cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intake of Furocoumarins and Risk of Skin Cancer in 2 Prospective US Cohort Studies.

Background In prior studies, higher citrus consumption was associated with higher risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Furocoumarins, compounds with phototoxicity and photocarcinogenicity in citrus, may be responsible for the association. Objectives The objective of the study was to investigate the association between furocoumarin intake and skin cancer risk. Methods A total of 47,453 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS) and 75,291 women from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) with diet data collected every 2-4 y in the 2 prospective cohort studies were included. A furocoumarin food composition database for 7 common furocoumarins [bergaptol, psoralen, 8-methoxypsoralen, bergapten, 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin (6'7'-DHB), epoxybergamottin, and bergamottin] was developed and used to calculate participants' cumulative average and energy-adjusted furocoumarin intake. Multivariate HRs and 95% CIs of the associations between furocoumarin intake and skin cancer risk were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Analyses were performed separately in each cohort as well as pooled using a fixed-effects model. Results Throughout follow-up (1984-2012 in the NHS and 1986-2012 in the HPFS), we identified 1593 melanoma, 4066 SCC, and 28,630 BCC cases. Higher intake of total furocoumarins was associated with an increased risk of BCC; the pooled HR comparing the top with the bottom quintile was 1.16 (95% CI: 1.11, 1.21; P-trend = 0.002). Higher intakes of bergaptol, bergapten, 6'7'-DHB, and bergamottin were also significantly associated with increased BCC risk. No significant associations were found between intake of total furocoumarins and the risks of SCC or melanoma. Conclusions Intakes of total furocoumarins as well as some individual furocoumarins were associated with an increased risk of skin cancer, especially BCC, in 2 cohorts of US health professionals.
Designing augmented reality visualizations for synchronized and time-dominant human-robot teaming

Team communication is crucial in multi-domain operations (MDOs) that require teammates to collaborate on complex tasks synchronously in dynamic unknown environments. In order to enable effective communication in human-robot teams, the human teammate must have an intuitive interface that supports and satisfies the time-sensitive nature of the task for communicating information to and from their robot teammate. Augmented Reality (AR) technologies can provide just such an interface by providing a medium for both active and passive robot communication. In this paper we propose a new Virtual Reality (VR) based framework for authoring AR visualizations, and demonstrate the use of this framework to produce AR visualizations that help facilitate high task performance in synchronized, time-dominant human-robot teaming. In this paper we propose a new framework that uses a virtual reality (VR) simulation environment for developing AR strategies as well as present a AR solution for maximizing task performance in synchronized, time-dominant human-robot teaming. The framework utilizes a Unity-based VR simulator that is run from the first person point of view of the human teammate and overlays AR features to virtually imitate the use of an AR headset in human-robot teaming scenarios. Then, we introduce novel AR visualizations that support strategic communication within teams by collecting information from each teammate and presenting it to the other in order to influence their decision making. Our proposed design framework and AR solution has the potential to impact any domain in which humans conduct synchronized multi-domain operations alongside autonomous robots in austere environments, including search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and homeland defense.
27 – Ising Model

Cooperative phenomena are introduced via the simple Ising model in which spins having two states occupy a lattice and interact with nearest neighbors and an applied magnetic field. We study this model in the mean field approximation. Correlations among spin states are neglected, so each spin interacts with a self-consistent mean field. With no applied magnetic field, the model predicts ordering of spins below some critical temperature for lattices of all dimensionalities, 1, 2, 3, …, and enables properties such as heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility to be calculated. Exact solutions for a one-dimensional lattice show no ordering transition; the mean field model fails badly in that case but otherwise shows reasonable trends. Exact solutions exist in two dimensions and show ordering. Better approximate solutions (Boethe cluster model) or numerical solutions can be obtained for lattices of all dimensionalities. We introduce Monte Carlo simulation for numerical solution of the Ising model as well as for models involving interacting classical particles.
The Graphics Calculator: A Tool for Critical Thinking

graphics calculators, no consensus has been reached on how these calculators should be used in secondary school and un dergraduate mathematics. In this article I explore some issues that arise in integrating calculators into the traditional precalculus and calculus curricula, including a discus sion of perils and pitfalls awaiting the un suspecting, unthinking user, presented as a Stress Test for Calculators at the end of this article. A commonly held perception among many educators and laypersons appears to be that calculators in the classroom, at all levels, have a negative effect on learning. This view is expressed in statements such as these:
Quantifying and Mitigating Motor Phenotypes Induced by Antisense Oligonucleotides in the Central Nervous System [preprint]

