cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Connecting Place to Disease and Gender: Cohabitating Morbidities in Narratives of Women Cancer Survivors in Southern Central Appalachia

Drawing on critical feminist narrative inquiry, we explore illness narratives of women cancer survivors living in Southern Central Appalachia via a daylong story circle (n = 26) and individual interviews (n = 3). In our article, we argue that participants functioned as illness genealogists as a consequence of their central location in families, as well as their location in a place (Southern Central Appalachia) characterized by what we call “cohabitating morbidities.” We coined this term to represent the experiences of women survivors living with multiple, sometimes simultaneously occurring illness experiences in their family systems. Finally, we reveal and explore rules that guide their survivorship experiences and storytelling, contending that study participants preserve their central location within family systems by decentering their own survivorship experiences and stories.
wanted: guild, depicting hardcore gaming culture in virtual reality

In this paper we present a playable interactive documentary experience, wanted:Guild, about the experience of hardcore gamers. Informed by postmodern literary theory, the project uses a stereoscopic virtual-reality-based environment supported by the Oculus Rift and Razer Hydra. Using interviews with hardcore gamers and environmental elements directly from the World of the Warcraft, the project engages issues about the blurred boundary between reality and simulation and encourages the players to explore these subjects themselves. Our preliminary audience feedback indicates the success and potential area of improvement for the project.
Experimental analysis of the 'happy hour": effects of purchase price on alcohol consumption

An experimental analogue of a discount drink policy known as the "happy hour" was used to study the effects of purchase price on drinking behavior. Male volunteers with a prior history of either casual (N=20) or heavy (N=14) drinking were given free access to beverage alcohol during a 20-day period. Approximately half the subjects could purchase alcohol under a single-price condition (50 cents/drink), while a matched group was given a price reduction daily (25 cents/drink) during a three-hour period in the afternoon. The results demonstrated that the afternoon price reduction significantly increased alcohol consumption in both casual and heavy drinkers. Reinstatement of the standard purchase price effectively suppressed drinking in both groups. The findings are discussed in terms of the theoretical and research implications of environmental influences on drinking.
Calculating the phase behavior of gas-hydrate-forming systems from molecular models

We describe a calculation of the phase behavior of the methane−water system, including the structure-I hydrate phase, starting from a model of the intermolecular forces in the system and using Monte Carlo simulations and theory. The approach we use differs from previous calculations of methane hydrate phase behavior in that it does not treat the water molecules in the hydrate as a static or harmonic lattice, i.e., thermal fluctuations are fully incorporated. Our approach is quite general, but we illustrate it here for perhaps the simplest model capable of forming stable hydrate-like structures. This is a mixture of network-forming associating hard spheres and nonassociating hard spheres. With this model as a reference system, we add dispersion forces and dipole−dipole interactions as perturbations. Monte Carlo simulations were used to determine the solid-phase properties of this model, and the fluid phases were treated using an accurate thermodynamic perturbation theory. Our results show that this simple ...
Triangles in arrangements of lines

Abstract A set of n nonconcurrent lines in the projective plane (called an arrangment) divides the plane into polygonal cells. It has long been a problem to find a nontrivial upper bound on the number of triangular regions. We show that 5 12 n(n − 1) is such a bound. We also show that if no three lines are concurrent, then the number of quadrilaterals, pentagons and hexagons is at least cn2.
Sex differentials in survivorship and the customary treatment of infants and children.

Whereas infanticide has attracted public concern and has occasioned careful scientific inquiry less attention has been paid to a variety of customary practices found cross-culturally that operate indirectly but can reduce the probability that a weaker child will survive. "Progenicide" is the term used here to refer to such collective or individual acts that are carried out in accord with cultural norms and function selectively to reduce the probability of survival of the offspring born into a given traditional society (based on combining progeny and infanticide). In this article the major goal is to convince the reader that progenicide exists and to argue that 2 of its potentially numerous functions are 1) the limitation of population growth; and 2) the management of the demographic structure by control of the sex ration. The latter it is suggested results in selective female progenicide to compensate for universally higher male infant and child mortality and may be implicated in the prevalence of systems of male preference. Due to the notable lack of anthropologically oriented data on linkages between socialization traditions and health outcomes the supporting evidence for the arguments given is indirect. Examples of customs conditioning the probability of progenicide are drawn from postpartum treatments of children initiation rites mercenary childtending and food taboos that relatively deprive female children of mothers milk. It is assumed that the intensity of progenicide in general and female progenicide in particular will vary 1) the intensity of population pressures 2) the intensity of the effect of ecological factors that produce a higher male mortality and 3) cultural ideals as these relate to demographic structure and social organization. As levels of male mortality decline and population growth rates are reduced through family planning one has hope that progenicide both male and female and systems of male preference will also make their exit.
(CH3)3COOH (tert-butyl hydroperoxide): OH reaction rate coefficients between 206 and 375 K and the OH photolysis quantum yield at 248 nm

