cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relationship of education to fertility in Turkey

Age at marriage desired family size and contraceptive knowledge and use were examined to clarify the relationship between fertility and education using data from the 1978 Turkish Fertility Survey. The analysis was primarily a bivariate analysis with aggregate data from the standard First Country Report and the findings should therefore be interpreted with caution. At each age group cumulative fertility declined consistently with increasing education. The mean number of children ever born to ever-married women aged 45-49 was 7.13 for illiterate women 5.85 for literate 3.92 for women with primary education 3.13 for women with secondary or higher education and 6.30 for all levels. The mean number of children ever born for the total sample after age standardizing was 4.71 for illiterate women 3.72 for literate women 2.87 for women with primary education 1.97 for women with secondary or higher education and 3.81 for all women. The mean number of children ever born to all ever married women controlling for age in rural urban and metropolitan areas respectively was 4.24 3.97 and 3.74 for illiterate women 3.90 3.46 and 3.11 for literate women 3.37 3.11 and 2 .39 for women with primary education 1.50 1.80 and 1.59 for women with secondary or higher education and 4.13 3.58 and 2.77 for the total sample. Initial fertility in the 1st 5 years of marriage was found to decline with increased schooling. Among all women in the sample aged 25 or over who 1st married before age 25 the mean age at 1st marriage was 17.1 for illiterate women 17.8 for literate women 18.5 for women with primary 20.1 for women with secondary or higher and 17.7 for all levels of education. within each education category women who married later had lower cumulative fertility than those who married earlier. The variation by education in desired family size was much smaller than the variation in actual fertility; the difference between the uneducated and the most educated groups of women under 50 years barely exceeded 1 child/woman which was further reduced after adjusting for the age differentials. The desired mean number of children did however decrease slightly as education increased for almost all cohorts. Comparisons of actual family size with desired number of children to obtain rough estimates of excess fertility showed that among women aged 45-49 the actual size exceeded the desired size by nearly 2 children for illiterate women by slightly more than 1 child per literate woman and by .3 child for women with 5-8 years of schooling. The same pattern was observed for women aged 35-44 years. 80.5% of illiterate women but 93.6% of literate women had heard of a contraceptive method; 41.4% of illiterate women and 63.7% of literate women had ever used a method; and 24.0% of illiterate but 38.8% of literate women had used an effective method.
A 14 b 100 Msample/s CMOS DAC designed for spectral performance

A 14-bit, 100-MS/s CMOS digital-to-analog converter (DAC) designed for spectral performance corresponding more closely to the 14-bit specification than current implementations is presented. This DAC utilizes a nonlinearity-reducing output stage to achieve low output harmonic distortion. The output stage implements a return-to-zero (RZ) action, which tracks the DAC once it has settled and then returns to zero. This RZ circuit is designed so that the resulting RZ waveform exhibits high dynamic linearity. It also avoids the use of a hold capacitor and output buffer as in conventional track/hold circuits. At 60 MS/s, DAC spurious-free dynamic range is 80 dB for 5.1-MHz input signals and is down only to 75 dB for 25.5-MHz input signals. The chip is implemented in a 0.8-/spl mu/m CMOS process, occupies 3.69/spl times/3.91 mm/sup 2/ of die area, and consumes 750 mW at 5-V power supply and 100-MS/s clock speed.
Rapid Hover-to-Forward-Flight Transitions for a Thrust-Vectored Aircraft

The use of differential e atness for computation of a nominal trajectory for fast transition between e ight modes of autonomous vehicles is investigated. Differential e atness of an approximate model of the longitudinal dynamics of a thrust-vectored aircraft is used to achieve fast switching between e ight modes. We conclude that steering to the trimmed state of the full model is of crucial importance for good performance. Simulations and experimental data for a thrust-vectored e ight-control experiment at Caltech are provided to validate the approach.
Analysis and Design of Multitrait-Multirater Performance Appraisal Studies

Becker and Cote (1994) found that the correlated uniqueness model outperformed the confirmatory factor analysis and direct product models for multitrait-multimethod data. The present study analyzed20 multitrait-multirater performance appraisal matrices. The correlated uniqueness model was appropriate significantly more often than in Becker and Cote5 study and the other two models performed poorly. The proportions of trait and method variance in ratings were related to several rating system characteristics such as opportunity for raters to observe ratees and basing rating dimensions on a job analysis. Performance of all three models was better with larger proportions of trait variance and smaller proportions of method variance.
Not to profit from ppen source: The role of nonprofit organizations in open source software development

The papers explores the role of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) in free or open source software (F/OSS ) development process. Based on two dominant NPO theories and a series of in-depth interviews with officials from NPOs in the F/OSS discourse, this paper argues that NPOs have provided the social structure necessary to support the production of F/OSS. By illustrating the role of these NPOs, this paper not only serves as a lens to understand the nonproprietary production process but also examines the robustness of the aforementioned NPO theories.
Variational Approach to the Lifting Surface Problem

