cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fractal Structure in Ionization Dynamics

Chaotic dynamics in open systems produces fractals. This can be seen, for example, in the ionization of an electron from a hydrogen atom in applied parallel electric and magnetic fields. We summarize some of our recent work on the order that can be found in these fractals.
Graviresponse in Eichhornia Cressipes (Water Hyacinth). II. Hormone involvement in graviresponse in the peduncle

Summary The effects of decapitation of the inflorescence and application of hormones and related substances on the bending of the peduncle cutting and the isolated peduncle segment were observed and the following results were obtained. (1) With isolated cuttings excised at the base of the peduncle cultured in test tubes, the bending of the peduncle normally occurred at a slower rate than in intact plants. (2) Removal of whole flowers and flower buds 10 or more h before full flowering inhibited the bending but that of petals did not. Flower removal at or after full flowering did not affect the bending response. (3) The bending in intact plants was eliminated when 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), an antiauxin preventing polar transport of auxin, was applied to the upper most region of the peduncle in a lanolin ring. However, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) at a concentration of 10 −6 to 10 −4 and gibberellin (GA) at 10 −4 M exogenously applied from the basal cut ends of the peduncle in the test tube inhibited the bending. IAA, 3 mg/g lanolin, and GA, 3 mg/g lanolin, applied to the top cut end of the peduncle also inhibited the bending. (4) Exogenously applied hormones showed no significant effect on elongation of the isolated peduncles but GA applied to intact plants promoted the elongation of petioles and inhibited the formation of floats on the petiole. (5) Aminooxy-acetic acid (AOA), 3 mg/g lanolin, an ethylene inhibitor, applied to the segments of the peduncle excised at the time of full flowering inhibited the curvature. (6) Segments excised less than 6 h after the start of flowering showed a negative response and those excised after the flowering phase showed a bending response. From the above results it appears that a subtle balance of IAA and ethylene in the peduncle is necessary for the manifestation of the bending, whereas gibberellins and relatively high concentrations (more than 10 −6 M) of auxins serve to maintain the normal negative gravitropic response in the peduncle.
The i860TM 64-bit supercomputing microprocessor

The Intel i860TM processor is a RISC-based microprocessor incorporating a RISC core with memory management, a floating point unit, and caches on a single chip. The 1,000,000 transistors allow a single chip implementation with highly optimized interunit communication and wide internal data buses. The parallelism and pipelining between the execution units, and the innovative cache management techniques are under explicit control of software. Vectorizable applications can use the pipelined adder and multiplier units to achieve up to 80 Mflops at 40 Mhz for the inner loops of common calculations. Special instructions allow using the data cache as a flexible vector register and support high data bandwidth from main memory. Finally, to support visualization of data, special hardware for 3D graphics is included.
Structural phase transition of gold under uniaxial, tensile, and triaxial stresses: An ab initio study

The behavior of gold crystal under uniaxial, tensile, and three different triaxial stresses is studied using an ab initio constant pressure technique within a generalized gradient approximation. Gold undergoes a phase transformation from the face-centered-cubic structure (fcc) to a body-centered-tetragonal (bct) structure having the space group of $I4∕mmm$ with the application of uniaxial stress, while it transforms to a face-centered-tetragonal (fct) phase within $I4∕mmm$ symmetry under uniaxial tensile loading. Further uniaxial compression of the bct phase results in a symmetry change from $I4∕mmm$ to ${P}_{1}$ at high stresses and ultimately structural failure around $200.0\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$. For the case of triaxial stresses, gold also converts into a bct state. The critical stress for the fcc-to-bct transformation increases as the ratio of the triaxial stress increases. Both fct and bct phases are elastically unstable.
Suicide by intrarectal gunshot wound.

In this report, a bizarre case of suicide is presented. The decedent, who had a history of various paraphilias, including sexual masochism and fetishism, died from a self-inflicted intrarectal gunshot wound. Language: en
Precise selective scribing of thin-film solar cells by a picosecond laser

In this paper, precise scribing of thin-film solar cells (CIGS/Mo/Glass) via a picosecond laser is investigated. A parametric study is carried out for P1 and P2 scribing to study the effects of laser fluence and overlap ratio on scribing quality and ablation depth. Three ablation regimes are observed for P1 scribing in different laser fluence ranges, due to the involvement of different ablation mechanisms. The optimum scribing conditions are determined for both P1 and P2 scribing, and the potential processing speed is significantly increased. The heat accumulation effect at different repetition rates is studied to extrapolate the results from low to high repetition rates. A two-temperature model-based model is developed to simulate the scribing process for multiple thin films, providing decent prediction of the slot depth for both P1 and P2 scribing.
Circuit‐switched row‐column broadcasting in torus and mesh networks

