cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Note on estimating critical stress for irregularly-shaped-planar cracks

An estimate of the lower bounds for crack tip stress intensity factors for irregularly-shaped-planar cracks is obtained. A combination of the elliptical and Sneddon solution is used.
MULTIPLE SCATTERING OF PIONS BY DEUTERONS.

The general theory of multiple scattering of pions from nuclei is expressed in a way which does not require the use of a series expansion. In an on-shell approximation this theory may be reduced to the solution of a set of $A$ coupled integral equations. As a demonstration of the method the equations are specialized to the case of the deuteron and solved to give comparison with the experimental data. The deuteron tensor ${T}_{20}$ is shown to be sensitive to the percentage of $D$ state for deuterons scattered at 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}.
Immunoreactive tumor necrosis factor-α is elevated in maternal plasma but undetected in amniotic fluid in the second trimester

Abstract Objective: We investigated the participation of the cellular arm of the immune system in adaptation to pregnancy by assessing plasma and amniotic fluid levels of the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α. Study Design: Fifty-five healthy pregnant women who underwent second-trimester genetic amniocentesis at a mean gestational age of 17.0 + ± 1.4 weeks composed study group A. Blood was drawn from each patient before amniocentesis, and an aliquot of amniotic fluid was obtained for this study. Twenty-one healthy patients at a mean gestational age of 35.5 ± 4.8 weeks composed study group B, and blood was obtained from each patient at an outpatient prenatal visit. Twenty-two healthy, nonpregnant women of reproductive age composed the control group (C). All specimens were stored at −70° C and collectively assayed for tumor necrosis factor-α by a specific enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results: All patients in group A had a normal karyotype and all patients in groups A and B had uneventful pregnancies. Tumor necrosis factor-α was detected in the plasma of 43 of 55 (78.2%) patients in group A compared with 7 of 21 (33.3%) patients in group B ( p p Conclusions: Levels of tumor necrosis factor-α were elevated in the plasma but not detected in the amniotic fluid of normal pregnant patients in the second trimester. These findings suggest involvement of the cellular branch of the immune system and its products, the cytokines, in the normal adaptation of the mother to the fetal allograft, with a possible role in regulating trophoblast growth and invasion.
OMEGA-3 FATTY ACID ENRICHED DIET ATTENUATE EXERCISE INDUCED LACTACIDEMIA AND INCREASE LIVER c-AMP IN THE 10 DAY OLD SUCKLING RAT. † 1906

Lactacidemia is seen in neonates with hypoxia, hypoperfusion, and increased muscle activity (e.g. seizures, increased work of breathing). ω-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FA) has been shown to alter tissue c-AMP. Therefore, we hypothesized that the ω-3 FA enriched diet will increase liver c-AMP resulting in increased liver gluconeogenesis, increased lactate utilization, and decrease exercise induced lactacidemia in the newborn rat.Methods: Sprague-Dawley dams were fed with ω-3 or ω-6 fatty acid enriched diet from 18 days of gestation until 10 days after parturition. 4 hour fasted 10 day old rats (26-36 grams, n = 8 - 13) swam in water for 5 min. Blood was collected for plasma glucose, lactate, insulin, glucagon. Liver was collected for c-AMP. According to diet and exercise, animals were divided in 4 groups as follows: ω-3 no exercise, ω-3 exercise, ω-6 no exercise, ω-6 exercise. Results: After exercise, ω-3 group had lower plasma lactate, greater net increase in plasma glucose, and higher cytosolic liver c-AMP concentration when compared to ω-6 group. There was no difference in plasma insulin and glucagon between corresponding ω-3 and ω-6 groups. Conclusion: Decreased lactacidemia and greater net increase in plasma glucose in newborn rat from dams fed with ω-3 FA enriched diet may be due to greater increase in cyclic AMP induced liver gluconeogenesis.Table
Limited effects of β-endorphin compared to loperamide or fentanyl in a neuroendocrine biomarker assay in non-human primates

The in vivo pharmacodynamics of the opioid neuropeptide beta-endorphin (a major endogenous agonist at the mu-opioid receptor) is difficult to determine in non-human primate models with translational value, or in humans. The present studies therefore employed a neuroendocrine biomarker assay, prolactin release, to systematically compare the in vivo profile of i.v. beta-endorphin (0.01-0.32 mg/kg; i.v.) in gonadally intact male rhesus monkeys (n=4) to that of the peripherally selective mu-agonist loperamide (0.01-0.32 mg/kg; i.v.) and the centrally penetrating mu-agonist fentanyl (0.0056-0.018 mg/kg; i.v.). Studies utilized a standardized time course design (measuring prolactin levels 5-120 min after agonist administration). Beta-endorphin displayed only limited effectiveness in causing prolactin release when tested over this 30-fold dose range, compared to loperamide or fentanyl. Furthermore, two of the four subjects were only minimally responsive to beta-endorphin. This differential responsiveness was not due to the presence of a previously described single nucleotide polymorphism at the OPRM1 gene (C77G), known to affect beta-endorphin pharmacodynamics in vitro. In vivo biotransformation studies with MALDI-mass spectrometry determined that full-length beta-endorphin was detectable in all subjects up to at least 5 min after i.v. administration. Thus, the relative ineffectiveness of i.v. beta-endorphin in this assay does not appear to be principally due to rapid generation of non-opioid fragments of this neuropeptide.
T-lymphocyte subsets in nephrotic syndrome

