cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanical response and failure of bolted connection elements in aluminum alloy 5083

In a spectrum of structures made from pure aluminum and aluminum-base alloys, plates are used frequently as the choice candidate for connecting elements. Design of safe, efficient, and reliable connections necessitates that adequate consideration be given to failure of the fastener element, distress of material in the immediate vicinity of the fastener(s), tensile failure of the net section, and even tear out of the fastener group(s). The mechanical response and failure characteristics of aluminum connecting elements are presented and discussed in this paper. An experimental and analytical program was conducted to rationalize failure of connecting elements made from an aluminum-magnesium alloy. Gusset plates representing different bolt patterns were mechanically deformed. Models to estimate the capacity of the joints were examined and compared with experimentally determined results.
Intramolecular biaryl coupling: Asymmetric synthesis of the chiral b-ring diol unit of pradimicinone

Abstract The combination (Equation 1) of palladium-catalyzed intramolecular biaryl coupling with enantioselective dihydroxylation of achiral stilbenes provides an efficient, two-step route to the chiral 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenediol unit of the pradimicins and benanomicins.
A Conditioned Attitude Model of Individual Discriminatory Behavior

In this paper I present a model of individual-level discrimination that is consistent with the majority of mainstream sociological and psychological theories of discrimination and that reconciles many of the opposing views, to create a fuller and more realistic picture of the complex phenomenon of discrimination. The mechanism that determines whether discrimination occurs and what form it takes consists of three stages. First, an individual uses his or her information set to derive beliefs about a group or an evaluation of its characteristics. Then he or she combines these preexisting beliefs with any new information input received to form an attitude which signifies the degree of hostility or a favorable attitude toward the group members at any particular point in time. Finally, he or she weighs the internal benefits of discrimination against external consequences of such an action and chooses the perceived optimal form of behavior. Based on the predictions of the model, I propose several general policy ...
‘Singing for his supper’: The reinvention of juvenile streetsinging in early modern Nuremberg*

From 1478 onwards, the magistrates of the wealthy and influential imperial city of Nuremberg passed a series of increasingly stricter measures dealing with the ancient custom of poor children singing from house to house, particularly during the Christmas season, for food or money. Except for a few approved and closely supervised children from the city's Latin schools and orphanage, all other practice of the custom was prohibited and punished. After I588 this meant brief incarceration for offending children in the municipal pesthouse (Siechenhaus), with fines and possible banishment for their parents. During the i66os the government's campaign against all begging especially intensified, culminating in the I670 opening of the Nuremberg Discipline and Workhouse. By the end of the seventeenth century, though the problem of child begging continued, the custom of singing for one's supper had been effectively eliminated or at least restricted to organized outings from the city's Latin schools and orphanages. On the surface this appears as clear a case of early modern acculturation and social disciplining2 as we could hope to find. A religiously inspired governmental elite acts to suppress a popular custom involving unruly individuals and often lewd and 'unchristian' songs, in the process ensuring its own political authority and cultural hegemony. The internment of begging
Preferences and decision errors in the winner’s curse

The problem of asymmetric information causes a winner’s curse in many environments. Given many unsuccessful attempts to eliminate it, we hypothesize that some people ‘prefer’ the lotteries underlying the winner’s curse. Study 1 shows that after removing the hypothesized cause of error, asymmetric information, half the subjects still prefer winner’s curse lotteries, implying past efforts to de-bias the winner’s curse may have been more successful than previously recognized since subjects prefer these lotteries. Study 2 shows risk-seeking preferences only partially explain lottery preferences, while non-monetary sources of utility may explain the rest. Study 2 suggests lottery preferences are not independent of context, and offers methods to reduce the winner’s curse.
Locally aggressive fibrous dysplasia mimicking malignancy: a report of four cases and review of the literature.

Background Fibrous dysplasia is a benign fibroosseous bone tumor that accounts for 5% to 10% of benign bone tumors. It can present as monostotic fibrous dysplasia (70% to 80%), polyostotic fibrous dysplasia (20% to 30%), McCune-Albright syndrome (2% to 3%), or Mazabraud’s syndrome in rare cases. Bone lesions in fibrous dysplasia arise in the medullary canal and usually are confined to the bone. Cortical destruction and extension into soft tissue usually indicates malignant transformation or secondary aneurysmal bone cyst formation. Locally aggressive fibrous dysplasia with cortical destruction and extension into soft tissue in the absence of these two possibilities is extremely rare. It is important for the treating physician to distinguish this entity from more aggressive or malignant tumors to avoid overtreating the patient for a benign condition or inattention to a malignant tumor.
Partially plastic thick-walled tubes☆