This paper is concerned with broadcasting on 2-dimensional torus and mesh networks using circuit-switched, half-duplex, and link-bound communication. It is assumed that there are α and β physical channels in the X-and Y-dimensions, respectively, and path selection between any two nodes is done using row-column routing. Given an n x n mesh or torus, we first discuss the lower bounds of broadcasting time ; any broadcasting algorithm requires at least |log (2α+2β+1) n 2 | time steps and no broadcasting algorithm achieves this lower bound if α < β(2β + 1). We then show that broadcasting on a (2α + 2β + 1) p x (2α + 2β + 1) p torus can be done in 2p time steps, which is optimum, for any α ≥ 3 and β = 1. We also present approximation algorithms for the cases of mesh when α ≥ 1 and β = 1 and torus when α ≤ 2 and β = 1.
Theme, Structure, and Sacred Context in the Benediktbeuern "Passion" Play

FOUR plays that depict the Passion survive among the remains of medieval Latin drama. The earliest is the Montecassino Passion Play, written in the twelfth century.' Related to it is the fragmentary Sulmona play preserved in a fourteenthcentury manuscript.2 Finally, there are the two thirteenth-century Benediktbeuern plays in the Carmina Burana: the Ludus breviter de passione and the longer play editorially titled Ludus de passione.3 The last named of these appears to have earned the least sympathetic response from modern commentators on the church drama. Two critical estimates may be cited as examples. Karl Young said of the Benediktbeuern play, "A dramatic piece so loosely and casually arranged may best be regarded not as an attempt toward a closely knit play, but as an episodic religious opera."4 More recently, Sandro Sticca observed, "The main flaw in the Ludus de Passione is the disordered way in which some scenes are presented.... The Ludus gives the impression of being a patchwork of unrelated passages arranged in more or less logical sequence."5 The textual components which have given rise to these and like accusations of formlessness are familiar enough to students to need only a short review here. After a choral prologue, the action begins with three brief episodes: Christ's calling of Peter and Andrew, Christ's healing of the blind man, and Christ's conferral of salvation on the house of Zaccheus the publican three scriptural events which apparently bear no dramatic relation to the Passion proper. Christ's
How Many Causes Are There of Aging-Related Decrements in Cognitive Functioning?

Abstract Two analytical methods are proposed to evaluate the extent to which the age-related influences in a set of variables are independent of one another. Application of the methods to 16 different data sets, representing a total of 169 variables and 4505 subjects, reveals that as few as one or two distinct factors may be sufficient to account for a large proportion of the age-related variance in a variety of cognitive variables. These results therefore imply that a relatively small number of independent "causes" may be responsible for a substantial percentage of the age-related declines apparent in many measures of cognitive functioning.
Alterations induced by thyroidal hormones in the response to temperature by T-1 kidney cells.

SummaryVarying the incubation temperature (34.5°-38.5°) significantly affects the mean doubling time (Td) and plating efficiency (PE) of the T-1 human kidney cell line. These alterations can be modified to some extent by the introduction of T4 and T3 as well as by the cell number of the inoculum. It is speculated that these in vitro responses to temperature raise the possibility of the existence of intracellular thermal controls for mammals.I thank Professor Cornelius A. Tobias of the Donner Laboratory, University of California (Berkeley) for valuable advice, suggestions, and encouragement while these studies were underway. I am indebted to Dr. Paul W. Todd for the gift of the initial subcultures of the T-1 cells and for advice concerning cell cultures. Excellent technical assistance was rendered by the late Mrs. Willie Jackson of the Donner Laboratory and Mrs. Ann Yang Kong, University of Missouri, Columbia.
Buried Vertisols in lacustrine facies of the Pliocene Fort Hancock Formation, Hueco Bolson, West Texas and Chihuahua, Mexico

Buried Vertisols, which are commonly preserved in smectite-rich clay and sandy clay facies of the upper Tertiary Fort Hancock Formation, are products of the late Tertiary depositional and paleoclimatic environment in the Hueco Bolson, West Texas, United States, and Chihuahua, Mexico. Fort Hancock clayey facies are in part laminated and contain abundant desiccation cracks and locally gypsum beds, suggesting deposition in an ephemeral or playa lake. Buried Vertisols apparently resulted from repeated shrink/swell cycles due to drying and wetting of expansive clays in the ephemeral lake basin. Lacustrine facies are interbedded with gravel, sand, and sandy mud facies that were likely deposited as alluvial fans and fan deltas at the lake margin. Calcic soil horizons, which form mostly in arid to subhumid modern climates and consist of CaCO 3 nodules and filaments, are present in most buried Vertisols of the Fort Hancock Formation. Collectively, buried Vertisols with calcic soil horizons and ephemeral-lake and alluvial-fan deposits suggest that the Fort Hancock Formation accumulated in an arid to semiarid climate.
Analysis of photoacoustic waveforms using the nonlinear least squares method.

