cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coexistence in Laboratory Populations of Paramecium Aurelia and Its Predator Didinium Nasutum

Previous attempts at the prolonged laboratory study of predator—prey systems lacking refuges or physical complexity have been unsuccessful. The addition of Methyl Cellulose to interacting laboratory populations of Paramecium aurelia and its predator, Didinium nasutum, prolongs coexistence by reducing the frequency of contact between predator and prey. The study of this system under controlled conditions revealed the perturbing influence of a time delay in the predator population that resulted in oscillations of increasing amplitude terminating with D. nasutum's extinction. Enrichment of the system by supplying excess bacteria resulted in the extinction of P. aurelia. The perturbing effect of D. nasutum's time delay was counteracted by reducing the amount of bacterial food for Paramecium. In this system, prey became food—limited at their peak density, resulting in limit cycle oscillations of predator and prey at approximately constant amplitude. The medium used for these experiments lack physical inconsistencies that might act as barriers to movement and did not provide the prey with a superior dispersal ability. Coexistence of the predator and prey in this experimental system did not result from the introduction of refuges or physical complexity.
JLAB high-current CW cryomodules for ERL and FEL applications

We describe the activities underway at JLab to develop new CW cryomodules capable of transporting up to Ampere-levels of beam currents for use in ERLs and FELs. Goals include an efficient cell shape, high packing factor for efficient real-estate gradient and very strong HOM damping to push BBU thresholds up by two or more orders of magnitude compared to existing designs. Cavity shape, HOM damping and ancillary components are optimized for this application. Designs are being developed for low-frequency (750 MHz), Ampere-class compact FELs and for high-frequency (1.5 GHz), 100 mA configurations. These designs and concepts can easily be scaled to other frequencies. We present the results of conceptual design studies, simulations and prototype measurements. These modules are being developed for the next generation ERL based high power FELs but may be useful for other applications such as high energy light sources, electron cooling, electron-ion colliders, industrial processing etc.
Assembly and patterning of the vascular network of the vertebrate hindbrain

The cranial vasculature is essential for the survival and development of the central nervous system and is important in stroke and other brain pathologies. Cranial vessels form in a reproducible and evolutionarily conserved manner, but the process by which these vessels assemble and acquire their stereotypic patterning remains unclear. Here, we examine the stepwise assembly and patterning of the vascular network of the zebrafish hindbrain. The major artery supplying the hindbrain, the basilar artery, runs along the ventral keel of the hindbrain in all vertebrates. We show that this artery forms by a novel process of medial sprouting and migration of endothelial cells from a bilateral pair of primitive veins, the primordial hindbrain channels. Subsequently, a second wave of dorsal sprouting from the primordial hindbrain channels gives rise to angiogenic central arteries that penetrate into and innervate the hindbrain. The chemokine receptor cxcr4a is expressed in migrating endothelial cells of the primordial hindbrain channels, whereas its ligand cxcl12b is expressed in the hindbrain neural keel immediately adjacent to the assembling basilar artery. Knockdown of either cxcl12b or cxcr4a results in defects in basilar artery formation, showing that the assembly and patterning of this crucial artery depends on chemokine signaling.
Analysis of Leaf Proteome after UV-B Irradiation in Maize Lines Differing in Sensitivity

UV-B radiation causes diverse morphological and physiological responses in plants, but the underlying mechanisms governing these integrated responses are unknown. In this study, we systematically surveyed responses of maize leaves to UV-B radiation using DIGE 2D gels and identified selected proteins by mass spectrometry and immunodetection analysis. To identify changes in protein accumulation in response to UV-B radiation, a line (b, pl W23) deficient in flavonoid sunscreen compounds and hence similar to commercial corn was used. In addition, its proteome in natural UV-B conditions was compared with that of two maize landraces from high altitudes (Cacahuacintle and Confite Punenno) that have improved UV-B tolerance. Protein patterns in adult maize leaves (Zea mays) were documented after growth for 21 days in sunlight depleted of UV-B radiation or growth in sunlight including an 8-h UV-B supplementation during 1 day in the field. We found that there is a very high correlation between previously documented mRNA accumulation assessed by microarray hybridization and quantitative real time reverse transcription-PCR and protein expression after UV-B irradiation in leaves of W23. Multiple isoforms were confirmed for some proteins; at least one protein, pyruvate, phosphate dikinase, is regulated post-translationally by phosphorylation by UV-B exposure. Proteins differentially regulated by UV-B radiation in W23 with higher levels under similar UV-B conditions in high altitude plants were also identified. These could be genetically fixed traits conferring UV-B tolerance and offer clues to specific adaptations to living in high ambient UV-B conditions.
Biological variability in serum anti-Müllerian hormone throughout the menstrual cycle in ovulatory and sporadic anovulatory cycles in eumenorrheic women

STUDY QUESTION Does serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) vary significantly throughout both ovulatory and sporadic anovulatory menstrual cycles in healthy premenopausal women?
Discriminant malware distance learning on structuralinformation for automated malware classification

