cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antenatal betamethasone attenuates the angiotensin-(1-7)-Mas receptor-nitric oxide axis in isolated proximal tubule cells.

We previously reported a sex-specific effect of antenatal treatment with betamethasone (Beta) on sodium (Na+) excretion in adult sheep whereby treated males but not females had an attenuated natriu...
Narrowing Cohomology for Complex S^6

We compute Bott Chern, and Aeppli cohomology for a complex structure on the six sphere, $S^6$. We also give a table for the hodge numbers for the Bott-Chern (and thus also Aeppli) cohomology where hodge numbers are given in terms of whole number parameters $a = h_{\bar{\partial}}^{2,0}-h_{\bar{\partial}}^{1,0}$, $c = h_{\bar{\partial}}^{0,2}$,$d = h_{\bar{\partial}}^{1,2}$, $h_{\bar{\partial}}^{2,0}$, $h_{BC}^{1,1}$, and $h_{BC}^{2,2}$. As an example, we work out the Bott-Chern hodge numbers completely in the hypothetical case that the Dolbeault cohomology has $h^{2,0} = a = c = d =0$.
Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury and Swallowing Dysfunction in Neonatal Aortic Arch Repair

Background We evaluated the incidence, clinical effect, and recovery rate of vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) and swallowing dysfunction in neonates undergoing aortic arch repair. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 101 neonates who underwent aortic arch reconstruction from 2008 to 2015. Direct flexible laryngoscopy was performed in 89 patients before initiation of postoperative oral feeding after Norwood (n = 63) and non-Norwood (n = 26) arch reconstruction. We defined VCD as immobility of vocal cords or their lack of coaptation and poor mobility. Results The incidence of VCD after aortic arch repair was 48% (n = 43). There was no significant difference between the VCD and non-VCD groups in postoperative length of stay, extubation failure, cardiopulmonary bypass, cross-clamp, selective cerebral perfusion time, operative death, and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons–European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (STAT) Congenital Heart Surgery Mortality Categories. Placement of gastrostomy ( p = 0.03) and documented aspiration ( p = 0.01) were significantly more common in VCD patients. The incidence of VCD was 41% (n = 26) after Norwood and 65% (n = 17) after non-Norwood repairs ( p = 0.06). Gastrostomy was required in 44 Norwood patients vs 9 non-Norwood patients ( p = 0.004). Median length of stay was similar in Norwood patients with or without VCD ( p = .28) but was significantly longer in non-Norwood patients with VCD vs those without ( p = 0.002). At follow-up direct flexible laryngoscopy, VCD recovery was 74% (14 of 19) in the Norwood group and 86% (12 of 14) in the non-Norwood group. Conclusions The incidence of VCD and swallowing dysfunction in neonates undergoing aortic arch reconstruction is high. Patients with VCD have a significantly higher incidence of gastrostomy placement and aspiration. In the Norwood population, length of stay is not associated with presence or absence of VCD. More than 70% of patients in each group who had direct flexible laryngoscopy follow-up recovered vocal cord function.
Evaluating Nitrate Management in the Volusia Blue Springshed

AbstractThis investigation evaluated five hypothetical scenarios relating nitrate sources in the recharge of the Volusia Blue Spring to eutrophication in the St. Johns River. In the Volusia Blue re...
Predicting pornography use over time: Does self-reported "addiction" matter?

In recent years, several works have reported on perceived addiction to internet pornography, or the potential for some individuals to label their own use of pornography as compulsive or out of control. Such works have consistently found that perceived addiction is related to concerning outcomes such as psychological distress, relational distress, and other addictive behaviors. However, very little work has specifically examined whether or not perceived addiction is actually related to increased use of pornography, cross-sectionally or over time. The present work sought to address this deficit in the literature. Using two longitudinal samples (Sample 1, Baseline N = 3988; Sample 2, Baseline N = 1047), a variety of factors (e.g., male gender, lower religiousness, and lower self-control) were found to predict any use of pornography. Among those that acknowledged use (Sample 1, Baseline N = 1352; Sample 2, Baseline N = 793), perceived addiction to pornography consistently predicted greater average daily use of pornography. At subsequent longitudinal follow-ups (Sample 1, Baseline N = 265; Sample 2, One Month Later, N = 410, One Year Later, N = 360), only male gender and baseline average pornography use consistently predicted future use. These findings suggest that perceived addiction to pornography is associated with concurrent use of pornography, but does not appear to predict use over time, suggesting that perceived addiction may not always be an accurate indicator of behavior or addiction.
Kernel Functional Design

