cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discount rates and risky sexual behaviors among teenagers and young adults

This article examines the relationship between personal discount rates and sexual behaviors in a sample of teenagers and young adults. We find that higher discount rates (an indication of less willingness to forego current consumption for future consumption) are significantly associated with a range of sexual behaviors, including ever having sex, having sex before age 16 years, and past or current pregnancy. These associations are consistent with previous studies showing a link between discounting and other, non-sexual health behaviors.
2 Corinthians: Implied Readers and Canonical Implications

Treating 2 Corinthians as a composite letter from earlier letters or fragments raises some challenges to the interpretive relevance of almost exclusive historical-critical reconstruction of original fragments and of the hypothetical history of epistolary exchange between Paul and the Corinthian churches. If 2 Corinthians is composite, the original Sitz im Leben of each of the fragments no longer applies to the later and different audience of the combined '2 Corinthians'. The situation of the intended audience of the composite letter is actually closer to the canonical setting of later and different audiences reading these letters as part of their Bibles, than to the historical- critically reconstructed original Corinthian audiences of the individual fragments or letters. As do later canonical readers, so did the audience for whom the composite letter was first created have to re-actualize and apply analogously as paradigms and examples for their later situations the historically explicit original issues b...
AIDS: Predicting the Next Map

In modeling the AIDS epidemic, the geographic dimensions have been totally ignored, partly as a result of ignorance, partly from an exaggerated and unreasoned concern for confidentiality. For both educational intervention animated cartography for television and health planning expanding already overstressed facilities, it is necessary to predict the next maps, not just numbers down the time line. Spatial adaptive filtering, combined with parametric tracking, searches out and employs both spatial and temporal structure in x, y, t series, producing geographic forecasts with greatly reduced error terms compared to conventional approaches.
Emergency Physicians' and Nurses' Attitudes towards Alcohol-Intoxicated Patients

Abstract Background Emergency physicians and nurses are frequently dissatisfied professionally when treating alcohol-intoxicated patients, and have negative attitudes towards this patient population and alcohol rehabilitation. Study Objectives The goal of this study is to examine differences in attitudes between emergency physicians and nurses towards alcohol-intoxicated patients. Methods This single-site survey study evaluated emergency physicians' and nurses': 1) attitudes of personal professional satisfaction and dissatisfaction when caring for intoxicated patients; 2) attitudes towards the difficulty in caring for alcohol-intoxicated patients; 3) attitudes towards respect of the alcohol-intoxicated patient; 4) attitudes towards the adequacy of training in caring for intoxicated patients; 5) attitudes towards rehabilitation and counseling of alcohol-intoxicated patients. Results Physicians were less satisfied and more dissatisfied than nurses when caring for alcohol-intoxicated patients. Physicians found treating alcohol-intoxicated patients more difficult than nurses did. Physicians were more likely to agree that alcohol-intoxicated patients should be treated with respect. Physicians felt more adequately trained than nurses in caring for alcohol-intoxicated patients. Nurses were more likely to believe that alcohol-related rehabilitation is ineffective compared with physicians. Both nurses and physicians refer alcohol-intoxicated patients to rehabilitation to a similar extent. Conclusions Emergency physicians and nurses have similar attitudes but significant differences in the extent of these attitudes towards the care of the alcohol-intoxicated patient.
Experimental left atrial thrombus and human atrial myxoma.

Abstract Experimental left atrial thrombus was produced in dogs after a Surgicel ball was sutured at the fossa ovalis. Serial cineangiocardiographic studies showed that the experimentally induced atrial thrombus progressively decreased in size, and the gross and histological studies revealed that it absorbed over 4–6 months after the induction. The histochemical examinations showed no glycosaminoglycans 2 weeks after the implantation of the experimental atrial thrombus. In the 1 month or older experimental atrial thrombus, accumulation of glycosaminoglycans became demonstrable first around the suture material and later in the remnants of the absorbed experimental atrial thrombus. These glycosaminoglycans in the 1- to 2-month-old thrombus reacted like hyaluronic acid and chondroitin-4 or chondroitin-6 sulfates; in the older experimental thrombus the reactivity of glycosaminoglycans suggested also the appearance of dermatan, heparan, or keratan sulfates. The histochemical examination of the human atrial myxomas, on the other hand, showed that their ground substance contained PAS-positive glycoproteins in which small islands of glycosaminoglycans reacted like hyaluronic acid and chondroitin-4 or chondroitin-6 sulfates.
A General Framework of Multivariate Wavelets with Duals

Abstract A comprehensive development of multivariate wavelets along with their duals is presented in this paper. The basic ingredients, such as duality relations, reconstruction and decomposition formulas, and the notion of infinite direct sums, are formulated and established in the general nonorthogonal and multivariate setting. Special emphases include duality criteria and stability conditions. As an application, new results are contributed, particularly in dual wavelets, to the existing literature on low-dimensional wavelets. In addition, the special case when the dilation matrix has determinant 2 is studied in some detail.
sentences in the language prison: the rhetorical structuring of an American language policy debate