In this work, we explore techniques that can automatically classify malware variants into their corresponding families. Our framework extracts structural information from malware programs as attributed function call graphs, further learns discriminant malware distance metrics, finally adopts an ensemble of classifiers for automated malware classification. Experimental results show that our method is able to achieve high classification accuracy.
Reading Achievement by Learning Disabled Students in Resource and Regular Classes

K-TEA Comprehensive Reading scores of 34 elementary boys in either resource rooms or regular settings were compared. The boys were identified as learning disabled in reading. They were pretested at the beginning of the school year and posttested at the end. Treatment was one year of daily instruction in reading provided by six teachers in resource setting and six teachers in regular settings. K-TEA Reading Decoding and Reading Comprehension scores, separately compared in 2 x 2 repeated-measures analysis of variance, were not significantly different.
Phenobarbital-Responsive Nuclear Translocation of the Receptor CAR in Induction of the CYP2B Gene

The constitutively active receptor (CAR) transactivates a distal enhancer called the phenobarbital (PB)-responsive enhancer module (PBREM) found in PB-inducible CYP2B genes. CAR dramatically increases its binding to PBREM in livers of PB-treated mice. We have investigated the cellular mechanism of PB-induced increase of CAR binding. Western blot analyses of mouse livers revealed an extensive nuclear accumulation of CAR following PB treatment. Nuclear contents of CAR perfectly correlate with an increase of CAR binding to PBREM. PB-elicited nuclear accumulation of CAR appears to be a general step regulating the induction of CYP2B genes, since treatments with other PB-type inducers result in the same nuclear accumulation of CAR. Both immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemistry studies show cytoplasmic localization of CAR in the livers of nontreated mice, indicating that CAR translocates into nuclei following PB treatment. Nuclear translocation of CAR also occurs in mouse primary hepatocytes but not in hepatocytes treated with the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. Thus, the CAR-mediated transactivation of PBREM in vivo becomes PB responsive through an okadaic acid-sensitive nuclear translocation process.
Challenges of trade and agricultural development for East/Central Europe and states of the former USSR

Abstract The agricultural transition in Central and Eastern Europe and the former USSR reflects a fundamental change in development strategy, and will have a profound impact on agricultural trade. The greatest impact will be indirect, through agriculture's contribution to general economic reform and acceleration of regional and global growth. The direct impact on trade in food and fiber will in aggregate consist of a fall in net imports. Most of the decline in net imports will derive from reduction in demand and improved utilization. Potential for productivity increase is substantial, but not all of the increased productivity will be reflected in the traditional supply response of increased production. Instead marginal resources will shift out of farming, and producers will restructure and adopt new technologies in pursuit of lower costs. Shifts in the commodity composition of trade will occur, and the changes in grain and livestock markets will be greatest. If the reform is successful, the former Soviet Union could become a modest net grain exporter instead of a large importer. Wheat would be the leading export grain, and levels of wheat exports and corn imports could become quite sensitive to relative prices on world markets.
Evaluating the Success of Urban Success Stories

Arresting and reversing the condition of urban distress in America's cities represents one of the most challenging and perplexing problems confronting policy-makers. Indeed, urban distress in American cities has proved to be a stubborn and largely intractable phenomenon during the past two decades. Nevertheless, a number of cities that were experiencing distress at the beginning of the 1980s are now being acclaimed as 'urban success stories' or 'revitalised' cities. We evaluate the performance, between 1980 and 1990, of these supposedly 'revitalised' cities on objective indicators of the economic well-being of their residents and compare their performance to that other cities that were equally distressed in 1980. We conclude that with the exception of Atlanta, Baltimore and Boston, the purportedly 'revitalised' cities performed no better with respect to change in the economic well-being of their residents than did other cities that were equally distressed in 1980—and in many cases performed worse.
Particle-in-cell based parameter study of 12-cavity, 12-cathode rising-sun relativistic magnetrons for improved performance

Particle-in-cell simulations are performed to analyze the efficiency, output power and leakage currents in a 12-Cavity, 12-Cathode rising-sun magnetron with diffraction output (MDO). The central goal is to conduct a parameter study of a rising-sun magnetron that comprehensively incorporates performance enhancing features such as transparent cathodes, axial extraction, the use of endcaps, and cathode extensions. Our optimum results demonstrate peak output power of about 2.1 GW, with efficiencies of ∼70% and low leakage currents at a magnetic field of 0.45 Tesla, a 400 kV bias with a single endcap, for a range of cathode extensions between 3 and 6 centimeters.
Anoxia induces phospholipase A2 activation in rabbit renal proximal tubules.

