cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Prograde Gravitational Capture Model for the Origin and Evolution of the Earth-Moon System

The origin of the Moon is one of the outstanding unsolved problems in the natural sciences. Cursory examination of college-level textbooks in the Earth and Planetary Sciences leaves one with the impression that the Moon is simply a “night lantern” and that the moon effects the Earth in only minor ways, such as controlling the tidal waters on the planet.
Measurements of radioiodine species in samples of pressurized water reactor coolant

Samples of primary coolant at two pressurized water reactors in the United States have been collected and analyzed to determine the fraction of the radioiodine present in volatile forms. The volatile species, I{sup 2} and organic iodides, would be available for prompt release following a steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) accident, which overpressurizes the secondary coolant system and causes venting to the atmosphere. Coolant samples were collected at full power, during power reduction at the start of an outage, and up to 48 h after shutdown. Radioiodine concentrations spiked as power was decreased, and an increase in the volatile species fraction to {approximately}20% was seen with 2 h of shutdown. A second peak of 30 to 40% volatile species occurred at {approximately} 1.5 days after shutdown, but is not significant for SGTR accidents.
Social determinants of smoke exposure during pregnancy: Findings from waves 1 & 2 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study.

Abstract Maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure are associated with a myriad of negative health effects for both mother and child. However, less is known regarding social determinants for SHS exposure, which may differ from those of maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP). To identify social determinants for SHS exposure only, MSDP only, and MSDP and SHS exposure, data were obtained from all pregnant women (18–54 years; N = 726) in waves 1 and 2 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (2014–2015). Multiple logistic regressions were conducted using SAS 9.4. Smoke exposure during pregnancy was common; 23.0% reported SHS exposure only, 6.1% reported MSDP only, and 11.8% reported both SHS exposure and MSDP. Results demonstrate that relationships between smoke exposure during pregnancy and social determinants vary by type of exposure. Women at risk for any smoke exposure during pregnancy include those who are unmarried and allow the use of combustible tobacco products within the home. Those who are at higher risk for SHS exposure include those who are younger in age, and those who are earlier in their pregnancy. Those who are at higher risk for maternal smoking include those with fair/poor mental health status and those who believe that others' view tobacco use more positively. These results suggest the need for implementing more comprehensive policies that promote smoke-free environments. Implementing these strategies have the potential to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes associated with tobacco smoke exposure.
“We’re Just Family, You Know?” Exploring the Discourses of Family in Gay Parents’ Relational Talk

To date, little is known about how gay male parents discursively create and sustain family identity and how they position themselves in relation to the dominant heteronormative discourses of the tr...
Quantifying Coarse Fragments in Soil Samples Using a Digital Camera

We developed a novel method using image analysis to quantify the content and shape characteristics of coarse fragments in an Alfisol developed from loess over outwash. A total of 45 soil samples (about 600–1000 g each) were collected at 10-cm depth interval from 0 to 150-cm deep at three transects in the profile. The coarse fragments were separated from the soil fine-earth particles and photographed in the laboratory. The images were processed using ImageJ processing software that provides total count, total area, and mean circularity of each sample, as well as shape characteristics (circularity, aspect ratio, roundness, and solidity) of each coarse fragment. The amount of coarse fragments (coarse fragments, total count/mass, and total area/mass) varied with depth and was highest in the 2C1 and BC horizons where the soil was developed from coarse glacial outwash and a mixing of coarse outwash and loess. The coarse fragments content was lower in the loess and fine glacial outwash horizons. Approximately 9.6% of coarse fragments in weight or 14.5% by count moved from the glacial outwash layer into the loess layer (Ap and Bt horizons). The shape characteristics showed large variations at 50–110 cm depth where the soil was developed from coarse glacial outwash and a mixing of coarse outwash and loess. The mean circularity, roundness, and solidity of the coarse fragments at the topsoil were larger than those at the 50-110 cm, indicating that rounder stones tend to move faster than irregularly shaped stones during the frost heaving. This method provides a robust, fast and quantitative way to estimate the distribution and the shape characteristics of coarse fragments in a soil sample that can be applied to help better understand soil formation.
"Nobody Else Organized": Teachers Solving Problems of Practice in the Twitterblogosphere.

