cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low-Level Temperature Inversions in Fairbanks, Central Alaska

Abstract Low-level inversions up to 200 m were investigated on a statistical basis for Fairbanks, Alaska, using hourly data for the year March 1967 to February 1968. Surface inversions were found to be present for more than 50% of the time. In winter (November to February) there is an inversion for more than 95% of the time; maximum values of the inversion strength were 20°C in 200 m altitude difference. In summer (June to August) inversions occur relatively seldom. For the rest of the year, inversions are normally established at night, but are destroyed by day. The strength of the inversion was analyzed and shown graphically as a function of different independent meteorological parameters for the four seasons and annually. Although there are some differences depending on the season, the strength of the inversions was observed to increase with a) negative net radiation, b) decreasing cloudiness, and c) decreasing windspeed. Furthermore, during the winter a northerly wind direction, probably of orographic ...
Optimization of polyetherimide processing parameters for optical interconnect applications

ULTEM® polyetherimide (PEI) resins have been used in opto-electronic markets since the optical properties of these materials enable the design of critical components under tight tolerances. PEI resins are the material of choice for injection molded integrated lens applications due to good dimensional stability, near infrared (IR) optical transparency, low moisture uptake and high heat performance. In most applications, parts must be produced consistently with minimal deviations to insure compatibility throughout the lifetime of the part. With the large number of lenses needed for this market, injection molding has been optimized to maximize the production rate. These optimized parameters for high throughput may or may not translate to an optimized optical performance. In this paper, we evaluate and optimize PEI injection molding processes with a focus on optical property performance. A commonly used commercial grade was studied to determine factors and conditions which contribute to optical transparency, color, and birefringence. Melt temperature, mold temperature, injection speed and cycle time were varied to develop optimization trials and evaluate optical properties. These parameters could be optimized to reduce in-plane birefringence from 0.0148 to 0.0006 in this study. In addition, we have studied an optically smooth, sub-10nm roughness mold to re-evaluate material properties with minimal influence from mold quality and further refine resin and process effects for the best optical performance.
Intrinsically disordered proteins drive membrane curvature

Assembly of highly curved membrane structures is essential to cellular physiology. The prevailing view has been that proteins with curvature-promoting structural motifs, such as wedge-like amphipathic helices and crescent-shaped BAR domains, are required for bending membranes. Here we report that intrinsically disordered domains of the endocytic adaptor proteins, Epsin1 and AP180 are highly potent drivers of membrane curvature. This result is unexpected since intrinsically disordered domains lack a well-defined three-dimensional structure. However, in vitro measurements of membrane curvature and protein diffusivity demonstrate that the large hydrodynamic radii of these domains generate steric pressure that drives membrane bending. When disordered adaptor domains are expressed as transmembrane cargo in mammalian cells, they are excluded from clathrin-coated pits. We propose that a balance of steric pressure on the two surfaces of the membrane drives this exclusion. These results provide quantitative evidence for the influence of steric pressure on the content and assembly of curved cellular membrane structures.
Criminal interference

The article discusses the URSI Council's resolution on criminal activities using electromagnetic tools adopted at the Toronto General Assembly (August 1999). Criminal activities using electromagnetic tools are an outgrowth of more familiar disciplines: electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and electromagnetic interference (EMI). In this case, however, the terrorist produces the offending currents or radiation intentionally. Accidental radiation can cause severe and inopportune damage to electronics, so those fields or more severe field levels can certainly also be intentionally impressed on vulnerable equipment. The EMC community must be prepared to deal with new threats as they emerge.
Changing from single-drug to fixed-dose combinations: experience from Fiji

BACKGROUND: Fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) of first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs were introduced in Fiji in 2011, and there have been concerns about treatment response. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment response to FDCs among tuberculosis (TB) patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of treatment outcomes of new TB cases registered from January 2010 to April 2013 and weighing ⩾30 kg. Sputum smear conversion of new sputum smear-positive cases and end-of-treatment outcomes of all cases were evaluated for those receiving FDCs and compared to outcomes with previous use of single-drug preparations. RESULTS: Among new TB patients, 240 received single-drug preparations and 259 received FDCs for the full duration of treatment. The groups were similar in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics. Treatment outcomes were available for 95% of cases. Unknown outcomes were more common in those receiving FDCs. When known, end-of-treatment outcome was the same in the two treatment groups and did not differ between TB types. Sputum smear conversion after the 2-month intensive phase of treatment was similar in the two treatment groups: 95% and 97%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The introduction of FDCs in Fiji for the treatment of TB cases has not been associated with changes in treatment response.
A plaque neutralization method for arboviruses.

