cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing strategies for protecting transportation infrastructure from an uncertain climate future

Abstract This paper investigates the importance of explicitly considering the stochastic nature of future climate impact predictions and predictive accuracy for optimal investment planning in the protection of coastal and inland transportation infrastructure against climate impacts. Such impacts include sea level rise, coastal and riverine flooding resulting from more frequent and intense precipitation events, storms, storm surges and other extreme events. For this purpose, numerical experiments utilizing stochastic optimization based methodologies were conducted on a case study of the Washington, D.C. Greater Metropolitan area proximate to the Potomac River under varying climatic predictions. Results from the numerical experiments suggest a 54% reduction in added costs due to the implementation of chosen protective infrastructure investments. They also indicate a reduction in added costs (capital investment and added delays) on the order of 19% when the investments are chosen to hedge against probable future flooding events as compared with planning for the 50th percentile SLR prediction with associated weather events. A potential gain of nearly 27% in reduced costs through improved predictive accuracy in climatic forecasts is also noted, suggesting significant value in more accurate forecasts.
A robust regression methodology via M-estimation

A robust regression methodology is proposed via M-estimation. The approach adapts to the tail behavior and skewness of the distribution of the random error terms, providing for a reliable analysis ...
The Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces Expanded Insurance Coverage For Adults With Chronic Health Conditions

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) made private nongroup health insurance more accessible to nonelderly adults with chronic conditions, with enrollment growth occurring through the federal and state-based Marketplaces. During the July through December reference period in 2014–15, 45 percent of Marketplace enrollees ages 18–64 were treated for chronic conditions, compared with 35 percent of non-Marketplace nongroup enrollees and 38 percent of adults with employer-sponsored insurance. Marketplace enrollees also had higher service use than other privately insured adults did, which likely contributed to rising premiums in the nongroup market. As repeal of the ACA individual mandate takes effect in 2019, protecting coverage gains for adults with chronic conditions while stabilizing nongroup premiums may depend on state-level efforts to spread the risk of Marketplace enrollees’ health care costs across a balanced insurance pool.
The Endbulbs of Held

A remarkable nerve terminal is present at the endings of the auditory nerve fibers (ANFs) in the anterior ventral cochlear nucleus (AVCN), called the “endbulb of Held.” The endbulbs are complex synaptic endings that provide a coordinated release from multiple presynaptic sites of neurotransmitter onto their target postsynaptic cells, the globular and spherical bushy cells of the cochlear nucleus. These synapses play a key role in bringing a precisely timed representation of sound into the central auditory system. Traditionally, the endbulbs, owing to their large size and the presence of multiple presynaptic release zones, were thought to provide a “secure” synapse between auditory nerve fibers and the target neurons, the globular and spherical bushy cells. However, this view has been strongly challenged by several recent observations. While the endbulbs are indeed a particularly strong synapse, they are subject to dynamic regulation of transmitter release probability and receptor sensitivity, and their ability to initiate action potentials in the postsynaptic cell is not immune to postsynaptic inhibition. Integration by convergence of endbulb synapses onto target cells is an important part of central auditory processing. In particular, cells postsynaptic to the endbulbs can fire more precisely to specific temporal features of acoustic stimuli than their individual auditory nerve fiber inputs. The endbulb synapses are found widely in mammals including humans (Adams 1986), as well as in birds (Carr and Boudreau 1991; Koppl 1994) and reptiles (Browner and Marbey 1988; Szpir et al. 1990), but their presence in amphibians is less clear (Lewis et al. 1980; Feng and Lin 1996).
32 – Geothermal Energy

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses geothermal energy as a source of energy. Geothermal energy is primarily the product of a few elements in the Earth's core which release energy as they radioactively decay. This energy is then converted to heat energy that keeps the core molten. In certain places geological forces thrust large pools of this molten rock relatively near the Earth's crust and these form the so-called geothermal “hot spots.” These hot spots occur most frequently near the junctures of the continental plates, where they are colliding or drifting apart. It is being increasingly developed in both direct heating and electricity generation around the world. Because steam and hot water cannot be piped very far without excessive energy loss, geothermal heat will have to be used locally. This restriction to local use and its limited distribution gives geothermal minor roles in the worldwide energy mix.
Growth and characterization of pendeo-epitaxial GaN(112¯0) on 4H–SiC(112¯0) substrates

