cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Net Worth Change of Selected Families1

The purpose of this study was to increase the understanding of family financial status. Sixty families from rural and urban areas in Indiana volunteered to keep records for 2 years. Data were examined to determine the direction, dollar, and percentage changes in net worth; to determine association of certain factors with net worth change; to describe the asset accumulation and liability reduction in net worth changes; and to describe family characteristics in relation to changes in net worth. Fifty-two families increased their net worth over the 2 years in amounts ranging from $69 to $40,419, while eight decreased theirs in amounts ranging from $5,912 to $149. Mean change for all families was $4,147. The eight highest percentage changes in net worth ranged from 77 to 182 percent while the eight lowest percentage changes ranged from negative 63 to negative 1 percent. Median change was 15 percent. Components of net worth at the beginning of the period associated with dollar change were interest accounts, cash value of life insurance, and common stocks. Dollar change in net worth was related to changes in real estate assets, real estate equity, mortgages, business, and stocks; and to changes in the percentages of total assets in bonds, cash value of life insurance, and interest accounts.
Management of less common tumors of the colon, rectum, and anus.

Abstract The majority of colorectal and anal malignancies are adenocarcinomas and squamous cell cancers, respectively. Despite the predominance of these neoplasms in these locations, rare histiotypes of the colon, rectum, and anus do occur. These histotypes include but are not limited to lymphoma, melanoma, diffuse cavernous hemangioma, and sarcomas, such as leiomyosarcoma or Kaposi's sarcoma. These tumors often present challenges to clinicians with respect to diagnosis, staging, management, and pathology because of their unfamiliarity. A Medline search using "colon," "rectum," "anus," "lymphoma," "melanoma," "diffuse cavernous hemangioma," "squamous cell carcinoma," "carcinoid," "sarcoma," "leiomyosarcoma," "Kaposi's sarcoma," "Paget's disease," "Bowen's disease," and "basal cell carcinoma" as key words was performed as well as a cross-referencing of the bibliography cited in each work. Rare tumors of the colon, rectum, and anus present diagnostic and management dilemmas for clinicians. Because of their infrequency and poor prognosis, the optimal management of these tumors is controversial. For some histotypes, such as squamous cell carcinoma and carcinoids of the rectum, treatment depends on location and size of the tumor. For uncommon anal lesions, such as Bowen's disease, Paget's disease, and basal cell carcinoma, wide local excision (WLE) with negative margins is the standard of care. For other lesions such as anorectal melanoma or leiomyosarcoma, abdominal perineal resection versus WLE is still being debated. Because the optimal treatment of these tumors is still unclear, we recommend a multidisciplinary approach including a surgeon, primary care physician, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, and pathologist to offer the patient the best outcome.
Disposition of mulberry pollen in the human respiratory system:A mathematical model

Abstract Inhaled particle deposition sites must be identified to effectively treat human airway diseases. We have determined distribution patterns of a selected aeroallergen, mulberry pollen, among human extrathoracic (ET: i.e., oronasopharyngeal) regions and the lung. A predictive model validated by inhalation exposure data from human subjects was utilized. Deposition locations were primarily functions of (1) mulberry particle parameters (geometric size, 11–18 μm; shape, spherical; and density, 1.14 g cm−3), and (2) mode of breathing. In the general population, two styles of inhalation are prevalent, normal augmentors (NAs) and mouth breathers (MBs). Their clinical definitions are based on intra-ET airflow divisions. For a NA-mode breathing sedentary (minute ventilation = VE = 10 L min−1) adult, 93% of inhaled mulberry pollen was removed by the ET compartment and 7% collected within the lung. For a MB, the respective deposition efficiencies were 75% and 25%. To apply the model, we used a daily springtime...
Ownership Structure across Lines of Property-Casualty Insurance

The range of ownership structures within the insurance industry is perhaps the broadest of any major industry. Included are Lloyds associations, where insurance contracts are offered by individual underwriters, stock companies that employ the standard corporate form, and mutuals and reciprocals that are more like cooperatives where customer and ownership functions are merged.
Stochastic adaptive filtering using model combinations

Fault tolerant adaptive filters (FTAF) have previously been enabled by exploiting the inherent learning capability of an adaptive process to recover from transient and fixed error conditions. Two drawbacks of this method are the long recovery time during which the system does not produce any useful outputs and for some implementations, the necessity of performing computations in the transform domain which limit applicability. In this work we use idea of combinations of adaptive filters and propose FTAF's which can guarantee a minimum level of overall system performance under error conditions. We investigate a combination scheme with respect to its overall mean square error (MSE) behavior. The fault tolerance capability of the proposed method may be useful in systems implemented in highly scaled CMOS process technologies where reliability is a concern.
The Influence of Culture in International Business Negotiations: A New Conceptual Framework and Managerial Implications

