cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physico-chemical properties of human plasma fibronectin binding to well characterized titanium dioxide

Abstract Biologically compatible implant materials are commonly used in medical applications. The physico-chemical nature of the implant surface influences macromolecular binding. In the case of titanium implants, these interactions are influenced by a thin titanium oxide layer (5–70 A), the main oxide species is titanium dioxide (TiO2). Shortly after implant insertion, a meshwork of fibrinogen and fibronectin forms between the soft tissue and the implant–oxide surface. Fibronectin is an important matrix glycoprotein that mediates the attachment of cells and proteins to each other or to the extra-cellular matrix. The objective of this study was to investigate the adsorption and desorption behavior of plasma fibronectin on titanium dioxide and measure the differences in the oxide particle surface potential caused by this binding. The surface of native titanium dioxide was characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and ESCA. Particle diameter was estimated by forward light scattering, and verified by scanning electron microscopy. Human plasma fibronectin radiolabeled with 125 I was employed for adsorption and desorption studies on washed titanium dioxide samples. Electrokinetics were characterized by measuring the zeta potential (electrophoretic mobility) of titanium dioxide precoated with fibronectin. Titanium dioxide exhibited different isoelectric values ranging from 5.2 to 6.4 as a function of pretreatment. Adsorption of fibronectin on washed titanium dioxide occurred within 10 min, with 57% binding. Desorption studies showed that fibronectin was not completely desorbed after a series of buffer washes over 69 h at pH 7.4. The adsorption isotherm had a plateau value of 0.21 mg/m2. Zeta potential measurements demonstrated that the fibronectin coating caused an increase in the negative zeta potential. These findings give an insight into how titanium oxides might be altered to provide improved matrix glycoprotein adsorption and increased host cellular binding for enhanced implant biointegration.
Alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonists and male sexual behavior: II. Erectile and ejaculatory reflexes

Abstract Thress α 2 -adrenoceptor antagonists, yohimbine, idazoxan, and imiloxan, all shown to have stimulatory effects on sexual arousal/motivation, were studied to identify their possible effects on the other two major components of male copulatory behavior: erection and ejaculation. Genital reflex ex copula tests were used in order to assess these two responses without the confounding factors of mating behavior. Dose ranges were yohimbine: 0.25–4.0 mg/kg; idazoxan: 1.0–8.0 mg/kg; and imiloxan: 12.5–50.0 mg/kg. Lower doses of two of the drugs significantly enhanced the frequency of erections, while the third (yohimbine) showed a strong trend in that direction. At higher doses, all three α 2 -antagonists produced significant reductions in the number of rats showing penile reflexes, including both erections and ejaculations. In those rats which did show penile reflexes, higher doses of yohimbine (4.0 mg/kg) inhibited the frequency of erections, while the higher dose of idazoxan showed a trend towards such inhibition. Thus, profound, largely inhibitory effects of these agents were demonstrated at dose ranges which have been shown to enhance sexual arousal. These data indicate that within the nervous system α 2 -adrenoceptor antagonists can modulate erectile and ejaculatory mechanisms quite independently from effects on arousal/motivation.
The Pin-Force Model Revisited

The pin-force model is one of the earliest models developed for beams actuated in bending. In this model, the actuators and substrates are considered as separate elastic bodies and the forces from the actuators are transferred to the substrates by "pins" at the edges of the actuators. Although this model of force transfer is consistent with the assumed perfect bonding scenario, where the shear stress is concentrated in a small area close to the edge of the actuator, it fails to provide the correct structural response for the case where the actuator is relatively thick. In this paper, while retaining the basic features of this model (i.e., treating the actuator and beam as separate bodies), the corrections necessary to upgrade this model to the level of the more accurate Bernoulli-Euler model are presented. The basic difference lies in the appropriate inclusion of the actuator flexural stiffness in the structural moment-curvature equations. Two configurations are considered: one in which the actuators are ...
Safety of Early Newborn Discharge for Medicaid Infants in One Ohio County• 1282

Earlier discharge of newborns (NB) has become common, but the safety of this practice requires verification for potentially higher risk Medicaid patients. We evaluated the effect of earlier discharge on readmission rates(REA) for Ohio Medicaid patients born in one county. Methods: Using linked birth certificate/Medicaid claims data sets for Ohio from 7/91-6/95, two groups defined; healthy term newborns (HTNB) and live discharge <2,000 grams preterm newborns (PTNB). For HTNB, short stay defined as ≤1 day for vaginal, and ≤2 days for C-sections. Lengths of stay (LOS) and REA within 7 and 14 days calculated. Statistics: Descriptive, Chi2 Trend, logistic regression. Results: By calendar year. For all Medicaid newborns, there was a significant decrease in LOS (p<0.001) and an associated decrease in REA at 7, 14 days (p<.05). For HTNB there was reduction in LOS (p<.001), and associated trend towards decrease in REA rates at 7 days (p<.08), 14 days (p<.05). On multi-variate analysis maternal age and gestation were predictors of REA at 7 & 14 days. There was an impact of year of birth with declining REA at 7 days (OR.79, p<.05), but not at 14 days. The significant decrease in LOS for PTNB (p<0.05) was associated with no change in REA rates (p=n.s). Conclusions: Using readmission rates as a measure, these results provide no evidence that earlier discharge affects outcomes adversely for Medicaid insured newborns. Table
Evidence for optimistic and pessimistic behavior in normal-form games

