cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk Assessment for Toxicity Experiments with Discrete and Continuous Outcomes: A Bayesian Nonparametric Approach

We present a Bayesian nonparametric modeling approach to inference and risk assessment for developmental toxicity studies. The primary objective of these studies is to determine the relationship between the level of exposure to a toxic chemical and the probability of a physiological or biochemical response. We consider a general data setting involving clustered categorical responses on the number of prenatal deaths, the number of live pups, and the number of live malformed pups from each laboratory animal, as well as continuous outcomes (e.g., body weight) on each of the live pups. We utilize mixture modeling to provide flexibility in the functional form of both the multivariate response distribution and the various dose–response curves of interest. The nonparametric model is built from a structured mixture kernel and a dose-dependent Dirichlet process prior for the mixing distribution. The modeling framework enables general inference for the implied dose–response relationships and for dose-dependent correlations between the different endpoints, features which provide practical advances relative to traditional parametric models for developmental toxicology. We use data from a toxicity experiment that investigated the toxic effects of an organic solvent (diethylene glycol dimethyl ether) to demonstrate the range of inferences obtained from the nonparametric mixture model, including comparison with a parametric hierarchical model. Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear on-line.
Predictors of early discontinuation of chemotherapy (EDC) in patients (pts) age 65 or older with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

e18133 Background: NSCLC accounts for the highest cancer related mortality. Older pts suffer higher chemotherapy (chemo) toxicity (tox). Inability to complete a planned chemo course is associated w...
Watershed Acidification — A Chromatographic Process

Drainage watersheds acidify from the top down. The acidification involves the stripping of base cations, Al, and Fe from various reservoirs. A front of acidification moves downstream from the head of the watershed. As base cations become depleted, they are removed from the watershed. Al and Fe, however, move progressively downstream, eluted by acid and precipitated in higher pH regions of the watershed. As they do, acid neutralizing capacity accumulates in streambeds. This capacity must be stripped by progressive acidification before the stream (and lower lakes) can become chronically acidic. The capacity of this mechanism may be sufficient to retard chronic acidification by years. The mechanism of translocation of Al and Fe and, to a lesser extent, base cations serves to damp episodic pH depressions in streams and extend the recovery from periods of low pH.
The Production, Deposition, and Dissolution of Phytoliths

This chapter discusses the production, deposition, and dissolution of phytoliths. Phytoliths are a result of the process by which certain living higher plants deposit solid silica in an intracellular or extracellular location after absorbing silica in a soluble state from groundwater. The term phytolith, from the Greek meaning plant stone, has sometimes been used to indicate all forms of mineralized substances secreted by higher plants, be they siliceous or calcareous in composition. Phytoliths reported from archaeological coprolites are all calcium oxalate crystals and not siliceous bodies and are seldom diagnostic of any one plant family, let alone particular genera or species. The degree of development of phytoliths in a plant relates to a number of factors, including the climatic environment of growth, the nature of the soil, the amount of water in the soil, the age of the plant, and most importantly, the taxonomic affinity of the plant itself. The process starts when plants absorb soluble silica in groundwater through their roots and ends when the silica, sometimes at a very early stage of plant development, is laid down as solid infillings of cell walls, cell interiors, or intercellular spaces. In between, this cycle can be slowed down, speeded up, or modified in some way by a number of biotic and abiotic factors.
Effect of Ions and Ionic Strength on Surface Plasmon Extinction Properties of Single Plasmonic Nanostructures

Nanoscale temperature change and single particle absorption, scattering and emission measurements revealed presence of small concentration of ions in surrounding water. The presence of these ions attenuates the plasmon absorption and scattering properties of a nanostructure. This attenuation effect is found dependent upon the ionic strength of the solution and the attenuation is related to the amount of coverage of screen charge at the surface. In this chapter, we present the effects of changes on surrounding medium (solution) properties (by addition of small amount of ionic solute molecules) on fundamental light absorption and scattering properties of a plasmonic gold nanostructure(s). This chapter is reprinted (adapted) with permission from ACS Nano 2016, 10 (6), 6080–6089. Copyright 2016 American Chemical Society.
Energy-Efficient On-Demand Cloud Radio Access Networks Virtualization

By leveraging the elasticity of cloud computing, cloud radio access network (C-RAN) facilitates on-demand radio and computing resource provisioning. In this paper, we propose an energy-efficient on-demand C-RAN virtualization model which dynamically provisions virtual C-RAN according to service demand. The energy consumption of the virtual C-RAN is minimized by jointly optimizing the remote radio head (RRH) selection and computing resource provisioning. The network energy consumption minimization problem is challenging because of the interdependence between the RRH selection and the computing resource provisioning. We propose the energy-efficient on-demand C-RAN virtualization (REACT) algorithm to solve the problem in two steps. First, we cluster RRHs into groups using the hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) algorithm and assign a BBU to each RRH group for the baseband signal processing. Second, we determine the RRH selection by optimizing the cooperative beamforming. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated through extensive simulations, which shows the proposed algorithm reduces up to 62% of the network energy consumption as compared to a baseline algorithm.
1 – WHOLE NUMBERS