Rate coefficients, k, for the gas-phase reaction of the OH radical with (CH3)3COOH (tert-butyl hydroperoxide) were measured as a function of temperature (206–375 K) and pressure (25–200 Torr (He, N2)). Rate coefficients were measured under pseudo-first-order conditions using pulsed laser photolysis to produce OH and laser induced fluorescence (PLP–LIF) to measure the OH temporal profile. Two independent methods were used to determine the gas-phase infrared cross sections of (CH3)3COOH, absolute pressure and chemical titration, that were used to determine the (CH3)3COOH concentration in the LIF reactor. The temperature dependence of the rate coefficients is described, within the measurement precision, by the Arrhenius expression k1(T) = (7.0 ± 1.0) × 10−13 exp[(485 ± 20)/T] cm3 molecule−1 s−1 where k1(296 K) was measured to be (3.58 ± 0.54) × 10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The uncertainties are 2σ (95% confidence level) and include estimated systematic errors. UV absorption cross sections of (CH3)3COOH were determined at 185, 214, 228, and 254 nm and over the wavelength range 210–300 nm. The OH quantum yield following the 248 nm pulsed laser photolysis of (CH3)3COOH was measured relative to the OH quantum yields of H2O2 and HNO3 using PLP–LIF and found to be near unity.
Optimization of Aortic Arch Replacement: Two-Stage Approach

Background Aneurysms of the aortic arch seldom occur alone. They usually involve the ascending aorta. Occasionally, the aneurysm also involves the descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta. We advocate a staged approach for repair of these extensive aortic aneurysms, with the ascending and arch generally being repaired in the first stage and the descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta being repaired in the second stage. Methods Between February 1991 and December 2005, we repaired aneurysms of the ascending, arch, descending thoracic, and thoracoabdominal aorta in 2120 patients. Of these, 254 (12.0%) involved the ascending, arch, and descending aorta (extensive aortic aneurysm). A first-stage repair was done in 254 patients, and 115 returned for a second-stage repair for a total of 369 procedures performed. Results First-stage 30-day mortality was 6.3% (16/254), with the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) exceeding 70 mL/min in 2.9% of patients and less than 70 mL/min in 10.5% (p Conclusions Aneurysms involving the transverse arch with extensive involvement of the ascending and descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta can be effectively repaired using the two-stage technique with acceptable morbidity and mortality. GFR correlates to surgical outcome in the first-stage repair. After the first stage, prompt treatment of the remaining segment of aorta is crucial to success.
Bearing Thermal Conductance Measurement Test Method and Experimental Design

Bearings are used in a number of spacecraft applications, ranging from minimal motion devices, such as pointing mechanisms, to high-speed components, such as control moment gyroscopes and reaction and momentum wheels. Terrestrial applications include pumps, axles, and tooling. Heat-transfer modes for rotational systems in a vacuum environment differ from their terrestrial counterpart. In space, with the absence of air, heat transfer consists of radiation from the rotating system and conductance through the bearings themselves. Depending on the application, conductance could dominate the effects on bearing temperatures and thermal gradients. Accurate thermal predictions are important because they can drive life and performance requirements. To accurately predict bearing temperatures, basic bearing thermal conductance data was needed. However, bearing thermal conductance tends to be the most significant unknown in a rotational system in the space environment. To address this shortcoming, this paper explores a new vacuum test rig designed to measure bearing conductance under simulated operational conditions. Experimental variables include control of the bearing rotational speed, applied axial load, and average bearing temperature and temperature gradient via an applied heat source/heat sink mechanism. All tests are conducted in vacuum. The experimental variables studied herein allowed parametric studies to be conducted under controlled thermal and mechanical conditions, permitting the exploration of the influences of those operational variables on bearing thermal conductance. This paper will describe the test method, the use of uncertainty analysis to design the experiment, and a verification study.
Psychopharmacologic violence associated with cocaine abuse: Kindling of a limbic dyscontrol syndrome?

1. An association of cocaine abuse with aggressive or violent behavior arising from direct pharmacologic effects of cocaine is demonstrable in the forensic and clinical literature. 2. The neurobehavioral basis for this association is considered form among known CNS actions of cocaine. A hypothesis is developed concerning the role of pharmacological kindling by cocaine that may sensitize for release of limbic-hypothalamic mechanisms of aggressive behavior, and for a drug-induced dyscontrol syndrome. 3. Parallels are drawn to kindling by electrical stimuli, and to neurophysiological research on mechanisms of aggression. 4. A role of concurrent hyperthermic effects of cocaine is suggested. 5. Potential contributions of cocaine actions on CNS serotonergic, catecholaminergic and/or adenosinergic systems are considered. 6. A likely role of concurrent ethanol ingestion to enhance the manifestation of cocaine-associated violence is recognized. 7. Pharmacological challenges, lidocaine or caffeine, are suggested as a means of detecting lowered thresholds of limbic excitability as a consequence of repeated cocaine exposures.
Theory of nematic liquid crystals

