cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cu+ in Alkali Halides: Model Systems for Understanding Ions in Crystals

The Cu+ and Ag+ ions at known lattice sites in alkali halide host crystals have been potentially simple systems to study as examples of electronically active impurity ions. However, the problems of interpreting their spectra were not solved until two-photon spectroscopy was applied. This article reviews the recent and current work using this method to assign absorption bands. In one especially favorable case NaF:Cu+, it was possible to determine the Quantum levels of the tlu mode in which the Cu+ vibrates off the lattice site, by using high resolution one- and two-photon spectroscopy. This led to the construction of potential curves for this important mode in several excited electronic states. Other experiments including magnetic effects in triplet states are described. Theoretical interpretations at various levels are also reviewed.
Saline lavage after a "dry tap".

Aims In patients with a “dry” aspiration during the investigation of prosthetic joint infection (PJI), saline lavage is commonly used to obtain a sample for analysis. The aim of this study was to i...
Introduction and Scope of this Book

This book is intended to give the student an introduction to the field of digital control, with an emphasis on applications. Both transform-based and state-variable approaches will be included, with a brief introduction to system identification.
Sexual orientation disparities in food insecurity and food assistance use in U.S. adult women: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2014.

Nearly 40 million American adults report past year food insecurity. This is concerning, as food insecurity is associated with chronic disease morbidity and premature mortality. Women disproportionately experience food insecurity, and sexual minority women (i.e., lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual women reporting same-sex behavior; SMW) may be at greater risk for experiencing food insecurity disparities. The purpose of this study was to investigate patterns and prevalence of food insecurity and food assistance use in sexual minority and exclusively heterosexual women using population-level health surveillance data. Using pooled 2004–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (N = 7379), we estimated weighted point prevalence of past 12-month food insecurity, severe food insecurity, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) use, and emergency food assistance use. We then used Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate prevalence ratios comparing SMW to exclusively heterosexual women on all outcomes. Women were classified by sexual identity and lifetime same-sex behavior as lesbian (n = 88), bisexual (n = 251), heterosexual and reporting same-sex behavior (heterosexual WSW; n = 366), or exclusively heterosexual women (referent; n = 6674). Between 20.6–27.3% of lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual WSW reported past 12-month food insecurity (versus 13.1% of exclusively heterosexual women). All SMW reported greater prevalence of past 12-month food insecurity and severe food insecurity than exclusively heterosexual women: prevalence ratios (PR) ranged from 1.34 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–1.70) to 1.84 (95% CI, 1.13–3.01). No differences were found in SNAP participation by sexual orientation, but more lesbians and heterosexual WSW reported using emergency food assistance in the past 12-months (PR = 1.89; 95% CI, 1.29–2.79 and PR = 1.43; 95% CI, 1.03–2.00 respectively). All SMW reported higher prevalence of food insecurity than exclusively heterosexual women. Lesbians and heterosexual WSW were also more likely to rely on emergency food assistance. This is problematic as SNAP use may reduce food insecurity over time, but emergency food resources (e.g., food pantries) do not. More evidence is needed to understand the multilevel factors driving food insecurity in this population to develop policy and community-based efforts to increase SNAP participation and decrease food insecurity.
Working on local time: Testing the job-demand-control-support model of stress with jail officers.

Abstract Purpose The demands and consequences of the correctional workplace are well-documented, but researchers have yet to examine the correlates of work stress among a large multi-facility sample of jail officers. We framed our inquiry within the Job Demand-Control-Support model that has guided researchers in parallel studies of work stress among prison officers. Method Data on officers' background characteristics, job demands, work-related control or autonomy, support from coworkers or family members, safety risks, and work-related stress were examined across 1380 officers working in 19 jails. Results Unreasonable workloads, perceptions of insufficient staff, role problems, less control or autonomy, a lack of support at work or home, and exposure to violence were associated with greater stress among jail officers. Jails with characteristics that threatened order and security—having more inmates per officer and greater levels of inmate violence—had higher levels of stress among officer workforces. Conclusions Findings largely support research on work stress among prison officers and may inform efforts to reduce stress and improve quality of life among jail and prison personnel. Delegating appropriate workloads, the maintenance of control, social supports, and the reduction of safety risks are all important for reducing work stress among jail officers.
Manipulating Two-Photon-Absorption of Cavity Polaritons by Entangled Light.