Abstract Growth on AlN/4H–SiC ( 1 1 2 ¯ 0 ) substrates of coalesced, non-polar GaN ( 1 1 2 ¯ 0 ) films having volumes of material with reduced densities of dislocations and stacking faults has been achieved from etched stripes via the statistical and experimental determination of the effect of temperature and V/III ratio on the lateral and vertical growth rates of the GaN{0 0 0 1} faces combined with pendeo-epitaxy. AFM of the uncoalesced GaN(0 0 0 1) and GaN ( 0 0 0 1 ¯ ) vertical faces revealed growth steps with some steps terminating at dislocations on the former and a pitted surface without growth steps, indicative of decomposition, on the latter. Coalescence was achieved via (a) a two-step route and the parameters of (1) T = 1100 ° C and V / III = 1323 for 40 min and (2) 1020 °C and V / III = 660 for 40 min and (b) a one-step route that employed T = 1020 ° C and a V/III ratio = 660 for 6 h. The densities of dislocations in the GaN grown vertically over and laterally from the ( 1 1 2 ¯ 0 ) stripes were ∼4×10 10 cm −2 and ∼2×10 8 cm −2 , respectively; the densities of stacking fault in these volumes were ∼1×10 6 cm −1 and ∼2×10 4 cm −1 , respectively. The defects in the wing material were observed primarily at the bottom of the film where lateral growth of the GaN occurred from the AlN and the SiC. Plan view AFM also revealed different microstructures and a reduction in the RMS roughness values from 1.2 to 0.95 nm in these respective regions.
McKean complex projectile point typology and function in the Pine Parklands

McKean complex projectile point typology has been of keen interest to Plains archaeologists since the early 1950s. This article examines the typological and functional relationships of McKean compl...
Mechanistic Characterization of (Xantphos)Ni(I)-Mediated Alkyl Bromide Activation: Oxidative Addition, Electron Transfer, or Halogen-Atom Abstraction.

Ni(I)-mediated single-electron oxidative activation of alkyl halides has been extensively proposed as a key step in Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions to generate radical intermediates. There are four mechanisms through which this step could take place: oxidative addition, outer-sphere electron transfer, inner-sphere electron transfer, and concerted halogen-atom abstraction. Despite considerable computational studies, there is no experimental study to evaluate all four pathways for Ni(I)-mediated alkyl radical formation. Herein, we report the isolation of a series of (Xantphos)Ni(I)–Ar complexes that selectively activate alkyl halides over aryl halides to eject radicals and form Ni(II) complexes. This observation allows the application of kinetic studies on the steric, electronic, and solvent effects, in combination with DFT calculations, to systematically assess the four possible pathways. Our data reveal that (Xantphos)Ni(I)-mediated alkyl halide activation proceeds via a concerted halogen-atom abstr...
The Future of Health Care Costs: Hospital-Insurer Balance of Power

Even with the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), the U.S. health care system is and will remain predominantly private and market-based. Market forces, then, heavily influence the characteristics and costs of the U.S. health system. In particular, market structure defined by the degree of consolidation in the hospital and insurance industries is a key determinant of the price paid for hospital services, affecting both the revenue earned by hospitals and the costs to indemnity insurers, self-funded employer plans and policyholders. In this essay, I draw on the large and growing body of research on the history and consequences of hospital and insurer market concentration to support hypotheses about how provisions of the ACA may differentially affect hospitals, insurers and consumers in the public and private health care market sectors. I also offer suggestions for areas where antitrust policy and health economics research need more attention in order to prepare for the changes ahead.
Continuously Improving Parametric Modeling with Historical Data on the ICESat-2 Mission

This paper delves into the details of the Joint Confidence Level (JCL) process performed for the Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat)-2 mission and how past performance was incorporated into subsequent JCL models to enable the project to continuously analyze potential slips to their launch readiness date (LRD). One year prior to the mission Preliminary Review (mPDR), the JCL model development process began. The first model was well received at the mPDR, held on October 10, 2012, and the input received by the Standing Review Board was incorporated into the model for the official data drop for key decision point (KDP)-C. The 70% JCL results of the October 2012 mPDR model forecast an LRD of February 2017 and associated cost of $830M. This result in 2012 immediately highlighted potential challenges with the project-planned LRD of July 2016. The year following the mPDR, the project had sustained a one-year slip in the LRD due to problematic systems engineering requirement issues which impacted all project subsystems. This slip moved the project planned LRD from July 2016 to July 2017, an additional 5 months beyond the 2012 model's 70% JCL result for the LRD of February 2017. As the project was quickly approaching the mission Critical Design Review (mCDR), the need for reliable JCL results increased significantly. The project held discussions on the JCL modeling process and focused on the input uncertainty distributions. Specifically, to identify the uncertainty distributions that the 2012 mPDR model would have needed to produce a 70% LRD result of July 2017. This led the project to compare multiple uncertainty distributions, and ultimately spurred the project to utilize uncertainty distributions that incorporated project past performance and historical data to forecast potential LRD slips. The revised results, created in 2014 and utilizing the new uncertainty distributions, showed that with 70% confidence, the ICESat-2 mission would launch in August 2018 with a cost of $1,044M. Today, ICESat-2 is scheduled to launch on September 15, 2018 with a project management (PM) agreement value of $1,056M. This illustrates how a JCL model can be continuously improved to produce valuable results for a project, even in cases of LRD delays. The primary reason for the ICESat-2 LRD delay is due to a laser failure on the primary instrument. Laser failure was one of the highest risk and uncertainty drivers within the JCL model. The project placed the most risk in this area of the model, and the model further identified the laser as the top risk driver and contributor to the LRD result. This further illustrates how a JCL can be used to predict and quantify possible issues on new technology missions.
Methods for Evaluating the Value of Intangible Assets

