cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effective medium approximation and the complex optical properties of the inhomogeneous superconductor K 0.8 Fe 2 − y Se 2

The in-plane optical properties of the inhomogeneous iron-chalcogenide superconductor ${\mathrm{K}}_{0.8}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{2\ensuremath{-}y}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ with a critical temperature ${T}_{c}=31\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ have been modeled in the normal state using the Bruggeman effective medium approximation for metallic inclusions in an insulating matrix. The volume fraction for the inclusions is estimated to be $\ensuremath{\simeq}10%$; however, they appear to be highly distorted, suggesting a filamentary network of conducting regions joined through weak links. The value for the plasma frequency ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{p,D}$ in the inclusions is much larger than the volume average, which when considered with the reasonably low values for the scattering rate $1/{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{D}$, suggests that the transport in the grains is always metallic. Estimates for the dc conductivity ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{dc}}$ and the superfluid density ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{s0}$ in the grains place the inclusions on the universal scaling line ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{s0}/8\ensuremath{\simeq}4.4{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{dc}}{T}_{c}$ close to other homogeneous iron-based superconductors.
Coanda flow over a circular cylinder with injection normal to the surface.

This paper describes an experimental investigation of a wall jet attached to a circular cylinder with radial injection. The injection, in amounts sufficient to produce separation and redirection of the wall jet, was made through one of several 0.014-in.-wide slits located every 30° on the cylinder surface. Both the attached wall jet and the injection jet were twodimensional incompressible. The working fluid used was air. The ratio of injection momentum at separation to the wall-jet momentum is found to be constant for a given initial wall-jet thickness b. The experiments show that this critical momentum ratio ranges from 0.27 for a small ratio of main slit width to cylinder radius b/a = 0.12, to zero for b/a = 0.518. Such momentum ratios appear to be on the opposite ends of two flow regions which meet when b/a = 0.344 for 30° injection. Here an unstable, switchlike area exists. The low injection requirements, high momentum amplification possible at large b/a could provide very efficient flow control in fluidics and VTOL craft.
Patient activation and use of an electronic patient portal.

Primary objective: Electronic patient portals give patients access to personal medical data, potentially creating opportunities to improve knowledge, self-efficacy, and engagement in healthcare. The combination of knowledge, self-efficacy, and engagement has been termed activation. Our objective was to assess the relationship between patient activation and outpatient use of a patient portal.Research design: Survey.Methods and procedures: A telephone survey was conducted with 180 patients who had been given access to a portal, 113 of whom used it and 67 of whom did not. The validated patient activation measure (PAM) was administered along with questions about demographics and behaviors.Results: Portal users were no different from nonusers in patient activation. Portal users did have higher education level and more frequent Internet use, and were more likely to have precisely 2 prescription medications than to have more or fewer.Conclusion: Patients who chose to use an electronic patient portal were not mor...
A distributed approach to integrated inquiry and display for radiology

Picture archive and communications (PACS) systems should be flexible and modular in design so that new advances in storage, computation, and display technology can be introduced into the system without a significant redesign of existing software. The acquisition, storage, and management of radiologic images must be carefully integrated with a radiology information system. Our architecture is based on a four-level data model: (1) patient information, (2) examination information and reports, (3) image information, and (4) instances of images. The PACS being developed at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology within the Electronic Radiology Laboratory consists of three primary components: application clients, database servers and image servers. One type of application client is an image-capable workstation that supports a radiology image viewing application. The application client queries the database server for information regarding patient and examination data in response to user-level requests. The database server responds to the request by retrieving the appropriate patient demographics and examination information, along with a pointer to the image/instance data from a central database. The client then uses the image data pointer to query the image server for the actual pixel data. The image server responds by transmitting the pixel data to the requesting application client or a designated auxiliary display device. Other clients act as image data acquisition nodes. Queries to the database servers are made via a library of callable subroutines. Software integrity is maintained throughout the system by dynamically loading software from a code-control database. Inquiry and display transactions, supported on a local-area network (Ethernet), have been measured and analyzed. Results and observations are presented.
Single-process expression and purification of multiple recombinant proteins through cocultivation and affinity purification

Multiple recombinant proteins can be expressed simultaneously by inoculating multiple seed cultures into a single growth medium and inducing protein expression at a single time point. Up to three recombinant proteins can be individually purified from such a mixed culture (cocultivation) through the use of a combination of a multihistidine and a modified intein as affinity tags and the Ni sepharose and chitin as affinity matrices. This method may facilitate the study of protein complexes by rapidly obtaining multiple protein components in a single process and may potentially increase the efficiency of recombinant protein production at research and industrial scales.
Health promotion and maintenance for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A review