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this paper was to examine the relationship between the problems of practice teachers encounter and social media use. In this study seven teacher bloggers were interviewed abo...
Evaluating the Influence of Size Effects on Load-Displacement Behavior and Failure in Threaded Fasteners, Part I: Experimental Testing

In an effort to enhance both the experimental testing and computational modeling of small threaded fasteners, a collaborative investigation consisting of experimental tensile testing and computational modeling was conducted to observe the effects of threaded fastener size on load-displacement behavior and failure. This paper focuses on the experimental tests performed on NAS1351N00–4, NAS1352N02–6, NAS1352N04–8, NAS1352N06–10, and NAS1352N4–24 (referred to herein as #00, #02, #04, #06 and #4, respectively) A286 fasteners. Displacement measurements were obtained from three unique sources/locations: Differential Variable Reluctance Transducers (DVRTs) inserted in the top bushing to measure the relative displacement of the bushing faces, Linear Variable Differential Transducers (LVDTs) located on the outside edge of the bushing fixtures to measure a more global response of the bushing displacement, and the stroke of the test frame. This test series clarified many ambiguities in the experimental process and further established a feasible testing method for small fasteners.
sisterless A is required for the activation of Sex lethal in the germline

In Drosophila, sex determination in somatic cells has been well-studied and is under the control of the switch gene Sex lethal (Sxl), which is activated in females by the presence of two X chromosomes. Though sex determination is regulated differently in the germline versus the soma, Sxl is also necessary and sufficient for the female identity in germ cells. Loss of Sxl function in the germline results in ovarian germline tumors, a characteristic of male germ cells developing in a female soma. Further, XY (male) germ cells expressing Sxl are able to produce eggs when transplanted into XX (female) somatic gonads, demonstrating that Sxl is also sufficient for female sexual identity in the germline. As in the soma, the presence of two X chromosomes is sufficient to activate Sxl in the germline, but the mechanism for "counting" X chromosomes in the germline is thought to be different from the soma. Here we have explored this mechanism at both cis- and trans- levels. Our data support the model that the Sxl "establishment" promoter (SxlPE) is activated in a female-specific manner in the germline, as in the soma, but that the timing of SxlPE activation, and the DNA elements that regulate SxlPE are different from those in the soma. Nevertheless, we find that the X chromosome-encoded gene sisterless A (sisA), which helps activate Sxl in the soma, is also essential for Sxl activation in the germline. Loss of sisA function leads to loss of Sxl expression in the germline, and to ovarian tumors and germline loss. These defects can be rescued by the expression of Sxl, demonstrating that sisA lies upstream of Sxl in germline sex determination. We conclude that sisA acts as an X chromosome counting element in both the soma and the germline, but that additional factors that ensure robust, female-specific expression of Sxl in the germline remain to be discovered.
Systemic Pharmacokinetics of Topical Intranasal Cocaine in Healthy Subjects

BackgroundTopical cocaine is currently available for local anesthesia of the upper airway mucous membranes.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to define the safety and efficacy of topical intr...
A Playroom Internal Waiting Area Improves Productivity in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Author(s): Walsh, Paul; Denno, Jennifer | Abstract: Introduction: Pediatric emergency department (PED) volume is often constrained by the number of available treatment rooms. In many PEDs patients occupy treatment rooms while awaiting test results or imaging, thereby delaying care for patients who arrive after them.Methods: We opened a PED where selected patients were moved to a playroom when they did not actively require a treatment room. The treatment room was then available for the next patient. We measured the effect of using the playroom on time from arrival to rooming and length of stay (LOS) using proportional hazards regression and the odds of being roomed within 30 minutes of arrival using logistic regression. We adjusted for the number of the previous eight patients who were “playroom eligible”; age; triage category; provider; the number of patients who arrived within the preceding hour; prior census; and testing ordered in the preceding eight patients.Results: We analyzed 43,634 patient encounters, of which 10,134 (23%) were playroom eligible. The adjusted hazards ratio for the next patient being roomed was 1.14 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-1.18) per prior playroom eligible patient. The adjusted odds ratio of the next patient being roomed within 30 minutes was 1.46 (95% CI, 1.33-1.56) per prior playroom eligible patient. The playroom typically decreased median rooming time by four to 42 minutes and LOS by two to 40 minutes depending on patient volumes and acuity. The benefit of the playroom was maximal at busier times.Conclusion: Implementing a playroom in the PED for selected patients generally decreased time to rooming of the next patient and LOS.
Intimate Partner Violence and Couple Conflict Behaviors: The Moderating Effect of Drug Use Problem Severity:

AbstractIntimate partner violence (IPV) is a maladaptive conflict behavior, and IPV is both a precipitant and consequence of drug use problems among couples. It is unknown how drug use problem seve...
New insights from inviscid modelling of starting flow separation with roll-up

This paper investigates the use of inviscid flow theory accompanied by surfaces of discontinuity as a means of representing viscous effects. The problem studied is that of starting flow separation past a sharp wedge. We use the vortex-entrainment sheet model of DeVoria & Mohseni (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 866, 2019, pp. 660–688) to augment the set of self-similar solutions with zero entrainment as calculated by Pullin (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 88, 1978, pp. 401–430). Even under the constraints of similarity, the inclusion of entrainment allows for several new degrees of freedom, which correspond to different classes of boundary conditions, and thus solutions, that are excluded by classical potential models. Some computed examples are presented and compared to a previous experimental study. The results offer encouraging evidence that viscous or finite Reynolds number effects can, in an integrated sense, be captured by an inviscid model with singularity distributions. A normal boundary condition that contains the information pertaining to the entrainment must be supplied and represents the trade-off in surrendering the Navier–Stokes equations for the lower-order inviscid model.
Nature and Predictors of Response Changes in Modified-Delphi Panels

