cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Total grit scale score does not represent perseverance.

In PNAS, Jachimowicz et al. (1) claim that the results from a three-study investigation show that passion moderates the perseverance–performance relationship such that the relationship is stronger when passion is high. Their metaanalysis (study 1) is characterized by a series of questionable decisions and coding errors, but my primary concern is that the findings of all three studies are based on a statistical error. Because of space limitations, I focus this letter only on this primary concern. The two grit scales (2, 3) were developed to measure two aspects … [↵][1]1Email: mcrede{at}iastate.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Conductive surface oxide on CrN(001) layers

Epitaxial CrN(001) layers that are exposed to an O2-containing atmosphere exhibit a conductive 2D surface oxide with a sheet conductance Gs,oxide = 5.9 × 10−5 [Ω/◻]−1. This is demonstrated using in situ transport measurements in a 90% Ar–10% O2 mixture with continuously increasing pressure from <10−6 to 240 Pa, showing a conductance increase that is independent of the CrN thickness d = 10 and 300 nm but is absent for control samples that are capped with insulating AlN prior to oxygen exposure. This suggests n-type doping of semiconducting CrN through substitutional replacement of N surface atoms with O. Cooling to 77 K leads to a decrease in Gs,oxide to 3.9 × 10−5 [Ω/◻]−1, indicating that the conduction electrons are not fully delocalized. The overall results indicate a path towards 2D electron transport devices in refractory transition metal nitrides and may explain the large variation in previously reported transport properties of CrN.
Parametric Studies of Laser Generated Ultrasonic Signals in Ablative Regime: Time and Frequency Domains

A laser pulse incident on a material may generate ultrasound by means of two different phenomena: thermoelastic effect at low power density and ablation effect at high power density. Ablative generation of ultrasound is necessary for some critical applications such as on-line weld quality monitoring in which strong signals are required to compensate the elevated temperature and the long path length. While the waveform in time domain has been discussed extensively in the literature, there is little knowledge about the frequency components of laser ultrasound, although this information is necessary for practical applications. In this paper, analytical results from both thermoelastic and ablative regimes are reviewed. Laser ultrasonic signals (longitudinal waves and surfaces waves) generated by laser ablation are measured in a number of metal samples (2024 A1, 6061 A1, 7075 A1, mild steel, and copper) with a broadband laser interferometer. The frequency spectra are analyzed and compared for different thicknesses (50.8 mm, 25.4 mm, 12.7 mm, and 6.4 mm) and for different power densities. Hanning windowing is applied to the longitudinal pulses in time domain before frequency analysis is performed. The experimental data match the theoretical predictions very well. The results show that the frequency spectrum extends from 0 to 15 MHz, while the center frequency occurs near 2 MHz. The detailed distribution of the spectrum is dependent on the material, thickness, and laser power density.
Unintentional forgetting is beyond cognitive control

Intentional forgetting refers to the attempt to marshal top-down control to purposefully forget, and has been demonstrated in the laboratory using directed forgetting paradigms. Here, we asked whether the mechanisms of top-down control can run in the opposite direction to prevent the forgetting of information; that is, can we actively resist unintentional forgetting? Recognition-induced forgetting is an unintentional forgetting effect in which accessing one memory leads to the forgetting of related memories. Just as intentional forgetting possesses intuitively appealing control over eliminating undesirable memories, resisting unintentional forgetting over desired memories would improve cognitive performance. We showed subjects a 9-min video to teach them about the recognition-induced forgetting paradigm and how recognition of certain objects unintentionally leads to forgetting of semantically related objects. After testing their comprehension of the video, we conducted a typical recognition-induced forgetting experiment and challenged the subjects to resist this form of unintentional forgetting. Despite their knowledge of the forgetting effect, and the challenge to subjects to resist the forgetting induced by the paradigm, recognition-induced forgetting persisted. These results show that knowledge of this unintentional forgetting phenomenon and the challenge to resist forgetting do not eliminate it, suggesting that it is cognitively impenetrable.
Parabiosis between obese (OS) and normal strain chicken embryos. Examination of skin grafts, lymphocyte chimerism and autoimmune thyroiditis.

Embryos of the Obese strain (OS) of chickens, a strain with spontaneously occurring autoimmune thyroiditis, were parabiosed with embryos derived from two normal strains by chorioallantoic membrane anastomosis. The chicks, which hatched shortly after these membranes dried, developed separately. They were examined for the presence of thyroiditis and for the effectiveness of the parabiosis procedure in transferring blood-borne factors. It was observed that the parabiosis procedure was at least partially effective in that it resulted in prolonged skin graft survival in most instances, and in the development of lymphoid cell chimerism in four of fourteen chickens, still detectable 7 weeks after hatching. Parabiosis failed to have any significant effect on the development of thyroiditis in the OS or on the normal strains in three separate experiments; the OS chicks developed severe thyroiditis and the normal chicks remained normal. This suggests a lack of pathogenic agents in the bloodstream of OS embryos.
A pilot study of the performance of captive-reared delta smelt Hypomesus transpacificus in a semi-natural environment.