Abstract Theories of nematic liquid crystals are briefly reviewed, and the generalized van der Waals (GVDW) theory is analyzed in some detail. In the latter approach, the short-range repulsion is approximated by hard volume exclusion, and the long-range attraction by dispersion interaction, mean-field averaged. It is shown that if the full London dispersion potential is used the anisotropy in the attractive dispersion potential substantially modifies the mean-field potential anisotropy caused by volume exclusion and affects the nematic-isotropic phase transition temperature and the slope of the coexistence curve, statements can be found in the literature to the contrary. Overall the agreement between theory and experiment, however, is poor. A rigorous formulation is presented of the configurational free energy functions in terms of one-particle distribution functions and correlation functions, applicable to any ordered system at arbitrary density, and practical means for improving the GVDW approach to nematic liquid theory are suggested.
Synthesis of Bashkow's a matrix for the general RC circuit

For many uses, a convenient formulation for solving a circuit is Bashkow's A matrix. The circuit formulation then becomes x? = Ax. Given this circuit formulation, the synthesis of a circuit for a particular A matrix is of interest. Such a synthesis is accomplished by finding the diagonalising matrix for A, finding the form of the square incidence submatrix for a general tree in this case, and then using a linear-programming technique.
The hydroxylamine reductase of mitochondria.

Abstract The hydroxylamine reductase of rat liver mitochondria has been studied. This enzyme reduces hydroxylamine (HA) to ammonia, using NADH; the stoichiometry of the reaction is 1:1:1. Although extensive efforts have been made to solubilize the enzyme, it remains firmly attached to the mitochondrial membrane. The preparations used were mitochondria fragmented either by small amounts of lysolecithin, or by brief sonication. These treatments yield a very active enzyme, which is destroyed by acetone, n -butanol, and other reagents, including phospholipase B. The rate of the reaction increases with increasing concentrations of HA up to 1 × 10 −3 m . Greater amounts were toxic to the enzyme. Alteration of the amount of NADH (from 0.5 to 2.0 × 10 −4 m ) however, did not affect the rate of the reaction. The enzyme is less stable to acid (pH 5.4) than to alkali (pH 8.4). Heat damage could be prevented by the presence of NADH, but not of HA. The activation energy is about 11,500 cals/mole. Sulfhydryl reagents inhibit, and with PCMB, NADH protects the enzyme if added before the mercurial, and cysteine can reverse the inhibition. Neither effect is obtained when N -ethylmaleimide is used as an inhibitor. The possible identity of the hydroxylamine reductase and the enzyme which reduces anthranilic hydroxamate to the amide is discussed.
Mass blooms of the alga Cladophora in Bermuda

Abstract A bloom of the green macroalga Cladophora has been recently reported from the island of Bermuda. The alga has increased considerably since the late 1960s and at present, mats of Cladophora averaging 10 cm in depth cover large areas of protected inshore waters of Bermuda. The present study was conducted to examine the production of Cladophora under a variety of light and nutrient conditions in order to isolate some of the environmental factors controlling its spread. Productivity of Cladophora was measured using the C-14 technique under field conditions. Production was calculated using data on biomass and C-14 uptake, and was found to average about 3.3 g C m−2 day−1 during December 1976 at an experimental site. The possible causes for the algal bloom are discussed and the rates of production related to known rates of other marine macroalgae.
Children’s Health and Maternal Work Activity Estimates under Alternative Disability Definitions

Past empirical findings indicate that children’s health problems reduce married mothers’ employment but are inconclusive in the case of female heads. These studies use diverse disability definitions, samples, and specifications. This paper uses pooled SIPP panels to investigate the impact of alternative disability measures on maternal market work. Negative effects of several disability definitions on female heads’ and wives’ employment and hours at a point in time are found. In contrast, while female heads’ growth in work hours over time and probabilities of entering employment appear adversely affected by child disability, there is no evidence for analogous effects on wives.
The value of the amylase/creatinine clearance ratio in the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis usually confronts the clinician with a difficult diagnostic task. For years, the primary laboratory diagnostic tests were the serum and urine amylase and the serum lipase determinations. Recent studies have introduced the concept of the amylase/creatinine clearance ratio as a means of increasing the specificity of the laboratory diagnosis. This paper reviews the laboratory evaluation of acute pancreatitis with emphasis on the rationale, derivation, and specificity of the amylase/creatinine clearance ratio.
Selection of patients for renal artery repair using captopril testing