SummaryA method for production of plaques by arboviruses in small wells of disposable plastic trays is described. Each of 19 viruses from Central or South America produced plaques in MA-111 and VERO cell lines. Optimum conditions for various agents were determined. The method was shown to give reliable measurement of VEE virus antibodies in sera from humans with naturally acquired infections.
A novel amylase (Candida transglucosyl-amylase) that catalyzes glucosyl transfer from starch and dextrins.

tropicalis yeast. B multiplicity of evidence showed that this enzyme not only hydrolyzes soluble starch, maltose, and a-phenyl glucoside but also transfers the glucosyl moiety from the latter to glycerol. Ratios for these activities, all optimal at pH 4.0, held constant in partly inactivated preparations, in fractions separated by electrophoresis or ion exchange resin, and in extracts from cultures grown with different inducers. Capacities of various carbohydrates to suppress soluble starch utilization paralleled capacities of the same carbohydrates to suppress cY-phenyl glucoside utilization. In addition, the Michaelis constants (K,) for maltose, ac-phenyl glucoside, and a-methyl glucoside approached the apparent dissociation constants (Ki) for these substrates as inhibitors of soluble starch hydrolysis. These observations with the
A large, deep Hawaiian earthquake—The Honomu, Hawaii event of April 26, 1973

abstract The largest subcrustal earthquake ever recorded from the Hawaiian Island chain (magnitude 6.2) occurred at a depth of 48 km on April 26, 1973. The proximity of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory9s extensive seismograph network and our knowledge of the crustal and upper mantle structure beneath the island made it possible to calculate accurate hypocenters for both the main shock and 57 aftershocks. The earthquake may have triggered swarms of small, shallow earthquakes at two different locations on the island: one 25 km and the other 50 km from the epicenter of the earthquake. The polarity of the P -wave arrivals for the main shock and most of the aftershocks, as recorded by the local network and worldwide stations, define nodal planes oriented N26°E dipping 77°W and N70°W dipping 61°S. Comparison of the inferred directions of the greatest and least principal stresses derived from these data with the stress direction within the Pacific plate assumed for various hypotheses of the formation of the Hawaiian island chain show closest agreement with the concept that the orientation of the archipelago is aligned parallel to the direction of the maximum shear stress and is not perpendicular to the orientation of the least principal stress.
Withdrawn/Depressed Behaviors and Error-Related Brain Activity in Youth With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Objective The pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves increased activity in corticostriatal circuits connecting the anterior cingulate cortex with other brain regions. The error-related negativity (ERN) is a negative deflection in the event-related potential after an incorrect response that is believed to reflect anterior cingulate cortex activity. This study examined the relation of the ERN to OCD symptom dimensions and other childhood symptom dimensions. Method The ERN, correct response negativity, and accuracy were measured during a flanker task to assess performance monitoring in 80 youth with a lifetime diagnosis of OCD and 80 matched healthy comparison participants ranging from 8 to 18 years old. The relation of the ERN to OCD symptom dimension scores and Child Behavior Checklist Syndrome Scale scores was examined in multiple linear regression analyses. Results Accuracy was significantly decreased and ERN amplitude was significantly increased in patients compared with controls. ERN amplitude in patients was significantly correlated with accuracy, but not with OCD symptom dimensions, severity, comorbidity, or treatment. In a multiple linear regression analysis using age, accuracy, OCD, and Child Behavior Checklist Syndrome Scale scores as predictors of ERN amplitude, the ERN had significant associations only with Withdrawn/Depressed Scale scores and accuracy. Conclusion An enlarged ERN is a neural correlate of pediatric OCD that is independent of OCD symptom expression and severity. The finding of lower accuracy in pediatric cases requires replication. The relation between an enhanced ERN and withdrawn/depressed behaviors warrants further research in youth with OCD and other internalizing disorders.
The Seeds of Disaster: Relics of La Pérouse

After more than 200 years of searches for the shipwrecks of the legendary La Perouse expedition, in 2011 it seemed that survivors had been located at last. In 1785, Jean Francois de Galaup, Comte de La Perouse, sailed with an army of naturalists, artists, gardeners, and astronomers on a scientific circumnavigation to rival that of the three voyages by James Cook. La Perouse, his ships the Boussole and Astrolabe, and all the crew disappeared into the uncharted Pacific three years later. The subject of ongoing searches and intense speculation, La Perouse’s shipwreck was first located in the 1820s on the reef of Vanikoro in the Solomon Islands. Since then, hundreds of objects recovered from the wreck have been returned to France. In 2003 the Association Solomon repatriated to France skeletal remains believed to be a crewmember’s, which in June 2011 were reinterred beneath a monument to “L’inconnu du Vanikoro” in the grounds of the château de Brest.
Distribution and characteristics of transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kDa pathology in progressive supranuclear palsy

