cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimizing the frequency response of a steering mirror mount for interferometry applications

The Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer (NPOI) in Flagstaff, Arizona, makes use of separate smaller telescopes spaced along a Y-array and used simultaneously to simulate an equivalent single large telescope. The performance of the NPOI can be improved by increasing the steering response of the 8-in. diameter Narrow Angle Tracker (NAT). The mirrors of the NAT correct the image position for atmospherically induced motion. The current tracker has a slow response due to the low fundamental frequency of the mount and limits the quality of the data. A higher frequency will allow a faster servo feedback to the steering mirror, which will enhance the tracking performance on stellar objects resulting in final fringe data of higher quality. Also, additional and fainter objects could be observed with a faster response system, and the interferometer as a whole would be less sensitive to fluctuations in atmospheric quality. Improvements in the NAT performance over the current cast aluminum frame and glass mirror were achieved by the use of advanced composite materials in the design of the frame and mirror. Various design possibilities were evaluated using finite element analysis. It was found that the natural frequency of the NAT can be increased from 68 to 217 Hz, and the corresponding weight decreased by a factor of 5.6, by using a composite mount with a composite mirror.
Search for X-rays from the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds

Energetic X ray intensities from large and small Magellanic clouds investigated by balloon flight sky survey, noting energy flux upper limits
The Relative Salience of the Socio‐Economic and Religious Issue Dimensions: Coalition Formations in Ten Western Democracies, 1919–1979

The relative importance that political parties attach to the socio-economic and religious issue dimensions can be determined by the kinds of partners they seek in order to form government coalitions. When political parties can be classified as secular left, secular right, and religious centre parties, centre-left and centre-right coalitions show that the socio-economic dimension is the dominant one, and left-right coalitions indicate that the religious dimension predominates. Out of a total of 190 years of government coalitions that can be analysed in this way in ten countries from 1919 to 1979, the socio-economic dimension predominated eight times as frequently as the religious dimension. The much greater salience of the socio-economic dimension is found in all ten countries without striking variations during the entire period.
Histone Deacetylase-1 (HDAC1) Is a Molecular Switch between Neuronal Survival and Death

Both neuroprotective and neurotoxic roles have previously been described for histone deacetylase-1 (HDAC1). Here we report that HDAC1 expression is elevated in vulnerable brain regions of two mouse models of neurodegeneration, the R6/2 model of Huntington disease and the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK)/p25 double-transgenic model of tauopathic degeneration, suggesting a role in promoting neuronal death. Indeed, elevating HDAC1 expression by ectopic expression promotes the death of otherwise healthy cerebellar granule neurons and cortical neurons in culture. The neurotoxic effect of HDAC1 requires interaction and cooperation with HDAC3, which has previously been shown to selectively induce the death of neurons. HDAC1-HDAC3 interaction is greatly elevated under conditions of neurodegeneration both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the knockdown of HDAC3 suppresses HDAC1-induced neurotoxicity, and the knockdown of HDAC1 suppresses HDAC3 neurotoxicity. As described previously for HDAC3, the neurotoxic effect of HDAC1 is inhibited by treatment with IGF-1, the expression of Akt, or the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). In addition to HDAC3, HDAC1 has been shown to interact with histone deacetylase-related protein (HDRP), a truncated form of HDAC9, whose expression is down-regulated during neuronal death. In contrast to HDAC3, the interaction between HDRP and HDAC1 protects neurons from death, an effect involving acquisition of the deacetylase activity of HDAC1 by HDRP. We find that elevated HDRP inhibits HDAC1-HDAC3 interaction and prevents the neurotoxic effect of either of these two proteins. Together, our results suggest that HDAC1 is a molecular switch between neuronal survival and death. Its interaction with HDRP promotes neuronal survival, whereas interaction with HDAC3 results in neuronal death.
Maternal socialization of safety practices among Mexican American children

The relationship between maternal socialization strategies and children's safety practices was examined in a sample of 80 low-income Mexican American mothers and their 4- to 8-year-old children. Mothers were interviewed about the socialization strategies they used to influence their child's safety practices and about their children's safety behaviors in the home. Observations of the home environment yielded a measure of the family's use of proactive safety strategies. Children's safety knowledge was assessed in a structured play situation conducted in a simulated home environment. Results showed that although mothers uniformly set safety rules regarding child behavior inside and outside the home, a significant number of mothers engaged in relatively few proactive practices to ensure child safety. Children who showed the greatest degree of safety knowledge and/or behavior tended to have mothers who used proactive safety strategies and who relied on consequence explanations versus commands or unelaborated explanations to teach child safety.
The effect of ambient temperature fluctuation on the performance of geothermal power plants

