cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Velocity form of the Kohn-Sham frequency-dependent polarizability equations.

A single equation is derived for the determination of the first-order correction to the frequency-dependent density, due to the perturbation of a time-varying electric field. This new expression for the first-order correction to the frequency-dependent Kohn-Sham amplitudes depends explicitly upon the velocity form of the dipole-moment operator and the square of the Kohn-Sham Hamiltonian.
A computer program to evaluate paired-comparison transitivity

The method of paired comparisons is a useful assessment technique when a simple task is required or when the underlying transitivity of elements being compared is suspect. The transitivity of elements can be assessed by evaluating all possible triples or, where n signifies the number of elements being compared, n(n -1)(n 2)16 triples. The number of transitive triples (e.g., A> B, B > C, A> C) can be determined from the row marginals of the pairedcomparison scoring matrix (see Harary, Norman, & Cartwright, 1965), but determining exactly which triples are transitive or cyclic (A > B, B > C, C > A) can be a formidable task. When n is 5, the number of triples is a manageable 10, but when n is 10, the number of triples is 120, and when n is 20, the number of triples is 1,140. The present program, written in FORTRAN IV, evaluates all possible triples, prints all triples that are cyclic, and provides several statistics relating to transitivity. Input. The first card indicates the size (i.e., order) of the paired-comparison scoring matrix (n can range from 3 to 25), followed by cards representing the paired-comparison scoring matrix; each card signifies one row of the matrix. In a paired-comparison scoring matrix, an entry of 1 in the ith row and jth column indicates that the ith element was preferred to the jth element; an entry of 0 indicates the opposite. Output. The output consists of the printing of input data, followed by a listing of all cyclic triples and indexes relating to transitivity, The following is an example of a cyclic triple:
The Effect of Detection Feature Type on Excitations Bred for Active Sensing in Structural Health Monitoring

We have shown that damage detection sensitivity in a structural health monitoring application may be improved by tailoring the excitation via evolutionary algorithms. An improved excitation will be specific to a given application, but prior to this work the role of the features used for damage detection on the input optimization process was unknown. We explore the effect of several detection features on the excitation selected by the optimization. Specifically, we examine three features that are derived from a state-space formulation. In addition, we test detection features based on the residual errors between an autoregressive model and observed data. We show that excitations that have been optimized for a particular feature may still improve sensitivity if another feature is employed, even though optimal classes of solutions for each feature. State-space features that make use of time-dependent correlations tend to select chaotic excitations for improved sensitivity. This contrasts with the single- and ...
Voices of Experience: Making Students the Experts

A poster campaign targeting 1st-year students was developed on the basis of responses of student focus groups to the following questions. 1. What are the major problems faced by incoming students regarding academic performance, alcohol use, relationships, attitudes toward their appearance and/or weight? 2. What are some of the ways in which you, or people you know, have coped with these problems effectively? An evaluation found that 89% of 1st-year students had read the posters and that 56% had used at least 1 of the tips. The campaign followed guidelines for promoting behavioral change suggested by the research of Prochaska on stages of change and Bento's social marketing model.
Restoring the sustainability of the Mississippi River Delta

Abstract The Mississippi River and its Atchafalaya distributary contribute 81 percent of river-borne freshwater entering the northern Gulf of Mexico, and 95 percent of the sediment from all sources. This flux nourished North America's largest and most biologically productive delta ecosystem. “Anthropocene” management has, however, separated the river from its delta in pursuit of flood control and navigation goals conceived after the great 1927 flood. Within the delta plain, there has been pervasive hydrologic alteration due to energy production, navigation channels, and impoundments. As a result, 25 percent of Mississippi River Delta wetlands have disappeared in less than a century. The surface of most marshes that remain are sinking relative to sea level toward the bottom of the tidal frame and, ultimately, conversion to open water. Deterioration of the barrier islands and wetlands, important components of once vast deltaic estuaries, has exposed more than a million delta residents to increased risk from hurricane surge and waves, while threatening fisheries throughout the northern Gulf. Recent observations from the back-to-back record 2011 high-, and 2012 low-Mississippi discharge events show that global sea level rise, subsidence and a marked shift in sediment dynamics over the past 50 years have affected lower Mississippi River hydraulics despite efforts to freeze the capture of the Mississippi by the Atchafalaya River distributary. A retreat of the “Birdsfoot” delta from the shelf edge toward a position last occupied 900 ka ago appears to be in progress. Opening of new, or enlargement of existing lateral outlets between New Orleans and the Gulf appears favored by this trend. Large sediment diversion projects to restart delta building and maintenance are being designed to take advantage of this shift. Large sediment diversions may also lower flood flow lines in the river and reduce dredging volumes sufficiently in the present navigation outlet to make it feasible for Mississippi River ports to service larger, Post-Panamax ships with greater than 15 m draft. Sediment diversion projects anchor a new 50-year, $50 billion “MasterPlan” that also seeks to enhance fish and wildlife resources and reduce hurricane flood risk to delta communities. Other land building goals are to expand use of sediments dredged and piped from the river and offshore to rebuild marshes and barrier islands, and to repair marsh hydrology wherever possible. We address a factor that has gotten less attention, namely how the increasing cost of energy will differentially affect the feasibility of specific restoration strategies over time.
The use of blind skin biopsy in the diagnosis of intravascular B-cell lymphoma