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on whole numbers and reviews the four basic operations on whole numbers, that is, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. The whole numbers are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and so on. A numeral is a symbol for a number. The symbol + is read plus and indicates addition. The symbol = means equals. The symbol - is read minus and indicates subtraction. The symbol × is called a times sign. It indicates multiplication. Multiplication, like addition, is associative and commutative. Just as multiplication of whole numbers is repeated addition, division is repeated subtraction. Division may result in a remainder. For instance, 7 ÷ 2 is 3. The answer is 3 with a remainder of 1. Addition and subtraction are opposite operations. Multiplication and division are opposite operations. Multiplication of whole numbers is a shortcut for repeated addition.
The Graham Patch

The incidence of duodenal perforation has decreased significantly with the advent of PPIs. When encountered, a surgical correction is indicated. This involves sealing the perforation with a tongue of omentum and wide drainage of the peritoneum. The present chapter describes an open Graham patch.
Late Anastomotic Complications (Stricture and Sinus)

Though their true incidence is difficult to measure, late anastomotic complications, comprising strictures and sinus tracts are estimated to occur in up to 30% of individuals requiring the construction of a colorectal anastomosis. Despite the cause of these anastomotic complications often being multifactorial, their etiology typically includes a combination of technical factors related to surgical technique as well as ischemia. Anastomotic strictures and sinus tracts present over a spectrum ranging from asymptomatic, incidental findings noted on endoscopy and radiographic studies to representing the cause of a surgical emergency in the form of a high-grade large bowel obstruction or intra-abdominal sepsis. Further, these complications often either delay the closure of a diverting stoma, or require the construction of one. Their management depends on the degree of symptoms attributed to them, the location of the anastomosis, the patient’s overall health status and degree of continence, and which endoscopic and surgical treatments are feasible given these other factors.
Drivers of walleye recruitment in Minnesota’s large lakes

Fish recruitment is complex and difficult to predict. Data-driven approaches show promise for predicting recruitment and understanding its drivers. We used a random forest model to infer relationsh...
Physiological responses to cryoprotectant treatment in an early larval stage of the malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae

Abstract The development of cryopreservation protocols for Anopheles gambiae could significantly improve research and control efforts. Cryopreservation of any An. gambiae life stage has yet to be successful. The unique properties of embryos have proven to be resistant to any practical cryoprotectant loading. Therefore, we have chosen to investigate early non-feeding first instar larvae as a potential life stage for cryopreservation. In order to determine an appropriate cryoprotective compound, larvae were treated with progressively better glass-forming cryoprotective mixtures. Toxicity evaluation in combination with calorimetry-based water content and supercooling point depression assessments were used to determine the cryoprotectants that could be used for cryostorage of viable larvae. Approximately 35–75% of the larvae were viable after reasonably high osmotic and biochemical challenge. This study provides ample evidence for an active osmoregulatory response in the Anopheles larvae to counter the permeation of cryoprotectants from the surrounding medium. The data show a strong correlation between the larval mortality and water content, indicating an osmoregulatory crisis in the larva due to certain cryoprotectants such as the higher concentrations of ethane diol (ED). The observations also indicate that the ability of the larvae to regulate permeation and water balance ceases at or within 20 min of cryoprotectant exposure, but this is strongly influenced by the treatment temperature. Among the compound cryoprotectants tested, 25% ED + 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 40% ED + 0.5 M trehalose seem to present a compromise between viability, larval water content, supercooling point depression, and glass forming abilities.
Perceived stress is linked to heightened biomarkers of inflammation via diurnal cortisol in a national sample of adults.

Abstract Exposure to and perceptions of stress have been associated with altered systemic inflammation, but the intermediate processes by which stress links to inflammation are not fully understood. Diurnal cortisol slopes were examined as a pathway by which self-reported psychosocial stress is associated with inflammation [i.e., C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), fibrinogen, E-Selectin, and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1)] in a large sample of adults (the Midlife in the US study; N = 914; 55.9% female; aged 34–84 years). Structural equation modeling indicated that perceived psychological stress was associated with flattened diurnal cortisol slopes and flatter diurnal cortisol slopes were, in turn, associated with heightened inflammation in these cross-sectional analyses (index of indirect pathway, ω = 0.003, 95% CI [0.001, 0.004], ωSTD = 0.027; with covariates, ω = 0.001, [0.0002, 0.002], ωSTD = 0.011). A similar indirect effect was evident for self-reported traumatic life events (ω = 0.007, [0.004, 0.012], ωSTD = 0.030); however, inclusion of covariates (i.e., age, gender, race, ethnicity, body mass index, and other factors associated with physical health) accounted for this finding (ω = 0.001, [−0.001, 0.004], ωSTD = 0.005). These results support an allostatic load model of psychosomatic health, in which cortisol (along with other stress-responsive signaling molecules) is a necessary component for understanding links between stress exposure, perceived stress, and immune functioning.
Mm-Wave Frequency Reconfigurable Antenna with Multilayer Integrated Microfluidic Actuation