A captive breeding programme was developed in 2008 for delta smelt Hypomesus transpacificus in reaction to dramatic population decline over several decades. We took 526 sub-adult captive-reared delta smelt and cultured them for 200 days without providing artificial food or water quality management to assess their performance once released in the wild. The results indicated captive-reared sub-adult delta smelt could survive in a semi-natural environment with uncontrolled water quality and naturally produced wild prey through spawning and into their post spawning phase.
Human Pegivirus Infection and Lymphoma Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background Human pegivirus (HPgV) is a single-strand RNA virus belonging to the Flaviviridae. Although no definitive association between HPgV infection and disease has been identified, previous studies have suggested an association of HPgV viremia with risk of lymphomas. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, including 1 cohort study and 14 case-control studies, assessing the association of HPgV viremia with adult lymphomas. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model, overall and by geographic region and lymphoma subtype. Results The overall OR for lymphoma was 2.85 (95% CI, 1.98-4.11), with statistically significantly elevated ORs observed in 8 of 15 studies. There was a small amount of heterogeneity among studies (I2 = 28.9%; Q = 18.27, P = .16), and the funnel plot provided no evidence for publication bias. The strongest association with lymphoma risk was observed for studies from Southern Europe (OR, 5.68 [95% CI, 1.98-16.3]), whereas weaker ORs (with 95% CIs) were observed for studies from North America (2.24 [1.76-2.85]), Northern Europe (2.90 [.45-18.7), and the Middle East (2.51 [.87-7.27]), but all of similar magnitude. Participants with HPgV viremia had statistically significantly increased risks (OR [95% CI]) for developing diffuse large B-cell (3.29 [1.63-6.62]), follicular (3.01 [1.95-4.63]), marginal zone (1.90 [1.13-3.18]), and T-cell (2.11 [1.17-3.89]) lymphomas, while the risk for Hodgkin lymphoma (3.53 [.48-25.9]) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (1.45 [.45-4.66]) were increased but did not achieve statistical significance. Conclusions This meta-analysis supports a positive association of HPgV viremia with lymphoma risk, overall and for the major lymphoma subtypes.
Low-Dimensional Decomposition of Manifolds in Presence of Outliers

Existing approaches to robust subspace recovery and outlier identification decompose the data into low-rank plus sparse matrices corresponding to inliers and outliers, respectively. This paper considers a more generalized scheme, whereby the data is decomposed into two components, one corresponding to inliers belonging to low-dimensional manifolds and one to outliers not conforming to the inliers’ structure. The inliers may not form a low-rank matrix, nor the outliers a sparse one. An informative encoding of the data is obtained through a kernel-based setting, which captures the underlying structure of the manifold effectively, and leads to a distinguishable representation of outliers from inliers. We introduce a novel measure, gauging each point’s ability to represent the whole dataset, through which we certify the identity of a data point to be an inlier or an outlier. An efficient and parallelizable algorithm is developed to improve the scalability of the resulting convex program. Finally, the superiority of the proposed method is showcased with regard to resilience to considerable numbers of random outliers, and robustness to structured outliers and noise components for manifold data.
Dual mental health diagnoses predict the receipt of medication-assisted opioid treatment: Associations moderated by state Medicaid expansion status, race/ethnicity and gender, and year.

Abstract Background Mental health diagnoses (MHD) are common among those with opioid use disorders (OUD). Methadone/buprenorphine are effective medication-assisted treatment (MAT) strategies; however, treatment receipt is low among those with dual MHDs. Medicaid expansions have broadly increased access to OUD and mental health services over time, but MAT uptake may vary depending on multiple factors, including MHD status, state Medicaid expansion decisions, and race/ethnicity and gender. Examining clinical and policy approaches to promoting MAT uptake may improve services among marginalized groups. Methods MAT treatment discharges were identified using the Treatment Episodes Dataset–Discharges (TEDS-D; 2014–2017) (n = 1,400,808). We used multivariate logistic regression to model MAT receipt using interactions and adjusted for several potential confounders. Results Nearly one-third of OUD treatment discharges received MAT. Dual MHDs in both expansion and non-expansion states were positively associated with MAT uptake over time. Dual MHDs were negatively associated with MAT receipt only among American Indian/Alaska Native women residing in Medicaid expansion states (aOR = 0.58, 95 % CI = 0.52-0.66, p Conclusion Disparities in MAT utilization are nuanced and vary widely depending on dual MHD status, Medicaid expansion, and race/ethnicity/gender. Medicaid is beneficial but not a universal treatment panacea. Clinical decisions to initiate MAT are dependent on multiple factors and should be tailored to meet the needs of high-risk, historically disadvantaged clients.
Beam-Steering in 2D via Non-Linear Mapping of 1D Beam-Steering

