cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved finite element modeling strategies with multipoint constraints for BGA packages subjected to thermal cycling

Finite Element simulations are often used to study the reliability of solder joints subjected to thermal cycling. Packaging configurations are becoming more complex to accommodate better functionality and performance. Increased complexity leads to several challenges for FE models including difficulties modeling thin layers and interfaces, as well as keeping the total numbers of nodes and elements to reasonable levels so that computation times can be practical. To reduce the use of high-density meshes and to relax the restrictions of nodal connections, the technique of Multi-Point Constraints (MPC) is often used in finite element analysis. In the MPC method, constraints are enacted between different degrees of freedom of the model to simply transition between finely and coarsely meshed regions. MPC algorithms require additional DOF constraints on a FE model; and extra contact nodes/elements are deployed between the interfaces of contacting elements. MPC methods can be implemented with materials having linear or nonlinear mechanical behavior. The accuracy and efficiency of MPC-based finite element simulations for electronic packages have not been evaluated completely in the literature. In this work, an improved MPC based FE modeling strategy was developed for BGA packages to reduce the total number of elements (including both conventional and MPC elements), and thus reduce the simulation time. In addition, the new method can improve the simulation accuracy relative to models prepared using conventional meshing strategies. The proposed technique allows for different types of mesh patterns (circular pattern from solder joint and rectangular patterns from other component) to be connected in a package assembly while reducing the overall number of elements in the model. The proposed approach works with both symmetric and non-symmetric solder ball arrays, and achieves a good balance between simulation cost and simulation accuracy.
SHOCK-INDUCED LUMINESCENCE FROM X-CUT QUARTZ AND Z-CUT LITHIUM NIOBATE

The spectral and spatial properties of shock-induced luminescence from X-cut quartz and Z-cut lithium niobate are observed using optical pyrometry and fast framing photography. In both cases the spatial emission patterns are heterogeneous for stresses just above dynamic yielding; the pattern becomes homogeneous to within the spatial resolution of the experiment as the stress is increased further. In addition, the luminescence in both cases increases abruptly after dynamic yielding. The emission spectrum from both samples is band-like rather than blackbody and in the case of X-cut quartz is similar to the photoluminescence from structural defects.
Activity Sequence Classification for Monitoring and Assessment

Activity sequences describe subject behavior over longer time periods, for example daily activity reports. The classification of these sequences allows us to identify common patterns of behavior over longer time periods as well as unusual activity. We introduce a dynamic event warping (DEW) algorithm to compare event sequences. We also evaluate two simpler metrics, edit string distance and path separation. We experimentally compare classification based on these metrics.
What Good Is Christian Higher Education

ABSTRACTThis article presents the results of an analysis of recent survey data collected from CCCU students and alumni to address the research question, “To what extent are CCCU students and alumni significantly different from their counterparts in other types of universities, based on data collected through national surveys?” Survey data from 33,128 CCCU students and alumni were analyzed from the 2016 National Survey of Student Engagement, the 2015 Student Satisfaction Inventory, and the CARDUS Education Survey in 2011 and 2014. Comparisons to benchmark private institutions and to alumni from nonreligious private colleges, Catholic colleges, public universities, and non-CCCU religious colleges were made via independent sample t-tests and regression analyses. The findings were analyzed in light of the individual good, the common good, and the Kingdom good of Christian higher education, concluding that there may be a misalignment between the stated mission of Christian higher education and some of the outc...
Disorder in Pulsatile Flow: Biomedical Measurements with Hot Film, Laser and Ultrasound Anemometers

Biomedical measurements of flow and velocity may require a variety of instrumentation methods. The case of disordered velocities occurring in pulsatile flows downstream of localized atherosclerotic plaques is selected as an example for consideration. The hot film, laser and ultrasound anemometers are brought to bear upon studies in laboratory models, animals and humans to illustrate the advantages, limitations and complementary nature of these tools for cardiovascular flow measurements. Example results from each method are given and their interrelationship is discussed.
Minimal stimulation achieves pregnancy rates comparable to human menopausal gonadotropins in the treatment of infertility

Objective To examine the effectiveness of a novel clomiphene citrate (CC) and hMG combination protocol ("minimal stimulation") for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Minimal stimulation consists of administering 100 mg/d CC for 5 days followed by a single dose of 150IU hMG. The results of this analysis are compared with those of an hMG-alone protocol. In vitro fertilization-embryo transfer and donor insemination patients are excluded from this analysis. Design Retrospective review of minimal stimulation and hMG cycles from January 1, 1989 to December 31, 1992. Setting Tertiary care center reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinic. Patients Two hundred thirty-two women who underwent 549 treatment cycles. Main Outcome Measures Clinical and multiple pregnancy rates (PRs) and medication costs. Results Sixty-one women received 106 cycles of minimal stimulation and 183 received 443 cycles of hMG. Although subject groups were not assigned randomly, multivariate analysis detected no significant differences between the treatment groups. The total ampules of hMG required differed significantly (2.0 for minimal stimulation versus 16.8 ± 8.5 [mean ± SD] for hMG). Pregnancy rates and multiple gestation rates were similar. Medication expense of minimal stimulation is 21% that of the hMG protocol. Conclusions Minimal stimulation is as effective as hMG in the population examined. The comparable PRs and decreased medication costs of minimal stimulation justifies further evaluation of its role in the treatment of infertility.
Newbuild and Stacking Decision-Making

