cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
P1-S5.43 Disparities in sexually transmitted diseases across race-income “Counties in the USA: a race-specific morbidity analysis”

Background We examined the association between race-specific incidence rates for three major bacterial STDs and race-specific household income at the county level for all counties in the 48 contiguous states in the USA. Methods Race-specific county-level median household incomes were obtained from the 2000 decennial census. We used the overall US median household income (ie, $41 994, in 2000 dollars) as the cut-point to categorise counties into six race-income county groups. “Race-income” county groups were defined by black household income and white household income at the county level (see Abstract P1-S5.43 table 1). County-level race-specific morbidity for chlamydia, gonorrhoea and primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis were obtained from the National Electronic Telecommunications System for Surveillance (NETSS) for 1999–2001. For each of the six county groups, we calculated race-specific STD rates (new cases per 100 000 residents) using the total number of cases and population size for all three years. In a supplemental analysis, we used a spatial regression technique to examine the association in more detail, controlling for county-level socio-demographic factors. Results STD rates for Blacks in each category were at least 4 times higher than for whites. For chlamydia, county group 1 had the highest rate followed by county group 2. However, for gonorrhoea and P&S syphilis, county group 2 had the highest rate for both Blacks and Whites, followed by county group 1 (see Abstract P1-S5.43 table 1). In the regression analysis, gonorrhoea rates were significantly higher (+12%, p Conclusions Although other studies have demonstrated the association between income, race and STD rates, our race-income categorisation provides several new insights. Most importantly, the grouping of counties that we developed allows us to examine not only the association between STD incidence and income, but also the association between STD incidence and disparities in income. Racial disparities in income were associated with racial disparities in STDs. Specifically, when there is disparity in median household incomes for Blacks and Whites, rates of gonorrhoea and P&S syphilis for each race are higher than when there is more equity in the median household income.
Wind-directed Pheromone Trap for Drone Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

A portable pheromone-trap system was developed for monitoring drone honey bee, Apis mellifera L., populations. The wind-directed system included a white nylon net, pheromone lure (porous polyethylene rod treated with synthetic E -9-oxo-2-decenoic acid [9-ODA]), 6.1-m support, and sample bag holder. The trapping site and anemotactic flight behavior of drones affected capture rates. Traps baited with 5 or 10 mg synthetic 9-ODA routinely captured 150–300 drones per 3 min during the 90-min periods of peak flight. Nonreusable lure components, including 5 mg synthetic 9-ODA, cost approximately one-fourth of the minimum price for two virgin queens. This trap system has potential as a survey and management tool for Africanized honey bee suppression programs and for control of local drone populations by queen breeders.
Modified Radical Mastectomy

Surgical management in the treatment of potentially curable breast cancer has changed from a radical to a more conservative approach. The most common procedure used at the present time is the modified mastectomy, which is discussed in detail in this article.
Polarization imaging sensors in advanced feature cmos technologie

The scaling of CMOS technology, as predicted by Moore's law, has allowed for realization of high resolution imaging sensors and for the emergence of multi-mega-pixel imagers. Designing imaging sensors in advanced feature technologies poses many challenges especially since transistor models do not accurately portray their performance in these technologies. Furthermore, transistors fabricated in advanced feature technologies operate in a non-conventional mode known as velocity saturation. Traditionally, analog designers have been discouraged from designing circuits in this mode of operation due to the low gain properties in single transistor amplifiers. Nevertheless, velocity saturation will become even more prominent mode of operation as transistors continue to shrink and warrants careful design of circuits that can exploit this mode of operation. In this research endeavor, I have utilized velocity saturation mode of operation in order to realize low noise imaging sensors. These imaging sensors incorporate low noise analog circuits at the focal plane in order to improve the signal to noise ratio and are fabricated in 0.18 micron technology. Furthermore, I have explored nanofabrication techniques for realizing metallic nanowires acting as polarization filters. These nanoscopic metallic wires are deposited on the surface of the CMOS imaging sensor in order to add polarization sensitivity to the CMOS imaging sensor. This hybrid sensor will serve as a test bed for exploring the next generation of low noise and highly sensitive polarization imaging sensors.
Interpretation of Jo Ractliffe's Drying fish on the beach at Ilha in Pen and Ink.

