cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Wassily Hoeffding’s Research on Nonparametrics

Wassily Hoeffding earned his Ph.D. degree in mathematics from the Berlin University in 1940 for a dissertation in correlation theory which dealt with some aspects of bivariate probability distributions that are invariant under monotone transformations of the marginals. This dissertation was primarily devoted to some (descriptive) studies of certain measures of rank correlations. With the impending Second World War, for Wassily, living in Berlin in the early forties was not that comfortable. Nevertheless, he managed to advance his basic research on nonparametric correlation theory. It was only after his eventual migration to the United States (in the Fall of 1946) that he started to appreciate the full depth of probability theory and statistics (during his sojourn at the Columbia University, New York), and most of his pioneering work emerged during his longtime residence at Chapel Hill (1947–1991). He felt that “…probability and statistics were very poorly represented in Berlin at that time (1936–1945) …”. Notwithstanding this, his early work on correlation theory was not just a landmark in nonparametrics; it also endowed him with a career-long zeal and affection for the pursuit of the most fundamental research in mathematical statistics, probability theory, numerical analysis and a variety of other related areas. In this respect, nonparametrics was indisputedly the “jewel in the crown” of Wassily’s creativity and ingenuity in research. Wassily Hoeffding indeed played a seminal role in stimulating basic research in a broad domain of mathematical statistics and probability theory, and his “collected work” in this volume reflects the genuine depth and immense breadth of his research contributions. In this article, I shall mainly confine myself to describing the profound impact of his work in the general area of nonparametrics, with occasional detours to some other related areas.
Pathways to Male Transactional Sex in Mumbai, India

The article explores pathways to male transactional sex, focusing on entering, soliciting practices, role of pimps, client characteristics, and negotiations. Little scientific literature exists reg...
COMPASS| Television Versus the Internet for Information Seeking: Lessons From Global Survey Research

Using different kinds of media to seek information can affect the ways consumers engage in political participation. The expansion of Internet use across the world has given rise to the idea that television is nearing its end, and thus new participatory behaviors may be expected. However, there is no global perspective concerning such claims. This study tests such claims by analyzing actual media use around the globe for information seeking. Using data from Wave 6 of the World Values Survey (WVS) across 56 countries, this study finds that more people use television daily for information-seeking purposes compared to the Internet. This is also true for individuals who use the Internet daily; however, the reverse is not true―even for developed countries. Therefore, it appears that television still takes the lead across many countries when it comes to seeking information regarding everyday political life. This study also includes a commentary on the type and content of questions included in global surveys. Implications for research and policy are also discussed.
Damping the e-p instability in the SNS accumulator ring

Abstract A broadband, digital damper system for both transverse planes developed for the SNS accumulator ring has recently damped the first indications of the broadband 50–150 MHz e-p instability in a 1.2 MW neutron production beam. This paper presents details of the design and operation of the SNS damper system as well as results of active damping of the e-p instability in the SNS ring showing a reduction in power of betatron oscillation over the 10–300 MHz band of up to 70%. The spectral content of the beam during operation, with and without the damper system is presented and performance of the damper system is evaluated.
Cost comparison and safety of emergency department conscious sedation for the removal of ear foreign bodies

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate the relative cost and safety of ear foreign body (FB) removal via conscious sedation in the emergency department. Methods A retrospective review of patients presenting from 2000 to 2015 to the emergency department at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota was performed. 63 patients requiring sedation for ear foreign body removal were identified. Descriptive data, safety data, and costs were obtained for the study. Results There were no appreciable differences in patient safety outcomes and otologic outcomes in patients who received sedation in the emergency department or anesthesia in the operating room for FB removal. Cost analysis demonstrated increased cost associated with operating room utilization verses conscious sedation in the emergency department, with the greatest cost increase being in patients evaluated first in the emergency department and then sent to the operating room. Conclusions Ear foreign body removal in the emergency department is shows a similar safety profile to removal in the operating room, but at a markedly lower cost. Emergency department conscious sedation should be considered a viable option in appropriately selected patients with this common problem given these results.
PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF INDIGOFERA TINCTORIA L.

Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and antibacterial and antioxidant potential of methanolic leaf and root extracts of Indigofera tinctoria L. Methods: Phytochemical analysis was done using standard methods. The methanolic leaf and root extracts of the plant were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Salmonella paratyphi B by cup-plate agar diffusion method. The free radical scavenging activities of the methanol extracts of leaves and roots were evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, reducing sugars, alkaloids, saponins, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids in methanolic leaf and root extracts. Methanolic leaf extracts of the plant exhibited antibacterial activity against a wide range of bacteria, but the root extracts failed to inhibit the tested bacterial pathogens. The antioxidant activity determination revealed that at 100 μg/ml, methanolic root extracts had the highest antioxidant activity (89.10%) on DPPH free radicals followed by methanolic leaf extracts (46.74%). Conclusion: The results of the present study conclude that the studied plant possesses broad-spectrum antibacterial and antioxidant properties and may act as a potent antioxidant for biological systems susceptible to free radical-mediated reactions.
Radioisotope power source dose estimation tool (RPS-DET)

