cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Association Studies of Autism

Autism is a complex disease with many genetic factors contributing to the variable phenotype presentation. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using large cohorts and dense datasets have revealed a myriad of genes implicated in autism. Several of these genes belong to common biological pathways and gene networks that converge on potential therapeutic targets. In this regard, CACNA, GRM, CNTN, ubiquitin, and SLIT gene families have shown promising variants in association with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Both common and rare variants reside on these genes discovered primarily by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays and whole exome sequencing. The ability to examine large cohorts through unbiased screening and statistical testing of allele frequencies between cases, families, and controls through GWAS will continue to elucidate and clarify the puzzle of autism and inform clinical care.
A Comparison of Methods to Estimate Shovelnose Sturgeon Mortality in the Mississippi River Adjacent to Missouri and Illinois

Abstract Mortality is a key parameter in understanding the dynamics of any fish population. We examined three methods to evaluate Shovelnose Sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus mortality (e.g., ratio of first year recruits to all recruits [Heincke's method], a linearized weighted catch curve, and an open system mark–recapture mortality approach). The Mississippi River was sampled in two distinct but connected geomorphic sections: upper Mississippi River (UMR; river kilometer 323–587) and the middle Mississippi River (MMR; river kilometer 0–322). All analyses were pooled across these areas due to potential emigration or immigration throughout both study reaches. Heincke's method estimated annual mortality at 16.9% for the full range of ages (9–23 years) with generally increasing estimates with decreasing age ranges considered (10–23, 11–23, 12–23, and so on). A linearized weighted catch curve that considered increasing estimates of mortality for the shorter age ranges generated an annual mortality estimat...
Social capital fostering human capital: the role of community participation in primary school management in Bangladesh

This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a participatory institutional development approach for better primary schooling in Bangladesh. We conduct a qualitative investigation and find that, despite some limitations, the two key instruments of the participatory approach, school catchment area mapping and school planning, are highly effective in achieving enhanced primary school enrollment, higher retention, reduced dropout and overall better learning. These participatory school management approaches employ social capital by involving communities to attain better learning achievement. Since basic primary education significantly contributes to human capital accumulation in Bangladesh, we argue that our findings reinforce the hypothesis that social capital fosters human capital. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Myelodysplastic syndromes: a practical approach to diagnosis and treatment.

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal bone marrow disorders that lead to underproduction of normal blood cells. The consequent cytopenias result in infections and bleeding complications. MDS transform to acute myeloid leukemia in one-third of patients. The number of diagnoses has exploded in the past decade as a result of increased recognition and understanding of the disease and the aging of the population. New therapies can extend life. MDS are now considered the most common form of leukemia, and in some cases deserve immediate intervention. This review describes common presentations of MDS, optimal diagnostic approaches, and therapies for lower- and higher-risk disease.
Swallow monitoring through apnea detection in breathing signal

This paper presents the concepts, design, and algorithms for a wearable swallow monitoring system. Swallow monitoring can be used for assessing a person's overall food and drink intake habits as well as other swallow related disorders. The system works based on the key observation that a person's otherwise continuous breathing process is interrupted by a short apnea when she or he swallows as a part of food intake process. Using a wearable chest-belt, we detect swallows by detecting apneas extracted from breathing signal captured by the chest-belt. A matched filter based template matching framework is developed for swallow detection. A number of matched filter template design, both static and iterative, are developed for high-accuracy swallow detection.
Evaluation of a single-session expectancy challenge intervention to reduce alcohol use among college students.

In this study, the authors developed and evaluated a single-session experiential expectancy challenge (EC) intervention, seeking to reduce alcohol use by changing key positive expectancies among moderate to heavy drinking male and female college students. Participants (N=217) were randomly assigned to attend a 90- to 120-min EC session, CD-ROM alcohol education, or assessment only. Participants were assessed at pretest, posttest, and 1-month follow-up. Exposure to the EC intervention led to significant decreases in alcohol expectancies and subsequent alcohol consumption in both genders at follow-up. No significant changes were evident in either control condition. This study is the first to effectively decrease expectancies and drinking in college students with a single-session EC intervention. Further, although several studies have demonstrated the utility of the intervention with men, it is the first to do so with women. This study represents a critical step in the process of translating an innovative, theory-based intervention into a more practical format that makes it more accessible to those who seek effective drinking-reduction strategies for college campuses. Language: en
Spinodal instability in the Thomas-Fermi approximation with finite range interactions

Abstract The Thomas-Fermi density of a nuclear ground state has no discontinuity for the force parameters which give a realistic surface thickness. A spinodal instability region exists in the scaling transformation for a finite nucleus with a diffuse surface. The stability of a nucleus far from its self-consistent density in a static Vlasov equation has been studied using the stability matrix and the dispersion relation for oscillation modes.
Uncertainties in steel temperatures during fire

