cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The gambling lifestyle: II. Treatment.

Two individuals with records of prior compulsive gambling involvement are profiled in order to illustrate the nature of a gambling lifestyle and describe the process of lifestyle change. The treatment model utilized by therapists proposing a lifestyle interpretation of compulsive gambling behavior is guided by three primary objectives or goals: (1) the cessation of lifestyle activities; (2) the development of skills useful in managing gambling-related conditions, choices, and cognitions; and (3) the implementation of an effective program of follow-up intervention and support. These goals give rise to the three stages of lifestyle intervention — (1) laying a foundation for change, (2) identifying vehicles for change, and (3) establishing a reinforcing nongambling life-style—from which specific change strategies are derived. The implications of this model and the possibility of limited generalizability are discussed.
Commentary: gene by environment interplay and psychopathology--in search of a paradigm.

The articles in this Special Issue (SI) extend research on G×E in multiple ways, showing the growing importance of specifying kinds of G×E models (e.g., bioecological, susceptibility, stress-diathesis), incorporation of sophisticated ways of measuring types of G×E correlations (rGE), checking effects of statistical artifact, exemplifying an impressive range of quantitative and biological methodologies, and pointing to clearly needed next-step studies such as summarizing across many genes in gene sets (Bentley et al.1) or in genome-wide pathway based approaches to G×E (Winham & Biernacka) and prediction of clinical outcomes (Rapee et al.). As a group, they document nicely that gene × environment research has come of age. What is the import of this? Does it represent a major new development in our field, or merely an incremental change of a framework that remains fundamentally unchanged?
Towards a molecular description of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

An improved understanding of the molecular processes of migration and reorientation of DNA molecules undergoing conventional and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) should provide the basis for the rational optimization of these techniques. This review of common pulsed-field methods emphasizes the range of their applications as well as their current limitations. The molecular mechanisms involved in electrophoresis, as they are beginning to emerge from a combination of direct observations using a microscope and computer-modeling studies, are also discussed.
Numerical stability in wave propagation problems

Abstract Stability characteristics for some finite-difference schemes obtained on the basis of a mathematically consistent lumped-parameter model and a suitable numerical integrator for wave propagation in spherically symmetric and axisymmetric continuous media are investigated. The numerical integrator used is Newmark's β-method. It is shown that the difference schemes for large radii which are identical to those for one-dimensional and plane strain wave motions are conditionally stable for values of β between 0 and 1 6 and unconditionally stable for β = 1 4 and 1 2 . For points near the center or axis of symmetry, it is found that for all values of β the difference schemes are unstable. However, conditional stability may be obtained if one uses a dissipative mechanism in the form of linear artificial viscosity; the effect of this dissipative mechanism on the stability characteristics of the considered difference schemes is also examined in detail. Conditionally stable difference schemes are also found by introducing appropriate dependent variable transformations.
Generation and sensing of membrane curvature: Where materials science and biophysics meet

Abstract We briefly introduce the biological background of biomembrane curvature generation and sensing. Using several examples from our own research, we illustrate how computational models of different resolution (atomistic, coarse-grained and continuum mechanics) can be used to dissect the underlying physical principles that govern peptide/protein-membrane interactions, which ultimately shape the mechanism and biological function of biomembrane remodeling and curvature sensing. Through these discussions, we hope to highlight that this research area can greatly benefit further cross talks between the materials and biophysics communities. Important mechanistic insights can be obtained by studying model systems using approaches established in the soft matter community, such as the analysis of phase behavior. On the other hand, defining the principles that govern these biological processes can inspire the design of novel strategies that organize non-biological molecules for materials applications. Current challenges in the computational methodologies are also briefly discussed.
What to Do When a Patient With Coronary Stents Needs Surgery

Patients who undergo surgery after coronary stent implantation are at risk for perioperative stent thrombosis, a highly morbid complication that can be particularly challenging to treat because the often necessary antithrombotic medications markedly increase the risk for bleeding at the surgical
Matter Out of Time: The Paradox of the “Contemporary Past”

Contemporary archaeology, with its focus on the present and the very recent past, challenges the conventional definitions of archaeology that emphasize the temporal distance between the archaeologist and the subject matter being investigated. Contemporary archaeology requires different methods, forges novel interdisciplinary collaborations, and inspires new questions. In particular, contemporary archaeology reminds us that all social actors, both in the present and in the past, were uncertain of the future and could not know the outcomes of their actions.
Vortex growth in jets

Observations are reported on the growth of vortices in the vortex sheets bounding the jet emerging from a sharp-edged two-dimensional slit and from a sharp-edged circular orifice. A regular periodic flow is observed near the orifice for both configurations when the Reynolds number of the jet lies between about 500 and 3000. The two-dimensional jet produces a symmetric pattern of vortex pairs with a Strouhal number of 0·43. Vortex rings are formed in the circular jet with a Strouhal number of 0·63. Computer experiments show that a growing pair of vortices in two parallel vortex sheets produces a symmetric pattern of vortices upstream from the original disturbance.
A systematic review of the limitations and approaches to improve detection and management of peripheral arterial disease in Hispanics