Abstract Background : Prediction of improvement following surgical or radiologic intervention in patients thought to have renovascular hypertension (RVH) is often unreliable. Use of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril in conjunction with measurement of peripheral renin levels or radioisotope renograms is thought to detect patients with functionally significant renal artery stenosis. However, it is unclear whether these tests can identify patients whose hypertension will significantly improve after renal artery repair. Patients and methods : The records of 52 consecutive hypertensive patients undergoing captopril studies followed by renal artery repair were reviewed. All patients had either renal artery stenosis > 75% or renal artery occlusion. Preprocedure evaluation included a captopril challenge test (measurement of peripheral renin levels after captopril ingestion) (n = 12) or a captopril renogram (determination of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate before and after captopril administration) (n = 40). Either renal artery bypass/nephrectomy (n = 41) or balloon angioplasty (n = 11) was done in all patients (18 bilateral/34 unilateral). No periprocedural deaths occurred. All surgically placed bypass grafts were shown to be patent by contrast or carbon dioxide arteriography before hospital discharge. Results : Preprocedure captopril tests were positive (suggestive of RVH) in 39 patients (75%) and negative in 13 (25%). All patients with positive captopril tests had improvement in their RVH after intervention (17 cured, 22 improved) while 8 of 13 patients with negative captopril tests had no improvement in blood pressure control. Four of five false-negative tests were associated with a unilateral total renal artery occlusion, making detection of a postcaptopril effect impossible. If these 4 patients are excluded from analysis, preprocedure captopril testing was 98% accurate in predicting postprocedure outcome. Conclusions : Preprocedure captopril testing permits extremely accurate selection of patients with renal artery stenosis who will benefit from renal artery repair.
Basic faced α-helices are widespread in the peptide extensions of the eukaryotic aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases

Three aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases from yeast, one from plants and one from mammals possess unusual structures at their N termini, namely alpha helices with basic residues distributed asymmetrically, on a single face of the helix. It is unknown if these 'basic faced' alpha helices (BFAHs) are unique to the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Analysis of the amino acid sequences of these five aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases using the hydrophobic moment algorithm failed to accurately identify the BFAHs. A new algorithm was therefore developed, called the 'basic moment'. This is a Fourier analysis procedure that predicts the distribution of basic residues within protein secondary structure. The basic moment identifies with a high degree of accuracy the five known BFAHs and also identifies further potential BFAHs at evolutionarily conserved positions in the peptide extensions of aspartyl-, lysyl- and valyl- tRNA synthetases from a range of eukaryotic species. In addition, the algorithm identifies the two-helix pair tRNA binding domain of alanyl-tRNA synthetase, implying that the domain includes a BFAH. The functional and evolutionary aspects of these structural features are discussed.
GeneSpeed: protein domain organization of the transcriptome

The GeneSpeed database (http://genespeed.uchsc. edu/) is an online database and resource tool facilitating the detailed study of protein domain homology in the transcriptomes of Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. The population schema for the GeneSpeed database takes advantage of HOWARD TM parallel cluster technology (http://www.massivelyparallel. com/) and performs exhaustive tBLASTn searches covering all pre-assigned PFAM domain classes in all species (currently 7973 domain families) against the respective Unigene EST databases of the selected four transcriptomes. The resulting database provides a complete annotation of presumed protein domain presence for each Unigene cluster. To complement this domain annotation we have also performed a custom transcription factor-family curation of all Pfam domains, incorporated the Gene Ontology classifications for these domains as well as integrated the Novartis SymAtlas2 dataset for both human and mouse which provides rapid and easy access to tissue-based expression analysis. Consequently, the GeneSpeed database provides the user with the capability to browse or search the database by any of these specialized criteria as well as more traditional means (gene identifier, gene symbol, etc.), thereby enabling a supervised analysis of gene families through a top-down hierarchical basis defined by domain content, all directly linked to an optimized gene expression dataset.
Tuberculosis in Drug Users

The rise in tuberculosis (TB) has disproportionately affected specific populations. Historically, many patients with TB became iatrogenic opiate addicts through therapeutic use of these drugs for symptom control. Demographic trends reshaped the relationship between drug use and TB into one in which drug use became a risk factor for tuberculosis as a result of the overlap of epidemiological and social factors associated with both drug use and TB. The spread of human immunodeficiency virus infection has amplified the spread of TB among drug users. We review the epidemiology of TB in drug users as well as the factors relevant to screening and compliance in drug-using populations. Drug users constitute a high-risk group for whom screening, prevention of infection, diagnosis, and treatment pose particular challenges. The development of TB services capable of engaging drug users (those both in and out of drug treatment programs) has potential for disrupting a significant chain of rapid TB transmission.
Wafer bonding using microwave heating of parylene intermediate layers

This paper describes a novel wafer bonding technique using microwave heating of parylene intermediate layers. The bonding is achieved by parylene deposition and thermal lamination using microwave heating. Variable frequency microwave heating provides uniform, selective and rapid heating for parylene intermediate layers. The advantages of this bonding technique include short bonding time, low bonding temperature, relatively high bonding strength, less void generation and low thermal stress. In addition, the intermediate layer material, parylene, is chemically stable and biocompatible. This bonding technique can be used for structured wafers also because parylene provides a conformal coating. Therefore, this is a very attractive bonding tool for many MEMS devices. The bonding strength and uniformity were evaluated using diverse tools. Fracture mechanisms and the effects of bonding parameters and an adhesion promoter were also investigated. The bonding with a structured wafer was also successfully demonstrated.
Lung Transplantation in Cystic Fibrosis