Seasonal and diurnal temperature fluctuations have significant effects on cooling water temperature and on the condenser temperature. The power produced by plants that utilise a low temperature resources, such as geothermal units, are more susceptible to ambient temperature fluctuations than conventional power plants. An exergy analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of ambient temperature fluctuations on the work output of two typical geothermal units. Parametric studies were performed to record the daily and annual variance of the power produced by such units. The results show that the naturally occurring temperature changes result in more than 20% power fluctuations.
The evolution of modern hydrology (from watershed to continent in 30 years)

The purpose of this paper is to describe hydrology to a scientifically-literate audience of non-hydrologists and to highlight its evolution over the last 30 years from a field focused on engineering problems at the scale of the small watershed to one dealing with global-scale issues which demand a geophysical perspective. The Ralph M. Parsons Laboratory at MIT has been one of the leaders of this evolution, and the illustrations presented of things that (some) hydrologists do are drawn primarily from recent work done there. These include: introduction of the concept of hydrologic scale along with its definition, significance and estimation; the sub-grid scale parametrization of precipitation and vegetation in atmospheric GCMs; precipitation recycling; and completion of the land surface-atmosphere feedback loop for moisture at climatic time scales.
Beliefs and Attitudes of African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes Toward Depression

PURPOSE This qualitative study was conducted with African Americans with type 2 diabetes to explore beliefs and attitudes about depression. METHODS Twenty-five adults participated in 4 focus groups. The sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. The Health Belief Model was used as a theoretical framework for the design and analysis of the focus group data. RESULTS Five themes pertinent to depression management emerged: (1) There were misconceptions about the etiology of depression and individual vulnerability to depression. (2) Depression was perceived as severe. (3) Treatment was perceived as beneficial. (4) Stigma was a significant barrier to seeking treatment. (5) Cues to action did not appear to change beliefs. CONCLUSIONS Despite awareness about the severity of depression and benefits of treatment, several barriers and erroneous beliefs may interfere with the ability of African Americans with type 2 diabetes to seek and adhere to treatment for depression.
Temperature Changes in the Mesosphere and Stratosphere Connected with Circulation Changes in Winter

Abstract The midwinter temperature changes of the mesosphere and stratosphere are described by means of Satellite Infrared Spectrometer and Selective Chopper Radiometer data, rocketsondes, and rocket grenade data, which show that the so-called stratospheric midwinter warmings extend at least into the upper mesosphere. Temperature changes of opposite sign take place at the same time at different levels, probably as a result of vertical motion. The event begins around a very high stratopause, ∼60 km, which descends 20 km within several days while the warming intensifies. At the same time the upper mesosphere and lower stratosphere cool. When the polar vortex breaks down, the warming reaches the lower stratosphere, the warm stratopause region is destroyed through cooling of the layer between 30 and 60 km, and the upper mesosphere warms. The mean vertical temperature profiles suggest that the upper mesosphere is cold at high latitudes in early winter and again in late winter, and that the warm upper mesospher...
Factor XIIIa-catalyzed coupling of structural proteins

Abstract A new method was used to examine and quantitate the factor XIIIa-catalyzed coupling of various structural proteins. Proteins bound to Sepharose beads were incubated with labelled proteins in the presence of factor XIIIa, and the radioactivity of the urea-washed beads was determined. Coupling occurred between fibrin and fibronectin, fibrin and actin, myosin and fibronectin, and myosin and actin. The special importance of coupling between cytoskeletal proteins is emphasized in the light of the ubiquity of transglutaminases in cells.
Teaching Sustainable Energy and Power Electronics to Engineering Students in a Laboratory Environment Using Industry-Standard Tools

Power electronics and renewable energy are two important topics for today's power engineering students. In many cases, the two topics are inextricably intertwined. As the renewable energy sector grows, the need for engineers qualified to design such systems grows as well. In order to train such engineers, new courses are needed that highlight the unique engineering challenges presented by renewable energy systems. This paper presents the theory, implementation, and assessment of a new laboratory course designed to teach power electronics and renewable energy to engineering students. A key element of the course is the use of real renewable energy systems in the laboratory setting. Students design, test, and troubleshoot power electronic circuits (such as dc/dc converters and pulse-width-modulated inverters) with tools used widely in industry (such as MATLAB/Simulink and dSPACE digital signal processors). Ten unique experiments are presented, as well as detailed descriptions of two open-ended design projects: a maximum power point tracker for a photovoltaic array and a full converter for a permanent-magnet wind turbine. Results from students' work on the experiments and final projects, as well as an assessment of the effectiveness of the course based on pre- and post-testing, are also presented.
Genesis of interictal spikes in the CA1: a computational investigation.

