cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maternal postpartum plasma folate status and preterm birth in a high-risk US population

Objective While maternal folate deficiency has been linked to poor pregnancy outcomes such as neural tube defects, anaemia and low birth weight, the relationship between folate and preterm birth (PTB) in the context of the US post-folic acid fortification era is inconclusive. We sought to explore the relationship between maternal folate status and PTB and its subtypes, i.e. spontaneous and medically indicated PTB. Design Observational study. Setting Boston Birth Cohort, a predominantly urban, low-income, race/ethnic minority population at a high risk for PTB.ParticipantsMother-infant dyads (n 7675) enrolled in the Boston Birth Cohort. A sub-sample (n 2313) of these dyads had maternal plasma folate samples collected 24-72 h after delivery. Results Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regressions revealed an inverse relationship between the frequency of multivitamin supplement intake and PTB. Compared with less frequent use, multivitamin supplement intake 3-5 times/week (adjusted OR (aOR) = 0·78; 95 % CI 0·64, 0·96) or g5 times/week (aOR = 0·77; 95 % CI 0·64, 0·93) throughout pregnancy was associated with reduced risk of PTB. Consistently, higher plasma folate levels (highest v. lowest quartile) were associated with lower risk of PTB (aOR = 0·74; 95 % CI 0·56, 0·97). The above associations were similar among spontaneous and medically indicated PTB. Conclusions If confirmed by future studies, our findings raise the possibility that optimizing maternal folate levels across pregnancy may help to reduce the risk of PTB among the most vulnerable US population in the post-folic acid fortification era.
miR-21-5p regulates mitochondrial respiration and lipid content in H9C2 cells.

Both overexpression and suppression of miR-21-5p augment basal and maximal mitochondrial respiration. Our data suggest that reliance on glycolytic and fatty acid oxidation pathways can be modulated...
8.7 A 2MHz 4-to-60V IN Buck-Boost Converter for Automotive Use Achieving 95% Efficiency and CISPR 25 Class 5 Standard

High-voltage highly efficient switching power converters have gained high popularity in automotive applications. Powered by the car battery $(V_{IN})$, the converters need to experience a wide $V_{IN}$ range from 4V to 60V under harsh cold crank and load dump environments. This requires the converter to accomplish a fine output voltage $( V_{OUT})$ regulation, seamless mode transition for $V_{IN}$ above, below or equal to $V_{OUT}$. Conventional buck or boost converters can only achieve monotonic step-down or step-up conversion. Other solutions such as standalone boost and buck, or SEPIC converters [1, 2] either require multiple cascaded power stages or suffer from lower system efficiency, larger footprint and higher bill-of material cost. The buck-boost converter thusly becomes a promising topology by its rather simple power-stage structure and wide conversion ratio [3–5]. However, the electromagnetic interference (EMI), power loss, and complicated control scheme are challenging with its inherent four-switch operation.
DETERMINATION OF THE VISCOUS DRAG OF A SHIP MODEL

Abstract : Modification and refinements of equipment, techniques and method of analysis of wake survey data for determining the viscous drag of a ship model are described. At low Froude numbers results are in better agreement with a correlation line than previous values, but strong variation of viscous drag with Froude number is confirmed. (Author)
Perceptions of Resilience and Coping Among Gender-Diverse Individuals Using Photography

Abstract Gender-diverse individuals (those whose gender and/or sex differ from societal expectations, such as trans or genderqueer) face stigma and discrimination, which can translate into negative...
Adaptive Weighted Traffic Splitting in Programmable Data Planes

Recent work introduced load-balancing algorithms that dynamically pick the best path entirely in the data plane, to react to traffic dynamics on a small timescale. This paper takes the next step to balance load dynamically across multiple paths in the data plane. The design of such a load-balancing primitive raises interesting challenges due to the hardware constraints of the data plane. We show that these constraints create practical problems for Weighted-Cost MultiPath (WCMP), which replicates hash-table entries in proportion to the weight of each path. Under these hardware constraints, naive implementations of WCMP take a long time to converge to new weights. We then present a hash-based data structure that achieves adaptive traffic splitting in programmable data planes. Our data structure carefully partitions the arithmetic operations required to a) split traffic in proportion to the path weights and b) update the path weights, by leveraging a multi-stage pipeline and stateful ALUs. By doing so, accurate splitting and efficient updates are done at line rate. We implement our data structure in P4 and our preliminary evaluation shows significant reduction in flow completion time compared to other data-plane load-balancing schemes such as HULA.
Mentorship of Surgical Interns: Are We Failing to Meet Their Needs?