Lung transplantation has become a viable option for those cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with end-stage lung disease. Despite the challenges that the CF patients present, the survival seen after lung transplantation is more favorable than seen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary fibrosis. Although the CF patients with severe respiratory disease usually are infected with organisms that display in vitro resistance to the commonly used antibiotics, these patients usually have successful outcomes with transplantation. The other challenges include the presence of nontuberculous mycobacteria, the significant incidence of liver involvement, the development of an ileus or the development of the distal intestinal obstruction syndrome, and the presence of gastroesophageal reflux. Most of the patients have metabolic bone disease, even preoperatively, that warrants treatment, especially with the significant loss of bone density seen in the first year after transplant, thought to be related, in part, to the high dose of corticosteroids. Diabetes mellitus and its consequences are not uncommon. The malabsorption of fat seen in the pancreatic-insufficient patients complicates the absorption kinetics of the anti-rejection drugs. In May 2005 the United Network of Organ Sharing instituted a lung-allocation score to better distribute the donated lungs to those patients who would achieve the most benefit. This score uses several variables to balance the likelihood of the patients living one year with a transplant versus one year without a transplant. With this change in the allocation of organs, the median waiting times have significantly decreased, the mortality on the waiting list has decreased, and the number of CF patients transplanted has not changed. With substantial experience, more programs are now transplanting patients who require constant mechanical ventilation or patients who have undergone previous pleural procedures, especially in the treatment of a pneumothorax. The limiting factor now in lung transplantation is the number of organs available. Efforts to increase the donor pool, such as alveolar recruitment strategies to improve gas exchange, have been effective in allowing more patients to be transplanted. Lung transplantation is now an accepted form of therapy in those patients who are developing progressive respiratory failure.
The Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Paramecium bursaria in the Littoral Zone1

The spatial and seasonal distribution of Paramecium bursaria in two small Indiana ponds was studied using a sampling grid. Very small (5.0 ml) samples were taken so that the individual microhabitats could be studied. The results were evaluated in comparison to the data collected for the P. aurelia complex collected in the same manner and at the same sites. It was found that P. bursaria exist in a clumped distribution, but that the distribution was not very different from random. Paramecium bursaria also exist at the surface and at the mud-water interface. Temperature does not seem to play a statistically significant role in determining population size. The breeding system of P. bursaria is optimized for an outbreeding population of low density. In comparison, the species of the P. aurelia complex exist in a very clumped distribution, are found only at the mud-water interface, and are inbreeders. The evolutionary strategies of the two types of paramecia are discussed.
Formation of arylnitrogen bonds using a soluble copper(I) catalyst

Abstract We report a synthetic protocol for the synthesis of functionalized diaryl- and triarylamines under mild conditions, using a soluble, air-stable copper(I) complex, Cu(PPh3)3Br, as the catalyst and cesium carbonate as the base. Using this protocol, we were able to synthesize a tri-ortho-ester functionalized triphenylamine, which had eluded us using the palladium chemistry.
Examining Officer and Citizen Accounts of Police Use-of-Force Incidents

This study contributes to the body of knowledge of police–citizen contacts by investigating perceptions and behaviors during encounters that result in physical resistance and force. The authors use the accounts literature as a way to understand police–citizen interactions. The data include interviews with citizens who resisted or were accused of resisting lawful police commands and those officers who used force to control these citizens. The goals are to understand the dynamics of police–citizen interactions that use force, to make sense of the actors’ perspectives, and, finally, to examine the processes within the deference–resistance continuum. The data show that officers and citizens focus on different issues when interacting and justify their behavior by the identification and maintenance of their self-prescribed roles.
Microscopic disease in normal-appearing white matter on conventional MR images in patients with multiple sclerosis: assessment with magnetization-transfer measurements.

PURPOSE: To assess for the presence of microscopic abnormalities in otherwise normal-appearing white matter on T2-weighted images in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by using magnetization-transfer (MT) measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients with MS and nine healthy control subjects underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with a 1.5-T system. MT ratios (MTRs) were measured in 16 areas of normal-appearing white matter identified on conventional T2-weighted images in patients with MS. MTRs in the same white-matter locations in control subjects were determined. The two groups were compared. RESULTS: The mean whole-brain MTR of normal-appearing white matter in patients was 40.13% +/- 1.37 (standard deviation; range, 36.31%-42.09%); in control subjects, 42.93% +/- 0.95 (range, 41.62%-44.50%). The difference was statistically significant (P < or = .001). Except for the internal capsules, the difference in mean MTRs in each sublocation of the brain between patients and control subjects...
Prolonged maternal amino acid infusion in late-gestation pregnant sheep increases fetal amino acid oxidation

Protein supplementation during human pregnancy does not improve fetal growth and may increase small-for-gestational-age birth rates and mortality. To define possible mechanisms, sheep with twin pre...
Mobile robot position determination using visual landmarks

This paper is concerned with the problem of determining the position of a mobile vehicle during navigation. In order to achieve this objective a multisensor navigation system for self location of the robot has been developed. By tracking a few known landmarks with a vision module, the system is able to monitor continuously its position and to integrate these estimates with the measures provided by the vehicle odometers. This paper describes in detail the vision module used by the navigation system. >
Early maternal employment and children's school readiness in contemporary families.