ABSTRACT Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are emerging as a promising class of therapeutics for neurological diseases. When injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, ASOs distribute broadly across brain regions and exert long-lasting therapeutic effects. However, many phosphorothioate (PS)-modified gapmer ASOs show transient motor phenotypes when injected into the cerebrospinal fluid, ranging from reduced motor activity to ataxia or acute seizure-like phenotypes. The effect of sugar and phosphate modifications on these phenotypes has not previously been systematically studied. Using a behavioral scoring assay customized to reflect the timing and nature of these effects, we show that both sugar and phosphate modifications influence acute motor phenotypes. Among sugar analogues, PS-DNA induces the strongest motor phenotype while 2’-substituted RNA modifications improve the tolerability of PS-ASOs. This helps explain why gapmer ASOs have been more challenging to develop clinically relative to steric blocker ASOs, which have a reduced tendency to induce these effects. Reducing the PS content of gapmer ASOs, which contain a stretch of PS-DNA, improves their toxicity profile, but in some cases also reduces their efficacy or duration of effect. Reducing PS content improved the acute tolerability of ASOs in both mice and sheep. We show that this acute toxicity is not mediated by the major nucleic acid sensing innate immune pathways. Formulating ASOs with calcium ions before injecting into the CNS further improved their tolerability, but through a mechanism at least partially distinct from the reduction of PS content. Overall, our work identifies and quantifies an understudied aspect of oligonucleotide toxicology in the CNS, explores its mechanism, and presents platform-level medicinal chemistry approaches that improve tolerability of this class of compounds.
Toward Remote Assessment of Physical Frailty Using Sensor-based Sit-to-stand Test.

Abstract Background Traditional physical frailty (PF) screening tools are resource intensive and unsuitable for remote assessment. In this study, we used five times sit-to-stand test (5×STS) with wearable sensors to determine PF and three key frailty phenotypes (slowness, weakness, and exhaustion) objectively. Materials and methods Older adults (n = 102, age: 76.54 ± 7.72 y, 72% women) performed 5×STS while wearing sensors attached to the trunk and bilateral thigh and shank. Duration of 5×STS was recorded using a stopwatch. Seventeen sensor-derived variables were analyzed to determine the ability of 5×STS to distinguish PF, slowness, weakness, and exhaustion. Binary logistic regression was used, and its area under curve was calculated. Results A strong correlation was observed between sensor-based and manually-recorded 5xSTS durations (r = 0.93, P Conclusions Our study suggests that sensor-based 5×STS can provide digital biomarkers of PF, slowness, weakness, and exhaustion. The simplicity, ease of administration in front of a camera, and safety of 5xSTS may facilitate a remote assessment of PF, slowness, weakness, and exhaustion via telemedicine.
Two promoters integrate multiple enhancer inputs to drive wild-type knirps expression in the D. melanogaster embryo

Abstract Proper development depends on precise spatiotemporal gene expression patterns. Most genes are regulated by multiple enhancers and often by multiple core promoters that generate similar transcripts. We hypothesize that these multiple promoters may be required either because enhancers prefer a specific promoter or because multiple promoters serve as a redundancy mechanism. To test these hypotheses, we studied the expression of the knirps locus in the early Drosophila melanogaster embryo, which is mediated by multiple enhancers and core promoters. We found that one of these promoters resembles a typical “sharp” developmental promoter, while the other resembles a “broad” promoter usually associated with housekeeping genes. Using synthetic reporter constructs, we found that some, but not all, enhancers in the locus show a preference for one promoter. By analyzing the dynamics of these reporters, we identified specific burst properties during the transcription process, namely burst size and frequency, that are most strongly tuned by the specific combination of promoter and enhancer. Using locus-sized reporters, we discovered that even enhancers that show no promoter preference in a synthetic setting have a preference in the locus context. Our results suggest that the presence of multiple promoters in a locus is both due to enhancer preference and a need for redundancy and that “broad” promoters with dispersed transcription start sites are common among developmental genes. Our results also imply that it can be difficult to extrapolate expression measurements from synthetic reporters to the locus context, where many variables shape a gene’s overall expression pattern.
Pretreatment antimüllerian hormone levels and outcomes of ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins/intrauterine insemination cycles