Intangible assets, intellectual property, estimating cash flow, and rates of return are concerned with the inaccuracy and biases involved in predicting earnings and rates of return. Financial reporting is the major source of data utilised by economic forecasts, accountants, and financial managers to predict future cash flow and earnings (whether per share or in aggregate). However, the records and studies of analyst forecasts have produced often dismal performance. Previous studies focused on historical analysis of past earnings forecast methodology or on generating evidence that accrual accounting justifies better forecasting performance. Objections to these areas of study come in several forms. Justifying accrual accounting owing to poor performance of earnings forecasts may not be appropriate. Also, the financial reporting of intangible assets is often misleading or is not reported at all. Economic forecasters know that if the reporting of assets that greatly affect cash flow and, in turn, earnings forecasters is a serious source of error in forecasting. Using sophisticated models for forecasting with error adjustments may improve forecast accuracy as shown previously. In turn, the absence of studying intangible assets will still produce inaccurate results.
Mode-sorter design using continuous supersymmetric transformation.

We propose to use a continuous supersymmetric (SUSY) transformation of a dielectric permittivity profile in order to design a photonic mode sorter. The iso-spectrality of the SUSY transformation ensures that modes of the waveguide preserve their propagation constants while being spatially separated. This global matching of the propagation constants, in conjunction with the adiabatic modification of the refractive index landscape along the propagation direction, results in negligible modal cross-talk and low scattering losses in the sorter. We show that a properly optimized SUSY mode sorter outperforms a standard asymmetric Y-splitter by reducing the cross-talk by at least two orders of magnitude. Moreover, the SUSY sorter is capable of sorting either transverse-electric or transverse-magnetic polarized modes and operates in a broad range of wavelengths. At the telecommunication wavelength, the 300-μm-long SUSY sorter provides the cross-talk of −35 dB and a broad operation bandwidth. The design proposed here paves the way toward efficient signal manipulation in integrated photonic devices.
Blockchain Is Already Here. What Does That Mean for Records Management and Archives

This article provides a brief overview of blockchain or distributed ledger technology for archivists and records managers. While in the nascent stage, records are already being created or managed b...
Validation of a simplified human body model in relaxed and braced conditions in low-speed frontal sled tests.

Objective: The goal of this study was to implement active musculature into the Global Human Body Models Consortium (GHBMC) average male simplified occupant model (M50-OS v2) and validate its perfor...
Queerness, Secrecy, and Revelation

This chapter introduces the notion of a secret society to explain how such organizations are configured and how secrecy can act as a source of power or internal social capital. The model of CIA as secret society explains their identity as a parallel structure in foreign policy, carrying out a “parapolitics” which both is and is not foreign policy. We consider how the President and the legislature conduct hearings in which the IC is regularly called upon the carpet to justify and explain those of its actions in the international system which might be construed as illegal both domestically and internationally. In this way, the formal actors in international relations (like the President) enact a pageant aimed at distancing themselves and the sovereign state from the messy politics of the intelligence community, since being too closely associated with such a subversive actor is bad for a state’s image internationally.
Breaking the Resolution Limit of Far Field Optical Microscopy: Imaging Molecular and Cellular Interatction on the Nanometer Scale

Historically, high-resolution optical microscopy has played a vital role in biomedical research. The resolution of conventional optical microscopy is limited by the diffraction effect to about 200 nm and 500-900 nm in the radial and axial directions, respectively. This modest resolution is a major limitation in using optical microscopy for demanding applications. New techniques such as near field optical microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and atomic force microscopy have been developed to circumvent this problem and have achieved atomic resolution in solid state specimens. Unfortunately, the applications of these new techniques have been difficult in biological systems. First, scanning probe techniques require mechanical interaction with the specimens. The mechanical forces exerted by the probe tip may cause sample deformation. This interaction further degrades the achievable image resolution. Resolutions in the range of 50 to 100 nm are often reported for near field optical systems. Second, scanning probe technique has a relatively low frame rate since the required high precision position control imposes severe bandwidth limitations. Scanning probe techniques are more suitable for studying static sample but often have difficulties in addressing many inherently dynamical phenomena in biology. Third, these are surface imaging techniques and are inherently limited in their ability to investigate the 3-D structures of biological specimens.
Moore's law for membranous nephropathy.

