cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Web fabrication and characterization of unique winged shaped, area-enhanced fibers via a bicomponent spunbond process

High surface area fibers are sought after for a variety of applications such as liquid and air filtrations, medical and biopharmaceutical applications. Typically, higher specific surface area is achieved by resorting to using smaller fibers. This paper focuses on the development of a new shaped bicomponent spunbond structure for achieving high surface area. The fibers used in the spunbond process comprise a sacrificial sheath polymer and the shaped core polymer. Nonwovens were directly produced by using these fibers in a spunbond process. The spunbond webs were mechanically bonded by high energy water-jets and subsequently, the sheath polymer was removed in a 6 wt% NaOH solution at 90 °C. The final fibers showed a unique cross-sectional shape having 32 flaps or wings held together with a reasonable backbone. We report the results for a variety of polymer combinations including PP, PET, PBT, and PLA as the core and PLA and EastONETM as the sheath. The fiber morphologies were observed by SEM and showed 7–12 micron of the minor and 12–21 microns of the major with various core polymers used. The surface area of these fibers was compared to those of other shaped fibers.
Finite Shift-Invariant Optical Orthogonal Codes for Quasi-Synchronous Communication Systems

This paper considers a distribution/aggregation network that employs optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) to transmit information to a head-end node in a metropolitan area network. The head-end node transmits synchronization pulses and the nodes employ ranging techniques to offset the propagation delay, resulting in a quasi-synchronous reception at the receiver. The paper develops a methodology to design orthogonal OCDMA codes for such quasi-synchronous communication systems. The paper also describes the receiver design and computes the bit error rate of such systems.
Alternative routes to biofuels: Light-driven biofuel formation from CO2 and water based on the ‘photanol’ approach

For a sustainable energy future, the development of efficient biofuel production systems is an important prerequisite. Here we describe an approach in which basic reactions from phototrophy are combined in single organisms with key metabolic routes from chemotrophic organisms, with C3 sugars as Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate as the central linking intermediate. Because various metabolic routes that lead to the formation of a range of short-chain alcohols can be used in this approach, we refer to it as the photanol approach. Various strategies can be explored to optimize this biofuel production strategy.
Mechanisms and Function of Dendritic Exocytosis

Dendritic exocytosis is required for a broad array of neuronal functions including retrograde signaling, neurotransmitter release, synaptic plasticity, and establishment of neuronal morphology. While the details of synaptic vesicle exocytosis from presynaptic terminals have been intensely studied for decades, the mechanisms of dendritic exocytosis are only now emerging. Here we review the molecules and mechanisms of dendritic exocytosis and discuss how exocytosis from dendrites influences neuronal function and circuit plasticity.
Efficacy and tolerance of acne treatment using both spironolactone and a combined contraceptive containing drospirenone

Background The use of either oral contraceptives or antiandrogens has been shown to be helpful in the treatment of women with acne. Objectives We investigated the safety and efficacy of acne treatment using both spironolactone and a combined contraceptive containing drospirenone. Methods Twenty-seven women with either severe papular or nodulocystic facial acne were treated with a combined oral contraceptive containing 30 μg ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg drospirenone (EE/DRSP; Yasmin) and spironolactone (SL) 100 mg taken daily. A serum potassium level was obtained before initiation of therapy. Between 4 and 6 weeks after the start of both medications, a second serum potassium level was obtained. Side effects were recorded. Results No significant elevation of serum potassium was found in any of the subjects nor were there any reported additional side effects significant enough to discontinue treatment. At follow up, 85% of subjects were entirely clear of acne lesions or had excellent improvement, 7.4% were mildly improved, and 7.4% were not improved. Limitations This was a small prospective study. Conclusion The combination of EE/DRSP and SL 100 mg daily appears to have efficacy and is well tolerated in the treatment of severe papular and nodulocystic acne in women.
Language and the construction of national identity in fascist Italy

(1997). Language and the construction of national identity in fascist Italy. The European Legacy: Vol. 2, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the Study of European Ideas, pp. 438-443.
A method for breaking glass knives slowly.

There is a general belief among electron microscopists that the speed of the break in forming the edge of a glass knife is of great importance in determining its quality. Slow breaks seem very desirable (Hayat 1970).
Depression in patients with cancer

This paper reviews the clinical aspects of depression in cancer from the perspective of prevalence, diagnosis, clinical symptoms, classification and treatment. Clinical trials, reported since 1960, of psychosocial, psychopharmacologic and behavioral interventions are critically evaluated. Therapeutic guidelines are offered for the management of the depressed patients with cancer. Research directions are suggested for the future.
TERATOGENICITY OF POSITIVE DEEP ULTRAVIOLET PHOTORESIST IN A MODEL SYSTEM OF EARLY EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT

The purpose of this investigation was to study the teratogenic effects of positive deep ultraviolet (DUV) photoresist on avian (chick) embryonic tissue during very early developmental stages and to correlate these stages with axial development in human embryos. Specifically, we examined the morphogenetic aspects of neural tube closure, heart development, head formation, and trunk development. The adapted methodology of embryo culture was derived from D.A.T. New's vitelline membrane system. The effects of positive DUV photoresist were studied at three concentrations: 6 ppm, 3 ppm, and 1.5 ppm. At higher doses of DUV photoresist, development was completely arrested, whereas lower doses led to abnormalities in cephalic (forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain) development and neural tube closure (spina bifida), failure of axial muscle development, and compaction of axial mesoderm. This particular methodology lends itself to studying the teratogenic effects of substances on embryos at very early stages of developm...
Inhibition of MHC class I antigen presentation by viral proteins

An essential part of the immune response to viral infections is the recognition and elimination of infected cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. For this purpose a display mechanism has evolved which is present in almost all nucleated cells: the major histocompatibility complex class I antigen processing pathway. Both self and foreign antigens are degraded in the cytosol to peptides which are translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum where they are loaded onto MHC class I molecules. Pathogens living inside the cell are evolving under the constant selection pressure of such immune surveillance. As a result such infectious organisms have developed a variety of strategies to prevent their antigens from being presented. Since our understanding of the cell biology of antigen presentation has greatly advanced in recent years, it has now become possible to unravel several of the molecular mechanisms by which viruses interfere with MHC class I antigen presentation. Examples for the interference of viral molecules with components of the MHC class I pathway are presented in this review.
Amalgam Containing Nickel or Tungsten Dispersions. I

The technique of injecting dispersed phase particles into an Ag-Sn melt followed by rapid quenching was utilized. Results of this investigation show that a marked improvement of the brittle amalgam alloy occurs.
Movie Review: The Soloist

STUDENT REVIEW The Soloist is a 2009 American film based on the true story of Nathaniel Ayers, a Juilliard musical prodigy who has schizophrenia. The film is set in Los Angeles, California where an L.A. Times writer, Steve Lopez, has his life changed forever. The story begins featuring Lopez at his job frustrated with a dose of writer’s block. He is unable to find a lead or story captivating enough for his column and to save his job. As a result, he goes looking around the streets of L.A. for inspiration. While looking, he runs into Ayers who is homeless and making very little eye contact, speaking hurriedly, and repeating phrases about unrelated topics—winters in Cleveland, how he feels about the composer, Beethoven, and playing the cello. Almost immediately, Lopez believes he has found his story, and Ayers believes he has found a friend. They become acquainted and nevertheless inseparable as their unique relationship begins to develop.
Fabrication and Assembly of Nanomaterials and Nanostructures for Biological Detections

Due to the rapid development of nanotechnologies, the concept and design of biological and chemical sensors are changing correspondingly. In this chapter, the recent advances in the application of nanostructures for biological sensors are briefly reviewed. 0-D, 1-D, and 2-D nanomaterials and nanostructures for biological detection are discussed in three sections respectively. In every section, in order, principles of detection, biodiagnostic application, fabrication, and assemblies of nanomaterials and nanostructures are discussed.
Dynamic Microtubules Lead the Way for Spindle Positioning

Coordination between the asymmetric partitioning of cell-fate determinants and equal partitioning of genetic material is crucial to the generation of diverse cell types in a developing organism, and to the maintenance of genomic integrity. The emerging model is of a highly organized and dynamic cellular landscape, the form of which is defined by polarized signals within the cell. Cytoskeletal elements are necessary to generate this landscape and to provide motive forces for proper spindle positioning. These forces are generated by interactions between microtubules and the cell cortex.
Super resolution recovery for multi-camera surveillance imaging

In many surveillance video applications, it is of interest to recognize an object or a person, which occupies a small portion of a low-resolution, noisy video. This paper addresses the problem of super-resolution recovery of a region of interest from more than one low-resolution view of a scene recorded by multiple cameras. The multiple camera scenario alleviates the difficulty in registration of multiple frames of video that contain non-rigid or multiple object motion in the single camera case. With proper temporal registration of multiple videos, arbitrary scene motion can be handled. The success of super-resolution recovery from multiple views in real applications vitally depends on two factors: i) the accuracy of multiple view registration results, and ii) the accuracy of the camera and data acquisition model. We propose a system, which consists of a method for sub-pixel accurate spatio-temporal alignment of multiple video sequences for view registration and the projections onto convex sets method for super-resolution recovery. Experiments were implemented using two commercial analog video cameras, which do not perform on-board compression. Experimental results show that the super resolution recovery of dynamic scenes can be achieved as long as the multiple views of the scene can be registered with sub-pixel accuracy.
Toxic and Protective Effects of l‐DOPA on Mesencephalic Cell Cultures