For almost a decade, the South African artist Jo Ractliffe (b. 1961 in Cape Town) photographed the impact of prolonged civil wars in both Angola and her native country, documenting the littering of the landscape with military machinery and the impact of gruesome violence on the lives …
Calculation of Thermal Expansion in Insulating and Ceramic Materials

A method of calculating thermal expansion in insulating and ceramic materials is presented which makes use of a theory of thermal expansion in terms of the quantum mechanical solutions of the Morse potential. In this model, the localized interatomic potential solutions, obtained from the appropriate Morse potential, are combined with the Debye model to give a localizedcontinuum description of thermal expansion. A set of empirical rules is developed for characterizing the interatomic potential in terms of the parameters of the Morse potential. These are then applied to the quantitative calculation of thermal expansion in the alkali halide crystals and a group of binary high temperature materials with the aid of the known crystal structures, compressibilities, and Debye temperatures of these materials. Good agreement between theoretical and experimental values is obtained for these materials at temperatures ranging from 0°K to values near their melting points. Using further empirical treatment, thermal expansion in a larger group of binary and complex ternary materials is calculated using no experimental input other than the chemical formula. The agreement with experiment is again generally good, though less accurate than when experimental input is used. The results indicate that this approach is capable of predicting the thermal expansion of a wide range of materials with little or no experimental input and no adjustable parameters. The limitations of this method for certain special cases is also discussed.
Synthesis, photophysical and computational studies of two lophine derivatives with electron-rich substituents in the 2-position

Abstract An exploration of the photophysical properties of two lophine derivatives with electron-donating groups in the 2-position began with the preparation of compounds 1 and 2 via one-pot reactions in good yields, 83% and 74%, respectively. The absorption spectra of 1 and 2 had bands at approximately 300 nm (e ≈ 25,000–34,000 M−1 cm−1), while that of 2 had an additional band at 348 nm (e = 35,600 M−1 cm−1). These absorptions were assigned to π→π* transitions. Excitation into the absorption band of 1 at approximately 300 nm produced emission at 387 nm, while excitation into either of the absorption bands of 2 produced emission at 406 nm. Of the two compounds, 2 had the higher quantum yield. The emission spectra of compounds 1 and 2 were slightly blue-shifted at 77 K. Excited state lifetimes for 1 and 2 were short (indicating that the observed emission was fluorescence) at room temperature and 77 K, ranging from 1.1 to 1.8 ns. Computational studies of both compounds 1 and 2 were performed to better understand how their structures relate to their photophysical properties.
Staphylococcus aureus sqr Encodes a Type II Sulfide:Quinone Oxidoreductase and Impacts Reactive Sulfur Speciation in Cells.

Recent studies implicate hydrogen sulfide (H2S) oxidation as an important aspect of bacterial antibiotic resistance and sulfide homeostasis. The cst operon of the major human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is induced by exogenous H2S stress and encodes enzymes involved in sulfide oxidation, including a group I flavoprotein disulfide oxidoreductase sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR). In this work, we show that S. aureus SQR catalyzes the two-electron oxidation of sodium sulfide (Na2S) into sulfane sulfur (S0) when provided flavin adenine dinucleotide and a water-soluble quinone acceptor. Cyanide, sulfite, and coenzyme A (CoA) are all capable of functioning as the S0 acceptor in vitro. This activity requires a C167–C344 disulfide bond in the resting enzyme, with the intermediacy of a C344 persulfide in the catalytic cycle, verified by mass spectrometry of sulfide-reacted SQR. Incubation of purified SQR and S. aureus CstB, a known FeII persulfide dioxygenase-sulfurtransferase also encoded by the cst operon...
Values and context in person-centered diagnosis

A sound and effective approach to psychiatry and medicine should prioritize the whole person. This implies an ethical commitment to the person behind the patient, and attention to the biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual bases of illness and positive health. As part of this comprehensive approach, attention to values and context are required for an adequate diagnostic informational base and optimal planning of care. A model for person-centered and contextualized diagnosis of mental health has been developed under the name of Person-centered Integrative Diagnosis (PID) within the framework of person-centered psychiatry and medicine. It engages recent and evolving methodological approaches, which are addressed to enhancei the reliability and validity of diagnostic systems. Among the cardinal features of the PID model, are the diagnosis of a person’s whole health (both ill and positive health), considering diagnosis as both a formulation and an interactive process among clinicians, patients and families, and the use of categories, dimensions, and narratives as descriptive tools. Its multilevel informational structure encompasses health status, health contributors, and health experience and values. On the above bases, the PID contrasts with conventional diagnostic systems such as the DSM and ICD illness-classification models. Representing an application of the PID model, the GLADP-VR, a Latin American Guide of Psychiatric Diagnosis (using ICD-10 categories and codes of illness) has been recently published by the Latin American Psychiatric Association for the use of health professionals in the region. This paper identifies the thrusts and elements of the PID model, which represent attention to values and context. This includes ethical commitment through concern for the person's dignity, complexity, uniqueness and autonomy, and incorporation of the cross-sectional and historical context as well as the values, expectations, and preferences of the person presenting for care.
Motor speed and position sensing using Inductive sensing (LDC) technology

In this paper, a new approach to determination of motor speed and position has been presented using Inductive sensing (LDC) technology. It provides system level details for the implementation along with the algorithm needed for speed and position measurement. The paper has been specifically targeted for motors; however the concept can be utilized for other applications such as gear counting, wheel speed sensing, and rotary dial. The robustness of LDC device makes it suitable for use in harsh and dirty environments.
Underuse of cancer-directed care in Medicaid patients with esophageal cancer.

