cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing and aggregating rankings with ties

Rank aggregation has recently been proposed as a useful abstraction that has several applications, including meta-search, synthesizing rank functions from multiple indices, similarity search, and classification. In database applications (catalog searches, fielded searches, parametric searches, etc.), the rankings are produced by sorting an underlying database according to various fields. Typically, there are a number of fields that each have very few distinct values, and hence the corresponding rankings have many ties in them. Known methods for rank aggregation are poorly suited to this context, and the difficulties can be traced back to the fact that we do not have sound mathematical principles to compare two partial rankings, that is, rankings that allow ties.In this work, we provide a comprehensive picture of how to compare partial rankings, We propose several metrics to compare partial rankings, present algorithms that efficiently compute them, and prove that they are within constant multiples of each other. Based on these concepts, we formulate aggregation problems for partial rankings, and develop a highly efficient algorithm to compute the top few elements of a near-optimal aggregation of multiple partial rankings. In a model of access that is suitable for databases, our algorithm reads essentially as few elements of each partial ranking as are necessary to determine the winner(s).
Applying Adult Education Principles within Church Sermons: Some Theoretical Implications

Theories of learning and adult education have often been connected to the broad arenas of theology and spirituality, but seldom applied within the specific context of a Christian worship service sermon. Traditional sermon practices have developed through a rich theoretical history but they are often structured as a one way, rhetorical speech act. This article is an attempt to provide a human learning lens as a different way of looking at sermon design and delivery. It includes a review of the homiletic literature including an exploration of the empirical research studies on sermon form and impact. Clergy, as adult educators, are encouraged to use principles from adult education such as those found in the constructs of transformative learning and andragogy. Significant theoretical shifts, both for the person delivering sermons and those who hear them, as well as practical implications come out of using this alternative paradigm.
Results from a full-scale smoke alarm sensitivity study

A series of 24 full-scale experiments was conducted to examine the effects of alarm type (photoelectric, ionization, and dual sensor), alarm location, fabric type (100% cotton and 100% polyester), polyurethane foam density, ignition scenario, and room configuration, on smoke alarm performance. A two-level, fractional factorial design of eight experimental configurations was developed around the five factors: fabric type, foam density, fire location, ventilation, and ignition scenario. A structure, designed to represent a single-story home or apartment, was constructed inside the Large Fire Laboratory at the National Institute for Standards and Technology for the experiments. The fire source was a chair mockup consisting of a seat and back cushion of a specific cover fabric and foam density, weighing between 5.5 kg and 8.3 kg. It rested on a metal frame and was subjected to a small propane gas flame, or an electric cartridge heater to initiate smoldering. Each experimental configuration was replicated three times. Smoldering fires were allowed to progress until they naturally transitioned to flaming fires except for one test that was terminated early due to time constraints. The smoldering to flaming transition times ranged from (81 to 182) min. Each fire progressed for a time sufficient to produce multiple hazards (smoke, heat, and toxic gases). All alarms tested were purchased from retail outlets and activated at their preset levels. Photoelectric, ionization, and dual photoelectric/ionization alarms were co-located at multiple locations to facilitate comparisons of each alarm type, and different designs of the same type of alarm. For smoke alarms in the room of fire origin, it was observed that each of the five factors had an effect on the measured alarm times that was primarily a result of fire growth rate (fabric type, foam density, and ignition scenario), or smoke dilution and transport (fire location and ventilation). The photoelectric alarm responded quicker on average than ionization alarm in two of four smoldering fire configurations, responding before the ionization alarm in all 6 trials, while the ionization alarm responded before the photoelectric alarm in two of three trials for the other two configurations. The ionization alarm responded quicker on average than photoelectric alarm in all four flaming fire configurations, and responded before the photoelectric alarm in all 12 flaming fire trials. One dual alarm had the fastest average alarm time for all four smoldering fire configurations, and responded first in 11 of the 12 trials. It also yielded faster average alarm times than the other dual alarm in seven of eight configurations, and was the first dual alarm to respond in 22 out of 23 trials where dual alarms were present.
Start-ups and Transition

How fast transition should occur and how fast privatization and/or entry should take place in formerly socialist economies has been widely debated by economists. The field evidence on start-ups is mixed, with fragmentary data indicating that the performance of start-ups varies widely across countries. The evidence suggests that two vastly different equilibria are emerging in transition economies: a high development equilibrium and a low development equilibrium. In the high development equilibrium start-ups supply higher quality goods than transforming SOEs, aggregate supplies are ample and start-ups are a growth engine. This contrasts with the low development equilibrium in which start-ups provide lower quality goods and the overall supply of goods is lower. In this paper, we develop a dynamic model which explains how features of the transition can push an economy to either the high or low development equilibrium in the long run. We concentrate on the speed with which bureaucratic interference in the economy is eliminated and the speed with which entry by private firms occurs. Our central conclusion is that delayed entry by start-ups can substantially increase the likelihood of the high development outcome, especially when bureaucratic interference is persistent. Our result captures how this interference, while transitory, can have a negative long run impact and underlines the importance of government polices to encourage entrepreneurship, such as subsidies and tax breaks.
El texto literario y la experiencia vivida: la literatura como una forma de explorar e indagar el mundo de vida