Intravascular B-cell lymphoma is a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that is characterized by a clonal proliferation of lymphoblasts within small blood vessels. Patients present with nonspecific symptoms and are often only given a diagnosis at autopsy. We report a case of intravascular B-cell lymphoma, characterized by pyrexia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, and mental status decline, without obvious cutaneous manifestations, that was diagnosed with blind skin biopsy.
High temperature luminescence spectra from F-centers in CaO

Abstract Experimental and theoretical investigations of the high temperature behavior of F-Centers in additively colored CaO crystals have resulted in the identification of the 1T1u → 1A1g emission process. Laser-excited luminescence spectra were measured from 50–350°C, and the emission band attributed to the 1T1u → 1A1g transition shifted to higher energies and increased in intensity with increasing temperature relative to the luminescence band of the 3T1u → 1A1g transition.
ZOOSPOROGENESIS IN THE CHLOROCOCCALEAN ALGA RADIOSPHAERA NEGEVENSIS OCAMPO‐PAUS AND FRIEDMANN1

SUMMARY A simple method is described to demonstrate zoospore formation in a chlorococcalean alga.
Creatine supplementation enhances muscular performance during high-intensity resistance exercise.

Abstract Objective This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of oral supplementation with creatine monohydrate on muscular performance during repeated sets of high-intensity resistance exercise. Subjects/design Fourteen active men were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to either a creatine group (n=7) or a placebo group (n=7). Both groups performed a bench press exercise protocol (5 sets to failure using each subject's predetermined 10-repetition maximum) and a jump squat exercise protocol (5 sets of 10 repetitions using 30% of each subject's 1-repetition maximum squat) on three different occasions (T1, T2, and T3) separated by 6 days. Intervention Before T1, both groups received no supplementation. From T1 to T2, both groups ingested placebo capsules. From T2 to T3, the creatine group ingested 25g creatine monohydrate per day, and the placebo group ingested an equivalent amount of placebo. Main outcome measures Total repetitions for each set of bench presses and peak power output for each set of jump squats were determined. Other measures included assessment of diet, body mass, skinfold thickness, and preexercise and 5-minute postexercise lactate concentrations. Results Lifting performance was not altered for either exercise protocol after ingestion of the placebos. Creatine supplementation resulted in a significant improvement in peak power output during all 5 sets of jump squats and a significant improvement in repetitions during all 5 sets of bench presses. After creatine supplementation, postexercise lactate concentrations were significantly higher after the bench press but not the jump squat. A significant increase in body mass of 1.4kg (range= 0.0 to 2.7kg) was observed after creatine ingestion. Conclusion One week of creatine supplementation (25 g/day) enhances muscular performance during repeated sets of bench press and jump squat exercise.
Estimation of thyroxine production rates in non-steady states

An equation for calculation of thyroxine production rate in non-steady state conditions has been developed. The method is based on the decay in serum thyroxine SA following the iv administration of 131I-labeled thyroxine. Thyroxine SA reflects changes in thyroxine secretion and serum total radioactivity reflects changes in thyroxine removal. Estimation of the former is, therefore, a more reliable index of thyroxine production rate in both steady and non-steady states. Following values were obtained: Normal males 79.3 ± 19.3 μg/24 hr (mean ± 1 SD) ; normal females 57.3 ± 16.6; hyperthyroid 563 ± 370 ; hypothyroid 14.3 ± 8.1; estrogen treatment 64.5 ± 29.8; salicylate treatment 66.6 ± 13.6; and Dilantin treatment 117.2 ± 24.9. Patients with thyroid dysfunction were distinctly separated from normal subjects with no overlapping of data.
Body temperature and the acoustic behavior of the cicada Tibicen winnemanna (Homoptera: Cicadidae).

Tibicen winnemanna (Davis) produces a broad-band frequency- and amplitude-modulated advertisement call. Observations of the animals in the field show that the cicadas produce varied acoustic output. This work investigates the connection between the acoustic behavior of the cicada and the body temperature of the calling animal. The results show there is strong evidence to support the hypothesis that both acoustic output and song intensity are highly dependent on body temperature.
Peroxynitrite-induced tyrosine nitration and inhibition of protein kinase C.