Abstract Pulsed-laser photoacoustics is a technique which measures photoinduced enthalpic and volumetric changes on the nano- and microsecond timescales. Analys
Applications of Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FT-IR / PAS) to surface and corrosion phenomena

The development of FT-IR / PAS as a surface analytical technique is described by analytical studies presented in this paper. Studies have focused on the use of FT-IR / PAS alone, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and in comparison with X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS or ESCA) and have yielded a variety of information, especially in the realm of polymer, catalyst and corrosion applications. Spectral information from FT-IR / PAS includes an enhanced surface response and thermal properties convoluted with the normal infrared vibrational absorption function. Analysis of catalyst surfaces provides an example of the unique capabilities of FT-IR / PAS to provide qualitative and quantitative information about both gas phase and adsorbed species. Kinetics of reactions can be followed in real time. The utility of FT-IR / PAS in conjunction with ESCA is illustrated by the analysis of an Fe/NH3/HCN corrosion product, where unambigous assignment of the resulting compounds allowed explanation for the observed pitting corrosion.
Human Plasma Phospholipids and Platelet Aggregation as Markers of Omega-3 Fatty Acid consumption from Shell Eggs

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: The learner will be able to recognize the plasma tatty acid profile and platelet response of individuals consuming omega-3 fatty acids. Clinical studies designed to duplicate epidemiologic findings that fish consumption reduces heart disease (HD) risk are inconclusive. Researchers have speculated that either omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) are not the bioactive compounds in fish or that mediation of blood lipids may not be the mechanism by which fish lowers HD risk. Enrichment of laying hen diets with n-3 FA sources results in deposition of similar amounts of total n-3 FA into egg yolk as found in a serving of lean fish. Omega-3 FA rich shell eggs may serve as a useful tool for the study of health benefits to be derived from n-3 FA rich foods. The objectives of the current study were 1) to use plasma phospholipid fatty acid (PPLFA) composition as a marker for n-3 FA consumption from enriched eggs and 2) to determine the physiological significance of PPLFA changes through evaluation of platelet reactivity. Normolipidemic male and female subjects (n=32) were assigned randomly to consume self-selected diets restricted in n-3 FA plus either regular (C) or n-3 FA enriched shell eggs (4/week), the latter from hens fed flaxseed (F, high in linolenic acid) or menhaden oil (M, high in docosahexaenoic acid). Subjects consumed all types for 6 weeks with a 4 week washout period between each for a total of 3 test periods. PPL were separated via thin layer chromatography into phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamme (PE), and FA were determined using gas-liquid chromatography. Platelet aggregation was studied using collagen stimulated platelet rich plasma samples. Dietary intake was monitored using 3-day food records (2/period) using the Nutrient Data System (University of Minnesota, 1994). Data were analyzed by analysis of variance using the general linear model procedure of SAS (SAS Institute, 1992). Subjects consuming F eggs had the highest linolenic acid (18:3n-3;LNA) intake (600 ing/week), while those consuming M eggs exhibited the greatest docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3;DHA) intake (500 mg/week). Total n-3 FA intake did not vary between the egg treatment groups. Significantly (p
A New Approach to the Determination of Replacement Costs

The time adjusted minimum average costs of an industrial equipment or process are expressed in terms of the logarithmic decrement of its salvage values. The obsolescence gradient and/or the economic life of the equipment do not enter into the formula of the minimum average costs, which are thus obtained more simply and accurately than through the classical estimation procedures.
Time-Cost-Quality Trade-Off Analysis for Highway Construction

Many departments of transportation have recently started to utilize innovative contracting methods that provide new incentives for improving construction quality. These emerging contracts place an increasing pressure on decision makers in the construction industry to search for an optimal resource utilization plan that minimizes construction cost and time while maximizing its quality. This paper presents a multiobjective optimization model that supports decision makers in performing this challenging task. The model is designed to transform the traditional two-dimensional time-cost tradeoff analysis to an advanced three-dimensional time-cost-quality trade-off analysis. The model is developed as a multiobjective genetic algorithm to provide the capability of quantifying and considering quality in construction optimization. An application example is analyzed to illustrate the use of the model and demonstrate its capabilities in generating and visualizing optimal tradeoffs among construction time, cost, and quality.
Accelerated weathering of high-level and plutonium-bearing lanthanide borosilicate waste glasses under hydraulically unsaturated conditions

