cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Association between Advanced Maternal Age and Diagnosis of Small for Gestational Age.

Objectives To identify whether advanced maternal age (AMA), defined as age ≥35 years old, is independently associated with small for gestational age (SGA). Study Design This was a retrospective cohort of births from the National Vital Statistics System in the United States from 2009 to 2013. Women were categorized based on four age groups at the time of delivery: 20 to 29, 30 to 34, 35 to 39, and ≥40 years old. The primary outcome of SGA Results A total of 17,031,005 births were eligible for analysis, with 2,705,501 births to AMA women. In multivariable analyses, maternal age of 30 to 34, compared with 20 to 29, was associated with lower rates of SGA Conclusion Nulliparous women aged 30 years and older have higher risk of SGA
The impact of sampling patients on measuring physician patient-sharing networks using Medicare data.

Objective To investigate the impact of sampling patients on descriptive characteristics of physician patient-sharing networks. Data sources Medicare claims data from 10 hospital referral regions (HRRs) in the United States in 2010. Study design We form a sampling frame consisting of the full cohort of patients (Medicare enrollees) with claims in the 2010 calendar year from the selected HRRs. For each sampling fraction, we form samples of patients from which a physician ("patient-sharing") network is constructed in which an edge between two physicians depicts that at least one patient in the sample encountered both of those physicians. The network is summarized using 18 network measures. For each network measure and sampling fraction, we compare the values determined from the sample and the full cohort of patients. Finally, we assess the sampling fraction that is needed to measure each network measure to specified levels of accuracy. Data collection/extraction methods We utilized administrative claims from the traditional (fee-for-service) Medicare. Principal findings We found that measures of physician degree (the number of ties to other physicians) in the network and physician centrality (importance or prominence in the network) are learned quickly in the sense that a small sampling fraction suffices to accurately compute the measure. At the network level, network density (the proportion of possible edges that are present) was learned quickly while measures based on more complex configurations (subnetworks involving multiple actors) are learned relatively slowly with relative rates of learning depending on network size (the number of nodes). Conclusions The sampling fraction applied to Medicare patients has a highly heterogeneous effect across different network measures on the extent to which sample-based network measures resemble those evaluated using the full cohort. Even random sampling of patients may yield physician networks that distort descriptive features of the network based on the full cohort, potentially resulting in biased results.
Predicting near-saturated hydraulic conductivity in urban soils

Abstract Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) provide point predictions of soil hydraulic properties from more readily measured soil characteristics, yet uncertainties and biases in measurement methods, sampling distributions, and boundary conditions can limit accuracy when estimating near-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kn). These limitations may be particularly problematic in understudied urban landscapes that often contain altered hydraulic properties. To better treat deficiencies in PTF performance, we addressed three objectives, which were to: 1) develop PTFs to predict urban Kn, 2) assess bulk density and coarse fragments as explanatory variables; and 3) evaluate the predictive capability of these PTFs by comparing their output to measured hydraulic conductivity values from three other studies of urban soil hydraulics. We used artificial neural networks (ANN) and random forest (RF) approaches to predict urban Kn, with the training dataset including 307 tension infiltrometer tests and other measurements drawn from urban soil assessments in 11 U.S. cities. The PTFs utilized a hierarchy of inputs, starting with percentage sand, silt, clay, and then adding percentage coarse fragments and bulk density. The ANN models performed similar to the RF models, and all models exhibited similar or better predictive performance as models results collected from published articles. The inclusion of bulk density or coarse fragments did not improve accuracy over soil texture alone. Possible reasons for this result include low correlation between Kn and bulk density and the exclusion of large voids during flow measurements with tension infiltrometers. The models have been made available as an open-source software package to encourage adoption by users working in urban systems.
Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Dermatophytes

In order to help guide treatment, antifungal susceptibility testing is often performed in clinical microbiology laboratories. The results of these in vitro assays are used by clinicians to change therapy should resistance be detected, continue with current regimens with susceptible results, and as an aide in determining possible reasons for treatment failure. Antifungal susceptibility testing can be performed against dermatophytes, although fewer assay formats are recommended for these types of fungi compared to yeasts and molds. In addition, clinical breakpoints and epidemiologic cut-off values are not currently available for dermatophytes to help with the interpretation of these results. However, recently studies have demonstrated that reduced in vitro susceptibility to terbinafine, an allylamine commonly used in the treatment of dermatophyte infections, may be associated with clinical failures.
Accuracy and applicability of non-invasive evaluation of aortic wave intensity using only pressure waveforms in humans.

