cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of traffic-related noise in three cities in the United States.

Abstract Background Traffic-related noise is a growing public health concern in developing and developed countries due to increasing vehicle traffic. Epidemiological studies have reported associations between noise exposure and high blood pressure, increased risk of hypertension and heart disease, and stress induced by sleep disturbance and annoyance. These findings motivate the need for regular noise assessments within urban areas. This paper assesses the relationships between traffic and noise in three US cities. Methods Noise measurements were conducted in downtown areas in three cities in the United States: Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York City. For each city, we measured ambient noise levels, and assessed their correlation with simultaneously measured vehicle counts, and with traffic data provided by local Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO). Additionally, measured noise levels were compared to noise levels predicted by the Federal Highway Administration׳s Traffic Noise Model using (1) simultaneously measured traffic counts or (2) MPO traffic data sources as model input. Results We found substantial variations in traffic and noise within and between cities. Total number of vehicle counts explained a substantial amount of variation in measured ambient noise in Atlanta (78%), Los Angeles (58%), and New York City (62%). Modeled noise levels were moderately correlated with measured noise levels when observed traffic counts were used as model input. Weaker correlations were found when MPO traffic data was used as model input. Conclusions Ambient noise levels measured in all three cities were correlated with traffic data, highlighting the importance of traffic planning in mitigating noise-related health effects. Model performance was sensitive to the traffic data used as input. Future noise studies that use modeled noise estimates should evaluate traffic data quality and should ideally include other factors, such as local roadway, building, and meteorological characteristics.
Manganese-bipyridine complex incorporated into mesoporous MCM-41 molecular sieves

Siliceous (SiMCM-41) and aluminosilicate mesoporous molecular sieves (AlMCM-41) with variable framework Si/Al ratios have been used as supports to immobilize manganese 2,2‘-bipyridine (L) complex c...
Spiritual diversity: A challenge for hospice chaplains

Spirituality is a critical component of the holistic mind-body-spirit model embraced by Hospice. Hospice chaplains, as part of the caregiving team, must understand their abilities and limitations in providing spiritual guidance to others who may differ in religious and spiritual beliefs.
A longitudinal study of the age-adjusted variability of automated visual fields.

• Twenty-six normal eyes of 26 subjects were tested three times during an 18-month period using the 30-2 program of the Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer (Humphrey Instruments, San Leandro, Calif). For the average eye, the SD of threshold values over time ranged from 1.8 to 5.5 dB, depending on the location in the field. For those subjects under 60 years of age, SDs ranged from 1.2 to 2.8 dB. For those subjects 60 years of age and older, the range was 2.2 to 8.3 dB. Short-term fluctuations contributed 25% of the variability of threshold measurements over time. Short-term and long-term variations were greater in older eyes, but long-term variability was more affected by age than was short-term variation.
Binding of melanotropic hormones to the melanocortin receptor MC1R on human melanocytes stimulates proliferation and melanogenesis

alpha-Melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and ACTH increase the proliferation and melanogenesis of cultured human melanocytes. To further analyze how melanotropins produce these biological effects, we investigated the regulation of the melanocortin receptor MC1R expression by alpha-MSH and ACTH using Northern blot analysis and determine the relative affinity of the receptor for the structurally similar peptides alpha-MSH, ACTH, beta-MSH, and gamma-MSH. We also determined the relative potencies of these hormones to stimulate cAMP formation, tyrosinase activity, and melanocyte proliferation. The order of affinity and potency of the noted melanotropins in these assays were alpha-MSH = ACTH > beta-MSH > gamma-MSH. Because the binding affinity of each of these melanotropins for the MC1R correlated with its ability to stimulate human melanocyte proliferation and melanogenesis, we conclude that these effects are mediated specifically by binding to and activation of the MC1R. gamma-MSH stimulated cAMP formation without affecting proliferation or melanogenesis. However, we found that relative to alpha-MSH, the effect of gamma-MSH on cAMP formation was transient. Our results suggest that alpha-MSH, ACTH, and possibly beta-MSH, but not gamma-MSH, are capable of a physiological role in regulating human pigmentation, and that melanocytes in human skin are a specific target for these hormones.
Bioreduction of Fe-bearing clay minerals and their reactivity toward pertechnetate (Tc-99)