The anti-bilingual movement in the United States is a status movement, but a simple “status politics” analysis does not fully capture its dynamics. Such movements are neither homogeneous nor merely reflective of social structure, but express internal ambivalence and organize sociopolitical change through rhetorical processes. I analyze texts produced in San Francisco's 1983 campaign against bilingual ballots in order to account for the initiative's broad appeal. Rhetorical tropes and recurring themes shift the target of the campaign to aspects of political process of which a wide spectrum of Americans are suspicious, projecting fears onto outsiders and constructing a familiarly benevolent meaning for the initiative.[American politics, language policy, status movements, discourse analysis, ideology]
TAM's Application: E-service Quality Study in Online Apparel Store

The percentage of U.S. consumers shopping and purchasing through the Internet is growing. The consumer has adapted to using the Internet to purchase products and retailers have profited from this new channel. Little is known about how a website provides competitive advantage to a retailer and what makes a website appealing to consumers. In order to address the gap in research that exists regarding why and how consumers identify with online apparel retailers, the purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between e-service quality (e.g., efficiency, fulfillment, and system availability) and consumer-company identification for online information search and purchase behavior.
THE COMPLEX BINDING OF γ‐AMINOBUTYRIC ACID TO A RAT BRAIN SYNAPTIC MEMBRANE PREPARATION

The association of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) with rat brain synaptic membranes is complex and involves more than one set of binding sites. This fact is suggested by the form of experimentally determined binding curves and confirmed by the destruction of one set of homogenous sites by covalent modifications with iodine. The difference in binding of GABA by two sets of membranes which have been exhaustively iodinated in the presence and absence of an excess of GABA corresponds to 1/6 of the binding expressed by uniodinated membranes after equilibration with 0.25 μm-GABA. This difference appears to be the result of the expression of a homogeneous set of independent sites, each of which contains an iodinatable'residue that is protected by bound GABA. Examination of the factors leading to the retention of radioactive ligand by a synaptic membrane preparation is suggestive of a method for determining the maximum number of binding sites for a given ligand and for evaluating solution space without displacing the bound species or adding a presumably inert tracer. Three additional measurements of retention of high ligand concentration are shown to be sufficient for the determination. Employment of the method facilitates the investigation of the interaction of the membrane preparations with individual agonists and antagonists.
Quantitative analysis of breast cancer tissue microarrays shows high cox-2 expression is associated with poor outcome.

Epidemiologic and preclinical studies suggest that cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) may promote tumor growth and spread by affecting angiogenesis and apoptosis in breast cancer. Using a tissue microarray (TMA), we analyzed the expression and subcellular localization of Cox-2 by AQUA and X-tile, our algorithms for quantitative analysis of protein expression and determination of optimal cutpoints. Our TMA consisted of 669 Stage I–III primary breast cancers. The total tumor and subcellular expression of Cox-2 were then correlated with clinicopathologic factors and with survival. Cox-2 expression appeared higher in malignant than in benign tissue and was predominantly membrane/cytoplasmic (i.e. non-nuclear). X-tile determines an optimum cutpoint on a training set then uses this cutpoint on a validation set. This cutpoint was 19.3 (top 44 percent defined as positive) with high nonnuclear Cox-2 expressers having significantly worse survival. Cox-2 expression also was inversely associated with estrogen receptor (ER) and...
Implications of the intermediate mass black hole in globular cluster G1 on dark matter detection

Recently there has been growing evidence in favor of the presence of an intermediate mass black hole in the globular cluster G1, in Andromeda Galaxy. Under the assumption that formation of this globular cluster occurred within a dark matter halo, we explore whether the presence of a black hole could result in an observable gamma ray signal due to dark matter annihilation in this globular cluster. Starting from an initial Navarro-Frenk-White matter profile, with density parameters consistent with G1 observations, we find that indeed, if the spike in the density has been formed and has survived until the present, the signal could be observed by GLAST and current atmospheric Cerenkov telescope detectors.
Patient communication simulation laboratory for students in an acute care nurse practitioner program

BACKGROUND Effective communication skills for clinical practice are essential for all advanced practice nurses. However, competence in these skills is not necessarily intuitive. Advanced communication skills should be taught in a way that is similar to the way other psychomotor skills in advanced nursing practice programs are taught. OBJECTIVES To develop a patient communication simulation laboratory for the acute care nurse practitioner program at a major university and to evaluate students' perceived confidence and communication effectiveness before and immediately as well as 4 months after completion of the laboratory. METHODS The communication simulation laboratory was developed in collaboration with faculty from the schools of nursing and medicine. Students participated in a didactic session and then completed a 2-hour communication simulation in the laboratory. Content and simulation concentrated on breaking "bad news," empathetic communication, motivational interviewing, and the "angry" patient. Students' self-reported confidence and perceived skill in communication were measured via a Likert scale before, immediately after, and 4 months after completion of the laboratory simulation. Students also evaluated the experience by responding to open-ended questions. RESULTS Compared with baseline findings (before the lecture and simulation), students' confidence in initiating difficult conversations increased significantly both immediately (P<.001) and 4 months after (P=.001) the laboratory simulation. Students' self-ratings of overall ability to communicate were also significantly greater immediately (P<.001) and 4 months (P=.001) after the simulation. Overall, students rated the laboratory simulation experience highly beneficial. CONCLUSIONS The content and methods used for the simulation improved students' confidence and perceived skill in communication in potentially difficult acute care situations.
Mechanics of a Porous Web Moving Over a Cylindrical Guide