A laser phased array capable of 1D beam-steering can be adapted to scanning a path in 2D using free-space optics or integrated phase plates.
Effects of Group Composition and Consensus Training on the Assembly Effect

In light of the growing reliance on teams to solve the complex problems faced in organizations, research that demonstrates how team performance can be improved beyond the performance of individuals is warranted. This study investigated whether group performance could be significantly improved by forming groups with members heterogeneous in informationprocessing preferences, as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and by providing those groups with training to facilitate consensus on the group's solution to a complex, multistage decision task. Comparisons of assembly effect occurrences (i.e., solutions of higher quality than those that could be achieved by any individual within the group working alone) among undergraduate student groups (N = 38) differing in composition (homogeneous vs. heterogeneous) and mode of consensual training (trained vs. not trained) were conducted through a nonparametric statistical analysis. The results of the analysis supported only the hypothesis predicting that the proportion of trained groups producing the assembly effect would be significantly greater, statistically, than that of the not-trained groups. However, a statistically significant interaction effect in a nonhypothesized direction was found. Implications and recommendations based on the findings are offered. EFFECTS OF GROUP COMPOSITION AND CONSENSUS TRAINING ON THE ASSEMBLY EFFECT In recent years, there has been a virtual explosion of foreign organizations vying for a share of the world's industrial markets. In response, American organizations have made concerted efforts to remain competitive through increased productivity, quality, and responsiveness to the needs of customers. Among these efforts is the replacement of traditional, autocratic management structures with self-managed work teams in the hopes that teams of personnel can more effectively solve the often complex and ambiguous problems faced in organizations (Bunning & Althisar, 1990; Wilgus, 1991). Organizations' growing reliance on teams over individuals to solve organizational problems is likely based on the belief that teams can produce what Collins and Guetzkow (1964) term the "assembly effect" (i.e., solutions of higher quality than those that could be achieved by any individual within that team working alone). In general, groups do appear to produce both more and better solutions than the average individual (Hill, 1982). However, as Salazar (1995) notes, "the literature is replete with historical and laboratory examples of cases in which groups do not perform in a manner consistent with the abilities of their members" (p. 170). In fact, in many instances groups actually produce solutions of poorer quality than might be expected given the knowledge, skills, and abilities of its members. Thus, the actual benefit derived from establishing
Separation in the Municipal Debt Market Following GASB 34 Implementation

Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 34 (GASB 34), issued in 1999 with required implementation beginning in 2002, comprehensively and substantially changed the financial reporting model for state and local governments. Evidence reported in this study supports the notion that GASB 34 implementation created meaningful separation in the municipal debt market. High financial governments delayed, and low financial quality governments accelerated, new debt issuances in anticipation of GASB 34 implementation. Following GASB 34, high financial quality governments issued less insured debt and used greater debt relative to alternative financing sources (when compared with low financial quality governments). These results both support the efficacy of GASB 34 implementation and inform ongoing GASB deliberations regarding the financial reporting model for state and local governments.
Role of Plasmids in the Ecology and Evolution of “High-Risk” Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli Clones

Bacterial plasmids have been linked to virulence in Escherichia coli and Salmonella since their initial discovery. Though the plasmid repertoire of these bacterial species is extremely diverse, virulence-associated attributes tend to be limited to a small subset of plasmid types. This is particularly true for extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli, or ExPEC, where a handful of plasmids have been recognized to confer virulence- and fitness-associated traits. The purpose of this review is to highlight the biological and genomic attributes of ExPEC virulence-associated plasmids, with an emphasis on high-risk dominant ExPEC clones. Two specific plasmid types are highlighted to illustrate the independently evolved commonalities of these clones relative to plasmid content. Furthermore, the dissemination of these plasmids within and between bacterial species is examined. These examples demonstrate the evolution of high-risk clones toward common goals, and they show that rare transfer events can shape the ecological landscape of dominant clones within a pathotype.
Exercise 19: Complement Fixation Assays

The complement system is composed of more than 50 proteins that function in three pathways: the classical, alternate and lectin pathways. Each pathway is composed of a series of steps. Some of these steps involve the activation of complement components that are proenzymes to enzymatically active forms, which use the next components in the sequence as substrates. Complement fixation (activation) is studied by measuring the degree of lysis of sheep red blood cells that occurs in the presence of specific antibody. Complement fixation is an extremely sensitive assay that detects the presence of IgM and IgG directed against a specific antigen. In order to detect the classical complement pathway, complement depletion is measured by the binding of antigen and antibody. An indicator system which indicates if complement remains unbound or bound, consists of sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) and antiSRBC (i.e. hemolysin). If specific antibody is present in the test sample, complement will bind to the antigen-antibody complex and will not be available to lyse the SRBCs (positive test for complement). If no specific antibody is present, the complement is free to bind hemolysin, which is bound to SRBCs. This results in hemolysis of the SRBCs (negative test for complement). By titrating the unknown antibody or antigen a complement fixing titer can be obtained. This will yield a quantitative measure of the specific antibody in the system.
Dielectric Constant Extraction for Microstrip Transmission Lines Based on S-parameter Measurements and Cross-section