Abstract 99 Technetium ( 99 Tc) is a fission product of uranium-235 and plutonium-239 and poses a high environmental hazard due to its long half-life ( t 1/2 = 2.13 × 10 5 y), abundance in nuclear wastes, and environmental mobility under oxidizing conditions [i.e., Tc(VII)]. Under reducing conditions, Tc(VII) can be reduced to insoluble Tc(IV). Ferrous iron, either in aqueous form (Fe 2+ ) or in mineral form [Fe(II)], has been used to reduce Tc(VII) to Tc(IV). However, the reactivity of Fe(II) from clay minerals, other than nontronite, toward immobilization of Tc(VII) and its role in retention of reduced Tc(IV) has not been investigated. In this study the reactivity of a suite of clay minerals toward Tc(VII) reduction and immobilization was evaluated. The clay minerals chosen for this study included five members in the smectite–illite (S–I) series, (montmorillonite, nontronite, rectorite, mixed layered I–S, and illite), chlorite, and palygorskite. Surface Fe-oxides were removed from these minerals with a modified dithionite–citrate–bicarbonate (DCB) procedure. The total structural Fe content of these clay minerals, after surface Fe-oxide removal, ranged from 0.7% to 30.4% by weight, and the structural Fe(III)/Fe(total) ratio ranged from 45% to 98%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Mossbauer spectroscopy results showed that after Fe oxide removal the clay minerals were free of Fe-oxides. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that little dissolution occurred during the DCB treatment. Bioreduction experiments were performed in bicarbonate buffer (pH-7) with structural Fe(III) in the clay minerals as the sole electron acceptor, lactate as the sole electron donor, and Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 cells as a mediator. In select tubes, anthraquinone-2,6-disulfate (AQDS) was added as electron shuttle to facilitate electron transfer. In the S–I series, smectite (montmorillonite) was the most reducible (18% and 41% without and with AQDS, respectively) and illite the least (1% for both without and with AQDS). The extent and initial rate of bioreduction were positively correlated with the percent smectite in the S–I series (i.e., layer expandability). Fe(II) in the bioreduced clay minerals subsequently was used to reduce Tc(VII) to Tc(IV) in PIPES buffer. Similar to the trend of bioreduction, in the S–I series, reduced NAu-2 showed the highest reactivity toward Tc(VII), and reduced illite exhibited the least. The initial rate of Tc(VII) reduction, after normalization to clay and Fe(II) concentrations, was positively correlated with the percent smectite in the S–I series. Fe(II) in chlorite and palygorskite was also reactive toward Tc(VII) reduction. These data demonstrate that crystal chemical parameters (layer expandability, Fe and Fe(II) contents, and surface area, etc.) play important roles in controlling the extent and rate of bioreduction and the reactivity toward Tc(VII) reduction. Reduced Tc(IV) resides within clay mineral matrix, and this association could minimize any potential of reoxidation over long term.
Breast Binding … Is It All That It's Wrapped Up To Be?

Objective To investigate the difference in breast symptoms between breast binding and support bra wearing in nonbreastfeeding postpartum mothers. Design A systematic replication of an earlier study by Bristol using a pre-experimental posttest design. Setting A private, for-profit hospital in a city in the south-central region of the United States. Participants Sixty nonbreastfeeding postpartum women who gave birth to viable newborns of singleton gestations, had an uncomplicated postpartum, and did not receive hormonal lactation suppressants. Main Outcome Measures Postpartum breast engorgement, leakage, tenderness, and use of pain relief measures as measured by the Bristol Record of Symptoms. Results Analysis of the data revealed no significant difference relative to breast engorgement between the two groups during the first 10 postpartum days. However, the breast-binder group reported a greater degree of breast tenderness, breast leakage, and use of other pain relief measures. Conclusion Breast binding should be discontinued as a method of lactation suppression and use of support bras encouraged. Future studies need to focus on comfort for nonbreastfeeding, postpartum mothers.
Automated learning of decision rules for text categorization

We describe the results of extensive experiments using optimized rule-based induction methods on large document collections. The goal of these methods is to discover automatically classification patterns that can be used for general document categorization or personalized filtering of free text. Previous reports indicate that human-engineered rule-based systems, requiring many man-years of developmental efforts, have been successfully built to “read” documents and assign topics to them. We show that machine-generated decision rules appear comparable to human performance, while using the identical rule-based representation. In comparison with other machine-learning techniques, results on a key benchmark from the Reuters collection show a large gain in performance, from a previously reported 67% recall/precision breakeven point to 80.5%. In the context of a very high-dimensional feature space, several methodological alternatives are examined, including universal versus local dictionaries, and binary versus frequency-related features.
Intrinsic Motivation and Academic Achievement What Does Their Relationship Imply for the Classroom Teacher

Encouraging children's intrinsic motivation can help them to achieve academic success (adelman, 1978; adelman & taylor, 1986; gottfried, 1983, 1985). To help students with and without learning disabilities to develop academic intrinsic motivation, it is impoptant to define the factors that affect motivation (adelman & chaney, 1982; adelman & taylor, 1983). This article offers educators an insight into the effects of different motivational orientations on the school learning of students with learning disabilities, as well as into the variables affecting intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Also included are recommendations, based on empirical evidence, for enhancing academic intrinsic motivation in learners of varying abilities at all grade levels.
Top-gate ZnO-based TFTs by RF Sputtering

