cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Histochemical and elemental localization of calcium in the granular cell subapical granules of the amphibian urinary bladder epithelium.

The ultrahistochemical analysis of apical granules in the epithelial cells, i.e., granular cells, of the amphibian urinary bladder using the N,N-naphthaloylhydroxylamine procedure identified the presence of calcium in these structures. Subsequent analytical microscopy employing fresh-frozen ultrathin cryosections for X-ray microanalysis of the granules further confirmed the above histochemical findings. In addition to calcium, elemental analysis indicated the presence of magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, potassium, and chlorine either within or in close proximity to the granules. The possibility that these granules function as subcellular compartments for the uptake and storage of calcium ions, in a way similar to mitochondria, and thus function in intracellular calcium homeostasis, is discussed. Additionally, a role for this cation in the secretion of granular glycoproteins, i.e., stimulus-secretion coupling, is hypothesized.
Gender moderates the self-regulatory consequences of suppressing emotional reactions to sexism:

This study examined whether members of low-status, stigmatized groups are less susceptible to the negative cognitive consequences of suppressing their emotional reactions to prejudice, compared wit...
Style and the value of gay nightlife: Homonormative placemaking in San Francisco:

Reductionist conceptions of gay nightlife and the neighbourhoods they anchor have obscured their diversity amid claims of gentrification or displacement. The divergent trajectories of San Francisco’s three gay bar districts present a natural experiment to specify the relationship between gay placemaking and urban processes. In 1999, each neighbourhood anchored distinct stylistic practices but by 2004, one had collapsed, another became stylistically mixed, while the youngest expanded and became homogenous. In that neighbourhood a particular gay style and mainstream cosmopolitanism converged, spatially institutionalising what queer theorists call ‘the new homonormativity’ comprising sexual discretion, mainstream political assimilation and boutique consumerism. Adherence to this particular gay style conferred spatial capital, allowing cosmopolitans, gay and straight, to literally ‘take place’ anywhere, while nonconformist gays lost their places. Contrary to popular and academic claims, not all gay places are...
Relationships Among the Level of Response to Alcohol and the Number of Alcoholic Relatives in Predicting Alcohol-Related Outcomes

Background: The low level of response (LR) to alcohol is related to a family history (FH) of alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and each predicts alcohol-related outcomes. Few studies have evaluated the interrelationships between the number of alcoholic relatives, LR, and a range of alcohol-related outcomes. This study tests the hypotheses that there will be an inverse relationship between LR and FH and that LR will be a better predictor of the maximum quantity of alcohol consumed. Methods: Data were extracted from personal interviews with 376 males from 20 years of follow-up in the San Diego Prospective Study. Level of response had been established at about age 20 through alcohol challenges in this population, about half of whom had at least one alcoholic relative. Face-to-face follow-ups with both the subjects and additional informants were carried out 10, 15, and 20 years later. These analyses used correlations and regressions to evaluate the relationship between the 2 major predictors (FH and LR) and 5 alcohol-related outcomes over 20 years of follow-up. Results: As predicted, the alcohol challenge-based LR correlated significantly with the number of alcoholic relatives (up to −0.17 for subjects with clearly high and low LR scores). Each of the 2 predictors correlated with the 5 outcomes, including the maximum quantity of alcohol consumed since original testing, maximum frequency, nondiagnostic alcohol-related problems, the number of 11 DSM-IV (Fourth Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) abuse and dependence items, and having developed alcohol abuse or dependence. In hierarchical regression analyses, LR contributed significantly to the prediction of all 5 outcomes, even when considered in the context of FH, with only LR predicting drinking quantity and frequency, but both items adding to the prediction of alcohol-related problems and diagnoses. These results were not affected by the intensity of usual drinking when LR had been measured at age 20. Conclusions: Both FH and LR contributed to a range of alcohol-related outcomes, with LR alone significantly predicting maximum quantity and frequency in regression analyses.
Atomic nanofabrication of periodic structures

Metastable helium has 20 eV of internal energy that destroys a resist assembled on a wafer. An optical standing wave was used to channel and focus the He* atoms into lines separated by λ /2.
Ocean research under foreign jurisdiction.

In more than one-fourth of recent cases, U.S. marine scientists desiring to work off the shores of other countries were denied access or encountered inordinate delays in approval of their requests. The regime for marine scientific research proposed in the draft text of the Convention on the Law of the Sea may alleviate some difficulties but will not change the predominant influence of political considerations on decisions affecting clearance for research.
Investigation of Elevated Fear-Avoidance Beliefs for Patients With Low Back Pain: A Secondary Analysis Involving Patients Enrolled in Physical Therapy Clinical Trials