Abstract The US Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed that a can-in-canister waste package design be used for disposal of excess weapons-grade Pu at the proposed mined geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. This configuration consists of a high-level waste (HLW) canister fitted with a rack that holds mini-canisters containing a Pu-bearing lanthanide borosilicate (LaBS) waste glass and/or titanate-based ceramic (∼15% of the total canister volume). The remaining volume of the HLW canister is then filled with HLW glass (∼85% of the total canister volume). A 6-a pressurized unsaturated flow (PUF) test was conducted to investigate waste form–waste form interactions that may occur when water penetrates the canisters and contacts the waste forms. The PUF column volumetric water content was observed to increase steadily during the test because of water accumulation associated with alteration phases formed on the surfaces of the glasses. Periodic excursions in effluent pH, electrical conductivity, and solution chemistry were monitored and correlated with the formation of a clay phase(s) during the test. Geochemical modeling, with the EQ3NR code, of select effluent solution samples suggests the dominant secondary reaction product for the surrogate HLW glass, SRL-202, is a smectite di-octahedral clay phase(s), possibly nontronite [Na 0.33 Fe 2 (AlSi) 4 O 10 (OH) 2 · n (H 2 O)] or beidellite [Na 0.33 Al 2.33 Si 3.67 O 10 (OH) 2 ]. This clay phase was identified in scanning electron microscope (SEM) images as discrete spherical particles growing out of a hydrated gel layer on reacted SRL-202 glass. Alpha energy analysis (AEA) of aliquots of select effluent samples that were filtered through a 1.8 nm filter suggest that approximately 80% of the total measurable Pu was in the form of a filterable particulate, in comparison to unfiltered aliquots of the same sample. These results suggest the filterable particles are >1.8 nm but smaller than the 0.2 μm average diameter openings of the Ti porous plate situated at the base of the column. In this advection-dominated system, Pu appeared to be migrating principally as or in association with colloids after being released from the LaBS glass. Analyses of reacted LaBS glass particles with SEM with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy suggest that Pu may have segregated into a discrete disk-like phase, possibly PuO 2 . Alteration products that contain the neutron absorber Gd have not been positively identified. Separation of the Pu and the neutron absorber Gd during glass dissolution and transport could be a criticality issue for the proposed repository. However, the translation and interpretation of these long-term PUF test results to actual disposed waste packages requires further analysis.
Multivariable MRAC for aircraft with abrupt damages

This paper addresses the compensation of aircraft damages using the direct adaptive control approach. The dynamical modeling of aircraft with damages is first introduced, which demonstrates the complex dynamics when asymmetric mass distribution occurs as the result of damages. An approximate model is proposed under certain flight conditions, and its linearization is performed, which captures the key dynamic features of the aircraft under asymmetric damages. Multivariable model reference adaptive control (MRAC) scheme is demonstrated for control of aircraft in both healthy and post-damage situations, by adapting controller parameters autonomously after the damages occur, without the knowledge of the damage time instants, nor the damage structure and values. Relaxation of design conditions is illustrated by expanding the controller structure and re-designing the adaptive law, to further reduce the need of the post-damage system knowledge.
Empty and peptide-loaded class II major histocompatibility complex proteins produced by expression in Escherichia coli and folding in vitro.

The human class II major histocompatibility complex protein HLA-DR1 has been expressed in Escherichia coli as denatured alpha and beta subunits and folded in vitro to form the native structure. DR1 folding yields are 30-50% in the presence or absence of tight-binding antigenic peptides. The protein produced in this manner is soluble and monomeric with the expected apparent molecular weight. It reacts with conformation-sensitive anti-DR antibodies and exhibits peptide-dependent resistance to SDS-induced chain dissociation and to proteolysis as does the native protein. The observed peptide specificity and dissociation kinetics are similar to those of native DR produced in B-cells and finally the protein exhibits circular dichroism spectra and cooperative thermal denaturation as expected for a folded protein. We conclude that the recombinant DR1 has adopted the native fold. We have folded DR1 in the absence of peptide and isolated a soluble, peptide-free alphabeta-heterodimer. The empty DR1 can bind antigenic peptide but exhibits altered far UV-circular dichroism and thermal denaturation relative to the peptide-bound form.
Nanostructured manganese oxide clusters supported on mesoporous silica as efficient oxygen-evolving catalysts

Nanostructured Mn oxide clusters supported on mesoporous silica KIT-6 efficiently evolve O2 in aqueous solution under mild conditions.
Review: silver alloy catheters are more effective than standard catheters for reducing bacteriuria in adults in hospital having short term catheterisation.

Brosnahan J, Jull A, Tracy C. Types of urethral catheters for management of short-term voiding problems in hospitalised adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;(1):CD004013 (latest version 26 Nov 2003). Q In adults admitted to hospital and having short term urinary catheterisation, what is the effect of type of indwelling urethral catheter on the risk of urinary tract infection? ### ![Graphic][1] Data sources: specialised trials registers of the Cochrane Incontinence Group (November 2003) and the Cochrane Renal Group (February 2003), bibliographies of relevant articles, and catheter manufacturers. ### ![Graphic][2] Study selection and assessment: randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs in any language that compared different types of indwelling urethral catheters of short term duration (⩽14 d or other temporary short term use as defined by trialists) in adults in hospital. Studies were assessed for methodologic quality (eg, allocation concealment, blinding, and loss to follow up). ### ![Graphic][3] Outcomes: catheter associated infection; patient reported comfort and satisfaction; physician reported duration of catheter use; quality of life; adverse effects; and … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [3]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif
Kyrgyz “revolutions” in 2005 and 2010: comparative analysis of mass mobilization

