cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trends in Child Protection and Out-of-Home Care

BACKGROUND: Over the past decades, increased knowledge about childhood abuse and trauma have prompted changes in child welfare policy, and practice that may have affected the out-of-home (OOH) care population. However, little is known about recent national trends in child maltreatment, OOH placement, or characteristics of children in OOH care. The objective of this study was to examine trends in child maltreatment and characteristics of children in OOH care. METHODS: We analyzed 2 federal administrative databases to identify and characterize US children who were maltreated (National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System) or in OOH care (Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System). We assessed trends between 2000 and 2010. RESULTS: The number of suspected maltreatment cases increased 17% from 2000 to 2010, yet the number of substantiated cases decreased 7% and the number of children in OOH care decreased 25%. Despite the decrease in OOH placements, we found a 19% increase in the number of children who entered OOH care because of maltreatment (vs other causes), a 36% increase in the number of children with multiple (vs single) types of maltreatment, and a 60% increase in the number of children in OOH care identified as emotionally disturbed. CONCLUSIONS: From 2000 to 2010, fewer suspected cases of maltreatment were substantiated, despite increased investigations, and fewer maltreated children were placed in OOH care. These changes may have led to a smaller but more complex OOH care population with substantial previous trauma and emotional problems.
Preparation and application of the polymer-bound iodoxy functional group

Abstract Poly(iodostyrene) was prepared at 90% functionalization by reaction of mercuric trifluoroacetate with 2% crosslinked polystyrene beads followed by treatment of the mercurated resin with one equivalent of iodine in refluxing THF. The iodated polymer yielded a polymeric reagent with 65% of the theoretical activity of poly(iodoxystyrene) upon reaction with three equivalents of peracetic acid. The activated reagent can used for the oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons to quinones, aromatic acetylenes to dicarbonyls, and sulfides to sulfoxides in fair to good yields. The major advantage of the polymeric reagent is that the spent reagent can be removed from the reaction medium by filtration.
Molecular phytogeny and typing of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) that serve as vectors of human or bovine onchocerciasis

. A subregion of the mitochondrial large subunit (16s) rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from nine species of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) which serve as natural or experimental vectors of human or bovine Onchocerca parasites. PCR products from each species of blackfly were tested by directed heteroduplex analysis (DHDA), and their genotypes established according to diagnostic banding patterns of the heteroduplex products. Three alleles of mitochondrial 16s rRNA were found to exist in members of the Simulium (Ewardsellum) damnosum sensu lato complex from West Africa, and two alleles were found in the Neotropical Simulium (Psilopelmia) ochraceum Walker complex and the Simulium (Simulium) metallicum Bellardi complex. Different single alleles were detected in Austrosimulium bancrofti, in English S.(S.)noelleri and in two North American laboratory vectors: Simulium (Psilozia) vittatum Zetterstedt and S.(S.)decorum Walker. Phylogenetic analysis of 16s sequences indicated that blackflies from West Africa and the Americas formed distinct clades. Neotropical onchocerciasis vectors were found to be more closely related to Nearctic and Palaearctic non-vector Simulium species than to the African vectors of onchocerciasis.
“Made in China” Label Won't Survive Without Rule of Law

As it prepares to host the 2008 Olympics, China's authoritarian development model, which has sustained high growth for two decades, is entering a fragile new stage. Tainted toys and other products have made the American consumers on whom China relies wary even as the debt-and-deficit ridden American economy relies on China's massive foreign reserves to keep going. In the meantime, China's aggressive search for raw materials in Africa is causing a backlash while its cyberspying probes into Western defense systems are reviving Cold War-like tensions. The US treasury secretary, a top China expert and former intelligence officials offer their views.
Graphite-based indirect laser sintered fuel cell bipolar plates containing carbon fiber additions

Abstract Critical considerations for laser sintered (LS) graphite bipolar plates are the strength of the parts in the green, brown and finished states as well as the final part electrical conductivity. The effect of 0-26 volume percent chopped carbon fiber (CF) on strength and electrical conductivity of LS graphite bipolar plates was evaluated. Fiber additions improved the green and brown strength significantly. Finished part flexural strength increased from 35 MPa to almost 50 MPa with CF additions. The electrical conductivity of finished parts was lowered by CF additions.
Policing Illegal Drug Markets: Geographic Approaches to Crime Reduction

George F. Rengert, Jerry H. Ratcliffe, and Sanjoy Chakravorty. Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press, 2005. ix and 172 pp., maps, photos, tables, and appendix. $31.50 paper (ISBN 1-881789-57-7). Since...
Approach responses of Gallus domesticus chicks: Genetic stock, time of day, and developmental age effects