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a highly prevalent public health problem associated with major detrimental effects on quality of life and functional status, and it is also the main cause of limb amputation. More importantly, PAD has been classified as a coronary artery disease equivalent, meaning that patients with a diagnosis of PAD carry a risk for major coronary events equal to that of established coronary artery disease. PAD is also a potent predictor of stroke and death. Despite its frequent occurrence (8 to 10 million Americans are affected), little is known about the natural history of PAD in racial/ethnic minorities, particularly in Hispanics, who represent 12.5% of the United States population. Furthermore, the disease is commonly underdiagnosed and undertreated in this minority group, and outcomes are poorer in Hispanics as compared with whites. Limited access to health care, difficulties for recruitment in population-based studies, and limitations of the noninvasive screening tests are well-established barriers to determine the prevalence and natural history of PAD in Hispanics. Although the most widely used test for assessment of patients at risk for PAD is the ankle-brachial index (ABI), the test has substantial limitations in individuals with diabetes and arterial calcification, which are highly prevalent in Hispanics. The ABI should, therefore, be supplemented by the use of other noninvasive tests, such as the pulse volume recordings (PVR) and toe-brachial index. Besides the use of a combination of diagnostic techniques, the implementation of a research methodology that improves recruitment of Hispanics in population-based studies is necessary to obtain better knowledge of the epidemiology of the disease in this group. Community-based participatory research may be the most appropriate approach to study this ethnic minority because it overcomes barriers for limited access to health care and increases the possibility of overcoming distrust of research on the part of communities. Understanding the epidemiology of PAD to improve its detection and treatment among Hispanics is relevant to reduce disparities in the health status of this group, the most rapidly growing ethnic minority in the United States.
Choline intakes exceeding recommendations during human lactation improve breast milk choline content by increasing PEMT pathway metabolites

Abstract Demand for the vital nutrient choline is high during lactation; however, few studies have examined choline metabolism and requirements in this reproductive state. The present study sought to discern the effects of lactation and varied choline intake on maternal biomarkers of choline metabolism and breast milk choline content. Lactating ( n =28) and control ( n =21) women were randomized to 480 or 930 mg choline/day for 10–12 weeks as part of a controlled feeding study. During the last 4–6 weeks, 20% of the total choline intake was provided as an isotopically labeled choline tracer ( methyl -d9-choline). Blood, urine and breast milk samples were collected for choline metabolite quantification, enrichment measurements, and gene expression analysis of choline metabolic genes. Lactating (vs. control) women exhibited higher ( P P ≤.002) urinary excretion of choline metabolites, decreased use of choline as a methyl donor (e.g., lower enrichment of d6-dimethylglycine, P ≤.08) and lower ( P ≤.02) leukocyte expression of most choline-metabolizing genes. A higher choline intake during lactation differentially influenced breast milk d9- vs. d3-choline metabolite enrichment. Increases ( P ≤.03) were detected among the d3-metabolites, which are generated endogenously via the hepatic phosphatidylethanolamine N -methyltransferase (PEMT), but not among the d9-metabolites generated from intact exogenous choline. These data suggest that lactation induces metabolic adaptations that increase the supply of intact choline to the mammary epithelium, and that extra maternal choline enhances breast milk choline content by increasing supply of PEMT-derived choline metabolites. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01127022.
Association of fasting glucose levels with a delayed secretion of insulin after oral glucose in subjects with glucose intolerance.

Two hundred and nineteen second generation Japanese-American men were classified with a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test: 77 with normal glucose tolerance, 74 with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 68 with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). The peak insulin response to the oral glucose load was progressively delayed with each of the 3 glucose tolerance categories. A similar finding was observed with the peak C-peptide response to oral glucose, except for the absence of distinction between IGT and NIDDM. Variables measuring the initial rate of insulin or C-peptide secretion (0–30 min) after oral glucose also demonstrated a progressive diminution with increasing glucose intolerance. The relative incremental insulin response at 30 min and the relative incremental C-peptide response at 30 min were highly correlated with the fasting glucose levels (r = –0.61 and r = –0.62; P < 0.0001, respectively). Variables measuring the 0–30 min secretory response had high variances, whereas the variance fo...
No future for the fourth generation

Abstract We discuss bounds on and implications of a possible fourth generation of quarks and leptons. We derive lower bounds on the masses of fourth generation quarks from the recent experimental bound m τ ' ⩾ 41 GeV, for both nonsupersymmetric and supersymmetric models. We also derive upper bounds on these masses from the requirement of a perturbative unification, and briefly discuss the non-perturbative case. We then show that a fourth generation renders the conventional mechanism of cosmological baryogenesis via Higgs-decay problematic, and tends to result in a large supersymmetry breaking scale in minimal supergravity models. We finally show that the incorporation of a fourth generation in superstring models can only work if the superpotential fulfills certain specific conditions, which appear to be in conflict with cosmological requirements.
Isospin-forbidden analog resonances in direct reactions

Abstract A theoretical description of isospin-forbidden analog resonances in direct reactions, using the K -matrix approach to analog resonances, is applied in numerical calculations for 207 Pb(d, p) 208 Pb(0 + , ground state). Satisfactory agreement with the experimental data of Hamburger is obtained.
Experimental investigation of mass efficiency curve for alpha radioactivity counting using a gas-proportional detector.