Abstract A theory is presented for the partial plastic yielding of thick-walled cylindrical tubes acted upon by any combination of internal pressure, external pressure and end load when the material follows an arbitrary stress-strain law. The solution combines (a) the distortion energy theory of plastic flow and (b) the effects of elastic compressibility of the plastic material. Numerical values for stresses and strains are given for certain special cases of internal pressure in thick-walled open-ended tubes for an idealized stress-strain law, and the results are compared with earlier approximate theories.
Lupus Band Test in Untreated SLE Patients: Correlation of Immunoglobulin Deposition in the Skin of the Extensor Forearm with Clinical Renal Disease and Serological Abnormalities

This study demonstrated that 88% of untreated systemic lupus erythematosus patients with clinical renal disease displayed the deposition of immunoglobulin and complement at the dermal epidermal junction of the noninvolved light exposed extensor surface of the upper 1/3 of the forearm (P less than 0.005) (positive lupus band test). Eighty-five percent of these untreated systemic lupus erythematosus patients with anti-deoxyribonucleic acid antibodies (native and/or single stranded) (P less than 0.001) and 96% of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with hypocomplementemia had a positive lupus band test (P less than 0.001). Those systemic lupus erythematosus patients with a negative lupus band test or a positive lupus band test composed of pure IgM had a decreased incidence of renal disease, serum hypocomplementemia and anti-DNA antibodies. Their sera, however, frequently contained antibodies directed against nuclear ribonuclear protein or against the cytoplasmic non-nucleic acid glycoprotein termed Ro. On the contrary, 85% of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with a positive lupus band test composed solely or in part of IgG, had anti-DNA antibodies (P less than 0.001). Their sera also frequently contained anti-Sm antibodies. The lupus band test was found to be dynamic. In general, the appearance as well as the disappearance or the marked decrease in intensity and complexity of a positive lupus band test was found to correlate with disease exacerbation, remission and the appearance and disappearance of DNA antibodies and serum hypocomplementemia.
Regulatory volume decrease in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells is not mediated by a rise in intracellular calcium

Abstract Ehrlich ascites tumor cells suspended in hyposmotic solution initially swell and then shrink back towards normal volume, a process known as regulatory volume decrease (RVD), RVD is characterized by a specific loss of KCl, although the mechanism for this is currently unknown. The hypothesis that a rise in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) activates calcium-sensitive ion conductances to initiate RVD was investigated. The results indicate that in the Ehrlich cell no rise in [Ca2+]i occurs when the extracellular osmolality is reduced from 300 mosM to 180 mosM. These findings were substantiated by the lack of sensitivity of RVD to the Ca2+-sensitive K+ channel blockers charybdotoxin (CTX) and nifedipine. In contrast, the ionophore ionomycin induced a cell shrinkage that was sensitive to CTX and nifedipine indicating that a rise in [Ca2+]i could play a role in cell volume reduction but that this occurred by a mechanism different from that observed in RVD. The conclusion from these experiments is that Ca2+ does not act as a second messenger for RVD in the Ehrlich cell.
Modeling of the distributed gate RC effect in MOSFET's

Scattering parameters of wide MOSFET devices have been measured at the wafer level in the frequency range up to 1 GHz. These scattering parameters are converted to Y-parameters for device characterization and compared with SPICE simulations of L-, Pi -, and T-ladder distributed RC circuits taking into account the effect of distributed gates. Good experimental agreement shows that this effect can be modeled appropriately by multisection RC ladders, especially T-ladder circuits. Differences among ladder circuits in modeling this effect are discussed qualitatively. >
Pediatric Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infection is a common source of fever in pediatric patients, especially infants who are not yet toilet-trained. Clinical findings are frequently nonspecific, making recognition and diagnosis challenging. This article presents an overview of the epidemiology and clinical features of pediatric urinary tract infection, the available diagnostic tests for screening and definitive diagnosis, and an approach to management including antibiotic treatment and follow-up.
An Empirical Study of Web Vulnerability Discovery Ecosystems

In recent years, many organizations have established bounty programs that attract white hat hackers who contribute vulnerability reports of web systems. In this paper, we collect publicly available data of two representative web vulnerability discovery ecosystems (Wooyun and HackerOne) and study their characteristics, trajectory, and impact. We find that both ecosystems include large and continuously growing white hat communities which have provided significant contributions to organizations from a wide range of business sectors. We also analyze vulnerability trends, response and resolve behaviors, and reward structures of participating organizations. Our analysis based on the HackerOne dataset reveals that a considerable number of organizations exhibit decreasing trends for reported web vulnerabilities. We further conduct a regression study which shows that monetary incentives have a significantly positive correlation with the number of vulnerabilities reported. Finally, we make recommendations aimed at increasing participation by white hats and organizations in such ecosystems.
Global and local dynamics of the human U1A protein determined by tryptophan fluorescence

