cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of historical CMIP6 model simulations of extreme precipitation over contiguous US regions

Abstract Simulated historical precipitation is evaluated for Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models using precipitation indices defined by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices. The model indices are evaluated against corresponding indices from the CPC unified gauge-based analyses of precipitation over seven geographical regions across the contiguous US (CONUS). The regions assessed match those in recent US National Climate Assessment Reports. To estimate observational uncertainty, precipitation indices for three other observational datasets (HadEx2, Livneh and PRISM) are evaluated against the CPC analyses. Both the moderate and extreme mean precipitation intensities are overestimated over the western CONUS and underestimated in the areas of the Central Great Plains (CGP) in most CMIP6 models tested. Most CMIP6 models overestimate the mean and variability of wet spell durations and underestimate the mean and variability of dry spell durations across the CONUS. Biases in interannual variability of most of the indices have similar patterns to those in corresponding mean biases. The median and interquartile model spreads in CMIP6 model biases are clearly smaller than those in CMIP5 model biases for wet spell durations. Multimodel medians of CMIP6 (CMIP6-MMM) and CMIP5 (CMIP5-MMM) have similar biases in climatology and variability but biases tend to be smaller in CMIP6-MMM. Depending on the index, extreme precipitation is slightly better in parts of the eastern half of the CONUS in CMIP6-MMM, otherwise, the biases in climatology and variability are similar to CMIP5-MMM. CMIP6-MMM performs better than individual models and even observational datasets in some cases. Differences between observational datasets for most indices are comparable to the CMIP6 interquartile model spread. The better-performing observational and model datasets are different in different parts of the CONUS.
Validity of the static-exchange approximation for inner-shell photoionization of polyatomic molecules

Author(s): Marante, CA; Greenman, L; Trevisan, CS; Rescigno, TN; McCurdy, CW; Lucchese, RR | Abstract: The simple single-channel static-exchange approximation completely ignores correlation between the continuum and molecular ion electrons. In molecular systems with symmetry equivalent atoms, the single-channel approximation can seriously fail in core ionization when using delocalized orbitals to represent the core hole states. We present cross sections and molecular frame photoelectron angular distributions with both localized and delocalized core orbitals in CF4 F (1s) ionization. We show that only a full coupled-channel calculation can recover an accurate description of the physics of inner-shell photoionization when using delocalized orbitals, whereas nearly the same result can be obtained from independent single-channel static-exchange calculations when localized core orbitals are used. A grid-based variational method described here makes such single-channel calculations possible on larger systems without local-exchange approximations. Illustrative calculations on the core ionization of SF6 are presented to illustrate the power of the grid-based method.
Everyday equalities: making multicultures in settler colonial cities: by Ruth Fincher, Kurt Iveson, Helga Leitner, and Valerie Preston, Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, 2019, $27.00 USD (paper), ISBN 978-0-8166-9464-8

The central question propelling this book project is becoming more urgent by the day: what does equality look like in everyday urban settings? As the authors acknowledge, the effort to find evidenc...
Surveillance of Gallbladder Polyps: A Literature Review.

Little has been documented in existing literature regarding incidentally found gallbladder (GB) polyps. These clinically asymptomatic lesions are mostly benign, with only 5% progressing to malignancy. GB cancer, although rare, presents as an end-stage incurable disease. According to the current guidelines, cholecystectomy is recommended for polyps >10 mm in size for a better outcome. Thus, it is essential to know the clinical picture, surveillance, and treatment of these polyps earlier in the course of the disease to avoid the advancement of polyps to malignancy. This paper discusses the signs and symptoms, surveillance, treatment, and prognosis of GB polyps.
Insect vision: Head saccades to reset the view.

Summary Tracking a moving scene requires you to occasionally readjust your gaze as objects slip out of sight. A new study has found how fruit flies use head-turning strategies to reset their gaze and stabilize visual images during flight.
“More Things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio.” Seeing and Believing in Second Life

As the twenty-first century in the United Stares plunges headlong into a tweeted, videoed, simulacra filled cyberspace, schools and colleges have tried to respond. One form of this response has been to move education and classrooms into a popular, virtual, avatar-land called Second Life. Students and teachers in Second Life have found themselves navigating pixilated space, though virtual bodies. They have been directly faced with a brave new world of being. As with the age of mechanical reproduction before it, the advent of these new methods of duplicating the world raise fundamental questions about the nature of reality, knowing and being. In this chapter I use metaphors from Shakespeare’s Hamlet to explore Second Life as a netherworldly educational space, both real and unreal. I raise questions about the meaning of the body in virtual classrooms, the kinds of interactions that this space affords, the boundaries of this consensual hallucination, and the nature of teaching and learning through interactive visual fiction/non-fiction. Referencing Shakespeare throughout, I interrogate this new space with old questions, as I ask, what we should perhaps see, what we should perhaps believe, who awaits us, and for whom might all of this truly be the way forward?
Discrete Optimum Assembly Methods for Automated Workcells