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activation during anoxic cell injury was determined by use of a variety of approaches in rabbit proximal renal tubules. Arachidonic acid (AA) mass release increased from 4 +/- 1 (normoxia control) to 40 +/- 6 ng/mg protein after 20 min and 106 +/- 16 ng/mg protein after 40 min of anoxia. PLA2 activity was measured by estimating the amount of sn-2 fatty acid released from either 14C-labeled Escherichia coli membranes or [14C]phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) micelles incubated with membrane and cytosolic fractions obtained from normoxic or anoxic tubules. At pH 7.4 and 1 mM Ca, PLA2 activity increased in the 20-min anoxic membrane fractions from 8.1 +/- 2.3 (normoxic) to 15.2 +/- 2.1 pmol.min-1.mg protein-1 (anoxic). When the proximal tubules were homogenized in the absence of Ca, the anoxia-induced PLA2 activity was found to be soluble. Preincubation with pancreatic PLA2 antibody inhibited 50% of both basal and anoxia-stimulated PLA2 activity. Two protein bands (40- and 21-kDa species) immunoreactive to PLA2 antibody were detected in the membrane fraction. A sixfold increase in the immunoreactivity of the 40-kDa band was detected after 40 min of anoxia of proximal tubules. These results suggest that anoxia induces an intracellular PLA2 activity in kidney cells that could be immunologically related to pancreatic PLA2.
Journeys Into Awareness: The Long Emergency and Counselor and Psychologist Training

Abstract Educating counselors- and psychologists-in-training about the effects of climate change, environmental degradation, and a healthy planet on human health and well-being prepares them for being problem solvers during what Kunstler calls the long emergency. This narrative describes processes for integration of such information in programs that train counselors and psychologists, including addressing how the long emergency might affect humans, how it might show up in work with clients, and what counselors and psychologists might do about the issues. The challenges of doing so while also considering the worldviews of the trainees are also discussed. Key Words: Climate change—Education—Behavior change—Attitudes—Values.
Direct calculations of stable and unstable ZND detonations by the space-time conservation element and solution element method

In the present paper, we report numerical calculations of stable and unstable ZND detonation waves by the method of Space-Time Conservation Element and Solution Element. Due to the finite-rate chemistry employed in the ZND model, a source term exists in the species equation, which is solved in conjunction with the continuity, momentum, and energy equations. In the context of the space-time method, a treatment for the stiff source term based on a volumetric integration over a space-time region is developed. As a contrast to the modern upwind schemes, no modulated Riemann solver or splitting method is used, thus the logic of the present scheme is much simpler. Nevertheless, unstable detonation waves can be accurately captured by using only five mesh nodes per half reaction length. Numerical accuracy of the present method is assessed by detailed comparisons between the theoretical solutions and the numerical results for both stable and unstable ZND waves.
Illustrations of Fungi—XXV

Pileus subglobose or convex, to plane, solitary, 5-20 cm. broad; surface dry, usually white or slightly yellowing, rarely cinereous or murinous, densely pulverulent, or pelliculose adorned with seceding, angular warts that may be soft, floccose, and flattened, or firm and erect, often becoming glabrous with age, margin smooth, at times appendiculate; context firm, white usually of mawkish flavor and odor resembling that of chlorin; lamellae usually adnexed and rather narrow, occasionally free and rounded behind, more or less crowded, white; spores ellipsoid, smooth, hyaline, very variable in size, 7-14 X 5-9,; stipe subequal, usually radicate, bulbous or enlarged or equal below, concolorous or paler, mealy above, squamulose or imbricate-squamose below, solid or slightly spongy, 4-I5 cm. long, I-4 cm. thick; annulus white, apical, fragile or lacerate, often appendiculate or evanescent; volva white, usually friable, rarely remaining as concentric, margined scales or a short limb at the base of the stipe. [MYCOLOGIA for July (8: I91-230) was issued July 15, I916.]
Effects of endotoxin on hepatic glycogen metabolism in vitro.

SummaryAn in vitro model employing homogenates of mouse liver was developed to study the effects of endotoxin from Sal-monella typhimurium on glycogen metabolism. Studies with this model showed that endotoxin can act directly and that the accelerated loss of glycogen was not related to an increased release of epinephrine. These results indicated that endotoxin acts on the glycogenolytic enzymes.Endotoxin from Serratia marcescens also caused a rapid loss of glycogen in the in vitro model but was not as effective as the typhimurium endotoxin. Potassium methylate treatment of the S. marcescens endotoxin did not eliminate the ability of the endotoxin to deplete glycogen.This research was supported by National Science Foundation Grant GB-8363. Peter Zwadyk was the recipient of an NDEA IV fellowship.
Tracking uncertain shapes with probabilistic bounds in sensor networks

We address the problem of balancing trade-off between the (im)precision of the answer to evolving spatial queries and efficiency of their processing in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN). Specifically, we are interested in the boundaries of a shape in which all the sensors’ readings satisfy a certain criteria. Given the evolution of the underlying sensed phenomenon, the boundaries of the shape(s) will also evolve over time. To avoid constantly updating the individual sensor-readings to a dedicated sink, we propose a distributed methodology where the accuracy of the answer is guaranteed within probabilistic bounds. We present linguistic constructs for the user to express the desired probabilistic guarantees in the query’s syntax, along with the corresponding implementations. Our experiments demonstrate that the proposed methodology provides over 25 % savings in energy spent on communication in the WSN.
Urban locations and Black Metropolis resilience in the Great Depression