Abstract Response, approach, and stay-near tendencies of 248 purebred and 270 crossbred domestic chicks exposed to an audiovisual imprinting model at 24±2 hr post-hatching were examined for genetic and non-genetic effects. No sex or sex linked maternal differences were found, but genetic stock of the subjects was found to be an important consideration. Length of incubation period varied greatly among genetic stocks. Significant, but low correlations between length of incubation period and behaviour responses were found. Relationships between time-of-day tested and behaviour responses could not be described with precision.
A Conserved Water-Mediated Hydrogen Bond Network Underlies Selectivity of the Kinase Inhibitor Bosutinib

Kinase inhibitors are anti-cancer drugs developed to target particular oncogenic protein kinases, but these molecules display many off-target effects. The development of more selective compounds is hindered by our poor understanding of how sequence variation among kinases affects interactions with inhibitors. Here we show that the clinical kinase inhibitor bosutinib exploits a conserved water-mediated hydrogen bond network when it binds to target kinases, and that this recognition mechanism is a widespread feature of type I kinase inhibitors. We used the nitrile group of bosutinib as a site-specific infrared probe to study how substitutions in the ATP-binding site modulate the nitrile's engagement in the hydrogen bond network. The particular amino acids found at the gatekeeper and one other position exert exclusive control, contributing ∼2 kcal/mol to selective binding, and the selectivity profile of the drug across the human kinome can be systematically rationalized in terms of the impact of these substitutions on the hydrogen bond network. Our work highlights the key importance of structured water molecules for inhibitor recognition, reveals a new mechanism by which the gatekeeper can control inhibitor selectivity, and showcases an effective approach for elucidating the molecular origins of selectivity.
Whassup? A Glimpse Into the Attitudes and Beliefs of the Millennial Generation

The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify and describe the attitudes and beliefs held by individuals at the front-end of the millennial generation (high school students, primarily 16-18 years old). Specifically, this study sought to develop a preliminary understanding of how 75 members of the millennial generation made sense of their own and their peers’ attitudes toward religion, family, education, work, community service, politics, and their future.
Gramsci, the First World War, and the Problem of Politics vs Religion vs Economics in War

Abstract This essay examines Gramsci’s writings about the First World War, primarily his immediate reflections in 1914–1918, but also relevant prison notes (1926–1937). The most striking feature of his attitude during the war years is ‘Germanophilia’, a label I adapt from Croce, whose writings on the Great War also exhibited this attitude. A key common motivation was that political conflicts should not be turned into religious ones in which one portrays the enemy as an evil to be annihilated. But they also had other divergent motivations. Another striking feature of Gramsci’s writings during the war years was his opposition to economic measures against Germany. He seemed to suggest that a military conflict should not be automatically expanded to include an economic war, conflating politics and economics. But later in prison he theorised that modern wars tend to be wars of position, in which military operations and industrial production are vitally connected.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome: CT evaluation.

PURPOSE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography (CT) for pneumonia in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT scans were obtained within 1 week of bronchoscopic sampling in 31 patients receiving mechanical ventilation for ARDS for more than 48 hours. Of 11 patients with pneumonia, five developed symptoms less than 11 days after the onset of ARDS (early ARDS). CT scans were rated for pneumonia independently by four radiologists who were unaware of the clinical diagnosis. Diagnostic accuracy was defined by means of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, or A2. RESULTS: Diagnostic accuracy for pneumonia was fair (A2 = 0.69 +/- 0.04 [standard error]) owing to 70% true-negative ratings (vs 59% true-positive ratings). The generalizability coefficient was good (0.79). No single CT finding was significantly different for the presence of pneumonia. Nondependent opacities predominated in 10 (91%) of 11 patients with pneumonia and ...
Co-marketing alliances between heterogeneous industries: Examining perceived match-up effects in product, brand and alliance levels

Abstract To scrutinize the emerging phenomenon of co-marketing alliance between heterogeneous industries, this study adapts the concept of ‘perceived match-up’ as a theoretical platform. Employing two fictitious co-marketing alliance scenarios, this study empirically demonstrates the conceptual structure of how consumers evaluate a co-marketing alliance. This suggests that if consumers perceive a harmony across paired products or brands, they are more likely to engage in the association process of evaluating a brand alliance.
Modeling Polyethylene Fractionation Using the Perturbed-Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory Equation of State

This paper illustrates how polymer fractionation can be characterized using the perturbed chain version of the statistical associating fluid theory equation of state, a computationally efficient algorithm, and pseudocomponents. We reparametrize the PC-SAFT equation of state and propose an efficient method of generating pseudocomponents to describe polydisperse polymer molecular weight distributions from the results of size exclusion chromatography analysis by numerical integration. We perform rigorous phase equilibrium calculations to investigate the effects of temperature, pressure, and feed composition on polyethylene fractionation. In these calculations, the polyethylene molecular weight distribution is treated as an ensemble of pseudocomponents consisting of chemical homologues of varying size. The simulation results are compared with plant data from an industrial solution polymerization process using cyclohexane as the solvent to demonstrate the applicability of the method to an industrial situation....
Safety management vs. picking leaves.

