cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Standards of Care for Research with Participants Who Identify as LGBTQ

ABSTRACTThe following standards of care have been developed to support the continued development of research with individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus individuals whose orientations differ from those who identify as heterosexual and cisgender (LGBTQ+). The guidelines presented are conceived as a working document that reflect the current state and body of knowledge that can inform and provide reference for counseling research, and can be used in the preparation and training of future researchers. The standards outlined in this document will continue to evolve as does research, LGBTQ+ communities, and the sociopolitical climate.
Self-Healing Phenomenon Observed During Capacity-Control Cycling of Freestanding Si-Based Composite Paper Anodes for Li-Ion Batteries

A different strategy of capacity-control cycling under fixed upper and lower capacity/voltage limits is used in an attempt to seek an extended cycle life for Si nanoparticle–multiwalled carbon nanotube (Si–MW) electrodes for Li-ion batteries. For cells using Si–MW 1:1 (w/w) electrodes in the electrolyte of ethylene carbonate–diethyl carbonate–fluoroethylene carbonate (EC–DEC–FEC, 45:45:10 w/w/w) tested at a current of 1 mA, stable 326 charge/discharge cycles at a designated capacity of 506 mA h g–1 are attained. The new cycling protocol allows for the observation of a self-healing phenomenon by studying the specific capacities and charge/discharge end voltages. Prolonged cycling under capacity control (500 mA h g–1) and the interesting pattern of variations in the discharge/charge end voltage are successfully reproduced under different electrode/electrolyte and current conditions: Si–MW 3:2 in the electrolyte of DEC–FEC (1:1 w/w) at 1 mA (490 cycles), Si–MW 3:2 in DEC–FEC at 0.5 mA (483 cycles), and Si–MW...
Preparing Principal Candidates to Be Instructional Leaders Through Virtual Coaching Preservice Teachers

The purpose of this collaborative action research study was to determine whether practicing instructional coaching with teacher candidates (TCs) improved coaching skills of principal candidates (PC...
Economists’ Founding Concerns in the History of Economic Thought

The history of economic thought has been one of an evolving methodological foundation for the discipline. In the late eighteenth century, Adam Smith saw “political economy” in broad terms, but mainly concerned with institutions and policies that encouraged maximum national economic growth. In the late nineteenth century, Alfred Marshall added analytical tools, such as supply and demand, but restricted the central concern of the discipline to the “ordinary business of life” and applied narrowly to the “business-like classes.” Lionel Robbins sought in the early-1930s to bring unity to the disparate analyses of economists (following in the methodological footsteps of Phillip Wicksteed who wrote in the early 1900s) by declaring “scarcity” to be the unifying core concern. Gary Becker, George Stigler, and many other economists have since the 1960s argued that economics is a “method of analysis” that can be applied without regard to past disciplinary boundaries.
Comments on “Tradition and Innovation: Some Economics of the Creative Arts, Science, Scholarship, and Technical Development”

In his paper Roger McCain has undertaken to devise an economic theory of traditions and innovations and their interrelations in general terms applicable to the whole range of culture. It is a heroic effort that reaches out over all the arts, sciences, and scholarship, as well as the field that is more familiar and accessible to economists, namely, technological progress. But McCain’s grasp falls somewhat short as he abandons some of the most significant features of tradition and innovation in order to arrive at a quantitative treatment and some rules for optimization.
Nanostructured Membranes for Water Purification

Application of nanotechnology to water purification is currently faced with the issue of how to design nanomaterials that are capable of collecting and preconcentrating a large number of contaminants per unit volume. Specifically, it is not clear how to interface nanoparticles with contaminants because direct addition of nanoparticles into drinking water may require extra separation steps to recover the expensive nanomaterials. Due to their large pore sizes, conventional membrane filters cannot be used for removing submicron particles, engineered nanoparticles, or biological particles within the range of 100 nm or below. To overcome these challenges, we present transformative membrane technologies that are based on the use of nanostructured conducting phase-inverted poly(amic acid) membranes to isolate and remove silver nanoparticles, quantum dots, and titanium dioxide particles in environmental samples. nPAA membranes have also been utilized to remove pathogenic bacteria in drinking water. Filtration efficiency of over 99.98% was recorded for most contaminants. The membrane pore sizes were experimentally controlled from 4 to 35 nm, and the optimized membranes were tested against three of the most common drinking water contaminants, namely Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Hundred percent removal of these microbial species were recorded and the results were validated with conventional plating techniques.
Non-Modulating Essential Hypertension: A Subset with Sodium Sensitivity

Multiple lines of evidence suggest a role for sodium intake in the pathogenesis of hypertension, although it appears that only some hypertensives have a special sensitivity to sodium [7, 13, 25]. The frequency of “sodium-sensitive” hypertension has been estimated to be around 60% based on the efficacy of sodium restriction [4] or diuretic agents [6] in lowering blood pressure. There is also evidence to indicate that diuretics are efficacious in the same patients as respond to a reduced sodium intake [17]. A pressor response to a sodium load also occurs in about 50% of unselected, but small groups of patients [7, 13].
Spherically symmetric solutions of the multi-dimensional, compressible, isentropic Euler equations

