cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Weaker gun state laws are associated with higher rates of suicide secondary to firearms

Abstract Background Firearm-related suicides comprise over two-thirds of gun-related violence in the United States, and gun laws and policies remain under scrutiny, with many advocating for revision of the regulatory map for lawful gun ownership, aiming at restricting access and distribution of these weapons. However, the quantitative relationship between how strict gun laws are and the incidence of firearm violence with their associated mortality is largely unknown. We therefore, sought to explore the impact of firearm law patterns among states on the incidence and outcomes of firearm-related suicide attempts, utilizing established objective criteria. Methods The National Inpatient Sample for the years 1998-2011 was queried for all firearm-related suicides. Discharge facilities were stratified into five categories (A, B, C, D, and F, with A representing states with the most strict and F representing states with the least strict laws) based on the Brady Campaign to prevent Gun Violence that assigns scorecards for every state. The primary outcomes were suicide attempts and in-hospital mortality per 100,000 populations by Brady state grade. Results During the 14-year study period, 34,994 subjects met inclusion criteria. The mean age was 42.0 years and 80.1% were male. A handgun was utilized by 51.8% of patients. The overall mortality was 33.3%. Overall, 22.0% had reported psychoses and 19.3% reported depression. After adjusting for confounding factors and using group A as reference, there were higher adjusted odds for suicide attempts for patients admitted in group C, D, and F category states (1.73, 2.09, and 1.65, respectively, all P Conclusions Firearm-related suicide attempt injuries are more common in states with less strict gun laws, and these injuries tend to be associated with a higher mortality. Efforts aimed at nationwide standardization of firearm state laws are warranted, particularly for young adults and suicide-prone populations. Level of evidence III. Study type Trauma Outcomes study.
Correlations of premorbid adjustment in schizophrenia with auditory event-related potential and neuropsychological abnormalities.

Objective : The authors examined the relationship between premorbid adjustment in schizophrenia and event-related potential data and neuropsychological data obtained after onset of the illness. Method : They interviewed 13 male veterans with chronic schizophrenia, 12 normal comparison subjects, and their first-degree relatives and also obtained objective data from the patients' school records and charts. They used interview and objective data to score the Cannon-Spoor Premorbid Adjustment Scale. Patients and comparison subjects were also given event-related potential tests, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised. Results : Worse premorbid adjustment in the schizophrenic patients was significantly associated with a marked reduction of the N2 component amplitude of the auditory event-related potential measured over the left temporal and central regions, but it was not associated with the P3 component amplitude. Worse Premorbid Adjustment Scale scores were significantly associated with more perseverative errors on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and worse performance on the visual memory span task of the Wechsler Memory Scale. Conclusions: Premorbid adjustment may predict the severity of specific neurophysiological and neuropsychological abnormalities in schizophrenia.
Internal climate variability and projected future regional steric and dynamic sea level rise

Observational evidence points to a warming global climate accompanied by rising sea levels which impose significant impacts on island and coastal communities. Studies suggest that internal climate processes can modulate projected future sea level rise (SLR) regionally. It is not clear whether this modulation depends on the future climate pathways. Here, by analyzing two sets of ensemble simulations from a climate model, we investigate the potential reduction of SLR, as a result of steric and dynamic oceanographic affects alone, achieved by following a lower emission scenario instead of business-as-usual one over the twenty-first century and how it may be modulated regionally by internal climate variability. Results show almost no statistically significant difference in steric and dynamic SLR on both global and regional scales in the near-term between the two scenarios, but statistically significant SLR reduction for the global mean and many regions later in the century (2061–2080). However, there are regions where the reduction is insignificant, such as the Philippines and west of Australia, that are associated with ocean dynamics and intensified internal variability due to external forcing. As the global climate becomes warmer, the associated rising sea level could pose significant threats to island and coastal communities. Here the authors show that internal climate variability plays a key role in determining this sea level rise, especially in the next few decades.
Software Development Under Statistical Quality Control

Recent software initiatives identify a practical approach to putting software development under statistical control, that provides software management visibility into the development process and the opportunity to introduce process changes to enhance product quality. Two underlying principles to the approach are that product development should be performed with no unit debugging and product testing should be based on user representative statistical samples. Current experience with the approach and the use of process controls for product quality are discussed.
Blinded by Bioterrorism: Public Health and Liberty in the 21st Century

This chapter examines two specific public health responses to 9/11, the treatment of those exposed in the anthrax by mail attacks, and the proposal for new state antibioterrorism legislation. The public health or military authorities that make unapproved or partially-tested drugs and vaccines available, should only do so if they are prepared to recommend their use. In Blindness, Nobel Prize laureate Jose Saramago chronicles the quarantining of the first victims of a plague of blindness. Many Americans were temporarily blinded on September 11 by the smoke and debris in the terror attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. There is no reason for civilians to have to trade safety for liberty in an emergency in which unapproved or partially-tested drugs or vaccines are made available. The choice to use them should continue to be an individual's choice, as it properly was for civilians in the case of the anthrax vaccine.
Targeting the Raf-MEK-ERK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cascade for the Treatment of RAS Mutant Cancers