Study Design Secondary analysis. Objective To investigate the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) for its ability to predict 6-month outcomes in patients with low back pain (LBP) participating in physical therapy clinical trials. Background Consistent evidence suggests that fear-avoidance beliefs are predictive of short-term outcomes for patients with LBP. However, proposed cut-off scores have not been widely investigated for longer-term outcomes in samples of patients receiving physical therapy. Methods and Measures Subjects (n = 160) were participants in 2 separate randomized trials that used standard methodology and investigated the efficacy of physical therapy interventions for LBP. Subjects completed baseline measures of pain, disability, fear-avoidance beliefs, and physical impairment. They completed 4 weeks of randomly assigned physical therapy and were reassessed at 6 months with standard examination techniques. The accuracy of previously proposed cut-offs for elevated FABQ scores were det...
Altered Balance of Activity in the Striatal Direct and Indirect Pathways in Mouse Models of Huntington's Disease

Imbalance in the activity of striatal direct and indirect pathway neurons contributes to motor disturbances in several neurodegenerative diseases. In Huntington’s disease (HD), indirect pathway [dopamine (DA) D2 receptor-expressing)] medium-sized spiny neurons (MSNs) are believed to show earlier vulnerability than direct pathway MSNs. We examined synaptic activity and DA modulation in MSNs forming the direct and indirect pathways in YAC128 and BACHD mouse models of HD. To visualize the two types of MSNs, we used mice expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein under the control of the promoter for the DA D1 or D2 receptor. Experiments were performed in early symptomatic (1.5 months) and symptomatic (12 months) mice. Behaviorally, early symptomatic mice showed increased stereotypies while symptomatic mice showed decreased motor activity. Electrophysiologically, at the early stage, excitatory and inhibitory transmission onto D1-YAC128 and D1-BACHD MSNs were increased, while there was no change in D2 MSNs. DA modulation of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) in slices was absent in YAC128 cells at the early stage, but was restored by treating the slices with the DA depleter tetrabenazine (TBZ). In BACHD mice TBZ restored paired-pulse ratios and a D1 receptor antagonist induced a larger decrease of sEPSCs than in D1-WT cells, suggesting increased DA tone. Finally, TBZ decreased stereotypies in BACHD mice. These results indicate that by reducing DA or antagonizing D1 receptors, increases in inhibitory and excitatory transmission in early phenotypic direct pathway neurons can be normalized. In symptomatic YAC128 mice, excitatory synaptic transmission onto D1 MSNs was decreased, while inhibitory transmission was increased in D2 MSNs. These studies provide evidence for differential and complex imbalances in glutamate and GABA transmission, as well as in DA modulation, in direct and indirect pathway MSNs during HD progression.
Making the Most of Bag of Words: Sentence Regularization with Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers

In many high-dimensional learning problems, only some parts of an observation are important to the prediction task; for example, the cues to correctly categorizing a document may lie in a handful of its sentences. We introduce a learning algorithm that exploits this intuition by encoding it in a regularizer. Specifically, we apply the sparse overlapping group lasso with one group for every bundle of features occurring together in a training-data sentence, leading to thousands to millions of overlapping groups. We show how to efficiently solve the resulting optimization challenge using the alternating directions method of multipliers. We find that the resulting method significantly outperforms competitive baselines (standard ridge, lasso, and elastic net regularizers) on a suite of real-world text categorization problems.
A new graphics user interface for accessing a database

A new graphics user interface for accessing a database is proposed in this paper. Our proposed graphics user interface GLAD (Graphics LAnguage for Database) achieves a high degree of 1) descriptiveness by graphically displaying a database schema and offering help whenever users need it, 2) ease of learning by maintaining a consistent interaction method and minimizing the number of different concepts that users have to learn, 3) power to express a complex query by adopting a QBE- like query specification method, and 4) ease of using by allowing users to formulate a complex query in many different ways. The paper first reviews the previously proposed graphics user interfaces, and then describes the initial design of GLAD and provides a sample session to illustrate its features.
Vertebrate species richness at the mesoscale: relative roles of energy and heterogeneity

Macroscale (continental) patterns of vertebrate species richness have been related to a variety of climatic and historical influences. However, within North America and Britain, empirical evidence suggests that climatic energy is most significant. In this analysis, I examine mesoscale patterns of vertebrate species richness within the U.S. State of Wyoming. I test the generality of the species-energy hypothesis in explaining richness at this scale using high-resolution environmental datasets and a geographic information system (GIS). Results provide little evidence to support the hypotheses that mesoscale species richness of
Pfair scheduling of periodic tasks with allocation constraints on multiple processors

Summary form only given. Pfair scheduling for periodic tasks on multiple processors in a time slotted environment can not only guarantee task deadlines to be respected, but also make tasks execute at steady progressive rates. We consider pfair schedulability of periodic tasks with allocation constraints in the sense that some tasks can only be assigned to one or more specified processors. The contributions of the paper lie in the following four aspects. Firstly, we prove that there exists pfair schedule in the case that fixed tasks are assigned to disjoined processor subsets. Secondly, we give a sufficient and necessary condition of the existence of pfair schedule for periodic tasks with arbitrary allocation constraints. Thirdly, we show that pfair schedulability test of periodic tasks with arbitrary allocation constraints can be done in polynomial time. Finally, an online approximate pfair scheduling algorithm called HPA (hierarchical pfair algorithm) is proposed for scheduling fixed and migrating tasks. With HPA although idea a fixed task is not guaranteed to respect its deadline completely, the amount of time by which it misses its deadline is bounded.
Response to Intervention: Perspectives of General and Special Education Professionals.