The identification of target antigens in membranous nephropathy has accelerated since the report of M-type phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1). One could say that technological advances have allowed for the demonstration of Moore's law (a doubling every 2 years in the number of transistors that can be fit onto a computer chip) in the field of membranous nephropathy, and that even more antigens can be expected in the near future. In this issue of Kidney International, Sethi et al. describe semaphorin-3B as a novel target antigen, defining a type of membranous nephropathy with onset in the pediatric population.
Photoacoustic impulse response of lipid-coated ultrasound contrast agents

An optical technique to excite and detect linear microbubble radial oscillations as a response of a photoacoustic impulse is presented. The radial oscillation information of the microbubble is then used to determine the viscoelastic properties of the lipid shell.
Experimental Effects of Child Development Accounts on Financial Capability of Young Mothers

In the financial capability policy known as Child Development Accounts (CDAs), investment accounts with incentives enable families to accumulate assets for children’s development and to achieve life-cycle goals. With data from SEED for Oklahoma Kids (SEED OK), a randomized statewide policy experiment, we examine the effects of a CDA intervention on the use of mainstream financial products among young mothers aged 18–24 (N = 825; treatment = 410 and control = 415). Results suggest that, 4 years after implementation of the CDA, asset- and debt-product use was higher among young mothers in the treatment group than among their counterparts in the control group. The treatment–control difference in the use of financial products partially results from the combination of young treatment mothers’ access to the CDA policy, financial knowledge, and financial skills. The CDA policy creates opportunities for them to practice financial knowledge and skills, and has positive impacts on financial capability. This is the first experimental study to test the effects of CDAs on financial capability. Findings indicate that asset-building policy maybe an effective mechanism for delivering financial capability services (such as financial education, financial counseling, and financial coaching) to children and families.
Pregnancy-Related Aortic Complications in Women With Marfan Syndrome.

Abstract Background The risk of pregnancy-associated vascular complications in Marfan syndrome (MFS) is uncertain because of ascertainment bias, prepartum lack of knowledge of diagnosis, and insuff...
Implementing multi-settlement decentralized electricity market design for transactive communities with imperfect communication

Abstract The ubiquitousness of the low cost Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) provides strategic opportunities for the “prosumers”, customers that both consume and produce energy, to have a more proactive role in system operation. From an operational perspective, though, this creates additional challenges in managing power distribution networks due to such active grid-edge systems with limited to no visibility or control by the utilities. Transactive Energy (TE) has been emerging as a key enabler towards efficiently coordinating prosumers through market based constructs thereby encouraging more consumer-centric economies. However, communication-based controls are susceptible to losses in information or message delays, potentially de-synchronizing solutions. This work presents a transactive implementation of a community-based electricity market design based on a multi-settlement decentralized coordination strategy. The coordination mechanism presents an algorithm that provides robustness to communication delays. A co-simulation framework is developed for evaluating the proposed market structure with high-fidelity models and delay-prone communication systems. Case studies on the IEEE-123 node test system demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed community-based TE architecture to collaboratively operate prosumer-communities as grid-edge systems and quantifies their potential benefits.
The Impact of Income Taxes on Labor's Productivity: A Human Capital Approach:

This paper explores the impact of several income tax policies on the acquisition of personal skills within the framework of a life-cycle model of human capital accumulation. The analysis considers ...
Role of Wnt Signaling Pathways in Multiple Myeloma Pathogenesis

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a complex and still incurable disease which strongly relies on a network of humoral and cellular interactions within the human bone marrow milieu. The canonical Wnt/b-catenin and the alternative Wnt/RhoA-signaling pathways play important roles in the tropism between MM cells and BM microenvironment, and they have recently been implicated in MM pathogenesis and development of MM bone disease. However, their precise role in growth and survival of myeloma cells remains controversial and needs further investigation. We here summarize the most recent updates of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in myeloma, and discuss how its various components contribute to MM pathogenesis and related bone disease.
Art - A Tool For Teaching English To ESL Level I Students

ART A TOOL FOR TEACHLNG ENGLISH TO ESL LEVEL 1 STUDENTS Allison G. Duvall Master of Art Education Virginia Commonwealth University 2006 Dr. Pamela G. Taylor, Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Art Education Today's classrooms are filled with an ethnically and linguistically diverse population of students. In order for Limited English Proficient (LEP) high school students to be academically successful and meet the goals of No Child Left Behind 200 1, they must learn academic English. As an art teacher, I understand the importance of art in a student's general education. However, could a high school art class, also, act as a tool for teaching LEP students the English language'? My goal, through the use of action research, is to find an effective way to set up an English as a Second Language (ESL) Level 1 art class, thus, giving students the benefits of art while furthering their English language development.
The Symmetric Table Addition Method for Accurate Function Approximation