This article compares causes and mechanisms of the mass mobilizations which took place in Kyrgyzstan in 2005 and 2010. The upheavals of 2005, the so called “Tulip Revolution,” led to the ousting of President Akaev who was replaced by Kurmanbek Bakiev. In 2010, Bakiev himself had to flee the country after violent social upheavals. As this analysis shows, the causes for both series of events were similar: neopatrimonial rule and the elite's control of resources together with oppressive tactics stirred up discontent among wide parts of the population and instigated violent protest. The mechanisms of mass mobilization, however, differed considerably. While the revolution of 2005 was carried out as the concerted action of varied political forces and NGOs, which, supported by patronage networks and traditional institutions, offered material and solidary incentives for the crowds, the great mass of people who took part in the 2010 protests were spontaneously mobilized through purposive incentives when news of th...
A TREND ANALYSIS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS: 1992-2006

A trend analysis of sexual harassment claims made by women to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 1992 to 2006 was conducted. Results show a sharp increase during the 1990s, followed by a decline in the 2000s. Regression analysis indicated that these differences were significant, explaining 84% of the variance. The observed trend followed the political climate, with more progressive social policies in the 1990s and a more conservative agenda in the 2000s.
Congressional Initiative in Foreign Policy

THE ROLE OF Congress in foreign policy is a major public issue today; it is also one of the thorniest subjects for the political scientist to consider. David Truman has noted the importance of the question of "how the Congress does and should fit into the political scheme of things in the midtwentieth century,"' and others have pointed to the executive-legislative relation as "the Achilles' heel of United States foreign policy."2 The purpose of the following discussion is to examine the hypothesis that establishment of the Development Loan Fund and the International Development Association provides us with examples of Congressional initiative in the making of foreign policy. The significance of this hypothesis is based on four considerations: (1) The exercise of initiative constitutes the nub of the controversy concerning executive-legislative relations and public policy.3 (2) The hypothesis directly conflicts with generally accepted descriptions of typical legislative behavior. Most students of foreign policy would agree with Robert Dahl that "perhaps the single most important fact about Congress and its role in foreign policy, . . . is that it rarely provides the initiative."4 A hypothesis purporting to have
CLASH: Climbing vertical loose cloth

CLASH is a 10cm, 15g robot capable of climbing vertical loose-cloth surfaces at 15 cm per second. The robot has a single actuator driving its six legs which are equipped with novel passive foot mechanisms to facilitate smooth engagement and disengagement of spines. These foot mechanisms are designed to be used on penetrable surfaces and offer improved tensile normal force generation during stance and reduced normal pull-off forces during retraction. Descended from the DASH hexapedal robot, CLASH features a redesigned transmission with a lower profile and improved dynamics for climbing. CLASH is the first known robot to climb loose vertical cloth and is able to climb surfaces when surface rigidity is not guaranteed.
Accumulation region length impact on 0.18µm CMOS fully-compatible lateral power MOSFETs with Shallow Trench Isolation

N-type lateral power MOSFETs (nLDMOS) with Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) and voltage capability between 12 and 22V are analyzed in this work by experiment and TCAD simulation. A 0.18um CMOS technology is used to integrate nLDMOS devices without additional mask or process. Differently from previous works, the paramount impact of the accumulation region length (Lacc) on the Safe Operating Area (SOA), gate-to-drain charge (Qgd) and Hot Carrier (HC) degradation is deeply explored to optimize the device electrical performance and reliability.
Implementation of O(n) complexity max/min circuits for fuzzy and connectionist computing

O(n) complexity electronic circuits are proposed for maximum (minimum) selection/propagation of n analog input voltages. The proposed min/max circuits employ electronic amplifiers and diodes and are easily realizable with CMOS VLSI technology. Theoretical analysis and experimental results with off-the-shelf components are presented. These circuits are of low complexity in the sense that the number of transistors and/or connections required scales linearly in the number of inputs, n. An analytical expression for the accuracy of the proposed circuits in terms of the number of inputs and amplifier gain is derived. It shows that high-resolution low-complexity analog max/min modules are feasible. The authors' results hinge on the ability to map a sequential algorithm for the computation of Max (Min) functions onto a simple collective computing architecture. >
Application of 1018.2 to Hybrid and VLSI Devices

This paper discusses several methods used to determine the amount of moisture within a hybrid or LSI package. Case histories are used to show that moisture measurements alone are not sufficient to analyze most problems. RGA (Residual Gas Analysis) provides data that is invaluable in determining the source of moisture within the package. Several possible sources of moisture will be presented. The results from extensive RGA analyses of hybrids show the validity of this type of testing. Finally recommendations for changes to test method 1018 of MIL-STD-883 as applied to hybrids and VLSI devices are presented. These include: 1) recommended times and temperatures for baking of the device prior to RGA analysis; 2) the time windows for testing after removal from the oven; and 3) acceptable levels of moisture for hybrids and VLSI devices.
Male size and territoriality in the cicada killer wasp Sphecius speciosus (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae)