The article intends to open a horizon of exploration between philosophy, language and literature, more specifically, between the philosophy of phenomenological nature and literature, as it explores the daily and familiar world. In order to approach this objective it is necessary to indicate, firstly, what is a phenomenological experience and its implications for literature. Fragments of the novel Sobre heroes y tumbas, written by Ernesto Sabato, will allow to articulate phenomenological investigation and exploration.
Feedback control real-time scheduling in ORB middleware

Existing real-time ORB middleware standards such as RT-CORBA do not adequately address the challenges of 1) providing robust performance guarantees portably across different platforms, and 2) managing unpredictable workload. To overcome this limitation, we have developed software called FCS/nORB that integrates a Feedback Control real-lime Scheduling (FCS) service with the nORB small-footprint real-time ORB designed for networked embedded systems. FCS/nORB features feedback control loops that provide real-time performance guarantees by automatically adjusting the rate of remote method invocations transparently to an application. FCS/nORB thus enables real-time applications to be truly portable in terms of real-time performance as well as functionality, without the need for hand tuning. This paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of FCS/nORB. Our extensive experiments on a Linux testbed demonstrate that FCS can provide deadline miss ratio and utilization guarantees in face of changes in the platform and task execution times, while introducing a small amount of overhead.
Implications for Gifted Education

This statewide study of teachers of intellectually gifted students examined teachers' attitudes toward information technology. Participants were 418 teachers of the intellectually gifted in a southeastern state who voluntarily responded to a survey about technology attitudes. Results indicated positive attitudes toward technology, with training in information technology as the greatest predictor of attitude. Age of teacher, number of classroom computers, and staff development in information technology also predicted attitudes toward information technology. The relationship of these findings with previous research of attitudes of general education teachers, implications for technology training for teachers of the gifted, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
The chronic inflammatory hypothesis for the morbidity associated with morbid obesity: implications and effects of weight loss.

Background: Obesity is a worldwide pandemic that causes a multitude of co-morbid conditions.However, there has been slow progress in understanding the basic pathophysiology that underlies co-morbid conditions associated with obesity. Recently, there has been intense interest in the role of inflammation in obesity. Using the inflammatory hypothesis, many of the mechanisms by which co-morbid conditions are associated with obesity are being elucidated. Methods: We searched the literature and reviewed all relevant articles. We focused on hormones and cytokines that have been associated with other inflammatory conditions such as sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. F i n d i n g s : A n g i o t e n s i n o gen (AG T ) , t r a n s fo r m i n g growth factor beta (TGF b), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa), and interleukin six (IL-6) are all elevated in obesity and correlate with several markers of adipocyte mass. These mediators have detrimental e f fects on hy p e rt e n s i o n , d i a b e t e s , dy s l i p i d e m i a , thromboembolic phenomena, infections, and cancer. Weight loss results in a reduction of inflammatory mediators and a diminution of the associated co-morbid conditions. Conclusions:The success of weight loss surgery in treating the complications associated with obesity is most probably related to the reduction of inflammatory mediators.While some aspects of bariatric physiology remain unclear, there appears to be a strong association between obesity and inflammation, thereby rendering obesity a chronic inflammatory state. A clearer understanding of the physiology of obesity will allow physicians who treat the obese to develop better strategies to promote weight loss and improve the well-being of millions of individuals.
Mre11-Sae2 and RPA Collaborate to Prevent Palindromic Gene Amplification

Foldback priming at DNA double-stranded breaks is one mechanism proposed to initiate palindromic gene amplification, a common feature of cancer cells. Here, we show that small (5-9 bp) inverted repeats drive the formation of large palindromic duplications, the major class of chromosomal rearrangements recovered from yeast cells lacking Sae2 or the Mre11 nuclease. RPA dysfunction increased the frequency of palindromic duplications in Sae2 or Mre11 nuclease-deficient cells by ∼ 1,000-fold, consistent with intra-strand annealing to create a hairpin-capped chromosome that is subsequently replicated to form a dicentric isochromosome. The palindromic duplications were frequently associated with duplication of a second chromosome region bounded by a repeated sequence and a telomere, suggesting the dicentric chromosome breaks and repairs by recombination between dispersed repeats to acquire a telomere. We propose secondary structures within single-stranded DNA are potent instigators of genome instability, and RPA and Mre11-Sae2 play important roles in preventing their formation and propagation, respectively.
Design of Sandwich Composites with Multi-Functional Facesheets