Objective This study aimed to determine the challenges faced by surgical trainees during their internship and to explore their experience with mentoring. Design An internet-based survey comprised of 30 questions was distributed to 59 surgical interns to evaluate their internship experience at the conclusion of the academic year 2018 to 2019. Setting Four academic medical centers in Boston, Massachusetts. Participants Both preliminary as well as categorical general surgery interns were included in the study. Twenty-five responses were received (response rate of 42.4%). Results The majority of surgical interns (80%) reported having a mentor during their intern year. Gender as well as mentor career status/prestige were both the highest rated factors in selection of a mentor, (4.67/5 and 4.33/5 respectively). Mentoring topics varied by the career status of the mentor, with most surgical interns (80%) selecting senior faculty members for mentoring on career planning, clinical training, and research. Surgical interns relied only on junior faculty members to discuss work-life integration. Very few surveyed interns (only 1 in 10) discussed work-life integration with their mentors despite this being reported as the most significant challenge of their internship year. Only 15% of the interns reported that the effectiveness of the mentor-mentee relationship was reviewed by program administration. About one third (30%) of interns reported that they would not feel comfortable reporting a failed mentorship to their program director. Furthermore, 40% of the surgical interns were not given an option to choose a new mentor in case of failed mentoring. Conclusions Surgical interns report high work demands and challenges with worklife integration in their first year of surgical training, however only a small minority of interns discuss this with their mentors. Surgical residency programs should better supervise and adjust mentoring of surgical interns in order to maximize their performance and wellness.
An Exploratory Study of the Sibships of Blind Children.

The development of the sibling relationships among five preschool white blind children and sighted sibs was explored. Recorded and coded observations gathered over the first four years of life sugg...
Acute neuroradiological, behavioral, and physiological effects of nose-only exposure to vaporized cannabis in C57BL/6 mice.

Objective: The rapid increase of cannabis consumption reinforces the need to elucidate the health hazards of this practice. The presence of fine particulate matter in cannabis smoke and vapor poses...
Disparities in Emergency Versus Elective Surgery: Comparing Measures of Neighborhood Social Vulnerability.

Abstract Background Several composite measures of neighborhood social vulnerability exist and are used in the health disparity literature. This study assesses the performance of the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) compared with three similar measures used in the surgical literature: Area Deprivation Index (ADI), Community Needs Index (CNI), and Distressed Communities Index (DCI). There are advantages of the SVI over these other scales, and we hypothesize that it performs equivalently. Methods We identified all cholecystectomies at a single, urban, academic hospital over a 9-month period. Cases were considered emergency if the patient presented and underwent surgery during that admission. We geocoded patient’s addresses and assigned estimated SVI, ADI, CNI, and DCI. Cutoffs for high versus low social vulnerability were generated using Youden's index, and the scales were compared using multivariable modeling. Results Overall, 366 patients met inclusion criteria, and the majority (n = 266, 73%) had surgery in the emergency setting. On multivariable modeling, patients with high social vulnerability were more likely to undergo emergency surgery compared with those with low social vulnerability in accordance with all four scales: SVI (OR 3.24, P Conclusions The SVI performs similarly to other indices of neighborhood vulnerability in demonstrating disparities between emergency and elective surgery and is readily available and updated. Because the SVI has multiple subcategories in addition to the overall measure, it can be used to stratify by modifiable factors such as housing or transportation to inform interventions.
Unilateral pulmonary edema in acute aortic regurgitation: A complication of infective endocarditis.

Cardiogenic unilateral pulmonary edema (UPE) is an uncommon clinical entity and it represents just 2% of cardiogenic pulmonary edema with inclination for the right upper lobe and it is most commonly associated with severe mitral regurgitation. In our review, the literature does not include any UPE cases that are associated with severe aortic regurgitation (AR). Herein, we present a case with UPE, that includes a patient diagnosed with infective endocarditis who presented with shortness of breath. Initial chest imaging revealed UPE. Severe acute AR was diagnosed clinically and confirmed by echocardiogram, caused by vegetations on the non-coronary cusp of the aortic valve. The patient was transferred for emergent surgical intervention. This case underscores the importance of emergently evaluating valvular pathology to reduce the mortality rate that is associated with this condition. .
Quantifying Impact of Intrinsic Flexibility on Molecular Adsorption in Zeolites

The majority of molecular simulations of adsorption in crystalline nanoporous materials such as zeolites and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are performed using a rigid framework. This assumption i...
A Mixed Filtering Approach for Real-Time Seizure State Tracking Using Multi-Channel Electroencephalography Data

Real-time continuous tracking of seizure state is necessary to develop feedback neuromodulation therapy that can prevent or terminate a seizure early. Due to its high temporal resolution, high scalp coverage, and non-invasive applicability, electroencephalography (EEG) is a good candidate for seizure tracking. In this research, we make multiple seizure state estimations using a mixed-filter and multiple channels found over the entire sensor space; then by applying a Kalman filter, we produce a single seizure state estimation made up of these individual estimations. Using a modified wrapper feature selection, we determine two optimal features of mixed data type, one continuous and one binary analyzing all available channels. These features are used in a state-space framework to model the continuous hidden seizure state. Expectation maximization is performed offline on the training and validation data sets to estimate unknown parameters. The seizure state estimation process is performed for multiple channels, and the seizure state estimation is derived using a square-root Kalman filter. A second expectation maximization step is utilized to estimate the unknown square-root Kalman filter parameters. This method is tested in a real-time applicable way for seizure state estimation. Applying this approach, we obtain a single seizure state estimation with quantitative information about the likelihood of a seizure occurring, which we call seizure probability. Our results on the experimental data (CHB-MIT EEG database) validate the proposed estimation method and we achieve an average accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 92.7%, 92.8%, and 93.4%, respectively. The potential applications of this seizure estimation model are for closed-loop neuromodulation and long-term quantitative analysis of seizure treatment efficacy.
Multi-permeability optimization approach for the iron core of a synchronous reluctance machine - an application of additive manufacturing