In this paper, a new dielectric constant extraction method for the microstrip substrate material is proposed, which is based on measured S-parameter and cross-section analysis of the transmission lines. The calculation process is detailed and application examples are given. The phase constant is calculated from the measured S-parameters. By analyzing the cross-section geometry using a 2D solver, the per-unit-length inductance and capacitance of the air-filled line are obtained. Then using analytical expressions, the dielectric constant of the substrate is extracted from the effective dielectric constant. Comparing to the published method that requires knowing the characteristic impedance of the line, the new method will introduce less error to the extraction procedure and will provide more accurate results.
Spontaneous diabetes mellitus in the Chinese hamster: an electron microscopic study of the islets of langerhans.

Islets of Langerhans of 15 Chinese hamsters (7 diabetic and 8 either related or unrelated controls of the same sex and age) have been examined by electron microscopy. Beta cells of control animals predominate and have abundant granules most of which are vesicles of varying sizes with a pale granular or homogeneous content. Only a few have a dense central core or irregular dense central bar. Alpha cells have uniformly round, dense, membrane-limited granules and are sparse except at the periphery of the islet. Early in diabetes mellitus beta cells are abundant but either agranular or in various stages of glycogen storage. Late in the disease the islets are reduced to almost all alpha cells, the beta cells having gradually disappeared.
War and Gender Performance

AbstractThe 2006 war in Lebanon that erupted between Hezbollah and Israel marked the largest evacuation of Americans abroad since World War II. This article captures the experiences of Lebanese-American women and investigates how gender identity was expressed during these evacuations. Presented from the point of view of a participant-observer and personal interviews, findings show that gender became a master identity that influenced these women's choices regarding how to escape the country and return to the United States. Some embraced dependency upon masculinist exercises of power while others claimed agency as they determined their own fate and carried out their own evacuation without waiting to be rescued by the state or male kin members. The evacuation stories in this article confirm and illuminate the complexity of ethnic citizenship and gendered agency.
An Analysis of Biomolecular Force Fields for Simulations of Polyglutamine in Solution

Polyglutamine (polyQ) peptides are a useful model system for biophysical studies of protein folding and aggregation, both for their intriguing aggregation properties and their own relevance to human disease. The genetic expansion of a polyQ tract triggers the formation of amyloid aggregates associated with nine neurodegenerative diseases. Several clearly identifiable and separable factors, notably the length of the polyQ tract, influence the mechanism of aggregation, its associated kinetics, and the ensemble of structures formed. Atomistic simulations are well positioned to answer open questions regarding the thermodynamics and kinetics of polyQ folding and aggregation. The additional, explicit representation of water permits deeper investigation of the role of solvent dynamics, and it permits a direct comparison of simulation results with infrared spectroscopy experiments. The generation of meaningful simulation results hinges on satisfying two essential criteria: achieving sufficient conformational sampling to draw statistically valid conclusions, and accurately reproducing the intermolecular forces that govern system structure and dynamics. In this work, we examine the ability of 12 biomolecular force fields to reproduce the properties of a simple, 30-residue polyQ peptide (Q30) in explicit water. In addition to secondary and tertiary structure, we consider generic structural properties of polymers that provide additional dimensions for analysis of the highly degenerate disordered states of the molecule. We find that the 12 force fields produce a wide range of predictions. We identify AMBER ff99SB, AMBER ff99SB∗, and OPLS-AA/L to be most suitable for studies of polyQ folding and aggregation.
Market-Consistent Valuation of Insurance Liabilities by Cost of Capital

This paper investigates market-consistent valuation of insurance liabilities in the context of Solvency II among others and to some extent IFRS 4. We propose an explicit and consistent framework for the valuation of insurance liabilities which incorporates the Solvency II approach as a special case. The proposed framework is based on replication over multiple (one-year) time periods by a periodically updated portfolio of assets with reliable market prices, allowing for “limited liability” in the sense that the replication can in general not always be continued. The asset portfolio consists of two parts: (1) assets whose market price defi nes the value of the insurance liabilities, and (2) capital funds used to cover risk which cannot be replicated. The capital funds give rise to capital costs; the main exogenous input in the framework is the condition on when the investment of the capital funds is acceptable. We investigate existence of the value and show that the exact calculation of the value has to be done recursively backwards in time, starting at the end of the lifetime of the insurance liabilities. We derive upper bounds on the value and, for the special case of replication by risk-free one-year zero-coupon bonds, explicit recursive formulas for calculating the value. In the paper, we only partially consider the question of the uniqueness of the value. Valuation in Solvency II and IFRS 4 is based on representing the value as a sum of a “best estimate” and a “risk margin”. In our framework, it turns out that this split is not natural. Nonetheless, we show that a split can be constructed as a simplifi cation, and that it provides an upper bound on the value under suitable conditions. We illustrate the general results by explicitly calculating the value for a simple example.
Formation of a Pt1Sn1(niggliite)–silica xerogel nanocomposite using a PtSn (1:1) organometallic precursor