In this note, we prove that the solutions obtained to the spherically symmetric Euler equations in the recent works [2, 3] are weak solutions of the multi-dimensional compressible Euler equations. This follows from new uniform estimates made on the artificial viscosity approximations up to the origin, removing previous restrictions on the admissible test functions and ruling out formation of an artificial boundary layer at the origin. The uniform estimates may be of independent interest as concerns the possible rate of blow-up of the density and velocity at the origin for spherically symmetric flows.
Highlights from the scientific and educational abstracts presented at the ASER 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting and Postgraduate Course

The American Society of Emergency Radiology (ASER) 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting and Post-Graduate Course encompassed a wide range of topics: traumatic and nontraumatic emergencies, radiation dose management, technical innovations and advancements, emergency preparedness, mass casualties, military radiology and teleradiology. This article highlights the scientific and educational abstracts presented at the meeting (Emerg Radiol 18:453–481, 2011).
Limiting Errors and Avoiding Litigation

“Suits for malpractice are so frequent that many doctors have abandoned the practice of surgery, leaving it to those who, with less skill and experience, have less reputation and property to lose” – NY Medical Journal, 1856.
Multimodal characterization of the human nucleus accumbens.

Abstract Dysregulation of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is implicated in numerous neuropsychiatric disorders. Treatments targeting this area directly (e.g. deep brain stimulation) demonstrate variable efficacy, perhaps owing to non-specific targeting of a functionally heterogeneous nucleus. Here we provide support for this notion, first observing disparate behavioral effects in response to direct simulation of different locations within the NAc in a human patient. These observations motivate a segmentation of the NAc into subregions, which we produce from a diffusion-tractography based analysis of 245 young, unrelated healthy subjects. We further explore the mechanism of these stimulation-induced behavioral responses by identifying the most probable subset of axons activated using a patient-specific computational model. We validate our diffusion-based segmentation using evidence from several modalities, including MRI-based measures of function and microstructure, human post-mortem immunohistochemical staining, and cross-species comparison of cortical-NAc projections that are known to be conserved. Finally, we visualize the passage of individual axon bundles through one NAc subregion in a post-mortem human sample using CLARITY 3D histology corroborated by 7T tractography. Collectively, these findings extensively characterize human NAc subregions and provide insight into their structural and functional distinctions with implications for stereotactic treatments targeting this region.
Prevalence and Cost of Care Cascades After Low-Value Preoperative Electrocardiogram for Cataract Surgery in Fee-for-Service Medicare Beneficiaries

Importance Low-value care is prevalent in the United States, yet little is known about the downstream health care use triggered by low-value services. Measurement of such care cascades is essential to understanding the full consequences of low-value care. Objective To describe cascades (tests, treatments, visits, hospitalizations, and new diagnoses) after a common low-value service, preoperative electrocardiogram (EKG) for patients undergoing cataract surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants Observational cohort study using fee-for-service Medicare claims data from beneficiaries aged 66 years or older without known heart disease who were continuously enrolled between April 1, 2013, and September 30, 2015, and underwent cataract surgery between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015. Data were analyzed from March 12, 2018, to April 9, 2019. Exposures Receipt of a preoperative EKG. The comparison group included patients who underwent cataract surgery but did not receive a preoperative EKG. Main Outcomes and Measures Cascade event rates and associated spending in the 90 days after preoperative EKG, or in a matched timeframe for the comparison group. Secondary outcomes were patient, physician, and area-level characteristics associated with experiencing a potential cascade. Results Among 110 183 cataract surgery recipients, 12 408 (11.3%) received a preoperative EKG (65.6% of them were female); of those, 1978 (15.9%) had at least 1 potential cascade event. The comparison group included 97 775 participants (63.1% female). Those who received a preoperative EKG experienced between 5.11 (95% CI, 3.96-6.25) and 10.92 (95% CI, 9.76-12.08) additional events per 100 beneficiaries relative to the comparison group. This included between 2.18 (95% CI, 1.34-3.02) and 7.98 (95% CI, 7.12-8.84) tests, 0.33 (95% CI, 0.19-0.46) treatments, 1.40 (95% CI, 1.18-1.62) new patient cardiology visits, and 1.21 (95% CI, 0.62-1.79) new cardiac diagnoses. Spending for the additional services was up to $565 per Medicare beneficiary (95% CI, $342-$775), or an estimated $35 025 923 annually across all Medicare beneficiaries in addition to the $3 275 712 paid for the preoperative EKGs. Among preoperative EKG recipients, those who were older (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for patients aged 75 to 84 years vs 66 to 74 years old, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.28-1.57), had more chronic conditions (aOR for each additional Elixhauser condition, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.14-1.22), lived in more cardiologist-dense areas (aOR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.09), or had their preoperative EKG performed by a cardiac specialist rather than a primary care physician (aOR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.10-1.43) were more likely to experience a potential cascade. Conclusions and Relevance Care cascades after preoperative EKG for cataract surgery are infrequent but costly. Policy and practice interventions to reduce low-value services and the cascades that follow could yield substantial savings.
Leveraging Approximation to Improve Datacenter Resource Efficiency