In this article we develop a new conceptual framework capturing culture's influence in international business negotiations. The new framework includes six major constructs, namely, Negotiator's Goals, Negotiator's Inclinations, Negotiator's Qualifications, Nontask Activities, Negotiation Processes, and Negotiation Outcomes. The new framework conceptualizes 12 relationships among the six key constructs. The six constructs and the 12 relationships are grounded in cultural frameworks and theories, such as the works of Edward Hall and Geert Hofstede. Managerial implications of the research are discussed.
Vocational education evaluation: Implementation problems

Numerous problems must be faced in the implementation of a comprehensive evaluation system for vocational education programs, given the state of the art in vocational education evaluation and the extensive evaluation requirements and activities associated with programs funded by the Vocational Education Act of 1963.
Microwave interactions with plasmas

The physics of EM wave interactions with plasma with and without the confining magnetic field is presented. The plasma resonance enhances the incident field to large local values. The ponderomotive force of these enhanced electric fields create density perturbations. The coupling between high frequency and low frequency waves by mode coupling and by density perturbation is presented. The laboratory results are extended to experiments in active modification of ionospheric plasmas. Resonant molecular and atomic resonances using lasers and large telescopes are used to diagnose the laboratory and ionospheric plasmas under high field excitations.
Dispersion managed L-Band optical amplifiers employing high gain per unit length erbium doped fiber

We have developed the EDF whose L-band gain is as high as 1.2dB/m. Combining the newly developed EDF with the conventional one, the dispersion-managed L-band EDFAs have been demonstrated, wherein the dispersion is reduced to 0.2ps/nm.
DNA repair in cultured mouse cells of increasing population doubling level.

Abstract Cultures of mouse cells of various population doubling levels (PDL) were examined for DNA-repair capabilities as estimated by (i) the excision of pyrimidine dimers; (ii) unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in response to UV-irradiation or N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) treatment; (iii) the levels of two DNA-repair enzyme activities, uracil DNA glycosylase and AP endonuclease. The responses to ultraviolet light and MNNG decreased rapidly within the first two PDL and more slowly thereafter until essentially no repair was detected by PDL 12. A continuous cell line which emerged from the cultured cells after a crises period had some restoration of repair capability. The amount of uracil DNA glycosylase activity decreased by approximately 40% before the crises period then decreased by 90% in the continuous cell line. In contrast, the amount of AP endonuclease activity present in the precrises cells showed no significant change until PDL 12, then increased 6–7-fold in the continuous cell line.
Effect of capping protein, CapZ, on the length of actin filaments and mechanical properties of actin filament networks

We report on how physiological concentrations of capping protein shorten actin filaments and on the remarkably fluid nature of solutions of such short filaments even at the high concentrations that exist in cells. We measured the lengths of actin filaments formed by spontaneous polymerization of highly purified actin monomers by fluorescence microscopy after labeling with rhodamine-phalloidin. The length distributions are exponential with a mean of about 7 μm (2600 subunits). As observed previously with less quantitative assays, copolymerization with the actin capping protein, CapZ, reduces the length of the filaments. At cellular concentrations of capping protein, one filament forms for each molecule of capping protein and the population of filaments is uniformly short. Using CapZ to vary the length of actin filaments, we measured how their mechanical properties depend on length. The stiffness (elastic modulus) of actin filament networks depends steeply on the length, with long filaments contributing far out of proportion to their numbers to the stiffness. Even at physiological concentrations (300 μM), networks of filaments limited to lengths observed in cells with a 1 to 500 molar ratio of CapZ are more fluid and much less elastic than lower concentrations of longer actin filaments. Thus the high concentration of short actin filaments in cells must be crosslinked to produce the observed stiffness of the cortex. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 42:73–81, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Overeducation and Employment Mismatch: Wage Penalties for College Degrees in Business

Overeducation and underemployment are of increasing national concern. Recent research estimates that 48% of workers are overeducated for their positions. The wage penalty for overeducation varies significantly across majors by gender. Using the American Community Survey (Ruggles et al., 2010), the authors examine the extent of overeducation among business-related majors. This article contributes to the literature with detailed results of the wage penalties by gender for each of the 13 business-related majors, controlling for occupational and industry classifications. Overall, this authors find the penalty for overeducation among most business-related majors to vary from 4% to 14%. Overeducated women in business-related majors, however, appear to suffer lower wage penalties compared to other majors.
Analytic study of the Tadoma method: background and preliminary results.

