cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Racial Disparity in Potential Occupational Exposure to COVID-19.

Nationwide, as of 20 June 2021, COVID-19 has claimed more than 599,000 lives and infected nearly 33 million people. Studies have shown that COVID-19 disproportionately affects some racial and ethnic minority groups. This study examined whether certain racial and ethnic groups were overrepresented in occupations with potentially high COVID-19 exposure risks, relative to their share in the total workforce. The study incorporates white collar workers, who to date have not gotten as much attention in terms of workers safety. Using the March and April 2020 Current Population Survey and O*Net data, this study examined whether certain racial and ethnic groups were overrepresented in occupations with potentially high risk of exposure to COVID-19 (exposure to disease and infection at work, inability to maintain physical distancing at work, and inability to work from home) relative to their share in the total workforce. The results showed that Black workers were overrepresented in occupations with high potential risk of exposure to disease and infection at work and inability to maintain physical distancing at work. Hispanic workers were overrepresented in occupations where potential risk of inability to work from home was the highest. Occupation can be one of the risk factors for the current disproportionately high COVID-19 infection rates among Black and Hispanic workers. COVID-19-related prevention measures at high risk occupations, including providing adequate personal protective equipment, training, working space, and vaccinations, could help to reduce not only the spread of COVID-19 and infectious diseases but also their disproportionately high impact in certain minority racial and ethnic groups.
Metastatic Diseases of the Mesentery

As with other mesenteric masses, metastasis to the mesentery are initially indolent and may be asymptomatic while they are small. When symptoms develop from mesenteric masses, they may include the development of abdominal pain from compression of vascular structures or intestinal obstruction. Other symptoms and signs of obstructive symptoms may include nausea, emesis, abdominal distension, constipation, and obstipation. As with any malignancy, there is also the propensity to develop constitutional symptoms including fatigue and weight loss. In special circumstances, the presence of a neuroendocrine tumor may result in the development of carcinoid syndrome (represented by flushing and diarrhea).
Design and Testing of an Automated System using Thermochromatic Liquid Crystals to Determine Local Heat Transfer Coefficients for an Impinging Jet

Using thermochromatic liquid crystal to measure surface temperature, an automated transient method with time-varying free-stream temperature is developed to determine local heat transfer coefficients. By allowing the free-stream temperature to vary with time, the need for complicated mechanical components to achieve a step temperature change is eliminated, and by using the thermochromatic liquid crystals as temperature indicators, the labor intensive task of installing many thermocouples is omitted. Bias associated with human perception of the transition of the thermochromatic liquid crystal is eliminated by using a high speed digital camera and a computer. The method is validated by comparisons with results obtained by the steady-state method for a circular Jet impinging on a flat plate. Several factors affecting the accuracy of the method are evaluated.
Chapter 10 The Neurospora Plasma Membrane: A New Experimental System for Investigating Eukaryote Surface Membrane Structure and Function

Publisher Summary This chapter acquaints the reader with the Neurospora plasma membrane, a new experimental system for exploring the molecular biology of a variety of important aspects of eukaryote plasma membrane structure and function. It is hoped that the description of the strategies and methodology employed in the development of this system will provide a framework which can be used by others to identify, isolate, and assess the functionality of plasma membranes from other eukaryotic cells. The study of this system has engendered fundamental concepts of plasma membrane structure such as the asymmetric distribution of lipids and carbohydrates and the multiple modes of protein orientation in the plasma membrane. The Neurosporu plasma membrane system described here is suitable for both structural and functional studies, as these plasma membranes can be isolated as open sheets or closed vesicles. Neurospora do not exhibit cell–cell interactions, hormone response, pino- and phagocytosis, and certain other critical functions of higher eukaryotes.
Delay Effects in Fatigue Crack Propagation

The fatigue crack propagation behavior resulting from variations in load is examined for 2024-T3 aluminum alloy, from both a macroscopic and a fractographic point of view. A peak load is found to cause retardation of the crack growth rate, which becomes more pronounced as the percentage overload or baseline stress intensity level or both is increased. The delaying effect of the overload is observed to exist for a calculated crack length increment equivalent to the plastic zone size formed during the peak load. Multiple overloads and high-low block loading sequences are found to result in additional retardation. It is observed that the macroscopic fracture surface appearance (that is, transition to plane stress) is a function of the crack growth rate. From fractographic examination it is found that the initiation of microvoid coalescence during fatigue occurs when plane stress conditions are achieved; this limits the extent of the stretch zone associated with an overload cycle. As a result, the stretch zone is found to be followed by striations in plane strain and by dimples under plane stress conditions. The size of the stretch band is observed to depend on the stress intensity level during the overload cycle. The usefulness of closure concepts in aiding the understanding of fatigue crack propagation under uniform and nonuniform loading conditions is considered. Evidence is given to demonstrate the general applicability of closure concepts for analysis of macroscopic and fractographic fatigue crack propagation results. /Author/
Glycosylation of tissue factor is not essential for its transport or functions.