Application of a variational principle to the nonself-adjoint lifting surface integral equation, first proposed by Flax, is given a closer look from the finite-element viewpoint. A scheme to avoid the usual introduction of the reverse flow is proposed. The plan form is divided into elements, and the unknown pressure loading is expressed as the sum of shape functions, each of which gives a local approximation within an element but vanishes elsewhere. The quadrature difficulty in the numerical solution can thus be effectively reduced. Because of the difference kernel in the integral equation, if both the plan form and the finite-element mesh pattern obey polar symmetry, the resulting algebraic problem is shown to have a symmetric coefficient matrix, in fact identical to that which follows from a straight Galerkin procedure using the same basis of approximating functions. For arbitrary pian form and mesh pattern, symmetrization can be achieved by an imbedding technique. Numerical examples are worked out for the classical two-dimensional flat plate and a number of lifting surfaces in steady incompressible flow, mainly to demonstrate the feasibility of the approach.
Photosensitized Solid-state Polymerization of Diacetylenes in Nanoporous TiO2 Structures

In situ topochemical polymerization of two diacetylene monomers within nanoporous TiO2 thin films was carried out under visible light irradiation. One of the monomers used contains a carboxylic acid group, which could help to link the monomer onto the TiO2 surface covalently. UV-Vis absorption and Raman studies showed that both monomers were successfully photopolymerized. These results suggest that the covalent linkage of the diacetylene to the nanoparticle through the carboxylic acid group is not needed. Since photopolymerization of diacetylene is typically induced by excitation of the monomer at λ< 300 nm, the observed red shift of the photopolymerization wavelength is attributed to the photosensitization effect of TiO2. The morphological study of the polydiacetylene/TiO2 nanocomposite revealed that the diacetylene monomers were polymerized in the vicinity of the TiO2 nanoparticles. This is attributed to the fact that the electron-transfer process occurs at the interface of nanocrystalline TiO2 (nc-TiO2...
Resident Education and Management of End-of-Life Care: The Resident's Perspective

Background Twenty percent of Americans die in the intensive care unit of our nation's hospitals. Many of those individuals die after life-sustaining therapy has been withdrawn or withheld. Surgeons should be competent in discussing the withholding and withdrawal of life sustaining therapy (WWLST) with their patients. We surveyed surgical residents to learn their perspectives and training experience with discussing end-of-life care and WWLST with patients. Methods We mailed a survey to residents in all accredited surgical residency programs in New England. Nonresponders were contacted by mail at 3 and 6 weeks after the initial mailing. Results Nineteen of 20 (95%) programs participated in this study. Three hundred thirty-five residents were surveyed and 141 residents responded (response rate, 42%). Ninety-two percent (n = 129) of respondents had cared for patients where WWLST had occurred, and 74% (n = 104) had initiated a discussion about WWLST themselves. Most (n = 81, 60%) respondents felt competent to discuss WWLST, whereas 14% rarely (n = 13) or never (n = 6) felt comfortable discussing WWLST. Most (n = 119, 85%) respondents believed that they would be adequately trained at the end of their residencies; however, 39% (n = 53) felt they were inadequately trained in this area. Graduates before 2002 were significantly more likely to agree strongly or generally that they would be well trained in managing WWLST when they completed residency (p = 0.006). Conclusion Almost all surgical residents will have to discuss WWLST with patients and their families, yet a significant number feel inadequately trained to do so. Steps should be taken to ensure that surgical residents can discuss WWLST as part of their core competencies, and this training should be reinforced throughout residency.
The Existence of Concatenated Codes List-Decodable up to the Hamming Bound

It is proven that binary linear concatenated codes with an outer algebraic code (specifically, a folded Reed-Solomon code) and independently and randomly chosen linear inner codes achieve, with high probability, the optimal tradeoff between rate and list-decoding radius. In particular, for any 0 0, there exist concatenated codes of rate at least 1-H(ρ)-e that are (combinatorially) list-decodable up to a fraction of errors. (The Hamming bound states that the best possible rate for such codes cannot exceed 1-H(ρ), and standard random coding arguments show that this bound is approached by random codes with high probability.) A similar result, with better list size guarantees, holds when the outer code is also randomly chosen. The methods and results extend to the case when the alphabet size is any fixed prime power q ≥ 2.
Genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation and loss: the case of the Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus)