A microfluidically reconfigurable frequency tunable mm-wave patch antenna is presented. Different than the previously reported work on microfluidically reconfigurable RF devices, the actuation of the multiple metallized plates reconfiguring the antenna is carried out by using a piezoelectric disk within a multilayered fluid reservoir stack. The antenna operates with 7% and 9%|S 11 | <-10 dB impedance matching bandwidth in its 28 GHz and 38 GHz states respectively. Additionally, it exhibits a simulated realized gain of 5.66 dBi and 4.9 dBi at 28 GHz and 38 GHz, respectively.
Video Visits: Family Physician Experiences With Uptake During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With the emergence of COVID-19, telemedicine use has increased dramatically as clinicians and patients have looked for alternatives to face-to-face care. Prior research has shown high levels of patient satisfaction and comparable quality of care. Video visits have been hypothesized to be one way to reduce burnout among clinicians, but there has been minimal research on physician views of virtual care. We sought to measure family physician experience with video visits at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We identified all faculty and resident physicians at a large academic department of family medicine who had conducted a video visit in the prior month and conducted an anonymous online 12-question survey about their experiences, satisfaction, and barriers with care. RESULTS: Most eligible physicians responded (102/109, 94%), of whom half (52%) reported this was their first month trying a video visit. There was very high satisfaction (91% very or somewhat satisfied). The majority of respondents felt that video visits were shorter (54%) or took the same amount of time (38%) as in-person visits. There was concern that many physicians had experienced a visit in which they felt video was not the appropriate platform given patient concerns. CONCLUSIONS: This study is among the first to assess physician experience with video visits. As the visits are perceived as shorter, they may offer a unique opportunity to address clinician burnout. There was a high level of satisfaction at our institution despite multiple technical challenges.
Looking for a Good Home: Balancing Interests in the Disposition of Impounded Animals to Owners and Rescues

Regulation of dogs falls within the state’s police power, and courts have long upheld state and municipal regulations requiring licensing, vaccination, and impoundment of dogs running at large. In addition to impoundment, state law or municipal ordinances also provide for disposition of dogs after being impounded for a certain period of time. Most provide for a minimum hold period during which an owner may reclaim his or her pet. If a dog remains unclaimed, most regulations provide for disposition of the animal by the government either by direct adoption to the public, indirect adoption by transfer to a rescue or other shelter, or euthanization. Recent case law, however, has questioned municipal authority to transfer good title to an animal when an owner returns after the hold period to reclaim that animal. Compassion for an owner who has lost a pet might support the right of an owner to reclaim a pet from the adopter or rescue or shelter to which the animal has been transferred, but effective administration of municipal animal control programs in the face of a continuing influx of impounded animals counsels against such continuing rights. This Article discusses the competing interests at issue when a person fails to redeem an animal during a hold period and the complications that untimely claims create for stakeholders, explores where the law should fall on ownership rights in such a scenario, and suggests ways in which stakeholders might reduce the impact of untimely claims upon them.
Analyzing the Network Readiness Index in the United States to Assess ICT Infrastructure in Handling Crises Like COVID-19

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has caused disruption all over the world including in the US. It seems that this pandemic is going to stay for a while. Under current circumstances, what matters most is to mitigate its impact to get back to the daily routine as fast as possible. One answer to this challenge is to turn to technology, especially ICT (information and communication technology). Relying on ICT requires a dependable ICT infrastructure that can handle the fast-growing number of users transitioning to online mode. NRI (Network Readiness Index) is a composite index to measure the multi-faceted impact of ICT on society and development. It is a holistic framework measuring the impact of ICT on four fundamental dimensions of society: technology, people, governance, and impact. In this article, a thorough study of the NRI pillars in 2019 is conducted to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of network readiness in the US. The results of the analysis will provide insight into the trend of digital transformation in the USA.
Efficacy and safety of biofilm dispersal by glycoside hydrolases in wounds.

Abstract Novel anti-biofilm and dispersal agents are currently being investigated in an attempt to combat biofilm-associated wound infections. Glycoside hydrolases (GHs) are enzymes that hydrolyze the glycosidic bonds between sugars, such as those found within the exopolysaccharides of the biofilm matrix. Previous studies have shown that GHs can weaken the matrix, inducing bacterial dispersal, and improving antibiotic clearance. Yet, the number of GH enzymes that have been examined for potential therapeutic effects is limited. In this study, we screened sixteen GHs for their ability to disperse mono-microbial and polymicrobial biofilms grown in different environments. Six GHs, α-amylase (source: A. oryzae), alginate lyase (source: various algae), pectinase (source: Rhizopus sp.), amyloglucosidase (source: A. niger), inulinase (source: A. niger), and xylanase (source: A. oryzae), exhibited the highest dispersal efficacy in vitro. Two GHs, α-amylase (source: Bacillus sp.) and cellulase (source: A. niger), used in conjunction with meropenem demonstrated infection clearing ability in a mouse wound model. GHs were also effective in improving antibiotic clearance in diabetic mice. To examine their safety, we screened the GHs for toxicity in cell culture. Overall, there was an inverse relationship between enzyme exposure time and cellular toxicity, with twelve out of sixteen GHs demonstrating some level of toxicity in cell culture. However, only one GH exhibited harmful effects in mice. These results further support the ability of GHs to improve antibiotic clearance of biofilm-associated infections and help lay a foundation for establishing GHs as therapeutic agents for chronic wound infections.
Growth Hormone Suppression Test (Post-Glucose Administration)