A model for analyzing the interfacial conditions of a porous web moving over a cylindrical rigid guide is presented. This problem is different from the classical foil bearing problem due to the fact that the air can diffuse through the porous web itself. A micromechanics model is used to express the web porosity as a function of the fiber volume fraction of the web. Darcy’s law is used to account for the air flow and pressure drop across the web thickness, and a new modified Reynolds equation is derived to model the airflow in the web-guide interface. The porous web is modeled as a moving cylindrically curved beam, and the solid-body contact between the web and the guide is modeled using an asperity compliance function. The governing equations are nondimensionalized and important nondimensional parameters are identified. The coupled nonlinear steady-state system is solved using a modified Newton-Raphson algorithm. The traction characteristics of the web are presented for different porosity levels, asperity height, and compliance. @S0742-4787~99!00102-8#
Prognostic significance of serial Q/ST-T changes by the Minnesota Code and Novacode in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study

Aims: To compare the value of serial electrocardiographic (ECG) changes by the two most widely used ECG classifi- cation systems-the Minnesota Code (MC) and Novacode (Nova) for the prediction of subsequent coronary heart disease (CHD) and total mortality. Methods and results: We studied 12-lead ECGs from 12,477 participants (average age 54 years at baseline; 58% women; 76% non-Hispanic white) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, who were free of CHD at baseline in 1987, had both good-quality ECGs at baseline and at first study-scheduled follow-up visit, and had ECG QRS duration <120 ms. A total 2119 participants died (17%), including 280 CHD deaths during an average 17-year follow up. Cox regression models assessed outcome associated with significant serial ECG changes by MC and Nova separately. For CHD death the hazard ratio was 6.8 (95% CI 3.5-13.3) for incident Nova myocardial infarction (MI), and 5.7 (95% CI 2.7-11.9) for MC-MI in a multivariable model adjusted for clinical and demographic characteristics, and ECG left ven- tricular hypertrophy. The increased risk for total mortality doubled for both Nova and MC serial ECG MI. Major evolving ST-T wave abnormalities alone were associated with a � 132% increased risk for CHD death and a 50% increased risk for total mortality by either Nova or MC. Conclusion: ECG serial change by both MC and Nova are equally valuable predictors for future fatal cardiac events and total mortality and hence equally useful prognostic indicators in clinical trials and epidemiological studies.
When good evidence goes bad: The weak evidence effect in judgment and decision-making

An indispensable principle of rational thought is that positive evidence should increase belief. In this paper, we demonstrate that people routinely violate this principle when predicting an outcome from a weak cause. In Experiment 1 participants given weak positive evidence judged outcomes of public policy initiatives to be less likely than participants given no evidence, even though the evidence was separately judged to be supportive. Experiment 2 ruled out a pragmatic explanation of the result, that the weak evidence implies the absence of stronger evidence. In Experiment 3, weak positive evidence made people less likely to gamble on the outcome of the 2010 United States mid-term Congressional election. Experiments 4 and 5 replicated these findings with everyday causal scenarios. We argue that this "weak evidence effect" arises because people focus disproportionately on the mentioned weak cause and fail to think about alternative causes.
Increased Mutation Frequency in Redox-Impaired Escherichia coli Due to RelA- and RpoS-Mediated Repression of DNA Repair

Balancing of reducing equivalents is a fundamental issue in bacterial metabolism and metabolic engineering. Mutations in the key metabolic genes ldhA and pflB of Escherichia coli are known to stall anaerobic growth and fermentation due to a buildup of intracellular NADH. We observed that the rate of spontaneous mutation in E. coli BW25113 (DeltaldhA DeltapflB) was an order of magnitude higher than that in wild-type (WT) E. coli BW25113. We hypothesized that the increased mutation frequency was due to an increased NADH/NAD(+) ratio in this strain. Using several redox-impaired strains of E. coli and different redox conditions, we confirmed a significant correlation (P < 0.01) between intracellular-NADH/NAD(+) ratio and mutation frequency. To identify the genetic basis for this relationship, whole-genome transcriptional profiles were compared between BW25113 WT and BW25113 (DeltaldhA DeltapflB). This analysis revealed that the genes involved in DNA repair were expressed at significantly lower levels in BW25113 (DeltaldhA DeltapflB). Direct measurements of the extent of DNA repair in BW25113 (DeltaldhA DeltapflB) subjected to UV exposure confirmed that DNA repair was inhibited. To identify a direct link between DNA repair and intracellular-redox ratio, the stringent-response-regulatory gene relA and the global-stress-response-regulatory gene rpoS were deleted. In both cases, the mutation frequencies were restored to BW25113 WT levels.
Scaling distributed energy storage for grid peak reduction