This study assessed whether previous findings linking early maternal employment to lower cognitive and behavioral skills among children generalized to modern families. Using a representative sample of children born in the United States in 2001 (N 10,100), ordinary least squares regression models weighted with propensity scores assessed links between maternal employment in the 2 years after childbearing and children’s school readiness skills at kindergarten. There were neutral associations between maternal employment and children’s school readiness, which were not differentiated by maternal time, stress, or wages. However, as nonmaternal household income decreased, maternal employment begun prior to 9 months was linked with higher cognitive skills, while employment begun between 9 and 24 months was linked with lower conduct problems.
Scalable address spaces using RCU balanced trees

Software developers commonly exploit multicore processors by building multithreaded software in which all threads of an application share a single address space. This shared address space has a cost: kernel virtual memory operations such as handling soft page faults, growing the address space, mapping files, etc. can limit the scalability of these applications. In widely-used operating systems, all of these operations are synchronized by a single per-process lock. This paper contributes a new design for increasing the concurrency of kernel operations on a shared address space by exploiting read-copy-update (RCU) so that soft page faults can both run in parallel with operations that mutate the same address space and avoid contending with other page faults on shared cache lines. To enable such parallelism, this paper also introduces an RCU-based binary balanced tree for storing memory mappings. An experimental evaluation using three multithreaded applications shows performance improvements on 80 cores ranging from 1.7x to 3.4x for an implementation of this design in the Linux 2.6.37 kernel. The RCU-based binary tree enables soft page faults to run at a constant cost with an increasing number of cores,suggesting that the design will scale well beyond 80 cores.
Localization of simian immunodeficiency virus in the central nervous system of rhesus monkeys.

Abstract Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), like the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is a lentivirus that is both immunosuppressive and neurovirulent. Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) inoculated with SIV often develop a giant cell encephalitis similar to that seen in humans infected with HIV. The authors examined SIV expression by immunohistochemistry and RNA in situ hybridization in the cerebrum, cerebellum, choroid plexus, and spinal cord from five macaques with and two macaques without giant cell encephalitis. Selected portions of the central nervous system (CNS) also were examined by electron microscopy. Simian immunodeficiency virus was detected in the CNS of all seven monkeys whether or not they had giant cell encephalitis. Both SIV antigen and RNA were present in all levels of the CNS examined. Macrophage/giant cell lesions always contained viral RNA and antigen and were the only sites where viral particles were detected by electron microscopy. However, SIV antigen and RNA also were commonly associated with small vessels, the choroid plexus, and meninges; these were the only locations where virus was detected in animals without giant cell encephalitis. Immunophenotyping showed that the cellular infiltrates consisted primarily of monocyte/macrophages and occasional CD8-positive T cells. Macrophages and T cells also were present in the stroma of the choroid plexus and were intimately associated with vessels in the CNS of SIV-infected but not uninfected macaques. Simian immunodeficiency virus infection of the macaque CNS provides an excellent model for studying the pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of HIV-1-encephalitis.
The CArG boxes in the promoter of the Arabidopsis floral organ identity gene APETALA3 mediate diverse regulatory effects

APETALA3 is a MADS box gene required for normal development of the petals and stamens in the Arabidopsis flower. Studies in yeast, mammals and plants demonstrate that MADS domain transcription factors bind with high affinity to a consensus sequence called the CArG box. The APETALA3 promoter contains three close matches to the consensus CArG box sequence. To gain insights into the APETALA3 regulatory circuitry, we have analyzed the APETALA3 promoter using AP3::uidA(GUS) fusions. 496 base pairs of APETALA3 promoter sequence 5' to the transcriptional start directs GUS activity in the same temporal and spatial expression pattern as the APETALA3 RNA and protein in wild-type flowers. A synthetic promoter consisting of three tandem repeats of a 143 base pair sequence directs reporter gene activity exclusively to petals and stamens in the flower. We have analyzed the role of the CArG boxes by site-specific mutagenesis and find that the three CArG boxes mediate discrete regulatory effects. Mutations in CArG1 result in a decrease in reporter expression suggesting that CArG1 is the binding site for a positively acting factor or factors. Mutations in CArG2 result in a decrease in reporter expression in petals, but the expression pattern in stamens is unchanged. By contrast, mutations in CArG3 result in an increase in the level of reporter gene activity during early floral stages suggesting that CArG3 is the binding site for a negatively acting factor.
Intergenerational Occupational Mobility and Labor Productivity