This paper presents a high-speed method for computing elementary functions using parallel table lookups and multi-operand addition. Increasing the number of tables and inputs to the multi-operand adder significantly reduces the amount of memory required. Symmetry and leading zeros in the table coefficients are used to reduce the amount of memory even further. This method has a closed-form solution for the table entries and can be applied to any differentiable function. For 24-bit operands, it requires two to three orders of magnitude less memory than conventional table lookups.
Optimal inferential models for a Poisson mean

Statistical inference on the mean of a Poisson distribution is a fundamentally important problem with modern applications in, e.g., particle physics. The discreteness of the Poisson distribution makes this problem surprisingly challenging, even in the large-sample case. Here we propose a new approach, based on the recently developed framework of inferential models (IMs). Specifically, we construct optimal, or at least approximately optimal, IMs for two important classes of assertions/hypotheses about the Poisson mean. For point assertions, we develop a novel recursive sorting algorithm to construct this optimal IM. Numerical comparisons of the proposed method to existing methods are given, for both the mean and the more challenging mean-plus-background problem.
NUB1-mediated targeting of the ubiquitin precursor UbC1 for its C-terminal hydrolysis.

NEDD8 is a ubiquitin-like protein that controls vital biological events through its conjugation to target proteins. Previously, we identified a negative regulator of the NEDD8 conjugation system, NEDD8 ultimate buster-1 (NUB1), that recruits NEDD8 and its conjugates to the proteasome for degradation. Recently, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening with NUB1 as bait and isolated a ubiquitin precursor UbC1 that is composed of nine tandem repeats of a ubiquitin unit through α-peptide bonds. Interestingly, NUB1 interacted with UbC1 through its UBA domain. Further study revealed that the UBA domain interacted with α-peptide bond-linked polyubiquitin, but not with isopeptide bond-linked polyubiquitin, indicating that the UBA domain of NUB1 is a specific acceptor for the linear ubiquitin precursor. A functional study revealed that an unidentified protein that was immunoprecipitated with NUB1 served as a ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase for UbC1. Thus, NUB1 seems to form a protein complex with the unidentified ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase and recruit UbC1 to this complex. This might allow the ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase to hydrolyze UbC1, in order to generate ubiquitin monomers. Northern blot analysis showed that the mRNAs of both NUB1 and UbC1 were enriched in the testis. Furthermore, in situ hybridization showed that both mRNAs were strongly expressed in seminiferous tubules of the testis. These results may imply that the UbC1 hydrolysis mediated by NUB1 is involved in cellular functions in the seminiferous tubules such as spermatogenesis.
Synaptic Vesicles: Methods for Preparation

Synaptic vesicles are small organelles that store and release neurotransmitters at synapses. They can be purified from brain or other sources to study their structure and function. Keywords: synaptic vesicles; neurotransmitter storage; organelles; synapse; brain
Practical Method for Isolation of Anaerobic Bacteria in the Clinical Laboratory

An inexpensive but practical and simple method is described for providing an environment suitable for the maintenance and survival of clinically significant anaerobic bacteria, consistent with the needs of a large-volume laboratory. This modification of the GasPak procedure is based on two concepts. One involved the storage of "freshly prepared" plating medium under a constant stream of carbon dioxide. The other concept was to use an anaerobe jar, continuously flushed with oxygen-free carbon dioxide, as a "holding receptacle" for the inoculated media Experience with this modification has shown that the number of isolations of anaerobic bacteria from clinical material can be increased significantly.
Red v. Blue Lives

We have argued that family life has been reorganized around two different models: a blue family system that emphasizes emotional maturity and financial independence as the sine qua non of responsible family formation versus a red model that continues to steer sexuality into marriage, and therefore produces family formation at younger ages. While the tensions between the red and blue models over sex, gays and abortion have defined the culture wars, less visible in this conflict has been the remaking of the relationship between work and family. For classic blue families, the twenties have been remade as a time of exploration and human capital acquisition while the thirties and forties become the time for family. In this system, even traditional couples accept women's independence, and use the human capital acquired in the twenties to refashion work experiences and the relationship between home and market, work and leisure. For red families, however, early family life practically requires two incomes for young couples more likely to be committed to traditional gender expectations. The result has been a largely unheralded shift in women's roles, greater intrafamily tensions than in blue families, and greater movement in and out of the labor market - and in and out of marriage - than in other parts of the country. This presentation will examine the mismatch between the economics and biology of work and family.
Return of FEV1 after pulmonary exacerbation in children with cystic fibrosis