Abstract Motivated by theoretical arguments about ethnicity and economics and by historical research on urban black communities in the United States, this paper investigates the resilience of the early twentieth-century Black Metropolis. The study tests hypotheses about changes during the Great Depression (1930–1940) in the advantages of various cities as locations of black communities’ ethnic economies, analyzing Census data on blacks’ representation in occupations reflecting the Black Metropolis’s professional, entrepreneurial, and cultural media pursuits. There is mixed support for the hypothesis that the nationally dominant urban centers of New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia had the most resilient Black Metropolises, a finding that casts doubt on claims that black communities in such key places enjoyed exceptionally favorable locational advantages. Yet, the results support the hypothesis that northern cities were, overall, more resilient locations than southern cities, particularly for black professionals and entrepreneurs, affirming the argument that the urban North’s Black Metropolises were vital economic opportunity centers for these black communities’ upper- and middle-classes.
Cancer genomics: Less is more in the hunt for driver mutations

An analysis of 360 breast-cancer genomes has identified cancer-driving mutations in 9 non-coding DNA sequences called promoters, which regulate gene expression. The result hints at the prevalence of non-coding drivers. See Article p.55
Reduced-scale experiments to evaluate performance of composite building envelopes containing phase change materials

Abstract This study presents a convenient approach to rapidly assess the thermal performance of building envelopes containing phase change materials (PCMs) or other building materials. It establishes that the transient thermal behavior of full-scale building test structures featuring envelopes with PCMs can be represented by a reduced-scale test cell conveniently placed inside an environmental chamber. Indeed, PCM-composite envelopes have been considered for reducing and time-shifting the thermal load on buildings thanks to the latent heat associated with reversible transition between liquid and solid phases. First, a thermal model coupling outdoor, wall, and indoor temperatures and accounting for PCM latent heat was developed. It was validated against experimental temperature measurements within a reduced-scale test cell enclosure placed in an environmental chamber and subjected to a series of sinusoidal temperature cycles. Then, scaling analysis of the experimentally-validated thermal model was performed. It identified eight dimensionless numbers governing the transient thermal behavior of building structures with envelopes containing PCMs. The scaling analysis was validated using detailed numerical simulations for different enclosure geometries and outside diurnal climate conditions. Finally, the method was demonstrated on full-scale experiments reported in the literature. It can be used to assess building envelope thermal performance by designing representative reduced-scale experiments without requiring a significant amount of material, time, or space.
Development of a GPS spoofing apparatus to attack a DJI Matrice 100 Quadcopter

Global Positioning System (GPS) Spoofing attacks threaten technologies that our modern society depends on. To successfully develop defensive mechanisms against these attacks, methods to model the attacks and subsequently distinguish them from normal GPS operation must be developed. This paper primarily details the step-by-step implementation of a low-cost GPS spoofing and high-level spoofing data collection apparatus to model a simplistic spoofing attack that could be implemented with limited resources. The spoofing apparatus developed has been used to successfully attack a DJI Matrice 100 quadcopter and a portion of the collected spoofing data is presented.
Periodic wake behind a circular cylinder at low Reynolds numbers.

The effects of free-stream turbulence and of sinusoidal free-stream pulsations of controlled frequencies and amplitudes on the periodic wake of a circular cylinder are investigated experimentally by employing hot-wire and smoke visualisation techniques. In addition, the effects of cylinder yaw and mild favourable and adverse pressure gradients on the vortex shedding mechanism have been explored. The data relating frequency to mean velocity follow Berger’s relation; this relation is uninfluenced by free-stream turbulence intensities up to 8 per cent. As the longitudinal turbulence intensity increases from 0.3 to 8 per cent, the downstream distance Lp behind the cylinder over which the hot-wire signal is periodic decreases progressively, indicating that the otherwise steady periodic wake interacts non-linearly with the three-dimensional free-stream turbulence and undergoes either transition or rapid diffusion by turbulence, depending on both the Reynolds number and the turbulence intensity. For a given turbulence intensity, Lp decreases also with increasing Reynolds number. The shedding frequency behind a yawed cylinder does not vary as the cosine of the yaw angle ϕ for ϕ < 50°; the signal switches intermittently between periodic and irregular form as the yaw is increased from 0 to 70°. Mild pressure gradients (favourable as well as adverse) do not affect the shedding frequency; this is confirmed by smoke visualisation, which also shows that the pressure gradient changes the longitudinal vortex spacing downstream; the measured frequency is that determined by the local Reynolds number corresponding to the Berger relation. Sinusoidal streamwise pulsations of controlled frequencies, and of amplitudes up to 10 per cent of free-stream velocity, have no effect on the natural shedding frequency; this is confirmed by smoke visualisation of the cylinder wake. However, the wake signal is amplitude-modulated at a frequency equal to the difference between the pulsation frequency and the natural shedding frequency corresponding to the free-stream mean velocity. The vortices are diffused faster in the presence of pulsation. When the pulsation amplitude is increased beyond 20 per cent, the hot-wire signal frequency in the wake equals the driving frequency; the frequency in the wake centre is also that of the pulsation. The effect of free-stream pulsation on the periodic wake is different from that due to longitudinal or transverse cylinder vibration, when lock-in has been observed. It appears that free-stream disturbances – random or periodic – cannot account for the “Tritton jump”.
Linear Equations and Matrices