We demonstrate that two-photon excitations to bipolariton states created by placing several molecules in an optical cavity can be manipulated by quantum light. Entangled photons can access classica...
Screening Mammography Performance Metrics of 2D Digital Mammography Versus Digital Breast Tomosynthesis in Women With a Personal History of Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND. Patients with a history of breast cancer are at higher risk of subsequent breast cancers and need close clinical and imaging follow-up. Limited data are available on screening of these ...
Extramural Grant I: Collaborative Research and Outreach

The following proposal was funded by the National Science Foundation and the overall budget was $381,000. The project combines research in applied climatology with k-12 education. This funded project—which is part of a larger national GLOBE initiative—combines academic research, instrumentation, curriculum development, and k-12 outreach. Given the emphasis on STEM disciplines across society, research proposals that emphasize collaboration and outreach are inherently competitive.
Quantum interactive learning tutorial on the double-slit experiment to improve student understanding of quantum mechanics

A research-based interactive learning tutorial on the double-slit experiment improves students' understanding of concepts such as wave-particle duality, the effect of quantum measurement on the wave function, and the occurrence of interference after a large number of single particles pass through the slits.
Toward physician well-being and the mitigation of burnout.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Healthcare provider burnout is a real phenomenon. The rates of burnout are on the rise. Burnout-associated suicide amongst physicians represents a real "public health crisis." This article discusses the drivers of burnout and offers some strategies to mitigate burnout and improve well-being. RECENT FINDINGS: Measures of burnout such as stress, micro, and macro-aggression in the workplace have a psychological impact on staff. Additionally, a measurable economic price is exacted when an organization fails to address the lack of well-being burnout represents. SUMMARY: As healthcare providers struggle to survive and deal with the complex new set of problems and obstacles that the COVID-19 pandemic, the National economic crisis, and the increasing regulatory obligations have summoned forth, professional burnout rates have risen drastically. With good leadership, developing comprehensive programs to identify, track, and treat burnout symptoms and improve well-being in the work environment can result in greater work satisfaction and save resources.
Agent-Based Alignment Systems

In this chapter, we introduce a class of agent-based Cucker-Smale systems and discuss the basics of alignment dynamics. We introduce the relevant terminology pertaining to collective outcomes, present classification of communication kernels, and prove the most basic alignment and stability results in the settings of the discrete dynamics. The issue of collisions and the role of singular kernels are highlighted. The discussion will further expand to cover other variants of the Cucker-Smale system such as multi-flocks and multispecies.
Abstract 16562: Association of County-Level Social Vulnerability Index and Cardiovascular Disease in the United States, 1999-2018

Introduction: Social determinants of health are multi-dimensional and span various interrelated domains. In order to inform community-engaged clinical and policy efforts, we sought to examine the a...
Soil Health Ecosystem Services of Agroforestry

Information on the impacts of agroforestry on the soil microbial community, biological processes, soil health, and ecosystem services is important for assessing and adjusting current management practices. Soil health benefits and ecosystem services associated with agroforestry have received more attention recently as established systems consistently demonstrated long-term crop and soil productivity. The objective of this chapter is to summarize recent studies on agroforestry systems in which soil health and ecosystem function were assessed and to consider adjustments in management for further improvement in the provision of ecosystem services. Soil health emphasizes the living, dynamic nature of soil that incorporates the biological attributes of biodiversity, soil food web structure, ecosystem functioning, and intimate relationships of soil microorganisms with plants and animals. Agroforestry practices consistently promote the buildup and maintenance of soil organic carbon, soil biological activity, and increased microbial diversity that are critical components in improving soil health, many of which are ecosystem functions necessary for the expression of ecosystem services. Soil health improvement is often an incidental benefit associated with functions such as nitrogen fixation by intercropped legumes that also increase soil organic matter. The unique compatibility of agroforestry within various ecosystem landscapes to accommodate improved and sustainable practices, such as alley cropping, effectively mediates improvements in soil health and ecosystem services. The resulting improvements enhance soil microbiome diversity and function to promote plant resilience to environmental stress and disease, and improve various chemical and physical properties of soils and ecosystem quality.
Stitches in Time: Medieval Embroidery in its Social Setting

Embroidery was an important decorative element in medieval art, known to exist but often overlooked. The surviving examples o f the extraordinarily beautiful works created by the elegant stitches of a multitude of mostly unknown embroiderers over the centuries tend to be casually admired but intellectually overlooked. This survey does not deal with the techniques and methods of medieval embroiderers, but endeavours to draw attention to the place of embroidery as an overlooked component of medieval social history.
Generalized priority queue manager design for ATM switches