Abstract Objectives To describe the extent and nature of changes in participants’ responses after exposure to group feedback and discussion in modified-Delphi panels and to identify factors affecting those changes. Methods We analyzed data from 2 online modified-Delphi panels, each consisting of 2 rating rounds and an online discussion round. We included responses from 55 participants who answered 38 questions in both rating rounds. Because not all participants answered each question twice, our sample consisted of 1846 cases (response changes). We used mixed-effect logistic and multinomial logistic regression to identify factors predicting response changes and their direction relative to group median—our consensus measure. Results Participants changed, on average, 49% of their responses. A response was changed in 47% of the 1846 cases: 28% of responses were changed toward consensus and 19% away from it. Although some measures of subjective participation experiences had a marginally significant impact on the propensity and direction of response changes, several objective measures of discussion engagement were statistically significant predictors of both the presence and direction of response changes. Conclusion Our results illustrate the nature of response changes and highlight the importance of exposing participants to alternative perspectives and encouraging them to explain their perspectives.
Putting morphology to the test: An established classification scheme reliably stratifies salivary gland cytology by risk of malignancy with substantial interobserver agreement

BACKGROUND The Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology describes several salivary gland fine-needle aspiration cytology (SGFNAC) morphologies developed by Griffith et al. Basaloid neoplasms are pleomorphic (PB) or monomorphic with fibrillary (MBFib), hyaline (MBHy), or other (MBOther) matrix. Oncocytoid neoplasms can be pleomorphic (PO), demonstrate granular and/or vacuolated cytoplasm (OGV), or be monomorphic with mucinous (MOMuc), cystic (MOCyst), or other (MOOther) background. In the current study, the authors explore interobserver agreement (IOA) and risk of malignancy (ROM) for these subcategories. METHODS The study included 169 SGFNAC cases with surgical follow-up. Four reviewers categorized these cases using the criteria of Griffith et al. with consensus determined by majority. For all morphologic categories, IOA (using the Fleiss kappa) and ROM were calculated. RESULTS ROMs for basaloid categories were: PB: 100% (1 of 1 case); MBHy: 71.4% (5 of 7 cases); MBFib: 50.0% (3 of 6 cases); and MBOther: 47.4% (9 of 19 cases). ROMs for oncocytoid neoplasms were: OGV: 100% (10 of 10 cases); MOMuc: 92.3% (12 of 13 cases); PO: 88.9% (8 of 9 cases); MOOther: 33.3% (5 of 15 cases); and MOCyst: 0 (0 of 1 case). The system demonstrated substantial agreement overall (κ = 0.69). For basaloid neoplasms, the IOA results were: MBHy: κ = 0.59; MBFib: κ = 0.41; MBOther: κ = 0.41; and PB: κ = 0.11. For oncocytoid neoplasms, the IOA results were: MOMuc: κ = 0.88; OGV: κ = 0.67; PO: κ = 0.63; MOOther: κ = 0.57; and MOCyst: κ = 0.18. CONCLUSIONS The SGFNAC scheme proposed by Griffith et al. and incorporated into the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology demonstrated substantial agreement overall, with particularly high agreement for the MOMuc, OGV, PO, and MBHy categories. The PB and MOCyst categories demonstrated slight agreement and may be improved by revised criteria. The PB, PO, MOMuc, and OGV categories demonstrated high ROM, and the latter 2 categories might best be classified as suspicious for malignancy.
Creating an Evidence Base for Social Work, Group Work, and Psychodrama

This chapter is devoted to outlining the research literature of psychodrama and group therapy. Evidence-based practice trends and their impact on practice in the field of social work are described. Psychodrama is also framed within the research bases of the humanistic-experiential psychotherapies, creative arts therapies, and body- and movement-oriented therapies. While the quality and quantity of research available on the effectiveness of psychodrama are limited, current findings support its use to as a treatment for various mental health conditions. Shortcomings and critiques of research in psychodrama are included while indicating a need for higher quality psychodrama research studies. The research history of psychodrama’s founder, Jacob Moreno, is also described to provide insight on psychodrama’s historical relationship to research.
The ultrahigh pressure stability of silver: An experimental and theoretical study