Sandwich composites find increasing use as flexural load bearing lightweight sub-elements in air / space vehicles, rail / ground transportation, marine and sporting goods. The core materials in these applications is usually balsa, foam or honeycombs, while laminated carbon or glass are used as facesheets. A limitation of traditional sandwich configurations is that the space in the core becomes inaccessible once the facesheets are bonded in place. Significant multi-functional benefits can be obtained by making either the facesheets or the core, space accessible. Multi-functionality is generally referred to as value added to the structure that enhances functions beyond traditional load bearing. Such functions may include sound / vibration damping, ability to route wires or embed sensors. The present work considers traditional core materials of nomex and aluminum honeycombs that possess functional space accessible facesheets, and their low velocity impact (LVI) response.
Mental Health Symptoms Among Male Victims of Partner Violence

This study investigates mental health symptoms among female and male victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). More than 570 university students completed surveys that measured past IPV victimization and mental health symptoms. Cluster analyses were conducted to categorize frequency of victimization (high vs. low). Multivariate statistical analyses revealed that reporting higher number of mental health symptoms was significantly related to experiencing higher levels of IPV victimization but not to gender (female or male). This study found no statistically significant gender differences in reporting symptoms of anxiety, depression, hostility, or somatization among participants who reported high IPV victimization. The results have implications for practitioners who provide services to female and male victims of partner violence.
Fetal renal response to atrial natriuretic factor decreases with maturation

The presence of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in fetal tissues and plasma early in gestation suggests that ANF may have a physiological role in cardiocirculatory homeostasis in utero. However, reported responsiveness of the fetal kidney to ANF varies markedly. To characterize the ontogeny of fetal renal responsiveness to ANF, chronically catheterized ovine fetuses at 114 +/- 1 days (n = 6) and 131 +/- 1 days (n = 6) received successive (30 min each) intravenous infusions of ANF at rates of 5, 25, and 100 ng.min-1.kg-1. Mean (+/- SE) fetal plasma ANF levels increased from 328 +/- 54 to 1,866 +/- 482 and 521 +/- 135 to 1,579 +/- 295 pg/ml in the younger and more mature fetuses, respectively. Mean urine volume (0.17 +/- 0.03 to 0.37 +/- 0.09 ml.min-1.kg-1) and GFR (0.9 +/- 0.2 to 1.8 +/- 0.4 ml.min-1.kg-1) increased in the early gestation fetuses but did not change in the older fetuses. Mean urine sodium excretion and osmolar clearance increased by 352 and 155% in the early gestation fetal lambs and 118 and 50% in the older animals. The fetal plasma ANF clearance rates (PCANF) were lower in the early vs. the late gestation fetuses (68 +/- 15 vs. 116 +/- 28 ml.min-1.kg-1, respectively). These results demonstrate a decrease in fetal renal responsiveness to ANF with advancing fetal age. Multiple factors appear to contribute, including changes in PCANF and maturational changes in glomerular filtration rate, renal tubular function and ANF receptor metabolism.
Methods of Analysis and Estimation

In this extract Brass fits logit transformations of observed and model life table survival rates to a power function that preserves the extreme values p(O) = 1, p(w)=O, where p(x) is the probability of surviving from birth to age x.
Reversible-Deactivation Radical Polymerization in the Presence of Metallic Copper. Kinetic Simulation

Reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) of methyl acrylate in DMSO in the presence of Cu0 was studied by kinetic simulations. Kinetic simulations give access to the rates and contributions of all reactions, including those of activation of alkyl halides by CuI and Cu0 species, disproportionation of CuI species, and comproportionation between CuII and Cu0. Every relevant reaction was quantified by experimentally measured rate coefficients. The rates and contributions allow the exact roles of Cu0 and CuI species to be evaluated. These simulations show that the control over the polymerization is due to the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) dynamic equilibrium with CuI as the major activator and CuII as the major deactivator. The ATRP equilibrium is maintained throughout the entire process. The simulations confirmed earlier experimental findings that in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with tris[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]amine (Me6TREN) ligand comproportionation between Cu0 and CuII species domi...
Discursive Practices of Honor: Rethinking Iran’s Nuclear Program

This paper examines the role of honor in the factional competition that shapes Iran’s nuclear program foreign policy preference formation. The literature on Iranian foreign policy recognizes the nature of that process as highly factionalized. I contend that honor plays a significant role in Iran’s factional competition and foreign policy preferences because standing within the Iranian system and Iran’s standing in the international system are intertwined phenomena. Since Iran’s standing in the international system, as a nation-state, reflects back on the political elite as a whole, honor is both an important element in how the Iranian political elite compete for power and how Iran views its relationship with the United States. The role of honor in the factional competition is intensified by Iran’s nuclear program that is wrapped in nationalistic, anti-imperialistic, and revolutionary honor terms. Therefore, any member of Iran’s political elite that can be cast as surrendering Iran’s “right” to enrichment, for example, is called a traitor and is publicly shamed. I bring this to light by examining the discursive practices of honoring and shaming intrinsic to the factional competition for control of Iran’s nuclear foreign policy decision-making.
Microbic Dissociation of B. Coli-Communis