Our concern is the problem of efficiently supporting multiple QoS requirements in ATM networks. A queue manager in ATM network nodes schedules cell transmission based on urgencies at the decision moment, while it controls buffer access based on the cell loss priorities. In this paper, we propose a generalized priority queue manager (GPQM) which supports multiple QoS requirements at class level while also guaranteeing fairness at connection level. It adopts the self-clocked fair queueing (SCFQ) algorithm to achieve fairness and the earliest-due date (EDD) scheme to meet various delay requirements. It supports delay requirements management at class level as well as fair scheduling at connection level. For buffer management, it adopts self-calibrating pushout (SCP) for class level control followed by connection level head-of-line cell discarding. The SCP buffer management scheme allows the buffer to be completely shared by all service classes. Moreover, it keeps an almost identical cell loss rate among connections in the same loss priority. We present a practical architecture to implement GPQM, facilitated by a new VLSI chip (called the generalized sequencer chip), an enhanced version of the existing sequencer chip.
Perfectly balanced allocation

We investigate randomized processes underlying load balancing based on the multiple-choice paradigm: m balls have to be placed in n bins, and each ball can be placed into one out of 2 randomly selected bins. The aim is to distribute the balls as evenly as possible among the bins. Previously, it was known that a simple process that places the balls one by one in the least loaded bin can achieve a maximum load of m/n + Θ(loglogn) with high probability. Furthermore, it was known that it is possible to achieve (with high probability) a maximum load of at most ⌈m/n ⌉ + 1 using maximum flow computations.
Elastic Scattering of Low-Energy Electrons from Surfaces

Publisher Summary The extensive activity and progress of the last decade have clarified the important ingredients of a satisfactory understanding of the elastic scattering of low-energy electrons by surfaces. The electrons are scattered within a few atomic planes of the surface and their diffraction is intermediate between the kinematic and dynamic limits. The large cross sections for elastic scattering lead to significant multiple scattering, but for energies reasonably above the plasmon threshold the inelastic processes rapidly attenuate higher-order scattering processes. For the usual experiments, the momentum transfer is large, so the scattering is mainly sensitive to the potentials rather deep in the ion core, and the scattering factors are similar to those for free atoms. Consequently, the core potentials must be treated correctly in any realistic calculations. However, the scattering is quite insensitive to the valence electrons and the surface potential. Thus elastic scattering is primarily a tool for studying the atomic rather than the electronic structure of surfaces. Both because the momentum transfer is large and because the electrons are scattered from the surface region where thermal vibrational amplitudes are large, temperature effects are very important and must be accounted for in interpreting diffracted intensities. Low-energy electron scattering also provides the most direct technique for investigating surface lattice dynamics.
Juan de Fuca subduction zone from a mixture of tomography and waveform modeling

Seismic tomography images of the upper mantle structures beneath the Pacific Northwestern United States display a maze of high-velocity anomalies, many of which produce distorted waveforms evident in the USArray observations indicative of the Juan de Fuca (JdF) slab. The inferred location of the slab agrees quite well with existing contour lines defining the slab's upper interface. Synthetic waveforms generated from a recent tomography image fit teleseismic travel times quite well and also some of the waveform distortions. Regional earthquake data, however, require substantial changes to the tomographic velocities. By modeling regional waveforms of the 2008 Nevada earthquake, we find that the uppermost mantle of the 1D reference model AK135, the reference velocity model used for most tomographic studies, is too fast for the western United States. Here, we replace AK135 with mT7, a modification of an older Basin-and-Range model T7. We present two hybrid velocity structures satisfying the waveform data based on modified tomographic images and conventional slab wisdom. We derive P and SH velocity structures down to 660 km along two cross sections through the JdF slab. Our results indicate that the JdF slab is subducted to a depth of 250 km beneath the Seattle region, and terminates at a shallower depth beneath Portland region of Oregon to the south. The slab is about 60 km thick and has a P velocity increase of 5% with respect to mT7. In order to fit waveform complexities of teleseismic Gulf of Mexico and South American events, a slab-like high-velocity anomaly with velocity increases of 3% for P and 7% for SH is inferred just above the 660 discontinuity beneath Nevada.
A relational algebra for complex objects based on partial information

We study an approach to relational databases which treats relations not as subsets of a Cartesian product but as subsets of some domain — a partially ordered space of descriptions. This approach permits generalizations of relations that admit null values and variants. In previous work it was shown how to define the notion of a relation scheme in such a setting. Here we provide a characterization of a scheme that is more general, and show that operations analogous to projection, selection and join retain the desired properties. Schemes also allow us to develop dependency theory for such generalized relations. An extension of this model is described which admits a set constructor and is therefore useful for the study of higher-order relations and their generalizations.
Preserving the 7 × 7 surface reconstruction of clean Si(111) by graphene adsorption

