cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trends in nonmelanoma skin cancer mortality rates in the United States, 1969 through 2000.

The purpose of this population-based study was to assess trends in mortality rates for nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in the United States. Particular emphasis was placed on the subgroup of malignancies arising on genital skin. Nearly 75,000 deaths in the United States were attributed to NMSC from 1969 to 2000. The age-adjusted US mortality rate for NMSC arising on nongenital skin from 1969 to 2000 was 0.69/105/year; the rate among men was twice that among women. Mortality rates among white men exceeded that of black men by a factor of two; the same was observed among women, but by a smaller multiple. Corresponding mortality rates for malignancies arising from genital skin (penis, scrotum, vulva) were higher in women (0.54) than in men (0.30). In contrast to nongenital NMSC, mortality rates among black men were twice that of white men; however, rates for white and black women were similar. These results suggest that greater emphasis could be placed on reducing mortality from genital NMSC while continuing to stress reduction of excess sun exposure.
A Hybrid Registration And Analysis Technique For Sequential Complex Images

An image registration algorithm combining image analysis and signal processing techniques is applied to a sequence of complex images. The frequency-domain registration technique described here is faster than the conventional spatial domain correlation techniques and does not suffer from the non-uniqueness of solution. The specific technique used in this work involves power spectrum for rotation correction and power cepstrum for translation correction. Furthermore, a comparison of another frequency-domain translation correction technique namely phase correlation and power cepstrum technique reveals clear superiority of the latter method for noisy images and for specific application namely registration of sequential complex images. The general procedure of employing feature extraction techniques prior to registration for simplifying the image and subsequent registration of images based on power spectrum and 2-D cepstrum techniques provide an unambiguous, accurate and fast method of comparison for a broad range of sequential complex images.
The role of B2B engines in B2B integration architectures

Semantic B2B Integration architectures must enable enterprises to communicate standards-based B2B events like purchase orders with any potential trading partner. This requires not only back end application integration capabilities to integrate with e.g. enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems as the company-internal source and destination of B2B events, but also a capability to implement every necessary B2B protocol like Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), RosettaNet as well as more generic capabilities like web services (WS). This paper shows the placement and functionality of B2B engines in semantic B2B integration architectures that implement a generic framework for modeling and executing any B2B protocol. A detailed discussion shows how a B2B engine can provide the necessary abstractions to implement any standard-based B2B protocol or any trading partner specific specialization.
pH-dependent oxygen exchange of phosphate and hydrolysis (of sulfur) from thiophosphate catalyzed by acid phosphatases.

Abstract Phosphate oxygen exchange and thiophosphate hydrolysis reactions catalyzed by a number of homogeneous acid phosphatase isoenzymes were studied as a function of pH. Data are presented for the pH dependence of the phosphate oxygen—water oxygen exchange reaction catalyzed by human prostatic acid phosphatase. The K cat for phosphate oxygen exchange is approximately constant from pH 2.7 to 7.0 and declines at high pH. This pH dependence resembles that of V for typical substrate hydrolysis reactions. Human prostatic acid phosphatase is shown to catalyze the hydrolysis of inorganic thiophosphate to phosphate ion. The rate of thiophosphate ion hydrolysis is maximal in the pH range 3 to 5 and decreases at higher pH. Hydrolysis reactions of phosphomonoesters and related phosphorothioatemonoesters were compared using acid phosphatases from animal and plant sources. Wheat germ acid phosphatase catalyzes the hydrolysis of adenosine 5′-phosphorothioate and p -nitrophenyl phosphorothioate, though at a much slower rate than the hydrolysis of the corresponding phosphomonoesters. Similarly, human prostatic acid phosphatase hydrolyses adenosine 5′-phosphorothioate at a very slow rate ( k cat = 2.3 × 10 −2 s −1 ), whereas the corresponding phosphomonoester is hydrolyzed four orders of magnitude more rapidly. A human liver acid phosphatase isoenzyme hydrolyses AMP and p -nitrophenyl phosphate at a rate of 1.0 and 1.2 × 10 2 s −1 , respectively, but adenosine 5′-phosphorothioate and p -nitrophenyl phosphorothioate are not detectably hydrolyzed by this enzyme. A low-molecular-weight acid phosphatase from bovine liver hydrolyzed p -nitrophenyl phosphate at a rate of 35 s −1 , but it failed to hydrolyze AMP, adenosine 5′-phosphorothioate, or p -nitrophenyl phosphorothioate. Various thermodynamic parameters for phosphate oxygen exchange and for the hydrolysis of thiophosphate and p -nitrophenyl phosphate catalyzed by human prostatic acid phosphatase were also measured. The activation energy for phosphate oxygen exchange catalyzed by human prostatic acid phosphatase is 17 kcal mol −1 while the activation energy for the hydrolysis of p -nitrophenyl phosphate is 10.9 kcal mol −1 . K m (app) for the hydrolysis of p -nitrophenyl phosphate by human prostatic acid phosphatase decreases from 0.61 m m at 7 °C to 0.10 m m at 37 °C.
An analysis of risk factors of non-fatal drowning among children in rural areas of Guangdong Province, China: a case-control study