This chapter describes the design of the various components of the Alpha kernel and enumerates the major design decisions that shaped the kernel. Because one of the major goals of the Alpha kernel is flexibility, great emphasis has been placed on the design of mechanisms—as opposed to the specific policies concerning their use. A number of functions necessary in the creation of reliable, distributed, real-time systems are not provided by the kernel. In these cases, the functions are supported by kernel mechanisms, but the specific policies are applied at higher levels in the system. The design of objects in Alpha closely mirrors the object abstraction presented to the client. Objects consist of regions of data that the object serves to encapsulate, regions of code that are used to perform the operations defined on the object, and the various control structures used by the kernel to manage the object.
CHILD RESTRAINT AND AIRBAG INTERACTION: PROBLEM AND PROGRESS

The nature of the potentially hazardous interaction between a passenger-side airbag and a rear-facing child restraint is described, as well as the expectations regarding airbag interaction with other types of child restraint systems. Progress made in developing tools to study the problem and test criteria to evaluate possible solutions are summarized, efforts to inform the public are noted, and promising directions for dealing with the problem are addressed. Primary emphasis is placed on the work of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Child Restraint and Airbag Interaction (CRABI) Task Force and that of its members. (A) For the covering abstract of the compendium see IRRD 880073.
Prodrugs: A Chemical Approach to Targeted Drug Delivery

The term Prodrug is used to describe compounds which must undergo chemical transformation prior to exhibiting their pharmacologic or therapeutic action. The concept is not new since compounds such as acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), as a prodrug of salicylic acid, and methenamine, as a prodrug of formaldehyde, were discovered in the late 19th century. The term “pro-drug or “pro-agent” was first used by Albert (1958) who suggested that this approach could be used to alter the properties of drugs, in a temporary manner, to increase their usefulness, and/or decrease associated toxicity.
Inequality, prosperity, and fiscal policy: A case for caution in interpreting income distributions

This article examines recent developments in the long-term measurement of top income shares for several countries. While several works have used these data to suggest a causal link between inequali...
Polymer–MOF Hybrid Composites with High Porosity and Stability through Surface-Selective Ligand Exchange

Hybrid materials containing organic polymers and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted attention for their potential to harness both diverse functionality and high processability, but their fabrication is challenged by incompatibilities of the parent components. The poor solubility of MOFs hinders uniform dispersion throughout a polymer matrix and may cause aggregation that is not only detrimental to the permeability of substrates, but also limits the structural integrity of the polymer. Meanwhile, polymer chains can block or penetrate the porous structures and compromise MOF functionality by reducing surface area and pore size. We report a versatile method of covalent hybridization through post-synthetic ligand exchange to form a cross-linked polymer–MOF composite. The resulting network structure allows for the formation of robust, monolithic composites with variable MOF loadings that may exceed 80% wherein ligand exchange is limited to surface sites so as to fully preserve MOF surface area and ...
Adequacy of Inclusion of Older Adults in NIH‐Funded Phase III Clinical Trials

In the United States, the population aged 65 and older is rapidly growing, and this group uses more healthcare resources and has unique healthcare needs that do not exist in younger populations. However, it was reported that older adults are excluded or underrepresented in clinical trials for several diseases. We examined phase III clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health found in www.clinicaltrials.gov from 1965 to 2015 that addressed top causes for hospitalization and/or disability-adjusted life years in older adults: congestive heart failure (n = 45), cardiac dysrhythmias (n = 24), coronary atherosclerosis (n = 106), heart attack (n = 76), stroke (n = 113), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 14), pneumonia (n = 48), lung cancer (n = 117), prostate cancer (n = 65), and osteoarthritis (n = 15). We then analyzed the representation of older adults in these studies. We found that 33% of studies had arbitrary upper age limits, and 67% of studies reported mean and/or median ages that skewed younger than expected for the disease or condition of interest. Beyond explicit exclusion by age, older adults were often implicitly excluded based on various comorbid conditions such as polypharmacy/concomitant medication (37%) or cardiac issues (30%). We conclude that outcomes of these trials may not be fully generalizable to the general population of older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:218-222, 2019.
Two Cases of Extrauterine Müllerian Adenosarcoma Arising from Pelvic Endometriosis

Abstract Background: Adenosarcoma arises most commonly in the uterus. Rarely, it may arise from extrauterine sites, such as the pelvic peritoneum and rectovaginal septum. Two cases of extrauterine ...
Reidentification of trucks in highway corridors using convolutional neural networks to link truck weights to bridge responses