Abstract Gross α counting of evaporated water residues offers a simple method for screening α radioactivity in water for both public health and emergency purposes. The evaporation process for water has been improved by using a combination of roughening of the surface of counting planchettes, two-stage evaporation, and temperature-controlled block heating. The efficiency of the gas-proportional detector for α-particle detection in water residues was studied as a function of sample mass–thickness in the range between 0.1 and 13 mg cm −2 . The effect of α energy on the efficiency, as well as moisture absorption on the samples, were studied using 230 Th , 238 U , 239 Pu , 241 Am , and 244 Cm radionuclides. Also, α-to-β crosstalk was investigated as a function of sample mass for 230 Th , 239 Pu , 210 Po , 241 Am , and 244 Cm . The improved method can also be applied for gross α detection in biological fluids.
Nonlinear Effective Force Testing Using Loop Shaping Controller

Effective force testing (EFT) is one of the force-based experimental methods for performance evaluation of structures that incorporate dynamic force control using hydraulic actuators. While previous studies have shown successful implementations of force control, controllable frequency ranges are limited to low frequencies (10 Hz). This study presents the EFT method using a robust loop shaping force feedback controller that can extend the frequency range up to 25 Hz. This study investigates the dynamic properties of hydraulic actuators and the design of a loop shaping controller that compensates for control-structure interaction as well as suppresses the effect of oil-column resonance. The designed loop shaping controller was successfully implemented into an EFT setup at the Johns Hopkins University. An experimental investigation was performed with linear and nonlinear test structures. Results showed that the loop shaping controller provided excellent force tracking performance as well as robustness for dynamic force loadings.
Application of Stein Rules to Combination Forecasting

We propose some Stein-rule combination forecasting methods that are designed to ameliorate the estimation risk inherent in making operational the variance–covariance method for constructing combination weights. By Monte Carlo simulation, it is shown that this amelioration can be substantial in many cases. Moreover, generalized Stein-rule combinations are proposed that offer the user the opportunity to enhance combination forecasting performance when shrinking the feasible variance–covariance weights toward a fortuitous shrinkage point. In an empirical exercise, the proposed Stein-rule combinations performed well relative to competing combination methods.
Fossil Evidence for a Late Cretaceous Origin of “Hoofed” Mammals

Seventeen of eighteen orders of living placental mammals are not known before 65 million years ago. The monophyly of each order is well established, but interrelations have been less certain. A superordinal grouping of up to seven extant orders plus a variety of extinct orders, all included within Ungulata (“hoofed” mammals), can be linked to Late Cretaceous mammals from the 85-million-year-old Bissekty Formation, Uzbekistan (and, less certainly, North America and Europe), thus pushing the origin of this major clade back by 20 million years. Ungulatomorphs are not closely related to primates, rodents, or rabbits.
A New Approach to Dynamic Modeling of Turbulence

This paper presents a new systematic and generalized approach to model turbulence dynamically . The suggested approach is bas ed on the variational technique to solve a system of equations where the number of unknowns is larger than the number of equations. Turbulence closure problem results when averaging the N -S equations . Averaging transform the N -S equations from a determinate set of equations des cribing turbulen t flow field to an indeterminate set of equations that need additional information. Unknown terms, Reynolds stresses, appear as a results of averaging and t he solution of the averaged N -S equations depends on the proper selection of Reynold s stresses. In the dynamic modeling formulation of turbulence, the Reynolds stress es are selected to produce a best solution of the averaged N-S equations . The Reynolds stresses are computed via optimizing a performance index ‘I’. In the optimization proce ss the averaged N -S equations are considered as constraints. A performance index ‘I’ is defined as a measure of the quality of solution. Averaging can be considered as a process by which we lose some information about the flow field. The lost information a ppears partially in the unknown terms “Reynolds stresses”. Hence , the performance index should include some measure of information losses which occur as the result of averaging . Classical approach does not rely on the N -S equations itself, as complete desc ription of turbulence, to derive a suitable turbulence model s. The new concept will use the N -S equations , combined with the physics of turbulence , for an optimal selection of turbulence model through ‘I’ . In this approach the model is not specified in adv ance, but it will develop dynamically with the solution.
A Comprehensive Study of Neutral-Point Self-Balancing Effect in Neutral-Point-Clamped Three-Level Inverters

