cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation of intrinsic defect states in hydrogenated amorphous silicon films using steady-state photoconductivity and sub-bandgap absorption

The density, distribution and nature of intrinsic gap states in a-Si:H films deposited over a wide range of substrate temperatures have been investigated using steady-state photoconductivities and sub-bandgap absorption. The sub-bandgap absorption was obtained using dual beam photoconductivity (DBP) measurements and the results were analyzed using a detailed numerical model based on Rose-Simmons-Taylor statistics. This model takes into account the effects of mobility, recombination velocity, position of Fermi level, and the presence of sensitizing states. It is found that there is a large effect of sensitizing states and position of Fermi level on both electron mobility-lifetime products and sub-bandgap photoconductivities used to obtain information about gap states in different films. >
Label-free Quantitative Analysis of One-dimensional PAGE LC/MS/MS Proteome Application on Angiotensin II-Stimulated Smooth Muscle Cells Secretome

A widely used method for protein identification couples prefractionation of protein samples by one-dimensional (1D) PAGE with LC/MS/MS. We developed a new label-free quantitative algorithm by combining measurements of spectral counting, ion intensity, and peak area on 1D PAGE-based proteomics. This algorithm has several improvements over other label-free quantitative algorithms: (i) Errors in peak detection are reduced because the retention time is based on each LC/MS/MS run and actual precursor m/z. (ii) Detection sensitivity is increased because protein quantification is based on the combination of peptide count, ion intensity, and peak area. (iii) Peak intensity and peak area are calculated in each LC/MS/MS run for all slices from 1D PAGE for every single identified protein and visualized as a Western blot image. The sensitivity and accuracy of this algorithm were demonstrated by using standard curves (17.4 fmol to 8.7 pmol), complex protein mixtures (30 fmol to 1.16 pmol) of known composition, and spiked protein (34.8 fmol to 17.4 pmol) in complex proteins. We studied the feasibility of this approach using the secretome of angiotensin II (Ang II)-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). From the VSMC-conditioned medium, 629 proteins were identified including 212 putative secreted proteins. 26 proteins were differently expressed in control and Ang II-stimulated VSMCs, including 18 proteins not previously reported. Proteins related to cell growth (CYR61, protein NOV, and clusterin) were increased, whereas growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) and growth/differentiation factor 6 were decreased by Ang II stimulation. Ang II-stimulated changes of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, GAS6, cathepsin B, and periostin were validated by Western blot. In conclusion, a novel label-free quantitative analysis of 1D PAGE-LC/MS/MS-based proteomics has been successfully applied to the identification of new potential mediators of Ang II action and may provide an alternative to traditional protein staining methods.
Optimization of Parabolic Trough Collector Design for Varying Manufacturing Tolerances Using a Closed-Form Expression for Intercept Factor

In this paper, a closed-form expression for intercept factor is used to carry out the optimization of parabolic trough collector geometry (rim angle and concentration ratio). It is shown that the presented closed-form expression eliminates the need for a detailed ray-trace computer code and facilitates optimization of the collector optical design parameters.
Social categorization and stereotyping: How social categorization biases person perception and face memory.

The current article offers a brief history of research and theory related to social categorization and stereotyping. We begin by outlining research focusing on category selection, category activation, and category application. We then discuss the consequences of social categorization, noting that one of the most important and ubiquitous effects of social categorization is homogenization or assimilation. We then extend this research related to the assimilative consequences of social categorization to the realm of face memory. Specifically, we introduce the Categorization-Individuation Model (see also Hugenberg et al., forthcoming) as a new model of the Cross-Race Effect, or the difficulty many perceivers have in recognizing members of other racial groups. The Categorization-Individuation Model argues that the Cross-Race Effect is due to the tendency to categorize out-group members but individuate in-group members. Finally, we summarize the extant research in support of this new model of person memory and close by discussing the current state of, and potential future directions for, social categorization research. Whereas attitudes may be social psychology’s most indispensable concept (Allport, 1935), social categorization may run a close second. To a great extent, social categorization is one of the cornerstones of the social cognitive revolution in social psychology. The idea that we spontaneously and effortlessly group social targets into categories, and mentally represent and activate beliefs about those categories, is an old one in social psychology (Allport, 1954; Bruner, 1957; Tajfel & Wilkes, 1963). Indeed, the processing efficiency gleaned from such categorization lies at the heart of classic social cognitive theory on person perception (Brewer, 1988; Fiske & Neuberg, 1990; Fiske & Taylor, 1991). Activating and applying social category information, or stereotyping, allows us to navigate a complex social environment by simplifying judgments and conserving cognitive capacity (Macrae, Milne, & Bodenhausen, 1994). In most social situations, we do not need perfect information about others around us. Instead, we
Laser-guided direct writing: a novel method to deposit biomolecules for biosensors arrays

In this paper, we present a potential biomolecular patterning method, laser-guided direct writing guidance (LGDW), which may be utilized to deposit organic and bioactive particles for biosensor arrays. The instrumentation and operation of the LGDW system is introduced and the system settings used to achieve deposition are reported. The biomolecule, avidin, was deposited onto a substrate using LGDW to evaluate the possible damage from the laser on the biomolecules. The functionality of avidin after laser-based guidance was examined by exposing the deposited avidin molecules to its ligand, biotin. The results show some avidin retained its affinity to biotin after LGDW demonstrating little damage to the biomolecules.
Is there evidence for Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary-age deep-water deposits in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico?