Tryptophan residues have been introduced into two domains of the human U1A protein to probe solution dynamics. The full length protein contains 282 residues, separated into three distinct domains: the N-terminal RBD1 (RNA Binding Domain I), consisting of amino acids 1-101; the C-terminal RBD2, residues 202-282; and the intervening linker region. Tryptophan residues have been substituted for specific phenylalanine residues on the surface of the beta-sheet of either RBD1 or RBD2, thus introducing a single solvent exposed tryptophan as a fluorescence reporter. Both steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements of the isolated RBD domains show that each tryptophan experiences a unique environment on the beta-sheet surface. The spectral properties of each tryptophan in RBD1 and RBD2 are preserved in the context of the U1A protein, indicating these domains do not interact with each other or with the linker region. The rotational correlation times of the isolated RBDs and the whole U1A, determined by dynamic polarization measurements, show that the linker region is highly flexible such that each RBD exhibits uncorrelated motion.
Use of classification trees to apportion single echo detections to species: Application to the pelagic fish community of Lake Superior

Abstract Acoustic methods are used to estimate the density of pelagic fish in large lakes with results of midwater trawling used to assign species composition. Apportionment in lakes having mixed species can be challenging because only a small fraction of the water sampled acoustically is sampled with trawl gear. Here we describe a new method where single echo detections (SEDs) are assigned to species based on classification tree models developed from catch data that separate species based on fish size and the spatial habitats they occupy. During the summer of 2011, we conducted a spatially-balanced lake-wide acoustic and midwater trawl survey of Lake Superior. A total of 51 sites in four bathymetric depth strata (0–30 m, 30–100 m, 100–200 m, and >200 m) were sampled. We developed classification tree models for each stratum and found fish length was the most important variable for separating species. To apply these trees to the acoustic data, we needed to identify a target strength to length (TS-to-L) relationship appropriate for all abundant Lake Superior pelagic species. We tested performance of 7 general (i.e., multi-species) relationships derived from three published studies. The best-performing relationship was identified by comparing predicted and observed catch compositions using a second independent Lake Superior data set. Once identified, the relationship was used to predict lengths of SEDs from the lake-wide survey, and the classification tree models were used to assign each SED to a species. Exotic rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) were the most common species at bathymetric depths 100 m (384 million; 6.0 kt). Cisco (Coregonus artedi) were widely distributed over all strata with their population estimated at 182 million (44 kt). The apportionment method we describe should be transferable to other large lakes provided fish are not tightly aggregated, and an appropriate TS-to-L relationship for abundant pelagic fish species can be determined.
An analysis of warm pool and cold tongue El Niños: air–sea coupling processes, global influences, and recent trends

The differences in tropical air–sea interactions and global climate connection as well as the hindcast skills for the warm pool (WP) and cold tongue (CT) El Ninos are investigated based on observed, (re)analyzed, and model hindcast data. The robustness of observed global climate connection is established from the model simulations. Lastly, variations of atmosphere and ocean conditions in the recent decades, and their possible connection with the frequency increase of the WP El Nino are discussed. Consistent with previous results, our individual case study and composite results suggest that stronger (weaker) and more eastward extended (westward confined) westerly wind along the equatorial Pacific in early months of a year is associated with active (suppressed) air–sea interaction over the cold tongue/the Intertropical Convergence Zone complex, as well as more (less) intensive oceanic thermocline feedback, favoring the CT (WP) El Nino development. The preceding westerly wind signal and air-sea interaction differences may be responsible for the predication skill difference with higher (lower) overall hindcast skill for the CT (WP) El Nino in the Climate Forecast System of National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Our model experiments show that, in addition to the tropics, the eastern Pacific, North America and North Atlantic are the major regions having robust climate differences between the CT and WP El Ninos. Nevertheless, the climate contrasts seem not robust over the Eurasian continent. Also, the frequency increase of the WP El Nino in the recent decades may not be directly connected with the linear trend of the tropical climate.
Phase transitions in lattice solutions of semiflexible chains of finite length

Lattice solutions of finite chains with reduced flexibility are shown to form phase equilibria characterized by broad phase gaps of width increasing with molecular weight. DiMarzio's treatment of excluded volume also gives predictions on bulk transitions. Both in solution and in the bulk, the orientational order parameter and fraction of straight configurations of the anisotropic phase at the transition increase with chain length. Calculations on infinite chain systems fail to detect phase equilibrium in solution at different concentrations.
Prolactin regulation of estrogen receptor expression.