Background.Wave intensity (WI) analysis is a well-established method for quantifying the energy carried in arterial waves, providing valuable clinical information about cardiovascular function. The primary drawback of this method is the need for concurrent measurements of both pressure and flow waveforms.Objective. We have for the first time investigated the accuracy of a novel methodology for estimating wave intensity employing only single pressure waveform measurements; we studied both carotid- and radial-based estimations in a large heterogeneous cohort.Approach.Tonometry was performed alongside Doppler ultrasound to acquire measurements of both carotid and radial pressure waveforms as well as aortic flow waveforms in 2640 healthy and diseased participants (1439 female) in the Framingham Heart Study. Patterns consisting of two forward waves (Wf1, Wf2) and one backward wave (Wb1) along with reflection metrics were compared with those obtained from exact WI analysis.Main Results. Carotid-based estimates correlated well for forward peak amplitudes (Wf1,r = 0.85,p < 0.05; Wf2,r = 0.72,p < 0.05) and peak time (Wf1,r = 0.94,p < 0.05; Wf2,r = 0.98,p < 0.05), and radial-based estimates correlated fairly to poorly for amplitudes (Wf1,r = 0.62,p < 0.05; Wf2,r = 0.42,p < 0.05) and peak time (Wf1,r = 0.04,p = 0.10; Wf2,r = 0.75,p < 0.05). In all cases, estimated Wb1 measures were not correlated. Reflection metrics were well correlated for healthy patients (r = 0.67,p < 0.05), moderately correlated for valvular disease (r = 0.59,p < 0.05) and fairly correlated for CVD (r = 0.46,p < 0.05) and heart failure (r = 0.49,p < 0.05).Significance. These findings indicate that pressure-only WI produces accurate results only when forward contributions are of primary interest and only for carotid pressure waveforms. The pressure-only WI estimations of this work provide an important opportunity to further the goal of uncovering clinical insights through wave analysis affordably and non-invasively.
Legal Aspects of Recombinant DNA Research

Many of the issues associated with recombinant DNA are not legal in nature but are rather policy questions whose solution can be implemented through the legal process such as laws or regulations. One of the legal areas touched on by recombinant DNA is the protection of inventions. This arose in two contexts — the ownership of recombinant DNA inventions and the confidentiality of the disclosure statements to be required by law prior to the start of any recombinant DNA project. It is of interest that both issues have provoked a great amount of discussion in and out of Government.
DARPA BioComp Plasmid Distribution 1.00 of Standard Biobrick Components

Abstract : This distribution consists of 300 ng aliquots of plasmid DNA for each of twelve components and compound constructs utilizing our idempotent assembly strategy. The dried DNA should be stable at room temperature for many weeks, but long term storage at -20 or -80 in the resealable foil pouch with desiccant is recommended. Much of the power of these assembly techniques arise from a consistent, widely available set of components. We strongly encourage others who develop components in this form to contact us with complete information and samples, if possible. We volunteer to act as a community coordination and distribution point for these components as they are developed. If you have components which you believe are useful but not in this form, we may, in many cases, be interested in doing the work necessary to cast them into standard component form. We are working to develop licenses which would encourage widespread free distribution of DNA components, sequences, and documentation and intend those licenses, as developed, to apply to these components and assembly strategies.
The interpretive power of infraorbital foramen area in making dietary inferences in extant apes

The infraorbital foramen (IOF) is located below the orbit and transmits the sensory infraorbital nerve (ION) to mechanoreceptors located throughout the maxillary region. The size of the IOF correlates with the size of the ION; thus, the IOF appears to indicate relative touch sensitivity of maxillary region. In primates, IOF size correlates well with diet. Frugivores have relatively larger IOFs than folivores or insectivores because fruit handling/processing requires increased touch sensitivity. However, it is unknown if the IOF can be used to detect subtle dietary differences among closely related hominoid species. Hominoids are traditionally grouped into broad dietary categories, despite the fact that hominoid diets are remarkably diverse. This study examines whether relative IOF size is capable of differentiating among the dietary preferences of closely related species with overlapping, yet divergent diets. We measured IOF area in Hylobates lar, Symphalangus syndactulus, Pongo pygmaeus spp., Pan troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla, Gorilla beringei graueri, and Gorilla beringei beringei. We classified each species as a dedicated folivore, mixed folivore/frugivore, soft object frugivore, or hard object frugivore. The IOF is documented to be larger in more frugivorous species and smaller in more folivorous taxa. Interestingly, G.b. beringei, had the largest relative IOF of any gorilla, despite being a dedicated folivore. G.b. beringei does have unique food processing behavior that relies heavily on maxillary mechanoreception, thus this finding is not entirely unsupported behaviorally. The results of this study provide evidence that the IOF is an informative feature in interpretations of fossil apes. Anat Rec, 297:1377–1384, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Fees -> Savings Link, or Purchasing Fifty Pounds of Pasta

Many consumers have had the experience of entering discount membership clubs to make a few purchases, only to leave with enough pasta to outlast a nuclear winter. We suggest that the presence of membership fees can lead consumers to infer a "fees -> savings" link, spurring them to increase their spending independent of the actual savings afforded by such clubs. Using both field data and studies in which we created our own membership clubs, we show that 1) fees serve as a signal of price discounts, such that stores that charge fees are perceived as offering better deals for identical items; 2) the presence of fees can increase consumer spending and overall store profitability; and 3) the presence of fees can drive choice of retail outlets, such that stores with membership fees are more popular even when they offer the same goods at the same prices as stores without fees.
ON KANT, FREGE, ANALYTICITY AND THE THEORY OF REFERENCE