Abstract Experimental evidence can provide clues as to the kind of reasoning that boundedly rational agents apply to arrive at a strategy choice. We report statistical tests on the saliency of optimistic and pessimistic behaviors in symmetric normal-form games.
A systems approach to managing oil transportation risk in Prince William Sound

The grounding of the Exxon Valdez caused public and government concern about the safety of oil transportation in the Prince William Sound, Alaska. As a result, a large number of proposals and recommendations were made to improve safety, but stakeholders could not achieve a consensus on their effectiveness at reducing risk. A steering committee representing all local stakeholders, including the Prince William Sound Shipping Companies, the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Committee, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and the U.S. Coast Guard, was formed to address the issue of risk intervention effectiveness. The Steering Committee hired a team of consultants who were charged with assessing the current risk of accidents involving oil tankers operating in the Prince William Sound and evaluating measures aimed at reducing this risk. The team created a detailed model of the Prince William Sound oil transportation system, using system simulation, data analysis, and expert judgment, capable of answering the majority of the questions posed by the Steering Committee. The success of the project has been demonstrated by the acceptance of the major recommendations by all stakeholders and has, to date, resulted in multi-million dollar investments. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Syst Eng 3: 128–142, 2000
35 years and 160,000 articles: A bibliometric exploration of the evolution of ecology

We utilize the bibliometric tool of co-word analysis to identify trends in the methods and subjects of ecology during the period 1970-2005. Few previous co-word analyses have attempted to analyze fields as large as ecology. We utilize a method of isolating concepts and methods in large datasets that undergo the most significant upward and downward trends. Our analysis identifies policy-relevant trends in the field of ecology, a discipline that helps to identify and frame many contemporary policy problems. The results provide a new foundation for exploring the relations among public policies, technological change, and the evolution of science priorities.
Deficiency of a skeletal muscle isoform of α-actinin (α-actinin-3) in merosin-positive congenital muscular dystrophy

A subset of patients with congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) are deficient for the extracellular matrix protein, merosin. Although the aetiology of merosin-positive CMD is as yet unknown, abnormalities of other structural muscle-specific proteins are likely to be involved. The alpha-actinins are actin-binding proteins related to dystrophin. We studied expression of the skeletal muscle isoforms of alpha-actinin (alpha-actinin-2 and alpha-actinin-3) in muscle biopsies from 12 patients with pure CMD (including one with a merosin abnormality), two with unclassified CMD and central nervous system (CNS) involvement, and three with other neuromuscular disorders. Four specimens exhibited deficient alpha-actinin-3 staining by immunofluorescence and/or Western blot analysis. In one, this pattern may be a secondary consequence of marked type 1 fibre predominance, but the other three biopsies contained abundant type 2 fibres where alpha-actinin-3 is normally expressed. Three alpha-actinin-3-deficient patients had pure CMD and presented in the newborn period with muscle weakness, hypotonia and arthrogryposis. The fourth had a dystrophic muscle biopsy and CNS involvement. These results suggest that deficiency of alpha-actinin-3 may be a marker for a subset of patients with CMD. It remains to be determined whether the deficiency of alpha-actinin-3 reflects ACTN3 gene mutations or is a secondary phenomenon.
Electron Bremsstrahlung in Intense Magnetic Fields

Electron bremsstrahlung in intense magnetic fields calculated for emission rate and absorption coefficient in large quantum number limits
The Progress of Pecuniary Valuation

Pecuniary valuation is a social institution and presumably subject to progress, 1. — The meaning of value; values express organization; there are numerous classifications, 2. — The nature of the differences among various kinds of value, 3. — All values are, in a sense, commensurable, 5. — Pecuniary value apparently exists to give all kinds of psychical value general validity and exact expression, but seems to do this inadequately, 6. — Conditions that intervene between psychical values and their pecuniary expression, 7.—The factor of class, 8.—Pecuniary value is attained only through an institutional process, 9. —Innovating values lack pecuniary recognition; how they may attain it, 10. — The conception of "progress-values," 14. — Examples of the shortcomings of market valuation at the present time, 15. — Need of organized groups and disciplines, 16. — Instances of current progress in pecuniary valuation, 17. — Progress in the pecuniary valuation of men, 20. — The outlook, 20.
Significant association of full-thickness rotator cuff tears and estrogen-related receptor-β (ESRRB).