The autoxidation of L-DOPA or dopamine (DA) and the metabolism of DA by monoamine oxidase generate a spectrum of toxic species, namely, hydrogen peroxide, oxy radicals, semiquinones, and quinones. When primary dissociated cultures of rat mesencephalon were incubated with L-DOPA (200 microM) for 48 h, the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons (DA neurons) was reduced to 69.7% of control values, accompanied by a decrease in [3H]DA uptake to 42.3% of control values; the remaining DA neurons exhibited reduced neurite length and overall deterioration. Lack of simultaneous change in the number of neurons stained with neuron-specific enolase indicated that toxicity was relatively specific for DA neurons. At the same time, the level of GSH, a major cellular antioxidant, rose to 125.2% of control values. Thus, exposure of mesencephalic cultures to L-DOPA results in both damaging and antioxidant actions. Ascorbate (200 microM), an antioxidant, prevented the rise in GSH. The effect of ascorbate on GSH points to an oxidative signal to initiate the rise in GSH content. On the other hand, neither inhibition of monoamine oxidase with pargyline nor addition of superoxide dismutase or catalase to the culture medium prevented the rise in GSH level or the loss in [3H]DA uptake. The latter results tend to exclude the products of monoamine oxidase activity or the presence of hydrogen peroxide or superoxide in the medium as responsible agents for the rise in GSH or neuronal toxicity. In cultures treated with L-buthionine sulfoximine (L-BSO), an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, L-DOPA prevented cell death by L-BSO.
Regional climate change projections of streamflow characteristics in the Northeast and Midwest U.S.

Abstract Study region Northeast and Midwest, United States. Study focus Assessing the climate change impacts on the basin scale is important for water and natural resource managers. Here, the presence of monotonic trends and changes in climate-driven simulated 3-day peak flows, 7-day low flows, and mean base flows are evaluated in the Northeast and Midwest U.S. during the 20th and the 21st centuries using climate projections from sixteen climate models. Proven statistical methods are used to spatially and temporally disaggregate precipitation and temperature fields to a finer resolution before being used as drivers for a hydrological model. New hydrological insights for the region Changes in the annual cycle of precipitation are likely to occur during the 21st century as winter precipitation increases and warmer temperatures reduce snow coverage across the entire domain especially in the northern basins. Maximum precipitation intensities are projected to become more intense across the region by mid-century especially along the coast. Positive trends in 3-day peak flows are also projected in the region as a result of the more intense precipitation, whereas the magnitude of 7-day low flows and mean base flows are projected to decrease. The length of the low flows season will likely extend by mid-century despite the increased precipitation as the atmospheric demand increases.
Development of an Ergonomic Waste Container for Hospitals

The current waste container design at most hospitals, including the UC Davis Medical Center, requires an individual to raise the garbage bag up and out of the container, which involves shoulder flexion above the head and flexion at the waist for most individuals. Overuse injuries due to lifting are very common to the muscles of the shoulder and result in high costs for treating injured workers. The aim of this study was to design a new waste container that will limit the amount of shoulder and trunk flexion required to remove the garbage bags from the container. A waste container was developed, which rotates about two pins on each side to 30 and 45 degree angles from the upright position so that the bags can be removed without lifting them over your head. The degree of shoulder and trunk flexion for the new and old waste container was measured using electrogoniometers. The most important result was that the average degree of shoulder abduction decreased by about 9 degrees from the new bin at 30 degrees an...
Mechanisms of resistance in diazinon-selected multi-resistant Musca domestica.

Studies were made in three strains (a susceptible, a low-resistant, and a high-resistant) of house flies ( Musca domestica L.) to determine whether resistance to Diazinon®( O,O -diethyl O-(2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-pyrimidinyl) phosphorothioate), parathion, and DDT is attributable to differences in absorption rates. Penetration studies with Diazinon (P32) showed less rapid absorption by resistant flies and it was concluded that reduction in permeability of the cuticle is a factor in resistance to Diazinon. This is not the only defense mechanism, however, since flies which were 125-fold resistant by topical measurement still showed some tolerance (14-fold) when the insecticide was injected. Similarly, the low-resistant strain (15-fold topically) was 3-fold resistant to injected Diazinon. More rapid detoxication is precluded as the additional resistance mechanism, since the susceptibles contained higher amounts of water-soluble metabolites than resistant flies. Resistance to Diazinon was higher by oral application than by either injection or topical treatment. Ali-esterase activity of the strains was inversely proportional to the level of Diazinon resistance; this fact confirms previous reports on other o-p resistant house flies. There were only slight differences among the strains in cholinesterase level and in sensitivity to in vitro inhibition. In parathion- and DDT-resistance, penetration appears not to be an important factor, since the differences between the tolerances measured by injection and by topical application were small compared with the levels of resistance. DDT-dehydrochlorinase activity was high in resistant flies and it appears that this activity may constitute at least the primary defense mechanism against DDT-type compounds, since the highly resistant strain was only slightly (2-to 3-fold) tolerant of DDT analogs in which dehydrohalogenation is sterically hindered.
Electrical Grid Power and Strength in Diversity