The term microbic dissociation has recently become significant because it logically connects some of the various expressions of bacterial instability as developmental phases of one phenolmenon,-namely bacterial cyclogeny. It is now used to designate certain more or less ordered modifications in bacterial cultures,-changes which in many cases, may be predicted and controlled, and which are intimately associated with cell morphology, colony form, virulence, biochemical behavior and serologic reactions. Microbic dissociation can probably be demonstrated in all species of bacteria. It would seem that, underlying the dissociation reaction are fundamental governing forces which relate to the reproductive mechanism and are common to all bacterial protoplasm; moreover, that an understanding of this mechanism, and an interpretation of its significance, could best be derived from a study of the process of dissociation in related and unrelated organisms. The following contribution represents a study of dissociation in B. coli-communis. The cultures used were laboratory strains from human sources which had been isolated within a period of two years previous to the time of study, and which gave typical fermentational and other cultural reactions.
Changes in phosphorus metabolism of the gastrocnemius muscle in aging white rats.

SummaryChanges in the adenine nucleotide dephosphorylating system in the gastrocnemius muscle of aging male rats have been studied. The Mg-activated ATP-ase activity showed a pronounced fall from young to very old (senile) age in both the Sprague-Dawley and the CFN strains. However, in the former strain, old animals, typically exhibiting markedly greater losses in muscle mass and concomitant muscular dystrophy, also showed a greater decline in this enzyme on a unit muscle mass and even more so on an absolute body mass basis, than did the old CFN rats. In both strains, however, actomyosin (pH 9.0) ATP-ase as well as ATP content showed no significant changes from young to very old age. The role of the Mg-activated ATP-ase enzyme in energizing of skeletal muscle contraction and its possible significance in the physiology of senescence are discussed.
Residual Behavior of Various Insecticides on and in Lemons and Oranges

Magnitudes and persistence of chlordane, dieldrin, and heptachlor residues on and in lemons, and of malathion residues on and in Valencia oranges, are recorded. Persistence half-life values of these insecticides in the peel of the fruit are 19, 60, 23, and 32 days, respectively. Only negligible apparent residues were found in the edible portion of the fruit.
An exploratory analysis of students’ perceptions of mental health in the media

ABSTRACTDespite the prevalence of mental illness in society, the media’s portrayal of mental health fosters stigmatizing attitudes that inhibit many people from seeking treatment. This study surveyed college students enrolled in social work courses (n = 139) to learn about the relationship between mental health knowledge students gleaned from the media, their perception of media portrayals of mental illness as realistic, and the subsequent impact on student attitudes. Analysis of the data found that almost a quarter of the students surveyed reported television and film as their primary source of education about mental illness. Students who received their primary mental health education from television and film were more likely to believe they were seeing realistic portrayals of mental illness and view portrayed stereotypes of mental illness as acceptable. Implications regarding students’ stigmatizing attitudes and students’ identification of persons with mental illness are discussed.
New Insights into the Mechanisms of Mammalian Erythroid Chromatin Condensation and Enucleation

A unique feature in mammalian erythropoiesis is the dramatic chromatin condensation followed by enucleation. This step-by-step process starts at the beginning of terminal erythropoiesis after the hematopoietic stem cells are committed to erythroid lineage. Although this phenomenon is known for decades, the mechanisms of chromatin condensation and enucleation remain elusive. Recent advances in cell and molecular biology have started to reveal the molecular pathways in the regulation of chromatin condensation, the establishment of nuclear polarity prior enucleation, and the rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton in enucleation. However, many challenging questions, especially whether and how the apoptotic mechanisms are involved in chromatin condensation and how to dissect the functions of many actin cytoskeleton proteins in cytokinesis and enucleation, remain to be answered. Here I review our current understanding of mammalian erythroid chromatin condensation and enucleation during terminal differentiation with a focus on more recent studies. I conclude with my perspective of future works in this rising topic in developmental and cell biology.
Nephrology education for medical students: a narrative review.