This work emphasizes room temperature deposition and fabrication of top-gated staggered structure ZnO-TFTs and integration of ZnO-TFT based simple logic circuits. We synthesized ZnO thin films by RF sputtering in an Ar/Oxygen ambience with no intentional heating of the substrates. The electrical, optical and structural properties of the ZnO thin films can be well-controlled by altering process parameters such as RF power density and relative Oxygen partial pressure. Typical deposition was carried out at a chamber pressure of 15 mTorr, Ar/Oxygen flow rates of 15 sccm/1 sccm and RF power density of 3W/cm2. The resistivity of the as-deposited films was between 104-106 U-cm with high optical transparency (>80%) in the visible spectrum and minimal surface roughness as detected by high-resolution AFM imaging. Gated van der Pauw and Kelvin-bridge structures were lithographically patterned to asses ZnO channel resistance. In the completed devices, a dual-stack (Ta2O5/SiO2) dielectric layer was effective in suppressing gate-leakage current below 10 pA and enabled depletion-mode ZnO-TFT operation exhibiting hard saturation. A Ti/Au metallization scheme was adopted to provide good ohmic contact to ZnO. TFTs retained well-behaved transfer characteristics down to a channel length of 4 im with on/off drain current ratio exceeding 105, threshold voltage between -15 V to -5 V and inverse sub-threshold slope of around 1.75 V/decade.
Antimicrobial properties of diamond-like carbon-silver-platinum nanocomposite thin films

Silver and platinum were incorporated within diamondlike carbon (DLC) thin films using a multicomponent target pulsed laser deposition process. Transmission electron microscopy of the DLC-silver and DLC-platinum composite films reveals that the metals self-assemble into particulate nanocomposite structures. Nanoindentation testing has shown that diamondlike carbon-silver films exhibit hardness and Young's modulus values of approximately 37 GPa and 333 GPa, respectively. DLC-silver-platinum films exhibited antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus bacteria. Diamondlike carbon-biofunctional metal nanocomposite films have a variety of potential medical and antimicrobial applications.
Agricultural change, rural labor markets, and forest clearing: An illustrative case from the Philippines

This paper studies the links between agricultural employment and upland activities at a tropical forest margin. A model of lowland agricultural production is combined with a model of labor allocation on a representative upland farm to show how labor productivity, agricultural wages, and the returns from upland activities determine rates of forest clearing. Farm level data from the Philippines demonstrate how agricultural intensification - in the form of lowland irrigation development - led to an increase in labor demand, an increase in employment of upland inhabitants, and small but statistically signi ficant reductions in rates of forest clearing.
Licensing small modular reactors

Abstract Small modular reactor designs with power levels of less than 300 MWe are being developed in several countries. While there are several potential advantages with these reactors, they are also confronted with multiple challenges. Important among these challenges is to have these new reactor designs licensed by national regulatory bodies. Because of the many novel features incorporated in different SMR (small modular reactor) designs, careful and thorough licensing procedures are critical to maintaining safety of the nuclear fleet. This paper examines how different countries have engaged in the process of licensing new reactor designs, and demonstrates both similarities and differences between countries. In many cases, designers have emphasized the safer design and deployment features of SMRs and attempted to use those features as reasons to get existing licensing requirements diluted. This raises the concern that the promised safety enhancements in SMR designs could be offset by a simultaneous relaxation of licensing requirements.
Using computer simulation to predict the performance of multithreaded programs

Predicting the performance of a computer program facilitates its efficient design, deployment, and problem detection. However, predicting performance of multithreaded programs is complicated by complex locking behavior and concurrent usage of computational resources. Existing performance models either require running the program in many different configurations or impose restrictions on the types of programs that can be modeled. This paper presents our approach towards building performance models that do not require vast amounts of training data. Our models are built using a combination of queuing networks and probabilistic call graphs. All necessary information is collected using static and dynamic analyses of a single run of the program. In our experiments these models were able to accurately predict performance of different types of multithreaded programs and detected those configurations that result in the programs' high performance.
Lipid Mediators in the Neural Cell Nucleus: Their Metabolism, Signaling, and Association with Neurological Disorders