In order to determine the fire resistance of steel members, steel temperatures must be estimated with a high confidence. There can be considerable uncertainty in temperatures of both protected and unprotected steels during fire exposure. This is due to uncertainty in the thermal boundary conditions and thermophysical properties. In this study, uncertainties in both unprotected and protected steel temperatures are estimated with the use of a Monte Carlo method in conjunction with a “Lumped Heat Capacity” approach for estimating steel temperatures. Computed data are compared with experimental measurements obtained during Cardington fire tests (bare steel) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) World Trade Center (WTC) tests (protected). Reasonable agreement was achieved.
Status and trends of I 2 L/MTL technology

The integrated Injection Logic or Merged Transistor Logic (I2L/MTL) techniques have led to attractive VLSI products, such as 16 bit microprocessors with 600 logic gates/mm2of 3 ns delay or 18 k bit static RAM's of 30 ns access. Even 64 k SRAM's of 25 ns access are feasible in today's manufacturing processes. Moreover, recent technology advancements significantly extend the potential of I2L/MTL. Polysilicon self-alignment techniques enable logic circuit delays in the subnanosecond range, and deep-groove dielectric isolation schemes considerably enhance the density and performance of static RAM's in conjunction with new cell design techniques.
Climatic evolution of the mediterranean sea during the last 5.0 million years

Abstract Planktonic foraminifera from DSDP Sites 125 and 132 have been used to monitor the climatic evolution of the eastern and western Mediterranean during the last 5.0 million years. By assuming that members of an evolving lineage have the ecological requirements of the modern end member, a transfer function approach has been used to quantitatively estimate paleotemperatures for this time interval. The paleotemperature records are placed within a biochronologic framework that is based on correlation with previously determined paleomagnetic ages for planktonic foraminiferal events in Pacific sediments. A gradual warming occurs in the Mediterranean throughout the early Pliocene with the exception of a brief cooling during the middle of this interval. A 3–4°C drop in surface temperatures occurs in the early late Pliocene, with cool conditions persisting for a large part of the late Pliocene. The onset of this cooling has been dated at approximately 3.2 m.y.B.P. and appears to be related to the initiation of Northern Hemisphere glaciation. Warm conditions exist across the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary indicating that this boundary is not marked by a sharp climatic change within the Mediterranean. The early Pleistocene is generally characterized by warmer temperatures that those of the late Pleistocene. In addition, the magnitude of temperature oscillations increases from 2–3°C in the early Pleistocene to 5–6°C in the late Pleistocene suggesting intensification of glacial/ interglacial fluctuations. Both basins are marked by similar temperature conditions throughout the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene indicating a lack of strong east—west trending temperature gradients within the Mediterranean. This changed dramatically in the middle Pleistocene (approximately 1.0 m.y.B.P.) when the western basin (Site 132) became significantly cooler than the eastern basin (Site 125). This change was also coincidental with the intensification of glacial/interglacial oscillations.
A Wireless Telemedicine System with Extended Reporting Range and Priority Messaging

Extensions and enhancements are proposed for a previously developed system to remotely monitor patient vital signs. This previously developed network utilizes Crossbow MICAz motes to create a wireless network to gather data, which is sent to a central monitoring station. It includes a graphical user interface to store and display incoming measurements for all patients being monitored. Here the range of the network is extended by interfacing a GSM modem to the wireless sensor base station, allowing critical data to be forwarded anywhere in the world and providing a remote query mechanism via the existing cellular infrastructure. Text messaging using short message service is used as the communication interface. A priority message handling layer is added to the current protocol to insure delivery of critical data to the monitoring station and from there to medical personnel via the existing cellular infrastructure.
A comparison of enoxacin and co-trimoxazole in the treatment of patients with complicated urinary tract infections

Fifty-six patients with complicated, recurrent urinary tract infections were entered in a study comparing the clinical and microbiological effectiveness of enoxacin with that of co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole). Forty-six patients (23 in each group) completed the study and, at the end of 14 days' treatment, all had negative urine cultures and were considered clinically cured. Microbiological cure was achieved in all 23 patients in the co-trimoxazole group and in 20 of 23 patients in the enoxacin group, the other three suffering reinfection approximately one week after the end of the treatment course. Ten patients (five in each group) did not complete the 14-day course of therapy: two because of negative initial cultures, one who was lost to follow-up, six because of adverse reactions, and one because of superinfection. Enoxacin is effective in treating complicated urinary tract infections caused by a variety of organisms and is comparable in effectiveness with co-trimoxazole.
Verification of Cyberphysical Transportation Systems

