cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tangential magnetic field immersion of a hollow beam electron gun

Harris flow is one of a number of equilibrium electron beams requiring a launching method which imparts angular momentum to the stream. Immersion of the electron gun region in a magnetic field tangent to the cathode and orthogonal to the electron trajectories provides a means of rotation free of the defocusing and discontinuity effects of previous methods. Centrifugal-force spreading is eliminated by electric-field compensation in the gun. This compensation results in field lines at an angle to the stream edges and necessitates gun electrode design by a curvilinear flow method. An immersed gun of this kind has produced a stable Harris flow beam containing 86 per cent of the total energy in rotational motion. Anode transmission is in excess of 95 per cent.
Effects of Supplemental Irrigation on Populations of Clover Mite, Bryobia praetiosa Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), and Other Arthropods in a Kentucky Bluegrass Lawn

Abstract. Clover mite, Bryobia praetiosa Koch, is a widespread pest of coolseason turfgrasses and a frequent nuisance invader of homes. It has primarily been managed by use of pesticides applied to lawn areas, but all effective materials used for this purpose have recently had dramatically curtailed registered uses on turfgrass. Preliminary observations suggested that supplemental irrigation could negatively affect clover mite populations, and studies were conducted in 1997 and 1998 to better quantify the effect of twice weekly 2.5-cm spring irrigations on clover mites. During both study years, following irrigation, numbers of clover mites were about twice as low on irrigated turfgrass compared to that receiving natural precipitation alone. In the second year, effects on larvae seemed to be greater than on nymphs and adults. Abundance of thrips also was less on irrigated plots in 1997.
The University Manufacturing Technology Center support for programs and industry

The author discusses the University Manufacturing Technology Center (UMTC) and how it can provide support for academic programs in engineering and engineering technology, as well as support for local manufacturing industry. It is suggested that the best means for providing that support is through the concept of a 'full-service' UMTC. The services that should make up this type of UMTC are discussed in addition to methods for delivery of the services. Finally, the rationale for providing the services and the benefits to be derived by the university and industry are discussed. >
Methylation of RUNX1 by PRMT1 abrogates SIN3A binding and potentiates its transcriptional activity

RUNX1/AML1 is required for the development of definitive hematopoiesis, and its activity is altered by mutations, deletions, and chromosome translocations in human acute leukemia. RUNX1 function can be regulated by post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions. We show that RUNX1 is arginine-methylated in vivo by the arginine methyltransferase PRMT1, and that PRMT1 serves as a transcriptional coactivator for RUNX1 function. Using mass spectrometry, and a methyl-arginine-specific antibody, we identified two arginine residues (R206 and R210) within the region of RUNX1 that interact with the corepressor SIN3A and are methylated by PRMT1. PRMT1- dependent methylation of RUNX1 at these arginine residues abrogates its association with SIN3A, whereas shRNA against PRMT1 (or use of a methyltransferase inhibitor) enhances this association. We find arginine-methylated RUNX1 on the promoters of two bona fide RUNX1 target genes, CD41 and PU.1 and show that shRNA against PRMT1 or RUNX1 down-regulates their expression. These arginine methylation sites and the dynamic regulation of corepressor binding are lost in the leukemia-associated RUNX1-ETO fusion protein, which likely contributes to its dominant inhibitory activity.
Efficient metal-ion catalyzed template-directed oligonucleotide synthesis

The Pb2+ and Zn2+ ions are efficient catalysts for the polycytidylic acid-directed polymerization of an activated guanylic acid derivative, guanosine 5'-phosphorimidazolide. The products include oligomers of 30 to 40 units in length. The nucleotide residues are predominantly 2'-5' linked when Pb2+ is the catalyst, and predominantly 3'-5' linked in the presence of Zn2+. The significance of these results in the context of the prebiotic evolution of RNA polymerase is discussed.
Oxygen: Both a Passenger and a Biological Determinant in the Vasculature

Series Editor: Frank Giordano ATVB in Focus Oxygen Sensing Articles in this series: •Giordano F. Oxygen: both a passenger and a biological determinant in the vasculature. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2010;30:641–642. •Taylor CT, Moncada S. Nitric oxide, cytochrome c oxidase and the cellular response to hypoxia. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2010;30:643–647. •Semenza GL. Vascular responses to hypoxia and ischemia. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2010;30:648–652. •Lassegue B, Griendling KK. NADPH oxidases: functions and pathologies in the vasculature. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2010;30:653–661. •Shoag J, Arany Z. Regulation of hypoxia-inducible genes by PGC-1. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2010;30:662–666. Cells have an extensive repertoire of “sensors” that monitor and respond to signals from their internal and external environments. As a fundamental substrate for cellular respiration, crucial biological pathways have developed to sense and respond to oxygen availability. In this Arteriosclerosis, …
In vitro efficacy of antibiotic beads in treating abdominal vascular graft infections