Objective To evaluate the association, if any, between serum antimullerian hormone (AMH) levels and probability of clinical pregnancy and spontaneous abortion (SAB) in the infertility setting. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Academic fertility center. Patient(s) A total of 1,861 gonadotropin stimulation/intrauterine insemination cycles stratified by AMH levels into 3 groups: Low, Intervention(s) Intrauterine insemination after stimulation with gonadotropins. Main Outcome Measure(s) Cumulative probability of clinical pregnancy over a maximum of 3 and/or 6 cycles and SAB incidence risk rate (IRR). The Kaplan-Meier failure function (log rank test), Cox proportional hazards models, and multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression models were performed to compare outcomes among the AMH groups. Result(s) Overall, in both unadjusted and adjusted models, the probability of achieving a clinical pregnancy was higher in the Middle and High AMH groups compared with that in the Low AMH group, both over 3 (hazard ratios [95% confidence interval], 1.55 [1.05–2.29] and 1.85 [1.22–2.81], respectively) and 6 (1.71 [1.17–2.48] and 2.12 [1.42–3.16], respectively) cycles. In the unadjusted models, the SAB IRR was higher among the Low AMH group (IRR [95% confidence interval], 2.17 (1.11–4.24]), with the relationship persisting after adjusting for age (1.83 [0.93–3.60]). When the SAB IRR were calculated separately for the subpopulations with and without polycystic ovary syndrome, a similar relationship was noted among the latter in the unadjusted (1.94 [0.97–3.88]) and adjusted (1.74 [0.86–3.49]) analyses. Conclusion(s) In women undergoing gonadotropin stimulation/intrauterine insemination, AMH appears to affect the probability of achieving a clinical pregnancy. A possible negative impact, independent of age, on the risk of SAB was also suggested.
Education Across the African Diaspora, 1500–2020

Education in the African Diaspora unfolded under difficult conditions yet provided its communities with individual advancement, conceptual discoveries, and institutional achievements. Examining reg...
Decolonial Dinners: Ethical Considerations of “Decolonial” Metaphors in TPC

The recent uptick in TPC scholarship related to decolonial methods, methodologies, and praxis warrants careful consideration about how this framework is used in TPC scholarship. Using a critique of...
Low doses of LSD reduce broadband oscillatory power and modulate event-related potentials in healthy adults

Classical psychedelics, including psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), are under investigation as potential therapeutic agents in psychiatry. Whereas most studies utilize relatively high doses, there are also reports of beneficial effects of “microdosing,” or repeated use of very low doses of these drugs. The behavioral and neural effects of these low doses are not fully understood. To examine the effects of LSD (13 μg and 26 μg) versus placebo on resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) and event-related potential (ERP) responses in healthy adults. Twenty-two healthy men and women, 18 to 35 years old, participated in 3 EEG sessions in which they received placebo or LSD (13 μg and 26 μg) under double-blind conditions. During each session, participants completed drug effect and mood questionnaires at hourly intervals, and physiological measures were recorded. During expected peak drug effect, EEG recordings were obtained, including resting-state neural oscillations in scalp electrodes over default mode network (DMN) regions and P300, N170, and P100 ERPs evoked during a visual oddball paradigm. LSD dose-dependently reduced oscillatory power across delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands during both eyes closed and eyes open resting conditions. During the oddball task, LSD dose-dependently reduced ERP amplitudes for P300 and N170 components and increased P100 latency. LSD also produced dose-related increases in positive mood, elation, energy, and anxiety and increased heart rate and blood pressure. On a measure of altered states of consciousness, LSD dose-dependently increased Blissful State, but not other indices of perceptual or sensory effects typical of psychedelic drugs. The subjective effects of the drug were not correlated with the EEG measures. Low doses of LSD produced broadband cortical desynchronization over the DMN during resting state and reduced P300 and N170 amplitudes, patterns similar to those reported with higher doses of psychedelics. Notably, these neurophysiological effects raise the possibility that very low doses of LSD may produce subtle behavioral and perhaps therapeutic effects that do not rely on the full psychedelic experience.
Schoolbook Science as a Basis for Realism

(1) The theories and theses of natural science at the technical frontier are highly vulnerable. This vulnerability of our scientific estimates inheres in their generality and precision. Ordinary-life “knowledge”, on the other hand, manages to gain security by reducing its definiteness or informativeness. In consequence, however, the sort of “understanding” it provides is not altogether satisfactory. There are problems on both sides. Scientific knowledge is too vulnerable: everyday knowledge too vague. (2) To get information about reality that is in a substantial degree both scientifically informed and secure, we must fall back from frontier science to rudimentary “schoolbook science”. (3) A plausible scientific realism must be based on such “softened-up” popularized science rather than authentic, technical science at the frontier of research. This compromise position represented by “schoolbook science” provides for a viable form of science-indebted realism.
Fluid dynamics of fine suspension flow

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the fluid dynamics of fine suspension flow. Various equations and constitutive rheological equations for the phases of a suspension at neglect of random particle and fluid fluctuations are discussed. The influence of thermal particle fluctuations on the rheology of Brownian suspensions with the help of a specific thermodynamic constituent of the interphase interaction force is explained. An alternative way to describe this influence by means of specifying appropriate contributions to the effective stress tensors that affect flow of the suspension phases is considered. The hydrodynamically induced particle and fluid fluctuations may be obtained as a result of two possible physical mechanisms. The first mechanism bears upon random displacements of particles caused by relative motion of neighboring particle layers in shear flow. The second mechanism is due to the relative fluid flow working at random fluctuations of the suspension concentration, and thus originating peculiar pseudoturbulent fluctuations. The impact of both shear-induced and pseudoturbulent fluctuations on suspension flow is also described by introducing pertinent contributions to the effective stress tensors.
Comparison of three methods for long-term monitoring of boreal lake area using Landsat TM and ETM+ imagery