Drowning is a major cause of morbidity and mortality for children, yet non-fatal drowning remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore potential modifiable risk factors of non-fatal drowning among children in rural areas of China.
Effect of Environmental Factors on Overwintering Phenomena and Spring Migration of the Plum Curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Overwintering in the plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst), is divided into a diapause and a postdiapause phase, and related to environmental factors using a CO2 assay of metabolic activity. Diapause ends before the end of winter, and low temperatures probably suppress activity in the field. Postdiapause development ends after feeding, apparently following migration. A regression model of takeoff response as a function of vapor pressure deficit is proposed as a predictor of spring migration. Mortality due to Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin increases with temperature during diapause.
Optical Detection of Lead(II) Ions Using DNA-Based Nanosensor

Lead (Pb) is a highly toxic metal that tends to accumulate in the body. The complexes of lead are very stable within the body and cannot be metabolized or degraded rapidly, leading to lead toxicity. Therefore, it is important to detect low levels of lead in the environment to prevent lead poisoning in humans. The detection of ${\rm Pb}^{2+}$ ions at the nanomolar and micromolar level is achieved using DNA aptamers and quantum dots. ${\rm Pb}^{2+}$ ions can be detected using a DNA aptamer known as thrombin binding aptamer (TBA), which folds into a G-quadruplex structure when lead is present. The conjugation of a quantum dot and a gold nanoparticle (AuNP) to the TBA allows for optical detection via fluorescence resonant energy transfer. In the aptamer probe discussed herein, the excited quantum dot fluoresces when the DNA is in a random coil configuration. Once the ${\rm Pb}^{2+}$ ion-induced folding occurs, the fluorescence is reduced through energy transfer to the AuNP. The quenching efficiency observed with the liquid assay probe and the filter paper probe at 1-ţM ${\rm Pb}^{2+}$ ions is 41% and 71%, respectively.
What is a day center

Observation of the behavior of clients results in a classification of modes of relating to an outpatient milieu therapy organization. Considered as clients' definitions of the situation, they are: the waiting room, the alumni club, the hospital, the social club, and the day center. A distinction is made between these patterns of behavior and verbalized metaphors. The former are attributed to assumptions that vary among individuals and are relatively resistant to change. The latter refer to the social organization of the milieu and occurred in a sequence expressive of increasing autonomous activity on the part of the clients.
Cost-effectiveness of using recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) in a massive transfusion protocol for severe blunt trauma

INTRODUCTION: Although there is an apparent mortality benefit with massive transfusion protocols (MTP), blood products are associated with complications, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Hemostatic adjuncts that limit transfusion requirements and return coagulation to baseline may be necessary. Although expensive, recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is associated with decreased blood transfusions and ARDS after trauma. Using a decision analysis framework, we evaluated the cost-effectiveness of using rFVIIa within a MTP for reducing transfusion requirements after blunt trauma, and subsequent transfusion related ARDS.
Visiting the Emergency Department for Dental Problems: Trends in Utilization, 2001 to 2008

Objectives. We tested the hypothesis that between 2001 and 2008, Americans increasingly relied upon emergency departments (EDs) for dental care.Methods. Data from 2001 through 2008 were collected from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). Population-based visit rates for dental problems, and, for comparison, asthma, were calculated using annual US Census Bureau estimates. As part of the analysis, we described patient characteristics associated with large increases in ED dental utilization.Results. Dental visit rates increased most dramatically for the following subpopulations: those aged 18 to 44 years (7.2–12.2 per 1000, P < .01); Blacks (6.0–10.4 per 1000, P < .01); and the uninsured (9.5–13.2 per 1000, P < .01). Asthma visit rates did not change although dental visit rates increased 59% from 2001 to 2008.Conclusions. There is an increasing trend in ED visits for dental issues, which was most pronounced among those aged 18 to 44 years, the uninsured, and Blacks. Dental visit rat...
Magnetically Stabilized Fluidized Beds for Solids Separation by Density

Abstract Systems for the dry separation of solids by density difference are described. They consist of a magnetically stabilized fluidized bed (MSB) as a host medium in which heavy solids sink and light solids float. The magnetic stabilization produces a fluidized medium with the absence of gas bubbling and thus enhances the separations efficiency by preventing remixing of the feed solids to be separated. The MSB can be maintained with an apparent bulk density between that of solids in a mixture to be separated by adjusting the gas fluidization velocity. Several experiments have been conducted using both batch and continuous MSBs to separate a solids mixture consisting of coal and limestone. In the continuously operated experiments using this binary feed, recoveries of 90% of the feed solids at over 90% purity were obtained. Preferred operating conditions for the MSB are discussed which result in minimizing the effects of bed yield stress and viscosity on the separations efficiency. Configurations for the...
Nucleocytoplasmic functions of the PDZ-LIM protein family: New insights into organ development