See also Morrissey JH. Low-carb tissue factor? This issue, pp 1508–10.DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2011.04332.x. Summary. Background: Glycosylation plays an important role in protein function. The importance of glycosylation for tissue factor (TF) function is unclear. Objective: The aim of the present study is to investigate the importance of TF glycosylation in transport to the cell surface and its coagulant and signaling functions. Methods: Endothelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were treated with tunicamycin to inhibit N-linked glycosylation. Site-specific mutagenesis of one or more potential N-linked glycosylation sites in TF was used to generate TF mutants lacking glycans. TF expression at the cell surface was determined in binding assays using 125I-FVIIa or 125I-TF mAb and confocal microscopy. TF coagulant activity was measured by factor (F) Xa generation assay, and TF signaling function was assessed by measuring cleavage of protease activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and activation of p44/42 MAPK. Results: Tunicamycin treatment reduced TF activity at the endothelial cell surface; however, this reduction was found to be the result of decreased TF protein production in tunicamycin-treated cells. Tunicamycin treatment had no significant effect on TF activity or antigen levels in PBMC. No significant differences were observed in TF protein expression and procoagulant activity among cells transfected to express either wild-type TF or TF mutants. A fully non-glycosylated TF is shown to bind FVIIa and interact with FX with the same efficiency as that of wild-type TF. Non-glycosylated TF is also capable of supporting FVIIa cleavage of PAR2 and PAR2-dependent p44/42 MAPK activation. Conclusions: Glycosylation is not essential for TF transport and coagulant or signaling functions.
Mark A. Cane Receives 2013 Maurice Ewing Medal: Response

I must first pay tribute to Klaus Wyrtki, a hero of mine who passed away earlier this year. At a time when ideas about El Nino pointed all over the place, he told me that Bjerknes's hypothesis was the way forward. He was right, of course, but Bjerknes stopped short of explaining the oscillatory nature of ENSO, and it took Klaus's tide gauge data to show that ocean dynamics is the answer. His analysis was masterful, but there would have been nothing much to analyze without his incredible effort to deploy those tide gauges in atolls and islands throughout the tropical Pacific. My magnum opus may fairly be described as translating Bjerknes-Wyrtki into a numerical model.
The Neuropeptide Y Y5 Receptor Mediates the Blockade of “Photic-Like” NMDA-Induced Phase Shifts in the Golden Hamster

Circadian or daily rhythms generated from the mammalian suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus can be synchronized by light and nonphotic stimuli. Whereas glutamate mediates photic information, nonphotic information can in some cases be mediated by neuropeptide Y (NPY) or serotonin. NPY or serotonin can reduce the phase-resetting effect of light or glutamate; however, the mechanisms and level of interaction of these two kinds of stimuli are unknown. Here we investigate the effect of NPY on the NMDA-induced phase shift of the hamster SCN circadian neural activity rhythm by means of single-unit recording techniques. NMDA (10–100 μm) applied in the early subjective night induced phase delays in the time of peak firing, whereas doses in the millimolar range disrupted firing patterns. The NMDA-induced phase delay was blocked by coapplication of NPY (0.02–200 μm). NPY Y1/Y5 and Y5 receptor agonists, but not the Y2 receptor agonist, blocked the NMDA-induced phase delay in a similar manner as NPY. The coapplication of a Y5 but not Y1 receptor antagonist eliminated NPY blockade of NMDA-induced phase delays, suggesting that the Y5 receptor is capable of mediating the inhibitory effect of NPY on photic responses. These results indicate that nonphotic and photic stimuli may interact at a level at or beyond NMDA receptor response and indicate that the Y5 receptor is involved in this interaction. Alteration of Y5 receptor function may therefore be expected to alter synchronization of circadian rhythms to light.
‘I Hate It, But It Still Sounds Good’: Collective Identity and the Evaluation of Oppositional Frame Resonance

While activists often respond to claims advanced by their opposition, little is known about how oppositional rhetoric is evaluated. This study focuses on the evaluation process, examining how movement actors assess the resonant appeal of oppositional frames. I analyze how activists in the American pro-choice movement respond to a faction of the pro-life movement that primarily frames abortion as harmful to women. Drawing on focus group conversations with pro-choice activists, I find feminist collective identity and their own experience advancing gendered frames influence which oppositional frames pro-choice actors consider most likely to resonate with a non-activist audience. These judgments subsequently guide decisions about how to respond to oppositional frames and construct of counterframes. I find activists to use collective identity to rule out potential strategies and tactics they feel are in conflict with what the group represents. I argue that in cases where similarities exist between frames and c...
Changes in activity of the striatum during formation of a motor habit