Habitat loss and fragmentation can influence the genetic structure of biological populations. We studied the genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation in Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) populations. Genetic samples were collected from 339 bears, representing nine populations. Bears were genotyped for 12 microsatellite loci to estimate genetic variation and to characterize genetic structure. None of the nine study populations deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Genetic variation, quantified by mean expected heterozygosity (HE), ranged from 0.27 to 0.71 and was substantially lower in smaller and less connected populations. High levels of genetic differentiation among populations (global FST = 0.224; global RST = 0.245) suggest that fragmentation of once contiguous habitat has resulted in genetically distinct populations. There was no isolation-by-distance relationship among Florida black bear populations, likely because of barriers to gene flow created by habitat fragmentation and other anthropogenic disturbances. These factors resulted in genetic differentiation among populations, even those that were geographically close. Population assignment tests indicated that most individuals were genetically assigned to the population where they were sampled. Habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic barriers to movement appear to have limited the dispersal capabilities of the Florida black bear, thereby reducing gene flow among populations. Regional corridors or translocation of bears may be needed to restore historical levels of genetic variation. Our results suggest that management actions to mitigate genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation are needed to ensure long-term persistence of the Florida black bear.
Evaluation of Stomach Tubes and Gastric Lavage for Sampling Diets from Blue Catfish and Flathead Catfish

Abstract We compared the ability to extract all stomach contents by using stomach tubes or gastric lavage to sample diets from blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus and flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris. Pulsed gastric lavage (PGL) removed a significantly greater proportion of stomach content mass (95.6%) from blue catfish than did stomach tubes (14.6%). Percent mass of flathead catfish contents removed with PGL (96.0%) was not significantly different from that removed with stomach tubes (86.9%). Based on the greater effectiveness of PGL for blue catfish, combined with a shorter mean time required per sample (69 versus 118 s) and the better preservation of extracted diet material, we recommend using PGL as a nonlethal technique to collect diet samples from large catfishes.
The Vulvar Dermatoses

Introduction. Dermatologic diseases of the vulva may cause dyspareunia. These disorders may be overlooked by gynecologists and urologists because of lack of residency training experience. Dermatologists who are most familiar with these diseases are infrequently trained in vulvovaginal examination. As such, these disorders are often improp- erly diagnosed and treated. Aim. To describe the presentation and management of the major vulvar dermatoses including irritant and allergic contact dermatitis, lichen sclerosus, lichen simplex chronicus, and lichen planus. Main Outcome Measure. Data from a peer review literature search on the topic of vulvar dermatoses. Methods. The literature for this review article was obtained through a Medline search. Appropriate dermatology textbooks were utilized for additional information. Results. A comprehensive survey of the vulvar dermatoses. Conclusion. Vulvar dermatoses must be considered a part of the differential diagnosis of any woman with a sexual pain disorder. As such, healthcare providers who evaluate and treat women with dyspareunia must become familiar with the most common dermatologic disorders of the vulva. Burrows LJ, Shaw HA, and Goldstein AT. The vulvar dermatoses. J Sex Med 2008;5:276-283.
Electron transport in nanocluster films with random voids

Nanocluster films are modeled as a network of tunnel junctions in which random voids have been introduced. The effects of network size and void distribution on electron transport are studied using Monte Carlo simulations of the Coulomb blockade mediated transport. The random void distributions of the model networks are systematically varied by randomly deleting junctions along each row and between the different rows. The nonlinearity and voltage threshold of the I-V curves are calculated for different void topologies and network sizes. Both the threshold voltage and nonlinearity are sensitive to lateral fluctuations of the conduction paths due to the random voids. The nonlinearity is found to be maximized for network aspect ratios of unity or larger and for particular network topologies. Both the nonlinearity and voltage threshold scale with network size. The behaviors seen in simulation are found to correspond well to Au nanocluster I-V measurements.
Dispersive microwave readout for quantum electrical circuits

Over the past decade, quantum coherent behavior has been observed in electrical circuits engineered to have discrete, individually addressable energy levels. These devices operate at cryogenic temperatures and microwave frequencies—conditions which permit the utilization of superconducting passive and active resonant circuits for measurement. The basic architecture of a quantum dispersive measurement consisting of a two level quantum bit coupled to a LC tank circuit is reviewed. Recent progress with this type of readout has led to the real time monitoring of a superconducting qubit with the observation of quantum jumps between energy levels.
Towards understanding the evolutionary origins and early diversification of rearranging antigen receptors.

Summary: The rearranging antigen binding receptors, immunoglobulin heavy (IgH) and light (IgL) chains and the four classes of T-cell antigen receptors (TCR) are found in all contemporary species of jawed vertebrates examined thus far. Ig genes have undergone marked changes in organization and mechanisms ot diversification during vertebrate phylogeny: whereas TCR genes, which are found in species as phylogenetically removed as man and cartilaginous fishes (e.g. skate), are generally similar in terms of structure, diversification and, presumably, function. The patterns of Ig divergence in cartilaginous fish are informative as to both the potential for genetic variation and the mechanisms that bring about such change. No evidence has been found for homologs of cither Ig, TCR, recombination activating gene (RAG) I or RAG2 in jawless vertebrates or invertebrates. Thus, a phylogenetic demarcation exists in terms of the presence and absence of the rearranging antigen binding receptor genes. It is presumed that the rearranging antigen binding receptors arose from a non-rearranging predecessor. The recent discovery of non-rearranging homologs of antigen binding receptor genes in several species offers insight into alternative forms of recognition, relationships between adaptive and innate mechanisms of immunity, and the origins of antigen recognition.
Capturing prolonged interactive experiences: a review of visual approaches in user research