Abstract A review of the literature revealed that the health of patients with COPD can be promoted by providing more organized and tailored sets of educational experiences. Compliance with medication-taking regimens can be improved by working with the patient to clarify specific expectations, responsibilities, and procedures. The establishment of a therapeutic alliance facilitates patient involvement in assuming responsibility for his or her self-care. A significant proportion of patients with COPD who smoke represent a potentially receptive audience for advice and instruction on smoking cessation 7by the physican and other health care providers. A number of educational-behavior strategies, in particular patient contracts, have been found effective in improving patient behavior. Physicians and other health professionals can facilitate these changes.
Comparative Lifetesting Results for Microchannel Plates in Windowless EUV Photon Detectors

Microchannel plates (MCP's) from seven manufacturers were subjected to a series of tests to determine their suitability for the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer satellite. Comparative data are presented for sixteen MCP tandem pairs with channel length to diameter ratios (I/d's) ranging from 40:1 to 60:1 and for two saturable (curved channel) MCP's with I/d's of 80:1. Results for MCP's with funnelled channel throats are also discussed. Properties of the MCP's which were monitored include: background count rate, output charge pulse height distribution (PHD), modal gain, PHD full width half maximum (FWHM), and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photon quantum efficiency. Five detectors were chosen for further lifetime testing consisting of a mild bake to 100°C, and charge extraction to 10-2 coulombs, repeated high voltage cycling and reexposure to one atmosphere conditions. The results of these tests and their implications for the flight detectors are discussed. Erratic events in the detector background were recorded, probably due to field emission from high voltage surfaces or the absorption of water vapor into the electrode following exposure to air. The steps taken to control the detector background are discussed.
Cavities in He-Implanted Si: “Internal” Surface Science

The concept of using internal cavities in semiconductors for surface studies is presented. The microstructures of He-implanted (001) Si are characterized with [110] cross-section TEM, which shows that internal areas 5–7 times that of the specimen front surface are achieved with 1×10 17 He/cm 2 implanted at 30 keV and annealed at 700 or 800°C. Examples using internal cavities to determine surface bond strengths of other elements adsorbed on Si are indicated. Facets on the cavities are used to examine the equilibrium crystal shape of Si and to measure the ratios of the surface free energies of the observed planes. The {111} planes have the lowest energy, and those of {001} and {110} are 1.09(7) and 1.07(3) times higher, respectively. We also find cavities in He-implanted Ge after annealing that can be used for similar studies.
Vaccination with a recombinant vaccinia virus encoding a “self” antigen induces autoimmune vitiligo and tumor cell destruction in mice: Requirement for CD4+ T lymphocytes

Many human and mouse tumor antigens are normal, nonmutated tissue differentiation antigens. Consequently, immunization with these “self” antigens could induce autoimmunity. When we tried to induce immune responses to five mouse melanocyte differentiation antigens, gp100, MART-1, tyrosinase, and tyrosinase-related proteins (TRP) 1 and TRP-2, we observed striking depigmentation and melanocyte destruction only in the skin of mice inoculated with a vaccinia virus encoding mouse TRP-1. These mice rejected a lethal challenge of B16 melanoma, indicating the immune response against TRP-1 could destroy both normal and malignant melanocytes. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for TRP-1 could not be detected in depigmented mice, but high titers of IgG anti-TRP-1 antibodies were present. Experiments with knockout mice revealed an absolute dependence on major histocompatibility complex class II, but not major histocompatibility complex class I, for the induction of both vitiligo and tumor protection. Together, these results suggest that the deliberate induction of self-reactivity using a recombinant viral vector can lead to tumor destruction, and that in this model, CD4+ T lymphocytes are an integral part of this process. Vaccine strategies targeting tissue differentiation antigens may be valuable in cancers arising from nonessential cells and organs such as melanocytes, prostate, testis, breast, and ovary.
Secondary prevention of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing elective surgery for peripheral arterial disease

The purpose of the study was to assess the implementation of secondary prevention guidelines of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients undergoing peripheral revascularization surgery. The design was a descriptive study of the prevalence of cardiac risk factors and preventive pharmacological therapy in vascular surgical patients set in an academic medical center between July 1996 and February 1999. A total of 237 patients were recruited, 82 (35%) having carotid surgery and 155 (65%) having lower extremity bypass. Data were collected from an existing database of a study examining perioperative cardiac events in vascular surgery patients. The majority of patients were hypertensive and 58% of patients had a blood pressure >140/90 mmHg. Most patients (81%) reported a history of tobacco use and 23% were active smokers. Of the 41% of patients who were diabetic, 46% had a random glucose >140 mg/dl. Half of the patients took aspirin, 35% a lipid-lowering medication, 30% a beta-blocker. Patients with lower extremity disease were less likely than patients with carotid disease to be on aspirin (45% vs. 62%), a lipid-lowering agent (30% vs. 45%), or a beta-blocker (26% vs. 39%) (all p<0.05). Of patients with heart disease, more men than women were on aspirin (62% vs. 45%) (p<0.05). In conclusion, our findings suggest that patients presenting for vascular surgery have a high prevalence of modifiable CAD risk factors that are not being adequately managed. Preoperative examination of vascular patients is an important opportunity to assess and implement neglected secondary prevention measures.
The Command and Control System Dilemma