To examine experience-dependent plasticity of striatal neurons during habit learning in awake, freely moving animals, single neurons in the dorsolateral striatum (54 neurons related specifically to vertical head movement and 14 unresponsive neurons, i.e. not related to any body movement) were recorded and tracked off-line to assess changes in firing rate over sessions as performance of instrumental head movement became automatic and habitual. Rats were trained to emit operant vertical head movements that triggered water delivery for 14 sessions (2 h per session, one session per day). Rats significantly increased the number and efficiency of head movements over sessions until reaching asymptotic behaviour. Habit formation was indicated by significantly higher levels of instrumental responding exhibited by rats during a late, relative to an early, session in which the reward was devalued. As head movements became habitual across sessions, most head movement-related neurons (89%) exhibited decreased firing rate, while a small population (11%) exhibited increased or maintained firing rate. The rate of decrease in firing by the majority correlated with the rate of improvement in movement efficiency over sessions. All unresponsive neurons, though not apparently related to movement, exhibited decreased firing rate over sessions. Our findings suggest that, during habit learning, the striatum may shift from facilitating acquisition of efficient movement with a large population of neurons to modulating or maintaining habitual movement with stronger firing of fewer movement-related neurons.
APPLICATION OF LASER-PRODUCED PLASMAS FOR CONTROLLED THERMONUCLEAR FUSION.

A review is given on earlier theoretical estimations of laser produced fusion plasmas. The optimum fusion efficiencies are given for densities of 6 × 1022 cm−3 of 50:50 D-T plasmas. The fusion efficiency equal one is reached at laser energies Eo of 10 Joules of the fusion reactions during the heating where assumptions are included in an optimistic way, while Eo is 106 Joules, if only the fusion during free plasma expansion is effective. Experiments of Sun et al. and Basov et al. are reviewed and the problems are discussed for laser produced fusion plasmas due to nonlinear acceleration and otter nonlinear effects, starting at laser intensities of 1014 W/cm2. If overdense plasmas are irradiated at nonlinear conditions, the nonlinear acceleration can be used for a confinement by a nonlinearly increased radiation pressure of the interior of a spherical plasma, being sufficiently heated and having not too much loss of plasma by the blow-off process. The Lawson criterion of fusion can be reached within a factor 3. The laser intensities should be below 1015 W/cm2 and of about 0.1 to 10 nsec length.
Synchronously Dividing Bacterial Cultures I. Synchrony Following Depletion and Resupplementation of a Required Amino Acid in Escherichia coli

Matney, Thomas S. (The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston, Texas), and Joan C. Suit. Synchronously dividing bacterial cultures. I. Synchrony following depletion and resupplementation of a required amino acid in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 92:960–966. 1966.—A procedure was developed for phasing large-volume cultures of Escherichia coli K-12 with regard to cell division. The method consists of permitting the bacteria to exhaust a growth-limiting supply of a required amino acid, starving the culture, resupplementing with an excess of the amino acid, and following the ensuing growth by usual counting procedures.
Application of AF-NUMIT2 to the Modeling of Deep-Dielectric Spacecraft Charging in the Space Environment

A 1-D numerical iteration software tool (NUMIT) designed for laboratory modeling has been refined, developed, and greatly enhanced, so that it can be used to model and predict the deep charging of dielectrics on spacecraft. The new tool, called Air Force NUMIT version 2 (AF-NUMIT2), can now model isotropically incident electron fluxes from realistic energy spectra that change with time. The model has been extended to incident electron fluxes an order of magnitude lower than before (≥10 keV), and aspects of the model have been checked against Monte Carlo simulations. Electron energy flux spectra, as measured by Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite, have been used in dozens of simulations of Kapton charging over multiple days. Kapton has been modeled with both dark conductivities and radiation-induced conductivities extending over two orders-of-magnitude. The result has been a surprisingly consistent relationship between maximum internal electric-field strengths and conductivity, regardless of the particular incident electron spectra.
Mathematical Implications of Mach’s Ideas: Positivistic Geometry, the Clarification of Functional Connections

The highest tribute to a scientist on an anniversary of his death is the demonstration that his ideas are still alive. Fifty years after Mach, some thoughts of this great Austrian philosopher-scientist have an unspent vitality. Two ideas of his on which I wish to concentrate lead to implications for mathematics that have not yet been fully explored: Mach’s general philosophical views suggest the development of a positivistic geometry, which has hardly begun; and his maxim that causal explanations should be replaced by functional connections calls for a clarification of the method of applying the function concept and other ideas of mathematical analysis to science — a clarification which is still in its initial stage.
‘We are not Victims, we are Protagonists of this History’