Reducing peak demand is an important part of ongoing smart grid research efforts. To reduce peak demand, utilities are introducing variable rate electricity prices. Recent efforts have shown how variable rate pricing can incentivize consumers to use energy storage to cut their electricity bill, by storing energy during inexpensive off-peak periods and using it during expensive peak periods. Unfortunately, variable rate pricing provides only a weak incentive for distributed energy storage and does not promote its adoption at scale. In this paper, we present the storage adoption cycle to describe the issues with incentivizing energy storage using variable rates. We then propose a simple way to address the issues: augment variable rate pricing with a surcharge based on a consumer's peak demand.The surcharge encourages consumers to flatten their demand, rather shift as much demand as possible to the low-price period. We present PeakCharge, which includes a new peak-aware charging algorithm to optimize the use of energy storage in the presence of a peak demand surcharge, and use a closed-loop simulator to quantify its ability to flatten grid demand as the use of energy storage scales. We show that our system i) reduces upfront capital costs since it requires significantly less storage capacity per consumer than prior approaches, ii) increases energy storage's ROI, since the surcharge mitigates free riding and maintains the incentive to use energy storage at scale, and iii) uses aggregate storage capacity within 18% of an optimal centralized system.
Slant Perception in Near Space is Categorically Biased: Evidence for a Vertical Tendency

The geographical slants of hills are known to appear quite exaggerated. Here, we examine the visual and haptic perception of the geographical slant of surfaces within reach under full-cue conditions and show that the perceived orientation of even these surfaces is biased. An exaggeration with respect to deviations from horizontal is shown to be present cross-modally. Experiment 1 employed numerical estimation to show the effect for visually observed surfaces, while controlling for verbal numerical bias. Experiment 2 demonstrated that the bias is present even when manual measures show good calibration. Experiment 3 controlled for direction of gaze. Experiment 4 measured the same bias for haptic surfaces. Experiment 5 showed that the bias can also be observed using the nonnumeric task of angle bisection. These results constrain theories of geographical slant perception and appear most consistent with functional scale expansion of deviations from horizontal.
Freeze duration influences postfreeze survival in the frog Rana sylvatica.

Survival, cryoprotection. and the time course for recovery of vital functions werc studied in autumn-collected juvenile wood frogs (.Rono s;-luctl.ica) fbllowing freezing at -1.5'C fbr various periods. Frogs rcadily tolerated freezing fbr 3 or 9 d, but only 50% survived a 28-d freez- ing trial. Generally, the postfreeze return of vital functions (vascular circulation, pulmonary breath- ing, righting teflex, jumping reflex) occurred later in frogs frozen fbr longer periods. Augmenting endogenous ievels of the cryoprotcclant glucose (via injections) prior to freezing substantially increased freeze endurancc, as thcsc frogs had excellent survival after remaining Irozen fbr as long as 49 d. The improved freeze endurance of glucose-loaded frogs apparently was not associ- ated with a reduction ir-r ice content but rather may reflcct the greater availability of energy substrate needed to support rnetabolism of'{iozen ischemic tissues. J. Hxp. Zool. 280:197-201, 199E. o 1998 Wilev-Liss, Inc.
Issues with contact defect test structures

The design of contact defect test structures is described. The results from measurements of polysilicon contact defect test structures on a series of wafer lots are given. The different types of yield models used for yield projections are also described. Even if an open contact does occur in an isolation transistor, for example, it is shown that the isolation integrity remains essentially unchanged. >
The impact of emerging technologies on military radio communications

A number of emerging radio communication technologies which promise to enhance contemporary military radio communications capability significantly are examined. Networking is seen as a mechanism for achieving greater connectivity, availability, and reliability in a tactical environment. Developments are reported, such as fast parameter estimation, adaptive link control, and network quality of service negotiation, which together indicate that such networks are potentially viable. >
Tests of hypotheses on the adaptive value of an extended male phase in the hermaphroditic shrimp Lysmata wurdemanni (Caridea : Hippolytidae)