The three RAS genes comprise the most frequently mutated oncogene family in human cancer; furthermore, substantial experimental evidence supports their key driver roles in cancer development and growth. Consequently, there has been considerable interest and effort in developing therapeutic approaches for blocking aberrant Ras function for cancer treatment. Despite over three decades of intensive effort, to date no effective anti-Ras therapeutic approaches have reached the clinic. Currently, the most promising direction involves inhibitors of Ras effector signaling, with the Raf-MEK-ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade the most intensively pursued. Presently, there are at least 33 inhibitors of this pathway under clinical evaluation. In this chapter, we provide a summary of this key Ras effector signaling network and the efforts to target the Raf-MEK-ERK cascade for the treatment of RAS mutant cancers.
Low income as a determinant of exercise capacity in COPD

Exercise capacity (EC) is a critical outcome in chronic obstructive lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)). It measures the impact of the disease and the effect of specific interventions like pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). EC determines COPD prognosis and is associated with health-care utilization and quality of life. Field walking tests and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) are two ways to measure EC. The 6-minute walking test (6MWT) is the commonest and easiest field test. CPET has the advantage of assessing maximal aerobic capacity. Determinants of EC include age, gender, breathlessness, and lung function. Previous research suggests that socioeconomic status (SES), a meaningful factor in COPD, may also be associated with EC. However, those findings have not been replicated. We aimed to determine whether SES is an independent factor associated with EC in COPD. For this analysis, we used the National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) database. NETT was a multicenter clinical trial where severe COPD patients were randomized to lung volume reduction surgery or medical therapy. Measures used were taken at baseline, postrehabilitation. Patients self-reported their income and were divided in two groups whether it was less or above US$30,000. Patients with a lower income had worse results in 6MWT ( p < 0.0001). We found an independent association between income and the 6MWT in patients with severe COPD after adjusting for age, gender, lung function, dyspnea, and living conditions ( p < 0.0007). One previous publication stated the relationship between income and EC. Our research confirms and extends previous publications associating EC with income by studying a large and well characterized cohort of severe COPD patients, also addressing EC by two different methods (maximal watts and 6MWT). Our results highlight the importance of addressing social determinants of health such as income when assessing COPD patients.
Duration of unilateral auditory deprivation is associated with reduced speech perception after cochlear implantation: A single-sided deafness study

Objective: Examine the relationship between duration of unilateral deafness and speech perception outcomes after cochlear implantation in adults with single-sided deafness.Methods: A systematic rev...
Flavor Mixings and Flavor Unifications

We discuss in the first part the problem of flavor mixing and calculability of the mixing parameters along the line of naturality group approach in the context of electroweak gauge theories. The second part deals with the flavor unification in SU(7) grand unification models. Projection operator method is applied to give eigenvalues of subgroup branches including those of U(1)’s, from which the hypercharge operators are constructed for all distinct and physically interesting modes of symmetry-breaking. Fermion contents are compared in two different flavor unification schemes of SU(7).
Fossil fuel divestment: theories of change, goals, and strategies of a growing climate movement

The fossil fuel divestment movement has developed into an offshoot of the climate change movement in recent years. The movement has become increasingly effective at stigmatizing the fossil fuel ind...
Decreased gas-diffusion electrode porosity due to increased electrocatalyst loading leads to diffusional limitations in cathodic H2O2 electrosynthesis

Abstract The effect of carbon black electrocatalyst loading on the efficiency of cathodic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) electrosynthesis in neutral buffered catholytes using gas-diffusion electrodes (GDEs) was evaluated. Increased carbon black loadings on carbon cloth-based GDEs (from 0.5 to 1.5 mg/cm2 to 3.3 mg/cm2) reduced the cathodic coulombic efficiency significantly although no significant advantage in terms of electrochemical performance was noted for the highest loading studied in linear sweep voltammograms. Decreasing cathodic coulombic efficiency during a given batch H2O2 electrosynthesis experiment was a result of increasing catholyte pH, which occurred irrespective of the carbon black loading, and could be alleviated using a higher buffer concentration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray computed tomography (CT) reconstructions of the GDEs with the different carbon black loadings showed that increased loading leads to lower GDE porosity, which likely causes mass transport limitations, that result in consumption of H2O2 in-situ in the electrocatalyst layer, either due to electrochemical reduction or decomposition in high pH conditions. Future studies should focus on engineering GDE structures that allow enhanced mass transport rates for H2O2 out of the GDE, thus also achieving high coulombic efficiencies.
Architecture for Secure UAV Systems