We measured the atomic volume of Ag in a toroidal diamond anvil cell to a maximum pressure of 416 GPa and calculated the atomic volume and elastic constants of Ag up to 750 and 460 GPa, respectively. Our density functional theory calculations at 0 K utilize an all-electron fully relativistic method and agree well with our volume measurements, particularly at pressures above ∼75 GPa. We corrected our experimental results for non-hydrostaticity using a line shift analysis, and the resulting Vinet equation of state (EOS) parameters are reported. We find that the uniaxial stress sustained by Ag increases linearly up to 4.5 GPa at a pressure of 416 GPa. Our experimental results indicate that the fcc structure of Ag remains stable to at least 416 GPa at room temperature. Our theoretical results show that C44 increases as pressure increases and reaches a maximum at ∼100 GPa above which it begins to decrease, a sign that the fcc structure of Ag is becoming unstable, and at V/V0 = 0.30, the bcc structure is lower in energy than fcc.
Sparing Functional Lung Using Optimized Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy in Thoracic Radiation for Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose/Objective(s) Chemoradiation (CRT) followed by maintenance durvalumab is the standard of care for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but is limited by toxicity to normal lung tissue from radiotherapy and immunotherapy1. Many lung cancer patients have heterogeneous lung function as a result of the tumor and/or pre-existing co-morbidities2. We proposed Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) could be used to spare the functional parts of the lung (FL) without exceeding organs at risk (OARs) constraints or compromising tumor coverage. Materials/Methods Functional lung volumes were retrospectively contoured using 4D-CT ventilation maps for 32 patients with stage III NSCLC treated with CRT and maintenance durvalumab at a single institution from September 2017- October 2019. Functional lung volumes were created from 4D-CT data using methodology previously described3,4. Studies have shown 4D-CT ventilation maps generated from the changes in the density of lungs during the respiratory cycle correlate with pulmonary function tests and ventilation-perfusion imaging5. New VMAT plans were generated to spare the FL while also maintaining adequate planning target volume (PTV) coverage and without exceeding dose constraints to the OARs. The dosimetric values of the original plans were compared to the dosimetric values of the optimized plans using paired t-test or paired Wilcox rank-sum test as appropriate. Specifically, the PTV D95, heart mean, esophagus mean, spinal cord Dmax, as well as the FL mean, FL V5, FL V10, FL V20, and FL V30 were compared. Results Optimized plans had statically significant lower FL mean dose, FL V5, FL V10, FL V20, and FL V30 (all P values Conclusion We demonstrated the ability to optimize VMAT plans to avoid functional parts of the lung while maintaining adequate PTV coverage and meeting OAR constraints for locally advanced NSCLC. VMAT plans optimized to avoid functional lung can be created with minimal extra cost or change in treatment planning workflow as 4D-CT acquisition at time of simulation is standard practice, which is advantageous compared to other functional lung avoidance techniques, i.e., single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). Given already compromised lung function and risk of pulmonary toxicities from treatment, this work highlights a personalized approach to radiation treatment planning.
Mindfulness for the Next Generation: Helping Emerging Adults Manage Stress and Lead Healthier Lives

Introduction Part I Teaching Mindfulness to College Students and Other Emerging Adults Chapter 1: Koru: A new model Chapter 2: More about emerging adults and mindfulness Chapter 3: Strategies for bringing mindfulness to emerging adults Chapter 4: The research behind our teaching Part II Koru: The Course Specifics Chapter 5: Structure and logistics Chapter 6: The first class Chapter 7: The second class Chapter 8: The third class Chapter 9: The fourth class Part III Conclusion Chapter 10: Transformation Appendices References Index
Control of cerebrovascular patterning by neural activity during postnatal development.

article i nfo The brain represents only a small portion of the body mass and yet consumes almost a quarter of the available energy, and has a limited ability to store energy. The brain is therefore highly dependent on oxygen and nutrient supply from the blood circulation, which makes it vulnerable to vascular pathologies. Key vascular determinants will ensure proper brain maturation and function: the establishment of vascular networks, the formation of the blood-brain barrier, and the regulation of blood flow. Recent evidence suggests that the phenomenon of neurovascular coupling, during which increased neural activity normally leads to increased blood flow, is not functional until few weeks after birth, implying that the developing brain must rely on alternative mechanisms to adequately couple blood supply to increasing energy demands. This review will focus on these alternative mechanisms, which have been partly elucidated recently via the demonstration that neural activity influences the maturation of cerebrovascular networks. We also propose possible mechanisms underlying activity- induced vascular plasticity.
Pyrazinoylguanidine: antihypertensive, hypocholesterolemic, and renin effects.

In a single-blind, placebo-controlled study of 12 subjects diagnosed as having mild to moderate hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, pyrazinoylguanidine (PZG) in a dose of 600 mg twice daily for 4 weeks reduced systolic blood pressure and heart rate. Pyrazinoylguanidine also reduced diastolic pressures, but to a lesser extent. Pyrazinoylguanidine reduced total serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Regression analysis indicated a dose-dependent reduction of both total cholesterol and LDL by PZG, i.e., the higher the presenting serum concentration, the greater the reduction by PZG. The extent of the reductions produced by PZG in elevated cholesterols and LDLs was highly correlated (r = .949). Normal high-density lipoprotein levels were unchanged by PZG. Pyrazinoylguanidine increased 24-hour urine volume and urinary excretion of sodium. Serum Na+, K+, or Cl- concentrations were unaltered. Means for plasma aldosterone and renin activities tended to decrease, but these trends did not attain statistical significance. Pyrazinoylguanidine was well tolerated. An activity profile that includes antihypertensive effects as well as reduction in hypercholesterolemia without major impact on serum renin or electrolyte balance makes PZG an attractive candidate for the management of hypertension.
Choosing best basis in wavelet packets for fingerprint matching