Hypotheses on delayed sex change in the protandric simultaneous hermaphrodite Lysmata wurdemanni were tested with observations from population samples, mating experiments, and experiments on sex change under optimal and suboptimal breeding conditions. Male-phase individuals (MPs) much larger than the minimum size of sex change were most frequent in a natural population from fall through early spring. The hypothesis was tested that some MPs delay sex change to the simultaneous hermaphrodite female-phase (FP) because MPs are more competitive in obtaining copulations with parturial FPs than are FPs mating as males (MFPs). In different experiments, parturial FPs were maintained with two potential male mating partners (large MP and MFP, small MP and MFP, large MP and small MP) through the parturial molt and spawning; activities were recorded with time-lapse video. MFPs gained the single copulation with the parturial FP as frequently as MPs, large or small, but large MPs copulated with more FPs than small MPs. The hypothesis of FP reversion to large MP was tested experimentally and rejected. Rate of change of MP to FP was much lower in large MPs maintained under suboptimal (fall/winter) than optimal (spring/summer) breeding conditions. The results presented here suggest that the occurrence of large MPs from the fall to early spring is better explained by abiotic proximate factors related to breeding than by socially mediated sex change in different demographic environments.
Cassini Orbit Trim Maneuvers at Saturn - Overview of Attitude Control Flight Operations

The Cassini spacecraft has been in orbit around Saturn since July 1, 2004. To remain on the planned trajectory which maximizes science data return, Cassini must perform orbit trim maneuvers using either its main engine or its reaction control system thrusters. Over 200 maneuvers have been executed on the spacecraft since arrival at Saturn. To improve performance and maintain spacecraft health, changes have been made in maneuver design command placement, in accelerometer scale factor, and in the pre-aim vector used to align the engine gimbal actuator prior to main engine burn ignition. These and other changes have improved maneuver performance execution errors significantly since 2004. A strategy has been developed to decide whether a main engine maneuver should be performed, or whether the maneuver can be executed using the reaction control system.
Toward orientation-independent design for gas recombination in closed-loop electroosmotic pumps

Direct current operation of electroosmotic pumps consumes water and generates electrolysis gas bubbles that can block the working electrode and build up pressure in the pump housing. The formation of the electrolysis gases can degrade pump performance and can lead to failure. Although catalysts have been used to recombine the electrolytic gases, current designs are sensitive to orientation relative to gravity making them inappropriate for many portable applications. Here we propose a gas recombination system design that operates independent of pump orientation. The design uses Nafion-sheathed electrodes, a catalyst chamber, and an osmotic membrane to capture and recombine electrolytic gases as well as return the liquid recombination products to the electrolyte reservoir. The pump was tested for 24 h at six major orientations with constant current fluxes. The measured gas chamber pressures and applied pump potentials suggest that the recombination system is functional at all orientations for driving currents of 3 mA and less. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A Site‐Specific Seismological Model for Probabilistic Seismic‐Hazard Assessment

Abstract Seismic site characterization requires large numbers of ground‐motion records, and such datasets are rarely available. Seismological models are generally used to enrich the existent sets of earthquake records with artificial ground acceleration time histories. The specific barrier model (SBM) is an earthquake source model that, as an integrating part of a seismological model, produces spectral densities of the ground‐motion process as a function of the moment magnitude m and source‐to‐site distance r . It is calibrated to regional records and, therefore, may only provide partial information on the site seismic characteristics. We propose a statistical update of the seismological model, constructed with the SBM such that it accounts for the site observations. A parametric probabilistic model is sought for the SBM spectral densities, and a Bayesian framework is used to statistically update it to local records. This new, enhanced version of the seismological model is used to simulate any number of ground‐motion samples and perform site‐specific probabilistic seismic‐hazard analyses (PSHAs). A numerical example of the PSHA calculations using the statistically updated seismological model is shown for a site in southern California. Online Material: MATLAB scripts to calculate basis functions, and parameter update.
An unseen foe in arthropod conservation efforts: The case of Wolbachia infections in the Karner blue butterfly

Abstract Infection by endosymbiotic bacteria is an underappreciated threat to endangered arthropods with serious implications for captive management programs. We examined the nature of Wolbachia infection in the North American endangered Karner blue butterfly, Lycaeides melissa samuelis , as a case study. Screening for Wolbachia across the range of the species confirmed widespread infection in the western half of the Karner blue’s range. Multilocus sequence typing using six genes confirmed that the infection in the western populations is attributable to a single strain of Wolbachia . This strain was also detected in the closely related Melissa blue butterfly, L. m. melissa , the presumed source of the infection. The infection in the Karner blue butterfly was perfectly correlated with the presence of a foreign mitochondrial DNA variant present in the Melissa blue butterfly, consistent with the hypothesis that the mitochondrial introgression was driven by the spread of Wolbachia . A single individual out of 71 screened from the eastern portion of the range of the Karner blue butterfly was also infected, however this infection was attributable to a different strain. Simulation models of the demographic effects of the spread of Wolbachia infection to uninfected populations and metapopulations suggest that such an infection might further reduce already small population sizes and substantially increase the probability of population extirpation. We discuss threats to other endangered arthropods in the light of this case study and make recommendations for minimizing the impact of endosymbiont infections in conservation plans, especially those including captive propagation and augmentation of endangered arthropod populations.
Folding Trp-cage to NMR resolution native structure using a coarse-grained protein model.