We begin with coordinate systems and graphing of linear equations. We consider systems of linear equations and the usual algorithm for solution, using pivoting. The augmented matrix of a system is introduced. We then introduce matrices and vectors in general; the basic properties of vectors and matrices and the usual operations of addition and multiplication are covered. We define zero and identity matrices and matrix inverses, and the application of inverses in solving equation systems. The Leontief input–output model is introduced briefly.
A Multi-Wavelength Speciation Framework for High-Temperature Hydrocarbon Pyrolysis

Abstract A framework for the study of high-temperature hydrocarbon pyrolysis is presented. The proposed framework details a multi-wavelength speciation method using convex optimization, a review of complementary fixed-wavelength laser diagnostics, and a database of high-temperature absorption cross-sections to enable use of the framework for 11 different species. The proposed speciation method involves a vectorized Beer-Lambert system solved under solution constraints using convex optimization. In support of the proposed method, a review of pertinent laser diagnostics and a database of high-temperature absorption cross-sections are also provided. The database includes measured absorption cross-sections of methane (CH4), ethylene (C2H4), propene (C3H6), isobutene (i-C4H8), 1-butene (1-C4H8), benzene (C6H6), toluene (C7H8), and four jet fuels (samples of Jet A, JP5, JP8, and Gevo ATJ) at the wavelengths of 3.1758 µm, 3.17595 µm, 3.283 µm, 3.392 µm, 3.410 µm, 10.532 µm, 10.675 µm, 10.89 µm, 10.958 µm, 10.962 µm, and 11.345 µm within the range of 300–1600 K and 0.25–4 atm. The database is comprised of over 1000 high–temperature absorption cross-section measurements from new shock tube experiments, new Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) experiments, and an aggregated dataset from the literature. The convex speciation method and cross-section database provided will facilitate laser absorption studies of hydrocarbon pyrolysis used in the development of chemical kinetic mechanisms.
Direction Finding of Ultra-Wideband Signals Using Direct RF Sampling

We present a direction finding (DF) system using a Direct RF sampling technique. This technique promotes a low cost and versatile approach with minimum complexity. Specifically, a high-speed Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) as a transmitter and a high speed Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) as a receiver are used. The transmitted signal was a random Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK) Signal, coded with a Gold code of length 127. The total bandwidth is approximately 1.3 GHz.
4-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiographic Guidance During TAVR With BASILICA.

BASILICA (Bioprosthetic or Native Aortic Scallop Intentional Laceration to Prevent Iatrogenic Coronary Artery Obstruction) is an emerging technique to avoid coronary obstruction during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) ([1][1]). Although fluoroscopic visualization during BASILICA is
Is there a difference in the acromiohumeral distances measured on radiographic and magnetic resonance images of the same shoulder with a massive rotator cuff tear

Background The purpose of our study was to compare the acromiohumeral distance (AHD) between radiographic and magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of the same shoulder with massive rotator cuff tears (MRCTs). Methods Thirty-four shoulders with MRCTs that had an MRI and radiograph of the same shoulder within an average of 40.3 days (range: 8-109 days) were identified. AHD was measured digitally on radiograph and MRI by 3 examiners. Shoulders were grouped into Hamada grades Results The mean age was 66.4 years (range: 51-89). There were 19 men (59%). The Kappa for inter-rater reliability was 0.982 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.975, 0.988) for radiographs and 0.88 (95% CI 0.75, 0.94) for MRI. There was a significant difference in the mean AHD of group 1 on radiograph vs. MRI (7.9 mm vs. 2.5 mm, respectively; P Conclusion There is a significant difference in AHD measurements between radiograph and MRI of the same shoulder with MRCT in early Hamada grades. AHDs measured on radiograph and MRI should not be used interchangeably in early Hamada grades to assess outcomes of superior capsule reconstruction and similar procedures.
The X-Ray Emission Effectiveness of Plasma Mirrors: Reexamining Power-Law Scaling for Relativistic High-Order Harmonic Generation