6637 Background: Among esophageal cancer (EC) patients (pts) there are significant disparities in the use of cancer directed-treatments. We examined the extent to which insurance status explains tr...
Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an advanced endoscopic technique pioneered by the Japanese, for en bloc removal of large gastrointestinal epithelial lesions. This technique involves injection of a solution into the submucosal layer, followed by dissection around and then under the lesion, with separation of the submucosal layer using an electrocautery knife. ESD technique allows the endoscopist to visualize and control the depth of dissection. Originally described for early gastric cancer, the indications and techniques have evolved to include lesions in most locations and layers of the gastrointestinal wall. Western endoscopists have recently adopted this technique as well. From a practice standpoint, ESD provides the endoscopist with the ability to remove large superficial tumors in a single piece, including ulcerated lesions, lesions with submucosal fibrosis, recurrent neoplasms, non-lifting lesions, and potentially lesions with very early submucosal invasion. En bloc resection and curative resection rates are high in the eastern literature, with bleeding, perforation and strictures, the most frequently reported complications. The procedure is difficult and time consuming, with a steep learning curve and significant complication rates, and therefore requires specialized training.
Tdap Vaccination Among Healthcare Personnel, Internet Panel Survey, 2012-2014

Introduction Healthcare personnel (HCP) are at risk for pertussis infection exposure or transmitting the disease to patients in their work settings. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination for HCP to minimize these risks. This study assessed Tdap vaccination coverage among U.S. HCP by sociodemographic and occupation-related characteristics. Methods The 2012, 2013, and 2014 Internet Panel Surveys were analyzed in 2015 to assess HCP Tdap vaccination. Effective sample sizes for 2012, 2013, and 2014 survey years were 2,038, 1613, and 1633, respectively. Missing values were assigned using multiple imputation. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors independently associated with HCP Tdap vaccination. Statistical measures were calculated with an assumption of random sampling. Results Overall, Tdap vaccination coverage among HCP was 34.8% (95% CI=30.6%, 39.0%); 40.2% (95% CI=36.1%, 44.4%); and 42.4% (95% CI=38.7%, 46.0%) in 2012, 2013, and 2014, respectively. Nurse practitioners/physician’s assistants, physicians, nurses, and HCP working in hospitals and ambulatory care settings had higher Tdap coverage. Having contact with an infant aged ≤6 months and influenza vaccination receipt were associated with increased Tdap vaccination. Non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity, having an associate/bachelor’s degree, being below poverty, non-clinical personnel status, and working in a long-term care setting were associated with decreased Tdap vaccination. Conclusions HCP Tdap vaccination coverage increased during 2012–2014; however, coverage remains low. Vaccination coverage varied widely by healthcare occupation, occupational setting, and sociodemographic characteristics. Evidence-based employer strategies used to increase HCP influenza vaccination, if applied to Tdap, may increase Tdap coverage.
Throughput of HARQ-IR with finite blocklength codes and QoS constraints

In this paper, throughput of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) schemes with finite blocklength codes is studied for both constant-rate and ON-OFF discrete-time Markov arrivals under statistical queuing constraints and deadline limits. After analyzing the decoding error probability and outage probability, the distribution of transmission period is characterized, and the throughput expressions are obtained for both arrival models. Analytical results are verified via Monte Carlo simulations. In the numerical results, the impact of deadline constraints, fixed transmission rate, coding blocklength, and queuing constraints on the throughput is analyzed.
Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis in Neurocritical Care

Stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) with acid-suppressive drug therapy is widely utilized in critically ill patients following neurologic injury for the prevention of clinically important stress-related gastrointestinal bleeding (CIB). Data supporting SUP, however, largely originates from studies conducted during an era where practices were vastly different than what is considered routine by today's standard. This is particularly true in neurocritical care patients. In fact, the routine provision of SUP has been challenged due to an increasing prevalence of adverse drug events with acid-suppressive therapy and the perception that CIB rates are sparse. This narrative review will discuss current controversies with SUP as they apply to neurocritical care patients. Specifically, the pathophysiology, prevalence, and risk factors for CIB along with the comparative efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of acid-suppressive therapy will be described.
The natural history of type 2 endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair justifies conservative management.

ObjectiveManagement of type 2 endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair has been controversial. Some advocate for conservative management, while others believe that intervention is indicated. Th...
Diagnosing IgA Vasculitis in the Active Duty Population: The Importance of Early Diagnosis and Proper Biopsy Site Selection.