T-lymphocyte subsets when measured in steroid responsive nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) have demonstrated significant variance from normal values. T-cell subsets were studied by using two-color flow cytometric analysis in 32 children (9.2 +/- 5 years of age) with SRNS. The children were divided into four groups: a) SRNS in acute relapse, on prednisone; b) SRNS in acute relapse, off prednisone; c) SRNS in long-term remission, off prednisone (nephrotic controls); d) patients in remission on long-term prednisone therapy; and e) 15 age-matched normal controls. Children suffering an acute relapse of SRNS showed an increase in Leu2a+/DR+ (CD8) activated lymphocytes (P less than 0.05), a decrease in Leu4a+ total T-lymphocytes (P = 0.01) and a decrease in Leu3a+ (CD4) helper T-cells (P less than 0.05) when compared to normal controls and nephrotic controls. Though some subset changes may represent a prednisone effect and the functional role of these lymphocytes in the disease process is unknown, this study provides additional evidence to support a role for abnormal T-cell subsets in the etiology of SRNS.
Multiobjective Decision Analysis With Engineering and Business Applications

The last 15 years have witnessed the development of a large number of multiobjective decision techniques. Applying these techniques to environmental, engineering, and business problems has become well accepted. Multiobjective Decision Analysis With Engineering and Business Applications attempts to cover the main multiobjective techniques both in their mathematical treatment and in their application to real-world problems. The book is divided into 12 chapters plus three appendices. The main portion of the book is represented by chapters 3–6, Where the various approaches are identified, classified, and reviewed. Chapter 3 covers methods for generating nondominated solutions; chapter 4, continuous methods with prior preference articulation; chapter 5, discrete methods with prior preference articulation; and chapter 6, methods of progressive articulation of preferences. In these four chapters, close to 20 techniques are discussed with over 20 illustrative examples. This is both a strength and a weakness; the breadth of techniques and examples provide comprehensive coverage, but it is in a style too mathematically compact for most readers. By my count, the presentation of the 20 techniques in chapters 3–6 covered 85 pages, an average of about 4.5 pages each; therefore, a sound basis in linear algebra and linear programing is required if the reader hopes to follow the material. Chapter 2, “Concepts in Multiobjective Analysis,” also assumes such a background.
In-situ ovenization of Lamé-mode silicon resonators for temperature compensation

This paper reports an inside-encapsulation ovenization method for the temperature compensation of Lame-mode epi-sealed silicon resonators. With this method, the square Lame-mode resonator itself acts both as a thermometer and a heater, which allows for simultaneous in situ sensing and control of the operating temperature. In this device, only the resonating element is heated, reducing the power consumption and the thermal time constant, relative to approaches which control the temperature of an entire MEMS chip or system. Preliminary results of real-time frequency compensation achieve a frequency stability of ∼5ppm over −40∼+80°C without the need for sophisticated control schemes.
Long-wave IR chemical sensing based on difference frequency generation in orientation patterned GaAs

Lightsources employing quasiphasematched (QPM) nonlinear materials have demonstrated unique attributes for chemical sensing in the near- to mid-infrare spectral range (1 - 5 micrometers ). The advent of patterned-growth GaAs allows the first practical extension of QPM materials to operation in the long-wave IR (5 - 12 micrometers ). That wavelength range is particularly attractive for chemical sensing because it contains an atmospheric window, many molecular groups absorb there at distinct frequencies, and their absorptions tend to be strong relative to those in the near- and mid-IR. Here, the application of orientation-patterned GaAs (OPGaAs) for use in a continuous wave (cw) difference frequency spectrometer is described. The outputs of two external- cavity diode lasers operating in the 1.3 and 1.5 micrometers telecom bands are mixed in a OPGaAs crystal, producing tunable radiation at wavelengths near 8 micrometers . The application of the source to the measurement of a water vapor rovibrational absorption line is presented.
Diagnostic exercise tests on 4000 consecutive men.