Background The precise etiology of rotator cuff disease is unknown, but prior evidence suggests a role for genetic factors. Variants of estrogen-related receptor-β ( ESRRB ) have been previously associated with rotator cuff disease. The purpose of the present study was to confirm the association between multiple candidate genes, including ESRRB , and rotator cuff disease in an independent set of patients with rotator cuff tear. Materials and methods The Illumina 5M (Illumina Inc, San Diego, CA, USA) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) platform was used to genotype 175 patients with rotator cuff tear. Genotypes were used to select a set of 2595 genetically matched Caucasian controls available from the Illumina iControls database. Tests of association were performed with Genome-wide Efficient Mixed Model Association (GEMMA) software at 69 SNPs that fell within 20 kb of 6 candidate genes ( DEFB1 , DENND2C , ESRRB , FGF3 , FGF10 , and FGFR1 ). Results Tests of association revealed 1 significantly associated SNP occurring in ESRRB (rs17583842; P = 4.4E–4). Another SNP within ESRRB (rs7157192) had a nominal P value of 7.8E–3. FastPHASE software estimated 2 frequent haplotypes among 54 individuals who carried both risk alleles at these 2 SNPs. The first haplotype had a frequency of 13.9% (n = 15) in risk-allele carriers and only 2.2% in controls (odds ratio, 6.9; 95% confidence interval, 3.9-2.2). The second haplotype had a frequency of 12.9% in risk-allele carriers and only 2.7% in controls (odds ratio, 5.3; 95% confidence interval, 3.0-9.5). Conclusions The significant association and the presence of high-risk haplotypes identified in the ESRRB gene confirm the association of variants in ESRRB and rotator cuff disease.
Population pharmacokinetics in veterinary medicine: Potential use for therapeutic drug monitoring and prediction of tissue residues

Population pharmacokinetics can be defined as a study of the basic features of drug disposition in a population, accounting for the influence of diverse pathophysiological factors on pharmacokinetics, and explicitly estimating the magnitude of the interindividual and intraindividual variability. It is used to identify subpopulations of individuals that may present with differences in drug kinetics or in kinetic/dynamic responses. Rooted in procedures used in engineering systems, population pharmacokinetics methods were conceived as a means to determine the pharmacokinetic profile in populations in which a sparse number of samples were obtained per individual, such as those in late stage human clinical trials. This is the situation commonly encountered in all aspects of veterinary medicine. The exploratory nature of this technique allows one to probe relationships between clinical factors (such as age, gender, renal function, etc.) and drug disposition and/or effect. Similarly, the utilization of these techniques in the clinical research phases of drug development optimize the determination of efficacy and safety of drugs. Given the observational nature of most studies published so far, statistical methods to validate the population models are necessary. Simulation studies may be conducted to explore data collection designs that maximize information yield with a minimum expenditure of resources. The breadth of this approach has allowed population studies to be more commonly employed in all areas of drug therapy and clinical research. Finally, in veterinary medicine, there is an additional field in which population studies are potentially ideally suited: the application of this methodology to the study of tissue drug depletion and drug residues in production animals, and the establishment of withdrawal times tailored to the clinical or production conditions of populations or individuals. Such application would provide a major step toward assuring a safe food supply under a wide variety of dose and off-label clinical uses. Population pharmacokinetics is an ideal method for generating data in support of the implementation of flexible labelling policies and extralabel drug use recently approved under AMDUCA (Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act. 21 CFR Part 530).
Recreational Physical Activity and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease

Purpose To investigate associations between recreational physical activity and Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk.
Multiple Mariner Transposons in Flatworms and Hydras Are Related to Those of Insects

Three flatworm species, the freshwater Dugesia tigrina and the marine Stylochus zebra and Bdelloura candida, and two freshwater hydra species, Hydra littoralis and H. vulgaris, were found to have many distinct representatives of the mariner family of transposable elements in their genomes. In several cases the closest relatives of these mariners are ones known previously from insect genomes, supporting the view that transposons of this family are capable of horizontal transfer across phyla, and hence must be capable of functioning in such diverse host environments. Twenty other invertebrates representing the major phyla did not appear to have mariners of these kinds in their genomes.
Tat peptides inhibit neprilysin

Dementia associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection occurs commonly in the aging population and amyloid depositions are noted in the brains of patients with HIV infection in younger age groups. This suggests a dysregulation of amyloid processing in the setting of HIV infection. The Tat protein of HIV has been implicated in the neuropathogenesis of HIV infection due to its neurotoxic and glial activation properties. However, Tat protein and Tat-derived peptides were recently also shown to inhibit neprilysin, the major amyloid beta peptide degrading enzyme in brain, in a cell aggregate system. This effect could contribute to the observed accumulation of amyloid in the brain of HIV-infected patients. The authors report here that peptides derived from the Tat protein, but not Tat protein itself, inhibit homogeneous recombinant neprilysin. This inhibition was found to be competitive and reversible and therefore does not involve covalent bond formation. Tat peptides and Tat protein were slowly hydrolyzed by neprilysin. Thus the accumulation of Tat-derived proteolytic fragments may serve to inhibit neprilysin and increase amyloid beta peptide levels.
Successful use of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) for ovulation induction and pregnancy in a patient with GnRH receptor mutations.