Immunoglobulin A associated vasculitis (IgAV), formerly called Henoch-Schonlein purpura, is a small vessel vasculitis which typically presents with upper and lower extremity palpable purpura and abdominal pain. It is the most common vasculitis in children, and is less common in adults. However, newer evidence suggests the incidence within the adult population is higher than previously reported. This case study demonstrates an adult military recruit presenting with new onset IgAV shortly after basic training. He noted a preceding upper respiratory tract infection, which is a common finding in those presenting with IgAV. The diagnosis was made by clinical findings, histopathological results and direct immunofluorescence. Adults tend to develop more necrotic and bullous lesions when compared with children. This can skew histopathology and direct immunofluorescence. There is no clear consensus in current literature for whether to obtain lesional or perilesional biopsies. Such recommendations could be particularly advantageous for adults given the abnormal lesions. This case study addresses the incidence of IgAV within the adult population, diagnostic criteria, long-term sequalea of IgAV, and the importance of a proper biopsy sight when making the diagnosis.
The plasma membrane 'skeleton' of tumor and lymphoid cells: a role in cell lysis?

A detailed understanding of the structure and dynamics of the surface membrane of cells is crucial to study of the mechanisms of cell mediated cytotoxicity. The dynamics of the membrane receptors, target cell antigens and accessory proteins almost certainly affect the efficiency of establishing and maintaining cell-cell contact and delivery of the transmembrane signal resulting in triggering of the lytic mechanisms. Furthermore, whether the primary event involved in target cell lysis is formation of membrane lesions (pore formation) or transfer of a lytic component (enzyme?) from the effector cell to the target, the molecular requirements for these events will certainly depend upon the structure and dynamics of the target cell plasma membrane.
GLOBAL DIFFUSION OF THE INTERNET VII- TELEDENSITY GROWTH STRATEGIES FOR LATIN AMERICA: THE CASE OF COLOMBIA AND ECUADOR

The Internet in developing countries grew substantially in recent years. Given the large income disparities and low telephone penetration. rates in most Latin American countries, only about 4% of the region’s population can access the Internet. The International Telecommunication Union reports that teledensity (the number of telephone land-lines per 100 people) in Latin America is currently at about 10.8%. Prior research identified specific factors that hinder growth of teledensity in developing countries and specific strategies used to overcome such limitations. This study investigates Latin American telecommunication stakeholders’ perspective of how these strategies can be used to address teledensity growth in the region. Survey participants (Latin America’s telecommunications stakeholders) analyzed the strategies critically and modified, enhanced, or added new insights. Using appropriate statistical procedures we examined the telecommunications stakeholders’ perceptions to find potential solutions the low teledensity problem. Qualitative comments to support the stakeholders’ responses are reported, together with future research implications.
Performance extraction and suitability analysis of multi- and many-core architectures for next generation sequencing secondary analysis

High-throughput next generation sequencers (NGS) can rapidly read billions of short DNA fragments, called reads, at low cost. Moreover, their throughput is increasing and cost is decreasing at rates much faster than the Moore's law. This demands commensurate acceleration for NGS secondary analysis that process the reads to identify variations between genomes. Conventional architectural improvements can at best improve performance at the rate of Moore's law even if the software tools efficiently utilize the underlying architecture. Unfortunately, most of the dozens of software products developed for this purpose fail to exploit the underlying architecture well. Therefore, to match the pace of development of the sequencers, we will need architecture that is more tailored for the computational requirements of NGS secondary analysis as well as software that uses the architecture optimally. To this end, in this work, we study the performance characteristics of NGS secondary analysis and investigate the suitability of modern Intel Xeon and Xeon Phi processors for the same. To keep the study manageable, we rely on recent studies that attribute a majority of the run-time to a few key kernels. We present detailed optimization efforts to accelerate these kernels on the latest Intel Xeon and Xeon Phi processors with the goal of extracting maximum performance. A comparison of our optimized implementations, along with published results on GPGPU implementations, shows that our optimized implementations on the Skylake processors yield highest performance. We also present an in-depth analysis of the key kernels and identify their performance characteristics and bottlenecks to inform future architectural designs.
A Rapid Method for Sequencing Double-Stranded RNAs Purified from Yeasts and the Identification of a Potent K1 Killer Toxin Isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mycoviruses infect a large number of diverse fungal species, but considering their prevalence, relatively few high-quality genome sequences have been determined. Many mycoviruses have linear double-stranded RNA genomes, which makes it technically challenging to ascertain their nucleotide sequence using conventional sequencing methods. Different specialist methodologies have been developed for the extraction of double-stranded RNAs from fungi and the subsequent synthesis of cDNAs for cloning and sequencing. However, these methods are often labor-intensive, time-consuming, and can require several days to produce cDNAs from double-stranded RNAs. Here, we describe a comprehensive method for the rapid extraction and sequencing of dsRNAs derived from yeasts, using short-read next generation sequencing. This method optimizes the extraction of high-quality double-stranded RNAs from yeasts and 3′ polyadenylation for the initiation of cDNA synthesis for next-generation sequencing. We have used this method to determine the sequence of two mycoviruses and a double-stranded RNA satellite present within a single strain of the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The quality and depth of coverage was sufficient to detect fixed and polymorphic mutations within viral populations extracted from a clonal yeast population. This method was also able to identify two fixed mutations within the alpha-domain of a variant K1 killer toxin encoded on a satellite double-stranded RNA. Relative to the canonical K1 toxin, these newly reported mutations increased the cytotoxicity of the K1 toxin against a specific species of yeast.
Spontaneous Electrical Activity and Rhythmicity in Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscles.