Fingerprint matching has been deployed in a variety of security related applications. Traditional minutiae detection based identification algorithms do not utilize the rich discriminatory texture structure of fingerprint images. Furthermore, minutiae detection requires substantial improvement of image quality and is thus error-prone. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for fingerprint identification using wavelet packet analysis and best basis selection. Each fingerprint is decomposed using two dimensional wavelet packet family corresponding to different scales. The energy distribution of the fingerprint in each subband is extracted as a feature for identification. Wavelet packet decomposition yields a redundant representation of the image. For this reason, several algorithms for selecting the best basis from this redundant representation have been investigated. In this paper, we propose a new method for choosing best basis in wavelet packets for fingerprint matching. Experiments show that our new algorithm improves the accuracy of fingerprint matching.
Current Issues in the Philosophy of Mind

The philosophy of mind is one of the most active fields in philosophy today, and it has changed so drastically in the last twenty years, that many of the traditionally central topics and theories have been transformed almost beyond recognition, and new concerns now loom that have no clear ancestors in the old tradition. An assessment of current work requires an understanding of recently evolved assumptions about the burdens and goals of the field, which can best be provided by a brief history of the shifts of outlook in recent years.1
Microscopical Properties of Crystals

A solid crystal is composed of atoms, ions, or molecules arranged in a pattern that is periodic in three dimensions.(1) There are six structural (2) classifications: isometric, tetragonal, hexagonal,(1) orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic (see Figure 7.1a).(2)
Efficient Modeling of Concurrent Systems in BMC

We present an efficient method for modeling multi-threaded concurrent systems with shared variables and locks in Bounded Model Checking (BMC), and use it to improve the detection of safety properties such as data races. Previous approaches based on synchronous modeling of interleaving semantics do not scale up well due to the inherent asynchronism in those models. Instead, in our approach, we first create independent (uncoupled) models for each individual thread in the system, then explicitly add additional synchronization variables and constraints, incrementally, and only where such synchronization is needed to guarantee the (chosen) concurrency semantics (based on sequential consistency). We describe our modeling in detail and report verification results to demonstrate the efficacy of our approach on a complex case study.
Pre-Clinical Assessment of Drug-Induced QT Interval Prolongation. Current Issues and Impact on Drug Discovery

Publisher Summary This chapter addresses the issue of drug-induced QT prolongation and examines its impact on drug-development programs in the pharmaceutical industry. Prolongation of the QT interval in patients is usually observed in response to an underlying medical condition, or in association with drug treatment, or else in patients afflicted with one of the congenital long-QT syndromes. Genetic studies have identified at least six genes that, if mutated, result in ion channel malfunction that can cause the long-QT syndrome. In the large majority of cases, drugs that prolong the QT interval and cause TdP inhibit human Ether-a-go-go-Related Gene (HERG) or I Kr at therapeutic, or supra therapeutic concentrations. Clinicians and regulators use the QT interval as a surrogate marker for the prediction of adverse effects such as TdP. Rightfully or not, it is currently assumed that even small changes in the QT interval indicate some risk of TdP, and there is presently no well established threshold below which a prolonged QT interval is believed to be harmless. Many different factors that influence cardiac repolarization and the duration of the QT interval have been associated with an increased risk of drug-induced arrhythmias. These include age (very young and elderly), gender (female > male), heart rate (bradycardia), cardiac disorders, electrolyte imbalance, disease states (hepatic and renal), and concomitant medication.
The ethical, social and legal implications of genetic testing

Europe through the Research Directorate General of the European Commission (EC) took the initiative in starting a complex debate on genetic testing over the course of one year, finalized with 25 recommendations over the ethical, social, and legal implication of this procedure and presented during the Conference "Human genetic testing: what implications" held in Brussels, on May 6-7th, 2004. The ethical, social and legal criteria that played an important role when developing the 25 recommendations were: reliability, quality and quality assurance, transparency, autonomy, education, respect of personal choice, information and consent, protection of vulnerable groups, protection of confidentiality, the right to know or not to know, the duty to disclose and the duty to warn in relation to liability, equity in access to health care, gender and minorities issues, control over human samples and data use in research, legal protection This paper is a descriptive overview, a synthesis of ethical debates presented during this conference.
Commentary on Trevor Barnes's 2011 Roepke Lecture in Economic Geography.