Programs to monitor lake area change are becoming increasingly important in high latitude regions, and their development often requires evaluating tradeoffs among different approaches in terms of accuracy of measurement, consistency across multiple users over long time periods, and efficiency. We compared three supervised methods for lake classification from Landsat imagery (density slicing, classification trees, and feature extraction). The accuracy of lake area and number estimates was evaluated relative to high-resolution aerial photography acquired within two days of satellite overpasses. The shortwave infrared band 5 was better at separating surface water from nonwater when used alone than when combined with other spectral bands. The simplest of the three methods, density slicing, performed best overall. The classification tree method resulted in the most omission errors (approx. 2×), feature extraction resulted in the most commission errors (approx. 4×), and density slicing had the least directional...
Dynorphin exerts both postsynaptic and presynaptic effects in the Globus pallidus of the rat.

The opioids contained in striato-pallidal axons are thought to play a significant role in motor control. We examined post- and presynaptic effects of the kappa (κ)-receptor agonist dynorphin A (1–13) (DYN13) on the globus pallidus (GP) neurons in rat brain slice preparations using the whole cell recording method. DYN13 hyperpolarized and decreased the input resistance of approximately one-quarter of neurons examined. All of these DYN13-sensitive neurons had medium-sized somata, large aspiny dendrites and generated repetitive firing without strong accommodation. The hyperpolarization was blocked by barium and was independent of TTX and intracellular chloride levels. The hyperpolarization was also selectively blocked by the κ-antagonist nor-binaltorphimine dihydrochloride but not by the mu- or delta-antagonists. These data suggested that DYN13 activates barium-sensitive potassium currents in some GP neurons. Low- and high-intensity stimulation of the neostriatum (Str) evoked long- and short-latency GABAergic responses, respectively. Previous data suggested that the long- and the short-latency responses were due to activation of the striato-pallidal axons and the local collaterals of pallido-striatal axons, respectively. DYN13 diminished the amplitude of both the short- and long-latency GABAergic responses in all the neurons tested. The effects of DYN13 on GABAergic postsynaptic responses were also selectively blocked by a κ-antagonist. To investigate whether the effects were pre- or postsynaptic, the effects of DYN13 on spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs) and TTX-independent miniature–inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) were examined. DYN13 decreased the frequency, but not the amplitude, of spontaneous IPSCs and calcium-dependent miniature-IPSCs. However, DYN13 did not alter the cadmium-insensitive miniature-IPSCs. These results suggested that DYN13 suppressed GABA release from presynaptic terminals. This possibility was tested using a paired-stimulation test. DYN13 reduced the probability of evoking IPSCs to the first stimulation and greatly increased the success probability to the second stimulus. The amplitude of successfully evoked IPSCs was not changed with DYN13. DYN13 did not affect the excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) or the response to iontophoretically applied GABA and glutamate. Together, these results suggest that DYN released from striato-pallidal axons controls the activity of GP neurons 1 ) by directly hyperpolarizing a population of neurons and 2 ) by presynaptically inhibiting GABA release from striato-pallidal and intrapallidal terminals.
School Size and Incidents of Violence among Texas Middle Schools

Although many studies have been conducted regarding (a) school violence in middle schools and (b) the size of schools, to date, no researcher appears to have examined the role that the size of the middle school plays in determining incidents of violence specifically fighting, assaults, and aggravated assaults. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the incidents of school violence, specifically fighting, assaults, and aggravated assaults, and the size of middle schools in the state of Texas for 3 school years. All 842 middle schools in Texas were included in this study. Compared to small schools, medium schools, and large schools, very small schools had a statistically significantly lower proportion of students involved in assaults, proportion of students involved in aggravated assaults, proportion of incidents of assaults, and proportion of incidents of aggravated assaults. Further, very small schools had a statistically significantly lower proportion of students involved in fights and proportion of incidents of fights than did large schools. A trend emerged across the 4 school sizes for all 6 indicators of school violence, which, in every case, reflected a sharp increase from very small schools to small schools—peaking at small schools. Thus, very small schools appear to be at a greater advantage than are other types of schools with respect to incidents of school violence. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Symptomatic Hepatic Disease In Cystic Fibrosis: Incidence, Course, And Outcome Of Portal Systemic Shunting