Each user of interactive systems experiences prolonged engagement with applications, products and systems. Because of limitations of contemporary long-term user research methods and imperfection in human memory, approaches for longitudinal user experience are still under-explored. In this paper, we review a recent methodological shift in user research aimed at applying visual approaches to the capturing of prolonged interactive use. We analyze and discuss selected examples of existing visual approaches that support the examination of longitudinal use and represent and visualize changes in interactions. We discuss potential merits of visual approaches for user experience longitudinal research. We also discuss the drawbacks of these approaches. Overall, we argue that visual approaches have the potential to support certain aspects of user experience research, especially in relation to issues concerning temporality.
Jellyfish on the Ceiling and Deer in the Den: The Biology of Interior Decoration

Few homes are without at least one or two representations of living things. The author argues that this penchant for organic decoration is related to what Edward O. Wilson calls “biophilia,” an inn...
Stimulation of intestinal mucosal afferent nerves increases superior mesenteric artery and decreases mesenteric adipose tissue blood flow.

We tested the hypothesis that stimulation of intestinal mucosal afferent nerves produces an increase in superior mesenteric artery (SMA) but a decrease in mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT) blood flow. In anesthetized rats, blood flow in the SMA (pulsed Doppler flowmetry) and MAT (hydrogen gas clearance) was measured simultaneously before and after administration of 0.9% saline, 640 μM capsaicin, or 5% dextrose into the intestinal lumen. The changes in the SMA were 3.8 ± 3.0, 15.9 ± 4.0, and 18.8 ± 7.6%; and those in the MAT, 4.7 ± 4.0, −11.5 ± 3.4, and −0.07 ± 3.4% of baseline, respectively. The data indicate that exposure of the intestinal lumen to an afferent nerve stimulant or nutrient induced a dichotomous pattern of blood flow changes, an increase in the SMA and a reduction in MAT. The capsaicin-sensitive afferent nerves may be instrumental in mediating these energy responses.
The Ethics of a Postmortem Testicular Harvest

Abstract Background Faith and religion are topics that are not routinely discussed or of much significance in the emergency department (ED). However, there are certain cases when faith or religion can cause certain ethical dilemmas for the physician, patient, or hospital. Understanding patients' beliefs affects our own medical decision-making and the ability to treat certain illnesses. Hospital policy or religious views of the hospital can affect patient management. Spirituality or religion in the ED will not be an issue with every patient; however, there are times where religious beliefs will be at the very center of an ED visit, as shown by this case report. Case Report A 42-year-old man presented to the ED in cardiac arrest. Despite resuscitation and appropriate advanced cardiac life support, he was pronounced dead in the ED. The patient's wife stated they were trying to have a child and requested testicular harvest, planning for in vitro fertilization. Being at a Catholic institution, this raised important ethical questions. After the involvement of several disciplines, a resolution was reached that placated the patient's wife and the hospital. Conclusion This report highlights the importance of understanding the ethical questions raised from faith-based issues in the ED to be able to provide the highest level of patient-centered care.
Why Boosting the Availability of Trade Finance Became a Priority During the 2008-09 Crisis

Economists disagree on the role trade finance played in the recent collapse in world trade. In contrast, policy makers seem to have reached a consensus. In a nutshell, their reasoning is that trade finance is the lifeline of international trade. The decline in trade is larger than what would be expected given the drop in global output. So part of the fall in trade reflects a shortage of trade finance, which could amplify and extend the plunge in trade and make the current crisis worse. Hence, boosting the availability of trade finance has to be part of the international response to the crisis. In this paper, I examine the claims underpinning this storyline and highlight the uncertainties on the role trade finance played in the current crisis.
Life tables for Lygus hesperus (Heteroptera: Miridae) on susceptible and resistant common bean cultivars

The plant bug, Lygus hesperus Knight, was reared on five common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris (L.), genotypes, three of which were previously identified as resistant (‘BAT 1081’, ‘BAT 1299’, and ‘CIAT 5979’) and two as susceptible (‘Red Kidney’ and ‘CIAT 5683’). Age-specific life-table parameters were estimated as a means to measure plant resistance to L. hesperus . Under both field and laboratory conditions, fewer bugs survived to the adult stage on the resistant cultivars than on the susceptible cultivars. Female lygus bugs reared on the resistant genotypes also had lower gross reproductive rates, net reproductive rates, and intrinsic rates of increase than those bugs held on the susceptible genotypes. These life-table values for CIAT ‘;5683’ were significantly greater than for all other cultivars. Resistance had no effect on mean generation time. Finite rates of increase and population doubling times were significantly lower on resistant cultivars. These life-table results confirm resistance to lygus bugs in common bean cultivars based on reduced survivorship to adulthood, fecundity, and longevity of females.
Contrasting Feeding Habits of Pest Mole Cricket Species