Interictal spikes (IISs) are spontaneous high amplitude, short time duration (80%) receives a barrage of quasi-synchronous afferent input via the SC. However, as we increase the recurrent connectivity of the CA1 (>40%); mimicking sprouting in a pathological CA1 network), the CA1 can exhibit IIS even in the absence of a barrage of quasi-synchronous afferents from the SC (input occurring within temporal window $>$80 ms) and a low fraction of CA1 Py cells (approximately 30%) receiving SC input. We also find that in the presence of Poisson distributed random (asynchronous) input via SC, the CA1 network generates spontaneous periodic IISs (approximately 3 Hz) for high degrees of recurrent Py connectivity (>70%). Our investigations find that spontaneous IISs closely depend on the degree of the network's intrinsic excitability.
Effects of the organophosphorous insecticides temephos (Abate ® ) and chlorpyrifos (Dursban ® ) on populations of the salt-marsh snail Melampus bidentatus

The effects of 2 organophosphorous insecticides, temephos (Abate®) and chlorpyrifos (Dursban®), on populations of the salt-marsh snail Melampus bidentatus Say (Basommatophora: Melampidae) were investigated in a series of field experiments. These toxicants were aerially applied to mosquito breeding areas in New Jersey salt marshes in the manner normally used in biting-fly control operations. No significant change in the population density of M. bidentatus was observed in response to multiple treatments of granular formulations of either temephos or chlorpyrifos. However, there was a highly significant (P<0.01) depression in population density observed in the plot exposed to multiple treatments of a temephos emulsion. This depression was followed by a resurgence in density levels, beginning 3 weeks after the last treatment. The specific mechanism for thisperturbation is not known. However, it is hypothesized that it might involve some combination of indirect insecticide effects coupled with age-specific effects. Tests of age structure of the affected population using the chi-square distribution supported this hypothesis.
Self-reported Calcium Supplementation and Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Importance Despite widespread use of calcium supplementation among elderly people, little is known about the association between such consumption and the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the United States. Objective To investigate the association between self-reported supplementary calcium consumption and the prevalence of AMD in a representative US sample. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study included 3191 participants 40 years and older in the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) who were evaluated for the presence or absence of AMD by fundus photography. Participants were interviewed regarding use of dietary supplements and antacids during the 30-day period preceding enrollment. Self-reported supplementary intake of calcium was aggregated and divided into quintiles. Fundus photographs were graded for the presence or absence of AMD. Information regarding demographics, comorbidities, and health-related behaviors was obtained via interview. Multivariable logistic regression models were created to determine the odds of an AMD diagnosis among participants in each quintile of self-reported calcium vs participants not self-reporting supplementary calcium consumption after adjusting for confounders. Interventions Self-reported use of calcium supplements. Main Outcomes and Measures Presence or absence of AMD by fundus photography. Results A total of 248 participants (7.8%) were diagnosed with AMD. Mean ages were 67.2 years for those with AMD and 55.8 for those without AMD. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, study participants who self-reported consumption of more than 800 mg/d of supplementary calcium were found to have higher odds of an AMD diagnosis based on fundus photography evaluation compared with those not self-reporting supplementary calcium consumption (odds ratio, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.25-2.75). The association between self-reported supplementary calcium intake and AMD was stronger in older than younger individuals (odds ratio, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.52-4.54). A clear dose-response association between the quintiles of self-reported supplementary calcium intake and AMD was not established. Conclusions and Relevance Self-reported supplementary calcium consumption is associated with increased prevalence of AMD, with the findings suggesting a threshold rather than a dose-response relationship. The stronger association in older individuals may be due to relatively longer duration of calcium supplementation in older individuals.
Benchmarking cloud-based tagging services

Tagging services have emerged as a useful and popular way to organize data resources. Despite popular interest, an efficient implementation of tagging services is a challenge since highly dynamic schemas and sparse, heterogeneous attributes must be supported within a shared, openly writable database. NoSQL databases support dynamic schemas and sparse data but lack efficient native support for joins that are inherent to query and search functionality in tagging services. Relational databases provide sufficient support for joins, but offer a multitude of options to manifest dynamic schemas and tune sparse data models, making evaluation of a tagging service time consuming and painful. In this case-study paper, we describe a benchmark for tagging services, and propose benchmarking modules that can be used to evaluate the suitability of a database for workloads generated from tagging services. We have incorporated our modules as part of OLTP-Bench, a cloud-based benchmarking infrastructure, to understand performance characteristics of tagging systems on several relational DBMSs and cloud-based database-as-a-service (DBaaS) offerings.
Unattractive infant faces elicit negative affect from adults.

We examined the relationship between infant attractiveness and adult affect by investigating whether differing levels of infant facial attractiveness elicit facial muscle movement correlated with positive and negative affect from adults (N = 87) using electromyography. Unattractive infant faces evoked significantly more corrugator supercilii and levator labii superioris movement (physiological correlates of negative affect) than attractive infant faces. These results suggest that unattractive infants may be at risk for negative affective responses from adults, though the relationship between those responses and caregiving behavior remains elusive.
FURTHER STUDIES OF HOST-CONTROLLED MODIFICATION OF BACTERIOPHAGES P2 AND T1.