Abstract The ability of the rat corpus luteum to respond to estrogen requires prolactin (PRL), which can stimulate the expression of the estrogen receptor (ER). This review will focus on the signaling mechanisms by which this occurs. Transcription of the genes encoding both ERα ( Esr1 ) and ERβ ( Esr2 ) is stimulated by PRL through the Jak2–Stat5 pathway and Stat5-response elements that are located in each of the Esr promoters. A single nucleotide difference between these two response elements is responsible for the observation that either Stat5a or Stat5b can stimulate Esr1 transcription, whereas only Stat5b can activate transcription of Esr2 . The tyrosine kinase Jak2 is required for PRL activation of Esr1 promoter activity; however, additional pathways are involved in PRL-induced Stat5b phosphorylation, nuclear translocation and DNA binding. In addition to the corpus luteum, PRL-induced ER expression might provide a mechanism for fine-tuning the responsiveness of other target tissues, such as the decidua and mammary gland, to these two hormones.
Scheduling a two-stage hybrid flowshop with separable setup and removal times

Abstract This paper considers the two-stage flowshop scheduling problem where each stage consists of several identical parallel machines and the setup and removal times of each job at each stage are separated from the processing times. A polynomial optimization algorithm is developed for the special case where the first stage contains only one machine and the number of identical parallel machines at the second stage is equal to or greater than the total number of jobs. In view of the NP-completeness of this problem, four heuristic algorithms are developed for the case where there is one machine at stage 1 and the number of identical parallel machines at the second stage is less than the total number of jobs. The proposed heuristic algorithms are empirically tested to determine their effectiveness in finding an optimal schedule.
The Paths and Strategies for Increased Magnesium Applications in Vehicles

The use of magnesium in motor vehicles today and in future depends on numerous technical and economical factors, though the cost factor is essential. How might use of magnesium in vehicles develop, what prerequisites are necessary, what R&D efforts are required ? These questions will be addressed as follows based on component and project examples. The main focus of the current magnesium applications can be seen in the drive train and in the interior. In the short term, these applications will be further expanded: doubling the amount is feasible. This will be supported by the currently developed Mg alloys with extended application potential (creep resistance). Mg components in the body, Mg-sheets and Mg-extrusions applications will appear initially in niche-market and premium vehicles. This can prepare the way for and eventually lead to greater use of Mg in volume-production models as part of a multi-material design concept. The essential prerequisites for such increased use of magnesium will be discussed.
Vitamin D and prebiotics may benefit the intestinal microbacteria and improve glucose homeostasis in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

ABSTRACT Objective To review the role of human large bowel microbacteria (microbiota) in the glucose homeostasis, to address vitamin D (VD) and prebiotics interactions with microbiota, and to summarize recent randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of VD and prebiotics supplementation in prediabetes (PreDM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Primary literature was reviewed in the following areas: composition and activity of human microbiota associated with PreDM and T2DM, interactions between microbiota and glucose homeostasis, the interaction of microbiota with VD/prebiotics, and RCTs of VD/prebiotics in subjects with PreDM or T2DM. Results The human microbiota is comprised of 100 trillion bacteria with an aggregate genome that is 150-fold larger than the human genome. Data from the animal models and human studies reveal that an “obesogenic” diet results into the initial event of microbiota transformation from symbiosis to dysbiosis. The microbial antigens, such as Gram(-) bacteria and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), translocate to the host interior and trigger increased energy harvesting and Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation with subsequent inflammatory pathways signaling. The “double hit” of steatosis (ectopic fat accumulation) and “—itis” (inflammation) and contribution of “corisks” (e.g., vitamin D deficiency [VDD]) are required to activate molecular signaling, including impaired insulin signaling and secretion, that ends with T2DM and associated diseases. Dietary changes (e.g., prebiotics, VD supplementation) may ameliorate this process if initiated prior to the process becoming irreversible. Conclusion Emerging evidence suggests an important role of microbiota in glucose homeostasis. VD supplementation and prebiotics may be useful in managing PreDM and T2DM. (Endocr Pract. 2013;19:497-510)
The effect of anticoagulation on antenatal ultrasound findings in pregnant women with thrombophilia.

Objective. To assess whether treatment with heparin alters ultrasound findings in pregnant women with inherited thrombophilia.Methods. This was a retrospective study of a cohort of patients referred for pregnancy complications who were found to have genetic thrombophilia. Ultrasounds were reviewed in treated and untreated pregnancies for the presence of growth restriction, oligohydramnios or abnormal Doppler results.Results. There were a total of 178 pregnancies in 51 patients. The overall percentage of abnormal ultrasounds was significantly greater in the untreated compared with treated pregnancies (52.8% vs. 27.9%; p = 0.024.) Growth restriction and abnormal Doppler results were more common in untreated pregnancies. There was a significantly decreased risk of oligohydramnios with treatment (27.3% vs. 7%; p = 0.03). Overall outcomes were significantly improved with the use of anticoagulation ( p < 0.0001).Conclusions. Treatment markedly improves ultrasound parameters of growth, fluid and feto-placental b...
Direct Digital Additive Manufacturing and Cyber-Enabled Manufacturing Systems

