cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Multi-Component Automated Laser-Origami System for Cyber-Manufacturing

Cyber-manufacturing systems can be enhanced by an integrated network architecture that is easily configurable, reliable, and scalable. We consider a cyber-physical system for use in an origami-type laser-based custom manufacturing machine employing folding and cutting of sheet material to manufacture 3D objects. We have developed such a system for use in a laser-based autonomous custom manufacturing machine equipped with real-time sensing and control. The basic elements in the architecture are built around the laser processing machine. They include a sensing system to estimate the state of the workpiece, a control system determining control inputs for a laser system based on the estimated data and user's job requests, a robotic arm manipulating the workpiece in the work space, and middleware, named Etherware, supporting the communication among the systems. We demonstrate automated 3D laser cutting and bending to fabricate a 3D product as an experimental result.
A socially responsible consumption index based on non-linear dimensionality reduction and global sensitivity analysis

Abstract Higher-order factor analysis is a statistical method that consists of repeating steps of factor analysis. Studies of this type allow researchers and practitioners to visualize the hierarchical structure of the concept being studied. Unfortunately, the Socially Responsible Consumer (SRC) research community still remains unable to construct a second-order SRC index. Most researchers argue that the statistical requirements for the construction of the second-order index are not met. They typically try to construct the second-order index by applying linear factor analysis techniques. It is worth mentioning that this is a widespread practice in the social sciences. In this manuscript, we aim to show how better indices can be created by applying non-linear dimensionality reduction techniques. Specifically, we have modified the Unsupervised Extreme Learning Machine (UELM) method to promote orthogonality in the basis function space. These methods are able to model interactions among the input variables, but unfortunately, they are usually considered black boxes. To overcome this limitation, we propose the use of Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA) techniques, which are able to estimate the importance of each variable by itself and in conjunction with the others. To test the methodology, we have used a sample of 703 Spanish consumers and a multidimensional SRC metric that considers both social and environmental issues. As expected, the non-linear techniques tend to enhance the results provided by the linear techniques.
Stochastic Approximation and Its Application to Problems of Prediction and Control Synthesis

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses stochastic approximation (S.A) that involves the familiar process of successive substitutions with a superimposed random term. Mathematical results, thus, constitute a certain class of random fixed point theorems, with the existence of the fixed point usually assumed a priori. The chapter refers to two statistical problems and the general approach. The Robbins-Monro (R M) and Kiefer-Wolfowitz (K W) processes are the two approaches that are used for approximating the zero and minimum of an unknown regression function, that is, the locus of expected values of an observable random variable indexed by a continuously adjustable parameter. They provide a good introduction to the subject matter.
Change in the Face of Strategic Isomorphism

We examine organizational change within an institution characterized by isomorphism of organizational strategies. We theorize that traditional findings with regard to two causes of organizational c...
DUO delivers for duvelisib.

In this issue of Blood, Flinn et al report the final results of the phase 3 registration trial DUO, which compared the novel PI3Kδ,γ inhibitor duvelisib with ofatumumab in patients with relapsed refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) with duvelisib. On 24 September 2018, these results led to US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of duvelisib for the therapy of CLL patients after ≥2 prior regimens.
The Devil Is in the Details: Attorney Effects on Employment Arbitration Outcomes

Conventional wisdom holds that hiring an attorney will improve outcomes for non-union employees who take individual rights complaints to arbitration. The limited empirical scholarship on this topic...
Fluorescence and multiphoton imaging of a mouse model of spontaneous ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer, but can be addressed with early detection. We investigate fluorescence and multiphoton imaging for imaging ovarian cancer, finding that tissue changes can be detected through quantitative analysis.
Mental Health Consequences of Shift Work: An Updated Review

Approximately 25% of employed individuals engage in shift work, which can substantially alter opportunities for restorative sleep. Being tired on the job can lead to safety risks in professions such as healthcare, first responders, manufacturing, and numerous others. In addition to the physical stress and health consequences of shift work, recent evidence links shift work to poor mental health outcomes. The current review examines the literature from 2016 onward, emphasizing the impact of shift work on mental health. Shift work is associated with considerable impacts on sleep, depressed mood and anxiety, substance use, impairments in cognition, lower quality of life, and even suicidal ideation. Pronounced sleep disturbances frequently underlie the mental health consequences of shift work. Shift work can have physical, mental health, and safety consequences. Future research should aim to better understand the interplay of shift work, sleep, and mental health and seek to mitigate the adverse consequences of shift work.
Nanocrystalline polymorphic oxide perovskite-based high-κ low-leakage thin film materials