Abstract When P2·C infects the nonpermissive host Sh(P1), only a minor fraction of the P2 produced by the rare yielder bacteria becomes modified. When the modification of P2 is effected by mixed infection with P1, the multiplicity of P1 affects both the proportion of infected cells in which modification of phage P2 occurs and the efficiency of such modification. Modified P2 is produced in mixed bursts along with unmodified phage, and is nonclonally distributed within these bursts. In P1-lysogenic hosts, mixed infection with P1 markedly increases the yield of modified P2 in those few cells that do yield P2. When unrestricted T1 or P2 grow on a restricting host, a few per cent of the infected bacteria yield at least one particle that has not become restricted; such unrestricted particles may become phenotypically mixed during the infection. If the host imposes a dual restriction on the majority of the progeny phage, both unrestricting modifications are conserved in the same progeny particle. P2-lysogens, after lysogenization by P1, produce P2 which is mainly or exclusively P2·Sh(P1).
RF Arrhenius life testing of X-band GaN HEMITs

We have conducted an accelerated temperature, RF Arrhenius life test study of GaN HEMTs delivered under the DARPA Wide Bandgap Semiconductors for RF Applications (WBGS-RF) program. The transistors were embedded in a single-stage MMIC with 50 ohm input and output impedances. The HEMTs were of source-connected field-plate design with a total gate width of 1.25 mm.
Accommodation Practices: Vernacular Treatments of Madness

This paper looks at how family members and close associates accommodate persons who have not, and may never, be defined as mentally ill. Drawing upon a collection of student reports about troublemakers, I analyze the vernacular terms used by members of organizations to define the ambiguous moral status of the troublemakers, and describe the methods which members used to limit and manage the troublemakers' interactional possibilities. I conclude by discussing how such practices result in the social construction of behaviors and impresions normally attributed to individual responsibility.
Vanadium Concentration of Urine Rapid Colorimetric Method for Its Estimation

A rapid, convenient test for the estimation of small amounts of vanadium in urine is described. The method is based on the catalytic effect of vanadium on the oxidation of N, N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine by potassium chlorate. Only 1 ml. of urine is required and the test is sensitive to quantities of vanadium as low as 0.01 µg. per ml. of urine. Semiquantitative analyses can be made over a range of 0-1 µg. of vanadium per ml. of urine. The test is designed for application in rapid clinical analyses on small amounts of urine to determine possible vanadium absorption and is suggested for use as a screening test to determine on-the-job exposure of workers to vanadium compounds in excess of the suggested threshold limit value. Data showing the application of the test in several species are given.
The Crisis of New Labor and Alinsky’s Legacy Some Questions, Comments, and Problems

This comment questions Jane McAlevey’s attempt to move from a participant observation of one organizing campaign to broad generalizations about the failure of “New Labor.” It challenges the ideal type that she constructs by considering aspects of another “new labor” local, and problematizes her conception of interests as they pertain to both workers and unions.
Influence of early life stress on later hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis functioning and its covariation with mental health symptoms: A study of the allostatic process from childhood into adolescence

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a primary mechanism in the allostatic process through which early life stress (ELS) contributes to disease. Studies of the influence of ELS on children's HPA axis functioning have yielded inconsistent findings. To address this issue, the present study considers multiple types of ELS (maternal depression, paternal depression, and family expressed anger), mental health symptoms, and two components of HPA functioning (traitlike and epoch-specific activity) in a long-term prospective community study of 357 children. ELS was assessed during the infancy and preschool periods; mental health symptoms and cortisol were assessed at child ages 9, 11, 13, and 15 years. A three-level hierarchical linear model addressed questions regarding the influences of ELS on HPA functioning and its covariation with mental health symptoms. ELS influenced traitlike cortisol level and slope, with both hyper- and hypoarousal evident depending on type of ELS. Further, type(s) of ELS influenced covariation of epoch-specific HPA functioning and mental health symptoms, with a tighter coupling of HPA alterations with symptom severity among children exposed previously to ELS. Results highlight the importance of examining multiple types of ELS and dynamic HPA functioning in order to capture the allostatic process unfolding across the transition into adolescence.
The Timing of Selection at the Human FOXP2 Gene

Krause J, Lalueza-Fox C, Orlando L, et al. recently examined patterns of genetic variation at FOXP2 in 2 Neanderthals. This gene is of particular interest because it is involved in speech and language and was previously shown to harbor the signature of recent positive selection. The authors found the same 2 amino acid substitutions in Neanderthals as in modern humans. Assuming that these sites were the targets of selection and no interbreeding between the 2 groups, they concluded that selection at FOXP2 occurred before the populations split, over 300 thousand years ago. Here, we show that the data are unlikely under this scenario but may instead be consistent with low rates of gene flow between modern humans and Neanderthals. We also collect additional data and introduce a modeling framework to estimate levels of modern human contamination of the Neanderthal samples. We find that, depending on the assumptions, additional control experiments may be needed to rule out contamination at FOXP2.
Feature Extraction by Burst-Like Spike Patterns in Multiple Sensory Maps