Recent work on the PDZ-LIM protein family has revealed that it has important activities at the cellular level, mediating signals between the nucleus and the cytoskeleton, with significant impact on organ development. We review and integrate current knowledge about the PDZ-LIM protein family and propose a new functional role, sequestering nuclear factors in the cytoplasm. Characterized by their PDZ and LIM domains, the PDZ-LIM family is comprised of evolutionarily conserved proteins found throughout the animal kingdom, from worms to humans. Combining two functional domains in one protein, PDZ-LIM proteins have wide-ranging and multi-compartmental cell functions during development and homeostasis. In contrast, misregulation can lead to cancer formation and progression. New emerging roles include interactions with integrins, T-box transcription factors, and receptor tyrosine kinases. Facilitating the assembly of protein complexes, PDZ-LIM proteins can act as signal modulators, influence actin dynamics, regulate cell architecture, and control gene transcription.
Strategies to improve compliance with evidence-based clinical management guidelines

Abstract Background: Clinical management guidelines (CMGs) have been developed to standardize physician practices and ensure safe and cost-effective patient care. In June 1996, evidence-based CMGs were initiated at our urban Level I trauma center. This study compares physician compliance with two such CMGs before (PRE) and after (POST) the institution of continuous surveillance by a clinical resource manager. Study Design: For 2 months PRE resource manager surveillance hospital records were reviewed retrospectively for compliance with two CMGs. POST data were collected prospectively for 2 months by the resource manager, who alerted practitioners to deviance from CMGs to justify or document therapy alternatives. The CMGs studied addressed deep venous thrombosis and stress ulcer prophylaxis. "Under" or "over" therapy described that which fell short of or exceeded guidelines. Data were analyzed by chi-square; p Results: Compliance with the CMGs was 48% PRE and 74% POST (p = 0.001). All noncompliant instances POST (and none PRE) were altered or justified. Deep venous thrombosis and ulcer "over" therapy was significantly higher PRE (19% versus 2%, p=0.003; 49% versus 19%, p=0.001), resulting in $22,760.35 in costs. There was no difference in pulmonary embolism or gastrointestinal bleed rate (1%) PRE to POST. Conclusions: The use of a clinical resource manager empowered to monitor and coordinate physician behavior improves compliance with CMGs. Further study is warranted to validate resultant outcomes benefit, specifically cost-effectiveness and duration of the need for such a program.
The PingER project: active Internet performance monitoring for the HENP community

The extraordinary network challenges presented by high energy nuclear and particle physics experiments has created a need for network monitoring both to understand present performance and to allocate resources to optimize performance between laboratories, and the universities and institutes collaborating on present and future experiments. The resulting Internet end-to-end performance monitoring project is called PingER. The monitoring infrastructure reflects the wide geographical spread of the collaborations, and involves a large number of research and commercial networks. The architecture of the data acquisition and methodology of the analysis have evolved over several years, and are described here in their present state. The strengths and weaknesses of the project are reviewed, and the derived metrics are discussed in terms of their diagnostic functions. The observed short-term effects and long-term trends are reviewed, and plans for future developments are described.
Vibration suppression of multi-modal translational motion using a rotational actuator

In recent the work of Wan et al. it was shown that a rotational torque actuator with attached eccentric mass can be used to globally stabilize a one-mode translational oscillator. A family of globally stabilizing nonlinear feedback control laws was derived by using partial feedback linearization and integrator backstepping. These control laws accounted for the strongly nonlinear coupling between the rotational motion of the eccentric mass and the translational motion of the oscillator. In the present paper, we extend these results to address the problem of stabilizing the translational motion of multi-mode systems with a rotational actuator. The controller synthesis methodology extends the previous work to address a system involving six state variables. Detailed numerical simulation of the closed-loop system illustrates the angular position of the eccentric mass and the harmonic content of its motion in suppressing both modal frequencies. >
The promise and implementation of three dimensional integration

In many ways, three dimensional integration presents itself as a logical extension of planar monolithic integration - integration of additional function on the same die. Notwithstanding the remarkable advances in scaling we have witnessed over the last several decades, basic material limitations and lithography have slowed this trend down and the benefits of node to node migration need to be weighed against both technology development costs and complexity as well as the cost of design migration. Another consideration is die size which for high end applications such as high performance processors continues to increase well beyond the sweet spot dictated by yieldability, driven primarily by multiples cores and on-chip memory. Furthermore in such large die, long electrical paths cause significant delay and power draws. To address these limitations, three dimensional integration must be viewed beyond a simplistic packaging paradigm but rather as extension of silicon integration in the third dimension i.e., the introduction of low resistance, low inductance vertical interconnects between multiple active silicon strata that are co-designed in much the same way we design an SOC or ASIC today. This talk examines at the technology as it stands toady and the challenges going forward. These challenges include the development of fine pitch vertical interconnects and the degrees of integration they would permit. We will focus on the integration of three dimensional memory as the prototypical example of three dimensional integration and describe how these challenges are being met.
A Note on “A Superior Representation Method for Piecewise Linear Functions”