The technology of direct digital additive manufacturing (D2AM) has received considerable attention in recent months. Several government agencies and commercial interests are planning to explore D2AM to find solutions to manufacturing problems. The attraction of D2AM is the benefit of rapidly producing without fixtures or tools or human intervention customized objects of complex geometry not possible by traditional methods. The interest in D2AM ranges from fabrication of critical, high value aerospace metallic components to fabrication of objects having an organic look or as nature would have intendedi. For D2AM to be commercially accepted, it must reliably and predictably make products. It must achieve consistency in reproducibility across relevant D2AM methods. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has launched a new basic research program, known as Cyber-enabled Manufacturing Systems (CeMS). The long-range goal of the program is to achieve the level of control over D2AM processes for industrial acceptance and wide-use of the technology. This program will develop measuring, sensing and control models and algorithms for D2AM by harnessing principles underpinning cyber-physical systems (CPS) and fundamentals of physical processes. This paper describes the challenges facing D2AM and the CeMS program goals to meet them.© 2012 ASME
Adolescent diabetes management and mismanagement

OBJECTIVE To document the existence and prevalence of adolescent-generated diabetes management techniques. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS One hundred forty-four adolescents completed the confidential questionnaire developed for this study. Glycohemo-globin was also obtained for each individual. RESULTS Within the 10 days before their clinic visit, many adolescents admitted to engaging in various mismanagement behaviors, with 25% admitting to missing shots. Parents tend to underestimate adolescent mismanagement. Missing shots was significantly related to poor control ( P P CONCLUSIONS This study shows the importance of recognizing the prevalence of mismanagement among adolescents.
Oncogenic transformation of chick-embryo fibroblasts by Rous sarcoma virus alters rubidium uptake and ouabain binding.

Abstract The ouabain-sensitive movement of monovalent cations has been determined in chick embryo fibroblasts and in cells infected by viruses such as Schmidt-Ruppin strain of sub-group A (SR-RSV), a temperature-sensitive mutant of this virus or Rous associated virus of sub-group A (RAV). The velocity of the ouabain-sensitive cation movement was estimated by measuring 86Rb+ uptake and the number of cation translocating macromolecules were determined by measuring [3H]ouabain binding to untransformed and oncogenically transformed chick embryo fibroblasts. There was a parallel decrease in 86Rb+ uptake and [3H]ouabain binding as a result of cell oncogenic transformation. There was a reciprocal relationship between the decrease in these two parameters and the degree of cell transformation. The inhibition of cation transport and ouabain binding to chick embryo fibroblasts infected by RAV but not transformed was markedly less than the inhibition found in the oncogenically transformed cells. These results suggest that alterations in cation transport are intimately related to oncogenic cell transformation.
A uniform code of ethics: business and IT professional ethics

Business and IT professionals have enough in common that they can share a universal code of ethics.
Residual sedating effects of ethanol

To test for dose and duration effects of residual sedation, ethanol (0.0, 0.5, and 0.9 g/kg) was administered (at 0830, 1030, and 0730 hr, respectively) to 10 healthy, normal-sleeping men, aged 21-35 years. The Multiple Sleep Latency Test was conducted at 0930, 1130, 1330, 1530, 1730, 1930, and 2130 hr, and a divided attention performance assessment was done at 1400, 1600, 1800, and 2000 hr. Breath ethanol concentration for both doses was 0.04% at 1130 hr, 0.01% at 1330 hr, and 0 at 1530 hr. A significant reduction in sleep latency was observed from 0930 to 1530 hr, but not thereafter. Divided attention performance overall was significantly impaired on the 1400-hr test only. These data again showed residual sedation and suggest residual sedation is time limited and not affected in duration or intensity by dose. Language: en
Information processing and neuroleptic response in acute and stabilized schizophrenic patients

Abstract Information processing was measured in 13 acute and 18 stabilized schizophrenic patients using the span of apprehension task. Acutely disturbed patients demonstrated improved performance on this task after 14 days of treatment with haloperidol. Stabilized patients maintained on fluphenazine decanoate did not show a significant change in performance during 3 months of treatment. Among the acutely distured patients, those with good baseline performance or the greatest initial improvement on the span of apprehension task showed the greatest reduction in various aspects of schizophrenic thought disturbance in response to drug treatment. These preliminary results suggest that information-processing measures may be useful in defining clinically meaningful subtypes in schizophrenia.
The possible role of fixed membrane surface charges in acetylcholine release at the frog neuromuscular junction.