Dissections of the alimentary tract of two of the more important mole cricket pests in the southeastern United States revealed different feeding habits. A total of 411 nymphs and female mole crickets, field collected from grass and sand habitats by drenching with pyrethrin solution, was examined. Scapteriscus acletus Rehn and Hebard was observed to be principally carnivorous and S. vicinus Scudder to be herbivorous.
Progress in Research and Application of Aphids’ Artificial Diet

Rearing aphids on artificial diet is cheap and compact,and thus can provide cheap diet for mass production of natural enemies.And with the aphids reared on artificial diet,studies of nutritional physiology of aphids,screening insecticidal substances,and toxicological test of insecticides will be much easier.This paper summarized the effects of components of artificial diet on the growth and development of aphid and the applications of artificial diet,with the aim to provide some references for future improvement of artificial diets.
Photophysical Processes in a Novel Porphyrin-perylene Metallosupramolecule with a Long-lived Triplet State

A new porphyrin-perylene supramolecule,TPPZn-BPHPDI,was obtained by axial coordination of N-pyridyl-N-( 1-hexyl) heptylperylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboximides( BPHPDI) to the zinc ion center of porphyrin metallacycle( TPPZn). The supramolecular system was confirmed by1 H NMR and1H-1H COSY spectra.The fluorescence titration experiments show that the equilibrium constant of the coordination reaction is 5. 32×104L /mol. The analysis of transient nanosecond fluorescence spectra and transient absorption spectra indicates that a long-lived perylene triplet state( 101 μs) can form via triplet-triplet energy transfer from the porphyrin to the perylene moiety. Moreover,all above photophysical processes are shown very clearly by means of the energy-level diagram in the paper.
The Neurotoxicity of Bilirubin

Recent clinical and research findings on kernicterus and bilirubin toxicity are reviewed. Bilirubin binds to cell membranes and appears to interfere with the metabolism, depolarization, and transmitter functions of neurons. The neurobehavioral and clinical findings associated with bilirubin encephalopathy and low bilirubin kernicterus are presented and evaluated. Cardiorespiratory stabilization, avoidance of displacing drugs, and preventive use of phototherapy appear to have decreased the incidence of low bilirubin kernicterus in high-risk newborns.
Exposing Internet Address Use to Enhance Network Security

This thesis seeks to use knowledge of Internet addressing to improve Internet security. Its goal is to identify and exploit differences between the way that normal and malicious users, applications, and devices use Internet addresses in order to improve and extend the visibility and effectiveness of Internet detection and monitoring systems. The central premise of this thesis is that the more addresses of vulnerable Internet systems known to an attacker, the easier it is for that attacker to spread malicious activity. Indeed, the use of large numbers of Internet addresses is characteristic of many of the most critical security problems facing the Internet today, including spam, phishing, Internet worms, and botnets. Current techniques for detecting and stopping malicious Internet behavior, such as intrusion detection systems and spam filters, focus on inspecting the contents of Internet communications, and not on the fact that addresses must be discovered, resolved, and embedded into communications before any malicious activity can succeed. This thesis focuses on address discovery, the first step in the process, and it investigates how collecting information on the source and destination of an address discovery attempt can be used to enhance the visibility and effectiveness of network security systems. Two methods of tracking address enumeration by malicious agents in IP and TCP/UDP port space are explored. The first approach is to study models of infectious Internet processes to analyze whether these models can be applied to predict the addresses an attacker will discover and target. The second approach is to monitor address discovery attempts by instrumenting the network to collect and identify address enumeration initiated by attackers. A technique called pervasive darknet monitoring is proposed to identify address discovery attempts destined for unused and unreachable Internet addresses and detect malicious Internet behavior. Thesis statement. By predicting or monitoring how Internet users, applications, and devices discover Internet addresses, it is possible to identify malicious behavior and enhance the visibility and effectiveness of network security systems.
Evaluation of the Response of Bone Metastases to Therapy

Assessment of response to treatment is difficult when evaluating patients with carcinoma of the prostate. This is particularly true in patients with advanced disease that is resistant to endocrine therapy. The bone scan, which is a commonly used study to assess for the presence of metastatic disease, is qualitative and evidence of response and progression is often difficult to document. Studies are underway to develop quantitative bone scans and possibly these tests will help to detect subtle changes in either progression or response to therapy. Standard radiographic techniques have not proven useful in that significant bone destruction must be present before it can be detected radiographically. Possibly magnetic resonance imaging will be of benefit in this regard. Experience with tumor markers is limited. Acid phosphatase is recognized to be elevated in the majority patients with metastatic disease however any elevation alone cannot differentiate between disease in bone and other organs. Additionally, it is unclear as to what is an acceptable response or change in acid phosphatase. Similar concerns are related to prostatic specific antigen as well. The results and duration of changes in biologic markers (acid and alkaline phosphatase, prostatic specific antigen), whether to normal (50% of normal, 25% of normal), unchanged or increase should be reported as the data is analyzed. What constitutes an appropriate role for the radioimmunoassay determination of acid phosphatase and other new studies is undetermined at this time. Finally, urinary hydroxyproline determinations and changes therein may also have a role in assessing response of bone metastases to specific forms of therapy.
Analysis of genetic diversity through population history