The widespread availability of cost-effective sensing technologies is translating into an increasing number of highway bridges being instrumented with structural health monitoring (SHM) systems. Current bridge SHM systems are only capable of measuring bridge responses and lack the ability to directly measure the traffic loads inducing bridge responses. The output-only nature of the monitoring data available often leaves damage detection algorithms ill-posed and incapable of robust detection. Attempting to overcome this challenge, this study leverages state-of-the-art computer vision techniques to establish a means of reliably acquiring load data associated with the trucks inducing bridge responses. Using a cyberenabled highway corridor consisting of cameras, bridge monitoring systems, and weigh-in-motion (WIM) stations, computer vision methods are used to track trucks as they excite bridges and pass WIM stations where their weight parameters are acquired. Convolutional neural network (CNN) methods are used to develop automated vehicle detectors embedded in GPU-enabled cameras along highway corridors to identify and track trucks from real-time traffic video. Detected vehicles are used to trigger the bridge monitoring systems to ensure structural responses are captured when trucks pass. In the study, multiple one-stage object detection CNN architectures have been trained using a customized dataset to identify various types of vehicles captured at multiple locations along a highway corridor. YOLOv3 is selected for its competitive speed and precision in identifying trucks. A customized CNN-based embedding network is trained following a triplet architecture to convert each truck image into a feature vector and the Euclidean distance of two feature vectors is used as a measure of truck similarity for reidentification purposes. The performance of the CNN-based feature extract is proved to be more robust than a hand-crafted method. Reidentification of the same vehicle allows truck weights measured at the WIM station to be associated with measured bridge responses collected by bridge monitoring systems.
PathFXweb: a web application for identifying drug safety and efficacy phenotypes.

Author(s): Wilson, Jennifer L; Wong, Mike; Chalke, Ajinkya; Stepanov, Nicholas; Petkovic, Dragutin; Altman, Russ B | Abstract: SUMMARY:Limited efficacy and intolerable safety limit therapeutic development and identification of potential liabilities earlier in development could significantly improve this process. Computational approaches which aggregate data from multiple sources and consider the drug's pathways effects could add to identification of these liabilities earlier. Such computational methods must be accessible to a variety of users beyond computational scientists, especially regulators and industry scientists, in order to impact the therapeutic development process. We have previously developed and published PathFX, an algorithm for identifying drug networks and phenotypes for understanding drug associations to safety and efficacy. Here we present a streamlined and easy-to-use PathFX web application that allows users to search for drug networks and associated phenotypes. We have also added visualization, and phenotype clustering to improve functionality and interpretability of PathFXweb. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION:https://www.pathfxweb.net/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Glutamine and asparagine activate mTORC1 independently of Rag GTPases

Nutrient sensing by cells is crucial, and when this sensing mechanism is disturbed, human disease can occur. mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) senses amino acids to control cell growth, metabolism, and autophagy. Leucine, arginine, and methionine signal to mTORC1 through the well-characterized Rag GTPase signaling pathway. In contrast, glutamine activates mTORC1 through a Rag GTPase–independent mechanism that requires ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (Arf1). Here, using several biochemical and genetic approaches, we show that eight amino acids filter through the Rag GTPase pathway. Like glutamine, asparagine signals to mTORC1 through Arf1 in the absence of the Rag GTPases. Both the Rag-dependent and Rag-independent pathways required the lysosome and lysosomal function for mTORC1 activation. Our results show that mTORC1 is differentially regulated by amino acids through two distinct pathways.
The effect of competitive actions and social media perceptions on offline car sales after automobile recalls

Abstract This paper explores the joint effect of competitive actions and social media related interactions on offline car sales after automobile recalls. Our analysis of all the mid-size automobile recall events in the U.S. from 2010 to 2015, the corresponding social media discussions of the recall and the competitive actions taken by the recalling firms and their competitors revealed that after recalls: (1) fewer competitive actions by the recalling firm are more effective in influencing car sales; (2) although social media discussions can increase awareness and sales, the change in perceptions of the brand on social media can negatively affect sales; and (3) the positive effect of social media on offline car sales is amplified when the recalling firm conducts fewer competitive actions, regardless of strategic or tactical actions, but is attenuated when competitors conduct more competitive actions. The current study adds to the competitive actions literature by considering the boundary conditions under which recalling firms can construct their competitive actions more effectively and extends the social media literature by incorporating both the focal and non-focal firms’ perspectives when examining the role of social media. Managerial implications for those responsible for steering companies through product recalls are also discussed.
Violent conflict and institutional change1

Violent conflict such as civil war may influence institutional quality by changing the political equilibrium or by changing preferences and norms. This study presents empirical evidence that in some cases civil war deteriorates institutional quality. By applying the synthetic control method to 25 cases of civil war between 1960 and 2010, I construct the counterfactual path of institutional quality in the absence of civil war. The effects of civil war are heterogeneous, but for a substantial minority of cases civil war appears to deteriorate institutional quality. These findings have implications for post‐civil war economic recovery as well as long run economic development.
Colloquium : Perspectives on core-collapse supernova theory

Core-collapse theory brings together many facets of high-energy and nuclear astrophysics and the numerical arts to present theorists with one of the most important, yet frustrating, astronomical questions: ``What is the mechanism of core-collapse supernova explosions?'' A review of all the physics and the 50-year history involved would soon bury the reader in minutiae that could easily obscure the essential elements of the phenomenon, as we understand it today. Moreover, much remains to be discovered and explained, and a complicated review of an unresolved subject in flux could grow stale fast. Therefore, this paper describes various important facts and perspectives that may have escaped the attention of those interested in this puzzle. Furthermore, an attempt to describe the modern theory's physical underpinnings and a brief summary of the current state of play are given. In the process, a few myths that have crept into modern discourse are identified. However, there is much more to do and humility in the face of this age-old challenge is clearly the most prudent stance as its eventual resolution is sought.
A mathematical analysis of carbon fixing materials that grow, reinforce, and self-heal from atmospheric carbon dioxide