Federal legislation allows local education agencies to use a student's response to scientific research-based interventions as a method of identifying specific learning disabilities. As a result, ed...
Constrained EM estimates for harmonic source separation

Sound source separation based on sinusoid modeling is useful in the recovery of vocals or musical instruments from a single channel record. A constrained iterative method for harmonic source parameter estimation is proposed based on an EM algorithm. The method is intended for harmonic source separation. The problem of coinciding partials, and interference among them in general, is mitigated by constraining the "weak" partials on the stronger ones of the same harmonic source. A useful scheme to determine the weakness of a partial is proposed. The constrained iteration is shown to give more accurate estimates of the sinusoidal parameters which results in good source separation even in most cases of highly overlapping spectra.
Clinical spectrum and diagnosis of cobalamin deficiency [see comments]

To better estimate how frequently patients with low serum cobalamin (Cbl) levels in current clinical practice are truly deficient in Cbl and to determine the incidence of atypical or nonclassic presentations of Cbl deficiency, we prospectively studied 300 unselected consecutive patients with serum Cbl concentrations less than 200 pg/mL seen at two medical centers over a 2-year period. Baseline hematologic, neuropsychiatric, and biochemical measurements were obtained, followed by a course of parenteral Cbl therapy and reassessment. A response to Cbl therapy was defined as one or more of the following: (1) an increase in hematocrit of 0.05 or more; (2) a decrease in mean cell volume of 5 fL or more; (3) a clearing of hypersegmented neutrophilis and macroovalocytes from the peripheral blood smear; and (4) an unequivocal and prompt improvement of neuropsychiatric abnormalities. Of the 300 patients with serum Cbl levels less than 200 pg/mL, 86 had one or more responses to Cbl therapy and 59 had no response. In 155, insufficient data was available. In the Cbl-responsive patients, normal values were found for the following tests: hematocrit, 44%; mean cell volume less than or equal to 100 fL, 36%; white blood cell count, 84%; platelet count, 79%; serum lactic dehydrogenase, 43%; and serum bilirubin, 83%. Peripheral blood smears were nondiagnostic in 6% when reviewed by the investigators, but 33% as reported by routine laboratories. Serum Cbl levels in the 100 to 199 pg/mL range were present in 38%. Neuropsychiatric abnormalities were noted in 28%, often in the absence of anemia, macrocytosis, or both. Serum levels of methylmalonic acid and/or total homocysteine were elevated greater than 3 SDs above the mean for normal subjects in 94% of the Cbl-responsive patients. We conclude that Cbl deficiency should be considered and investigated in patients with unexplained hematologic or neuropsychiatric abnormalities of the kind seen in Cbl deficiency, even if anemia, an elevated mean cell volume, a marked depression of the serum Cbl, or other classic hematologic or biochemical abnormalities are lacking. Levels of serum methylmalonic acid and total homocysteine are useful as ancillary diagnostic tests in the diagnostis of Cbl deficiency.
Toxicity of Malathion and Parathion to Predators of the English Grain Aphid

The LD50 and/or LC50 values of malathion and parathion for the English grain aphid, Macrosiphum avenae (F.), and the dominant insect predators in South Dakota (adults and larvae of the convergent lady beetle, Hippodamia covergens Cuerin-Meneville; adults and nymphs of Nabis americoferus Carayon, larvae of Chrysopa Cornea Stephens) indicated that all predators, in general, were less vulnerable to the insecticides than the aphid. The potential for an integrated program to control cereal aphids with selected doses of malathion or parathion thus appears promising.
Development of Pilot Fatigue Detection Schemes Based on Aircraft Sensor Measurements

Tests performed on a 6 degrees-of-freedom flight simulator with pilots at two extreme levels of alertness were used to define parameters based on aircraft states and pilot input measurements that can serve as pilot fatigue on-line detectors. These parameters were computed using the statistics of the tracking errors, state and control time histories, and the Fourier transforms of the tracking errors. Based on the analysis of the performance of candidate detectors at steady state flight conditions, composite parameters were defined and implemented within an on-line pilot fatigue detection scheme. The design of the proposed pilot fatigue detection algorithm applies to steady state flight conditions and assumes the availability of on-board aircraft state and pilot input measurements. Validation tests on the flight simulator showed that the proposed detection scheme - as an alternative to approaches based on physiological measurements - has promising capabilities for safety monitoring purposes and design of control laws that can accommodate for pilot abnormal conditions.
An EXAFS Study of the Instability of the Zincblende Structure Under Pressure