Objective Abdominal aortic vascular graft infection often involves several different organisms. Antibiotic polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) beads may be effective in controlling infection after debridement, but bacterial species identification and antibiotic susceptibility are often not available at the time of operation, generating a need for a broad-spectrum drug combination for empirical use. We sought to determine an effective antibiotic in PMMA beads for use in abdominal vascular graft infection. Methods PMMA beads were impregnated with combinations of antibiotics, consisting of daptomycin, tobramycin, and meropenem. Antibiotics were selected on the basis of activity spectrum and heat stability. Beads were placed on separate agar plates with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Staphylococcus epidermidis , and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Antibiotic inhibition was recorded by use of a modified agar-based disk-diffusion method. Results Daptomycin alone was not active against K. pneumoniae (average = 0 mm). Tobramycin alone was not active against vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis , K. pneumoniae , or methicillin-resistant S. aureus . Tobramycin and daptomycin in combination had moderate broad-spectrum activity with 8- to 14-mm mean inhibition halos. Meropenem showed strong activity against all tested organisms with >15-mm mean inhibition halos. The addition of daptomycin to meropenem provided improved coverage of gram-positive organisms. The presence of tobramycin reduced the efficacy of meropenem. Conclusions Antibiotic PMMA beads containing 10% meropenem with 2.5% daptomycin had excellent in vitro activity against typical bacterial species associated with abdominal vascular graft infections. The addition of antibiotic beads may be a useful adjunct in managing such cases. Further studies are required to determine efficacy in clinical practice.
On the Stability of Announced Retransmission Random Access Systems

A finite user model for stability analysis of announced retransmission random access (ARRA) systems is presented. It is shown that as in other ALOHA-type random access protocols, bistable behavior and saturation can occur unless a suitably long retransmission delay is used. The higher expected delay associated with an unconditionally stable nonadaptive system can be avoided by adaptively varying retransmission parameters with system backlog. Optimal retransmission control (ORC) policies of this type are derived and evaluated.
A physically insightful approach to the design and accuracy assessment of flux observers for field oriented induction machine drives

Rotor flux observers can provide an attractive means for achieving direct field oriented control of induction machines. This paper presents a physics-based design methodology and uses it to evaluate open-loop observers and to develop a new closed-loop flux observer. It is shown that the new flux observer is a straightforward structure with properties that combine the best features of known methods. A distinction is made between observers, which use only integration and feedback summation operations, and those estimation methods requiring approximate differentiation which are, in essence, "cancellation" methods. Furthermore, a clear distinction is made between accuracy and dynamic robustness of the observer. This distinction is important because the accuracy of flux observers for induction machines is inherently parameter sensitive, whereas robustness of observers, in a controls sense, is not parameter sensitive. Moreover, it is shown how flux observers can provide robust field oriented control because the flux angle is substantially more correct than the flux magnitude. A distinctive form of frequency response function (FRF) analysis similar to that used in classical control engineering is demonstrated to be a useful and insightful tool even though flux observers are multiple-input, multiple-output systems. Finally, the limits of such flux observers are experimentally evaluated. >
Further development in theory/data closure of the photoelectron-driven polar wind and day-night transition of the outflow

Abstract. Recent in situ observations have revealed novel features in the polar wind. Measurements between 5000 and 9000 km altitude by the Akebono satellite indicate that both H+ and O+ ions can have remarkably higher outflow velocities in the sunlit region than on the nightside. Electrons also display an asymmetric behavior: the dayside difference in energy spread, greater for upward-moving than downward-moving electrons, is absent on the nightside. Here, we discuss the further development of a theory by Tam et al. that can explain most of these observed peculiar properties by properly taking into account the global, kinetic, collisional effects of the sunlit photoelectrons, on the background polar wind and the electric field. Quantitative comparisons of the calculated results with actual data will be described. In addition, transition from the daytime photoelectron-driven polar wind to the night-time polar wind will be discussed.
Increased Stiffness Is the Major Early Abnormality in a Pig Model of Severe Aortic Stenosis and Predisposes to Congestive Heart Failure in the Absence of Systolic Dysfunction