The only long-range solution to the increasing requirement for spectrum space and the radio frequency interference problem involves: 1) careful equipment engineering to eliminate spurious signal generation and equipment susceptibility to spurious signals, and 2) conservation and efficient use of the RF spectrum as a natural resource. This means system design to require a minimum of spectrum use. With communicating, sensing, and other services competing for spectrum, spurious-signal problems with equipment are receiving much attention, but the requirements for, or contributed value of, the device generating or being affected by the spurious signal are seldom considered. The RFI reduction to be obtained through pursuit of good system design for efficient spectrum use and minimum spectrum requirement is illustrated.
Glycan family analysis for deducing N-glycan topology from single MS

Motivation: In the past few years, mass spectrometry (MS) has emerged as the premier tool for identification and quantification of biological molecules such as peptides and glycans. There are two basic strategies: single-MS, which uses a single round of mass analysis, and MS/MS (or higher order MSn), which adds one or more additional rounds of mass analysis, interspersed with fragmentation steps. Single-MS offers higher throughput, broader mass coverage and more direct quantitation, but generally much weaker identification. Single-MS, however, does work fairly well for the case of N-glycan identification, which are more constrained than other biological polymers. We previously demonstrated single-MS identification of N-glycans to the level of ‘cartoons’ (monosaccharide composition and topology) by a system that incorporates an expert's detailed knowledge of the biological sample. In this article, we explore the possibility of ab initio single-MS N-glycan identification, with the goal of extending single-MS, or primarily-single-MS, identification to non-expert users, novel conditions and unstudied tissues. Results: We propose and test three cartoon-assignment algorithms that make inferences informed by biological knowledge about glycan synthesis. To test the algorithms, we used 71 single-MS spectra from a variety of tissues and organisms, containing more than 2800 manually annotated peaks. The most successful of the algorithms computes the most richly connected subgraph within a ‘cartoon graph’. This algorithm uniquely assigns the correct cartoon to more than half of the peaks in 41 out of the 71 spectra. Contact: goldberg@parc.com Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Updated limits on TeV-scale gravity from the absence of neutrino cosmic ray showers mediated by black holes

We revise existing limits on the D-dimensional Planck scale MD from the nonobservation of microscopic black holes produced by high energy cosmic neutrinos in scenarios with D = 4+n large extra dimensions. Previous studies have neglected the energy radiated in gravitational waves by the multipole moments of the incoming shock waves. We include the effects of energy loss, as well as form factors for black hole production and recent null results from cosmic ray detectors. For n ≥ 5, we obtain MD > 1.0 − 1.4 TeV. These bounds are among the most stringent and conservative to date.
Intake diagnoses: How representative?☆☆☆

Abstract Nine hundred fifty-four subjects were evaluated at intake using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS) together with all other available information. A current and a lifetime diagnosis were made using the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC). A second RDC diagnosis was made at discharge for inpatients and at two months for outpatients. The results indicate a high degree of diagnostic stability between the intake and the update diagnoses, not only for current conditions but for lifetime conditions as well, although alertness to the development of mania or hypomania is warranted in patients who are admitted with depression. This supports the stability of intake diagnostic evaluations, especially when they are reached by the careful use of inclusion and exclusion criteria.
A Fast Iterative Method for Computing Particle Beams Penetrating Matter

Beams of microscopic particles penetrating matter are important in several fields. The application motivating our parameter choices in this paper is electron beam cancer therapy. Mathematically, a steady particle beam penetrating matter, or a configuration of several such beams, is modeled by a boundary value problem for a Boltzmann equation. Grid-based discretization of this problem leads to a system of algebraic equations. This system is typically very large because of the large number of independent variables in the Boltzmann equation (six if time independence is the only dimension-reducing assumption). If grid-based methods are to be practical at all, it is therefore necessary to develop fast solvers for the discretized problems. This is the subject of the present paper. For two-dimensional, mono-energetic, linear particle beam problems, we describe an iterative domain decomposition algorithm based on overlapping decompositions of the set of particle directions and computationally demonstrate its rapid, grid independent convergence. There appears to be no fundamental obstacle to generalizing the method to three-dimensional, energy dependent problems.
Channeling computations for low energy (25–2500 eV) helium in tungsten

Abstract Calculations show that at energies where the critical approach distance becomes equal to about half the channel radius, the channeling half angle deviates from Lindhard's angle ψ 2 . For He in W 〈100〉 it reaches a maximum at 200 eV and drops to 0 at 35 eV, in accordance with recent measurements [4].
Advances in First-Principles Studies of Transducer Materials