The tetrahedrally coordinated diamond and zincblende structures are favored by many monatomic and diatomic semiconductors at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. These structures are stabilized by covalent bonding, which provides strong bond-angle-restoring forces. Some years ago, Musgrave and Pople pointed out that if the bond-angle-restoring forces in one of these lattices remain constant under hydrostatic pressure, then there will be a critical pressure at which the lattice becomes unstable and the crystal collapses by shear deformation to a denser tetragonal or orthorhombic structure [1]. In fact, the bond-angle restoring forces in several zincblende structure compounds decrease with pressure; however, for most tetrahedral semiconductors, a 6-fold coordinated phase becomes energetically more favorable long before any lattice instability is observed.
Differential quantification of isobaric phosphopeptides using data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry

Phosphorylation is a post-translational modification (PTM) fundamental for processes such as signal transduction and enzyme activity. We propose to apply data-independent acquisition (DIA) using mass spectrometry (MS) to determine unexplored phosphorylation events on isobarically modified peptides. Such peptides are commonly not quantitatively discriminated in phosphoproteomics due to their identical mass.
TU-FG-209-05: Demonstration of the Line Focus Principle Using the Generalized Measured-Relative Object Detectability (GM-ROD) Metric

Purpose: Demonstrate and quantify the augmented resolution due to focalspot size decrease in images acquired on the anode side of the field, for both small and medium (0.3 and 0.6mm) focal-spot sizes using the experimental task-based GM-ROD metric. Theoretical calculations have shown that a medium focal-spot can achieve the resolution of a small focal-spot if acquired with a tilted anode, effectively providing a higher-output small focal-spot. Methods: The MAF-CMOS (micro-angiographic fluoroscopic complementary-metal-oxide semiconductor) detector (75µm pixel pitch) imaged two copper wire segments of different diameter and a pipeline stent at the central axis and on the anode side of the beam, achieved by tilting the x-ray C-arm (Toshiba Infinix) to 6° and realigning the detector with the perpendicular ray to correct for x-ray obliquity. The relative gain in resolution was determined using the GM-ROD metric, which compares images on the basis of the Fourier transform of the image and the measured NNPS. To emphasize the geometric unsharpness, images were acquired at a magnification of two. Results: Images acquired on the anode side were compared to those acquired on the central axis with the same target-area focal-spot to consider the effect of an angled tube, and for all three objects the advantage of the smaller effective focal-spot was clear, showing a maximum improvement of 36% in GM-ROD. The images obtained with the small focal-spot at the central axis were compared to those of the medium focal-spot at the anode side and, for all objects, the relative performance was comparable. Conclusion: For three objects, the GM-ROD demonstrated the advantage of the anode side focal-spot. The comparable performance of the medium focal-spot on the anode side will allow for a high-output small focal-spot; a necessity in endovascular image-guided interventions. Partial support from an NIH grant R01EB002873 and an equipment grant from Toshiba Medical Systems Corp.
Alternatives to Hysterectomy: Management of Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are a common condition that can be debilitating and are the leading benign cause of hysterectomy. Women often live with the symptoms rather than choose hysterectomy, but survey studies have shown that work, social life, and physical activities are hindered by fibroid symptoms. Offering alternative therapies tailored to a woman's symptoms will allow her to choose a treatment that fits her needs and to preserve her uterus and fertility. The minimally invasive treatment options have a faster recovery and lower surgical risk than hysterectomy, but may require reintervention. One pharmacologic treatment offers short-term, intermittent therapy with lasting effects.
Background subtraction in Fourier-domain mobility spectrum analysis for resolving low-mobility carriers

Narrow gap semiconductors and superlattices relevant to optoelectronics often host multiple conducting species, such as electrons and holes, requiring a mobility spectral analysis (MSA) method to separate contributions to the conductivity. Building on the Fourier-domain MSA (FMSA) method proposed previously by the authors, we introduce a background subtraction step prior to FMSA to more accurately extract the spectral mobilities below what is normally considered the low mobility threshold μth = 1/ B max , where B max is the maximum magnetic field of the experimental data under analysis. This preliminary step subtracts a linear background from the magnetotransport data and enables a more accurate fit in the low mobility range by several orders of magnitude. Background subtraction extends the useful low-mobility limit by a factor of 5 to μ min = 1/5 B max , and can be easily applied in other MSA techniques where low mobilities are of interest.
Sensitivity of salivary hydrogen sulfide to psychological stress and its association with exhaled nitric oxide and affect