Bass and Moore [Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.55:1214 (1966)] proposed that the vesicles containing acetylcholine undergo Brownian motion in the nerve terminals. Acetylcholine is released whenever a vesicle touches the inner face of the axolemma of the nerve terminal. The frequency at which contact is made is limited by an energy barrier that must be overcome before the vesicle can touch the axolemma. The energy barrier has two components. (1) An electrostatic repulsion between positive, fixed charges on the vesicles and a relatively positive potential at the face of the axolemma that is generated by the resting potential. (2) A layer of water molecules held to the vesicle by the surface charge. This model is inconsistent with experimental data. A modification of the model is presented. Both the vesicle and the inner face of the axolemma are assumed to have fixed, negative surface charges that are responsible for the energy barrier. By a series of simplifications, the model leads to two predictions. (1) A plot of the ln (miniature end plate potentials/sec) as a function of the concentration of ions in the axoplasm)−0.5 should give a straight line. (2) A plot of ln (end plate potential amplitudes) as a function of (extracellular Ca++ concentration)−0.5 should give a straight line. These predictions are shown to agree reasonably well with experimental data.
Robust backstepping control of a class of nonlinear systems using fuzzy logic

Abstract Fuzzy Logic (FL) controllers for the robust back stepping control of a class of nonlinear systems in both continuous and discrete-time are presented. Control action is employed to achieve tracking performance for unknown nonlinear system. Novel parameter tuning algorithms are obtained that are similar to ϵ-modification in the case of continuous-time adaptive control. Uniform ultimate boundedness of the tracking error and the fuzzy parameter estimates are presented without using the persistency of excitation (PE) condition. Initialization of the fuzzy parameters is straightforward. Simulation results justify the theoretical conclusions.
The Role of Eta Phase Formation on the Creep Strength and Ductility of INCONEL Alloy 740 at 1023 K (750 °C)

INCONEL alloy 740 is an age-hardenable nickel-based superalloy proposed for advanced ultrasupercritical steam boiler applications operating at high stress and long times above 973 K (700 °C), where creep will be the dominate deformation mode. During high-temperature exposure, the alloy can form eta phase platelets that many have suggested may be detrimental to creep strength and ductility. In this study, creep-rupture tests were conducted on smooth and notched bars of INCONEL alloy 740 at 1023 K (750 °C) for times up to 20,000 hours. Examination of the creep-rupture life, creep ductility, failure modes, and microstructure by quantitative electron microscopy shows that a small amount of eta phase does not diminish the creep performance. Applied stress appears to have a minor effect on the precipitation of the eta phase but not its growth rate. Based on the observation that the microstructure after 20,000 hours of creep exposure has reached equilibrium in comparison to thermodynamic calculations, it is concluded that 20,000 hour creep tests are adequate for prediction of long-term creep performance.
Breast cancer screening perceptions among American Indian women under age 40

Breast cancer mortality rates are the second leading cause of cancer death in American Indian (AI) women. AI breast cancer screening rates have been decreasing, and AI women have some of the lowest screening rates compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Our research team investigated breast cancer and breast cancer screening education prior to recommended age for screening. It is imperative to examine the perspectives of young AI women toward breast cancer screening to better understand screening perceptions among AI women. Following a community-based participatory research approach, we conducted five focus groups and four interviews with AI women aged 25-39 (N = 48) in Kansas and Missouri. Nine themes emerged from the focus groups and relate to topics such as the following: knowledge of breast cancer and breast cancer screening, barriers to screening and treatment, suggestions to improve access, and perceptions and use of health-care systems. Specifically, we found that AI women lacked knowledge of details about screenings and their risks for getting breast cancer, cost was cited as a primary barrier to screening, additional education was needed (particularly materials that were AI focused), breast health was generally not discussed with others, and more instruction was requested for techniques used to identify bodily changes or abnormalities. Understanding attitudes of AI women not of recommended screening age may provide an insight into low screening rates among AI women. Furthermore, the results may inform outreach strategies to improve current and future screening rates.
First massive level and anomalies in the supermembrane

We show, in the light-cone gauge quantization, that the first massive level of the 11-dimensional s supermembrane consists of states that fill complete representations of SO(10) as well as complete multiplets of supersymmetry with 215 bosons and 215 fermions. By contrast, lower dimensional supermembranes as well as all other higher extended superstructures fail to satisfy requirements of super-Poincare representation. Hence, except for the 10-dimensional string and possibly 11-dimensional supermembrane, all super theories of extended objects are ridden with incurable anomalies.
Simple product colorings

If A is a set colored with m colors, and B is colored with n colors, the coloring of A x B obtained by coloring (a, b) with the pair (color of a, color of b) will be called an m x n simple product coloring (SPC) of A x B. SPC's of Cartesian products of three or more sets are defined analogously. It is shown that there are 2 x 2, and 2 x 2 x 2 SPC's of Q^2 and Q^3 which forbid the distance one; that there is no 2^k SPC of Q^k forbidding the distance one, for k > 3; and that there is no 2 x 2 SPC of Q x Q(@/15), and thus none of R^2, forbidding the distance 1.
A Practical Approach for Translating Climate Change Adaptation Principles into Forest Management Actions