Abstract We report on thin-film nanocrystalline polymorphic BaTiO3 for enabling high dielectric and low leakage response. BaTiO3-Al2O3 bi-layer thin films based on nanocrystalline BaTiO3 containing the tetragonal and hexagonal polymorphs were deposited by atomic layer deposition. Polymorphic BaTiO3 film combined with a ≈ 3.5-nm thick Al2O3 layer located between the BaTiO3 film and top electrode exhibits dielectric constant of 108 or 130 and leakage currents 2.2 × 10−8 A/mm2 or 1.3 × 10−7 A/mm2 at 1 MV/cm, respectively. Where x-ray photoemission analysis of barrier heights for the metal-BaTiO3-Al2O3-metal structure point to using the polymorphic BaTiO3 interspersed between Al2O3 layers in tri-layered dielectric thin film capacitors, the outstanding combination of high dielectric constant and low leakage current for the polymorphic BaTiO3 - Al2O3 thin film stacks is superior to common high-κ polycrystalline thin film materials.
Characterization of Lead Adherence Using Intravascular Ultrasound to Assess Difficulty of Transvenous Lead Extraction.

Background: Clinical factors associated with development of intravascular lead adherence (ILA) are unreliable predictors. Because vascular injury in the superior vena cava-right atrium during trans...
Extraction and epitopic analysis of the 53 kd envelope glycoprotein of bovine viral diarrhea virus

Thirteen monoclonal antibodies were prepared against five isolates of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). All of the antibodies reacted with viral protein gp53. In the absence of serum complement, each antibody neutralized infectivity of BVDV. The monoclonal antibodies were used in a competitive binding assay (CBA) to determine the topographic relationship of neutralizing epitopes on gpS3. Two distinct antigenic domains on the gp53 of cytopathic and noncytopathic isolates of BVDV were identified. The majority of monoclonal antibodies recognized overlapping epitopes in a single domain. A possible second domain was identified by the binding of one monoclonal antibody. A dot-immunoblot assay using denatured viral protein was performed. The results indicated that the neutralizing epitopes on gp 53 were conformationally-dependent. Endoglycosidase treatment of viral glycoproteins significantly reduced or prevented the binding of all thirteen monoclonal antibodies.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is recommended by multiple professional organizations as a first-line treatment for insomnia. CBT-I tends to be as effective as hypnotic medications in the acute treatment phase and more effective in the long term and without their associated risks. CBT-I generally consists of five components: sleep education, stimulus control, sleep restriction therapy, relaxation training, and cognitive therapy. In addition to these components, CBT-I practitioners often use self-report data such as sleep diaries to assess and monitor treatment progress. CBT-I, which is typically administered in 4–10 sessions, has shown efficacy across a variety of modalities (individual therapy; group therapy and workshops; telehealth-based; Internet-based; and bibliotherapy) and populations, including individuals with comorbid physical and psychiatric problems as well as among adolescents, adults, and older adults. Despite its efficacy and positive favorability among patients, CBT-I is currently underutilized by healthcare professionals, necessitating greater education among both professionals and patients to expedite its dissemination.
Drug use associated tricuspid valve infective endocarditis in pregnancy.

Background and aim We report a case of intravenous drug use associated tricuspid valve endocarditis in a 28-year-old pregnant female at 26-week gestation. Methods Patient management required a multidisciplinary collaboration between cardiac surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, and neonatal critical care. Results Despite appropriate intravenous antibiotics, the patient developed life-threatening complications and underwent planned cesarean delivery at 28 weeks 6 days gestation followed by interval tricuspid valve replacement 1 week later. Conclusions Both the patient and her infant were successfully managed through the perioperative period.
Beyond the bathroom wars: Increasing gender-free restroom access in libraries

In May 2016, protesters affiliated with the student organization Justice for Queer and Trans Students occupied the University of Vermont’s (UVM) Dean of Libraries’ office to demand that the David W. Howe Memorial Library (then known as the Bailey/Howe Library) immediately convert select gender-segregated restrooms—meaning those labeled for use for only men or only women—to gender-free restrooms to accommodate the needs of trans and gender non-conforming students during spring finals week. The protest followed the delivery of a petition with more than 1,000 signatures seeking change, as well as ongoing conversations between the libraries and student activists. Student organizer Lindsey “Z.” McCarron told The Vermont Cynic, “This is an immediate and real need that is affecting people’s health and safety every day.”
Vascular Surgeons Are Not Adequately Valued by Traditional Productivity Metrics.