AbstractBackground: Strategies used to teach nephrology to medical students are not well studied. This study assesses the published literature on medical student education in nephrology.Methods: A review of the published literature on nephrology education for medical students was conducted on two major online search engines (PubMed and ERIC). In addition, references of the manuscripts discovered in these searches were reviewed. The empirical studies were categorized by subject within nephrology and research design.Results: We found 26 original studies in which a method of teaching nephrology to medical students was described. The studies dated from 1977 to 2015. The focus of these nephrology teaching experiences was as follows: anatomy (6.5%), physiology (22.6%), pathophysiology (29.0%), pathology (6.5%), treatment (25.8%), and general nephrology (9.7%). The studies were also categorized into various types of research design. 6.9% had either no assessment of the educational experience or had a description...
Emergence of a New Lineage of Cache Valley Virus (Bunyaviridae: Orthobunyavirus) in the Northeastern United States

Cache Valley virus (CVV; Family Bunyavidae, Genus Orthobunyavirus) is a mosquito-borne zoonosis that frequently infects humans and livestock in North and Central America. In the northeastern United States, CVV transmission is unpredictable from year-to-year and may derive from the periodic extinction and reintroduction of new virus strains into this region. To evaluate this possibility, we sequenced and analyzed numerous CVV isolates sampled in Connecticut during an 18-year period to determine how the virus population may change over time. Phylogenetic analyses showed the establishment of a new viral lineage during 2010 that became dominant by 2014 and appears to have originated from southern Mexico. CVV strains from Connecticut also grouped into numerous sub-clades within each lineage that included viruses from other U.S. states and Canada. We did not observe the development and stable persistence of local viral clades in Connecticut, which may reflect the episodic pattern of CVV transmission. Together, our data support the emergence of a new lineage of CVV in the northeastern United States and suggest extensive dispersal of viral strains in North America.
Gastrin and ulcer disease: what is known.

Although reports differ, no clear relationship has been shown between the high acid secretion in duodenal ulcers and basal plasma gastrin concentrations. Much recent attention has focused, therefore, on the concept of greater autonomy in gastrin secretion in patients with duodenal ulcer. The principal usefulness of gastrin determinations seems to be the "ruling-out" of the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and in case of recurrent ulcer, in which its use is limited.
Vocal complexity influences female responses to gelada male calls.

Extensive research indicates that inter-sexual selection drives the evolution of complex vocal communication in birds, but parallel lines of evidence are almost entirely absent in mammals. This dearth of evidence, particularly among primates, limits our understanding of the link between sociality and vocal complexity. Here, we use a playback experiment to quantify how wild female geladas (Theropithecus gelada) respond to three call types that are ‘derived’ (i.e., unique to geladas) and made by males during various affiliative contexts. These derived calls appeared to be highly salient and preferable to females: they looked longer towards and spent more time in proximity to playbacks of male vocal sequences containing one of the derived calls than to sequences containing only common and less elaborate ‘grunt’ calls. Our results provide the first experimental evidence for vocal elaboration as a male-specific strategy to maintain social bonds with females in non-human primates.
The afferent signalling of fever.

When infectious micro-organisms invade the body, fever often ensues. It is the most familiar and most manifest sign of infection. Yet, despite its ubiquity, little is definitively known regarding the detailed mechanism of its induction. The generally prevalent view is that entry into the body of such infectious micro-organisms first activates innate immune responses, which include the release of a complex variety of soluble mediators. Among these, the cytokines tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 are thought to convey the pyrogenic message to the brain region where fever is regulated, namely the preoptic area (POA) of the anterior hypothalamus. The mechanism by which these peripheral signals may be transduced into central nervous signals is currently a matter of lively controversy. The issue is not trivial because, to the extent that these relatively large, hydrophilic peptides may be released into the circulatory system and transported to the brain by the bloodstream, they have to pass through the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is impermeable to them. At least two routes are possible, and there is evidence for both: (1) active transport across the BBB by cytokine-specific carriers, and (2) message transfer where the BBB is 'leaky', i.e. in the 'sensory' circumventricular organs, particularly the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis (OVLT), on the midline of the POA, by the presumptive activation by, an as yet, indeterminate means of neurons projecting into the OVLT from the brain. But alternative pathways are also possible and support for some has been obtained: (1) the circulating cytokine-induced generation of BBB-permeable prostaglandin E2, the most proximal, putative mediator of fever, by endothelial cells of the cerebral microvasculature or perivascular microglia and meningeal macrophages, and (2) direct transmission to the POA of the pyrogenic messages via peripheral (largely vagal) afferent nerves activated by the cytokines. However, all four of these mechanisms have shortcomings (Blatteis & Sehic, 1997).
Silicon isotope fractionation during microbial reduction of Fe(III)-Si gels under Archean seawater conditions and implications for iron formation genesis