Cloud multi-tenancy is typically constrained to a single interactive service colocated with one or more batch, low-priority services, whose performance can be sacrificed. Approximate computing applications offer the opportunity to enable tighter colocation among multiple applications whose performance is important. We present Pliant, a lightweight cloud runtime that leverages the ability of approximate computing applications to tolerate some loss in output quality to boost the utilization of shared servers. During periods of high contention, Pliant employs incremental and interference-aware approximation to reduce interference in shared resources. We evaluate Pliant across different approximate applications, and show that it preserves QoS for all co-scheduled workloads, while incurring at most a 5 percent loss in output quality.
Switching Condensates: The CTD Code Goes Liquid.

Condensates containing RNA polymerase II (Pol II) materialize at sites of active transcription. Young and coworkers now establish that C-terminal domain phosphorylation regulates Pol II partitioning into distinct condensates connected with transcription initiation or splicing. This advance hints that distinct condensates with specialized functional compositions might choreograph distinct stages of transcription.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARI) and prostate cancer mortality among men with regular access to screening and health care.

39Background: The excess risk of high-grade prostate cancer in the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) among men randomized to finasteride raised concerns that a chemoprevention benefit would b...
One Degree of Freedom 7-R Closed Loop Linkage as a Building Block of Nanorobots.

A robotic manipulator is a series of links connected with kinematic pairs designed so that its configuration (three dimensional pose – particularly at the end effector) is controllable. The control is achieved through a series of one degree of freedom revolute or prismatic joints. Nanorobots are linkage mechanisms at nanoscale. These robots offer considerable promise in diverse applications in nanotechnology, biotechnology and medicine. Similar to their macro-scale siblings, a nanorobot must have a controllable kinematic structure to perform tasks. However, at nanometer levels creation of controllable single degree of freedom kinematic pairs are unlikely. Therefore controllability of the nanorobot remains a technological challenge. In this paper, we present a peptide-based linkage composed of protein building-block molecules designed as a one degree-of-freedom closed-loop 7R spatial mechanism. Traditional spatial kinematic notation and formulations are used to solve the loop closure equations implicitly. Two different kinematic branches of this molecular linkage are identified. The designed molecule is fabricated and its motion is observed at distinct configurations using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. These results validate our formulation, and indicate that 7R spatial closed loop linkages are a suitable building block for nanorobots and nanomachines.
Reparameterization to Enforce Constraints in the Inverse Design of Metasurfaces

We report new scheme for enforcing constraints on structural features of merasurfaces in inverse design process by imposing controls through transforming the parameter space. Using this method, we design metagratings with restricted minimum feature size.
A Closed-Loop Linear Covariance Framework for Vehicle Path Planning in an Uncertain Obstacle Field.

Path planning in uncertain environments is a key enabler of true vehicle autonomy. Over the past two decades, numerous approaches have been developed to account for errors in the vehicle path while navigating complex and often uncertain environments. An important capability of such planning is the prediction of vehicle dispersion covariances about candidate paths. This work develops a new closed-loop linear covariance (CL-LinCov) framework applicable to wide range of autonomous system architectures. Extensions to current CL-LinCov frameworks are made to accommodate 1) the cascaded architecture typical of autonomous vehicles and 2) the dual-use of continuous sensor information for both navigation and control. The closed-loop nature of the framework preserves the important coupling between the system dynamics, exogenous disturbances, and the guidance, navigation, and control algorithms. The developed framework is applied to a simplified model of an unmanned aerial vehicle and validated by comparison via Monte Carlo analysis. The utility of the CL-LinCov information is illustrated by its application to path planning in an uncertain obstacle field via a modified version of the rapidly exploring random tree algorithm.
Questioning Development, Authority and Genetically Modified Seeds in Ghana

Sustainably feeding the world in light of climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. For the past decade, a collection of donors  mainly the Gates and Rockefeller Foundations and the US Agency for International Development  have tapped genetically modified (GM) crops to be a key tool in building African food security. To achieve this goal, donors have promoted the establishment of regulatory laws in half a dozen African countries to facilitate research and commercialization of GM crops. However, since a majority of the world's GM patents belong to a handful of companies, and because African research labs widely do not have the ability to genetically modify in house, GM proponents have solidified partnerships between US agribusiness companies and African research councils to jointly conduct research. However, these efforts are not without controversy. In Ghana and other African countries, strong oppositional movements have grown in response to GM efforts. In this paper, drawing from 13 months of ethnographic research among Ghanaian scientists and officials tasked with commercializing GM crops as well as activists who seek to halt these efforts, I show how both pro-GM scientists and anti-GM activists challenge the authority of donors to identify and define Ghana's agricultural failures and futures. By asking, "does Bill Gates love Africa more than me?" or declaring, "there are no hungry people in this land," these actors label and challenge a global development system that denigrates African actors and in turn, demand space to theorize and determine Ghanaian agricultural futures and sovereignty.
Galectin-1 suppresses methamphetamine induced neuroinflammation in human brain microvascular endothelial cells: Neuroprotective role in maintaining blood brain barrier integrity