The paper documents that intergenerational occupational persistence is signicantly higher in poor countries even after controlling for dierences in occupational structure. The higher occupational persistence is symptomatic of underlying talent misallocation in which sons choose their fathers’ occupations instead of the occupation of their comparative advantage. A version of Roy (1951) model of occupational choice is developed in which nancial frictions restrict optimal occupational choice. The mechanism generates a 25 factor drop in productivity for an economy with no credit markets relative to an economy with perfect credit markets.
Easy-to-use, general, and accurate multi-Kinect calibration and its application to gait monitoring for fall prediction

Falls are the most-common causes of unintentional injury and death in older adults. Many clinics, hospitals, and health-care providers are urgently seeking accurate, low-cost, and easy-to-use technology to predict falls before they happen, e.g., by monitoring the human walking pattern (or “gait”). Despite the wide popularity of Microsoft's Kinect and the plethora of solutions for gait monitoring, no strategy has been proposed to date to allow non-expert users to calibrate the cameras, which is essential to accurately fuse the body motion observed by each camera in a single frame of reference. In this paper, we present a novel multi-Kinect calibration algorithm that has advanced features when compared to existing methods: 1) is easy to use, 2) it can be used in any generic Kinect arrangement, and 3) it provides accurate calibration. Extensive real-world experiments have been conducted to validate our algorithm and to compare its performance against other multi-Kinect calibration approaches, especially to show the improved estimate of gait parameters. Finally, a MATLAB Toolbox has been made publicly available for the entire research community.
Short-run determinants of the USD/PLN exchange rate and policy implications

This paper examines short-run determinants of the U.S. dollar/Polish zloty (USD/PLN) exchange rate based on a simultaneous-equation model of demand and supply. Using a reduced form equation and the EGARCH model, the paper finds that the USD/PLN exchange rate is positively associated with the real reference rate in Poland, real GDP in the U.S., the real stock index in Poland and the expected exchange rate and is negatively influenced by the U.S. real federal funds rate, real GDP in Poland, and the real stock index in the U.S. Hence, monetary policy is effective in influencing the USD/PLN exchange rate.
Unsteady Three-Dimensional Phenomena in Mode-Transition Simulations of the HIFiRE-2 Scramjet Flowpath

Mode-transition phenomena are explored through three-dimensional, unsteady RANS simulations of the HIFiRE-2 scramjet flowpath. Using a validated reduced-order combustion model in a mature code, the results are first compared to steady-state experimental data from the ground tests. From this basis, the methods and assumptions involved in the transient simulations are discussed, and the results are presented for modetransition simulations of the ground and flight tests. The simulations indicate that interactions of adverse pressure gradient separated supersonic boundary layers, shock / boundary layer interactions, and jet-in-crossflow barrel shock / flameholding phenomena all play an important role in the process of mode-transition. The transition event, wherein the character of the flow changes in a rapid manner to delineate dual and scramjet-mode phenomena is generally similar in the flight and ground test simulations. However, some noteworthy difference are present due to the shock system generated by the inlet of the flight test article. Finally, observations of numerical hysteresis are discussed, and the performance of the turbulence and combustion models is evaluated.
Host-Parasitoid Interaction of Aphis helianthi on Sunflowers with Introduced Aphelinus asychis, Ephedrus plagiator and Praon gallicum and Native Aphelinus nigritus and Lysiphlebus testaceipes,

A sunflower aphid, Aphis helianthi Monell, was reported for the 1st time in Oklahoma during the summer of 1970. The aphid was widely distributed in central Oklahoma and was heavily parasitized by a native braconid, Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson). A. helianthi was also parasitized in the field by a native eulophid, Aphelinus nigritus (Howard) and by an exotic eulophid, Aphelinus asychis (Walker). Laboratory studies indicated that A. helianthi was a suitable host not only for these parasitoids, but also for the imported braconids Ephedrus plagiator (Nees), and Praon gallicum Starý. The life cycle of the parasitoids at a laboratory temperature of 23.9–26.7°C ranged from a mean of 10.8 days for L. testaceipes to a mean of 16 days for A. nigritus . Emergence of adults from mummies ranged from 49.2% for P. gallicum to 86.3% for A. nigritus in the laboratory tests. Emergence from mummies of field-parasitized A. helianthi was 79.1% for A. asychis and 100% for A. nigritus , Emerging progeny in the laboratory tests were 13% ♀ for E. plagiator ; 37.7% ♀ for P. gallicum ; 54.5% ♀ for A. nigritus ; 61.4% ♀ for L. testaceipes ; and 70.9% ♀ for A. asychis. A. asychis and A. nigritus adults emerging from field-parasitized aphids were 38.2% and 33.3% ♀, respectively.
What heart lesions are amenable to surgery