Certain deaf-blind persons have been taught, through the Tadoma method of speechreading, to use vibrotactile cues from the face and neck to understand speech. This paper reports the results of preliminary tests of the speechreading ability of one adult Tadoma user. The tests were of four major types: (1) discrimination of speech stimuli; (2) recognition of words in isolation and in sentences; (3) interpretation of prosodic and syntactic features in sentences; and (4) comprehension of written (Braille) and oral speech. Words in highly contextual environments were much better perceived than were words in low-context environments. Many of the word errors involved phonemic substitutions which shared articulatory features with the target phonemes, with a higher error rate for vowels than consonants. Relative to performance on word-recognition tests, performance on some of the discrimination tests was worse than expected. Perception of sentences appeared to be mildly sensitive to rate of talking and to speaker ...
Naloxone sensitive orphanin FQ-induced analgesia in mice

Orphanin FQ, also known as nociceptin, is a heptadecapeptide with very high affinity for a novel member of the cloned opioid receptor family which produces hyperalgesia in mice. In addition to hyperalgesia, which is observed soon after administration of orphanin FQ, we now describe a delayed analgesic response. Unlike orphanin FQ-induced hyperalgesia, orphanin FQ-induced analgesia is readily reversed by the opioid antagonist naloxone, implying an opioid mechanism of action. In view of the very poor affinity of orphanin FQ for all the known traditional opioid receptors and the low affinity of opioids for the 125I[Tyr14]orphanin FQ binding site, orphanin FQ-induced analgesia is probably mediated through a novel orphanin FQ receptor subtype.
Heterogeneous expression of angiotensin II AT1 receptors in neointima of rat carotid artery and aorta after balloon catheter injury

We examined the expression of angiotensin II receptor subtypes and angiotensin-converting enzyme in the rat aorta and carotid artery at 1, 2, 4, 8, 15, and 30 days after balloon catheter injury or sham surgery. The AT1 receptor expression was enhanced in the neointima at 8 days in the aorta and carotid artery compared to that in intact media. Maintenance of the high expression of AT1 receptors in the neonintimal tissue at 15 and 30 days was localized to a subpopulation of neointimal cell close to the lumen of the vessel and was correlated to the distribution of smooth muscle cells immunoreactive to proliferating cell nuclear antigen. During the initial stages after injury, binding of [125I]351A to angiotensin-converting enzyme was significantly decreased in both the intima/media layers as well as adventitia in carotid artery and aorta. Binding of [125I] 351A to angiotensin-converting enzyme was significantly lower in the neointima compared to that in the intima/media of intact vessels. Our results reveal that the expression of AT1 receptors is heterogeneous in the neointima, and suggest that enhanced expression of AT1 receptors in the balloon catheter-injured carotid artery and aorta may be limited to proliferating intimal smooth muscle cells.
Comparison of Pressure Drop and Endwall Heat Transfer Measurements to Flow Visualization Testing of Solid and Porous Pin Fin Arrays

This paper examines the local and averaged endwall heat transfer effects of a staggered array of porous aluminum pin fins with a channel blockage ratio (blocked channel area divided by open channel area) of 50%. Two sets of pins were used with pore densities of 0 (solid) and 10 pores per inch (PPI). The pressure drop through the channel was also determined for several flow rates using each set of pins. Local heat transfer coefficients on the endwall were measured using Thermochromatic Liquid Crystal (TLC) sheets recorded with a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. Static and total pressure measurements were taken at the entrance and exit of the test section to determine the overall pressure drop through the channel and explain the heat transfer trends through the channel. The heat transfer and pressure data was then compared to flow visualization tests that were run using a fog generator. Results are presented for the two sets of pins with Reynolds numbers between 25000 and 130000. Local HTC (heat transfer coefficient) profiles as well as spanwise and streamwise averaged HTC plots are displayed for both pin arrays. The thermal performance was calculated for each pin set and Reynolds number. All experiments were carried out in a channel with an X/D of 1.72, a Y/D of 2.0, and a Z/D of 1.72.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Planar dispersion of folds in ductile shear zones and kinematic interpretation of fold-hinge girdles

Abstract As indicated by theory and multiple case studies, hinge lines of minor folds in ductile shear zones are dispersed in a plane that is incompletely rotated toward mylonitic foliation. This yields a geometric relationship between the fold-hinge girdle and mylonitic foliation that can be used to determine sense of shear. Statistical study of published data from various shear zones and of new data from the Blue Ridge thrust complex reveals a small to moderate angle between the best-fit plane to hinge lines and mean mylonitic foliation. This angle is 4–9° in eight of 12 test cases. Moderate angles, 22–34°, are associated with nappes. Kinematic analyses of 12 fold-hinge girdles indicate the sense of shear otherwise determined for host shear zones. A theoretical model of contemporary fold rotation in simple shear closely simulates the geometric relationships described above for natural folds. Using this model, large shear strains (γ ≥ 10) are implied by the 4–9° angle between the fold-hinge girdle and mylonitic foliation.
Peer Contagion of Depressogenic Attributional Styles Among Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study