Background It remains unclear whether abnormal systolic function and relaxation are essential for developing heart failure in pathophysiology of severe aortic stenosis. Methods and Results Yorkshire pigs underwent surgical banding of the ascending aorta. The animals were followed for up to 5 months after surgery, and cardiac function was assessed comprehensively by invasive pressure–volume measurements, 3‐dimensional echocardiography, echocardiographic speckle‐tracking strain, and postmortem molecular and histological analyses. Pigs with aortic banding (n=6) exhibited significant left ventricular hypertrophy with increased stiffness compared with the control pigs (n=7) (end‐diastolic pressure–volume relationship β: 0.053±0.017 versus 0.028±0.009 mm Hg/mL, P =0.007); however, all other parameters corresponding to systolic function, including ejection fraction, end‐systolic pressure–volume relationship, preload recruitable stroke work, echocardiographic circumferential strain, and longitudinal strain, were not impaired in pigs with aortic banding. Relaxation parameters were also similar between groups. Sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium (Ca2+) ATPase protein levels in the left ventricle were similar. There were significant increases in 3‐dimensional echocardiographic left atrial volumes, suggesting the usefulness of these indexes to detect increased stiffness. Right atrial pacing with a heart rate of 120 beats per minute induced increased end‐diastolic pressure in pigs with aortic banding in contrast to decreased end‐diastolic pressure in the control pigs. Histological evaluation revealed that increased stiffness was accompanied by cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and increased perimysial and perivascular fibrosis. Conclusion Increased stiffness is the major early pathological process that predisposes to congestive heart failure without abnormalities in systolic function and relaxation in a clinically relevant animal model of aortic stenosis.
Research into the effects of astronaut motion on the spacecraft: a review

The paper reviews the research that has been undertaken to understand and quantify the disturbance effects of the astronaut's motion inside and outside the spacecraft on the vehicle's attitude and acceleratory environment. In early investigations, the dynamic interaction of astronauts, modeled as point masses, and the spacecraft, modelled as a rigid body, was analyzed. Through ground-based experiments and the modeling of astronaut-induced forces and moments as stochastic processes, it became possible to estimate the magnitude and energy content of the loads produced by the astronaut. The first experiment in space to measure the astronaut-induced disturbances was conducted on the Skylab orbital station. Loads generated while performing routine operations were measured on board the Space Shuttle in 1994 and on the space station Mir in 1996-1997. c 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Using “The Wave” to Facilitate Participants' Understanding of the Implicit Pressures Associated With the Auditing Profession

SUMMARY: This case presents a collaborative and experiential learning technique that can be used to engage new auditing students in a classroom, or junior auditors in a training session, to facilitate their understanding of the social complexities and pressures associated with auditing. The case utilizes “the wave” (the collaborative activity performed at most stadium-based events) to represent the flow of information through an accounting system, and demonstrate how auditors are often put in a position in which they must decide how to handle the implicit pressures resultant from identifying a problem in an accounting system. The case creates real-world social and psychological pressures, and requires a participant to navigate the social awkwardness of identifying poorly performing participants and to choose between the well-being of a handful of participants compared with the well-being of the entire class. The case, which requires only three participant volunteers, no student pre-work, and about 25 minu...
High Energy-Loss Spectra and Images

The high energy-loss spectrum (E>50 eV) consists primarily of ionization or core-loss edges on a rapidly decreasing plural-scattering background. Elemental-composition data and elemental maps can be extracted from these ionization edges. In this chapter, we’ll examine how to get this information, quantify it, and image it. A good use for such data is lightelement analysis wherein EELS complements XEDS. First, we’ll remind you of the experimental variables over which you have control, because these are rather critical. Then we’ll discuss how to obtain a spectrum and what it should look like if you’re going to quantify it.
Advanced join strategies for large-scale distributed computation

Companies providing cloud-scale data services have increasing needs to store and analyze massive data sets (e.g., search logs, click streams, and web graph data). For cost and performance reasons, processing is typically done on large clusters of thousands of commodity machines by using high level scripting languages. In the recent past, there has been significant progress in adapting well-known techniques from traditional relational DBMSs to this new scenario. However, important challenges remain open. In this paper we study the very common join operation, discuss some unique challenges in the large-scale distributed scenario, and explain how to efficiently and robustly process joins in a distributed way. Specifically, we introduce novel execution strategies that leverage opportunities not available in centralized scenarios, and others that robustly handle data skew. We report experimental validations of our approaches on Scope production clusters, which power the Applications and Services Group at Microsoft.
Business and Industry Grants

The corporate community is not a rich source of grant funds, but there are a few indications that this situation may be improving. A new concept of industry’s social responsibilities is bringing about changes in business policies, organization, and operations. Companies are revising hiring and training policies, encouraging employee participation in community affairs, increasing dialogue with youth and minority groups. There is mounting pressure from within and without for greater corporate involvement in the solution of society’s problems; the direction and volume of corporate philanthropy will probably go through some changes within the next few years— changes that could bring about an increase in sponsorship of the type of activity that can be supported through the grant mechanism.
Prenatal exposure to environmental phenols and childhood fat mass in the Mount Sinai Children's Environmental Health Study