UAV applications are providing an extended range of services in society's needs. These applications require high execution speed and security to all transmitted data. In this paper an architecture is proposed for secure UAV applications. The architecture consists of a microcontroller to execute the flight controller tasks and a FPGA for implementing the security related tasks. The microcontroller is an Arduino which is widely used in UAVs. Arduino communicates with all sensors and generates outputs needed for controlling the UAV's motors. The circuit inside the FPGA encrypts/decrypts data related to transmission. Measurements taken concerning the execution time and power consumption, reveal the benefits of the extra hardware added for encryption/decryption in comparison with those of a single microcontroller.
Pre-tracheotomy for Potentially Emergent Airway Scenarios: Indications and Outcomes

Objectives/hypothesis Airway access in the setting of unsuccessful ventilation and intubation typically involves emergent cricothyrotomy or tracheotomy, procedures with associated significant risk. The potential for such emergent scenarios can often be predicted based on patient and disease factors. Planned tracheotomy can be performed in these cases but is not without its own risks. We previously described a technique of pre-tracheotomy or exposing the tracheal framework without entering the trachea, as an alternative to planned tracheostomy in such cases. In this way, a tracheotomy can be easily completed if needed, or the wound can be closed if it is not needed. This procedure has since been used in an array of indications. We describe the clinical situations where pre-tracheotomy was performed as well as subsequent patient outcomes. Methods Retrospective series of patients undergoing a pre-tracheotomy from 2015 to 2020. Records were reviewed for patient characteristics, indication, whether the procedure was converted to tracheotomy or closed at the bedside, and any post-procedural complications. Results Pre-tracheotomy was performed in 18 patients. Indications included failed extubation after head and neck reconstruction, subglottic stenosis, laryngeal masses, laryngeal edema, thyroid masses, and an oropharyngeal bleed requiring operative intervention. Tracheotomy was avoided in 10 patients with wound closed at the bedside; procedure was converted to tracheotomy in the remaining eight. There were no complications. Indications for conversion included failed extubation, intraoperative hemorrhage, significant stridor with dyspnea, and inability to ventilate. Conclusion Pre-tracheotomy offers simplified airway access and provides a valuable option in scenarios where tracheotomy may, but not necessarily, be needed. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2802-E2809, 2021.
Statistically Meaningful Approximation: a Case Study on Approximating Turing Machines with Transformers.

A common lens to theoretically study neural net architectures is to analyze the functions they can approximate. However, the constructions from approximation theory often have unrealistic aspects, for example, reliance on infinite precision to memorize target function values, which make these results potentially less meaningful. To address these issues, this work proposes a formal definition of statistically meaningful approximation which requires the approximating network to exhibit good statistical learnability. We present case studies on statistically meaningful approximation for two classes of functions: boolean circuits and Turing machines. We show that overparameterized feedforward neural nets can statistically meaningfully approximate boolean circuits with sample complexity depending only polynomially on the circuit size, not the size of the approximating network. In addition, we show that transformers can statistically meaningfully approximate Turing machines with computation time bounded by $T$, requiring sample complexity polynomial in the alphabet size, state space size, and $\log (T)$. Our analysis introduces new tools for generalization bounds that provide much tighter sample complexity guarantees than the typical VC-dimension or norm-based bounds, which may be of independent interest.
Endemic Jeffrey Pine Beetle Associates: Beetle/Mite Fungal Dissemination Strategies and Interactions That May Influence Beetle Population Levels.

Fungal and mite associates may drive changes in bark beetle populations, and mechanisms constraining beetle irruptions may be hidden in endemic populations. We characterized common fungi of endemic-level Jeffrey pine beetle (JPB) in western USA and analyzed their dissemination by JPB (maxillae and fecal pellet) and fungivorous mites to identify if endogenous regulation drove the population. We hypothesized that: (1) as in near-endemic mountain pine beetle populations, JPB’s mutualistic fungus would either be less abundant in endemic than in non-endemic populations or that another fungus may be more prevalent; (2) JPB primarily transports its mutualistic fungus, while its fungivorous mites primarily transport another fungus, and (3) based on the prevalence of yeasts in bark beetle symbioses, that a mutualistic interaction with blue-stain fungi present in that system may exist. Grosmannia clavigera was the most frequent JPB symbiont; however, the new here reported antagonist, Ophiostoma minus, was second in frequency. As hypothesized, JPB mostly carried its mutualist fungus while another fungus (i.e., antagonistic) was mainly carried by mites, but no fungal transport was obligate. Furthermore, we found a novel mutualistic interaction between the yeast Kuraishia molischiana and G. clavigera which fostered a growth advantage at temperatures associated with beetle colonization.
Reduced Order Method for Solving Large-Scale Quadratic Eigenvalue Problems