Background Reimbursements for professional services performed by clinicians are under constant scrutiny. The value of a vascular surgeon's services as measured by work relative value units (wRVUs) and professional reimbursement has decreased for some of the most common procedures performed. Hospital reimbursements, however, often remain stable or increases. We sought to evaluate fistulagrams as a case study and hypothesized that while wRVUs and professional reimbursements decrease, hospital reimbursements for these services increased over the same time period. Methods Medicare 5% claims data were reviewed to identify all fistulagrams with or without angioplasty or stenting performed between 2015 and 2018 using current procedural terminology codes. Reimbursements were classified into 3 categories: medical center (reimbursements made to a hospital for a fistulagram performed as an outpatient procedure), professional (reimbursement for fistulagrams based on compensation for procedures: work RVUs, practice expense RVU, malpractice expense RVU), and office-based laboratory (OBL, reimbursement for fistulagrams performed in an OBL setting). Medicare's Physician Fee Schedule was used to calculate wRVU and professional reimbursement. Medicare's Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System-Ambulatory Payment Classification was used to calculate hospital outpatient reimbursement. Results From 2015 to 2018, we identified 1,326,993 fistulagrams. During this study period, vascular surgeons experienced a 25% increase in market share for diagnostic fistulagrams. Compared with 2015, total professional reimbursements from 2017 to 2018 for all fistulagram procedures decreased by 41% (−$10.3 million) while OBL reimbursement decreased 29% (−$42.5 million) and wRVU decreased 36%. During the same period, medical center reimbursement increased by 6.6% (+$14.1 million). Conclusions Vascular surgeons’ contribution to a hospital may not be accurately reflected through traditional RVU metrics alone. Vascular surgeons performed an increasing volume of fistulagram procedures while experiencing marked reductions in wRVU and reimbursement. Medical centers, on the other hand, experienced an overall increase in reimbursement during the same time period. This study highlights that professional reimbursements, taken in isolation and without consideration of medical center reimbursement, undervalues the services and contributions provided by vascular surgeons.
Family history of obesity and the influence on physical activity and dietary adherence after bariatric surgery.

Background The causes of obesity are multifactorial, with genetic, environmental, behavioural and societal contributions. These factors also affect adherence to diet and exercise after bariatric surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in perceived obesity-related stigma, exercise and dietary adherence perioperatively as well as what demographic factors most influence the magnitude of these changes. Methods Validated questionnaires regarding perception of stigma and adherence to diet and exercise regimens were administered to 104 bariatric surgery patients preoperatively and postoperatively at three, six and 12 months. Scoring was compared for improvement, and concomitant factors were analysed for effect on magnitude of improvement. Results Our study found overall improvement in perception of stigma as well as adherence to diet and exercise regimens. Those with a family history of obesity had less robust improvement compared to those without a family history of obesity. Those who were Caucasian also did not have as robust of an improvement in their scores. Conclusions Patient perception of obesity-related stigma and adherence to diet and exercise regimens improve after bariatric surgery. However, a patient with a family history of obesity and/or a Caucasian ethnicity may have a less robust improvement in these facets.
A formal methodology for constructing decoupled manufacturing system control software components

There is an increasing need for flexibility in manufacturing systems. Achieving flexibility in a cost effective way, directly impacts the hardware and software used to control the system. One way to reduce this impact is through reuse. To increase the opportunity for reuse, we propose a control software development methodology which allows control software to be partitioned into components, based on their likeliness to be modified. Our approach consists of two parts, a software architecture for reuse and a modeling formalism. The architecture decouples the control software into components based on their likeliness to be modified. We employ software/hardware components, a modern software engineering tool, to design and construct portions of this decoupled component architecture. The modeling formalism is based on finite automata. Finite automata have an enormous base of established theoretical and practical results, and are easily used to represent the dynamics and control of manufacturing systems, as well as many other Discrete Event Dynamical Systems (DEDS). We use the formalism in specifying, designing, and constructing portions of the control software. In particular, the formalism helps us to understand the dynamical behavior of the system, the way this behavior can be modified, and the way the system's entities interact with each other. It also helps in expressing the tasks to be implemented by the control software. Our contribution builds on earlier results by including comprehensive representations for concurrency and control information, and by emphasizing the duality between automata and formal language representations. In addition, we provide specific constructs for capturing interactions between components of the system. We demonstrate the utility of our approach in the construction of control software for a typical manufacturing system application. In this application we are able to illustrate all of the aspects of our modeling formalism, and show how the software architecture and modeling formalism are used together to improve reuse.
Summer Moisture-Temperature for Arctic Tundra

Measurements of soil moisture and temperature were made during the summer of 1973 in an arctic tundra region underlain by shallow ice-rich permafrost. Three sites near Barrow, Alaska were studied representing a range of internal soil profile and topographic drainage conditions. Tundra soils exhibit different soil moisture regimes depending upon drainage conditions. Poorly drained soils may be waterlogged and much cooler than well-drained soils which are unsaturated. During the spring high pore-water pressures exist just below the frozen layer and consequently a steep downward hydraulic gradient exists. During the summer the soil moisture regime is less dynamic than other portions of the year. A water table was developed in the poorly drained soils studied. During the fall, the soil freezes from the surface and the permafrost table causing a region of low pore-water pressure to develop near the center of the active layer. The poorly drained saturated soils are rapidly dried during the fall.
Effective software engineering pedagogy