Methamphetamine (Meth) abuse can lead to the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity leading to compromised CNS function. The role of Galectins in the angiogenesis process in tumor-associated endothelial cells (EC) is well established; however no data are available on the expression of Galectins in normal human brain microvascular endothelial cells and their potential role in maintaining BBB integrity. We evaluated the basal gene/protein expression levels of Galectin-1, -3 and -9 in normal primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC) that constitute the BBB and examined whether Meth altered Galectin expression in these cells, and if Galectin-1 treatment impacted the integrity of an in-vitro BBB. Our results showed that BMVEC expressed significantly higher levels of Galectin-1 as compared to Galectin-3 and -9. Meth treatment increased Galectin-1 expression in BMVEC. Meth induced decrease in TJ proteins ZO-1, Claudin-3 and adhesion molecule ICAM-1 was reversed by Galectin-1. Our data suggests that Galectin-1 is involved in BBB remodeling and can increase levels of TJ proteins ZO-1 and Claudin-3 and adhesion molecule ICAM-1 which helps maintain BBB tightness thus playing a neuroprotective role. Galectin-1 is thus an important regulator of immune balance from neurodegeneration to neuroprotection, which makes it an important therapeutic agent/target in the treatment of drug addiction and other neurological conditions.
Structure and Stability of Membrane Proteins

This chapter addresses question such as “If the hydrophobic theory of protein stability is correct, how is it possible for stable proteins to exist in nonaqueous environments where hydrophobic effects should be quantitatively less significant?” in light of the available structural and stability data on integral membrane proteins, emphasizing a comparison of these properties to those of better characterized water-soluble proteins. An important lesson from the study of membrane proteins is that water is not absolutely indispensable for the ability of proteins to adopt stable three-dimensional structures; proteins can also stably exist in nonaqueous solvents, whether in the membrane bilayer or in nonbiological systems. By definition, hydrophobic interactions are not indispensable for protein stability, because proteins with stable tertiary structures occur in nonaqueous solvents. The role of hydrophobic interactions in protein stability may be analogous to the role of disulfide bridges; whereas some proteins cannot exist without disulfide bridges, they are certainly not required by every protein. The continued study of proteins in membranes and other nonaqueous environments is fundamental to defining the contributions of all solvents to the origins of protein structure and stability.
Is the Individual Mandate Really Mandatory

This article examines the tax collection process to see how the IRS might enforce the individual mandate under the healthcare reform law. It concludes that resistant taxpayers can generally be forced to pay the tax penalty only if they are entitled to receive refundable tax credits that exceed their net federal tax liability.
BONE RESORPTION AND CALCIUM ABSORPTION IN RATS DURING SPACEFLIGHT

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses bone resorption and calcium absorption in rats during spaceflight. Calcium metabolism is altered in weightlessness; however, the underlying causes of these alterations are not known. A primary defect in the development of immobilization osteoporosis in adults appears to be an unexplained increase in bone resorption coupled with a mineralization defect, leading to a rapid loss of bone. The sequence of metabolic changes that occurs after this postulated increase in bone resorption includes a slight increase in serum calcium and phosphorus. The homeostatic response to this change in serum calcium involves changes in the circulating levels of parathyroid hormone and the active metabolites of vitamin D. Calcium turnover and urinary calcium output increases. This increased calcium excretion coupled with a decline in intestinal calcium absorption produces a strongly negative calcium balance. The chapter discusses a study to explore the response of calcium homeostasis and bone to weightlessness. In the study, a total of 10 rats were used.
High-performance energy-efficient reconfigurable accelerators/co-processors for tera-scale multi-core microprocessors

With the emergence of high-performance multi-core microprocessors in the sub-45nm technology era, specialized hardware accelerator engines embedded within the core architecture have the potential to achieve 10-100X increase in energy efficiency across a wide domain of compute-intensive signal processing and scientific algorithms. In this talk, we present multi-core microprocessors integrated with on-die energy-efficient reconfigurable accelerator and co-processor engines to achieve well beyond tera-scale performance in sub-45nm technologies. Recent trends and advances in multi-core microprocessors will be presented, followed by key enablers for reconfigurability of specialized hardware engines to support multiple protocols while substantially improving time-to-market and amortizing die area cost across a wide range of compute workloads and functions. Specific design examples and case studies supported by silicon measurements will be presented to demonstrate reconfigurable engines for wireless baseband, signal processing and graphics/media applications. Power efficient optimization of reconfigurable processors to support fine-grain power management, dynamic on-the-fly configurability and standby-mode leakage reduction and low-voltage operability will also be described.
The footprints of visual attention in the Posner cueing paradigm revealed by classification images