The purpose of this work is to develop a radioisotope power source dose estimation tool (RPS-DET) capable of rapidly predicting accurate neutron and gamma-ray flux/dose implications from various radioisotope power sources (RPSs). RPS-DET can use this information to calculate the flux/dose incident on or absorbed by nearby humans, materials, and electronics over a complex mission lifetime. This simulation tool uses a Matlab user interface to combine common geometry scenarios for traditional and new RPS design configurations to write a particle-transport simulation using Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) 6, which provides results that are automatically post-processed for interactive analysis. The user defines the average age of the PuO 2 fuel, which determines the appropriate time-dependent gamma-ray and neutron spectra, along with the desired RPS and local environment for the simulation. Results for a given simulation are gamma-ray, neutron, and combined flux spectra, whole-body effective dose for humans, and absorbed dose in silicon for electronics. This work has been benchmarked against measurements of existing RPS units and has been determined to predict neutron and gamma flux, absorbed dose, and dose equivalent within 50% of simulation uncertainties.
SO 2 /O 2 -Trennung bei der Thermochemischen H 2 -Herstellung

The process step of SO2-O2 — separation, investigated in this study, is part of the Euratom Mark 11-V6 thermochemical cycle for water decomposition. This process step is characterized by the combination of SO2 — condensation and scrubbing of the oxygen-rich gas phase in order to separate a gas mixture of 150000 m3 N /h, containing a SO2 — fraction of 2/3. According to the phase equilibrium data the condensation should rather be achieved by cooling than by compression. Furthermore, a higher pressure would induce the formation of byproducts and increase the detrimental O2 — solubility in liquid SO2. Investigations in the interesting range show that the O2 — solubility in SO2 also increases slightly with higher temperatures. As to the temperature and pressure range of the SO2-H2O-ratio in the liquid phase there is no danger of formation of SO2-H2O — hydrates nor of getting into the miscibility gap. The chosen operation conditions allow the application of standardized refrigerators. If the produced oxygen is not vented into the atmosphere, but made use of for other purposes, the returns will exceed the operation costs of the process step, provided that these huge amounts of oxygen can be made use of.
Minimally invasive VATS left upper lobe apical trisegmentectomy.

Clinical vignette The patient is a 75-year-old female with a 40-pack-year smoking history. Low dose lung screening computed tomography (CT) scan found a 1-cm left upper lobe (LUL) mass. The patient denies any hemoptysis, weight loss, bone pain or neuro status changes. Her pulmonary function tests are not normal. Her pulmonary function tests demonstrated that the forced expiratory volume (FEV1) was 58% of predicted FEV1 and 80% of predicted diffusion lung capacity (DLCO). A lingular sparing LUL apical trisegmentectomy was thus planned.
Intracellular Calcium Responses to Hypoxia and Cyanide in Cultured Type I Cells from Newborn and Adult Rabbits

Carotid chemoreceptor responses to hypoxia and CO2 are weak just after birth and take time to mature to adult levels (Kholwadwala & Donnelly, 1992, Marchai et al, 1992, Carroll et al, 1993) The mechanisms underlying changes in carotid chemoreceptor function during development are not known Possible mechanisms include developmental changes in carotid body blood flow, increased synaptic density of sensory innervation on type-I cells, maturation of neurotransmitter or neuromodulator mechanisms, and increased sensitivity of the type-I cell’s ability to respond to oxygen The purpose of this study was to determine if carotid chemoreceptor development is due to increasing sensitivity of the type-I cell response to hypoxia
Interprofessional education between medical students and nurse practitioner students in a Global Health course

Few global health experiences include intentionally-directed interprofessional training. We aim to prospectively evaluate the impact of a global health elective in facilitating interprofessional education (IPE) and promoting cultural sensitivity. We included in our study, medical and nursing students who participated in the 2015 and 2016 cohorts of the Nicaragua Global Health course. The course consisted of a 12-week curriculum, and included an in-country immersion where students were organized into small-groups that participated in a variety of interprofessional activities. Students filled out pre- and post-course surveys. We performed quantitative analysis on numeric data and qualitative analysis on open-ended questions. Of 39 total students enrolled in the course, 26 (18 medical and 8 nursing students) participated in the study and filled out the pre- and post-course surveys. Mean competency scores increased for all questions between pre- and post-course surveys, and of these, 5 of 7 reached statistical significance. Qualitative themes identified included: 1) the importance of understanding other team member’s roles and relative strengths; 2) the value provided by the breaking down of traditional power dynamics between clinicians. Global health experiences represent a unique and under-utilized opportunity for facilitating IPE.
Actions speak louder than gestures when you are 2 years old