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract has multifold tasks of ingesting, processing, and assimilating nutrients and disposing of wastes at appropriate times. These tasks are facilitated by several stereotypical motor patterns that build upon the intrinsic rhythmicity of the smooth muscles that generate phasic contractions in many regions of the gut. Phasic contractions result from a cyclical depolarization/repolarization cycle, known as electrical slow waves, which result from intrinsic pacemaker activity. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are electrically coupled to smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and generate and propagate pacemaker activity and slow waves. The mechanism of slow waves is dependent upon specialized conductances expressed by pacemaker ICC. The primary conductances responsible for slow waves in mice are Ano1, Ca2+-activated Cl− channels (CaCCs), and CaV3.2, T-type, voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores in ICC appears to be the initiator of pacemaker depolarizations, activation of T-type current provides voltage-dependent Ca2+ entry into ICC, as slow waves propagate through ICC networks, and Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release and activation of Ano1 in ICC amplifies slow wave depolarizations. Slow waves conduct to coupled SMCs, and depolarization elicited by these events enhances the open-probability of L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, promotes Ca2+ entry, and initiates contraction. Phasic contractions timed by the occurrence of slow waves provide the basis for motility patterns such as gastric peristalsis and segmentation. This chapter discusses the properties of ICC and proposed mechanism of electrical rhythmicity in GI muscles.
Kinetic Resolution via Rh-Catalyzed C-C Activation of Cyclobutanones at Room Temperature.

Herein we describe the development of a highly selective kinetic resolution of cyclobutanones via a Rh-catalyzed “cut-and-sew” reaction with selectivity factor up to 785. This reaction takes place ...
Spinors: Lorentz Group

We take here as the physically relevant definition that spinor fields are elements of the spaces of the fundamental representations of the Lorentz Group. Hence we begin with an informal (and therefore non-rigorous) discussion of the structure and the various representations of this physically important group. In particular, this lecture includes a discussion of the fundamental and general representations of the Lorentz group as well as the special cases of self-dual and real representations. This will clarify what precisely is meant by the term “spinor,” and permit analogies between the notions of self-dual tensors and Weyl spinors as well as real antisymmetric tensors and Majorana spinors.
Conceptualizing Contemporary Black Homeschooling and Single Black Mothers’ Resistance

This chapter provides the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of the study. The frameworks address the question “Is there really any difference between homeschooling among Black families compared to families of other ethnic/racial backgrounds?”. The chapter begins with a discussion of African American resistance theory and how single mothers’ homeschooling aligns with the conception of African American resistance. Connections between Black Feminist Thought including bell hooks’ concept of ‘homeplace’ are also presented in order to argue that contemporary homeschooling among Black families has become a mechanism to resist/counter/overcome/avoid racialized, discriminatory school-based experiences and to support the development of their children’s positive cultural self-identities. In addition, the chapter presents the Endarkened Feminist Epistemology’s influence on the methodology of the study.
Chapter 7 – Thermoregulation, Performance, and Energetics

All physiological processes are temperature dependent and reptiles and amphibians are ectotherms, gaining or losing heat from their external environment. Consequently, behavior is particularly important in maintaining body temperatures that allow proper physiological function. Terminology in thermoregulation studies is summarized, and the relationship between temperature and physiological function is reviewed with many interesting examples. Thermoregulation has costs (e.g., increased risk of predation) and thus tradeoffs exist between effective thermoregulation and costs associated with it. Amphibians and reptiles exhibit an array of mechanisms for surviving time periods when they cannot thermoregulate, including freeze tolerance in some cases. Acquired energy is partitioned into growth, maintenance, and reproduction, and the relative importance of each of these processes varies with age. Methods used to construct meaningful energy budgets are described. Finally, physiological traits can be traced on independently derived phylogenies to determine where historical shifts took place during the evolutionary history of the group.
Acute d-fenfluramine, but not fluoxetine decreases sweet intake in BALB/c, C57BL/6 and SWR inbred mouse strains.