The idea that diversity in the population of a genetic algorithm affects the algorithm's search efficiency is widely accepted. However, little is known about the amount of node level diversity present in Genetic Programming (GP) runs. In this paper, we introduce several techniques for measuring the diversity of a population based on the genetic history of the individuals. We then apply these measures to the genetic histories of several runs of four different problems. The results of this analysis show that a surprisingly small amount of diversity is present in the final population of a GP run. We conclude by suggesting a variety of other potential applications of these measures.
Moving Toward an Understanding of Disability in Older U.S. Stroke Survivors

Objectives: We test a comprehensive model of disability in older stroke survivors and determine the relative contribution of neighborhood, economic, psychological, and medical factors to disability...
Robust Extracellular pH Modulation by Candida albicans during Growth in Carboxylic Acids.

U.S. Public Health Service [R01AI075091, R21AI124675]; institutional T32 training grant [T32AI055449]
Deriving a provisional tolerable intake for intravenous exposure to silver nanoparticles released from medical devices

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are incorporated into medical devices for their anti-microbial characteristics. The potential exposure and toxicity of AgNPs is unknown due to varying physicochemical particle properties and lack of toxicological data. The aim of this safety assessment is to derive a provisional tolerable intake (pTI) value for AgNPs released from blood-contacting medical devices. A literature review of in vivo studies investigating critical health effects induced from intravenous (i. v.) exposure to AgNPs was evaluated by the Annapolis Accords principles and Toxicological Data Reliability Assessment Tool (ToxRTool). The point of departure (POD) was based on an i. v. 28-day repeated AgNP (20 nm) dose toxicity study reporting an increase in relative spleen weight in rats with a 5% lower confidence bound of the benchmark dose (BMDL05) of 0.14 mg/kg bw/day. The POD was extrapolated to humans by a modifying factor of 1,000 to account for intraspecies variability, interspecies differences and lack of long-term toxicity data. The pTI for long-term i. v. exposure to 20 nm AgNPs released from blood-contacting medical devices was 0.14 μg/kg bw/day. This pTI may not be appropriate for nanoparticles of other physicochemical properties or routes of administration. The methodology is appropriate for deriving pTIs for nanoparticles in general.
Probability-Based Stability Robustness Assessment of Controlled Structures

Abstract Model uncertainty, if ignored, can seriously degrade the performance of an otherwise well-designed control system. If the level of this uncertainty is extreme, the system may even be driven to instability. In the context of structural control, performance degradation and instability imply excessive vibration or even structural failure. Robust control has typically been applied to the issue of model uncertainty through worst-case analyses. These traditional methods include the use of the structured singular value, as applied to the small gain condition, to provide estimates of controller robustness. However, this emphasis on the worst-case scenario has not allowed a probabilistic understanding of robust control. In this paper an attempt to view controller robustness as a probability measure is presented. The probability of failure due to parametric uncertainty is estimated using first-order reliability methods (FORM). It is demonstrated that this method can provide quite accurate results on the probability of failure of actively controlled structures. Moreover, a comparison of this method to a suitably modified structured singular value robustness analysis in a probabilistic framework is performed. It is shown that FORM is the superior analysis technique when applied to a controlled three degree-of-freedorn structure. In addition, the robustness qualities of various active control design schemes such as LQR, H2, H∞ and μ -synthesis are discussed in order to provide some design guidelines.
Sumner and Natural Struggle: Individualism Through the Market

This chapter examines the work of William Graham Sumner, which is addressed to the conditions of the Gilded Age and is in many ways an apologia for its public ethic of competitive striving. Influenced by the contemporary evolutionary theories and classical political economy, he came to see individualism as the order of nature, reflected in the workings of an unregulated economic competition. Responding to the early attempts to systematically regulate the economy in the name and interests of the working class, he offers the essentially middle-class figure of the ‘Forgotten Man (or Woman)’ who embodies the individualism that Sumner values. He deploys his brand individualism polemically against increasing pressures for economic and social regulation in the Gilded Age and exemplifies a kind of individualism that remains influential today.
Topology and Phenomenology in Landscape Architecture

This essay is about Topology in landscape architecture. Topology comprises a theoretical framework, a method and tools to reintroduce the capacities and methods of landscape architecture into the current theoretical discourse and actual shaping of our environments. Landscape architecture is understood as an integrative discipline with a deeply rooted tradition in shaping and preserving nature. The goal of establishing a «topological thinking» is to merge ecological concerns and a design approach that considers the basic factors of modeling a site: the understanding of both the terrain and the history of a place, its spatial qualities, the condition of its soil, the proper use of plants and building materials, and the adjustment to the expectations of its users while challenging aesthetic sensitivities. It presents some examples of the successful work of topologists from Peter Josef Lenne to Kathryn Gustafson and discusses current challenges of landscape design practices in Europe.
Blockage of millimeter wave communications on rotor UAVs: Demonstration and mitigation