Quadratic eigenvalue problems are frequently encountered in electromagnetic analysis of lossy dielectrics and conductors. We present a fast method for solving large-scale quadratic eigenvalue problems. The method reduces the order of the original quadratic eigenvalue problem to a small one to solve. The computational cost of the reduction is simply a small number of solutions of an underlying deterministic problem, which are obtained in linear complexity. Applications to electromagnetics-based analysis of large-scale on-chip power grids demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the method.
Aging in Sensory and Motor Neurons Results in Learning Failure in Aplysia californica

The physiological and molecular mechanisms of age-related memory loss are complicated by the complexity of vertebrate nervous systems. This study takes advantage of a simple neural model to investigate nervous system aging, focusing on changes in learning and memory in the form of behavioral sensitization in vivo and synaptic facilitation in vitro. The effect of aging on the tail withdrawal reflex (TWR) was studied in Aplysia californica at maturity and late in the annual lifecycle. We found that short-term sensitization in TWR was absent in aged Aplysia. This implied that the neuronal machinery governing nonassociative learning was compromised during aging. Synaptic plasticity in the form of short-term facilitation between tail sensory and motor neurons decreased during aging whether the sensitizing stimulus was tail shock or the heterosynaptic modulator serotonin (5-HT). Together, these results suggest that the cellular mechanisms governing behavioral sensitization are compromised during aging, thereby nearly eliminating sensitization in aged Aplysia.
Uterine and Vaginal Vault Prolapse

The surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse is more challenging than that for stressurinary incontinence, and detection and correction of apical repairs can be the most difficult of all pelvic floor defects. One-third of procedures performed for pelvic organ prolapse are secondary procedures (1). The number of procedures performed in the United States to treat posthysterectomy vaginal vault prolapse increased dramatically from 1437 procedures in 1979 to 22,025 procedures in 1997 (2), while the overall number of procedures performed for pelvic organ prolapse declined from 226,000 in 1979 to 205,000 in 1997. Despite this apparent epidemic of apical prolapse, residency training for urologists and gynecologists alike favors repair of cystoceles and rectoceles. Moreover, defects of the anterior and posterior vaginal walls are more common and easier to detect than apical defects such as uterine prolapse and vaginal vault prolapse (3). For these reasons, correction of apical defects remains a surgical challenge for many surgeons.
Body mass and smoking are modifiable risk factors for recurrent bladder cancer

BACKGROUND In the Western world, bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and the eighth most common in women. Recurrences frequently occur, and continued surveillance is necessary to identify and treat recurrent tumors. Efforts to identify risk factors that are potentially modifiable to reduce the rate of recurrence are needed. METHODS Cigarette smoking behavior and body mass index were investigated at diagnosis for associations with bladder cancer recurrence in a population-based study of 726 patients with bladder cancer in New Hampshire, United States. Patients diagnosed with non–muscle invasive urothelial cell carcinoma were followed to ascertain long-term prognosis. Analysis of time to recurrence was performed using multivariate Cox regression models. RESULTS Smokers experienced shorter time to recurrence (continuing smoker hazard ratio [HR] = 1.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08-2.13). Although being overweight (body mass index > 24.9 kg/m2) at diagnosis was not a strong independent factor (HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.94-1.89), among continuing smokers, being overweight more than doubled the risk of recurrence compared to smokers of normal weight (HR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.14-6.28). CONCLUSIONS These observational results suggest that adiposity is a risk factor for bladder cancer recurrence, particularly among tobacco users. Future intervention studies are warranted to evaluate whether both smoking cessation and weight reduction strategies reduce bladder tumor recurrences. Cancer 2014;120:408–414. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
Mitogen stimulation of human lymphocytes: I. The effect of exogenous deoxyribonucleic acid

Abstract Peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal donors were incubated with mitogens in the presence or absence of exogenous DNA. The addition of DNA inhibited the response of the cells to the mitogens by up to 40% but did not alter the time course of the response. Similar inhibition was seen with the synthetic deoxyribonucleotides poly(dAdT) and poly(dA). Addition of the DNA up to 24 hr after the addition of mitogen to the cells did not affect the extent of inhibition. The inhibition was apparently due to a decrease in the total number of cells responding to the mitogen rather than to a general decrease in response of each cell. Furthermore, no specific cytotoxic effect of the exogenous DNA could be detected, and the degree of inhibition was approximately constant for different mitogen concentrations. In contrast, DNA alone induced a low degree of stimulation in the cells.
Strangeness-Changing Leptonic Decay Rates for the Σ ± Hyperons

The strangeness-changing leptonic branching ratios of the ${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ hyperon were determined from a stopping ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ exposure in the BNL-Columbia 30-in. hydrogen bubble chamber. The ratio $\frac{({\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{ne}\ensuremath{\nu})}{(\mathrm{all} {\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}} \mathrm{decays})}$ is (0.97 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.15) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$, and the ratio $\frac{({\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}n\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu})}{(\mathrm{all} {\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}} \mathrm{decays})}$ is (0.38 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.11) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. No evidence is found for $\ensuremath{\Delta}S=\ensuremath{\Delta}Q$ violations, and an upper limit for the ratio of decay rates [$\frac{({\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{ne}\ensuremath{\nu})}{({\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{ne}\ensuremath{\nu})}$] is determined to be 12.6% with 95% confidence.
Using Social Cognitive Career Theory to Assess Student Outcomes of Group Design Projects in Statics