Lipid mediators are important endogenous regulators of neural cell proliferation, differentiation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. They originate from enzymic degradation of glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and cholesterol by phospholipases, sphingomyelinases, and cytochrome P450 hydroxylases, respectively. Arachidonic acid-derived lipid mediators are called eicosanoids. Eicosanoids have emerged as key regulators of cell proliferation, differentiation, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. Another arachidonic acid-derived lipid mediator is lipoxin. Eicosanoids have proinflammatory effects, whereas lipoxins produce antiinflammatory effects. The crossponding lipid mediators of docosahexaenoic acid metabolism are named docosanoids. They include resolvins, protectins, and neuroprotectins. Docosanoids produce antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects in the brain tissue. Other glycerophospholipid-derived lipid mediators are platelet-activating factor, lysophosphatidic acid, and endocannabinoids. Degradation of sphingolipids also results in the generation of sphingolipid-derived lipid mediators. Sphingolipid-derived lipid mediators are ceramide, ceramide 1-phosphate, sphingosine, and sphingosine 1-phosphate. They mediate cellular differentiation, cell growth, and apoptosis. Similarly, cholesterol-derived lipid mediators hydroxycholesterol and oxycholesterol produce apoptosis. Most of these mediators originate from the plasma membrane. The nucleus has its own set of enzymes and lipid mediators that originate from the nuclear envelope and matrix. The purpose of this commentary is to describe basic and clinical information on lipid mediators in the nucleus.
Treatment Acceptability of Healthcare Services for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Background Although treatment acceptability scales in intellectual and developmental disabilities research have been used in large- and small-scale applications, large-scale application has been limited to analogue (i.e. contrived) investigations. This study extended the application of treatment acceptability by assessing a large sample of care givers’ perceptions of treatment for children with cerebral palsy (CP) in a real-world setting and tested if responses differed across child characteristics, type of medical service or respondent demographics. Method One hundred and fifty four care givers’ for children with CP rated the acceptability of treatments and related medical services by clinicians working in a multi-disciplinary children's specialty setting using Kazdin's (Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 13, 1980, 259) Treatment Evaluation Inventory. Results There were significant (P < 0.05) differences between male and female respondents’ ratings of treatment acceptability. There were no other significant differences for caregiver ratings in relation to child characteristics, type of appointment, severity of CP or other respondent demographic characteristics. Conclusion Mothers and fathers of children with developmental disabilities may differ in their perceptions of the acceptability of medical treatment services for children with developmental disabilities. Future studies addressing treatment acceptability should expand the scope of demographic information assessed and include items specific to the roles respondents have in providing and coordinating therapeutic regimens for their children's medical needs.
Turbostratic Disorder in [(Bi2Te3) x(TiTe2) y] Superlattices

A family of metastable [(Bi2Te3)x(TiTe2)y] superlattices (where x and y denote the number of layers of each of the two components) was prepared by annealing modulated elemental reactant precursors at temperatures below 280°C. Structural analysis by traditional XRD shows the superlattice structures are highly aligned to the substrate with many orders of diffraction peaks from the c direction of the superlattice. Off-axis diffraction techniques presented in this paper suggest that the order between the layers in the a-b direction of these superlattice structures is turbostratic. In this type of behavior, the quasi two-dimensional crystals of Bi2Te3 and TiTe2 that comprise the superlattice structure lie like a deck of cards thrown in disarray on a surface. An analysis of the diffraction data leading to this conclusion is given.
COMPACT - Microwave Circuit Optimization through commercial time sharing

The SPICE program was developed at UC Berkeley in the early 1970s to computerize low-frequency analog circuit design. In those days, microwave designers did not have any significant commercially available CAD tools until the introduction of COMPACT (Computerized Optimization of Microwave Passive and Active CircuiTs) in 1973. Initially, the program was only available through commercial timesharing systems, but in a few years in-house versions were also offered. The ability to optimize complex microwave circuits eventually convinced many reluctant engineers to accept CAD as a practical design tool and as a result revolutionized circuit design.
Sodium Selenite-Induced Apoptosis in Murine B-Lymphoma Cells Is Associated with Inhibition of Protein Kinase C-δ, Nuclear Factor κB, and Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element possessing anticarcinogenic properties and other biological functions. This study determined the role sodium selenite plays on intracellular signaling, including protein kinase C (PKC), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB), and inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) in murine B lymphoma (A20) cells. In vitro supplementation of A20 cells with low concentrations of sodium selenite (0.005-5 microM) caused a significant increase in cellular proliferation exclusively at 72 h. Proliferation and cell viability were decreased in response to selenium concentrations of >/= 25 microM and >/= 5 microM at 72 and 96 h, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis of A20 cells exposed to 5 microM Se at 72 and 96 h indicated G(2)-M phase arrest and increased cell death at higher concentrations. Se-induced cytotoxicity was associated with apoptosis indicated by nuclear fragmentation and DNA laddering. Se concentrations, which induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, were associated with inhibition of cytosol to membrane translocation of PKCdelta and PKC activity at 72 h. Coincubation of cultures with 0.5 microM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and Se (5 and 25 microM) reversed the Se-induced cell death at 72 h. The nuclear NF-kappaB translocation and NF-kappaB DNA-binding were inhibited by increasing concentrations of Se (5 and 25 microM) at 72 h. After 72 h exposure to 5 and 25 microM Se, cIAP-2 concentration was decreased. Differential inhibition of PKCdelta, NF-kappaB, and cIAP-2 by Se may represent important intracellular signaling processes through which Se induces apoptosis and subsequently exerts its anticarcinogenic potential.
A robust approach to sequence classification

We report results for classification of representations of music, spoken words, and text documents. Experimental comparisons with other state-of-the-art algorithms yield improved results for all three examples. We use a support vector machine (SVM) as our classifier in all experiments. This is driven by a kernel matrix of similarity measures between the sequences. Our similarity measure is based on n-grams of varying length (multi-grams), weighted to reflect discrimination ability. To alleviate the problem of the exponential growth of feature size with n, we use a modified LZ78 algorithm (Z. Jacob and L. Abraham, 1978) to guide feature selection. Our method exhibits good performance over the three widely distinct tasks reported here, and is very computationally efficient and may therefore be useful in real time applications
Cyst Formation and Poly-β-Hydroxybutyric Acid Accumulation in Azotobacter