We have used first-principles linear response calculations and molecular dynamics to study the relaxor ferroelectric Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 -xPbTiO 3 (PMN-x PT). First-principles calculations for ordered PMN show a low-symmetry monoclinic ground state. A new set of phase transitions to lower symmetry rhombohedral and monoclinic structures is predicted for PT at high pressures, showing predicted piezoelectric response as high as is seen in the giant coupling relaxor ferroelectrics. We have developed a transferable shell-model potential for PMN-x PT by fitting to first-principles data. The potential qualitatively reproduces the compositional phase diagram for PMN-x PT. A new exchange-correlation potential, which gives excellent predictions for ferroelectric materials, is discussed.
Adaptive core selection and migration method for multicast routing in mobile ad hoc networks

Several multicast protocols such as Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) (Deering et al., 1996) and Core-Based Trees (CBT) (Ballardie et al., 1993) use the notion of group-shared trees. The reason is that construction of minimal-cost tree spanning all members of the multicast group is expensive, hence these protocols use a core-based group-shared tree to distribute packets from all the sources. A core-based tree is a shortest-path tree rooted at some core node. The core node is also referred to as a center node or a rendezvous point. Core nodes may be chosen from some preselected set of nodes or some heuristics may be employed to select core nodes. We present distributed core selection and migration protocols for mobile ad hoc networks with dynamically changing network topology. Most protocols for core selection in static networks are not suitable for ad hoc networks, since these algorithms depend on knowledge of entire network topology, which is not available or is too expensive to maintain in an ad hoc network with dynamic topology. The proposed core location method is based on the notion of median node of the current multicast tree instead of the median node of the entire network. The rationale is that the mobile ad hoc network graphs are in general sparse and, hence, the multicast tree is a good approximation of the entire network for the current purpose. Our adaptive distributed core selection and migration method uses the fact that the median of a tree is equivalent to the centroid of that tree. The significance of this observation is due to the fact that the computation of a tree's centroids does not require any distance information. Mobile ad hoc networks have limited bandwidth which needs to be conserved. Hence, we use the cost of multicast tree as the sum of weights of all the links in the tree, which signifies the total bandwidth consumed for multicasting a packet. We compare the cost of shortest-path tree rooted at the tree median, Cost/sub TM/, with the cost of shortest-path tree rooted at the median of the graph, Cost/sub GM/, which requires complete topology information to compute. A network graph model for generating random ad hoc mobile networks is developed to perform this comparison. The simulation results show that for large size networks, the ratio Cost/sub TM//Cost/sub GM/ lies between 0.8 to 1.2 for different multicast groups. Further, as the size of the multicast group increases the ratio approaches 1.
Temporal- and Spatial-Scale Dependence of Three CMIP3 Climate Models in Simulating the Surface Temperature Trend in the Twentieth Century

AbstractMotivated by increasing interests in regional- and decadal-scale climate predictions, this study systematically analyzed the spatial- and temporal-scale dependence of the prediction skill of global climate models in surface air temperature (SAT) change in the twentieth century. The linear trends of annual mean SAT over moving time windows (running linear trends) from two observational datasets and simulations by three global climate models [Community Climate System Model, version 3.0 (CCSM3.0), Climate Model, version 2.0 (CM2.0), and Model E-H] that participated in CMIP3 are compared over several temporal (10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, and 50-yr trends) and spatial (5° × 5°, 10° × 10°, 15° × 15°, 20° × 20°, 30° × 30°, 30° latitudinal bands, hemispheric, and global) scales. The distribution of root-mean-square error is improved with increasing spatial and temporal scales, approaching the observational uncertainty range at the largest scales. Linear correlation shows a similar tendency, but the limited observ...
Permanent Tenure and Academic Freedom in Engineering

The tenure system exists in most public and private universities and 4-year public colleges in the United States. The American Association of University Professors has argued that tenure provides the most reliable means of assuring academic freedom, faculty quality, and educational excellence. However, budgetary constraints and the end of mandatory retirement in the ’90s have resulted in questioning the merits of the tenure system. It is argued that tenure entrenches a lazy professoriate, encourages the creation of temporary faculty positions, and supports research over teaching. This article examines the tenure system as practiced in engineering institutions in the United States because engineering faculty serve as an interesting case study of 21st-century technology and 19th-century values. It illuminates issues underlying the tenure system beyond the traditional justification of academic freedom.
Back to the basics of anti-predatory vigilance: the group-size effect