Drilling contractors newbuild or idle rigs based on market conditions and business strategies. In theory, contractors invest in newbuilding when the expected net present value of adding a rig to their fleet is positive (or the rate of return on the investment meets a minimum threshold), and idle capacity when the costs of operation exceed the costs of idling. The models employed by industry are confidential but the economics of decision-making are universal, which makes quantification of the problem meaningful. We develop and parameterize models of capacity decision-making and find that high combinations of dayrates and utilization are required to justify newbuild investment and that idling capacity may be preferred even if daily operating costs exceed daily revenue. The models presented are intended to reflect industry perspectives.
Leukemia development initiated by deletion of RBP-J: mouse strain, deletion efficiency and cell of origin

Conditional deletion of RBP-J, the major transcriptional effector of Notch signaling, specifically within renin-expressing cells leads to the development of B-cell leukemia. However, the influence of contributing factors such as mouse strain, cell of origin and Cre recombinase copy number are unknown. In this study, we compared RBP-J deletion efficiency using one versus two copies of Cre recombinase. Further, we compared the incidence and timing of leukemia development in two unique strains of mice, C57BL/6 and 129/SV, as well as at different B-cell developmental stages. We found that animals expressing two copies of Cre recombinase developed B-cell leukemia at an earlier age and with more fulminant disease, compared with control animals and animals expressing one copy of Cre recombinase. In addition, we found a difference in leukemia incidence between C57BL/6 and 129/SV mouse strains. Whereas deletion of RBP-J in renin-expressing cells of C57BL/6 mice leads to the development of B-cell leukemia, 129/SV mice develop dermatitis with a reactive, myeloproliferative phenotype. The difference in phenotypes is explained, in part, by the differential expression of extra-renal renin; C57BL/6 mice have more renin-expressing cells within hematopoietic tissues. Finally, we found that deletion of RBP-J in Mb1- or CD19-expressing B lymphocytes does not result in leukemia development. Together, these studies establish that renin progenitors are vulnerable cells for neoplastic transformation and emphasize the importance of genetic background on the development of inflammatory and malignant conditions.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Active Targeting of Cancer Cells by Nanobody Decorated Polypeptide Micelle with Bio-orthogonally Conjugated Drug.

Polypeptides are promising carriers for chemotherapeutics: they have minimal toxicity, can be recombinantly synthesized with precise control over molecular weight, and enhance drug pharmacokinetics as self-assembled nanoparticles. Polypeptide-based systems also provide the ability to achieve active targeting with genetically encoded targeting ligands. While passive targeting promotes accumulation of nanocarriers in solid tumors, active targeting provides an additional layer of tunable control and widens the therapeutic window. However, fusion of most targeting proteins to polypeptide carriers exposes the limitations of this approach: the residues that are used for drug attachment are also promiscuously distributed on protein surfaces. We present here a universal methodology to solve this problem by the site-specific attachment of extrinsic moieties to polypeptide drug delivery systems without cross-reactivity to fused targeting domains. We incorporate an unnatural amino acid, p-acetylphenylalanine, to pro...
Molecular Targets and Treatment of Meningioma

Meningiomas are by far the most common tumors arising from the meninges. A myriad of aberrant signaling pathways involved with meningioma tumorigenesis, have been discovered. Understanding these disrupted pathways will aid in deciphering the relationship between various genetic changes and their downstream effects on meningioma pathogenesis. An understanding of the genetic and molecular profile of meningioma would provide a valuable first step towards developing more effective treatments for this intracranial tumor. Chromosomes 1, 10, 14, 22, their associated genes, and other potential targets have been linked to meningioma proliferation and progression. It is presumed that through an understanding of these genetic factors, more educated meningioma treatment techniques can be implemented. Future therapies will include combinations of targeted molecular agents including gene therapy, si-RNA mediation, proton therapy, and other approaches as a result of continued progress in the understanding of genetic and biological changes associated with meningiomas. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge of the genetic, signaling and molecular profile of meningioma and possible treatments strategies associated with such profiles.
116 Concussion prevention awareness in middle school sports