The assembly of components is a fundamental part of most manufactured products. Where high volume production is required or where the components are numerous the order of component assembly becomes important in reducing the assembly time. This is true for both manual and automated assembly schemes. The optimum assembly sequence of a group of components to minimize assembly time is the goal of this study. In the 1990’s, automated assembly workcells will become prevelant in the manufacturing area. These workcells must be programmed efficiently to minimize the assembly time and reduce production costs.
Phosphorylation of the amino-terminal head domain of the middle molecular mass 145-kDa subunit of neurofilaments. Evidence for regulation by second messenger-dependent protein kinases.

To begin to understand the regulation and roles of neurofilament phosphorylation, we localized the phosphorylated domains on the 140-145-kDa neurofilament subunit (NF-M) and identified the protein kinases that may specifically phosphorylate the sites within these domains in vivo. Mouse retinal ganglion cells were labeled in vivo by injecting mice intravitreally with [32P]orthophosphate, and neurofilament-enriched fractions were obtained from the optic axons. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide map analysis of NF-M after digestion with alpha-chymotrypsin and trypsin revealed seven major (M8-M14) and at least eight minor (M1-M7 and M15) phosphopeptides. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide map analyses of NF-M phosphorylated in vitro by individual purified or endogenous axonal cytoskeleton-associated protein kinases showed that five peptides (M9-M13) were substrates for the heparin-sensitive second messenger-independent protein kinase(s). Protein kinase A and/or protein kinase C phosphorylated eight other peptides (M1-M8). Two alpha-chymotryptic peptides (C1 and C2) that were phosphorylated by protein kinase A but not by the endogenous independent kinase(s) were isolated by high performance liquid chromatography on a reverse-phase C8 column. Partial sequence analysis of peptides C1 (S R V S G P S ...) and C2 (S R G S P S T V S ...) showed that the peptides were localized on the head domain of NF-M at 25 and 41 residues from the amino terminus, respectively. Tryptic digest of peptide C1 (less than 12 kDa) generated the phosphopeptides M1-M6. Peptide C2 was a breakdown product of peptide C1. Since the polypeptide sites targeted by second messenger-independent kinase(s) associated with neurofilaments are localized on the carboxyl-terminal domain, separate aspects of NF-M function appear to be regulated by separate kinase systems that selectively phosphorylate head or tail domains of the polypeptide.
Health law and bioethics : cases in context

A unique offering in this field from a sterling author team, Health Law and Bioethics: Cases in Context presents the stories and context of landmark cases in the field. By conveying back story and creating context, this brief text hooks students' interest and deepens their understanding of the law and policy implications of each case.
A Fast Automatic Method for 3D Volume Segmentation of the Human Cerebrovascular

We present a new method for 3-D volume segmentation of the human cerebrovascular structures from Magnetic Resonance Angiograms (MRA) and Magnetic Resonance Ventriculargrams (MRV). A slice through the volume containing large vein or artery structures is chosen, which becomes the seed location for the segmentation process. A modified 3-D computer graphics based region-filling algorithm is used to sweep the vascular tree from seed locations in order to track and label the vascular structure. The labelled-segmented images are extracted and a 3-D model is created using VTK toolkit. The 3-D model can then be viewed on a stereo graphics capable workstation or in a Virtual Reality environment. We also present a new maximum intensity projection (MIP) based technique for validating the results. We implemented MIP and used it to project both the segmented and original volume at different angles. Hence, the resultant images from both volumes can be compared side by side, which facilitates validation process.
Stress time-dependently influences the acquisition and retrieval of unrelated information by producing a memory of its own

Stress induces several temporally-guided “waves” of psychobiological responses that differentially influence learning and memory. One way to understand how the temporal dynamics of stress influence these cognitive processes is to consider stress, itself, as a learning experience that influences additional learning and memory. Indeed, research has shown that stress results in electrophysiological and biochemical activity that is remarkably similar to the activity observed as a result of learning. In this mini review, we will present the idea that when a stressful episode immediately precedes or follows learning, such learning is enhanced because the learned information becomes a part of the stress context and is tagged by the emotional memory being formed. In contrast, when a stressful episode is temporally separated from learning or is experienced prior to retrieval, such learning or memory is impaired because the learning or memory is experienced outside the context of the stress episode or subsequent to a saturation of synaptic plasticity, which renders the retrieval of information improbable. The temporal dynamics of emotional memory formation, along with the neurobiological correlates of the stress response, are discussed to support these hypotheses.
Miniaturized patch antennas loaded with complementary split-ring resonators and reactive impedance surface