Electricity brings with it diversity in energy source. Diversity brings with it stability in supply and price as well as options for sustainability. To the advantage of electricity, it is able to meet most of the energy demands of society, including displacing of much of jet travel with a new mode of transportation.
Robust Muscle Cell Quantification Using Structured Edge Detection and Hierarchical Segmentation

Morphological characteristics of muscle cells, such as cross-sectional areas (CSAs), are critical factors to determine the muscle health. Automatic muscle cell segmentation is often the first prerequisite for quantitative analysis. In this paper, we have proposed a novel muscle cell segmentation algorithm that contains two steps: 1) A structured edge detection algorithm that can capture the inherent edge patterns of muscle images, and 2) a hierarchical segmentation algorithm. A set of nested partitions are first constructed, and a best subset selection algorithm is then designed to choose a maximum weighted subset of non-overlapping partitions as the final segmentation result. We have experimentally demonstrated that the proposed structured edge detection based hierarchical segmentation algorithm outperforms other state of the arts for muscle image segmentation.
Gasification Studies of Graphite Surface by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

Carbon-gas reactions have been an important area of study over the past two decades. The basic mechanisms of carbon gasification are essential to understanding coal gasification. However, the studies of the inhibition and catalysis of carbon gasification have raised technical issues which have not been fully addressable until now. Some of these issues for catalytic gasification include: the effective particle size of the catalysts; the exact nature of bi-metallic catalysts; the interaction between carbon surfaces, gas, and catalyst; the percentage of the catalyst which is active; and catalyst deactivation mechanisms. The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) can address some of these issues. The purpose of this paper is to describe some preliminary work on applying STM to characterizing gasified carbon surfaces. Highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was gasified at 650° C for a net weight loss of 5 and 30%. The study has identified the tendency to develop high oxidation rate perpendicular to the basal plane despite the unfavorable thermodynamics of attack in this direction. The initial attack does not develop in the expected hexagonal pattern which develops after 5% burnoff. Oxygen on the surface can be identified by study of bond lengths in cross sectional analysis. Additional work is required to identify the exact nature of the oxygen structures, but the techniques developed in this study demonstrate that it is possible to follow gasification with the STM.
Ringed Esophagus Secondary to Lymphocytic Esophagitis.

Lymphocytic esophagitis (LE) is a recently described clinicopathologic entity that is poorly characterized and understood. This diagnosis was first characterized as a novel histologic phenotype by Rubio and colleagues when the authors described 20 patients with esophageal biopsies showing a peripapillary distribution of infiltrating CD3-positive T lymphocytes that expressed CD4 or CD8.1,2 The exact pathogenesis of lymphocytic esophageal inflammation remains unknown. Previous reports suggest a possible association with Crohn’s disease in pediatric patients but not adult patients.1,3 However, in a review of 42 patients, a variety of disorders were noted with LE, and the authors could not find a specific association with any chronic conditions, irrespective of age groups.4 A review of 129,252 esophageal biopsies found that 0.1% have LE, which appeared to be more common in older women than eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).5 The clinical and endoscopic findings of LE and EoE overlap significantly. Patients with LE commonly present with dysphagia, odynophagia, abdominal pain, and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.5,6 Most patients have a benign clinical course with lower rates of food impaction than patients with EoE.6 Although many LE patients have endoscopies that are normal or only show mild esophagitis, some reports suggest that LE patients have a similar rate of esophageal rings but a lower rate of esophageal stricturing.6-8 Overall, no consistent clinical correlations have emerged regarding LE, and the clinical significance of this condition remains unclear. However, increasing awareness of this diagnosis could help in better understanding its etiology, associations, and possible treatment modalities.
Retrospective evaluation of the use of glucagon infusion as adjunctive therapy for hypoglycemia in dogs: 9 cases (2005-2014)