Neutral point (NP) balancing problems in neutral-point-clamped (NPC) three-level inverters have been widely discussed in the past. Most of the previous researches have focused on the active NP control algorithms based on the common-mode duty cycle injection or the differential-mode harmonic current injection. Various active control methods have been proven to work well in real applications. On the other hand, it is well known that sometimes the NP is self-balanced, even without any active NP control. However, due to the uncertainty and lack of the theoretical explanations, active NP controllers are typically preferred for real applications, and the self-balancing characteristic of the NPC topology did not draw much attention in the past. Our paper covers this gap: the mechanisms of self-balancing characteristic are explored systematically. With the help of a precise mathematical model, readers can easily evaluate the self-balancing capability of their own design. In addition, this paper discusses some methods to enhance the self-balancing capability of an existing system. It is shown here that the self-balancing effect depends strongly on the switching frequency. Especially, for high-power insulated gate bipolar transistor/integrated gate-commutated thyristor/gate turn-OFF thyristors (IGBT/IGCT/GTO) applications, the effect is so strong at all power factors that this “do-nothing” control is sufficient and no other active NP controls are needed.
Antibody Response and Reduction in Bursa of Fabricius and Spleen Weights of Progeny of Chickens Fed PCBs

Abstract In Experiment 1, polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclors 1016, 1232, 1242, 1248, and 1254) were fed ad libitum to White Leghorn chickens at dietary levels of 5, 10, and 20 p.p.m. for 8 weeks. Hatchability of eggs from hens fed 10 and 20 p.p.m. of Aroclors 1232, 1242, and 1248 was reduced. The weights of the spleen and bursa of Fabricius of day-old chicks from hens fed 10 p.p.m. of Aroclors 1242 and 1248 or 20 p.p.m. of Aroclors 1232, 1242, 1248, and 1254 were less than those of control chicks. At 3 weeks of age these organ weights were still less than those of the control chicks. Body weights were similar to those of controls at hatching, but the 3 week weight gains of progeny from hens fed 20 p.p.m. Aroclors 1242 and 1248 were less than gains of control progeny. After replacement of the PCB diet with uncontaminated feed, hatchability improved within 2 weeks and by 8 weeks was similar to that of the controls. Bursa weight of the progeny was the only parameter still reduced after the hens were fed uncontaminated feed. In Experiment 2, hens were fed 10 p.p.m. 1248 ad libitum for 8 weeks. The progeny bursa weights were reduced, but the treatment did not interfere with antibody production. PCB treatment had no effect on antibody production after primary or secondary challenges with Brucella abortus. However, after the primary challenge, bursectomized birds of both the control and PCB groups produced significantly fewer antibodies than the nonbursectomized birds. Differential accumulations of the polychlorinated biphenyls occurred in the egg. Chlorinated biphenyls with relative retention times less than that of DDE accumulated to less than one-half of the dietary concentration whereas chlorinated biphenyls with retention times greater than that of DDE accumulated in the egg to a concentration equivalent to the dietary concentration.
Phase-Compensated Conformal Antennas for Changing Spherical Surfaces

Self-adapting conformal antennas for changing spherical surfaces are investigated in this work. More specifically, the theory on the relationship between the radius of the spherical surface, element spacing of the conformal array and required phase compensation is developed. Initially, for theoretical validation, a 4 × 4 phased array antenna is assembled with individual microstrip antennas used as the radiators at 2.47 GHz. Each antenna is connected to a commercially available voltage controlled phase shifter with identical SMA cables and then each phase shifter is connected to a port on a sixteen-way power divider. This phased-array antenna allows for convenient placement of individual patches on the spherical surface and precise phase control. For further validation, a second 4 × 4 phased-array antenna with embedded phase shifters and a sensing circuit is manufactured. The sensing circuit is used to measure the radius of curvature of the spherical surface and use this information to autonomously apply the appropriate phase compensation, based on the previous theoretical developments, to recover the radiation pattern of the array for different spherical surfaces at 2.47 GHz. Overall, good agreement between theory, simulation and experimental data is shown and that it is possible to recover the radiation pattern autonomously.
Menendez Versus Mickey: A Study of Heritage Tourism in Florida

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Liberal Arts, Department of Humanities, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida St. Petersburg
Analog VLSI Biophysical Neurons and Synapses With Programmable Membrane Channel Kinetics