Stevenson, L. H. (Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge), and M. D. Socolofsky. Cyst formation and poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid accumulation in Azotobacter. J. Bacteriol. 91:304-310. 1966.-The relationship between cyst formation and the accumulation of poly-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (PHB) in Azotobacter vinelandii (A. agilis) was investigated. After various periods of growth, the cells were harvested, and the amount of PHB and the extent of encystment were determined. The polymer content of the cells increased sharply and reached a maximum on the 2nd day of growth followed by a gradual decline as the culture aged. At maximal accumulation, the PHB content was 35% of the dry weight, and the PHB-nitrogen ratio was 11:1. Those substrates promoting the highest polymer content (glucose, butanol) also promoted 95 to 100% encystment. Manipulation of the carbon and nitrogen supply in the medium indicated that both the maximal PHB content and the extent of cyst formation could be controlled. A direct correlation was noted between the amount of polymer accumulated and the percentage of cysts formed, indicating a possible role of PHB as a carbon or energy source, or both, for the encystment process.
Minimum spanning tree on the HMESH architecture

A fast algorithm to compute the minimum spanning tree of a given undirected graph on a hierarchical mesh-connected computer (HMESH) is presented. The time complexity of the algorithm is O(log/sup 2/ n), where n is the number of nodes in the graph. HMESH is a broadcast bus VLSI architecture which consists of n*n processing elements (PEs) in a mesh-connected structure and a hierarchy of broadcast buses in each row and column of the mesh structure such that each broadcast bus is connected to exactly k PE's, where k is a small constant. It is shown that with simple modifications to the algorithm, the MST of an n node graph can be found on a HMESH of size p*p in O(n/p)/sup 2/ log n log p) time. It is also shown how to compute connected components and transitive closure of a given undirected graph in O(log/sup 2/ n) with a few modifications to the algorithm presented for computing the minimum spanning tree. >
Solubility of Oxygen in ZrC

Zirconium carbide specimens containing significant quantities of dissolved oxygen were synthesized using ZrO2 and graphite as reactants in an atmosphere of CO. These specimens were studied by X-ray diffraction and analyzed chemically for C, O, and Zr. The data indicate that oxygen substitutes in the ZrC lattice, replacing more than 1 C atom/O atom, thus decreasing the lattice parameter. Under the conditions of the study, the reaction product is a solution of oxygen in the ZrC phase rather than a distinct oxycarbide phase.
Reliable and reproducible bladder regeneration using unseeded distal small intestinal submucosa.

ABSTRACTPurpose:: Using the unseeded technique of tissue engineering, small intestinal submucosa (SIS) has been shown to promote bladder regeneration. Initial studies using hand-made SIS obtained from sows demonstrated consistent and reliable results but since then surgical regenerative results have been inconsistent. SIS has been obtained from various sources and processed in different ways, thereby making it difficult to determine the single most important factor in obtaining reliable and consistent bladder regeneration using the unseeded technique. We review some of the previously used SIS materials, and compare SIS material made from the proximal small bowel to SIS made from the distal ileum.Materials and Methods:: In a canine bladder augmentation model we directly compared SIS derived from proximal segments of jejunum to SIS derived from distal segments of ileum. All 6 animals underwent partial (40%) cystectomy and immediate augmentation with 1 of the 2 SIS materials. We assessed the harvested bladde...
Incorporating genetics into the identification and treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the most common form of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, is characterized by progressive, irreversible scarring of the lung parenchyma. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has a poor prognosis, and there are no medical therapies available that have been shown to improve survival. It is usually sporadic, but there is evidence of familial clustering of pulmonary fibrosis, suggesting a genetic basis for this disease. More recently, studies have confirmed that specific genetic variants are associated with both familial and sporadic forms of pulmonary fibrosis. Although there are common and rare genetic variants that have been associated with the risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis, the genotyping of patients is not a generally accepted strategy. Better understanding of the interplay between genetic risk and environmental exposure is likely needed to inform both treatment and disease prevention. Several identified disease-associated genetic variants have implications for disease progression and survival, but systematic studies of known genetic variants and their influence on therapeutic efficacy are lacking. Future investigations should focus on understanding phenotypic differences between patients carrying different risk alleles, and clinical studies should be designed to control for the influence of different genetic risk variants on patient outcomes. Inherited genetic factors play a significant role in the risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis. Future studies will be needed to characterize patient phenotypes and to understand how these genetic factors will influence clinical decision-making for both diagnosis and treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Carbon Nano-Tube and Nano-Fiber in Cement Mortar: Effect of Dosage Rate and Water-Cement Ratio