Abstract Background Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is the third gasotransmitter recently discovered after nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide. Both NO and H 2 S are involved in multiple physiological functions. Whereas NO has been shown to vary with psychological stress, the influence of stress on H 2 S and the relationship between H 2 S and NO are unknown. We therefore examined levels of salivary H 2 S and NO in response to a stressful final academic exam period. Methods Measurements of stress, negative affect, and fraction of exhaled NO (FE NO ), were obtained from students ( N = 16) and saliva was collected at three time points: low-stress period in the semester, early exam period, and late exam period. Saliva was immediately analyzed for H 2 S with the fluorescent probe Sulfidefluor-4. Results H 2 S increased significantly during the early exam period and FE NO decreased gradually towards the late exam period. H 2 S, FE NO , negative affect, and stress ratings were positively associated with each other: as stress level and negative affect increased, values of H 2 S increased; in addition, as FE NO levels decreased, H 2 S also decreased. Asthma status did not modify these associations. Conclusion Sustained academic stress increases H 2 S and these changes are correlated with NO and the experience of stress and negative affect. These findings motivate research with larger samples to further explore the interaction and function of H 2 S and FE NO during psychological stress.
Infection Trends in US Nursing Homes, 2006-2013.

Abstract Objectives The objectives of this study were to estimate trends in the prevalence of infections in nursing home (NH) residents using 2006-2013 Minimum Data Set (MDS) data, estimate the number of all infections in 2013, and evaluate differences in trends between MDS versions 2.0 and 3.0. Design Retrospective study. Setting NHs in the United States. Participants All NH residents with a quarterly or annual MDS assessment in 2006-2013 (n = 30,366,807 assessments). Measurements MDS 2.0 and 3.0 quarterly and annual assessment data (2006-2013) from over 15,000 NHs were used to estimate the 7-day prevalence of multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) infection, pneumonia, septicemia, viral hepatitis, and wound infection and 30-day prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI). Admission assessments were excluded. Annual infection counts were estimated using 2013 data. Changes in the prevalence of reported infections over time and differences in trends between MDS 2.0 and 3.0 were examined using tests of linear trends. Results In 2013, there were an estimated 1.13 to 2.68 million infections in NH residents. UTI and pneumonia were the most commonly reported infections in every quarter, ranging from 5.6% to 8.1% and 1.4% to 2.5%, respectively. Prevalence of all infections increased in 2006-2010 (P values Conclusion Infections are a major and persistent problem in NHs. Although MDS data are useful for identifying trends in infection prevalence, revisions in definitions need to be accounted for when evaluating trends over time. Additional research is needed to identify factors that contribute to changes in infection prevalence.
Defrosting performance on hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and micro-patterned gradient heat transfer surfaces

In the current article, differences in drainage rates and defrosting effectiveness were explored for surfaces of differing wettability. Both patterned and nonpatterned surfaces were explored. Seven surfaces were examined in all—an uncoated, untreated aluminum plate (Sample 1), an identical surface treated with a hydrophilic coating (Sample 2), a surface containing evenly spaced microchannels with and without a hydrophobic coating (Samples 3 and 4), and a surface containing a microstructural roughness gradient with and without a hydrophobic coating (Samples 5 and 6). Cyclical tests consisting of three frosting/defrosting events were performed on each sample. Each cycle consisted of 1 hour of frost growth, followed by 10 minutes of defrost and drainage. The frost layer was grown on the surface inside an environmental test chamber under controlled operating conditions. The surface temperature, air temperature, and relative humidity were recorded to ensure that constant conditions were maintained during each ...
Some Aspects of the Regulation of DNA Replication in Escherichia coli

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss recent results in the field of DNA replication which provide insight into a regulatory mechanism of an unusual type: regulation by protein-protein interaction. DNA replication represents one example of this regulatory mechanism. However, regulation of this type may govern many other aspects of cell division and differentiation.
From emotion to action among Asian Americans: assessing the roles of threat and identity in the age of Trump

The prevalence of anti-Asian and anti-immigrant rhetoric throughout the 2016 election season provides an opportunity to examine the factors shaping Asian Americans’ emotional responses to a threate...
Cameroon: Early Mobilization and Limited Impact of Women’s Suffrage

Changes in the political opportunity structure contributed to the expansion of women’s voting rights in Cameroon. The extension of voting rights to women in France in 1944, the growth in nationalist movements after World War II, and Cameroon’s designation as a UN trust territory in 1946 created growing pressure on French and British colonial administrations to allow women to vote. Cameroonian women’s organizations took advantage of these openings, mobilizing for universal adult suffrage. Examining the impact of women’s voting rights, the chapter focuses on the strategies employed by parties to attract female voters, variation in women’s and men’s participation rates, and barriers to women’s access to the polls. The chapter concludes that the effects of women’s suffrage are constrained by Cameroon’s undemocratic political environment.
Conductive Polymer Composites with Large Positive Temperature Coefficients