Indication To establish the diagnosis of acromegaly when there is modest elevation of IGF-1 (< 2-fold upper limit of normal) with absent or equivocal clinical features [1].
Breaking Nondeducible Attacks on the Smart Grid

The evolution of the electric power infrastructure into a smart grid carries with it the potential for residential homes to become malicious attackers on global state estimation. This paper presents an attack model where a distributed cyber controller in a smart grid executes an internal attack to falsify its advertised generation. This differs from current attack models in that the attacker is an active element of the system that participates in its normal operation. Through the use of information flow properties, the attack is proven to be nondeducible and thus unidentifiable in a current smart grid architecture. An adaptation of mutual exclusion is then applied to break the nondeducible attack.
Elder Self‐Neglect and the Justice System: An Essay from an Interdisciplinary Perspective

Elder self-neglect is a complex issue for the legal system-one not always easily distinguished from other types of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The issue inherently implicates several disciplines, and although self-neglect is not prosecuted per se, prosecutions of other types of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation may affect self-neglect as well. In addition, other types of legal intervention, such as guardianship actions, may serve to protect vulnerable older people, but it is critical to ensure that such interventions do not inappropriately infringe on the older person's civil liberties or result in exploitation or worse. There are daunting challenges to doing work in this field-death; ageism; medical, legal, and ethical complexities; and a chronic paucity of funding. It is nevertheless imperative that researchers expand their efforts to elucidate the nature and scope of elder self-neglect; its interplay with other forms of abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and the most effective mechanisms for intervention and prevention. Such efforts, and in particular interdisciplinary approaches to these common problems, are critical to improving care for the nation's older people and assisting millions of families and practitioners.
Optimization of Data Center Cooling Efficiency Using Reduced Order Flow Modeling Within a Flow Network Modeling Approach

Much of the energy use by data centers is attributed to the energy needed to cool the data centers. Thus, improving the cooling efficiency and thermal management of data centers can translate to direct and significant economic benefits. However, data centers are complex systems containing a significant number of components or sub-systems (e.g., servers, fans, pumps, and heat exchangers) that must be considered in any synergistic data center thermal efficiency optimization effort. The Villanova Thermodynamic Analysis of Systems (VTAS) is a flow network tool for performance prediction and design optimization of data centers. VTAS models the thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer inherent to an entire data center system, including contributions by individual servers, the data center airspace, and the HVAC components. VTAS can be employed to identify the optimal cooling strategy among various alternatives by computing the exergy destruction of the overall data center system and the various components in the system for each alternative. Exergy or “available energy” has been used to identify components and wasteful practices that contribute significantly in cooling inefficiency of data centers including room air recirculation — premature mixing of hot and cold air streams in a data center. Flow network models are inadequate in accurately predicting the magnitude of airflow exergy destruction due to simplifying assumptions and the three-dimensional nature of the flow pattern in the room. On the other hand, CFD simulations are time consuming, making them impractical for iterative-based design optimization approaches. In this paper we demonstrate a hybrid strategy, in which a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) based airflow modeling approach developed from CFD simulation data is implemented in VTAS for predicting the room airflow exergy destruction. The reduced order POD tool in VTAS provides higher accuracy than 1-D flow network models and is computationally more efficient than 3-D CFD simulations. The present VTAS – POD tool has been applied to a data center cell to illustrate the use of exergy destruction minimization as an objective function for data center thermal efficiency optimization.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Sharing Resources for Aleutian Arc Research

The Aleutian arc is arguably the best place on Earth to investigate several fundamental questions about arc magmatism and subduction initiation because the record of arc growth is mostly preserved due to a lack of intra-arc rifting. In December, 94 scientists met in San Francisco, Calif., at a workshop sponsored by the Geodynamic Processes at Rifting and Subduction Margins (GeoPRISMS) program to discuss possibilities for sharing resources for fieldwork in the Aleutian arc so that the cost per project could be reduced.
Multi-task active learning with output constraints