Carbon fixing materials are a new class of self-healing, self-reinforcing materials we have introduced that utilize ambient CO2 to chemically add to an ever extending carbon backbone. This class of materials can utilize biological or non-biological photocatalysts and support a wide range of potential backbone chemistries. However, there is no analysis to date that describes their fundamental limits in terms of chemical kinetics and mass transfer. In this computational study, we employ a reaction engineering, and materials science analysis to answer basic questions about the maximum growth rate, photocatalytic requirements and limits of applicable materials. Our proposed mathematical framework envelops three main functions required for carbon fixing materials: (1) adsorption of CO2 from air, (2) photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into selected monomers, and (3) polymerization of CO2-derived monomers. First, by performing a Damkohler number analysis, we derive criteria for the cross over from kinetic control to mass transfer limited growth, setting upper limits on performance of a potential photocatalyst. Next, we analyze photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to single carbon products, using known catalytic pathways and kinetic data. We identify formaldehyde as a C1 intermediate having unique potential for incorporation into the material backbone of carbon fixing materials. As an example, we find that a diamond-shaped reaction network graph for CO2 reduction, passing through CO and HCOOH intermediates, accurately describes kinetic data for cobalt-promoted TiO2 nanoparticles at room temperature and 1 atm CO2. Finally, as an applied case study, we consider and analyze the example of a carbon fixing poly(oxymethylene) system with embedded catalyst promoting the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to formaldehyde. The latter then trimerizes to a trioxane monomer which subsequently polymerizes to polyoxymethylene. This reaction engineering analysis introduces benchmarks for carbon fixing materials with respect to achievable rates of photocatalysis, adsorption, and polymerization. These results should prove valuable for the design, evaluation, and benchmarking of this emergent and new class of environmentally sustainable materials.
Growth at 5 kPa Causes Differential Expression of a Number of Signals in a Bacillus subtilis Strain Adapted to Enhanced Growth at Low Pressure.

To determine microbial evolutionary strategies to low-pressure (LP; 5 kPa) growth, an environmental condition not experienced on Earth until ∼20 km in altitude, a previously described evolutionary ...
Management of Incidental Peripheral Pulmonary Arterial Aneurysm by Interventional Radiology.

A peripheral pulmonary arterial aneurysm (PAA) is an abnormal dilatation of the distal pulmonary artery consisting of all three vessel wall layers (the intima, media, and adventitia). It is a rare, potentially life-threatening entity. There is no defined standard for an abnormal amount of dilation of the distal pulmonary vasculature, however, the most common criteria used is a diameter greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of a normal or proximal portion. Despite the rarity of peripheral PAAs, the ability to recognize and diagnose them is important for both radiologists and clinicians. Early recognition is needed because of the high mortality associated with rupture. Consistent guidelines still need to be developed to help clinicians determine when intervention is appropriate. In the interim, endovascular coil embolization has become a mainstay of treatment due to its minimally invasive nature and lower risk of complications when compared to open surgical approaches.
The electrorheological effect for polyhedral silsesquioxane cage structures with cyanopropyl functional groups

Abstract Previous research has shown that sulfonated polyhedral silsesquioxane (s-POSS) material when mixed with silicone oil (PDMS) exhibits a significant ER effect. For the first time here we show that cyanopropyl POSS (c-POSS) particles in silicone oil also show significant ER activity. The yield stress, τ y , scales with the electric field, E , as τy ∝ E . The elastic storage modulus of the suspension at small strains (γ =0.10) scales with the electric field E as G’ ∝ E 0.99–1.76 .
The Design of Physically Accurate Fluid Flow

We first review work in which a bivariate parametric polynomial is derived that maps one curve onto another and deforms regions about the curves conformally. The curves are defined in Bezier form. In this paper the approximation is extended to B-Spline curves that generate near-conformal maps. It is then applied to approximating and animating ideal fluid flows. The B-spline curve underpins the design approach. With it an interface is developed to design fluid flow applications which also incorporates potential field theory. We give parameter maps that set up the flow from the confomally designed regions. Examples of animated fluid flow include designed channel flows with obstacles.
Comparison of oxidation of carbon monoxide on superconducting and insulating Y-Ba-Cu-O catalysts

Investigation of the catalytic activity of Y{sub 2}BaCuO{sub 5} has shown high and stable activity for CO oxidation when the catalyst is slightly reduced, comparable with the activity of the best catalysts for CO oxidation. This oxide was found to be about two orders of magnitude more active than the superconducting perovskite YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-x}. Furthermore, in contrast to the perovskite catalyst, surface reduction increased the activity of Y{sub 2}BaCuO{sub 5}. Zero-order kinetics were observed for O{sub 2} on both the oxidized and reduced forms of the catalyst, but the reaction order for CO was in the range of 1.1 to 1.5. Differences between the oxidized and reduced forms of the catalyst and between the two types of Y-Ba-Cu-O catalysts are discussed.
The Nursing Informatics Workforce: Who Are They and What Do They Do?