One of the most famous passages in the Critique of Pure Reason — among logicians anyhow — is that in the Introduction concerned with the distinction between analytic and synthetic judgments. This passage seems not to have been commented on to any extent, however, by proponents of the modern semantical theory of reference, stemming from the work of Frege, Carnap, and Tarski. History must continually be looked at in the light of present knowledge, as Whitehead has suggested. The modest task of the present paper is merely to examine Kant’s distinction in the light of modern semantics.
Phylogenetic Conservation of Glycoprotein 96 Ability to Interact with CD91 and Facilitate Antigen Cross-Presentation

Although the ability of gp96 to activate APCs and generate CD8 CTLs against peptides they chaperone through interaction with the endocytic receptors CD91 is supported by solid evidence, its biological relevance in immune surveillance is debated. We have used an evolutionary approach to determine whether gp96 interacts with receptors expressed on APCs and promotes MHC class I cross-presentation of minor histocompatibility Ags (H-Ags) to CTLs in the frog Xenopus. We show that in Xenopus gp96 binds the CD91 homolog at the surface of peritoneal leukocytes, and that this binding is inhibited by molar excess of unlabeled gp96 or the CD91 ligand α2-macroglobulin, by anti-CD91 Ab and by the specific CD91 antagonist receptor-associated protein. Surface binding followed by internalization of gp96 was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of peritoneal leukocytes pulsed with as little as 800 ng of gp96 chaperoning minor H-Ags, but not minor H-Ag-free gp96, induces potent CD8 T cell infiltration and Ag-specific accelerated rejection of minor H-locus disparate skin grafts. Inhibition of gp96-CD91 interaction by pretreatment with anti-CD91 Ab and receptor-associated protein impairs both CD8 T cell infiltration and acute skin graft rejection. These data provide evidence of the conserved ability of gp96 to facilitate cross-presentation of chaperoned Ags by interacting with CD91. The persistence of this biological process for >350 million years that separate mammals and amphibians from a common ancestor strongly supports the proposition that gp96 and CD91 are critically involved in immune surveillance.
Tectonic and sedimentary linkages between the Belt-Purcell basin and southwestern Laurentia during the Mesoproterozoic ca. 1.60-1.40 Ga

Mesoproterozoic sedimentary basins in western North America provide key constraints on pre-Rodinia craton positions and interactions along the western rifted margin of Laurentia. One such basin, the Belt-Purcell basin, extends from southern Idaho into southern British Columbia and contains a >18-km-thick succession of siliciclastic sediment deposited ca. 1.47−1.40 Ga. The ca. 1.47−1.45 Ga lower part of the succession contains abundant distinctive non-Laurentian 1.61−1.50 Ga detrital zircon populations derived from exotic cratonic sources. Contemporaneous metasedimentary successions in the southwestern United States—the Trampas and Yankee Joe basins in Arizona and New Mexico—also contain abundant 1.61−1.50 Ga detrital zircons. Similarities in depositional age and distinctive non-Laurentian detrital zircon populations suggest that both the Belt-Purcell and southwestern U.S. successions record sedimentary and tectonic linkages between western Laurentia and one or more cratons including North Australia, South Australia, and (or) East Antarctica. At ca. 1.45 Ga, both the Belt-Purcell and southwest U.S. successions underwent major sedimentological changes, with a pronounced shift to Laurentian provenance and the disappearance of 1.61−1.50 Ga detrital zircon. Upper Belt-Purcell strata contain strongly unimodal ca. 1.73 Ga detrital zircon age populations that match the detrital zircon signature of Paleoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks of the Yavapai Province to the south and southeast. We propose that the shift at ca. 1.45 Ga records the onset of orogenesis in southern Laurentia coeval with rifting along its northwestern margin. Bedrock uplift associated with orogenesis and widespread, coeval magmatism caused extensive exhumation and erosion of the Yavapai Province ca. 1.45−1.36 Ga, providing a voluminous and areally extensive sediment source—with suitable zircon ages—during upper Belt deposition. This model provides a comprehensive and integrated view of the Mesoproterozoic tectonic evolution of western Laurentia and its position within the supercontinent Columbia as it evolved into Rodinia.
Neonatal Thrombocytopenia and Megakaryocytopoiesis