Results After the exclusions, 3974 men (mean age 57.5 ± 11 years) had standard diagnostic exercise testing over the study period with a mean of 5.9 (±3.7) years of follow-up (64% of all tested). There were no complications of testing in this clinically referred population, 82% of whom were referred for chest pain, risk factors, or signs and symptoms of ischemic heart disease. Five hundred forty-nine (14%) had a history of typical angina. Indications for testing were in accordance with published guidelines. A total of 545 died, yielding an annual mortality rate of 1.8%. The Cox hazard model chose the following variables in rank order as independently associated with time to death: change in rate pressure product, age greater than 65 years, METs less than 5, and electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy. A score based on these variables classified patients into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups. The high-risk group with a score greater than 3 has a hazard ratio of 4 (95% confidence interval 3.82-4.27) and an annual mortality rate of 4%. Conclusion This comprehensive analysis provides rates of various abnormal responses that can be expected in men referred for diagnostic exercise testing at typical Veterans Administration Medical Centers. Four simple variables combined as a score predict all-cause mortality after clinical decisions for therapy are prescribed. (Am Heart J 2001;142:127-35.)
BETAGLYCAN HAS MULTIPLE BINDING SITES FOR TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-BETA 1

The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) binding site in betaglycan, the type III TGF-beta receptor, has been variously assigned to the C-terminal half and N-terminal one-third of the extracellular domain. In this study, we show that there are at least two TGF-beta-binding sites in betaglycan. Bacterially expressed fragments bg 1,2 and bg3, which represent the N-terminal two-thirds and C-terminal one-third of betaglycan extracellular domain, both competed for the binding of 125I-TGF-beta to mink lung epithelial cells. 125I-bg1,2 bound to immobilized TGF-beta with an affinity about 4-fold higher than bg3 had. Both bg3 and bg1,2 enhanced the bioactivity of TGF-beta. The whole ectodomain of betaglycan was more active than either bg3 or bg1,2 in the assays. The binding of 125I-bg3 to TGF-beta was inhibited by bg1,2 and vice versa. The binding of 125I-bg3 and 125I-bg1,2 to TGF-beta was also inhibited by the small decorin family of proteoglycans. These results indicate that there are at least two binding sites for TGF-beta in betaglycan and that these sites recognize the same or overlapping sites in TGF-beta.
Evidence aggregation networks for fuzzy logic inference

Fuzzy logic has been applied in many engineering disciplines. The problem of fuzzy logic inference is investigated as a question of aggregation of evidence. A fixed network architecture employing general fuzzy unions and intersections is proposed as a mechanism to implement fuzzy logic inference. It is shown that these networks possess desirable theoretical properties. Networks based on parameterized families of operators (such as Yager's union and intersection) have extra predictable properties and admit a training algorithm which produces sharper inference results than were earlier obtained. Simulation studies corroborate the theoretical properties. >
Nutrition and the deleterious side effects of nutritional supplements.

The potential adverse effects associated with some of the more common oral vitamin supplements—vitamins A, D, and E and niacin (forms include nicotinic acid and nicotinamide), and mineral supplements—zinc, copper, and iron, used in dermatology are manifold. Although the dermatologist may be familiar with adverse effects of vitamins A and D, less well-known adverse effects, such as hematologic and neurologic effects from zinc, are presented.
Testosterone Induces Erythrocytosis via Increased Erythropoietin and Suppressed Hepcidin: Evidence for a New Erythropoietin/Hemoglobin Set Point

Background. The mechanisms by which testosterone increases hemoglobin and hematocrit remain unclear.
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") and its stereoisomers as reinforcers in rhesus monkeys: serotonergic involvement

Rationale: The reinforcing effects of MDMA and its enantiomers have not been extensively character- ized in laboratory animals. Objectives: To investigate whether MDMA and its stereoisomers would be self- administered intravenously by rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), and to assess the effects of serotonin 2 receptor antagonists on MDMA-maintained responding. Methods: Four adult male rhesus monkeys were maintained on a fixed ratio 10, time-out 60-s schedule for 0.01 mg/kg cocaine or saline injections. Racemic MDMA and its stereoisomers, and racemic methamphetamine were peri- odically substituted for cocaine or saline. In subsequent antagonist experiments, five adult rhesus monkeys (three male, two female) were maintained on a multiple dose fixed ratio 30, time-out 45-s schedule for cocaine or saline injections. Racemic MDMA and its enantiomers were periodically substituted for cocaine or saline, with or without a pre-session injection of the serotonin 2 receptor antagonists ketanserin or MDL100907. Results: In the initial self-administration experiments, MDMA and its stereoisomers generated "inverted U"-shaped self-administration curves across the dose range tested. Racemic MDMA doses between 0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg per injection, S(+)-MDMA doses between 0.003 and 0.1 mg/kg per injection, and R(-)-MDMA doses between 0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg per injection engendered more responding than saline; however, no dose of any form of MDMA maintained as much behavior as cocaine or methamphetamine. In subsequent antagonist experi- ments, pretreatments with 0.1 or 0.3 mg/kg ketanserin or MDL100907 attenuated responding for S(+)-MDMA, and completely abolished responding for R(-)-MDMA, but did not affect cocaine-maintained behavior. Conclu- sions: MDMA and its stereoisomers serve as reinforcers in rhesus monkeys. We suggest that stimulation of 5-HT 2A receptors is integral to the reinforcing effects of MDMA.
Grandparents' Expressions of Affection for Their Grandchildren: Examining Grandchildren's Relational Attitudes and Behaviors