In the Posner cueing paradigm, observers' performance in detecting a target is typically better in trials in which the target is present at the cued location than in trials in which the target appears at the uncued location. This effect can be explained in terms of a Bayesian observer where visual attention simply weights the information differently at the cued (attended) and uncued (unattended) locations without a change in the quality of processing at each location. Alternatively, it could also be explained in terms of visual attention changing the shape of the perceptual filter at the cued location. In this study, we use the classification image technique to compare the human perceptual filters at the cued and uncued locations in a contrast discrimination task. We did not find statistically significant differences between the shapes of the inferred perceptual filters across the two locations, nor did the observed differences account for the measured cueing effects in human observers. Instead, we found a difference in the magnitude of the classification images, supporting the idea that visual attention changes the weighting of information at the cued and uncued location, but does not change the quality of processing at each individual location.
CONFORMATIONAL FLUCTUATIONS IN ∝aL‐CHYMOTRYPSINOGEN A POWDERS

— The average fluorescence lifetime for the tryptophan excited state decay in a-chymotrypsinogen A is independent of hydration up to 0.15 g H2O/g protein. A sharp decrease in lifetime occurs between 0.15 and 0.18 g H2O/g protein, followed by a gradual decrease toward the solution value. This behavior, in a protein where the exposure of the tryptophans to solvent is minimal, is in marked contrast to that observed in bovine serum albumin where at least one of the two tryptophans can interact directly with water.
Neutron Star Masses and Radii as Inferred from Kilohertz Quasi-periodic Oscillations

Kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) have been discovered in the X-ray fluxes of eight low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE). The characteristics of these QPOs are remarkably similar from one source to another. In particular, the highest observed QPO frequencies for six of the eight sources fall in a very narrow range: from 1066 to 1171 Hz. This is all the more remarkable when one considers that these sources are thought to have very different luminosities and magnetic fields and produce very different count rates in the RXTE detectors. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that this near-constancy of the highest observed frequencies is due to some unknown selection effect or instrumental bias. In this Letter we propose that the highest observed QPO frequency can be taken as the orbital frequency of the marginally stable orbit. This leads to the conclusions that the neutron stars in these LMXBs are inside their marginally stable orbits and have masses in the vicinity of 2.0 M☉. This mass is consistent with the hypothesis that these neutron stars were born with about 1.4 M☉ and have been accreting matter at a fraction of the Eddington limit for 108 yr.
Progress on plague vaccine development.

Yersinia pestis (YP), the gram-negative plague bacterium, has shaped human history unlike any other pathogen known to mankind. YP (transmitted by the bite of an infected flea) diverged only recently from the related enteric pathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis but causes radically different diseases. Three forms of plague exist in humans: bubonic (swollen lymph nodes or bubos), septicemic (spread of YP through the lymphatics or bloodstream from the bubos to other organs), and contagious, pneumonic plague which can be communicated via YP-charged respiratory droplets resulting in person–person transmission and rapid death if left untreated (50–90% mortality). Despite the potential threat of weaponized YP being employed in bioterrorism and YP infections remaining prevalent in endemic regions of the world where rodent populations are high (including the four corner regions of the USA), an efficacious vaccine that confers immunoprotection has yet to be developed. This review article will describe the current vaccine candidates being evaluated in various model systems and provide an overall summary on the progress of this important endeavor.
Energy efficiency via thread fusion and value reuse

Energy consumption has become the dominant metric when it comes to designing high-performance simultaneous multi-threaded (SMT) microprocessors. The authors propose a fusion of threads to help reduce energy consumption for these future SMT microprocessors. Threads are fused by merging two dynamic instances of the same static instruction into a single instruction thereby reducing unnecessary redundant computation in the front-end of the processor. The result is that power consumption is reduced in the pipeline until the execution stage. The authors have performed full system simulation, and our simulation results show average energy reduction of 10% with little impact on performance (less than 1%). They also extend thread fusion by proposing mechanisms to reduce the number of register file accesses and functional unit activity by reusing computations when the input values of the two dynamic instances of a fused instruction are the same. Our experiments show 5% energy savings in the integer register file and 10% in the integer functional units using this technique.
Mechanism of stimulation of ADP-ribosyltransferase in the renal brush-border membrane by EDTA

In the presence of NAD+, renal brush-border membranes are mono-ADP-ribosylated by an endogenous ADP-ribosyltransferase. The reaction is inhibited by arginine methyl ester and is markedly stimulated by EDTA. Stimulation by EDTA is likely due, at least in part, to EDTA preventing the destruction of intact NAD+ by other enzymes in the brush-border membrane.
Picture of outer heliosphere develops with new data