Accreditation standards have required computer science departments to teach software engineering for over a decade now. Industry statistics, however, suggest that good software engineering techniques often are not being carried out in large-scale software development projects, resulting in unusable software systems on which millions of dollars have been squandered. Society cannot afford to continue to squander precious resources on software fiascoes. We suggest that perhaps how we teach software engineering may have an effect whether good software development is practiced in industry. In teaching software engineering, experience has shown us that students will not be convinced of the benefits of using software engineering techniques until they experience the benefits themselves. Completing a semester-long project is the most effective way of convincing students that software engineering is critical to their professional development as well as to the development of reliable, robust, easily-maintained software.
Experimental detection of forces in an optical analog of Aharonov-Bohm effect

Wavefront dislocations in scattering create an Aharonov-Bohm setting where nonconservative reaction forces can be detected experimentally. Observing the dynamics of microscopic particles clarifies the role the finite wave-packets on the transfer of wave's canonical momentum.
The demand for money in Brazil: Some further results

Abstract A recent paper by Cardoso, using the simple Koyck-adjustment mechanism, has estimated a money demand equation for Brazil. The results are said to show, among other things, that the inflation rate does not play a significant role in the Brazilian money demand function. This paper re-examines and expands on the money demand relationship in Brazil, finding that Cardoso's estimated equations are inherently unstable. Using a less restrictive dynamic adjustment mechanism, an alternative money demand relationship has been estimated for Brazil which proves well-fitting and structurally stable over time. The inflation rates variable, furthermore, is found to exert a significant influence on real money demand in Brazil. In fact, without such a variable, our estimated money demand relationship appears toe misspecified and structurally unstable.
The Work Exchange: Peer-to-Peer Enterprise Crowdsourcing.

The Work Exchange is a peer-to-peer enterprise crowdsourcing system, where colleagues within a company can share work with each other. Employees can post work that they need help with, and other employees can search for and select work that they’re interested in. It supports a variety of mechanisms for the work requester to choose who will do the work, including selection, bids, proposals, and contests. A point system is used to encourage participation and track productivity. The Work Exchange is a work in progress, with a prototype ready for demonstration, and a pilot study launching soon within a 500,000 person enterprise.
Tycho Brahe in Scandinavian Scholarship

Tycho Brahe est un savant universel dont les travaux scientifiques ont ete publies en plusieurs langues au profit de la communaute scientifique mondiale
Liquid Crystalline Composite

A review of novel technologies for manufacturing composites involving liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) is presented. In particular, this review provides a classification scheme of various types of LCPs, with a special emphasis paid to the history, key approaches, milestones in developments of thermotropic LCPs, and their commercialization. Methods of characterization of LCPs by optical and electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, NMR, light scattering, and thermal, rheological, and mechanical techniques are discussed. The development of the concept of self-reinforced or in situ composites based on blending LCPs with flexible-chain polymers and LCPs with other LCPs is presented. In these composites, the dispersed fibrous reinforcing LCP species in polymer matrices are not actually present before the processing of the resin, but come into existence during the processing step. Various aspects of manufacturing of these composites are discussed including methods of mixing and compounding, transition temperatures, different factors governing LCP fibrillations, effects of LCP on crystallization of thermoplastic matrices, rheology of composites, and the use of LCP as a processing aid for thermoplastics. Special attention is paid to manufacturing and mechanical properties of the composites based on LCP/thermoplastic, LCP/LCP and ternary blends, and LCP/thermoplastic and LCP/LCP laminates. The effect of compatibilization and anisotropy of composites are also considered along with proposed approaches to reduce their anisotropy. Finally, various existing and future possibilities for industrial applications of self-reinforced composites are discussed. Keywords: liquid crystalline polymer; self-reinforced or in situ composites; structure; rheology; blends
Polypyrimidine tract-binding proteins of potato mediate tuberization through an interaction with StBEL5 RNA

Polypyrimidine tract-binding (PTB) proteins are a family of RNA-binding proteins that function in a wide range of RNA metabolic processes by binding to motifs rich in uracils and cytosines. A PTB protein of pumpkin was identified as the core protein of an RNA–protein complex that trafficks RNA. The biological function of the PTB–RNA complex, however, has not been demonstrated. In potato, six PTB proteins have been identified, and two, designated StPTB1 and StPTB6, are similar to the phloem-mobile pumpkin type. RNA binding assays confirmed the interaction of StPTB1 and StPTB6 with discrete pyrimidine-rich sequences of the 3′-untranslated regions of the phloem-mobile mRNA, StBEL5. The promoter of StPTB1 was active in companion cells of phloem in both stem and petioles. Expression of both types was evident in phloem cells of roots and in stolons during tuber formation. RNA accumulation of both PTB proteins was induced by short days in leaves in correlation with enhanced accumulation of StBEL5 RNA. StPTB suppression lines exhibited reduced tuber yields and decreased StBEL5 RNA accumulation, whereas StPTB overexpression lines displayed an increase in tuber production correlated with the enhanced production in stolons of steady-state levels of StBEL5 transcripts and RNA of key tuber identity genes. In StPTB overexpression lines, both the stability and long-distance transport of StBEL5 transcripts were enhanced, whereas in suppression lines stability and transport decreased. Using a transgenic approach, it is shown that the StPTB family of RNA-binding proteins regulate specific stages of development through an interaction with phloem-mobile transcripts of StBEL5.
A large shock vein in L chondrite Roosevelt County 106: Evidence for a long‐duration shock pulse on the L chondrite parent body