1 Background Engineering programs strive to retain students and prepare them for engineering careers. Introducing group design projects into courses may help keep students interested while also improving their learning outcomes. 2 Purpose/Hypothesis This study measures differences in student content knowledge and intention to persist in engineering between an intervention section with group design projects and a comparison section without. We hypothesized that students in the intervention section would show an increase in both outcomes that could be demonstrated with structural equation models based on social cognitive career theory (SCCT). 3 Design/Method Intervention and comparison sections of a statics course were taught by the same instructor with predominately lectures. Students in the intervention section participated in three group design projects that supplemented the course content. All students took pre-tests and post-tests that assessed statics content knowledge and variables in SCCT. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. 4 Results The use of projects did not result in higher self-efficacy, outcome expectations, content knowledge, or intention to persist for students in the intervention. However, for students in the intervention section, there were strong positive relationships between self-efficacy and outcome expectations and between intention to persist and content knowledge that were not demonstrated in the comparison section. 5 Conclusions By using SCCT to model how students develop into engineers, we could detect the effect of introducing projects into a statics course. Connections formed by students in the intervention section between their own abilities, goals, and success in engineering demonstrate that group design projects do benefit students.
Early Breast Cancer

Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D CRT) with appropriate compensation using a fi eld-in- fi eld technique or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to provide homogeneous dose to the breast tissue is the standard technique for de fi nitive radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer.
Jost functions and Jost solutions for Jacobi matrices, III. Asymptotic series for decay and meromorphicity

We show that the parameters $a_n, b_n$ of a Jacobi matrix have a complete asymptotic series $ a_n^2 -1 &= \sum_{k=1}^{K(R)} p_k(n) \mu_k^{-2n} + O(R^{-2n}) b_n &= \sum_{k=1}^{K(R)} p_k(n) \mu_k^{-2n+1} + O(R^{-2n}) $ where $1 < |\mu_j| < R$ for $j\leq K(R)$ and all $R$ if and only if the Jost function, $u$, written in terms of $z$ (where $E=z+z^{-1}$) is an entire meromorphic function. We relate the poles of $u$ to the $\mu_j$'s.
Automatic Control Systems

From the Publisher: Automatic Control Systems Seventh Edition Benjamin C. Kuo Updated to reflect the increasing use of computer-aided learning and design, the seventh edition of Automatic Control Systems features a new, accessible approach for students taking introductory courses on control systems while retaining the depth and rigor of Benjamin Kuos classic, best-selling text. This new edition integrates several real world applications throughout the text, covering both analysis and design. Other new features include:*demonstration of the solution of complex problems with the aid of computer software*thorough discussion of steady-state error analysis, including nonunity-feedback systems*discussion of circuit realization of controller transfer functions*simplified treatment of Nyquist criterion on systems with nonminimum-phase transfer functions*discussion of time-domain and frequency-domain designs side by side in one chapter*added chapter on design of discrete-data control systemsThe text also includes an abundance of illustrative examples, problems, and marginal notes to highlight important points and comments. Contents include full chapters on:  mathematical foundation  transfer functions, block diagrams, and signal-flow graphs  mathematical modeling of physical systems  state-variable analysis  stability of linear control systems  time-domain analysis of control systems  root-locus techniques  frequency-domain analysis  design of control systems  design of discrete-data control systems
Consistent trends in the true triaxial strength and deformability of cores extracted from ICDP deep scientific holes on three continents

Abstract An extensive true triaxial testing program was carried out on core samples from three ICDP-sponsored deep scientific boreholes, KTB (Germany), SAFOD (United States), and TCDP (Taiwan). The three rocks differ in the processes that formed them and in many of their mechanical properties. However, all three rocks exhibited similar failure mechanism, in which induced or reopened microcracks are primarily aligned with the σ1-σ2 plane, and the developed fault is steeply inclined in the σ3 direction. Rock strength in all tested rocks increases with σ2 when σ3 is kept constant. Thus, the common Mohr-type criteria, which ignore the effect of σ2, typically underestimate rock strength. Rather a 3D criterion that involves all three principal stresses represents well experimental results. Fracture plane slope for the same σ3 steepens as σ2 rises, contrary to Mohr-type criteria. With respect to deformation, the onset of dilatancy increases with σ2. In conclusion, true triaxial tests conducted on cores from three scientific boreholes, revealed important details of mechanical behavior not otherwise observed in conventional triaxial tests. In addition, they show mechanical behavior similarities as related to σ2 effect regardless of rock type.
A New Look at Eddy Diffusivity as a Mixing Diagnostic