Abstract Covalent incorporation of a complex containing a bifunctional thiolate substituent and a 1:1 Pt:Sn metal core stoichiometry into a silica xerogel matrix is accomplished using sol–gel processing. Thermal degradation of this complex–silica xerogel composite under solely reducing conditions affords a nanocomposite material in which the nanocluster phase has the Pt 1 Sn 1 composition of niggliite. The use of a PtSn (1:1) complex as a single-source molecular precursor for the formation of a Pt 1 Sn 1 –silica xerogel nanocomposite is demonstrated.
Epidermal homeostasis — a numerical model. Kinetics of epidermal cells

Un modele cinetique simple a ete developpe pour l'epiderme; les lois cinetiques de premier ordre peuvent lui etre appliquees fructueusement. Il est envisage que la regulation homeostatique de l'epiderme peut se faire par l'ajustement des quantites de nourriture qui lui parviennent. Le flux nutritif atteignant l'epiderme est compose du flux de diffusion, qui predomine normalement, et du flux actionne par l'evaporation, a la surface de la peau, de l'eau provenant de l'ultra-filtrat du serum. Ce dernier pourrait predominer quand l'epiderme aurait ete lese, et serait augmente quand la peau ne constituerait pas une barriere suffisante au passage de l'eau.
Renaissance non‐humanism: plants, animals, machines, matter

This review article considers the turn to non-humans – plants, animals, machines, and inanimate matter – within Renaissance studies. Taking four recent monographs as its central examples, the article argues that critical interest in the non-human should not be understand as indicative of an emerging post-humanistic era, but rather as part of a new humanism, one which finally acknowledges Man's inescapable enmeshment within a larger ecology of organic and non-organic agents.
Periodontology: Present Status and Future Concepts

1. Etiology and Pathogenesis of Periodontal Diseases (Tatakis) 2. Epidemiology of Periodontal Diseases (Albandar) 3. Risk Factors, Biomarkers and Diagnosis of Periodontal Diseases (Giannobile) 4. Prevention of Periodontal Diseases (Dentino) 5. Nutritional Aspects of, and Herbal Remedies for, Periodontal Diseases (Schifferle) 6. Non-Surgical Approaches for Treatment of Periodontal Diseases (Ryan) 7. Regeneration Techniques for Treatment of Periodontal Diseases (Wang) 8. Treatment and Prevention of Peri-Implantitis (Klinge) 9. Systemic Effects of Periodontal Diseases (Scannapieco) 10. Future Treatment Strategies for Periodontal Diseases (Tenenbaum)
Metabolism of alpha-glycerol phosphate in human adipose tissue in obesity.

ABSTRACT 1. 1. Experiments were carried out to examine the possibility that a metabolic defect underlies the development of some types of obesity in man. Glycerol phosphate, which is an obligatory acyl acceptor for lipogenesis in human adipose tissue, is formed by a cytoplasmic L-aglycerophosphate dehydrogenase whose activity in adipose tissue of lean and obese patients was, respectively: 36 ± 4 (7)3 and 20 ± 2 (7) mμxmoles NADH/min/mg protein (p <.01). 2. 2. α-Glycerol phosphate can be oxidized by mitochondria of human adipose tissue at a rate of: 14.2 ± 2.2 (8) and 6.9 ± 1.8 (7) μl O2/30 min/mg protein in lean and obese patients, respectively (p < 0.02). Since α-glycerol phosphate is present oxidation of α-glycerol phosphate by mitochondria contributes in part to the development of obesity by increasing the supply of α-glycerol phosphate for lipogenesis. 3. 3. Not all obese patients displayed this mitochondrial deficiency. Three patients were studied in whom an intracranial lesion was possibly responsib...
Morphogenesis of the ovarian interstitial tissue in the neonatal mouse

The development of the mouse ovarian interstitial tissue was examined by light and electron microscopy at postnatal days 9, 10, 11, 12, and 18. Prior to day 12 the ovarian stroma is composed of fibroblast-like cells. These cells contain rough endoplasmic reticulum, elongate mitochondria with lamellar cristae, and lipid bodies which appear uniformly electron opaque. On postnatal day 12 islands of lipid containing cells are seen deep in the interfollicular stroma. These cells referred to as interstitial cells have rounded mitochondria with tubular cristae, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, lipid bodies with extracted centers, well-developed Golgi complexes, and solitary cilia lacking the central tubular elements. By postnatal day 18 similar cells are seen in the thecal regions of normal appearing follicles. Also seen in the theca are cells whose cytoplasm contains characteristics of both fibroblasts and interstitial cell. It is proposed that the interstitial cells develop from the fibroblast-like stromal cells, that this development proceeds in a wave from deep in the interfollicular tissue toward the follicle, and that the interstitial cells are the source of ovarian steroid production during this period of development.
A measurement-error model for binary and ordinal regression.