Summary A safety program will generally have as its base a comprehensive written document made available for everyone in the organization. The document should indicate a positive commitment to safety by management. It should not be a “how to” guide, but rather a broad outline to establish responsibilities, goals, and methods. The safety manager is appointed in writing and answers to the highest level of management. As opposed to a “doer,” the safety manager acts as a director and administrator of the safety program. This is accomplished through the advisory capacity of the safety program for solicited and unsolicited problems. The focus of the safety manager is on the system and how it contributes to safety problems, rather than individual problems. Management has the ultimate responsibility for safety. Their efforts should reflect a proactive attitude to correct problems in the system. In order to identify areas of interest, technically competent input from the safety manager should be required. The support of the safety program by top management determines the success of the program. Without a clear and firm commitment by the organization, safety will receive no more than lip service from the employees. The benefits of a proactive approach will be realized in the organization's ability to manage safety issues, rather than reacting to them.
A photoionization mass spectrometric study of autoionization in ethylene and trans-2-butene

Abstract Photoionization mass spectrometry utilizing a supersonic molecular beam sampling system and synchrotron radiation was used to study autoionizing features in several alkyl olefins. Seven Rydberg series were observed in ethylene over the range 750–1020 A, converging to the fourth ionic state but to different vibrational levels. Trans-2-butene was the only other alkyl olefin that exhibited autoionization. The non-observance of autoionization of propylene, 1-butene and cis-2-butene is attributed to the lack of vibrational resolution in higher ionic states rather than the absence of Rydberg states.
Proneness to romantic jealousy and responses to jealousy in others

An experiment was conducted to assess the relationship between dispositional proneness to experience romantic jealousy and perceptions of jealousy in others On the basis of cognitive and motivational constructs, it was hypothesized that (1) Persons high in proneness to jealousy perceive healthy jealous couples as more in love than healthy nonjealous couples, (2) persons high in proneness to jealousy perceive unhealthy jealous couples as less in love than unhealthy nonjealous couples, and (3) persons low in proneness to jealousy perceive healthy jealous couples as less in love than healthy nonjealous couples The latter two hypotheses were supported Results were discussed with regard to the roles of beliefs about jealousy and threats to the perceiver in individuals reactions to jealousy in others
Design of a Parallel 3D Confocal Imaging System with Adaptive Objective Lens

A nontranslational 3D confocal imaging system using an adaptive objective lens for depth scanning over a 1mm range and a MEMS mirror array for parallel transverse sampling has been designed with a 2um transverse resolution
Comparing Systems Engineering and Project Success in Commercial-focused versus Government-focused Projects

This work looks at the relationship between systems engineering and project success industry lead in aerospace, agriculture, defense & security, energy and related areas. The projects included both commercial-focused and government-focused efforts. Differences were found in both the overall risk levels and the measures of success for the two groups. In addition, government-focused projects showed a notably larger number of significant relationships between system engineering processes and project success than the commercial-focused projects. The research notes that further investigation is warranted, in particular looking at individual industry sectors, exploring the impact of team dispersion, and developing a better understanding of interrelationships between the systems engineering processes. This type of analysis will help further our understanding of both the art and science of systems engineering.
Comment on “Calibration and Intercomparison of Filter-Based Measurements of Visible Light Absorption by Aerosols”

Please click here to find the Original Article to which this Letter refers: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/027868299304435
Invasive and innovative nephrology.

Background: A nephrologist in the millennium offers comprehensive care to renal failure patients. Interventional nephrology plays a major role in this new approach. Overton Brooks Veterans Affairs Medical Center (OBVAMC) is the first federal health care provider in the nation offering such services. Lack of interventional radiologists and a busy surgical service has catalyzed the existence of interventional nephrology at this center. We report our early experience in successfully providing complete care to veterans with renal failure, despite multiple logistical obstacles. Method: The OBVAMC is an acute care facility providing nephrology support to hospitalized veterans and also handles access-related issues for eligible chronic dialysis patients. All procedures performed from June 2000 to September 2003 were analyzed. The procedures were performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory or in the surgical operating rooms. Results: A total of 366 procedures were performed, which included: 110 tunneled c...
Temporal trends and morbidities of vacuum, forceps, and combined use of both.

AbstractObjective: To assess trends over time of operative vaginal delivery and compare delivery-related morbidity between vacuum delivery, forceps delivery, or combined use of both in California.Methods: California ICD-9 discharge data from 2001 to 2007 were used to identify cases of forceps and vacuum delivery.Results: There was a decline in all operative delivery types (9.0% in 2001 to 7.6% in 2007), with the decline in the use of forceps most pronounced (7.26/1000 deliveries in 2001 to 3.85/1000 in 2007). Higher rates of third/fourth degree lacerations, postpartum hemorrhage, manual extraction of placenta, pelvic hematoma requiring evacuation, cervical laceration repair, and thromboembolic events were noted in forceps compared to vacuum deliveries. When both instruments were used, rates of third/fourth degree lacerations and postpartum hemorrhage were increased. Operative delivery failure was highest in combined use compared to forceps or vacuum alone.Conclusion: The incidence of operative vaginal del...
Three methods tested to model SF-6D health utilities for health states involving comorbidity/co-occurring conditions.