GnRH receptor mutations have recently been identified in a small number of familial cases of nonanosmic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. In the present report we studied a kindred in which two sisters with primary amenorrhea were affected with GnRH deficiency due to a compound heterozygote mutation (Gln(106)Arg, Arg(262)Gln) and performed extensive phenotyping studies. Baseline patterns of gonadotropin secretion and gonadotropin responsiveness to exogenous pulsatile GnRH were examined in the proband. Low amplitude pulses of both LH and free alpha-subunit (FAS) were detected during 24 h of every 10 min blood sampling. The proband then received exogenous pulsatile GnRH i.v. for ovulation induction, and daily blood samples for gonadotropins and sex steroids were monitored. At the conventional GnRH replacement dose for women with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (75 ng/kg), no follicular development occurred. At a GnRH dose of 100 ng/kg, the level and pattern of gonadotropin secretion more closely mimicked the follicular phase of normal women; a single dominant follicle was recruited, and an endogenous LH surge was elicited. However, the luteal phase was inadequate, as assessed by progesterone levels. At a GnRH dose of 250 ng/kg, the gonadotropin and sex steroid dynamics reproduced those of normal ovulatory women in both the follicular and luteal phases, and the proband conceived. The FAS responses to both conventional and high dose GnRH were within the normal range. The following conclusions were made: 1) Increased doses of GnRH may be used effectively for ovulation induction in some patients with GnRH receptor mutations. 2) Higher doses of GnRH are required for normal luteal phase dynamics than for normal follicular phase function. 3) Hypersecretion of FAS in response to exogenous GnRH, which is a feature of congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, was not seen in this patient with a GnRH receptor mutation.
Photosensitized decomposition of S-nitrosothiols and 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane Possible use for site-directed nitric oxide production

Irradiation of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) with light (λ = 550 nm) resulted in the homolytic decomposition of GSNO to generate glutathionyl radical (GS ·) and nitric oxide (·NO), which were monitored by ESR spectrometry. Inclusion of Rose Bengal (RB) resulted in a 9-fold increase in the quantum yield for ·NO production and also an increase in the rate of thiyl radical formation. The bimolecular rate constant for the interaction of triplet RB with GSNO has been estimated to be approximately 1.2 × 109 M−1s−1 by competition with oxygen. Hematoporphyrin (HP) also enhanced the rate of ·NO and tert-butyl radical. Aluminum 2-Methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP) decomposed on irradiation (λ = 660 nm) to form ·NO and tert-butyl radical. Aluminum phthalocyanine tetrasulphonate enhanced the rate of decomposition of MNP by 10-fold. These studies show that photosensitizers enhance the release of ·NO from donor compounds.
Pure palladium in ENEPIG surface finishes — Physical properties of the Pd deposition and their influence on soldering and wire bonding

As a surface finish, electroless nickel / electroless palladium / immersion gold (ENEPIG) has received increased attention for both packaging/IC-substrate and PWB applications. With a lower gold thickness compared to conventional (ENIG) the ENEPIG finish offers the potential for higher reliability, better performance and reduced cost. [1,2] This paper shows the benefits of using a pure palladium layer in ENEPIG and ENEP (Electroless Nickel / Electroless Palladium) surface finishes in terms of physical properties and in terms of gold wire bonding and solder joint integrity.
Thienyl carboxylate ligands bound to M2 quadruple bonds involving molybdenum and tungsten. Models for dimetallated polythiophenes

Thienyl-carboxylate and -dicarboxylate groups attached to dinuclear centers (M = Mo or W) having MM quadruple bonds show interesting electronic properties and provide insight into the probable nature of related dimetallated polythiophenes.
The GRID: The General Repository for Interaction Datasets.