Objective To describe the use of glucagon infusion for adjunctive treatment of hypoglycemia in dogs. Design Multicenter retrospective case series. Setting One university and 1 private veterinary referral hospital. Animals Dogs were included if they were hospitalized and received glucagon therapy for hypoglycemia, defined as blood glucose concentration (BG) <60 mg/dL. A total of 9 dogs were included from September 2005 to May 2014. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results The medical record for each eligible case was reviewed. Data recorded included signalment, presenting complaint, underlying disease process, presenting BG, BG after dextrose supplementation, BG before glucagon administration, maximum BG while receiving glucagon, and BG after discontinuation of glucagon, if available. Adverse reactions to glucagon and outcome of case were recorded if available. The most common causative disease was insulinoma (n = 7). Median serum glucose concentration on presentation was 30 mg/dL (20–41 mg/dL). The median bolus of glucagon was 50 ng/kg followed by a median maximum dose of a glucagon CRI of 15 ng/kg/min. The mean time period on glucagon CRI until normoglycemia (defined as BG > 60 mg/dL) was 7 hours. All hypoglycemic patients had improvement of BGs when glucagon was added. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between BG measurements on glucagon CRI compared to BG at presentation, BG after dextrose, and BG prior to glucagon with a Friedman statistic of 17.3. A CRI was found to effectively increase the BG without recurrence of hypoglycemia after weaning. The majority of patients (5/9) survived to discharge. Conclusion Glucagon CRI was accompanied by an increase in BG in hypoglycemic dogs. Glucagon CRI appears to be a safe method and can be readily utilized in most practice settings.
MINTS The Next Economic Frontier for Investment – A Financial Analysis of the Pharmaceutical Industry

We have heard a great deal recently of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China), and the PIGS (Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain) but now the focus seems to be on the MINT countries, (Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey) as the leading emerging economies in the world. Rising labor and other costs now have companies looking for new opportunities in rapid growth markets. But not without specific risks that companies must be willing to take. Corruption, rampant communicable disease, drug abuse and criminal activity, religious issues and disagreements are a few of the challenges companies must face in the new frontier. This paper will attempt to look at four pharmaceutical companies in each of the MINT countries to determine their potential profitability as an investment opportunity. This industry is especially unique since these countries have a growing population which will increase the labor force and also create a need for pharmaceutical products. Each of these countries is located in an advantageous geographical location which will provide an advantage in growing their economies. Mexico is next to the U.S. and the rest of Latin America. Indonesia is located in the heart of Southeast Asia with strong ties to China. Turkey has positioned itself to have both Eastern and Western influences. Nigeria is in a prime spot as it ls located in the prime economic powerhouse of a continent, Africa. If they get their acts together, solve their problems of corruption, energy, and infrastructure, these four countries could potentially overtake China as a leading economy of the world.
Design of a tunable MSM photodetector for photonic integrated circuits

This paper presents the design and fabrication of an integrated tunable MSM PD based on Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) that is fabricated on Si and InP. Tuning is achieved by thermally controlling the bandgap of the semiconductor using a Nickel Chromium (NiCr) microheater which is collocated on the opposite side of the PD substrate.
Exploring educational gaps in myelodysplastic syndromes in medical students and internal medicine residents: A dual-institution survey.

7118 Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous and poorly understood group of disorders. Prior studies have focused on patient and provider understanding of these disorders; h...
CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM POPULATION AND FIRST USE OF FORCE BY STATES, 1946 – 2001

A variety of domestic characteristics of states affect their propensities to armed conflict, including power, regime type, wealth, and economic strength (in addition to the dyadic characteristics of power differential, alliances, proximity, and the peace-learning process). Compared to these, religion is an understudied characteristic. Religions instill norms and ethics for the use of force just as secular ideologies often do. These war ethics influence the propensities to armed conflict of the states whose people and leadership adhere to those religions. Whether religious war ethics raise or lower those propensities depends on how permissive or restrictive they are. I show the empirical effect of those religious war ethics, working through states’ populations, on states’ probabilities to initiate armed conflicts against other states. The Christian war ethic is more restrictive and Christian populations are negatively correlated with states’ propensities to resort to force. The Islamic war ethic is more permissive and Muslim populations are positively correlated. The effect of religion is often strong and statistically significant, even after introducing conventional controls
Acquired factor XI deficiency and therapeutic plasma exchange

Congenital factor XI (FXI) deficiency is associated with a variable bleeding phenotype. Recent reports have documented the use of therapeutic plasma exchange to rapidly and isovolumetrically increase FXI levels before invasive procedures in patients with congenital FXI deficiency. We report a case of acquired FXI deficiency in a pregnant woman with lupus. We proved that the inhibitor was an IgG, therefore potentially capable of crossing the placenta. While immune suppression eliminated detectable circulating inhibitor, the woman's FXI remained quite low. A multi-disciplinary team was formed and therapeutic plasma exchange with 100% plasma replacement was performed when the patient went into labor, to acutely raise her FXI level and remove any potential non-neutralizing inhibitor. The mother had a controllable level of bleeding during post-TPE cesarean section; the baby had no bleeding and the baby's FXI levels were not overtly abnormal. Therapeutic plasma exchange in acquired FXI deficiency (or other acquired hemophilias) can both acutely isovolumetrically raise factor levels and remove any circulating inhibitor.
Estimation and asymptotics for buffered probability of exceedance

Abstract This paper studies statistical properties of empirical (sample) estimates of the buffered probability of exceedance (bPOE). The estimation procedure is based on one dimensional minimization representation of the bPOE. Convergence rates and asymptotic properties of the suggested estimation procedures are investigated. Theoretical predictions are validated with numerical experiments, including a special case of exponential distribution, and a study proposing bPOE modification of minimum volume ellipsoid problem.
Sexual Minority Adults: A National Survey on Depression, Religious Fundamentalism, Parent Relationship Quality & Acceptance.