Over most of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean a hiatus is present between the lower upper Maastrichtian and lowermost Tertiary deposits; sedimentation resumed ∼200 ka (upper zone Pla) after the K-T boundary. Current-bedded volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks at Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Sites 536 and 540, which were previously interpreted as impact-generated megawave deposits of K-T boundary age, are biostratigraphically of pre-K-T boundary age and probably represent turbidite or gravity-How deposits. The top 10 to 20 cm of this deposit at Site 536 contains very rare Micula prinsii, the uppermost Maastrichtian index taxon, as well as low values of Ir (0.6 pbb) and rare Ni-rich spinels. These indicate possible reworking of sediments of K-T boundary age at the hiatus. Absence of continuous sediment accumulation across the K-T boundary in the 16 Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean sections examined prevents their providing evidence of impact-generated megawave deposits in this region. Our study indicates that the most complete trans-K-T stratigraphic records may be found in onshore marine sections of Mexico, Cuba, and Haiti. The stratigraphic records of these areas should be investigated further for evidence of impact deposits.
Urinary concentrations and bactericidal activities of newer fluoroquinolones in healthy volunteers.

Abstract Eleven healthy male subjects participated in a crossover study to compare the urine concentrations and bactericidal activities of newer fluoroquinolones against common uropathogens. Each volunteer received a single oral dose of gatifloxacin (400 mg), levofloxacin (250 mg), moxifloxacin (400 mg) and trovafloxacin (200 mg), and a urine sample was obtained at 2, 6, 12 and 24 h after the dose. Urine concentrations were highest with gatifloxacin and levofloxacin and lowest with trovafloxacin. Each drug concentration was studied against a levofloxacin susceptible and moderately-susceptible strain of Escherichia coli (minimal inhibitory concentration, MICs: 0.125 and 4 mg/l), K. pneumoniae (MICs: 0.125 and 4 mg/l), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MICs: 0.5 and 4 mg/l) and Enterococcus faecalis (MICs: 0.25 and 4 mg/l). The duration of urine bactericidal activity (UBA) was based upon the median bactericidal titre at each time period. Both gatifloxacin and levofloxacin exhibited prolonged (≥6 h) UBA against all of the study isolates. Moxifloxacin exhibited prolonged UBA against both isolates of E. coli , K. pneumoniae and E. faecalis but not against either strain of P. aeruginosa . Prolonged UBA was not observed for trovafloxacin against the moderately-susceptible strains with the exception of E. faecalis . Furthermore, UBA was not observed for trovafloxacin against the susceptible strain of P. aeruginosa . Although these newer fluoroquinolones exhibited similar in vitro activity against these uropathogens, only those compounds with the highest urinary concentrations (gatifloxacin and levofloxacin) produced prolonged UBA against both strains of P. aeruginosa . The findings from this study suggest that both microbiological activity and urinary concentrations are important parameters to consider when choosing a fluoroquinolone for empirical treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Durability of FRP Composites for Civil Infrastructure - Myth, Mystery or Reality

Although fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite applications for civil infrastructure have been extensively investigated over the past decade through laboratory tests and field demonstrations, there is still a significant concern related to their long-term durability. In part this concern is based on the differences between FRP composites, which are intrinsically tailorable, and the more conventional metallic and cementitious materials used previously. This paper describes the current status of durability of these materials through a discussion of the myths, mystery and the reality concerning durability. It is shown that although FRP composites do undergo degradation their performance attributes can provide significant advantages over conventional materials in civil infrastructure applications.
Probabilistic techniques for obtaining accurate patient counts in Clinical Data Warehouses