Next-generation transportation systems in air traffic, railway, and car control will leverage advanced computing and sensing capabilities to improve safety and throughput to meet increasing transportation demands. It combine cyber aspects (such as wireless communication and computer control) with physical aspects (such as movement in space and real-time interfacing with the physical environment, including sensing and actuation), thus forming cyberphysical systems (CPSs).'ith the increasing complexity of modern transportation technology, the need for analysis techniques that help find and fix errors in system design is rising quickly. Testing and debugging the control software in transportation systems is becoming more expensive; the resulting cost is already well above 50 percent of the total development cost in most cases. Because correct design is difficult to establish with ad hoc debugging, upcoming standards in the aviation and car industries will encourage and require formal methods. With the emergent cyberphysical transportation field, exciting challenges lie ahead in making the vision of robust and reliable system design a reality.
Human Herpesvirus 8 DNA Sequences in Blistering Skin From Patients With Pemphigus

Background: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) has been detected in Kaposi sarcoma (KS) and other lesions in patients both seropositive and seronegative for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Kaposi sarcoma has been reported to develop in a disproportionate number of patients with pemphigus. Since HHV-8 is so strongly associated with KS, we wondered whether HHV-8 is present in pemphigus lesions from patients without KS or HIV infection. Pemphigus lesions and skin from healthy individuals were coded in a blinded fashion. Tissue-extracted DNA was tested using polymerase chain reaction, Southern blot hybridization, and automated sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction products for the presence of HHV-8 DNA. Six patients had pemphigus foliaceus, 6 had pemphigus vulgaris, and 2 had KS; 10 healthy individuals were used as controls. All 24 patients were HIV seronegative. Observation: Lesional skin from 4 of the 6 patients with pemphigus vulgaris, all 6 of the patients with pemphigus foliaceus, and both positive controls (KS) tested positive for HHV-8 DNA. Furthermore, the HHV-8 DNA sequences for KS330 233 differed between all 6 DNA specimens from pemphigus foliaceus, while 3 of the 4 DNA specimens from pemphigus vulgaris were identical. However, HHV-8 DNA was absent in all normal human skin analyzed. Conclusions: This report expands the spectrum of lesions found to contain HHV-8 DNA sequences and suggests that HHV-8 might have trophism for pemphigus lesions. Arch Dermatol. 1997;133:1247-1251
Risk of adverse events on epilepsy monitoring units: A survey of epilepsy professionals

Abstract In 2008 a workgroup of health care professionals from the American Epilepsy Society (AES) was convened to address the lack of consensus regarding patient care in epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs). The group developed a questionnaire designed to identify the extent to which selected adverse events occurred in EMUs, and it was sent via email to all members of the AES. We asked that only one representative from each center report. Seventy responses were received. The number of centers reporting the following adverse events included: falls by 69%, status epilepticus by 63%, and postictal psychosis by 54%. Infrequent events with serious consequences were also reported including pneumonia by 10%, cardiac arrest by 7%, fractures by 6%, and death by 3% (N = 2). Of the 58 respondents who reported using intracranial electrodes, 37.9% (N = 22) reported that patients pulled out or dislodged electrodes. This study highlights the need for EMUs to identify and address potential safety risks in their environment, patient population, and system of care.
Multiresolution techniques for the classification of bioimage and biometric datasets

We survey our work on adaptive multiresolution (MR) approaches to the classification of biological and fingerprint images. The system adds MR decomposition in front of a generic classifier consisting of feature computation and classification in each MR subspace, yielding local decisions, which are then combined into a global decision using a weighting algorithm. The system is tested on four different datasets, subcellular protein location images, drosophila embryo images, histological images and fingerprint images. Given the very high accuracies obtained for all four datasets, we demonstrate that the space-frequency localized information in the multiresolution subspaces adds significantly to the discriminative power of the system. Moreover, we show that a vastly reduced set of features is sufficient. Finally, we prove that frames are the class of MR techniques that performs the best in this context. This leads us to consider the construction of a new family of frames for classification, which we term lapped tight frame transforms.
The estimation of nonstationary spectra from moving acoustic source distributions.

It is shown that the Blackman-Tukey estimation procedure provides a natural estimate of a nonstationary spectrum defined in terms of the acoustic sources. The pressure field from the moving source distribution is discussed together with the estimation procedure. The spectrum can be considered as a time-dependent partition of the variance of the pressure field over a Doppler shifted continuum of frequencies. It is found that the effect of nonstationarity on the bias and variance of the estimate is small in cases of practical interest, provided sources directionality is excluded.
The Demand for Mortgage Debt: Some Basic Results

Abstract This paper presents a formal model of a household′s mortgage-size decision. In the model, the mortgage amount is chosen along with house value and the level of saving. It is shown that the size of the mortgage depends crucially on the relationship between the mortgage interest rate and the rate of return on investment. The analysis considers the case where both rates are nonstochastic, as well as exploring the case where the investment return is risky.
Finite element modeling of dislocation reduction in GaAs and InP single crystals grown from the VGF process