Abstract It is shown that the Eulerian-mean advection–diffusion equation for a passive tracer, q, can be cast, uniquely and exactly into where the bar denotes an arbitrary Eulerian average (spatial, temporal, or both), v* is a nondivergent effective transport velocity, and K* is a scalar that varies in space and time. Furthermore, K* = Kk + Km, where Kk represents (possibly nonlocal) along-gradient dispersion of tracer isosurface, whereas represents local mixing due to diffusion at unresolved scales (D) amplified by resolved (but averaged) fluid dynamical stirring. The amplifying factor, |∇q|2/|∇q|2, measures local roughness of tracer field and determines the spatiotemporal structure of Km. This factor is called “mixing efficiency” and it is proposed as a diagnostic of mixing. The mixing efficiency diagnostic is demonstrated using potential vorticity and nitrous oxide from the outputs of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) SKYHI general circulation model (GCM) analyzed on the 320-K isentropic...
RELIGIOUS CHANGE AND ADOLESCENT FAMILY DYNAMICS

Much more has been documented about the influence of religion on parenting practices than on how the former may shape family life from the perspective of adolescents. Building a conceptual model of religion and changing family relations, we assessed the particular influence of adolescent religious change on the dynamics of their relationships with their parents, and overall satisfaction with their families. Employing data from two waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), results suggested that growth in personal religious salience—how important religion is in adolescents' lives—is uniquely and consistently related to better family relations, even after accounting for behavioral changes—such as excessive drinking and drug abuse—that are detrimental to both religiosity and family relations.
Subchronic Exposure to TCDD, PeCDF, PCB126, and PCB153: Effect on Hepatic Gene Expression

We employed DNA microarray to identify unique hepatic gene expression patterns associated with subchronic exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and other halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs). Female Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed for 13 weeks to toxicologically equivalent doses of four different HAHs based on the toxic equivalency factor of each chemical: TCDD (100 ng/kg/day), 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF; 200 ng/kg/day), 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126; 1,000 ng/kg/day), or 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB153; 1,000 microg/kg/day). Global gene expression profiles for each exposure, which account for 8,799 gene probe sets contained on Affymetrix RGU34A GeneChips, were compared by principal components analysis. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands TCDD, PeCDF, and PCB126 produced very similar global gene expression profiles that were unique from the nonAhR ligand PCB153, underscoring the extensive impact of AhR activation and/or the resulting hepatic injury on global gene expression in female rat liver. Many genes were co-expressed during the 13-week TCDD, PeCDF, or PCB126 exposures, including classical AhR-regulated genes and some genes not previously characterized as being AhR regulated, such as carcinoembryonic-cell adhesion molecule 4 (C-CAM4) and adenylate cyclase-associated protein 2 (CAP2). Real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction confirmed the increased expression of these genes in TCDD-, PeCDF-, and PCB126-exposed rats as well as the up- or down-regulation of several other novel dioxin-responsive genes. In summary, DNA microarray successfully identified dioxin-responsive genes expressed after exposure to AhR ligands (TCDD, PeCDF, PCB126) but not after exposure to the non-AhR ligand PCB153. Together, these findings may help to elucidate some of the fundamental features of dioxin toxicity and may further clarify the biologic role of the AhR signaling pathway.
Use of computational modeling in preparation and evaluation of surface imprinted xerogels for binding tetracycline

Linear alkyl alkoxysilanes (methoxy and ethoxy-based) of varying length were used in preparing tetracycline surface imprinted silica xerogels by the sol–gel process. The resulting xerogels were characterized in terms of binding tetracycline (TC) by using tritium-labeled TC. Results showed preferential binding in the ethoxysilane based xerogels in comparison to methoxysilane based xerogels. A computational approach using the interaction energy (IE) between TC and each alkyl alkoxysilane was deduced as a rational way of predicting the formulation that would provide the best analytical performance for a given molecularly imprinted xerogel (MIX). Hartree-Fock calculations revealed an increase in IE as the length of the carbon chain increases until an optimum value at C6 in both alkoxysilanes. This is consistent with the experimental results wherein the C6 xerogel formulation has the highest imprinting factor. These results show the potential of using computational modeling as a rational way of preparing surface imprinted materials.
Suppression of a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in a cesium plasma by passive feedback☆

Abstract An experiment resulting in the suppression of a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability by a passive feedback network is described. Stabilization results in a reduction in ion fluctuation amplitude and an increase in total plasma density.
Copper alloy–stainless steel bonded laminates for fusion reactor applications: crack growth and fatigue