Abstract Objectives Compare three commonly used methods to combine the impacts of multiple health conditions on SF-6D health utility scores. Study Design and Setting We used data from the 1998–2004 Medicare Health Outcomes Survey to compare three commonly suggested models of multiple health conditions' impacts on health-related quality of life: additive, minimum, and multiplicative. We modeled SF-6D scores using information about 15 health conditions, both unadjusted and adjusted for age, sex, education, and income. Model performance was assessed using mean squared error, mean predictive error by number of health conditions, and mean predictive error for groups with specific combinations of health conditions. Results Ninety-five thousand one hundred ninety-five observations were used for model estimation, and 94,794 observations were used for model testing. The adjusted models always had better performance than the unadjusted models. The multiplicative model showed smaller mean predictive error than the other models in both those younger than 65 years and those 65 years and older. Mean predictive error for the multiplicative model was generally within the minimally important difference of the SF-6D. Conclusion All tested models are imperfect in these Medicare data, but the multiplicative model performed best.
Evidence for an Intrahepatic Contribution to the Waning Effect of Glucagon on Glucose Production in the Conscious Dog

We previously showed that infusion of glucagon at four times the basal rate into conscious dogs given somatostatin and basal replacement amounts of insulin caused hyperglycemia (217 ± 15 mg/dl) for at least 3 h and an initial increment in hepatic glucose production of 5.5 ± 0.8 mg/kg · min. After 3 h, however, the effect of hyperglucagonemia on glucose production had declined by 85%. The aim of the present study was to determine the importance of hyperglycemia in the “downregulation” of the action of glucagon. Six overnight-fasted conscious dogs were given somatostatin (0.8 μg/kg · min) plus basal intraportal replacement amounts of insulin (263 μU/kg · min) and glucagon (0.65 ng/kg · min). Hyperglycemia (276 ± 12 md/dl) was established after 2 h by the infusion of exogenous glucose. The glucagon infusion rate was then increased fourfold 1 h later, so that the plasma glucagon level rose from 95 ± 16 to 227 ± 35 pg/ml. The glucose concentration was maintained at a fixed value despite the increase in glucagon by decreasing the glucose infusion rate by an amount equal to the increase in endogenous glucose production induced by the hormone. Glucose production was measured using a primed infusion of 3 H-glucose. With the insulin (11 ± 2 μU/ml) and glucose levels fixed, the elevation in glucagon caused an initial increment of 5.1 ± 0.7 mg/kg · min in glucose production which was followed by a fall of only 2.5 · 0.4 mg/kg · min (50%) over the next 3 h. Thus, when the plasma glucagon level is raised fourfold under conditions in which insulin mobilization cannot occur, the effect of hyperglucagonemia on glucose production will be partially offset by the resulting hyperglycemia and partly inhibited by an hepatic factor(s).
Mircea Mihaescu Director, Technology and Innovation, CIO Office IBM

Mr. Mihaescu, Director, WebAhead Development and Security Innovations, has 25 years of experience in information technology systems. Mircea is responsible for the development and adoption of social networking technologies used by the IBM community.
When auction meets fixed price: a theoretical and empirical examination of buy-it-now auctions

Recently fixed pricing and auctions have been brought together in a new pricing format that offers bidders the option of prematurely ending an auction at a fixed price. The growing popularity of auctions presents an interesting pricing decision for managers: whether to sell at a fixed price, in a regular auction, or through a buy-it-now auction. This paper studies eBay’s buy-it-now auction and answers the following research questions: why is fixed price used at traditional auctions, will buy-it-now increase the seller’s profit, how is an optimal price determined, and how is the buy-it-now decision influenced by key factors such as the customer’s cost of participating in the auction, the seller’s reserve price, and the number of potential customers. Our results show that when customers make endogenous participation decisions according to their participation costs, buy-it-now auctions can increase both customers’ utility and sellers’ profit. Endogenous participation has important implications for seller’s pricing decisions such as price formats and levels. Depending on the level of the posted price, the resulting price format could be either fixed price, buy-it-now auction or pure auction. Therefore, the seller needs to be careful and take into account market conditions when posting a price at auctions. We empirically test the model assumptions and predictions using data collected from eBay.
On the adsorption of oxygen on the Mo{110} surface and its vicinals