Abstract A negative relationship between group size and levels of individual vigilance is widespread in socially feeding vertebrates. The main explanation of this ‘group-size effect’, the many-eyes hypothesis, is based on the simple premise that as group size increases, there are progressively more eyes scanning the environment for predators. Thus an individual forager can devote less time to vigilance (and more time to feeding) as group size increases without any lessening of the group's ability to detect an attack. Basic to this hypothesis is the assumption of collective detection: that all members of the group are alerted to an attack as long as it is detected by at least one individual. In addition, an important presumption associated with the many-eyes hypothesis is that individuals monitor the vigilance behaviour of their groupmates in determining their own level of vigilance. Neither the idea of collective detection nor behavioural monitoring received strong support in an experimental study of vigilance in mixed flocks of dark-eyed juncos, Junco hyemalis, and American tree sparrows, Spizella arborea. The lack of support for behavioural monitoring was particularly evident; however, some degree of collective detection was apparent. It is possible that anti-predatory rules-of-thumb may explain the group-size effect while keeping intact the basics of the many-eyes hypothesis.
Modeling of Environmental Effects on Thermal Detection of Subsurface Damage in Concrete

A significant form of deterioration in concrete is corrosion of embedded reinforcing steel that can cause subsurface delaminations and spalling. Infrared thermography can be used to detect delaminations based on variations in surface temperature that are caused by the disruption of the heat flow through the delaminated area. The surrounding environmental conditions such as sunlight, ambient temperature variation, and wind speed are critical for heat transfer, and as such the technology depends on these environmental conditions. This paper describes a numerical model developed to predict thermal contrasts for subsurface delaminations based on a given set of environmental conditions surrounding the concrete. The finite element method (FEM) was used to perform 3-D nonlinear transient heat-transfer analysis of a large concrete block with embedded Styrofoam targets intended to provide an idealized model of subsurface delaminations. The effectiveness of the modeling was evaluated by comparing the thermal contra...
A note on permutation modulation

Slepian (1962) observed that the code points in an n-dimensional variant-1 permutation modulation code actually lie in an n-1-dimensional subspace. In this correspondence, a change of coordinates which gives the representation explicitly in n-1 dimensions is derived. Slepian's optimum decoding algorithm can be adapted to the codes in this form using an idea of Biglieri and Elia (1976).
A Pacific Moisture Conveyor Belt and Its Relationship to a Significant Precipitation Event in the Semiarid Southwestern United States

Abstract In this study the term moisture conveyor belt (MCB) is defined as an elongated band of enhanced poleward water vapor fluxes (WVFs) above the PBL that is rooted in the Tropics. This new terminology is illustrated through an exemplary detailed case study of an MCB over the northeastern Pacific during 9–13 November 2003 that provides the moisture for a significant precipitation event in the dry southwestern United States. The analysis of the involved moisture transports and dynamics comprises both Eulerian and Lagrangian approaches, and is based upon output from a simulation with the University of Wisconsin-Nonhydrostatic Modeling System, as well as analysis data, surface observations, and satellite images. The formation of the MCB is related to a quasi-stationary upper-level cutoff low (COL) resulting from a wave-breaking event over the North Pacific. A pronounced upper-tropospheric baroclinic zone and a strong, inertially unstable subtropical jet (STJ) are found to the east of the COL, where at la...
Alternative Mate‐locating Tactics in Chlosyne californica (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

Two different mate-locating tactics coexist within the California patch butterfly (Chlosyne californica): territorial defence of perch sites on hilltops and non-territorial patrolling of slopes and washes. Patrolling males were observed only during periods of high population density. At these times, some marked individuals used both tactics, indicating that they possessed the behavioural flexibility to practice either hilltop territoriality or downslope patrolling. Downslope patrolling was not simply a ‘making-the-best-of-a-bad-job’ option for males unable to secure territories. First, patrollers were not smaller on average than territorial males. Second, downslope patrollers typically became most numerous several hours after the hilltopping territorial males peaked in density. In the late morning and midday when patrollers predominated, temperatures were relatively high (perhaps facilitating patrolling flight) and foraging females (some of which were sexually receptive) were much more abundant. Patrolling is therefore likely to be a mate-locating supplement to hilltopping rather than an inferior substitute for it.
An assessment in vitro of the sealing properties of Calciobiotic Root Canal Sealer

Summary. An assessment in vitro of the sealing properties of a calcium hydroxide based root canal sealer was compared with that of a zinc oxide-eugenol based sealer. Electrochemical analysis of the leakage patterns revealed that both sealers exhibited leakage, with the calcium hydroxide sealer showing a stabilized or decreased pattern of leakage over time.
Toggle PRM: Simultaneous mapping of C-free and C-obstacle - A study in 2D -

Motion planning is known to be difficult. Probabilistic planners have made great advances, but still have difficulty for problems that require planning in narrow passages or on surfaces in C space . This work proposes Toggle PRM, a new methodology for PRMs that simultaneously maps both free and obstacle space. In this paper, we focus on 2 DOF problems and show that mapping both spaces leads to increased sampling density in narrow passages and to improved overall efficiency as compared to previous sampling based approaches.
Using The Jeopardy Game To Enhance Student Understanding Of Accounting Information Systems (AIS) Exam Material