AbstractThis article centers on the Mexican and Argentinean ‘Dirty Wars’, examining the limitations inherent in human rights and women's human rights responses to these epochs of violence. I situate Argentina's report on the dictatorship, Nunca mas (1984), in conversation with Elena Poniatowska's text on the 1968 Mexico City massacre, La noche de Tlatelolco (1971), to trace the rise of a global human rights discourse that has become the dominant manner of conceptualizing human rights violations and gender violence in the latter half of the twentieth century. While feminist critiques of human rights have centered on the lack of gender-specific focus of violence committed against women, this article questions whether the women's human rights discourse disengages the historical, economic and geopolitical realities from which these violations were committed and instead focuses on women's sexual violations to garner international condemnation of gender violence. By turning to these texts, this article centers ...
Neutral models for the analysis of broad-scale landscape pattern

The relationship between a landscape process and observed patterns can be rigorously tested only if the expected pattern in the absence of the process is known. We used methods derived from percolation theory to construct neutral landscape models,i.e., models lacking effects due to topography, contagion, disturbance history, and related ecological processes. This paper analyzes the patterns generated by these models, and compares the results with observed landscape patterns. The analysis shows that number, size, and shape of patches changes as a function of p, the fraction of the landscape occupied by the habitat type of interest, and m, the linear dimension of the map. The adaptation of percolation theory to finite scales provides a baseline for statistical comparison with landscape data. When USGS land use data (LUDA) maps are compared to random maps produced by percolation models, significant differences in the number, size distribution, and the area/perimeter (fractal dimension) indices of patches were found. These results make it possible to define the appropriate scales at which disturbance and landscape processes interact to affect landscape patterns.
The Third-Person Effect Goes to Congress

This article examines floor speeches of members of the U.S. Congress, who introduced and supported legislation regarding online pornography, to test the current understanding of the Third-Person Effect (TPE). This article makes three substantive contributions to the TPE literature. First, the article confirms the presence of the TPE in a context where people are empowered to engage in actual censorship. Second, this article utilizes a naturalistic method as opposed to the self-report and experiment-based methodologies that dominate the TPE literature. Third, this article identifies subtleties of the TPE that have not yet been examined fully in past scholarship.
Occurrence of long‐range helical spin ordering in Dy‐Y multilayers (invited)

The magnetic ordering of highly perfect single‐crystal multilayer films of alternate layers of magnetic Dy and nonmagnetic Y prepared by molecular beam epitaxy has been studied by neutron diffraction. Results on a series of films with Dy thicknesses of approximately 16 atomic planes (≊45 A) and Y thicknesses ranging from 10 to 22 planes have confirmed the existence of long‐range helimagnetic ordering of the Dy 4f spins which is propagated through the intervening Y layers in phase coherence. The propagation vectors in both Dy and Y layers have been calculated from the wave vector of the magnetic satellites and the intensity of the bilayer harmonics. The propagation vector for Dy decreases continuously with temperature, while that in the Y is temperature independent and equal to 0.31 A−1. The nature of the ordering and the noninteger multiple of π for the phase change of the propagation wave vector across the Y, suggests that the mechanism of long‐range coupling is a conduction band spin‐density wave in bot...
Higher Education, Productivity, and Earnings: A Review.

Recent research on the association among education, productivity, and earnings is reviewed. Special attention is given to the role of higher education in economic growth.
Minimum problem-size formulation for the scheduling of plant maintenance personnel

The problem of scheduling plant maintenance personnel has been recast to give the minimum problem-size formulation.
Privacy, Ethics, and Analytics

When using the analytics process, companies should consider the risks it poses to individuals' information privacy as well as develop responsible measures to accompany its use. This set of ethical standards calls on companies to adopt accountable approaches that reflect the specific risks in a given use of the analytics process.
A technic for the satisfactory use of the Miller-Abbott tube

Abstract The Miller-Abbott tube offers an ideal type of temporary therapy in cases of intestinal obstruction without strangulation. The clinical effectiveness of this treatment depends directly upon the skill with which it is used. An effective technic for the use of the Miller-Abbott tube and the care of the patient is presented.
Image segmentation using trainable fuzzy set classifiers

A general image analysis and segmentation method using fuzzy set classification and learning is described. The method uses a learned fuzzy representation of pixel region characteristics, based upon the conjunction and disjunction of extracted and derived fuzzy color and texture features. Both positive and negative exemplars of some visually apparent characteristic which forms the basis of the inspection, input by a human operator, are used together with a clustering algorithm to construct positive similarity membership functions and negative similarity membership functions. Using these composite fuzzified images, P and N, are produced using fuzzy union. Classification is accomplished via image defuzzification, whereby linguistic meaning is assigned to each pixel in the fuzzy set using a fuzzy inference operation. The technique permits: (1) strict color and texture discrimination, (2) machine learning of color and texture characteristics of regions, (3) and judicious labeling of each pixel based upon leaned fuzzy representation and fuzzy classification. This approach appears ideal for applications involving visual inspection and allows the development of image-based inspection systems which may be trained and used by relatively unskilled workers. We show three different examples involving the visual inspection of mixed waste drums, lumber and woven fabric.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Basic fibroblast growth factor forms new trabeculae that physically connect with pre-existing trabeculae, and this new bone is maintained with an anti-resorptive agent and enhanced with an anabolic agent in an osteopenic rat model