Electrical machine design optimization has typically been used to identify geometric variables that best help meet certain performance objectives. Topology optimization techniques allow distribution of materials to identify unique electrical machine designs. Here, a technique is presented to optimize distribution of material properties within the iron core, specifically the magnetic permeability, to meet a certain performance objective instead of varying geometric variables. The tool uses the reluctance network in lieu of finite element analysis to estimate the airgap flux density with a lower computational effort, without sacrificing accuracy.
Collaborative timeline: Toward the next generation of history learning

In order to learn history, it ought to be a lifelong learning experience, an engaging one, we strive to build a site that engages people into history and helps them navigate across history with advanced technology. A Collaborative Timeline helps people to be more engaged in history learning through effectively managing and sharing history knowledge with friends and fostering collaboration and in-depth discussion among timeline editors. Our timeline makes history fun to learn and easy to illustrate, allows references between historical events and news in present time, enables users to view historical events through different perspectives and facilitates community formation and collaborative learning around history topics. The site achieves these goals by presenting the content using multimedia, offering an intuitive user interface, aggregating different viewpoints and opinions of historical events, enabling a wide range of social features and gamified evaluation mechanisms.
Cross Cultural Computer Gaming

Computer game development is a rapidly growing global business. However, research in the understanding of the global user is lacking. This paper presents a survey of recent research on cross cultural game development. The paper proposes a cross cultural hybrid model to carry out user modeling to assist developers in understanding the cultural nuances of end users.
Interplanetary magnetic field-dependent impact of solar wind ions on Earth's magnetopause

We have investigated the entry of solar wind ions into the magnetosphere by tracing particle orbits in time-dependent electric and magnetic fields obtained from a three-dimensional global MHD simulation of the magnetosphere. The MHD simulation was developed and carried out for the Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) program General Geospace Circulation Model (GGCM) campaign and included several different orientations of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Ions were launched in the solar wind at four different time intervals and collected on the outer surface of the magnetopause. We found that all IMF orientations examined shared subsolar entry. Additionally, all of the cases showed an entry region that was parallel to they - z orientation of the IMF. Ions entering in the subsolar point had converted their streaming energy to thermal energy. Ions entering through the high-latitude reconnection regions showed evidence of acceleration in this region.
The effect of penultimate grain size on rolling texture in cu-Sn alloys

The effect of penultimate grain size on the texture of Cu-Sn alloys has been investigated using the modulus method. It was observed that in alloys which exhibited the brass-type texture, the large grained specimens yielded a smaller proportion of textured material than those which were fine grained. In alloys which exhibited transition textures, however, the larger grain size specimens exhibited a greater amount of material residing in the brass-type components. As might be expected, increasing the rolling reduction diminished the effect of penultimate grain size upon rolling. The 50:50 texture transition for 971/2 pct reduction occurred at 0.55 at. pct Sn. Unlike Cu-Zn and Cu-Al alloys, the percentage of brass-type texture reached a maximum at 1.8 at. pct Sn and then decreased for tin contents up to 5.06 at. pct. A self-consistent explanation, based on the “dislocation interaction” hypothesis, has been offered to account for the experimental observations. The present results indicate that the twinning processper se, can actually be detrimental to, rather than promote the formation of the brass-type texture in Cu-Sn alloys.
The Metabolic Actions of Growth Hormone

The sections in this article are: 1 Growth Hormone as a Metabolic Hormone 1.1 Historical Background 1.2 Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 1.3 Biochemical Interrelationships: The Glucose-Fatty Acid Cycle 2 Metabolic Effects of Growth Hormone as Revealed in Whole Body Studies 2.1 Chronic Long-Term Effects 2.2 Short-Term Effects of Growth Hormone as Studied in Vivo 3 Effects of Growth Hormone on Individual Target Tissues 3.1 Liver 3.2 Muscle 3.3 Adipose Tissue 3.4 Pancreatic Beta Cells 4 Unresolved Issues 4.1 Does Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Mediate the Metabolic Effects of Growth Hormone? 4.2 Growth Hormone and Insulin Sensitivity 4.3 Do All of the Responses to Growth Hormone Arise from a Single Interaction of Growth Hormone with Its Receptor? 4.4 Biological Activities of Growth Hormone Fragments 5 Summary, Conclusions, and Future Directions
Isolation and Characterization of Amaranthin, a Lectin Present in the Seeds of Amaranthus caudatus, That Recognizes the T- (or Cryptic T)-Antigen