Accounting research has included many suggestions for increasing active learning in the classroom. These include journal writing, role-playing and playing games (Haywood, McMullen, and Wygal 2004). The use of games in class is an effective tool to stimulate interest, reduce boredom, and enhance learning among the students. The popular TV game show “Jeopardy!” was employed to review students for an undergraduate accounting information systems (AIS) exam. Pre/post test results reflect a significant increase in the students’ understanding of AIS exam material that was covered. Overall the students agreed that the game was enjoyable and requested that they be able to review for other exams in a similar manner.
Latino Mother/Daughter Dyadic Attachment as a Mediator for Substance Use Disorder and Emotional Abuse.

To date, no studies have investigated emotional abuse of adult Latina women by their mothers despite evidence that emotional maternal abuse may significantly contribute to the emotional abuse experienced by Latina women in their lifetime. Cross-sectional data including 316 women was analyzed using mediation and logistic regression. Overall, 7.1 % of mothers and 24.1 % of daughters abused drugs; and, 19.5 % of daughters were emotionally abused by their mothers. Mother’s attachment to her daughter mediated the association between mother’s drug abuse and emotionally abusing her adult daughter (indirect effect: 0.863). Latina women can serve as perpetrators of emotional abuse of their adult children. Since drug-abusing daughters are more likely to be victims of emotional abuse by their mothers and drug-abusing mothers are more likely to abuse their daughters, drug-rehabilitation practitioners should incorporate a family abuse component into rehabilitation programs.
Evolution of Crystal Orientation in Obliquely Deposited Magnesium Nanostructures for Hydrogen Storage Applications

Crystal orientation (texture) is an important parameter in the hydrogen absorption and desorption properties of various materials. In this study, we investigate the formation of magnesium nanorod arrays with crystal orientations that are not normally observed in conventional Mg thin films. Mg nanorods are produced using an oblique angle deposition technique through a physical self-assembly process. In this study sputtering and thermal evaporation systems are utilized for the growth of Mg nanorods and thin films on silicon wafer pieces. We present a detailed X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis. It is discussed that under oblique incidence, evolution of crystal orientations with lower adatom mobility are promoted due to the shadowing effect.
Growth Morphology of InN Thin Films by Scanning Tunneling and Atomic Force Microscopies and X-Ray Scattering

The evolution of the growth morphology of thin films of InN on (00.1) sapphire and on (00.1) sapphire prenucleated by a layer of A1N have been followed as a function of the thickness of the InN overlayer. The InN thin films and the AlN nucleation layers were deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering and first characterized by X-ray scattering, profilometry, and electrical transport. These AlN-nucleated InN films displayed heteroepitaxial grains, and high Hall mobility–even in the limit of InN overlayer on the order of 20–40A. In parallel, InN films of varying thickness were grown directly onto (00.1) sapphire. These films showed a mixture of textured and heteroepitaxial grains, and lower Hall mobility. Atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopy studies have focussed on the morphology of the InN films with thicknesses: (a) much smaller than the AlN nucleation layer; and, (b) near the morphological transition that occurs at ~lµm and has been attributed to the crossover from a 2D to a 3D growth mechanism. Additional correlations of X-ray structural coherence with growth mode are also examined.
Direct Machining of Low-Loss THz Waveguide Components With an RF Choke

We present results for the successful fabrication of low-loss THz metallic waveguide components using direct machining with a CNC end mill. The approach uses a split-block machining process with the addition of an RF choke running parallel to the waveguide. The choke greatly reduces coupling to the parasitic mode of the parallel-plate waveguide produced by the split-block. This method has demonstrated loss as low as 0.2 dB/cm at 280 GHz for a copper WR-3 waveguide. It has also been used in the fabrication of 3 and 10 dB directional couplers in brass, demonstrating excellent agreement with design simulations from 240-260 GHz. The method may be adapted to structures with features on the order of 200 μm.
Texas Leaf-Cutting Ant Controlled With Pelleted Mirex Baiet

A pelleted bait containing 0.45% mirex plus soybean oil in a citrus-pulp carrier gave excellent control of the Texas leaf-cutting ant, Atta texana (Buckley), in all seasons. The minimum dosage is approximately 1 g per mound, broadcast over the central nest area plus a 20-foot peripheral zone.
Use of Anabolic Steroids to Attenuate the Effects Glucocorticoids on the Rat Diaphragm