Abstract Protein kinase C (PKC) is an important intracellular signaling molecule whose activity is essential for a number of aspects of neuronal function including synaptic plasticity. We investigated the regulation of PKC activity by reactive nitrogen species in order to examine whether such species regulate PKC in neurons. Neither autonomous nor cofactor-dependent PKC activity was altered when either hippocampal homogenates or rat brain purified PKC were incubated briefly with three different nitric oxide donor compounds. However, brief incubation of either hippocampal homogenates or purified PKC with peroxynitrite (ONOO − ) inhibited cofactor-dependent PKC activity in a manner that correlated with the nitration of tyrosine residues on PKC, suggesting that this modification was responsible for the inhibition of PKC. Consistent with this idea, reducing agents had no effect on the inhibition of PKC activity caused by ONOO − . Because there are numerous PKC isoforms that differ in the composition of the regulatory domain, we studied the effect of ONOO − on various PKC isoforms. ONOO − inhibited the cofactor-dependent activity of the α, βII, ϵ, and ζ isoforms, indicating that inhibition of enzymatic activity by ONOO − was not PKC isoform-specific. We also were able to isolate nitrated PKCα and PKCβII from ONOO − -treated hippocampal homogenates via immunoprecipitation. Collectively, our findings support the hypothesis that ONOO − inhibits PKC activity via tyrosine nitration in neurons.
Automated regression testing using DBT and Sleuth

Regression testing is an important activity in software maintenance. Current regression testing strategies can be categorized into two groups: ‘retest all’ and ‘selective regression’ testing. Each of these two groups encompasses a variety of strategies. In industrial practice, regression testing procedures vary widely. Sometimes, several regression testing techniques are used in combination. Technique selection is also influenced by the expected quality of the system to be tested. Such variations in regression testing strategies and techniques mandate flexibility for a regression testing tool. This paper presents regression testing support for Sleuth, a test generation tool based on domain-based testing. We explain the rules for building regression tests for a variety of possible regression testing strategies from retest all strategies to selective regression testing strategies. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acute kidney injury after Fontan completion: Risk factors and outcomes.

Abstract Objective Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a predictor of outcomes in heterogeneous populations of children undergoing cardiac surgery. We investigated its causes and consequences in a cohort undergoing Fontan completion, hypothesizing that central venous pressure is independently associated with development of AKI. Methods In this retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing Fontan (n = 211), univariable and multivariable analyses identified factors associated with AKI within 3 days of surgery. Secondary analyses identified factors associated with hospital length of stay, and examined effects of perioperative kidney injury on follow-up renal function. Results Acute kidney injury occurred in 42% of cases (n = 89), with the following independent risk factors: mean renal perfusion (mean arterial minus central venous) pressure on postoperative day zero (per mm Hg; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.83; P mild (AOR 6.78; P = .02); bypass time (per 10 minutes, AOR 1.08; P = .04); peak inotrope score on postoperative day zero (per point, AOR 1.17; P P = .04). Central venous pressure was not independently associated with AKI. Moderate and severe (but not mild) AKI were independently associated with prolonged hospital length of stay (adjusted hazard ratios, 0.56; P = .004, and .41; P = .006, respectively). Perioperative injury was not associated with longer-term renal dysfunction. Conclusions Acute kidney injury is common after Fontan completion and has several potentially modifiable risk factors. Moderate-to-severe injury is associated with longer hospital length of stay but not with renal dysfunction at follow-up.
The Outer Capsid Protein VP4 of Murine Rotavirus Strain Eb Represents a Tentative New P Type

The nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence of the gene 4 of murine rotavirus strain Eb were determined. The gene is 2359 nucleotides in length and encodes for a protein of 775 amino acids. Comparison of the VP4 amino acid sequence of the Eb strain with several human and animal rotavirus strains which represent all of the currently recognized distinct VP4 genotypes revealed amino acid identities of from 55.7-75.1% for VP4, 37.1-63.3% for VP8, and 23.9-52.1% for the B region (amino acids 84-180). In addition, antisera to recombinant VP4s of five distinct rotavirus serotypes and two subtypes failed to react significantly by neutralization assay with the Eb strain. Thus, it appears that the Eb strain should be considered a new VP4 genotype and/or serotype.
Wireless Mesh Network in Smart Grid: Modeling and Analysis for Time Critical Communications

Communication networks are an indispensable component in the smart grid power systems by providing the essential information exchange functions among the electrical devices that are located distributively in the grid. In particular, wireless networks will be deployed widely in the smart grid for data collection and remote control purposes. In this paper, we model the smart grid wireless networks and present the communication delay analysis in typical wireless network deployment scenarios in the grid. As the time critical communications are coupled with the power system protections in the smart grid, it is important to understand the delay performance of the smart grid wireless networks. Our results provide the delay bounds that can help design satisfactory wireless networks to meet the demanding communication requirements in the smart grid.
A comparison of isolated DC-DC converters for microinverter applications