The article discusses the history of economic geography, with an emphasis on geographers Walter Christaller and Edward L. Ullman. It critiques the article "Notes From the Underground: Why the History of Economic Geography Matters: The Case of Central Place Theory" by Trevor J. Barnes. According to the author, Barnes' article does not fully explain the rise of theoretical quantitative geography. The author also critiques the role of theory in geographic scholarship.
Background covariance of atmospheric duct properties based on ensembles

In Refractivity Data Fusion (RDF), the Cartesian representation of refractivity calculated from the Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) output is mapped into a set of 2-dimensional diagnostic variables which are surfaces over the NWP domain. The diagnostic parameters (e.g. duct base height, duct strength, duct thickness, evaporation duct height) include those generated by electromagnetic (EM) inverse problem solutions (e.g. refractivity-from-clutter or RFC). RDF produces an analysis of refractivity in the diagnostic space which is then mapped back into Cartesian coordinates for consumption in EM propagation assessment tools used by the Navy to gauge operational sensor performance. A companion presentation describes RDF in more detail.
Characterization of out-of-plane high frequency microresonators by AFM

The feasibility of in-situ characterization of vertically driven high frequency microresonators using atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been successfully demonstrated. The distinctive achievement of this technique is the rapid, direct characterization of resonant frequency and quality factor for structures that cannot be readily characterized using optical or electrical techniques. Experimentally, an annular microresonator was measured to have its fundamental resonance mode at 2.75 MHz with a quality factor of 6. This new characterization approach offers quick and accessible detection means for high frequency microresonators such as microresonator-based wireless communication systems.
Cell death along the embryo midline regulates left-right sidedness.

During embryogenesis, left-right sidedness is established by asymmetric expression of laterality genes. A recent model predicts the presence of a functional midline that divides the left side of the embryonic disc from the right side, separating left- and right-inducing signals. We show evidence that this midline is formed from a distinct population of cells within the primitive streak. Cells in the dorsal midline of the chick primitive streak display unique expression of the gastrulation markers fgf-8 and brachyury. These midline cells are fated to die, and dead cells remain in the midline during gastrulation. Inhibition of midline cell death compromises the early expression of laterality genes, such as shh and nodal and randomizes the direction of heart looping. We suggest that cell death along the primitive streak midline is a novel mechanism involved in the regulation of left-right asymmetry during early embryogenesis.
Limits of visual communication: The effect of signal-to-noise ratio on the intelligibility of American Sign Language

To determine the limits of human observers’ ability to identify visually presented American Sign Language (ASL), the contrast s and the amount of additive noise n in dynamic ASL images were varied independently. Contrast was tested over a 4:1 range; the rms signal-to-noise ratios (s/n) investigated were s/n = 1/4, 1/2, 1, and ∞ (which is used to designate the original, uncontaminated images). Fourteen deaf subjects were tested with an intelligibility test composed of 85 isolated ASL signs, each 2–3 sec in length. For these ASL signs (64 × 96 pixels, 30 frames/sec), subjects’ performance asymptotes between s/n = 0.5 and 1.0; further increases in s/n do not improve intelligibility. Intelligibility was found to depend only on s/n and not on contrast. A formulation in terms of logistic functions was proposed to derive intelligibility of ASL signs from s/n, sign familiarity, and sign difficulty. Familiarity (ignorance) is represented by additive signal-correlated noise; it represents the likelihood of a subject’s knowing a particular ASL sign, and it adds to s/n. Difficulty is represented by a multiplicative difficulty coefficient; it represents the perceptual vulnerability of an ASL sign to noise and it adds to log(s/n).
Legal Events as Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress in Injured Trauma Survivors

Prior research suggests that involvement in a lawsuit may be associated with the development of enduring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as well as inflated and potentially invalid symptom reports. This research aimed to describe the spectrum of legal events experienced by injured trauma survivors and prospectively assessed the association between legal events and PTSD symptoms. Over a nine month period, hospitalized injury survivors were randomly screened for study participation. Legal events were prospectively assessed, and PTSD symptoms were reported twelve months after the injury. Linear regression was used to determine the association between legal events and higher PTSD symptom levels. Increasing numbers of legal events were associated with significantly higher PTSD symptom levels. Seeking legal counsel (34%), being a victim of non-violent crime (14%), and involvement in a lawsuit (9%) were the most common legal events reported. None of these categories of legal events, however, were associated with significantly higher PTSD symptom levels. Because injury survivors are frequently involved in a spectrum of legal events, it is important for future research to assess the cumulative burden of legal events, as these experiences may represent recurring stressful life events that have the potential to exacerbate PTSD symptoms.
Exact solutions for rate and synchrony in recurrent networks of coincidence detectors

We provide analytical solutions for mean firing rates and cross-correlations of coincidence detector neurons in recurrent networks with excitatory or inhibitory connectivity, with rate-modulated steady-state spiking inputs. We use discrete-time finite-state Markov chains to represent network state transition probabilities, which are subsequently used to derive exact analytical solutions for mean firing rates and cross-correlations. As illustrated in several examples, the method can be used for modeling cortical microcircuits and clarifying single-neuron and population coding mechanisms. We also demonstrate that increasing firing rates do not necessarily translate into increasing cross-correlations, though our results do support the contention that firing rates and cross-correlations are likely to be coupled. Our analytical solutions underscore the complexity of the relationship between firing rates and cross-correlations.
Limitations of nutritional assessment in predicting the outcome of colorectal operations