Statement of Purpose Limited research specific to middle school (MS) sports on concussion prevention exists. We examined general perceptions, knowledge, attitudes, and communication constructs related to concussion prevention among MS sports stakeholders. Methods/Approach Semi-structured interviews with coaches/school staff (n=6), parents, (n=10) and athletes (n=10) were conducted as part of a larger study throughout the 2018–2019 academic year at four North Carolina MSs. Interviews were transcribed verbatim; data were analyzed using the consensual qualitative tradition where a codebook was created using four progressive stages. Results Three major themes were identified. First, there was a general lack of infrastructure and context surrounding sport safety and concussion prevention. Participants reported that the emphasis is on athletes simply exploring the varied sport options offered at the MS level, good sportsmanship and sport enjoyment; sport safety and concussion prevention was not a high concern. Second, there was limited awareness by stakeholders at the MS level concerning the importance of concussion prevention. Participants noted that concussion prevention is rarely discussed at the MS level and does not resonate with stakeholders. Third, there was ineffective communication between stakeholders regarding several topics, including concussion prevention. Participants noted that communication between the Athletic Directors, coaches, parents, and athletes was focused mainly on logistics, e.g., schedule changes. In addition, participants reported varied modes of communication utilized by school, of which most reportedly posed challenges for key stakeholders. Conclusions These findings suggest a need to develop a cohesive strategy specific to the MS setting to disseminate concussion prevention information. Researchers and other MS sport stakeholders should collaborate to develop methods for sharing concussion prevention information at this level. Significance/Contribution to Injury and Violence Prevention Science Our findings are the first to examine concussion prevention in MS sports, and highlight the need to further explore strategies to disseminate and implement concussion education.
Metabolic Profiling Reveals Aggravated Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis in High-Fat High-Cholesterol Diet-Fed Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice Lacking Ron Receptor Signaling

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) represents the progressive sub-disease of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that causes chronic liver injury initiated and sustained by steatosis and necroinflammation. The Ron receptor is a tyrosine kinase of the Met proto-oncogene family that potentially has a beneficial role in adipose and liver-specific inflammatory responses, as well as glucose and lipid metabolism. Since its discovery two decades ago, the Ron receptor has been extensively investigated for its differential roles on inflammation and cancer. Previously, we showed that Ron expression on tissue-resident macrophages limits inflammatory macrophage activation and promotes a repair phenotype, which can retard the progression of NASH in a diet-induced mouse model. However, the metabolic consequences of Ron activation have not previously been investigated. Here, we explored the effects of Ron receptor activation on major metabolic pathways that underlie the development and progression of NASH. Mice lacking apolipoprotein E (ApoE KO) and double knockout (DKO) mice that lack ApoE and Ron were maintained on a high-fat high-cholesterol diet for 18 weeks. We observed that, in DKO mice, the loss of ligand-dependent Ron signaling aggravated key pathological features in steatohepatitis, including steatosis, inflammation, oxidation stress, and hepatocyte damage. Transcriptional programs positively regulating fatty acid (FA) synthesis and uptake were upregulated in the absence of Ron receptor signaling, whereas lipid disposal pathways were downregulated. Consistent with the deregulation of lipid metabolism pathways, the DKO animals exhibited increased accumulation of FAs in the liver and decreased level of bile acids. Altogether, ligand-dependent Ron receptor activation provides protection from the deregulation of major metabolic pathways that initiate and aggravate non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
NF-κB modifies the mammalian circadian clock through interaction with the core clock protein BMAL1

ABSTRACT In mammals, the circadian clock coordinates various cell physiological processes, including the inflammatory response. Recent studies suggested a crosstalk between these two pathways. However, the mechanism of how inflammation affects the circadian clock is not well understood. Here, we investigated the role of the proinflammatory transcription factor NF-κB in regulating clock function. Using a combination of genetic and pharmacological approaches, we show that perturbation of the canonical NF-κB subunit RELA in the U2OS cellular model altered core clock gene expression. While RELA activation shortened period length and dampened amplitude in these cells, its inhibition lengthened period length and caused amplitude phenotypes. NF-κB perturbation also altered circadian rhythms in the master suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) clock and locomotor activity. We show that RELA, like the clock repressor CRY1, potently repressed the transcriptional activity of BMAL1/CLOCK at the circadian E-box cis-element. Biochemical and biophysical analysis showed that RELA competes with coactivator CBP/p300 for binding to the transactivation domain of BMAL1. This mechanism is further supported by chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showing that the binding sites of RELA, BMAL1 and CLOCK converge on the E-boxes of clock genes. Taken together, these data support a significant role for NF-κB in directly regulating circadian clock function and highlight mutual regulation between the circadian and inflammatory pathways.
Postnatal Arx Transcriptional Activity Regulates Functional Network Properties of PV Interneurons