Background This study aimed to determine the frequency of transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kDa pathology in PSP, the clinical features of patients with this pathology, and genetic risk factors for it. Methods Hippocampal sections were screened with immunohistochemistry for transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kDa in 945 PSP cases. A subset of 261 cases that were negative in hippocampus was screened in the amygdala. The density and disruption of this pathology, as well as regional tau burden, and clinical and genetic characteristics were analyzed. Results We observed transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kDa pathology in 47 cases in the hippocampus and an additional 9 cases that only affected the amygdala. Hippocampal sclerosis was the strongest risk factor, followed by Alzheimer's disease pathology, argyrophilic grain disease, and older age at death. Five stages of transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kDa pathology were identified in PSP: Stage A had pathology only in the amygdala (16%); stage I had pathology confined to the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex (9%); stage II included both regions of stage A and I (38%); stage III spread further to medial occipitotemporal gyrus (20%); and stage IV had pathology in the dorsolateral frontal lobe (18%). Anatomical areas vulnerable to PSP pathology had varying degrees of this pathology in stage II and later. PSP with transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kDa pathology were older at disease onset and had lower median MMSE scores; however, the latter was driven by concurrent pathologies. Conclusions Distribution and clinical characteristics of transactive response DNA binding protein 43 kDa pathology in PSP were influenced by concurrent pathologies. This is the first study to observe that PSP-vulnerable regions are also susceptible to this non-tau pathology. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Variation in risk and outcomes of Epstein-Barr virus-associated breast cancer by epidemiologic characteristics and virus detection strategies: an exploratory study.

A relationship of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and breast cancer etiology and outcome may have clinical utility and potential to enhance understanding of tumor biology. Research to date has yielded variable results, likely reflecting differing virus detection assays and unaddressed epidemiologic heterogeneity across studies. Applying our novel, five-target assay detection strategy in an exploratory study, we examined demographic, clinical, and tumor characteristics, and overall survival, associated with EBV positivity in breast adenocarcinomas from 59 non-Hispanic white and 68 Hispanic women sampled by age (<50, 50+) and stage (localized, regional/remote) and examined associations based on single assay targets. EBV was localized only to lymphocytes. Nevertheless, viral prevalence, although low, varied across patient subgroups. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) for EBV positivity were lower for younger Hispanic than white women (p interaction = 0.05), and marginally higher for larger [OR (95% confidence intervals) 1.03 (1.00–1.05) per mm increase] and right-sided [2.8 (0.97–7.8)] tumors. In whites, ORs were marginally higher for larger tumors [1.04 (1.00–1.07)] and marginally lower for age 50+ [0.24 (0.06–1.03)]; in Hispanics, ORs were higher for ER negative [5.6 (1.1–30.5)], and marginally higher for right-sided, tumors [5.8 (0.94–36.2)]. Survival was suggestively poorer for EBV-positive than EBV-negative tumors in older women with localized disease. EBV associations differed across single assay targets, indicating variation in prior findings likely due to assay performance. The differing EBV associations by age and race/ethnicity suggest a non-random role of EBV in breast cancer and support further study using multi-target assays, relevant epidemiologic design, and a larger study sample.
Uridine monophosphate synthetase enables eukaryotic de novo NAD+ biosynthesis from quinolinic acid

NAD+ biosynthesis is an attractive and promising therapeutic target for influencing health span and obesity-related phenotypes as well as tumor growth. Full and effective use of this target for therapeutic benefit requires a complete understanding of NAD+ biosynthetic pathways. Here, we report a previously unrecognized role for a conserved phosphoribosyltransferase in NAD+ biosynthesis. Because a required quinolinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase (QPRTase) is not encoded in its genome, Caenorhabditis elegans are reported to lack a de novo NAD+ biosynthetic pathway. However, all the genes of the kynurenine pathway required for quinolinic acid (QA) production from tryptophan are present. Thus, we investigated the presence of de novo NAD+ biosynthesis in this organism. By combining isotope-tracing and genetic experiments, we have demonstrated the presence of an intact de novo biosynthesis pathway for NAD+ from tryptophan via QA, highlighting the functional conservation of this important biosynthetic activity. Supplementation with kynurenine pathway intermediates also boosted NAD+ levels and partially reversed NAD+-dependent phenotypes caused by mutation of pnc-1, which encodes a nicotinamidase required for NAD+ salvage biosynthesis, demonstrating contribution of de novo synthesis to NAD+ homeostasis. By investigating candidate phosphoribosyltransferase genes in the genome, we determined that the conserved uridine monophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase (UMPS), which acts in pyrimidine biosynthesis, is required for NAD+ biosynthesis in place of the missing QPRTase. We suggest that similar underground metabolic activity of UMPS may function in other organisms. This mechanism for NAD+ biosynthesis creates novel possibilities for manipulating NAD+ biosynthetic pathways, which is key for the future of therapeutics.
Does a Discussion by Any Other Name Sound the Same? Teaching Discussion in Three ELA Methods Courses:

Facilitating discussions in English Language Arts can develop students’ skills as speakers and listeners and their ability to engage with diverse perspectives. However, classroom observations often...
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy as a Probe of Biomembrane Structure

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is becoming an increasingly useful technique for studying the structural organization and dynamics of cell membranes. An important feature of this technique is that it can be applied to biological membrane preparations in a straightforward manner which does not involve introduction of exogenous probes or potentially harmful preparative procedures
Full-spine radiography: a review.