Miniaturized patch antennas loaded with complementary split-ring resonators (CSRRs) and reactive impedance surface (RIS) are proposed and presented. The CSRR is incorporated on the patch to excite the antenna at a low CSRR resonance frequency. The RIS is inserted below the patch to miniaturize the antenna size and improve the antenna radiation performance. One antenna working at 2.4 GHz is first designed with a compact size around 0.099 λ 0 × 0.153 λ 0 × 0.024 λ 0 . Then a dual-band antenna with orthogonal polarization is developed by simply adjusting the feeding position in order to excite the initial patch resonance. The antennas are fabricated and measured with the standard PCB process. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation.
Non-Linearity in the Angles-Only Initial Orbit Determination Problem

An investigation has been initiated to examine the concept of determining an initial orbit using angles-only observations over a short arc from a single space based sensor. The methods of Laplace and Gauss for angles-only initial orbit determination were the methods of choice for this study. To apply these methods, one has to solve a system of non-linear equations which have multiple solutions. Typical solution schemes recommend using an iterative solution technique with a first guess to start. However, since only one solution will be found using such a technique, the success of this approach will depend entirely upon how good (or bad) the first guess is. We have found that this technique is not satisfactory for performing initial orbit determination over short arcs of data. In this paper we will discuss past methods used in solving these non-linear equations and then we will present our approach which involves finding all the necessary solutions and determining which solution is correct.
Societal, Individual, and Illness Uncertainty.

Edited byJacquelyn H. Flaskerud, RN, PhD, FAANUniversity of California-Los Angeles, School of Nursing, Los Angeles, California, USAThe plans for our trip were made about a year ago. We three siblin...
Health implications of aging in america

In the next 50 years the U.S. population over age 65 will increase markedly. Especially rapid increases in the numbers of the very old -- over 85 years of age -- are predicted. This changing demographic composition of the U.S. population has profound implications for the entire society affecting the economic, social, and cultural character of the nation.
In their own words: a qualitative content analysis of women’s and men’s preferences for women’s genitals

Research increasingly shows that genital attitudes have an impact on sexual well-being and health-seeking behaviours. This study explored what women and men like and dislike about women's genitals. Data are from open-ended items, part of a cross-sectional internet-based survey anonymously completed by 496 women and 198 men. Overall, both women and men had positive attitudes towards women's genitals, although there was overlap between likes and dislikes. Some of the most common likes for women were related to aesthetics and for men were related to tactile and sexual aspects. Men listed more likes than dislikes. The emphasis on both positive and negative messages provides a more complete image of the complex ways people interact with their own and others' bodies and can help tailor clinical and educational messages.
Crossovers that link populations with the same vital rates.

This paper looks at relationships that exist among an observed population and its associated model populations by examining “crossover”; points. Crossovers are mean ages where proportional distributions from two populations with the same vital rates intersect, for example curves representing the age distributions of an observed population and its stable counterpart. Crossovers conceptually unify a number of diverse threads in mathematical demography, including generation length, population momentum, and the relationship between a population's stable growth rate and its observed age‐specific growth rates. More specifically, Lotka's length of generation T is the stable‐stationary birth crossover age, and intrinsic growth rate r is equal to the average growth rate of an observed population up to the observed‐stable birth crossover age. The momentum of a population is the ratio of observed to stationary population proportions at the reproductive value function crossover age. Crossovers thus provide useful ins...
Application of adaptive chirplet representation for ISAR feature extraction from targets with rotating parts

The problem of feature extraction from inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) data collected from targets with rotating parts is addressed. In traditional ISAR imaging, rigid-body motion is usually assumed. When non-rigid-body motions are present, it is not possible to obtain a focused image of both the target and the rotating part. To solve this problem, the radar signal is first parameterised using the adaptive chirplet signal representation. The signal from the body and that from the rotating part are then separated in the parameter space. Point-scatterer simulation results show that better geometrical features of the body and better micro-Doppler features of the rotating part can be extracted after the separation. The algorithm is also demonstrated using the measurement data from an in-flight aircraft and a walking person.
Biomechanics: Boxed up and ready to go.

Flow-tank experiments and fluid-dynamics simulations refute the idea that water movements over the body of boxfishes are a stabilizing influence, instead showing that the fish's shape amplifies destabilizing forces to improve manoeuvrability.
Understanding Characteristics of Families Who Buy Local Produce

Abstract Objective To examine individual characteristics associated with local produce purchasing among North Carolina families with children. Design Cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2008 North Carolina Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program (NC CHAMP), a representative sample of adults who have land-line telephones. Setting North Carolina. Participants Families with children who participated in the NC CHAMP (n = 2,932). Main Outcome Measure Frequency of buying local produce from local vendors in the past year. Analysis Bivariate and multivariate zero-inflated negative binomial regression identified characteristics associated with not buying local produce and, among those who purchased local produce, the frequency of purchasing. Results About half of families reported buying local produce on average once a month during the past year. In adjusted results, buying local produce was more likely among white families, lower income families, families living in rural areas, families with children who ate 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day, and families with children in poor health. Conclusions and Implications Findings suggest that it may be useful for dietitians and health promotion professionals to assess the availability of local produce in urban areas and to focus interventions to promote local produce purchases among black families.
Dicopper complexes of polyethyleneimine and polyvinylamine vinylsulfonate