This study examined longitudinal associations between adolescents’ and their friend’s depressive symptoms and depressogenic attributional style. Participants included 398 adolescents in grades six through eight at the outset of the study. Adolescents completed peer nominations to identify reciprocated and unreciprocated best friendships as well as measures of depressive symptoms and depressogenic attributional style at an initial time point, and again 11 months later. Results revealed that best friends’ reported level of depressive symptoms was prospectively associated with adolescents’ own depressive symptoms and with adolescents’ depressogenic attributional style. Moderator effects suggested that friends’ attributional styles were prospectively associated with adolescents’ own attributional styles for those involved in reciprocated friendships. Lastly, findings offered preliminary support for adolescents’ Time 2 depressive symptoms as a mediator of the association between friends’ depressive symptoms and adolescents’ attributional style. Findings have important implications for cognitive and interpersonal models of adolescent depression, as well as the study of peer contagion effects.
An Academic Librarian's Response to the ITHAKA Faculty Survey 2009: Key Strategic Insights for Libraries, Publishers, and Societies

The mission of libraries and librarians is to serve the information needs of our patrons. Thus we continually adapt to their changing requirements and interests. However, when we are presented with our future diminished role or total technological answers with which we disagree, we seldom speak out publicly. ITHAKA, a digitizing organization, sees libraries as a budget line and predicts a background role maintaining digital archives for academic librarians based on answers to their recent faculty survey. Interlibrary loan is often placed in this background role even as use of our services grows, defying predictions. We benefit from digitization and electronic communication, but we need to build upon the initial patron point of contact we enjoy to expand into a larger resource sharing role.
Modified Mixed-Mode Bending Test Apparatus for Measuring Delamination Fracture Toughness of Laminated Composites

A modified mixed-mode bending test apparatus was developed to measure delamination fracture toughness and fatigue delamination growth rates of laminated composites. The test apparatus is compact, lightweight, and has very few attachments. The use of needle bearings and a lightweight loading lever makes the apparatus particularly suitable for fatigue tests. The design parameters of the apparatus were selected to minimize the geometric nonlinear effects. The total weight of the aluminum lever and the saddle is about 1.02 lb (4.5 N). The lever is graduated to directly read the load position and calculate GI/GII ratio. For this apparatus, simple linear equations for mode I and II strain energy release rates (G) were derived and were found to be accurate. The test apparatus was used to measure mixed-mode fracture toughness of unidirectional IM7/5260 graphite/Bismaleimide composites. The delamination growth was stable for mode I loading and mixed-mode loading with GI/GII = 4.55/1 and 1.16/1. Whereas, it was uns...
Transgenic fish and public policy: regulatory concerns.

Abstract The present status of public policies regarding laboratory production, field testing, and distribution and final use of transgenic animals is reviewed from the perspective of fisheries professionals. Unsettled policy issues center upon distribution and final use of transgenic fishes. Policy positions regarding regulation of the various stages of production of transgenic fishes are recommended for adoption by fisheries professionals.
The influence of a multicultural teacher education program on teachers’ multicultural practices

This study examined the multicultural classroom practices of two novice secondary English teachers employed by the same US school district that serves a diverse student population. Findings indicated a high level of consistency between the teachers’ intended multicultural practices and their implemented practices. Based on classroom observations, both teachers implemented the general multicultural practices of critical pedagogy, real life application, student choice, multicultural literature, individual student attention, cultural physical adaptation, active learning and cooperative grouping. The factors supporting multicultural infusion were the teachers’ previous experiences with diverse populations, the teachers’ own previous meaningful high school experiences and the teachers’ backgrounds that were similar to their students. The impeding factors were the structure of the school, time constraints, racism and tracking.
Institutional Barriers to Organizational Learning in School Systems: The Power of Silence:

The study reported in this article examined the relationship between members of a restructuring network and the members’ formal district systems. Using the lens of new institutional theory, the article explores the unintended consequences of changing individual schools outside the context of the district to which each network member belonged. The findings revealed the institutional scripts that disrupted or constrained organizational learning within district systems despite the successful restructuring efforts in individual schools.
Development of a virus-resistant inbred mouse strain for the study of innate resistance to Arbo B viruses.

Through a system of backcross and brother-sister mating based essentially on a design devised bySnell (9), a C3HRV strain of mice congenic with the virus-susceptible C3H/He strain has been developed. This C3HRV strain is homozygous for the gene of resistance to Arbo B viruses and can be used for exchanging transplants of various organs and tissues. Susceptibility of the C3HRV strain to the mammary tumor agent seemed to be equal to the parent C3H/He strain. Availability of this strain makes it possible to investigate more fully the nature of natural resistance to virus infection.
Galvanic deposition of cadmium sulfide thin films

Abstract A technique is presented for the deposition of high quality cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin films onto SnO2 substrates by a galvanic method. Single phase films were deposited in a bath of cadmium chloride and sodium thiosulfate at pH = 4 and temperature = 85°C at a growth rate of 1 nm/min. In the pH range of 3 to 4, the deposition rate is sensitive to cadmium chloride concentration. At higher pH the deposition rate is very low while at lower pH mixed phase films were obtained and homogeneous US formation occurred in the bath. The structural and optical properties of the US films are also presented and are comparable to films deposited by other methods. CdS/CdTe solar cells with efficiencies over 8% were fabricated using evaporated CdTe to demonstrate the utility of US films deposited by this simple technique. The galvanic deposition technique is useful in laboratory settings with limited deposition hardware and limited chemical waste disposal facilities.
Magnetostatic mechanism for field-sensitivity of magnetoresistance in discontinous magnetic multilayers