Early life exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals may alter adipogenesis and energy balance leading to changes in obesity risk. Several studies have evaluated the association of prenatal bisphenol A exposure with childhood body size but only one study of male infants has examined other environmental phenols. Therefore, we assessed associations between prenatal exposure to environmental phenols and fat mass in a prospective birth cohort. We quantified four phenol biomarkers in third trimester maternal spot urine samples in a cohort of women enrolled in New York City between 1998 and 2002 and evaluated fat mass in their children using a Tanita scale between ages 4 and 9years (173 children with 351 total observations). We estimated associations of standard deviation differences in natural log creatinine-standardized phenol biomarker concentrations with percent fat mass using linear mixed effects regression models. We did not observe associations of bisphenol A or triclosan with childhood percent fat mass. In unadjusted models, maternal urinary concentrations of 2,5-dichlorophenol were associated with greater percent fat mass and benzophenone-3 was associated with lower percent fat mass among children. After adjustment, phenol biomarkers were not associated with percent fat mass. However, the association between benzophenone-3 and percent fat mass was modified by child's sex: benzophenone-3 concentrations were inversely associated with percent fat mass in girls (beta=-1.51, 95% CI=-3.06, 0.01) but not boys (beta=-0.20, 95% CI=-1.69, 1.26). Although we did not observe strong evidence that prenatal environmental phenols exposures influence the development of childhood adiposity, the potential antiadipogenic effect of benzophenone-3 in girls may warrant further investigation.
Microwell array guided assembly of lipoplex nanoparticles containing siRNA.

Nucleic acid based therapeutics has been widely explored to treat genetic and acquired diseases. However, the clinical translation of nucleic acid based therapies has been challenged by low delivery efficiency, off-target effects, poor cellular uptake, and limited serum stability. Lipopoplex nanoparticles, as one of the major nanocarrier systems, have shown great potential in overcoming these challenges. Current techniques for lipoplex nanoparticle preparation rely on self-assembly at macroscale, which suffers from limited control over particle structure and composition due to local fluctuations in the concentration of the constituent materials. We have developed a discontinuous dewetting/imprinting method that guided the assembly of lipoplex nanoparticles containing siRNA in a microwell array, which achieved much better control on particle size and composition. The lipoplex nanoparticles prepared by the discontinuous dewetting/imprinting method showed unilamellar core–shell-like structure in contrast to ...
Demonstration of Functional Similarity of Proposed Biosimilar ABP 501 to Adalimumab

Background Due to the complex molecular structure and proprietary manufacturing processes of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), differences in structure and function may be expected during development of biosimilar mAbs. Important regulatory requirements for approval of biosimilar products involve comprehensive assessments of any potential differences between proposed biosimilars and reference mAbs, including differences in all known mechanisms of action, using sensitive and relevant methods. Any identified structural differences should not result in differences in biofunctional or clinical activity.
Single-phase ambient and cryogenic temperature heat transfer coefficients in microchannels

Micro-scaling cryogenic refrigerators, in particular the Joule-Thomson (JT) variety require very good information about heat transfer characteristics of the refrigerants flowing in the microchannels for optimal design and performance. The extremely low Reynolds flow is present in a micro JT cryocooler, the heat transfer characteristics at these conditions require investigation. There are numerous studies regarding heat transfer coefficient measurements of liquid flow in microchannels at/near ambient temperature and high Reynolds flow (Re>2000), that agree well with the conventional correlations. However, results from previous studies of gaseous flow in microchannels at low Reynolds flow (Re 1000) follow conventional theory. The detailed experiment, procedure, and measured results are presented in this paper and discussed regarding deviation from ideal theory at low Reynolds flow.
Frictional Costs of Fossil Fuel Divestment

Advocacy for fossil fuel divestment has been growing on college campuses nationwide in recent years. In contrast with prior literature, which focuses on the impact of divestment on returns, I investigate the “frictional” costs that college and university endowments incur in implementing fossil fuel divestment, including transaction costs and ongoing monitoring and active management costs. I find that these costs are likely to be substantial, for the following reasons. First, endowments are long-term investors that tend to hold illiquid assets that are costly to sell. Second, endowments frequently invest in mutual funds or commingled funds, which requires them to sell more than just fossil-fuel-related assets in order to divest. Third, since there is no well-defined and agreed-upon list of assets that are fossil-fuel-related, investment managers must undertake a degree of active management in order to maintain compliance with divestment goals. Overall, I estimate a total cost to endowments over 20 years due to the frictional costs of divestment that range between approximately 2 and 12 percent of the endowment’s value, which, for a typical large university endowment, would translate to a decline in value of between $1.4 billion and $7.4 billion.
The Need for Marketing Research in the Development and Diffusion of the Hospice Concept

Many new products and services fail as a result of poor marketing management and lack of adequate planning. This article identifies the market potential of a health care innovation-hospice care-and suggests several basic marketing concepts that can facilitate the development and diffusion of the hospice concept.
Simulated storm surge effects on freshwater coastal wetland soil porewater salinity and extractable ammonium levels: implications for marsh recovery after storm surge.