Carbon nano-materials, especially Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) and Carbon Nanofibers (CNF), are two of the most prospective advanced materials for application in cement based products for the construction industry, due to their excellent material properties. In this study, their application in cement mortar was comparatively studied. Two mechanical properties, 28-day compressive strength and flexural strength, of CNT and CNF cement composites were investigated herein. The flow value of fresh mortar composites and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images of hardened mortar samples were also explored. Composites with 0.1% and 0.2% of CNT and CNF and water/cement ratios of 0.35 to 0.5 were utilized, together with appropriate sonication techniques, based on the results from a previous study. Both CNT and CNF composites demonstrated significant increase in compressive strengths, as compared to plain mortar control samples (maximum 154% for CNT and 217% for CNF samples). The flexural strengths were also enhanced, although not at the same level as compressive strengths (maximum 53% for CNT and 50% for CNF samples). Water/cement ratios in the range of 0.35-0.4 were found to produce the higher strengths, together with a 0.1% dosage rate for the CNT/CNF. Statistical analysis of the test results showed the significance of the enhanced strengths. It seemed that the CNT was better dispersed in the cement matrix than the CNF, because a correlation between the flow test results and the compressive strengths was detected for the CNT samples. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) images showed fair to good dispersion of CNT/CNF in the hardened samples.
Disturbance at a frictional interface caused by a plane elastic pulse

We consider a plane pulse striking the frictional interface between two elastic solids which are held together by compressive applied tractions and sheared. The pulse causes a disturbance involving separation or slip between the bodies, which propagates along the interface at supersonic speed. The extent of these zones is determined using a convenient graphical representation and the interface tractions are given in closed form. It is found that the results change qualitatively when the coefficient of friction exceeds a critical value.
Sequential histologic evaluations in collagenous colitis. Correlations with disease behavior and sampling strategy.

To evaluate the histologic manifestations of collagenous colitis and correlate histologic changes with disease behavior, 14 patients who had undergone sequential evaluations during 33±6 months of follow-up were studied. Two hundred twelve tissue specimens from all anatomic regions of the colon (mean, 15±3 samples per patient) were interpretated independently under code by two pathologists. Eight patients (57%) had histologic resolution after 14±4 months of empiric therapy and in only one of these (12%) did symptoms persist. Four patients (29%) had sequential histologic examinations from the same anatomic region that varied from classical collagenous colitis to ilflamed mucosa without a thickened collagen band to normal mucosa. Eight patients (57%) had varying histologic findings from different anatomic regions during the same examination that ranged from classical collagenous colitis to increased inflammation with resolution of the collagen band to normal mucosa. Normal mucosa was found mainly in specimens from the rectosigmoid, and proctosigmoidoscopic examinations alone would have missed the diagnosis of collagenous colitis in 40% of cases. Pathologic interpretations were concordant in 171 of 212 instances (81%). We conclude that histologic resolution of collagenous colitis can occur and it is associated with loss of symptoms. The histologic features of collagenous colitis are distinctive, but they may be patchy and inconsistently sampled. Rectosigmoid biopsies underestimate the diagnosis.
Control of lateral migration and germ cell elimination by the Drosophila melanogaster lipid phosphate phosphatases Wunen and Wunen 2

In most organisms, primordial germ cells (PGCs) arise far from the region where somatic gonadal precursors (SGPs) are specified. Although PGCs in general originate as a single cluster of cells, the somatic parts of the gonad form on each site of the embryo. Thus, to reach the gonad, PGCs not only migrate from their site of origin but also split into two groups. Taking advantage of high-resolution real-time imaging, we show that in Drosophila melanogaster PGCs are polarized and migrate directionally toward the SGPs, avoiding the midline. Unexpectedly, neither PGC attractants synthesized in the SGPs nor known midline repellents for axon guidance were required to sort PGCs bilaterally. Repellent activity provided by wunen (wun) and wunen-2 (wun-2) expressed in the central nervous system, however, is essential in this migration process and controls PGC survival. Our results suggest that expression of wun/wun-2 repellents along the migratory paths provides faithful control over the sorting of PGCs into two gonads and eliminates PGCs left in the middle of the embryo.
Contact With Nature, Sense of Humor, and Psychological Well-Being

We administered a questionnaire measuring contact with nature, sense of humor, and psychological well-being. Factor analysis of the humor items yielded four factors: humor production, humor appreciation, coping humor, and humor tolerance. Factor analysis of 14 well-being measures yielded three factors: emotional well-being, personal development, and effective functioning. The best sense-of-humor predictor of the well-being measures and factors was humor appreciation. Regression models for each of the well-being factors as dependent variables with humor appreciation and contact with nature as independent variables showed that additive models with both predictors were appropriate for personal development and effective functioning and that a simple model with humor appreciation as the sole predictor was sufficient for emotional well-being. Secondary analyses suggested that contact with nature was the better predictor of effective functioning, whereas sense of humor was the better predictor of personal develo...
A New Species of the Extinct Family †Lophioneuridae1 from the Lower Permian Wellington Formation of Noble County, Oklahoma

