cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sun-Synchronous Planetary Exploration

Contemporary planetary missions are characterized by favorable landing sites, communication, and duration. The ambition of planetary exploration is to discover the unknown: to explore regions, not just sites; to analyze, not just observe; and to operate effectively and reliably without excessive communication and ground support. New robotics technologies and mission concepts will revolutionize exploration systems and operations. This paper addresses the key enabling technologies for sun-synchronous planetary exploration: environmental modeling, temporal path planning, scaling, and robot configuration.
Soft Real-Time Scheduling in Google Earth

Google Earth is a virtual globe that allows users to explore satellite imagery, terrain, 3D buildings, and geo-spatial content. It is available on a wide variety of desktop and mobile platforms, including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, and Android. To preserve the sense of fluid motion through a 3D environment, the application must render at 60Hz. In this paper, we discuss the scheduling constraints of this application as a soft real-time scheduling problem where missed deadlines disrupt this motion. We describe a new scheduling implementation that addresses these problems. The diversity of hardware and software platforms on which Google Earth runs makes offline execution time analysis infeasible, so we discuss ways to predict execution time using on line measurement. We provide experimental results comparing different methods for predicting execution time. This new implementation is slated for inclusion in a future release of Google Earth.
Empowering Words: Outsiders and Authorship in Early America Karen Ann Weyler. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2013.

Empowering Words: Outsiders and Authorship in Early America Karen Ann Weyler. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2013.The Library of Congress presented an exhibition, "Books That Shaped America," from June 25-September 29, 2012, that featured titles by American authors who have had a profound effect on American life. Some of the titles on display have been the source of great controversy, even derision, yet they nevertheless shaped Americans' views of their world and often the world's view of the United States. Yet it is highly unlikely that any of the authors discussed in this book, Empowering Words: Outsiders and Authorship in Early America, would be mentioned in the LC exhibition although the best known of the group, Phillis Wheatley, a slave and a subject, never a citizen, has had a rediscovery of her work, including a reevaluation by such noted authors as Henry Louis Gates at Harvard University.Besides Wheatley ("Mourning New England: Phillis Wheatside and the Broadside Elegy"), who is featured in the first chapter in the book, other chapters include An "Englishman Under English Colours": Briton Hammon, John Marrant, and the Fungibility of Christian Faith; "Common, Plain, Every Day Talk" From "an Uncommon Quarter": Samson Occom and the Language of the Execution Sermon; Becoming "the American heroine": Deborah Sampson, Collaboration, and Performance; "To Proceed with Spirit": Clementina Rind and the Virginia Gazette; and "When Barbers Wrote Books: Mechanic Societies and Authorship."The concluding chapter in the book, "Uncovering Other Outsider Authors," does just that. In fact, it is one of the most interesting sections with its lists of unheard authors (until now) that the reader may wish to explore further, such as Patience Boston and Tobit Potter, both Indian casualties.The most intriguing chapter, "Common, Plain, Every Day Talk" From "an Uncommon Quarter": Samson Occom and the Language of the Execution Sermon" highlights Occom as an experienced and practiced writer who delivered dozens of sermons before British audiences to solicit donations for Native American causes in the United States, but he was best remembered in his lifetime for one pamphlet, A sermon, preached at the execution of Moses Paul, an Indian: who was executed at New-Haven, on the 2nd of September 1772, for the murder of Mr. Moses Cook, late of Waterbury, on the 7th of December 1771. At least nineteen editions of Occom's treatise, which captured the popular imagination, were published between 1772 and 1827!The "outsiders" that Weyler discovers in this book are a most diverse group. …
Scapular Fractures: What Radiologists Need to Know

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article are to review scapular anatomy and function, describe imaging features of traumatic scapular injury, and discuss the role of diagnostic imaging in clinical decision making after shoulder trauma. CONCLUSION. Knowledge of scapular anatomy, function, injury patterns, imaging appearance, and clinical management is important for the radiologist to the care of patients who present with acute shoulder trauma.
Implementing quality control on a random number stream to improve a stochastic weather generator

For decades, stochastic modellers have used computerized random number generators to produce random numeric sequences fitting a specified statistical distribution. Unfortunately, none of the random number generators we tested satisfactorily produced the target distribution. The result is generated distributions whose mean even diverges from the mean used to generate them, regardless of the length of run. Non-uniform distributions from short sequences of random numbers are a major problem in stochastic climate generation, because truly uniform distributions are required to produce the intended climate parameter distributions. In order to ensure generation of a representative climate with the stochastic weather generator CLIGEN within a 30-year run, we tested the climate output resulting from various random number generators. The resulting distributions of climate parameters showed significant departures from the target distributions in all cases. We traced this failure back to the uniform random number generators themselves. This paper proposes a quality control approach to select only those numbers that conform to the expected distribution being retained for subsequent use. The approach is based on goodness-of-fit analysis applied to the random numbers generated. Normally distributed deviates are further tested with confidence interval tests on their means and standard deviations. The positive effect of the new approach on the climate characteristics generated and the subsequent deterministic process-based hydrology and soil erosion modelling are illustrated for four climatologically diverse sites.
Probe–sample interactions in reflection near-field scanning optical microscopy