Abstract Coastal wetland systems experience both short-term changes in salinity, such as those caused by wind-driven tides and storm surge, and long-term shifts caused by sea level rise. Salinity increases associated with storm surge are known to have significant effects on soil porewater chemistry, but there is little research on the effect of flooding length on salt penetration depth into coastal marsh soils. A simulated storm surge was imposed on intact soil columns collected from a non-vegetated mudflat and a vegetated marsh site in the Wax Lake Delta, LA. Triplicate intact cores were continuously exposed to a 35 salinity water column (practical salinity scale) for 1, 2, and 4 weeks and destructively sampled in order to measure porewater salinity and extractable NH4 N at two cm depth intervals. Salinity was significantly higher in the top 8 cm for both the marsh and mudflat cores after one week of flooding. After four weeks of flooding, salinity was significantly higher in marsh and mudflat cores compared to the control (no salinity) cores throughout the profile for both sites. Extractable ammonium levels increased significantly in the marsh cores throughout the experiment, but there was only a marginally (p
Modification Spoiling: Bargaining and Enforcement

Modification spoiling is effective when used by actors with strong capabilities. Powerful outside actors, who were not sufficiently consulted during the negotiation of the peace agreement, are extremely successful in forcing insiders to appease them and modify the agreement. In addition, strong insiders are successful in garnering key modifications to peace agreements that increase their benefits. Modification spoiling also has the effect of recommitting insiders to existing agreements or encouraging them to further negotiate ill-defined issues or alter overly ambitious timelines. Modification thus spoiling typically leads to a stronger peace. In some cases, however, spoiling is a signal of impending peace failure, with actors making unrealizable demands for modifications or insincere claims about implementation failures.
The role of economic and normative signals in international prosocial crowdfunding: An illustration using market orientation and psychological capital

Abstract Entrepreneurs in emerging nations are increasingly seeking microloans on international crowdfunding platforms composed of prosocial lenders primarily seeking non-monetary returns. Drawing on signaling theory, we posit that economic signals (as illustrated by market orientation) and normative signals (as illustrated by psychological capital) embedded within borrower narratives will influence funding time. A Computer-Assisted-Text-Analysis (CATA) of 130,964 profiles across 49 countries suggests that borrower cues of customer orientation, competitor orientation, long-term focus, profitability focus, confidence, and optimism are positively associated funding time, while cues of coordination, hope, and resilience are negatively associated with funding time. Prosocial lenders seem less inclined to lend to borrowers that exhibit a desire for economic success or normative expectations for positive outcomes in the future, while they seem to lend more rapidly to those exhibiting current hardship or a concern for people. A discussion of these findings and their implications for poverty alleviation concludes the study.
Initiation of DNA Synthesis

All the polymerases studied have two basic features: (i) a phosphodiester bridge is formed between the 3’-phosphate group of a deoxyribonucleotide and the 5’-hydroxy1 group at the growing end of a DNA chain called primer DNA; the chain growth is 5’→ 3’; and (ii) each deoxynucleotide added to the chain is selected by base-pair matching to a DNA chain called template DNA.
Independent and interactive associations of negative affect, restraint, and impulsivity in relation to binge eating among women

There is growing recognition that impulsivity may serve as an underlying risk factor for binge eating. In addition, the association of impulsivity with binge eating may be moderated by other affective and cognitive risk factors. This study examined independent and interactive associations of negative affect, dietary restraint, and facets of impulsivity with binge eating. A diverse sample of 566 undergraduate women completed online questionnaires of study variables. Results revealed a three-way interaction of negative affect, dietary restraint, and attentional impulsivity in relation to binge eating. Women who were high on each of these three variables reported the greatest levels of binge eating. In addition, a two-way interaction was found for negative affect and nonplanning impulsivity in relation to binge eating, such that nonplanning impulsivity strengthened the association between negative affect and binge eating. Attentional and nonplanning facets of impulsivity may function as an underlying trait-level risk factor interacts with affective and/or cognitive risk (e.g., negative affect, dietary restraint) factors to predict elevated binge eating.
Cyclic AMP-dependent plasticity underlies rapid changes in odor coding associated with reward learning