We have developed a relational database, called the General Repository for Interaction Datasets (The GRID) to archive and display physical, genetic and functional interactions. The GRID displays data-rich interaction tables for any protein of interest, combines literature-derived and high-throughput interaction datasets, and is readily accessible via the web. Interactions parsed in The GRID can be viewed in graphical form with a versatile visualization tool called Osprey.
Gazing at Fiction in Brussels: Europe as Forgery in David Černý's Entropa

This article explores issues of visual representations and the interaction between fiction and reality in the making of the ‘idea of Europe’. It specifically focuses on David Cerný's installation Entropa, exhibited at the headquarters of the Council of the European Union in 2009. The article argues that, despite the use of national stereotypes as the most characteristic representational element of the installation, Entropa does not limit itself to a sardonic critique of a political institution and a ridicule of national identities. Rather, it unveils the uneasiness of facing European identity as fiction. Entropa challenges the boundary between theatricality and reality, because it is exhibited in a political institution. The installation is addressed as a narrative of confusion, where fiction and fact interact in the construction of ideas on Europe, its history, politics, and culture. Therefore, the article concludes, such interaction potentially accommodates a critical standpoint towards the idea of Europe itself.
Characteristics of Natural Mentoring Relationships From the Perspectives of Homeless Youth

doi: 10.1111/jcap.12038 PROBLEM: Homeless youth experience high risks for poor mental health outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the characteristics of natural mentoring relationships among homeless youth and to identify possible mechanisms that can enhance social support for this population. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 homeless youth aged 14–21 who had natural mentors. The interviews focused on how youth met their natural mentors, the function of these relationships, and how natural mentoring relationships differed from other relationships in the youth’s social networks. FINDINGS: Main themes that emerged from the interviews included parental absence, natural mentors as surrogate parents, and social support from mentors. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that social supports provided by mentors enhance youth’s adaptive functioning and may promote resilience, thus the use of natural mentors may be an important untapped asset in designing interventions to improve outcomes for homeless youth.
A new approach to the study of single bit failure mechanism in semiconductor devices

An investigation of open-contact failures in semiconductor devices is common issue. As we changed the cleaning condition of the contact, open failure happened. This contact has nitride in it and recess profile under it. To solve ambiguous fail mechanism we used various analysis methods. Especially, double XTEM sample image was the key and we confirmed the mechanism by reproducing experiment.
On the analysis of glycomics mass spectrometry data via the regularized area under the ROC curve

Novel molecular and statistical methods are in rising demand for disease diagnosis and prognosis with the help of recent advanced biotechnology. High-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) is one of those biotechnologies that are highly promising to improve health outcome. Previous literatures have identified some proteomics biomarkers that can distinguish healthy patients from cancer patients using MS data. In this paper, an MS study is demonstrated which uses glycomics to identify ovarian cancer. Glycomics is the study of glycans and glycoproteins. The glycans on the proteins may deviate between a cancer cell and a normal cell and may be visible in the blood. High-resolution MS has been applied to measure relative abundances of potential glycan biomarkers in human serum. Multiple potential glycan biomarkers are measured in MS spectra. With the objection of maximizing the empirical area under the ROC curve (AUC), an analysis method was considered which combines potential glycan biomarkers for the diagnosis of cancer. Maximizing the empirical AUC of glycomics MS data is a large-dimensional optimization problem. The technical difficulty is that the empirical AUC function is not continuous. Instead, it is in fact an empirical 0–1 loss function with a large number of linear predictors. An approach was investigated that regularizes the area under the ROC curve while replacing the 0–1 loss function with a smooth surrogate function. The constrained threshold gradient descent regularization algorithm was applied, where the regularization parameters were chosen by the cross-validation method, and the confidence intervals of the regression parameters were estimated by the bootstrap method. The method is called TGDR-AUC algorithm. The properties of the approach were studied through a numerical simulation study, which incorporates the positive values of mass spectrometry data with the correlations between measurements within person. The simulation proved asymptotic properties that estimated AUC approaches the true AUC. Finally, mass spectrometry data of serum glycan for ovarian cancer diagnosis was analyzed. The optimal combination based on TGDR-AUC algorithm yields plausible result and the detected biomarkers are confirmed based on biological evidence. The TGDR-AUC algorithm relaxes the normality and independence assumptions from previous literatures. In addition to its flexibility and easy interpretability, the algorithm yields good performance in combining potential biomarkers and is computationally feasible. Thus, the approach of TGDR-AUC is a plausible algorithm to classify disease status on the basis of multiple biomarkers.
Pullout Resistance Characteristics of Cast Iron Pipe

Cast iron pipe came into heavy use during the latter half of the 19th century and numerous utility companies formed extensive pipeline networks using cast iron pipes until 1940s. Later cast iron pipe was superseded by ductile iron pipe. The existing cast iron pipelines have been in service for a long period of time, with some of them being more than a century old. While many of the existing cast iron pipelines remain perfectly serviceable, some of them show signs of deterioration, mainly in the form of breaks and leaks. The deteriorated cast iron pipe sections are currently being replaced with polyethylene pipes. When the polyethylene pipes are exposed to temperature drops, higher thermal expansion/contraction coefficient of polyethylene results in additional pullout forces in the cast iron pipes. Depending on the magnitude of the temperature change and the resisting forces available, such as soil-cast iron interface friction, the additional forces can cause cast iron pipes to pullout from the joints resulting in leaks. A series of full-scale field tests were performed to determine the pullout resistance of cast iron pipe. The tests were performed for two types of backfill densities, dense and loose. Pullout resistance-displacement relationships were obtained for both cases. The test results were compared with a model available and used in practice for the calculation of pullout resistance of buried pipes.
Dirty paper coding vs. TDMA for MIMO broadcast channels