Nursing informatics has evolved into an integral part of health care delivery and a differentiating factor in the selection, implementation, and evaluation of health IT that supports safe, high-quality, patient-centric care. New nursing informatics workforce data reveal changing dynamics in clinical experience, job responsibilities, applications, barriers to success, information, and compensation and benefits. In addition to the more traditional informatics nurse role, a new position has begun to emerge in the health care C-suite with the introduction of the chief nursing informatics officer (CNIO). The CNIO is the senior informatics nurse guiding the implementation and optimization of HIT systems for an organization. With their fused clinical and informatics background, informatics nurses and CNIOs are uniquely positioned to help with "meaningful use" initiatives which are so important to changing the face of health care in the United States.
Increased expression of GLUT-4 and hexokinase in rat epitrochlearis muscles exposed to AICAR in vitro

Exercise acutely stimulates muscle glucose transport and also brings about an adaptive increase in the capacity of muscle for glucose uptake by inducing increases in GLUT-4 and hexokinase.1 Recent ...
Attention Deficit Disorder With and Without Hyperactivity: Clinical Response to Three Dose Levels of Methylphenidate

The response of 23 children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) with hyperactivity (+H) and 17 children with ADD without hyperactivity (-H) to three doses of methylphenidate (5, 10, and 15 mg twice a day) was evaluated in a triple-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design using parent and teacher ratings of behavior, laboratory tests of ADD symptoms, and behavioral observations during academic performance. Results indicated that the children with ADD+H were rated as having more pervasive behavioral problems at home and more pervasive and severe conduct problems at school than the children with ADD-H. Laboratory tests found the children with ADD+H to be impaired in behavioral inhibition and vigilance whereas children with ADD-H were more impaired in the consistent retrieval of verbally learned material Drug effects were noted on the parent and teacher ratings and on most laboratory measures, with all three doses typically producing significant changes but rarely differing among themselves in effectiveness. The groups were not found to differ significantly on any measures in their response to methylphenidate. However, more children with ADD-H were clinically judged as having either no clinical response (24%) or responding best to the low dose (35%) of medication. In contrast, most ADD+H (95%) children were judged to be positive responders and most were recommended to receive the moderate to high dose (71%).
Scale invariant amplitude modulated phase-only filtering

A new synthetic discriminant-function-based amplitude modulated phase-only filtering technique is proposed for scale invariant pattern recognition. This technique has been found to yield improved correlation output when compared with the alternate techniques. The proposed technique is inherently suitable for optical implementation using the currently available spatial light modulators. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Transition from lab to flight demo for model-based FLIR ATR and SAR-FLIR fusion

Model-based automatic target recognition (ATR) using forward- looking infrared (FLIR) imagery, and using FLIR imagery combined with cues from a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system, has been successfully demonstrated in the laboratory. For the laboratory demonstration, FLIR images, platform location, sensor data, and SAR cues were read in from files stored on computer disk. This ATR system, however, was intended to ultimately be flown in a fighter aircraft. We discuss the transition from laboratory demonstration to flight demonstration for this system. The obvious changes required were in the interfaces: the flight system must get live FLIR imagery from a sensor; it must get platform location, sensor data, and controls from the avionics computer in the aircraft via 1553 bus; and it must get SAR cues from the on-board SAR system, also via 1553 bus. Other changes included the transition to rugged hardware that would withstand the fighter aircraft environment, and the need for the system to be compact and self-contained. Unexpected as well as expected challenges were encountered. We discuss some of these challenges, how they were met, and the performance of the flight-demonstration system.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
“I plan to be a 10”: Online literacy and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students

Abstract Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people use computer mediated communication (CMC) in a variety of ways as they come to understand their sexual identity and begin to identify with larger communities. A Web-based survey gathered 75 responses from Web users who supplied information about their online experiences as LGBT people. They report using online resources to serve many functions in the coming out process: They gather information, try out new ways of self-expression, and an find audience of like-minded people with whom they interact. Online resources were reported as most useful for obtaining basic information, for offering the ability to express oneself on LGBT issues and as a LGBT person, and for connecting with a larger LGBT community. The ways people find, use, and interact with these resources are examples of online literacy, a set of skills that may parallel traditional academic literacies but which may be used in different ways and to different ends.
Symmetric-Resonance Charge Transfer in Ar from 0.1-20 eV Using Merging Beams