Reflection near-field scanning optical microscopy with an asymmetric detector orientation is demonstrated. The effects of the probe–sample interactions are studied for different polarizations, detector orientations, and sample reflectivity. It is shown that the orientation of the detector can introduce shadowing in the images, which is opposite from the naive interpretation and which is dependent on the optical properties of the sample. Near-field optical images of metallic test patterns in reflection are shown that exhibit a lateral resolution of 40 nm.
Requirement of the Human GARP Complex for Mannose 6-phosphate-receptor-dependent Sorting of Cathepsin D to Lysosomes

The biosynthetic sorting of acid hydrolases to lysosomes relies on transmembrane, mannose 6-phosphate receptors (MPRs) that cycle between the TGN and endosomes. Herein we report that maintenance of this cycling requires the function of the mammalian Golgi-associated retrograde protein (GARP) complex. Depletion of any of the three GARP subunits, Vps52, Vps53, or Vps54, by RNAi impairs sorting of the precursor of the acid hydrolase, cathepsin D, to lysosomes and leads to its secretion into the culture medium. As a consequence, lysosomes become swollen, likely due to a buildup of undegraded materials. Missorting of cathepsin D in GARP-depleted cells results from accumulation of recycling MPRs in a population of light, small vesicles downstream of endosomes. These vesicles might correspond to intermediates in retrograde transport from endosomes to the TGN. Depletion of GARP subunits also blocks the retrograde transport of the TGN protein, TGN46, and the B subunit of Shiga toxin. These observations indicate that the mammalian GARP complex plays a general role in the delivery of retrograde cargo into the TGN. We also report that a Vps54 mutant protein in the Wobbler mouse strain is active in retrograde transport, thus explaining the viability of these mutant mice.
When to Gamble in the Stock Market

The objective of this study is to determine if readily available finance and macro-economic variables can help investors determine which years are more favorable to pursue market timing strategies and which years favor buy and hold investing. When real GDP growth rates, inflation rates and PE ratios were low or negative and when dividend yields were high, market timing strategies were favorable across 44 country market indexes from 1994-2008. These results were robust to country level of development, negative market return years and other control variables. The conditions for pursing market timing strategies were time variant and detectable with macro-economic and finance variables. A metric (Market Timing – Buy and Hold) was tested which measures the conditions of pursuing market timing strategies relative to buy and hold investing. The MT-BH metric allows investors and brokers to determine when to switch from buy and hold investing to a market timing strategy using macro-economic and financial variables and helps to explain why market timing skill of managers is rarely found to be persistent.
Bone Marrow Derived Kit-positive Cells Colonize the Gut but Fail to Restore Pacemaker Function in Intestines Lacking Interstitial Cells of Cajal.

Background/aims Several motility disorders are associated with disruption of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), which provide important functions, such as pacemaker activity, mediation of neural inputs and responses to stretch in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Restoration of ICC networks may be therapeutic for GI motor disorders. Recent reports have suggested that Kit(+) cells can be restored to the GI tract via bone marrow (BM) transplantation. We tested whether BM derived cells can lead to generation of functional activity in intestines naturally lacking ICC. Methods BM cells from Kit(+/copGFP) mice, in which ICC are labeled with a green fluorescent protein, were transplanted into W/W(V) intestines, lacking ICC. After 12 weeks the presence of ICC was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and functional analysis of electrical behavior and contractile properties. Results After 12 weeks copGFP(+) BM derived cells were found within the myenteric region of intestines from W/W(V) mice, typically populated by ICC. Kit(+) cells failed to develop interconnections typical of ICC in the myenteric plexus. The presence of Kit(+) cells was verified with Western analysis. BM cells failed to populate the region of the deep muscular plexus where normal ICC density, associated with the deep muscular plexus, is found in W/W(V) mice. Engraftment of Kit(+)-BM cells resulted in the development of unitary potentials in transplanted muscles, but slow wave activity failed to develop. Motility analysis showed that intestinal movements in transplanted animals were abnormal and similar to untransplanted W/W(V) intestines. Conclusions BM derived Kit(+) cells colonized the gut after BM transplantation, however these cells failed to develop the morphology and function of mature ICC.
Prioritization of patients for comprehensive medication review by a clinical pharmacist in family medicine