In this paper we derive an upper bound on the sum-rate gain that dirty-paper coding provides over TDMA for MIMO broadcast channels. We find that the sum-rate capacity (achievable using dirty-paper coding) of the multiple-antenna broadcast channel is at most min(M;K) times the largest single-user capacity (i.e. the TDMA sum-rate) in the system, where M is the number of transmit antennas and K is the number of receivers. This result is independent of the number of receive antennas. We investigate the tightness of this bound in a time-varying channel (assuming perfect channel knowledge at receivers and transmitters) where the channel experiences uncorrelated Rayleigh fading and in some situations we find that the dirty paper gain is upper bounded by the ratio of transmit to receive antennas. We also show that min(M,K) upper bounds the sum rate gain of successive decoding over TDMA for the uplink, where M is the number of receive antennas at the base station and K is the number of transmitters.
Peer Effects in Early Childhood Education Testing the Assumptions of Special-Education Inclusion

There has been a push in recent years for students with disabilities to be educated alongside their typically developing peers, a practice called inclusion. In this study, we sought to determine whether peer effects operate within early-childhood special-education (ECSE) classrooms in which preschoolers with disabilities are educated alongside typical peers. Peer effects specific to language growth were assessed for 670 preschoolers (mean age = 52 months) in 83 ECSE classrooms; 55% of the children had disabilities. We found that the average language skills of classmates, as assessed in the fall of the year, significantly predicted children's language skills in the spring (after controlling for their relative skill level in the fall); in addition, there was a significant interactive effect of disability status (i.e., the presence or absence of a disability) and peers' language skills. Peer effects were the least consequential for children without disabilities whose classmates had relatively strong language skills, and the most consequential for children with disabilities whose classmates had relatively poor language skills.
Risk Acceptance Among Physical Educators

A model for comparing risks to resources with exposures to hazards is described and then applied to the physical educator. Language: en
Aspirin: Pharmacology and Clinical Applications

Antiplatelet therapy has been documented to reduce risks of cardiovascular disease after acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, and in chronic atrial fibrillation patients, amongst other risk factors. Conventional management of thrombosis-based disorders includes the use of heparin, oral anticoagulants, and the preferred antiplatelet agent aspirin. Interestingly, aspirin was not intended to be used as an antiplatelet agent; rather, after being repurposed, it has become one of the most widely prescribed antithrombotic drugs. To this end, there have been several milestones in the development of antiplatelet agents in the last few decades, such as adenosine diphosphate receptor inhibitors, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors. However, given some of the limitations of these therapies, aspirin continues to play a major role in the management of thrombotic and cardiovascular disorders and is expected to do so for years to come.
Wide-area frequency as a criterion for digital audio recording authentication

The Electrical Network Frequency (ENF) criterion is a novel method for digital audio recording authentication in the field of forensic science. Both an accurate frequency estimation method and a reliable frequency reference database are the key requirements for this technique. This paper briefly introduces the Frequency Monitoring Network (FNET) at UTK and analyzes the frequency characteristics of the four North American interconnections. Wide-area frequency measurements in each interconnection conform to the Gaussian distribution, but with slightly varied parameters. Short-time Fourier transform (STFT) is adopted to estimate the power system frequency signal embedded in audio files, and a procedure for using the ENF criterion, ranging from signal preprocessing to frequency estimation and frequency data matching, is proposed and then tested by two cases. Results show that the STFT can be used as an accurate ENF extraction method. Furthermore, factors which influence the accuracy of frequency estimation, such as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the recording hardware, are also discussed.
Therapy response correlates with ALDH activity in ALDH low-positive childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemias.

The malignant cells of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) do not form a homogenous entity but a collection of differently maturated blasts. The most immature leukemia cells may be more resistant to therapy than the bulk of more differentiated blasts. We studied 42 patients with childhood ALL treated according to the ALL-BFM 2000 protocol. At diagnosis, we determined the immunophenotype and the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity of the leukemic cells. Additionally, we investigated the expression of CD34, CD38 and CD45 to define a population of immunophenotypically immature cells (CD34+/CD38−/CD45−/low). We then studied levels of minimal residual disease (MRD) after induction therapy (day 33) to determine therapy response. Including all cases (n = 42), there was no correlation between ALDH positive cells, CD34+/CD38−/CD45−/low cells and MRD levels. A subset of 18 ALLs displayed a more mature phenotype with low-ALDH positivity (< 1%). Analyzing this cohort, ALDH positive blasts overlapped with ...
Dissolution rates of poly(methyl methacrylate) films in mixed solvents