A lectin (Amaranthin) present in the seeds of Amaranthus caudatus has been isolated by fractionation on DEAE-cellulose followed by affinity chromatography on Synsorb-T beads (Gal beta 1,3GalNAc alpha-O-R-Synsorb). The lectin appeared homogeneous by gel electrophoresis at pH 4.3 and gave a single protein band by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with Mr = 33,000-36,000. A native Mr = 54,000 was determined by gel filtration suggesting that amaranthin exists as a homodimer. Compositional analysis revealed high amounts of acidic and hydroxyamino acids and relatively large amounts of lysine, methionine, and tryptophan for a plant protein. Amaranthin formed a precipitate with asialo-bovine submaxillary mucin, asialo-ovine submaxillary, porcine submaxillary mucin, asialo-fetuin and asialoglycophorin. Hapten inhibition of precipitate formation between amaranthin and asialo-ovine submaxillary indicated that the T-disaccharide and its alpha-linked glycosides (Gal beta 1,3GalNAc alpha-O-R; R = OH, methyl, -(CH2)8-COOCH3, allyl, o-nitrophenyl, or benzyl) were the best inhibitors. N-Acetylgalactosamine, the only monosaccharide which inhibited precipitation, was 350-fold less effective than Gal beta 1,3GalNAc alpha-O-R. Hapten inhibition with derivatives of the T-disaccharide suggested that the C'-4 axial hydroxyl group of the galactosyl moiety, and the C-4 axial hydroxyl group, and the C-2 acetamido group of the GalNAc unit are the most important loci for lectin interaction. NeuAc alpha 2,3Gal beta 1,3GalNAc alpha-O-(CH2)8CO2CH3 was as potent an inhibitor as Gal beta 1,3GalNAc alpha-O-(CH2)8CO2-CH3, and amaranthin was precipitated by NeuAc alpha 2,3Gal beta 1,3GalNAc alpha-O-BSA (where BSA is bovine serum albumin), indicating that the amaranthin-combining site tolerates substitutions at the C'-3 hydroxyl group. Amaranthin was precipitated by a Gal beta 1,3GalNAc alpha-O-BSA glycoconjugate but not by the anomeric Gal beta 1,3GalNAc beta-O-BSA glycoconjugate illustrating that the disaccharide must be linked alpha in order to interact with the lectin. Metal ions do not appear to be required for lectin activity. A study of pH dependence showed significant precipitate formation between pH 4 to 9 with a maximum at pH 5. Hapten inhibition and glycoconjugate precipitation assays were also conducted for peanut (Arachis hypogaea) agglutinin. A comparison between the carbohydrate-binding specificities of amaranthin and peanut (Arachis hypogaea) agglutinin is discussed.
Splanchnic extraction of phenylalanine in mature mares was not affected by threonine supplementation

This study determined splanchnic extraction of phenylalanine at two intakes of threonine. Six Thoroughbred mares were supplemented with isonitrogenous amounts of either threonine or glutamate. Dietary threonine intakes were 119 (+Thr) and 58 (Basal) mg/kg/day, respectively. Each horse received each diet twice and each was studied once with an oral and once with an intravenous (IV) infusion of [1-(13)C]phenylalanine. A 2-h primed, constant IV infusion of [(13)C]sodium bicarbonate and a 4-h primed, constant infusion of [1-(13)C]phenylalanine, either orally or IV, were used to measure isotopic enrichments. Phenylalanine kinetics were not affected by diet (P > 0.05). Values for the splanchnic extraction of phenylalanine were 26 ± 5% and 27 ± 3% for the +Thr and Basal supplemented diets, respectively. These values will improve the accuracy of future equine indicator amino acid oxidation studies.
K-band Si/SiGe HBT MMIC amplifiers using lumped passive components with a micromachined structure

Using Si/SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors with a maximum oscillation frequency of 52 GHz and a novel structure for passive components, a two-stage K-band lumped-element amplifier has been designed and fabricated on high-resistivity Si substrates. The chip size including biasing and RF chokes is 0.92/spl times/0.67 mm/sup 2/.
Speaking of Moral Rights, A Conversation

A transcribed conversation about moral rights in the digital age — in respect of some of the legal and technological developments that have occurred since Professor Jane Ginsburg's 2001 essay, Have Moral Rights Come of (Digital) Age in the United States?, 19 CARDOZO ARTS & ENT. L.J. 9 (2001).
Interfacial dynamics‐based modelling of turbulent cavitating flows, Part‐2: Time‐dependent computations

The interfacial dynamics-based cavitation model, developed in Part-1, is further employed for unsteady flow computations. The pressure-based operator-splitting algorithm (PISO) is extended to handle the time-dependent cavitating flows with particular focus on the coupling of the cavitation and turbulence models, and the large density ratio associated with cavitation. Furthermore, the compressibility effect is important for unsteady cavitating flows because in a water-vapour mixture, depending on the composition, the speed of sound inside the cavity can vary by an order of magnitude. The implications of the issue of the speed of the sound are assessed with alternative modelling approaches. Depending on the geometric confinement of the nozzle, compressibility model and cavitation numbers, either auto-oscillation or quasi-steady behaviour is observed. The adverse pressure gradient in the closure region is stronger at the maximum cavity size. One can also observe that the mass transfer process contributes to the cavitation dynamics. Compared to the steady flow computations, the velocity and vapour volume fraction distributions within the cavity are noticeably improved with time-dependent computations
Salespersons' Weight and Ratings of Characteristics Related to Effectiveness of Selling:

A study was conducted to examine the effects of a salesperson's weight and the interaction of weight with sex on a variety of positive personal characteristics which have been previously established. 243 purchasing agents provided data on 410 male and female salespeople who were then divided into two groups by weight. Analyses of variance were conducted using weight and sex as the independent variables and a variety of personal characteristics as dependent variables. The analysis suggested that the weight and sex of a salesperson are related to several personal characteristics.
Novel Simulation Lab Exercises for Training Neurology Residents How To Manage Acute Stroke (P07.230)

Objective: We aimed to develop simulation lab training exercises that improve our residents9 competency in managing acute stroke. Background Medical simulation has rarely been used in Neurology resident education. The simulation lab can potentially provide a better method of assessing residents9 clinical abilities and providing constructive feedback. Design/Methods: Between December of 2009 and September of 2011, stroke simulation exercises were developed and implemented to enhance the training of neurology residents. Role playing was done by a live professional patient and stroke-fellowship trained attendings. SimMan software (Laerdal Medical AS) was used to simulate and display alterations in vital signs. Two standardized scenarios were used: one with a typical patient with an ischemic stroke eligible for intravenous thrombolysis and another with a progressive cerebellar hemorrhage needing evacuation. Goals including the identification of stroke mimics, proper administration of the NIH Stroke Scale, correction of hypoglycemia, treatment of acute hypertension, discussion of the risks and benefits of thrombolysis, correction of coagulopathy, interpretation of head computed tomographic scans, prioritizing simultaneous outside telephone calls, and communication with nursing staff and other consultants were re-enforced. All sessions were videotaped. For each scenario, a checklist based on these goals was used to calculate the percentage of items done satisfactorily ("score"). A survey for residents to critique the exercises was used in debriefing sessions. Results: To date, 25 sessions have been completed and analyzed. The median, average, range and standard deviation for the scores on scenario 1 (ischemic stroke/thrombolysis were: 64%, 62%, 32-77%, and 12.5. The median, average, range and standard deviation for the scores on scenario 2 (cerebellar hemorrhage) were: 85%, 86%, 80-100%, and 6.7. Residents9 evaluation of the exercise was consistently very positive. Conclusions: Medical simulation appears to be a feasible and useful method for training neurology residents in the management of acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Disclosure: Dr. Lukovits has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goddeau has nothing to disclose.
Response to Gert on Practical Reason

This is a response to Joshua Gert’s criticisms of my book Reasons from Within and defense of his own contrasting position.
Localized subclinical radiation enteropathy prolongs intestinal transit time: An experimental study in a rat model

Intestinal dysmotility is a prominent feature of chronic radiation enteropathy. This study addressed the question whether localized radiation enteropathy without anatomical obstruction influences stomach to cecum transit time. Male rats were orchiectomized and a loop of ileum was sutured to the inside of the scrotum. After 3 weeks postoperative recovery, the “scrotal hernia” containing the transposed intestine was irradiated with 18 twice-daily fractions of 2.8 Gy, or 9 daily fractions of 5.6 Gy orthovoltage X-rays. Control animals were operated and sham-irradiated. Stomach to cecum transit time was assessed 26 weeks after irradiation. A 1-ml bolus of barium suspension was administered by gavage and diagnostic X-ray films were obtained at 0,1, 2,2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4 hr. Transit time was defined as the time to the first X-ray that showed unequivocal contrast filling of the cecum. Normal range and day-to-day variability were assessed in normal, unoperated control rats. After completion of transit studies, the rats were euthanized, samples from shielded and irradiated intestine were procured, and radiation injury was assessed with a histopathological scoring system. Median stomach to cecum transit time in unoperated controls was 2.25 hr. The surgical procedure and aging did not significantly affect transit time. Transit time was significantly prolonged both in the 2.8 Gy × 18 group (P = 0.02) and in the 5.6 Gy × 9 group (P = 0.0001). The association between histopathologic radiation injury and transit time did not reach statistical significance. We conclude that non-obstructing radiation injury in the distal ileum significantly prolongs intestinal transit time and that small bowel follow-through with barium contrast may be used to assess radiation enteropathy in this animal model. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Inaugural AGU Science Policy Conference

AGU will present its inaugural Science Policy Conference, 30 April to 3 May 2012, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, located in downtown Washington, D. C. This conference will bring together leading scientists, policy makers, industry professionals, press, and other stakeholders to discuss natural hazards, natural resources, oceans, and Arctic science and the role these sciences play in serving communities. To bridge the science and policy fields, AGU plans to host this conference every 2 years and focus on the applications of Earth and space sciences to serve local and national communities. “Our nation faces a myriad of challenges such as the sustainability of our natural resources, current and future energy needs, and the ability to mitigate and adapt to natural and manmade hazards,” said Michael McPhaden, president of AGU. “It is essential that policies to address these challenges be built on a solid foundation of credible scientific knowledge.”
A Model for motion in the chaotic regime: Classical and quantum viewpoints