The absolute cross section for ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$+Ar\ensuremath{\rightarrow}Ar+${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$ at an interaction energy $W$ of 0.3 eV has been measured using a previously described merging-beams technique. A modification of this method has also been employed to measure relative cross sections for the same process in a range of $W$ from 0.1 to 20 eV. The results are in agreement with the theoretical prediction of Rapp and Francis.
Rational Insurance Purchasing: Consideration of Contract Nonperformance

Much of the analysis of rational insurance purchasing and hedging strategies has been undertaken on the basis of the expected utility hypothesis. This decision framework has been used to reformulate the Bernoulli principle that a risk averter rationally would fully insure at a fair premium. Other applications include the analysis of insurance at unfair premiums (Mossin [1968 ] and Smith [1968]), the effects of state-dependent utility on the rational insurance purchase (Cook and Graham [1977]), the effects of risky background wealth (Doherty and Schlesinger [1983] and Mayers and Smith [1983]), and the design of the optimal insurance policy (Raviv [1979] ). Such analyses have been conducted on the assumption that insurance policies are free of insolvency (default) risk. This assumption stands in sharp contrast to the actuarial literature in which the insolvency risk, or probability of ruin, is a central focus of attention.
Catching and selective catching: efficient latency reduction techniques for delivering continuous multimedia streams

We present a novel video streaming technique called catching for on-demand delivery of “hot” (i.e., frequently accessed) video objects to a large number of clients. This technique not only significantly reduces the server and network resource requirements but also is capable of providing near-instantaneous service to a large number of clients. By combining this technique for delivery of “hot” video objects with controlled multicast [4] for delivery of “cold” video objects, we design an efficient video delivery scheme referred to as selective catching. Through empirical studies, we demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed video delivery schemes.
Renormalization of the Nambu Jona-Lasinio model in a mean field expansion

Abstract The Nambu Jona-Lasinio model is expanded in a mean field expansion. All divergences are absorbed in a renormalized fermion mass and a renormalized Yukawa coupling. Consequently, collective boson self-couplings are fixed in terms of this coupling while the boson mass is calculable in terms of the Fermi mass and Yukawa coupling. Equivalence to the σ model in a special limit is demonstrated.
GOES-R user data transfer mechanisms and structure

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are jointly developing the next-generation series of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), known as the GOES-R Series. GOES-R meteorological data is provided to the operational and science user community through four main distribution mechanisms. GOES-R generates a set of data from each of the six primary satellite instruments and formats the data into a direct broadcast stream known as GOES Rebroadcast (GRB) for hemispheric distribution via L-band satellite downlink. Terrestrially, meteorological data is provided to forecasters at the National Weather Service (NWS) through a direct interface to the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS). A secondary pathway for the user community to receive data terrestrially is via the GOES-R Access Subsystem (GAS), which is being developed as a part of NOAA's Environmental Satellite Processing and Distribution System (ESPDS) Product Distribution and Access (PDA) capability. Finally, GOES-R data is made available to NOAA's Comprehensive Large Array-Data Stewardship System (CLASS) for long-term archive. This paper will provide a summary description of the data types and formats associated with each of the four primary distribution pathways for user data from GOES-R. It will discuss the resources that are being developed by GOES-R to document the data structures and formats. It will also provide a brief introduction to the types of metadata associated with each of the primary data flows.
Investigation of Trap States in Mid-Wavelength Infrared Type II Superlattices Using Time-Resolved Photoluminescence

Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopy is used to study the minority-carrier lifetime in mid-wavelength infrared, n-type, InAs/Ga1−xInxSb type II superlattices (T2SLs) and investigate the recombination mechanisms and trap states that currently limit their performance. Observation of multiple exponential decays in the intensity-dependent TRPL data indicates trap saturation due to the filling then emptying of trap states and different Shockley–Read–Hall (SRH) lifetimes for minority and majority carriers, with τmaj (τn0) ≫ τmin (τp0). Simulation of the photoluminescence transient captures the qualitative behavior of the TRPL data as a function of temperature and excess carrier density. A trap state native to Ga1−xInxSb is identified from the low-injection temperature-dependent TRPL data and found to be located below the intrinsic Fermi level of the superlattice, approximately 60 ± 15 meV above the valence-band maximum. Low-temperature TRPL data show a variation of the minority-carrier SRH lifetime, τp0, over a set of InAs/Ga1−xInxSb T2SLs, where τp0 increases as x is varied from 0.04 to 0.065 and the relative layer thickness of Ga1−xInxSb is increased by 31%.
Exploring Discrimination and Mental Health Disparities Faced By Black Sexual Minority Women Using a Minority Stress Framework