Background and Purpose. Administration of glucocorticoids results in atrophy and contractile dysfunction in the rat diaphragm. Anabolic steroids may be useful in preventing atrophy and contractile dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of simultaneous administration of testosterone and glucocorticoids on morphological and contractile properties of the rat diaphragm. Subjects. Eighty-eight adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 1 of 4 groups: a control group that was given sham injections for 13 days (CONT group, n=23), a group that was given prednisolone injections (0.5 mg/100 g) for 10 days (PRED group, n=23), a group that was given testosterone injections (0.5 mg/100 g) for 13 days (TEST group, n=18), and a group that was given a combination of prednisolone and testosterone injections (0.5 mg/100 g) for 10 and 13 days, respectively (COMBO group, n=23). Methods. The animals were weighed daily, and drug doses were adjusted to changes in body mass. Twenty-four hours following the final injection, animals were weighed and sacrificed and the diaphragm was removed and weighed. A small strip of diaphragm was attached to a force transducer to determine normalized maximal isometric tetanic tension (PO). Results. Body weights in the PRED group were decreased by 26% as compared with body weights in the CONT group, and body weights in the COMBO group were decreased by 11% as compared with body weights in the CONT group. Diaphragm weights in the PRED and COMBO groups were decreased by 22% and 12%, respectively, as compared with diaphragm weights in the CONT group. Normalized maximal isometric tetanic tension was decreased by 11% in the PRED group as compared with PO in both the CONT and TEST groups and was decreased by 13% as compared with PO in the COMBO group. There was no difference in PO among the CONT, TEST, and COMBO groups. Discussion and Conclusion. The results support the hypothesis that simultaneous administration of testosterone with glucocorticoids would prevent a decrease in PO. The results indicate that simultaneous administration of testosterone with glucocorticoids prevented the loss in body weight and partially attenuated the loss in diaphragm weight that is commonly observed when glucocorticoids are given alone. These data support the notion that testosterone may be useful in the prevention of glucocorticoid-induced atrophy.
Daily Fluctuations in Everyday Cognition: Is It Meaningful?

Objective: This study examined whether there are daily fluctuations in everyday cognition that are consistent with daily fluctuations often observed in traditional measures of basic cognitive abilities. Method: Two hundred six independently living older adults (age range = 60-91 years) were asked to complete a computerized cognitive battery over eight occasions within a 2- to 3-week period. Results: Using multilevel model, significant within-person variability was observed across the Daily Everyday Cognition Assessment (DECA; 46%), with 54% between-person variability. At each occasion, better performance on the DECA was significantly associated with better performance on simple reaction time ( p < .01) and memory (Auditory Verbal Learning Task, p < .01) even after accounting for time, age, education, and performance on other cognitive measures. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that within-person performance fluctuations can be observed for everyday cognition tasks, and these fluctuations are consist...
In vitro follicle growth supports human oocyte meiotic maturation

In vitro follicle growth is a potential approach to preserve fertility for young women who are facing a risk of premature ovarian failure (POF) caused by radiation or chemotherapy. Our two-step follicle culture strategy recapitulated the dynamic human follicle growth environment in vitro. Follicles developed from the preantral to antral stage, and, for the first time, produced meiotically competent metaphase II (MII) oocytes after in vitro maturation (IVM).
Acute Renal Carbuncle

A renal carbuncle (cortical abscess) is an important and treatable consideration in the differential diagnosis of renal mass lesions. Diagnosis is accomplished using a combination of clinical, urographic, arteriographic and ultrasonographic findings. Ultrasound is an accurate and less invasive alternative to arteriography. Needle aspiration of the abscess contents may give a bacteriologic diagnosis. Non-surgical treatment with antibiotics alone may be curative. Five cases are presented, and clinical and radiologic features are reviewed.
New Spain, new Spaniards: European, democratic, and multi-cultural

Few things changed in the immediate aftermath of the Bourbon restoration of 1975. Most of the political figures who had served in the last years of the Franco regime continued to serve under King Juan Carlos, including Carlos Arias Navarro, the prime minister. The continuity dismayed Spaniards and outsiders hoping for dramatic change, but it provided stability and reassurance for Spaniards who feared change and the disruption it might bring. Newspapers and magazines debated the future of Spain in serious articles and political cartoons alike. The new daily newspaper El Pais began as a voice for change, strongly allied to the still clandestine Socialist Party but aiming to provide analysis rather than polemic. Farther to the left, the weekly magazine Cambio16 emerged as a harsher critic of the government and its continuity with the Franco regime. Beneath the surface, however, the king and his close advisers prepared to transform Spanish political life. Inadvertently, the assassins of Admiral Carrero Blanco in 1973 had made a transition toward democracy easier, removing a powerful opponent of change. One of the first indications of that transformation occurred seven months after Juan Carlos came to the throne. Carlos Arias met with the king on July 1, 1976, at the latter's request, and resigned as prime minister after the meeting. Arias had taken on a difficult and thankless task two and a half years earlier and had presided over the administration during a crucial period.
Locating Governmentality in the Spread of Educational Leadership