Abstract The adsorption of oxygen on a Mo{110} surface and four vicinal planes with steps parallel to 〈100〉, 〈110〉 and 〈111〉 directions, is studied by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). The work has the goal to elucidate whether O adsorption on Mo{110} is really as different from O adsorption on W{110} as reported, and what is the cause of the apparent discrepancies between the various reported sticking coefficients on stepped surfaces.
Story grammars versus story points

Story grammars have been proposed as a means of expressing a theory of stories. Story grammarians claim that stories are a linguistic form in much the same sense that sentences are, and that we can attribute constituent structure to stories in much the same way we attribute it to sentences. Just as sentences and their constituent structure can be characterized by sentence grammars, so stories and their constituent structure can be characterized by a story grammar. However, the analogy between story grammars and sentence grammars is ill conceived. It is based on a category error that assumes stories to be textual entities like sentences. This is demonstrably not the case. Moreover, this confusion is the cause of most of the misunderstandings about story grammars and what they can accomplish. Once this mistake is acknowledged, the possible contribution of story grammars to a theory of stories is considerably diminished. In place of story grammars, I propose the rudiments of a theory, called the theory of story points. Although it lacks some of the aesthetic appeal of story grammars, the theory of story points seems a more promising route to a meaningful theory of stories. The theory is being used as a component of a computer story-understanding system under development at Berkeley. In addition, some very preliminary experiments conducted on the basis of this approach seem to lend it some psychological plausibility.
Abstract 123: The Immunoproteasome Does Not Influence Macrophage Differentiation but Survival of Differentiated Macrophages

Background: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease with T cells and macrophages as the leading plaque cell populations. The immunoproteasome (IP) influences T cell survival and differentiation but its impact on macrophage survival and differentiation remains unknown, which was the objective of this study. Methods: Murine monocyte/macrophage Raw264.7 cells were stimulated by IFN-gamma (20 ng/mL) plus LPS (10pg/mL) or IL-4 (20 ng/mL) for 18 hours to induce M1 and M2 macrophages, and these differentiated macrophages were then re-exposed to IFN- gamma and IL-4 for another 24 hours, without and with IP subunit beta 5i inhibition by siRNA or Onx0914. Nitric oxide synthase and arginase activity served as differentiation markers (analyzed by enzymatic assays) as did the cytokine/chemokine profile (analyzed by antibody arrays). Cell viability was tested by an XTT assay and apoptosis by TUNEL FACS. Results: IP beta5i knockout/inhibition did not influence M1 and M2 macrophage differentiation. Also, no significan...
A TECHNIQUE OF PULMONARY VENTILATION WITH A NASOTRACHEAL TUBE

SUMMARY A modified naso-endotracheal tube is described which facilitates prolonged intermittent positive pressure ventilation of the lungs in infants and children. A crosspiece allows connection with the inspiratory and expiratory tubes of a circle-type mechanical ventilator. The technique of intubation and of securing the nasal tube to the patient is described in detaiL The tube has been used in 126 patients for periods of up to three months. Subglottic stenosis developed in two patients. It is provisionally recommended that the duration of intubation should not exceed three weeks.
Particle-phase distributions of pressure-driven flows of bidisperse suspensions

The phase distribution of a bimodal distribution of negatively buoyant particles in a low-Reynolds-number pressure-driven flow of a suspension in a horizontal pipe is measured using multi-frequency electrical impedance tomography (EIT). Suspensions of heavy silver-coated particles and slightly heavy PMMA particles exhibit different effective conductivities depending on the frequency of an applied electrical current. This difference allows the separate imaging of the phase distribution of each particle type and the composite suspension. At low flow rates the dense particles tend to distribute in the lower half of the pipe The particles are resuspended toward the centre as the flow rate is increased. The slightly heavy particles tend to accumulate closer to the centre of the pipe. The presence of the nearly neutrally buoyant particles enhances the resuspension of the heavy particles compared to that of a suspension of heavy particles alone at the same volume fraction. A suspension balance model is used to theoretically predict the distribution of particles in the flow assuming an ideal mixing rule for the particle partial pressures. The agreement between the predictions and the experimental observations is qualitatively correct and quantitatively fair.
TOPICVIEW: VISUAL ANALYSIS OF TOPIC MODELS AND THEIR IMPACT ON DOCUMENT CLUSTERING

We present a new approach for analyzing topic models using visual analytics. We have developed TopicView, an application for visually comparing and exploring multiple models of text corpora, as a prototype for this type of analysis tool. TopicView uses multiple linked views to visually analyze conceptual and topical content, document relationships identified by models, and the impact of models on the results of document clustering. As case studies, we examine models created using two standard approaches: Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA). Conceptual content is compared through the combination of (i) a bipartite graph matching LSA concepts with LDA topics based on the cosine similarities of model factors and (ii) a table containing the terms for each LSA concept and LDA topic listed in decreasing order of importance. Document relationships are examined through the combination of (i) side-by-side document similarity graphs, (ii) a table listing the weights for each document's contribution to each concept/topic, and (iii) a full text reader for documents selected in either of the graphs or the table. The impact of LSA and LDA models on document clustering applications is explored through similar means, using proximities between documents and cluster exemplars for graph layout edge weighting and table entries. We demonstrate the utility of TopicView's visual approach to model assessment by comparing LSA and LDA models of several example corpora.
A two-step method for reconfiguration of shipboard power system