Rationale Lung function (FEV1) generally improves during treatment of pulmonary exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, it is unclear how often return to previous baseline FEV1 is achieved. Objectives (1) To determine the proportion of pediatric patients with CF treated for a pulmonary exacerbation who fail to recover to baseline FEV1 and (2) to identify factors associated with this failure. Methods We performed a case–control analysis of patients from a single pediatric CF center admitted for their first pulmonary exacerbation in 2001–2006. Patients were considered to have recovered to baseline FEV1 if their best FEV1 within the 3 months following treatment was ≥95% of the best FEV1 during the 6 months prior to treatment. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations between clinical characteristics and failure to regain baseline FEV1. Results Of 104 patients, 24 (23.1%) did not recover to baseline FEV1. The adjusted odds ratio of failure to recover to baseline FEV1 was 1.49 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20, 1.86) for every 5% greater decline in FEV1 from baseline to admission. In exploratory analyses, the adjusted odds ratios for the failure to recover to baseline were also significantly higher for patients who were evaluated in our CF clinic more frequently between the baseline measurement and admission, were younger, or were insured by Medicaid. Conclusions Approximately one in four patients with CF failed to recover to baseline lung function after a pulmonary exacerbation despite treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Failure to recover to baseline was associated with the degree of decline in FEV1 that had occurred prior to hospital admission, suggesting opportunities for earlier intervention to improve lung function outcomes. Additional studies are needed to determine how the failure to recover to baseline affects subsequent FEV1 decline. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:127–134. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Calling Behavior of Male Acheta domesticus Crickets Infected with Paragordius varius (Nematomorpha: Gordiida)

Abstract: It is well established that parasites in the phylum Nematomorpha induce suicide behavior of their insect hosts to bring adult worms to the appropriate habitat for emergence. It is not well established, however, whether other nematomorph-induced behavioral alterations occur before worm emergence. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effect of the nematomorph Paragordius varius on the calling behavior of the male house cricket Acheta domesticus. We hypothesized that cricket calling, an energetically expensive and risky behavior, would be a potential target for nematomorph-induced behavioral alterations. We assessed if and how infection with P. varius affects A. domesticus calling behavior and whether the presence of wings at time of exposure to P. varius influenced changes in calling behavior. We recorded the calling behavior of male A. domesticus over the course of their infection after exposure to P. various before or after wing development. Additionally, we assessed whether winged cric...
Notables in the Environmental Health Management System in the USA

Key organizations or agencies in the US environmental health management system were identified, and the importance of each in the system was described. Assuming each active participant in the system continues to play its environmental protection role conscientiously, the result will be pollution control and prevention. In the end, humankind becomes the ultimate beneficiary.
Fatal Pulmonary Edema After Acute Occupational Exposure to Nitric Acid

Abstract Background: Nitric acid (HNO3) is a solution of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in water commonly used as an industrial chemical and cleaner. Oxides of nitrogen liberated as nitric acid interact with the environment to cause inhalation injuries. The coexistence of HNO3 with varying oxides of nitrogen likely results in the large continuum of symptoms related to HNO3 exposure and varying times of onset—acute, subacute, and delayed. Furthermore, dyspnea and evidence of acute lung injury may not occur for several hours after exposure and can lead to rapidly progressive acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Objectives: This case illustrates to physicians and occupational health personnel that HNO3 inhalation may initially appear benign and that onset of severe effects may be delayed. Case Report: A 66-year-old man developed delayed-onset pulmonary edema, ARDS, and fatal circulatory collapse 53 h after occupational exposure to HNO3. Conclusion: This case serves to increase awareness among emergency physicians, as well as occupational health personnel, that patients exposed to HNO3 may initially be asymptomatic. Patients should be evaluated and observed regardless of the severity or benign nature of symptoms, which occur immediately after exposure, as the most severe symptoms are often delayed in onset and rapidly progressive.
Tidal circulation model for deposition of clastic sediment in epeiric and mioclinal shelf seas

Abstract Quartz arenites and associated mudstones of the late Precambrian and early Paleozoic epeiric and mioclinal shelf seas of the western U.S.A., central U.S.A. and Scotland are interpreted to be analogs of tidal flats and tidal sand bodies. Combinations of sedimentary structures, vertical sequences, textural attributes and paleocurrent patterns confirm their deposition under tide-dominated circulation patterns. Deposition of such “platform” quartz arenites under a tide-dominated regime is consistent with a physical oceanographic law that correlates enhancement of tidal range and tidal current intensity with shelf width. Measurement of paleotidal range sequences in some of these rock units confirms the applicability of this physical oceanographic law to understanding the depositional dynamics of epeiric and mioclinal shelf seas.
Comment: a reappraisal of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