Ultrashort pulsed lasers provide uniquely detailed access to the ultrafast dynamics of physical, chemical, and biological systems, but only a handful of wavelengths are directly produced by solid-state lasers, necessitating efficient high-power frequency conversion. Relativistic plasma mirrors generate broadband power-law spectra, that may span the gap between petawatt-class infrared laser facilities and x-ray free-electron lasers; despite substantial theoretical work the ultimate efficiency of this relativistic high-order-harmonic generation remains unclear. We show that the coherent radiation emitted by plasma mirrors follows a power-law distribution of energy over frequency with an exponent that, even in the ultrarelativistic limit, strongly depends on the ratio of laser intensity to plasma density and exceeds the frequently quoted value of −8/3 over a wide range of parameters. The coherent synchrotron emission model, when adequately corrected for the finite width of emitting electron bunches, is not just valid for p-polarized light and thin foil targets, but generally describes relativistic harmonic generation, including at normal incidence and with finite-gradient plasmas. Our numerical results support the ω−4/3 scaling of the synchrotron emission model as a limiting efficiency of the process under most conditions. The highest frequencies that can be generated with this scaling are usually restricted by the width of the emitting electron bunch rather than the Lorentz factor of the fastest electrons. The theoretical scaling relations developed here suggest, for example, that with a 20-PW 800-nm driving laser, 1 TW/harmonic can be produced for 1-keV photons.
Association between exposure to air pollution and thalamus volume in adults: A cross-sectional study

Background Air pollution has been associated with cognitive function and brain volume. While most previous research has examined the association between air pollution and brain volume in cortical structures or total brain volume, less research has investigated associations between exposure to air pollution and subcortical structures, including the thalamus. Further, the few available previous studies investigating associations between air pollution and thalamic volume have shown mixed results. Methods In this study, we evaluated the association between PM2.5, PM2.5-10, PM10, nitrogen dioxide, and nitrogen oxides and volume of the thalamus in adults using the UK Biobank resource, a large community-based sample, while adjusting for multiple covariates that could confound an association between air pollution and thalamic volume. Results In adjusted models, the left but not right thalamus volume was significantly inversely associated with PM2.5-10, although there were no significant associations between PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide, and nitrogen oxides with either left or right thalamic volumes. In addition, interactions between age and PM2.5-10 and PM10 were inversely associated with thalamic volume, such that thalamic volume in older people appeared more vulnerable to the adverse effects of PM2.5-10 and PM10, and interactions between educational attainment and PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, and nitrogen oxides and between self-rated health and PM2.5-10 were positively associated with thalamic volume, such that higher educational attainment and better self-rated health appeared protective against the adverse effects of air pollution on the thalamus. Conclusion These findings suggest a possible association between thalamic volume and air pollution particularly in older people and in people with comparatively low educational attainment at levels of air pollution found in the United Kingdom.
Significance of Keratinized Mucosa and Implant Health

Soft tissue structure around dental implants is a topic of great clinical relevance, and has gained increasing attention due to its significance to maintain peri-implant tissue health. This chapter aims to review the current understanding of the peri-implant soft tissue complex, including tissue phenotype, tissue thickness, width of keratinized mucosa, supracrestal fiber attachment, and the underlying bone morphotype. In addition, this chapter summarizes the clinical significance of the keratinized mucosa on various clinical parameters such as inflammation, recession, etc. Based on the currently available evidence, the authors further make clinical recommendations for the ideal peri-implant phenotype conditions to achieve favorable dental implant health.
A content analysis of college students’ gaps in knowledge about sexually transmitted infections:

Objective:Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) disproportionately affect young people and can result in severe health consequences. Accurate knowledge about STIs can play an important role in STI...
Langevin models for non-homogeneous turbulent flows: Determination of the coefficients

Stochastic turbulence models are supposed to significantly support future computational fluid dynamics developments via the design of realizable, stable dynamic simulation methods and by providing a basis for uncertainty quantification. However, there is the nontrivial question of how such stochastic models can be designed for general non-homogeneous and non-stationary flows. Two new approaches are presented for that. Analyses of the performance of these methods in comparison to the conventionally applied method reveal remarkable differences and advantages.
School as a Protective Setting for Excess Weight Gain and Child Obesity: A Meta-Analysis

Background The structure provided by school settings even with no specific obesity-intervention may prevent weight gain. This meta-analytic study considered this premise by examining weight outcomes from control groups in published randomized controlled trials of school-year obesity-related interventions conducted in-school and out-of-school. Methods A systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Databases were systematically searched and resulted in 1976 unique citations, with 14 retained for analysis. Analyses examined the change in weight outcomes among control group participants. Results For studies (N = 6) reporting body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2 ) the overall standardized mean difference (SMD) from pre- to post-intervention was 0.085 (raw units 0.278 kg/m2 ); for studies (N = 9) reporting zBMI, the SMD was 0.022 (0.020 z-scores), for studies (N = 2) reporting waist circumference (cm), the SMD was 0.149 (1.609 cm); for studies (N = 2) reporting BMI percentile, the SMD was 0.064 (0.985 percentiles); and for studies (N = 1) reporting percent body fat, the SMD was 0.031 (0.30 percentage). Conclusions Children assigned to control conditions (as part of school-based obesity-related interventions) experience, on average, minimal changes in weight outcomes during the school year. Therefore, routine practices of schools may protect against unhealthy weight gains.
The role of bed-penetrating Kelvin–Helmholtz vortices on local and instantaneous bedload sediment transport