Fifteen (2.2%) of 693 patients with cystic fibrosis seen over an 18-year period developed clinical hepatic disease. In 13 patients all symptoms were secondary to portal hypertension. Ten had hypersplenism and 6 had variceal bleeding, including 3 who developed both conditions. All 5 patients who survived the initial episode of gastrointestinal bleeding underwent portal systemic shunting. A. shunting procedure also was performed on 1 patient with hypersplenism but no variceal bleeding. No subsequent deterioration of intellectual function occurred in either the shunted or unshunted patients. Only 1 of the shunted patients showed progression of hepatic disease after surgery. These results suggest that portal systemic shunting is useful in the treatment of bleeding esophageal varices in cystic fibrosis. A sweat test to rule out cystic fibrosis should be included in the evaluation of any teenage or young adult patient with unexplained portal hypertension.
Design of matching network for HF vehicular antennas

High frequency (HF) communications are regaining interest in large part due to their robustness for establishing long haul (beyond the line of sight) links over 2 to 30 MHz frequency range. However, the conventional 3 kHz channel bandwidths are not sufficient for the amount of information that needs to be communicated, so hardware and software solutions that enable wider bandwidths (24 kHz or more) are being sought. The bandwidth requirements are particularly challenging for antennas aimed to be integrated on vehicles where small physical size (relative to the vehicles' profile) is needed. The small physical size also leads to the small electrical size, especially at the lower portion of the HF band, where the features of electrically small antennas make their development extremely difficult. In that light, tunable matching networks able to support wider bandwidths with hopping RF carriers at HF at the reduced loss are also desired.
What Parents Still "Do Not" Know about No Child Left Behind and Why It Matters.

AbstractUtilizing data from an original survey of public school parents, I examine the depth and distribution of parents’ knowledge of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). A close exploration of parents’ NCLB knowledge, policy-based experiences, and policy evaluations suggests that a superficial policy understanding may contribute to low uptake of policy-related opportunities and the lack of organized political response to perceived policy pitfalls. Though several other policy initiatives have now been layered atop this particular legislative act, given the policy’s reach and scope, and reliance on parents’ participation, a more careful understanding of NCLB’s effects also suggests how future policy reforms might be tailored to better encourage parent awareness of and participation in the school improvement process.
Using LiDAR to detect cultural resources in a forested environment: an example from Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, USA

This article discusses the use of light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) technology as an effective remote sensing tool for the location of cultural resources. Its use, particularly in Europe, has proven successful in the identification of archaeological sites obscured by dense vegetation or surface disturbances. This study used LiDAR-derived imagery to detect pre- and post-European contact sites, and their related features, in densely forested environments on Isle Royale, Michigan, USA. LiDAR bare-Earth models were used to ‘see through’ the vegetation in an effort to: (i) identify cultural features prior to the implementation of a pedestrian reconnaissance survey; (ii) aid in the development of a more informed survey strategy; and (iii) produce an overall safer, more efficient and more cost-effective research design. Three study areas were selected for investigation. Within these three study areas, a total of seven investigation locales containing 32 separate features were identified using LiDAR-derived imagery. Eighteen of the 32 features were found to have been previously recorded. Of the remaining 14 features, seven were confirmed in the field as being cultural features and were recorded for the first time as a result of this investigation. The remaining seven could not be located on the ground or were found to be non-cultural. The results of this study support the use of LiDAR as a viable method for the detection of cultural resources, particularly in remote and heavily forested environments. Despite its positive contributions, there is a limited range of archaeological (surface) features that can be detected using this technology. As applied to archaeology, LiDAR is not an exclusive investigatory technique. It must be part of a comprehensive research strategy that integrates field, laboratory and archival investigation in order to achieve the best possible interpretation of the archaeological record. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Paradoxical Increase in Rate of Catabolism of Low-Density Lipoproteins after Hepatectomy

It has been suggested that the liver may be a major site for irreversible degradation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The disappearance of autologous 125I-labeled LDL from plasma was compared in intact and in hepatectomized swine. Contrary to expectations, the rate of irreversible removal of LDL from plasma was increased rather then decreased by hepatectomy. These studies suggest that the liver is not a major site for LDL removal. We propose further that the liver ( or some function requiring an intact liver ) may affect the metabolism of LDL in a manner that prolongs its lifetime in the plasma compartment.
On single-strange mesons

Abstract In this note some reactions are pointed out, in which single-strange mesons proposed previously could be observed.
Managing changing compliance requirements by predicting regulatory evolution

Over time, laws change to meet evolving social needs. Requirements engineers that develop software for regulated domains, such as healthcare or finance, must adapt their software as laws change to maintain legal compliance. In the United States, regulatory agencies will almost always release a proposed regulation, or rule, and accept comments from the public. The agency then considers these comments when drafting a final rule that will be binding on the regulated domain. Herein, we examine how these proposed rules evolve into final rules, and propose an Adaptability Framework. This framework can aid software engineers in predicting what areas of a proposed rule are most likely to evolve, allowing engineers to begin building towards the more stable sections of the rule. We develop the framework through a formative study using the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) Security Rule and apply it in a summative study on the Health Information Technology: Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology.
Sweet–sour mixture suppression in older and young adults