Abstract Binuclear copper(II) complexes prepared with the binucleating ligand 2,6-diformyl-4-methyl-phenol were attached as pendant groups to the polymers polyethyleneimine and polyvinylaminevinyl sulfonate sodium salt. The polymer-copper(II) complexes were characterized from optical and magnetic studies and their catecholase activities were measured in water. Polyvinylamine-vinylsulfonate-copper(II) is insoluble in water and showed little if any catecholase activity. The polyethyleneimine-copper complexes were reasonably soluble in water and demonstrated good catecholase activity. The catecholase activity of the polyethyleneimine-copper complexes increased in activity with an increase in the ratio of polymer-to-copper content (based on a constant copper concentration).
Echo character of the Norwegian—Greenland Sea: Relationship to Quaternary sedimentation☆

Abstract Ten discrete types of bottom echoes are recorded and mapped in the Norwegian—Greenland Sea using 3.5-kHz echograms; eight of these are similar to echo types mapped previously in the equatorial Atlantic. The two other types (IA-2 and IC) have not been previously observed and apparently are recorded from bedforms created by deposition and/or erosion by glaciers or ice shelves. A qualitative correlation is observed between the relative abundance of coarse (silt, sand, gravel), bedded sediment in piston cores and three types of echoes. Distinct echoes with continuous subbottoms (IB) are recorded from regions containing little or no coarse sediment; regions of semiprolonged echoes with intermittent zones of subbottoms (IIA) contain low to moderate amounts of coarse sediment; and very prolonged echoes with no subbottoms are returned from regions with high concentrations of coarse sediment. The areal distribution of these three echo types indicate that only low to moderate amounts of coarse, bedded terrigenous sediment occur within the upper few meters of most of the Norwegian—Greenland Sea floor. The types and extremely limited areal distributions of hyperbolic echoes suggest that large-scale contour-current activity has not been an important sedimentary process on a regional basis. This conclusion is further supported by bottom photographs and piston cores which generally show tranquil bottom conditions at present, and an absence of contourite deposition during the Late Quaternary. The only regions where strong current activity is observed are along the top and southern flank of the Faeroe—Iceland Ridge and in the Denmark Strait where the Norwegian Sea Overflow Water flows out of the Norwegian Basin and sinks into the Atlantic Basin. The echo character, as well as most piston cores, show that deposition of terrigenous sediment throughout the Norwegian—Greenland Sea has been mainly by downslope processes (turbidity currents, slumps and related mass flows) and by ice-rafting. Glacial/interglacial climate fluctuations apparently control the influx of terrigenous sediment. During glacial phases the combination of lowered sea level, total ice cover of the Norwegian—Greenland and Barents seas, and widespread continental glacier build-up permitted large amounts of terrigenous sediment to be transported to, and deposited in, the deep basins. In contrast, during interglacials (such as the present), the absence of sea-ice cover and continental glaciers, plus the high sea level which inundated the continental shelves, greatly reduced the quantity of terrigenous sediment reaching the deep basin.
Sedimentology of Reservoir Sandstones in El-Morgan Field, Gulf of Suez, U.A.R.: ABSTRACT

Well cuttings and core samples from 17 wells in El-Morgan field were studied for grain-size distribution, degree of roundness, and feldspar content. The sandstones are Miocene and generally are arkose or subarkose. Mechanical analysis indicates that the sand mode achieved good sorting in a high-energy beach environment, and then was transported en masse by strong waves and currents to a neritic environment where it became mixed with finer sand and clay. The sandstones are leptokurtic and positive skewed indicating a nearby source area. Study of roundness of the sand grains reveals a mixed source, mainly plutonic, with minor contributions from a preexisting sedimentary source, presumably a Cretaceous or Nubian sandstone. Maps showing the variation in average grain size, feldspar content, and percent of sand in the formation, clearly indicate a source area south and southwest of the field. It is believed to be the nearby Zeit Range. The lack of feldspar alteration is attributed to rapid erosion as a result of the high relief attained by large-scale block faulting in pre-Miocene and early Miocene times and to conditions of extreme aridity. The sands were deposited from traction currents. The bottom topography of the Miocene sea controlled the amount of turbulence and determined the size, shape, and distribution of the sands. End_of_Article - Last_Page 337------------
LINGUISTICS OF AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE: AN INTRODUCTION (3rd ed.) . Clayton Valli and Ceil Lucas . Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press, 2001. Pp. xvi + 493. $60.00 cloth.