Proposal and execution of clinical trials, computation of quality measures and discovery of correlation between medical phenomena are all applications where an accurate count of patients is needed. However, existing sources of this type of patient information, including Clinical Data Warehouses (CDWs) may be incomplete or inaccurate. This research explores applying probabilistic techniques, supported by the MayBMS probabilistic database, to obtain accurate patient counts from a Clinical Data Warehouse containing synthetic patient data. We present a synthetic Clinical Data Warehouse, and populate it with simulated data using a custom patient data generation engine. We then implement, evaluate and compare different techniques for obtaining patients counts. We model billing as a test for the presence of a condition. We compute billing's sensitivity and specificity both by conducting a ''Simulated Expert Review'' where a representative sample of records are reviewed and labeled by experts, and by obtaining the ground truth for every record. We compute the posterior probability of a patient having a condition through a ''Bayesian Chain'', using Bayes' Theorem to calculate the probability of a patient having a condition after each visit. The second method is a ''one-shot'' approach that computes the probability of a patient having a condition based on whether the patient is ever billed for the condition. Our results demonstrate the utility of probabilistic approaches, which improve on the accuracy of raw counts. In particular, the simulated review paired with a single application of Bayes' Theorem produces the best results, with an average error rate of 2.1% compared to 43.7% for the straightforward billing counts. Overall, this research demonstrates that Bayesian probabilistic approaches improve patient counts on simulated patient populations. We believe that total patient counts based on billing data are one of the many possible applications of our Bayesian framework. Use of these probabilistic techniques will enable more accurate patient counts and better results for applications requiring this metric.
Neuropsychological characteristics of children with the 22q11 deletion syndrome: a descriptive analysis

Previous reports of cognitive functioning in children with the 22q11 Deletion Syndrome have reported marked variability in IQ and achievement subtest scores. Studies have begun to explore neuropsychological function in 22q11 DS however results are inconsistent and the profile incomplete. We assessed 40 children ages 5–12 with 22q11 DS. Consistent with past results, visual-spatial memory was significantly lower than verbal memory. Differentially lowered scores were found only in visual attention, working memory and motor function. Contrary with some past results quantitative, verbal ability, and visual spatial memory scores were within 1 SD from the standardization sample mean. Motor behavior, not typically discussed with regard to 22q11 DS school-age children, may be critical to incorporate in neurocognitive studies of children with 22q11 DS. Implications of these findings are considered with regard to past results.
Climate Change and Peacebuilding in the Sahel

Lands across Africa's Sahel region are gradually drying up, turning to sand and dust. In other areas of this semi-arid belt that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, increasingly frequ...
Maximum Entropy Method for Subnetwork Origin–Destination Trip Matrix Estimation

In the context of sketch planning, a simplified network (i.e., an abstract network or subnetwork) model is expected to accurately approximate travel demand patterns and level-of-service attributes obtained from its full-network counterpart. A data prerequisite in this approximation process is the trip matrix of the simplified network. This paper discusses a maximum entropy method for the subnetwork trip matrix estimation problem, relying only on link flow rates estimated with the use of full-network traffic assignment or as observed link-level vehicle counts. A linearization algorithm of the Frank-Wolfe type is devised for problem solutions in which a column-generation approach is used iteratively to solve the linearized subproblem without path enumeration. Encouraging results from sample applications of different size and topology suggest that this method holds much promise for generating trip matrices that can be used to evaluate traffic flow patterns under various network changes.
Improving outcomes of hospitalized patients: the Physician Relationships, Improvising, and Sensemaking intervention protocol

Background: Our goal is to improve the safety and effectiveness of inpatient care. Rather than focus on improving process of care, we focus on the social structure within physician teams. We have developed the Physician Relationships, Improvising, and Sensemaking (PRISm) intervention to improve the way physician teams round, enabling them to better relate, make sense of their patients’ conditions, and improvise in uncertain clinical situations. We are currently studying the impact of PRISm on adverse events and complications in hospitalized patients. This manuscript describes the PRISm intervention. Methods/design: PRISm is a structured communication tool consisting of three components: daily briefings before rounds; use of the Situation, Task, Intent, Concern, and Calibrate (STICC) framework during rounds as part of the discussion of individual patients; and debriefings after rounds. We are implementing the PRISm intervention on eight inpatient medical and surgical physician teams in the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. We are assessing PRISm impact on the way team members relate to each other, round, and discuss patients through pre- and post-implementation observations and surveys. We are also assessing PRISm impact on complications and adverse events. Finally, we are interviewing physicians regarding their experience using the intervention. Discussion: Our results will allow us to begin to understand the potential impact of interventions designed to improve how providers relate to each other, improvise, and make sense of what is happening as a strategy for improving inpatient care. Our in-depth data collection will enable us to assess how relationships, improvising, and sensemaking influence patient outcomes, potentially through creating shared mental models or enhancing distributed cognition during clinical reasoning. Finally, our results will lay the groundwork for larger implementation studies to improve clinical outcomes through improving how providers, and providers, patients, and caregivers, relate.
Students' and Parents' Attitudes towards Online Privacy: An International Study