Abstract Prior to investigating the effect of sweet–sour taste mixtures in neurologic dysphagia patients, this study examined whether older adults exhibited a similar pattern of sweet–sour mixture suppression compared with young adults. Two experiments were conducted comparing healthy older and young subjects, using sucrose or aspartame mixed with citric acid, with and without lemon flavoring. Two experiments examined the effect of sweetener type and level, citric acid level, flavoring, and cold temperature with the young only. Sourness was suppressed by sweeteners, and sweetness was suppressed by citric acid at suprathreshold tastant levels typically seen in beverages. There was little to no effect of flavoring or cold temperatures on the pattern of suppression of sweetness or sourness. The older group showed similar sweet–sour mixture suppression patterns to the young. The lack of flavoring or cold temperatures during videofluoroscopic swallow studies will not impact sweet–sour mixture suppression effects.
Embedded atom simulation of the B2 phase in Nb-Ti-Al

Abstract The B2 phase of Nb rich alloys in the Nb-Ti-Al system was simulated using the Embedded Atom Method. Two different alloy compositions were examined, Nb-15Al-10Ti at.% and Nb-15Al-40Ti. The minimum energy lattice parameters for these two different intermetallic compositions were calculated and found to be within 2% of those determined by first principles methods for similar compositions. The site occupancies in these ternary B2 intermetallics were determined and compare favorably to experimental values. The elastic constants of these intermetallics were also calculated from the simulations. Planar defects including APBs, twins, and free surfaces were also simulated. The average relaxed APB energies in the ternary Nb rich alloys were found to range from 163 mJ/m 2 to 31 mJ/m 2 for alloys of 15 at.% Al and 10 to 40 at.% Ti, in agreement with experimental studies. The elastic constants obtained for these alloys also agree well with first principle calculations and experimental values. The implications of the simulation results for the understanding of the mechanical properties of these alloys are discussed.
The role of Pan-African structures in intraplate seismicity near the termination of the Romanche fracture zone, West Africa

Abstract The distribution of epicenters of both historic earthquakes and recent seismic events in southeastern Ghana, compiled from local and teleseismic networks, show strong correlation with the Pan-African structures onshore and indicate an alignment with disruptions on seismic sections offshore. The seismic reflection sections reveal basement structures of the external zone of the Pan-African Dahomeyide orogen and these structures can be traced to offsets of shelf strata and seabottom reflectors, providing direct evidence, for the first time, for neotectonic activity that may be responsible for seismicity in the area. The deep structure of the external zone consists of moderately-dipping reflectors inferred to represent high-strain zones in the variably deformed margin of the West African craton. Taken together, the available data suggest that active tectonics in this intraplate environment may involve inversion of the Pan-African thrust structures but that this activity is apparently not related to reactivation of the nearby Romanche Fracture Zone.
Production lines with phase-type operation and repair times and finite buffers

Flow-sbop type production lines with finite buffer storage between operation stations are considered. Operation stations are subject to breakdowns. Operation time and repair time distributions are assumed to be phase-type. Time until a breakdown occurs is exponentially distributed. A Markov chain approach is developed to obtain certain performance measures using a numerical procedure.
Cloning, expression, and localization of a novel γ-adaptin-like molecule

We describe the cloning, expression, and localization of γ2-adaptin, a novel isoform of γ-adaptin. The predicted human and mouse γ2-adaptin proteins are ∼90 kDa and 64.4% and 61.7% identical to γ-adaptin, respectively. γ2-Adaptin was localized to the Golgi, its localization distinct from γ-adaptin. The membrane association of γ- and γ2-adaptin could further be distinguished by differential sensitivity to the fungal metabolite brefeldin A, γ2-adaptin binding being insensitive to drug treatment. Together, these results suggest that γ2-adaptin plays a role in membrane transport distinct from that played by γ-adaptin.
Antisense Acid Invertase (TIV1) Gene Alters Soluble Sugar Composition and Size in Transgenic Tomato Fruit

Invertase ([beta]-fructosidase, EC 3.2.1.26) hydrolyzes sucrose to hexose sugars and thus plays a fundamental role in the energy requirements for plant growth and maintenance. Transgenic plants with altered extracellular acid invertase have highly disturbed growth habits. We investigated the role of intracellular soluble acid invertase in plant and fruit development. Transgenic tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants expressing a constitutive antisense invertase transgene grew identically to wild-type plants. Several lines of transgenic fruit expressing a constitutive antisense invertase gene had increased sucrose and decreased hexose sugar concentrations. Each transgenic line with fruit that had increased sucrose concentrations also had greatly reduced levels of acid invertase in ripe fruit. Sucrose-accumulating fruit were approximately 30% smaller than control fruit, and this differential growth correlated with high rates of sugar accumulation during the last stage of development. These data suggest that soluble acid invertase controls sugar composition in tomato fruit and that this change in composition contributes to alterations in fruit size. In addition, sucrose-accumulating fruit have elevated rates of ethylene evolution relative to control fruit, perhaps as a result of the smaller fruit size of the sucrose-accumulating transgenic lines.
Social Security, Taxation, and Redistribution in Japan