Many problems in information extraction, text mining, natural language processing and other fields exhibit the same property: multiple prediction tasks are related in the sense that their outputs (labels) satisfy certain constraints. In this paper, we propose an active learning framework exploiting such relations among tasks. Intuitively, with task outputs coupled by constraints, active learning can utilize not only the uncertainty of the prediction in a single task but also the inconsistency of predictions across tasks. We formalize this idea as a cross-task value of information criteria, in which the reward of a labeling assignment is propagated and measured over all relevant tasks reachable through constraints. A specific example of our framework leads to the cross entropy measure on the predictions of coupled tasks, which generalizes the entropy in the classical single-task uncertain sampling. We conduct experiments on two real-world problems: web information extraction and document classification. Empirical results demonstrate the effectiveness of our framework in actively collecting labeled examples for multiple related tasks.
The chemistry of trivalent uranium: The synthesis and reaction chemistry of the tetrahydrofuran adduct of uranium trichloride, UCl3(THF)x

Abstract Uranium tetrachloride in THF solution has been found to react with NaH to yield UCl3(THF)x. From this solution the 1:1 adduct UCl3(THF) has been isolated. Unlike the parent UCl3, this material is soluble in THF enabling the study of a variety of reactions. The reactions of UCl3(THF)x with 4-picoline-N-oxide, TICp, NaCp and NaBH4 have been studied as well as the decomposition of UCl3(THF) at elevated temperatures.
Universal causality graphs: a precise happens-before model for detecting bugs in concurrent programs

Triggering errors in concurrent programs is a notoriously difficult task A key reason for this is the behavioral complexity resulting from the large number of interleavings of operations of different threads Efficient static techniques, therefore, play a critical role in restricting the set of interleavings that need be explored in greater depth The goal here is to exploit scheduling constraints imposed by synchronization primitives to determine whether the property at hand can be violated and report schedules that may lead to such a violation Towards that end, we propose the new notion of a Universal Causality Graph (UCG) that given a correctness property P, encodes the set of all (statically) feasible interleavings that may violate P UCGs provide a unified happens-before model by capturing causality constraints imposed by the property at hand as well as scheduling constraints imposed by synchronization primitives as causality constraints Embedding all these constraints into one common framework allows us to exploit the synergy between the constraints imposed by different synchronization primitives, as well as between the constraints imposed by the property and the primitives This often leads to the removal of significantly more redundant interleavings than would otherwise be possible Importantly, it also guarantees both soundness and completeness of our technique for identifying statically feasible interleavings As an application, we demonstrate the use of UCGs in enhancing the precision and scalability of predictive analysis in the context of runtime verification of concurrent programs.
Solid-phase Edman degradation. An automatic peptide sequencer.

A modification of the Edman degradation is described whereby peptides are degraded sequentially on a solid support by a machine, the solid-phase peptide sequencer. Reagents are pumped through a column containing the resin-bound peptide, and the amino acid thiazolinones released after each degradative cycle are collected on a fraction collector for subsequent analysis. A complete cycle requires 2 h, and all operations are controlled automatically by a programmer. An improved peptide resin is described, to which peptides can be attached in yields ranging from about 70% for the 30 amino acid insulin B-chain to nearly 100% for smaller peptides. Of the 18 amino acids examined so far, glycine, alanine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, proline, methionine, asparagine, glutamine, histidine, lysine, threonine, serine and cysteic acid are degraded normally; the phenylthiohydantion of threonine is partially dehydrated and that of serine is almost completely destroyed by trifluoroacetic acid, however. The phenylthiohydantion of glutamic acid is not detected, because it remains bound by its γ-carboxyl group to the resin. When aspartic acid is encountered in peptides, further degradation is completely blocked, presumably as a result of the β-carboxyl group having formed a cyclic imide. Using the sequencer and unpurified reagents, it was possible to degrade entirely a 0.24 μmole sample of the 21 amino acid insulin A-chain (oxidized) and to analyze the products within a 3-day period. Degradative yields averaged 94% per cycle. Similarly, 0.1 μmole of the insulin B-chain was degraded through 18 cycles before identification of the phenylthiohydantoins became ambiguous. The sequencer is simple in design and operation, and is inexpensive to construct. The scope and limitations of the method are discussed.
Occlusion vs. skin barrier function.

Background/aims: Skin occlusion may increase percutaneous absorption of applied chemicals, with some exceptions. It also obstructs the normal ventilation of the skin surface and increases stratum corneum hydration and hence compromises skin barrier function. Methods/results: This review focuses the effects of occlusion on skin barrier function, in particularly, as defined with objective skin bioengineering technology. Conclusions: The effects of occlusion on skin barrier function have been defined with various techniques. Optimal hydrocolloid materials can absorb excess water and reduce the unfavourable effects of occlusion.
Nonlinear Geometric Optics for Reflecting and Glancing Oscillations

We give a rigorous justification of geometric optics for a class of Kreiss well-posed semilinear boundary problems where both resonant interactions and glancing modes are present. Errors are o(1) in L2as the wavelength tends to zero. We emphasize the features that distinguish boundary problems from hyperbolic problems in free space. These include:
Precision Top-Quark Physics

I consider the measurement of the top-quark mass, the CKM matrix element V_{tb}, and the top-quark Yukawa coupling to the Higgs boson at the Tevatron, the LHC, and a Linear Collider. The theoretical motivations for these measurements, as well as the experimental possibilities, are discussed.
Coverage of Women's Issues in Eight Social Work Journals, 1970–81