Abstract Microbial dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR) is a deeply rooted metabolism in the Bacteria and Archaea. In the Archean and Proterozoic, the most likely electron acceptor for DIR in marine environments was Fe(III)–Si gels. It has been recently suggested that the Fe and Si cycles were coupled through sorption of aqueous Si to iron oxides/hydroxides, and through release of Si during DIR. Evidence for the close association of the Fe and Si cycles comes from banded iron formations (BIFs), which consist of alternating bands of Fe-bearing minerals and quartz (chert). Although there has been extensive study of the stable Fe isotope fractionations produced by DIR of Fe(III)–Si gels, as well as studies of stable Fe isotope fractionations in analogous abiologic systems, no studies to date have investigated stable Si isotope fractionations produced by DIR. In this study, the stable Si isotope fractionations produced by microbial reduction of Fe(III)–Si gels were investigated in simulated artificial Archean seawater (AAS), using the marine iron-reducing bacterium Desulfuromonas acetoxidans . Microbial reduction produced very large 30 Si/ 28 Si isotope fractionations between the solid and aqueous phase at ∼23 °C, where Δ 30 Si solid–aqueous isotope fractionations of −3.35 ± 0.16‰ and −3.46 ± 0.09‰ were produced in two replicate experiments at 32% Fe(III) reduction (solid-phase Fe(II)/Fe Total = 0.32). This isotopic fractionation was substantially greater than that observed in two abiologic controls that had solid-phase Fe(II)/Fe Total = 0.02–0.03, which produced Δ 30 Si solid–aqueous isotope fractionations of −2.83 ± 0.24‰ and −2.65 ± 0.28‰. In a companion study, the equilibrium Δ 30 Si solid–aqueous isotope fractionation was determined to be −2.3‰ for solid-phase Fe(II)/Fe Total = 0. Collectively, these results highlight the importance of Fe(II) in Fe–Si gels in producing large changes in Si isotope fractionations. These results suggest that DIR should produce highly negative δ 30 Si values in quartz that is the product of diagenetic reactions associated with Fe–Si gels. Such Si isotope compositions would be expected to be associated with Fe-bearing minerals that contain Fe(II), indicative of reduction, such as magnetite. Support for this model comes from recent in situ Si isotope studies of oxide-facies BIFs, where quartz in magnetite-rich samples have significantly more negative δ 30 Si values than quartz in hematite-rich samples.
Mechanobiological Assessment of TMJ Disc Surfaces: Nanoindentation and Transmission Electron Microscopy.

Temporomandibular disc is a mechanically robust fibrocartilage tissue exhibiting highly elastic compressive, shear, and tensile moduli with structurally dense extracellular matrix that supports functional loading of the joint. The aim of this study was to illustrate structural complexities of the superior and inferior disc surfaces, to demonstrate the robust mechanical ability of the disc as a whole may be due to depth-dependent regional/layered variation, and also to provide characterization data imperative for future tissue engineering efforts focused on restoring function to the joint.
Racial discrimination and psychological health among Polynesians in the U.S.

OBJECTIVES There is a dearth of research on the mental health of Polynesians residing in the United States. The aims of this study were to examine experiences of racial discrimination, self-esteem, trait anger, satisfaction with life, and psychological well-being among 628 Polynesians (e.g., Native Hawaiian, Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, Tahitian, Maori; 60% women (n = 378) and 40% men (n = 249); mean age = 28.7). METHOD Measures were administered through an online survey to 628 Polynesians residing in the United States. Comparison analyses between men and women, correlations, and path analyses were analyzed for this Polynesian sample. RESULTS Polynesian women showed higher levels of self-esteem and lower levels of depression and anxiety. Racial discrimination was inversely correlated with self-esteem and satisfaction with life, and positively linked to trait anger, depression, anxiety, and stress. Self-esteem had an indirect effect on the relationship between racial discrimination and satisfaction with life. CONCLUSIONS Mental health professionals need to be aware of racial discrimination on psychological health and incorporate the value of self-esteem in the psychological treatment of Polynesians. Additional results are provided and implications of these findings are outlined. (PsycINFO Database Record
Continuity of f-projections and applications to the iterative proportional fitting procedure*

ABSTRACTThis paper proves continuity of f-projections and the continuous dependence of the limit matrix of the iterative proportional fitting procedure (IPF procedure) on the given matrix as well as the given marginals under certain regularity constraints. For finite spaces, the concept of f-projections of finite measures on a compact and convex set is introduced and continuity of f-projections is proven. This result is applied to the IPF procedure. Given a nonnegative matrix as well as row and column marginals the IPF procedure generates a sequence of matrices, called the IPF sequence, by alternately fitting rows and columns to match their respective marginals. The procedure is equivalent to cyclic f-projections. If the IPF sequence converges, the application of the continuity of f-projections yields the continuous dependence of the limit matrix on the given matrix. By generalized convex programming and under some constraints, it is shown that the limit matrix of the IPF sequence continuously depends not...
Polarization-insensitive Ku-band Frequency Selective Surface (FSS)