This paper studies two mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) formulations for piecewise linear functions considered in Li et al. [Li, H.-L., H.-C. Lu, C.-H. Huang, N.-Z. Hu. 2009. A superior representation method for piecewise linear functions. INFORMS J. Comput.21(2) 314--321]. Although the ideas used to construct one of these formulations are theoretically interesting and could eventually provide a computational advantage, we show that their use in modeling piecewise linear functions yields a poor MILP formulation. We specifically show that neither of the formulations in this paper has a favorable strength property shared by all standard MILP formulations for piecewise linear functions. We also show that both formulations in Li et al. (2009) are significantly outperformed computationally by standard MILP formulations.
The distribution and regulation of Tobin’s q

This paper reports on the empirical distribution of Tobin’s q for over 20,000 US-listed corporations between 1962 and 2014. Contemporaneous frequency distributions are shown to conform consistently to the Asymmetric Laplace function. We draw on the Principle of Maximum Entropy to develop an account of this distribution, whose mathematical form constitutes an innovative criterion for judging the empirical success of theorizations of the determinants of Tobin’s q.
Improving the Rate of Convergence of High-Order Finite Elements on Polyhedra I: A Priori Estimates

ABSTRACT Let &#x1d4af; k be a sequence of triangulations of a polyhedron Ω ⊂ ℝ n and let S k be the associated finite element space of continuous, piecewise polynomials of degree m. Let u k ∈ S k be the finite element approximation of the solution u of a second-order, strongly elliptic system Pu = f with zero Dirichlet boundary conditions. We show that a weak approximation property of the sequence S k ensures optimal rates of convergence for the sequence u k . The method relies on certain a priori estimates in weighted Sobolev spaces for the system Pu = 0 that we establish. The weight is the distance to the set of singular boundary points. We obtain similar results for the Poisson problem with mixed Dirichlet–Neumann boundary conditions on a polygon.
Adaptive broadband beamforming using phase-independent derivative constraint techniques

A method is presented to achieve flat mainbeam responses by imposing phase-independent derivative constraints. In contrast to the conventional derivative constraint methods which constrain both the magnitude and phase response, the proposed method only constrains the magnitude response. Previous results for up to the second order derivatives reported by the authors have indicated that flat mainbeam responses can be generated with much more appealing sidelobe levels by use of the phase-independent derivative constraints than those generated by use of the conventional derivative constraints. The results are further generalized to cases with arbitrarily high order derivatives. The application of these phase-independent derivative constraint techniques in adaptive broadband beamforming is also discussed. >
Mitochondrial DNA suggests at least 11 origins of parasitism in angiosperms and reveals genomic chimerism in parasitic plants

Background Some of the most difficult phylogenetic questions in evolutionary biology involve identification of the free-living relatives of parasitic organisms, particularly those of parasitic flowering plants. Consequently, the number of origins of parasitism and the phylogenetic distribution of the heterotrophic lifestyle among angiosperm lineages is unclear.
Intracranial pressure gradients caused by experimental cerebral ischemia and edema.

To assess the development and resolution of ischemic cerebral edema and brain swelling, measurements of intracranial pressure (ICP) were made in cats after the transorbital occlusion of one middle cerebral artery. Measurement of ICP gradients was difficult: epidural, subdural and intraventricular catheters caused brain damage or failed to function; the accuracy of a miniature strain gauge could not be determined after implantation; and absolute values for intradural pressures could not be obtained with epidural devices. However, variable increases of ICP were recorded on the sides of occlusion from three cats, and were directly related to the severity of the neurological deficits. On the sides opposite occlusion ICP increased slightly or not at all. Several days after occlusion ICP decreased and gradients could not be demonstrated with certainty. Thus, measurements of ICP gradients can be used to assess ischemic cerebral edema and brain swelling, but the usefulness of such measurements is limited at present by methodological problems.
Initial stages of silicate growth on and oxidation of graphite: A model for composites

The initial stages of silicate growth on graphite are characterized with atomic force microscopy. The morphological development indicates that decomposition of tetra ethyloxysilane at low pressure produces films of 3 nm clusters located at undercoordinated carbon sites. Clusters eventually cover the surface, at which point a second layer grows. In higher pressure deposition multiple layers of clusters grow simultaneously. A comparison of the oxidation behavior of surfaces with defects completely and incompletely terminated with SiOx shows that edge recession is the primary oxidation mechanism and that the site specificity of SiOx is effective in inhibiting oxidation.
Toxic chemical wastes and the coincidence of carcinogenic mortality in Texas