We present and characterize an analog VLSI network of 4 spiking neurons and 12 conductance-based synapses, implementing a silicon model of biophysical membrane dynamics and detailed channel kinetics in 384 digitally programmable parameters. Each neuron in the analog VLSI chip (NeuroDyn) implements generalized Hodgkin-Huxley neural dynamics in 3 channel variables, each with 16 parameters defining channel conductance, reversal potential, and voltage-dependence profile of the channel kinetics. Likewise, 12 synaptic channel variables implement a rate-based first-order kinetic model of neurotransmitter and receptor dynamics, accounting for NMDA and non-NMDA type chemical synapses. The biophysical origin of all 384 parameters in 24 channel variables supports direct interpretation of the results of adapting/tuning the parameters in terms of neurobiology. We present experimental results from the chip characterizing single neuron dynamics, single synapse dynamics, and multi-neuron network dynamics showing phase-locking behavior as a function of synaptic coupling strength. Uniform temporal scaling of the dynamics of membrane and gating variables is demonstrated by tuning a single current parameter, yielding variable speed output exceeding real time. The 0.5 CMOS chip measures 3 mm 3 mm, and consumes 1.29 mW.
An Incremental Plastic Analysis of Multiphase Materials

This incremental method is aimed at applications for composites having several phases each with different plastic behaviors and also materials undergoing phase transformation. A sample calculation was performed for a composite of epoxy matrix reinforced by silica particles
The end of regressive evolution: examining and interpreting the evidence from cave fishes.

The evolution of hypogean fauna in general and hypogean fishes in particular has been controversial. Explanations regarding the reduction or loss of phenotypic characters such as eyes and pigmentation range from neo-Lamarckism to neutral mutations, with ‘regressive evolution’ being a catch-all characterization for such processes. The assumptions required for special evolutionary mechanisms underlying the evolution of cave dwellers have been based on generalizations about the animals and their environments drawn from relatively few observations. The evidence offered for notions such as pre-adaptation of colonizing fauna and the purported impoverished nutrients in all caves is examined and it appears that the generalizations cannot be supported. Some major accomplishments in field and laboratory studies of hypogean fishes are summarized, including work highlighting developmental phenotypic plasticity. At the end, it is argued that evolution of hypogean fauna can be explained by well-known mechanisms within the current context of evolutionary biology.
Rhodium(II) Proximity‐Labeling Identifies a Novel Target Site on STAT3 for Inhibitors with Potent Anti‐Leukemia Activity

Nearly 40 % of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) suffer relapse arising from chemoresistance, often involving upregulation of the oncoprotein STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3). Herein, rhodium(II)-catalyzed, proximity-driven modification identifies the STAT3 coiled-coil domain (CCD) as a novel ligand-binding site, and we describe a new naphthalene sulfonamide inhibitor that targets the CCD, blocks STAT3 function, and halts its disease-promoting effects in vitro, in tumor growth models, and in a leukemia mouse model, validating this new therapeutic target for resistant AML.
Formic acid decomposition on Au catalysts: DFT, microkinetic modeling, and reaction kinetics experiments

A combined theoretical and experimental approach is presented that uses a comprehensive mean-field microkinetic model, reaction kinetics experiments, and scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging to unravel the reaction mechanism and provide insights into the nature of active sites for formic acid (HCOOH) decomposition on Au/SiC catalysts. All input parameters for the microkinetic model are derived from periodic, self-consistent, generalized gradient approximation (GGA-PW91) density functional theory calculations on the Au(111), Au(100), and Au(211) surfaces and are subsequently adjusted to describe the experimental HCOOH decomposition rate and selectivity data. It is shown that the HCOOH decomposition follows the formate (HCOO) mediated path, with 100% selectivity toward the dehydrogenation products (CO2 1H2) under all reaction conditions. An analysis of the kinetic parameters suggests that an Au surface in which the coordination number of surface Au atoms is � 4 may provide a better model for the active site of HCOOH decomposition on these specific supported Au catalysts. V C 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Influence of a hybrid Sport Education—Teaching Games for Understanding unit on one teacher and his students

Background: Sport Education (SE) and Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) are two curriculum models that were developed to help students participate in fair and equitable ways and challenge their thinking beyond the replication of techniques and skills. Given that the general aim of both models is to employ more democratic pedagogies and provide sporting experiences which really allow students to learn how to play well, and considering both models attempt to realize this goal in slightly different ways and have different foci, it would seem logical that a coalition of the two might lead to some real pedagogical breakthroughs. Purpose: To provide descriptive, detailed information about the researcher's experiences and the students' reactions to a unit designed following the structure of SE (seasons, formal competition and student roles), but with the skills and tactics taught using problem solving and guided discovery approaches rather than a more command style. Participants and setting: 29 sixth-grade ...
Is education associated with mortality for breast cancer and cardiovascular disease among black and white women