Objective The literature pertaining to full-spine radiography was reviewed to clarify its current role in clinical practice, to identify appropriate parameters for patient selection criteria, to evaluate the validity of spinographic analysis procedures, and to review the latest technological advancements in radiation protection and radiographic technology. Data sources The English language literature search included chiropractic textbooks, technique manuals and position papers as well as references from MEDLINE, Chiropractic Research Archives Collection (CRAC) and Chiropractic Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (CHIROLARS). References from non-indexed sources were reviewed from sources obtained in the indexed literature. Current texts on radiographic technology, radiation biology and radiation physics also were reviewed. Study selection The literature was reviewed by a single reviewer. All chiropractic references obtained were referenced. Nonchiropractic references that addressed relevant related topics were also included. Data extraction This study was primarily a qualitative review of the literature. A single observer extracted quantitative data only from controlled studies that examined validity, inter- and intraobserver reliability, and clinical relevance. Data synthesis The conclusions and recommendations in this review are based primarily on the work of experts in the field and well-established principles of radiation biology, radiation protection and radiation physics. Conclusions Full-spine radiography and spinographic analysis are controversial procedures in chiropractic. An extensive review of the literature reveals that the role of full-spine radiography is well established. With proper patient selection, careful attention to technical detail and utilization of several technological advancements, full-spine radiography is an effective diagnostic and analytic procedure with an acceptable risk/benefit ratio. Although the reliability of certain spinographic parameters has been established, many questions remain regarding the validity and clinical relevance of those parameters.
Evolution of the Main Energy-Producing Pathway for Aerobic Metabolism: The Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle

This chapter discusses the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle for oxidative carbohydrate metabolism in different microorganisms with the goal of determining how this pathway evolved. In its infancy, the Earth had almost no molecular oxygen in its atmosphere. About 2.5 billion years ago, photosynthesis began to utilize water as a source of electrons; molecular oxygen was a by-product of this process. The immediate chemical agent used to supply energy for specific chemical reactions in all organisms is adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The process of glucose catabolism involves a reaction sequence that is the most ubiquitous pathway in all energy metabolisms. TCA cycle is used only by aerobes. In aerobes, oxygen is involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Almost all the ATP-yielding reactions in aerobic metabolism result from reactions that are coupled with the electron-transport reactions. Oxygenic photosynthesis began about 2.8 billion years ago, but molecular oxygen did not appear in the atmosphere in significant quantities until about 2.2 billion years ago. Some anaerobes make extensive use of the sequence between oxaloacetate and succinate. From the oxidation-reduction history of the Earth and the microfossil record, one can confidently assert that the earliest successful cell lines must have obtained energy by anaerobic mechanisms. The starting metabolites for the synthesis of many amino acids are carbohydrates that are intermediates in the glycolytic pathway and the TCA cycle. Carbon dioxide is fixed by chlorobium limicola by running the TCA cycle backward. Aerobic “specialists” use parts of the TCA cycle.
Resampling for Assessing Parameter Estimates

We often collect a random sample of cases from a population, let this sample interact with a model in some way, and then examine with interest a number (or several numbers) that result from the interaction. For example, we may use the random sample to train a model and then examine one or more of the model’s learned parameters. More often, we apply a previously trained model to the cases and compute a measure of the model’s performance so that we may judge the model’s worth and perhaps even extrapolate its future performance. On page 53 we saw an excellent method for computing confidence bounds for individual prediction errors. On page 121 we saw that this same method could be used to compute confidence bounds for clusters of future gains or costs obtained from a classification scheme. The subject of this chapter is somewhat different, though nevertheless related. Here, we are not concerned with performance on individual or small groups of future cases. Rather, we compute a single measure that describes some aspect of the model, and then we judge the quality of this measurement.
The Emerging Powers, Think Tanks, and the New Security and Economic Architecture

While policy research is often prescriptive in nature, policy dialogue in a divided society centers around conjunctive learning with the target group through conducting projects on the ground. The projects to be delineated in this paper have come about from the necessity of finding new mediums through which to communicate policy. This method is especially appropriate to the developing world because it encourages actors within divided societies to avoid taking strong ideological opinions. Instead, they can be as technical as possible, infusing policy messages where most effective.
Predicting adoption dissolutions for children involved in the child welfare system