Exposure assessment poses special problems in air pollution epidemiology. This paper proposes a probit regression model for binary and ordinal outcomes that uses exposure validation information to develop estimates for the coefficient of the true exposure when only the inaccurate ‘surrogate’ measure of exposure is available for the individuals in the health study. This method is closely related to recently developed measurement-error methods, and is based on the assumption that the outcome and the surrogate exposure are conditionally independent given the true exposure. A test statistic is proposed for checking this conditional independence assumption when more than one surrogate is available, and an interpretation of the coefficient estimate is provided in the event that the assumption is violated. The methods are applied to an example involving nitrogen dioxide exposure and wheeze in children.
Comparisons of weekday–weekend ozone: importance of biogenic volatile organic compound emissions in the semi-arid southwest USA

Abstract This paper examines differences between daily maximum weekday and weekend ambient ozone concentrations in the Tucson, AZ metropolitan area. Temporal variations in the Weekend Effect (i.e. weekend ozone concentrations are larger than weekday concentrations) are not explained entirely by changes in anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursor chemicals (i.e. nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds). A dramatic change from the Weekend Effect in June to the Weekday Effect (i.e. weekday ozone concentrations are larger than weekend concentrations) in July is associated with the onset of the North American Monsoon. A transition from a relatively dry atmosphere during the arid foresummer months of May and June to a relatively moist atmosphere during the monsoon months of July and August seems to explain the changes in ozone concentrations. Moist conditions are associated with increases in biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions in the urban forest and surrounding desert areas. BVOC emissions appear to be an important source of VOCs, especially during the monsoon months. Therefore, an increase in ambient BVOC concentrations from June to July presumably reverses the sensitivity of ozone production in the Tucson area from VOC- to NOx-sensitive.
Droplet Evaporation and Discharge Dynamics in Electrospray Ionization

We present measurements of the distributions of droplet size and charge along with, for selected droplets, the variation of droplet size and charge with time for electrosprays of methanol, acetonitrile, and water, as well as for methanol at different polarities and electrolyte concentrations. These measurements are performed using a new technique for measuring droplet size and charge that uses phase Doppler interferometry for obtaining droplet size and inferring droplet charge from comparison of measured and calculated droplet mobility in a constant electric field. For selected droplets, multiple measurements of the size and charge are performed by repeated reversal of the drift field. This “ping-pong” experiment tracks droplet size and charge for loss of up to 99.9% of the initial droplet volume. We observe that droplet instability, referred to as a discharge event, mainly occurs near or above the Rayleigh limit of charge, resulting in a charge loss of 15−20% for methanol and acetonitrile and 20−40% in t...
Depressive symptoms and adaptive style in children with cancer.

Abstract Objective: This article explores the relationship between a repressive style of adaptation and depressive symptomatology. Methods: Thirty-one adolescent cancer patients were compared with 83 healthy high school students. Subjects with repressive adaptation were identified as those reporting low anxiety and high defensiveness. Depressive symptomatology was measured by self-report. Results: Patients with cancer reported significantly lower levels of depression, and a significantly higher proportion were identified as repressors. Repressor status accounted for significant variance in depression over that explained by illness. Conclusions: Adaptive style may be common in medically ill children and may directly and indirectly influence psychological and medical outcome.
Children With Developmental Disabilities

Because teachers manage and instruct students through verbal communication, it would seem logical that improvement of pupil's abilities to detect and attend to the teacher's speech could improve pu...
Effects of hints and interpolated activity on solution of an insight problem

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of hints and interpolated activity on Ss’ behavior in trying to solve the hatrack problem. Results indicated that the “ceiling hint” was more effective in facilitating solution than the “clamp hint” but that interpolated activity alone was ineffective. In both experiments, Ss achieving low scores on the Gestalt transformations test responded to a hint more rapidly when it was given during continuous work compared to giving the hint after a period of interpolated activity; in contrast, high scorers responded more rapidly to a hint given after interpolated activity. Discussion centered on the conditions under which positive effects of interpolated activity might be expected.
Proteoglycan production by bovine granulosa cells in vitro occurs in response to fsh.