Interpreting iconic gestures can be challenging for children. Here, we explore the features and functions of iconic gestures that make them more challenging for young children to interpret than instrumental actions. In Study 1, we show that 2.5-year-olds are able to glean size information from handshape in a simple gesture, although their performance is significantly worse than 4-year-olds'. Studies 2 to 4 explore the boundary conditions of 2.5-year-olds' gesture understanding. In Study 2, 2.5-year-old children have an easier time interpreting size information in hands that reach than in hands that gesture. In Study 3, we tease apart the perceptual features and functional objectives of reaches and gestures. We created a context in which an action has the perceptual features of a reach (extending the hand toward an object) but serves the function of a gesture (the object is behind a barrier and not obtainable; the hand thus functions to represent, rather than reach for, the object). In this context, children struggle to interpret size information in the hand, suggesting that gesture's representational function (rather than its perceptual features) is what makes it hard for young children to interpret. A distance control (Study 4) in which a person holds a box in gesture space (close to the body) demonstrates that children's difficulty interpreting static gesture cannot be attributed to the physical distance between a gesture and its referent. Together, these studies provide evidence that children's struggle to interpret iconic gesture may stem from its status as representational action. (PsycINFO Database Record
Secondary (AA) Amyloidosis with Development of Nephrotic Syndrome

A 25-year-old Caucasian female with a history of irritable bowel syndrome, presented to the emergency room with worsening upper bilateral abdominal pain and fatigue that began two days before arrival. The patient described having mild intermittent lower back pain and worsening bilateral edema of her ankles that began several months prior. Blood and urine specimens were tested, with results indicating the presence of systemic inflammation and nephrotic syndrome. The patient was admitted to the hospital for further testing and observation. An ultrasound of the kidneys was negative for renal calculus. A gallium scan indicated localization of leukocytes in the kidneys, liver and spleen. A CT urogram indicated renal damage and a SAP scan indicated amyloid deposits in the kidneys, liver and spleen. The patient was diagnosed with amyloidosis and nephrotic syndrome. Corticosteroids were prescribed and testing to determine the underlining cause of amyloidosis was initiated. ABBREVIATIONS:BUN - blood urea nitrogen, CBC - complete blood count, CRP - C-reactive protein, ECM - extracellular matrix, ESR - erythrocyte sedimentation rate, HLA - human leukocyte antigen, RBC - red blood cell, SAA - serum amyloid A, SAP - serum amyloid P, TNF - tumor necrosis factor, WBC - white blood cell
The mental health burden in acne vulgaris and rosacea: an analysis of the US National Inpatient Sample.

Background Little is known about the mental health (MH) hospitalization among patients with acne and rosacea. Aims To determine the MH disorders and cost burden associated with acne and rosacea. Methods Data were examined from the 2002-2012 US National Inpatient Sample, comprising a sample of ~20% of all US paediatric and adult hospitalizations (n = 87 053 155 admissions). Results A diagnosis of ≥ 1 MH disorder was much more common among all inpatients with vs. those without a diagnosis of acne (43.7% vs. 20.0%, respectively) and rosacea (35.1% vs. 20.0%, respectively). In multivariable logistic regression models controlling for sex, age, race/ethnicity and insurance status, acne (adjusted OR = 13.02; 95% CI 11.75-14.42) and rosacea (adjusted OR = 1.70; 95% CI 1.56-1.95) were associated with significantly higher odds of a primary admission for an MH disorder (13 and 8, respectively, of 15 MH disorders examined). Both acne and rosacea were associated with higher risk of mood, anxiety, impulse control and personality disorders, and with > $2 million of excess mean annual costs of hospitalization for MH disorders in the USA. Conclusion In this study, inpatients with acne or rosacea had increased odds of comorbid MH disorders. In particular, there was an increased number of hospital admissions secondary to a primary MH disorder with coexistent acne/rosacea. MH comorbidities were associated with considerable excess costs among inpatients with acne or rosacea.
Managing female pelvic floor disorders: a medical device review and appraisal

Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) will affect most women during their lifetime. Sequelae such as pelvic organ prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, chronic pain and dyspareunia significantly impact overall quality of life. Interventions to manage or eliminate symptoms from PFDs aim to restore support of the pelvic floor. Pessaries have been used to mechanically counteract PFDs for thousands of years, but do not offer a cure. By contrast, surgically implanted grafts or mesh offer patients a more permanent resolution but have been in wide use within the pelvis for less than 30 years. In this perspective review, we provide an overview of the main theories underpinning PFD pathogenesis and the animal models used to investigate it. We highlight the clinical outcomes of mesh and grafts before exploring studies performed to elucidate tissue level effects and bioengineering considerations. Considering recent turmoil surrounding transvaginal mesh, the role of pessaries, an impermanent method, is examined as a means to address patients with PFDs.
Interscalene brachial plexus catheter versus single-shot interscalene block with periarticular local infiltration analgesia for shoulder arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND Interscalene brachial plexus block is a commonly employed regional anesthetic technique for total shoulder arthroplasty, and a continuous catheter is often placed to extend the analgesic benefit of the block. As periarticular local infiltration analgesia (LIA) for total joint arthroplasty is a re-emerging trend, we evaluated the analgesic efficacy of continuous interscalene block (CISB) compared to single-shot interscalene block (SSISB) with LIA. METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of 130 consecutive patients treated by one surgeon in a single institution, with 12 patients excluded for history of chronic opioid tolerance and two for incomplete data. The SSISB with LIA treatment group (N.=53) was compared to a control group who received CISB (N.=63). Primary end points were a difference in pain score (0-10 numeric rating scale) and opioid requirements as oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) on postoperative days (PODs) 0 and 1. Secondary end points included nausea and vomiting, length of hospital stay, block failure rate, adverse events due to block, and 30-day readmission. RESULTS When compared to SSISB with LIA, patients who received CISB exhibited decreased opioid requirements in OMEs on POD 0 (11.9 mg vs. 28.7 mg, P<0.01) and POD 1 (24.0 mg vs. 50.3 mg, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in pain on POD 0, but a statistically significant decrease in average pain scores with CISB on POD 1 (2.3 vs. 4.3, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS SSISB with LIA may provide clinically similar postoperative analgesia compared to CISB, but with escalating doses of opioid requirements.
Preparing Families of Technology-Dependent Children for Emergencies

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the baseline level of emergency preparedness among families of technology-dependent children admitted to our PICU and to determine if an ICU-based planning intervention can sustainably improve families’ disaster preparedness. METHODS: A single-arm, survey-based study used to assess participants’ preparedness to handle a 72-hour home power outage on the basis of a novel 8-point checklist. Parents of patients in the study completed the survey questions when their child was admitted to the PICU, discharged, or transferred from the PICU, after at least 2 weeks at home, and after at least 6 months at home. This study included a cohort of 50 children younger than18 years old who required daily use of at least 1 piece of qualifying electronic medical equipment at home and their custodial parents. The checklist surveyed was designed with the goals of maximizing care capacity at home during a power outage and planning for evacuation. Counseling and other resources were provided on the basis of item completion at admission assessment. RESULTS: Patients’ families completed a median of 3 items (range: 0–8; N = 50) at admission, 4 items (range: 1–8; n = 45) at discharge, and 7 items (range: 3–8; n = 37) at the 2-week follow-up and retained 7 items (range: 5–8; n = 29) at the 6-month follow-up. Completion rates were significantly higher at each follow-up time point compared with baseline (P CONCLUSIONS: Families of technology-dependent children admitted to our PICU have significant disaster-preparedness needs, which can be addressed with an inpatient intervention.
Primary Ewing sarcoma of the adrenal gland: A rare cause of abdominal mass

Ewing sarcoma is a malignant tumor that more commonly affects the long bones. Primary Ewing sarcoma of the adrenal gland is a rare diagnosis. We report an unusual case of primary Ewing sarcoma of the adrenal gland in a 34-year-old man who initially presented with abdominal as well as flank pain and abdominal mass. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a heterogeneous, hemorrhagic right adrenal mass with inferior vena cava extension and thrombosis. Thus, a major open surgery including right adrenalectomy, right nephrectomy, inferior vena cava thrombectomy with resection, and a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was necessitated. Early recognition with radiological imaging and treatment of extraosseous Ewing sarcoma of the adrenal gland with a multimodality approach reduces morbidity and mortality.
Architecturally truly diverse systems: A review

Abstract The pairing of traditional multicore processors with accelerators of various forms (e.g., graphics engines, reconfigurable logic) can be referred to generally as architecturally diverse systems. Our interest in this work is truly diverse systems, in which more than one accelerator is used in the execution of an application. These systems have the potential for substantial performance gains relative to multicores alone; however, they pose significant difficulties when it comes to application development. In spite of these difficulties, the use of accelerators in high performance computation, generally, has grown substantially over the past decade. This is primarily due to a pair of forces. First, with the demise of Dennard scaling, power has become a substantial limiting factor in systems development, pushing computations to be more power efficient (a strength of many accelerators). Second, the application development environments for accelerators have improved substantially in recent years. We review the use of multiple, distinct accelerators deployed in a individual system or, more to the point, used concurrently within an individual application. We give a history of architecturally diverse systems that use multiple accelerators, discuss the motivations for diversity in accelerators, and describe the approaches that both system designers and application developers have used to put accelerators to beneficial use.
Single-cell manipulation and analysis using microfluidics, photomechanical actuation, and machine learning