THE PROPOSITION THAT social work is a "woman's profession" is misleading. Although the majority of social workers Eire women, wom en's lack of leadership and control within the profession is well docu mented.1 Early women scholars and leaders—Jane Addams, Mary Rich mond, Edith and Grace Abbott, and Sophonisba Breckinridge—were ex ceptional women and by no means typical of the traditional social work ers of the day.2 What is perhaps even more important is that, although the vast majority of clients seen by social workers aire women, research rarely addresses issues unique to female cli ents. An analysis of the social work literature provides one means of as sessing the profession's commitment to improving the lives of women. Most social workers might assume that the amount of space given to re search about women's issues has in creased dramatically during the past fifteen years, a period that has been heralded as the second wave of femi nism. But the social work literature has not been as responsive to the issues of feminism as might have been expected. Research has focused on the predominance of male authors in social work publications, as well as salary inequities, power differen tials, and sexism within the profes sion.3 It is evident that women are not adequately represented in admin istration, professional leadership posi tions, academic positions, and au thorship of the social work literature. But one would presume that the women's movement has had some
Mo—In—Mn Based Ohmic Contact to P—GaAs

Mo—In—Mn metallization is used to form ohmic contact on Be—implanted Rapid Thermally annealed GaAs. The rapid thermal alloying of Mo—In—Mn contact metallization is performed at various temperatures and times in A.G. Associates Heat Pulse 410 system in forming gas atmosphere. The electrical properties of the contacts were analyzed by current—voltage and contact resistivity measurements. The microstructures of the contacts were analyzed using scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive x—ray analysis, x—ray diffraction and secondary ion mass spectroscopy.
The Effect among Older Persons of a General Preventive Visit on Three Health Behaviors: Smoking, Excessive Alcohol Drinking, and Sedentary Lifestyle

Background. The U.S. Congress mandated evaluations, initiated in 1989, to determine whether extending Medicare benefits to include preventive services would improve health status, reduce costs of care, and improve health risk behaviors of beneficiaries. Methods. The Johns Hopkins Medicare Preventive Services Demonstration was a randomized trial in which Medicare beneficiaries were assigned either to an intervention group that was offered yearly preventive visits for 2 years and optional counseling visits to their primary care provider or to a control group that received usual care. This report describes the effect of the intervention over a period of 2 years on smoking, problem alcohol use, and sedentary lifestyle. Results. Differences were observed between the intervention and control groups in the extent to which changes occurred in smoking and problem alcohol use, but none of the differences was statistically significant. The proportion of smokers who quit was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (24.2 vs 17.9%, P = 0.09). However, a higher proportion of problem drinkers in the control group improved (67.1 vs 57.0%, P = 0.183). There was virtually no difference between the intervention and the control groups in the proportion with improvement in sedentary lifestyle. Conclusions. This study demonstrates the difficulty of bringing about health behavior change in older patients in the course of a yearly preventive visit for 2 years with their primary care physician when the visit encompasses screening and immunizations, as well as health behavior counseling directed by the physician. Further study is required to determine whether a more intense program of counseling for health behavior change among older persons by their primary care providers would be effective.
Fathers’ proficiency at recognizing their newborns by tactile cues

The ability of fathers to discriminate their own from other newborns based on tactile cues (i.e., touching the backs of their hands) was investigated in two experiments. Sixty percent of fathers in each experiment with previous exposure of at least 60 minutes correctly identified their newborns, while those fathers with less exposure were not as successful.
Effects of NOx, α-Fe2O3, γ-Fe2O3, and HCl on mercury transformations in a 7-kW coal combustion system