Abstract Bovine granulosa cells from small (1–9 mm) or large (10–20 mm) follicles were incubated in a chemically defined medium containing 5 μCi/ml [3H]glucosamine, gonadotropins or polypeptide hormones, 8-Br-cAMP, theophylline or trifluoperazine (TFP). Radiolabeled proteoglycans were precipitated with 10% phosphotungstic acid. Maximum incorporation of isotope occurred in 45–60 min. Radiolabeled products were completely hydrolyzed with chondroitinase ABC. FSH, but not LH or hCG, yielded a significant log-dose response. High doses of hCG inhibited the ability of granulosa to respond to FSH. No other hormone altered the FSH dose-response curve. Addition of 8-Br-cAMP or theophylline mimicked the FSH response. The FSH effect was blocked by TFP, an inhibitor of calmodulin, but cAMP or theophylline overcame the effect of TFP. No distinct difference in response to these various compounds was noted between granulosa from small or large follicles. This system provides a biochemical marker for evaluating a mechanism of action for FSH.
Thermodynamics of higher dimensional black holes

Abstract We discuss the thermodynamics of higher dimensional black holes with particular emphasis on a new class of spinning black holes which, due to the increased number of Casimir invariants, have additional spin degrees of freedom. In suitable limits, analytic solutions in arbitrary dimensions are presented for their temperature, entropy, and specific heat. In 5 + 1 and 9 + 1 dimensions, more general forms for these quantities are given. It is shown that the specific heat for a higher dimensional black hole is negative definite if it has only one non-zero spin parameter, regardless of the value of this parameter. We also consider equilibrium configurations with both massless particles and massive string modes.
Reminiscence, Adaptation, and Social Context in Old Age

It is commonly believed that reminiscence is adaptive in late life, but the sparse research on this topic has produced mixed results. This article suggests that one reason for inconsistent findings is the failure to consider social contexts. Interview data from three subgroups of residents of two retirement communities (widowed men, widowed women, and single women; N = 43) revealed sharp differences in the relationship between key aspects of reminiscence and two measures of adaptation (life satisfaction and self-esteem). For widowed men, elaboration of memories, life reviewing, and high importance of others were associated with positive adaptation, but the reverse was true for widowed women. Single women were intermediate, but those who had high peer contact were most similar to the adaptive pattern of the widowed women. Widowed men with high peer contact were most different from the widowed women. Several explanations for these differences are considered, including gender-role differences, life-course co...
Proposed delusional depression subtypes: preliminary evidence from a retrospective study of phenomenology and treatment course

An analysis of the phenomenology and treatment course of 52 subjects with delusional depression suggests that there may be various subtypes: bipolar, early-onset unipolar and possibly a late-onset unipolar. The bipolar subgroup tended to relapse in different but always psychotic directions, and was resistant to lithium carbonate treatment alone. Treatment refractoriness, delusional depressive recurrences, and a dementia-like presentation were associated with a small late-onset subgroup. A high rate of delusionally depressive relapses also characterized the early-onset unipolar group, however, patients with single episodes were found only in this subgroup.
Effect of external whole-body x-irradiation on gallium-67 retention in mouse tissues.

irradiation. In contrast to decreased uptake in soft tissues, "6Ga concentration in whole femur increased after irradiation. Blood levels decreased rapidly in irradiated mice (67Ga injected 24 hr after 450 R) between 1 and 2 hr after administration of the radionuclide. Two hours after injection, its concentration was approximately 15% of that in nonirradiated, control animals. We conclude that decreased 67Ga retention in mice after x-irradiation is in part due to an effect on a relatively radiosensitive, as yet unidentified blood or serum component that normally binds the radioisotope. Other as yet un
Advanced cooling technology for rotors of high-power low-duty cycle generators using polyalphaolefins

Experimental and numerical studies of heat transfer distribution on rotors of high-power low-duty cycle electrical machines are performed to investigate the temperature distribution across the rotor core and winding insulation that determines the performance of rotor cooling techniques. Studies are performed to verify the selected cooling technique and coolant, and to determine the maximum heat load on the rotor and on the insulation material of the windings. The coolant used is polyalphaolefin (PAO) oil that can be used both as a coolant and lubricant. The boundary conditions investigated in this study are those existing on actual rotors of electric machines. The results show that the maximum temperature in the rotor conductors is found in the windings end turn and the maximum temperature in the insulation material of the rotor conductors could reach high values but still within the allowable maximum temperature limits. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Absolute instabilities and self-sustained oscillations in the wake of circular cylinders.

The Karman vortex street in the wake of a circular cylinder is shown to be due to an absolute instability of the flow in the near wake. A new means of instability analysis is used, involving mappings from the complex k plane to the complex \ensuremath{\omega} plane.
Electron Spin Echo Studies of Donor-Doped Poly(P-Phenylene) and Its Oligomers

Abstract Electron spin echo (ESE) measurements for T1 and Tm were obtained from 4–300 K for potassium and lithium-doped poly(p-phenylene), (PPP), and potassiumdoped p-sexiphenyl (6o) and p-terphenyl (3o). At 300 K, T1=Tm for K-PPP; T1=2Tm for K-6o and T1=10Tm for K-3o at the highest possible concentration of donor dopant. T1 and Tm are temperature independent between 4 and 50 K and vary by a factor of less than four between 4 and 300 K. The temperature independence of T1 and Tm, and T1=Tm is attributed to exchange narrowing beotween anions located on neighboring chains with r<10 A and not to charge carriers of conductivity.
The use of midurethral sling for the treatment of urinary incontinence