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are widely used in military due to the hostile environment and safety concern. To tackle the challenges on UAV communications, millimeter wave (MMwave) communication has been considered as a potential solution for both security and high throughput capability. However, insufficient research has been carried out for MMwave communications on drone, and no widely recognized channel model is available. In this paper, the blockage effect of MMwave communications, due to the drone propeller, is studied using hardware testbed. A scheme is proposed to predict the fast but periodic blockage and mitigates the throughput loss in such a ‘heartbeat’ channel.
In Brook Trout, Sometimes the Risk Is Worth the Reward

Coldwater streams flow through the Appalachian Mountains, giving life to one of the region's most valuable social and economic resources: Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis. The vitality of this ico...
Chain Transfer with Dialkyl Zinc During Hafnium–Pyridyl Amido-Catalyzed Polymerization of 1-Octene: Relative Rates, Reversibility, and Kinetic Models

Kinetic modeling is applied to the polymerization of 1-octene catalyzed by Hf–pyridyl amido complex 1/[CPh3][B(C6F5)4] in the presence of chain-transfer agent ZnEt2. The model reproduces monomer consumption, end group data, and the bimodal MWD (molecular weight distribution) of polyoctene. Consistent with experimental data, the model suggests chain transfer of Hf–polymeryls to ZnEt2 is an essentially irreversible process. However, to adequately fit the MWDs, slow exchange between two Zn(Et)Pol species to produce ZnEt2 and ZnPol2 is proposed. The model shows agreement with experimental data that approximately one polymer chain per ZnEt2 is produced. Changes in the MWDs are observed upon raising or lowering the polymerization temperature; we propose these changes arise due to increasing rates of Zn disproportionation reactions at elevated temperatures. ZnMe2 also is examined as a chain-transfer agent using chromophore quench-labeling techniques. Qualitative comparison of RI (“bulk” polymer) and UV (catalyst...
Epigenetic Control of Interleukin-9 in Asthma.

Epigenetic Control of Interleukin-9 Levels in Asthma Interleukin-9 mediates inflammation in asthma. A recent study showed an epigenetic effect on the synthesis of interleukin-9 in a mouse model of ...
Application I: Model Reduction on System Level

Various approaches for the dynamic condensation of large size of discrete models have been presented in preceding chapters. When a new method for dynamic condensation is proposed, natural frequencies and the corresponding mode shapes are generally utilized to check the accuracy of the new approach. If the differences of natural frequencies and mode shapes between the full model and the reduced model obtained from the new condensation method are less than the prescribed tolerance, the new development is considered to be successful. Using this comparison, it can be guaranteed that the dynamic characteristics of the reduced model are close to those of the full model within the frequency range of interest. Thus, the reduced model can represent the full model within that frequency range. For this reason, all the dynamic condensation methods may be implemented into the eigenvalue analysis of large-size models. This is the traditional and widely acknowledged application and has been well demonstrated in preceding chapters.
Analysis of Hysteresis Damage Accumulation and the Effect on Fatigue Life

In order to validate an existing energy-based fatigue life prediction understanding, the strain energy accumulation for interrupted loading cycles was analyzed. The life prediction method being validated was developed based on the understanding that strain energy density accumulated during monotonic fracture is a physical damage quantity that is equal to total cumulative hysteresis strain energies in a fatigue process. If this understanding is true, it is possible to suspend cyclic loading for long periods during a fatigue procedure, and then resume the procedure to failure, resulting in the same fatigue life as if the fatigue test was conducted continuously to failure. This assumption, along with critical analyses such as surface roughness and loading frequency, is tested empirically on Titanium 6Al-4V (Ti64) axial tension-compression specimens in the lifetime regime of 5x103 and 6x104. The failure results are compared, with encouraging results, to the aforementioned energy-based prediction method, thus validating the theory and the prediction capability.
Practical Gastrointestinal Oncology Correlative Science

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, like other human malignancies, are characterized by the accumulation of a variety of genetic alterations, including mutations that lead to inactivation of tumor suppressor genes or activation of oncogenes. These genetic and epigenetic changes can be used to classify tumors on the molecular level, and form the basis for development of new prognostic and predictive markers. While a number of molecular prognostic factors in GI cancers have been recognized or postulated (Table 3.1), few have been validated in large data sets to date and their utilization is not yet considered a standard of care. The essential prognostic factors for carcinomas across all GI sites remain the anatomic stage as classified, using TNM categories, lymphovascular invasion, and achievement of margin-negative surgical resection in potentially curable neoplasms. However, with the development of therapies targeted to specific molecular pathways involved in tumorigenesis, characterization of molecular alterations in individual GI malignancies has become important for prediction of response to therapy and thus may be used in some situations to guide selection of treatment options. Currently, the two most prominent examples are colorectal carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), for which molecular testing for prediction of response to therapy has become widely applied in certain clinical settings, such as KRAS mutational testing prior to treatment with cetuximab in high stage colorectal carcinoma.
Mechanisms of Insulin Action and Insulin Resistance