Learning and memory rely on dopamine and downstream cAMP-dependent plasticity across diverse organisms. Despite the central role of cAMP signaling, it is not known how cAMP-dependent plasticity drives coherent changes in neuronal physiology that encode the memory trace, or engram. In Drosophila, the mushroom body (MB) is critically involved in olfactory classical conditioning, and cAMP signaling molecules are necessary and sufficient for normal memory in intrinsic MB neurons. To evaluate the role of cAMP-dependent plasticity in learning, we examined how cAMP manipulations and olfactory classical conditioning modulate olfactory responses in the MB with in vivo imaging. Elevating cAMP pharmacologically or optogenetically produced plasticity in MB neurons, altering their responses to odorants. Odor-evoked Ca2+ responses showed net facilitation across anatomical regions. At the single-cell level, neurons exhibited heterogeneous responses to cAMP elevation, suggesting that cAMP drives plasticity to discrete subsets of MB neurons. Olfactory appetitive conditioning enhanced MB odor responses, mimicking the cAMP-dependent plasticity in directionality and magnitude. Elevating cAMP to equivalent levels as appetitive conditioning also produced plasticity, suggesting that the cAMP generated during conditioning affects odor-evoked responses in the MB. Finally, we found that this plasticity was dependent on the Rutabaga type I adenylyl cyclase, linking cAMP-dependent plasticity to behavioral modification. Overall, these data demonstrate that learning produces robust cAMP-dependent plasticity in intrinsic MB neurons, which is biased toward naturalistic reward learning. This suggests that cAMP signaling may serve to modulate intrinsic MB responses toward salient stimuli.
Lifecourse educational status in relation to weight gain in African American women.

OBJECTIVES: Childhood disadvantage has been associated with increased risk of obesity from childhood through adulthood and those who are disadvantaged across the lifecourse are at highest risk. The effect of lifecourse socioeconomic status (SES) is particularly important for Black women due to the higher prevalence of low SES and obesity in Black compared to White women. We assessed associations of lifecourse SES, as indicated by educational status, with adult weight in African American women. DESIGN: We assessed the associations of parental education, current education (education of participant or her spouse), and a combination of parental and current education (lifecourse education) with weight gain among 21,457 women aged < 55 years in the longitudinal Black Women's Health Study, which began in 1995. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We estimated the mean difference in weight gain between age 18 and age in 2009, and risk ratios for obesity in 2009, in each level of education compared to the highest level (college graduate). RESULTS: The age- and height-adjusted differences in mean weight gain for the lowest levels of parental and current education compared to the highest levels were 3.29 and 4.49 kg, respectively. The age-adjusted risk ratios for obesity for the lowest level of parental and current education were 1.44 (95% CI 1.32-1.57) and 1.75 (95% CI 1.57-1.95), respectively. Risk of obesity was lowest among those with current education of college graduate, regardless of parental education. CONCLUSIONS: Educational level of college graduate may overcome the adverse effects of low parental education on weight gain and obesity risk. Ethn Dis . 2012 Spring;22(2):198-206.
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act at 25: Successes, Shortcomings, and Dilemmas

This paper reviews the implementation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, evaluates the success of the Act, and anaylzes the major unrelolved legal issues under the Act.
Double-Strand Break Repair Model

The Double-strand break-repair model proposes that recombination stems from repair of DNA doublestrand breaks. The model involves invasion of homologous duplex DNA by 3′ single-strand DNA to form a D-loop. The 3′ end from the other side of the break is paired with the displaced strand in the D-loop. DNA synthesis to fill gaps and ligation yield a double-Holliday junction structure that can be resolved to form either a crossover or a noncrossover.
The discursive construction of journalistic authority in a post-truth age

This study, using a discursive institutionalism lens, examines how US journalists have assessed and constructed journalistic institutional authority from 2000 through 2016. The findings provide a set of pivot points around which journalistic discourse has orbited, showing how journalists renegotiated their authority in the face of challenges to journalism’s material, professional role, and social impact bases. While discourse comes back to authority rooted in journalism’s democratic function, journalists also appear uncertain about the basis of their authority in a seeming post-truth age.
Controllable synthesis of hydroxyapatite-supported palladium nanoparticles with enhanced catalytic activity

Abstract A multi-stage electrochemical method was developed to synthesize palladium (Pd) nanoparticles supported on hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings. In the first stage, a dense coating of HA nanocrystals was synthesized from an aqueous electrolyte solution onto a titanium cathode surface through a galvanostatic process. The HA-coated titanium electrode was then used as the cathode for the electrochemical reduction of Pd2+ from aqueous solution. A synthesis approach using two sequential electrochemical reduction reactions was found to be more effective in producing uniform coatings of Pd nanoparticles than a single stage reduction. In the first step, a higher voltage was applied to the cathode for a short time to promote the nucleation of Pd nanoparticles. A lower voltage was then applied for a longer time in the second stage to promote the growth of the Pd nanoparticles. The size and size distribution of the Pd nanoparticles were controlled by adjusting the duration of the first and second stages of electrochemical reduction. The resulting HA supported Pd nanoparticles demonstrated significantly higher catalytic activity than commercial Pd nanoparticles in the degradation of methyl orange by NaBH4. The high surface area and the complex oxidation states of the HA-supported Pd nanoparticles are believed to account for the enhanced catalytic activity.
Impact of pressure fluctuations on the dynamics of laminar premixed flames