A wideband, low profile frequency selective surface (FSS) is presented for Ku-band (12.4 – 18 GHz). The proposed design is fabricated on two substrates with a total thickness of <λ/10. The complimentary unit cell shape results in a miniaturized FSS design as well as wideband performance. The designed FSS is polarization-independent due to the unit cell symmetry. The simulated results of the proposed unit cell show the flexibility for selecting the desired bandwidth by changing the relevant parameters easily.
Examining hippocampal mossy fiber synapses by 3D electron microscopy in wildtype and kirrel3 knockout mice

Neural circuits balance excitatory and inhibitory activity and disruptions in this balance are commonly found in neurodevelopmental disorders. Mice lacking the intellectual disability and autism-associated gene Kirrel3 have an excitation-inhibition imbalance in the hippocampus but the precise synaptic changes underlying this functional defect are unknown. Kirrel3 is a homophilic adhesion molecule expressed in dentate gyrus (DG) and GABA neurons. It was suggested that the excitation-inhibition imbalance of hippocampal neurons in Kirrel3 knockout mice is due to loss of mossy fiber (MF) filopodia, which are DG axon protrusions thought to excite GABA neurons and thereby provide feed-forward inhibition to CA3 pyramidal neurons. Fewer filopodial structures were observed in Kirrel3 knockout mice but neither filopodial synapses nor DG en passant synapses, which also excite GABA neurons, were examined. Here, we used serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBEM) with 3D reconstruction to define the precise connectivity of MF filopodia and elucidate synaptic changes induced by Kirrel3 loss. Surprisingly, we discovered wildtype MF filopodia do not synapse exclusively onto GABA neurons as previously thought, but instead synapse with similar frequency onto GABA neurons and CA3 neurons. Moreover, Kirrel3 loss selectively reduces MF filopodial synapses onto GABA neurons but not those made onto CA3 neurons or en passant synapses. In sum, the selective loss of MF filopodial synapses with GABA neurons likely underlies the hippocampal activity imbalance observed in Kirrel3 knockout mice and may impact neural function in patients with Kirrel3-dependent neurodevelopmental disorders.
The incidence of popliteal artery aneurysms in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms

PurposeWe sought to evaluate the incidence of popliteal artery aneurysms (PAAs) in patients who have a diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).MethodsIt has been previously documented that pat...
A high efficiency resonant switched-capacitor converter for data center

In this paper, a resonant switched-capacitor dc-dc converter is proposed for data center application. The proposed converter possesses features such as high efficiency, high power density and light-weight. Zero current switching (ZCS) can be achieved with the resonant operation, which allows the converter operating under high efficiency. Proper switching device selection and in-depth power loss analysis on different devices have been performed to support better design of the proposed converter. Simulation results are provided in this paper to validate operation principle of the proposed converter. A GaN based prototype with nominal 450W, 54V input and 9V output has been built to verify the theoretical analysis. The maximum power rating of the designed prototype is 600W. Power density of the prototype reaches 750W/in3. When the prototype operating at 253kHz, it achieves 98.55% peak efficiency.
A comparison of self-reported sexual effects of alcohol, marijuana, and ecstasy in a sample of young adult nightlife attendees

Alcohol, marijuana, and ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA], 'Molly') are among the most prevalent substances used by young adults; however, few studies have focused on the specific sexual effects associated with use. Examining subjective sexual effects (e.g. increased libido) associated with use can inform prevention efforts. Data were analysed from 679 nightclub and dance festival attendees in New York City (ages 18-25) to examine and compare self-reported sexual effects associated with use of alcohol, marijuana, and ecstasy. Results suggest that compared to marijuana, alcohol and ecstasy were more strongly associated with heightened perceived sexual effects (i.e. perceived sexual attractiveness of self and others, sexual desire, length of intercourse, and sexual outgoingness). Increased body and sex organ sensitivity and increased sexual intensity were most commonly associated with ecstasy use. Sexual dysfunction was most common while using alcohol or ecstasy, especially among males, and females were more likely to report sexual dysfunction after using marijuana. Post-sex regret was most common with alcohol use. Alcohol, marijuana, and ecstasy each have different sexual effects; therefore, each is associated with different risks and benefits for users. Findings can inform prevention and harm reduction as young adults are prone to use these substances.
Simple and Practical Efficiency Lessons.