Abstract Fatigue and crack growth in copper alloy–stainless steel bi-layer panels joined by hot isostatic pressing or explosive bonding were tested over the temperature range 25–225°C. Several material combinations under consideration for fusion reactor first wall applications were studied: solid plates of precipitation strengthened CuNiBe or dispersion strengthened CuAl 2 O 3 bonded to a 316L stainless steel plate and Cu–Al 2 O 3 in a powder form consolidated and bonded concurrently to a 316L stainless steel plate. Fatigue and crack growth were measured perpendicular to the interface through the copper alloy. Crack growth was also measured parallel to the interface along the bond line. The solid Cu–Al 2 O 3 –stainless steel laminate exhibited the best perpendicular crack growth resistance and fatigue performance of the bonded panels due primarily to the elongated Cu–Al 2 O 3 grains oriented perpendicular to the crack propagation direction. Before reaching the interface cracks propagating perpendicular to the interface caused delamination in most panels near the copper alloy–stainless steel bond line within the copper alloy. All bi-layer panels displayed minimal resistance to parallel crack growth.
Pancreatic Pseudocysts in Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic pseudocyst in pregnancy is a rare condition whose management is not standardized. STUDY DESIGN: We combine one case report with nine others published in the literature since 1980. The cases are compiled to provide a descriptive review of this condition. RESULTS: The natural history of pancreatic pseudocysts in pregnancy appears similar to that in nongravid patients. Hyperlipidemia is overrepresented as a cause of pancreatic pseudocysts in pregnancy, causing more cases than alcoholic and biliary pancreatitis combined. Seventy-five percent of cases of known parity was primaparous. While in some cases percutaneous or endoscopic drainage was performed antepartum, most patients were conservatively managed until delivery. Despite two cases of successful vaginal delivery, cesarian section may be preferable for large pseudocysts to avert rupture.
Optimal multisensor decision fusion of mine detection algorithms

Numerous detection algorithms, using various sensor modalities, have been developed for the detection of mines in cluttered and noisy backgrounds. The performance for each detection algorithm is typically reported in terms of the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC), which is a plot of the probability of detection versus false alarm as a function of the threshold setting on the output decision variable of each algorithm. In this paper we present multi-sensor decision fusion algorithms that combine the local decisions of existing detection algorithms for different sensors. This offers, in certain situations, an expedient, attractive and much simpler alternative to "starting over" with the redesign of a new algorithm which fuses multiple sensors at the data level. The goal in our multi-sensor decision fusion approach is to exploit complimentary strengths of existing multi-sensor algorithms so as to achieve performance (ROC) that exceeds the performance of any sensor algorithm operating in isolation. Our approach to multi-sensor decision fusion is based on optimal signal detection theory, using the likelihood ratio. We consider the optimal fusion of local decisions for two sensors, GPR (ground penetrating radar) and MD (metal detector). A new robust algorithm for decision fusion is presented that addresses the problem that the statistics of the training data is not likely to exactly match the statistics of the test data. ROC's are presented and compared for real data.
The Case for Transdisciplinarity in Mental Health Promotion

This article discusses historical, epistemological and etymological features associated with the construction of the notions of analysis, method and – principally – discipline in the mental health ...
Azimuthal dependence of coherent light scatter from patterned surfaces

In the past, the theta (measured from the specular beam) dependence of light scattered from particles and features on silicon surfaces have been measured and the results presented. This paper investigates the theta and phi dependence of light scattered from patterned surfaces and patterned surfaces with defects. The focus is to extract the defect position with respect to the feature. This additional information may be used for enhanced detection and characterization of surface defects. Scattering signature variations between features and features with defects are measured and differential scattering cross sections are calculated and compared. The motivation for experimentally measuring scattering signatures is for comparison to numerical model predictions in an effort to verify model accuracy. It is anticipated that some type of model based calibration technique will be required for the next generation laser based wafer scanners due to the complex nature of light scattering from patterned semiconductor surfaces.
Four-photon-resonant third-harmonic generation in Hg

A tunable resonant enhancement of third-harmonic and sum-frequency generation is observed at four-photon resonance with the 7(1)S, 6(1)D, and 6(3)D levels and at five-photon resonance with 9(1)P levels of atomic mercury. The causes of this resonant enhancement are examined and appear to include a nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear mixing of order 5 and higher. A perturbative treatment of the nonlinearities is found to be inadequate.
Redox sensing and histidine oxidation: no longer PerR-fect strangers

Oxidation of cysteine residues is a well-described means of sensing oxidative stress. Analysis of a bacterial transcriptional repressor protein indicates that metal-catalyzed oxidation of histidine residues can provide oxidative stress control in a cysteine-independent fashion.
The pathologic basis of facial nerve stimulation in otosclerosis and multi-channel cochlear implantation.

