions of different radioactive materials. The chapter also explains the importance of gamma rays in nuclear reactions. Basic concepts of the curve of binding energy, fusion reactions, fission reactions, and the fissile and fertile materials are also discussed in the chapter.
Transport vs. Deep Neural Networks in OAM Underwater Communications

Signal attenuation, resulting in low signal to noise ratio (SNR), in underwater optical communications (UWOC) is a problem that degrades classification performance. We develop and contrast several novel ways to create machine learning (ML) and optimal transport-based attenuation models and insert these models in a convolutional neural network (CNN) classification training pipeline. We show that including these ML-based attenuation models in the CNN classifier training, significantly improves classification performance.
Optimal two‐phase sampling for estimating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve

Statistical methods are well developed for estimating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) based on a random sample where the gold standard is available for every subject in the sample, or a two-phase sample where the gold standard is ascertained only at the second phase for a subset of subjects sampled using fixed sampling probabilities. However, the methods based on a two-phase sample do not attempt to optimize the sampling probabilities to minimize the variance of AUC estimator. In this paper, we consider the optimal two-phase sampling design for evaluating the performance of an ordinal test in classifying disease status. We derived the analytic variance formula for the AUC estimator and used it to obtain the optimal sampling probabilities. The efficiency of the two-phase sampling under the optimal sampling probabilities (OA) is evaluated by a simulation study, which indicates that two-phase sampling under OA achieves a substantial amount of variance reduction with an over-sample of subjects with low and high ordinal levels, compared with two-phase sampling under proportional allocation (PA). Furthermore, in comparison with an one-phase random sampling, two-phase sampling under OA or PA have a clear advantage in reducing the variance of AUC estimator when the variance of diagnostic test results in the disease population is small relative to its counterpart in nondisease population. Finally, we applied the optimal two-phase sampling design to a real-world example to evaluate the performance of a questionnaire score in screening for childhood asthma.
Target normal sheath acceleration with a large laser focal diameter

The dependence of the laser-driven ion acceleration from thin titanium foils in the Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA) regime on target and laser parameters is explored using two dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The oblique incidence ( θ L = 45 °) and large focal spot size ( w 0 = 40 μ m) are chosen to take an advantage of quasi one-dimensional geometry of sheath fields and effective electron heating. This interaction setup also reveals low and achromatic angular divergence of a proton beam. It is shown that the hot electron temperature deviates from the ponderomotive scaling for short laser pulses and small pre-plasmas. This deviation is mainly due to the laser sweeping, as the short duration laser pulse each moment in time effectively heats only a fraction of a focal spot on the foil. This instantaneous partial heating results in an electron temperature deviation from the ponderomotive scaling and, thus, lower maximum proton energies than it could have been expected from the TNSA theory.
Transition characteristics and electron kinetics in microhollow cathode discharges

We demonstrate the transition characteristics and electron kinetics of microdischarges in a microgap with a cathode having microstructures using two-dimensional particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision (2d3v) simulations. It is found that the microdischarge is inside the hollow cavity at lower pressures, forming microhollow cathode discharges (MHCDs), while the dominant discharge moves outside the cavity at higher pressures, locating above the cathode rectangular protrusion tip. The spatial distributions of the microdischarge parameters (e.g., electric potential and electron density) are presented by capturing the transition characteristics. The electron kinetics of the microdischarges are examined based on the moment analysis of the electron Boltzmann equation. The collisional and non-collisional components of the electron power absorption are decomposed, which were seldomly investigated for microdischarges previously. The results provide fundamental insights into MHCD formation with a structured electrode at varying pressure conditions, which could be beneficial for the design and fabrication of microplasma devices in practical applications.