Abstract A new species of †Lophioneuridae Tillyard, 1921 is described and figured from a specimen of a nearly complete fore wing taken from the Lower Permian of Noble County, Oklahoma. †Cyphoneurodes patriciae, Beckemeyer n. sp., is closely related to the Elmo, Kansas Lower Permian species †Cyphoneurodes reducta (Carpenter, 1932) and †Cyphoneura permiana Carpenter, 1932. Originally placed in the order Psocoptera, the †Lophioneuridae are now considered to be related to the Thysanoptera.
RESOURCE PARTITIONING OF SPIDER HOSTS (ARACHNIDA, ARANEAE) BY TWO MANTISPID SPECIES (NEUROPTERA, MANTISPIDAE) IN AN ILLINOIS WOODLAND

Two spider-boarding mantispids, Mantispa uhleri Banks 1943 and Climaciella brunnea (Say 1824), were found to be partitioning available spider egg resources in an Illinois woods based on vertical stratification. Mantispa uhleri was found to be phoretic on the philodromid Philodromus vulgaris (Hentz 1847), the salticid Metacyrba undata (De Geer 1867) and the anyphaenid Aysha gracilis (Hentz 1847) at levels of 75%, 26%, and 27% respectively. All of these spiders were collected from areas above the forest floor. In contrast, C. brunnea was collected from 19% of leaf litter-inhabiting lycosids of the genus Schizocosa. There was no host range overlap within the woods, but in a grassy field without appreciable stratification of vegetation adjacent to the woods, both M. uhleri and C. brunnea were found aboard the lycosid Rabidosa punctulata (Walckenaer 1837) at levels of 2% and 7% respectively. A single larva of Mantispa pulchella (Banks 1912) associated with an anyphaenid from the woodland sample was also collected in this study. Mantispids are far more common than has been previously supposed and are likely an important factor in spider population dynamics and the evolution of spider behavior.
Influence of long-term corn–soybean crop sequences on soil ecology as indicated by the nematode community

Abstract In the Midwestern United States, corn–soybean rotation is an essential agricultural practice, but relatively little is known about the impact of different corn–soybean cropping sequences on soil ecology. A long-term research site in Waseca, Minnesota was established in 1982 to study corn–soybean rotation. At the site, various corn–soybean crop sequences can be compared each year including corn and soybean in 1 to 5 years of monoculture and continuous monoculture of each crop. Additionally, granular nematicides (terbufos or aldicarb) have been applied to half of each plot since 2010 to minimize nematode populations, particularly plant-parasitic nematodes, across crop sequences. The nematode community, a sensitive indicator of changes in soil ecology, was assessed at this site to determine the impact of corn–soybean crop sequences and nematicide application on the soil ecosystem. Nematicide application was effective against target nematodes, herbivores, but also impacted non-target nematodes and thus soil ecology. Nematicide application decreased fungivore and bacterivore populations, diversity, and maturity; but significantly increased enrichment compared to no nematicide application. The nematode community and thus soil ecology was significantly different in corn compared to soybean cropping systems and changed most during initial years after switching crops. Cropping systems in corn supported significantly greater fungivore populations, fungal decomposition pathways, more diversity, and a more mature ecosystem compared to soybean systems. Soybean systems supported significantly greater bacterivore populations and a more disturbed, enriched ecosystem. These differences between corn and soybean systems demonstrate that each crop has a distinct impact on the soil ecosystem.
Book Review: Is Justice Gendered?

As an unending stream of women pour into correctional facilities, it is fitting that the criminal justice community should pay more attention to whether gender makes a difference in the crimes that women commit, the pathways that they take to criminality, the sentences they receive, and the impact that their sentences have on their children. This essay reviews three books that raise different issues concerning the relationship between gender and criminal justice outcomes, provides a context for interpreting their contributions, and spotlights a number of questions they raise. The first book is WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: POLICY ISSUES AND PRACTICE STRATEGIES, edited by Russ Immarigeon, which is a compilation of 52 articles that originally appeared in the bimonthly publication Women, Girls & Criminal Justice, and is now packaged as a one volume reference work available to a wider audience. The second is VICTIMS AS OFFENDERS: THE PARADOX OF WOMEN'S VIOLENCE IN RELATIONSHIPS by Susan L. Miller, which addresses the controversy that exists about the extent of female aggression in the domestic context, and discusses her observations from attending 12-week female offenders' programs. The third is THE FAIRER DEATH: EXECUTING WOMEN IN OHIO by Victor L. Streib, which paints vivid snapshots of the few luckless and until now forgotten women who have broken into the typically all-male death penalty club in Ohio, as well as discusses the characteristics of women who receive the death penalty nationally.Please enter abstract text here.
Preparation of high potency poliovirus in FL cell cultures at room temperature.