Thrombocytopenia is common among sick neonates, affecting 20% to 35% of all patients admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). While most cases of neonatal thrombocytopenia are mild or moderate and resolve within 7 to 14 days with appropriate therapy, 2.5% to 5% of NICU patients develop severe thrombocytopenia, sometimes lasting for several weeks and requiring >20 platelet transfusions. The availability of thrombopoietic agents offers the possibility of decreasing the number of platelet transfusions and potentially improving the outcomes of these infants. However, adding thrombopoietin (TPO) mimetics to the therapeutic armamentarium of neonatologists will require careful attention to the substantial developmental differences between neonates and adults in the process of megakaryocytopoiesis and in their responses to TPO. Taken together, the available data suggest that TPO mimetics will stimulate platelet production in neonates, but might do so through different mechanisms and at different doses than those established for adults. In addition, the specific groups of thrombocytopenic neonates most likely to benefit from therapy with TPO mimetics need to be defined, and the potential nonhematological effects of these agents on the developing organism need to be considered. This review summarizes our current understanding of neonatal megakaryocytopoiesis, and examines in detail the developmental factors relevant to the potential use of TPO mimetics in neonates.
Maternal Age and the Size of White, Black, Hispanic, and Mixed Infants

The objective was to clarify the interaction between maternal age and race in the prediction of infant size at birth. Birth certificate data was used to study the relationship between maternal age race/ethnicity and the size of term singleton infants born to 91061 healthy nonsmoking non-substance using primigravidas. Maternal race/ethnicity (Black race: OR: 1.95 95% CI: 1.49-2.56; Hispanic ethnicity: OR: 1.38 95% CI: 1.19-1.61) and the interaction term maternal age x race/ethnicity (OR: 1.06 95% CI: 1.01-1.11) predicted small-for-gestational age (SGA) birth. The strength of the association between Black race and SGA delivery increased and the strength of the association between Hispanic ethnicity and SGA delivery decreased with age (P < 0.001 for trend). Thus Black and Hispanic teenagers were more likely to have SGA babies than White teenagers (1.7% and 1.6% respectively compared to 1.2%; P = 0.003). However Black women who postponed childbearing until their mid-twenties were more likely to have SGA babies than their Hispanic and White counterparts (2.6% compared to 1.2% and 1.0% respectively; P < 0.0001). The findings suggest that acquired maternal characteristic(s) cause the reproductive health of Black primigravidas to deteriorate and Hispanic primigravidas to improve with age (authors)
Tetrahymena pyriformis as a Model System for Membrane Studies

SYNOPSIS. Tetrahymena pyriformis is an exceptionally useful subject for studying metabolic interrelationships among intracellular membranes. Its advantages include the striking differences in lipid composition among the cell's various functionally distinct membrane systems, indicating a pronounced lipid specificity at the membrane sites. The magnitude of these differences permits analysis of the mechanisms underlying the specificity. Even more valuable is the unique physical isolation of ciliate surface membranes from the cytoplasm of the cell. In contrast to the almost immediate equilibration of newly made lipids with preexisting lipids found in most cells, Tetrahymena surface membranes have a lipid turnover slow enough to be conveniently analyzed. Finally, the well-studied responses of Tetrahymena to such physiological stresses as heat and starvation may be used to evaluate the effects of environmental factors on membrane formation.
Management of the Athlete With Acute Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency

Background:Identification of highly active individuals early after acute anterior cruciate ligament deficiency who are good candidates for nonoperative management is a clinical challenge. The Unive...
Mutual Exclusion of Apoptosis and hsp70 in Human Vein Intimal Hyperplasia in Vitro

Abstract Background. Apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) plays a role in physiological vascular remodeling, as well as in disease states such as atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. Heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) may protect the cell against apoptosis and/or necrosis. In this study, we examined hsp70 expression and its temporal relationship to cell survival or death in a model of intimal vein hyperplasia in vitro. Methods. Segments of human saphenous veins were placed into culture. At different days vein segments were serum-starved or exposed to heat shock. Apoptosis and hsp70 expression were analyzed by Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL assay. Results. A marked intimal vein hyperplasia developed after 14 days of culture when compared with baseline. hsp70 was present at baseline and disappeared during culture. Heating during culture could not up-regulate hsp70. The apoptotic markers were absent at baseline and present during normal culture. Conversely, serum starvation stimulated strong hsp70 expression coincidental with the disappearance of apoptotic markers. Conclusions. Stimulation of veins during culture with serum resulted in hyperplasia, apoptosis, and inhibition of hsp70 expression. Down-regulation of hsp70 may permit apoptosis and vessel wall remodeling in this model.
Second Order Representations of the Least Absolute Deviation Regression Estimator

We consider exact weak and strong Bahadur-Kiefer representations of the least absolute deviation estimator for the linear regression model. The precise behavior of these representations is obtained under minimal conditions.
The effects of surface facets on the oxidation of aluminum (111) surfaces

Abstract The initial oxidation of planar and facetted aluminum (111) surfaces was studied with low energy electron diffraction (LEED) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The facetted surface was produced by rapidly heating the planar (111) surface to 773 K, and consisted of (111) and (221) planes. The planar surface showed first oxide-like aluminum at 50 L; however, the facetted surface showed first oxide at
Discovery of α-amidosulfones as potent and selective agonists of CB2: Synthesis, SAR, and pharmacokinetic properties