Developing a cost-effective and high-efficiency microinverter to interface a single photovoltaic (PV) module with residential ac voltages is not an easy task taking into account the cost target set by the Department of Energy (DOE) of 18 cents per Watt and the requirements imposed by the National Electric Code (NEC) which lead to galvanic isolation. This paper presents a detailed analysis of three isolated topologies which are the top candidates for the dc-dc stage of a two-stage microinverter. The considered topologies are the flyback, interleaved flyback and push-pull converters. A complete set of design equations for each topology is presented and used for designing the dc-dc stage of a microinverter system with the goal of comparing the ratings of the active and passive components since these affect system cost. Validation of the design equations are done through PSpice simulations.
Zn solubility limit in GaAs: growth versus equilibrium

Abstract We have found that the equilibrium Zn solubility limit in GaAs, as set by formation of the second condensed phase, Zn 3 As 2 , exhibits a retrograde behavior over the temperature range 575 ≤ T ≤ 700°C, at constant arsenic partial pressure. The results show that the maximum Zn concentration, N Zn , which can be grown into GaAs by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy is limited by the equilibrium solid solubility limit. Below the solid solubility limit, we observe N Zn ∼ P Zn for rapid growth rates, r g > 1.6 μ m/h. We demonstrate a clear transition to the expected equilibrium relationship, N Zn ∼ P 1 2 Zn , at lower growth rates. Both results are shown to be consistent with Fermi energy pinning at the surface at high temperatures. The equilibrium constant and the enthalpy of the formation of Zn 3 As 2 have been estimated from the growth of Zn 3 As 2 at several temperatures and compared to the results of others.
A Little Bit of the Blues: Low-Level Symptoms of Maternal Depression and Classroom Behavior Problems in Preschool Children

Research Findings: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between low-level depressive symptoms in mothers and teacher-reported child behavioral outcomes. Participants included 442 low-income mothers of preschool-age children who were screened for maternal depression by their child's preschool teacher. Teacher reports of child behavior problems were collected on a random sample of the children (n = 264). Of mothers screened for depression, 16.7% reported low-level depressive symptoms (below the cutoff on the screener indicating clinically elevated symptoms). Analyses revealed that children of mothers with low-level depressive symptoms had significantly greater problems with externalizing behavior compared to children of mothers with no depressive symptoms. Practice or Policy: Results suggest that children whose mothers experience even low-level depressive symptoms are at risk for problems with behavior, pointing to the need for screening and interventions to address maternal depression ...
The enigma of oligoclonal immunoglobulin G in cerebrospinal fluid from multiple sclerosis patients

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) contains immunoglobulin G (IgG) of restricted heterogeneity (oligoclonal IgG). Philip Paterson and Caroline Whitacre here review the core evidence that IgG in MS patients and normal subjects is synthezised intracerebrally and that most of it does- not have demonstrable antigenic specificity. They advance the view that the enigmatic oligoclonal IgG may be a product of B cells which are non-specifically activated by mitogenic stimuli originating within injured CNS tissue as a consequence of the MS process.
Microencapsulated fuel technology for commercial light water and advanced reactor application

The potential application of microencapsulated fuels to light water reactors (LWRs) has been explored. The specific fuel manifestation being put forward is for coated fuel particles embedded in silicon carbide or zirconium metal matrices. Detailed descriptions of these concepts are presented, along with a review of attributes, potential benefits, and issues with respect to their application in LWR environments, specifically from the standpoints of materials, neutronics, operations, and economics. Preliminary experiment and modeling results imply that with marginal redesign, significant gains in operational reliability and accident response margins could be potentially achieved by replacing conventional oxide-type LWR fuel with microencapsulated fuel forms.
Matrix isolation study of the products and reactions pathways in the corona excited discharge of C6F6

Abstract Reactions and intermediates of C 6 F 6 and C 12 F 10 after exposure to a corona excited discharge have been studied by the trapping of products into an argon matrix at 14 K. Infrared spectroscopy was employed to identify product species. Several were known chemical species while assignments for several new species are proposed. Both isomerization and fragmentation reaction products were observed. All of the evidence points to formation of the very reactive C 6 F 5 radical as the initial product of excitation of C 6 F 6 although no product bands could definitively associated with this species.
Interactions of selenium and cadmium with metallothionein-like and other cytosolic proteins of rat kidney and liver