A large shock-induced melt vein in L6 ordinary chondrite Roosevelt County 106 contains abundant high-pressure minerals, including olivine, enstatite, and plagioclase fragments that have been transformed to polycrystalline ringwoodite, majorite, lingunite, and jadeite. The host chondrite at the melt-vein margins contains olivines that are partially transformed to ringwoodite. The quenched silicate melt in the shock veins consists of majoritic garnets, up to 25 μm in size, magnetite, maghemite, and phyllosilicates. The magnetite, maghemite, and phyllosilicates are the terrestrial alteration products of magnesiowustite and quenched glass. This assemblage indicates crystallization of the silicate melt at approximately 20–25 GPa and 2000 °C. Coarse majorite garnets in the centers of shock veins grade into increasingly finer grained dendritic garnets toward the vein margins, indicating increasing quench rates toward the margins as a result of thermal conduction to the surrounding chondrite host. Nanocrystalline boundary zones, that contain wadsleyite, ringwoodite, majorite, and magnesiowustite, occur along shock-vein margins. These zones represent rapid quench of a boundary melt that contains less metal-sulfide than the bulk shock vein. One-dimensional finite element heat-flow calculations were performed to estimate a quench time of 750–1900 ms for a 1.6-mm thick shock vein. Because the vein crystallized as a single high-pressure assemblage, the shock pulse duration was at least as long as the quench time and therefore the sample remained at 20–25 GPa for at least 750 ms. This relatively long shock pulse, combined with a modest shock pressure, implies that this sample came from deep in the L chondrite parent body during a collision with a large impacting body, such as the impact event that disrupted the L chondrite parent body 470 Myr ago.
Unsaturated bridgehead silicon intermediates. Dipolar character of unsaturated siliconnitrogen bonds in such intermediates

Abstract Photolysis of 1-azido-1-silabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane and 1-azido-1-silabicyclo[2.2.2.]octane give loss of nitrogen and rearrangement with ring enlargement yielding silaimine reaction intermediates which were trapped by reaction with methyltrimethoxysilane and triethoxysilane. Evidence is presented which indicates that the unsaturated siliconnitrogen bonds in the intermediates have considerable polar character and do not behave like triplet diradicals. The balance of the evidence favors, but does not completely prove, that the intermediates have significant π-bonding.
Laparoscopic treatment of fulminant ulcerative colitis.

Background: The complexity and risks of the surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis are greater in patients with fulminant disease. Subtotal colectomy is frequently offered to such patients to control acute disease and restore immunological and nutritional status prior to a restorative procedure. The role of laparoscopy in this setting is poorly defined. Methods: The records of 18 patients with poorly controlled fulminant colitis on aggressive immunosuppressive therapy who underwent laparoscopic subtotal colectomy were reviewed. Results: Postoperative complications occurred in six patients (33%). Postoperative length of stay was 5.0 ± 0.3 days vs 8.8 ± 1.8 days (p<0.05) for a group of six patients who had undergone open subtotal colectomy for the same indications. Systemic steroids were withdrawn in all patients, and 17 patients subsequently underwent proctectomy and pelvic pouch construction. Conclusions: The relatively high morbidity rate in these patients is likely related to their compromised status at the time of surgery. Laparoscopic subtotal colectomy in patients with fulminant ulcerative colitis allows for earlier hospital discharge, facilitates subsequent pelvic pouch, construction, and provides an excellent alternative to conventional two- and three-stage surgical treatment.
The Krüppel-like protein Gli-similar 3 (Glis3) functions as a key regulator of insulin transcription.

Transcriptional regulation of insulin in pancreatic β-cells is mediated primarily through enhancer elements located within the 5′ upstream regulatory region of the preproinsulin gene. Recently, the Kruppel-like transcription factor, Gli-similar 3 (Glis3), was shown to bind the insulin (INS) promoter and positively influence insulin transcription. In this report, we examined in detail the synergistic activation of insulin transcription by Glis3 with coregulators, CREB-binding protein (CBP)/p300, pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1), neuronal differentiation 1 (NeuroD1), and v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog A (MafA). Our data show that Glis3 expression, the binding of Glis3 to GlisBS, and its recruitment of CBP are required for optimal activation of the insulin promoter in pancreatic β-cells not only by Glis3, but also by Pdx1, MafA, and NeuroD1. Mutations in the GlisBS or small interfering RNA−directed knockdown of GLIS3 diminished insulin promoter activation by Pdx1, NeuroD1, an...
S-WAVE VELOCITY STRUCTURE OF THE CRUST AND UPPER MANTLE BENEATH KENYA IN COMPARISON TO TANZANIA AND ETHIOPIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FORMATION OF THE EAST AFRICAN AND ETHIOPIAN PLATEAUS