We develop a coarse-grained protein model with a simplified amino acid interaction potential. Using this model, we perform discrete molecular dynamics folding simulations of a small 20-residue protein—Trp-cage—from a fully extended conformation. We demonstrate the ability of the Trp-cage model to consistently reach conformations within 2-Abackbone root- mean-square distance from the corresponding NMR structures. The minimum root-mean-square distance of Trp-cage confor- mations in simulations can be , 1A ˚ . Our findings suggest that, at least in the case of Trp-cage, a detailed all-atom protein model with a molecular mechanics force field is not necessary to reach the native state of a protein. Our results also suggest that the success of folding Trp-cage in our simulations and in the reported all-atom molecular mechanics simulation studies may be mainly due to the special stabilizing features specific to this miniprotein.
African Americans Against the Bomb: Nuclear Weapons, Colonialism and the Black Freedom Movement

Historians have often viewed the nuclear disarmament movement, much like the environmental movement, as the province of white activists. Vincent J. Intondi, in African Americans against the Bomb: N...
Population ecology of the gulf ribbed mussel across a salinity gradient: recruitment, growth and density

Benthic intertidal bivalves play an essential role in estuarine ecosystems by contributing to habitat provision, water filtration, and promoting productivity. As such, changes that impact population distributions and persistence of local bivalve populations may have large ecosystem level consequences. Recruitment, growth, mortality, population size structure and density of the gulf coast ribbed mussel, Geukensia granosissima, were examined across a salinity gradient in southeastern Louisiana. Data were collected along 100-m transects at interior and edge marsh plots located at duplicate sites in upper (salinity ~4 psu), central (salinity ~8 psu) and lower (salinity ~15 psu) Barataria Bay, Louisiana, U.S.A. Growth, mortality and recruitment were measured in established plots from April through November 2012. Mussel densities were greatest within the middle bay (salinity ~8) regardless of flooding regime, but strongly associated with highest stem densities of Juncus roemerianus vegetation. Mussel recruitment, growth, size and survival were significantly higher at mid and high salinity marsh edge sites as compared to all interior marsh and low salinity sites. The observed patterns of density, growth and mortality in Barataria Bay may reflect detrital food resource availability, host vegetation community distribution along the salinity gradient, salinity tolerance of the mussel, and reduced predation at higher salinity edge sites.
Political Discipline and the Dynamic Consistency of Policy

Positive analyses of the credibility constraint in policy often neglect the fact that political incentive constraints are also relevant in understanding observed policies. With a focus on government tax and spending policies, this paper identifies an important and positive role for political constraints given that the credibility constraint is binding.
Investigation of the Factor Structure of the Comprehensive Test of Nonverbal Intelligence–Second Edition (CTONI-2) Using Exploratory Factor Analysis

The present study examined the structure of the Comprehensive Test of Nonverbal Intelligence–Second Edition (CTONI-2) normative sample using exploratory factor analysis, multiple factor extraction criteria, and higher-order exploratory factor analytic techniques that were not reported in the in the CTONI-2 Examiner’s Manual. Results indicated that retention of the hypothesized CTONI-2 measurement model resulted in several theoretically inconsistent factor loadings, low factor loadings, and the retention of impermissible factors (e.g., factors with no salient loadings). Hierarchical exploratory analyses with the Schmid and Leiman procedure found that the second-order g factor accounted for large portions of total and common variance, in contrast to the two first-order factors that accounted for small portions of dimensional variance. Results suggest that the CTONI-2 provides a strong measure of general intelligence and clinical interpretation should be limited to that level of the measurement instrument.
Laplace transform solution of conjugate heat and mass transfer in falling film absorption process

Abstract In this study, the conjugate heat and mass transfer process taking place during the absorption of a refrigerant vapor into a falling liquid film is analyzed using the Laplace transform method. The Laplace transform method has been previously utilized to model the process but under a uniform velocity profile assumption. Here, a more realistic linear velocity profile is employed. The results suggest that the uniform velocity profile assumption overestimates the refrigerant concentration across the liquid film, and underestimates the temperature profile and the vapor absorption rate. Overall, the uniform velocity profile assumption can result in up to 30% error in calculating the absorption rate. Using the new model, the effect of different flow parameters on the absorption rate has been studied. The efficacy of the model is demonstrated through comparison with various experimental and numerical results reported in the literature. The analytical solution developed in the present study provides a simple, fast and accurate approach for calculating the absorption rate at different operating conditions and fluid properties.
Application of item response theory to tests of substance-related associative memory.