The value of preoperative nutritional assessment in predicting postoperative morbidity and mortality is controversial. To evaluate the predictive value of preoperative nutritional status, the courses of 100 consecutive patients undergoing colorectal operations were studied prospectively. Subnormal findings for triceps-skin-fold thickness (TSF) and percentage of ideal body weight were associated with a significantly higher complication rate, but occurred so infrequently in our patients that the routine use of these tests is not recommended. Subnormal values for commonly obtained nutritional variables may not justify delay of operation for nutritional repletion.
Microsatellites from the world's heaviest bony fish, the giant Mola mola

We report the isolation and characterization of CAn microsatellite loci from the Mola mola genome using a variation of the hybrid capture method. Five loci exhibit high levels of heterozygocity and two show significant sequence similarity to genes from the closely related Fugu rubripes. These microsatellite markers should be useful in multidisciplinary efforts to understand population characteristics of the giant ocean sunfish.
TS-PANDAS: Absorption with Streptococcal M-Proteins Alters Serological Antineuronal Membrane Antibody Band Patterns 59

TS-PANDAS: Absorption with Streptococcal M-Proteins Alters Serological Antineuronal Membrane Antibody Band Patterns 59
Polymeric diaphragm forming of complex-curvature thermoplastic composite parts☆

Abstract An experimental autoclave is employed for polymeric diaphragm forming of carbon-fibre reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK). Innovative tool design, resulting in cheap and light mould construction, gives cycle times of 60 min. Male and female hemispherical section parts, as well as a box-shaped model trailer, are formed by applying differential pressures across a double polyimide diaphragm. Good part quality, excellent surface finish, controlled fibre-placement and uniform thickness, between −10% and +13%, are demonstrated. The phenomenon of ‘shear-buckling’ occurs in female moulds as the ratio of lay-up area to formed area increases. Diaphragm elongation is a function of mould and part geometry, and is shown to be quite different between upper and lower diaphragms, and between male and female moulds, as well as being a function of surface-ply orientation.
Hadron masses in 2-flavor QCD at β = 5.7

Abstract High statistics hadron mass calculations of full QCD with 2-flavor staggered fermions are performed on the Columbia 16GFLOP parallel supercomputer. At β = 5.7 with ma = 0.01 and 0.025 on a 163 × 32 lattice using the hybrid algorithm, the restoration of flavor symmetry is easily recognized. However, the mass ratio of the nucleon to the rho is still found to be too high, even when the valence quark mass is reduced to mva = 0.004. The results at ma = 0.025 with various quenched strange quark masses indicate that better mass ratios of strange hadrons to the nucleon are possible at msa = 0.1. We also find a factor of two reduction in the errors for the ϱ and nucleon masses by averaging over many time slices in each configuration.
Women on the frontlines: Rethinking war narratives post 9/11

The events of September 11th have triggered the establishment of war narratives, both academic and popular, trying to make sense of this tragedy. However very little discussion in the United States has focused on the gendering of the attack. What we have witnessed is the tendency to masculinize the heroes of the attack as gallant warriors and ignore the contributions of women firefighters, police officers and rescue workers who had also risked their lives. Most importantly the landscape itself was constructed as masculine with the popularity of such cartoons as Our Towering Heroes which likened the images of the World Trade Center to the bodies of a male firefighter and police officer. This paper will analyze the masculination of New York City by way of popular narratives released shortly after the tragedy.
Optimal procurement, disposal and pricing policies for managing rental goods

Consider a video rental retailer who procures DVDs or video cassettes from a distributor and rents them to the customers. To meet the time-varying rental demand, the retailer needs to develop cost-effective procurement and disposal policies. In this paper, we first present a base model in which the underlying rental demand is decreasing over time, backorders are not allowed and the disposal price is exogenous. For this base model, we show that the optimal procurement quantity is equal to the sum of effective demands (rental demand net of returns) over an integral number of periods, and the optimal disposal policy can be determined by solving a simple dynamic program with polynomial complexity. We then analyze the case of endogenous disposal prices and derive optimal disposal policies by solving a quadratic optimization problem with tree constraints. We also extend the base model to allow for backorders and to cases where the retailer has multiple procurement opportunities and a contractual period where disposals are not allowed. We show that the qualitative nature of the procurement policy is preserved in these cases and the optimal procurement and selling policies can be determined using similar dynamic programming algorithms.
The Ethics of Library Discard Practices