Background: This pilot study describes and evaluates the clinical pharmacy priority (CP2) score. We hypothesize that patients with high CP2 scores are more likely to receive a medication recommendation after comprehensive medication review (CMR) than patients with lower scores. Prioritization of patients for CMR by a clinical pharmacist in family medicine could enhance the provision of interprofessional care within the patient-centered medical home. Methods: The CP2 score was developed collaboratively by the research team and is derived from 11 patient-specific factors extracted from the electronic health record. To evaluate the utility of the score, CMR was performed prospectively by a clinical pharmacist for patients with appointments between October 1 and December 31, 2012, at 2 University of Colorado family medicine clinics. Results: CMR was performed for 1107 patient appointments. Of these, 101 were identified as having received a medication recommendation from the clinical pharmacist. For patients with a CP2 score of 0 to 2, 2 of 588 charts (0.3%) reviewed received a recommendation (level 1). The proportion increased to 37 of 358 (10.3%) for scores of 3 to 7 (level 2), 40 of 119 (33.6%) for scores of 8 to 10 (level 3), and 22 of 42 (52.4%) for scores of ≥11 (level 4). Compared with CP2 scores in level 1, patient appointments were more likely to receive a medication recommendation after CMR in level 2 (relative risk [RR], 30.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.4–125.3), in level 3 (RR, 98.8; 95% CI, 24.2–403.3), and in level 4 (RR, 154; 95% CI, 37.5–632.8). Conclusions: Patients with higher CP2 scores were more likely to receive a medication recommendation after CMR by a clinical pharmacist than patients with lower scores. The CP2 score could be used by clinical pharmacists in family medicine to enhance the efficient and effective delivery of interprofessional care.
Acetaldehyde Directly Inhibits the Conversion of Androstenedione to Testosterone in the Testes

The effects of ethanol and acetaldehyde on testicular steroidogenesis were examined in enzymatically dispersed cells of the rodent testes. We found that both compounds significantly inhibited the gonadotropin-stimulated biosynthesis of testosterone. Acetaldehyde was approximately 4000 times more potent than its parent compound, however. Moreover, in contrast to the effects of ethanol, acetaldehyde was effective at concentrations compatible with those found under in vivo conditions after acute ethanol administration. These data indicate that acetaldehyde is, at the least, probably an extremely important factor in the well-documented ethanol-induced inhibition of testicular steroidogenesis in vivo and further suggest that ethanol may be converted to acetaldehyde to produce its testicular toxicity. Finally, we have found that acetaldehyde blocks testicular steroidogenesis by selectively and specifically inhibiting the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone.
Captopril and renal survival in patients with human immunodeficiency virus nephropathy

The pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is unknown, but it is characterized by aggressive glomerulosclerosis, tubulopathy, and interstitial inflammation. Currently, no therapy has been proven effective for HIVAN. Angiotensin II has been implicated in the pathogenesis of progressive renal disease in the absence of HIV infection, and treatment with captopril enhances renal survival in patients with diabetic glomerulosclerosis. Serum angiotensin-converting enzyme levels are elevated in patients with HIV infection. We therefore compared the course of 18 patients with biopsy-proven HIVAN (nine treated three times per day with captopril and nine not treated [controls]). The controls were matched to the study patients by age, race, gender, and level of serum creatinine concentration. Renal survival was measured from time of biopsy and treatment with captopril until onset of therapy for end-stage renal disease. Differences between the groups' survival were assessed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Seven African-American men and two women were in the captopril-treated group, and eight African-American men and one woman were in the control group. No control patient died before the initiation of dialysis. There was no difference between initial mean serum creatinine concentration (3.4 +/- 0.7 mg/dL v 3.7 +/- 0.5 mg/dL), CD4 count (66 +/- 27/microL v 92 +/- 15/microL), or age (41.4 +/- 4.1 years v 36.4 +/- 2.6 years) in the study patients and controls, respectively, but the mean urinary protein to creatinine ratio was higher in the study patients. Renal survival was enhanced in the patients compared with the controls (mean renal survival, 156 +/- 71 days v 37 +/- 5 days, respectively; curves different; P < 0.002, Mantel-Cox log-rank test). Captopril and antiretroviral therapy were associated with enhanced renal survival in a Cox regression analysis, while age, level of serum creatinine, urinary protein to creatinine ratio, and CD4 count were not. These data suggest that treatment with captopril and antiretroviral therapy might be useful in delaying the rapidly progressive renal failure characterizing HIVAN. Captopril might exert its effects by reducing angiotensin II levels, or, alternatively, through decreasing renal tissue expression of growth factors and cytokines or by affecting HIV protease activity and therefore extent of productive renal infection. Such findings must be confirmed by randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.
Hyperlipidemia and statin use after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