There are still people, including some who should know better, who believe that American Sign Language is in some sense not a “real” language. Such a position, though perhaps at least debatable 40 years ago, is simply no longer credible. There has been a vast amount of very sophisticated and competent linguistic, psycholinguistic, and sociolinguistic research conducted on American Sign Language since the publication of William Stokoe's landmark book, Sign language structure (1960/1992). Although there are many areas of debate about specific features of the phonology, morphology, syntax, and so on of American Sign Language, as indeed is the case with every language, its fundamental status as a fully developed human language is now well beyond reasonable doubt. Since its first edition appeared in 1992, Valli and Lucas's Linguistics of American Sign Language: An introduction has been the premier work for students of the structure of American Sign Language. Written for students of linguistics who already have at least some knowledge of American Sign Language, this third edition includes sections introducing students to basic linguistic concepts, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics as well as issues related to language change, language variation, bilingualism, discourse, language contact, and “language as art.” Each section is designed to provide students with a general introduction to the linguistic concepts and then to the specific case of American Sign Language, including exercises focusing on American Sign Language. Finally, more than half of the volume is devoted to both classic and recent seminal articles about different aspects of the linguistics of American Sign Language. As has been true of both of the earlier editions, this third edition is accompanied by a well-made videotape providing additional support for the written text.
The Case of Gabriel: Treatment with Beckian Cognitive Therapy

The case of Gabriel, an anxious and depressed young man struggling with facing and completing his academic requirements, is hypothetically described from within the orientation of Beckian cognitive therapy. In this approach, Gabriel's psychological difficulties are hypothesized to involve schemas of incompetency and entitlement that give rise to maladaptive beliefs, hindering his ability and willingness to study, write papers, and attend classes. In turn, Gabriel's habitual avoidance worsens his views of himself, prevents him from habituating to his anxiety, interferes with pursuing his goals, and keeps him in a state of low self-efficacy. The therapist emphasizes the importance of assessing and modifying Gabriel's problematic beliefs and counteracting his avoidance via self-monitoring, behavioral experiments, exposures to academic tasks, rational responding, and related therapy homework assignments. The criteria for ending treatment and improving maintenance are discussed in light of Gabriel's potential ...
Globalizing Resistance: slow food and new local imaginaries

This article explores how members of Slow Food perform identity, establish community, and participate in a politics of consumption through the use of new local imaginaries. Building on Arjun Appadurai's (1996) notion of “the imaginary,” new local imaginaries are contemporary sites, or culturescapes, where notions of the local are re-inscribed through discourses of the global. Through the use of new local imaginaries, members of Slow Food manage multiple identities in an attempt to resist and mobilize against the negative consequences of industrialization. Further, members of Slow Food reconfigure linear notions of time and space in their attempt to rediscover cultural moments that they perceive to be absent from traditions within the United States. Despite the creation of an innovative site of resistance, Slow Food members construct a limited notion of the local that excludes working-class and urban cultural expressions.
Using estimated missing spatial data in obtaining single facility location-allocation solutions

Interpolation dans les modeles de localisation optimale. — Les problemes spatiaux de recherche operationnelle tentent de determiner les localisations optimales d'activites; celles-ci correspondent souvent a des points pour lesquels la distance totale ponderee est minimale. Le traitement de ces problemes requiert un ensemble de donnees geo-referencees comme input. Frequemment, les series spatiales sont incompletes, les donnees manquantes formant autant de «trous» dans la distribution geographique. Il existe des procedures statistiques qui permettent de completer ces series spatiales; certaines utilisent explicitement l'autocorrelation spatiale latente. Les consequences de ces estimations statistiques sont etudiees ici, en utilisant les donnees de densite de population des recensements de 1986 pour Toronto et Ottawa-Hull, et de 1980 et 1990 pour Syracuse. Ces applications nous donnent l'occasion d'aborder les problemes geographiques de distribution d'echantillonnage de la moyenne spatiale et de la distance standard ainsi que les problemes statistiques de biais, d'efficacite et de distribution de frequences. L'algorithme de Weber, derive de celui de Kuhn- Kuenne, est utilise; le probleme est limite a la localisation d'une seule donnee. La densite de population est utilisee ici comme ponderation dans la determination des solutions optimales car ce parametre peut etre decrit avec precision par un modele statistique relativement simple.
Isotopic Ages of Minerals from Granitic Rocks of the Central Sierra Nevada and Inyo Mountains, California