Conductive polymer composites that contain conductive fillers such as metal powder, carbon black, and other highly conductive particles in a nonconductive polymer matrix have been widely used in electrostatic dissipation (ESD) and electromagnetic interference shielding (EMIS). A special group among electrically conductive polymer composites are conductive polymer composites that have large positive temperature coefficients (PTC), which in some cases are called positive temperature coefficient resistance (PTCR). The resistivity of this kind of composite increases several orders of magnitude in a narrow temperature range. This kind of smart material can change from a conductive material to an insulating material or vice versa upon heating or cooling, respectively. The smartness of this kind material lies in this large PTC amplitude (defined as the ratio of maximum resistivity at the peak or the resistivity right after the sharp increase to the resistivity at 25°C), and also in its reversibility, its ability to adjustment the transition temperature, its low-temperature resistivity, and high-temperature resistivity. PTC behavior in a polymer composite was first discovered by Frydman in 1945, but not much attention was paid to it originally. Because Kohler obtained a much higher PTC amplitude from high density polyethylene loaded with carbon black in 1961, this kind of temperature-sensitive materials has aroused wide research interest and also led to many very useful applications. In this article, the general theories of PTC conductive polymer are introduced. Carbon-black-filled conductive polymer composites and their PTC behavior are discussed in more detail, in regard to the effects of fillers, the polymer matrix, and processing conditions, and additives. Applications of this kind of smart temperature-sensitive material are presented. Keywords: Conductive polymer behavior; Positive temperature coefficient (PTC); PTC behavior; Conductive fillers; Polymer matrix; Processing conditions; Additives; Polymer composite; Application
A comprehensive method for evaluating the impacts of race events on protected lands

Human actions in protected areas impact both the human and natural side of coupled human and natural systems. While this is broadly accepted, research projects that measure both social and ecological impacts of activities are rare. This study used an integrated approach to understand the social, ecological, and economic impacts of small-scale race events on two state forests in Pennsylvania. Trail conditions were assessed before and after each event, and visitor experiences were evaluated in the weeks prior, during, and after the events. Race participants were sent an online survey in the weeks following their race. In total, nine race events of three different types – mountain biking, running, and motorcycling – were assessed. Semi-structured interviews with race organizers and forest managers were also conducted. This paper details the methodology and rationale for this effort and presents highlights of results and their implications for further research and resource management.
Quality Appraisal of Child Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Measures: A Scoping Review.

Background:Children’s oral health–related quality of life (COHQoL) measures are well known and widely used. However, rigorous systematic reviews of these measures and analyses of their quality are ...
The Sisters' Advantage? Broader Autism Phenotype Characteristics and Young Adults' Sibling Support.

Siblings often oversee the well-being of an adult with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study contributes to the literature by examining correlates of support provided to siblings in young adulthood in the context of the broader autism phenotype (BAP). Young adults (n = 866; Mage = 25.43, SD = 2.54; 55% female) reported on support provided to and the BAP characteristics of 1198 different siblings (Mage = 28.56, SD = 8.87; 50% female). Findings showed that young adults provided more emotional and practical support to sisters that they perceived to be higher in BAP characteristics. These findings suggest that sisters who have characteristics associated with ASD may be at an advantage in receiving support.
The optoretinogram reveals how human photoreceptors deform in response to light

Limited accessibility of retinal neurons to electrophysiology on a cellular scale in-vivo has restricted studies of their signaling to in-vitro preparations and animal models. Physiological changes underlying neural activity are mediated by variations in electrical potential that alter the surface tension of the cell membrane. In addition, physiological processes affect concentration of the cell9s constituents that results in variation of osmotic pressure. Both these phenomena affect the neuron9s shape which can be detected using interferometric imaging, thereby enabling non-invasive label-free imaging of physiological activity in-vivo with cellular resolution. Here, we apply high-speed phase-resolved optical coherence tomography in line-field configuration to image the biophysical phenomena associated with phototransduction in human cone photoreceptors in vivo. We demonstrate that individual cones exhibit a biphasic response to light: an early ms-scale fast contraction of the outer segment immediately after the onset of the flash stimulus followed by a gradual (hundreds of ms) expansion. We demonstrate that the contraction can be explained by rapid charge movement accompanying the isomerization of cone opsins, consistent with the early receptor potential observed in the electroretinogram and classical electrophysiology in-vitro. We demonstrate the fidelity of such all-optical recording of light-induced activity in the human retina, namely the optoretinogram, across a range of spatiotemporal scales. This approach incorporates functional evaluation into a routine clinical examination of retinal structure and thus holds enormous potential to serve as a biomarker for early disease diagnosis and monitoring therapeutic efficacy.
A forecasting framework for predicting perceived fatigue: Using time series methods to forecast ratings of perceived exertion with features from wearable sensors.