Young internet users engage in risky or inappropriate behavior, including sending email and texts about their sexual activities and the sexual activities of others, and other activities that could either be embarrassing or harmful to their future. Parents in all eight countries studied express preferences for far less data mining of students' online activities than seems to be the current practice. Most importantly, aversion to data mining does not seem to be correlated with awareness of the extent to which data mining of teen's activities occurs or the variety of forms that this data mining can exhibit. Only in the U.S. Does teens' aversion to an activity appear to be correlated with their individually engaging in that activity, and this appears to be true only for the most embarrassing or incriminating of online activities.
AUTOTEC: an English to Chinese machine translation system

An English to Chinese MT (machine translation) system, AUTOTEC, which uses a multilevel reconstruction approach, is presented. The translation in the system is performed in a sequential, phrasal, and lexical order. Through the hierarchical processing, the large linguistic differences between English and Chinese can be well bridged. >
Cyclic variation of the power of ultrasonic Doppler signal from pulsatile blood flow

Doppler ultrasound has been used as a clinical tool for measuring the velocity of blood flow in vessels for many years. The power of the ultrasonic Doppler signal from blood is related to blood properties and flow conditions i.e., hematocrit, nature of flow, degree of cell aggregation, etc. and has recently been used to obtain the so-called "power mode" Doppler images. It would help one to interpret the image if one understood how it changes in response to different conditions. The variation of the power of the ultrasonic Doppler signal from porcine blood during the flow cycle under pulsatile flow conditions has been evaluated experimentally with a 10 MHz pulsed Doppler flowmeter using a pulsatile flow mock loop consisting of a polystyrene or latex vessel model at a peak flow rate of 0.6188 l/min (30 to 60 beats/min), similar to physiological conditions, but of different stroke rates. A significant difference in the cyclic variation of Doppler power is observed as the stroke rate or measuring site is varied. >
Genetic analysis of laminin A reveals diverse functions during morphogenesis in Drosophila

In order to dissect the functions of laminin A in vivo, we have undertaken a molecular and genetic characterization of the laminin A subunit (lamA) gene in Drosophila. Sequence analysis predicts a multidomain structure similar to mammalian homologs. We generated a series of complete and partial loss-of-function mutant alleles of the lamA gene; complete loss-of-function mutations lead to late embryonic lethality. Certain combinations of partial loss-of-function lamA alleles give rise to escaper adults, which have rough eyes associated with changes in cell fate and pattern, misshapen legs and defects in wing structure. These phenotypes suggest that laminin A has diverse functions during morphogenesis in Drosophila.
scid cells efficiently integrate hairpin and linear DNA substrates

The scid mouse mutation affects V(D)J rearrangement and double-strand break repair. scid V(D)J rearrangement is characterized by defective coding joint formation which prevents the development of mature B and T cells. Hairpin DNA has been implicated in the formation of V(D)J coding joints. We found scid cells to be proficient in hairpin processing in the context of DNA integration. In addition, we found that the scid defect did not impair integration of linear DNA via nonhomologous recombination. Therefore, hairpin processing and integration of DNA into the genome are distinct from hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation and the defect in V(D)J recombination.
Optimal management of polycystic ovary syndrome in adolescence

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous disorder of reproduction and metabolism, which emerges at puberty, and is characterised by a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms of hyperandrogenism, anovulation, hyperinsulinaemia and associated comorbidities. Unlike adult PCOS, there are no agreed-upon diagnostic criteria for adolescent PCOS, but hyperandrogenaemia remains the sine qua non for its diagnosis. Many adolescent girls with PCOS are overweight/obese, and have a heightened risk for comorbidities such as dysglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, fatty liver disease, sleep apnoea and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, early and accurate diagnosis is essential for implementation of appropriate treatment and management. Available treatments include lifestyle modifications, hormonal contraceptives and insulin sensitisers. However, there are limited data on the best treatment modalities in adolescents. The objective of this review is to describe the clinical manifestations of PCOS in adolescents and the appropriate diagnostic work-up. The optimal treatment modalities based on a review of the available adult and adolescent literature will be discussed.
Vision-based Three Dimensional Navigation Frame Mapping and Planning for Collision Avoidance for Micro Air Vehicles

Path planning and obstacle avoidance involve planning a feasible path from the initial to goal conflgurations while avoiding obstacles. This paper presents a vision-based three dimensional navigation frame mapping and path planning technique for collision avoidance for Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) using a forward-looking onboard camera. Using computer vision algorithms, a depth map representing the range and bearing to obstacles is obtained. Based on the depth map, we use the extended Kalman Filter (EKF) to estimate the range and azimuth to obstacles and the height of obstacles and use the joint compatibility branch and bound (JCBB) algorithm to associate the camera measurements with the existing obstacles. A three dimensional map, constructed in cylindrical coordinates, is then created in the navigation frame of the MAV. We employ the Rapidly-Exploring Random Tree (RRT) algorithm to flnd collision-free Dubins paths in the navigation frame. The simulation results show that the proposed technique is successful in solving path planning and multiple obstacles avoidance problems for MAVs.
Refractive spherules in phloem ofMicrosorium scolopendria andPsilotum nudum