Potassium-argon ages of biotite and hornblende from specimens of 17 granitic plutons in the central Sierra Nevada and the western Inyo Mountains, California, range from 69 to 183 m. y. The Mount Givens, Lamarck. and Round Valley Peak Granodiorites and related younger and more felsic quartz monzonites represent a pulse of magma emplaced in the general time interval of 80-90 million years ago, during Cretaceous time. Mineral ages of granitic rocks that flank these plutons on both the east and the west have been reduced during the emplacement of the Cretaceous intrusive rocks and are minimum ages for the time of crystallization. The ages of hornblende from the Tinemaha Granodiorite (150 to 180 m. y.) may approach crystallization dates. In conjunction with ages for other intrusive rocks in the Sierra Nevada and adjacent desert ranges they strongly suggest a magmatic episode during the Early Jurassic.
Computational study of the vibrational and electronic spectroscopy of a HO2–H2O2 complex

Abstract Perturbations of the vibrational and electronic energy levels of isolated HO 2 by formation of a doubly hydrogen bound association complex with H 2 O 2 have been investigated using ab initio calculations. Minimum potential energy surfaces for a six-membered and five-membered ring structures are found. The binding energy, vibrational frequencies and low lying electronic excited states are predicted for the lowest energy structure of the complex and are calibrated by calculations of the separated monomers. The lowest energy conformation of the complex is found to be bound by 7.9 kcal mol −1 . We find that complexation with H 2 O 2 blue shifts HO 2 electronic excited states by ∼0.1 eV and redshifts H 2 O 2 states by ∼0.1 eV. Two additional, though exceedingly weak, electronic transitions are found to borrow oscillator strength from the ground state of the hydrogen bonded complex. The enthalpy and entropy of formation of the complex is estimated to be Δ H 0 (270 K)=-35.8 kJ mol -1 and Δ S 0 (270 K)=-138.3 J mol -1 K -1 . The existence of a HO 2 –H 2 O 2 complex is discussed in terms of its potential role in atmospheric photochemistry and laboratory kinetic studies.
Social Inequalities in Mental Health: A Review of Concepts and Underlying Assumptions

We provide an overview of two major theoretical subjects in the study of the relation between social inequalities and mental health in the last 50 years: the conceptualization of social inequalitie...
Energy dependence of the density of states of inviscid incompressible two-dimensional fluid unit-disk vortex systems.

Inviscid incompressible two-dimensional fluid vortex systems are shown to be interesting classical statistical-mechanical systems. The density of states of such systems is ``bounded,'' leading to negative temperature states. As the number of vortices increases, the density of states of unit-disk vortex systems fails to develop a strong peak as the number of vortices in the system increases. The third law of thermodynamics does not hold.
Management attitudes toward two-tier pay plans

Two-tier pay plans, under which new hires are paid on a lower pay scale than existing employees, have been used with increasing frequency in union-management contracts. The two-tier phenomenon appears to be associated with the wider concession bargaining movement that began in the early 1980s. In this study, management attitudes toward and forecasts about two-tier pay plans are explored by means of a questionnaire survey.
The Autism Epidemic: Fact or Artifact?

ABSTRACT Objective We provide an illustration of how changes in methodological factors may produce variations in the frequency of autistic disorder (AD) over time and project how much of the observed increase in the frequency of AD may be explained by methodological factors. Method Using a prediction analysis, we calculate how broadening diagnostic criteria, younger age at diagnosis, and improved efficiency of case ascertainment could produce temporal trends in the incidence and prevalence of AD, measured by calendar year and by year of birth, in a hypothetical population of children 0 to 18 across the years 1950 to 2020. Results Time trend studies report an increase as large as 11.0-fold over a 13-year period for AD. Conservative changes in the three methodological factors produced increases in the frequency of AD ranging from 2.1- to 28.8-fold. Measures of frequency by year of birth show the largest magnitude of increase; predicted prevalence by calendar year and to age 4 by year of birth are influenced by changes in the distribution of age at diagnosis, but 1-year incidence and prevalence to age 12 are not. Discussion Methodological factors may explain the observed increases in AD over time. To increase confidence in reports of time trends, we recommend particular frequency measures and study circumstances.
Influence of Altered Serum Cholesterol Levels and Fasting on Cutaneous Cholesterol Synthesis

Barrier perturbation stimulates epidermal cholesterol synthesis, which plays an important role in restoring barrier function. In the present study, we examined whether changes in serum cholesterol levels or nutrition regulate epidermal cholesterol synthesis in hairless mice. Serum cholesterol levels were lowered by 50% after injection with 4- aminopyrazolo (3,4-d) pyrimidine and were increased by 51% by feeding an atherogenic diet. In contrast to most other tissues, cholesterol synthesis in the epidermis and dermis was not inhibited by elevations or stimulated by decreases in serum cholesterol levels. Additionally, feeding a high-cholesterol diet did not decrease epidermal or dermal cholesterol synthesis. However, fasting significantly decreased both epidermal (38%) and dermal (34%) cholesterologenesis. Furthermore, barrier recovery after acetone disruption of the barrier was impaired in fasted animals. However, treatment with topical lipids did not restore barrier repair rate to normal, indicating that factors in addition to lipids are necessary to overcome the effects of fasting. These results demonstrate that cholesterol synthesis in the epidermis and dermis is regulated independently of changes in serum cholesterol levels.
An eryopid (Amphibia: Labyrinthodontia) from the Fort Sill fissures, Lower Permian, Oklahoma