Environmental‐justice proponents have argued that demographic factors unevenly affect the location of manufacturing and waste facilities and, thus, differences in exposure risks and outcomes. In this paper, statistical relationships among demographic factors, toxic chemical wastes released by Texas manufacturing facilities who participated in the Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory program in 1990, and carcinogenic causes of death were examined at the county level of analysis. Three types of carcinogenic death rates were regressed against the following county‐level variables: percent of the population under the age of 14, percent of the population 65 years of age and older, percent of population female in the childbearing ages of 15 to 44 years, percent Black population, percent Hispanic population, population density, percent of population employed in manufacturing industries, and per capita income. Results indicated that the elderly and young proportions of county population and t...
A mobile agent approach for global database constraint checking

Integrity constraints are valuable tools for enforcing consistency of data in a database. Global integrity constraints ensure integrity and consistency of data spanning multiple databases. In this paper, we propose a general framework of a mobile agent based approach for checking global constraints. An insert/update/delete initiated on single site, say S1 may cause the violation of a global constraint. The check for such violation involves accessing related data from multiple sites, say S2...Sn. Constraint Checker on site S1 generates sub constraint checks on sites S2...Sn and sends multiple remote agents, rmagent2...rmagentn to sites S2...Sn respectively for checking the sub constraints. These remote agents carry with them data processing code to be executed at remote sites. Constraint Checker gathers results from the remote agents and decides if any constraint is violated. The constraint checking mechanism is much faster as the sub constraint checks are executed in parallel.
Neural Coding and Synaptic Transmission: Participation Exercises for Introductory Psychology:

We present two simulations of neural transmission for use in an Introductory Psychology class. These simulations illustrate the complex coding properties of a single neuron, especially how excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials accumulate to produce an action potential. A follow-up exercise, using the framework of the simple children's game Musical Chairs, illustrates synaptic transmission, including the effects of psychoactive drugs at the synapse.
DYNAMICS OF A SEGMENTATION CLOCK MODEL WITH DISCRETE AND DISTRIBUTED DELAYS

In this paper, we study the effects of time delays on the dynamics of a segmentation clock model with both discrete and distributed delays. Two cases are considered. The first case corresponds to the model with only distributed delay. The second case involves both discrete and distributed delay. Local stability analysis is carried out for all cases. Numerical simulations are also performed to illustrate the results.
Photodissociation of isobutene at 193 nm

The collisionless photodissociation dynamics of isobutene (i-C4H8) at 193 nm via photofragment translational spectroscopy are reported. Two major photodissociation channels were identified: H + C4H7 and CH3 + CH3CCH2. Translational energy distributions indicate that both channels result from statistical decay on the ground state surface. Although the CH3 loss channel lies 13 kcal mol−1 higher in energy, the CH3:H branching ratio was found to be 1.7 (5), in reasonable agreement with RRKM calculations.
Postsilicon validation methodology for microprocessors

A proposed methodology targets microarchitectural attributes prioritized based on the importance of validating corner cases. Several test templates cover all the critical attributes.
Conjunctival Appearance in Corneal Xerophthalmia

• We studied the appearance of the conjunctiva in 50 consecutive cases of vitamin A-responsive conjunctival xerosis (X1) and 162 consecutive cases of nutritional keratopathy (corneal xerosis [X2] and stromal loss [X3]). Conjunctival xerosis, most extensive at or shortly after the onset of frank corneal involvement, was present in 101 (95%) of 106 eyes of cases of X2 but in only 99 (64%) of 155 ulcerated/necrotic eyes (X3A and X3B). Forty-four percent of involved eyes were inflamed, the percentage increasing with the severity of corneal disease. In 20 patients with nutritional keratopathy, conjunctival xerosis was monocular: inflammation was more prevalent and corneal involvement more severe in the nonxerotic eyes. In patients with precipitous deterioration of vitamin A status, clinically recognizable alterations of the cornea sometimes developed before any changes appeared in the conjunctiva.
Severe Obesity and Insulin Resistance due to Deletion of the Maternal Gsα Allele Is Reversed by Paternal Deletion of the Gsα Imprint Control Region

The G protein α-subunit Gsα mediates receptor-stimulated cAMP production and is imprinted with reduced expression from the paternal allele in specific tissues. Disruption of the Gsα maternal (but not paternal) allele leads to severe obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and insulin resistance in mice and obesity in patients with Albright hereditary osteodystrophy. Paternal deletion of a Gsα imprint control region (1A) leads to loss of tissue-specific Gsα imprinting. To determine whether the metabolic abnormalities resulting from disruption of the Gsα maternal allele could be reversed by loss of paternal Gsα imprinting, females with a heterozygous Gsα exon 1 deletion were mated to males with heterozygous deletion of the imprint control region (1A) to generate mice with maternal Gsα deletion (E1m−), paternal 1A deletion (1Ap−), double mutants (E1m−:1Ap−), and wild type. E1m− mice developed obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and hypertriglyceridemia, which were all normalized by the paternal 1A delet...
Corporate Ethics: China vs. USA