Osteoporosis is a disease of excess bone fragility that results from both the loss of bone mass and trabecular bone microarchitecture, thereby creating a very fragile skeleton. The purpose of this study was to determine whether treatment of ovariectomized (OVX) osteopenic rats with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) would stimulate the production of new trabeculae, and whether the newly formed trabeculae would make physical connections with the pre-existing trabeculae after prolonged estrogen deficiency. Six-month-old Sprague Dawley rats were OVXed or sham-operated and were left untreated until day 60 post-OVX. A high resolution microscopic scan (XTM) of the right proximal tibia was performed on groups 1 and 2 on day 1 post-OVX, and was repeated in all animals on day 60 post-OVX. At day 60 groups 1 and 2 were treated with vehicle and groups 3 to 6 were injected with bFGF 200ug/kg/d intravenously for 15 days. At day 82, all animals obtained another in vivo XTM scan of the right tibia; then group 4 were treated with 17B estradiol 10ug/kg/3x a week, group 5 were treated with hPTH (1–34) at 80ug/kg/d for 35 days, group 6 were sacrificed, and groups 1 and 2 were treated with vehicle injections for 35 days. At day 110, all remaining animals were sacrificed, and repeat ex vivo XTM scans of the right proximal tibia were performed. Trabecular bone structural variables—including trabecular bone volume, connectivity, number, and thickness—were obtained from all XTM scans. Biochemical markers of bone turnover were also obtained 24 hours before each XTM scan (osteocalcin and deoxypyridinoline), and analyzed by ELISA. Animals OVXed and treated with vehicle had decreased trabecular bone volume, connectivity and number compared to sham-operated animals at both day 60 and day 110. Animals treated with bFGF from day 60–75 post-OVX had evidence of new trabeculae that physically connected with pre-existing trabeculae and also of increased trabecular bone volume seven days after the injections were discontinued. Biochemical markers of bone formation had a small and insignificant increase over baseline levels during the bFGF injections. Bone resorption markers were significantly reduced during the injection period, but returned to baseline levels after the injections were stopped. In addition, we also demonstrated that these newly formed trabecular connections could be maintained or added to with either estrogen or hPTH (1–34) treatments. Thirty-five days after ending the bFGF treatment, trabecular bone volume and connectivity was 25–80% higher in the estrogen and hPTH (1–34) treated animals compared to the untreated animals ( p <0.01). These results support continued development of bFGF as a potential treatment for severely osteoporotic individuals.
Effects of separate and combined therapy with growth hormone and parathyroid hormone on lumbar vertebral bone in aged ovariectomized osteopenic rats

Previous studies have demonstrated that growth hormone (GH) has a marked anabolic effect on cortical bone, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) has been shown to increase cancellous bone markedly and cortical bone to some extent in ovariectomized (ovx) rats. Combined therapies mostly focused on combining a bone anabolic agent with an antiresorptive agent. The following study was carried out to examine the efficacy of combined therapy with GH and PTH, two bone anabolic agents in rebuilding bone after loss due to ovariectomy in lumbar vertebrae, which contain both cortical and cancellous bones. Twelve-month-old female F344 rats were divided into five groups: sham + solvent vehicle, ovx + solvent vehicle, ovx + GH (2.5 mg/kg/day), ovx + PTH (80 μg/kg/day), and ovx + GH (2.5 mg/kg/day) + PTH (80 μg/kg/day). After surgery, animals were left for 4 months to become osteopenic before the beginning of therapy. Hormone administrations were given 5 days per week for 2 months and the animals were killed. The L3 vertebra was removed and examined by pQCT densitometry and by histomorphometry. Compared with age-matched, sham-operated controls, there was a 21% decrease in total bone mineral content (BMC) (p 0.05), 22.6% (p < 0.001), and 38.8% (p < 0.0001), respectively; cortical BMC by 28.8% (p < 0.01), 50.8% (p < 0.0001), and 98.4% (p < 0.0001), respectively; and cortical BMD by 4.5% (p < 0.01), 2.9% (p < 0.05), and 6.3% (p < 0.0001), respectively. PTH and GH + PTH significantly increased cancellous BMC by 95.3% (p < 0.01) and 255.8% (p < 0.0001), respectively; cancellous BMD by 77.6% (p < 0.05) and 181% (p < 0.0001), respectively; cancellous BV/TV by 38.6% (p < 0.0001) and 55.9% (p < 0.0001), respectively; and trabecular thickness by 48% (p < 0.0001) and 68.3% (p < 0.0001), respectively. Note that GH by itself had no significant effect on vertebral cancellous BMC, cancellous BMD, and cancellous BV/TV. In conclusion, the effect of PTH was mostly more marked than that of GH. GH acted mainly by increasing cortical bone with less effect on cancellous bone, while PTH acted by increasing both cortical and cancellous bones. Combined therapy with GH and PTH was more effective in rebuilding bone after ovariectomy than either therapy alone. The effects of combined therapy with GH and PTH were additive in vertebral bone in the aged osteopenic rats.
REMARKS ON THOM'S ESTIMATORS FOR THE GAMMA DISTRIBUTION