There is an ever-growing body of literature on forest management strategies for climate change adaptation; however, few frameworks have been presented for integrating these strategies with the real-world challenges of forest management. We have developed a structured approach for translating broad adaptation concepts into specific management actions and silvicultural practices for forest adaptation, as well as an associated set of resources to assist managers in using this approach. A variety of public, private, nongovernmental, and tribal natural resource managers are using this approach to develop projects that implement a diversity of adaptation actions while also meeting manager-identified goals. We describe how managers can integrate climate change information into management planning and activities and provide examples of real-world forest management projects that identify actions to help forests adapt to changing conditions.
Quantitative Media Literacy: Individual Differences in Dealing with Numbers in the News

A test of arithmetic aptitude was developed and validated. The consequences of individual differences in this aspect of quantitative literacy were then determined for attention to, and dependent recall of, numeric quantities embedded in printed news reports. It was found that persons of high arithmetic aptitude recalled frequencies and ratios more correctly, both in precise and approximate terms, than did persons of low arithmetic aptitude. This effect was consistent across gender of respondent. It was also consistent across commonly employed presentational formats of numeric quantities. The inferior processing of numeric quantities by persons of low quantitative literacy, especially the dependent estimation of risk and benefit likelihoods, is considered in terms of theories that project these persons' greater reliance on intuitive assessments of the incidence of occurrences.
Serum C-peptide concentrations poorly phenotype type 2 diabetic end-stage renal disease patients

Serum C-peptide concentrations poorly phenotype type 2 diabetic end-stage renal disease patients. Background A homogeneous patient population is necessary to identify genetic factors that regulate complex disease pathogenesis. In this study, we evaluated clinical and biochemical phenotyping criteria for type 2 diabetes in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) probands of families in which nephropathy is clustered. C-peptide concentrations accurately discriminate type 1 from type 2 diabetic patients with normal renal function, but have not been extensively evaluated in ESRD patients. We hypothesized that C-peptide concentrations may not accurately reflect insulin synthesis in ESRD subjects, since the kidney is the major site of C-peptide catabolism and would poorly correlate with accepted clinical criteria used to classify diabetics as types 1 and 2. Methods Consenting diabetic ESRD patients ( N = 341) from northeastern Ohio were enrolled. Clinical history was obtained by questionnaire, and predialysis blood samples were collected for C-peptide levels from subjects with at least one living diabetic sibling ( N = 127, 48% males, 59% African Americans). Results Using clinical criteria, 79% of the study population were categorized as type 1 (10%) or type 2 diabetics (69%), while 21% of diabetic ESRD patients could not be classified. In contrast, 98% of the patients were classified as type 2 diabetics when stratified by C-peptide concentrations using criteria derived from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group (DCCT) and UREMIDIAB studies. Categorization was concordant in only 70% of ESRD probands when C-peptide concentration and clinical classification algorithms were compared. Using clinical phenotyping criteria as the standard for comparison, C-peptide concentrations classified diabetic ESRD patients with 100% sensitivity, but only 5% specificity. The mean C-peptide concentrations were similar in diabetic ESRD patients (3.2 ± 1.9 nmol/L) and nondiabetic ESRD subjects (3.5 ± 1.7 nmol/L, N = 30, P = NS), but were 2.5-fold higher compared with diabetic siblings (1.3 ± 0.7 nmol/L, N = 30, P 0.50 nmol/L and diabetes onset in patients who are more than 38 years old identify type 2 diabetes with a 97% positive predictive value in our ESRD population. Conclusions Accepted clinical criteria, used to discriminate type 1 and type 2 diabetes, failed to classify a significant proportion of diabetic ESRD patients. In contrast to previous reports, C-peptide levels were elevated in the majority of type 1 ESRD diabetic patients and did not improve the power of clinical parameters to separate them from type 2 diabetic or nondiabetic ESRD subjects. Accurate classification of diabetic ESRD patients for genetic epidemiological studies requires both clinical and biochemical criteria, which may differ from norms used in diabetic populations with normal renal function.
A Validation Study of a Measure of Musical Creativity

The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of the Measures of Creativity in Sound and Music (MCSM), a test developed by Cecilia Wang, and to compare MCSM scores with the subjects' aca...
The use of leukocyte profiles to measure stress in vertebrates: a review for ecologists

Summary 1. A growing number of ecologists are turning to the enumeration of white blood cells from blood smears (leukocyte profiles) to assess stress in animals. There has been some inconsistency and controversy in the ecological literature, however, regarding their interpretation. The inconsistencies may stem partly from a lack of information regarding how stress affects leukocytes in different taxa, and partly from a failure on the part of researchers in one discipline to consult potentially informative literature from another. 2. Here, we seek to address both issues by reviewing the literature on the leukocyte response to stress, spanning the taxa of mammals (including humans), birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish. 3. We show that much of the early literature points to a close link between leukocyte profiles and glucocorticoid levels. Specifically, these hormones act to increase the number and percentage of neutrophils (heterophils in birds and reptiles), while decreasing the number and percentage of lymphocytes. This phenomenon is seen in all five vertebrate taxa in response to either natural stressors or exogenous administration of stress hormones. For the ecologist, therefore, high ratios of heterophils or neutrophils to lymphocytes (‘H : L’ or ‘N : L’ ratios) in blood samples reliably indicate high glucocorticoid levels. Furthermore, this close relationship between stress hormones and N : L or H : L ratios needs to be highlighted more prominently in haematological assessments of stress, as it aids the interpretation of results. 4. As with hormone assays, there are challenges to overcome in the use of leukocytes profiles to assess levels of stress; however, there are also advantages to this approach, and we outline each. Given the universal and consistent nature of the haematological response to stress, plus the overwhelming evidence from the veterinary, biomedical and ecological literature reviewed here, we conclude that this method can provide a reliable assessment of stress in all vertebrate taxa.
A study of the composition and energy spectra of anomalous cosmic rays using the geomagnetic field