Abstract Background: Although low socioeconomic status (SES) has been found to be an important risk factor for all-cause mortality in women, the association is inconsistent across specific causes of death. SES appears to have different associations with 2 common causes of mortality in women: low SES is associated with greater cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in women but may also be associated with lower breast cancer mortality. Objective: We examined the association between SES and CVD and breast cancer mortality among black and white women. Methods: Our analysis sample included black and white women participating in the NationalLongitudinal Mortality Study, which links US Census Bureau Current Population Surveys with the National Death Index between 1979 and 1989. Education and income were used as SES indicators. For each cause of death, we used multivariate logistic regression to estimate variation in mortality risk across SES levels within each racial group. Results: The sample included 21,303 black women and 186,322 white women. Unadjusted cumulative incidence (over a mean follow-up period of 8.7 years) of CVD mortality was 4.2% among black women and 2.3% among white women, and of breast cancer mortality was 0.3% among black women and 0.4% among white women. After adjustment for age, marital status, and urban or rural residence, less education was still associated with greater CVD mortality among black women (odds ratio [OR], 1.8; 95% Cl, 1.03–3.0) and white women (OR, 1.4; 95% Cl, 1.3–1.6). However, less than a high school education was associated with lower breast cancer mortality among white women (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.6–0.9) but not among black women (OR, 1.1; 95% Cl, 0.5–2.3). Similar ORs were obtained when income was examined. Conclusions: The association between SES and cause-specific mortality may differ between black and white women for breast cancer death but not CVD death. Better understanding of these inter actions could guide the targeting of more effective interventions.
Varenicline and Cytisine Diminish the Dysphoric-Like State Associated with Spontaneous Nicotine Withdrawal in Rats

Tobacco addiction is characterized by a negative mood state upon smoking cessation and relapse after periods of abstinence. Clinical studies indicate that negative mood states lead to craving and relapse. The partial α4/α6/β2* nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists varenicline and cytisine are widely used as smoking cessation treatments. Varenicline has been approved in the United States for smoking cessation and cytisine is used in Eastern European countries. Despite the widespread use of these compounds, very little is known about their effects on mood states. These studies investigated the effects of varenicline, cytisine, and the cytisine-derivative 3-(pyridin-3′-yl)-cytisine (3-pyr-Cyt) on brain reward function in nicotine-naive and nicotine-withdrawing rats. The cytisine-derivative 3-pyr-Cyt is a very weak α4β2* nAChR partial agonist and like cytisine and varenicline has antidepressant-like effects in animal models. The intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) procedure was used to investigate the effects of these compounds on brain reward function. Elevations in ICSS thresholds reflect a dysphoric state and a lowering of thresholds is indicative of a potentiation of brain reward function. It was shown that acute administration of nicotine and varenicline lowered ICSS thresholds. Acute administration of cytisine or 3-pyr-Cyt did not affect ICSS thresholds. Discontinuation of chronic, 14 days, nicotine administration led to elevations in ICSS thresholds that lasted for about 2 days. Varenicline and cytisine, but not 3-pyr-Cyt, diminished the nicotine withdrawal-induced elevations in ICSS thresholds. In conclusion, these studies indicate that varenicline and cytisine diminish the dysphoric-like state associated with nicotine withdrawal and may thereby prevent relapse to smoking in humans.
Child Maltreatment Histories Among Runaway and Delinquent Children

The records of 378 children presenting to a juvenile court were reviewed for histories of child maltreatment, based on evidence from a formal investigative process by the Department of Social Services. The children came from two groups: delinquents, who had engaged in criminal activity, and status offenders, whose legal involvement was due to non-criminal behavior, such as running away and truancy. Fifty-five percent of the status offenders and 45% of the delinquents had substantiated histories of maltreatment. The percent of status offenders who had been sexually abused was seven times higher among runaways (35%) than among the other members of the group (5%). The percent of delinquents who had been physically maltreated was significantly greater among those convicted of committing violent crimes (27%) than among the non-violent delinquents (14%). Thus, maltreatment may contribute significantly to delinquent behavior.
TCR Repertoire Analysis

Due to the ability of T cells to generate a diverse repertoire of T cell receptors (TCRs), the study of the TCR repertoire using next generation sequencing (NGS) is now widely used and gaining popularity. The NGS technology allows us to most comprehensively capture not only in quantity but also in quality, the wide rage of TCRs generated by T cells in health and disease. In this chapter, analyses on the TCR repertoire data set generated by NGS are described and discussed, with a focus on diversity indices, which represent the TCR repertoire as a whole. Furthermore, analyses on gene usages and quantitative and qualitative analysis of CDR3 are presented, which add greatly in understanding the function of the repertoire.
Relation between the Pattern of Use and the Future Output from a Flow Resource

Pattern of use influence on future rates of flow was quantified for heavily grazed Great Plains grassland using two models—one treating pattern of use influence on rates of flow without interaction with exogenous variables and the other treating pattern of use influence with interaction. In the first model, heavy grazing decreased the future levels of the forage-precipitation response function. While in the second model, both the level and the shape of this response function were changed. An intermediate grazing level was simulated and alternative grazing levels for a simple grassland enterprise compared. Using the first model, the intermediate level was best if the required marginal internal rate of return were less than 10.5 percent. Using the second model, heavy grazing both decreased future income levels and markedly changed the shape of the probability distribution. Continued heavy use caused the resource to become, in an economic sense, a different resource.
BEE COLOR VISION IS OPTIMAL FOR CODING FLOWER COLOR, BUT FLOWER COLORS ARE NOT OPTIMAL FOR BEING CODED—WHY?