Phloem tissues ofMicrosorium scolopendria (Polypodiaceae) andPsilotum nudum (Psilotaceae) were examined with light and electron microscopes. The characteristic refractive spherules in the sieve elements ofM. scolopendria apparently develop from endoplasmic reticulum-derived cytoplasmic vesicles. In both taxa they have not been observed to be spatially related to plastids or mitochondria. Refractive spherules contain protein and often occur in the peripheral cytoplasm of mature sieve elements. InM. scolopendria they also occur in pericycle cells. Significant differences in refractive spherule substructure occur between the two taxa studied.
Developing a Novel Embryo–Larval Zebrafish Xenograft Assay to Prioritize Human Glioblastoma Therapeutics

Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain cancer requiring improved treatments. Existing methods of drug discovery and development require years before new therapeutics become available to patients. Zebrafish xenograft models hold promise for prioritizing drug development. We have developed an embryo-larval zebrafish xenograft assay in which cancer cells are implanted in a brain microenvironment to discover and prioritize compounds that impact glioblastoma proliferation, migration, and invasion. We illustrate the utility of our assay by evaluating the well-studied, phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), which demonstrate selective cancer cytotoxicity in cell culture, but the in vivo effectiveness has not been established. Exposures of 3.125-6.25 μM LY294002 significantly decreased proliferation up to 34% with concentration-dependent trends. Exposure to 6.25 μM LY294002 significantly inhibited migration/invasion by ∼27% within the glioblastoma cell mass (0-80 μm) and by ∼32% in the next distance region (81-160 μm). Unexpectedly, ZnO enhanced glioblastoma proliferation by ∼19% and migration/invasion by ∼35% at the periphery of the cell mass (161+ μm); however, dissolution of these NPs make it difficult to discern whether this was a nano or ionic effect. These results demonstrate that we have a short, relevant, and sensitive zebrafish-based assay to aid glioblastoma therapeutic development.
Unimpaired Response of Rabbit Jejunum to Cholera Toxin After Selective Damage to Villus Epithelium

Controlled exposure of rabbit intestinal loops to hypertonic sodium sulfate solution produced consistent morphological alteration of the villus epithelium and inhibition of net glucose absorption. Pre-exposure of jejunal loops in this manner did not alter the fluid secretion induced by subsequent exposure to cholera exotoxin. The results further support the concept that cholera exotoxin-induced fluid secretion originates from the crypts of Lieberkuhn.
Rapid Fabrication Techniques for Liquid Rocket Channel Wall Nozzles

The functions of a regeneratively-cooled nozzle are to (1) expand combustion gases to increase exhaust gas velocity while, (2) maintaining adequate wall temperatures to prevent structural failure, and (3) transfer heat from the hot gases to the coolant fluid to promote injector performance and stability. Regeneratively-cooled nozzles are grouped into two categories: tube-wall nozzles and channel wall nozzles. A channel wall nozzle is designed with an internal liner containing a series of integral coolant channels that are closed out with an external jacket. Manifolds are attached at each end of the nozzle to distribute coolant to and away from the channels. A variety of manufacturing techniques have been explored for channel wall nozzles, including state of the art laser-welded closeouts and pressure-assisted braze closeouts. This paper discusses techniques that NASA MSFC is evaluating for rapid fabrication of channel wall nozzles that address liner fabrication, slotting techniques and liner closeout techniques. Techniques being evaluated for liner fabrication include large-scale additive manufacturing of freeform-deposition structures to create the liner blanks. Abrasive water jet milling is being evaluated for cutting the complex coolant channel geometries. Techniques being considered for rapid closeout of the slotted liners include freeform deposition, explosive bonding and Cold Spray. Each of these techniques, development work and results are discussed in further detail in this paper.
Imagination Embodied: The Sacraments Reappropriated

AbstractInspired by the 2015 REA Atlanta conference theme, The Power of Imagining: The Life Giving Possibilities of Education in Faith, this article proposes a postmodern reclamation of imagination as the human bridge to sacramentally encounter the Divine. It re-examines sacramental religious education retrieving imagination from material fundamentalism, refocusing the sacraments on societal as well as personal development, and counteracting body/spirit dualism by relating sacramental graces and body energy centers.
Proton pump inhibitors in IPF: beyond mere suppression of gastric acidity