A laser interferometer has been used to measure in situ the dissolution rates of thin films of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The most significant finding is that addition of small amounts of a low-molecular weight nonsolvent can increase the rate obtained with a higher molecular weight solvent. In this study, silicon wafers were coated with polymer (about 1 μm thick) and annealed at 155°C for 1 h. The dissolution rates were measured at 17.5, 22.5, and 27.5°C. All the mixtures contained methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) (2-butanone), as the major component. The minor component was water, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, or ethylene glycol. Water and methanol showed the greatest effects. Both were able to increase the dissolution rate as much as two-fold. All the mixtures exhibit the same activation energy (25 kcal/mol) despite their wide differences in dissolution rate.
Banana Peels and Time Travel

A world in which time travel into the past occurred would seem like a most strange world. Nicholas Smith, however, in his ‘Bananas Enough for Time Travel’, argues that time travel is not so strange as we think. In particular, he argues against what he views as the main reason time travel worlds seem so strange – the claim that time travel entails unusual numbers of coincidences. I shall argue that Smith's argument for rejecting the claim is inadequate. Hence, the debate over the consequences of the coincidences of time travel cannot be avoided by denying the coincidences themselves.
A convenient guide to help select replacement solvents for dichloromethane in chromatography

One of the largest contributors to chlorinated solvent waste in medicinal chemistry is chromatography. A set of “drug-like” compounds was employed to compare the relative eluting strengths of greener solvent systems. Disclosed herein is an experimentally-derived solvent selection guide to aid chemists in choosing greener solvents for chromatographic purification, with a particular focus on reducing dichloromethane usage.
“I’m a Loser, I’m Not Married, Let’s Just All Look at Me”: Ever-Single Women’s Perceptions of Their Social Environment:

Despite growing numbers of singles, the idealization of marriage and child rearing remains strong, pervasive, and largely unquestioned. Guided by life course perspective, the purpose of this article was to examine familial and societal messages women receive when not married by their late 20s to mid-30s. Using descriptive phenomenological method, the authors conducted 32 interviews with 10 middle-class, ever-single women. Respondents’ social environments were characterized by pressure to confirm to the conventional life pathway. Pressure was manifested in women feeling both highly visible and invisible. Specifically, women’s social worlds included (a) awareness of the changing reality as they became older (e.g., changing pool of eligible men, pregnancy risks), (b) reminders that they were on a different life path (i.e., visibility ) through others’ inquires and “triggers” (e.g., weddings), and (c) displacement in their families of origin (i.e., invisibility). The authors discuss the visible/invisible para...
Placental glucose transport in heat-induced fetal growth retardation.

In six ewes heat stressed from 39 to 125 days gestation and studied in a normothermic environment at 135 days, fetal and placental masses were less than in control sheep (1,645 vs. 3,112 and 149 vs. 356 g, respectively, P less than 0.01). Umbilical glucose uptakes (Rf,UP) were measured keeping maternal arterial plasma glucose at 70 mg/dl at spontaneously occurring fetal plasma glucose values (state A) and at two additional fetal glucose levels, to determine the transplacental glucose difference (delta) vs. Rf,UP relation. At normal delta of 49.2 mg/dl, Rf,UP was less in the experimental group (3.2 vs. 5.6 mg.min-1.kg fetus-1, P less than 0.05). Differences in placental perfusion and glucose consumption could not account for this result, thus indicating a reduced placental glucose transport capacity. In state A, fetal hypoglycemia enlarged significantly (P less than 0.01) the delta to 56.7 mg/dl and increased Rf,UP approximately 50% over the Rf,UP at a normal delta. In heat-induced fetal growth retardation, fetal hypoglycemia increases the flux of maternal glucose across a placenta with reduced glucose transport capacity.
Delineating Discretion: How Judulang Limits Executive Immigration Policy-Making Authority and Opens Channels for Future Challenges

I argue that Judulang v. Holder moved beyond prior doctrine by demonstrating that courts could subject immigration policies to a rigorous “arbitrary and capricious” review under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and Chevron analysis, even where those policies did not conflict with, or depart from, existing laws, regulations, or policies. In other words, it applied a thicker standard of review than ever before, meaningfully evaluating the merits of an agency’s policy against an independent “arbitrary and capricious” metric, rather than simply asking whether the policy’s formation abided by proper process, did not conflict with controlling law, or met some inescapably low threshold. In exposing the merits of a Board of Immigration Appeals policy to “arbitrary and capricious” attack, Judulang pushed back against a (perceived) history of special deference to the executive branch on immigration matters, and thus supports a reading of the executive’s role in immigration law as no — or, at least, not significantly — different from its role in ordinary domestic jurisprudence. I conclude that Court’s use of the APA (or, alternatively, Chevron) to substantively circumscribe executive policy-making discretion gives rise to a number of potential challenges to other BIA policies and decisions that may prove vulnerable to Judulang’s coin-flipping litmus. I review and evaluate two of them.
Tropical Cyclones in the Indian Ocean 1998-2014