Abstract Following injection of rats with CdCl 2 and [ 75 Se]selenite using five different protocols, the metallothionein-like proteins (MTLPs) of kidney and liver cytosols were fractionated by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration and DEAE Sephacel ion-exchange chromatography. Cd and 75 Se distribution in gel-filtration elution profiles was influenced mainly by the time that elapsed between administration of these elements and by the sequence of their administration. There was no Cd redistribution to high molecular weight proteins after long-term Cd injection when rats were killed 48 hr after 75 Se injection. Cd was redistributed from MTLP to high molecular-weight in the liver when Cd and 75 Se were injected within 1–3 hr of each other. Incorporation of 75 Se into MTLP of kidney and liver was independent of Cd injection. The strength of 75 Se binding of MTLP was comparable to the covalent binding of 75 Se to glutathione peroxidase. Cd and 75 Se did not share binding sites on MTLP. In ligand-exchange studies, 1000 ppm Cd did not displace 75 Se from MTLP, but 2% 2-mercaptoethanol displaced 10% of the presumably nonspecifically bound 75 Se from kidney and liver MTLP. This study provides new information regarding the apparent covalent binding of Se to low molecular-weight, Cd-containing proteins in kidney and liver.
Determination of annulus fibrosus cell response to tensile strain as a function of duration, magnitude, and frequency.

As clinical evidence suggests that mechanical forces can have both reparative and traumatic effects on the spine, we investigated responses to different magnitudes, frequencies, and durations of applied tensile strain in an in vitro system. We examined the interactions of inflammatory and mechanical stimuli on cells isolated from the annulus fibrosus. Rabbit annulus fibrosus fibrochondrocytes were cultured in the presence or absence of an inflammatory stimulus. Cells were exposed to various magnitudes and frequencies of tensile strain for 4 or 24 h, and mRNA expression of catabolic mediators of inflammation and matrix degradation was measured by quantitative real time PCR and compared to control cells. Conditioned media were analyzed for matrix metalloprotease activity and production of prostaglandin E2. Application of low magnitudes and frequencies of tensile strain resulted in down-regulation of catabolic mediators, particularly under inflammatory stress. However, loss of this protective effect was observed at higher frequency and magnitude, and after prolonged duration. These in vitro data confirm the existence of magnitude, frequency, and duration based effects, which determine biochemical response of disc tissue resulting in either anti- or pro-catabolic outcomes. This may help to explain the beneficial effects of motion-based therapies as well as the destructive effect of traumatic levels of applied strain. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29: 1275–1283, 2011
Age at Diagnosis and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between life-stage variables (ie, age at diagnosis and years of survival) and quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes in long-term survivors of breast cancer. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY: In this cross-sectional study, 105 long-term survivors of breast cancer participated in a mailed survey assessing QOL. Participants were selected from a cancer center tumor registry using a stratified random-sampling procedure that was based on age at diagnosis. The Quality of Life-Cancer Survivors scale was used to assess QOL outcomes in the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual domains. RESULTS: Long-term survivors of breast cancer who had received diagnoses at an older age (> 65 years) showed significantly (P < .05) worse QOL outcomes in the physical domain, while those who had received diagnoses at a younger age (27‐44 years) showed worse QOL outcomes in the social domain than other age groups. A nonlinear relationship was observed, with long-term survivors who had received diagnoses in middle age (45‐65 years) showing better QOL outcomes in the physical domain and in overall QOL. Age at diagnosis and years of survival were significant predictors of QOL outcomes. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings indicate that the life stage at diagnosis can help to predict long-term QOL outcomes in breast cancer survivors. Educational strategies to help oncology professionals develop a better understanding of the impact of age at diagnosis may be important in developing tailored interventions that respond to the specific needs of breast cancer survivors at each life stage. KEY TERMS: Age at diagnosis; Breast cancer; Cancer survivor; Life stage; Quality of life; Years of survival
Simple plastic stereotactic unit for use in the computed tomographic scanner.

The marriage of computed tomography (CT) and stereotactic surgery offers an opportunity to provide sophisticated and effective treatment to discrete areas of the brain. An important part of this capability is the development of stereotactic frames that are compatible with the CT scanner, i.e., that do not degrade the CT image. A number of technically elegant and ingenious stereotactic frames have been reported. However, they have the drawback of technical complexity and, particularly, great exposure. We are reporting a simple ball and socket skull-mounted stereotactic device that allows solid fixation of probes for use in brain needle biopsies, ventricular catheterization, and similar activities.
A generic Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine solution for a bidirectional interface between the modality and the radiology information system

The Relay is a generic Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM)-compliant software package. It is a bidirectional interface between the modality and the radiology information system (RIS) that uses DICOM modality worklist and modality-performed procedure step services. This device can eliminate discrepancies between patient demographic information contained in the RIS and that entered at the imaging modality. The Relay receives the worklist for a modality from the RIS. It verifies the accession number (ACC#) and medical record number (MRN) received from the RIS for a study against the ACC# and MRN entered at the modality after that study is pushed to the Relay by the modality. If the values for the ACC# and MRN contained in the image header coincide with the values stored on the RIS, the patient demographics and study protocol contained in the RIS is downloaded into the image header. The study is then automatically routed to the specified destination without technologist intervention. Images whose header does not coincide with data on the RIS are flagged for subsequent reconciliation by the technologist. When the study is completed, the Relay updates the status of the study in the RIS, if the RIS provides DICOM performed procedure step service. When required, the Relay is able to split a single study into two or more series and assign each an ACC#. Other Relay functionality includes sending studies to multiple DICOM devices, adding comments to the image header, and DICOM print service. Should the archive be unavailable to receive images for whatever reason, the Relay can store studies so image acquisition can continue without interruption or it can divert studies directly to a diagnostic workstation. This Relay provides redundancy and fault-tolerance capabilities for picture archiving and communications systems. It is vendor-independent and will function with any DICOM modality, RIS, or archive.
Violence Against the Elderly A Comparative Analysis of Robbery and Assault Across Age and Gender Groups