Dislocations in gallium arsenide (GaAs) and indium phosphide (InP) crystals are generated by thermal stresses induced during their solidification process of crystal growth. High dislocation density in these crystals will reduce the performance and reliability of the GaAs- and InP-based microelectronic and photonic devices/circuits. It has been known that doping impurity atoms into GaAs and InP crystals during their solidification process can significantly reduce dislocation densities generated in these crystals. A viscoplastic constitutive equation that couples a microscopic dislocation density and impurity atoms with a macroscopic plastic deformation is employed in a transient finite element model for predicting the dislocation density generated in the undoped and doped GaAs and InP crystals grown by the vertical gradient freeze (VGF) process. The effects of crystal growth parameters (i.e., imposed temperature gradient, crystal diameter, and crystal growth rate) on dislocation generation are also investigated. The numerical results show that doping impurity can significantly reduce the dislocation density generated in these crystals. It also shows that dislocation density reduces drastically as the crystal diameter and imposed temperature gradient decrease, but the crystal growth rate has almost no effect on dislocation generation in these crystals.
Impact of parallel computing on fractal image compression

Fractal theory is emerging as a dominant force in the area of image compression. The resulting images are strikingly good even at very high compression rates and the technique additionally shows promise for simultaneous rectification of the image. Although fractal image decompression is a relatively inexpensive operation, widespread use of the technology is limited by the computational complexity of the fractal compression itself. This complexity results from a search for contractive regions of self-similarity within the image. Conceptually the problem is that of irregular parallelism. The search can begin in a highly parallel fashion but must become increasingly dependent as the process converges. In this paper, we employ macro parallelism techniques based upon loosely communicating computers each assigned its own region of the search space. As the search progresses, each computer periodically broadcasts its search status and all cooperatively readjust to speed the process. The techniques advanced are expected to have wide utility since the approach utilizes nets of readily available computers rather than either supercomputer or dedicated silicon.
Comparing Measures of Late HIV Diagnosis in Washington State.

As more US HIV surveillance programs routinely use late HIV diagnosis to monitor and characterize HIV testing patterns, there is an increasing need to standardize how late HIV diagnosis is measured. In this study, we compared two measures of late HIV diagnosis, one based on time between HIV and AIDS, the other based on initial CD4+ results. Using data from Washington's HIV/AIDS Reporting System, we used multivariate logistic regression to identify predictors of late HIV diagnosis. We also conducted tests for trend to determine whether the proportion of cases diagnosed late has changed over time. Both measures lead us to similar conclusions about late HIV diagnosis, suggesting that being male, older, foreign-born, or heterosexual increase the likelihood of late HIV diagnosis. Our findings reaffirm the validity of a time-based definition of late HIV diagnosis, while at the same time demonstrating the potential value of a lab-based measure.
Interactions of Laurdan with phosphatidylcholine liposomes: a high pressure FTIR study.

Abstract The interactions of 6-lauroyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (Laurdan) with l -α-dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) have been studied isothermally at 28°C by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) at two pH values (6.8 and 3.0) and over the pressure range of 0.001–25 kbar. The results obtained with Laurdan are compared with those previously obtained with 6-propionyl-2-dimethylaminonaphthalene (Prodan) (Chong et al. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 8358–8363). The objective of this study is to delineate the differential interactions of Prodan and Laurdan with lipid membranes. The Laurdan carbonyl and naphthalene vibrational bands as well as the correlation field splitting of the methylene scissoring mode all indicate that in phospholipid model membrane systems, Laurdan behaves differently from Prodan. The data suggest that the chromophore of Laurdan is embedded somewhat deeper in the membrane than that of Prodan. The correlation field splitting pressure suggests that Laurdan causes more perturbation to DMPC vesicles than Prodan. Instead of being relocated to the exterior of the membrane as is the case of Prodan, Laurdan is found to remain in the membrane even when it is partially positively charged at pH 3. Apparently the stabilizing forces come from the strong van der Waals and hydrophobic interactions between the lauroyl chain and its neighboring lipid molecules. Laurdan seems to remain in the membrane at high pressures (up to 25 kbar). Using deuterated DMPC ( d- DMPC ) and deuterated l -α-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine ( d- DPPC ), we have demonstrated that, at 1 atm, there is a void space between the lauroyl chain of Laurdan and the acyl chain of the matrix lipid, regardless of the physical state of the matrix lipid. This void space, probably caused by the bulky naphthalene ring, is eventually diminished by elevated pressures.
Distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide mRNA and immunoreactivity in the rat central and peripheral vestibular system.

The distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) mRNA and immunoreactivity (CGRPi) was examined in sections of brainstem and decalcified temporal bones to study the peptidergic innervation patterns in both the central and peripheral vestibular system. In the brainstem, neuron somata associated with the vestibular system and containing CGRP mRNA and CGRPi were found in both the dorsolateral and medial regions of the group E vestibular efferents as well as scattered throughout the caudal pontine reticular nucleus (CPR). The only labelled neuron somata containing CGRP mRNA and CGRPi in the temporal bone were found in the gustatory geniculate ganglion. Coarse CGRPi axons were traced ventrally from the dorsolateral and medial group E somata and dorsally from the CPR somata. CGRPi axons from the medial group E and CPR crossed the facial nerve ventral to the facial genu before entering the eighth nerve root. Immunoreactive axons projected from medial group E cells, beneath the ependyma of the fourth ve...
Techniques of Pressure—Anti-Nationalization Propaganda in Britain

THE British Labor Party's program for the mobilize public opinion against the Governnationalization of key industries brought about ment and attempts to evaluate the effectivea vigorous campaign by the opposition. In ness of such campaigns. this article the author describes many of the H. H. Wilson is Associate Professor of techniques used by industry in its attempt to Politics at Princeton University.
Track Structure in DNA Irradiated with Heavy Ions

Abstract Bowman, M. K., Becker, D., Sevilla, M. D. and Zimbrick, J. D. Track Structure in DNA Irradiated with Heavy Ions. Radiat. Res. 163, 447–454 (2005). The spatial properties of trapped radicals produced in heavy-ion-irradiated solid DNA at 77 K have been probed using pulsed electron paramagnetic double resonance (PELDOR or DEER) techniques. Salmon testes DNA hydrated to 12 water molecules per nucleotide was irradiated with 40Ar ions of energy 100 MeV/nucleon and LET ranging from 300 to 400 keV/μm. Irradiated samples were maintained at cryogenic temperature at all times. PELDOR measurements were made using a refocused echo detection sequence that allows dipolar interaction between trapped radicals to be observed. The EPR spectrum is attributed to electron loss/gain DNA base radicals and neutral carbon-centered radicals that likely arise from sugar damage. We find a radical concentration of 13.5 × 1018 cm−3 in the tracks and a track radius of 6.79 nm. The cross section of these tracks is 144 nm2, yield...
Fiscal Decentralization: A Remedy for Corruption?

This paper examines the effect of fiscal decentralization in a country on the level of corruption. Using a tax competition framework with rent-seeking behavior, it is shown theoretically that fiscal decentralization, modeled as an increase in the number of competing jurisdictions, leads to a lower level of corruption. This result is then tested using a small, cross-country data set. The empirical results are not very strong, but they suggest that the hypothesized relationship between decentralization and corruption may indeed exist.
Staggered Bilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty Performed Four to Seven Days Apart During a Single Hospitalization

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the types and prevalence of complications associated with bilateral total knee replacement performed four to seven days apart during a single hospitalization and to compare them with those associated with bilateral knee replacement performed sequentially under the same anesthetic session or staged unilateral replacements performed during separate hospitalizations. Methods: Using a computerized database and medical records, we retrospectively evaluated 332 consecutive patients who underwent bilateral total knee replacement performed by two surgeons. A total of 241 patients underwent staggered bilateral knee replacement with the procedures performed four to seven days apart during one hospitalization, twenty-six underwent sequential bilateral total knee replacement, and sixty-five underwent staged bilateral knee replacement performed during two separate hospitalizations. The data on major complications, including death, return to operating room, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary embolism, and on minor complications, including atrial fibrillation, deep-vein thrombosis, and urinary tract infection, were evaluated. Results: Patients undergoing sequential bilateral total knee replacement and staged bilateral knee replacement had an overall rate of complications that was 2.5 times higher than that of the staggered group. Major complications were rare in all groups, but they occurred most often in the staged bilateral replacement group. The overall rate of complications for the patients who had staggered bilateral knee replacement (13%) was significantly less (p = 0.0009) than that for the patients who had sequential bilateral knee replacement (35%) or staged bilateral knee replacement (31%). The length of inpatient stay for those with staggered total knee arthroplasty was four days longer than that for the sequential arthroplasty group (p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Staggered bilateral total knee replacement, with the procedures performed four to seven days apart in a single hospitalization, is a safe and practical method for performing bilateral total knee replacement. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
SHORELINE PROCESSES AND THE AGE OF THE LAKE LAHONTAN HIGHSTAND IN THE JESSUP EMBAYMENT, NEVADA