The transcription factor Aristaless-related X-linked gene (Arx) is a monogenic factor in early-onset epileptic encephalopathies (EOEEs) and a fundamental regulator of early stages of brain development. However, Arx expression persists in mature GABAergic neurons, but its role in the mature brain is unknown. To address this issue, we generated a conditional knockout (CKO) mouse in which postnatal Arx expression was selectively ablated in parvalbumin interneurons (PVIs). Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings in CKO mice revealed an increase in hippocampal theta oscillations and the occurrence of occasional seizures. Behavioral analysis uncovered an increase in anxiety in these mice. Genome-wide sequencing of fluorescence activated cell sorted (FACS) PVIs from hippocampal and cortical brain regions revealed that Arx impinged on network excitability via a vast array of genes that are predominantly associated with synaptic and extracellular matrix pathways. Whole-cell recordings from CKO mice revealed prominent hypo-excitability of various PVI intrinsic and excitatory synaptic properties. These results revealed important functional roles for postnatal Arx expression in PVIs in the control of neural circuits and that dysfunction in those roles alone can cause EOEE-like network abnormalities. Thus, restoration of postnatal Arx signaling in PVIs following onset of Arx-linked EOEEs represents a novel and more efficacious therapeutic approach for treatment of these pharmacoresistant epileptic disorders.
Identifying Authenticity in Children’s Multicultural Books

In recent years, as the nation’s racial, ethnic and linguistic diversity grows, there has been an appeal for K-12 classrooms to include more children’s and young adult literature that reflect vario...
Native Hip Septic Arthritis in the Setting of Postpartum Gynecologic Infection: A Case Report.

Case A 34-year-old healthy G3P3 woman, 1.5 weeks postpartum, presented with hip pain, fever, and a rash. Clinical examination, laboratory testing, and microbiologic cultures identified bacterial arthritis of the right hip; obstetric/gynecologic examination and cultures identified endometrial, vaginal, and urinary tract infections caused by the same pathogen, group A streptococcus, likely contracted from her 5-year-old son who had streptococcal pharyngitis. She underwent successful surgical decompression of the hip with concurrent medical management of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Conclusions Hematogenously spread septic arthritis may occur in the absence of positive blood cultures during the postpartum period, increasing the risk of developing TSS.
Controlling for Spurious Nonlinear Dependence in Connectivity Analyses.

Recent analysis methods can capture nonlinear interactions between brain regions. However, noise sources might induce spurious nonlinear relationships between the responses in different regions. Previous research has demonstrated that traditional denoising techniques effectively remove noise-induced linear relationships between brain areas, but it is unknown whether these techniques can remove spurious nonlinear relationships. To address this question, we analyzed fMRI responses while participants watched the film Forrest Gump. We tested whether nonlinear Multivariate Pattern Dependence Networks (MVPN) outperform linear MVPN in non-denoised data, and whether this difference is reduced after CompCor denoising. Whereas nonlinear MVPN outperformed linear MVPN in the non-denoised data, denoising removed these nonlinear interactions. We replicated our results using different neural network architectures as the bases of MVPN, different activation functions (ReLU and sigmoid), different dimensionality reduction techniques for CompCor (PCA and ICA), and multiple datasets, demonstrating that CompCor’s ability to remove nonlinear interactions is robust across these analysis choices and across different groups of participants. Finally, we asked whether information contributing to the removal of nonlinear interactions is localized to specific anatomical regions of no interest or to specific principal components. We denoised the data 8 separate times by regressing out 5 principal components extracted from combined white matter (WM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), each of the 5 components separately, 5 components extracted from WM only, and 5 components extracted solely from CSF. In all cases, denoising was sufficient to remove the observed nonlinear interactions.
Are processors free? Impact on RDMA and protocol off-load technologies

The growing prevalence of multi-core and multi-threaded processors combined the rapid commodization of hardware raises numerous questions about how best to utilize this processing power. Will the cost of a processor core drop to a point where processors are considered free? Will such a cost point enable processor cores to be cost-effectively dedicated to platform-specific services such as storage and inter-processor communication infrastructures and applications? What impact might this trend have on RDMA (remote direct memory access) and protocol off-load technologies such as InfiniBand and RDMA/TCP (aka iWARP)? This presentation examines the potential impact and how these technologiies might evolve in the comin years.
Abstract 264: Breast cancer incidence and Gail risk in a prospective study of women with benign breast disease

Introduction: Women with benign breast disease (BBD) are at an increased risk of subsequent development of breast cancer. We followed a cohort of high-risk women to investigate the development of invasive breast cancer and examined differences in incidence and Gail risk among women with and without BBD. Methods: The Women At Risk (WAR) registry is a prospectively followed cohort of women at Columbia University medical Center from 1991 to 2011. Ascertainment of progression from BBD to breast cancer was done through examination of medical records and New York Presbyterian tumor registry. Incidence rates are reported per 10,000 person-years at risk. Women with a history of BBD at baseline were diagnosed with BBD prior to enrollment in the WAR registry, women with BBD diagnosed after enrollment were classified as incident BBD. We calculated 5-year and lifetime Gail risk based on women9s characteristics at baseline to compare Gail risk in women with and without BBD. For this analysis, women with incident BBD were excluded. We assessed risk of invasive breast cancer using Poisson regression analysis, with the log-transformed person-years as the offset. Results: There were 396 women with a history of BBD at baseline. Mean 5-year Gail risk was significantly higher for women with a history of BBD as compared to women without a history of BBD at baseline (BBD (Mean±Std): 3.60±2.29 vs. No BBD: 1.94±1.68, p Conclusions: Breast cancer incidence is higher among women with BBD, contributing to the evidence of increased breast cancer risk after BBD diagnosis. Citation Format: Laura L. Reimers, Katherine D. Crew, Mary Beth Terry. Breast cancer incidence and Gail risk in a prospective study of women with benign breast disease. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 264. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-264
Tuberculin Skin Test Screening in Schoolchildren in the United States