ABSTRACTMales of the eastern cicada killer wasp, Sphecius speciosus, occupy territories in which they may hover or where they may perch either in trees near one or more emergence holes or on the ground at these spots from which females may emerge. Large males are more likely to hold and defend these territories at a site in northern Virginia. When resident males were captured, held and weighed, the males that replaced them, which were also captured, held and weighed, had significantly lower body weights on average than the residents.
Maternal high-fat diet increases independent feeding in pre-weanling rat pups

In laboratory settings, the adult offspring of rodent dams that are maintained on high-fat diet (HFD) before conception and/or during pregnancy/lactation display an increased incidence of obese phenotypic markers, including increased body weight and adiposity, reduced leptin sensitivity, and impaired glucose tolerance. In rat pups raised by dams consuming HFD, these obese markers emerge during the first postnatal week. Since the week-old offspring of HFD dams consume excess amounts of milk during experimental tests of independent feeding (i.e., intake away from the dam), we hypothesized that maternal diet affects suckling and/or independent ingestion by pups in the home-cage environment. In the present study, this hypothesis was tested by conducting detailed analyses of ingestive behaviors expressed by pups in the home cage. Pups raised by dams consuming HFD displayed an earlier onset of independent feeding and more amounts of calorie intake from solid food during the third postnatal week compared to pups raised by dams consuming regular chow, with no diet-related differences in suckling behavior. Independent ingestion by pups in both diet groups was most frequently observed after nursing, with offspring of HFD dams engaged more frequently in post-nursing independent feeding episodes compared to offspring of chow-fed dams, particularly when the prior nursing episode was nutritive (i.e., including milk receipt by pups). We conclude that early-life exposure to HFD enhances the facilitative effect of nutritive suckling on independent feeding in pups, promoting increased caloric intake from solid food in the home-cage environment.
Infrared spectra at a conical intersection: vibrations of methoxy.

The J = 0 infrared spectrum of methoxy is theoretically calculated for the ground X2E state using a quartic potential energy force field, and the quadratic dipole moment expansion is calculated ab initio at the CCSD(T) level of theory and cc-pVTZ basis. Writing these expansions with vibronic operators whose symmetry properties are defined with respect to C3v rotation greatly simplifies these calculations. With minor adjustments to the force field, excellent agreement with experiment is found for both the transition energies of CH3O and those of CD3O. The role of Jahn–Teller and Fermi coupling is illustrated by scaling these terms by a parameter δ that varies from 0 to 1. Plotting the eigenvalues as a function of δ yields a correlation diagram connecting the harmonic eigenvalues to those of the fully coupled problem. The spectrum for CH3O is determined using a combination of Davidson and Lanczos iteration schemes. The spectral features are found to be dominated by Jahn–Teller effects, but direct Fermi cou...
Novel function of LHFPL2 in female and male distal reproductive tract development.

Congenital reproductive tract anomalies could impair fertility. Female and male reproductive tracts are developed from Mullerian ducts and Wolffian ducts, respectively, involving initiation, elongation and differentiation. Genetic basis solely for distal reproductive tract development is largely unknown. Lhfpl2 (lipoma HMGIC fusion partner-like 2) encodes a tetra-transmembrane protein with unknown functions. It is expressed in follicle cells of ovary and epithelial cells of reproductive tracts. A spontaneous point mutation of Lhfpl2 (LHFPL2G102E) leads to infertility in 100% female mice, which have normal ovarian development, ovulation, uterine development, and uterine response to exogenous estrogen stimulation, but abnormal upper longitudinal vaginal septum and lower vaginal agenesis. Infertility is also observed in ~70% mutant males, which have normal mating behavior and sperm counts, but abnormal distal vas deferens convolution resulting in complete and incomplete blockage of reproductive tract in infertile and fertile males, respectively. On embryonic day 15.5, mutant Mullerian ducts and Wolffian ducts have elongated but their duct tips are enlarged and fail to merge with the urogenital sinus. These findings provide a novel function of LHFPL2 and a novel genetic basis for distal reproductive tract development; they also emphasize the importance of an additional merging phase for proper reproductive tract development.
Credit Reporting's Vicious Cycles

This article argues that consumer credit reports can create two sorts of vicious cycles, which can contribute to to cycles of poverty and deepen race-based disenfranchisement. The first takes place in credit markets themselves. Even on a neoclassical model of credit reporting, credit reports can amplify past problems with debt, most of which are brought on by systemic inequality. Loosening the neoclassical model reveals the possibility of even more drastic inequality amplification. The second cycle arises when credit reports are used on extra-lending contexts. In non-lending contexts such as employment credit checks, credit reports do not seem to provide any useful information to employers, but they do reinforce the first vicious cycle and the disadvantage it amplifies. In quasi-lending contexts like insurance pricing, credit reports may provide predictive information, but the information they reveal seems only to be economic instability and by forcing economically unstable individuals to pay more for insurance, they deepen their economic instability. The article concludes with several policy implications.
Lifetime occupational and leisure time physical activity and risk of Parkinson's disease.