ABSTRACTWhile the majority of foster care adoptions are stable and secure, some dissolve, resulting in the return of children to the system. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with children’s reentry into the foster care system after adoptions are formally finalized. Using case records from the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services’ (DCFS) Bureau of Information Systems (BIS), we compared 123 dissolved adoptions to 74 successful ones. We found that children’s gender, history of physical abuse, exposure to drug use, and the number of foster care placements prior to adoption are associated with greater odds of dissolution. Furthermore, the odds of dissolution were higher for relative adoptive parents and for adoptive parents with prior substantiated Child Welfare cases. Implications for practice include ongoing targeted training and supportive services for families and improved screening procedures that address the unique needs of adoptive parents.
Perceiving allophonic alternations in an immersion setting: The case of alveolars and rhotics in Spanish and English

Recent research indicates that second language (L2) immersion influences the phonetic production not only of the L2 (Jacobs, Fricke, & Kroll, 2016), but also of the first language (L1) (Chang, 2012). However, less understood is the immediate impact of L2 immersion on cross-language influence in phonetic perception. This study tracked L2 Spanish study abroad learners’ perceptual shifts due to immersion using auditory-visual cross-modal priming experiments in both Spanish and English. The target phones, [r, ɾ, t, d, ð, ɹ], were chosen for their differing phonemic and allophonic statuses in Spanish and English. For example, Spanish rhotics include the phonemic trilled /r/ and tapped /ɾ/, whereas the tapped /ɾ/ exists phonetically in English, but as an allophone of the alveolar stops /t d/. Because learners must adjust their phonological inventories to accommodate the L2 statuses of these phones, we expect their L1 inventories to also reflect these changes, as evidenced by slower RTs for the prime-target pair...
Multimodal, longitudinal assessment of intracortical microstimulation.

Abstract The fundamental obstacle to neuroprostheses based on penetrating microstimulation is the tissue's response to the device insertion and to the application of the electrical stimulation. Our long-term goal is to develop multichannel microstimulation of central nervous tissue for clinical therapy. The overall objective of this research is to identify the optimal parameters for a chronically implanted microstimulation device. In particular, the work presented here focuses on the effects of repeated stimulation and the reactive tissue response on the efficacy of stimulation-driven behavior. To this end, psychophysical experiments were performed using multichannel cortical implants in the auditory cortex of rats. Further, we investigated the effect of the device–tissue interfacial quality on the psychophysical threshold. Here, we report the effects of cortical depth, days postimplant on the psychophysical threshold of auditory cortical microstimulation, along with correlated impedance spectral changes and post vivo histology. We expect that these data will further enable neuroprosthetic development.
Background You Need to Know

The bases for understanding the structure of the atom are the quantum theory and wave mechanics, which were developed in the early 1900s. The important conclusions of these studies, particularly as they relate to materials, are:
Brief Announcement: Optimal Record and Replay under Causal Consistency

We investigate the minimum record needed to replay executions of processes that share causally consistent memory. For a version of causal consistency, we identify optimal records under both offline and online recording setting. Under the offline setting, a central authority has information about every process' view of the execution and can decide what information to record for each process. Under the online setting, each process has to decide on the record at runtime as the operations are observed.
The Long Loneliness of Primary Care.

In recent years there has been heightened interest in the linkages between loneliness, social isolation, and health. A highly cited meta-analysis determined that social isolation, loneliness, and living alone increased the risk of premature death by an order of magnitude that was comparable to the
India’s pharmaceutical industry and the enduring public regulation challenge

India’s pharmaceutical industry is of considerable economic importance—as one of India’s largest manufacturing industries and a major contributor of exports. Yet, it is perhaps of most significance for health—as a major supplier of generic medicines, for which it is sometimes known as the “pharmacy of the world”. The sector faces a number of challenges in order to ensure greater societal benefit from the industry in India. Some of the major issues relate to production in terms of quality and environmental impact, to research in terms of appropriate patent laws and regulating clinical trials, and also to marketing related to prices and access to medicines. Yet the sector, with its distinctive character of consumption and significance for public health, is one where little substantive momentum has emerged around voluntary governance initiatives. Widespread agreement exists on the need for more effective public regulation to maximise the societal benefits of the industry.
Internationalization in the context of academic capitalism

This article is written from the perspective of a faculty member in a professional graduate degree program who is committed to internationalization, but also notes its challenges given the context ...
Neuroblastoma as a Clinical Entity

Neuroblastoma is among the most common of childhood malignancies. With an incidence of 1/100,000 children, it is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood. It arises from the neural crest cells of the sympathetic nervous system, and can occur anywhere along the sympathetic chain or in the adrenal medulla. The abdomen is the most common site of primary disease, with half of these occurring in the adrenal medulla (Alexander, 2000). Primary neuroblastomas are also seen in the chest (Alexander, 2000), pelvis (Knoedler et at., 1989), and, less commonly, brain, head and neck (Schochet et al., 1975; Brown et al., 1978; Bennett and Rubinstein, 1984; Miller et al., 1984; Poon et al., 1988). In rare circumstances, apparently multifocal primary tumors have been reported (Hiyama et al., 2000).
On interdisciplinary collaboration and mentoring in Birth Defects Research