Sexual minority persons from religious families may experience low acceptance by parents, however, little is known about the relationship of religiosity and parent relationships on mental health into adulthood. This study sought to test a moderated mediation model predicting depression based on religious fundamentalism, parent acceptance, and parent-child relationship quality. Sexual minority adult participants (n = 384) from across the U.S. completed a web-based, anonymous survey. Results found a conditional indirect effect of religious fundamentalism on depression through parent acceptance with the parent-child relationship quality moderating the relationship between parent acceptance and depression. This was significant up to age 52. Clinical implications and future research with sexual minority adults and their families are explored.
The Winner's Curse in an Online Lending Market

Using data from Lending Club and Prosper, the two largest peer-to-peer lenders in the U.S., we provide evidence of the winner's curse in the online personal lending market. Borrowers who were rejected by a competitor are twice as likely to default as borrowers who were not rejected, conditional on receiving the same contract. Borrowers are also more likely to default when offered higher interest rates or smaller loan amounts by a competitor. Surprisingly, the loan amount effect is larger than the interest rate effect, and loan amount is a more closely related to lender choice.
Synthesis of Graphite Intercalation Compounds

The intercalation process involves a chemical reaction between a layered host material and reagent which results in the insertion of new atomic or molecular layers, termed intercalate layers, between the host layers. In graphite, this reaction takes advantage of the weak (van der Waals) bonds between carbon layers. The intralayer hexagonal organization of the carbon atoms is not affected by intercalation. Typical syntheses of graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) take place at moderate temperatures (T< 700°C), and occur on a relatively short time scale (several, minutes to several days). Intercalation reactions are known to occur between graphite and literally hundreds of reagents. The compounds are, for the most part, very unstable in the open laboratory environment, and they must therefore be handled with extreme care and encapsulated in vacuum or in an overpressure of inert gas or reactant. In many cases, the samples are sufficiently unstable to merit in situ investigation of the physical properties.
SPATIAL REASONING ABOUT MECHANICAL BEHAVIORS

We describe an approach that uses causal reasoning and geometric reasoning to construct explanations for the purposes of the geometric features on the parts of a mechanical device. To identify the purpose of a feature, the device is simulated with and without the feature. The simulations are then translated into a “causal-process” representation, which allows qualitatively important differences to be identified. These differences reveal behaviors that the feature causes to occur and those it prevents from occurring. The focus of this paper is geometric reasoning techniques that reveal causal relationships between the caused and prevented behaviors. For example, these techniques can determine if a particular caused behavior is responsible for preventing a particular prevented behavior.
Risk Behavior and Perception Among Youths Residing in Urban Public Housing Developments

The scientific literature and popular media suggest that variations in housing structure and neighborhood influence risk behaviors among youths living in low-income urban communities. To explore the importance of these factors on early sexual intercourse, substance use, drug trafficking, and school truancy, data from a community-based survey, conducted in six public housing developments in a major eastern metropolis, were analyzed. The survey group consisted of 300 youths aged 9 through 15 years. There were minimal differences in three potential mediators of risk behaviors (e.g., perceived social support, parenting style, and perceived risk exposure) and in self-reported adolescent risk behaviors among youths residing in different housing developments and between youths residing in high-rise and in low-rise structures. These findings do not support the hypothesis that within a risk-dense low-income environment, variations in building structure or in neighborhood are associated with differences in adolescent risk behaviors.
Autoreversal of bradykinin response in the perfused isolated canine hind limb.