Abstract A quantum theory of the magnetized hydrogen atom based on partitioning the space into physically important regions is given. Using known formalism, this partitioning supplies a fully quantal explanation of the effect of periodic orbits on the Fourier transforms of the spectra, scars in the wavefunctions, and level clustering. The formalism also leads to a simple non-periodic trajectory guided method to calculate quantum mechanically the Fourier peaks. The motion of the system is shown to be consistently that of a chaotic trajectory with segments of near periodic orbit-type motion.
Do New York Dairy Farmers Maximize Profits or Minimize Costs

The Weak Axiom of Profit Maximization and Weak Axiom of Cost Minimization were used to determine whether each of forty-nine New York dairy farms displayed behavior consistent with profit maximization or cost minimization. These were tested for each farm across eleven years of data, correcting for technological change using previously estimated nonparametric Malmquist productivity indices. The results indicate that some were moderately successful in maximizing profits, but more came closer to minimizing costs. Over half of the observations were within 10% of minimum costs.
The definition of the characteristic mean value pk and its application in spectral analysis

Abstract In this paper some properties of the so-called first Fourier approximation have been investigated thoroughly. A new parameter called the characteristic mean value p k has been defined, and this is used to determine the optimal number of data required for spectral analysis. Practical examples are given to show its potential application in discrete data analysis.
A note on data structures for maintaining bipartitions

We consider the following problem: given a ground set U of elements {1,2,...,n}, and a set S of bipartitions of U, design a data structure to support the following three operations: Report(S)-report the partition of U induced by S, Insert(P,S)-add a new bipartition P to S, and Delete(P,S)-delete the existing partition P from S, where the partition of U induced by S is given by two elements of U being in the same class if and only if they are in the same class for every bipartition of S. We describe a straightforward deterministic data structure with an amortized bound of O(n) per update, which is optimal.
Effects of hydralazine and verapamil on phosphorylase activity and guanosine cyclic 3′,5′-monophosphate levels in guinea-pig taenia coli

1 The roles of guanosine cyclic 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic GMP) and calcium in the relaxation produced by hydralazine and verapamil in potassium-depolarized guinea-pig taenia coli have been investigated. 2 Depolarization of isolated strips of guinea-pig taenia coli by 124 mm KCl caused sustained contractures and increases in tissue levels of cyclic GMP. 3 The KCl-induced increases in cyclic GMP levels appeared to be calcium dependent. No increases in cyclic GMP levels were seen in strips of taenia coli depolarized in the absence of calcium. Re-addition of calcium to the depolarizing solution contracted the muscles and increased cyclic GMP levels. When calcium was removed from the depolarizing solution during the sustained, tonic phase of a KCl-induced contracture, both tension and cyclic GMP levels returned to control values. 4 Administration of 50 um verapamil to KCl-contracted muscles completely relaxed the muscles and caused cyclic GMP levels to return to control values within 14 min. Hydralazine, 2 mm, on the other hand, relaxed the depolarized muscles without lowering cyclic GMP levels. No significant changes in cyclic AMP levels were seen in any of these experiments. 5 Similar results were obtained in an analogous series of experiments in which glycogen phosphorylase activity was measured instead of cyclic GMP levels. Activation of phosphorylase during contractions of guinea-pig taenia coli had previously been reported to be a calcium-dependent phenomenon. 6 It was concluded that increases in tissue levels of cyclic GMP (or of cyclic AMP) were not responsible for the relaxant effects of hydralazine or verapamil in these experiments. It was also suggested, based on our results, that verapamil exerted its relaxant effects in the depolarized taenia coli by lowering cytoplasmic calcium levels, whereas hydralazine relaxed the depolarized muscles without lowering intracellular calcium activity.
Comparing the effects of live and video-taped theatrical performance in decreasing stigmatization of people with serious mental illness

Background: Interventions that promote contact with people with psychiatric disabilities can decrease negative attitudes about this population. However, little is known about the impact of different types of educational presentations on stigmatizing attitudes of people with serious mental illness across time.Aim: To longitudinally examine the relative effects of live and video-taped theatrical presentations on undergraduates' affective response, intolerant attitudes, and intentions to interact with people with serious mental illness.Method: A total of 303 undergraduates viewed either a live or video-taped theatrical performance about stigmatization of mental illness, or were members of a no-presentation comparison group. Attitudes of tolerance and behavioral intentions were assessed one month prior, immediately following, and one month after presentations. Affective responses to presentations were also assessed.Results: The live presentation group showed the greatest initial decrease in stigmatizing attit...
A scanned-wavelength-modulation absorption-spectroscopy sensor for temperature and H2O in low-pressure flames

The design and demonstration of a tunable diode laser sensor for in situ temperature and water (H2O) measurements in laboratory flames is presented. A newly-designed probe consisting of two single-crystal sapphire rods is used to guide 2.9 μm laser light across the core of a flame while avoiding absorption by water outside of the flame. The sensor probes two H2O transitions near 2.9 μm using a scanned-wavelength-modulation absorption-spectroscopy spectral-fitting technique, which enables measurements without calibration or knowledge of the mixture collisional-broadening coefficient. To demonstrate the sensor, temperature and water mole fraction measurements were acquired in stoichiometric, burner-stabilized flames of methane/oxygen/argon at pressures of 25 Torr and 60 Torr. Typical total uncertainties in the temperature and water mole fraction measurements were ±50 K and ±0.016, respectively. This sensor is simple, robust and accurate and enables improved chemical kinetics studies of low-pressure flames. Improvements to reduce temperature and H2O precision to ±20 K and ±0.008, respectively, are discussed.
Characterization of the genome of the nucleopolyhedrosis bundle virus pathogenic for Orgyia pseudotsugata.