We use instrumentation on SAMPEX and the Earth's field as a magnetic rigidity filter in a “double spectrometer” approach to measure the composition and energy spectra of anomalous cosmic rays (ACRs) with Z≥6. A “pure” sample of anomalous cosmic ray C, N, O, and Ne is obtained, with no significant evidence for other species. The bulk of ACRs are now known to be singly-charged, and the geomagnetic filter allows their energy spectra to be measured to higher energies than before. The anomalous oxygen spectrum is found to extend to at least ∼100 MeV/nuc, which has implications for models of the acceleration of these ions.
Multi-trait Selection, Adaptation, and Constraints on the Evolution of Burst Swimming Performance

Whole organism performance represents the integration of numerous physiological, morphological, and behavioral traits. How adaptive changes in performance evolve therefore requires an understanding of how selection acts on multiple integrated traits. Two approaches that lend themselves to studying the evolution of performance in natural populations are the use of quantitative genetics models for estimating the strength of selection acting on multiple quantitative traits and ecological genetic comparisons of populations exhibiting phenotypic differences correlated with environmental variation. In both cases, the ultimate goal is to understand how suites of traits and trade-offs between competing functions respond to natural selection. Here we consider how these two complimentary approaches can be applied to study the adaptive evolution of escape performance in fish. We first present an extension of Arnold's (1983) quantitative genetic approach that explicitly considers how trade-offs between different components of performance interact with the underlying genetics. We propose that such a model can reveal the conditions under which multiple selection pressures will cause adaptive change in traits that influence more than one component of fitness. We then review work on the Atlantic silversides and Trinidadian guppies as two case studies where an ecological genetics approach has been successfully applied to evaluate how the evolution of escape performance trades-off with other components of fitness. We conclude with the general lesson that whole organism performance is embedded in a complex phenotype, and that the net outcome of selection acting on different aspects of the organism will often result in a compromise among competing influences.
Variations of ice bed coupling beneath and beyond ice streams: The force balance

[1] A geometrical force balance that links stresses to ice bed coupling along a flow band of an ice sheet was developed in 1988 for longitudinal tension in ice streams and published 4 years later. It remains a work in progress. Now gravitational forces balanced by forces producing tensile, compressive, basal shear, and side shear stresses are all linked to ice bed coupling by the floating fraction ϕ of ice that produces the concave surface of ice streams. These lead inexorably to a simple formula showing how ϕ varies along these flow bands where surface and bed topography are known: ϕ = hO/hI with hO being ice thickness hI at x = 0 for x horizontal and positive upslope from grounded ice margins. This captures the basic fact in glaciology: the height of ice depends on how strongly ice couples to the bed. It shows how far a high convex ice sheet (ϕ = 0) has gone in collapsing into a low flat ice shelf (ϕ = 1). Here ϕ captures ice bed coupling under an ice stream and hO captures ice bed coupling beyond ice streams.
Treatment of warts

: Warts are caused by human papilloma viruses (HPV) and more than 80 types of HPV have been described. Although some HPV types in the anogenital area can lead to dysplasia and cancer, most HPV infections cause histologically benign warts. Clinically, warts produce much morbidity, mainly due to their resistance to most standard therapies. Although the choice of therapy depends partly on the location of the warts, i.e., anogenital vs. non-anogenital, most treatments in the past have been anti-wart but not antiviral. Therefore, removal of the wart was often followed by a recurrence in a few weeks due to sub-clinical or latent HPV infections surrounding the wart. Such non-antiviral therapies included a variety of acids, podophyllin, podophyllotoxin, chemotherapeutic agents, retinoids, topical sensitizers, a spectrum of surgical techniques, and cryotherapy. Two drugs approved for anogenital warts have antiviral and immunomodulatory activity, interferon and imiquimod, although imiquimod is much more convenient to use. While neither of these antiviral agents is approved for non-anogenital warts, they do appear to have efficacy in these warts when used as adjunctive therapy. Experimental therapies for warts are currently under study and include topical cidofovir and both prophylactic and therapeutic HPV vaccines.