Using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey for 1992 through 1994, this article presents an accounting of robbery and assault victimizations against older Americans and how they differ ...
Durkheim and the idea of soul

I have looked forward to the opportunity presented by a conference such as the Theory and Society one to debrief in a sense, to test out some observations I made while retranslating Emile Drukheim's 1912 masterpiece, Les Formes elementaires de la vie religieuse. But since it is in February, which is African American History Month, and since this is for a conference session on race, ethnicity, gender, and class, it is well to start with a forewarning or a reassurance (as the case may be) about the word soul in my title "Durkheim and the idea of soul." I do not intend to affiliate Durkheim, or Fields, with those collective representations, popular two decades ago, that joined things like jazz with a way of talking, and collard greens with a way of walking, in an alleged African racial essence baptized then as the idea of soul. What I have in mind is Durkheim's own title for Chapter Eight of Book Two of Formes: La Notion d'ime, he wrote, "the idea of soul." He did not write La Notion de l'ame, "the idea of the soul," as Joseph Ward Swain's 1915 translation mistakenly tells us, and the difference is consequential. When Durkheim meant the soul, something thought of as an inward and individual possession, he said so. When he said "soul," without the "the," he meant a generic substance or essence thought of as partly independent of individuals.
Expression of agrin mRNA is altered following seizures in adult rat brain

Agrin mRNA is broadly distributed throughout the adult rat brain, consistent with its proposed role in synaptogenesis and the organization of synaptic proteins in the central nervous system. The present study examined the effect of neuronal activity on agrin mRNA expression in adult rat forebrain using the hilus lesion paradigm for seizure induction and in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction techniques for quantification and characterization of agrin mRNA content. Seizures induced rapid, prolonged, and region-specific changes in agrin mRNA expression with the most prominent alterations occurring in hippocampal and cortical neurons. However, there were no detectable perturbations in the relative abundance of alternatively spliced agrin transcripts in affected brain regions. Activity-dependent changes in agrin expression suggest a role for this protein in modifications of synaptic structure associated with functional synaptic plasticity.
Adoptive T cell therapy promotes the emergence of genomically altered tumor escape variants

Adoptive T cell therapy has been proven effective against melanoma in mice and humans. However, because most responses are incomplete or transient, cures remain rare. To maximize the efficacy of this therapy, it will be essential to gain a better understanding of the processes which result in tumor relapse. We studied these processes using B16ova murine melanoma and adoptive transfer of OT-I T cells. Transfer of T cells as a single therapy provided a significant survival benefit for mice with established subcutaneous tumors. However, tumors which initially regressed often recurred. By analyzing tumors which emerged in the presence of a potent OT-I response, we identified a novel tumor escape mechanism in which tumor cells evaded T cell pressure by undergoing major genomic changes involving loss of the gene encoding the target tumor antigen. Furthermore, we show that these in vivo processes can be recapitulated in vitro using T cell/tumor cell co-cultures. A single round of in vitro co-culture led to significant loss of the ova gene and a tumor cell population with rapidly induced and diverse karyotypic changes. Although these current studies focus on the model OVA antigen, the finding that T cells can directly promote genomic instability has important implications for the development of adoptive T cell therapies.
Anal Gland Secretion Codes for Relatedness in the Beaver, Castor canadensis

We investigated how information about relatedness is coded in the anal gland secretion (AGS) of the beaver (Castor canadensis). Using gas chromatography, we found that individual secretion profiles did not change over time and location of the beaver and the variation in the AGS profile was smaller within an individual than between individuals. Therefore, the AGS is suituable for characterising individuality. We also found that related individuals shared more features in the AGS profile than did unrelated individuals. Hence, information about kinship can be coded in the AGS profile. These findings substantiate the behavioural kin recognition system using the mechanism of phenotype matching in the beaver.
Interactive Computation and Rendering of Finite-Time Lyapunov Exponent Fields