Unintentional electrical excitation of the facial nerve is a well-known complication of using a cochlear implant (CI) to stimulate the cochlear nerve. Facial nerve stimulation (FNS) restricts optimal use of a cochlear implant and often requires reprogramming of the stimulating strategy (1,2). In some cases, FNS results in such severe discomfort or limited stimulation range that the cochlear implant is essentially useless, which leads to explantation and reimplantation (3–5). Facial nerve stimulation includes visible facial spasm as well as milder subjective symptoms of tingling and sometimes facial pain (1,2). Kelsall et al. proposed a grading scale for FNS in which grade I is “no stimulation” and grade VI is “total stimulation” which is defined as “severe gross motion of total facial musculature and/or severe pain” (1). While the reported incidence of FNS varies between 0.9 and 14.9 %(1,4,6–9) in the general population of implanted patients, some etiologies such as temporal bone fracture, cochlear malformation and otosclerosis have been associated with a higher incidence of FNS (4,7–12). The rate of FNS in patients with otosclerosis has been reported as high as 78 % of implanted patients (2,4,13,14). Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the higher incidence of FNS in patients with otosclerosis. Otosclerosis is a disorder of bone metabolism affecting the enchondral bone of the otic capsule. The dysplastic bone consists of areas of resorption, vascular proliferation, cavitation and spongiosis, sclerotic bone formation and a connective tissue matrix (15,16). The otospongiosis may reduce the impedance of bone, which may facilitate a shunt of current from the electrode toward the nearby facial nerve (17,18). The positions of intracochlear electrode contacts most likely to excite the facial nerve are typically located in the upper basal turn of cochlea (mid-array contacts). The proximity of this location to the labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve suggests that pathologic involvement of the bone between the labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve and the upper basal turn of the cochlea is important in the pathophysiology of FNS(1,8,14,17). The design of the electrode array has been reported as an additional important variable with FNS being less frequent in implants with a perimodiolar electrode design than with a straight electrode (19–21). The potential cause of FNS and why some patients with extensive otosclerosis do not have FNS while others do, remains unclear. In this temporal bone study of 11 subjects with otosclerosis who used a cochlear implant in life, we test whether specific pathologic factors are associated with FNS.
Multi-layered handwriting recognition approach

Abstract Fuzzy logic has been proved to be a powerful tool to represent imprecise and irregular patterns. Thus the representation of handwriting parameters is accomplished with fuzzy linguistic modeling. The development of a multi-layered rule based handwriting recognition system FOHRES is described.
Anomalous ε β + Decay Branching Ratios: A Theoretical Explanation

Anomalous $\frac{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}{{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{+}}$ branching ratios for hindered allowed transitions in $^{145}\mathrm{Gd}$ and $^{143}\mathrm{Sm}$ decay are explained in terms of second-order corrections to normal allowed theory. These calculations lead to correction factors as large as 1000 in nuclei near $Z=80$, and explain a smaller anomaly for $^{22}\mathrm{Na}$ decay. A simplified equation is presented to estimate skew ratios, $\frac{{(\frac{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}{{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{+}})}_{\mathrm{expt}}}{{(\frac{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}{{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{+}})}_{\mathrm{theor}}}$, for moderately hindered transitions.
Evolution and facial action in reflex, social motive, and paralanguage

Abstract Based upon current evolutionary theory and recent laboratory and field data, this paper introduces a behavioral-ecology view of human facial displays that contrasts with previous views of faces as innate, prototypic, “iconic” expressions of fundamental emotions. First, I detail the criteria for establishing genetic and epigenetic contributions to facial behavior. Under these criteria, cross-cultural communality in canonical facial displays implies neither their genetic control nor their fundamental relation to emotion. New findings reestablish phylogenetic continuity by showing that human facial displays and vigilance for them, like their nonhuman counterparts, coevolve in the service of social motives; faces issued in solitude typically reflect imaginary or implicit interaction. Two evolutionary trends are probably involved in shaping facial actions — emancipation of reflexes, and automatization of instrumental acts. Modern conceptions of genetic and cultural evolution, and knowledge about animal signaling, suggest new hypotheses regarding the origins and functions of facial displays. In so doing, they clarify how facial displays relate to reflexion, motive and intention, emotion and psychophysiology, and language and paralanguage.
Improving Community-Based Conservation Near Protected Areas: The Importance of Development Variables

Community-based conservation projects implemented in conjunction with protected area management often struggle to meet expectations. This article argues that outcomes will improve if project leaders pay closer attention to four development indicators—rights, capacity, governance, and revenue—that are often taken for granted or considered beyond the scope of local conservation projects. I make the case for focusing on these variables in four steps. First, I distinguish community-based conservation linked to protected area management from community-based institutions studied by scholars of the commons. Second, I draw on the theory and practice of international development to highlight the central relevance of the variables highlighted in this article to development projects at all levels. Third, I discuss the four variables in some detail, considering problems of definition and measurement and reviewing possible interactions among them. Fourth, to illustrate the influence of the variables in particular cases, I review outcomes from community-based conservation projects implemented near protected areas in El Salvador and Zimbabwe.