Abstract Dopamine, opioid and muscarinic receptor antagonists differentially reduce sucrose and saccharin intakes across inbred mouse strains. Whereas these systems stimulate sweet intake, serotonin signaling inhibits food intake. The present study examined whether fluoxetine (0.1–10 mg/kg) or d -fenfluramine (0.1–6 mg/kg) differentially inhibited sucrose or saccharin intake in BALB/c, C57BL/6 and SWR mice. Fluoxetine marginally altered sucrose intake in all strains. d -fenfluramine significantly, but quite similarly reduced (ID40) sucrose and saccharin intake in BALB/c (5.7 vs. 5.8 mg/kg), C57BL/6 (4.4 vs. 4.3 mg/kg) and SWR (4.6 vs. 5.6 mg/kg) mice, suggesting serotonin-induced inhibition of orosensory mechanisms in all three inbred mouse strains.
Health coalition collaboration network, perceived satisfaction and success.

Purpose The health equity and prosperity of communities is closely linked to the effectiveness and success of local health coalitions. Social network analysis (SNA) is one mechanism to quantify and understand the factors leading to collaboration and effectiveness within these coalitions. This study aims to investigate network characteristics associated with perceived success and satisfaction in a health coalition and determine significant factors related to organizational collaborations. Design/methodology/approach This study examined the Olympic Peninsula Healthy Community Coalition (OPHCC) which aims to prevent chronic disease in rural Clallam County, Washington. Representatives (n = 21) from member organizations (n = 18) were asked to report on organization characteristics, perceived satisfaction in coalition activities, perceived success toward coalition's mission, and collaborations with other organizations in the coalition. Multilevel modeling used to analyze whether an organization's position within the coalition network was associated with their perceived satisfaction and perceived success. Exponential random graph modeling was used to examine what factors may impact collaboration ties between coalition members. Findings Organization representatives reported a total of 252 collaboration ties. In multilevel models, organization characteristics and network centrality scores accounted for between 61 and 68% of variance displayed in satisfaction scores and 45-61% of variance in perceived success scores. Exponential random graph modeling revealed activity level, for-profit status, and transitivity as significant factors in collaborative tie presence. Originality/value Encouraging consistent active participation, a balance of organizational type, and projects which require more than two collaborators may provide an environment for collaborative ties between organizations.
Exploring Discursive Challenges between African Americans and African-born U.S. Immigrants from the Standpoint of African Americans

Although African-born U.S. immigrants and African Americans share some aspects of physical appearance, communication in the U.S. cultural context is fraught with myriad discursive tensions. Framed ...
A Study on Financial Initiatives Taken By Nabard To Empoweer Rural Economy

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) primary function is to touch all aspects of rural economy. Apart from providing financial support to the underserved population of the country, the institution also monitors the functioning and regulation of banks. NABARD have been a boon to millions of rural families across the country.This Paper aims to understand the financial initiatives taken by the NABARD in the rural area.
Task Selection and Collision-Free Route Planning for Mobile Crowdsensing Using Multi-Population Mean-Field Games

With the increasing deployment of mobile vehicles, such as mobile robots and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), it is foreseen that they will play an important role in mobile crowd sensing (MCS). Specifically, mobile vehicles equipped with sensors and communication modules are able to execute large scale tasks due to their fast and flexible mobility in MCS systems. However, the battery capacity of mobile vehicles imposes a significant limitation on their performance, and so energy efficiency is an important metric especially when a large number of mobile vehicles collect sensing data. In this paper, we consider a mobile-vehicle-assisted MCS system where vehicles are owned by different operators or individuals who compete against others for limited sensing resources. We investigate the joint task selection and route planning problem for such an MCS system from an energy-efficiency perspective. However, since the computational complexity of the original problem is very high due to the large number of vehicles, we propose a multi-population Mean-Field Game (MPMFG) problem by simplifying the interaction between vehicles as a distribution over their strategy space, known as the mean-field term. To solve the MPMFG problem efficiently, we propose a G-prox primal-dual hybrid gradient method (PDHG) algorithm whose computational complexity is independent of the number of vehicles. Numerical results verify the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed MPMFG scheme and G-prox PDHG algorithm.
High-resolution radiation detection using Ni/SiO2/n-4H-SiC vertical metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitor

In this article, we demonstrate the radiation detection performance of vertical metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) capacitors fabricated on 20 μm thick n-4H-SiC epitaxial layers with the highest energy resolution ever reported. The 100 nm SiO2 layer was achieved on the Si face of n-4H-SiC epilayers using dry oxidation in air. The Ni/SiO2/n-4H-SiC MOS detectors not only demonstrated an excellent energy resolution of 0.42% ( ΔE/E×100) for 5.48 MeV alpha particles but also caused a lower enhancement in the electronic noise components of the spectrometer compared with that observed for the best high-resolution Schottky barrier detectors. The MOS detectors also exhibited a high charge collection efficiency (CCE) of 96% at the optimized operating bias despite the presence of the oxide layer. A drift-diffusion model applied to the CCE vs gate bias voltage data revealed a minority (hole) carrier diffusion length of 24 μm. Capacitance mode deep level transient spectroscopy (C-DLTS) scans in the temperature range 84–800 K were carried out to identify the resolution limiting electrically active defects. Interestingly, the C-DLTS spectra revealed both positive and negative peaks, indicating the simultaneous presence of electron (majority) and hole (minority) trap centers. It has been inferred that at the steady-state bias for the C-DLTS measurement, the MOS detector operates in the inversion mode at certain device temperatures, causing holes to populate the minority trap centers and, hence, manifests minority carrier peaks as well.
Stratifizierung und äußerste Klassen