The paper examines the social security tax and benefit system in Japan. We offer an analysis of the interaction of taxes and benefits showing that the system has evolved to the point where it may no longer fulfill the original intentions. The system today appears to redistribute income from working people, who on average have lower incomes, to the aged population, which today have higher incomes. We suggest the system is in need of significant reform.
Agricultural Intensification: Will Land Spared from Farming be Land Spared for Nature?

How can intensive agricultural systems be designed so that they have fewer and smaller impacts on surrounding ecosystems? This is not a new challenge, but its importance to conservation—particularly in developing regions—has become apparent in recent years. This challenge is a major part of the ongoing effort to provide for the needs of a growing human population and at the same time sustain the life-support systems of the planet (Vitousek et al. 1997; National Resource Council 1999). To many in the conservation community, a growing human population makes the goal of harmonizing food production and conservation all but impossible. That psychological landscape has changed fundamentally, however— the end of human population growth is within sight over most of Earth (the peak population will be realized sooner and at a lower level with intensified, committed effort). Nevertheless, population will continue to grow for some decades. In many areas, standards of living and levels of nutrition will (and should) increase. What are the best ways to meet the dual challenges of agricultural production and conservation? Many agronomists suggest that the best way to meet those challenges is through intensifying agriculture and increasing yields on the “best” lands. That way, the necessary production can be obtained on the smallest area of land and more land can be “saved for nature” (Waggoner 1995). Intensification leading to increased yields per hectare provided most of the last doubling of agricultural production—and the potential for another doubling in yields now attracts both debate and research. An alternative pathway by which agricultural production and conservation could be harmonized is wildlife-friendly farming, which involves designing agricultural systems so that they support important components of biological diversity within the agricultural landscape itself. Recent analyses by Green et al. (2005) and Balmford et al. (2005) evaluated these alternatives regionally and
Mean Residence Time and Removal Rate Studies in ILD CMP

Mean residence time (MRT) in the wafer-pad region was shown to be highly dependent on slurry flow rate, wafer pressure, and relative pad-wafer velocity. MRT was also shown to be a linear function of coefficient of friction. The latter was envisioned to be an indication of the tortuosity of the path bounded in the wafer-pad interface. The extent of process transients during chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) was quantified, and it was shown that the average time it took for fresh incoming fluid (i.e., slurry, water, or other active agents) to displace the existing fluid in the pad-wafer region yielded important information regarding fluid concentration near the wafer as well as the kinetics of the process. A new parameter, the turnover ratio, which is defined as the ratio of the MRT to the polish time, was developed to quantify the extent of abrasive concentration transients during a typical polish. This parameter was found to significantly impact the interlayer dielectric (ILD) removal rate and was deemed critical for process optimization considerations.
Authoritarianism in Latin America Since Independence

Preface Introduction by Will Fowler The Repeated Rise of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna in the so-called "Age of Chaos" (Mexico, 1821-1855) by Will Fowler Pragmatism, patriarchy, and patronage: Profirio Diaz and personalist politics in Mexico by Paul Garner Ibanez: failed dictator and unwitting architect of political democracy in Chile, 1927-1931 by Francisco Dominguez Fulgencio Batista, 1933-1944: From Revolutionary to Populist by Antoni Kapcia Mechanisms of Control: The Stroessner Regime in Paraguay by Peter Lambert Honduras: The politics of exception and military reformism (1972-1978) by Rachel Sieder Proprietors not proletarians: The politics of housing subsidies under military rule in Chile by Ben Richards Bibliography Index
Perceived risk of breast cancer among Latinas attending community clinics: risk comprehension and relationship with mammography adherence

Objective To describe breast cancer risk perceptions, determine risk comprehension, and evaluate mammography adherence among Latinas.
Environmental tobacco use and indicators of metabolic syndrome in Chinese adults.