An increased incidence of cardiovascular complications has been documented in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Despite this, little is known about the risk factors for hyperlipidemia or the role of lipid-lowering therapy early after transplantation. We performed a retrospective analysis of all patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from 1998 to 2008 and who survived more than 100 days. The incidence of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia in the first 2 years after transplantation was 73.4% and 72.5%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, the development of acute graft-versus-host disease was independently associated with both hypercholesterolemia (odds ratio [OR] = 1.62) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.54) after transplantation. Statin use was instituted in 29% of patients and was associated with a significant net reduction in total cholesterol (65 mg/dL, P
Enhanced Synthesis of Leukotriene B4 by Colonic Mucosa in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Leukotriene B4, an arachidonic acid metabolite, is a potent chemotactic agent, and is thought to be an important mediator of inflammation. To investigate the role of this compound as a mediator of inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease, arachidonic acid was incubated with ionophore and colonic mucosa from patients with inflammatory bowel disease and from normal subjects. Mucosa from patients with inflammatory bowel disease converted 2.17% of exogenous arachidonate to leukotriene B4; mucosa from normal subjects converted 0.37%. The production of leukotriene was blocked by sulfasalazine. To determine if inflammatory bowel mucosa contained endogenous leukotriene B4, lipid extracts were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography. Mucosa from patients with inflammatory bowel disease contained 254 ng of leukotriene B4 per gram and mucosa from normal subjects contained
Vascularity of primary and metastatic renal cell carcinoma specimens.

Purpose Anti-angiogenic therapies are among the most commonly used drugs in renal cell carcinoma. Tumor vascularity, defined by microvessel area, may be associated with response to these drugs. Clinical studies suggest that metastatic sites are more responsive than primary tumors. Our purpose was to characterize microvessel area (MVA) in matched primary and metastatic samples and in samples of different histologies.
Tan spot of lima bean caused by Boeremia exigua var. exigua in New York State, USA

AbstractIn 2013, a new foliar disease was observed in processing lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) plants in fields across western New York State, USA. The fungus Boeremia exigua var. exigua (Desm.) Aveskamp, Gruyter & Verkley was consistently isolated from lesions. The fungus was identified by characterization of morphological features and multiple genes (internal transcribed spacer, partial actin, β-tubulin, translation elongation factor 1-α and calmodulin) informative for speciation within the Didymellaceae. Pathogenicity was confirmed by inoculation of three lima bean cultivars in a repeated greenhouse experiment. Snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), which are commonly encountered in the cropping rotation in New York State, were also inoculated, and demonstrated susceptibility to the pathogen. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Boeremia exigua var. exigua causing tan spot disease on foliage of lima bean in New York State, USA.
Body waves as normal and leaking modes. Part I: Introduction

abstract Realistic artificial seismograms may be computed by considering body waves as sums of normal or leaking modes of surface waves: the S wave and those arriving after S may be considered as sums of higher normal modes of Rayleigh waves ( R i N ) and Love waves ( L i N ); in this case the apparent velocity c β n . Earlier arrivals are generally due to the first kind of leaking modes of Rayleigh waves ( R i L 1) for which β n α n . Deep reflections in seismic prospecting are R i L 2 for which c > α n . Synthetic seismograms can be computed by double Fourier transformation in those two last cases. Alternately the method of residues followed by a single Fourier (or Laplace) transformation may be used in all cases. Earth-stretching approximations should give excellent results for SH waves and may give satisfactory results for P and SV waves.
Associations Between Recent Heavy Drinking and Dorsal Anterior Cingulate N-Acetylaspartate and Glutamate Concentrations in Non-Treatment-Seeking Individuals with Alcohol Dependence.