Wir sahen, das Klassenexistenz in Zermelos System, besonders wenn das Ersetzungsaxiom hinzugefugt wird, eine Frage der Grose ist. Also ϑ ∉ ϑ. Ferner ∀x( x ∉ ϑ), denn sonst x ⋃ x ∈ ϑ, und somit ϑ ∈ ϑ. Also ist das Universum nicht abgeschlossen im Hinblick auf die Funktionen der Booleschen Klassenalgebra. Die Boolesche Algebra uberlebt nur in relativierter Form (Kapitel 33): Eine Klasse x hat als Komplement nur y ⋂ x relativ zu einer beliebigen Klasse y, die an die Stelle von ϑ tritt. Dieselbe Situation trat auch in der Typentheorie auf, nur war sie dort weniger auffallig, da jeder Typ gegenuber den Booleschen Operationen abgeschlossen war und jeder Gedanke an eine Klasse, die Typen durchdringt, selbstverstandlich ausgeschlossen war.
The HERMIT in the Tree

This paper describes our experience using the HERMIT toolkit to apply well-known transformations to the internal core language of the Glasgow Haskell Compiler. HERMIT provides several mechanisms to support writing general-purpose transformations: a domain-specific language for strategic programming specialized to GHC’s core language, a library of primitive rewrites, and a shell-style–based scripting language for interactive and batch usage.
Sexuality education in schools.

Sexuality education in the United States has been addressed recently by the official American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) publication, "School Health: Policy and Practice" prepared by the AAP Committee on School Health. 1 In the section on school and sexuality education, the AAP has endorsed the recommendations published in 1991 by the Sex Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) 2 which is part of the National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education, a coalition of organizations that support the goal that all children and youth receive sexuality education by the year 2000.
Primary Rodent Infection Models for Testing Antibacterial Compound Efficacy In Vivo

This unit describes three primary screening models for evaluating antibacterial efficacy. Included are systemic bacterial infection (peritonitis), pulmonary infection, also known as respiratory tract infection or RTI, and thigh lesion. All of these infection models can be performed in inexpensive, outbred mice and, as such, offer the advantage of being compound-sparing while allowing the testing of sufficient numbers to obtain statistically significant results early in the drug development process. Keywords: murine systemic infection; murine respiratory tract infection; murine thigh lesion infection
Online communities: focusing on sociability and usability

1 Background Millions of people meet online to chat, to find like-minded people, to debate topical issues, to play games, to give or ask for information, to find support, to shop, or just to hang-out with others. They go to chat-rooms, bulletin boards, join discussion groups or they create their group using instant messaging software. Short messaging (also known as ‘texting’) is also gaining popularity in some parts of the world. These online social gatherings are known by a variety of names including ‘online community’, a name coined by early pioneers like Howard Rheingold, who describes these online communities as ‘cultural aggregations that emerge when enough people bump into each other often enough in cyberspace’ (Rheingold, 1994, p. 57). 1.1 The scope of this chapter There is no accepted definition of online community. The term means different things to different people (Preece, 2000) so this chapter starts by examining definitions and descriptions of online community from different disciplines, and briefly traces how the topic has emerged. Section 2 outlines research from social psychology, sociology, communications studies, computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) and human-computer interaction (HCI) that informs our understanding of why people interact they way they do in online communities. Section 3 brings many of these ideas together in the context of design and evaluation of online communities, outlines a design methodology and proposes a frame work for supporting social interaction (i.e., sociability) and designing usability. Section 4 returns to research and briefly reviews
Seeing red: the origin of grain pigmentation in US weedy rice

Weedy forms of crop species infest agricultural fields worldwide and are a leading cause of crop losses, yet little is known about how these weeds evolve. Red rice (Oryza sativa), a major weed of cultivated rice fields in the US, is recognized by the dark-pigmented grain that gives it its common name. Studies using neutral molecular markers have indicated a close relationship between US red rice and domesticated rice, suggesting that the weed may have originated through reversion of domesticated rice to a feral form. We have tested this reversion hypothesis by examining molecular variation at Rc, the regulatory gene responsible for grain pigmentation differences between domesticated and wild rice. Loss-of-function mutations at Rc account for the absence of proanthocyanidin pigments in cultivated rice grains, and the major rc domestication allele has been shown to be capable of spontaneous reversion to a functional form through additional mutations at the Rc locus. Using a diverse sample of 156 weedy, domesticated and wild Oryzas, we analysed DNA sequence variation at Rc and its surrounding 4 Mb genomic region. We find that reversion of domestication alleles does not account for the pigmented grains of weed accessions; moreover, we find that haplotypes characterizing the weed are either absent or very rare in cultivated rice. Sequences from genomic regions flanking Rc are consistent with a genomic footprint of the rc selective sweep in cultivated rice, and they are compatible with a close relationship of red rice to Asian Oryzas that have never been cultivated in the US.
Removal of NO/sub x/ from diesel generator exhaust by pulsed electron beams