The well-developed shoreline record of pluvial Lake Lahontan in the Jessup embayment, Nevada, is used to refine the history of late Pleistocene lake-level fluctuations and to assess controls on shoreline development and distribution. Controls on the strength and type of shorelines developed include local slope, the amount and characteristics of sediment available for transport, the availability of accommodation space, and length of time the lake level resides at a particular shoreline elevation. At the Sehoo highstand and during the early part of the regression, strong storm winds and waves from the south-southeast set up a clockwise net shore-drift pattern near the head of the embayment. Although significant differences in local slope, geometry of the shoreline, and wave energy existed in the embayment, crestal heights of constructional shoreline features formed at the highstand vary <2.6 m in elevation and hence provide a relatively precise marker of the highstand elevation. Radiocarbon dating of a camel bone preserved in high shoreline deposits indicates that the lake reached its highest elevation of 1338.5 m in the embayment and receded from that elevation immediately prior to 13 070 ± 60 yr B.P. Similar and slightly older radiocarbon ages on gastropod shells preserved in barrier deposits at 1327 m (13 280 ± 110 yr B.P.) and 1331 m (13 110 ± 110 yr B.P.) suggest that the final rise to the highstand was very rapid and that the lake maintained its highest stand for a very brief period of time, perhaps only for years or decades. The brevity of the highstand is reasonable in light of the recent formation of similar barrier features in modern Pyramid Lake, which formed in less than seven months due to a rapid increase in lake level.
Use of 16S rRNA Gene Terminal Restriction Fragment Analysis To Assess the Impact of Solids Retention Time on the Bacterial Diversity of Activated Sludge

Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA genes was used to investigate the reproducibility and stability in the bacterial community structure of laboratory-scale sequencing batch bioreactors (SBR) and to assess the impact of solids retention time (SRT) on bacterial diversity. Two experiments were performed. In each experiment two sets of replicate SBRs were operated for a periods of three times the SRT. One set was operated at an SRT of 2 days and another set was operated at an SRT of 8 days. Samples for T-RFLP analysis were collected from the two sets of replicate reactors. HhaI, MspI, and RsaI T-RFLP profiles were analyzed using cluster analysis and diversity statistics. Cluster analysis with Ward's method using Jaccard distance and Hellinger distance showed that the bacterial community structure in both sets of reactors from both experimental runs was dynamic and that replicate reactors were clustered together and evolved similarly from startup. Richness (S), evenness (E), the Shannon-Weaver index (H), and the reciprocal of Simpson's index (1/D) were calculated, and the values were compared between the two sets of reactors. Evenness values were higher for reactors operated at an SRT of 2 days. Statistically significant differences in diversity (H and D) between the two sets of reactors were tested using a randomization procedure, and the results showed that reactors from both experimental runs that were operated at an SRT of 2 days had higher diversity (H and D) at the 5% level. T-RFLP analysis with diversity indices proved to be a powerful tool to analyze changes in the bacterial community diversity in response to changes in the operational parameters of activated-sludge systems.
Flame‐Spray‐Processed CuO–WO3 Nanopowders as Photocatalysts

The scalable synthesis of Cu-doped WO3 nanomaterials from molecular precursors is addressed here. A desktop flame spray pyrolysis process was used to synthesize of the oxide with 20 nm average diameter of the orthorhombic phase polymorph, which is the stable phase for WO3. The as-sprayed nanoparticles exhibit superior photoelectrical response to visible light illumination compared with nanoparticles of the same system processed by other routes.
Cigarette smoking is associated with a reduction in the risk of incident gout: results from the Framingham Heart Study original cohort

Objective. Cigarette smoking is correlated with other risk factors for gout such as adiposity and alcohol intake. The goal of this study was to study the direction and magnitude of association between cigarette smoking and risk for gout. Methods. We analysed 54-year follow-up data (19482002) for 2279 men and 2785 women who were gout-free at their first assessment as a part of the Framingham Heart Study. Using Cox proportional hazards models we estimated the association between cigarette smoking and incident gout among men and women separately after adjusting for age, BMI, alcohol intake, hypertension, kidney disease and diabetes. Results. There were 399 incident cases (249 men and 150 women) of gout over 151 058 person-years of observation. Incidence rates of gout per 1000 person-years for smokers and non-smokers were 2.13 (95% CI 1.79, 2.53) and 3.04 (95% CI 2.70, 3.42), respectively. In multivariable Cox models, cigarette smoking was associated with gout with a hazard ratio of 0.76 (95% CI 0.59, 0.98) overall, 0.68 (95% CI 0.49, 0.93) among men and 0.92 (95% CI 0.60, 1.41) among women. Lower risk for smokers was evident among all obesity categories, but not among women. Sensitivity analysis suggested that the magnitude of the true odds ratio might be lower than our calculations.
In vitro activities of two ketolides, HMR 3647 and HMR 3004, against gram-positive bacteria.