This paper explores the issue of ethics in relation to library discard practices, and attempts to address the weeding process from a philosophical point of view. An overview of some of the origins of ethical theories, including those of Kant, Epicurus and Epictetus, is given and related to college library weeding practices. Moral obligation is a key phrase when considering the concept of ethics. Honesty, objectivity, competency, and loyalty as they relate to the moral obligation most libraries have to keep their collections current, is examined. It is argued that these concepts do indeed substantiate the assumption that discarding is an ethical practice. Ethics has long been an area of concern to the American Library Association. An analysis of the professional status of librarians and the concept of ALA Codes of Ethics is addressed in this paper in order to place the issue in historical perspective. Finally, the issue of ethics versus law, and where discarding/weeding practices fit into that scheme, is discussed.
Event-driven competing risks

The California red scale Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell) (Homoptera: Diaspididae) is a major pest of California citrus, with infestations causing growers significant financial losses. It has recently developed resistance to traditional insecticide sprays. An alternative suppression tactic is the release of a biological control agent, Aphytis melinus DeBach (Aphelinidae: Hymenoptera) that feeds on red scale. Although many aspects of the red scale � /Aphytis interaction are now understood, it is difficult to differentiate the effects of temperature and population fluctuations in the field. To investigate such complex interactions, we propose a new stochastic modeling technique, based on event-driven competing risks, that incorporates details of life histories as well as the host � /parasitoid interaction. Our continuoustime, individual-oriented modeling approach quantifies relationships among individuals and describes the resulting coupling between the interacting populations. The event-structured simulation drives time in contrast to the usual timedriven stochastic dynamic programming. Our system, developed in the public domain using the R statistical package, allows for different biological clocks, since both red scale and Aphytis development respond to temperature (degreedays) while searching female Aphytis follow a diurnal time schedule, contingent upon temperature-dependent egg maturation.
Chemoinvestigatory and sexual behavior of male guinea pigs following vomeronasal organ removal

Abstract The vomeronasal organs of male guinea pigs were removed (VNX; n=10) or males experienced sham surgery (Sham; n=10). Subsequently a battery of chemosensory tests of investigatory responsiveness to conspecific urine was conducted. Additionally, male subjects were paired with female conspecifics for short and long periods and social and sexual behaviors were monitored. VNX males exhibited a depression in urine investigation and this depression became more profound following repeated testing and/or the passage of time. By 6.3 months following surgery, investigatory responsiveness to urine was practically eliminated. Maintenance of responsiveness to urine odors may require reinforcing input through the accessory olfactory system. In contrast to these effects on responsiveness to odors, VNX and Sham males were indistinguishable in their social and sexual behavior. These data indicate that male guinea pigs without a VNO: (1) Exhibit a depression of investigation of urine odors which is time dependent and which may involve an extinction-like process; (2) continue to discriminate classes of urine (e.g., urine from male vs urine from female conspecifics); and (3) exhibit normal sexual behavior. The vomeronasal organ in the male domestic guinea pig is apparently critical for the maintenance of normal responsiveness to sex odors but, in its absence, other sensory systems are capable of maintaining normal sexual behavior under conditions of laboratory testing.
Distributed data collection and its capacity in asynchronous wireless sensor networks

Most of the existing works studying the data collection capacity issue have an ideal assumption that the network time is slotted and the entire network is strictly synchronized explicitly or implicitly. Such an assumption is mainly for centralized synchronous WSNs. However, WSNs are more likely to be distributed asynchronous systems. Thus, in this paper, we investigate the achievable data collection capacity of realistic distributed asynchronous WSNs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to study the data collection capacity issue for distributed asynchronous WSNs. Our main contributions are threefold. First, to avoid data transmission collisions/interference, we derive an R 0 -Proper Carrier-sensing Range (R 0 -PCR) under the generalized physical interference model for the nodes in a data collection WSN, where R 0 is the satisfied threshold data receiving rate. Taking R 0 -PCR as its carrier-sensing range, any node can initiate a data transmission with a guaranteed data receiving rate. Second, based on the obtained R 0 -PCR, we propose a Distributed Data Collection (DDC) algorithm with fairness consideration for asynchronous WSNs. Theoretical analysis of DDC surprisingly shows that its asymptotic achievable network capacity is ℂ = Ω(1 over 26β κ+1 ·W), where β κ+1 is a constant value depends on R 0 and W is the bandwidth of a wireless communication channel, which is order optimal and independent of network size. Thus, DDC is scalable. Finally, we conduct extensive simulations to validate the performance of DDC. Simulation results demonstrate that DDC can achieve comparable data collection capacity as that of the most recently published centralized and synchronized data collection algorithm.
Rapid Prototyping of 2D Structures with Feature Sizes Larger than 8 μm

This paper extends rapid prototyping for several types of lithography to the 8−25-μm size range, using transparency photomasks prepared by photoplotting. It discusses the technical improvement in photomask quality achieved by photoplotting, compared to the currently used image setting, and demonstrates differences in the resolution that can be obtained with photomasks with features in the 8−100-μm size range. These high-resolution photomasks were used to microfabricate microelectrodes, microlenses, and stamps for microcontact printing, following methods described previously.