Fairness is one of the basic aspects of business exchange. Ethics are principles used to establish fairness. This study will look at background and origins for different American and Chinese ethical beliefs. It is important for U.S. and Chinese firms to understand each other’s cultural perspectives, especially as the Chinese market opens up. Methods to resolve ethical conflict will be reviewed. Business agents from both cultures can relate and deal with each other if they have the knowledge, skills, and patience to do so. This study builds on prior research that suggests that younger Chinese are more concerned with profit than with abiding by regulations or adhering to corporate ethics. The major argument of this study is that future Chinese business leaders, born after China’s onechild policy was implemented in 1979, will be primarily concerned with self-interest and making decisions that will benefit them individually. Guanxi (interpersonal connections or human relationships), corporate ethics and social responsibility (CESR) beliefs will be reduced in importance and influence. American managers should incorporate this information when formulating a “China strategy”.
Comparison of HgCdTe- and LiTaO3-detector-based differential absorption radiometers (DARs) for remote chemical effluent detection

The need for the development of a low-cost, low-energy, portable remote sensor of hazardous chemicals for first responders and facility protection has been recognized. Differential absorption radiometry (DAR) based on uncooled detectors has been identified as a possible solution. However, uncooled detectors have lower detectivity than cooled detectors and thus require efficient light management. Two prototype DARs, one consisting of two cryogenically cooled HgCdTe detectors and the other consisting of two LiTaO 3 pyroelectric detectors, designed to detect methanol vapor, were built and tested in the laboratory to compare their relative performance by measuring detectivity limits under controlled conditions. With Δ T = 8.3 K between the methanol vapor and a radiation source having an emissivity of e s = 0.92, methanol detection limits of 3.14x10 -4 atm-cm and 3.5x10 -3 atm-cm were projected for the HgCdTe and pyroelectric based DARs with similar optics, respectively, assuming that a minimum SNR less than or equal to 5 is required for positive detection and identification. Evaluation of the individual detectors in each DAR demonstrated that the detector limited noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) for the HgCdTe detector was 381 μK whereas the detector limited NETD for the pyroelectric detector was 110 mK. With a 1 s exposure to the source, temperature fluctuations in the environment increased the NETD of the HgCdTe detector to 31.0 mK whereas the NETD of the pyroelectric detector was 115 mK. These results indicated that the advantage of the HgCdTe based DAR relative to the pyroelectric based DAR is much smaller than the advantage projected by their detector limited characteristics such as D*. Thus for remote sensing applications where cost is critical, the use of pyroelectric detectors can provide acceptable performance characteristics when the signal incident on the detector is increased only by x10 relative to the signal required for similar sensitivity using HgCdTe detectors.
Joel S. Newman on Indoor Tanning Taxes: Health Care Reform and the Excise Tax on the Artificial Suntan

The ten per cent excise tax on indoor tanning services was enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act. When a five per cent tax on discretionary cosmetic surgery was defeated, the tanning tax was proposed as a way to generate some of the lost revenue in the package. The tax has not generated as much revenue as had been hoped, and there are efforts underway to repeal it. The tax makes little sense, even in Pigouvian terms. Regulation of the industry, and education -- especially of young women -- would be far more effective.
Mechanical Properties Of Thin Film Aluminum Fibers: Grain Size Effects

Thin film aluminum fibers with grain sizes of 35 and 100 nm were pulled in a microtensile tester. The larger grains led to greater yield and tensile strengths but smaller strains to failure. Both samples had mechanical strengths 3-6 times greater than bulk aluminum. In addition, the small grained fibers had a strain rate sensitivity exponent of 0.26 suggesting diffusion controlled plastic deformation mechanisms.
Plasmon-Induced Hot Electron Transfer from the Au Tip to CdS Rod in CdS-Au Nanoheterostructures

The plasmon-exciton interaction mechanisms in CdS–Au colloidal quantum-confined plexcitonic nanorod heterostructures have been studied by transient absorption spectroscopy. Optical excitation of plasmons in the Au tip leads to hot electron injection into the CdS rod with a quantum yield of ∼2.75%. This finding suggests the possibility of further optimization of plasmon-induced hot electron injection efficiency through controlling the size and shape of the plasmonic and excitonic domains for potential light harvesting applications.
Research on Detection of X Rudder Vehicle's Failure based on the Difference of Rolling Output

The paper first instruct the infection of actuator hard failure in X rudder vehicle.Then advance a difference of rolling output to detect this kind of failure.At last established the modal of vehicle and failure to validate the performance of the format.All this makes a important part of FDD FDC system of X rudder vehicle.
Dismantling the Welfare State?: Retrenchment in a vulnerable sector: housing policy