The education of neurologists on the syndrome of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) has been one of the major successes in the treatment of epilepsy. For a long time, the original author to whom this condition is eponymously linked, as well as other experts, conceived of JME as a lifelong condition in which seizure relapse upon drug discontinuation is invariable. This report by Senf et al. on a group of 66 patients with JME followed for a mean of 44.6 years gives a reappraisal of several aspects of the condition.1
Dynamic Tilt Control of SIL with 4-axis Actuator in NFR System

In the near field recording (NFR) system, tilt margin between disc and solid immersion lens (SIL) is affected by the geometric features of the SIL. If the tilt angle is larger than the allowable tolerance, SIL can touch the surface of a disc and stable read-out of the recorded data or data writing may be difficult. Because tangential as well as radial tilt angle of real disc is so considerable in NFR system with low tilt tolerance, we propose a 4-axis actuator for active tilt compensation to diminish radial and tangential tilt errors as well as focusing and tracking errors between disc and SIL in this paper. Disc tilt and tilt detectable gap error signal (GES) are measured simultaneously and compared to examine the relation of two signals. For this, we newly designed and tested a 4-axis actuator and also established GES-based tilt error detecting test-bed. As a result, we confirmed the mechanical characteristics of the 4-axis actuator and the decrease of tilt errors in radial and tangential tilt directions. We expect that this tilt error reduction can improve the productivity and reliability of this NFR system and relieve disc manufacturing tolerance towards SOOGB capacity.
Stabilizing membrane proteins

Membrane proteins can be extremely stable in a bilayer environment, but are often unstable and rapidly lose activity after detergent solubilization. Poor stability can preclude the detailed characterization of many membrane proteins. One way to alleviate this problem is to find more stable mutants of a membrane protein of interest. This approach is made tractable by the finding that stability-enhancing mutations appear to be relatively common in membrane proteins.
Large eddy simulations without explicit eddy viscosity models

The classical approach to performing large eddy simulations of turbulent flows is to employ in the governing equations subgrid scale models based on eddy viscosity concepts. The development of the similarity model about 30 years ago led to the realisation that subgrid scale models that do not use eddy viscosity concepts are possible and have many desirable properties. In this article, we review modelling approaches belonging to this category and discuss their advantages and the limitations.
Metachromatic Leukodystrophy in the Navajo Indian Population: A Splice Site Mutation in Intron 4 of the Arylsulfatase A Gene

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of myelin metabolism, resulting from the inability to properly degrade 3-sulfogalactosylceramide (sulfatide). This metabolic block is often due to defective functioning of the lysosomal enzyme arylsulfatase A (ARSA). Unmetabolized sulfatide accumulates in the white matter of the CNS and in the peripheral nerves, leading to progressive demyelination and death. Late infantile, juvenile and adult clinical variants of MLD have been described. A Navajo Indian child was diagnosed with late infantile MLD (LIMLD), and his ARSA gene was amplified in three overlapping regions by the PCR and sequenced. A single mutation was found: a G-->A transition in the first nucleotide of intron 4 (IVS4nt1), which abolishes the 5' splice site consensus sequence. Negligible amounts of ARSA mRNA were observed in Northern blots. However, PCR amplification and sequencing of the ARSA cDNA showed that all of the mRNA species from the patient have exon 4 deleted. A new reading frame is thus established which results in a premature stop codon within exon 5. A minority of transcripts had additional splicing errors. Both parents carry this mutation, and the father also carries the pseudodeficiency (PD) allele. Three additional unrelated Navajo LIMLD patients were found to be homozygous for the same MLD-causing mutation by allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) hybridization. This method could be used for carrier and patient identification in this population.
Lay beliefs about hepatitis among North American Chinese: implications for hepatitis prevention.

The objective was to learn about the hepatitis prevention behavior of relatively unacculturated North American Chinese adults, along with their knowledge, beliefs, and perceptions with regard to hepatitis, screening, and vaccination. Forty Chinese men and women, aged 18–64, were recruited from immigrant communities in Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia. Semi-structured interviews (Cantonese or Mandarin) were audiotaped, translated, transcribed verbatim, and coded. Open coding, axial coding, constant comparison methods, and QSR NUD*IST 5 software was used for analysis. Findings were validated using eight focus groups. Findings indicated that many interviewees lack accurate knowledge with regard to hepatitis, often confusing the different types. Perceived causes of hepatitis included potentially harmful food (e.g., fried foods or potentially contaminated foods), alcohol, contact with infected individuals, stress, and inadequate rest. Preventive strategies associated with Chinese health beliefs included the use of Chinese herbal medicine, maintaining a stress-free mind, strengthening the body’s natural defenses, and getting enough sleep. Other preventive strategies were the practice of good hygiene, vaccination, and the avoidance of contact with infected persons. Vaccination was not seen as primary, as 65% of those who had heard of hepatitis vaccination did not cite it as a means for hepatitis prevention until asked. Also, participants lacked information about the types and purposes of hepatitis vaccination and were worried about side effects. In conclusion, any attempt to promote hepatitis testing and vaccination among the North American Chinese should take traditional beliefs and practices into consideration.
Thyroglossal Duct Cyst With Papillary Carcinoma in an 11-Year-Old Girl