Abstract Thom's estimators for the two-parameter gamma distribution arise as asymtotic approximations to the maximum likelihood estimators. Being perhaps the simplest estimators known in this case, their properties are here investigated. We show that although they do have slight asymptotic bias even in very large samples, yet for almost the whole of the parameter space they have smaller asymptotic variances than the maximum likelihood estimators; more than this there is evidence that in finite samples the property still holds. As for the type of the sampling distributions involved, Thom's estimators are in general slightly nearer to normality than the maximum likelihood estimators. The occurrence of estimators that are improvements on the maximum likelihood estimators, be the improvement only slight, is rather rare and becomes of particular interest when they arise in a practical situation.
Fabrication of barium titanate by binder jetting additive manufacturing technology

Abstract Fabrication of barium titanate (BaTiO 3 ) specimens was accomplished with binder jetting additive manufacturing, and build parameters (e.g., binder saturation and layer thickness) and sintering profiles were modified to optimize the density achieved and the crystal structures obtained in the 3D printed parts. Surface and cross sectional grain morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealing grain growth on localized areas of BTO fabricated specimens after sintering. Crystal structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) where the presence of a hexagonal phase was observed for BaTiO 3 only when sintered at 1400 °C. The dielectric constant of the fabricated BaTiO 3 specimens sintered at 1260 °C was obtained by using a K u -band wave-guide and vector network analyzer setup in which the relative permittivity was measured from 8.6 to 6.23 for a frequency range of 12.4–18 GHz, respectively. When sintered at 1400 °C for 4 h, a density of 3.93 g/cm 3 was obtained, which corresponds to 65.2% of the theoretical density. Piezoelectric properties exhibited a d 33 value of 74.1 for specimens also sintered at 1400 °C. Results reported in this paper demonstrate the feasibility of BTO as a binder jetting material for 3D printed dielectric structures, ceramic capacitors and gas and pressure sensors.
Wegener's Granulomatosis: The Role of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery:

Conventional wisdom has dictated that the patient with Wegener's Granulomatosis may benefit from a Caldwell Luc or external ethmoidectomy in the treatment of sinusitis. No studies, however, have sp...
Curiosity and well-being

Recent conceptualizations of curiosity have identified two underlying factors that together represent trait curiosity: exploration (the disposition to seek out novel/challenging situations) and absorption (the disposition to become fully engaged in these interesting situations) (Kashdan, Rose, & Fincham, 2004). These factors have been proposed to broaden the thought–action repertoire by promoting interest in novel/challenging situations and to incrementally build knowledge and well-being in a manner consistent with the Broaden-and-Build Theory (Fredrickson, B. L., 1998). This article reports findings from a study which examined associations between the exploration and absorption components of curiosity and continuous and categorical indices of well-being. Replicating and extending previous findings, the exploration (more so than absorption) component of curiosity exhibited moderate positive associations with measures of well-being. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Comments on “Noninvasive thermometry with a clinical x-ray CT scanner”

Data which agree with those of Fallone e t a l. are presented. The issue of translating i n v i t r o results to the i n v i v o situation is also discussed.
Myogenesis in primary cell cultures from drosophila melanogaster: Protein synthesis and actin heterogeneity during development

Abstract Muscle cell cultures from Drosophila melanogaster were obtained by plating dissociated gastrula stage embryo cells on protamine-treated culture dishes. The myogenic cells in these cultures fuse to form multinucleated pulsating cells by 15 hr after plating. An analysis of protein synthesis during myogenesis in these cultures, as measured by the incorporation of 35 S-methionine and analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, showed profound changes in the pattern of protein synthesis. This analysis enabled us to identify three distinct classes of proteins. Class A proteins, the most abundant, are synthesized continuously throughout myogenesis; class B proteins are those proteins whose synthesis is initiated during myogenesis and continued throughout development; class C proteins are those synthesized at specific times during development. In addition, three forms of actin have been identified in these cultures. Actin I, which shows increased synthesis concomitant with the myogenic development in these cultures, is apparently a muscle-specific form of actin. Actin II, the predominant "cytoplasmic" form of actin in the nonmuscle Schneider cell line 2, is also the major form in the gastrula cultures before differentiation begins. Synthesis of this actin continues in the myogenic cultures. Actin III is a rapidly turning over form of actin which does not accumulate in either the Schneider cells or the myogenic cultures.
Computational analysis of deep brain stimulation