Objective. To determine the current practices and results of tuberculin skin test (TST) screening of schoolchildren in the United States. Methods. Tuberculosis program staff in all states and the District of Columbia were asked about current requirements, practices, and results of school-based TST screening. Results. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia (69%) reported no current statewide statutes or policies for tuberculin screening of schoolchildren, and 10 (19%) reported having statewide requirements. In 6 states (12%), requirements were instituted at the local level, and 24 localities in these states were known to require screening. Of the 34 areas requiring screening, 18 (53%) screened all new entrants, 7 (21%) screened children in specific grades, and 9 (26%) used other criteria for screening. TST results were collected for 26 (76%) of 34 areas, and 6 areas collected results of follow-up evaluation of tuberculin-positive children. Additionally, 8 localities in 7 states with no screening requirements conducted tuberculin surveys. Sixteen areas provided results. In 7 of the 8 areas that collected information about birthplace, less than 2% of US-born children were tuberculin positive; foreign-born children had rates 6 to 24 times higher than US-born children. TST screening identified few cases of tuberculosis, less than 0.02% of the children screened. Conclusion. School-based tuberculin screening identified low rates of positive TST results in US-born children. Resources should be directed toward screening children at high risk for tuberculous infection, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Advisory Committee for Elimination of Tuberculosis.
Inhouse Systems in Libraries 1982

This bibliography of recent articles is the result of a survey of the literature on in‐house systems for the year 1982. The articles and monographs included were selected to provide the latest information on systems in existence or being planned by libraries of all types: academic, public, special and school.
Comparison of New Zealand and United States securities markets through the looking glass of the Efficienct Market Hypothesis

In the United States the Efficient Market Hypothesis has dictated academic debate on securities law, particularly in the consideration of the regulatory system of mandatory disclosure under the Securities Exchange Act 1934. In New Zealand the Efficient Market Hypothesis has rarely been cited by the legal fraternity, the courts or by politicians. However, capital market ideas are entrenched in the Efficient Market Hypothesis, and because New Zealand has been at the forefront of deregulation since the early 1980s it has a regulatory system of mandatory disclosure which reflects, at least in part, the principles of the Efficient Market Hypothesis Chapter 1 of this thesis reviews the literature concerning the Efficient Market Hypothesis. Chapter 2 provides a general description of the characteristics of the New Zealand and United States financial environments, and then focuses on the legal and regulatory systems of mandatory disclosure within which those countries operate. 1 Cunningham, Lawrence A., Capital Market Theory, Mandatory Disclosure, and Price Discovery, 51 Wash. & Lee L. Rev. 843 (1994) at 844 2 Cunningham, Lawrence A., Capital Market Theory, Mandatory Disclosure, and Price Discovery, 51 Wash. & Lee L. Rev. 843 (1994) at 844 Chapter 3 discussed applying the Efficient Market Hypothesis to the environments described in Chapter 2. It considers whether the New Zealand and United States financial markets can be considered efficient markets under the accepted definition. It then examines some examples of existing mandatory disclosure laws, both in the United States and New Zealand, which seem to rely on notions that are supported by the Efficient Market Hypothesis, whether or not these notions are expressed as such. Finally, Chapter 4 discusses the relationship between efficient markets and mandatory disclosure laws, and then summarises how this relationship has been reflected in New Zealand and the United States. The conclusion is that there are many aspects of Efficient Market Disclosure apparent in the legal and regulatory systems in the United States and New Zealand. INDEX WORDS: Efficient Market Hypothesis, Securities, Shares, Regulation, and Disclosure, Capital Markets COMPARISON OF NEW ZEALAND UNITED STATES SECURITIES MARKETS THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS OF THE EFFICIENT MARKET HYPOTHESIS: ASPECTS OF THEIR SYSTEMS OF DISCLOSURE ACCORDING TO THE EFFICIENT MARKET HYPOTHESIS
Physical Activity and Depressive Symptoms Interact to Predict Executive Functioning Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Background/Study Context: Physical activity is beneficial for the executive functioning (EF) of older adults, but may be particularly protective of EF when they are cognitively vulnerable, such as during depressive episodes. Intervention studies support more potent effects of physical activity on EF among clinically depressed older adults, although these results may have limited generalizability to the daily mood and physical activity of healthy, community-dwelling older adults. Methods: The current study aimed to test whether physical activity among older adults was more protective of EF during periods of cognitive vulnerability due to mildly elevated depressive symptoms. Longitudinal data from 150 generally healthy, community-dwelling older adults were collected semiannually and analyzed with multilevel modeling.Results: Physical activity was more protective of EF within individuals during periods of relatively elevated depressive symptoms.Conclusions: The power of physical activity to protect EF during...
Basic theory of infrared optical systems without and with auxiliary lenses