We employ room-temperature ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy and ab-initio calculations to study graphene flakes that were adsorbed onto the Si(111)–7 × 7 surface. The characteristic 7 × 7 reconstruction of this semiconductor substrate can be resolved through graphene at all scanning biases, thus indicating that the atomistic configuration of the semiconducting substrate is not altered upon graphene adsorption. Large-scale ab-initio calculations confirm these experimental observations and point to a lack of chemical bonding among interfacial graphene and silicon atoms. Our work provides insight into atomic-scale chemistry between graphene and highly reactive surfaces, directing future passivation and chemical interaction work in graphene-based heterostructures.
Electromagnetic field modeling on supercomputers

The relatively new area of problem solving on supercomputers offers exciting new possibilities for numerical solution of 3-D electromagnetic field problems. The solution of systems of equations with tens of thousands of unknowns and bandwidths in the thousands is all but impossible on conventional computers. The availability of new vector supercomputers such as the CRAY 1 and the CYBER 205 brings both hope and new challenges. The faster machine cycle, vector instructions and parallel computing combined with advanced I/O devices promises to speed up the solution of large problems considerably. On the other hand, efficient programming on such machines is far from being trivial and in most cases, one has to compromise portability of the code. In addition, these machines require a front end computer and are not interactive, complicating and lenghtening the program development process. This work presents an overview of the work done to date on electromagnetic field modeling on supercomputers. Some data on field solution on an attached array processor is also included since array processors are a special class of supercomputers and for comparison purposes. Using some very large eddy current problems the various aspects of computing are presented together with results showing dramatic improvements in solution times. The problem of code portability, vector complex computation and program conversion are also addressed and, finally, the need for new algorithms, specifically designed for vector computing is presented.
Adolescent Multiple Personality Disorder: A Preliminary Study of Eleven Cases

The diagnostic features and treatment histories of II adolescents with multiple personality disorder (MPD) are presented. Clinical evaluation revealed that the majority of these adolescents manifested extremely variable school performance, disruptive behavior, trances, amnesias, mood swings, sharp changes in personality, apparent lying, voices heard in the head, and depression. All had a history of childhood trauma: Sexual abuse (73%), physical abuse (73%), and emotional abuse (82%). Seventy-three percent had a parent with a diagnosable dissociative disorder; 36% of the mothers had MPD. These adolescents had a mean number of 24.1 alter personalities and appear to have become multiple at a mean age of 3 years, I month. All patients had angry protector alters, depressed alters, scared alters, and child alters. Fifty-four percent of these cases have integrated during treatment or are progressing toward integration. The remaining cases dropped out of therapy. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry , 1990, 29, 3:359–366.
Is breast truly best? Estimating the effects of breastfeeding on long-term child health and wellbeing in the United States using sibling comparisons

Breastfeeding rates in the U.S. are socially patterned. Previous research has documented startling racial and socioeconomic disparities in infant feeding practices. However, much of the empirical evidence regarding the effects of breastfeeding on long-term child health and wellbeing does not adequately address the high degree of selection into breastfeeding. To address this important shortcoming, we employ sibling comparisons in conjunction with 25 years of panel data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) to approximate a natural experiment and more accurately estimate what a particular child's outcome would be if he/she had been differently fed during infancy. Results from standard multiple regression models suggest that children aged 4 to 14 who were breast- as opposed to bottle-fed did significantly better on 10 of the 11 outcomes studied. Once we restrict analyses to siblings and incorporate within-family fixed effects, estimates of the association between breastfeeding and all but one indicator of child health and wellbeing dramatically decrease and fail to maintain statistical significance. Our results suggest that much of the beneficial long-term effects typically attributed to breastfeeding, per se, may primarily be due to selection pressures into infant feeding practices along key demographic characteristics such as race and socioeconomic status.
A Season for Inquiry: Investigating Phenology in Local Campus Trees

Michigan State University rightfully claims one of the most beautiful campuses in the Midwest. Each spring, we anticipate a commencement gilded with tulips and crabapple blossoms. In autumn, the campus beams with golden oaks and fiery maples. As a potential subject for inquiry learning, phenology, the study of recurrent natural events, is appealing for many reasons.
Measurement of the self-broadening of the H2 Q(0-5) Raman transitions from 295 to 1000 K.