Chronic, high-frequency electrical stimulation of subcortical brain structures (deep brain stimulation [DBS]) is an effective clinical treatment for several medically refractory neurological disorders. However, the clinical successes of DBS are tempered by the limited understanding of the response of neurons to applied electric fields and scientific definition of the therapeutic mechanisms of DBS remains elusive. In addition, it is presently unclear which electrode designs and stimulation parameters are optimal for maximum therapeutic benefit and minimal side effects. Detailed computer modeling of DBS has recently emerged as a powerful technique to enhance our understanding of the effects of DBS and to create a virtual testing ground for new stimulation paradigms. This review summarizes the fundamentals of neurostimulation modeling and provides an overview of some of the scientific contributions of computer models to the field of DBS. We then provide a prospective view on the application of DBS-modeling tools to augment the clinical utility of DBS and to design the next generation of DBS technology.
Anomaly detection: a soft computing approach

Computer are finite discrete machines, the set of real numbers is an infinite continuum. So real numbers in computers are approximation. Rough set theory is the underlying mathematics. A “computer” version of Weistrass theorem states that every sequence, within the radius of error, repeats certain terms infinitely many times. In terms of applications, the theorem guarantees that the audit trail has repeating patterns. Examining further, based on fuzzy-rough set theory, hidden fuzzy relationships (rules) in audit data are uncovered. The information about the repeating data and fuzzy relationships reflect “unconscious patterns” of user's habits. They are some deeper “signatures” of computer users, which provide a foundation to detect abuses and misuses of computer systems. A “sliding window information system” is used to illustrate the detection of a “simple” virus attack. The complexity problem is believed to be controllable via rough set representation of data.
Wearable and ubiquitous computing

Describes a course on wearable and ubiquitous computing. It has been taught twice at Virginia Tech. The article describes the course's scope, assignments and grading, and design projects.
Effects of glyceryl trinitrate on functionally regressed newly developed collateral vessels in conscious dogs

The effects of glyceryl trinitrate on collateral blood flow and regional myocardial function during a 2 min coronary occlusion were evaluated in 10 conscious dogs with well developed collateral vessels. Collateral growth was promoted by brief, repeated, reversible coronary occlusions. After partial regression in collateral function a small dose of glyceryl trinitrate (5 μg·kg−1) was injected intravenously 1 min before coronary occlusion. After pretreatment with glyceryl trinitrate the collateral blood flow velocity (mean[SD]) increased from 3.0(0.9) to 4.4(1.4) cm·s−1 (p<0.05). After 2 min of occlusion the percentage systolic subendocardial segment shortening in the collateral dependent zone increased from 7.8(6.1) to 12.6(6.7)% (p<0.05). The blood flow debt repayment after release of the occlusion decreased from 122(41) to 68(34)% (p<0.05). Thus in conscious dogs with regressed newly developed collaterals a major component of the beneficial effects of glyceryl trinitrate on collateral circulation is dilatation of collateral vessels, as evidenced by a pronounced increase in collateral blood flow and myocardial function during a transient period of coronary occlusion.
Mellowing with Age: Factors Influencing the Nonwhite Suicide Rate

The age patterning of white and nonwhite suicide rates reveals a marked and consistent divergence: white suicide rates increase with age; however, nonwhite suicide rates peak in youthful years and decline during middle and older ages. Six explanatory hypotheses are proposed to account for the divergence: 1) differential life expectancy; 2) deviant burnout; 3) screening out of the violence-prone; 4) role and status of the elderly; 5) traditional values; and 6) age-specific motives. Discussion and analysis of the proposed hypotheses indicate that they do operate in the direction of reducing the suicide rates of elderly nonwhites, thereby contributing to the observed age discrepancy in white and nonwhite suicide rates.
Identity and institutions in political history: a cross-disciplinary discussion

In this forum we bring together scholars, mostly from the discipline of political science, who use historical analysis to interrogate the role of race, gender, and sexuality in institutional develo...
An empirical investigation of the variations in direct‐to‐consumer prescription drug advertising

Purpose – The present paper aims to understand the underpinnings of the variations in brand level direct‐to‐consumer (DTC) advertising through a two‐part study. First, it seeks to examine the various influences on advertising intensity (operationalized by advertising to sales ratios) in the context of DTC advertising. Second, it aims to analyze how changes in share of voice impact changes in market share.Design/methodology/approach – Data on brand level advertising as well as sales were collected from different government and industry sources. This is used to compute the ratio of DTC advertising to sales as well as changes in share of voice, market share and average drug prices. A log‐log model is used to find parameter estimates based on OLS regression.Findings – Market share has a negative influence on the ratio of advertising to sales. Drugs which have a greater degree of innovation (as judged by the FDA) appear to spend more on DTC advertising relative to sales. The paper also finds that an increase i...
Fuzzy normal subgroups and fuzzy quotients