In most sensory systems, higher order central neurons extract those stimulus features from the sensory periphery that are behaviorally relevant (e.g., Marr, 1982; Heiligenberg, 1991). Recent studies have quantified the time-varying information carried by spike trains of sensory neurons in various systems using stimulus estimation methods (Bialek et al., 1991; Wessel et al., 1996). Here, we address the question of how this information is transferred from the sensory neuron level to higher order neurons across multiple sensory maps by using the electrosensory system in weakly electric fish as a model. To determine how electric field amplitude modulations are temporally encoded and processed at two subsequent stages of the amplitude coding pathway, we recorded the responses of P-type afferents and E- and I-type pyramidal cells in the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL) to random distortions of a mimic of the fish’s own electric field. Cells in two of the three somatotopically organized ELL maps were studied (centromedial and lateral) (Maler, 1979; Carr and Maler, 1986). Linear and second order nonlinear stimulus estimation methods indicated that in contrast to P-receptor afferents, pyramidal cells did not reliably encode time-varying information about any function of the stimulus obtained by linear filtering and half-wave rectification. Two pattern classifiers were applied to discriminate stimulus waveforms preceding the occurrence or nonoccurrence of pyramidal cell spikes in response to the stimulus. These signal-detection methods revealed that pyramidal cells reliably encoded the presence of upstrokes and downstrokes in random amplitude modulations by short bursts of spikes. Furthermore, among the different cell types in the ELL, I-type pyramidal cells in the centromedial map performed a better pattern-recognition task than those in the lateral map and than E-type pyramidal cells in either map.
The Characteristic and Application of a Simple Quartz Microbalance

The characteristics of several quartz microbalances of the type described previously1 have been studied. The sensitivity of these balances has been observed as a function of load. A comparison is made of the behavior of balances with 0.070-in. and 0.030-in. beams. The added utility of a balance whose sensitivity varies not too sharply with load is discussed. Further information is presented concerning the application of the vacuum microbalance to surface and sputtering investigations.
Design of a Radio-Frequency Multiplexer, Used in Radiolocation of 802.11 Wireless Sources

This is the second in a series of articles describing the prototype of an 802.11b radiolocator. This device can determine the spatial direction from which every individual data packet has arrived, at a speed equal to the rate of wireless network traffic. The radiolocation method is based on rapid sampling of signal strengths from an array of stationary antennas, during the preamble of a wireless packet. Central to the apparatus is a 16-fold multiplexer, which operates at the passband 2.4-2.5 GHz and the sampling rate of 120 KHz. We describe the design details and the characteristics of the multiplexer at length, with a view towards making this radiolocation technology available in commercial wireless equipment, allowing it to become a standard part of wireless infrastructure.
ΑΥΤΟΣ ΕΚΕΙΝΟΣ: A neglected idiom

The use of αὐτ⋯ το⋯το , ‘this very thing’, is perfectly familiar in classical Greek; but there is no general awareness, as witness the silence of the reference grammars and lexica, of the parallel usage of αὐτός juxtaposed with ⋯κeῖνος , which is in fact not infrequent in the classical period, and mentioned in Apollonius Dyscolus ( Synt. 2. 88). The examination of this construction which follows is intended not only to add to our knowledge of Greek syntax, and thereby to defend some passages against erroneous emendations, but also to place in a wider context one of Plato's ways of referring to the Forms. As far as I can establish, the only scholar who has ever paid much attention to αὐτ⋯ς ⋯κeῖνος is J. Vahlen in 1906, and that in an obscure place, to explain an obscure passage; moreover, he simply accumulated parallels from authors of the Imperial period, without discussing how the construction is employed. It will emerge that the usage is no less frequent earlier, when it is used in a greater variety of ways, especially by Plato.
Equal Protection at the Erotic Oasis: Examining Selective Prosecution Claims in Lewd Conduct Cases

Drawing on data from legal documents from 127 cases of men arrested for public sexual activity in known cruising locations (‘‘erotic oases’’), this article discusses the legal issue of selective prosecution. As shown, the decoy sting operations used to apprehend men engaging in same-sex sexual activities in public parks carry with them legal ramifications far beyond simply arresting and prosecuting offenders. A focus on the issues of discriminatory purpose and discriminatory effect is provided and discussion shows how each component of selective prosecution claims can (and did) influence the legal challenges of arrests of men engaging in same-sex sexual conduct in erotic oases.
Expression and function of COX isoforms in renal medulla: evidence for regulation of salt sensitivity and blood pressure.

Expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, but not COX-1, in the renal medulla is stimulated by chronic salt loading; yet the functional implication of this phenomenon is incompletely understood. The pr...
Why Did You Not Use Both Internal Thoracic Arteries

That is the question every cardiologist should ask if the patient he or she has referred for primary surgical coronary revascularization returns from the operating room with a single internal thoracic artery graft. There is a substantial body of evidence demonstrating that the majority of coronary bypass patients benefit more when coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is performed with both internal thoracic artery conduits rather than just one.1–4 However, only 4.4% of primary isolated CABG cases in the 2011 Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Adult Cardiac Surgery Database received bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) grafting.5 There are several putative reasons for this failure of adoption, but referring cardiologists and patients should demand better. Article see p 2935 Why are American surgeons doing so few BITA grafts? Fundamentally, U.S. surgeons are responding to their practice environment, especially to a fear of deep sternal wound infection in an increasingly obese, diabetic population of patients. The surgeon pays a large and immediate political price for a deep sternal wound infection and receives relatively little credit for the extra years that BITA grafting adds to a patient's life in the future. There is also a relative financial disincentive to perform BITA grafting: incremental payment for the second internal thoracic artery graft is small considering the extra time required in the operating room. Moreover, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services no longer reimburse for extra care necessary for treatment of mediastinitis after cardiac surgery, because this is now deemed a never event. Thus, surgeons, who are increasingly employed by hospitals and hospital systems, are under intense pressure to perform CABG surgery that is safe and cost-effective according to short-term metrics. Any perceived tradeoff, however small or misinformed, between the long-term benefit of BITA grafting and short-term risk of mediastinitis, …
Targeted random sampling: a new approach for efficient reliability estimation for complex systems

A novel approach, targeted random sampling, is presented for estimating failure probabilities for systems with complex limit states. The method, underpinned by the refined stratified sampling concept by Shields et al., refines the sampling strata in the vicinity of the limit state to concentrate samples near the limit state and accurately resolve the failure domain in a very small number of samples - even for problems with strongly non-linear limit states. The method is compared with importance sampling and subset simulation. It produces very accurate estimates for complex problems where the importance sampling density is difficult, or impossible, to identify and is shown to converge much more rapidly than subset simulation for problems with moderate dimension, producing very accurate estimates with greatly reduced coefficient of variation in a fraction of the number of samples. Some challenges in the method are discussed including the extension to high dimensional reliability assessment.
Impact of fiber source and feed particle size on swine manure properties related to spontaneous foam formation during anaerobic decomposition

Foam accumulation in deep-pit manure storage facilities is of concern for swine producers because of the logistical and safety-related problems it creates. A feeding trial was performed to evaluate the impact of feed grind size, fiber source, and manure inoculation on foaming characteristics. Animals were fed: (1) C-SBM (corn-soybean meal): (2) C-DDGS (corn-dried distiller grains with solubles); and (3) C-Soybean Hull (corn-soybean meal with soybean hulls) with each diet ground to either fine (374 μm) or coarse (631 μm) particle size. Two sets of 24 pigs were fed and their manure collected. Factors that decreased feed digestibility (larger grind size and increased fiber content) resulted in increased solids loading to the manure, greater foaming characteristics, more particles in the critical particle size range (2-25 μm), and a greater biological activity/potential.
Production of arachidonic acid metabolites by endothelial cells in hyperoxia.

This study investigated the response of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells to incubation in hyperoxia (95% O2–5% CO2). Changes in cell number and morphology, release of lactate dehydrogenase, and production of arachidonic acid metabolites were assessed during continuous exposure of confluent endothelial monolayers to air (air-5% CO2, “controls”) or O2 (95% O2–5% CO2, “O2-exposed”) for periods of 12–72 h. Control monolayer cell numbers remained constant (approximately 2,000,000 cells/flask), whereas the number of cells in O2-exposed monolayers decreased progressively to 30% of controls (P less than 0.01) by 72 h. As assessed by radioimmunoassay, both control and O2-exposed cells produced the prostacyclin metabolite, 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha), and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), but no thromboxane metabolite (TxB2) was detected. The O2-exposed cells released significantly more 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and PGF2 alpha than control cells when apparent net production rates over the entire 72-h period were compared. In addition, both control and O2-exposed (48 h) endothelial monolayers released immunoreactive leukotriene B4 (LTB4) on stimulation with calcium ionophore (10 microM A23187). As with the cyclooxygenase products, O2-exposed cells released more immunoreactive LTB4 than did controls. Both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid are released by cultured endothelial cells during the development of O2 toxicity.
Spatiotemporal environmental heterogeneity and the maintenance of the tailspot polymorphism in the variable platyfish (Xiphophorus variatus)

Genetic variation is critical for adaptive evolution. Despite its importance, there is still limited evidence in support of some prominent theoretical models explaining the maintenance of genetic polymorphism within populations. We examined 84 populations of Xiphophorus variatus, a livebearing fish with a genetic polymorphism associated with physiological performance, to test: (1) whether niche differentiation explains broad-scale maintenance of polymorphism, (2) whether polymorphism is maintained among populations by local adaptation and migration, or (3) whether heterogeneity in explicit environmental variables could be linked to levels of polymorphism within populations. We found no evidence of climatic niche differentiation that could generate or maintain broad geographic variation in polymorphism. Subsequently, hierarchical partitioning of genetic richness and partial mantel tests revealed that 76% of the observed genetic richness was partitioned within populations with no effect of geographic distance on polymorphism. These results strongly suggest a lack of migration-selection balance in the maintenance of polymorphism, and model selection confirmed a significant relationship between environmental heterogeneity and genetic richness within populations. Few studies have demonstrated such effects at this scale, and additional studies in other taxa should examine the generality of gene-by-environment interactions across populations to better understand the dynamics and scale of balancing selection.
Monte Carlo Modeling of High-Energy Film Radiography