Cellular heterogeneity facilitating specialization of cells is essential to control normal physiological processes as well as drive pathogenesis of many diseases. While it remains common to measure population-averaged properties in biological studies, the assumption that all cells are identical can lead to incorrect or at least imprecise assessments. To better understand heterogeneous characteristics and responses of individual cells, single-cell analytic methods should be applied to profile individual cellular properties. Using micro-fabrication technology, we have developed high-throughput microfluidic platforms, that enable tracking of thousands of single cells on-chip. Building on the cell isolation capability, we innovated a photomechanical actuation method to selectively detach and retrieve target cells for downstream analysis. Irradiation of a nanosecond-pulsed laser is utilized to generate shear force for detaching target cells cultured on carbon nanotube–polydimethylsiloxane (CNT-PDMS) composite. This non-destructive cell retrieval method can preserve cell viability, membrane proteins, and mRNA expression levels, so we have successfully performed single-cell transcriptome analysis as well as functional studies on the retrieved target cells. In addition to cell tracking and retrieval, we applied machine learning techniques to correlate cellular morphological features with cellular functions including migration, cancer drug response, and tumor initiation. Machine made significantly better predictions than experienced researchers, and we found novel morphological features facilitating breakthroughs in mechanistic understanding. The integrated single-cell manipulation and analysis augmented with machine learning will change how we understand cell biology and ultimately improve how we treat diseases.
The Mediating Effect of Gratitude on the Relation Between Religiosity and Well-being in Samples of Undergraduate Students and Adults Formerly Raised by Grandparent Caregivers

Previous research has found that gratitude, which is a central concept or practice in many religions and spiritual traditions, benefits an individual's well-being and may reduce symptoms of depression (Emmons & Stern in Journal of Clinical Psychology 69: 846–855, 2013). The current research utilized two different samples from the United States (i.e., undergraduate students at a large, public university, and a national sample of individuals formerly raised by custodial grandparents and/or through foster care obtained through Amazon Mechanical Turk) to examine the relation between religiosity and well-being. Measures used included life satisfaction (Satisfaction with Life Scale), symptoms of depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies of Depression Scale-Revised), and gratitude (the Gratitude Questionnaire-6 Item Form, GQ-6; and the Transpersonal Gratitude Scale). The relation between religiosity (the Stearns-McKinney Assessment of Religious Traits) and psychological well-being (i.e., life satisfaction and depression) was mediated by gratitude among adults formerly raised by custodial grandparents and undergraduate college students at a large Southeastern university. These results indicate that gratitude may be an important factor in understanding the relation between religiosity and depressive symptoms and life satisfaction.
Kernicterus in premature infants associated with low concentrations of bilirubin in the plasma.

Concentrations of bilirubin in the plasma of 85 premature infants weighing less than 2000 gm at birth were measured daily for the first 6 days of life. These measurements are presented and discussed. Nine cases of kernicterus which developed with relatively low concentrations of plasma bilirubin are reported. Laboratory studies are cited to support the hypothesis that the development of kernicterus in these infants was enhanced by the use of the antibacterial combination of penicillin and Gantrisin®. Attention is called to the effect which antibacterial therapy may have upon the concentration of bilirubin in the plasma of premature infants and to the lower values for plasma bilirubin which occur in dying infants.
How Folds Cut a Scene

We consider the interactions between edges and intensity distributions in semi-open image neighborhoods surrounding them. Locally this amounts to a kind of figure-ground problem, and we analyze the case of smooth figures occluding arbitrary backgrounds. Techniques from differential topology permit a classification into what we call folds (the side of an edge from a smooth object) and cuts (the background). Intuitively, cuts arise when an arbitrary scene is "cut" from view by an occluder. The condition takes the form of transversality between an edge tangent map and a shading flow field, and examples are included.
Assessing the sociology of sport: On sport and the city

On the 50th anniversary of the ISSA and IRSS, Kimberly Schimmel, one of the leading scholars on sport, urban policy and the political economy of development reviews the trajectory of research into the relationship between cities and sport. Three principal themes are identified: city-building – politics and profits; city-life – culture and community; and city-space – semblance and spectacle. The current challenges are then outlined: for example, the emergence of new relationships between sport cultures and transforming urban developments; how urban spaces are increasingly viewed as terrain on which military tactics and weaponry are deemed necessary to protect capital investments, control crowds and prevent and respond to terrorist attacks; and the experiences of those who live and work in, and visit, urban areas. Future directions of the sociology of sport with regard to sport and the city are considered, with the reminder that sociologists of sport across the globe view with informed scepticism any notion...
Barriers and Perceptions of Natural Resource Careers by Minority Students

Using a framework based on social cognitive career theory, we conducted 38 interviews and four focus groups with college students to identify motivations and barriers faced by underrepresented groups to natural resource careers. Interviews revealed career satisfaction as the most important goal for both natural resource and a comparison of liberal arts students. School difficulty and outsider perceptions were barriers for both groups. Natural resource students faced family pressure to pursue other careers. Focus groups with natural resource students using Q methodology revealed participation in outdoor recreation, exposure to nature-related media, and witnessing environmental degradation as important influences. Barriers included perceptions of ethnic/racial discrimination, financial pressures, and lack of confidence. Results may help academia and agencies better address motivations and barriers to natural resource careers.
Electron transfer in ruthenium-modified proteins.