Abstract A series of α-amidosulfones were found to be potent and selective agonists of CB2. The discovery, synthesis, and structure–activity relationships of this series of agonists are reported. In addition, the pharmacokinetic properties of the most promising compounds are profiled.
Relationship between Intestinal Movements and Pancreatic Juice Secretion in the Domestic Chicken

Abstract The relationship between the intestinal movements and the pancreatic juice secretion in the domestic chicken was studied. The main pancreatic ducts of commercial broiler-type chickens 12 to 14 weeks of age were cannulated, and the pancreatic secretions were recorded by a drop counter. Balloon catheters for monitoring the intestinal movements were implanted in the proximal duodena in the same animals. Feeding and drinking activities were monitored by photocells. The recordings from the drop counter, the balloon catheter, and the feeding and drinking activity monitor were made in relation to the time of day. These recordings indicated that the pancreatic secretory rate correlates with the pattern of intestinal movements of the proximal duodenum in the domestic chicken. The data also suggest the movement of chyme in the duodenum under ad libitum feeding conditions to be at a steady state during the light period. During the dark period, the intestinal movements and the flow of pancreatic juice are intermittent.
IEEE 802.11n: enhancements for higher throughput in wireless LANs

This article introduces a new standardization effort, IEEE 802.11n, an amendment to IEEE 802.11 standards that is capable of much higher throughputs, with a maximum throughput of at least 100 Mb/s, as measured at the medium access control data services access point. The IEEE 802.11n will provide both physical layer and MAC enhancements. In this article we introduce some PHY proposals and study the fundamental issue of MAC inefficiency. We propose several MAC enhancements via various frame aggregation mechanisms that overcome the theoretical throughput limit and reach higher throughput. We classify frame aggregation mechanisms into many different and orthogonal aspects, such as distributed vs. centrally controlled, ad hoc vs. infrastructure, uplink vs. downlink, single-destination vs. multi-destination, PHY-level vs. MAC-level, single-rate vs. multirate, immediate ACK vs. delayed ACK, and no spacing vs. SIFS spacing.
Nestmate recognition cues in a stingless bee, Trigona fulviventris

We investigated the use of nestmate recognition cues in a stingless bee, Trigona fulviventris. We first established that T. fulviventris can discriminate nestmates from non-nestmates, then bioassayed putative nestmate recognition cue compounds including fatty acids, alkanes, an alkene, wax esters and floral oils. At least one compound of every type affected nestmate recognition, but sham treatment of controls had no effect on nestmate recognition. Mean latency (time from first contact between bees to expression of aggression) was significantly negatively correlated with the probability that aggression would occur. These results suggest that T. fulviventris workers use a set of cues similar to that used by the honeybee, Apis mellifera; 16-C and 18-C fatty acids appear to be important in nestmate recognition in both A. mellifera and T. fulviventris. In contrast to A. mellifera, however, T. fulviventris workers also used other compound types, including alkanes and floral oils, for nestmate recognition. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding the evolution of nestmate recognition in bees.
Radial modes from the great 1994 Bolivian earthquake: No evidence for an isotropic component to the source

We investigate a possible isotropic component in the source of the Bolivian earthquake of 09 June 1994 through a study of the radial modes p S 0 (p = 0,1) excited by the event. Our study departs from previous similar attempts by making use of a time series of sufficient duration (over 116 days) to sample the shape of the spectral line of the fundamental radial mode 0 S 0 , and by combining measurements of two radial modes, thereby lifting the trade-off between deviatoric and isotropic sources of excitation. Our result (an isotropic component of 0.5 ± 1.3% of the main double-couple) fails to identify a significant change in volume in the source of this, the largest deep earthquake ever recorded.
Bariatric surgery in the elderly: 2009-2013.

Abstract Background Ample evidence supports the safety and effectiveness of bariatric surgery in the general adult population but more information is needed in patients age 60 years and older (elderly). We previously examined the outcome of bariatric surgery performed in the elderly between 1999 and 2005 using the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) Clinical Database. The aim of this study was to analyze contemporary outcomes of bariatric surgery in the elderly and to compare them to previous data from 1999–2005. Methods Using International Classification of Diseases, 9 th Revision diagnosis and procedure codes, we obtained data from the UHC database for all elderly (age >60 yr) and adult nonelderly (age 19–60 yr) patients who underwent bariatric surgery for the treatment of morbid obesity between 2009 and 2013. Outcome measures, such as patient characteristics, LOS, morbidity, and observed-to-expected (risk-adjusted) mortality ratio were compared between elderly and nonelderly patients. Results Bariatric surgery in the elderly made up 2.7% of all bariatric operations in 1999–2005. This represents an increase to 10.1% of all bariatric operations in 2009–2013. In-hospital mortality was .30% for the nonelderly and .70% for the elderly in 1999–2005, whereas contemporary in-hospital mortality has decreased to .11% for the nonelderly and .05% for the elderly. Conclusion Our results show that the number of bariatric procedures performed in the elderly is increasing and now represents 10% of all bariatric operations performed at academic centers. In-hospital mortality in bariatric surgery in the elderly has improved so much that it is now even better than in-hospital mortality in the nonelderly in 1999–2005.
Branching ratio of α and β emissions from212Bi (ThC)