The Reagan and Thatcher records suggest that particular features of housing make it a fragile part of the welfare state. At the start of the 1980s, Britain and the United States had radically different housing policies, but both have proven vulnerable to retrenchment. In each case, housing programs benefiting low- and moderate-income families have been cut, targeted more sharply on the very poor, and redesigned to rely more heavily on private markets. Because the public role in housing was far greater at the outset in Britain, changes there have been particularly dramatic. Housing's vulnerability stemmed partly from the inability of supporters to develop coherent rationales for public programs once absolute shortages of decent housing had been largely overcome. The existence of a highly popular private alternative, owner occupation, makes public programs appear inferior, and, for most of the electorate, irrelevant. Because massive subsidies to owner-occupiers are channeled almost invisibly through the tax system (largely through the mortgage-interest deduction), private housing seems more efficient than public programs financed through on-budget spending. Nevertheless, weaknesses in the rationales for public low-income housing programs cannot provide the whole answer. Indeed, mounting problems of housing affordability and the striking increase in homelessness in both countries during the 1980s could easily have suggested the need for more, rather than less, government intervention.
Proposed Panel: Author Meets Critic: H.L.T. Quan's Growth Against Democracy: Savage Developmentalism in the Modern World

In efforts to take up a politics of living and to urge us to disentangle ourselves from practices of wealth hoarding, Quan explains the relationships between development and unfreedom on two registers. The first deploys a comparative methodology which examines both South-South and global North-global South examples. The second deploys political theory methodologies which push readers and analysts of neoliberalism to wrestle with the intimacy which our democratic society has with fascism, racial slavery, and racial colonialism. In this panel, scholars use Quan's work to provide an assessment of black political economy and anti-colonial thought about the fundamental difference between the pursuit of the polis and the pursuit of markets, property, and economic rationality.
Red Cell Membrane and Enzyme Defects

Publisher Summary There are two major biochemical pathways in the red cell: the Embden–Myerhof anaerobic pathway (energy potential of the cell) and the hexose monophosphate shunt (reduction potential of the cell). In this chapter enzyme reactions in the red cell are presented as a flow diagram. Enzyme defects have also been highlighted in this chapter. For example pyruvate kinase (PK) is an enzyme active in the penultimate conversion in the Embden–Meyerhof pathway. Although deficiency is rare, it is the most common enzyme abnormality in the Embden–Meyerhof pathway. In diagnosis of haemolytic anemia it is evident that premature destruction of red cells may result from corpuscular, that is, abnormalities of membrane, enzymes, or hemoglobin; or from extracorpuscular abnormalities, that is, immune or nonimmune mechanisms. An essential feature of hemolytic anemia is a reduction in the normal red cell survival of 120 days. The approach to the diagnosis of hemolytic anemia should include consideration of the clinical features suggesting hemolytic disease, laboratory demonstration of the presence of a hemolytic process, and determination of the precise cause of the hemolytic anemia by special hematologic investigations. Causes of hemolytic anemia due to corpuscular defects have also been listed in this chapter. Hereditary spherocytosis, elliptocytosis, stomatocytosis, acanthocytosis, xerocytosis and pyropoikilocytosis are diagnosed on the basis of their characteristic morphologic abnormalities. Enzyme defects and many hemoglobinopathies have nonspecific morphologic abnormalities related to secondary effects on red cell membrane proteins and pumps.
The effect of interface design on e-commerce web sites for product information learning and search performance

The e-commerce environment is emerging as a critical factor in a firm's success. Different web interface designs may determine whether firms keep or lose their customers. Web site design should allow customers to navigate and search product information naturally and with minimal cognitive effort. This study will suggest a cognitive process model of human users in transacting with the web site interface; it also will examine the effect of information search guidance in a web site on the understanding of the product and the acceptance of the Web information system. Declarative knowledge and production knowledge of a unified cognitive learning model will be investigated to explain how information is gained through web site navigation. Information search guidance in a web site will be objective web site characteristics (i.e., breadth and depth of hypertext structure), as well as subjectively perceived evaluation of the web site interface design. The current study also will investigate the effect of Web navigation experience on a user's attitudes and beliefs (i.e., self-efficacy, task support satisfaction, and interface satisfaction). The result of Partial Least Square (PLS) and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) analyses shows that declarative knowledge of the product is not significantly related to antecedent variables of web site interface attributes, nor to the dependent variables. Procedural knowledge, however, presents strong associations with interface design and web site system satisfaction and self-efficacy. Discussion about the results and conclusions is provided.
KCNQ1 Gene Variants in Large Asymptomatic Populations: Considerations for Genomic Screening of Military Cohorts.