Abstract The optical design of a horizon scanner or a similar optical system can be judged by an “optical performance number”, OPN, which should be made as large as possible. OPN is the product of two numbers, ϑ and B ;, the first of which refers to optical system parameters and the second to the bolometer arrangement and signal evaluation. The optical number, ϑ, applies to (a) systems without auxiliary lenses, (b) hemispheric immersion lenses, (c) aplanatic immersion lenses, and (d) ancillary telescopic systems, while the bolometer number, B , applies to the cases of (e) maximum signal, (f) maximum signal-noise ratio, or (g) maximum slope. The reasoning is based on an assumed aplanatism for the optical system, but the effect of aberrations is briefly outlined.
Are They Really That Happy? Exploring Scale Recalibration in Estimates of Well-Being

Objective: The authors addressed a lingering concern in research on hedonic adaptation to adverse circumstances. This research typically relies on self-report measures of well-being, which are subjective and depend on the standards that people use in making judgments. The authors employed a novel method to test for, and rule out, such scale recalibration in self-reports of well-being. Design: The authors asked patients with chronic illness (either lung disease or diabetes) and nonpatients to evaluate quality of life (QoL) for the patients’disease. In addition, the authors also asked them to rank and rate the aversiveness of a diverse set of adverse circumstances, allowing examination of both the numerical ratings and ordering among items. Main Outcome Measures: The authors compared patients’ and nonpatients’ ratings and rankings for the patients’ disease and other conditions. Results and Conclusion: The authors found that patients not only assigned higher numerical QoL ratings to their own disease than did nonpatients but also ranked it higher among the broad set of conditions. These results suggest that scale recalibration cannot account for discrepant QoL ratings between patients and nonpatients. More generally, this study presents a new approach for measuring well-being that is not subject to the problem of scale recalibration.
Temple and dam, fez and hat: the secular roots of religious politics in India and Turkey

This essay offers a comparative examination of the historical processes through which secularism was adopted and consolidated in India and Turkey. It examines the historical choice and the ideological practices that worked to establish secularism as an essential component of national identity in each country at their time of founding (Turkey in 1923 and India in 1947) and shows how this reinforced rather than defused the political salience of religion in both cases. The rise of religious political movements in later years is related to the presence and persistence of these pre-existing, secular repertoires. As the article argues, in India and Turkey, the ascendancy of religious politics is built on secular foundations.
Fitts’ Law in 3D Space with Coordinated Hand Movements:

The study tested the applicability of Fitts’ law to coordinated hand movements in a 3D response space with. An experiment was conducted in which 20 participants performed the Fitts’ pointing tasks ...
Prediction of Information Sharing Behavior in China: Understanding the Cultural and Social Determinants

Understanding information sharing is an important challenge to companies around the world. This is especially true for those who engage in business in China. It is essential for them to understand information sharing in its particular Chinese context. This paper investigates the influence of cultural factors on information sharing in China with 207 views from researchers in a leading global IT research center in Beijing and a local university in Hong Kong. It is postulated that collectivism, Confucian dynamism and "guanxi", have a significant influence on information sharing within divisions of the work organization, while it is not the case external to the work organization
Correcting for Bias in Log-Transformed Allometric Equations

mals: their productivity and population dynamics, IBP. Volume 5. Cambridge University Press, London, England. Mahmud, F. S. 1980. Alary polymorphism in the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus (Homoptera: Delphacidae). Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 28: 47-53. McCoy, E. D., and J. R. Rey. 1981. Alary polymorphism among the salt marsh Delphacidae (Homoptera: Fulgoroidea) of northwest Florida. Ecological Entomology 6:285291. Rey, J. R. 1981. Ecological biogeography of arthropods on Spartina islands in northwest Florida. Ecological Monographs 51:237-265. Stiling, P. D., and D. R. Strong. 1982. The parasitoids of the planthopper Prokelisia marginate (Homoptera: Delphacidae). Florida Entomologist 65:191-192. Varley, G. C., G. R. Gradwell, and M. P. Hassell. 1973. Insect population ecology. Blackwell, Oxford, England. Watt, A. D., and A. F. G. Dixon. 1981. The role of cereal growth stages and crowding in the induction of alatae in Sitobion a'enae and its consequences for population growth. Ecological Entomology 6:441-447.
1-Dimensional structures of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)(PEDOT): a chemical route to tubes, rods, thimbles, and belts

The chemical synthesis of 1-dimensional (1-D) PEDOT nanostructures in the form of tubes, rods, thimbles, and belts has been successfully accomplished through the use of a "hard template".
Effects of simulated microgravity on DU 145 human prostate carcinoma cells.