In August and September 1977, Voyagers 1 and 2 were launched to embark on the most extensive tour ever undertaken by a spacecraft. The Voyager spacecraft visited a number of previously unexplored planets and provided unique insight into these unknown worlds. In 1989, the Voyager spacecraft started an even bigger adventure into a new frontier that is, according to specialists in this field, very close to completion. Voyager is supposed to leave the space that is carved out by the supersonic solar wind of the Sun and begin exploring the region where the heliosphere interfaces with the interstellar medium. When this occurs, the Voyager spacecraft will be part of the history of humankind once again. They will be the first spacecraft to leave the region of space dominated by the Sun!
The development of space solid rocket motors in China

Abstract China has undertaken to research and develop composite solid propellant rocket motors since 1958. At the request of the development of space technology, composite solid propellant rocket motor has developed from small to large, step by step. For the past thirty eight years, much progress has made, many technical obstacles, such as motor design, case materials and their processing technology, propellant formulations and manufacture, nozzles and thrust vector control, safe ignition, environment tests, nondestructive inspection and quality assurance, static firing test and measurement etc. have been solved. A serial of solid rocket motors have been offered for China's satellites launch. The systems of research, design, test and manufacture of solid rocket motors have been formed.
Experience with a simple technique for pectus bar removal

Abstract Background There have been numerous reports of techniques used for pectus bar removal after correction of pectus excavatum. We use 2 operating tables positioned perpendicular to each other in a T-shaped configuration with the patients thorax circumferentially exposed so the bar is removed in 1 motion without bending the bar. In this study, we report the results of this procedure. Methods A retrospective chart review of patients undergoing bar removal after repair of pectus excavatum at our institution from August 2000 to March 2010 was performed. Results There were 230 patients with a mean age of 16.7 years (range, 7.8-25.3 years) at bar removal. Mean operative time for bar removal was 28.6 minutes, and average estimated blood loss (EBL) was 9.5 mL (range, 5-400 mL). One patient demonstrated significant hemorrhage from the bar tract after bar removal, which was controlled with circumferential compression wrap. Calcification was noted in 11 patients, and chondroma, in 8 patients. Wound infection after bar removal occurred in 3% of patients. No patient required the bar to be bent into a straight configuration for removal. Conclusions Removal of pectus bars using this 2-table T-configuration technique is safe, is time efficient, and obviates the need for bending the bar.
Abstract Plancherel theorems and a Frobenius reciprocity theorem

Abstract A method for obtaining Plancherel theorems for unitary representations of Lie groups via C∞ vector techniques is studied. The results are used to prove the nonunimodular Plancherel theorem of Moore and to study its convergence. A C∞ Frobenius reciprocity theorem which generalizes Gelfand's duality theorem is also proven.
Magnetocrystalline anisotropy of Sm Co 5 and its interpretation on a crystal-field model

Results of magnetization measurements on carefully prepared single crystals of Sm${\mathrm{Co}}_{5}$ are presented over the temperature range 4-970 K. The contribution of the rare-earth sublattice magnetocrystalline anisotropy was evaluated using the data on Y${\mathrm{Co}}_{5}$ as "a blank." These results are interpreted on the basis of a singleion model. The following Hamiltonians were employed to obtain eigenvalues: $\mathcal{H}(\mathrm{parallel}\mathrm{to} c \mathrm{axis})=\ensuremath{\lambda}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{L}}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}+{\mathcal{H}}_{\mathrm{CF}}+2{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}{S}_{z}{H}_{\mathrm{ex}}$, $\mathcal{H}(\mathrm{perpendicular}\mathrm{to} c \mathrm{axis})=\ensuremath{\lambda}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{L}}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{S}}+{\mathcal{H}}_{\mathrm{CF}}+2{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}{S}_{x}{H}_{\mathrm{ex}}$. ${H}_{\mathrm{ex}}$ was regarded as arising mainly from the cobalt sublattice. Contributions arising from the multiplets $^{6}H_{\frac{7}{2}}$ and $^{6}H_{\frac{9}{2}}$ to the ground multiplet $^{6}H_{\frac{5}{2}}$ were included. The crystal field was evaluated in terms of Racah's tensor-operator technique employing $3\ensuremath{-}j$ and $6\ensuremath{-}j$ symbols. With the two sets of eigenvalues obtained from the above expressions, the anisotropy energy to rotate the magnetization direction from the axis to the plane was calculated and compared with experimental results on single crystals of Sm${\mathrm{Co}}_{5}$. It is shown that the sign of the crystal-field parameter predicts the correct easy direction of magnetization and that the free-energy values calculated from 4 to 970 K are in reasonable agreement with experiment.
Method for Detecting the 3-Hydroxymyristic Acid Component of the Endotoxins of Gram-negative Bacteria in Compost Samples