Abstract We derive an expression for the inter-layer magnetostatic coupling which governs the field-sensitivity of the giant magnetoresistance in the thin discontinous magnetic multilayers of composition (Ni80Fe20)/Ag recently discovered by T.L. Hylton and coworkers. This expression provides estimates of the width G of the magnetic discontinuity needed to account for the external fields used to obtain the published experimental magnetoresistance data. The results are G = 10 A after the anneal which maximizes the saturation magnetoresistance and G ≈ 6 A after the anneal which maximizes its field-sensitivity.
Characterization of the polarization properties of biological tissues with fiber-based Mueller-matrix optical coherence tomography

A fast scanning fiber-based system of Mueller-matrix optical coherence tomography was built to characterize the polarization properties of biological tissues with high spatial resolution. A polarization modulator with its fast-axis oriented at 45° in the source arm of the Michelson interferometer, driven by a sinusoidal wave, was used to continuously modulate the incident polarization states of both the sample and the reference arms. Two detection channels were used to detect the horizontal and vertical polarization components of the interference signals, which were used to calculate the roundtrip Jones matrix of the sample. The roundtrip polarization parameters of the sample were calculated from the measured Jones matrix. The system was successfully tested for both standard optical polarization elements and various types of biological samples.
Ceramidases : regulators of cellular responses mediated by ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine-1 -phosphate

Ceramidases catalyze hydrolysis of ceramides to generate sphingosine (SPH), which is phosphorylated to form sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Ceramide, SPH, and S1P are bioactive lipids that mediate cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, adhesion, and migration, likely by controlling hydrolysis of ceramides and generation of SPH and S1P. Presently, 5 human ceramidases encoded by 5 distinct genes have been cloned: acid ceramidase (AC), neutral ceramidase (NC), alkaline ceramidase 1 (ACER1), alkaline ceramidase 2 (ACER2), and alkaline ceramidase 3 (ACER3). Each human ceramidase has a mouse counterpart. AC, NC, and ACER1–3 have maximal activities in acidic, neutral, and alkaline environments, respectively. ACER1–3 have similar protein sequences but no homology to AC and NC. AC and NC also have distinct protein sequences. The human AC (hAC) was implicated in Farber disease, and hAC may be important for cell survival. The mouse AC (mAC) is needed for early embryo survival. NC is protective against inflammatory cytokines, and the mouse NC (mNC) is required for the catabolism of ceramides in the digestive tract. ACER1 is critical in mediating cell differentiation by controlling the generation of SPH and S1P and that ACER2’s role in cell proliferation and survival depends on its expression or the cell type in which it is found. Here, we discuss the role of each ceramidase in regulating cellular responses mediated by ceramides, SPH, and S1P.
Extreme heat awareness and protective behaviors in New York City

Heat waves can be lethal and routinely prompt public warnings about the dangers of heat. With climate change, extreme heat events will become more frequent and intense. However, little is known about public awareness of heat warnings or behaviors during hot weather. Awareness of heat warnings, prevention behaviors, and air conditioning (AC) prevalence and use in New York City were assessed using quantitative and qualitative methods. A random sample telephone survey was conducted in September 2011 among 719 adults and follow-up focus groups were held in winter 2012 among seniors and potential senior caregivers. During summer 2011, 79 % of adults heard or saw a heat warning. Of the 24 % who were seniors or in fair or poor health, 34 % did not own AC or never/rarely used it on hot days. Of this subgroup, 30 % were unaware of warnings, and 49 % stay home during hot weather. Reasons for not using AC during hot weather include disliking AC (29 %), not feeling hot (19 %), and a preference for fans (18 %). Seniors in the focus groups did not perceive themselves to be at risk, and often did not identify AC as an important health protection strategy. While heat warnings are received by most New Yorkers, AC cost, risk perception problems, and a preference for staying home leave many at risk during heat waves. Improving AC access and risk communications will help better protect the most vulnerable during heat waves.
Repair times for systems that have high early failures

Active repair time is that portion of down time during which the system is worked on to effect a repair. Repair time includes preparation time, diagnostic time, correction time and final checkout time. Systems such as airborne communications transceivers, switching circuits and radar‐missile units usually suffer an initial high rate of wear and failure. Improvement in this area requires actions to reduce the frequency of failure and to increase ease of repair. This paper advances the first passage time distribution of Brownian motion as a repairability model. The paper fits the model to observed active repair time of radar systems, obtaining as a result estimates of the mean first passage time, drift and diffusion parameters of the associated Brownian motion. Hypothesizing the first passage time distribution of Brownian motion for active repair time data of radar systems, the Kolmogorov‐Smirnov test shows that the model is accepted and can be chosen as the parent population.
Shock wave interactions arising from near surface displacement cascades