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are structurally composed of benzimidazole core; a pharmacologically common scaffold that makes up nearly one quarter of the hundred most selling drugs including anticancer, opioid, antihistaminic and antihelmintic drugs. In medicinal chemistry, benzimidazoles are coined as privileged scaffolds due to their ability to recognize and bind diverse biological targets. In this regard, PPIs have been linked to other extra-intestinal functions including direct modulation of airway epithelial, vascular endothelial and immune cells. PPIs have been reported to improve outcomes in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) including slowing the decline in measures of lung function, reducing episodes of acute exacerbations and prolonging transplant-free survival. Recently, the evidence-based guidelines for IPF treatment conditionally recommended the use of PPIs in IPF. However, no prospective clinical trial has been conducted to empirically evaluate the safety and efficacy of PPIs in IPF. Here, we discuss emerging anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic activity of PPIs in the context of IPF. We also discuss possible molecular mechanisms by which PPIs may unleash their beneficial effect in IPF.
Teen Childbearing and Depression: Do Pregnancy Attitudes Matter?

The relationship between teen childbearing and depression has been extensively studied; however, little is known about how young women's own attitudes toward becoming pregnant shape this association. This study used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to investigate whether the relationship between teen childbearing and adult depression is moderated by adolescent attitudes toward becoming pregnant. The results showed that although, on average, women who had first births between ages 16 and 19 experienced no more depressive symptoms in adulthood than women who had first births at age 20 or older, the relationship between teen childbearing and adult depression varied significantly based on adolescent pregnancy attitudes. When they had negative adolescent attitudes toward getting pregnant, teen mothers had similar levels of depression as adult mothers, but when they had positive adolescent pregnancy attitudes, teen mothers actually had fewer depressive symptoms than women with adult first births.
Oral Health Disparity in Older Adults: Dental Decay and Tooth Loss

Progress has been made in reducing dental caries and edentulism in older adults, but disparities continue to exist related to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic level, and sex. Lack of training in treating medically complex patients, economic factors including absence of coverage for oral health services in Medicare and as a required service for adults in Medicaid, and attitudinal issues on the part of patients, caregivers, and providers contribute to barriers to care for older adults. In addition to the impact of oral health on overall health, oral health impacts quality of life and social and employment opportunities.
Mid-level actors and their operating environments for implementing nutrition-sensitive programming in Ethiopia

Abstract This paper provides an analysis of mid-level actors and their operating environments in relation to implementing nutrition-sensitive programming in Ethiopia. We used an innovative, multi-sited qualitative method encompassing the group of implementing actors in health, agriculture, and social protection below regional level and a sample of households from a community receiving these government services. Systemic constraints and day-to-day operational challenges within sectoral programming characterized the mid-level operating environment. Communities experienced nutrition-related improvements over time, but were constrained in their ability to engage with government programming by their physical environment. Mid-level actors are subject to complex constraints originating from both systemic factors and day-to-day resource constraints. Further development of existing service provision platforms and attention to community constraints is recommended to align national nutrition agendas with implementation capacities and community needs.
Methodological challenges in the study of stateless nationalist territorial claims

ABSTRACTMethodological challenges in the study of stateless nationalist territorial claims. Territory, Politics, Governance. The territory claimed by stateless nationalist movements can change over time. Following a review of prominent explanations, this article addresses some of the more general methodological challenges involved in studying change in the territorial claims of stateless nationalist movements. It draws attention to the analytical distinction between the origin of territorial claims and their consequent changes. Building on this distinction, it also demonstrates the advantages of using a multidimensional understanding of change in territorial claims focusing on its timing, direction, and process. Then it turns to a discussion highlighting the tradeoffs in the choice of the unit of analysis as well as common problems in case selection, i.e., unjustifiable asynchronous comparisons and anachronism. The article concludes by laying out a roadmap for future research in this area.
No Rest for the Stigmatized: A Model of Organizational Health and Workplace Sexism (OHWS)

Employee sick attendance at work—presenteeism—poses a significant threat to both employee health and organizational productivity. However, despite the wealth of literature examining organizational predictors of presenteeism, little research has investigated the impact of stigmatized status on employee work attendance when sick. We argue that gender discrimination in the workplace promotes negative job perceptions and poorer health, ultimately contributing to increased rates of presenteeism among female employees. In two studies assessing U.S. women’s perceptions of workplace sexism, job security, job autonomy, job stress, reported health, and workplace sick-related attendance, we develop the framework for the Organizational Health and Workplace Sexism (OHWS) model. Study 1 utilized a large nationally representative dataset to conduct a secondary data analysis that preliminarily investigated the unique impact of perceived workplace discrimination. Results found that women who experienced workplace sexism reported more negative job perceptions and poorer health outcomes, yet they did not stay home from work more often than non-stigmatized women did—suggesting sick work attendance. Study 2 surveyed employed women through a paid online survey service in a more detailed assessment of the variables. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) revealed that workplace sexism negatively related to reported health, job security, and job autonomy, which were positively associated with perceived job stress. Job factors also were negatively related to health, which directly correlated with rates of presenteeism. Therefore, the OHWS provides a novel addition to the presenteeism literature by bridging the health, stigma, and organizational literatures.
Controlling relative polymorph stability in soft porous crystals with a barostat.