Abstract Advancements in sensing and network technologies have increased the amount of data being collected to monitor the worker conditions. In this study, we consider the use of time series methods to forecast physical fatigue using subjective ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and gait data from wearable sensors captured during a simulated in-lab manual material handling task (Lab Study 1) and a fatiguing squatting with intermittent walking cycle (Lab Study 2). To determine whether time series models can accurately forecast individual response and for how many time periods ahead, five models were compared: naive method, autoregression (AR), autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), vector autoregression (VAR), and the vector error correction model (VECM). For forecasts of three or more time periods ahead, the VECM model that incorporates historical RPE and wearable sensor data outperformed the other models with median mean absolute error (MAE) 1 . 24 and median MAE 1 . 22 across all participants for Lab Study 1 and Lab Study 2, respectively. These results suggest that wearable sensor data can support forecasting a worker’s condition and the forecasts obtained are as good as current state-of-the-art models using multiple sensors for current time prediction.
Sitting in the Pews: Theological Beliefs and Racial/Ethnic Identity Among African American Adolescents:

Church attendance, prayer, and faith practices play a significant role in the life experiences among African Americans, especially youth. Few studies on religious behaviors among African American y...
Extractions and reactions of coals below 100 °C: 3. Comparison of extraction products of Illinois No. 6 coal

Abstract Exhaustive extractions of Illinois No. 6 coal at 100 °C show that pyridine extracts about 16% without chemical reaction; benzylamine and ethylenediamine extract ~45%. Reactions of coal extracts and extracted coals with pyridine HI and ZnCl 2 in pyridine and with alcoholic KOH correspond to cleavage of ester groups by benzylamine and KOH and cleavage of both ethers and esters by HI and ZnCl 2 at or below 50 °C, and by the amines in several days at 100 °C. The amine-extracted coals are highly swollen by these solvents and are apparently held together mostly by CC bonds with dangling oxygen and nitrogen functions. Reactions of all the extracts and extracted coals with alcoholic KOH indicate that their average contents of phenol + ester groups are fairly constant. The toluene-insoluble pyridine-soluble (TIPS) portion of the pyridine extract appears to be a good model for other fractions. We estimate that it averages 0.8 ester, 1.2 labile ether, and three phenol groups per 1090 molecular weight or per 70C atoms. These groups account for 64% of the oxygen in the fraction. However, this fraction can be separated into fractions of different O and H/C contents and different molecular weights. Such heterogeneity should be characteristic of all fractions.
An experimental investigation of the nonlinear transient electric field response induced in thin-walled cylindrical ferromagnetic shields by short-duration surface current pulses

The paper presents results of an experimental investigation of the transient electric field induced at the interior surface of long, thin-walled, cylindrical, electrically-conductive ferromagnetic shields by axially-directed, unipolar, short-duration current pulses along the exterior surface. For an applied pulse having a duration that was sufficiently short compared to the shield response, the transient electric field response approached a result that depended on the total charge transported along the surface of the cylinder during the applied current pulse but was essentially independent of the particular time variation of the applied pulse. For practical purposes, such pulses can be regarded as impulses, and the resultant electric field response can be regarded as an impulse response for that charge level. Experimental results for a wide range of injected charge levels on a mildly ferromagnetic specimen are presented. Unlike the impulse response for the linear problem with a constant permeability, the impulse response exhibits nonlinear variation with applied charge level.
Bridging technological isomorphism and culture? creating institutional values for ICTs adoption in MNCs

The question of how information communication technologies (ICTs) adoption in MNCs across culture is influenced by isomorphic pressures as the institutional factors is the primary motivation of this paper. The underlying assumption made is that cultural values could influence the reasons and ways employees (collectively) in MNCs communicate using ICTs due to the shared norms, assumptions, beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, and actions amenable in an organization. The institutional lens will provide us with an understanding of the dynamic process and practices, initiating from the headquarters of a multinational corporations (MNCs) to its foreign subsidiary at the host country. Together with key propositions, some implications will conclude this paper.
Proceedings of the FAA-NASA Symposium on the Continued Airworthiness of Aircraft Structures

This publication contains the fifty-two technical papers presented at the FAA-NASA Symposium on the Continued Airworthiness of Aircraft Structures. The symposium, hosted by the FAA Center of Excellence for Computational Modeling of Aircraft Structures at Georgia Institute of Technology, was held to disseminate information on recent developments in advanced technologies to extend the life of high-time aircraft and design longer-life aircraft. Affiliations of the participants included 33% from government agencies and laboratories, 19% from academia, and 48% from industry; in all 240 people were in attendance. Technical papers were selected for presentation at the symposium, after a review of extended abstracts received by the Organizing Committee from a general call for papers.
Structural analysis of polymers of sickle cell hemoglobin. I. Sickle hemoglobin fibers.