A case of primary papillary carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst is reported in a young girl. This is a rare finding, with only five pediatric cases in the total of 115 cases reported in the literature. Subsequent management is described, including the role of scintigraphy and radioiodine ablation.
When Shadows Fall: Using Psychodynamic Approaches in Executive Coaching.

This article makes the major point that events, feelings, thoughts, and patterns of behavior that are outside of the conscious awareness of executives can significantly influence what they decide and how they act. It provides a succinct overview of the conflict and object relations approaches to understanding psychodynamics and embeds the material in recent scientific reviews of unconscious mental and emotional phenomena. The situations in executive coaching in which psychodynamic material may be relevant are described along with the purposes that these concepts and methods may serve in coaching engagements. Conflicts, attachment styles, and methods of using interpretations appropriately are described and discussed. Pitfalls and limitations of using these approaches in coaching engagements are also reviewed.
ATP Synthase Motor Components: Proposal and Animation of Two Dynamic Models for Stator Function

Abstract Recent research indicates that ATP synthases (F 0 F 1 ) contain two distinct nanomotors, one an electrochemically driven proton motor contained within F 0 that drives an ATP hydrolysis-driven motor (F 1 ) in reverse during ATP synthesis. This is depicted in recent models as involving a series of events in which each of the three αβ pairs comprising F 1 is induced via a centrally rotating subunit (γ) to undergo the sequential binding changes necessary to synthesize ATP (binding change mechanism). Stabilization of this rotary process (i.e., to minimize “wobble” of F 1 ) is provided in current models by a peripheral stalk or “stator” that has recently been shown to extend from near the bottom of the ATP synthase molecule to the very top of F 1 . Although quite elegant, these models envision the stator as fixed during ATP synthesis, i.e., bound to only a single αβ pair. This is despite the fact that the binding change mechanism views each αβ pair as going through the same sequential order of conformational changes which demonstrate a chemical equivalency among them. For this reason, we propose here two different dynamic models for stator function during ATP synthesis. Both models have been designed to maintain chemical equivalency among the three αβ pairs during ATP synthesis and both have been animated.
Political markets, property tax referenda, and local school spending

For better or worse, fiscal decisions made through property tax referenda allow local political markets to work. Demand, supply, and voting process components of such markets are estimated for those Oregon K-12 school districts that held referenda between 1981 and 1986. Various attributes of the median voter were related to school spending, but supply decisions by school boards and administrators were also important. Large districts used state aid to substitute for local property tax revenues on nearly a one-for-one basis, while relying on reversion budgets (inadequate property tax bases and implicit threats of school closures) to extract greater-than-desired spending levels from the median voter.
Development and validation of a measurement system for assessment of energy expenditure and physical activity in Prader-Willi syndrome.

CHEN, KONG Y., MING SUN, MERLIN G. BUTLER, TRAVIS THOMPSON, AND MICHAEL G. CARLSON. Development and validation of a measurement system for assessment of energy expenditure and physical activity in Prader—Willi syndrome. Obes Res. Objective: The morbid obesity associated with Prader—Willi syndrome (PWS) may result from either excessive energy intake or reduced energy expenditure (EE). In this report, we describe the development and validation of an Activity—Energy Measurement System (AEMS) to measure EE and physical activity components in an environment approximating free-living conditions. Research Methods and Procedures: The AEMS consists of a live-in, whole-room indirect calorimeter equipped with a novel force platform floor system to enable simultaneous measurements of EE, physical activity, and work efficiency during spontaneous activities and standardized exercises. Free-living physical activity and estimated free-living EE are measured using portable triaxial accelerometers individually calibrated in each subject during their stay in the AEMS. Results: Representative data from two PWS patients and two matched control (CTR) subjects displayed EE during their inactive lifestyles. Discussion: This combination of methods will allow the quantification of daily EE and its components, the amount and energy cost of physical activity, and the relationships between body composition and EE, in order to determine their roles in the development and maintenance of the morbid obesity in PWS.