New estimates of the S-wave velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle beneath the Kenya Rift and surrounding Kenya Highlands have been obtained by jointly inverting P wave receiver functions and Rayleigh wave phase and group velocities. The joint inversion was performed for seven broadband seismic stations, five that were part of the Kenya broadband seismic experiment and two belonging to the Global Seismic Network. 1-D S-wave velocity models obtained from the inversions have been compared to similar models for Tanzania and Ethiopia to identify differences in lithospheric structure beneath the East African and Ethiopian Plateaus. The S-wave velocity structure of the upper mantle to at least 100 to 150 km depth beneath the Kenya Highlands is similar to structure under the East African Plateau in Tanzania. It therefore appears that the plateau lithosphere under the Kenya Highlands has not been affected thermally to any greater extent than the plateau lithosphere beneath Tanzania. Under the Kenya Rift, however, the lithosphere has been substantially modified. S-wave velocities at depths of 80 to 150 km beneath the rift are 8 to 10% lower compared to under the Kenya Highlands, which may be a sufficiently large change to indicate the presence of partial melt. There is little similarity between the plateau lithosphere in East Africa and Ethiopia. The lithosphere under the Ethiopian Plateau is thin, extending to a depth of no more than about 80 to 90 km depth, compared to 100 to 150 km beneath Tanzania and the Kenya Highlands. The maximum S-wave velocity in the lithosphere is also very low, reaching only to 4.2 to 4.3 km/s, compared to 4.6 to 4.7 km/s beneath Tanzania and the Kenya Highlands. These differences indicate that the buoyant support for the plateau elevation in East Africa, including the Kenya Highlands, resides at deeper depths in the mantle than beneath the Ethiopian Plateau.
Gender differences in the probability of alcohol treatment.

Interview data from 7,359 adults 18 years of age and over who met the DSM-IV criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence at some point during their lives revealed that 23.0% of the men and 15.1% of the women ever received treatment for alcohol problems. The median interval from onset of disorder to first treatment was between 2 and 3 years longer for men than women. This difference did not result from women being more likely than men to initiate treatment shortly after onset of an alcohol use disorder, but rather from men being more likely than women to initiate treatment in the period well after onset. Excluding treatment initiated prior to the clinical onset of the disorders or after cessation of drinking, men's and women's cumulative conditional probabilities of having initiated treatment by 30 years after onset of alcohol abuse or dependence were .424 and .356, respectively. Within the first 8 years after onset of abuse or dependence, men's and women's probabilities of initiating treatment were about the same, but men were 13% to 20% more likely to initiate treatment in the period from 8 to 25 years after onset. Use of proportional hazards models to adjust for factors including sociodemographic characteristics, prior consumption, severity of disorder, and comorbid drug use and depression revealed that men's and women's likelihoods of ever having received treatment did not differ for the most severely affected, those with 20 or more symptoms of abuse or dependence. Among those less severely affected, the male-to-female ratio in the likelihood of treatment declined with severity from 1.75 (1 symptom) to 1.24 (15 symptoms).
The Life Space: A Framework and Method to Describe the Individual's External Traits:

A revised measure of the Life Space with a large sample (N = 1021) of university undergraduates was developed. The Life Space divides the external environment into four domains, which broadly encompass a person’s biological foundations, owned possessions, daily interactions and activities, and group memberships. Factor analysis of over 1000 items divided among each domain resulted in 96 factor-based scales that provided a rich description of college students’ personal surroundings and everyday behavior. A 2nd-order factor analysis of the primary scales resulted in seven global dimensions that replicate and expand upon prior research in the area: Positive and Social Orientation, Sports Orientation, Drug Culture Environment, Music and Arts Achievement, Media Consumer, Negative and Unhealthy Lifestyle, and Intellectual Pursuits. The Life Space scales also were examined for gender differences and associations with social desirability response bias. The discussion focuses on the value of a more detailed and comprehensive approach to studying personality within the context of the external systems that surround the person.
Considering layout for test scheduling of core-based SoCs

We consider a test-scheduling problem, with layout constraints, for core-based SOCs. Individual cores have to be tested on a system level after manufacturing and therefore special test access mechanisms (TAMs) are required. The amount of additional wires needed to route TAMs depends strongly on a SOC layout. In this research, we investigate the SOC test-scheduling problem formulated as the bin-packing problem and constrained by a physical layout of a SOC. We solve the problem using evolutionary strategy and sequence-pair representation. Our results, for ITC'02 benchmarks, show that for most examples, our algorithm generates solutions with less interconnects.
Sex-specific quantitative trait loci linked to autoresuscitation failure in SWR/J mice.