There are many research societies in the world but none like the Teratology Society, now known as, the Society of Birth Defects Research and Prevention. Our Society has thrived in the last 60 years because of its inclusiveness in the diversity of disciplines of our membership, the outstanding interprofessional collaboration, and successful mentorship. This brief commentary offers some anecdotes about our diversity, interprofessional research, and mentoring.
Adrenergic Ca V 1.2 Activation via Rad Phosphorylation Converges at α 1C I-II Loop

Rationale: Changing activity of cardiac CaV1.2 channels under basal conditions, during sympathetic activation, and in heart failure is a major determinant of cardiac physiology and pathophysiology....
Achieving brittle-intermetallic-free and high-conductivity aluminum/copper joints using nickel-phosphorus coatings

Abstract Mechanical degradation due to brittle intermetallic compounds (IMCs) formed at the faying interface is a predominant deficiency in dissimilar metal joints. In copper/aluminum (Cu/Al) joints, additional defects (such as partially-bonded interfaces, porosity and cracks) lead to further weakened strength and lowered electrical conductivity. In this study, nickel‑phosphorus (Ni-P) coatings are deposited on Al to address these issues. With the aid of Ni-P coatings, the detrimental Cu-Al IMC is eliminated, a donut-shaped weld with a partially-bonded interface is evolved into an hourglass-shaped weld with a fully-bonded interface, while the porosity and cracks are inhibited. Numerical simulations indicate that, during the welding without Ni-P coating, the Al oxide aggravates the inhomogeneity of heat generation at the Cu/Al interface, promoting the formation of donut-shaped weld and defects. Microstructural characterization suggests that the Ni-P coatings obstruct the Cu-Al interdiffusion which results in CuAl2-free interfaces, while the amorphous Ni-P convert into eutectic microstructure composed of nanocrystalline Ni and fine Ni3P grains through a solid-state transformation. Using the Ni-P coatings, joints gain an improvement of 140% in lap-shear peak load and a 25-fold increase in lap-shear maximum elongation, as well as an 84% reduction in electrical resistance.
Strombothelya gen. nov., a fossil angiosperm with two species in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber

Strombothelya, a new genus of fossil angiosperms from Myanmar amber deposits, is represented by 2 flowers that are here described as separate species. Flowers of Strombothelya have 5 spreading, more or less distinctly veined sepals. Petals are absent. There are 10 inwardly arching stamens and a half-inferior ovary, whose broadly conic superior portion terminates in 1 or 3 stout, columnar, apically truncate styles. The superior portion has a papillate surface that was probably nectarifer-ous. The inferior portion of the ovary in both species is obconic and 5- or 10-ribbed. The fossils are comparable in certain respects to the genus Tropidogyne, described earlier from the same amber deposits. The 3 species of Tropidogyne have flowers with 5 or 10 stamens and 2 or 3 slender, curved, acutely-tipped styles. The inferior portion of the ovary is strongly 10-ribbed, while the superior portion is flat or cushion-shaped and bears a lobed nectar-disc. Strombothelya and Tropidogyne inhabited a Cretaceous araucarian rainforest, which may have been located in the Southern Hemisphere continent of Gondwana.
Marital loss and risk of dementia: Do race and gender matter?

Abstract Recent studies have found that marital loss through divorce or widowhood is associated with a higher risk of dementia for older adults. However, whether these associations vary by race and gender is less clear. To address this gap, we drew upon longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (2000–2016) to investigate the association between marital loss and dementia risk, separately for non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks. We further examined gender variations in the link between marital loss and dementia risk within each racial group. Results from discrete-time event history models suggested that widowhood is significantly associated with a higher risk of dementia for both Whites and Blacks, controlling for basic demographic characteristics. However, while divorce is significantly associated with a higher risk of dementia for Blacks, the association is marginally significant (p
Design variable-sampling control charts using covariate information

Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts are widely used in manufacturing industry for monitoring the performance of sequential production processes over time. A common practice in using a control ...
The Iron Rule

The nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett and the rhetoric employed by the G.O.P. to justify her nomination threaten to undermine the continuing viability of institutional norms—in Senate judicial confirmations, in congressional interactions more generally, and maybe in all of our politics. In this Essay, we maintain that one argument is particularly perilous. It is the one suggested by Senator Lindsey Graham, Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee, in his letter to Senate Democrats informing them that the Majority intended on filling the seat: “I am certain if the shoe were on the other foot, you would do the same.” The extracted rule is then thus: If one’s opponent would engage in the behavior, then it is permissible for one to engage in the behavior. Compare this to the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. In sharp contrast, Sen. Graham’s rule—what we call the Iron Rule—allows harsh treatment to those on the suspicion that they might do the same. We contend that an appeal to the Iron Rule in our political discourse is dangerous, and that we ought to excise it from the menu of political justifications. Our political landscape is one predominated by partisan distrust. At the same time, our political system relies on the stable and predictable observance of various norms by the parties. The logic of the Iron Rule—they would do it, so we should do it first—leaves all of this imperiled. The Iron Rule in a realm of reciprocally self-applied norms cannot reasonably be cabined or disciplined, leaving us vulnerable to the erosion or even annihilation of our political institutions.
Calibration of Stage–Discharge Relationship for Rectangular Flume with Central Cylindrical Contraction

AbstractThe design and calibration of a simple rectangular flume with central cylindrical contraction is presented. The flume is designed based on principles of critical flow in open channels. Crit...
ECONOMIC STUDY OF EDIBLE OILS AND FUTURE PREDICTION OF DEMAND IN EGYPT

The plant production sector is amajor pillar of agricultural production,with a value of about 164.15 billion pounds, representing about 57.35% of thevalue of agricultural production amounting to about 287.51 billion pounds. thevalue of oil crops is about 2.28 billion pounds, representing about 79% of thevalue of agricultural production, representing about 1.38% of the value ofplant production.In spite of the multiplicity of oil crops that can be cultivated, the areaof these crops does not exceed 2% of the crop area. the problem of the study isthe growing gap between the production and consumption of edible oils inEgypt, due to the increase in the population rate higher than the rate ofincrease in production of edibl oils.Where the average domestic production of edible oils amounted to181.1 thousand tons while the local consumption amounted to 1020.4thousand tons, which means a gap of about 839,2 thousand tons as an averagefor the period (2001-2015), the study aims to identify on the current status ofproduction and consumption of edible oils in Egypt, and forecast consumptionof edible oils .The study relied on secondary data, it is also relied on the prediction ofthe future consumption of edible oils by using the current consumption rates ofoils, and by knowing the population growth rates and the rates of growth of thenational income.The results of the study indicate that the elasticity of the incomedemand for edible oils is estimated at 0.444. This means that edible oils isessential commodity, also shows that by increasing the national income by1%, the quantities consumed of oils increasing by 0.444% .Future consumption of edible oils was predicted in the future (2019,2021, 2023 and 2025) which is 2224, 2494, 2797 and 3137 thousand tonsrespectively. it is clear that there is an expected continuous increase in thefuture consumption of edible oils, so decision-makers should take this intoconsideration when putting productivity policies to cope with the expectedincrease in consumption.
Regional Conflict and Cooperation: The Case of Southeast Asia

This case study examines Southeast Asian states' transition from conflict to cooperation during and after the Cold War. Our objective is to dissect this particular case in order to understand in more general terms the conditions that can turn a regional order around, in either a cooperative or conflictive direction. The case is important because of the dramatic economic rise of Southeast Asia in the midst of national, ethnic, religious, and linguistic heterogeneity, the wide diversity in power attributes and socio-economic development, the severe economic and political crisis that afflicted the region in the late 1990s, and the remaining unresolved disputes within the region. The case draws special attention to the impact of both internationalization and domestic politics on the way these states managed their regional relations. These two forces — internationalization and domestic politics — seemingly operate from above and below the level of the region, respectively. Yet they are strongly related. Southeast Asian leaders chose to integrate their countries into the global economy at a time when most other industrializing states resisted it. The strategy of export-led industrialization was expected to improve living standards, providing leaders with a means to enhance political control at home. Accordingly, their domestic political economies had to be adjusted to facilitate accelerated economic growth. Preventing extensive military investments was one important requirement for avoiding governmental and payments deficits, high interest rates, inflation, and other such effects detrimental to growth and foreign investment. A related prerequisite was stability — domestic and regional, political and economic — that would provide a secure environment for such investments. Regional cooperation can thus be interpreted as a natural choice when seeking to enhance stability and investments, and to prevent a harmful arms race.
A university-community hospital affiliation in obstetrics and gynecology: effect on resident recruitment and education.