The modern shipboard power system integrates heavy loads and has less fault tolerance than the conventional power system. Therefore, a fast and high-performance reconfiguration scheme is needed when a fault occurs. In this paper, a two-step reconfiguration method is proposed to achieve a rapid and optimal reconfiguration scheme for shipboard power system. This method at first employs graph theory to generate an emergency reconfiguration which can quickly restore the system with relaxed operation constraints. Then, the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used to improve the reconfiguration scheme while considering multiple objectives and stringent constraints.
Representations of older adults in television advertisements

The purpose of the present study was to examine a comprehensive set of television advertisements, across networks and times of day, to determine how older adults are portrayed. Older adults appeared in 15% of advertisements, and in those ads, older women were underrepresented relative to men, and older adults appeared less frequently on youth-oriented networks and during the evening. Older adults tended to play incidental roles in the advertisements and to promote a circumscribed, stereotyped set of products and services. Moreover, their characters portrayed overwhelmingly positive attributes and traits. Results from the current study suggest ways in which portrayals in television advertisements might shape attitudes that viewers have about older adults and aging.
In vitro generation of colonic epithelium from primary cells guided by microstructures

The proliferative compartment of the colonic epithelium in vivo is located in the basal crypt where colonic stem cells and transit-amplifying cells reside and fuel the rapid renewal of non-proliferative epithelial cells as they migrate toward the gut lumen. To mimic this tissue polarity, microstructures composed of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microwells and Matrigel micropockets were used to guide a combined 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) hybrid culture of primary crypts isolated from the murine colon. The 2D and 3D culture of crypts on a planar PDMS surface was first investigated in terms of cell proliferation and stem cell activity. 3D culture of crypts with overlaid Matrigel generated enclosed, but highly proliferative spheroids (termed colonoids). 2D culture of crypts produced a spreading monolayer of cells, which were non-proliferative. A combined 2D/3D hybrid culture was generated in a PDMS microwell platform on which crypts were loaded by centrifugation into microwells (diameter = 150 μm, depth = 150 μm) followed by addition of Matrigel that formed micropockets locking the crypts within the microwells. Embedded crypts first underwent 3D expansion inside the wells. After the cells filled the microwells, they migrated onto the surrounding surface forming a 2D monolayer in the array regions without Matrigel. This unique 2D/3D hybrid culture generated a continuous, millimeter-scale colonic epithelial tissue in vitro, which resembled the polarized architecture (i.e. distinct proliferative and non-proliferative zones) and geometry of the colonic epithelium in vivo. This work initiates the construction of a “colon-on-a-chip” using primary cells/tissues with the ultimate goal of producing the physiologic structure and organ-level function of the colon.
EFIE time-domain scattering from bodies of revolution

The authors present the formulation of a time-domain electric field integral equation (TDEFIE) for solving transient scattering problems involving perfectly conducting bodies of revolution. This TDEFIE reduces three-dimensional scattering problems with axial symmetry to two-dimensional problems, thus facilitating the numerical treatment and significantly reducing CPU requirements. Additional refinements and algorithm efficiencies are described. Some numerical results and applications are presented. >
Batch transfer of microstructures using flip-chip solder bonding

This paper describes a novel method for transfer and assembly of microstructures using sacrificial-layer micromachining and flip-chip bonding. The technique is performed at room temperature (cold weld) and at the back end of the process flow and may thus provide a commercially viable alternative to monolithic integration and costly hybrid packages. The transfer is achieved using break-away tethers and by cold welding (compression bonding) electroplated indium solder bumps to electroplated copper pads. Both high-aspect-ratio MEMS devices as well as surface-micromachined devices have been successfully transferred using this method with no observable misalignment between moving and stationary parts. The maximum tensile and shear stress the solder bond can withstand before failure is measured to be 11/spl plusmn/3 MPa and 9/spl plusmn/1 MPa, respectively. The contact resistance is measured to be of the order of 1.5 m/spl Omega/ for a 65 /spl mu/m/spl times/65 /spl mu/m/spl times/4-/spl mu/m indium bump.
Determination of the gravitational coefficient of the Earth from near‐Earth satellites

Laser range, Doppler, and altimeter data collected from 14 near-earth satellites have been combined to determine the value of the geocentric gravitational coefficent (GM) of the earth. A long-arc solution using three years of laser range data to Lageos was used in a separate determination in which the effects of general relativity were invetigated. The value of GM (including the mass of the atmosphere) was determined to be 398600.4405 cu km/sq sec when all corrections for general relativity are taken into account. The uncertainty (1-sigma) in the value of GM is estimated to be 0.001 cu km/sq sec.
Computer engineering 30 years after the IBM Model 91