High-resolution inverse Raman spectroscopy has been used to measure the self-broadening coefficients of the Raman {ital Q}-branch transitions in pure (natural) hydrogen. Measurements of six lines ({ital Q}(0)--{ital Q}(5)) were made at pressures from 2 to 50 atm and from 295 to 1000 K. The dependence of the derived broadening coefficients on temperature and rotational quantum number is analyzed using the energy-corrected sudden scaling law (A. E. DePristo, J. Chem. Phys. 73, 2145 (1980)). We discuss three models for the {ital J} dependence of the pure-vibrational dephasing and find that models with little or no {ital J} dependence in the pure-vibrational dephasing are preferred.
Jewish Physicians’ Beliefs and Practices Regarding Religion/Spirituality in the Clinical Encounter

We used data from a 2003 survey of US physicians to examine differences between Jewish and other religiously affiliated physicians on 4-D of physicians’ beliefs and practices regarding religion and spirituality (R/S) in the clinical encounter. On each dimension, Jewish physicians ascribed less importance to the effect of R/S on health and a lesser role for physicians in addressing R/S issues. These effects were partially mediated by lower levels of religiosity among Jewish physicians and by differences in demographic and practice-level characteristics. The study provides a salient example of how religious affiliation can be an important independent predictor of physicians’ clinically-relevant beliefs and practices.
EMPLOYMENT, INCOME, AND MIGRATION IN APPALACHIA: A SPATIAL SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS APPROACH*

Appalachia remains a symbol of poverty in the midst of prosperity. During the 1990s it fell further behind the rest of the nation. Persistent poverty during a period of strong growth is a serious as well as an interesting subject to study. We examine determinants of growth in Appalachia between 1990 and 2000. We show that employment, migration, and median household income were jointly determined by regional covariates and that county economic conditions were conditional on the performance in neighboring counties. One conclusion is that regional cooperation and geographically focused programs may yield the greatest returns to policy investments.
Somatization and mental health: a comparative study of the idiom of distress hypothesis.

Somatization is the expression of physical symptoms in the absence of medically explained physical illness. As a disproportionate response to psychosocial distress, somatization is usually correlated with depression. According to the idiom of distress hypothesis, the association of somatization and mental health is mitigated when somatizing indirectly expresses, and is understood by others as, emotional distress. Theory and data suggest that collectivistic societies such as South Korea (S.K.), unlike individualistic societies like the U.S. (U.S.), employ an idiom of distress. Multiple measures of physical and mental health were administered to a random sample of S.K. (n=220) and U.S. (n=215) adults. Measurement structures of physical health and mental health were comparable between samples. Individuals in both samples somatized the same number of symptoms, although the U.S. adults expressed those symptoms more frequently. Findings supported the idiom of distress hypothesis. Bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the relationship of somatization with mental health depends on culture. Also, the disparity in mental health was greatest and favored the U.S. adults at low levels of somatization, but the disparity in mental health between countries disappeared as somatization increased.
Effect of particle size on the glass transition

The glass transition temperature of a broad class of molecules is shown to depend on molecular size. This dependency results from the size dependence of the pair potential. A generalized equation of state is used to estimate how the volume fraction at the glass transition depends on the size of the molecule, for rigid molecule glass-formers. The model shows that at a given pressure and temperature there is a size-induced glass transition: For molecules larger than a critical size, the volume fraction required to support the effective pressure due to particle attractions is above that which characterizes the glassy state. This observation establishes the boundary between nanoparticles, which exist in liquid form only as dispersions in low molecular weight solvents and large molecules which form liquids that have viscosities below those characterized by the glassy state.
Gray codes with restricted density

The problem of sequentially ordering all binary n-tuples with k ones is considered. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for an order to exist when consecutive n-tuples must differ by the interchange of two adjacent coordinates. Also, examples are given to support the following. Conjecture: it is possible to order the binary (2k + 1)-tuples with k or k + 1 ones such that consecutive tuples differ in precisely one component (with the first tuple considered consecutive to the last).
Dietary intake and changes in lipoprotein lipids in obese, postmenopausal women placed on an American Heart Association Step 1 diet

Abstract Background Dietary intake and changes in lipoprotein lipids in obese, postmenopausal women placed on an American Heart Association Step 1 diet Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the specific dietary factors associated with the commonly observed decrease in HDL-C concentration in obese, postmenopausal women placed on a low-fat diet. Design/Subjects/Intervention Dietary intake, lipoprotein lipid concentrations, and body weight were measured before and after 10 weeks of instruction in the principles of the American Heart Association (AHA) Step 1 diet in 55 overweight and obese (body mass index=33±4kg/m 2 ), sedentary, postmenopausal women (mean age 59±5 years). Results The percent of energy obtained from total fat, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, saturated fat, and dietary cholesterol decreased significantly after dietary intervention, while the polyunsaturated:saturated ratio and the percent of energy obtained from total carbohydrate, complex carbohydrate, and simple carbohydrate increased. On average, the women lost a small, but significant, amount of body weight (2%±3%, P P Applications/Conclusions In postmenopausal women, a dietary reduction in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol reduces body weight, total cholesterol, and LDL-C, but substitution of simple sugar for dietary fat may lead to a reduction in HDL-C. Further research is needed to determine which specific simple sugars are contributing to diet-induced reductions in HDL-C in older women placed on a low-fat diet. J Am Diet Assoc. 2002;102:52–57.
Ultrastructural aspects of preeclampsia. I. Placental bed and uterine boundary vessels.