ABSTRACT Introduction: The advances in genomic technology of large populations make the potential for genomic screening of military cohorts and recruits feasible, affording the potential to identify at-risk individuals before occurrence of potentially life-threatening events. Exploring sudden cardiac death, known to cause significant morbidity and mortality in young military service members, we focused on the most common gene associated with long QT syndrome (LQTS), KCNQ1. Materials and Methods: Using the publicly available database Exome Aggregation Consortium as a surrogate for a military population, variants in KCNQ1 were filtered on the basis of population prevalence, classification as a disease mutation in the Human Gene Mutation database, and classification as pathogenic or likely pathogenic in the ClinVar database. Variant prevalence and penetrance estimates were derived using reports from the medical literature. Results: We showed that in a population of over 60,000 individuals, at least 97 (0.2%)...
Upregulation of cathepsin C expression contributes to endothelial chymase activation in preeclampsia

Chymase is an ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme)-independent angiotensin II-forming enzyme whose expression is increased in the maternal vascular endothelium in preeclampsia. However, mechanisms underlying chymase activation in preeclampsia remain unclear. Cathepsin C is a key enzyme in the activation of several serine proteases including chymase. In this study, we determined whether increased cathepsin C expression/activity might be responsible for the upregulation of chymase expression in preeclampsia. Maternal vascular cathepsin C, chymase and ACE expression were examined through immunohistochemical staining of subcutaneous fat tissue sections of normal and preeclamptic pregnant women. The role of cathepsin C in endothelial chymase and ACE expression was determined in cells treated with cathepsin C. Consequences of chymase activation were then determined by measurement of angiotensin II production in cells treated with the ACE inhibitor captopril and the chymase inhibitor chymostatin, separately and in combination. Expression of both cathepsin C and chymase, but not ACE expression, was markedly increased in the maternal vascular endothelium in subjects with preeclampsia compared with normal pregnant controls. Exogenous cathepsin C induced a dose-dependent increase in expression of mature cathepsin C and chymase, but not ACE, in endothelial cells. Moreover, angiotensin II production was significantly inhibited in cells treated with captopril or chymostatin alone and was further inhibited in cells treated with both inhibitors. These results suggest that cathepsin C upregulation induces chymase activation and subsequently promotes angiotensin II generation in endothelial cells. These data also provide evidence of upregulation of the cathepsin C-chymase-angiotensin signaling axis in maternal vasculature in preeclampsia.
Lack of Apparent Survival Benefit With Use of Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Patients With High-risk Prostate Cancer Receiving Combined External Beam Radiation Therapy and Brachytherapy.

Purpose Although level 1 evidence has demonstrated a survival benefit from the addition of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for patients with high-risk prostate cancer, the benefits of ADT with combined EBRT and brachytherapy for high-risk patients are unclear. We examined the association between ADT and overall survival in a national cohort of high-risk patients treated with EBRT with or without brachytherapy. Methods and Materials We identified 46,325 men in the National Cancer Database with a diagnosis of high-risk prostate cancer (Gleason score 8-10, clinical stage T3-T4, or prostate-specific antigen >20 ng/mL) who were treated with EBRT with or without brachytherapy and ADT from 2004 through 2011. Multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusting for sociodemographic and clinicopathologic factors was used to identify the association between ADT and overall survival. Results The median follow-up period was 48.6 and 59.2 months for patients treated with EBRT only and combined modality RT, respectively. ADT was associated with an improvement in overall survival for the 85.0% (39,361) of the study cohort who underwent EBRT alone (adjusted hazard ratio 0.91, P =.001) but not for patients treated with combined modality RT (adjusted hazard ratio 1.05, P =.496), with a significant interaction ( P interaction =.036). Conclusions In contrast to the known survival benefit when ADT is given with EBRT, our results suggest that ADT might not improve survival for high-risk patients who undergo combined EBRT and brachytherapy. Given the significant adverse effects of ADT, in particular, with long-term therapy, a randomized controlled trial of combined EBRT and brachytherapy with or without ADT for select high-risk patients using a noninferiority design should be undertaken.
Metamaterial bessel beam radiator

A radiator is presented which employs an inhomogeneous dielectric region to generate Bessel beams over a broad bandwidth. The angle of the emerging Bessel beam remains constant over this bandwidth, allowing the emission of highly localized pulses called X waves. The design procedure and simulation results are outlined here. The metamaterial implementation and fabrication of the radiator are currently underway.
Exploring Secondary Science Teachers' Enactment of Assessment Practices to Reflect Responsive Science Teaching for English Learners

This study explored the enactment of formative assessment practices in 89 observed lessons across 15 middle and high school science teachers before and after they participated in workshops that coa...
Reforging the Steel City: Symbolism and Space in Postindustrial Pittsburgh:

With an eye to urban branding campaigns in global cities such as New York, in the 1970s and 1980s, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s public officials worked with local corporations and media outlets to ma...
Mechanical Modeling and Measurements on Fibrous Composites

The mechanical behavior of fiber-reinforced composite has been investigated theoretically and experimentally. As an example, ultrasonic leaky Lamb wave propagation has been studied in detail to assess the validity of the modeling. From measurements of the reflected acoustic field from composites plates over a range of incident angles, experimental velocity dispersion curves for Lamb wave modes have been constructed. Because of the high degree of elastic anisotropy of composite laminates, these modes display behavior not typically found in isotropic plates. The theoretical model, based on a continuum-mixture approach, is found to account remarkably well for the data.