Photochemical techniques have been used to measure the kinetics of intramolecular electron transfer in Ru(bpy)2(im)(His)2+-modified (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine; im = imidazole) cytochromec and azurin. A driving-force study with the His33 derivatives of cytochromec indicates that the reorganization energy (γ) for Fe2+→Ru3+ ET reactions is 0.8 eV. Reductions of the ferriheme by either an excited complex,*Ru2+, or a reduced complex, Ru+, are anomalously fast and may involve formation of an electronically excited ferroheme. The distance dependence of Fe2+→Ru3+ and Cu+→Ru3+ electron transfer in 12 different Ru-modified cytochromes and azurins has been analyzed using a tunneling-pathway model. The ET rates in 10 of the 12 systems exhibit an exponential dependence on metal-metal separation (decay constant of 1.06 a−1) that is consistent with predictions of the pathway model.
Algorithm development for real-time control of the airborne laser

Two wave fronts are of interest in the AirBorne Laser, namely, the inbound wave front from the `beacon' and the outbound wave front of the high-energy laser. Since these two wave fronts propagate through different regions of the atmosphere and at different time instants, the spatial- temporal correlation between the Zernike polynomials' phase expansion coefficients representing these wave fronts must be determined. Using this correlation information, an underlying linear, stochastic, dynamical system that represents the atmosphere is identified. The wave front sensor and deformable mirror dynamics are also modeled. These models are then used in a Kalman filter which provides estimates of the outbound wave front's Zernike coefficients using measurements of the inbound wave front. A linear quadratic controller is also developed so that configuration, that is, atmospheric compensation, can be performed. The designed adaptive optics control system's performance is evaluated in a simulated experiment.
Circulating androgens enhance sensitivity to testosterone self-administration in male hamsters

Abstract Young adult men are more likely to abuse steroids than individuals with low testosterone, including women, boys and older men. This suggests that circulating testosterone may enhance sensitivity to exogenous androgens. This hypothesis was tested using intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) testosterone self-administration in orchidectomized males without testosterone (Orchx, n=8) and in orchidectomized males with chronic physiologic testosterone replacement (Orchx+T, n=8). Beginning 1 week after surgery, hamsters self-administered testosterone for 4 h/day in operant chambers at three doses (0.1, 1.0 and 2.0 μg/μl), each for 8 days. Afterwards, testosterone was replaced with vehicle for 8 days to test extinction. At 1.0 and 2.0 μg/μl, Orchx+T and Orchx males self-administered similar amounts of testosterone. However, at 0.1 μg/μl testosterone, only Orchx+T males showed a significant preference for the active nose-poke (Orchx+T active: 35.1±8.4 responses/4 h [mean±S.E.M.] vs. inactive: 16.5±1.7 responses/4 h, p 0.05). There was little change in operant behavior during extinction in Orchx+T males. However, when vehicle replaced testosterone, Orchx males extinguished their preference for the active nose-poke hole by day 6. These results support our hypothesis that circulating androgens enhance sensitivity to testosterone self-administration.
Engineering Economy in the United States in Retrospect—An Analysis

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PAPER IS TO TRACE AND ANALYZE THE EVOLUTION OF THE MAIN STREAMS OF THOUGHT OF ENGINEERING ECONOMY IN THE UNITED STATES. ENGINEERING ECONOMY, OR ECONOMICS, IS TO BE DEFINED AS A GUIDE FOR THE ECONOMIC SELECTION AMONG TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVES FOR THE PURPOSE OF A RATIONAL ALLOCATION OF SCARCE RESOURCES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ADD THAT THE ULTIMATE SELECTION AS TO THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE MAY BE MADE ON GROUNDS OTHER THAN ECONOMIC, BUT THIS IS NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS PAPER. THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE BUT DISCERNIBLE HISTORICAL STREAMS OF THOUGHT HAVING VARIOUS POINTS OF TANGENCY WHICH FIT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THIS DEFINITION. THESE ARE: CLASSICAL ENGINEERING ECONOMY, AND RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT WHICH IN TURN IS DIVIDED INTO BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS --WHICH ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. EACH IS DESCRIBED. /AUTHOR/
Teaching Sociological Theory for a New Century: Contending with the Time Crunch

Despite being a decade into the 21st century, sociological theory continues to be taught at the undergraduate and graduate level in nearly every program in the United States as if it were still 1970. 40 years ago, it made sense to dichotomize theory into two courses—“classical” and “contemporary”—because the latter of the two only covered theory from about the 1930s to the “present.” Today a literal and figurative time crunch has emerged that makes teaching theory difficult and at times, arbitrary based on the professor’s training, mentor, ideological/epistemological biases, and structural factors like textbook choice and number of academic weeks allotted per course. That is, we spend a large amount of time debating who should be in or out, and not enough time preparing our students for the application of theory towards the ultimate goal: knowledge about the social world. Students, then, leave confused at how one uses theory, what theory actually is, and, often times, disengaged from theory because of the density with which some theories approach the social world. In the paper below, the time crunch and its tendency to produce a “lost generation” of theorists is examined. After elucidating how the time crunch constrains sociology, four possible solutions are presented. This list of solutions is neither definitive nor exhaustive, and is meant to generate a rich discussion about the direction the discipline should head in the new century.
Reaction Time as a Diagnostic Measure in Senility