Often in our hurry to create the future in computer engineering, we ignore lessons from past projects. One project that offers interesting insights, the IBM System/360 Model 91, has celebrated the 30th anniversary of its first shipment. The largest member of the series based on IBM's most enduring and influential computer architecture, this machine owed much to its predecessors. Together, these machines show us what the state of the art in computer processors was like in the 1960s, when IBM announced the S/360 and illustrate how far computer engineering has come in 30 years. The author considers how the Model 91's story shows just how far computer architecture has come since 1967. It may also reveal how practitioners must change to ensure continued innovation in computer engineering.
Estimating the Lowest Detectable Dose of Ionizing Radiation by FISH Whole-Chromosome Painting

Abstract Chromosome translocations are the hallmark of exposure to ionizing radiation, but they also occur spontaneously, and their frequencies increase dramatically with age. This complicates dosimetry unless a pre-exposure sample is available for each putatively exposed individual. Here we use published values for translocations in unexposed subjects from a wide range of ages, together with data from an in vitro 137Cs dose–response curve, to estimate the minimum dose of whole-body radiation that is detectable by translocation analyses in individuals of a given age. For subjects aged 20 to 69 years, we show that the minimum detectable acute dose increases linearly with age at a rate of 0.179, 0.218 and 0.256 cGy per year for significance levels of P = 0.05, P = 0.01 and P = 0.001, respectively. For chronic exposures, the corresponding minimum detectable doses are 1.591, 2.270 and 3.055 cGy per year. For newborns, the 95th and 99th percentiles of translocation frequencies are 0.20 and 0.31 per 100 c...
Adenomatoid nodules are the main cause for discrepant histology in 234 thyroid fine‐needle aspirates reported as follicular neoplasm

According to several large studies, the surgical pathologist renders a non-neoplastic diagnosis in ∼20-40% of thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cases reported as follicular neoplasm. This study analyzes the cause of this poor correlation between cytology and histology. Cases consisting of oncocytic (Hurthle) cells were excluded from study. During the study period from January 1996 to April 2010, histologic follow-up was available for 234 of 670 cases (34.9%) reported as follicular neoplasm on ultrasound-guided thyroid FNA. Sonographic and Doppler data were available in all cases and included nodule location, size, echogenicity, and vascularity. Of the 234 aspirates with follow-up, surgical pathology reported 130 cases (55.6%) of follicular adenoma, 15 cases (6.4%) of follicular carcinoma, 14 cases (6.1%) of follicular variant of papillary carcinoma, and 75 cases (32.3%) of nodular goiter. Recuts of those index nodules reported as nodular goiter were examined independently by two pathologists using the 2× objective lens. Adenomatoid nodule was defined as an insufficiently encapsulated "blue" nodule of increased nuclear density when compared with the surrounding thyroid. Of the 75 cases reported as nodular goiter, 60 index nodules (80%) fulfilled the described criteria for adenomatoid nodule, while 15 did not. In conclusion, adenomatoid nodules are the main cause of poor histologic correlation with follicular neoplasm reported by FNA. If "increased nuclear density at scanning magnification" were adopted by surgical pathologists as the major diagnostic criterion for follicular adenoma rather than encapsulation, noncorrelated cases would be reduced from 32 to 6.4%.
Age-related alterations in pulsatile secretion of TSH: role of dopaminergic regulation.

To investigate the influence of aging on dopaminergic modulation of pulsatile thyrotropin (TSH) secretion, we examined changes in circulating TSH levels during the day and night, with and without a...
A comparison of front-end compensation strategies for robust LVCSR under room reverberation and increased vocal effort

Automatic speech recognition is known to deteriorate in the presence of room reverberation and variation of vocal effort in speakers. This study considers robustness of several state-of-the-art front-end feature extraction and normalization strategies to these sources of speech signal variability in the context of large vocabulary continuous speech recognition (LVCSR). A speech database recorded in an anechoic room, capturing modal speech and speech produced at different levels of vocal effort, is reverberated using measured room impulse responses and utilized in the evaluations. It is shown that the combination of recently introduced mean Hilbert envelope coefficients (MHEC) and a normalization strategy combining cepstral gain normalization and modified RASTA filtering (CGN RASTALP) provides considerable recognition performance gains for reverberant modal and high vocal effort speech.
Self-organization and self-limitation in high power impulse magnetron sputtering

The plasma over the racetrack in high power impulse magnetron sputtering develops in traveling ionization zones. Power densities can locally reach 109 W/m2, which is much higher than usually reported. Ionization zones move because ions are “evacuated” by the electric field, exposing neutrals to magnetically confined, drifting electrons. Drifting secondary electrons amplify ionization of the same ionization zone where the primary ions came from, while sputtered and outgassing atoms are supplied to the following zone(s). Strong density gradients parallel to the target disrupt electron confinement: a negative feedback mechanism that stabilizes ionization runaway.
Sex differences in outcomes of very low birthweight infants: the newborn male disadvantage.