Autoresuscitation (AR) is a highly conserved response among mammals, which allows survival from transient extreme hypoxia. During hypoxia, bradycardia, and hypoxic gasping develop after a brief period of hyperactivity. Normally, AR occurs if oxygen is restored during the gasping period where an initial heart rate increase is rapidly followed resumption or eupneic breathing. Humans and other mammals can survive multiple immediately repeated AR. A defective AR capacity has been implicated in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. We had reported earlier that inbred strains of mice such as BALB/cJ could survive a characteristic number of immediately repeated AR trials, but that SWR/J mice failed to AR from a single hypoxic episode. We now report that strains closely related to SWR/J, FVB/N and SJL/J exhibit partial resuscitation defects relative to BALB/cJ or other mouse strains, establishing a genetic basis for variation in AR failure. The AR trial phenotype of BALB/cJ × SWR/J intercross F1 and F2 mice was consistent with BALB/cJ dominance and a discrete number of loci. Genome-wide mapping conducted with 60 intercross F2 animals linked two loci to the number of AR trials survived, including one sex-specific locus with male expression, consistent with the observed 50% male bias for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in humans. A locus carried on SWR/J chromosome 10 seems to be particularly important in AR failure and was confirmed in a partial consomic line. These results establish a genetic basis for AR failure phenotype in mice, with relevance to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Land and Racial Wealth Inequality

Could racial wealth inequality have been reduced if freed slaves had been granted land following the Civil War? This paper exploits a plausibly exogenous variation in policies of the Cherokee Nation and southern United States to identify the impact of free land on the size of the racial wealth gap. Using data on land, livestock, and home ownership, I find evidence that former slaves who had access to free land were absolutely wealthier and experienced lower levels of racial wealth inequality in 1880 than former slaves who did not. Furthermore, their children continued to experience these advantages in 1900.
Using Simulation to Optimize Ski Jump Ramp Profiles for STOVL Aircraft

Abstract : Ramps have been used for many years aboard the Navy ships of many Countries to reduce takeoff run distance and wind-over-deck (WOD) requirements, as well as to increase the aircraft takeoff gross weight capability over that of a flat deck carrier. Under the Joint Strike Fighter program, an effort has been funded to evaluate various ramp profiles and ramp performance Optimization methodologies. Results of these evaluations will be used with an advanced STOVL aircraft to provide the maximum benefit to takeoff performance, while not becoming a design driver for landing gear of adversely affecting ship designs.
A contrathermodynamic epimerization of a 2,3-trans-disubstituted butyrolactone: intermediates for chiral polypropionate units.

Abstract A method is described which produces the less thermodynamically stable cis-2,3-disubstituted lactone 8 From its mole stable epimer 6 . These substances are complementary to aldol and crotyl organometallics in the construction of chiral polypropionate residues.
Nature of Her X-1

IYENGAR et al.1 have reported observations of hard X rays from Her X-1, which seem to set an upper limit of 10% on the pulsating component in the energy range 20 to 45 keV. I offer a simple explanation that does not require the additional source of X rays postulated by Iyengar et al.
The Forgotten Alasdair MacIntyre: Beyond Value Neutrality in the Social Sciences

Alasdair MacIntyre is often recognized for his contributions to moral philosophy. In this article, I argue that his reputation should be rehabilitated as a theorist who has realized an essentially critical conception of social science that moves beyond the old dogma of value neutrality. The article’s first section narrates how MacIntyre’s unique conception of a critical social science arose out of debates with Peter Winch, whose defense of value neutrality MacIntyre found untenable. He responded by developing a social science every bit as interpretive as Winch’s, but also inherently critical and normative. The second section explores how MacIntyre’s vision of social science can generate criticism of major approaches to political inquiry today, including mainstream political science, Quentin Skinner’s Cambridge School, and Michel Foucault’s post-structuralism.
Discriminative stimulus properties of ethosuximide in the pigeon

After initial exposure to 80 mg/kg, pigeons trained on a two-key drug discrimination procedure rapidly learned to discriminate 120 mg/kg ethosuximide from saline. When 40–160 mg/kg doses of ethosuximide were administered during generalization tests, the percentage of responses directed to the ethosuximide-appropriate key varied directly with dose. Time-effect determinations revealed that the discriminable properties of ethosuximide were evident as early as 15 min after, and as late as 2 h after, intramuscular injection. The discriminative stimulus properties of ethosuximide failed to generalize to the anticonvulsant compounds clonazepam (0.5–4 mg/kg), methsuximide (25–200 mg/kg), and phenytoin (5–15 mg/kg). Generalization was apparent with certain doses of primidone (250, 300 mg/kg) and mephenytoin (80, 160, 240 mg/kg). The concomitant administration of pentylenetetrazol (5, 10, 20 mg/kg) partially blocked the discriminable properties of the training dose of ethosuximide.
Characterization of the binding surface of the translocated intimin receptor, an essential protein for EPEC and EHEC cell adhesion