SummaryRate of formation and release of poliovirus Type 1 were studied at 32° and 37°C in FL cell cultures. Virus accumulated almost as rapidly and reached practically the same intracellular levels at 32°C as at 37°C. However, release of virus was much slower at 32° than at 37°C and as a result, at 32°C the intracellular concentration of virus remained at or near peak levels for 4 to 6 hours. From these observations, highly potent virus for use in immunological studies was prepared by mechanical disruption of infected cells maintained at room temperature (26–32°C) for 18–20 hours.
Single-Event Characterization of Bang-bang All-digital Phase-locked Loops (ADPLLs)

The single-event vulnerability of a bang-bang ADPLL is investigated through fault injection experiments and circuit simulations. Single-event upsets in the digital loop filter result in the worst-case error response of the ADPLL, often requiring phase reacquisition. Single-event tolerant design guidelines for the digital loop filter are proposed and validated through FPGA-based fault injection experiments.
Evaluating the Instructional Sensitivity of Four States' Student Achievement Tests

As state tests of student achievement are used for an increasingly wide array of high- and low-stakes purposes, evaluating their instructional sensitivity is essential. This article uses data from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Measures of Effective Project to examine the instructional sensitivity of 4 states' mathematics and English language arts assessments to 5 measures of pedagogical quality. The results indicate modest overall levels of sensitivity, with some state assessments insensitive to most or all measures of pedagogical quality. Furthermore, there are sometimes substantial differences across states in the sensitivity of their assessments. The article calls for more research on what makes state tests instructionally sensitive and cautions against the use of insensitive assessments for consequential decisions.
Detecting incapacity of a quantum channel.

Using unreliable or noisy components for reliable communication requires error correction. But which noise processes can support information transmission, and which are too destructive? For classical systems any channel whose output depends on its input has the capacity for communication, but the situation is substantially more complicated in the quantum setting. We find a generic test for incapacity based on any suitable forbidden transformation---a protocol for communication with a channel passing our test would also allow one to implement the associated forbidden transformation. Our approach includes both known quantum incapacity tests---positive partial transposition and antidegradability (no cloning)---as special cases, putting them both on the same footing.
Tuning the Organic Solar Cell Performance of Acceptor 2,6-Dialkylaminonaphthalene Diimides by Varying a Linker between the Imide Nitrogen and a Thiophene Group

Core-substituted naphthalene diimides (NDI) are promising candidates as acceptors for organic solar cells. To study their structure–property relationships, a series of 2,6-dialkylamino-NDI compounds with various substituents were synthesized, characterized, and tested in bulk heterojunction solar cells by blending with regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). The imide substituents consisted of a linker connected to a thiophene group, where the linker was phenyl, methyl, or ethyl. The core substituents were cyclohexylamino or 2-ethylhexylamino. While the various substituents had little effect on the optoelectronic properties in solution, they strongly affected device performance and blend morphology. Under the conditions studied, the best performance was obtained with the methyl linker combined with the cyclohexylamino core substituent, with a power conversion efficiency of 0.48% and a high open circuit voltage of 0.97 V. For blends of P3HT with modified NDI non-fullerene acceptors, the methyl linker p...
A Preliminary Spectral Decomposition and Scale Separation Analysis of a High-Fidelity Dynamic Stall Dataset

Dynamic stall results in major excursions from the desired aerodynamic performance. Among the key events are flow separation and the formation of a leading edge vortex (LEV). In this work, we use data obtained from anextensively validated Large Eddy Simulation of a plunging SD 7003 airfoil to explore the spectral content and predominant length scales in the LEV, as well as the dynamically significant trailing edge vortex (TEV). The vortex detection is accomplished with an established approach which is shown to perform quite accurately for this highly turbulent flow. Two types of decomposition, Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD) and Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD), are employed to analyze the spatio-temporal scales. Reconstruction is used as a measure of accuracy to identify scales with the highest contributions. A new approach combining EMD with FFT is examined to perform scale separation and spectral decomposition of the flow.
Attosecond strong-field interferometry in graphene: Chirality, singularity, and Berry phase

We propose an interferometry in graphene's reciprocal space without a magnetic field, employing strong ultrafast circularly polarized optical pulses. The reciprocal space interferograms contain information on the electronic spectra and topological properties of graphene and on the waveform and circular polarization of the excitation optical pulses. These can be measured using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) with attosecond ultraviolet pulses. The predicted effects provide unique opportunities in fundamental studies of two-dimensional topological materials and in applications to future petahertz light-wave-driven electronics.
Application of bilinear flow model for finite conductivity vertical fractures

In well test analysis of reservoir parameters in artificial fracture well, the differential of pressure curve rises up in the mid-late period, this may be caused by boundary and fracture factors. It has been a problem for a long time to distinguish boundary and fracture factors or other factors in well test interpretation. The study of bilinear flow model for finite conductivity vertical fractures has provided a feasible way of solving this problem. Parameters such as fracture length, fracture flow conductivity, fracture skin, formation permeability, wellbore storage capacity can be interpreted. This paper also calculates the theoretical chart, determines fracture half-length auxiliary line, and completes development of interpretation software for oil and gas well testing data.