Abstract Thermo-acoustic instabilities are problematic in the design of continuous-combustion propulsion systems such as gas turbine engines, rocket motors, jet engine afterburners, and ramjets. Conceptually, the coupling between acoustics and flame dynamics can be divided into two categories: flame area fluctuations and changes in the local flame speed. The latter can be caused by the thermodynamic fluctuations that accompany an acoustic wave. This coupling is the focus of the present work. In this paper, we are concerned with the dynamics of laminar premixed flames involving large hydrocarbon species. Through high-fidelity numerical simulations, we investigate the flame response for a wide range of fuels and acoustic frequencies. The combustion of hydrogen and methane is considered for verification purposes and as baseline cases for comparison with two large hydrocarbon fuels, n-heptane and n-dodecane. We extract the phase and gain of the unsteady heat release response, which are directly related to the Rayleigh criterion and thus the stability of the system. For all fuels, we observe a local peak in the heat release gain. At high frequencies, we find that the fluctuations of the different species mass fractions decrease with the inverse of the acoustic frequency, leading to chemistry being “frozen” in the high-frequency limit. This allows us to predict the flame behavior directly from the steady-state solution.
Inside the board room: the influence of nationality and cultural diversity on cross-border merger and acquisition outcomes

This study is among the first to systematically examine how increasing nationality and cultural diversity on the boards of large U.S. corporations influence their cross-border merger and acquisition (CBMA) decisions. We find that firms with foreign representation on boards more frequently engage in less profitable CBMAs. We also find that the negative role of foreign directors in the strategic decision-making process is due at least in part to the cultural differences between foreign and U.S. directors, especially in transactions with a high degree of uncertainty. Finally, we show that the adverse effect of foreign directors prevails in the post-SOX (Sarbanes–Oxley Act) period and reduces with longer foreign director tenure and more inclusive board culture. Overall, our findings suggest the presence of foreign directors could negatively affect CBMA decision-making effectiveness, consistent with the argument that national cultural diversity hinders communication and collaboration within boards.
Sustainability as a Lens for Traditional Material Science Curriculums

The theoretical and methodological foundations of the sciences and technologies are essential to the removal of barriers to achieving sustainable systems. The teachings of these concepts still lie in traditional academic disciplines such as engineering, science, and mathematics. This structure can often manifest significant barriers to progress in tackling challenging sustainability issues due to an absence of a multifaceted, interdisciplinary, systems approach. This work will explore approaches for using current sustainability issues and problems to introduce both systems thinking and traditional material science discipline specific learning objectives to the classroom. Specific examples will be illustrated for a diverse set of courses and curriculum. Results show such an approach can improve recruitment and retention results in addition to improved teaching outcomes.
Tailored Chromatin Modulation to Promote Tissue Regeneration

Epigenetic regulation of gene expression is fundamental in the maintenance of cellular identity and the regulation of cellular plasticity during tissue repair. In fact, epigenetic modulation is associated with the processes of cellular de-differentiation, proliferation, and re-differentiation that takes place during tissue regeneration. In here we explore the epigenetic events that coordinate tissue repair in lower vertebrates with high regenerative capacity, and in mammalian adult stem cells, which are responsible for the homeostasis maintenance of most of our tissues. Finally we summarize promising CRISPR-based editing technologies developed during the last years, which look as promising tools to not only study but also promote specific events during tissue regeneration.
The Natural History of Early-onset Scoliosis

Background:Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) is defined as the diagnosis of a spinal deformity before the age of 5 years. It can be divided into idiopathic, neuromuscular/syndromic, and congenital etiologies.Methods:The literature on the natural history of EOS was summarized.Results:The natural history va
Trends in Wait Time for Colorectal Cancer Screening and Diagnosis 2013-2016.

OBJECTIVES Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening has increased in the United States during the past 20 years, resulting in an increased demand for colonoscopy. We tested the hypothesis that such increase resulted in longer wait times for colonoscopy and influenced CRC diagnosis. METHODS A total of 36,623 consecutive colonoscopies performed at the University of Wisconsin from April 8, 2013, until December 31, 2016, were included in the analysis. Wait times for colonoscopy were stratified by consecutive 6-month periods and indications of screening/surveillance vs diagnostic colonoscopy. RESULTS Despite unchanged number of endoscopists, more colonoscopies were performed in 2015-2016 than in 2013-2014 (20,897 vs 15,726, respectively, P = 0.004). The mean wait time for colonoscopy increased from 68 days in 2013-2014 to 111 days in 2015-2016 (P < 0.0001), with most change affecting screening/surveillance colonoscopy. In 170 patients with a newly diagnosed CRC, the wait time did not significantly change between 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 (21 vs 27 days, respectively, P = 0.2206). DISCUSSION An increase in screening/surveillance colonoscopies resulted in a substantial rise in the number of procedures between 2013 and 2016. This increase was associated with longer wait times for screening/surveillance but not diagnostic colonoscopy. Longer wait times did not result in later CRC stage at diagnosis.
Using a Case Study to Teach Hazard Analysis and Risk Minimization