The high aspect rotating-wall vessel (HARV) was recently designed by NASA to cultivate animal cells in an environment that simulates microgravity. This work examines the effects of HARV cultivation on DU 145 human prostate carcinoma cells. In the HARV, these prostate cells grew in suspension on Cytodex-3 microcarrier beads to form bead aggregates with extensive three-dimensional growth between beads and on the aggregate surface. HARV and spinner-flask control cultures of DU 145 cells had similar doubling times, but the former was characterized by a higher percentage of G1-phase cells, larger bead aggregates, enhanced development of filopodia and microvilli-like structures on the aggregate surface, and stronger staining for select cytoskeletal proteins (cytokeratins 8 and 18, actin, and vimentin). When compared with static controls grown in a T-flask and Transwell insert, HARV cultures grew more slowly and differences in the cell cycle and immunostaining became more pronounced. These results suggest that HARV cultivation produced a culture that was less aggressive from the perspective of proliferation, more differentiated and less pliant than any of the three control cultures examined in this work. Possible factors effecting this change are discussed including turbulence and three-dimensional growth. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Characterizing steel tube for hydroforming applications

Abstract With the increased use of tubular steel products, especially for hydroforming applications, it is important to be able to predict the performance of tube from sheet tensile tests. In the present study, two aluminum killed draw quality (AKDQ) steels and one high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel were evaluated. Tensile properties and plastic strain ratios were measured on sheet material in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Axial tensile tests were performed on material extracted from production tubes. Material from quasi tubes, which are strip material bent to the same curvature as the tubes but not welded or sized, was also tested. Residual stresses in the production and quasi tube were determined by displacement methods. A hydraulic burst test was performed on the production tubes to simulate a hydroforming operation. Effective strains resulting from tubemaking are calculated for two discrete operations: bending and sizing. For the production tubes, a linear relationship was found between a load factor (strength times thickness) and effective sizing strain. The relationship between load factor and residual stress was also linear. Predictions of the maximum pressure and the strain at instability during a hydraulic burst test are shown to compare favorably with experimental values, based on flat sheet properties and tubemaking strains. The prediction of the yield strength in the tube based on flat sheet properties is shown to be fairly accurate when the effective sizing strain is small compared to the effective bending strain.
Performing a myocardial biopsy in a cardiac transplant patient with a persistent left superior vena cava.

The life expectancy of patients with congenital heart disease is increasing. Thus, as the prevalence of adults with congenital heart disease increases, invasive cardiologists will have more exposure to these patients and will benefit from expertise in the anatomy of congenital heart defects. We present a case of performing right heart catheterization and myocardial biopsy in a cardiac transplant patient with a history of multiple congenital defects including a persistent left superior vena cava. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Long term driving performance

Long distance driving epitomizes the ability of drivers to adapt to various levels of information input. Commercial drivers cover roads which vary over a wide range in the amount and frequency of stimuli presented. Practical considerations such as schedules, speed limits and limitations in equipment reduce the range of variation in actual speeds attained from that otherwise expected. Extremes in infomation load increase costs in terms of driver stresses, resulting in widespread use of drugs, occasional hallucinations or amnesias, and impatient or aggressive attitudes which increase the risk of accident involvement.
Preliminary characterization of ribosomes of Entamoeba invadens

The ribosomes of Entamoeba invadens trophozoites have sedimentation coefficients of 77, 53 and 36 S. Most of the ribosomal proteins are basic and their one- and two-dimensional electrophoretic patterns differ from the corresponding patterns of Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Two dozen bands were observed in the 10 000 to 100 000 molecular weight range following sodium dodecylsulfate-gel electrophoresis of amoebal ribosomal proteins. Long, thin pronase-sensitive structures were seen in electron micrographs of E. invadens ribosomal preparations.
The tom-tom corer: a new design of the Kajak corer for use in meiofauna sampling

A new corer, the tom-tom, is a modification of the basic Kajak design. New modifications increase the efficiency of the corer in soft muds and increase the stability of the corer during ascent and descent. A stepped release trigger mechanism allows the corer to trip easily in even the softest muds, and a Phleger “bomb’ weight adds stability to the device. The corer can be deployed in a slow, controlled descent from small as well as large boats to reduce bow-wave. Four cores (4.50 cm inner diameter) are taken simultaneously in a fixed spatial pattern. Limited comparative sampling revealed that the tom-tom collected more meiofauna than a Van Veen grab and attained numbers statistically indistinguishable from diver-collected cores (only small sample sizes were available however). The corer will be most efficient in sediments without an extremely well-developed, suspendable layer, and most practical for smaller vessels in environments where diver collected cores are precluded by depth, strong currents or poor visibility. Although used in meiofauna collection, the corer should be appropriate for any sampling needs requiring a relatively undisturbed core.
The self-cleaving domain from the genomic RNA of hepatitis delta virus: sequence requirements and the effects of denaturant