Abstract Biopsy specimens were obtained under direct vision at the time of cesarean section from 42 patients (33 preeclamptic and nine normotensive patients) and from three hysterectomies (all in normotensive patients). Mean gestational age was 32.8 ± 0.9 weeks (range, 26 to 40 weeks) in women with preeclampsia and 36.1 ± 1.1 weeks in normotensive women (range, 32 to 41 weeks). Tissues were obtained from the central placental bed and from nonplacental sites. Specimens were examined histologically and by electron microscopy. Ultrastructural changes in small vessels, primarily venules, were compared with preeclamptic blood pressure. Extensive ultrastructural endothelial injury was found consistently in both site and nonsite areas in all of the specimens from women with preeclampsia but not in normotensive women (p
GFFS — THE XSEDE GLOBAL FEDERATED FILE SYSTEM

Federated, secure, standardized, scalable, and transparent mechanism to access and share resources, particularly data resources, across organizational boundaries that does not require application modification and does not disrupt existing data access patterns has been needed for some time in the computational science community. The Global Federated File System (GFFS) addresses this need and is a foundational component of the NSF-funded eXtreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE) program. The GFFS allows user applications to access (create, read, update, delete) remote resources in a location-transparent fashion. Existing applications, whether they are statically linked binaries, dynamically linked binaries, or scripts (shell, PERL, Python), can access resources anywhere in the GFFS without modification (subject to access control). In this paper we present an overview of the GFFS and its most common use cases: accessing data at an NSF center from a home or campus, accessing data on a camp...
Female Meadow Voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, Experience a Reduction in Copulatory Behavior During Postpartum Estrus

In many small mammalian species, females undergo postpartum estrus (PPE), mate, and become pregnant soon after delivering a litter. Mating during PPE implies a trade-off between attending to the new litter and leaving that litter to mate. We tested the hypothesis that copulatory behavior is faster when a female mates during PPE than when it mates outside of PPE, during male-induced estrus (MIE), a time when it is not lactating. We compared several variables of copulatory behavior in female meadow vole mating during both PPE and MIE. Females in PPE received significantly fewer intromissions, with shorter intervals between intromissions. Each ejaculatory series was also shorter for females in PPE. As a consequence, the total amount of time devoted to copulation was much shorter for females in PPE than for those in MIE. These data support the hypothesis that female meadow voles are able to reduce their copulatory behavior during PPE.
Sustainable regulatory systems: laws, resources, and values

Abstract Regulators frequently face difficult economic trade-offs in their decision-making. They must know how to assess the effects of policies on stakeholders under conditions of imperfect information. Part of the art of regulation revolves around understanding the linkages between choice of market structure, design of regulatory rules, and institutional requirements. In addition, different aspects of sector performance will be prioritized depending on the nation's level of development. Three factors determine the effectiveness of independent regulatory commissions during periods of change. 1. Resources available to the organization are generally determined by the legal instrument that brought the agency into existence. Budgets require funding mechanisms and procedures promoting accountability. Resource levels and resource mix (such as the percentage of highly motivated professionals) determine the range of activities suitable for the organization. 2. The legal mandate is interpreted by the courts. Since the law itself is often the product of political compromise, initial legislation may be inadequate for the effective performance of agency duties. Agency initiatives can precede formal legislative revisions, but these are likely to be challenged by some stakeholders. 3. The values or principles supporting the agency are derived from the national culture and a shared political vision. At the birth of the agency, leaders and key professional staff may not have reached consensus regarding priorities. Agreement on fundamental principles is essential if the agency is to develop a consistent set of policies.
Infrared spectroscopic determination of substitutional carbon in MOVPE grown films of GaAs

An infrared spectroscopic technique for the determination of substitutional carbon in GaAs films grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) has been developed. This technique is based on observation of the C-Ga local vibration mode in the infrared spectrum of GaAs. The attenuated total internal reflection (ATR) geometry is used to sample the GaAs films. In this technique, the sampling infrared beam is internally reflected through a Ge crystal which is sandwiched by the GaAs sample. Experimental results of the application of this technique to MOVPE grown GaAs samples are presented. These samples were grown in a horizontal reactor by using arsine and trimethyl gallium and were doped with carbon in the range of 1015–1019 atoms/cm3. The carbon content was also determined by SIMS and estimated from measurements of electrical properties. A comparison of the infrared results with these results is presented. The reflectance under ATR sampling is calculated from Fresnel's equations formulated for an absorbing heterostructure, and the experimental data are in excellent agreement with the calculation. The ATR technique is quick, non-destructive, and useful for quantifying the concentrations of carbon and other substitutional impurities in GaAs epilayers.
Survey of Nitrate Contamination in Shallow Domestic Drinking Water Wells of the Inner Coastal Plain of Georgia