High-energy film radiography methods, adapted in the past to performing specific tasks, must now meet increasing demands to identify defects and perform critical measurements in a wide variety of manufacturing processes. Although film provides unequaled resolution for most components and assemblies, image quality must be enhanced with much more detailed information to identify problems and qualify features of interest inside manufactured items. The work described is concerned with improving current 9 MeV nondestructive practice by optimizing the important parameters involved in film radiography using computational methods. In order to follow important scattering effects produced by electrons, the Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) transport code was used with advanced, highly parallel computer systems. The work has provided a more detailed understanding of latent image formation at high X-ray energies, and suggests that improvements can be made in our ability to identify defects and to obtain much more detail in images of fine features.
A Clear Path Through the Labyrinth: A Case for Allowing Victims of Employment Retaliation and Coercion to Recover Legal Damages Under the Americans with Disabilities Act

More than a decade after Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and expanded the remedies available for disability discrimination in employment with the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Seventh Circuit in Kramer v. Banc of America Securities, 355 F.3d 961 (7th Cir. 2004) became the first federal appellate court to determine that victims of ADA retaliation and coercion in employment are ineligible for legal damages and jury trials. After detailing the law and analysis implicated by this issue, this Note will assert that, based on the language, structure, and legislative histories of the ADA and the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Seventh Circuit erred in its approach and conclusion. Furthermore, allowing victims of ADA retaliation and coercion in employment to recover punitive and compensatory damages is necessary to effectively further the ADA's anti-discrimination goals.
The effect of minimally invasive prostatectomy on practice patterns of American urologists.

Abstract Introduction and objectives To determine how robotic prostatectomy affects practice patterns of urologists, we examined the case volume characteristics among certifying urologists for the surgical treatment of prostate cancer. We hypothesized that the utilization of open and robotic prostatectomy as well as lymph node dissection changed dynamically over the last 10 years. Methods A total of 6-month case log data of certifying urologists from 2003 to 2013 were obtained for the American Board of Urology. Cases were identified using Current Procedural Terminology codes for open radical prostatectomy (ORP) and laparoscopic or robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) with a corresponding diagnosis of prostate cancer as defined by ICD-9 code 185.0. Results obtained A total of 6,563 urologists submitted case logs, of which 68% (4,470/6,563) reported performing at least one radical prostatectomy (RP), totaling 46,030 RPs logged. There was a 376% increase in the performance of RALP over the study period with robotic volume increasing from 22% of all RP in 2003 to 85% in 2013. Among surgeons performing ORP, the median number performed was 2; of surgeons who performed RALP, the median number performed was 8 ( P P P P Conclusions Robotic prostatectomies are performed 5 times more commonly than open prostatectomy and represent 85% of all RP performed by board-certified urologists in 2013. Compared to RALP, ORP are significantly more likely to be performed by lower volume surgeons. Oncologists perform a higher relative percentage of RPs and are significantly more likely to perform LND if performed robotically when compared with general urologists.
Homobimetallic Rhodium NHC Complexes as Versatile Catalysts for Hydrosilylation of a Multitude of Substrates in the Presence of Ambient Air

Two recently reported air- and water-stable di-Rh complexes based on 1,3-bis(3′-butylbenzimidazol-2′-ylidene)benzene were utilized as catalysts for hydrosilylation. Among the substrates investigated were aldehydes, ketones, α,β-unsaturated carbonyls, acyl chlorides, nitriles, alkenes, nitro groups, isocyanates, and tertiary amides. Additionally, carbon dioxide underwent hydrosilylation to produce dimethylphenylsilylformate. The catalysts compared well to other previously reported hydrosilylation catalysts, and the Rh–Cl catalyst was found to be faster and more selective than the Rh–I complex in each case.
Hemolysis of human erythrocytes by a sulfhydryl inhibitor, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid.