Black sexual minority women are triply marginalized due to their race, gender, and sexual orientation. We compared three dimensions of discrimination-frequency (regularity of occurrences), scope (number of types of discriminatory acts experienced), and number of bases (number of social statuses to which discrimination was attributed)-and self-reported mental health (depressive symptoms, psychological well-being, and social well-being) between 64 Black sexual minority women and each of two groups sharing two of three marginalized statuses: (a) 67 White sexual minority women and (b) 67 Black sexual minority men. Black sexual minority women reported greater discrimination frequency, scope, and number of bases and poorer psychological and social well-being than White sexual minority women and more discrimination bases, a higher level of depressive symptoms, and poorer social well-being than Black sexual minority men. We then tested and contrasted dimensions of discrimination as mediators between social status (race or gender) and mental health outcomes. Discrimination frequency and scope mediated the association between race and mental health, with a stronger effect via frequency among sexual minority women. Number of discrimination bases mediated the association between gender and mental health among Black sexual minorities. Future research and clinical practice would benefit from considering Black sexual minority women's mental health in a multidimensional minority stress context.
Gender influences on mental models of firm strategies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate gender differences in the formation of mental models of firm strategies.Design/methodology/approach – The specific research question is how gender, social interaction, team psychological safety and synergistic knowledge development influence certain characteristics – complexity and centrality – of an individual's mental model of firm strategies. A survey was conducted on a sample of US business students enrolled in strategic management courses. Social interaction, team psychological safety and synergistic knowledge development were measured by use of multiple‐item seven‐point Likert scales. Mental models were constructed by the causal mapping method. Hierarchical regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses.Findings – The regression analyses of the survey data support most of the hypotheses. Gender directly influences complexity and centrality in mental models of firm strategies and moderates the predictive influence of social interaction on sy...
Induction of parturition in the sow with prostaglandin F2α

Sows were injected with prostaglandin F2α to induce parturition. Blood was collected to determine the effect of PGF2α on plasma progesterone and estrogen levels. Parturition occurred significantly earlier (P<.01) in the 14 treated animals than in the 9 untreated animals. Nine out of fourteen treated sows farrowed within 48 h after treatment. Whereas untreated sows farrowed 11.6 ± 6.7 h after the predicted time of parturition, treated sows farrowed 48 ± 8.8 h before the predicted time. PGF2α was most effective in those sows in which plasma progesterone decreased quickly. Plasma estrogen levels remained reasonably constant after treatment.
Nanoscale strength distribution in amorphous versus crystalline metals

Low-load nanoindentation can be used to assess not only the plastic yield point, but the distribution of yield points in a material. This paper reviews measurements of the so-called nanoscale strength distribution (NSD) on two classes of materials: crystals and metallic glasses. In each case, the yield point has a significant spread (10-50% of the mean normalized stress), but the origins of the distribution are shown to be very different in the two materials classes. In crystalline materials the NSD can arise from thermal fluctuations and is attended by significant rate and temperature dependence. In metallic glasses well below their glass-transition temperature, the NSD is reflective of fluctuations in the sampled structure and is not very sensitive to rate or temperature. Computer simulations using shear transformation zone dynamics are used to separate the effects of thermal and structural fluctuations in metallic glasses, and support the latter as dominating the NSD of those materials at low temperatures. Finally, the role of the NSD as a window on structural changes due to annealing or prior deformation is discussed as a direction for future research on metallic glasses in particular.
Interpretation of the observed changes in Jupiter's synchrotron radiation during and after the impacts from comet Shoemaker-Levy 9

Abstract The effects of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 collision with Jupiter included an abrupt and impulsive disturbance to Jupiter's inner magnetosphere. A substantial change to the radio emission originating from Jupiter's radiation belts (synchrotron radiation) was reported and confirmed by numerous observers. The major effect on the radiation belts is due to the latitude of the impact sites on Jupiter. The impacts occurred at the footprint of the magnetic field lines connecting Jupiter's inner radiation belts with the planet. Interferometric maps suggest changes may have continued for weeks after the impacts. The reported increases in synchrotron emission indicate substantial changes to the high energy electron population trapped in Jupiter's radiation belts. A number of mechanisms were suggested almost immediately to explain the observed changes: (1) enhanced radial diffusion, (2) shock acceleration and energization of the electron population and (3) pitch angle scattering of the emitting electrons from plasma waves triggered by the comet impacts. A review of the interpretation of the radio data and a discussion of the consistency between the proposed mechanisms and the observations is presented. A complete understanding of the state of the radiation belts before, during and after the impacts has not yet been reached and requires extensive modeling.
Inhaled Nitric Oxide Does Not Inhibit Platelet Activation in Infants with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN). † 844

Inhaled Nitric Oxide Does Not Inhibit Platelet Activation in Infants with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN). † 844
The effect of anti-rat clotting factor serum on the ‘prothrombin time’