The in vitro activities of two new ketolides, HMR 3647 and HMR 3004, were tested by the agar dilution method against 280 strains of gram-positive bacteria with different antibiotic susceptibility profiles, including Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Streptococcus spp. (group A streptococci, group B streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and alpha-hemolytic streptococci). Seventeen erythromycin-susceptible (EMs), methicillin-susceptible S. aureus strains were found to have HMR 3647 and HMR 3004 MICs 4- to 16-fold lower than those of erythromycin (MIC at which 50% of isolates were inhibited [MIC50] [HMR 3647 and HMR 3004], 0.03 microgram/ml; range, 0.03 to 0.06 microgram/ml; MIC50 [erythromycin], 0.25 microgram/ml; range, 0.25 to 0.5 microgram/ml). All methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains tested were resistant to erythromycin and had HMR 3647 and HMR 3004 MICs of > 64 micrograms/ml. The ketolides were slightly more active against E. faecalis than against E. faecium, and MICs for individual strains varied with erythromycin susceptibility. The MIC50s of HMR 3647 and HMR 3004 against Ems enterococci (MIC 512 micrograms/ml showed HMR 3647 MICs in the range of 0.03 to 16 micrograms/ml and HMR 3004 MICs in the range of 0.03 to 64 micrograms/ml. In the group of E. faecium strains for which MICs of erythromycin were > or = 512 micrograms/ml, MICs of both ketolides were in the range of 1 to 64 micrograms/ml, with almost all isolates showing ketolide MICs of < or = 16 micrograms/ml. The ketolides were also more active than erythromycin against group A streptococci, group B streptococci, S. pneumoniae, rhodococci, leuconostocs, pediococci, lactobacilli, and diphtheroids. Time-kill studies showed bactericidal activity against one strain of S. aureus among the four strains tested. The increased activity of ketolides against gram-positive bacteria suggests that further study of these agents for possible efficacy against infections caused by these bacteria is warranted.
Supporting the cyber analytic process using visual history on large displays

Cyber analytics focuses on increasing the safety and soundness of our digital infrastructure. The volume, size and velocity of these datasets make the analysis challenging on current work environments and tools. A cyber analytics work environment should enable multiple, simultaneous investigations and information foraging, as well as provide a solution space for organizing data. As such, various workflow visualization tools are used to help users track their analysis, reuse effective workflows, and test hypotheses. Also, the use of large display workspaces can provide new opportunities for improving visual analytics in cyber security. In this work, we present a prototype workspace for analysts where the analytic process is maintained in the workspace. Thus, we are able to present analysts with visual states of their data throughout the investigation, in which real-time changes can be made to any previous state, and analysts can backtrack through their investigation.
Distributed Energy Resources: Issues and Challenges

Distributed energy resources DER constitute a relatively new paradigm in the electric power industry. The concept is gaining popularity because of the inherent modularity of DERs. They can be regarded as more flexible power sources, albeit with limited capacity, than centralized power units. DERs are power generation or storage units that are connected directly to the distribution network or connected to the network on the customer side of the meter. These energy sources can include microturbines, fuel cells, wind power, solar power, and several forms of energy storage. If barriers can be removed, DERs can be valuable resources to the power generation and distribution industry. They have the potential to improve reliability, power quality, and environmental pollution while deferring transmission and distribution TD • Storage aspects of DER; • Microgrids; • Economic and operational aspects of DER; • Impact on power quality and reliability; and • Interconnection standards. Although different circles define distributed generation DG in somewhat different perspectives, the most widely accepted version defines it as being a generation source located in proximity to load centers and having a generating capacity of anywhere from 10 kW to 50 megawatts. Often, such generating sources use nonconventional fuels, and many of the units are designed to produce both electricity and heat, in applications simply known as combined heat and power CHP . This represents a departure from the current industry practice of locating very large fossil-fired generating sources at remote locations, closer to the fuel source and transmitting the generated power over high-voltage transmission lines to load centers. Many of the DER technologies, such as those that depend on solar power, wind power, and biomass, are inherently renewable in nature. Since solar and wind power outputs depend on an intermittent resource, predicting the amount of power that will be available at certain times of the day often becomes difficult. With large amounts of intermittent generation, operating the renewable DER within an existing electric utility’s system can bring about
Development and Preliminary Validation of a Defendant and Offender Screening Tool for Psychopathology in Inmate Populations

The development of instruments to assess psychopathology within inmate populations has lagged far behind the development of general clinical assessment measures. At present, few empirically validated assessment instruments are available, and forensic evaluations typically rely on clinical measures that were not designed for inmate populations. The present study details the development and initial validation of a new forensically relevant assessment tool designed for and tested on an inmate population. This instrument is designed to function as a screening assessment tool for use in forensic and correctional evaluations that may assist forensic evaluators in answering questions related to psychopathology more reliably and validly than tools currently in use. Psychometric properties and potential usefulness of the instrument are discussed. Language: en
A Note on Handling Missing Data

Researchers are often confronted with missing data for some subjects and variables. The usual method of handling this problem deletes subjects with missing data and thereby reduces the sample size. An alternative approach suggested by Cohen (1968) investigates the randomness of the missing data with respect to other variables and permits the researcher to use the information obtained to further understand the relationships among variables. This note compares three methods of treating missing data with respect to the results obtained, the informational value of each method, the population to which the results can be referred, and statistical power.
Two Political Sciences or One? Liberal Arts Political Science As A Disciplinary Partner

This essay sketches the ways that the practices of political science at top R1 institutions and at leading liberal arts colleges differ. But one also can see the two practices as partners in a common enterprise of making political science rigorous, relevant, and clear. This article outlines such a collaboration.
Operation of lightly doped Si microwires under high-level injection conditions†