Following Affection Exchange Theory, the aims of this study were to (a) examine if grandparents' provision of affectionate communication to their grandchildren differs depending on grandparent-grandchild sex and relationship type (i.e., biological/nonbiological) and (b) to examine the relationships between grandparents' provision of affectionate communication and grandchildren's social relationship development. Undergraduate students (N = 184) completed the Affectionate Communication Index (Floyd & Morman, 1998) in reference to a specific grandparent as well as self-reported involvement in and attitudes toward close social relationships. Results indicated that grandparents express the same amount of affection for their granddaughters and grandsons, but biological grandparents express more affection for their grandchildren than do nonbiological grandparents. Results further indicated that grandparents' expressed affection was related positively to grandchildren's social activities but related negatively to...
Nursing Knowledge and Health Policy in Process

In this column, the authors discuss the complexity of nursing knowledge, the political landscape, and the critical need for nurses to be involved in health policy-making at all levels of government.
Family Matters: Gender, Networks, and Entrepreneurial Outcomes

In this article, we explore severalfactors that may have an effect on business start-ups, focusing on possible gender differences. We conceptualize social capital as inhering in people's relations with others and examine the association between men's and women's social capital and their likelihood of starting a business. Two aspects of respondents' social capital are highlighted: the extent to which their business discussion networks are heterogeneous and the extent to which they contain a high proportion of kin. We show that a high proportion of kin and homogeneity in the network, rather than a high proportion offemales in the network or beingfemale, are critical disadvantages facing potential small business owners.
Halothane inhibits two components of calcium current in clonal (GH3) pituitary cells.

The effect of halothane on isolated calcium (Ca2+) current of clonal (GH3) pituitary cells was investigated using standard whole-cell clamp techniques at room temperature. Halothane (0.1–5.0 mM) reversibly reduced both the low-threshold, transient [low-voltage-activated (LVA)] component and the high-threshold [high-voltage-activated (HVA)] component of Ca2+ current. Halothane had little effect on the voltage dependence of activation or inactivation of either component of Ca2+ current. Inhibition of the peak high-threshold Ca2+ current was half- maximal at about 0.8 mM halothane, with maximal inhibition (100%) occurring with 5 mM halothane. When measured at the end of a 190-msec command step, half-maximal reduction of high-threshold current occurred at less than 0.5 mM halothane. The low-threshold transient current was less sensitive to halothane, with half-maximal inhibition of peak transient current activated at -30 mV occurring at approximately 1.3 mM. The effect of halothane on the HVA current was apparently not mediated by changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. The ability of halothane to inhibit Ca2+ current was unaffected by either the inclusion of the rapid Ca2+ buffer 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) in the recording pipette or exposure of the cell to 10 mM caffeine. To assess the selectivity of the effect of halothane, the actions of halothane on two components of voltage- activated potassium (K+) current observed in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ and on voltage-dependent sodium (Na+) current were also examined. Halothane had no effect on the voltage-dependent, inactivating K+ current of GH3 cells at concentrations up to 1.2 mM. In contrast, the non-inactivating K+ current, though less sensitive to halothane than either Ca2+ current, was reduced by about 40% by 1.2 mM halothane at +20 mV. Peak Na+ current was also blocked by halothane, but 50% block required around 2.6 mM halothane with little effect at 1.6 mM. Reduction of Na+ current was associated with a substantial negative shift in the steady-state inactivation curve. Although the results indicate that a number of voltage-dependent ionic currents are sensitive to halothane, both components of Ca2+ current exhibit a greater sensitivity to halothane than any of three other voltage- dependent currents in GH3 cells. These results show that GH3 cell Ca2+ currents are selectively inhibited by clinically appropriate concentrations of halothane and that the reduction of Ca2+ current can account for the inhibition by halothane of TRH- or KCl-induced prolactin secretion in GH3 cells.
The influences of communication media and decision-making technique on team decision outcomes: a critical assessment of the stepladder approach

The stepladder technique is a method for improving face-to-face (FTF) team problem solving. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the stepladder technique benefits computer-mediated (CM) teams of individuals. Hypotheses addressed the effects of communication media and decision making technique on team decision quality, decision variability, time to make a decision, and team member satisfaction. Eighty 4-person team worked on a decision making task using one of the following group structures: FTF conventional, FTF stepladder, CM conventional, or CM stepladder. The results revealed fundamental differences between FTF and CM teams of decision makers.
Isoflurane Preconditioning Reduces the Rat NR8383 Macrophage Injury Induced by Lipopolysaccharide and Interferon γ