Abstract Kaminsky has recently observed during 14 MeV neutron irradiation of a variety of materials that substantial (micron-sized) particles are ejected from the surfaces of the bombarded specimens. Similarities between Kaminsky's observations and the macroscopic phenomena of spall suggested the possibility that shock waves and transient thermal stresses, generated by energetic primary knock-ons, may be in part responsible. A brief discussion of spall phenomena will be presented as background to calculations of the shock wave interactions. The results indicate that cascade generated stresses may be responsible for the emission of such particles by triggering the release of stored internal energy.
Work-family policies and the effects of children on women's employment hours and wages

Welfare state generosity around work-family policies appears to have somewhat contradictory effects, at least for some measures of gender equality. Work-family policies, in encouraging higher levels of women's labor market participation, may have also contributed to lower wage-levels for women relative to men, for instance. We consider the relationship between particular work-family policies and mothers’ employment outcomes. Analyses use data on employed women aged 25–45 from the Luxembourg Income Study for 21 countries across Eastern and Western Europe, North America, Israel, and Australia. We estimate within each country differences in employment hours and wages for women based on their number of children. Then, we examine the association of estimated per child penalties in wage and employment hours with country-level data on leaves and childcare. Work-family policies are generally associated with positive employment outcomes for mothers, relative to childless women. Work-facilitating policies such as c...
Simulated Arctic Ocean Freshwater Budgets in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries

The Arctic Ocean freshwater budgets in climate model integrations of the twentieth and twenty-first century are examined. An ensemble of six members of the Community Climate System Model version 3 (CCSM3) is used for the analysis, allowing the anthropogenically forced trends over the integration length to be assessed. Mechanisms driving trends in the budgets are diagnosed, and the implications of changes in the Arctic–North Atlantic exchange on the Labrador Sea and Greenland–Iceland–Norwegian (GIN) Seas properties are discussed. Over the twentieth and the twenty-first centuries, the Arctic freshens as a result of increased river runoff, net precipitation, and decreased ice growth. For many of the budget terms, the maximum 50-yr trends in the time series occur from approximately 1975 to 2025, suggesting that we are currently in the midst of large Arctic change. The total freshwater exchange between the Arctic and North Atlantic increases over the twentieth and twenty-first centuries with decreases in ice export more than compensated for by an increase in the liquid freshwater export. Changes in both the liquid and solid (ice) Fram Strait freshwater fluxes are transported southward by the East Greenland Current and partially removed from the GIN Seas. Nevertheless, reductions in GIN sea ice melt do result from the reduced Fram Strait transport and account for the largest term in the changing ocean surface freshwater fluxes in this region. This counteracts the increased ocean stability due to the warming climate and helps to maintain GIN sea deep-water formation.
Estimation of T-wave alternans from multi-lead ECG signals using a modified moving average method

T-wave alternans (TWA) manifests on the surface ECG as a pattern of alternating amplitude T-waves, typically in the microvolt range. Consequently, TWA is usually invisible at standard ECG display scales and must be detected using signal processing methods. There is a predictive relationship between TWA and sudden cardiac death, so proper detection and estimation may contribute to clinical decision-making. The objective of the 2008 Physionet/Computers in Cardiology Challenge was to estimate the magnitude of TWA in a dataset of 100 multi-lead ECGs. We used a modified moving average method (MMA) to detect and estimate TWA. We found that the TWA magnitude ranged from to 1.3 to 256.9 muV (43.9 plusmn 49.7 muV). The Kendall rank correlation coefficient obtained for the challenge was 0.451. In conclusion, the MMA method can be used for detection and estimation of TWA, though additional work could further improve the method.
Understanding resilience in armed conflict: Social resources and mental health of children in Burundi

Little is known about the role of cognitive social capital among war-affected youth in low- and middle-income countries. We examined the longitudinal association between cognitive social capital and mental health (depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms), functioning, and received social support of children in Burundi. Data were obtained from face-to-face interviews with 176 children over three measurement occasions over the span of 4-months. Cognitive social capital measured the degree to which children believed their community was trustworthy and cohesive. Mental health measures included the Depression Self-Rating Scale (DSRS) (Birleson, 1981), the Child Posttraumatic Symptom Scale (Foa et al., 2001), and a locally constructed scale of functional impairment. Children reported received social support by listing whether they received different types of social support from self-selected key individuals. Cross-lagged path analytic modeling evaluated relationships between cognitive social capital, symptoms and received support separately over baseline (T1), 6-week follow-up (T2), and 4-month follow-up (T3). Each concept was treated and analyzed as a continuous score using manifest indicators. Significant associations between study variables were unidirectional. Cognitive social capital was associated with decreased depression between T1 and T2 (B = −.22, p < .001) and T2 and T3 (β = −.25, p < .001), and with functional impairment between T1 and T2 (β = −.15, p = .005) and T2 and T3 (β = −.14, p = .005); no association was found for PTSD symptoms at either time point. Cognitive social capital was associated with increased social support between T1 and T2 (β = .16, p = .002) and T2 and T3 (β = .16, p = .002). In this longitudinal study, cognitive social capital was related to a declining trajectory of children's mental health problems and increases in social support. Interventions that improve community relations in war-affected communities may alter the trajectories of resource loss and gain with conflict-affected children.
Assessing innovativeness in the North American softwood sawmilling industry using three methods