: Both simple and disjunctive reaction times (RT) are known to slow with aging but there is a paucity of information on RT changes in senility. Since disjunctive RT involves cognition in addition to the sensory-motor speed and attentional components of simple RT, it was hypothesized that disjunctive RT would be a reliable index of age-related mental decline. To test this prediction, simple and disjunctive RT were measured in matched groups of 20 normal and 20 cognitively impaired elderly. Simple RT was slower in the senile patients than in the normal subjects, but this difference was accounted for by differences in disjunctive RT. The senile patients showed a much larger performance decrement with respect to disjunctive RT than did the normal subjects — a difference which was not accounted for by differences in simple RT. In a discriminant function analysis, disjunctive RT alone correctly identified the senile patients and the normal subjects with 86 percent accuracy. Thus, this measure proved to be a reliable index of age-related mental decline. Preliminary data indicate that disjunctive RT slowing is correlated with non-memory mental decline, and that poor performance is related to the need for care and supervision.
Low-temperature atomic assembly of stoichiometric gallium arsenide from equiatomic vapor

Abstract The low-temperature atomic assembly of homoepitaxial GaAs thin films on the (0 0 1) surface has been investigated using molecular dynamics with a Stillinger–Weber potential energy function. During equiatomic vapor deposition, crystalline growth was observed for substrate temperatures above 35% of the melting temperature. Below this temperature, the critical epitaxial thickness began to rapidly decrease as defects were increasingly incorporated and eventually nucleated an entirely amorphous structure. The atomic assembly mechanisms of arsenic dimer incorporation, as well as gallium vacancy formation, were studied just above the amorphous/crystalline growth transition temperature. The adsorption of arsenic dimers was found to show dependence upon the orientation of the deposited molecule. Atomic processes responsible for the formation of the gallium vacancy defects were observed, and the influence of growth temperature on defect formation was also identified.
JUMMP: Job Uninterrupted Maneuverable MapReduce Platform

In this paper, we present JUMMP, the Job Uninterrupted Maneuverable MapReduce Platform, an automated scheduling platform that provides a customized Hadoop environment within a batch-scheduled cluster environment. JUMMP enables an interactive pseudo-persistent MapReduce platform within the existing administrative structure of an academic high performance computing center by “jumping” between nodes with minimal administrative effort. Jumping is implemented by the synchronization of stopping and starting daemon processes on different nodes in the cluster. Our experimental evaluation shows that JUMMP can be as efficient as a persistent Hadoop cluster on dedicated computing resources, depending on the jump time. Additionally, we show that the cluster remains stable, with good performance, in the presence of jumps that occur as frequently as the average length of reduce tasks of the currently executing MapReduce job. JUMMP provides an attractive solution to academic institutions that desire to integrate Hadoop into their current computing environment within their financial, technical, and administrative constraints.
Correlation between rare chromosomal abnormalities and prenatal ultrasound findings.

Our objective was to examine ultrasound findings with outcomes in cases of rare chromosomal abnormalities diagnosed during pregnancy. Results of cytogenetic studies obtained from amniocenteses and chorionic villus samplings (CVS) from 1994-2000 were reviewed. Only those examples of rare chromosomal abnormalities with little information on the associated outcome were included. Cases of autosomal trisomy (13, 18, and 21), sex chromosome aneuploidy, and reciprocal or Robertsonian translocations were excluded. Ultrasound findings and outcomes were reviewed. In all, 8,642 procedures of amniocenteses and 557 of CVS were performed; 21 cases met the inclusion criteria. Parental karyotypes were obtained for 19 couples and the karyotypic abnormalities were de novo in 13. Abnormal ultrasound findings were present in 14 pregnancies, with the following outcomes: seven underwent dilatation and evacuation (DE one medical termination with micrognathia and low-set ears; one fetal demise; one neonatal demise; three surviving neonates with abnormalities (one each with congenital kyphosis, hydronephrosis, and hypotonia), and one newborn was normal. There were seven patients without abnormal ultrasound findings with the following outcomes: three underwent D&E, with abnormal findings in two, one child with a colobomatous optic nerve, and two apparently normal infants. Follow-up was not available in one patient. We conclude that when rare karyotypes and ultrasound abnormalities are present, poor outcomes are likely. Even with normal ultrasound findings, abnormalities may be present. These data may assist in counseling patients when testing reveals such chromosomal abnormalities.
Deconvoluting mTOR biology