By reassociation kinetics the DNA from the nucleopolyhedrosis bundle virus of Orgyia pseudotsugata was found to have a nucleotide sequence complexity of approximately 86 × 10 6 daltons using both optical renaturation and S 1 nuclease assay to follow the renaturation. The molecular weight of the viral DNA by sedimentation analyses was determined to be 96 × 10 6 . The viral DNA has a T m as 76.9° which corresponds to a guanine plus cytosine base composition of 54%.
Molecular dynamics and electrical simulation of a novel GaN/4H-SiC hetero-structure optically triggered vertical NPN device

In this paper, an atomistic molecular dynamics followed by an electrical simulation study is made to study the turn-on and turn-off characteristics, gain, and breakdown voltage of an optically triggered GaN/4H-SiC hetero-structure vertical NPN device with 1 nm AlN as the buffer layer and the results are compared with the optically triggered all-4H-SiC NPN device. The optically triggered GaN/4H-SiC hetero-structure provides better switching characteristics, however, the breakdown strength of all-4H-SiC NPN device shows better results than GaN/4H-SiC device because of high critical field strength of 4H-SiC material.
Dose response of PEG 3350 for the treatment of childhood fecal impaction

Abstract Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 in the treatment of childhood fecal impaction. Methods: This was a prospective, double-blind, parallel, randomized study of 4 doses of PEG 3350; 0.25 g/kg per day, 0.5 g/kg per day, 1 g/kg per day, 1.5 g/kg per day, given for 3 days in children with constipation for >3 months and evidence of fecal impaction. Results: Forty patients completed the study (27 boys, median age 7.5, range 3.3-13.1 years). Disimpaction occurred in 75% of children, with a significant difference between the two higher doses and the lower doses (95% vs 55%, P
Determination of the substrate specificity of the phospholipase D from Streptomyces chromofuscus via an inorganic phosphate quantitation assay.

The substrate specificity for phospholipase D from Streptomyces chromofuscus (PLD(Sc)) has been determined utilizing an assay based on the quantitation of inorganic phosphate. 1,2-Di-n-hexanoyl phosphatidylcholine (C6PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (C6PE), phosphatidylserine (C6PS), phosphatidylglycerol (C6PG), and an unnatural phospholipid bearing a neohexyl headgroup (C6PDB) were examined as substrates. The assay relies on the quenching of the PLD(Sc)-catalyzed hydrolysis of the phospholipid substrates with EDTA followed by the hydrolysis of the phosphatidic acid product with alkaline phosphatase. The inorganic phosphate thus released is quantitated through the formation of a complex with ammonium molybdate, which has an absorbance maximum at 700 nm. To minimize the time involved and the reagents consumed, the assay is conducted in 96-well plates. The results of this study indicate that the catalytic efficiency for PLD(Sc) on the substrates is C6PC >> C6PS approximately C6PE > C6PG >> C6PDB.
Sampling frequency of the electrocardiogram for spectral analysis of the heart rate variability

A model is developed to describe and quantitate the error in R-R interval measurement due to the finite sampling frequency. The measured R-R interval is modeled as the sum of the true R-R interval and the error measurement. The first- and second-order statistics of the error are computed in order to investigate its influence on the heart-rate-variability (HRV) power spectrum. The statistics are found to be functions only of the ECG sampling frequency, and it is shown that the power spectrum of the error contributes an additive high-pass-filter-like term (colored noise) to the power spectrum of the HRV. The accuracy of the model is tested by a simulation procedure. The model indicates that the relative balance between the HRV and error power spectra is important and should be checked before any variability analysis of heart rate. >
An infinite family of octahedral crossing numbers

This paper calculates some crossing numbers for certain octahedral graphs. Precisely, if the number p is a prime power congruent to 1 modulo 4, then the crossing number of the p-dimensional octahedral graph in the orientable surface of genus (p–1)(p-4)/4 is (p2–p)/2. The key step is the construction of a self-dual imbedding of the complete graph on p vertices such that no face boundary contains a repeated vertex.
The relationship between autism symptom severity and sleep problems: Should bidirectionality be considered?