Beginning in 1990, 2,588 wells were sampled within the Inner Coastal Plain of Georgia in an effort to assess the quality of ground water in this major farm belt. The project was one aspect of an EPA-sponsored program to assess ground-water quality statewide. Several variables were measured, including pH, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, nitrate, nitrite, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate. In some wells sulfate, chloride, potassium, iron, and manganese contents were also determined. Particular emphasis was placed, however, on pH, specific conductivity, temperature, and nitrite/nitrate content. Generally, pH was between 6 and 8, and temperatures were within a range of 18° and 24°Celsius. Measurements of specific conductivity varied, but averaged 250–275 microsiemens/cm. Nitrite contamination was negligible, and nitrate contamination of the ground water within the shallow aquifers did not appear to be significant. In fact, 56% of the wells sampled showed no detectable signs of nitrate or nitrite contamination. There were, however, a few isolated wells where nitrate as nitrogen measurements exceeded the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Standard of 10 ppm. The general lack of contamination may be the result of the nature of the agricultural practices used in this region and/or the effect of natural denitrification.
Attitudes toward teachers as a function of student academic self-concept

The evaluative dimensions students used in assessing their academic self-concept were correlated with judgmental dimensions students utilized in evaluating teachers by means of a stepwise multiple regression analysis. All students evaluated themselves as students in terms of academic skill and ability, interpersonal effectiveness, and quality of scholastic involvement. College students also evaluated themselves on self-confidence and style of intellectual inquiry, while high school students evaluated themselves on their tolerance. All students judged teachers on the dimensions of student/teacher rapport, communicative style, instructional style, and stimulation. Dimensions of student academic self-concept were significantly related to students' judgments of teaching: student interpersonal effectiveness was found to be the most significant overall predictor of high school students' attitudes toward teachers, whereas a student's assessment of his academic abilities was the major predictive variable among college students. Student sex was not a significant predictor of students' attitudes toward teachers except for the dimension of student/teacher rapport among college students, with females rating teachers significantly higher on this dimension than males.
Management of the clinically negative (N0) neck

The clinically negative (N0) neck is defined by its absence of palpable or radiographically suspicious lymph nodes. Management of patients staged N0 is controversial. Clinical studies have lacked sufficient power and follow-up time to show a survival benefit for any particular option. Current options include observation, elective neck irradiation, and elective neck dissection. Treatment plans are based on treatment of the primary tumor and surgeon preference.
The Vestibular Organs in Space Orientation

Two groups of 15 totally deaf Ss were divided on the basis of the presence or absence of vestibular sensitivity. Each S was blindfolded and led over the two 72-ft. legs of an isosceles triangle laid off on the playground, and was then asked to return over the 114-ft. base to the original starting point. Each S was given five trials, and both distance from the starting point and angular deviation from the base were calculated. RESULTS The results showed no significant differences between the two groups on angular deviation, but the group with vestibular organs returned significantly closer (between 10% and 5 % level) to the starting position than the vestibulardefective group. It was concluded that kinesthesis is effective over short distances, but the vestibular organs play a dominant role over long distances.
An uneasy understanding.

One month into medical school, I arrived in the ultrasonography suite to join my preceptor for the afternoon. I fought to hide my dismay that my first patient would be a moving image on a screen. S...
The Harris-Benedict studies of human basal metabolism: history and limitations

Abstract In the early part of the 20th century, numerous studies of human basal metabolism were conducted at the Nutrition Laboratory of the Carnegie Institution of Washington in Boston, Mass, under the direction of Francis G. Benedict. Prediction equations for basal energy expenditure (BEE) were developed from these studies. The expressed purpose of these equations was to establish normal standards to serve as a benchmark for comparison with BEE of persons with various disease states such as diabetes, thyroid, and other febrile diseases. The Harris-Benedict equations remain the most common method for calculating BEE for clinical and research purposes. The widespread use of the equations and the relative inaccessibility of the original work highlights the importance of reviewing the data from which the standards were developed. A review of the data reveals that the methods and conclusions of Harris and Benedict appear valid and reasonable, albeit not error free. All of the variables used in the equations have sound physiologic basis for use in predicting BEE. Supplemental data from the Nutrition Laboratory indicates that the original equations can be applied over a wide range of age and body types. The commonly held assumption that the Harris-Benedict equations overestimate BEE in obese persons may not be true for persons who are moderately obese. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998;98:439-445 .
Cloning and characterization of human TNFα promoter region