Using a mail questionnaire targeted at 500 softwood sawmills in the United States and Canada, firm innovativeness was assessed using three methods: (1) current technology, (2) self-evaluation, and (3) a new scale — the propensity to create and adopt scale. The results of these three methods were then compared to assess the performance of each method. Additionally, the relationship between firm innovativeness and financial performance was examined. Based on responses from 85 sawmills (19% adjusted response rate), the results show that both the self-evaluated and the propensity to create and adopt measures differentiate between mills with high and low levels of innovativeness. The composite of the propensity to create and adopt scale shows higher reliability (Chronbach’s α = 0.97) than the self-evaluated scale (Chronbach’s α = 0.68). Significant relationships between sawmill performance and each of the three measures of innovativeness were seen, with the propensity to create and adopt scale generally having...
The discordance between localized induction of membrane type-MMPS and tissue inhibitors with ischemia and reperfusion: a potential therapeutic target

The Discordance between Localized Induction of Membrane Type-MMPS and Tissue Inhibitors with Ischemia andReperfusion: A Potential Therapeutic Target Anne M. Deschamps, William M. Yarbrough, Rebecca A. Allen, Kathryn B. Dowdy, Julie E. McLean, Joseph T. Mingoia, Jeffrey A. Sample, Rupak Mukherjee, Francis G. Spinale1—Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Research, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Intraflagellar transport (IFT) cargo: IFT transports flagellar precursors to the tip and turnover products to the cell body

Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is the bidirectional movement of multisubunit protein particles along axonemal microtubules and is required for assembly and maintenance of eukaryotic flagella and cilia. One posited role of IFT is to transport flagellar precursors to the flagellar tip for assembly. Here, we examine radial spokes, axonemal subunits consisting of 22 polypeptides, as potential cargo for IFT. Radial spokes were found to be partially assembled in the cell body, before being transported to the flagellar tip by anterograde IFT. Fully assembled radial spokes, detached from axonemal microtubules during flagellar breakdown or turnover, are removed from flagella by retrograde IFT. Interactions between IFT particles, motors, radial spokes, and other axonemal proteins were verified by coimmunoprecipitation of these proteins from the soluble fraction of Chlamydomonas flagella. These studies indicate that one of the main roles of IFT in flagellar assembly and maintenance is to transport axonemal proteins in and out of the flagellum.
Cortical mechanisms of feature-based attentional control

A network of fronto-parietal cortical areas is known to be involved in the control of visual attention, but the representational scope and specific function of these areas remains unclear. Recent neuroimaging evidence has revealed the existence of both transient (attention-shift) and sustained (attention-maintenance) mechanisms of space-based and object-based attentional control. Here we investigate the neural mechanisms of feature-based attentional control in human cortex using rapid event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Subjects viewed an aperture containing moving dots in which dot color and direction of motion changed once per second. At any given moment, observers attended to either motion or color. Two of six motion directions and two of six colors embedded in the stimulus stream cued subjects either to shift attention from the currently attended to the unattended feature or to maintain attention on the currently attended feature. Attentional modulation of the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) fMRI signal was observed in early visual areas that are selective for motion and color. More importantly, both transient and sustained BOLD activity patterns were observed in different fronto-parietal cortical areas during shifts of attention. We suggest these differing temporal profiles reflect complementary roles in the control of attention to perceptual features.
The expression and role of protein kinase C in neonatal cardiac myocyte attachment, cell volume, and myofibril formation is dependent on the composition of the extracellular matrix.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic component of tissues that influences cellular phenotype and behavior. We sought to determine the role of specific ECM substrates in the regulation of protein kinase C (PKC) isozyme expression and function in cardiac myocyte attachment, cell volume, and myofibril formation. PKC isozyme expression was ECM substrate specific. Increasing concentrations of the PKC delta inhibitor rottlerin attenuated myocyte attachment to randomly organized collagen (1, 5, and 10 microM), laminin (5 and 10 microM), aligned collagen (5 and 10 microM), and fibronectin (10 microM). Rottlerin significantly decreased cell volume on laminin and randomly organized collagen, and inhibited myofibril formation on laminin. The PKC alpha inhibitor Go 6976 inhibited attachment to randomly organized collagen at 6 nM but did not affect cell volume. The general PKC inhibitor Bisindolylmalemide I (10 and 30 microM) did not affect myocyte attachment; however, it significantly decreased cell volume on randomly organized collagen. Our data indicate that PKC isozymes are expressed and utilized by neonatal cardiac myocytes during attachment, cell growth, and myofibril formation. Specifically, it appears that PKC delta and/or its downstream effectors play an important role in the interaction between cardiac myocytes and laminin, providing further evidence that the ECM influences cardiac myocyte behavior.
Electrolyte composition of endoscopically collected duodenal drainage fluid after synthetic porcine secretin stimulation in healthy subjects.