Abstract Introduction While regular exercise has been shown to alleviate the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), it remains unclear whether a physically active lifestyle may prevent PD. Methods To examine physical activities across the lifespan and risk of PD, we relied on data from a population-based case-control study that enrolled 357 incident PD cases and 341 controls. We assessed physical activity levels via self-report of (1) overall physical activity (PA) over 4 age periods; (2) competitive sports; and (3) occupational histories. Results PD risks were lower comparing the overall PA highest quartile (moderate to vigorous activities ≥180 metabolic equivalent task-hours/week (MET-h/wk)) with the lowest quartile ( Conclusion The long prodromal stage of PD makes it difficult to conclude whether insidious disease leads to a reduction of physical activity years before motor symptom onset and PD diagnosis. However, sports activities and high levels of overall PA in youth appear protective unless they are markers for biologic or genetic factors that lower PD risk.
Evaluation on Implementation Effect of Global Fund Tuberculosis Controls Project Round 1 in Guzhen County

Objective To evaluate implementation effect of the first round global fund tuberculosis control project in the Guzhen County and provide basis for controlling tuberculosis still better.MethodAccording to request of implementation plan of global fund tuberculosis project round 1 formulated by Anhui provincial health department,data were collected and analyzed.ResultsThe DOTS coverage rate reached 100%.1197 cases were discovered during the period from April,2003 to March,2008.Completion rate of newly smear positive cases was 109%.Rate of sputum from positive to negative within two months was 98.2%.Cure rate of the newly smear positive cases was 89%.Transfer treatment rate of comprehensive hospitals was 97%.Implementation rate of the transfer treatment was 80.6%.ConclusionsThe project promoted implementation of tuberculosis control program and guaranteed realization of the control indicators.
The role of the cardiovascular social worker

The clinical social worker is an integral component of the Integrated Care Model used in the Cardiovascular Program at Children's Hospital (Boston). This article provides the reader with an understanding of the social worker's role with families and as part of the interdisciplinary team. Case examples are used to illustrate the key components of clinical social work practice, including crisis intervention, solution-focused treatment, and grief counseling. The importance of maintaining sensitivity to cultural differences in working with families is discussed.
Managing Risk in an Academic Career: a Personal Perspective

The path to a successful academic career involves numerous decisions in all areas, research, grants, teaching, student mentorship, service to the university and community. Each decision involves its own risks and potential rewards, and navigating these tradeoffs shapes the way an academic career unfolds.In this talk, I will give a personal perspective on my own history, and how my decisions have produced events that shaped the course of my career. I will use concrete events to show how risk-taking (or the lack thereof) has produced surprising benefits, in areas including research problem selection, grant proposals, industry engagement, and student evaluation/mentorship. Some risks have not produced returns, while others have produced career-changing benefits I never could have predicted. I argue that while career-related decisions always deserve careful consideration, under-standing and embracing risk is critical to success in a variety of professional metrics.
Ethical Conundrums in Distance Education Partnerships

Launching and sustaining innovative new academic programs is typically a complex enterprise, especially distance education projects, and more particularly, such initiatives attempted by individual institutions with little or no prior experience in this arena. Inherently parochial, colleges and universities usually experiment with online courses on their own, but increasingly, as institutions engage in more ambitious efforts to develop full programs of study offered at a distance, they are recognizing, enthusiastically or reluctantly, that collaborative arrangements may make the difference between success and failure, especially for those with little expertise and few start-up resources. Partnerships are being forged between two or more higher education entities, and even more remarkably, there is growing evidence of academic institutions partnering with for-profit corporate organizations. Unfortunately, these unions too often result in more collisions than collaborations, especially when there are differing values among the parties involved. Through the presentation of selected mini-case studies representing several actual higher education-corporate partnerships, this chapter identifies and analyzes a number of ethical dilemmas, some philosophical and others practical, which should be considered by those who enter into distance education partnerships.
Abstract 4521: Substrate profiling for SETD8 reveals novel protein targets involved in DNA replication and DNA damage response

Protein lysine methyltransferases utilize S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) to catalyze the addition of methyl groups to specific lysine residues in both histones and non-histone proteins. Recent evidence indicates that their dysregulation is closely linked to the development and progression of cancer, making them potential therapeutic targets. SETD8 is the sole methyltransferase responsible for mono-methylation of histone H4 lysine 20 (H4K20me1). Its activity is essential for cell viability and has been associated with many essential cellular processes including transcriptional regulation, heterochromatin formation, genomic stability and cell-cycle progression. SETD8 is overexpressed in several types of cancer and may play important roles on malignancy through its trans-methylation activity or by direct interaction with its binding partners. It has been reported that the association between SETD8 and TWIST, a regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, enhances the invasiveness of breast cancer cells. In addition, it was shown that SETD8-mediated methylation of p53 suppresses p53 dependent transcription activation in cancer cells. Despite the identification of a few non-histone proteins such as p53, PCNA and Numb as SETD89s substrates, a comprehensive investigation of new potential substrates is lacking to date. Here we used Bioorthogonal Profiling of Protein Methylation (BPPM) with engineered SETD8 and synthetic SAM analogues to profile novel substrates for SETD8. We identified SETD8 mutants amenable to accommodate non-native SAM analogues containing a terminal alkyne moiety for click chemistry. The engineered SETD8 can transfer this distinct chemical moiety into target proteins for subsequent pulldown and identification of the modified substrates. The BBPM technology applied here revealed previously known substrates of SETD8 as well as novel SETD8 targets. Among the main targets of our interest are those involved in DNA replication and DNA damage response. Our finding is expected to bring new perspectives on the biological importance of SETD8 as well as on its role in carcinogenesis. Citation Format: Fabio Pittella Silva, Gil Blum, Chamara Senevirathne, Minkui Luo. Substrate profiling for SETD8 reveals novel protein targets involved in DNA replication and DNA damage response. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4521.
Still on the Road to Worldwide Hypertension Control.