In the past two decades, implicit memory and cognition approaches have gained substantial popularity in addiction and health behavior research. Focusing on the role of spontaneously activated cognitions on behavior (Stacy & Wiers, 2010, Wiers & Stacy, 2006), researchers have examined automatic/implicit cognitive processes at different levels of analysis, ranging from attention (e.g., Bradley, Field, Mogg, & De Houwer, 2004, Mogg & Bradley, 2002) to memory (e.g., Krank & Goldstein, 2006, Stacy, 1995, 1997) and attitude (e.g., Chassin, Presson, Sherman, Seo, & Macy, 2010, Huijding, de Jong, Wiers, & Verkooijen, 2005, Houben, Havermans, & Wiers, 2010) by using various indirect tests of implicit cognitive processes related to addictive and health behaviors (see Ames, Grenard, Thush, Sussman, Wiers & Stacy, 2007, Stacy, Ames, & Grenard, 2006, Stacy & Wiers, 2010, for review). A recent meta-analysis examining the relationship between substance-related implicit cognition and substance use revealed that the substance-related implicit word association test (WAT) was the best predictor of substance use with the largest effect size (mean r = .38) among other implicit measures (Rooke, Hine, & Thorsteinsson, 2008). Although studies have reported good reliability of WAT (Ames et al., 2007, Preece, 1978), to the best of our knowledge, no comprehensive psychometric evaluations of WAT have been conducted in research on addiction, cognition, or memory. The current study extends previous research by applying a comprehensive item response theory framework to understand and improve the psychometric properties of WAT items and estimation of underlying latent traits of alcohol- and marijuana-related associative memory.
Computer Simulations of the Chessboard-Like Microstructure Formation in Decomposing Alloys

The mechanism of formation of a chessboard-like structure observed during coherent decomposition in alloys with several orientation variants of the precipitate phase is considered. It is based on the accommodation of coherency strain achieved by spatial rearrangement of orientation variants of the precipitate phase in an optimal pattern. The computational model of precipitation of the ordered tetragonal phase, based on the continuum stochastic field kinetic equations for the composition and lro parameters profiles, is formulated. Its numerical solution describes the spatial and temporal evolution of the microstructure, from nucleation to coarsening. It is shown that the chessboard-like microstructure is produced by strain-driven, self-assembling of orientation variants of the precipitate phase, faceted by the planes normal to the elastically soft directions. Coarsening of such microstructures occurs by consequent disappearance of entire rows of ‘tiles’ in the pattern.
Abstract 4995: Tumor-dervied gammadelta regulatory T cells suppress innate and adaptive immunity through the induction of immunosenescence.

Fundamentally understanding the suppressive mechanisms utilized by different subsets of tumor-infiltrating regulatory T (Treg) cells is critical for the development of effective strategies for anti-tumor immunotherapy. Gammadelta Treg cells have recently been identified in human diseases including in cancer patients. However, the suppressive mechanisms and functional regulations of this new subset of unconventional Treg cells are largely unknown. In the current studies, we explored the suppressive mechanism(s) utilized by human breast tumor-derived gammadelta Treg cells on innate and adaptive immunity. We found that gammadelta Treg cells induced immunosenescence in targeted naive and effector T cells, as well as dendritic cells (DCs). Furthermore, senescent T cells and DCs induced by gammadelta Treg cells had altered phenotypes and developed potent suppressive activities, further amplifying the immunosuppression mediated by gammadelta Treg cells. In addition, we demonstrated that manipulation of TLR8 signaling in gammadelta Treg cells can block gammadelta Treg-induced conversion of T cells and DCs into senescent cells in vitro and in vivo. Our studies identify the novel suppressive mechanism mediated by human tumor-derived gammadelta Treg cells on innate and adaptive immunity, which should be critical for development of strong and innovative approaches to reverse the tumor suppressive microenvironment and improve effects of immunotherapy. This work was supported by the grant from the American Cancer Society (RSG-10-160-01-LIB). Key words: gammadelta T cells; Regulatory T cells; Dendritic cells; Senescence; Immune suppression Citation Format: Jian Ye, Chunling Ma, Eddy C. Hsueh, Yanping Zhang, Mark A. Varvares, Daniel F. Hoft, Guangyong Peng. Tumor-dervied gammadelta regulatory T cells suppress innate and adaptive immunity through the induction of immunosenescence. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4995. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4995
Capacity optimization method of storage energy system in distributed generation and micro grid

The function and operation characteristic of energy storage system(ESS) is different in distributed genera-tion and micro grid. ESS capacity was introduced for distributed generation and micro grid. Considering the charge-discharge characteristic of ESS, the optimal power capacity and energy capacity of battery energy storage system and battery/super-capacitor hybrid energy storage system was analyzed specifically.
Application of Markov Chain in the prediction of technical personnel size in petroleum enterprises

According to the characteristic of Markov property in the numerical change of all levels of technical personnel of petroleum enterprises,this paper predicts the numerical change trend of technical personnel.Based on the keystone of Markov Chain,the paper sets up the prediction model for technical personnel of petroleum enterprises,and predicts the technical personnel number of 2008-2010 of certain petroleum enterprises.
Instability of Work Roller Caused by Friction in Cold Strip Mill and Its Countermeasure