In May 2014, 13 people were injured in a fire at a museum that resulted from a chemistry demonstration called the Flaming Tornado. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board studied this incident and reported several issues—notable was that no hazard analysis had been performed. The case study of this incident provides a vehicle with which to teach the principles of hazard analysis and risk minimization.
Capacity of Multicarrier Faster-than-Nyquist Signaling

The channel capacity of multicarrier faster-than- Nyquist signaling is investigated. We develop a suitable discrete- time channel model and derive an explicit and interpretable channel capacity formula for the multicarrier faster-than-Nyquist signaling under frequency-selective channels. Fundamental capacity benefits of non-orthogonal information packing over time and frequency are discussed.
Fundamental Laws of Biology

To organize all knowledge in biology in a coherent axiomatic system like mathematics or physics has been a dream for every scientist. This paper investigates the question how to formulate a set of axioms or fundamental laws governing all biological phenomena. We are able to identify a broad class of phenomena in biology including human society cannot be explained or forecasted by the existing fundamental laws of physics. However, the combination of existing fundamental laws of physics with laws in the recently-created Choice Axiomatic System in physics seems to be able to cover all known biological phenomena. This result enables this paper to propose a complete set of fundamental laws of biology for the first time in the history. Establishing a complete set of fundamental laws of biology provides a solid foundation for theoretical biology, and points to new directions of future biophysics research. We conclude that biology should not have any fundamental law of its own, all fundamental laws of biology are simply a subset of fundamental laws of physics, and identifying this complete set of fundamental laws of biology opens the door for an axiomatization of biology, social science, and humanities.
In-flight Calibration and Data Reduction for the WISPR Instrument On Board the PSP Mission

We present the calibration status and data reduction methodology for the Wide Field Imager for Solar Probe (WISPR) on board the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) mission. In particular, we describe the process for converting a raw image, measured in digital numbers (DN), to a calibrated image, measured in mean solar brightness (MSB). We also discuss details of the on board image processing including bias removal, the linearity of the electronics, pointing, geometric distortion, and photometric calibration using stellar measurements, and the characterization of vignetting and other instrumental artifacts. The analysis presented here is based on data from the first four WISPR orbits. As the PSP perihelia get progressively closer to the Sun and the WISPR concept of operation evolves to deal with the brighter scene, the calibration will likely need to be updated. Aging of the optics and the possibility of detector degradation may also occur. Hence, we consider the WISPR calibration as work in progress with updates reported as necessary.
Securing ZigBee IoT Network Against HULK Distributed Denial of Service Attack

In recent years, cases of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) campaigns have been increasingly launched by hackers to exploit different Internet of Things (IoT) installations. Of the different strategies used to launch these attacks, the HTTP Unbearable Load King (HULK) DDoS attack method has been known to have devastating consequences when pulled off, because it is made to evade most firewall rules by its form of execution. The ZigBee network, which has existing security features to guard against cyber-attacks, will require extra measures to augment the AES-128 encryption standard it currently implements. This work investigates the HULK threat against a ZigBee network, with a goal to implement a security method that uses the machine learning algorithms such as Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Naive Bayes (NB), and K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) are tested to identify the best algorithm in detecting anomalies in traffic to fortify the ZigBee network framework.
Executing Capital Punishment Via Case Study: A Socratic Chat About New Jersey's Abolition of the Death Penalty and Convincing Other States to Follow Suit.

For those who detest capital punishment Christmas arrived early in 2007. On December 17 of that year, New Jersey became the first State to abolish the death penalty via enactments from both the executive and legislative branches of government. New Jersey was able to do so thanks to the work of the New Jersey Death Penalty Study Commission; a blue ribbon panel appointed by the Governor to study capital punishment and provide its findings to the legislature and Governor. The Commission's report recommended that New Jersey abolish capital punishment. The objective analysis of both sides of the capital punishment debate makes this report the most credible piece of work on the death penalty in years. This article provides an objective step by step analysis of the Commission's report. It also provides a blueprint for other States who wish to follow suit by executing capital punishment.
Electrowetting-based variable tuning prism

We demonstrate an electrowetting-based variable prism with dual prism-lens operation. A prism apex angle change of 19° at 35 V and curvature change to infinite focal length at 18.9 V are demonstrated.
Teaching Turnaround Management and Bankruptcy

Students both need and want to learn how to restore distressed and dying companies. Business schools have a responsibility to both their students and to society to teach these skills. One factor holding back faculty who might have considered teaching a course on this topic is the lack of a textbook and any ancillary support material. This article discusses how several faculty members have successfully overcome this limitation. A short review of the techniques of turnaround management is also provided based on discussions with several practicing turnaround managers.