Objective—To determine the diVerences in short term outcome of very low birthweight infants attributable to sex. Methods—Boys and girls weighing 501‐ 1500 g admitted to the 12 centres of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network were compared. Maternal information and perinatal data were collected from hospital records.Infant outcome was recorded at discharge, at 120 days of age if the infant was still in hospital, or at death. Best obstetric estimate based on the last menstrual period, standard obstetric factors, and ultrasound were used to assign gestational age in completed weeks. Data were collected on a cohort that included 3356 boys and 3382 girls, representing all inborn births from 1 May 1991 to 31 December 1993. Results—Mortality for boys was 22% and that for girls 15%. The prenatal and perinatal data indicate few diVerences between the sex groups, except that boys were less likely to have been exposed to antenatal steroids (odds ratio (OR) = 0.80) and were less stable after birth, as reflected in a higher percentage with lower Apgar scores at one and five minutes and the need for physical and pharmacological assistance. In particular, boys were more likely to have been intubated (OR = 1.16) and to have received resuscitation medication (OR = 1.40). Boys had a higher risk (OR > 1.00) for most adverse neonatal outcomes.Although pulmonary morbidity predominated, intracranial haemorrhage and urinary tract infection were also more common. Conclusions—Relative diVerences in short term morbidity and mortality persist between the sexes. (Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2000;83:F182‐F185)
Fractal Analysis of Human Heart Fatty Acid Binding Protein Binding Kinetics by a Precipitate Enhanced Immunoassay (PEIA)

This chapter deviates from the concept of biosensors and provides an example for the detection of fatty acid binding-protein (FABP) using precipitate-enhanced immunoassay (PEIA). The chapter presents an alternate analysis for the binding of different concentrations of FABP in solution to an FABP antibody coated slide. Reproducibility studies of the binding of FABP in solution to FABP antibody coated slides are also presented in the chapter. Finally, the chapter compares the binding of FABP in solution to FABP antibody coated slides using a one-step procedure and a two-step procedure. The results of the tests are displayed and discussed in detail in the chapter. A fractal analysis for the binding of FABP in solution mixed with HRP-labeled anti-FABP tagging antibody to FABP antibody immobilized on a silicon slide provides a quantitative indication of the state of disorder, or the degree of heterogeneity or roughness on the silicon slide surface.
Social-Media Activism, Social Capital, and Young African-Americans

This proposed study of digital activism among Howard University students will examine the relationship between social media-based digital activism and social capital. At the core of this exploration is the following question: How does social capital effect digital activism among Howard University Students? The study will employ a two-tiered research design that includes (1) a triangulative analysis of Howard University Students’ in terms of how social capital has influenced their digital activism in digital spaces in response to the the Jena 6 case in 2006, the shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012 and, later in 2012, the shooting of Jordan Davis; and (2) case studies to demonstrate how social media served in facilitating coordinated action for political and social efficacy, and disseminated information which might not be easily accessible through mainstream media and governmental sources. The data collection techniques will include surveying Howard University students. This data collection technique will be augmented with a document analysis of books, journal articles, and government reports. The cases to be examined will offer a relevant springboard to examine how social capital plays a role in the manner in which Howard University students use digital technology, specifically social media, to engage in dialogue to collaborate and mobilize in order to address social ad political injustice. It is the hope of this study to tease out how and why social capital plays a factor in Howard University students’ engaging in digital activism in response to the aforementioned cases, and the various technological practices they employed to do so. The study hypothesizes that (a) information disseminated through E-mail, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube created social capital among young Howard University students; (b) digital activism in response to the Jena 6 case and the shootings of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis created political efficacy for young Howard University students. The major factors to be explored will include social capital and digital activism.
Endodontic inter-appointment flare-ups: An example of chaos?

Introduction: Pain and/or swelling after instrumentation of a root canal constitute a significant complication during endodontic treatment. Despite a large number of articles discussing the causative factors behind endodontic flare-ups, the exact mechanism is still not understood. The Hypothesis: The seemingly irrational behavior of endodontic inter-appointment flare-ups may be due to sensitive dependence on initial conditions. A model based on Lorenz' chaos theory is presented as a possible explanation for the sudden emergence and unpredictability of flare-ups. Evaluation of the Hypothesis: All studies agree on some common traits regarding inter-appointment flare-ups: Careful instrumentation can still cause flare-up; the host inflammatory response behaves as a complex nonlinear network; and also the poly-etiologic nature of this phenomenon all illustrate the sensitive dependence on initial conditions of the system. Integrating more variables (e.g., different species of bacteria) into this already complex system will make it increasingly chaotic reflecting its unpredictable behavior.