ABSTRACT Model calculations are used to determine an optimal color coding system for identifying flower colors, and to see whether flower colors are well suited for being encoded. It is shown that the trichromatic color vision of bees comprises UV, blue, and green receptors whose wavelength positions are optimal for identifying flower colors. But did flower colors actually drive the evolution of bee color vision? A phylogenetic analysis reveals that UV, blue, and green receptors were probably present in the ancestors of crustaceans and insects 570 million years ago, and thus predate the evolution of flower color by at least 400 million years. In what ways did flower colors adapt to insect color vision? The variability of flower color is subject to constraint. Flowers are clustered in the bee color space (probably because of biochemical constraints), and different plant families differ strongly in their variation of color (which points to phylogenetic constraint). However, flower colors occupy areas of col...
Effects of Micellar Structuring and Solubilized Oil on the Kinetic Stability of Aqueous Foams

We investigated the kinetic stability of foams formed from surfactant aqueous micellar solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate at two different micellar concentrations (0.06 and 0.03 M). We used the air-sparging method and the Bartsch shaking method to form foams in the absence and in the presence of oil solubilized in micelles. We also examined the foam stability by studying the stability of a single foam lamella and observed the effect of the micellar structuring phenomenon in the confines of the foam lamella on foam stability. Our results showed that the foam formed by the air-sparging method contained small bubbles with curved lamellae that were less polydisperse in size, whereas the foam generated by the Bartsch method had plane-parallel lamellae that were more polydisperse in size. The stability of the lamella affects the kinetic stability of the bulk foam formed by the two methods. The micellar structuring phenomenon tests using the single foam lamella revealed that the multilayering structure was well...
Toward a Systematic Understanding of Children's Touchscreen Gestures

This paper presents ongoing work toward characterizing children's touchscreen surface gesture interactions. We report a preliminary analysis of gestures elicited from children ages 5 to 10. We focus specifically on the differences among gestures made by children of various ages and grade levels. Continuation of this project will consist of more in-depth analysis and systematic characterization of these gestures to help create a deeper understanding of the way children make gestures and, in turn, to motivate new ways in which we can design better touchscreen interactions and gesture recognition algorithms for children.
Research on the Image of Laiwang in Dream of Red Mansions

Laiwang is an image of male servant of rich characters and circumspect manners.The article attempts to present that Lanwang,as a bosom servant of Wang Xi-feng,is a person with strong capabilities,full servility and kindness factors.Then,from the perspectives of the lasting servant awareness and the presentation of kindness virtue,the article explores the deep cultural connotation that the image of Lanwang represents.
Fertilizer Placement and Herbicide Rate Affect Weed Control and Crop Growth in Containers

Abstract Three experiments were conducted in Oregon and Mississippi to evaluate the effect of fertilizer placement and rate of herbicide application on weed control and crop growth. In Expt. 1, Osmocote 18N–2.6P–10.0K (18–6–12) controlled release fertilizer (CRF) was applied at 12 g (0.4 oz) per container (#1) either topdressed, incorporated, or dibbled (placed under the liner prior to potting); and OH2 (pendimethalin + oxyfluorfen) was applied at 0, 28, 56, or 112 kg/ha (0, 25, 50, or 100 lbs/A). Containers were overseeded with common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris). In Expt. 2, Osmocote 17N–3.0P–10.1K (17–7–12) CRF was applied at 18 g (0.6 oz) per container using the same placement methods as Expt. 1; and Rout (oryzalin + oxyfluorfen) was applied at 0, 28, 56, or 112 kg/ha (0, 25, 50, or 100 lbs/A). A hand-weeded check was also included, and containers were overseeded with prostrate spurge (Chamaesyce prostrata). In Expt. 3, containers were fertilized with either 12 g (0.4 oz) of Apex 20N–4.3P–8.4K (20–10–...
Love the one you’re with: genomic evidence of panmixia in the sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria)

Understanding the genetic structure of a fishery may help delineate stocks and is directly applicable to resource management. To date, studies have not found clear population genetic structure across the range of the sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria), yet significant biological differences are recognized. Here we use restriction site-associated DNA sequencing to develop thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) throughout the sablefish genome and assess population genetic structure and examine the genome for SNPs under natural selection. Our study was unable to target spawning groups, having the potential to bias analyses that require a priori hypotheses of population structure. Low and insignificant levels of differentiation (FST = 0.0002) were observed among survey areas, and analyses of population structure suggested a single population. Only two SNPs were significantly associated with environmental variables. These results are likely due to considerable population mixing and suggest a single pa...
Post silicon validation of analog/mixed signal/RF circuits and systems: recent advances