Abstract Prior research assessing the relationship between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptom severity and sleep problems has considered the association in a unidirectional manner; researchers have primarily focused on how sleep difficulties affect ASD symptom presentation. Specifically, extant research literature on this topic indicates that sleep problems exacerbate ASD symptom severity. The present study provides an investigation of this topic in a bidirectional manner. Primary results corroborated the compounding effect of sleep problems on ASD symptom severity. Furthermore, the results of a multinomial linear regression provided preliminary evidence that increased ASD symptom severity may predict an increased likelihood of the presence of sleep problems. As such, the authors conclude that the relationship between ASD symptom severity and sleep problems should be considered bidirectionally in future research. Implications for a relationship in each direction are discussed.
The relative energy spectra of carbon and oxygen nuclei in the primary cosmic radiation

Measurements of the energy spectra of carbon and oxygen nuclei in the primary cosmic radiation over the energy range from 140 MeV/nuc to 30 BeV/nuc are reported. An average C/O ratio of 1.11±0.02 is obtained at the top of the atmosphere. This ratio is found to be constant to within ∼5% over the entire energy range. The energy spectra of these two nuclei are presented and compared with earlier measurements and with satellite observations at low energies. After correction for propagational effects in 4 g/cm2 of interstellar hydrogen the ‘source’ C/O ratio is found to be ∼0.9. The astrophysical implications of this C/O ratio are discussed.
The strategic adoption of environmental CMS by small firms in the Oregon wine industry

This study investigates the motivations of small firms to invest limited resources in the adoption of environmental certified management standards (CMS). Specifically, this study develops the perspective that small companies invest in environmental CMS as learning tools to create capabilities in sustainable operations. Through an exploratory study in the Oregon wine industry, I find that small companies adhere to the previously emphasized stakeholder-signaling model, but also utilize environmental CMS as means to develop and enhance operational capabilities. These findings challenge the assumption suggested in prior literature that adopting firms tend to decouple practice from adoption; instead suggesting that there are conditions under which some firms want to closely couple practice changes with adoption. The findings of this study seek to contribute to an enhanced understanding of the motivations for firms to adopt environmental CMS, as well as provide a foundation for future studies regarding the proc...
The reduction of HNO3 by volatile organic compounds emitted by motor vehicles

Abstract Nitric acid (HNO3) was reduced in a flow tube by volatile organic carbon compounds (VOCs) generated from engine oil vapor. The primary reaction product was believed to be HONO. The reaction was not enhanced when Teflon® Raschig rings were added to the flow tube to increase surface area, thereby showing the reaction to be homogeneous under the conditions studied. The HONO formation observed ranged between 0.1 and 0.6 ppb h−1, with a mean of 0.3 ± 0.1 ppb h−1, for typical HNO3 concentrations of 4–5 ppb and estimated concentrations of the reactive components in the engine oil vapor between 200 and 300 ppt. The observations in this study compare well to a recently published field study conducted in Houston that observed average formation rates of 0.6 ± 0.3 ppb h−1. Water vapor was found to decrease the HONO formation rate by ∼0.1 ppb h−1 for every 1% increase in the water mixing ratio.
Scientific discrimination and the activist scientist: L.C. Dunn and the professionalization of genetics and human genetics in the United States.

During the 1920s and 1930s geneticist L.C. Dunn of Columbia University cautioned Americans against endorsing eugenic policies and called attention to eugenicists’ less than rigorous practices. Then, from the mid-1940s to early 1950s he attacked scientific racism and Nazi Rassenhygiene by co-authoring Heredity, Race and Society with Theodosius Dobzhansky and collaborating with members of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) on their international campaign against racism. Even though shaking the foundations of scientific discrimination was Dunn’s primary concern during the interwar and post-World War II years, his campaigns had ancillary consequences for the discipline. He contributed to the professionalization of genetics during the 1920s and 1930s and sought respectability for human genetics in the 1940s and 1950s. My article aims to elucidate the activist scientist’s role in undermining scientific discrimination by exploring aspects of Dunn’s scientific work and political activism from the 1920s to 1950s. Definitions are provided for scientific discrimination and activist scientist.
Inferior parietal perfusion, lateralization, and neuropsychological dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract The severity of inferior parietal perfusion deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is strongly associated with global intellectual decline. The relationship to specific losses of neuropsychological functioning, however, is less clear, as is the relative importance of the side (left vs. right) of hemispheric deficit. In this study, 53 patients with probable AD and 35 elderly controls received both a resting 133 Xe rCBF measurement and neuropsychological examination. AD patients demonstrated the expected bilateral deficits in inferior parietal perfusion, as well as impairment on measures of mental status, intelligence, verbal and visual memory, attention, language, and construction abilities. The severity of this bilateral parietal deficit, in turn, was associated with virtually all of these AD-related neuropsychological impairments, most strongly with declining Performance IQ. Left-sided deficits correlated better with overall declines in IQ, as well as with declining attention and language fluency. Right-sided deficits, on the other hand, correlated best with declines in mental status and—paradoxically—verbal memory and contributed independently to declines in Full Scale and Performance IQ. In terms of the number and strength of their association to neuropsychological measures, left-sided deficits appear much more predictive of cognitive decline in AD. Right-sided deficits, however, may be most important for predicting aspects of performance skill that are only indirectly assessed in standard paper-and-pencil format. Overall, it appears that both sides make significant, but independent contributions to general functional decline in AD, but that left-sided deficits are more closely associated with cognitive decline as measured by most standard neuropsychological measures.