In this paper, we present a novel technique that allows for the coupled computation and visualization of salient flow structures at interactive frame rates. Our approach is built upon a hierarchical representation of the Finite-time Lyapunov Exponent (FTLE) field, which is adaptively sampled and rendered to meet the need of the current visual setting. The performance of our method allows the user to explore large and complex data sets across scales and to inspect their features at arbitrary resolution. The paper discusses an efficient implementation of this strategy on graphics hardware and provides results for an analytical flow and several CFD simulation data sets.
Synthesis of organic geochemical data from the Eastern Gas Shales

Over 2400 core and cuttings samples of Upper Devonian shales from wells in the Appalachian, Illinois, and Michigan Basins have been characterized by organic geochemical methods to provide a basis for accelerating the exploitation of this unconventional, gas-rich resource. This work was part of a program initiated to provide industry with criteria for locating the best areas for future drilling and for the development of stimulation methods that will make recovery of the resource economically attractive. The geochemical assessment shows that the shale, in much of the Appalachian, Illinois, and Michigan Basins is source rock that is capable of generating enormous quantities of gas. In some areas the shales are also capable of generating large quantities of oil as well. The limiting factors preventing these sources from realizing most of their potential are their very low permeabilities and the paucity of potential reservoir rocks. This geochemical data synthesis gives direction to future selection of sites for stimulation research projects in the Appalachian Basin by pinpointing those areas where the greatest volumes of gas are contained in the shale matrix. Another accomplishment of the geochemical data synthesis is a new estimate of the total resource of the Appalachian Basin. The newmore » estimate of 2500 TCF is 25 percent greater than the highest previous estimates. This gives greater incentive to government and industry to continue the search for improved stimulation methods, as well as for improved methods for locating the sites where those improved stimulation methods can be most effectively applied.« less
Nonlinear optical absorption and refraction in optical crystals at 355 nm

Third harmonic conversion is an effective technique to generate laser radiation at 355 nm from high power solid state lasers. Numerous studies have shown that conversion efficiency depends on parameters such as laser beam quality, crystal nonlinear coefficient, crystal optical quality, and interaction geometry. Relatively little attention has been given to possible limitation in conversion efficiency due to two photon absorption (TPA) at the third harmonic wavelength (355 nm). We have conducted two photon absorption measurements in more than a dozen KDP crystals. The investigated crystals had different doping concentrations and were doped with different impurities. The results of these investigations show that TPA is always present in KDP crystals at 355 nm and is strongly dependent on crystal composition. The TPA coefficient β varied from β= 0.001 to 0.02 cm/GW.
How does C+ recombine in diffuse molecular gas?

Aims. We wish to understand the processes whereby the dominant state of free carbon shifts from C + to C I and CO in progressively denser and/or darker diffuse and translucent clouds. Methods. We discuss recent compilations and observations of C I, H I, H2 and CO measured in uv absorption and compare the observations with models of the thermal and ionization equilibrium including and excluding grain-assisted neutralization of atomic ions such as C + . Results. There are significant disparities in N(C I) and divergent behaviour with respect to H I and especially H2 and CO in two recent discussions of the C I abundance in diffuse and translucent gas. If the older data tabulated by Wolfire et al. (2008, ApJ, 680, 384) are considered, the run of N(C I) with N(H I) and N(H2) is comfortably explained only by models embodying grain-assisted atomic-ion neutralization, much as those authors noted. If the newer data of Burgh et al. (2010, ApJ, 708, 334) are considered, either lower density models with grain-assisted atomic-ion neutralization or much denser models without it may suffice. In either case N(CO) increases from 10 14 cm −2 to 10 16 cm −2 with little change in N(C I) in either dataset, presenting a real challenge to models of C + recombination and CO formation in the C + → CI → CO transition. Conclusions. N(CO) exceeds N(C I) even at N(CO) > 3 × 10 15 cm −2 , well within the regime of diffuse gas where the dominant form of free gas phase carbon is C + ; one of the supposed signatures of the translucent regime, that C I is the dominant form of free carbon, is not found on the sky. However, the C I data clearly need to be put on a firmer basis before the C + → CI → CO transition may be understood. Ambiguities in the C I column densities determined in uv absorption may perhaps be resolved by sub-mm observations with Herschel or ALMA.
Relation between antibodies toChlamydia trachomatis and spontaneous abortion following in vitro fertilization

Many couples undergo in vitro fertilization due to occlusion of the fallopian tubes. Chlamydia trachomatis infections are a major cause of this tubal damage. Since this organism has also been associated with poor pregnancy outcome, we investigated whether a past exposure to C.trachomatis was associated with spontaneous abortion following in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.
Gaussian quadrature in Ramanujan’s Second Notebook

Ramanujan’s notebooks contain many approximations, usually without explanations. Some of his approximations to series are explained as quadrature formulas, usually of Gaussian type.
Once daily injection of exendin-4 to diabetic mice achieves long-term beneficial effects on blood glucose concentrations