Introduction: Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a widespread source of nicotine exposure, and an estimated 540 million Chinese are exposed to ETS in mainland China. We aimed to investigate associations of ETS exposure and metabolic syndrome (MetS) as well as its individual components independent of active smoking status in Chinese adults. Methods: A cross-sectional data of 304 randomly selected Chinese households with fourth (elementary school) and seventh (middle school) graders in Qingdao city was used. Assessments of fat mass, metabolic biomarkers, personal history of illness, and health behaviors were conducted. Results: Proportions of current smokers were 3% in women and 60.5% in men, and more men reported exposure to ETS 5-7 days per week than women (60.8% vs. 48.1%). Exposure to ETS was significantly associated with enhanced risks of MetS (odds ratio [OR] = 2.8, p = .01), hypertriglyceridemia (OR =2.1,p = .02), and central obesity (OR = 2.7, p <.001) and reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR = 1.9, p = .02) and elevated mean levels of fasting insulin (p < .01). These observed associations were independent of active smoking status and were successfully replicated in female never-smokers. Conclusions: Results of our study support the hypothesis that ETS exposure is independently associated with MetS and its individual components. Further large-scale studies with longitudinal design and objective assessment of ETS exposure are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and the causal effects of passive smoking on MetS. Findings of this work emphasize the importance of developing community intervention to reduce smoking, ETS, and promote healthy lifestyle.
Transient analysis of isothermal fluid—solid reaction systems: Modeling the sigmoidal conversion—time behavior of a gas—solid reaction

Abstract A transient analysis of an isothermal gas-solid reaction system that exhibits sigmoidal conversion-time behavior is presented. Variations of the void f
MultiOrd: An R Package for Generating Correlated Ordinal Data

In this article, operational details of an R package MultiOrd that is designed for the generation of correlated ordinal data are described, and examples of some important functions are given. The package provides a valuable and needed tool that has been lacking for generating multivariate ordinal data.
Temperature and isotope substitution effects on the structure and NMR properties of the pertechnetate ion in water.

The uniquely well-resolved 99Tc NMR spectrum of the pertechnetate ion in liquid water poses a stringent test of the accuracy of ab initio calculations. The displacement of the 99Tc chemical shift as a function of temperature has been measured over the range 10−45 °C for the three isotopomers Tc(16O)4-, Tc(16O)3(18O)-, and Tc(16O)3(17O)- at natural oxygen isotope abundance levels, and in addition the temperature dependence of the Tc−O scalar coupling was determined for the Tc(16O)3(17O)- isotopomer. Values for these parameters were computed using relativistic spin−orbit density functional theory with an unsolvated ion approximation and with treatments of the solvated ion based on the COnductor-like Screening MOdel (COSMO) approach. The temperature and isotope dependence of 99Tc NMR parameters inferred by these methods were in good quantitative agreement with experimental observations. The change in the Tc−O bond length associated with the changes in temperatures considered here was determined to be of the ...
Choice for cooperative collection development

AbstractBook reviews from Choice, proximity, automation, and committed personnel are the bases for a cooperative collection development project among the Tri-College University Consortium libraries at Moorhead, Minnesota, and Fargo, North Dakota. The purpose of the project is to provide more titles for users of the Consortium libraries without compromising collection quality. Librarians at each library make selections from each issue of Choice, prioritize them, compare them, and decide which library should purchase each selection. The ongoing project, in existence for 15 years, currently diverts more than $59,000 annually to additional purchases. This study concludes that when automation, close proximity, and committed personnel are available, cooperative collection development based on Choice reviews is a worthwhile project and that cooperative collection development as a part of resource sharing is the best way to serve the library needs of the Tri-College University Consortium.
Power sensor applications in a load management network for a residential microgrid

As we continue to push the limits of technology further, our power grid is struggling to keep up with the technological advances. This project is about the design and implementation of a residential microgrid which is the future of smart grid technology. By definition, a microgrid has generation resources and loads which will need to be balanced using power sensors and load management in order to ensure stable operation. Using Power Line Communications, this project will implement a smart metering infrastructure to allow for remote observation of the sensors and controls. Combining the power sensor networking infrastructure with a PV array and a Natural Gas Generator will give this microgrid smart controls that can respond to both the RTP market and both changing power grid and environmental conditions based on user set parameters and system sensors. Finally, this system will be introduced to an existing home to aid the homeowner in the identification of large drains of power using the power sensors in the home, monitor environmental conditions in the home through environmental sensors, and control both electrical loads and generation resources to lower energy costs and waste while being able utilize excess energy to back feed the power grid.
An information processing analysis of mental multiplication

A difficulty factor based on a count of the subprocesses normally involved in “paper and pencil” multiplication (e.g., “multiply,” “add,” “carry,” and “hold”) was found to be highly correlated with the solution times of problems solved mentally. Time for solution appeared to be independent of whether the subject did the problems silently or aloud.
Role of the incipient Anderson transition in electronic energy transfer in mixed organic crystals

Abstract The role of disorder in impurity bands in mixed organic crystals is examined in terms of the Anderson model. A coherent potential approximation is used to calculate averaged Green's functions; the L ( E ) criterion is employed to study the transition in the nature of the eigenstates. The transition is found to take place at a concentration c , which is qualitatively in agreement with experiments. Our interpretation of the experimental results indicate a continuous variation of the transport properties above c . Electronic energy transfer experiments in mixed organic solids can give a unique opportunity to study basic questions of localization effects.