An analytical chemical method for the 3- or beta-hydroxymyristic (BHM) acid component of endotoxins has been developed for the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of E. coli, intact E. coli, and sewage sludge compost. Endotoxins are the pyrogens associated with the outer membranes of many gram-negative bacteria, for example, E. coli and Salmonella. The BHM acid content was used as a chemical marker for endotoxin presence, since BHM acid is present in the molecular subunit (Lipid-A) responsible for the toxicity and is the most abundant saturated fatty acid in that subunit. BHM acid quantification thus complements the Limulus bioassay to detect gram-negative bacteria presence in such samples as cotton and other dusts, blood, water, compost and air samples. BHM acid was isolated after digestion, ether extraction, alkaline hydrolysis, and ether extraction. The free acid was quantitated as the methyl ester using two GC columns as a screening method or by GC/ MS for confirmatory purposes. Recoveries were unreliable below ...
Deviance, Visibility, and Legal Action: The Duty to Support

Utilizing record data, the author examines the relationship between normative law expressed in the statutes, and law in action as reflected in the activities of law enforcement bodies. A discrepancy between normative law and legal action develops from the value-orientations of society to maintain a “one-marriage” monogamous family system, from the high rate of divorce and remarriage, and the inappropriateness of legal sanctions to the offense of child nonsupport. Incarceration of defendants appears more related to infractions of other legal norms than it does the offense of nonsupport. Studies of the perceived consequences of social sanctions is encouraged for the development of sociological theories incorporating both the act of deviancy and the societal reaction.
The effects of programmed ventricular stimulation on plasma procainamide levels: an experimental model.

To evaluate the effects of programmed ventricular stimulation on resultant plasma concentrations of intravenously administered procainamide, drug dosing was performed with and without ventricular stimulation on two separate days (48 hours apart) in 12 dogs (13 dosing trials) at ≥14 days after myocardial infarction (mean: 62 days). During infarct surgery, three bipolar electrodes were plunged into left ventricular epicardium, externalized, and later used for ventricular stimulation. On the first study day, procainamide was dosed to achieve two sequential plateau plasma levels (I and II), with a 20-minute equilibrium period at each plateau before ventricular stimulation. Plasma procainamide concentrations were measured before initiation of ventricular stimulation and at the completion of ventricular stimulation for each sequential plateau level. Stimulation involved delivery of one, two, and three extrastimuli at three paced cycle lengths at three left ventricular sites before procainamide dosing and at each of the two procainamide plateau levels. Three dogs were excluded from analysis due to induction of lethal ventricular arrhythmias. No ventricular arrhythmias were induced in the remaining nine animals. On the second study day, procainamide was dosed identically, but no ventricular stimulation was performed. Intravenous drug administration and collection of plasma concentration samples were performed with ± 1 minute on both study days. Mean plasma procainamide concentrations at the end of ventricular stimulation at dosage Levels I & II were 10% and 12% greater (P < 0.02 and P < 0.005, respectively) than plasma concentrations measured at comparable times on the study day when no ventricular stimulation was performed. These data demonstrate that plasma concentrations of intravenously administered procainamide in dogs remain significantly greater after a full protocol of programmed ventricular stimulation than when no ventricular stimulation is performed. This may be related to hypotension during ventricular stimulation with a concomitant decrease in hepatic and renal clearance of procainamide. These findings have implications for dosing of intravenous procainamide in humans who undergo electrophysiologic testing.
Possibility space for GIS suitability analysis

In a geographic information system (GIS), suitability analysis is used to model the spatial distribution of suitability within a region of interest with regard to a planning goal. This analysis is based on the combination of multiple geospatial source datasets, which spatially overlap, and each encodes a factor that contributes a certain weight to the overall suitability. “Possibility space” refers to an event space that represents all possible outcomes of the suitability analysis. This paper proposes an interactive possibility space for real-time visualization and exploration with a goal to help understand meaningful relationships between variable combinations and the suitability outcomes. A case study for siting wind farm locations in northwest Iowa is presented to demonstrate the practical application and usefulness of the possibility space.
Patterns of Alcohol Use and Attitudes Toward Drinking Among Chinese and Korean American College Students

This study examined the alcohol consumption patterns and cultural attitudes toward drinking among Chinese and Korean American college students in California. Data were collected from a total of 294 participants comprising 127 Chinese and 167 Korean college students. Some of the major findings revealed that distinct ethnic and gender differences existed in the use of alcohol and attitudes toward drinking. Korean students in the study generally drank more frequently and consumed greater amounts of alcohol than their Chinese counterparts. Female participants were likely to drink less frequently and in smaller quantities than their male counterparts regardless of ethnicity. Korean students were more likely to view drinking as a socially acceptable practice and a means of facilitating social interactions than their Chinese counterparts. Culturally appropriate campus-wide strategies were presented for prevention and intervention of alcohol abuse on college campuses.
Surface Morphology of Basalt Columns at Svartifoss, VatnajökulsÞjóðgarður, Southern Iceland