The 1921 discovery of insulin was a Big Bang from which a vast and expanding universe of research into insulin action and resistance has issued. In the intervening century, some discoveries have ma...
Perioperative cardiovascular medicine: 5 questions for 2018

A MEDLINE search was performed from January 2017 to February 2018, and articles were selected for this update based on their significant influence on the practice of perioperative cardiovascular medicine.
Measuring executive function skills in young children in Kenya: Associations with school readiness

Most of what is known about the association between children's executive function (EF) and school readiness skills is derived from research conducted in Western countries. We tested whether these associations were evident in a middle-income country context. Participants were 1,480 children, aged 4-7 years old, who participated in an endline assessment of the Tayari program, an early childhood education (ECE) model that is being delivered by the Kenyan education system. High rates of task completion, low rates of floor effects, and high rates of assessor quality ratings supported the feasibility of large-scale direct assessments of EF with young children. Assessor ratings of children's attention-related behaviors during testing were positively associated with their performance on EF tasks (rs = 0.12-0.27). An EF composite score was not related to demographic factors or to children's exposure to the Tayari program. However, the EF composite score was uniquely associated with performance-based measures of early literacy (β = 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.05, 0.31), early numeracy (β = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.07, 26), and social-emotional competencies (β = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.03, 0.20), even after adjustment for multiple covariates. These results are discussed with respect to the ways in which EF skills inform ongoing efforts to invest in ECE in low- and middle-income countries.
A Demonstration of Nitrogen Polar Gallium Nitride Current Aperture Vertical Electron Transistor

We report the first demonstration of Nitrogen polar (N-polar) GaN current aperture vertical electron transistor with a blocking electric field over 2.9 MV/cm. The devices were grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on a c-plane sapphire substrate. The fabrication involved a maskless planar regrowth of a very thin-AlN layer above the current blocking layer, which induced a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in the channel, and also prevented the out-diffusion of activated Mg ions into the GaN channel layer. The alloyed source and drain ohmic contacts on the regrown n+-GaN layer offered the low-contact resistance of 0.18 $\text{m}\Omega \cdot \text {cm}^{2}$ ( $0.22~\Omega \cdot \text {mm}$ ). The device displayed a maximum drain current of 1.68kA/cm2 with a low RON, SP of 2.48 $\text{m}\Omega \cdot \text {cm}^{2}$ . With just about 200 nm drift layer, a three-terminal breakdown voltage of 58 V was achieved. The output characteristics were free of dispersion under pulsed measurements with $80~\mu \text{s}$ and 500 ns pulse widths. The N-polar current aperture vertical electron transistors show fundamentally significant advantages in favor of using Mg2+-implanted GaN as current blocking layers compared with Ga-polar counterparts.
#earlydetection: Leveraging social media to recruit individuals at increased-risk of pancreas cancer for an early detection study.

e14577Background: Social media (SM) could transform how individuals learn of clinical trials. In an ongoing, single-center cohort study to collect serial biospecimens and clinical data from high-ri...
Sex Differences in Associations of Cognitive Function with Perceptions of Pain in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND Sex differences in pain have been shown to exist in older adults with normal cognition and people with Alzheimer's disease. It is unknown if sex differences in pain in older adults exist in a range of communicative older adults with varying cognitive ability from no impairment to moderately severe cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE This study proposes to compare the association between psychophysical responses to experimental thermal pain between males and females to determine if sex differences in pain exist across the cognitive spectrum. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of data from an age- and sex-matched between-groups cross-sectional study examining the psychophysical response to contact heat in people with and without dementia. RESULTS Median age of males (n = 38) and females (n = 38) was 73 (range: 68-87) with similar distributions of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores (range: 11-30). Findings revealed inverse statistically significant associations with the threshold temperature of warmth (females: r = -0.41, p = 0.010; males: r = -0.33, p = 0.044). There was an apparent divergent pattern of MMSE associations with unpleasantness ratings between the groups. At the moderate pain threshold, that difference became statistically significant (p = 0.033). Females demonstrated a positive association of MMSE with unpleasantness (r = 0.30, p = 0.072), while males demonstrated an inverse association at that respective threshold (r = -0.20, p = 0.221). CONCLUSIONS Between-group findings suggest that patterns of responses to thermal stimulus intensity may differ between males and females with worsening cognition with females reporting significantly less unpleasantness with the percept of moderate pain and males reporting significantly higher unpleasantness with moderate pain perception.