The operation of lightly doped Si microwire arrays under high-level injection conditions was investigated by measurement of the current-potential behavior and carrier-collection efficiency of the wires in contact with non-aqueous electrolytes, and through complementary device physics simulations. The current-potential behavior of the lightly doped Si wire array photoelectrodes was dictated by both the radial contact and the carrier-selective back contact. For example, the Si microwire arrays exhibited n-type behavior when grown on a n+-doped substrate and placed in contact with the 1,1′-dimethylferrocene+/0–CH3OH redox system. The microwire arrays exhibited p-type behavior when grown on a p+-doped substrate and measured in contact with a redox system with a sufficiently negative Nernstian potential. The wire array photoelectrodes exhibited internal quantum yields of ∼0.8, deviating from unity for these radial devices. Device physics simulations of lightly doped n-Si wires in radial contact with the 1,1′-dimethylferrocene+/0–CH3OH redox system showed that the carrier-collection efficiency should be a strong function of the wire diameter and the carrier lifetime within the wire. Small diameter (d 400 nm) exhibited higher carrier collection efficiencies that were strongly dependent on the carrier lifetime in the wire, and wires with carrier lifetimes exceeding 5 μs were predicted to have near-unity quantum yields. The simulations and experimental measurements collectively indicated that the Si microwires possessed carrier lifetimes greater than 1 μs, and showed that radial structures with micron dimensions and high material quality can result in excellent device performance with lightly doped, structured semiconductors.
Ratio between average sojourn times under processor sharing and fair sojourn protocol

Under very general assumptions, we prove that the ratio between the average sojourn time in a queue under the processor sharing (PS) and the same queue under the fair sojourn protocol (FSP) can be bounded above, and we derive such a bound in terms of the long-run average system size of the PS queue seen by arrivals.
Observation and analysis of the Coulter effect through carbon nanotube and graphene nanopores

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene are the rolled and flat analogues of graphitic carbon, respectively, with hexagonal crystalline lattices, and show exceptional molecular transport properties. The empirical study of a single isolated nanopore requires, as evidence, the observation of stochastic, telegraphic noise from a blocking molecule commensurate in size with the pore. This standard is used ubiquitously in patch clamp studies of single, isolated biological ion channels and a wide range of inorganic, synthetic nanopores. In this work, we show that observation and study of stochastic fluctuations for carbon nanopores, both CNTs and graphene-based, enable precision characterization of pore properties that is otherwise unattainable. In the case of voltage clamp measurements of long (0.5–1 mm) CNTs between 0.9 and 2.2 nm in diameter, Coulter blocking of cationic species reveals the complex structuring of the fluid phase for confined water in this diameter range. In the case of graphene, we have pioneered the study and the analysis of stochastic fluctuations in gas transport from a pressurized, graphene-covered micro-well compartment that reveal switching between different values of the membrane permeance attributed to chemical rearrangements of individual graphene pores. This analysis remains the only way to study such single isolated graphene nanopores under these realistic transport conditions of pore rearrangements, in keeping with the thesis of this work. In summary, observation and analysis of Coulter blocking or stochastic fluctuations of permeating flux is an invaluable tool to understand graphene and graphitic nanopores including CNTs.
On Nonplanar Surfaces of Very Low Aspect Ratio

THE MOMENTUM APPROACH to the problem of determination of the air forces on a wing of very low aspect ratio was first suggested by Jones. Since that time this so-called zero aspect ratio theory has been extended in various directions by Spreiter, for the slender wing-body combination, by Lomax and Heaslet, for specific plan forms, and by Miles and others in unsteady flow applications. I t is the purpose of this note to point out that the cases of a nonplanar surface in steady flow or in arbitrary unsteady motion may be treated as well, as long as the deflection, and thus the downwash, is developable in a finite Fourier series in y/S(x) (see Fig. 1). Formulation of this problem by the usual momentum approach appeared unsatisfactory because of the complication of the two-dimensional virtual mass of a deformed plate, the deformation varying streamwise. However, the reduction of the linearized lifting-surface integral, requiring only that the span-to-chord ratio be small,
Temperature Sensation Threshold at Different Skin Sites of the Upper Limbs:20 Normal Subjects Reports

Objective To observe the thermal thresholds in normal subjects and their relation with gender and site.MethodsThe thresholds of sensation of cold,warm,cold pain and hot pain in 20 healthy subjects were measured at 10 sites of upper limbs with the TSA-Ⅱ Neurosensory Analyzer under the Limits model.ResultsThere was no remarkable differences between the thresholds of sensation of cold and warm,but obvious differences between the sensation of cold pain and hot pain in different skin sites,as well as between the males and females,left and right in some sensation and some sites.ConclusionFor the normal people,there is a certain relationship among thermal threshold and gender or site of body.