Abstract 1. 1. Factor VII prepared from rat serum and rat β-globulins was used to elicit antibody formation in rabbits and guinea-pigs. 2. 2. Precipitin tests showed that the highest titre against the antiserum from the guinea-pig was about 11 and against that from rabbit was about 16. 3. 3. Factor VII consistently gave a higher titre to the rabbit antiserum than to the guinea-pig antiserum. 4. 4. The specificity of the antibody with respect to species was studied on rat, cat, dog, pony, swine, guinea-pig, goat, hamster, and man. 5. 5. Using the precipitin test and double gel-diffusion as criteria, the antiserum from both rabbit and guinea-pig was not absolutely specific. 6. 6. The ‘prothrombin time’ of rat plasma and plasma from other species was prolonged by the addition of antiserum. 7. 7. In the studies of the effect of warfarin on the prothrombin time and the precipitin titre it was found that as the prothrombin time of the rat was prolonged the precipitin titre of the plasma declined, indicating the antibody was complexing with a clotting factor. 8. 8. As the prothrombin time returned to normal the precipitin titre returned to the original value.
Translocation and Persistence of 1,2-14C-(2-Chloroethyl)-phosphonic Acid (Ethephon) in Thompson Seedless Grapes

Applications of 1,2−14C-(2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon) were made to the surface of mature Vitis vinifera cv. Thompson Seedless berries. After 7 days, 62 % of the recovered radioactivity was still on the outside surface and was easily washed off. Within the berry, radioactivity was present only in the carbon-labeled ethephon fraction, as revealed by chromatographic analysis. Similar results were obtained when the compound was injected directly into the berries. Application of ethephon to the first leaf above the cluster, or to a berry pedicel or a peduncle, failed to result in measurable movement of the compound into the berries. Autoradiographic studies with young shoots indicated that ethephon translocated in the phloem in a source to sink relationship.
A note on flow geometries and the similarity solutions of the boundary layer equations for a nonlinearly stretching sheet

In this note we extend the results of Akyildiz et al. [Similarity solutions of the boundary layer equations for a nonlinearly stretching sheet. Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences (www.interscience.wiley.com). doi: 10.1002/mma.1181] for any n > 0, where n is a nonlinear stretching parameter. Thus, the proof presented for the existence of the similarity solutions for the boundary layer equation for a nonlinearly stretching sheet presented in Akyildiz et al. hold not only for positive odd integer values of n, but also for any real value of n > 0: That is, n can be any positive real. We accomplish this by defining the stretching velocity of the sheet as u = csgn(x)|x| n , −∞ < x < ∞, at y = 0 (instead of u = cx n , 0 < x < ∞, y = 0) and accordingly modifying the similarity variables. This definition for u at the stretching surface eliminates the restrictions on n in all future research results related to flow and heat transfer over nonlinear stretching surfaces.
Splenic migration of xid and non-xid splenic B cells

The X-linked immune deficiency gene (xid) has been viewed as inducing either a deficiency in a B-cell subset or in B-cell maturation. The present experiments were performed in an attempt to better understand whether (a) xid B cells migrate differently from mature and immature non-xid B cells, and (b) whether the failure of mature B cells to be found in xid spleen, but not Peyer's patches, is secondary to migratory differences, especially the possible inability of xid spleens to receive mature B cells. We employed the technique of internally fluorescein labeling donor cells and subsequent injection into recipients. Double labeling permitted analysis of B or T cells by two-color flow microfluorometry. Functional studies revealed that labeled cells appropriately responded to TI-1 and TI-2 antigens after migration. We found that (a) adult xid splenic B cells do not migrate to spleen as well as adult non-xid splenic B cells, (b) the migration of adult xid splenic B cells to spleen resembles that of neonatal (xid and non-xid) B cells, (c) equal masses of xid and non-xid spleens have an equal capacity to receive either xid or non-xid splenic B cells, and (d) the migration of xid and non-xid T cells is similar. These results suggest that xid B cells do not migrate normally, but that migratory differences cannot account for the failure of mature B cells to be found in xid spleens.
Thymic transplantation in miniature swine: III. Induction of tolerance by transplantation of composite thymokidneys across fully major histocompatibility complex-mismatched barriers.

Background. This study determines whether composite thymokidney (TK) grafts, created by implantation of autologous thymic tissue beneath the donor's renal capsule before transplantation, could induce allogeneic transplantation tolerance across two-haplotype fully major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-mismatched barriers in juvenile MGH-miniature swine. Methods. TK grafts were prepared by implanting autologous thymic tissue under the renal capsule of donor animals 2 to 3 months before transplantation. Four recipients were treated with a T-cell-depleting immunotoxin and received fully MHC-mismatched TK grafts plus a 12-day course of cyclosporine A (CsA). Control animals were treated with CsA alone or both CsA and immunotoxin, but with a normal kidney or a kidney implanted with autologous lymph node rather than thymus. Renal graft function was assessed by plasma creatinine levels and histologic analyses. Immunologic status was monitored by cell-mediated lympholysis assays. Results. All four recipients of fully MHC-mismatched TK transplants treated with immunotoxin and a 12-day course of CsA accepted their composite renal allografts long-term. All control recipients receiving a TK and CsA alone, a normal kidney or a composite kidney containing lymph node tissue acutely rejected their grafts. Conclusions. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that functional vascularized thymic grafts can induce transplantation tolerance across fully MHC-mismatched barriers in a large animal model.