Bench-scale investigations indicate that NO, NO2, hematite (α-Fe2O3), maghemite (γ-Fe2O3), and HCl promote the conversion of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0) to gaseous oxidized mercury (Hg2+) and/or particle-associated mercury (Hg[p]) in simulated coal combustion flue gases. In this investigation, the effects of NOx, α-Fe2O3, γ-Fe2O3, and HCl on Hg transformations were evaluated by injecting them into actual coal combustion flue gases produced from burning subbituminous Absaloka and lignitic Falkirk coals in a 7-kW down-fired cylindrical furnace. A bituminous Blacksville coal known to produce an Hg2+-rich combustion flue gas was also burned in the system. The American Society for Testing and Materials Method D6784-02 (Ontario Hydro method) or an online Hg analyzer equipped to measure Hg0 and total gaseous mercury (Hg[tot]) was used to monitor Hg speciation at the baghouse inlet (160–195 °C) and outlet (110–140 °C) locations of the system. As expected, the baseline Blacksville flue gas was composed predominantly of Hg2+ (Hg2+/Hg[tot]=0.77), whereas Absaloka and Falkirk flue gases contained primarily Hg0 (Hg0/Hg[tot]=0.84 and 0.78, respectively). Injections of NO2 (80–190 ppmv) at 440–880 °C and α-Fe2O3 (15 and 6 wt.%) at 450 °C into Absaloka and Falkirk coal combustion flue gases did not significantly affect Hg speciation. The lack of Hg0 to Hg2+ conversion suggests that components of Absaloka and Falkirk combustion flue gases and/or fly ashes inhibit heterogeneous Hg0–NOx–α-Fe2O3 reactions or that the flue gas quench rate in the 7-kW system is much different in relation to bench-scale flue gas simulators. An abundance of Hg2+, HCl, and γ-Fe2O3 in Blacksville flue gas and the inertness of injected α-Fe2O3 with respect to heterogeneous Hg0 oxidation in Absaloka and Falkirk flue gases suggested that γ-Fe2O3 catalyzes Hg2+ formation and that HCl is an important Hg0 reactant. The filtration of Absaloka and Falkirk combustion flue gases at 150 °C through fabric filters with ≈60 g/m2 γ-Fe2O3 indicated that about 30% of the Hg0 in Absaloka and Falkirk flue gases was converted to Hg2+ and/or Hg(p). HCl injection (100 ppmv) into the Absaloka combustion flue gas converted most of the Hg0 to Hg2+, whereas HCl injection into the Falkirk flue gas converted most of the Hg0 and Hg2+ to Hg(p). Additions of γ-Fe2O3 and HCl did not have a synergistic effect on Hg0 oxidation. The filtration of Absaloka and Falkirk flue gases through much greater fabric filter loadings of 475 g/m2 γ-Fe2O3 essentially doubled the baghouse Hg[tot] removal efficiency to about 50%. Results from this investigation demonstrate the importance of evaluating potential Hg0 reactants and oxidation catalysts in actual coal combustion flue gases.
Physical parameters identification of synchronous generators by a dynamic state estimator

This paper presents a novel dynamic state estimation methodology for the estimation of the parameters of a synchronous generator. The synchronous generator model is a physically based model, that is, the model is in terms of the actual self and mutual inductances of the generator windings as a function of rotor position. No transformations are applied or model reduction techniques. The dynamic state estimation uses measurements of terminal voltages and currents of phases A, B, C of stator windings and field winding, along with the mechanical shaft speed. The proposed approach is applied to a 18 kV, 825 MVA synchronous generator. The results are validated by numerical experiments.
Synergistic treatment of ST-segmentelevation myocardial infarction with pharmacoinvasive recanalization

Both pharmacologic and mechanical approaches designed to limit infarct size by recanalization of infarct-related arteries have reduced mortality associated with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Early efforts to combine the two were attenuated because of complications encountered. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and thrombolysis became viewed as alternative rather than complementary modalities. Time to recanalization and adequacy of restoration of perfusion were found to be pivotal determinants of a favorable outcome with either approach. Because pharmacologic intervention can be initiated immediately in virtually any hospital, it is a promising initial step. Because PCI proffers more complete recanalization, it may be a particularly salutary initial or subsequent step. Because of unavoidable delay often confronting implementation of PCI, optimal advantage may accrue from the use of both approaches in combination. We seek to emphasize the potential synergy by referring to the combined approach as "pharmacoinvasive recanalization" rather than by the conventional term "facilitated PCI." Virtually all patients with STEMI can benefit from prompt, sustained, and complete coronary recanalization. Thus, investigations focusing on identification of pharmacologic regimens that can safely initiate recanalization as early as possible, minimize bleeding, and broaden the temporal window available for efficacy of subsequent, optimally timed PCI should provide particularly valuable information.
Leading via the heart and mind: The roles of leader and follower emotions, attributions and interdependence

Abstract How do followers react to their leaders' emotional expressions, and how do these reactions influence followers' perceptions of their leaders' effectiveness? This research examines cognitive and emotional reactions to leaders' expressions of positive and negative emotions, and demonstrates how these reactions affect perceptions of leadership effectiveness. We show that follower interdependence (dispositional or manipulated) plays an important moderating role in understanding reactions to leaders' emotions. Results of three studies demonstrate that followers not only share their leaders' emotions, but also make attributions about the sincerity of their leaders' intentions, and these attributions affect their perceptions of their leader's effectiveness. Results also demonstrate that interdependent followers are sensitive to leader emotional valence and react more positively to leader positivity; non-interdependent followers do not differentiate positive from negative emotions in their leader. We discuss the implications of our research for the literature on leadership.
Natural history of platelet deposition on dacron aortic bifurcation grafts in the first year after implantation