ABSTRACTThe derivation of conditions necessary for Pareto efficient production and exchange is a lesson frequently showcased in microeconomic theory textbooks. Traditional delivery of this lesson is, however, limited in its scope of application and can be unnecessarily convoluted. The author shows that the universe of application is greatly expanded and a more transparent logic is embraced by noting that definition of Pareto efficiency directly implies the tangency of aggregate production/endowment and aggregate weakly preferred sets. This tangency condition can itself serve as a necessary condition for Pareto optima. For convex, but not necessarily differentiable, environments this tangency condition implies nonempty intersection of multi-valued marginal rates of substitution and transformation rather than outright identity.
Extensions of Reinforcement Techniques to Society

As reviewed earlier, token reinforcement has been applied widely across treatment, rehabilitation, and educational settings and with populations whose behaviors often are regarded as deviant or deficient (e.g., psychiatric patients, delinquents, special education students). Treatment and educational applications of reinforcement constitute the vast majority of token programs. However, there have been extensions of reinforcement techniques to various problems of social living that transcend the usual applications. This chapter reviews the extensions of reinforcement techniques, particularly token reinforcement, to socially and environmentally relevant concerns including pollution control and energy conservation, job performance and unemployment, community self-government, racial integration, and military training. Aside from these extensions to specific areas, the design of communities based upon reinforcement also is discussed.
Trigeminal and Occipital Nerve Blocks: An Alternative for the Treatment of Post Traumatic Headaches? (P04.028)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of trigeminal and occipital nerve blocks in post traumatic headaches. BACKGROUND: Post concussive headaches are the most common symptom encountered in patients following a mild TBI occurring in 25 to 78 percent of patients. DESIGN/METHODS: Retrospective chart review in a concussion clinic of 218 patients who suffered post concussive headaches consistent with trigeminal and/or occipital neuralgia who underwent a trigeminal and/or occipital nerve block. Changes in pain score (from 1-10) after trigeminal and/or occipital nerve blocks were compared before, after the procedure and at follow up visits. RESULTS: From a total of 218 charts screened, 18 patients with an average age of 21 received trigeminal and occipital nerve blocks with mixture bupivicane 0.5% and kenalog -40. There were 7 subjects with trigeminal neuralgia, and 6 with occipital neuralgia, and 5 subjects with both. The average initial pain score was 7/10, immediate post block pain score was 0 for 17 patients, and for one patient was 2/10. The patients had an average follow up of 55 days, with follow pain score of 0 in most of the cases. Adverse events included one patient who had transient numbness of the face in the superior orbital distribution and one subject felt light-headed for 10 minutes after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Trigeminal and occipital nerve blocks performed in patients with post traumatic headaches seems a safe and effective therapy for post concussive headaches. Disclosure: Dr. Delgado has nothing to disclose. Dr. Alberto has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gualberto has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nedd has nothing to disclose.
Modulation of mEPSCs in Olfactory Bulb Mitral Cells by Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors

Schoppa, N. E. and G. L. Westbrook. Modulation of mEPSCs in olfactory bulb mitral cells by metabotropic glutamate receptors. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 1468–1475, 1997. Olfactory bulb mitral cells expres...
Measuring the Reliability and Construct Validity of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT) in Children With Cerebral Palsy.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to (1) investigate the construct validity and (2) test-retest reliability of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Design A prospective convenience cross-sectional sample. Setting Multidisciplinary CP clinic in a tertiary level pediatric children’s hospital. Participants English- and Spanish-speaking school-aged children (N=101) with a diagnosis of CP, stratified by Gross Motor Function Classification System level, who presented to our multidisciplinary clinic. Participants were excluded if they underwent recent surgery ( Main Outcome Measures Convergent and divergent validity were evaluated using Spearman correlation coefficient analysis; test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Results Mean age was 12±3.7 years. Convergent validity was established between Mobility (PEDI-CAT) and Functional Mobility Scale (FMS) (5 m, r=0.85; 50 m, r=0.84; 500 m, r=0.76; P Conclusions The PEDI-CAT is an outcome measure that demonstrates strong construct validity and reliability in children with CP.
Heat capacities and thermodynamic functions of the ZIF organic linkers imidazole, 2-methylimidazole, and 2-ethylimidazole

Abstract Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are a novel class of materials that consist of a lattice of metal centers linked by organic molecules. Previously, heat capacities and thermodynamic functions have been reported for a series of crystalline polymorphs of Zn(EtIm)2, a zeolitic imidazolate framework family of MOFs that have potential applications in CO2 sequestration. In those studies, an anomalous trend in the heat capacity and thermodynamic functions was observed that was not predicted. To further investigate these materials and their thermodynamic data, the low-temperature heat capacities of imidazole, 2-methylimidazole, and 2-ethylimidazole, organic linkers that are present in Zn(EtIm)2 and similar materials, were measured by a Quantum Design Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS) from 1.8–300 K. The data collected was fit to theoretical functions below 10 K, orthogonal polynomials from 5–60 K, and a sum of Debye and Einstein functions above 50 K. These functions were used to generate Cp,m°, Δ0TSm°, Δ0THm°, and Φm° values at smoothed temperatures from 0–300 K. This investigation revealed the presence of a second-order phase transition in 2-ethylimidazole that may yield insight into the anomalous heat capacity behavior present in Zn(EtIm)2.