The objective of this paper is to determine the effects of electron beam pulse parameters on the utilization of the reactive free radicals for removal of NO/sub x/ from diesel generator exhaust. A dose per pulse less than 1 kGy has been determined to be optimum for effective radical utilization. During each post-pulse period, the radicals are utilized in the removal of NO/sub x/ in a timescale of around 100 microseconds; thus, with pulse frequencies of around 10 kHz or less, the radical concentrations remain sufficiently low to prevent any significant competition between radical-pollutant and radical-radical reactions. It is shown that a pulsed electron beam reactor, operating with a dose per pulse of less than 1 kGy/pulse and pulse repetition rate of less than 10 kHz, will have the same plasma chemistry efficiency (parts per million of removed NO/sub x/ per kGy of electron beam dose) as an electron beam reactor operating with a low dose rate of 50 kGy/s in continuous mode. Ozone accumulation is a limiting factor under high pulse frequency conditions. The total dose requirement determines the optimum combination of dose per pulse and pulse frequency for both radical utilization and prevention of ozone buildup.
Total and monomethyl mercury in fog water from the central California coast

0.04 ng L 1 respectively. Using estimates of fog water deposition from 6 sites in the region using a standard fog water collector (SFC), depositions of HgT and MMHg via fog were found to range from 42–4600 and 14–1500 ng m 2 y 1 ,w hich accounted for 7–42% of HgT and 61–99% of MMHg in total atmospheric deposition (fog, rain, and dry deposition), estimated for the coastal area. These initial measurements suggest that fog precipitation may constitute an important but previously overlooked input of MMHg to coastal environments. Preliminary comparisons of these data with associated chemical, meteorological and oceanic data suggest that biotically formed MMHg from coastal upwelling may contribute to the MMHg in fog water. Citation: Weiss-Penzias, P. S., C. Ortiz Jr., R. P. Acosta, W. Heim, J. P. Ryan, D. Fernandez, J. L. Collett Jr., and A. R. Flegal (2012), Total and monomethyl mercury in fog water from the central California coast, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L03804,
Cross-sectional geometric properties of the Otavipithecus mandible

Cross-sectional geometric properties of the postcanine mandibular corpus are determined for the only known specimen of Otavipithecus namibiensis, a middle Miocene hominoid from southern Africa. It is shown that Otavipithecus is unique in that several important mechanical properties of its mandible, including maximum and minimum moments of inertia and distribution of cortical bone, differ from patterns seen in both extant hominoids and the early hominids Australopithecus africanus and Australopithecus (Paranthropus) robustus. This is particularly apparent in the mechanical design of the posterior portion of the mandibular corpus for resisting increased torsional and transverse bending moments. Cortical index values at the level of M2 also reveal that both Otavipithecus and A. africanus are similarly designed to resist increased masticatory loads with relatively less cortical bone area, a highly efficient mechanical design.
A generalized scattering matrix approach for analysis of quasi-optical grids and de-embedding of device parameters

A generalized scattering matrix approach to analyzing quasi-optical grids used for grid amplifiers and grid oscillators is developed. The approach is verified by a novel method for de-embedding, in a waveguide simulator, the active device parameters of a differential pair high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) from the single unit cell of a grid amplifier. The method incorporates the additional ports presented to the active device into a method of moments solution of the embedding periodic array. The port(s) defined at the device or load location are within the plane of the array, and not terminated in a microstrip line with a known characteristic impedance. Therefore the generalized scattering matrix for the embedding array is normalized to the calculated input impedance(s) at these port(s). The approach described here uses a Floquet representation of the fields incident and reflected from the grid as the remaining ports in the generalized scattering matrix. The use of Floquet modes allows analysis of general geometries and nonnormal incident angles without the need for magnetic and electric wall assumptions. By developing a generalized scattering matrix for the embedding periodic array, this approach now allows conventional amplifier design techniques and analysis methods to be applied to quasi-optical grid amplifier and oscillator design. The major advantage of this unification for grid amplifier design being that the stability of the design can be predicted.
Considerations of microwave installations

The principles of microwave propagation are explained by means of a description of the steps and considerations necessary in the setting up of a typical installation.