Background Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) studies have consistently found abnormal brain concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and glutamate in individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUD) relative to light drinkers. However, most such studies have focused on individuals in treatment for severe alcohol dependence (AD), and few studies have investigated associations between neurochemical concentrations and recent alcohol consumption. This study focused on associations between recent drinking and prefrontal neurometabolite concentrations in nonsevere, non-treatment-seeking individuals with AUD. Methods Nineteen treatment-naive alcohol-dependent individuals aged 21 to 40 completed a 1H-MRS scan. Single-voxel 1H-MRS spectra were acquired in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) using a 2-dimensional J-resolved point resolved spectroscopy sequence. Associations between recent heavy drinking, assessed using the Timeline FollowBack, and dACC metabolite concentrations were estimated via regression controlling for within-voxel tissue composition. Results Participants provided a negative breathalyzer reading and reported between 1 and 5 days (M = 2.45, SD = 1.23) since their last drink. Number of heavy drinking days in the 14 days preceding the scan (M = 4.84, SD = 3.32) was significantly inversely associated with both glutamate/water (β = −0.63, t(17) = −3.37, p = 0.004) and NAA/water concentrations (β = −0.59, t(17) = −2.98, p = 0.008). Conclusions This study extends the literature by demonstrating inverse associations between recent heavy drinking and dACC glutamate and NAA concentrations in a sample of nonsevere, non-treatment-seeking individuals with AD. These findings may support the hypothesis that amount of recent alcohol consumption may account for differences in neuronal metabolism, even in nonsevere, non-treatment-seeking alcoholics.
Niche Relationships of a Guild of Necrophagous Flies

An investigation into the niche relationships of flies which exploit carrion as a larval food resource was made. Four species of Calliphoridae, Phaenicia sericata (Meigen), Phormia regina (Meigen), Cochliomyia macellaria (F.) and Eucalliphora lilaea (Walker), and 2 species of Sarcophagidae, Blaesoxipha plinthopyga (Wiedemann) and Sarcophaga cooleyi Parker, were found to commonly breed on carrion in central California. Strategies of carcass exploitation along seasonal, successional, and size gradients were examined for each fly species. P. sericata and E. lilaea both occurred as pioneering species on smallsized carrion, but P. sericata fed on carrion during the warm season while E. lilaea was a cool season exploiter. P. sericata and P. regina exploited carrion contemporaneously during the spring season; however, P. regina fed during the later successional stages of decay primarily on large carrion. C. macellaria also preferred large carrion, but displaced P. regina by feeding during the fall season. Both B. plinthopyga and S. cooleyi specialized on small carrion during the summer and early fall when their ultrapioneering strategy of carcass attack reduced competitive interactions with the calliphorids. Species were found to diverge in their exploitation patterns of carrion, supporting the Gauseian contention that species with identical niche requirements cannot coexist. Each species was most fit (expressed heaviest average individual weight) on its most preferred resource state. The most stable resources were exploited by specialist species, while those species that fed on less stable aspects of the food resource were wide-niched in their exploitation strategy.
Knee Joint Kinetics during Reactive Recovery: Effects of Localized Muscle Fatigue:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of localized muscle fatigue on the knee joint kinetics during reactive recovery efforts from a slip perturbation. Sixteen healthy young participants were recruited to walk across an unexpected slippery vinyl floor surface in two different sessions (Fatigue and No fatigue). Kinematic and kinetic data were collected using a three-dimensional video analysis system and force plates during both sessions. An inverse dynamic model was developed to assess joint moment and joint power of the knees during reactive recovery period of slip-induced falls. The results demonstrated an increase in the peak knee joint moment and peak knee joint power generation in the fatigue slip trials. There were four reported falls in the fatigue session. The study concluded that localized muscle fatigue adversely affects the knee joint kinetics and can be considered a risk factor for slip induced falls. These findings provide new insights to the biomechanical relationship betwe...
Kinetics of plasma hemoglobin catabolism in the rat. II. Cr-51-tagged hemoglobin.

Summary(1) Following in vitro labeling of erythrocytes with Na2Cr51O4, a considerable amount of the Cr51 was found unattached to hemoglobin. (2) This unattached Cr51 lost the ability to label erythrocytes, and when given intravenously, was excreted rapidly by the kidneys. (3) Hemoglobin-bound Cr51 was cleared from the blood the same as was previously reported with I131-hemoglobin. After clearance, however, much tissue retention of Cr51 was noted. (4) Rats metabolized homologous and canine hemoglobin similarly, with slow excretion of Cr51 by the kidneys. (5) The clinical implications of these findings indicating some peculiar metabolic characteristic of Cr51-tagged erythrocytes are discussed.
Realismus und transzendentale Erkenntniskritik: Zur Kontroverse zwischen kritischen Rationalismus und Dialektik

Die dialektische Erkenntnistheorie postuliert gewohnlich eine Unvereinbarkeit zwischen der transzendentalen Analyse der Bedingungen moglicher Erkenntnis und dem Realismus. Die Annahme der Korrespondenztheorie der Wahrheit wird mit einem naiven Realismus identifiziert und dieser in der Kontroverse mit dem kritischen Rationalimus der gegnerischen Position unterschoben. Jenem werden die Vorzuge dialektischer Betrachtungen als transzendentale Analyse gegenubergestellt. Dieser Argumentation soll hier eine unzulassige Vermengung semantischer Fragen mit erkenntnistheoretischen Fragen nach der Moglichkeit eines Zugangs zu den Tatsachen nachgewiesen werden. Wahrend bei Kant durchaus eine Verbindung von Transzendentalphilosophie und Realismus vorzufinden ist, wird der Charakter transzendentaler Analyse im deutschen Idealismus und in der dieser Tradition folgenden kritischen Theorie seines eigentlichen Sinnes beraubt. Der Versuch, den Realismus instrumentalistisch umzudeuten, mus infolge der Verschrankung semantischer und erkenntnistheoretischer Fragestellungen fehlschlagen.
A note on detecting unbounded instances of the online shortest path problem