Glucagon-like peptide-1 is the main hormonal mediator of the enteroinsular axis. Recently, it has additionally received considerable attention as a possible new treatment for Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Its major disadvantage is that its duration of action is too short to achieve good 24-h metabolic control. Exendin-4, which is produced in the salivary glands of Gila monster lizards, is structurally similar to glucagon-like peptide-1 and shares several useful biological properties with glucagon-like peptide-1. It binds the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor, stimulates insulin release and increases the cAMP production in beta cells. We report that exendin-4 is a more potent insulinotropic agent when given intravenously to rats than is glucagon-like peptide-1 (ED50 0.19 nmol/kg for glucagon-like peptide-1 vs 0.0143 nmol/kg for exendin-4) and causes a greater elevation in cAMP concentrations in isolated islets. Of even greater interest we found that when given intraperitoneally only once daily to diabetic mice it had a prolonged effect of lowering blood glucose. After 1 week of treatment blood glucoses were 5.0 ± 2.6 mmol/l compared to diabetic concentrations of 13.2 ± 2.8 mmol/l. After 13 weeks of daily treatment HbA1 c was 8.8 ± 0.4 % in non-treated diabetic animals compared with 4.7 ± 0.25 % in treated diabetic animals. Blood glucoses also were lower (p < 0.005) and insulin concentrations higher (p < 0.02) in the treated animals. Exendin-4 could therefore be preferable to glucagon-like peptide-1 as a long-term treatment of Type II diabetes. [Diabetologia (1999) 42: 45–50]
Reproductive outcomes of patients undergoing radical trachelectomy for early-stage cervical cancer

Abstract Objective To report the reproductive outcomes of patients undergoing fertility-preserving radical trachelectomy (RT) for the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer. Methods We analyzed data from our institution's first 105 patients who underwent attempted fertility-sparing surgery with radical trachelectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, and cerclage from November 2001 to October 2010. Results Of the 105 patients who underwent attempted RT, 77 (73%) did not require a conversion to radical hysterectomy or postoperative treatment. The median age was 32 (range, 25–38years). Most patients (75%) had stage IB1 disease. Sixty-six patients (63%) were nulliparous. Thirty-five women were actively attempting conception 6months after surgery, and 23 (66%) women were successful in conceiving: there were 20 live births, 3 elective terminations, and 4 spontaneous miscarriages. Four patients had 2 pregnancies each; all delivered their second pregnancy between 32 and 36weeks. Cerclage erosion through the vaginal wall occurred in 6 cases and was treated by transvaginal removal of protruding suture material. One of these patients experienced a second trimester miscarriage. Conclusions The majority of women who attempted to conceive after radical trachelectomy were successful, and most of their pregnancies resulted in full-term births. Assisted reproduction played an important role in select women. Cerclage likely contributed to a post-trachelectomy uterine ability to carry a pregnancy to the third trimester. The second post-trachelectomy pregnancy appears to be at higher risk for preterm delivery than the first pregnancy.
Ion transport by primary cultures of canine tracheal epithelium: methodology, morphology, and electrophysiology

Canine tracheal epithelial cells were isolated by enzymatic and mechanical dispersion and cultured on permeable supports. The cells formed confluent monolayers and retained most of the morphologic characteristics of the intact epithelium, including apical microvilli, apical tight junctions, and a moderately interdigitated lateral intercellular space. The cells also retained the functional properties of the epithelium. The monolayer responded to addition of isoproterenol with the characteristic changes in cellular electrical properties expected for stimulation of C1 secretion: isoproterenol increased transepithelial voltage, depolarized apical membrane voltage, and decreased both transepithelial resistance and the ratio of apical-to-basolateral membrane resistance. Examination of the cellular response to ion substitutions and inhibitors of C1 secretion indicate that the cultured monolayers retain the same cellular mechanisms of ion transport as the intact epithelium. Thus, primary cultures of tracheal epithelium may provide a useful preparation for future studies of the mechanism and regulation of C1 secretion by airway epithelia.
The asymptotic accuracy of rational best approximations to ez on a disk

Abstract The method described by D. Braess (J. Approx. Theory 40 (1984), 375–379) is applied to study approximation of ez on a disk rather than an interval. Let Emn be the distance in the supremum norm on ¦z¦ ⩽ ϱ from ez to the set of rational functions of type (m, n). The analog of Braess' result turns out to be E mn ~ m! n! ϱ m + n +1 (m + n)! (m + n +1)! as m + n → ∞ This formula was obtained originally for a special case by E. Saff (J. Approx. Theory 9 (1973), 97–101).
Accumulation of inhibitors in urea solution in dewaxing petroleum products

1. Heat treatment of aqueous urea solutions forms substances that reduce the rate of the adduct-formation process. 2. The main conversion product from the urea that favors the formation of inhibitors is ammonium bicarbonate. 3. Products from the conversion of urea, interacting with feedstock components, form inhibitors.