Article, see p 441 Raised blood pressure (BP) is the leading preventable risk factor responsible for disease burden in high-, middle-, and low-income countries and was responsible for ≈9 to 12 million deaths worldwide in 2013.1 However, raised BP is chronic and almost always asymptomatic, thereby making it low priority for health systems, providers, and patients. Estimates of global and regional mean BP benchmark temporal trends in raised BP-related risks and demonstrate the potential public health benefit of shifting populations to healthier BP distributions.2 However, these estimates are not immediately relevant to current clinical practice, which is focused on eliminating above-threshold raised BP, that is, hypertension. Antihypertensive medication treatment lowers stroke risk by 35% to 40% and coronary heart disease and heart failure by 20% to 25% among hypertensive patients, so the case for identifying, treating, and controlling hypertension is founded on strong evidence and should be a top public health priority.3,4 In this issue of Circulation , Mills et al5 use data from 135 population-based studies representing 90 countries to estimate the global, regional, and country-level epidemiology of hypertension and hypertension awareness, treatment, and control. Measuring BP to detect hypertension, and then treating it, seems simple to us and in fact has been the bread and butter of routine medical practice for generations of healthcare providers. It is therefore sobering to learn that in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the epidemic of hypertension appears to be growing (7.7% increase in age-standardized adult prevalence …
Optimal Project Allocation with an Asymmetric Liquidation Option

The article derives the optimal allocation of projects when two firms are engaged in a strategic alliance with an asymmetric liquidation option. Our model solves for the optimal allocation when a manager can liquidate the internally managed project and reallocate the funds to the alliance but has no control over the alliance's assets. We find the somewhat surprising result, which in some cases the probabilities of success of the two projects are irrelevant to the initial allocation of the projects. Finally, we parametrize our model and demonstrate graphically how the choice of projects vary across the various scenarios.
CHAPTER VII – Efficient Estimation with Estimated Error Covariance Matrices

Publisher Summary This chapter explores some special cases in which an asymptotically efficient estimator can be obtained by replacing the error covariance matrix with an estimator. Results for independent observations follow as corollaries to results for martingale difference sequences, and results for stationary processes follow as corollaries to results for mixing processes. The chapter presents a treatment of only the mixing processes for economy of exposition as these allow the inclusion of fixed, or nonstochastic, instrumental variables and regressors, whereas the stationarity assumption rules these out. It also discusses contemporaneous covariance, heteroskedasticity, and serial correlation. The chapter also explains the determination of the efficient estimator when the error covariance matrix has a structure that arises when the nonspherical error term is generated by a finite-order vector autoregressive model.
Playing the post 9/11 on game service platforms: Premediation in The Division via Twitch.tv and Steam:

This article focuses on the relation between post 9/11 imaginary and digital entertainment’s audiences. Its aim is to enlighten potential players’ perception of such an influence by exploring game service platforms – that is, online spaces with peculiar functions that are getting a foothold in the sector. By following the leading concepts of ‘premediation’ (Grusin, 2010) and ‘platform’ (Gillespie, 2010), an empirical investigation was directed about the game The Division, which glaringly exploits references to 9/11, in relation with Twitch.tv (live streaming) and Steam (multi-hub with several features, from user-generated content upload to discussion) environments. For the first 20 days from the release, multiple data were gathered daily (e.g. streaming chats, threads and artworks) and framed with a discourse/visual analysis (e.g. Gee, 2010). Results show that connections to 9/11 were perceived in experiencing game mechanics (e.g. multiplayer mode) rather than in discussing setting or plot. A preventive a...
Primary cardiac precursor B lymphoblastic lymphoma in a child: A case report and review of the literature

We describe an extremely rare case of primary cardiac precursor B lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-LBL) in a 10-year-old boy who presented with nonspecific complaints of fatigue and vomiting for 2 weeks and an episode of syncope. Chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly and echocardiography revealed a large right atrial mass, which was successfully resected. Pathology showed precursor B-LBL arising in the heart and there was no evidence of disease at any extracardiac site. A brief review of the literature is also presented.