This study defined the dynamics of platelet deposition on Dacron arterial grafts up to 1 year after implantation in human subjects. Indium-111 platelet imaging was performed on 8 men 1 to 2 weeks after graft implantation and on 5 of these patients at a mean of 31 weeks (range 28 to 34) and again at 55 weeks (range 50 to 62). Serial imaging was performed at 24 to 96 hours after platelet labeling and injection in each study. Quantitative analysis was performed using a graft/blood ratio that compared background-corrected indium-111 platelet activity in the graft region to whole-blood indium-111 platelet activity. Additionally, blinded qualitative visual analysis of the images compared graft activity with the activity in adjacent native arteries. The mean of all graft/blood ratios (24, 48, 72, and 96 hours) progressively decreased from 4.4 +/- 2.1 (+/- 1 standard deviation) at 1 to 2 weeks to 3.0 +/- 1.8 at 31 weeks (p = 0.002). There was no further decrease at 55 weeks (2.8 +/- 2.0). For comparison, 12 normal subjects without grafts had a mean ratio of 1.8 +/- 0.7. Visual analysis detected platelet deposition in 7 of 8 grafts at 1 to 2 weeks, 4 of 5 at 31 weeks, and 4 of 5 at 55 weeks. Deposition decreased qualitatively in 2 of 5 patients at late study. It is concluded that there is consistent, early platelet deposition on Dacron grafts in man. Although deposition decreases over 31 weeks, it remains readily detectable in most patients at 1 year. These findings suggest absent or incomplete endothelialization of the graft flow surface in humans in the first year after implantation.
Photoinduced charge transfer dissociation of Al+-ethene, -propene, and -butene

We have studied the photodissociation spectroscopy of weakly bound Al+alkene bimolecular complexes (ethene, propene, and butene) in the 216−320 nm spectral region. Molecular absorption bands are assigned to photoinduced charge transfer transitions to states that correlate with the Al(3s23p) + (alkene)+ product channels. Similarities in the absorption spectra for Al+ethene, propene, and 1-butene suggest similar equilibrium geometries with the metal ion lying above the alkene CC π-bond in each case. The vibrational resonance structure is assigned to intramolecular modes of the alkene. The absorption spectra for Al+2-butene are broader with less identifiable structure. A clear threshold for charge transfer dissociation to each alkene ion product gives a limit for the corresponding Al+alkene bond dissociation energy: D0‘ ‘(AlX) ≤ 9.2, 19.1, 19.8, 24.7, and 28.2 kcal/mol for X = ethene, propene, 1-butene, cis-2-butene, and trans-2-butene, respectively. Experimental results are in good agreement with ab initio...
Optical antennas: Tuning in to optical wavelengths

Optical antennas are able to concentrate light on a scale much smaller then the wavelength. By using the probe of an atomic force microscope, it is possible to manipulate a so-called bow-tie antenna, thereby tuning its optical response.
Characterization of Compressive Behavior of Developing Human Talus

Mechanical characterization of human cartilage anlagen is required in order to effectively model congenital musculoskeletal deformities. Such modeling can effectively explore the effect of treatment procedures and potentially suggest enhanced treatment methods. We therefore determined the stress relaxation behavior of cartilage plugs obtained from third-trimester still-born fetuses in unconfined and confined compression geometries. The material parameters determined were the aggregate modulus HA = 0.15 ± 0.07 MPa, permeability coefficients k0 = 2.01 ± 0.8 × 10−14 m4 N−1 s−1 and M = 4.6 ± 1.0, Young’s modulus Es = 0.06 ± 0.03 MPa, and Poisson’s ratio ν = 0.4 ± 0.06. As compared to adult articular cartilage, stiffness was an order of magnitude lower than the values reported in the literature, inferring the relative softness of the tissue; and the permeability was an order of magnitude higher indicating relative ease of flow in the tissue. Poisson’s ratio also was close to the higher end of the range found in previous studies. Such material is expected to deform and relax to larger extents.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Considerations Concerning the Application of Raman Microprobe Technique to the Systematic Analysis of Bubbles in Glass

Abstract The application of Raman microprobe spectroscopy for the analysis of the gas contents in bubbles in glass was studied in terms of various aspects of the applied experimental procedure. The rotational Raman spectra of bubbles for various gases in the bubbles could be measured with good sensitivity. The Raman microprobe spectra for small bubbles (less than 30 μm diameter) could be measured with good signal-to-noise ratios. The possibility of applying this technique to the quantitative analysis of gas contents in bubbles was examined. The importance of the cleaning procedure for the glass materials during bubble preparation was also discussed in terms of controlling the gas contents in bubbles that will be used for systematic heat treatment investigations.
China: How Can Revenue Reforms Contribute to Inclusive and Sustainable Growth?

Revenue reforms can contribute to more inclusive, green, and sustainable growth in China. Relative to OECD economies, fiscal policy in China is less redistributive. Options for promoting more inclusive growth include improving the progressivity of labor taxes (individual income tax and social security contributions), introducing a recurrent property tax, and finishing the transition to a comprehensive value-added tax. Higher environmental taxes, meanwhile, would promote more environment-friendly economy. These reforms could also significantly boost revenue, potentially by as much as 6½ percent of GDP. Such increases in revenue could help reduce the deficit, finance priority social and infrastructure spending, and offset cuts in other taxes. We illustrate how these revenue reforms could be part of a comprehensive fiscal package that achieves the needed consolidation in the (augmented) deficit and foster higher quality growth.