Background Isoflurane exposure before an insult can reduce the insult-induced injury in various organs. This phenomenon is called isoflurane preconditioning. The authors hypothesize that isoflurane can precondition macrophages, cells that travel to all tissues and are important in the host defense and inflammation responses. Methods Rat NR8383 macrophages were pretreated with or without 1-3% isoflurane for 1 h at 30 min before they were incubated with or without 100 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide plus 50 U/ml interferon gamma for 24 h. Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Flow cytometry was performed after cells were stained with annexin V and propidium iodide. Inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression in macrophages was quantified by Western blotting. Results Lipopolysaccharide plus interferon gamma decreased cell viability by approximately 50%. This decrease was dose-dependently inhibited by aminoguanidine, an inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Lipopolysaccharide plus interferon gamma caused inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. This expression was inhibited by pretreatment with 2% but not 1% or 3% isoflurane. Isoflurane at 2% inhibited lipopolysaccharide plus interferon gamma-induced accumulation of nitrite, an oxidation product of nitric oxide. Pretreatment with 2% but not 1% or 3% isoflurane improved cell viability. Lipopolysaccharide plus interferon gamma increased the number of propidium iodide-positive staining cells. This increase was attenuated by 2% isoflurane pretreatment. The protective effect of 2% isoflurane was abolished by chelerythrine, calphostin C, or bisindolylmaleimide IX, protein kinase C inhibitors. Conclusions Lipopolysaccharide plus interferon gamma causes an inducible nitric oxide synthase-dependent macrophage injury. Isoflurane induces preconditioning effects that may be mediated by protein kinase C in macrophages.
THE X-Y-Z SCHEME OF IMMUNOCYTE MATURATION IV. THE EXHAUSTION OF MEMORY CELLS

A set of conditions has been described under which primed rabbit lymph nodes produce a secondary antibody response upon in vivo stimulation with a large dose of antigen, but are subsequently "exhausted;" that is, lymph node cultures prepared at intervals following the booster injection cannot be re-stimulated to display tertiary responses. Rabbits given 100-fold less antigen in the booster inoculum were able to give a tertiary response upon in vitro challenge. The system used permits neither induction nor continuation of a primary response to BSA in vitro. Since it could be demonstrated that no memory cells were generated by the booster injection within the intervals between in vivo injection and culture, the tertiary response in nonexhausted nodes must have been due to residual memory cells which remained untriggered by the in vivo booster injection. The unresponsive state was not caused by antibody feedback. These results are interpreted to mean that a population of memory cells can be exhausted by a supraoptimal dose of antigen, rendering the node temporarily incapable of further response. This implies that long-lived memory is not due to asymmetric division of memory cells. The source and fate of memory cells is discussed with regard to this evidence.
Role of myelination in the development of a uniform olivocerebellar conduction time.

Purkinje cells generate simultaneous complex spikes as a result of olivocerebellar activity. This synchronization (to within 1 ms) is thought to result from electrotonic coupling of inferior olivar...
Performance Analysis of a Real-Time Control Network Test Bed in a Linux-Based System With Sporadic Message Arrivals

This paper describes the results from a real-time network test bed for a Linux-based control system with event-driven message traffic. Interest has grown in the use of Linux as a cost-effective alternative to expensive proprietary real-time operating systems. However, kernel tasks in Linux can cause random delays in message transmissions. Event-driven traffic can result in unpredictable message inter-arrival rates. Nondeterministic delays in message transmissions and sporadic message arrival times complicate the design of the network as they require the use of an estimation technique to analyze feasibility. Random temporal behavior can lead to network overloads, where it becomes unavoidable that some messages will be late. We discuss the design and feasibility analysis for the network and evaluate the network's performance in the presence of random kernel delay and sporadic message arrivals. Three message scheduling approaches are evaluated using different Linux configurations at different levels of network loading
Kinematic signatures of the projectile breakup process at 32.5 MeV/nucleon

Abstract We have studied projectile breakup reactions in the 16 O+ 197 Au system at 32.5 MeV/nucleon using an array of 34 phoswich detectors. Correlations among final state fragments were analyzed to determine if the breakup occurs by multifragmentation (simultaneous breakup) or sequential decay. A calculational method developed by Lopez and Randrup was used to predict the kinematic signatures of the two decay modes. A comparison to experiment is presented for three breakup channels consisting of three, four, and five charged particles.
Detecting quilted web pages at scale

Web-based advertising and electronic commerce, combined with the key role of search engines in driving visitors to ad-monetized and e-commerce web sites, has given rise to the phenomenon of web spam: web pages that are of little value to visitors, but that are created mainly to mislead search engines into driving traffic to target web sites. A large fraction of spam web pages is automatically generated, and some portion of these pages is generated by stitching together parts (sentences or paragraphs) of other web pages. This paper presents a scalable algorithm for detecting such "quilted" web pages. Previous work by the author and his collaborators introduced a sampling-based algorithm that was capable of detecting some, but by far not all quilted web pages in a collection. By contrast, the algorithm presented in this work identifies all quilted web pages, and it is scalable to very large corpora. We tested the algorithm on the half-billion page English-language subset of the ClueWeb09 collection, and evaluated its effectiveness in detecting web spam by manually inspecting small samples of the detected quilted pages. This manual inspection guided us in iteratively refining the algorithm to be more efficient in detecting real-world spam.
Segregation and Hispanic Homicide