Semiconductor counters, which have good efficiency and energy resolution have been used to measure the branching ratio with increased precision. The measurement was made as usual by comparison of the intensity of the low-energy ( 7 MeV) alphas coming from the212Po that is produced by the β-decay of the212Bi. The average of 8 runs gaveα/(α+β)=0.358±0.001.
Responses to Online GSTM1 Genetic Test Results among Smokers Related to Patients with Lung Cancer: A Pilot Study

Providing smokers with personal genetic test results indicating increased lung cancer risk may increase uptake of effective smoking cessation services. Using the internet may increase reach and enable real-time assessment of how people process genetic risk information away from the clinic setting. We therefore explored smokers' responses to Web-delivered GSTM1 genetic test results indicating higher or lower lung cancer risk. Participants were smokers (n = 44) biologically related to patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer. Measures were assessed at baseline, before and immediately after receipt of online genetic test results, and at 6-month follow-up. Outcomes included accurate comprehension of results, regret about being tested, cessation-related cognitions (e.g., perceived response efficacy), and uptake of free smoking cessation services (nicotine replacement therapy, printed self-help materials, telephone counseling sessions). Twenty-two "relative smokers" received a GSTM1-missing (higher risk) and 22 a GSTM1-present (lower risk) result. All relative smokers with GSTM1-missing results and 55% of those with GSTM1-present results accurately interpreted their results. No relative smokers regretted having taken the test. Relative smokers receiving GSTM1-missing results reported lower confidence that quitting could reduce lung cancer risk (perceived response efficacy) than those receiving GSTM1-present results. There were no other significant between-group differences. Uptake of smoking cessation services was high (e.g., 91% nicotine replacement therapy uptake). Genetic test results may not influence uptake of free smoking cessation services because of ceiling effects. Further research is needed to determine the risks and benefits of Web-based disclosure of genetic test results.
Adolescence And Sanctity: The Life And Passion Of Saint William Of Norwich

One of the few extant documents providing evidence of Jewish life in the Norman settlements after the conquest, Thomas of Monmouth’s Vita et passio Sancti Willemi martyris Norwicensis is a literary prototype for the narrative of Jewish ritual murder that burgeoned in late twelfthand thirteenth-century England. Fanning out from Norwich, a fictional web linked important commercial and spiritual communities in a shared myth of Christian identity and Jewish depravity: Gloucester (1168), Bury St. Edmunds (1181), Lincoln (1255), Winchester (1225, 1232), and London (1244). The impact these tales of Jewish ritual murder had on local communities differed, but the literary topoi were so similar as to constitute a genre with recognizable elements, all of which appear in Thomas’s text: the ritual crucifixion of a child bought by Jews as part of a wider anti-Christian conspiracy; the miraculous discovery of the defiled body and the community witness of the translation to sacred space; the reportage of a Christian convert from Judaism as verifying malicious intent; the pathos of a grieving mother in imitation of Mary; the immutability of the body and its signs of sanctification through miraculous healing, the odor of sanctity, and thaumaturgical power; and the ritual entombment of the precious relics and the creation of new sacred space to purge sacrilege and sanctify the ritual map of the community.
Ghrelin and peptide YY in youth: are there race-related differences?

Objective: Obesity prevalence is higher in African-American (AA) vs. American white (AW) youth. Ghrelin is a “hunger” peptide that is high preprandially and decreases postprandially, and peptide YY (PYY) is a “satiety” hormone increasing after meals. Impaired regulation of ghrelin/PYY may be conducive to obesity. We hypothesized that racial differences in childhood obesity could partly be explained by differences in ghrelin/PYY dynamics. Research Design and Methods: We investigated: 1) ghrelin suppression/PYY elevation in response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in AA vs. AW, and 2) the relationship of ghrelin and PYY dynamics to insulin sensitivity. Thirty-three AA and 54 AW prepubertal children underwent an OGTT measuring ghrelin, PYY, glucose, and insulin. Fasting glucose to insulin ratio (GF/IF) was used to assess the relationship of insulin sensitivity to fasting and post-OGTT ghrelin and PYY levels. Results: OGTT-induced suppression in ghrelin (Δ ghrelin) was lower in AA youth. Δ ghrelin co...
Initial conditions implied by t exp 1/2 solidification of a sphere with capillarity and interfacial kinetics

The paper explores the initial conditions implied by t exp 1/2 growth of a spherical crystal solidifying from a pure, undercooled melt, including the effects of both capillarity and interface kinetics, and relates the findings to initial conditions that would be expected on the basis of classical nucleation theory. For crystal sizes near the nucleation radius, the calculated temperature profiles show a cold region ahead of the advancing interface that is even more undercooled than the undercooled bath. This cold region acts as a local heat sink that compensates for the reduced growth speed that would otherwise result from capillarity and kinetics, leading to precisely the same t exp 1/2 growth law that would have been obtained had both capillarity and kinetics been neglected.
Cost-based Phillips Curve forecasts of inflation