(1991). An eryopid (Amphibia: Labyrinthodontia) from the Fort Sill fissures, Lower Permian, Oklahoma. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 130-132.
A theoretical lunar ionosphere

The consequences of a mechanism originally used by Herring and Licht for computing a possible lunar ionosphere are investigated in more detail than was done by these authors. The mechanism assumes that protons of the solar flux which strike the moon are re-emitted as hydrogen atoms, some of which are reconverted to protons by charge exchange. There results a single layer ionosphere. In this paper simplifying assumptions made by Herring and Licht of complete spherical symmetry and an everywhere constant mean radial velocity for the emitted atoms are removed. Quite different procedures are then necessary and the effects of an incident flux coming from only one direction are brought out. For typical quiet sun solar stream parameters the resulting ionesphere has a single layer with a maximum electron number density of roughly 350 cm−3 at 0.6 lunar radii above the lunar surface on the moon-sun connecting line. There is only slow variation with angle of the radial location and magnitude of the maximum of the layer until about 60° off this direction; then rapid decreases in both location and magnitude begin. During times of enhanced solar activity the ionesphere according to this model would increase. However, the theory will likely not hold during storms associated with solar magnetic tongues.
DENSE ARRAYS OF WELL-ALIGNED CARBON NANOTUBES COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SINGLE CRYSTALLINE TITANIUM CARBIDE WIRES ON TITANIUM SUBSTRATES

We report the synthesis of dense and uniform arrays of well-aligned carbon nanotubes on titanium substrates over large areas, in which all the tubes are simultaneously and completely filled with single crystals of titanium carbide. The carbon nanotubes were synthesized by thermal chemical vapor deposition of ethylene on iron-coated substrates, while the titanium carbide was simultaneously formed inside the nanotubes through a simultaneous solid state reaction. We propose a base dissolution and precipitation mechanism for the growth of titanium carbide filled carbon nanotubes. The same method can be used to fabricate oriented nanotube arrays filled with other carbides on a variety of substrates over large scale. Such well-aligned and densely packed uniform carbon nanotubes, completely filled with nanowires on conducting substrates, will have great potential in many applications.
Design and Implementation of a Cloud-Based Cross-Platform Mobile Health System with HTTP 2.0

Mobile cloud computing, the combination of mobile computing and cloud computing, is becoming a hot topic of the industry especially in healthcare. In this paper, we describe our design and prototype implementation of a cross-platform mobile activity monitoring system on the cloud. The system incorporates HTTP 2.0 with SPDY to enable secure and fast server push of medical information to individual users. Moreover, the system uses MATLAB graphs to show the vital data and analysis results and provides a user-friendly way to access personalized healthcare.
Achieving high momentum in the evolution of wireless infrastructures: the battle over the 1G solutions

Abstract In this paper we examine the design of the first wireless systems as infrastructure making. An infrastructure is fundamentally a relational concept. Accordingly, we shall analyze how relationships between entrepreneurs, system builders and regulators were organized so that some early wireless systems achieved a high momentum. In high momentum, a technological system seems to drive toward a specific direction with a certain autonomy and this demands that technological, economic, political and social challenges be integrated effectively into the overall design. Such an integration can only succeed through an effective mobilization and coordination of both systems builders’ and other stakeholders’ (entrepreneurs, and regulators in particular) concerns. We analyze five cases of building first-generation wireless solutions and examine to what extent specific relationships between key actors influenced whether these systems did achieve a high momentum. Our analysis shows that managing critical relationships with regulators, correct timing, and effective and continuous meshing of both entrepreneurs’ and technologists’ concerns were typical for systems that achieved high momentum. In all successful cases, the meshing and associated institutional response demanded the creation of an open standard. These include both AMPS/TACS family of standards, and especially the Nordic NMT standard.
Protein kinase–inhibitor database: Structural variability of and inhibitor interactions with the protein kinase P-loop