We use Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the thermodynamic behavior of soft porous crystal (SPC) adsorbents under the influence of an external barostat. We consider SPCs that naturally exhibit polymorphism between crystal forms of two distinct pore sizes. In the absence of barostatting, these crystals may be naturally divided into two categories depending on their response to stress applied by the adsorbate fluid: those which macroscopically deform and change the volume of their unit cell (“breathing”) and those which instead undergo internal rearrangements that change the adsorbate-accessible volume without modifying the unit cell volume (“gate-opening”). When breathing SPCs have a constant external pressure applied, in addition to the thermodynamic pressure of the adsorbate fluid, we find that the free energy difference between the crystal polymorphs is shifted by a constant amount over the entire course of adsorption. Thus, their relative stability may be easily controlled by the barostat. However...
Asynchronous parallel cartesian genetic programming

The run-time of evolutionary algorithms (EAs) is typically dominated by fitness evaluation. This is particularly the case when the genotypes are complex, such as in genetic programming (GP). Evaluating multiple offspring in parallel is appropriate in most types of EAs and can reduce the time incurred by fitness evaluation proportional to the number of parallel processing units. The most naive approach maintains the synchrony of evolution as employed by the vast majority of EAs, requiring an entire generation to be evaluated before progressing to the next generation. Heterogeneity in the evaluation times will degrade the performance, as parallel processing units will idle until the longest evaluation has completed. Asynchronous parallel evolution mitigates this bottleneck and techniques which experience high heterogeneity in evaluation times, such as Cartesian GP (CGP), are prime candidates for asynchrony. However, due to CGP's small population size, asynchrony has a significant impact on selection pressure and biases evolution towards genotypes with shorter execution times, resulting in poorer results compared to their synchronous counterparts. This paper: 1) provides a quick introduction to CGP and asynchronous parallel evolution, 2) introduces asynchronous parallel CGP, and 3) shows empirical results demonstrating the potential for asynchronous parallel CGP to outperform synchronous parallel CGP.
Evaluation of long term reliability and safe operating area of 15 kV SiC PiN diodes during ultra-high current pulsed conditions

Silicon Carbide (SiC) is a leading wide bandgap semiconductor for increasing the power density of bigb power applications. This paper overviews the long term reliability and safe operating area of15 kV SiC PiN diodes during pulsed current conditions. An automated system is used to stress these devices with ultra-high current pulses and monitor degradation with in-system characterization. The system is capable of a 100 μs full-width half maximum pulse width up to 15 kA, with a repetition rate of 0.5 Hz. Periodic in-system characterization measures device forward conduction and reverse breakdown. The devices in this paper are pulsed at current levels from 1.5 kA to 2.5 kA. Over 100,000 pulses at 1.5 kA have been performed with no degradation. The long term reliability and failure mode results for the 15 kV PiN diodes will be reviewed.
The Ubiquitin Ligase (E3) Psh1p Is Required for Proper Segregation of both Centromeric and Two-Micron Plasmids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome system is essential to many processes. We sought to assess its involvement in the turnover of mitochondrial proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . We find that deletion of a specific ubiquitin ligase (E3), Psh1p, increases the abundance of a temperature-sensitive mitochondrial protein, mia40-4pHA, when it is expressed from a centromeric plasmid. Deletion of Psh1p unexpectedly elevates the levels of other proteins expressed from centromeric plasmids. Loss of Psh1p does not increase the rate of turnover of mia40-4pHA, affect total protein synthesis, or increase the protein levels of chromosomal genes. Instead, psh1Δ appears to increase the incidence of missegregation of centromeric plasmids relative to their normal 1:1 segregation. After generations of growth with selection for the plasmid, ongoing missegregation would lead to elevated plasmid DNA, mRNA, and protein, all of which we observe in psh1Δ cells. The only known substrate of Psh1p is the centromeric histone H3 variant Cse4p, which is targeted for proteasomal degradation after ubiquitination by Psh1p. However, Cse4p overexpression alone does not phenocopy psh1Δ in increasing plasmid DNA and protein levels. Instead, elevation of Cse4p leads to an apparent increase in 1:0 plasmid segregation events. Further, 2 μm high-copy yeast plasmids also missegregate in psh1Δ , but not when Cse4p alone is overexpressed. These findings demonstrate that Psh1p is required for the faithful inheritance of both centromeric and 2 μm plasmids. Moreover, the effects that loss of Psh1p has on plasmid segregation cannot be accounted for by increased levels of Cse4p.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? BEYOND THE NEJM MAGNASAFE TRIAL: A FOCUS BEYOND A MYOPIC CMR ‘SAFETY-FIRST’ NOTION