As the overall population of Hispanics within the United States has eclipsed that of African Americans, a mounting concern has developed regarding the rise in Hispanic lethal violence as a result of social and economic inequality. One means to measure this inequality is in the form of segregation. Research indicates that in many Hispanic communities, their levels of segregation from the White non-Hispanic population are similar to that of African Americans. Although a multitude of previous studies have looked at the impact of segregation among African Americans, the literature remains under-represented in terms of multi-city macro-level analyses among Hispanics. This current study extends the analysis of segregation’s effects on lethal violence to this population. To this end, two measures of segregation were used, the index of dissimilarity and exposure. Using data from the census and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) mortality files, negative binominal regression models were created using a sample of 236 U.S. cities. The results indicated that both measures of segregation show a strong positive influence on rates of Hispanic homicides.
Performing Femininities: Listening to White Working-Class Girls in Rural Maine

In this article, I explore the ways in which sixth, seventh, and eighth grade White girls from poor and working-class families in rural Maine understand, express, and react to dominant cultural definitions of femininity. Using a qualitative method, The Listening Guide, to interpret data gathered over the course of a year from weekly videotaped focus group conversations and individual interviews, I identify and underscore the contradictory nature of what constitutes appropriately feminine discourse and behavior for these girls — discourse and behavior that is radically different from the dominant White middle-class cultural ideal and that offers these girls a wide range of physical and verbal expression not usually considered under the rubric of conventional femininity. I then examine the girls' ambivalent relationship with middle-class propriety, as well as their anger, their longing, and, in some cases, their resistance to dominant cultural ideologies of femininity. Although such resistance may serve them well in their local community, it puts them at odds with the expectations of their teachers and other adults invested in the conventional feminine ideal and thus underscores their displacement in school and society. The Listener's Guide, I contend, provides a way to elucidate the struggles these working-class girls experience as they negotiate and contest contradictory voices and visions of appropriately feminine behavior and constructions of self vying for their attention and allegiance.
Involvement of exon 11-associated variants of the mu opioid receptor MOR-1 in heroin, but not morphine, actions

Heroin remains a major drug of abuse and is preferred by addicts over morphine. Like morphine, heroin has high affinity and selectivity for μ-receptors, but its residual analgesia in exon 1 MOR-1 knockout mice that do not respond to morphine suggests a different mechanism of action. MOR-1 splice variants lacking exon 1 have been observed in mice, humans, and rats, raising the possibility that they might be responsible for the residual heroin and morphine-6β-glucuronide (M6G) analgesia in the exon 1 knockout mice. To test this possibility, we disrupted exon 11 of MOR-1, which eliminates all of the variants that do not contain exon 1. Morphine and methadone analgesia in the exon 11 knockout mouse was normal, but the analgesic actions of heroin, M6G, and fentanyl were markedly diminished in the radiant heat tail-flick and hot-plate assays. Similarly, the ability of M6G to inhibit gastrointestinal transit was greatly diminished in these exon 11 knockout mice, whereas the ability of morphine was unchanged. These findings identify receptors selectively involved with heroin and M6G actions and confirm the relevance of the exon 11-associated variants and raise important issues regarding the importance of atypical truncated G-protein-coupled receptors.
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A/B in prostate and breast cancers

Protein kinase signaling pathways, such as Janus kinase 2-Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A/B (JAK2-STAT5A/B), are of significant interest in the search for new therapeutic strategies in both breast and prostate cancers. In prostate cancer, the components of the JAK2-STAT5A/B signaling pathway provide molecular targets for small-molecule inhibition of survival and growth signals of the cells. At the same time, new evidence suggests that the STAT5A/B signaling pathway is involved in the transition of organ-confined prostate cancer to hormone-refractory disease. This implies that the active JAK2-STAT5A/B signaling pathway potentially provides the means for pharmacological intervention of clinical prostate cancer progression. In addition, active STAT5A/B may serve as a prognostic marker for identification of those primary prostate cancers that are likely to progress to aggressive disease. In breast cancer, the role of STAT5A/B is more complex. STAT5A/B may have a dual role in the regulation of malignant mammary epithelium. Data accumulated from mouse models of breast cancer suggest that in early stages of breast cancer STAT5A/B may promote malignant transformation and enhance growth of the tumor. This is in contrast to established breast cancer, where STAT5A/B may mediate the critical cues for maintaining the differentiation of mammary epithelium. In addition, present data suggest that activation of STAT5A/B in breast cancer predicts favorable clinical outcome. The dual nature of STAT5A/B action in breast cancer makes the therapeutic use of STAT5 A/B more complex.
A METHOD FOR ASSESSING REMOVAL OF FOREIGN PARTICLES FROM THE BLOOD BY FIXED PHAGOCYTES OF THE AMERICAN LOBSTER, HOMARUS AMERICANUS

Abstract The fixed phagocytes are noncirculating cells in the digestive gland (hepatopancreas) of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) and other decapod crustaceans. They are attached to the outer walls of the terminal hepatic arterioles and lie in the hemal spaces, where they are bathed in blood; they remove foreign particles from the blood as it circulates through the digestive gland. This study has developed and adapted methods for the in vivo assessment of the activity of the fixed phagocytes of lobsters by measuring the uptake of foreign particles from the blood. After fluorescent microspheres were injected into the blood, samples of the digestive gland were excised, arterioles were prepared for microscopy, confocal laser scanning micrographs were collected and microspheres and cells were counted. These methods may be used in larger-scale studies to assess the state of activity of this important part of the immune system of lobsters, and to compare immune activity in lobsters exposed to various ...
Assessing the distribution and impacts of Prosopis juliflora through participatory approaches.