We report the sequence of a 1.2-kb human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) promoter region, which was cloned using PCR. The sequence has several variations from two previous reports and exhibits many potential DNA-binding sites specific to mammalian gene regulatory proteins inducible by lipopolysaccharides.
Deoxygenation of nitroxyl radicals by oxorhenium(V) complexes with redox-active ligands.

Five-coordinate oxorhenium(V) anions with redox-active catecholate ligands deoxygenate stable nitroxyl radicals, including TEMPO•, to afford dioxorhenium(VII) complexes and aminyl radical-derived products. A structural homologue with redox-inert oxalate ligands does not react with TEMPO•. Redox-active ligands are proposed to lower the kinetic barrier to TEMPO• deoxygenation by giving access to 1e− redox steps that are crucial for the formation and stabilization of intermediate species.
Aerodynamic Heat Transfer to RSI Tile Surfaces and Gap Intersections

Review of the results of aerothermal heating tests of a simulated reusable surface insulation (RSI) tile array, performed on the sidewall of a Mach-10 hypersonic tunnel. In particular, the heating characteristics of the tile array, such as they result from heating inside the tile-expansion-space providing gaps between individual tiles, are investigated. The results include the finding that heating on the upstream face of a tile is strongly affected by the interacting longitudinal gap flow.
Brushite stone disease as a consequence of lithotripsy

The incidence of calcium phosphate (CaP) stone disease has increased over the last three decades; specifically, brushite stones have been diagnosed and treated more frequently than in previous years. Brushite is a unique form of CaP, which in certain patients can form into large symptomatic stones. Treatment of brushite stones can be difficult since the stones are resistant to shock wave and ultrasonic lithotripsy, and often require ballistic fragmentation. Patients suffering from brushite stone disease are less likely to be rendered stone free after surgical intervention and often experience stone recurrence despite maximal medical intervention. Studies have demonstrated an association between brushite stone disease and shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) treatment. Some have theorized that many brushite stone formers started as routine calcium oxalate (CaOx) stone formers who sustained an injury to the nephron (such as SWL). The injury to the nephron leads to failure of urine acidification and eventual brushite stone formation. We explore the association between brushite stone disease and iatrogenic transformation of CaOx stone disease to brushite by reviewing the current literature.
Killed in the Act: A Descriptive Analysis of Crime-Precipitated Homicide

By disaggregating homicide into group-specific measures,insight may be gained into the many forms of lethal violence. In this article,the authors provide a descriptive analysis of a specific type of homicide that they refer to as “crime-precipitated homicide.” They argue that this categorization is distinct from both felony homicide and victim-precipitated homicide. Crime-precipitated homicides are those in which the victim was killed while participating in illegal behavior including predatory crimes,vice crimes,or narcotics dealing. Using the Homicidesin Chicago, 1965-1995 data set,the authors describe the characteristics of crime-precipitated homicide offenders and victims including age,race, gender,and criminal histories. They also report on characteristics of the homicide event including where the homicides occur,when they occur,the type of weapon used,and the relationship between offenders and victims. Results suggest that crime-precipitated homicide is a distinct type that warrants further study.
Local Structure Analysis of Strontium Sorption to Hydrous Manganese Oxide.

To develop mechanistic models of contaminant distribution processes, we conducted an X-ray absorption fine structure analysis of strontium sorption to hydrous manganese oxide (HMO). Sr K-edge measurements were performed at 298, 220, and 77 K, and at sample loadings from 10(-4) to 10(-2) mol Sr/g HMO. Results from fitting the first shell in the sorbed samples indicate that strontium is surrounded by 10-12 oxygen atoms at an average distance of 2.58 A. This coordination environment is consistent with the strontium atom remaining hydrated upon sorption to the oxide, where in water hydrated strontium has approximately 9 atoms of oxygen at 2.62 A. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of the strontium-oxygen bond also suggests physical adsorption due to the large contribution of the dynamic component of the Debye Waller factor. Although second-shell data are consistent with either 3 manganese atoms at 4.12 A or 6 strontium atoms at 3.88 A, both the near-edge and fine structure data for the manganese K-edge indicate that the local coordination environment of the manganese ion remains intact as a function of time or strontium sorption. Furthermore, the local structure of amorphous manganese oxide is highly ordered. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.