Bradykinin lowers the systemic arterial blood pressure in all animal species tested (Haddy, Emerson and others, 1970). This hypotensive effect of bradykinin es the result of a decrease in total peripheral resistance, most probably at the arteriolar level (Baez and Orkin, 1963). However, organ responses are not uniform but display a pattern of selective vasoconstriction and vasodilation (Arcidiacono, Reininger and Sapirstein, 1966). A constriction of larger veins has been observed in rat subcutaneous tissue (Rowley, 1964) and in the rabbit ear (Guth, Bobbin and others, 1966). Also the larger veins in the visceral area appear to be constricted strongly by bradykinin (Tsuru, Ishikawa and Shigei, 1974). Several authors have reported that isolated blood vessels and some vascular beds perfused with artificial fluids respond to bradykinin with constriction (Guth, Cano and Jamarillo, 1963; Moog and Fisher, 1964; Shimamoto, Numano and others, 1966; Wiegershausen, 1966; Northover, 1967). Other have observed a hypertensive response to bradykinin in nephrectomized rats, and in rats with low blood pressure (Croxatto and Belmar, 1961; Croxato, Belmar and others, 1962). Subsequently, it was reported by us that bradykinin elicits pressure increases in the blood-perfused isolated canine hind limb when injected after a large dose of histamine (Back and Wilkens, 1965). This finding was followed by our observation that bradykinin is a potent vasoconstrictor in the isolated canine hind limb when a small amount (3 mg %) of Polyox FRA, a commercially produced high molecular weight ethylene oxide polymer, is added to the circulating blood (Wilkens and Back, 1974). Since neither the vasoconstrictor action in the presence of Polyox FRA, nor the pressar effect following histamine could be abolished by alpha adrenergic blockade, we suggested that bradykinin might act on two types of receptors.
Exploring Evolutionary Search Strategies to Improve Applications’ Energy Efficiency

Energy consumption have become an important non-functional requirement for applications running on battery powered devices through data centers. Despite the increased interest on detecting and understanding what causes an application to be energy inefficient, few works focus on helping developers to automatically make their applications more energy efficient based on developers’ design and implementation decisions. This paper explores how search strategies based on genetic algorithms can help developers automatically find an energy efficient version of an application based on transformations corresponding to developers’ high level decisions (e.g., selecting API implementations). Our results show how different search strategies can help to improve the energy efficiency for nine Java applications.
Associations of serum CRP levels with demographics, health behaviors, and risk of cancer among the Mexican American Mano A Mano Cohort

Abstract C-Reactive protein (CRP) is a well-known inflammatory marker, and elevated CRP levels has been reported to be associated with the risk of various cancers. To date, no study has investigated the association between elevated CRP and incidents of cancer among Mexican Americans. In the current prospective cohort study, we measured pre-diagnostic CRP levels in serum samples and evaluated their relationships with demographic characteristics and health behaviors associated with cancer risk among 2753 Mexican Americans selected from the Mano-A-Mano Mexican American Cohort Study. At baseline, median levels of serum CRP significantly differed by demographics (sex, age category, marital status, and education levels) and health behaviors (cigarette smoking status, alcohol drinking status, BMI category, and physical activity levels). In the multivariable analysis, the study participants who were women, older, never drinking alcohol, overweight or obese, and physically inactive had increased likelihood of having high CRP levels (≥ median levels among all study participants) compared to their counterparts. A total of 177 cancer cases were identified during the follow-up with a median follow-up time of 127 months. In the quartile analysis, study participants in the 4th quartile with highest CRP levels had significantly 1.88 fold increased risk of cancer (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.88, 95%CI: 1.12, 3.13) compared to those in the 1st quartile with lowest CRP levels. The association was further confirmed in analyses using clinical CRP levels. In summary, our findings suggested that serum CRP levels have potential to serve as a predictive marker of cancer risk in Mexican Americans.
Political Correctness Askew: Excesses in the Pursuit of Minds and Manners

Political Correctness, n., the avoidance of forms of expression or action that exclude, marginalise or insult racial and cultural minorities.- Oxford English Dictionary (9th Edition)All I want of you is a little seevility, and that of the commonest goddamnedest kind.- Z. W. Pease, The History of New Bedford (1918)Forgive us all our peccadillos.With the fullness of time, when all has been said and done in both the heat of the moment and the cooler perspective of experience, what has come to be called "Political Correctness" will be revealed as little more than passionate folly-merely another skirmish in the eternal battle for the minds, hearts, and souls of humankind."There is nothing new under the sun," said the wise King Solomon; life is full of futility. And, indeed, such have been the lessons of history. There is nothing new about PC, either, except perhaps the futility of defining it. Nor is it a passing fancy: like religion (and despite the dictionary), the modern-day manifestations of PC mean very different things to very different people.Too often the call for sensitivity is in truth the pursuit of power, pure and simple-the high-minded rhetoric little more than camouflage. As the cases described above starkly demonstrate, subjective standards subjectively administered yield nothing but a stewpot of disputed facts, hard feelings, and bad law.In the long run, tolerating offensive talk should be a small price to pay to ensure the ideals of academic freedom and the liberty of conscience. If the debate is about equality, the lesson for all of us, perhaps, is that allowing everyone to speak their minds-using whatever words they want-assures a healthy measure of common sense in response.Listening carefully, when all is said and done, is still the best path toward reason.
Exposing the location of anonymous solar-powered homes: poster