Abstract Invasive species pose global biological and economic challenges. Over the past four decades, Prosopis taxa have emerged as a major invader of the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Prosopis juliflora, one of the highly invasive Prosopis species, is dominantly present in the Afar region of Ethiopia and continues to spread into the surrounding areas. The objective of this study was to aid the mapping, utilization, and management of the invasive P. juliflora in Afar, by employing participatory research techniques. We assessed the introduction history, impacts, uses, and control strategies of invasive P. juliflora by interviewing 108 pastoralists and agro-pastoralists. In addition, we used Participatory Mapping (PM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and remote sensing technologies and approaches to map sites invaded by P. juliflora. Sketch maps were produced by men, women, pastoralist and agro-pastoralist groups. Experts aggregated, scaled and reproduced the sketch maps with support from the Afar communities. We provided GPS and GIS trainings to selected community members who assisted us in collecting the GPS locations of more than 70 key features and landmarks. The sketch maps were digitized and geo-referenced by experts using the 70 GPS records as control points. Geo-referenced community maps were superimposed on pan-sharpened Landsat 8 satellite images and presented to the communities for verification. We overlaid the verified community maps on ancillary land-cover layers, and detected the land-cover classes that were most affected by P. juliflora invasion. Despite its uses as source of fire wood, charcoal, and animal fodder, the species has adverse impacts on native species and livestock resources. Afar communities mapped P. juliflora infestations, particularly those that occurred near their villages, using high and moderate density classes. The two highly invaded land-cover categories were dense grassland, and exposed sand & soils. Participants collaborated in creating the produced maps, suggesting that participatory research approaches are another tool for early detection of invasive species and guiding fine-scale management strategies.
Efficacy of Didactic vs Experiential Learning

INTRODUCTION: Recognition of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) leading to end-organ damage has led to increased awareness of clinical signs leading to abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS). The gold-standard is trans-bladder pressure measurement. It is a simplistic method; however, there is need for a standardized process between clinicians. We determined whether a simulation program would improve understanding and retention of ACS better than a didactic program.
[Filing] Comments of Adam Thierer - Mercatus Center - FTC Coppa 2011 Ammendments

It goes without saying that the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is complicated law and rule. When considering the rule and proposals to amend it, it is easy to get lost in the weeds and ignore the bigger picture. That would be a mistake. There are broader, more important questions that need to be asked as part of the Federal Trade Commission’s effort to expand this regulatory regime. These questions involve not only the costs of increased regulation for online business interests, but the impact of expanded regulation on market structure, competition, and innovation. More importantly, these questions cut to the core of whether the public (including children) will be served with more and better digital innovations in the future. There is no free lunch. Regulation - even well-intentioned regulation like COPPA - is not a costless exercise. There are profound trade-offs for online content and culture that must always be considered. Whatever one thinks about the effectiveness or sensibility of the COPPA regulatory model for the Web 1.0 world, it is clear that the regime is being strained by the unforeseen realities of the Web 2.0 world of hyper-ubiquitous connectivity and user-generated content creation and sharing. The digital genie cannot be put back in the bottle. While COPPA may continue to have a marginal role to play in this rapidly evolving world, that role will likely be increasingly limited by the inherent realities of the information age.
Abstract 3266: Nadir Hemoglobin Predicts Poor Functional Outcome and Death in ICH Patients

Background: Anemia has been associated with increased mortality in ICU patients and with poor outcomes in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study investigates the relationship betw...
Synthesis and atructure of [meso-triarylcorrolato]silver(III).

An efficient meso-triarylcorrole synthesis is detailed, and the formation and spectroscopic properties of their diamagnetic square-planar d(8) Ag(III) complexes are described. The spectroscopic properties of the [corrolato]Ag(III) complexes are contrasted with those of the corresponding [porphyrinato]Ag(II) complexes. The oxidation state of the central metal in the corrolato complexes was inferred from their diamagnetic NMR spectra, from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, and by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry of the [meso-tetra-p-tolylcorrolato]silver(III) complex TTCAg(III), as its toluene solvate (crystal data for C(40)H(29)N(4)Ag.C(7)H(8): monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 21.4679(19) A, b = 20.7606(19) A, c = 16.0122(11) A, beta = 93.700(4) degrees, V = 7121.5(10) A(3), Z = 8, R = 0.0453, and R(w) = 0.1131). The conformation of the corrolato ligand in the complex is slightly saddled. The Ag(III) complexes are without precedent in the coordination chemistry of corroles. The Ag(III) complexes underline the ability of meso-triarylcorroles to stabilize higher oxidation states as compared to the corresponding meso-tetraarylporphyrinato complexes.
A New Class of Gas-Kinetic Relaxation Schemes for the Compressible Euler Equations