We present results from open-channel, Euler–Lagrange (EL) simulations of turbulent flow over an erodible particle bed at a shear Reynolds number of . Upon space and time averaging, our simulations correctly reproduce the Wong & Parker (ASCE J. Hydraul. Engng, vol. 132, issue 11, 2006, pp. 1159–1168) bedload transport relation (WP). However, local and instantaneous sediment flux shows orders of magnitude scatter around the WP prediction. Visualization of the vortical structures using swirling strength shows the existence of bed-penetrating Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) vortex packets, which coupled with particle inertia are primarily responsible for the large scatter. The results also show that Euler–Euler (EE) simulations, where the individual sediment grains are not distinguished, are still able to reliably capture the turbulent shear stress variation, however, they do not capture the wide distribution of sediment flux indicative of saltating transport. The KH vortices induce non-zero streamwise and bed-normal velocities at the upper surface of the bed, which must be considered in EE simulations.
Associations between cardiorespiratory fitness, sex and long term mortality amongst adults undergoing exercise treadmill testing.

Abstract Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) varies with sex and is an independent predictor of mortality. We sought to investigate sex differences in the exercise protocol selected, CRF levels, and their relationships with long term all-cause mortality. Methods: In a 25-year stress testing registry spanning from 1991 to 2014, consecutive all-comer patients who underwent exercise stress testing at Cleveland Clinic were categorized by sex, stress protocol and imaging modality. All tests were conducted by one or more of stress test technicians, sonographers and nuclear medicine technologists, and interpreted by cardiologists. The primary outcome all-cause mortality was analyzed in using multivariable Cox regression. Results: In 120,705 patients, the mean age was 53.3 ± 12.5 years, and 41% were female. Females were more commonly referred for non-Bruce exercise protocols (modified Bruce, Cornell 0, 5 and 10, Naughton and modified Naughton) with odds ratio of 2.62; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) (2.54–2.70) after adjusting for age and comorbidities. When also adjusting for the protocol chosen, females achieved lower CRF with beta −1.40, 95% CI (−1.43, −1.37). There were 8426 (6.9%) deaths during a mean follow-up of 8.7 years. Both female sex and CRF were independently associated with lower all-cause mortality with hazards ratio (95%CI) of 0.44 (0.41–0.46) and 0.41 (0.39–0.42) respectively, after adjusting for age, co-morbidities and protocol chosen. Conclusions: Women were more likely referred for less demanding exercise protocols, more imaging protocols and achieved lower CRF than men. Despite this, female sex was associated with significantly lower long term mortality for equivalent CRF level in adjusted analyses.
Statistical evaluation of the impact of shale gas activities on ozone pollution in North Texas

Over the past decade, substantial growth in shale gas exploration and production across the US has changed the country's energy outlook. Beyond its economic benefits, the negative impacts of shale gas development on air and water are less well known. In this study the relationship between shale gas activities and ground-level ozone pollution was statistically evaluated. The Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) area in north-central Texas was selected as the study region. The Barnett Shale, which is one the most productive and fastest growing shale gas fields in the US, is located in the western half of DFW. Hourly meteorological and ozone data were acquired for fourteen years from monitoring stations established and operated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The area was divided into two regions, the shale gas region (SGR) and the non-shale gas (NSGR) region, according to the number of gas wells in close proximity to each monitoring site. The study period was also divided into 2000–2006 and 2007–2013 because the western half of DFW has experienced significant growth in shale gas activities since 2007. An evaluation of the raw ozone data showed that, while the overall trend in the ozone concentration was down over the entire region, the monitoring sites in the NSGR showed an additional reduction of 4% in the annual number of ozone exceedance days than those in the SGR. Directional analysis of ozone showed that the winds blowing from areas with high shale gas activities contributed to higher ozone downwind. KZ-filtering method and linear regression techniques were used to remove the effects of meteorological variations on ozone and to construct long-term and short-term meteorologically adjusted (M.A.) ozone time series. The mean value of all M.A. ozone components was 8% higher in the sites located within the SGR than in the NSGR. These findings may be useful for understanding the overall impact of shale gas activities on the local and regional ozone pollution.
Is America Finally Ready to Elect a Black President

In its 220 year history, America has yet to elect a president who is not white. In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama, the only black member of the United States Senate, has received the nomination of the Democratic Party, the first minority candidate to ever receive a major party nomination. This article argues that Americans must not let fear or prejudice squander this historic opportunity.
Woman Education, Woman Empowerment: A Postcolonial Criticism of African Female Authorship in Fatou Diome's the Belly of the Atlantic and Léonora Miano's Dark Heart of the Night

This research aims to study a few educational and political aspects of African female authorship of Fatou Diome, originally from Senegal and Leonora Miano, originally from Cameroon. Both authors, living in France, frequently claim the notion of hybridity a powerful mean for cultural understanding. If both authors write about migration, cultural and transnational flows in the global economy, their writings underscore the importance of education for African youth in general and for young girls particularly. My main argument is that education is not only crucial for all young generations but it is also a strategic empowerment for any African woman writer. Literature is not solely a tool to develop feminist ideas. Rather, these postcolonial authors use the intellectual notoriety that literature has given to them as platform to address various historical and political challenges that Africa currently faces. To analyze these political, educational, and psychological forms that emerge from Diome and Mianos postcolonial narratives on Africa, I use Michel Foucaults concept of Governmentality and Ashis Nandy epistemological proposition that colonialism is first of all a matter of consciousness and needs to be defeated ultimately in the minds of men (The intimate Enemy: Loss and Recovery of Self Under Colonialism 63).
Fetal maturity and amniotic fluid analysis.