A spectacular example of columnar-jointed basalt occurs at Svartifoss in the Vatnajokull National Park of southern Iceland. The columns are notable for a variety of features on the vertical joint surfaces and the horizontal parting surfaces. The jointed surfaces of the columns display horizontal striations at a spacing of centimeters to decimeters. The individual striations exhibit crescentic hackles with a plumose pattern, the orientation of which varies between adjacent striations. Also present are gently dipping, millimeter-scale laminations not previously described. Horizontal parting surfaces of the columns display a circular ring that inscribes most of the diameter column. The ring features alternately positive or negative relief against the perimeter of the column and exhibits a radiating pattern of hackles originating at the center of the ring. Petrographic examination reveals that the basalt contains an interlocking network of plagioclase laths preferentially aligned perpendicular to the column axes. The circular features have been described previously and attributed to late-stage melt migration driven by a load-induced pressure gradient. The striations were formed from stepwise, downward propagation of the polygonal fracture system, and the plumose structures were formed from tensile stresses during fracture propagation. The small-scale laminations may result from preferential grain alignment of plagioclase laths.
Seeing with S cones.

The S cone is highly conserved across mammalian species, sampling the retinal image with less spatial frequency than other cone photoreceptors. In human and monkey retina, the S cone represents typically 5-10% of the cone mosaic and distributes in a quasi-regular fashion over most of the retina. In the fovea, the S cone mosaic recedes from a central "S-free" zone whose size depends on the optics of the eye for a particular primate species: the smaller the eye, the less extreme the blurring of short wavelengths, and the smaller the zone. In the human retina, the density of the S mosaic predicts well the spatial acuity for S-isolating targets across the retina. This acuity is likely supported by a bistratified retinal ganglion cell whose spatial density is about that of the S cone. The dendrites of this cell collect a depolarizing signal from S cones that opposes a summed signal from M and L cones. The source of this depolarizing signal is a specialized circuit that begins with expression of the L-AP4 or mGluR6 glutamate receptor at the S cone-->bipolar cell synapse. The pre-synaptic circuitry of this bistratified ganglion cell is consistent with its S-ON/(M+L)-OFF physiological receptive field and with a role for the ganglion cell in blue/yellow color discrimination. The S cone also provides synapses to other types of retinal circuit that may underlie a contribution to the cortical areas involved with motion discrimination.
Introduction to Part I of the Special Issue on Female Offenders of Intimate Partner Violence

There are many controversies surrounding women's use of violence in their intimate relationships. This special issue is part one of a two part volume that critically examines the prevalence studies on female offenders of intimate partner violence and addresses the gaps in current research. The six articles contained in this issue provide a description of the controversies surrounding female offenders, and introduces some research examining the role of gender and ethnicity in intimate partner violence.
Children's imitations of intonation contours: are rising tones more difficult than falling tones?

Perceptual evidence suggests that young children do not imitate adult-modeled intonation patterns with a rising pitch contour (rising tones) as well as those with a falling pitch contour (falling t...
Lower Middle Mississippian of Southeastern West Virginia

The lower middle Mississippian (lower Greenbrier age) of southeastern West Virginia is composed of the Hillsdale and Denmar (new) formations of the Meramecian series. These formations are predominantly calcarenites and calcilutites deposited in a transgressing sea along the flank of a linear, southwestward plunging, non-volcanic miogeosyncline and are contemporaneous with purer limy sediments of the Mississippi Valley. The Hillsdale formation is thick-bedded, nearly black, fine- to medium-grained, cherty limestone which is recognizable to northwestern Pocahontas County and disappears westward as a wedge in south-central West Virginia. The Denmar formation succeeding it contrasts lithologically in having less chert, lighter color, and more sandy material. The Denmar format on includes Reger's previously defined Sinks Grove and Patton limestones. The outcrop of this formation exceeds the northern limit of the Hillsdale by 23 miles and may be seen as far north as southern Randolph County. Westward under the basin it is thought to be the equivalent of the Maxville limestone of Ohio. Stratigraphic and faunal evidence shows the relationship of the Hillsdale with the St. Louis of southwestern Virginia, and the Denmar with the Ste. Genevieve of the same area. The presence of Lithostrotionella and other fossils in the Hillsdale is diagnostic of its similarity to the St. Louis, while Platycrinites huntsvillae in the Denmar is a good index species to show its relationship with the Ste. Genevieve elsewhere. Numerous faunules are listed from both the Hillsdale and the Denmar as well as stratigraphic sections, at varying horizontal intervals, represented in tabular and columnar form.
Sunlight-Induced Bromate Formation in Chlorinated Seawater

Chlorinated waters are being introduced into estuarine and coastal areas in increasing quantities. In such systems, the chlorine reacts with the natural bromide and ammonia to produce the highly toxic hypobromous acid, hypobromite ion, and haloamines. Sunlight causes up to 50 percent conversion to bromate ion, which is persistent in natural waters and has an unknown toxicity.