The online shortest path problem is a type of stochastic shortest path problem in which certain arc costs are revealed en route, and the path is updated accordingly to minimize expected cost. This note addresses the open problem of determining whether a problem instance admits a finite optimal solution in the presence of negative arc costs. We formulate the problem as a Markov decision process and show ways to detect such instances in the course of solving the problem using standard algorithms such as value and policy iteration. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 67(4), 270–276 2016
Surface Damage Effects on Secondary Electron Emission from the Negative Electron Affinity Diamond Surface

The effects of surface damage on the secondary electron emission characteristics of a natural diamond (100) surface have been investigated using ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Surface damage was intentionally induced by abrading the (100) diamond face with diamond paste. Removal of the damage was achieved by a sequence of ion implantation, graphitization, electrochemical etching and oxygen/argon plasma etching. Prior to characterization performed between steps in the sequence, the surface was hydrogenated by exposure to a hydrogen plasma in attempts to create a negative electron affinity surface condition. Upon removal of the surface damage, the secondary electron yield from the negative electron affinity surface was enhanced by a factor of ˜20 over that from the damaged negative electron affinity surface.
The emergence of duality of patterning: Insights from the laboratory

The concept of duality of patterning (henceforth DP) has recently begun to undergo new scrutiny. In particular, the fact that Al-Sayyid Bed - ouin Sign Language (ABSL) does not appear to exhibit a layer of meaningless units (Sandler et al. 2011) casts doubt on the universality of DP as a defining feature of natural language. Why, then, do the vast majority of the world's languages exhibit DP? Two hypotheses have been suggested. The first is that DP is a necessary solution to the problem of conveying a large number of mean- ings; the second is that DP arises as a consequence of conventionalization. We tested these hypotheses in an experimental-semiotics study. Our results supported the hypothesis based on conventionalization but were inconclu - sive with regard to the hypothesis based on the number of meanings. At the same time, the task of measuring DP in an experimental-semiotics study pre- sented interesting challenges, suggesting that the concept of DP may need some overhauling.
Maintaining Strategic Relevance: Career and Technical Education Program Discontinuance in Community and Technical Colleges

This is a concise, well-written book with case studies of the program discontinuance process for career and technical education (CTE) programs at three community colleges in California. It is also ...
An Archaeological Survey of Converse City Park, Bexar County, Texas

On March 3-4, 1986, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR), The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), conducted a survey of approximately 25 acres, comprising the Converse City Park on the south edge of Converse in Bexar County, Texas. The survey was required to comply with federal regulations. One area within the development zone was found to have a light surface scatter of cultural materials. This lithic scatter was recorded and assigned a permanent state site designation (41 BX 698). An intensive search of the site area failed to produce any concentration of cultural materials other than the one area. No diagnostic tool types were observed. The cultural resources potential significance located within the survey area were not determined to be eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. No further work is recommended.
Slide Catalase: A Reliable Test for Differentiation and Presumptive Identification of Certain Clinically Significant Anaerobes

A modification of the slide catalase test was evaluated to determine its reliability for the presumptive identification of certain anaerobic gram-negative and gram-positive organisms isolated from clinical specimens. A total of 650 fresh isolates was evaluated. Growth from a trypticase blood agar plate or Schaedler's agar with laked blood was transferred to a slide and a drop of 15% H2O2 with Tween 80 added. Veillonella alcalescens, Proprionibacterium species, Peptococcus species, and Bacteroides fragilis, B. thetaiotaomicron, B. distasonis, B. ovatus, and B. vulgatus were positive by this method. Comparative slide and tube catalase tests were performed with the above-mentioned bacteroides species by growing each isolate on trypticase soy agar, Brucella agar, brain-heart infusion agar, each with and without added hemin, and on Schaedler's agar. Four solutions of H2O2 were used, 3 and 15%, and 3 and 15% with Tween 80. The addition of Tween 80 to H2O2 increased the sensitivity of the reaction with both slide and tube methods. The 15% H2O2 with Tween 80 consistently gave the most rapid and persistent positive reaction. A slide catalase test in combination with a Gram stain should be performed on each anaerobic isolate; this would significantly decrease the time required for presumptive identification of many anaerobic organisms.
Pituitary disorders as a predictor of apathy and executive dysfunction in adult survivors of childhood brain tumors.