The translocated intimin receptor (TIR) of enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EPEC and EHEC) is required for EPEC and EHEC infections, which cause widespread illness across the globe. TIR is translocated via a type-III secretion system into the intestinal epithelial cell membrane, where it serves as an anchor for E. coli attachment via its binding partner intimin. While many aspects of EPEC and EHEC infection are now well understood, the importance of the intermolecular contacts made between intimin and TIR have not been thoroughly investigated. Herein we report site-directed mutagenesis studies on the intimin-binding domain of EPEC TIR, and how these mutations affect TIR-intimin association, as analyzed by isothermal titration calorimetry and circular dichroism. These results show how two factors govern TIR's binding to intimin: A three-residue TIR hot spot is identified that largely mediates the interaction, and mutants that alter the β-hairpin structure of TIR severely diminish binding affinity. In addition, peptides incorporating key TIR residues identified by mutagenesis are incapable of binding intimin. These results indicate that hot spot residues and structural orientation/preorganization are required for EPEC, and likely EHEC, TIR-intimin binding.
Multi-period stochastic portfolio optimization: Block-separable decomposition

We consider a multiperiod stochastic programming recourse model for stock portfolio optimization. The presence of various risk and policy constraints leads to significant period-by-period linkage in the model. Furthermore, the dimensionality of the model is large due to many securities under consideration. We propose exploiting block separable recourse structure as well as methods of inducing such structure within nested L-shaped decomposition. We test the model and solution methodology with a base consisting of the Standard & Poor 100 stocks and experiment with several variants of the block separable technique. These are then compared to the standard nested period-by-period decomposition algorithm. It turns out that for financial optimization models of the kind that are discussed in this paper, significant computational efficiencies can be gained with the proposed methodology.
Primary respiratory chain disease causes tissue-specific dysregulation of the global transcriptome and nutrient-sensing signaling network.

Primary mitochondrial respiratory chain (RC) diseases are heterogeneous in etiology and manifestations but collectively impair cellular energy metabolism. Mechanism(s) by which RC dysfunction causes global cellular sequelae are poorly understood. To identify a common cellular response to RC disease, integrated gene, pathway, and systems biology analyses were performed in human primary RC disease skeletal muscle and fibroblast transcriptomes. Significant changes were evident in muscle across diverse RC complex and genetic etiologies that were consistent with prior reports in other primary RC disease models and involved dysregulation of genes involved in RNA processing, protein translation, transport, and degradation, and muscle structure. Global transcriptional and post-transcriptional dysregulation was also found to occur in a highly tissue-specific fashion. In particular, RC disease muscle had decreased transcription of cytosolic ribosomal proteins suggestive of reduced anabolic processes, increased transcription of mitochondrial ribosomal proteins, shorter 5′-UTRs that likely improve translational efficiency, and stabilization of 3′-UTRs containing AU-rich elements. RC disease fibroblasts showed a strikingly similar pattern of global transcriptome dysregulation in a reverse direction. In parallel with these transcriptional effects, RC disease dysregulated the integrated nutrient-sensing signaling network involving FOXO, PPAR, sirtuins, AMPK, and mTORC1, which collectively sense nutrient availability and regulate cellular growth. Altered activities of central nodes in the nutrient-sensing signaling network were validated by phosphokinase immunoblot analysis in RC inhibited cells. Remarkably, treating RC mutant fibroblasts with nicotinic acid to enhance sirtuin and PPAR activity also normalized mTORC1 and AMPK signaling, restored NADH/NAD+ redox balance, and improved cellular respiratory capacity. These data specifically highlight a common pathogenesis extending across different molecular and biochemical etiologies of individual RC disorders that involves global transcriptome modifications. We further identify the integrated nutrient-sensing signaling network as a common cellular response that mediates, and may be amenable to targeted therapies for, tissue-specific sequelae of primary mitochondrial RC disease.
Spheromak fusion propulsion for future solar-system exploration

Fusion propulsion for the exploration of the solar system is investigated. Minimum round-trip times for missions to Europa and Mars are given as a function of power/mass ratio. A preconceptual study of a spheromak-based, deuterium burning, fusion propulsion system is presented. The spheromak is sustained by inductive helicity injection with the diverted edge plasma becoming the rocket exhaust. Power/mass ratios of nearly 2 kW/kg appear possible, giving round-trip times of about 100 day for Mars and about one year for Europa. The vessel mass is 540 t not including fuel, a size suitable for human living. The I S P is optimized for a trip to Europa and a trip to Mars and was found to vary between 10,000 to 40,000 s.