Due to the decline of solar module prices, more and more people install solar panel energy systems. To better analyze the solar performance, solar generation data are transmitted on the Internet, stored in the cloud, even making the data available to the public. These data can leak privacy information, such as, the occupancy. However, people believe this information is not useful as the solar energy are "anonymous", which means the data cannot be associated to any identification information, such as account number or address, thus these solar-powered home energy data is often not treated as sensitive. Our key insight is solar energy data is not anonymous: since every location on the earth has unique solar and weather signature. We design a system to localize the "anonymous" solar-powered homes. We first localize the source home to a small region of interest by inferring the latitude and longitude from the information inherently embedded in the solar data. We then identify solar-powered homes within this region using satellite image processing by extracting and detecting rooftop solar deployment using a hybrid convolution neural networks (CNN) approach to identify a specific home without extra cost.
Involvement of km23 Dynein Light Chains in TGF β Signaling

We have identified km23-1 and km23-2 as TGF-β signaling intermediates that are also light chains of the minus-end directed motor protein dynein. The km23/LC7/robl dynein light chains (DLCs) belong to an ancient superfamily of proteins, known as the MglB superfamily. Our NMR structural studies demonstrate that km23-1 adopts the structure of a stable homodimer, similar to that of the p14/MAPK scaffolding protein (MP1) heterodimer. Furthermore, our results suggest that km23-1/km23-2 may function as motor receptors to recruit Smads2/3 to the dynein motor complex for endosomal transport, prior to Smad nuclear translocation. Thus, TGF-β signaling endosomes may be natural cargo of the dynein complex. Here, we present a model for how km23 family members may function as motor receptors, and describe the evidence that we have accumulated thus far to support such a model. For example, we have demonstrated that the kinase activity of TGF-β receptor RII directly phosphorylates km23-1 on specific serine residues, resulting in attachment of the km23 DLCs to the rest of the multi-subunit dynein complex. This dynein binding function of km23 appears to be required for the endosomal transport of TGF-β signaling components, because disruption of the motor complex blocks transcriptional effects of TGF-β downstream. Alterations in km23-1 found in the ovarian cancer patients appear to modify km23-1 functions in both binding to the dynein motor complex and TGF-β signaling. In addition, forced expression of km23-1 in ovarian cancer cells suppresses their growth in vitro, and tumorgenesis in vivo, by increasing the number of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Our results implicate km23-1 as a novel, TGF β-related anti-cancer target for the development of diagnostics and therapeutics.
Observing the Ocean Submesoscale with Enhanced-Color GOES-ABI Visible Band Data

Ocean color remote sensing has long been utilized as a fundamental research tool in the oceanographic investigations of coupled biological-physical processes. Despite numerous technical advances in the application of space borne ocean-viewing radiometers, host satellite platforms in a polar-orbiting configuration often render the temporal frequency of sensor data acquisition insufficient for studies of ocean processes that occur within increasingly smaller space-time scales. Whereas geostationary ocean color missions are presently the exception (GOCI) rather than the rule, this paper presents a method to convolve ocean reflectance data obtained from contemporary ocean-viewing multispectral radiometers (VIIRS, OLCI) with spectrally-limited Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) data obtained from the GOES-R meteorological satellites. The method, Chromatic Domain Mapping (CDM), employs a colorimetry approach to visible range ocean reflectance data. The true color space is used as a frame-of-reference that is mapped by the dedicated yet temporally sparse ocean color sensors; coincident and spectrally coarse information from ABI is then used to estimate the evolution of the true color scene. The procedure results in very high resolution (~5 min) true color image sequences. Herein, example CDM applications of rapid frontal boundary evolution and feature displacement in the Gulf of Mexico are presented and future applications of this technique are discussed.
Advising the Law: Academic Advising in Law-Generating Institutions of Higher Education

Academic advisors occupy an ethically fraught position in institutions of higher education and frequently have to traverse complex curricular issues. Legal theorist Lon L. Fuller's work provides ad...
Contesting the Classroom: Reimagining Education in Moroccan and Algerian Literatures

Contesting the Classroom is the first scholarly work to analyze both how Algerian and Moroccan novels depict the postcolonial classroom, and how postcolonial literatures are taught in Morocco and Algeria. Drawing on a corpus of contemporary novels in French and Arabic, it shows that authors imagined the fictional classroom as a pluralistic and inclusive space, often at odds with the narrow nationalist vision of postcolonial identity. Yet when authors wrote about the school, they also had to consider whether their work would be taught in schools. As this book's original research on the teaching of literature shows, Moroccan and Algerian schools have largely failed to promote the works of local authors in public school curricula. This situation has dramatically altered literary portraits of education: novels marginalized in the public education system must creatively reimagine what pedagogy looks like and where it can take place. In illuminating a literary corpus neglected by political scientists and sociologists, Contesting the Classroom shows that novels about the school are an important source of counter-narrative about education and national identity. At the same time, by demonstrating how education has influenced writing styles, this work reframes the classroom as a necessary cultural context for scholars of postcolonial literature.