Abstract In August 1965, a long-standing affiliation between the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University of Michigan and the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology of several community hospitals with residency programs was strengthened. The program directors began to meet monthly to discuss mutual problems, the teaching programs for staff and residents were improved and expanded, and students were encouraged to elect rotations in clinical obstetrics-gynecology in the community hospitals. The effect of this program on the number of residents and their quality, as measured by changes in numbers of foreign graduates and performances on examinations, is described.
The Mild Oxidation of Some Alpha-Difluoro Sulfides to Sulfones with Sodium Perborate

Abstract Sodium perborate in acetic acid is an effective reagent for the mild oxidation of some electron-deficient sulfides to sulfones.
Zero distribution of Müntz extremal polynomials in _{}[0,1]

Let {λj}∞ j =0 be a sequence of distinct positive numbers. Let 1 0, n→∞ n then the normalized zero counting measure of T n,p converges weakly as n → ∞ to to α πt α -1 √tα(1-tα) dt, while if α = 0 or oo, the limiting measure is a Dirac delta at 0 or 1, respectively.
Effects of non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) on molecular opacities

Molecules increase in importance in stellar atmospheres as the temperature falls along the spectral sequence for all luminosity classes. Among their many roles molecular features provide the basis for spectral classification (temperature and chemical composition) in M, S, and C stars; they constitute important opacity sources across the spectrum from the ultraviolet to the infrared; they influence the energy budget and hence the kinetic temperature in the outer photospheric layers; they may contribute significantly to the radiative levitation of the atmosphere; they form masers; they may cause or facilitate mass loss; and they are indicative of physical conditions and processes from the photosphere to the outer circumstellar envelope.
Conflict and Compliance: State Responses to International Human Rights Pressure

Preface 1. Introduction: Compliance Revisited 2. Human Rights Pressure and State Violations 3. Skeptics Under Fire: Human Rights Change in the Southern Cone 4. Bounded Optimism: The Limits of Human Rights Influence 5. State Responses in Global Perspective 6. Compliance and Resistance in International Politics Appendix: Measuring Human Rights Determinants Notes Index
Priorities for the primary prevention of breast cancer

Despite recent calls to intensify the search for new risk factors for breast cancer, acting on information that we already have could prevent thousands of cases each year. This article reviews breast cancer primary prevention strategies that are applicable to all women, discusses the underutilization of chemoprevention in high-risk women, highlights the additional advances that could be made by including young women in prevention efforts, and comments on how the molecular heterogeneity of breast cancer affects prevention research and strategies.
Successive Microbial Populations in Calimyrna Figs

Smyrna-type (Calimyrna) figs have essentially sterile internal tissue until visited by the pollinating fig wasp, Blastophaga psenes, which introduces a specific microflora consisting of Candida guilliermondii var. carpophila and Serratia plymuthica. This flora persists and develops in numbers throughout the ripening period until maturity of the fruit. These organisms do not cause spoilage. The presence of C. guilliermondii var. carpophila appears to increase the attractiveness of the fruit to drosophilae. Drosophila (mainly D. melanogaster) carry spoilage yeasts and bacteria on their exterior body parts, and introduce these organisms during ovipositing in the fruit cavity. The spoilage yeasts consist almost entirely of apiculate yeasts (Hanseniaspora valbyensis, H. uvarum, and Kloeckera apiculata) and of Torulopsis stellata, which cause active fermentative spoilage. Spoilage bacteria (primarily Acetobacter melanogenus) are also introduced with the yeasts. Organic acids are produced by these yeasts as well as by the Acetobacter. A number of minor spoilage yeasts were also identified.
Deconstructing the “Right Turn” in American Education

This book is based on the John Dewey Lecture given by Michael Apple at Teachers College in 1992. Its main purpose is to link the analysis of pedagogical concerns with that of the wider social context of education. It focuses on "understanding the historically situated continuities and mediated tensions between the global and local consequences of international corporate capitalism, the growth and formation of conservative state and social movements, and the rhetoric and reality of specific curricular and school 'reform' policies" (p. vii). The connection with Dewey's thought is stated to be "thinking relationally about the linkages between the economy, politics, culture, and schooling" (p. vii). The central theme of all the chapters, although they deal with variegated topics, is the shift to the right in American politics, society, and education, and the effect of trends toward globalization in exacerbating some of these tendencies toward greater centralized control over teaching practice and assessment. The book exposes the central myth of educational reform in the United States in the 1990s: that greater local educational input at the local level by parents and teachers will serve as a counterbalance for the homogenizing tendencies of standardization in curriculum and assessment on the national and international levels. Each of these chapters deals with some aspect of this theme in a specific way. The first two chapters, by Michael Apple alone, are entitled "Education, Culture, and Cheap French Fries" and "The Politics of Official Knowledge: Does a National Curriculum Make Sense?" The third chapter, written with
Stability and convergence issues in iterative learning control. II

Repeated accurate path tracking has many control applications. Manufacturing or cycled endurance testing are examples. Repetitions permit adjustments of control signals between cycles with trajectory error information. Iterative learning control (ILC) systems are designed for this situation. Time delays can adversely affect stability especially in iterative schemes. Calculation time by digital systems or by sampling techniques can cause delays. Sensor dynamics or sensor location can also cause delays. This paper proposes a stability condition for ILC where the plant exhibits a time delay.