The sequence requirements for self-cleavage of hepatitis delta virus genomic RNA were examined using precursor RNAs which were labeled at either the 5' or 3' ends and progressively deleted from the unlabeled end. In the presence of 50% formamide, which enhances self-cleavage in 2 mM MgCl2 at 37 degrees C, 84 nucleotides (nt) 3' of the break site were required. In the absence of formamide the minimum was reduced to 82 nt. Under both sets of conditions, precursors with 1 nt 5' to the break site cleaved. These results allowed two condition-dependent minimal domains for self-cleavage to be defined. However, in the absence of formamide, sequences flanking the minimal domain inhibited cleavage, possibly through involvement in the formation of non-cleaving structures. These data are consistent with the idea that cleavage in vivo could be regulated by alternative RNA structures.
Regulation of chondrocyte differentiation by actin-severing protein adseverin.

Importance of actin organization in control of chondrocyte phenotype is well established, but little is known about the cytoskeletal components regulating chondrocyte differentiation. Previously we have observed up-regulation of an actin-binding gelsolin-like protein in hypertrophic chondrocytes. We have now identified it as adseverin (scinderin). Adseverin is drastically up-regulated during chondrocyte maturation, as shown by Northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization, and real-time RT-PCR. Its expression is positively regulated by the PKC and MEK signaling as shown by inhibitory analyses. Over-expression of adseverin in non-hypertrophic chondrocytes causes rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton, a change in cell morphology, a dramatic (3.5-fold) increase in cell volume, and up-regulation of Indian hedgehog (Ihh) and of collagen type X - all indicative of chondrocyte differentiation. These changes are mediated by ERK1/2 and p38 kinase pathways. Thus, adseverin-induced rearrangements of actin cytoskeleton may mediate the PKC-dependent activation of p38 and Erk1/2 signaling pathways necessary for chondrocyte hypertrophy, evidenced by changes in cell morphology, increase in cell size, and expression of the chondrocyte maturation markers. These results demonstrate that interdependence of cytoskeletal organization and chondrogenic gene expression is regulated at least in part by actin-binding proteins, such as adseverin
Biphasic lesions of the breast

Biphasic lesions of the breast are characterized by integral epithelial and stromal components. Determination of the stromal composition facilitates diagnosis. Lesions with predominantly specialized stroma include fibroadenoma and phyllodes tumor, and lesions with a mixture of nonspecialized and specialized stroma include fibroadenoma variant, hamartoma, and pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia. Diagnostic difficulty may be encountered when a biphasic lesion has cellular stroma, raising the differential diagnosis of phyllodes tumor. Distinctive histologic features of phyllodes tumor include architectural frond formation, stromal cytological atypia, stromal mitotic activity, irregular gland dilatation, and morphologic heterogeneity. These histologic features contrast with those of other biphasic lesions.
Age-Related Changes in the Prevalence of Smell/Taste Problems among the United States Adult Population: Results of the 1994 Disability Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)

ABSTRACT: Information about the prevalence of disorders of the chemical senses has been limited. In the late 1970s, the consensus among experts convened by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was that more than 2 million adults in the United States had a disorder of smell or taste. A large, nonrandom survey conducted by the National Geographic Society in 1987 found that 1% of their 1.2 million respondents could not smell 3 or more of 6 odorants using a 'scratch and sniff' test. Age was an important factor, with a decline beginning in the second decade of life. No comparable data have been available for taste, although it has been suggested that the sense of taste remains more robust with age. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), NIH, began collaborating with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) in 1993 to acquire information on the prevalence of smell/taste problems using the Disability Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). This survey was administered to approximately 42,000 randomly-selected households (representing about 80,000 adults over 18 years of age) in 1994. Adjusted national estimates derived from this survey showed a prevalence of 2.7 million (1.4%) U.S. adults with an olfactory problem. Also, 1.1 million (0.6%) adults reported a gustatory problem. When smell or taste problems were combined, 3.2 million (1.65%) adults indicated a chronic chemosensory problem. The prevalence rates increased exponentially with age. Almost 40% with a chemosensory problem (1.5 million) were 65 years of age or greater. In a multivariate analysis, the individual's overall health status, other sensory impairments, functional limitations (including difficulty standing or bending), depression, phobia, and several other health-related characteristics were associated with an increase in the rate of chemosensory disorders.
Statistical theory of the decay of metastable states

A procedure is outlined for the first-principles calculation of the rate of decay of a metastable phase. The model on which the calculation is based is sufficiently general to describe a wide variety of thermally activated nucleation and growth processes, hopefully even including decay of superflow in liquid helium. The theory provides a definite prescription for calculating both the activation free-energies and the fundamental fluctuation rates which appear in the conventional formulae describing such processes.