Abstract It is a well-established idea that prices are a function of marginal cost, yet estimating a reliable measure of marginal cost is difficult to do. Stock and Watson (1999) use the Phillips Curve to forecast inflation for a variety of existing activity variables that researchers commonly use to proxy for marginal cost. This paper uses a similar type of approach to examine the performance of a new candidate for the activity variable, which is marginal cost measured following the theoretical methodology of Bils (1987) , which we find to be simple yet powerful when implemented empirically. We then use the Phillips Curve to conduct pseudo out-of-sample inflation forecasts for the US using: output, unemployment, hours, the labor share, the capacity utilization rate, and the new measure of marginal cost. For almost all cases, forecast errors are lowest in the regressions with the new marginal cost variable, indicating that this new measure is an improvement over previous attempts to proxy for marginal cost.
Dissociative double electron capture, dynamics of fragmentation of the water and hydrogen sulfide negative ions

Abstract The technique of ion kinetic energy spectrometry has been used to observe the unimolecular decompositions of H 2 O −∓ and H 2 S −∓ generated by charge exchange of the corresponding high velocity positive ions. The method involves dissociative double electron capture by a high velocity ion and allows the study of unstable negative ions that may be directly observable by conventional electron capture techniques. Information on the energetics of the reaction is obtained from the kinetic energy of the product ion. The reactions under consideration are shown in (1) and (2) where X = O or S. The kinetic energy releases accompanying the reactions given in (1) and (2) have been measured and compared to those for the collision-induced reactions which produce the corresponding positive ions. The results have been used to deduce that the sequence of steps in the formation of the fragment negative ions is that given in (1) and (2). The cross section of OH − formation is observed to be somewhat greater than for O − production. This result is in contrast with dissociative electron capture cross sections from the neutral species and is interpreted on the basis of the energetic requirements for the reactions under consideration. H 2 O − reacts from different electronic states in yielding OH − on the one hand and O − on the other. The energy partitioning associated with reaction (2) suggests that the neutral productions 2H' rather than H 2 . The kinetic energy losses accompanying excitation and kinetic energy releases upon fragmentation were similar for the corresponding reactions of the sulfur and oxygen-containing ions indicating related mechanisms in the two sets of reactions.
The Political Legacy of School Accountability Systems

The recent battle reported from Washington about proposed national testing program does not tell the most important political story about high stakes tests. Politically popular school accountability systems in many states already revolve around statistical results of testing with high-stakes environments. The future of high stakes tests thus does not depend on what happens on Capitol Hill. Rather, the existence of tests depends largely on the political culture of published test results. Most critics of high-stakes testing do not talk about that culture, however. They typically focus on the practice legacy of testing, the ways in which testing creates perverse incentives against good teaching. More important may be the political legacy, or how testing defines legitimate discussion about school politics. The consequence of statistical accountability systems will be the narrowing of purpose for schools, impatience with reform, and the continuing erosion of political support for publicly funded schools. Dissent from the high-stakes accountability regime that has developed around standardized testing, including proposals for professionalism and performance assessment, commonly fails to consider these political legacies. Alternatives to standardized testing which do not also connect schooling with the public at large will not be politically viable.
Nonlinear Random Responses of Shell Structures With Spatial Uncertainties

A novel procedure for large deformation nonstationary random response computation of shell structures with spatial uncertainty is presented. The procedure is free from the limitations associated with those employing perturbation approximation techniques, such as the so-called stochastic finite element method and probabilistic finite element method, for systems with spatial uncertainties. In addition, the procedure has several important and excellent features. Chief among these are: (a) ability to deal with large deformation problems of finite strain and finite rotation; (b) application of explicit linear and nonlinear element stiffness matrices, mass matrix, and load vectors reduces computation time drastically; (c) application of the averaged deterministic central difference scheme for the updating of co-ordinates and element matrices at every time step makes it extremely efficient compared with those employing the Monte Carlo simulation and the conventional central difference algorithm; and (d) application of the time co-ordinate transformation enables one to study highly stiff structural systems.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Some computational aspects of the matrix exponential

Matrix norms that satisfy the Schwarz inequality are used to determine upper bounds for the error in some common computations involving the matrix exponential function.
The case for comparable worth

Abstract Traditional nondiscrimination efforts focus on women’s access to jobs and on equal pay for the same work. Comparable worth adds a third strategy-policies that ensure that jobs do not pay less because they are filled by women. I review evidence of this discrimination. I describe job evaluation, which can be used to correct it, while preserving a large role for market forces. U.S. workers have no protection from this type of discrimination. I consider arguments raised against comparable worth. The claim that antidiscrimination policies are unnecessary because discrimination is eroded by competitive forces fails to recognize the sluggishness of this response. The argument that barriers to entry are the real problem ignores evidence that cultural devaluation affects wage-setting even absent hiring discrimination. Arguments about undesirable side effects apply with equal force to most regulation. I conclude that comparable worth deserves support.
Multilevel Marketing Diffusion and the Risk of Pyramid Scheme Activity: The Case of Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing in Montana:

While statisticians have simulated the expected rate of growth in pyramid schemes, this research examines actual data on the spread of an alleged pyramid scheme in Montana. Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing (FHTM) was a multilevel marketing firm, sued by six states and the Federal Trade Commission and permanently shut down in 2014. Data from a settlement with the State of Montana provide a population of participants in a geographic region with definable markets and offer unique insights into local contagion. The authors analyze the pattern of FHTM adoption within a diffusion-of-innovation framework. The findings confirm that nearly all adoption results from interpersonal influence (i.e., imitation) and indicate that participation is higher in counties with larger economic contractions. The authors add to existing guidance about early indicators of fraudulent activity and discuss intervention and prevention strategies that reflect the imitative nature of this diffusion process.
Relativistic beam-loading admittance

The expressions for the beam-loading admittance for relativistic electron beams in gridless klystron gaps is derived. Computer results show the values to be about twice those computed with nonrelativistic formulas for u_{0}/c near 0.4.
Sociocultural Origins of Achievement Motivation.

Abstract A theoretical review of current work on sociocultural influences on achievement motivation is presented. Earlier research stemming from the work of David McClelland is reviewed and critically evaluated. It is suggested that the culture and personality orientation of this work, in particular, eventuates in an ethnocentric bias which prevents a full consideration of motivational and achievement possibilities in a wide range of cultural groups. An alternative conception of achievement motivation is proposed which, in addition to personality, stresses the role of contextual and situational factors. In effect, this conception starts with the assumption that all can and do exhibit the behavior that can be termed achievement motivation—it is only a question of when, where, and to what ends. The proposed alternative begins, then, to outline critical contextual factors that may be determinative, including perceived self-other attributional and normative relationships. The value of this alternative approach to achievement motivation for cross-cultural research is specifically stressed.
Bogarting that joint might decrease oral hpv among cannabis users

Human papilloma virus (HPV) has many known strains, perhaps two of the most well studied being the high-risk types 16 and 18. This is because these strains are known to disrupt tumor-suppressing genes that control the cell cycle, rendering them less effective at keeping cell division in check. Within the last decade an increase in oral HPV-linked cancers of the throat and tongue has been attributed to exposure and contraction of HPV through oral sex, most notably in younger people. An understudied and arguably equal contributor to oral HPV infection might be through indirect contact with an infected person. Presented here is a brief but important perspective on the relationship between cannabis use and oral cancer. This is not due to smoking cannabis per se, rather it is hypothesized to be due to contracting HPV through various forms of sharing and passing joints and other smoking apparatuses. Therefore, it is hypothesized that bogarting (not passing) joints might decrease oral HPV among cannabis smokers. Future research, therefore, should investigate the prevalence of oral HPV in cannabis smokers to better understand its epidemiology.
Acculturation and personality as predictors of stress in Japanese and Japanese-Americans.

Abstract The experience of stress and personality variables among 114 Japanese and Japanese-American students undergoing differing degrees of acculturation was studied. Self-esteem, introversion-extraversion, and locus of control were measured with standard instruments. A stress scale designed for immigrant students was used as well as new scales for acculturation and values. Students were grouped into first, second, and third/later generations. Results from several analyses indicated that different generational groups reported different levels of stress, values, and acculturation. In addition, generational groups differed in self-esteem and locus of control: First-generation students experienced the most stress, were low in self-esteem, and were more externally oriented than third/later generation students. Also, self-esteem and acculturation level were good predictors of stress in all generations.
A Replicable Infrastructure for Empirical Studies of Email Archives

This paper describes a replicable infrastructure solution for conducting empirical software engineering studies based on email mailing list archives. Mailing list emails, such as those affiliated with free, libre, and open source software (FLOSS) projects, are currently archived in several places online, but each research team that wishes to study these email artifacts closely must design their own solution for collection, storage and cleaning of the data. Consequently, research results will be difficult to replicate, especially as the email archive for any living project will still be continually growing. This paper describes a simple, replicable infrastructure for the collection, storage, and cleaning of project email data and analyses.
Through the labyrinth of surface reaction mechanism: a personal account, 1964 1992

Abstract The events leading to the current study of the mechanism of surface reactions on metals are discussed. This article is written with graduate students in mind, with particular attention on the aspects of the development of surface science that lead to significant advances in the capacity to understand complex reactions of organic substrates adsorbed on solid surfaces. The field is traced from the advent of the postacceleration low energy electron diffraction through the methods used to unravel the mechanism of complex surface reactions used today. It is a personal account of the course of surface science and the hallmark developments in the field that affected my research most significantly. Examples are given that trace the development of studies of the mechanism of surface reactions over the last three decades.