Although long term positive trends of cyclonic activity in the Indian Ocean have been reported in a number of studies, no trend can be detected in the seventeen year period from 1998 to 2014. The results are consistent with the global warming pause hypothesis. It is noted however, that the period investigated is comparatively short and that the findings reported in this study may not represent overall long term trends.
Tax Inertia: A General Framework with Specific Application to Contemporary Business Tax Reform

A surprising degree of bipartisan consensus has lately formed in the United States around two propositions of business tax reform: that something should be done about the “lockout” of U.S. multinationals’ foreign earnings; and that (for reasons that go beyond lockout) the corporate income tax rate should be reduced. Largely absent from the discussion is the possibility that reducing the corporate rate may exacerbate other forms of tax inertia that are apparently similar in both structure and significance to international lockout — such as the “lock-in” that is evidently important enough to be a mainstay justification for lower rates on capital gains, or the lock-in (or is it lockout?) that hampers reinvestment across the entity-type border separating the half of U.S. business that is incorporated from the half that is not. The question thus arises: is the current bipartite bipartisan consensus in disagreement with itself? The paper begins by arguing against several seemingly obvious resolutions, explaining, for example, why international lockout is less inter-national than it may appear. It then develops a framework that clarifies the often hidden structural relationships between various species of tax inertia, provides a principled means of comparing degrees of inertia, and emphasizes the endogeneity of tax structures. The paper applies this framework to systematically assesses the complex impact of reducing the corporate tax rate across a range of investment switching scenarios.A web appendix is available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2618209
Cryptococcal Endophthalmitis: Diagnostic Vitreous Aspiration Cytology

A case of cryptococcal endophthalmitis diagnosed by vitreous aspiration membrane filtration cytology is presented. Interest lies in its being the first such diagnosis reported by vitreous aspiration. This case also illustrates the usefulness of combining membrane filtration cytology with the mucicarmine stain for identification of the cryptococcal capsular mucin.
The Electoral Impact of Congressional Roll Call Voting

This paper presents evidence that candidate issue positions have a measurable impact on elections for the U.S. House of Representatives. For eight election years, electoral margins of Northern incumbent congressional candidates were examined to test the proposition that “moderates” within each party are better vote getters than those whose roll call records reflect their party's ideological extreme. The effects of roll call positions on election results were estimated by examining the relationships between roll call “extremism” and vote margins with district presidential voting held constant as a control for normal constituency voting habits. Although no strong support was found for the proposition that Democratic Representatives lose electoral support when they take extremely liberal roll call positions, a clear pattern emerged for Republicans: the Republican Congressmen who are the best vote getters tend to be the relative moderates and liberals who avoid the extreme conservative end of the political spectrum. An analysis of survey data suggests that the small group of voters whose electoral decisions are influenced by their Republican Congressman's roll call performance are found within the ranks of a select group who are both free of strong partisan motivations and highly politically informed.
Coupling Discrete Elements and Micropolar Continuum through an Overlapping Region

Interfacial mechanics between granular materials and deformable solid bodies involve large shear deformation and grain motion at the interface. To resolve such granular physics at the grain scale in contact with the deformable solid, but in a computationally tractable manner, we present a concurrent multiscale computational method. As a simple problem to verify the method, a one-dimensional string of glued elastic discrete elements is overlapped with a linear elastic micropolar continuum finite element implementation. The overlap coupling is enabled by the bridging scale decomposition method, but now with rotational degrees of freedom (dof) in addition to axial and transverse displacements. The paper presents the preliminaries of coupling discrete element regions and micropolar finite element regions for eventual simulation of granular soil-tire/tool/geosynthetic/penetrometer applications, wherein eventual three-dimensional discrete element formulation and finite strain micromorphic continuum finite element is required.
NC algorithms for comparability graphs, interval graphs, and testing for unique perfect matching

Laszlo Lovasz recently posed the following problem: “Is there an NC algorithm for testing if a given graph has a unique perfect matching.” We present such an NC algorithm. The ideas developed may be a step towards obtaining an NC algorithm for determining if a graph has a perfect matching. We also give NC algorithms for obtaining a transitive orientation for a comparability graph, anad an interval representation for an interval graph. These enable us to obtain an NC algorithm for finding a maximum matching in incomparability graphs.
The Development of Sports for People With Disabilities in China in the Frame of International Paralympic Philosophy and Scientific Outlook on Development of Harmonious Society

Based on a systematic analysis of the International Paralympic philosophy and the scientific outlook on development of harmonious society,the present paper studied the significance and development of sports for people with disabilities in China in the new era and put forward some basic theories and referential suggestions for the development and decision-making of sports for people with disabilities in China through the combinations of prospective study and countermeasure research,and of theoretical research and system construction.