Today, MRI is infrequently performed in pts with conventional PM/lCDs. While MagnaSafe, published in NEJM for non-thoracic MRI, unequivocally documented safety, the clinical value remains unconsidered. A myopic, potentially prohibitive, focus on safety continues. MRI in PM/lCDs pts is crucial to
Estimation and minimization of power loop inductance in 135 kW SiC traction inverter

The paper discusses the estimation and minimization of commutation loop inductance for a printed circuit board (PCB) busbar based 135 kW SiC inverter with a 1 kV DC link using finite element analysis (FEA) simulations. For the inductance estimation of the power module (Wolfspeed: HT-3231-R), PCB busbar, and customized interconnects constituting the commutation loop have been modelled accurately in Ansys Q3D Extractor. Based on the simulation results, subsequent modification to the original PCB busbar design has been proposed to lower the loop inductance. FEA simulation results have resulted in an optimized PCB busbar with lower commutation loop inductance, thereby limiting the device voltage spike well below its rated value. Loop inductance results from the Q3D simulation have been validated through double pulse tests (DPT) and the performance improvements achieved therefore have been highlighted.
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Adult Personality: Evaluating the Evidence

This paper is made up of two parts. In the first part we outline a frame of reference (the Big Five) for organizing the data from Behavior Genetic studies of adult personality and then briefly review methods (model fitting) used by behavior geneticists to analyze genetic and environmental influences on personality. We then proceed to summarize the major model fitting findings from twin, adoption, extended family, and twin reared apart studies. Part two critiques non-behavioral genetic approaches to the study of environmental influences on personality. With regard to part one we conclude that a) genetic factors account for about 40-50% of the variance in the Big Five personality traits as measured by standard instruments, and b) that non-additive variance contributes significantly to most of these traits (in the range.02 to.17). The hypothesis of a more modest heritability based on only additive variance (28-46%) and special monozygotic and sibling environments cannot, however, be completely ruled out. There are inconsistencies in the findings and failures to replicate the details of studies. We argue that this is due to the use of poor quality instruments, and that unlike scientists in other domains who push the limits of their instrumentation to test theoretical ideas, behavior geneticists have failed to implement the broad array advances in our understanding of the measurement of psychological traits that have occurred over the last forty years. With regard to part two we find that a) critiques of the twin method are largely unfounded, b) the methodologies and assumptions of the various environmental (non-behavior genetic) approaches to explaining variance in adult personality traits are largely untenable, c) the results of experimental studies have often been inappropriately extrapolated to domains to which they do not apply, and d) studies of a number of “so called” environmental variables (birth order, divorce, physical attractiveness, etc.) simply do not explain the phenomena they have been postulated to explain. We conclude that the non-behavior genetic approach to the study of environmental influences on personality has generated few if any credible findings. We further argue that studies of environmental influences on adult personality that do not impose genetic controls are uninterpretable with regard to explaining individual differences in adult personality.
Monitoring atmospheric pollution levels by laser ranging systems.

Atmospheric pollution levels can be monitored by several optical ranging schemes using lasers. These schemes include Raman backscattering, resonance fluorescence backscattering, and long path resonant absorption. The three schemes are compared and evaluated. The long path absorption method appears to have the greatest sensitivity. A system for monitoring atmospheric NO2 with tunable organic dye lasers at levels of less than one part per million is suggested.
Correlation of Scheimpflug densitometry changes with clinical outcomes after corneal crosslinking.

Purpose To characterize changes in densitometry after corneal crosslinking (CXL) and correlate it with visual outcomes. Setting Tertiary referral academic medical center, New York, New York, USA. Design Retrospective case series. Methods Patients with progressive keratoconus or post-laser in situ keratomileusis ectasia had CXL following the Dresden protocol. The corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and Pentacam imaging were obtained at baseline and follow-up visits. Results Fifty-seven patients were followed for a mean of 15 months (range 1 to 24 months) after CXL. The CDVA improved significantly from baseline to 6, 12, 18, and 24 months postoperatively. The change in densitometry of the mid-stromal layer, 2.0 to 6.0 mm annulus, at 6 months was correlated with the improvement in CDVA at 6, 12, and 24 months (all P Conclusions Although the greatest and most durable post-CXL densitometry change was in the anterior layer, the degree of increased densitometry haze in the mid-stromal layer was most associated with and possibly predictive of improvement in CDVA, maximum K, and HOAs. The persistence of corneal haze at 6 months, measured by increased densitometry, might be a prognostic marker for CXL effectiveness.