Abstract In case of groups, a mormal subgroup N of a group G can be defined with three equivalent approaches, namely (i) as a kernel of some group homomorphism, (ii) as a subgroup commuting with every element of G, and (iii) as the subgroup N closed with respect to conjugates of elements of N. In case of generalizations of this concept to fuzzy sets, the elementwise third approach is found more suitable and hence is widely adopted by many authors. In this paper we further study this concept of fuzzy subgroups and introduce fuzzy quotients called α-fuzzy quotient groups for all α ϵ[0, 1]. Two different definitions of these α-fuzzy quotients have been given which are shown to lead to isomorphic structures. We also study the direct products of fuzzy (normal) subgroups (min-product as per the terminology of Sherwood (1983)) and the problem of writing a fuzzy (normal) subgroups of a direct product of some groups as a direct product of certain fuzzy (normal) subgroups, has been discussed in detail.
Silica coated fullerenols: seeded growth of silica spheres under acidic conditions.

Liquid phase deposition of silica in the presence of fullerenol, C60(OH)n, results in the formation of uniform silica spheres, whereas the use of C60 gives large non-uniform agglomerates as a result of homogeneous nucleation. Raman and UV spectroscopy indicate the C60 is retained as the core of the silica spheres.
Implementation of a Classroom Management Program with Urban Elementary Schools in Low-Income Neighborhoods: Does Program Fidelity Affect Student Behavior and Academic Outcomes?

Students with persistent disruptive behavior problems lose valuable time in academic lessons, are a distraction for classmates, and cause stress for teachers. Recent meta-analyses indicate that 87% to 92% of published studies on school-based interventions targeting student problem behaviors report results from demonstration projects (involving highly trained staff under ideal circumstances) rather than routine practice programs. This study investigates the routine use of a schoolwide classroom management program and its relationship to elementary students’ social and academic outcomes. Three years after training in the classroom management program, 56 second-, third-, and fourth-grade teachers in an urban school district were assessed for fidelity to the program. Program fidelity was determined via direct observation in the classroom and validated by teacher self-ratings of fidelity and administrator ratings of teacher fidelity. Dependent variables included student engagement during academic lessons, out-...
Constraints on the nature of the ancient lunar magnetic field

Assuming that the physical properties of solar-wind ions have remained unchanged over the past 4 billion years, the observation of solar-wind ions in lunar breccias with compaction ages greater than 3.2 billion years places constraints on the nature and origin of the ancient lunar magnetic field. Solar-wind ions would not be expected to occur in old lunar breccias if a surface magnetic field of more than 0.03 gauss was present. Several explanations of this phenomenon are consistent with the global lunar dynamo theory of the origin of the lunar dipole field, including a wandering of the lunar dipole axis, late onset of dynamo action, and reversals of the lunar dipole field, producing a long-term field close to zero. Models invoking external field magnetization as the cause of the ancient lunar magnetic field constrain the dipole axis, precluding field reversals, and do not provide an alternative explanation for the observed occurrence of solar-wind ions in lunar breccias.
Replication of RNA viruses: X. Replication of a natural 6 s RNA by the Qβ RNA polymerase

Abstract A small RNA that is replicated in vitro by the Qβ RNA polymerase has been discovered in Qβ phage-infected Escherichia coli . The RNA has a sedimentation coefficient of approximately 6 s. Although it represented a small fraction of the total RNA isolated directly from infected cells, it was the predominant nucleic acid component in a partially purified fraction of the Qβ RNA polymerase. It was not detected in uninfected E. coli . The general requirements of the in vitro reaction with the 6 s RNA as template were similar to those with Qβ RNA except that neither of the two host cell macromolecular factors was required. The RNA product of the reaction was synthesized many-fold in excess of the added template and was indistinguishable from the template in its sedimentation and template properties. The base composition of the product was 30.6% C, 29.4% G, 18.4% A and 21.6% U. It contained GTP (pppGp …) at the 5′-terminus, and had a chain length of approximately 130 nucleotides. The RNA product was highly resistant to RNase although nearest-neighbor analysis did not indicate that a completely double-stranded structure was being replicated. The fact that the 6 s RNA is recognized by the highly specific Qβ RNA polymerase suggests that it has at least some nucleotide sequences in common with Qβ RNA. These observations concerning the structure and template property of this RNA may serve to elucidate the origin and role of the 6 to 7 s RNA commonly found in RNA phage-infected bacteria.