Starting from the gas-kinetic model, a new class of relaxation schemes for the Euler equations is presented. In contrast to the Riemann solver, these schemes provide a multidimensional dynamical gas evolution model, which combines both Lax-Wendroff and kinetic flux vector splitting schemes, and their coupling is based on the fact that a nonequilibrium state will evolve into an equilibrium state along with the increase of entropy. The numerical fluxes are constructed without getting into the details of the particle collisions. The results for many well-defined test cases are presented to indicate the robustness and accuracy of the current scheme.
Blood adrenocorticotrophin in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

SummaryThe oxycellulose technic has been applied to the analysis of blood ACTH in children. ACTH was not present in detectable quantities in the blood of afebrile children without endocrine disease. ACTH was detected in the blood of untreated, but not of cortisone-treated, children with adrenogenital syndrome.
UAV Swarm Routing Through Genetic Fuzzy Learning Methods

Utilizing a combination of heuristic and stochastic techniques, this work approximates solutions for complex variants of the Traveling Salesman Problem. Within this study, we seek to develop a Pareto front of time optimal solutions for a large scale, multi-objective, multi-agent, multi-depot, traveling salesman problem with turning constraints that emulates a UAV operator monitoring a swarm of autonomous vehicles. This research is a culmination of years of investigation and past publications [1, 2, 3] which sought to solve portions of this problem individually. Solving the entire problem, more precisely named the Multi-Objective Min-Max Multi-Depot Polygon Visiting Dubins Multiple Traveling Salesman Problem, follows similar processes of simpler variants. With a focus on military applications, run-time is very critical to the success of this software. Through the cooperation of these algorithms, accurate solutions for large scale problems can be produced within a quick timeframe.
Recent Investigations of Interpenetrating Polymer Networks

High loss IPNs which dampen mechanical vibrations over a broad temperature range of 5–35°C have been prepared. These IPNs consisted of a 50/50 PU/epoxy ratio. The PU component consisted of a polycaprolactone polyol, a modified MDI and small amounts (0–10%) of 1,4BD. A bis(glycidyl) ether of bisphenol A was used as the epoxy component and dibutyltin dilaurate and BF3-etherate were used as the urethane and epoxy catalysts, respectively. These IPNs exhibited a tan δ greater than 1.75 over the desired temperature range. A plasticizer (Sundex 740-T) was found to tailor the maximum in the tan 6 peak while a study of fillers so far has resulted in no conclusive trends and requires further study.
Selection of antibody fragments by yeast display.

The critical need for renewable, high-quality affinity reagents in biological research, as well as for diagnostic and therapeutic applications, has required the development of new platforms of discovery. Yeast display is one of the main methods of in vitro display technology with phage display. Yeast display has been chosen by numerous groups to refine both affinity and specificity of antibodies because it enables fine discrimination between mutant clones of similar affinity. In addition, the construction of display libraries of antibody fragments in yeast permits to sample the immune antibody repertoire more fully than using phage. This chapter gives an updated overview of the available systems of yeast display platforms and libraries, followed up by technical descriptions of selection methods of antibody fragments by yeast display.
Development of a concurrent dual-band switch-mode power amplifier based on current-switching class-D configuration

It was recently shown that concurrent dual-band class-A and -B power amplifiers have a maximum theoretical concurrent-mode (two simultaneous stimuli) drain efficiency of 25% and 62%, respectively, lower than their single-mode counterparts (one stimulus). This paper presents analysis demonstrating that by using current-switching class-D architecture, the concurrent-mode efficiency degradation can be theoretically reduced to zero and a drain efficiency of 100% can be achieved. This theory is then used to design, fabricate, and test a concurrent dual-band current-switching class-D power amplifier operating at 960 MHz and 1.51 GHz. The fabricated PA has a measured concurrent-mode drain efficiency of 46%, which is only 9.6% lower than the low-band single-mode (one stimulus) drain efficiency (55.6%) and only 2.2% lower than the high-band single-mode drain efficiency (48.2%). The corresponding measured concurrent-mode output power is 29.7 dBm, showing only 0.3 dB reduction from the single-mode output power of 30 dBm.
Substituted Diarylnorbornadienes and Quadricyclanes: Synthesis, Photochemical Properties, and Effect of Substituent on the Kinetic Stability of Quadricyclanes.

In this Article, we present a new method for the synthesis of diarylnorbornadiene derivatives. Through the use of a two-step procedure consisting of a tandem alkene insertion-Suzuki coupling reaction followed by a DDQ dehydrogenation, we have been able to synthesize derivatives with a wide variety of substituents. We also present the results of UV–visible spectroscopy studies and kinetics experiments that show the effect of substituent on light absorption properties of the norbornadienes as well as the kinetic stability of the quadricyclanes that result from their photochemical conversion. While substitution on the aromatic rings had comparatively little effect on quadricyclane lability, substitution at a bridgehead position with a methyl group produced a quadricyclane that thermally reverted to the norbornadiene at a rate that was significantly slower than that for the quadricyclane without the methyl substituent. From the results of the kinetics experiments, we determined that the reversion of the quadr...