Background The relationship between apathy and endocrine dysfunction, both frequent outcomes of neurological insult, has not yet been investigated in brain tumor survivors. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between pituitary disorders and apathy and other facets of executive function in long-term adult survivors of childhood brain tumors and to differentiate between apathy and depression in this population. Procedure Seventy-six adult survivors of childhood brain tumors at least 5 years past diagnosis participated. An informant completed the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe), and 75 of the 76 participants completed a Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV-TR (SCID). Information on neuroendocrine dysfunction was obtained through medical chart review. Results Clinically significant levels of apathy on the FrSBe were identified in 41% of survivors. Pituitary dysfunction significantly explained 9% of the variance in apathy scores and affected whether an individual presented with clinical levels of apathy. Pituitary dysfunction predicted higher levels of executive dysfunction but did not impact whether a participant reached clinical levels of executive dysfunction. A past major depressive episode (MDE) significantly predicted current apathy but showed no relationship with pituitary disorders. Radiation treatment predicted pituitary dysfunction but not the differences in apathy or executive functions. Conclusions Apathy and executive dysfunction in survivors of childhood brain tumors are strongly predicted by pituitary dysfunction, and individuals with pituitary dysfunction are more likely to present with clinical levels of apathy as adults. Clinical levels of apathy may present absent of current depression, and pituitary dysfunction impacts apathy uniquely.
Mediatization in the Arab World: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of New Media Use

New media (including online and cellular technologies) are being embraced around the world, and younger people have led the way in their adoption. These technologies have spread particularly quickly in the Middle East as a result of innovations in satellite, cellular, and Internet technology. In addition, the Arab Spring was a major milestone for new media adoption in the Middle East and helped define appropriate uses for these technologies. Although they have been used for activism and expression, evidence suggests that these are not (or perhaps are no longer) the primary uses of these technologies among young Arabs. Drawing on the concept of mediatization in an analysis of surveys of American and Arab young people, this study explores cultural influences in recent online and cellular technology use in the Arab world, as well as cultural consequences of the increasing adoption of these technologies. In particular, it identifies and explores similarities and differences among the two groups regarding ownership of devices, online and cellular activities, and frequency of these activities. Findings reiterate the prominence of new media in the Arab world and suggest a continuing influence of traditional values, as well as an increasing influence of Western culture.
Reflective Palladium Nanoapertures on Fiber for Wide Dynamic Range Hydrogen Sensing

We present detailed experimental results on a reflective fiber sensor that is capable of accurately quantifying the hydrogen concentration over a wide dynamic range that spans from 1% down to 90 ppm. The sensor consists of a “C” shaped nano-aperture etched into the facet of a palladium coated optical fiber. Hydrogen changes the intensity and phase delay of the field reflected by the aperture differently than for the surrounding film and thus it greatly affects the total reflected intensity that results from the interference of these two fields. The initial phase difference between the two regions can be tuned to increase the sensitivity by over-etching the aperture.
Safety and improvement of movement function after stroke with atomoxetine: A pilot randomized trial.

Background Intensive, task-oriented motor training has been associated with neuroplastic reorganization and improved upper extremity movement function after stroke. However, to optimize such training for people with moderate-to-severe movement impairment, pharmacological modulation of neuroplasticity may be needed as an adjuvant intervention. Objective Evaluate safety, as well as improvement in movement function, associated with motor training paired with a drug to upregulate neuroplasticity after stroke. Methods In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 12 subjects with chronic stroke received either atomoxetine or placebo paired with motor training. Safety was assessed using vital signs. Upper extremity movement function was assessed using Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Wolf Motor Function Test, and Action Research Arm Test at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. Results No significant between-groups differences were found in mean heart rate (95% CI, -12.4-22.6; p = 0.23), mean systolic blood pressure (95% CI, -1.7-29.6; p = 0.21), or mean diastolic blood pressure (95% CI, -10.4-13.3; p = 0.08). A statistically significant between-groups difference on Fugl-Meyer at post-intervention favored the atomoxetine group (95% CI, 1.6-12.7; p = 0.016). Conclusion Atomoxetine combined with motor training appears safe and may optimize motor training outcomes after stroke.
Factors Regulating the Androgenic Action of Progestins in Mouse Kidney