Over 200 million people worldwide suffer from urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence in women occurs frequently from middle age onward and is associated with a reduced quality of life. Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is leakage of urine during sneezing, coughing, physical exercise, lifting, bending or even changing positions. These are all events that cause an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. SUI occurs when bladder pressure exceeds urethral pressure, in the setting of sudden increases of intra-abdominal forces. SUI affects upward of 40% of American women. The placement of the midurethral sling theoretically corrects inadequate urethral support. After a thorough understanding of potential complications, a patient may benefit from this safe and effective procedure that can improve a woman’s quality of life.
Prefrontal lesion effects on suppression of open-field activity in young and adult rats

A total of 108 rats, 18-20, 30-32, or 100–130 days of age, received dorsomedial, orbital prefrontal, or sham lesions. After recovery, the subjects were assigned to one of three Pavlovian training conditions. Thirty-six subjects of each age level and surgical treatment received 2 days of 20 presentations of a 30-sec, 3,000-Hz tone, during which inescapable shock of .5 sec duration was administered. The same number of subjects received the same treatment but without the shock, while the remaining subjects were simply placed in the apparatus with no stimuli presented. Four hours after Pavlovian treatment on both days, the subjects were placed in the open field for baseline measurement of ambulations and rearings. On 3 successive days after Pavlovian training and baseline activity measurement, the subjects were tested for suppression of activity by alternating intervals of tone/no tone in the open field. The results of baseline activity measures showed decreasing activity with increasing age, and both surgical groups were more active than the shams, with lateral subjects most active. During suppression testing, activity in the laterals given tones and shocks was most disrupted by tone presentations; shams showed least suppression. The lateral suppression tended to be greatest in the youngest subjects. The data were considered in terms of Pavlovian extinction processes and the maturation of inhibitory centers.
Seasonal patterns of carbon dioxide and water fluxes in three representative tundra ecosystems in northern Alaska

Understanding the carbon dioxide and water fluxes in the Arctic is essential for accurate assessment and prediction of the responses of these ecosystems to climate change. In the Arctic, there have been relatively few studies of net CO2, water, and energy exchange using micrometeorological methods due to the difficulty of performing these measurements in cold, remote regions. When these measurements are performed, they are usually collected only during the short summer growing season. We established eddy covariance flux towers in three representative Alaska tundra ecosystems (heath tundra, tussock tundra, and wet sedge tundra), and have collected CO2, water, and energy flux data continuously for over three years (September 2007–May 2011). In all ecosystems, peak CO2 uptake occurred during July, with accumulations of ∼51–95 g C/m2 during June–August. The timing of the switch from CO2 source to sink in the spring appears to be regulated by the number of growing degree days early in the season, indicating that warmer springs may promote increased net CO2 uptake. However, this increased uptake in the spring may be lost through warmer temperatures in the late growing season that promote respiration, if this respiration is not impeded by large amounts of precipitation or cooler temperatures. Net CO2 accumulation during the growing season was generally lost through respiration during the snow covered months of September–May, turning the ecosystems into net sources of CO2 over measurement period. The water balance from June to August at the three ecosystems was variable, with the most variability observed in the heath tundra, and the least in the tussock tundra. These findings underline the importance of collecting data over the full annual cycle and across multiple types of tundra ecosystems in order to come to a more complete understanding of CO2 and water fluxes in the Arctic.
Interfacial properties and iron binding to bacterial proteins that promote the growth of magnetite nanocrystals: X-ray reflectivity and surface spectroscopy studies

Surface sensitive X-ray scattering and spectroscopic studies have been conducted to determine structural properties of Mms6, the protein in Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 that is implicated as promoter of magnetite nanocrystals growth. Surface pressure versus molecular area isotherms indicate Mms6 forms stable monolayers at the aqueous/vapor interface that are strongly affected by ionic conditions of the subphase. Analysis of X-ray reflectivity from the monolayers shows that the protein conformation at the interface depends on surface pressure and on the presence of ions in the solutions, in particular of iron ions and its complexes. X-ray fluorescence at grazing angles of incidence from the same monolayers allows quantitative determination of surface bound ions to the protein showing that ferric iron binds to Mms6 at higher densities compared to other ions such as Fe(2+) or La(3+) under similar buffer conditions.
Application of micro-segmentation algorithms to the healthcare market: A case study

We draw inspiration from the recent success of loyalty programs and targeted personalized market campaigns of retail companies such as Kroger, Netflix, etc. to understand beneficiary behaviors in the healthcare system. Our posit is that by better understanding and predicting customer behaviors we can emulate the financial success of retail companies in the healthcare market. Towards that goal, we survey current practices in market segmentation research and analyze health insurance claims data using a selected few of those algorithms. We present results and discuss insights based on the analysis.