Structure based drug design of protein-kinase inhibitors has been facilitated by availability of an enormous number of structures in the Protein Databank (PDB), systematic analyses of which can provide insight into the factors which govern ligand–protein kinase interactions and into the conformational variability of the protein kinases. In this study, a non-redundant database containing 755 unique, curated and annotated PDB protein kinase–inhibitor complexes (each consisting of a single protein kinase chain, a ligand and water molecules around the ligand) was created. With this dataset, analyses were performed of protein conformational variability and interactions of ligands with 11 P-loop residues. Analysis of ligand–protein interactions included ligand atom preference, ligand–protein hydrogen bonds and the number and position of crystallographic water molecules around important P-loop residues. Analysis of variability in the conformation of the P-loop considered backbone and side-chain dihedral angles, and solvent accessible surface area (SASA). A distorted conformation of the P-loop was observed for some of the protein kinase structures. Lower SASA was observed for the hydrophobic residue in β1 of several members of the AGC family of protein kinases. Our systematic studies were performed amino-acid by amino-acid, which is unusual for analyses of protein kinase–inhibitor complexes.
Three-dimensional flexibility and stiffness properties of the human thoracic spine

Abstract Mathematical models of the human spine structure are useful in predicting biomechanical behaviour of the spine where actual experiments may never be performed. These models, to be valid, should be based upon experimentally determined mechanical properties of the spine. Three dimensional flexibility and stiffness properties, including the coupling effects, were determined for all levels of the human thoracic spine. Fresh cadaver spines were used in a 100% humid atmosphere at 22°C to preserve physiological environment. Bottom vertebra of a two vertebrae construct was fixed. Twelve forces and moments, one at a time, were applied to the top vertebra. Vertebral displacement was accurately measured in three dimensional space. Load displacement curves for the main as well as the coupled motions were plotted. Flexibility and stiffness matrices were calculated for the center of the vertebral body. Values for the matrix coefficients, the load-displacement diagrams and the variation of the mechanical properties with the spine level are presented.
Amorphous materials at low temperatures: why are they so similar?

Abstract In addition to the well-known qualitative similarity of behavior of a wide range of amorphous materials, one dimensionless quantity, the reduced attenuation of transverse ultrasound, shows a quantitative universality whose explanation in terms of the standard “tunnelling two-level system” model would seem to require a totally unbelievable degree of chance coincidence. In addition, while the height of the “plateau” in the thermal conductivity is material-specific, the higher-temperature behavior is consistent with universal behavior. I sketch the outlines of a scenario which holds out hope of understanding these observations.
Feasibility of alcohol screening and brief intervention

Background: A variety of policy groups recommend that screening and brief intervention (SBI) programs for alcohol-use disorders be widely implemented in health care settings. This article reports the extent to which trauma surgeons support SBI programs and the feasibility of implementing these programs in trauma centers. Methods: Trauma surgeons were surveyed to assess their support for implementing alcohol screening and brief intervention in trauma centers. To assess feasibility of implementation, three trauma centers implemented such programs. Each trauma center used one half-time research assistant who screened trauma inpatients for alcohol-use disorders and provided brief interventions for at-risk drinkers. The research assistant also recorded time spent screening and performing interventions, patient satisfaction with the intervention, and whether standard intervention elements were performed. Results: Most surgeons surveyed supported alcohol screening, and 72% supported brief interventions. Research assistants who had no previous training in alcohol screening and brief interventions were successfully trained to screen and interview patients. One half-time research assistant was able to screen the eligible inpatient trauma population, with the exception of patients who were hospitalized on the weekends. Nearly 17% of patients at one trauma center were not screened because of language barriers. On any given day, roughly half the patients could not be screened because of the severity of their injuries. However, most of the patients were eventually screened during their hospital stay. Patient satisfaction was high. Conclusion: Most trauma surgeons supported alcohol screening and interventions. Preliminary data showed that one half-time research assistant at each facility could successfully screen most injured patients and implement brief interventions. An alcohol screening and brief intervention program seems feasible in any trauma center committed to implementation.
Duration of opiate receptor blockade determines tumorigenic response in mice with neuroblastoma: A role for endogenous opioid systems in cancer

The relationship between the pharmacological properties of an opioid antagonist, naltrexone (NTX), and tumor response was studied in mice with transplanted neuroblastoma (NB). Animals receiving 0.1 mg/kg NTX every 6 hr, which blocked morphine-induced analgesia for 24 hr each day, had a 100% tumor incidence, no deviation in time before tumor appearance, and a 17% decrease from control values in total survival time. In contrast, once daily injections of either 0.1 mg/kg NTX or 0.4 mg/kg NTX (the equivalent of 0.1 mg/kg given 4 times daily), which blocked morphine-induced analgesia for less than 10 hr each day, resulted in a tumor incidence of 20% and 60%, respectively, delays in time prior to tumor appearance of 90% and 65%, respectively, and an increased total survival time of 10% and 24%, respectively, for tumor-bearing mice relative to control levels. Inoculation of NB in control animals resulted in 100% tumor appearance within 16 days and a mean survival time of 36 days. These results show that tumorigenic events are dictated by the duration of opiate receptor blockade rather than the dosage of opiate antagonist, and provide compelling evidence that endogenous opioid systems play a crucial role in neuro-oncogenic expression.