It has been known for many years that in mice the kidney of both sexes will respond to androgens with an increase in weight and in the activities of certain enzymes (1,2). More recently, studies from several laboratories have shown that the steps involved in androgen-induced cell activation in the kidney are similar to those occurring in the male reproductive tract (3–6). In this and other testosterone responsive tissues, androgens bind to specific cytoplasmic receptors and the steroid-receptor complex is transferred into the nucleus of the cell. This is followed by increases in RNA polymerase and chromatin template activities and activation of specific genes with the subsequent synthesis of mRNAs and proteins.
Tuning flexibility to control selectivity in soft porous crystals

We use flat-histogram Monte Carlo simulations to study how changing the flexibility of soft porous crystals (SPCs) affects their selective adsorption of a binary, size-asymmetric supercritical fluid. Specifically, we consider mesoporous SPCs which have multiple minima in their free energy profiles as a function of pore size such that they are capable of exhibiting polymorphism between a narrow and large pore phase. While specific fluid-pore interactions determine the shape of both pores' selectivity curve as a function of adsorbate pressure, an individual pore tends to selectively adsorb a species based on the size of the adsorbate molecule relative to itself, thereby shifting the pore's selectivity curve relative to its polymorph. By controlling the flexibility of a SPC, the relative thermodynamic stability of the two pore phases may be varied, thereby changing the overall selectivity of the SPC during adsorbate loading. We investigate this for two classes of SPCs: one representative of "gate-opening" materials and another of "breathing" materials. For gate-opening materials, this control is much more salient than in breathing ones. However, for the latter, we illustrate how to tune the free energy profile to create materials which breathe multiple times during adsorption/desorption.
An Analysis of the Most Commonly Tested Topics and Their Taxonomy From Recent Self-Assessment Examinations.

Objective The purpose of this study is to determine the most commonly tested topics and the question taxonomy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Self-Assessment Examinations (SAE) from 2009 through 2014. Design All SAEs were analyzed from 2009 through 2014. The SAEs were separated by subject and the questions of each SAE were analyzed for topic, taxonomic classification, and question type. Results A total of 2107 questions were reviewed from 10 different subjects. In all, 6 of the 9 subjects had roughly 1/3 of their questions composed of the 3 most commonly tested topics. Each subject had at least 1 trauma-related question within its top 5 most commonly tested topics. Almost half (47%) of all questions were of taxonomy 1 classification and 29% were taxonomy 3. The Basic Science SAEs had the greatest percentage of taxonomy 1 questions of any subject (83%) whereas Trauma contained the highest percentage of taxonomy 3 questions (47%). Conclusions Certain topics within each subject are consistently tested more often than other topics. In general, the 3 most commonly tested topics comprise about one-third of total questions and orthopedic surgeons should be very familiar with these topics in order to best prepare for standardized examinations.
Utilizing statistical significance in fuzzy interval-valued evidence sets for assessing artificial reef structure impact

Artificial reefs are often formed by reef balls, oil rigs, either toppled or partially removed, and sunken vessels. Data gathered from observations made in the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas coast were statistically analyzed to investigate the impact of type of structure on fish presence, abundance and species observed. Environmental variables were controlled, and crosstabulations between various structure material-type categories were conducted for the most frequently observed species. Based on Chi-square tests of significance, a fuzzy interval-valued evidence model was developed such that different types of artificial reef structures were compared to determine to what extent each structure was likely to impact fish presence and abundance of species. Results indicate that all materials have been at least somewhat impactful, but the most impact on the presence of individual species has been the oil and gas jackets. A fuzzy goal-driven extension found that potential costs associated with each material may affect reef material selection decision making.
The Effects of Condom Availability on College Women's Sexual Discounting.

College students commonly engage in risky sexual behaviors, such as casual sexual encounters and inconsistent condom use. Discounting paradigms that examine how individuals devalue rewards due to their delay or uncertainty have been used to improve our understanding of behavioral problems, including sexual risk. The current study assessed relations between college women’s sexual partners discounting and risky sexual behavior. In this study, college women (N = 42) completed two sexual partners delay discounting tasks that assessed how choices among hypothetical sexual partners changed across a parametric range of delays in two conditions: condom availability and condom unavailability. Participants also completed two sexual partners probability discounting tasks that assessed partner choices across a parametric range of probabilities in condom availability and unavailability conditions. Additionally, participants reported risky sexual behavior on the Sexual Risk Survey (SRS). Participants discounted delayed partners more steeply in the condom availability condition, but those differences were significant only for those women with three or fewer lifetime sexual partners. There were no consistent differences in discounting rate across condom availability conditions for probability discounting. Sexual partners discounting measures correlated with risky sexual behaviors as measured by the SRS, but a greater number of significant relations were observed with the condoms-unavailable delay discounting task. These findings suggest the importance of examining the interaction of inconsistent condom use and multiple partners in examinations of sexual decision-making.