Abstract The analysis of constituents of the amniotic fluid with the objective of determining fetal maturity has been of increasing interest. Reported herein are the results of our attempts to establish normal values for amniotic fluid creatinine, bilirubin, and cytologic features at various stages of gestation, and then, using these values, to judge the accuracy with which they predicted approximate delivery dates and fetal weights in a series of pregnancies of unknown duration. In general, we have found that amniotic fluid cytologic features and creatinine levels allow us to predict with good accuracy the presence of an infant of at least 2,500 grams and/or a gestational age of 35 weeks. We have been even more struck, however, with the possible insight into intrauterine physiology that may come with greater understanding of the phenomena reported here.
On Green's theorem and Cauchy's theorem.

Green's Theorem is proved using only the geometric (or physical) definition of curl, without the use of partial derivatives. The curl free (conservative) case can then be used to prove Cauchy's Theorem.
Characterization of Cannabinoid Receptors

This unit describes the use of cannabinoid radioligands in competitive binding assays for determining affinity parameters (IC(50), K(i)) of unlabeled compounds at cloned CB1 and CB2 receptors expressed in cells.
Low-cost microstrip phased array antenna for use in mobile satellite telephone communication service

A design for a low-cost phased array antenna used in a car-top application for a satellite communications link is presented. Microstrip stacked patch elements provide good pattern coverage over the 7% bandwidth. Three-bit distributed element microstrip phase shifters provide beam steering over a range of 30 to 70 degrees from boresight. Microstrip technology is also used in the corporate power divider and polarization hybrids. A hybrid tracking system consisting of an inertial sensor for open loop tracking and a sequential lobing scheme for closed loop tracking provides accurate tracking of the signal through brief signal outages. A novel scheme is used to eliminate the effects of varying multipath on closed-loop tracking accuracy. A single board PC-compatible computer is used in conjunction with an interface board to steer the antenna and interface with the transceiver.
The Kinome Is Not Enough

Mechanism of action studies are essential to link observable effects on cells with molecular targets of small molecules. Caligiuri and coworkers [1] describe how yeast three-hybrid screening identified kinases that might mediate an intriguing tumor cell-specific antiproliferative effect.
Active pixel imagers incorporating pixel-level amplifiers based on polycrystalline-silicon thin-film transistors

Active matrix, flat-panel imagers (AMFPIs) employing a 2D matrix of a-Si addressing TFTs have become ubiquitous in many x-ray imaging applications due to their numerous advantages. However, under conditions of low exposures and/or high spatial resolution, their signal-to-noise performance is constrained by the modest system gain relative to the electronic additive noise. In this article, a strategy for overcoming this limitation through the incorporation of in-pixel amplification circuits, referred to as active pixel (AP) architectures, using polycrystalline-silicon (poly-Si) TFTs is reported. Compared to a-Si, poly-Si offers substantially higher mobilities, enabling higher TFT currents and the possibility of sophisticated AP designs based on both n- and p-channel TFTs. Three prototype indirect detection arrays employing poly-Si TFTs and a continuous a-Si photodiode structure were characterized. The prototypes consist of an array (PSI-1) that employs a pixel architecture with a single TFT, as well as two arrays (PSI-2 and PSI-3) that employ AP architectures based on three and five TFTs, respectively. While PSI-1 serves as a reference with a design similar to that of conventional AMFPI arrays, PSI-2 and PSI-3 incorporate additional in-pixel amplification circuitry. Compared to PSI-1, results of x-ray sensitivity demonstrate signal gains of approximately 10.7 and 20.9 for PSI-2 and PSI-3, respectively. These values are in reasonable agreement with design expectations, demonstrating that poly-Si AP circuits can be tailored to provide a desired level of signal gain. PSI-2 exhibits the same high levels of charge trapping as those observed for PSI-1 and other conventional arrays employing a continuous photodiode structure. For PSI-3, charge trapping was found to be significantly lower and largely independent of the bias voltage applied across the photodiode. MTF results indicate that the use of a continuous photodiode structure in PSI-1, PSI-2, and PSI-3 results in optical fill factors that are close to unity. In addition, the greater complexity of PSI-2 and PSI-3 pixel circuits, compared to that of PSI-1, has no observable effect on spatial resolution. Both PSI-2 and PSI-3 exhibit high levels of additive noise, resulting in no net improvement in the signal-to-noise performance of these early prototypes compared to conventional AMFPIs. However, faster readout rates, coupled with implementation of multiple sampling protocols allowed by the nondestructive nature of pixel readout, resulted in a significantly lower noise level of approximately 560 e (rms) for PSI-3.