Background Traditional pancreatic function tests are sensitive for the diagnosis of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency but are cumbersome and difficult to perform. A sedationless endoscopic pancreatic function test that has the potential for wide clinical application was developed by us, but data on the results of this method in healthy subjects are lacking. This study analyzed endoscopically collected duodenal fluid from healthy subjects after synthetic porcine secretin stimulation. Methods Healthy subjects underwent the sedationless endoscopic pancreatic function test. After secretin stimulation, duodenal aspirates were obtained every 5 minutes for 1 hour. The collected fluid was analyzed for electrolyte concentrations. Results Sixteen healthy subjects (8 women, 8 men; median age 34.5 years) underwent the endoscopic pancreatic function test. The concentrations of the sodium ([Na + ]) and potassium ([K + ]) cations remained constant, similar to normal concentrations in plasma (median [Na + ], 155 mEq/L; median [K + ], 4.3 mEq/L). The concentrations of the bicarbonate ([HCO 3 − ]) and chloride anions increased and decreased, respectively, in an inverse and reciprocal manner, similar to the previously characterized "secretory curve." The median peak [HCO 3 − ] was 108 mEq/L IQR: 99-110). By the 20-minute collection, the [HCO 3 − ] was greater than 80 mEq/L for 94% (15/16) of subjects, the historic cut point for [HCO 3 − ] in studies based on traditional methods of pancreatic function testing. Conclusions Endoscopic collection of pancreatic fluid reproduces the anion-cation secretory curve described by prior studies of pancreatic secretory physiology based on traditional collection methods.
System-on-chip (SoC): clocking and synchronization issues

Technology scaling continues to improve transistor performance and integration to realize complex systems and added functionality in SoC designs. This reduces the energy consumed with a 30% speed improvement per technology generation. The scaling, however, comes with some adverse effects posing perceived barriers. In this paper, we discuss the design challenges in Ultra Deep Submicron (UDSM) technologies and the scaling problems in SoC circuits for clocking and synchronization. This includes delay variations and functional errors due to various types of noise sources. Correct clocking and synchronization can be achieved through innovative strategies that work at all levels of abstraction.
A new approach to quasi-static analysis with application to microstrip

The measured equation of invariance (MEI), a new, rapid technique for electromagnetic field analysis, is applied to planar circuit problems. Variations of the technique applicable to microstrip geometry are described. As a demonstration, it is then applied to electrostatic analysis of structures held at different potentials, using novel umbilical meshes. The MEI technique offers the possibility of order-of-magnitude increases in computational speed for typical problems of microwave CAD. >
Electromagnetic Modeling of a High Voltage Current Transformer

An electromagnetic modeling procedure for a high voltage current transformer is presented. The procedure can be used to estimate all major components of power loss, including loss in the core, windings, and steel tank enclosure. Provision is also made for incorporating the effects of electrical contact resistance. Finite element analysis is used to estimate core and enclosure losses, while winding losses are obtained through simple closed form calculations. Under certain circumstances, the model shows that loss in the enclosure can be greater than that of the transformer core or windings. Discussion of how the model might be used in a thermal analysis to help predict the capability of the current transformer to sustain operation greater than rated capacity will be presented.
Deciphering the Broken Narrative of Trauma: Signs of Traumatic Dissociation on the Rorschach

La dissociation est une defense d’evitement contre le risque de se trouver submerge par les emotions liees a des souvenirs traumatiques. Elle consiste en un brusque changement d’etat qui facilite la division entre pensee, affect, comportement et memoire narrative. En consequence, de par sa nature meme, la dissociation cree une histoire traumatique disjointe et intraduisible. Le Rorschach est une methode tres puissante pour faire apparaitre la dissociation dans la mesure ou il pousse les sujets a plonger dans le magasin interne de leurs souvenirs verbaux et de les associer aux stimuli visuo-kinesthesiques des taches d’encre. Les exigences du test vont donc a l’encontre de la dissociation, ce qui permet au testeur de saisir le travail des defenses plus clairement. Dans cet article nous commencons par decrire la comprehension theorique de la dissociation. La litterature de recherche avec le Rorschach nous permet de definir les marqueurs Exner de l’intrusion traumatique et de l’evitement emotionnel qui sont c...