In metazoans, TOR is an essential protein that functions as a master regulator of cellular growth and proliferation. Over the past decade, there has been an explosion of information about this critical master kinase, ranging from the composition of the TOR protein complex to its ability to act as an integrator of numerous extracellular signals. Unfortunately, this plethora of information has also raised numerous questions regarding TOR function. Currently, the prevailing view is that mammalian TOR (mTOR) exists in at least two molecular complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, which are largely defined by the presence of either RAPTOR or RICTOR. However, additional co-factors have been identified for each complex, and their importance in mediating mTOR signals has been incompletely elucidated. Similarly, there are differences in mTOR function that reflect the tissue of origin. In this review, we present an alternative view to mTOR complex formation and function, which envisions mTOR regulation and signal propagation...
MobySound: A reference archive for studying automatic recognition of marine mammal sounds

Abstract A reference archive has been constructed to facilitate research on automatic recognition of marine mammal sounds. The archive enables researchers to have access to recorded sounds from a variety of marine species, sounds that can be very difficult to obtain in the field. The archive also lets researchers use different sound-recognition methods on a common set of sounds, making it possible to compare directly the effectiveness of the different methods. In recognizing sounds in a given recording, the type and frequency of noise present has a strong effect on the difficulty of the recognition problem; a measure of the amount of interference was devised, the “time-local, in-band, signal-to-noise ratio”, and was applied to each sound in the archive. Current entries in the archive comprise low-frequency sounds of large whales, and have about 14,000 vocalizations from eight species of baleen whales. MobySound may be accessed at http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/projects/MobySound/ . Contributions to the archive are welcomed.
Inhibition of junctional adhesion molecule-A/LFA interaction attenuates leukocyte trafficking and inflammation in brain ischemia/reperfusion injury

Proinflammatory mediators trigger intensive postischemic inflammatory remodeling of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) including extensive brain endothelial cell surface and junctional complex changes. Junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A) is a component of the brain endothelial junctional complex with dual roles: paracellular route occlusion and regulating leukocyte docking and migration. The current study examined the contribution of JAM-A to the regulation of leukocyte (neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages) infiltration and the postischemic inflammatory response in brain ischemia/reperfusion (I/R injury). Brain I/R injury was induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 30min in mice followed by reperfusion for 0-5days, during which time JAM-A antagonist peptide (JAM-Ap) was administered. The peptide, which inhibits JAM-A/leukocyte interaction by blocking the interaction of the C2 domain of JAM-A with LFA on neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages, attenuated I/R-induced neutrophil and monocyte infiltration into brain parenchyma. Consequently, mice treated with JAM-A peptide during reperfusion had reduced expression (~3-fold) of inflammatory mediators in the ischemic penumbra, reduced infarct size (94±39 vs 211±38mm3) and significantly improved neurological score. BBB hyperpermeability was also reduced. Collectively, these results indicate that JAM-A has a prominent role in regulating leukocyte infiltration after brain I/R injury and could be a new target in limiting post-ischemic inflammation.
The positive effects of cognitive–behavioral programs for offenders: A meta-analysis of factors associated with effective treatment

A meta-analysis of 58 experimental and quasi-experimental studies of the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on the recidivism of adult and juvenile offenders confirmed prior positive findings and explored a range of potential moderators to identify factors associated with variation in treatment effects. With method variables controlled, the factors independently associated with larger recidivism reductions were treatment of higher risk offenders, high quality treatment implementation, and a CBT program that included anger control and interpersonal problem solving but not victim impact or behavior modification components. With these factors accounted for, there was no difference in the effectiveness of different brand name CBT programs or generic forms of CBT.
Membrane Structure Correlates to Function of LLP2 on the Cytoplasmic Tail of HIV-1 gp41 Protein

Mutation studies previously showed that the lentivirus lytic peptide (LLP2) sequence of the cytoplasmic C-ter- minal tail of the HIV-1 gp41 envelope protein inhibited viral-initiated T-cell death and T-cell syncytium formation, at which time in the HIV life cycle the gp41 protein is embedded in the T-cell membrane. In striking contrast, the mutants did not affect virion infectivity, during which time the gp41 protein is embedded in the HIV envelope membrane. To examine the role of LLP2/ membrane interactions, we applied synchrotron x-radiation to determine structure of hydrated membranes. We focused on WT LLP2 peptide (þ3 charge) and MX2 mutant (� 1 charge) with membrane mimics for the T-cell and the HIV-1 membranes. To investigate the influence of electrostatics, cholesterol content, and peptide palmitoylation, we also studied three other LLP2 variants and HIV-1 mimics without negatively charged lipids or cholesterol as well as extracted HIV-1 lipids. All LLP2 peptides bound strongly to T-cell membrane mimics, as indicated by changes in membrane structure and bending. In contrast, none of the weakly bound LLP2 variants changed the HIV-1 membrane mimic structure or properties. This correlates well with, and provides a biophysical basis for, previously published results that reported lack of a mutant effect in HIV virion infectivity in contrast to an inhibitory effect in T-cell syncytium formation. It shows that interaction of LLP2 with the T-cell membrane modulates biological function.