Technology scaling along with unprecedented levels of device integration has led to increasing numbers of analog/mixed-signal/RF design bugs escaping into silicon. Such bugs are manifested under specific system-on-chip (SoC) operating conditions and their effects are difficult to predict a-priori. This paper describes recent advances in detecting and diagnosing such bugs using "guided" stochastic test stimulus generation algorithms. A key challenge is that unlike traditional test generation for manufacturing test that is predicated on known failure mechanisms, the nature of design bugs is generally unknown and must be discovered on-the-fly. Classes of design errors from undesired capacitive coupling and incorrect biasing conditions to incorrect guard-banding of designs are considered. It is shown that high design bug coverage can be obtained over a range of test cases.
Cartography, Virtual Reality, and the Internet: Integrating Abstract Models of the Environment Via the Internet.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a case study in which multimedia cartography techniques were implemented to communicate a sense of the environment and water quality information to the general public and community stakeholders. The goal of the project was to develop a multimedia environment that would help users better understand water quality issues for the greater Little Sac River Basin region. The multimedia cartography system that was developed was an Internet distributed interactive mapping website. The website included an integrated map and virtual reality component. The integrated map and virtual reality demonstrate how cartographers can use multiple levels of abstraction with a common map use to enrich the communication method between the website and the map-reader. To achieve this, integration, Apple QuickTime Virtual Reality (QTVR) scenes were fused with an interactive mapping site developed on ESRI's ArcIMS software. One of the goals of the project was to augment the virtual reality scene. The three types of virtual reality augmentation done were: rollover annotation, in scene feature delineation, and object hyperlinks. All three types of augmentation are part of QTVR data structure and are accessible through the QuickTime VR player.
Road Scene Content Analysis for Driver Assistance and Autonomous Driving

This paper aims to develop a vision-based driver assistance system for scene awareness using video frames obtained from a dashboard camera. A saliency image map is devised with features pertinent to the driving scene. This saliency map mimics the human contour and motion sensitive visual perception by extracting spatial, spectral, and temporal information from the input frames and applying entropy driven image-context-feature data fusion. The resultant fusion output comprises high-level descriptors for still segment boundaries and non-stationary object appearance. Following the segmentation and foreground object detection stage, an adaptive maximum likelihood classifier selects road surface regions. The proposed scene driven vision system improves the driver’s situational awareness by enabling adaptive road surface classification. As experimental results demonstrate, context-aware low-level to high-level information fusion based on human vision model produces superior segmentation, tracking, and classification results that lead to high- level abstraction of driving scene.
Low incidence of left atrial delayed enhancement with MRI in patients with AF: a single-centre experience.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained atrial arrhythmia. One potential target for ablation is left atrial (LA) scar (LAS) regions that may be the substrate for re-entry within the atria, thereby sustaining AF. Identification of LAS through LA delayed gadolinium enhancement (LADE) with MRI has been proposed. Objectives We sought to evaluate LADE in patients referred for catheter ablation of AF. Methods Prospective analysis was conducted of consecutive patients who underwent pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) ablation for AF at a single institution. Patients underwent LADE with MRI to determine LAS regions before ablation. MRI data were analysed independently in accordance with prespecified institutional protocol by two staff cardiac radiologists to whom patient outcomes were masked, and reports of LADE were documented. Where no initial consensus occurred regarding delayed enhancement (DE), a third staff cardiac radiologist independently reviewed the case and had the deciding vote. Results Of the 149 consecutive patients (mean (SD) age, 59 (9) years), AF was persistent in 64 (43%) and paroxysmal in 85 (57%); 45 (30%) had prior ablation. Only five patients (3%) had identifiable DE in LA walls (persistent AF, n=1; paroxysmal AF, n=4). LADE was present in two (4%) of the 45 patients with previous left PVAI. The presence of LADE was not associated with a higher recurrence rate of AF. Conclusions In contrast to previous studies, the finding of DE within LA walls was uncommon and, when present, did not correlate with AF type or risk of AF recurrence. It therefore is of unclear clinical significance.
Bernstein in the urban classroom: a case study

AbstractDespite a long-standing concern within the sociology of education for ameliorating educational inequality, the challenge of improving educational opportunities for disadvantaged students remains deeply entrenched. While ‘macro’ issues such as segregation and systemic inequalities in school funding and access to qualified teachers must be addressed as matters of social and educational justice, Basil Bernstein's novel focus on ‘relations within’ education as the site of pedagogic discourse offers teachers and those working inside school systems a particularly powerful vision for promoting more equitable outcomes for students. This paper examines this assertion through a case study of the ‘mixed’ pedagogical practice of a successful teacher in a fifth-grade urban classroom in the United States.