Abstract The structure of fibers of deoxyhemoglobin S has been under investigation for several years and a number of different models have been proposed for the arrangement of molecules within the particles. We have used reconstruction and modeling techniques in our analysis of these structures. Several new approaches have been employed in this analysis in order to provide improved estimates of the co-ordinates, pairing, and polarity of the hemoglobin S molecules. Fibers have a variable pitch and, in order to minimize distortions in the reconstructed density maps associated with these variations in pitch, we have developed an iterative procedure to measure the instantaneous pitch and have modified the reconstruction algorithm to incorporate the measured values. This procedure improves the accuracy with which the hemoglobin S molecules can be located in the density maps. Furthermore, the determination of the instantaneous pitch allows us to measure directly the rotation of the individual hemoglobin molecules. These measurements are in excellent agreement with the values predicted using a random angular walk model (as originally proposed for F-actin) to describe the variable pitch. The reconstructions confirm that the fiber consists of 14 strands of hemoglobin S arranged in a hexagonally shaped cross-section. We have determined the pairing of the molecules to form double strands directly from the density maps by identifying the molecules that have intermolecular distances that conform to those of double strands in the Wishner-Love crystal. The seven double strands identified in this manner are consistent with the strand pairings proposed by Dykes et al. (1979) rather than the alternate pairings proposed by Rosen & Magdoff-Fairchild (1985). In addition, we have for the first time determined the polarity of the double strands directly from the reconstruction data. This was achieved using a procedure that amounts to essentially “dissecting” individual double strands from the reconstructed density maps so that their density distribution could be examined independently of the neighboring double strands. Knowledge of the relative polarities of the double strands is essential for determining the intermolecular interactions that stabilize the fiber.
Standard-Setting by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights: An Overview from its Inception in 1947 until the Creation of the Human Rights Council in 2006

This article discusses the standard-setting role of the Commission and Sub-Commission of the United Nations. The article describes the creation of the Commission, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Commission’s art in creating human rights treaties, and the use of non-binding instruments and other methods of standard-setting. The article concludes that the Commission accomplished a moderate amount and argues that the UN must retain an independent body to ensure protection of human rights.
Correction of genital prolapse of the elderly.

Abstract The choice of operation for the correction of genital prolapse of elderly patients should be based upon a thorough evaluation of the patient's physical and functional state and the extent of the pelvic herniation present. The older the patient, the simpler should be the procedure selected. Today's operative knowledge allows a wide choice of corrective procedures. There exists no single operative procedure suitable to every case of genital prolapse encountered. Versatility in operative technique based on experience is the keystone to successful correction of genital prolapse of elderly patients. Modern technique aims at avoiding serious physical and mental strains, excessive bleeding, urinary infection, and injury to the bladder and rectum. Proper closure of cul-de-sac herniation and efficient imbrication of vaginal fascias and muscles should be given consideration regardless of the technique chosen. Urinary and vaginal infection should be controlled before surgery is decided upon. Cancer should be excluded. Anemias, hormone, and vitamin deficiencies, being common among the elderly, should be recognized and treated before and after operation to promote better healing. As long as these rules are observed, good operative results will be high, morbidity will remain low, and deaths will be avoided.
Fine-scale Focal DTAG Behavioral Study in the Gulf of Maine

Abstract : The goal of this project is to provide technical support to Dr. Susan E. Parks from the Pennsylvania State University in order to obtain crucial baseline data on the normal diel activity budgets of endangered baleen whale species including time spent at the surface, residency time and rate of horizontal travel, and rates of sound production. These parameters are obtained by attaching a non intrusive digital archival tag (DTAG) to the whales. Recorded data can be used to assess both visual and passive acoustic detectability to aid in their detection to protect them from vessel collisions and harmful exposures to man-made sounds. DTAG data also provide information on normal behavior, necessary to interpret any potential disturbance responses to human activities.
Engineering and scientific applications of electrodynamic tether transmission lines in space plasmas

Summary form only given. Before electrodynamic tether systems can be fully exploited a complete understanding of their electrical response is needed. Understanding the plasma/conductor system requires knowledge of its steady-state and its transient response, as well as its transmission line characteristics. This paper examines work done to date on the transmission line properties of electrodynamic tethers. This article shows the importance of knowing these properties to the proper interpretation of science and engineering data.
Worksite back and core exercise in firefighters: Effect on development of lumbar multifidus muscle size.

Background Firefighting is a dangerous occupation with a high incidence of low back pain and injury. Abnormal back muscle function and morphology has been linked to low back pain and poor physical performance. The effect of exercise training on back muscle size and symmetry has not been investigated in firefighters. Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of worksite exercise training for eliciting lumbar multifidus muscle hypertrophy in firefighters. Methods A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with healthy, career firefighters (n=64) from a medium-sized fire department. Participants were randomized by fire station to exercise training (n=36) (supervised back and core exercise performed on duty, 2X/week, 24 weeks) or control (n=28). The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the L4 and L5 lumbar multifidus muscle was assessed with ultrasonography at baseline and following the intervention. Results At 24 weeks, no significant differences were noted between the groups in the adjusted (by baseline scores and body mass) L4 and L5 lumbar multifidus muscle CSA and asymmetry values. Conclusions A worksite exercise training program targeting the back and core is not effective for eliciting hypertrophy of the lumbar multifidus muscle in healthy firefighters.