Cardiac surgery is undergoing a transition from blind, often palliative procedures to direct-vision operations which are safer, more effective, and in many instances completely curative. These newer operations have been made possible by the use of extracorporeal circulation. Operations inside the open heart may now be carried on, if necessary, for periods of one to two hours. The results, as well as the mortality rate, are much improved.
A Bayesian hierarchical spatial model for dental caries assessment using non-Gaussian Markov random fields

Research in dental caries generates data with two levels of hierarchy: that of a tooth overall and that of the different surfaces of the tooth. The outcomes often exhibit spatial referencing among neighboring teeth and surfaces, i.e., the disease status of a tooth or surface might be influenced by the status of a set of proximal teeth/surfaces. Assessments of dental caries (tooth decay) at the tooth level yield binary outcomes indicating the presence/absence of teeth, and trinary outcomes at the surface level indicating healthy, decayed, or filled surfaces. The presence of these mixed discrete responses complicates the data analysis under a unified framework. To mitigate complications, we develop a Bayesian two-level hierarchical model under suitable (spatial) Markov random field assumptions that accommodates the natural hierarchy within the mixed responses. At the first level, we utilize an autologistic model to accommodate the spatial dependence for the tooth-level binary outcomes. For the second level and conditioned on a tooth being non-missing, we utilize a Potts model to accommodate the spatial referencing for the surface-level trinary outcomes. The regression models at both levels were controlled for plausible covariates (risk factors) of caries, and remain connected through shared parameters. To tackle the computational challenges in our Bayesian estimation scheme caused due to the doubly-intractable normalizing constant, we employ a double Metropolis-Hastings sampler. We compare and contrast our model performances to the standard non-spatial (naive) model using a small simulation study, and illustrate via an application to a clinical dataset on dental caries.
Empirical Analysis of Market Connectedness as a Risk Factor for Explaining Expected Stock Returns

Analyzing financial asset returns by identifying market-wide risk drivers and common firm-level characteristics that contribute to the explanation of expected asset returns has evolved into one major research field in the development of the modern asset pricing theory. The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) developed by Treynor (1962, 1961, Market value, time, and risk, “unpublished”), Sharpe (1964), Lintner (1965a,b), and Mossin (1966) initiated this strand of research, which is referred to as the single-factor model. The single-factor model identifies a single index, or a market portfolio, as the sole driver of the return of financial assets and decomposes individual asset return risk into systematic and idiosyncratic components.
GENERALIZED -NEWTON INEQUALITIES REVISITED

Elementary symmetric functions, -Newton inequalities, generalized -Newton inequalities, arithmetic mean-geometric mean inequality, positive stable matri- ces, determinant-trace inequality. Abstract: We present in this work a new and shorter proof of the generalized -Newton inequalities for elementary symmetric functions defined on a self-conjugate set which lies essentially in the open right half-plane. We also point out some inter- esting consequences of the generalized -Newton inequalities. In particular, we establish an improved complex version of the arithmetic mean-geometric mean inequality along with the corresponding determinant-trace inequality for positive stable matrices.
Plasmon-coupled resonance energy transfer: A real-time electrodynamics approach

This paper presents a new real-time electrodynamics approach for determining the rate of resonance energy transfer (RET) between two molecules in the presence of plasmonic or other nanostructures (inhomogeneous absorbing and dispersive media). In this approach to plasmon-coupled resonance energy transfer (PC-RET), we develop a classical electrodynamics expression for the energy transfer matrix element which is evaluated using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to solve Maxwell’s equations for the electric field generated by the molecular donor and evaluated at the position of the molecular acceptor. We demonstrate that this approach yields RET rates in homogeneous media that are in precise agreement with analytical theory based on quantum electrodynamics (QED). In the presence of gold nanoparticles, our theory shows that the long-range decay of the RET rates can be significantly modified by plasmon excitation, with rates increased by as much as a factor of 106 leading to energy transfer rates...
The Linear Elastic Field of Single Dislocations

The X-rays experiments made by Max von Laue in 1912 have definitely proved the atomistic and periodic nature of crystalline substances. It was reckoned by then that the structure plays a determining part in the physical and mechanical behaviour of such materials. However, most of the natural and artificial crystalline materials are polycrystals, i.e. they consist of randomly oriented single crystals and have isotropic macroscopic properties. This fact has somehow delayed the interpretation of the behaviour of polycrystalline materials in terms of the phenomena taking place inside the individual grains. It was the artificial growth of single crystals that has opened new prospects to the understanding of the correlation between the structure and the properties of crystalline materials. It has subsequently been proved for instance that the plastic deformation of metals takes place along certain preferred planes, called glide planes, and along certain preferred directions within these planes, called glide directions. As a rule, the glide planes have the maximum atomic density, and the glide directions have the closest atomic package.