Over the past 25 years or so, global trends such as site-based management, decentralization, and, more recently, accountability, have brought increasing attention to the school leadership sector. Previously, the focus of national improvement efforts and the interests of international development were located in the teaching sector and/or the structural aspects of schooling (i.e. student enrollments, provision of books, etc.).
Pinyon and Juniper Encroachment into Sagebrush Ecosystems Impacts Distribution and Survival of Greater Sage-Grouse☆,☆☆

ABSTRACT In sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystems, encroachment of pinyon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus spp.; hereafter, “pinyon-junipeRR) trees has increased dramatically since European settlement. Understanding the impacts of this encroachment on behavioral decisions, distributions, and population dynamics of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and other sagebrush obligate species could help benefit sagebrush ecosystem management actions. We employed a novel two-stage Bayesian model that linked avoidance across different levels of pinyon-juniper cover to sage-grouse survival. Our analysis relied on extensive telemetry data collected across 6 yr and seven subpopulations within the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment (DPS), on the border of Nevada and California. The first model stage indicated avoidance behavior for all canopy cover classes on average, but individual grouse exhibited a high degree of heterogeneity in avoidance behavior of the lowest cover class (e.g., scattered i...
COMPARATIVE TAPHONOMY OF THE MAMMALIAN REMAINS FROM THE CABBAGE PATCH BEDS OF WESTERN MONTANA (RENOVA FORMATION, ARIKAREEAN): CONTRASTING DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS AND SPECIMEN PRESERVATION

The study of faunal change through time in the fossil record requires a careful assessment of the potential biases introduced by the filtering of death assemblages by depositional environments and other agents of accumulation such as predators. The investigation of taphonomy of the mammalian remains from the Arikareean-aged Cabbage Patch beds of western Montana reported here used both sedimentological evidence and characteristics of the preservation of the fossil specimens to test two hypotheses regarding their preservation pattern: (1) the pattern of faunal change through the section is not a product of differences in the preservation of fossils and (2) the taphonomic characteristics of fossil specimens are linked to the environments in which they were preserved. The interpretation of the sedimentological data, combined with the analyses of the taphonomic filtering of mammalian fossils, suggests that the attritional accumulation of fossils in floodplain settings was the result of predator activity, attrition, and local reworking by fluvial processes. The fossils from these deposits experienced little transport. Moreover, despite complexities in the dataset, select specimen characteristics, including size, shape, and surface modifications, can be linked to the depositional environments determined from sedimentological data. The fossils recovered from a high energy deposit of the lower Cabbage Patch are significantly different from those found in low energy deposits. These low depositional energy fossil assemblages appear to be sufficiently taphonomically similar to be used in faunal analyses despite a change in postmortem filtering through the section.
Effects of Bisphosphonate Administration on Cleft Bone Graft in a Rat Model.

Objective: Bone grafts in patients with cleft lip and palate can undergo a significant amount of resorption. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bisphosphonates (BPs) on the success of bone grafts in rats. Design: Thirty-five female 15-week-old Fischer F344 Inbred rats were divided into the following experimental groups, each receiving bone grafts to repair an intraoral CSD: (1) Graft/saline: systemic administration of saline and (2) systemic administration of zoledronic acid immediately following surgery (graft/BP/T0), (3) 1 week postoperatively (graft/BP/T1), and (4) 3 weeks postoperatively (graft/BP/T2). As an additional control, the defect was left empty without bone graft. Main Outcome Measures: Microcomputed tomography and histologic analyses were performed in addition to evaluation of osteoclasts through tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. Results: Bone volume fraction (bone volume/tissue volume) for the delayed BP treatment groups (graft/BP/T1 = 45.4% ± 8.8%; graf...
Longitudinal samples of bacterial genomes potentially bias evolutionary analyses

Samples of bacteria collected over a period of time are attractive for several reasons, including the ability to estimate the molecular clock rate and to detect fluctuations in allele frequencies over time. However, longitudinal datasets are occasionally used in analyses that assume samples were collected contemporaneously. Using both simulations and genomic data from Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus mutans, Campylobacter jejuni, and Helicobacter pylori, we show that longitudinal samples (spanning more than a decade in real data) may suffer from considerable bias that inflates estimates of recombination and the number of rare mutations in a sample of genomic sequences. While longitudinal data are frequently accounted for using the serial coalescent, many studies use other programs or metrics, such as Tajima9s D, that are sensitive to these sampling biases and contain genomic data collected across many years. Notably, longitudinal samples from a population of constant size may exhibit evidence of exponential growth. We suggest that population genomic studies of bacteria should routinely account for temporal diversity in samples or provide evidence that longitudinal sampling bias does not affect conclusions.