The vertical vibration and lengthways vibration of work roller in cold strip mill caused by friction is qualitative analyzed. The damage result from the frictional vibration is pointed out. The countenneasure that can restrain the unsteady of work roller is given.
Automatic Formalization of Clinical Practice Guidelines

Current efforts aim to incorporate knowledge from clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) into computer systems using sophisticated interchange formats. Due to their complexity, such formats require expensive manual formalization work. This paper presents a preliminary study of using natural language processing (NLP) to automatically formalize CPG recommendations. We developed a CPG representation using concepts from the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine – Clinical Terms (SNOMED–CT), and manually applied this representation to a sample of CPG recommendations that is representative of multiple medical domains and recommendation types. Using this resource, we trained and evaluated a supervised classification model that formalizes new CPG recommendations according to the SNOMED–CT representation, achieving a precision of 75% and recall of 42% (F1 = 54%). We have identified two important lines of future investigation: (1) feature engineering to address the unique linguistic properties of CPG recommendations, and (2) alternative model formulations that are more robust to processing errors. A third line of investigation – creating additional training data for the NLP model – is shown to be of little utility.
A new theory of electric conductivity

This theory proposes that electric conductivity, metallic or otherwise, ohmic or superconducting, is simply the result of electron density moving through atomic and molecular orbital overlaps in material bodies. The theory argues that electron density moves without resistance (is superconducting) while it is contained within extended quantum mechanical (QM) states which are constructed so that the electron wave function does not experience reflections at any interface. The theory states that ohmic conduction results when the electron wave function does experience reflections at QM interfaces, and requires the continuous external application of electromotive force (EMF) to overcome those reflections and maintain an electric current.
Preoperative Belladonna and Opium Suppository for Ureteral Stent Pain: A Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Study.

Objective To investigate whether the use of a belladonna and opium (B&O) rectal suppository administered immediately before ureteroscopy (URS) and stent placement could reduce stent-related discomfort. Methods A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was performed from August 2013 to December 2014. Seventy-one subjects were enrolled and randomized to receive a B&O (15 mg/30 mg) or a placebo suppository after induction of general anesthesia immediately before URS and stent placement. Baseline urinary symptoms were assessed using the American Urological Association Symptom Score (AUASS). The Ureteral Stent Symptom Questionnaire and AUASS were completed on postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, and after stent removal. Analgesic use intraoperatively, in the recovery unit, and at home was recorded. Results Of the 71 subjects, 65 had treatment for ureteral (41%) and renal (61%) calculi, 4 for renal urothelial carcinoma, and 2 were excluded for no stent placed. By POD3, the B&O group reported a higher mean global quality of life (QOL) score ( P = .04), a better mean quality of work score ( P = .05), and less pain with urination ( P = .03). The B&O group reported an improved AUASS QOL when comparing POD1 with post-stent removal ( P = .04). There was no difference in analgesic use among groups ( P = .67). There were no episodes of urinary retention. Age was associated with unplanned emergency visits ( P P = .02) Conclusion B&O suppository administered preoperatively improved QOL measures and reduced urinary-related pain after URS with stent. Younger age was associated with severe stent pain and unplanned hospital visits.
The Complexity of the k-means Method

The k-means method is a widely used technique for clustering points in Euclidean space. While it is extremely fast in practice, its worst-case running time is exponential in the number of data points. We prove that the k-means method can implicitly solve PSPACE-complete problems, providing a complexity-theoretic explanation for its worst-case running time. Our result parallels recent work on the complexity of the simplex method for linear programming.
Manifestaciones neurológicas de la infección por el virus zika

Zika virus is a flavivirus transmitted via mosquito bite, blood transfusion, sexual intercourse or from mother-to-child during gestation. Although neurologic complications of Zika virus infection are rare, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is the most common manifestation and typically develops soon after the initial systemic manifestations of Zika virus infection. This syndrome typically starts in the distal limbs with symmetric sensory abnormalities and progresses to involve weakness and decreased or absent deep tendon reflexes. Severe cases may also involve respiratory and cardiovascular impairment requiring care in an intensive care unit, and ventilator or circulatory support. A review of 166 published cases of GBS associated with Zika virus is notable for lower mortality than seen with sporadic GBS, but limited data regarding long-term outcome. When available, treatment with intravenous IgG (IVIg) or plasmapheresis, can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.
Porosity dependence of powder compaction constitutive parameters: Determination based on spark plasma sintering tests

Abstract The modeling of powder compaction process, such as spark plasma sintering (SPS), requires the determination of the visco-plastic deformation behavior of the particle material including the viscosity moduli. The establishment of these parameters usually entails a long and difficult experimental campaign which in particular involves several hot isostatic pressing tests. A more straightforward method based on the coupled sinter-forging and die compaction tests, which can be easily carried out in a regular SPS device, is presented. Compared to classical creep mechanism studies, this comprehensive experimental approach can reveal the in situ porous structure morphology influence on the sintering process.