Conclusions1. The sulfhydryl reagent, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, causes hemolysis of human erythrocytes. This action can be prevented by prior reaction with sulfhydryl groups. 2. The hemolytic action of PCMB is reversible by washing cells for as long as 30 minutes after contact with this agent. Reversibility of hemolysis lasts up to 60 minutes after addition of free sulfhydryl group. 3. No protection from PCMB hemolysis was noted with stroma whereas hemoglobin solution was effective. 4. The reaction between PCMB and the -SH group of erythrocytes is relatively slow. 5. A physiologic concentration of glucose offered no protection from hemolysis in this system.
Identifying Spinoza’s Immediate Infinite Mode of Extension

The immediate infinite mode of extension is one of the more mysterious elements of Spinoza’s ontology. Despite its importance to Spinoza’s metaphysical system, Spinoza tells us very little about this mode. In the effort to make some progress on this question, I examine three prominent hypotheses about this mode’s identity: the Force Interpretation, the Nomic Interpretation, and the Kinetic Interpretation. I argue, first, that both the Force Interpretation and the Nomic Interpretation are subject to a number of serious objections. Second, I argue that in spite of scholars’ claims to the contrary, the Kinetic Interpretation is a live option.
Aristoxazole analogues. Conversion of 8-nitro-1-naphthoic acid to 2-methylnaphtho[1,2-d]oxazole-9-carboxylic acid: comments on the chemical mechanism of formation of DNA adducts by the aristolochic acids.

2-Methylnaphtho[1,2-d]oxazole-9-carboxylic acid was obtained by reduction of 8-nitro-1-naphthoic acid with zinc–acetic acid. This naphthoxazole is a condensation product between an 8-nitro-1-naphthoic acid reduction intermediate and acetic acid and is a lower homologue of aristoxazole, a similar condensation product of aristolochic acid I with acetic acid that was previously reported. Both oxazoles are believed to arise via a common nitrenium/carbocation ion mechanism that is likely related to that which leads to aristolochic acid–DNA–adducts.
Packet success probability derivation in a vehicular ad hoc network for a highway scenario

This paper studies the probability of packets being successfully received by vehicles (packet success probability) for chains of vehicles on a highway by taking multi-user interference, path loss, and fading into account. Our simulation results compare two scenarios, the case in which vehicles follow Poisson distribution and the case when the distance between any two adjacent vehicles is equal. This probability plays a main role in vehicles' collision probability; therefore, this mathematical framework to obtain packet success probabilities can be employed in designing the safety applications of vehicular ad hoc networks, especially the newly proposed customized vehicular communications.
RNA Polymerase II cluster dynamics predict mRNA output in living cells

Protein clustering is a hallmark of genome regulation in mammalian cells. However, the dynamic molecular processes involved make it difficult to correlate clustering with functional consequences in vivo. We developed a live-cell super-resolution approach to uncover the correlation between mRNA synthesis and the dynamics of RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) clusters at a gene locus. For endogenous β-actin genes in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, we observe that short-lived (~8 s) Pol II clusters correlate with basal mRNA output. During serum stimulation, a stereotyped increase in Pol II cluster lifetime correlates with a proportionate increase in the number of mRNAs synthesized. Our findings suggest that transient clustering of Pol II may constitute a pre-transcriptional regulatory event that predictably modulates nascent mRNA output.
Case 36: How to Perform and Report the Result of a Survey

A resident seeks help from you with a survey he wants to send out to all the medical residents in training programs in the Western United States. The survey relates to working conditions, housing, research time, study time, travel to and from hospitals etc.
Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) space use and behavior in campground and non-campground sites in coastal redwood forests

ABSTRACT Small-scale disturbance and trash associated with campgrounds may provide opportunities for generalist species in areas important for conservation. We examined the influence of campgrounds on the space use and behavior of Steller's Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) in Redwood National and State Parks, California, USA. In 2010 and 2011, we used radiotelemetry to monitor the movements of adult male Steller's Jays. We found that home range size of campground jays (16.4 ± 2.6 ha, n = 20) did not differ from non-campground jays (15.0 ± 2.0 ha, n = 10). However, we observed extensive home range overlap among campground jays, possibly contributing to the high density of Steller's Jays previously observed at these sites. Jays roosted alone, primarily in old-growth forest stands away from campgrounds and other human recreation areas. Campground jays regularly commuted between campgrounds and nocturnal roosts. Commuting distance was positively associated with home range size. Campground jays were more frequently ...
Computational Social Science: Toward a Collaborative Future

Fifteen years ago, as an undergraduate computer science student in the UK, I read a popular science article (Matthews, 1999) proﬁling the research of my now colleague, Duncan Watts. This article, about the science of small-world networks, changed my life. To understand why, though, it’s necessary to know that in the UK, there is (or at least was during the 1980s and 1990s) a profound ”them-versus-us” split between the STEM1 ﬁelds and all other disciplines. This split is ampliﬁed or perhaps even caused by the fact that people specialize very young — choosing, at age ﬁfteen or sixteen, whether they will ever take another math course or write another essay again. I, like every one else in my degree program, had chosen STEM, but my decision hadn’t been easy — I had also wanted to study the social sciences. The article about Duncan’s research changed my life because it had never before occurred to me that that math and computers could be used to study social phenomena. For the ﬁrst time, I realized that rather than studying either computer science or the social sciences, perhaps I could study both. This, then, became my motivating goal.