cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crossing the Border for Health Care: An Exploratory Analysis of Consumer Choice

In response to the twin problems of high health-care costs and limited financial access for those who lack health insurance coverage, many U.S. residents living along the nearly 2,000 mile Mexican border have chosen to go to Mexico to obtain various health services, ranging from medical and dental care, to pharmaceuticals, to traditional medicine and healing, either at reduced prices or without the barriers to care that are present in the United States (Nichols et al . 1991, Homedes and LaBrec 1991; Chacon Sosa and Otalora Soler 1988). In effect, the U.S. is importing health care from Mexico and engaging in international health-care trade. Appendix Table 1 (for physicians and hospitals) and Appendix Table 2 (for pharmaceuticals) illustrate the large health-care price differences between the U.S. and Mexico. But even though the price differences may be large, there may also be large differences in the quality of care between the U.S. and Mexico, and there are travel and time costs involved.
Psychiatric disorders and attempted suicide among adolescents with substance use disorders

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of psychiatric disorders on attempted suicide among adolescents with substance use disorders (SUD). METHODS: Age of onset for psychiatric disorders, age of first suicide attempt, and the relationship of psychiatric disorder with attempted suicide were investigated in a sample of 503 adolescents with DSM-IV defined SUD (age range: 12.2-19.0 years). RESULTS: Males who attempted suicide had a significantly earlier onset of alcohol use disorders (AUD) and significantly more mood, AUD, and disruptive behavior disorder symptoms compared to non-attempting males. Females who attempted suicide had a significantly earlier onset and higher counts of mood disorders and SUD symptoms compared to non-attempting females. Hazard analysis revealed that mood disorders represent the highest psychiatric risk for attempted suicide in both the genders. Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increased the risk for attempted suicide among males. The interaction of mood disorder and AUD increased the risk for attempted suicide among females. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should closely monitor SUD adolescents for suicide risk and be aware of gender differences for suicidal behavior based on course and severity of psychiatric disorder in this population. Language: en
Child Labor and Schooling Decisions in Urban and Rural Areas: Comparative Evidence from Nepal, Peru, and Zimbabwe

Summary This study sheds some light on the causes of child labor using crosscountry empirical data. We find that while poverty is the main cause of child labor in rural areas, there is a general lack of support for the poverty hypothesis in urban areas. Similarly, improving access to credit has a greater potential for alleviating child labor and enhancing school attendance in rural areas. On the other hand, availability of alternative childcare options promises greater impact in urban areas. Finally, the evidence from all countries suggests that efforts to bolster adult educational level and wage will help curb the prevalence and intensity of child labor and improve the likelihood that children stay in school.
SKIF-P: a point-based indexing and ranking of web documents for spatial-keyword search

There is a significant commercial and research interest in location-based web search engines. Given a number of search keywords and one or more locations (geographical points) that a user is interested in, a location-based web search retrieves and ranks the most textually and spatially relevant web pages. In this type of search, both the spatial and textual information should be indexed. Currently, no efficient index structure exists that can handle both the spatial and textual aspects of data simultaneously and accurately. Existing approaches either index space and text separately or use inefficient hybrid index structures with poor performance and inaccurate results. Moreover, most of these approaches cannot accurately rank web-pages based on a combination of space and text and are not easy to integrate into existing search engines. In this paper, we propose a new index structure called Spatial-Keyword Inverted File for Points to handle point-based indexing of web documents in an integrated/efficient manner. To seamlessly find and rank relevant documents, we develop a new distance measure called spatial tf-idf. We propose four variants of spatial-keyword relevance scores and two algorithms to perform top-k searches. As verified by experiments, our proposed techniques outperform existing index structures in terms of search performance and accuracy.
Suspended accounts in retrospect: an analysis of twitter spam

In this study, we examine the abuse of online social networks at the hands of spammers through the lens of the tools, techniques, and support infrastructure they rely upon. To perform our analysis, we identify over 1.1 million accounts suspended by Twitter for disruptive activities over the course of seven months. In the process, we collect a dataset of 1.8 billion tweets, 80 million of which belong to spam accounts. We use our dataset to characterize the behavior and lifetime of spam accounts, the campaigns they execute, and the wide-spread abuse of legitimate web services such as URL shorteners and free web hosting. We also identify an emerging marketplace of illegitimate programs operated by spammers that include Twitter account sellers, ad-based URL shorteners, and spam affiliate programs that help enable underground market diversification.Our results show that 77% of spam accounts identified by Twitter are suspended within on day of their first tweet. Because of these pressures, less than 9% of accounts form social relationships with regular Twitter users. Instead, 17% of accounts rely on hijacking trends, while 52% of accounts use unsolicited mentions to reach an audience. In spite of daily account attrition, we show how five spam campaigns controlling 145 thousand accounts combined are able to persist for months at a time, with each campaign enacting a unique spamming strategy. Surprisingly, three of these campaigns send spam directing visitors to reputable store fronts, blurring the line regarding what constitutes spam on social networks.
Analysis of the concentric planetary magnetic gear with strengthened stator and interior permanent magnet (IPM) inner rotor

Magnetic gears have been proposed as a means of increasing torque density within electromechanical systems, while avoiding problems associated with traditional mechanical gears. While the idea behind magnetic gears goes back to early patents, their study and use in industry has been very limited to date. This study looks into variations of the concentric planetary magnetic gear which could lead to further use. It also investigates applying Winding Function Theory (WFT) to aid in analysis of the gear. The new application of winding function theory is verified with the use of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) as well as a prototype which has been fabricated.
1,6‐Dimethyltricyclo[4.1.0.01,6]hept‐3‐ene

1,6-Dimethyltricyclo[4.1.0.01,6]hept-3-ene solvent: 1 L of olefin-free petroleum ether product: 1,6-Dimethyltricyclo[4,1.0.02,7]hept-3-ene. intermediate: 20.95 g (0.075 mol) of 7,7-dibromo-1,6-dimethylbicyclo[4.1.0]hept-3-ene Keywords: addition, to CC; annulation, carbocyclic-[3]; annulation, carbocyclic-[M,N]; cyclization, free radical-carbenoid/nitrenoid; elimination, dehalogenation; assay methods, for methyllithium with 2-butanol, 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2′-bipydridyl or 2,2′-biquinoline indicator; petroleum ether
The emergence of pattern in embryogenesis: regulation of beta-catenin localization during early sea urchin development

The accumulation of beta-catenin in the nuclei of blastomeres at one pole of the early embryo is a highly conserved and essential feature of animal development. In the sea urchin, beta-catenin accumulates in the nuclei of vegetal blastomeres during early cleavage and activates gene regulatory networks that drive mesoderm and endoderm formation. Measurements of beta-catenin half-life in vivo have demonstrated a gradient in stability along the animal-vegetal axis. Dishevelled (Dsh), a protein that regulates beta-catenin turnover, is localized in the vegetal cortex, where it has an essential role in stabilizing beta-catenin and activating endomesodermal gene networks. Two motifs of Dsh are required for targeting to the vegetal cortex. Overexpression of Dsh in animal blastomeres does not alter their fate, which suggests that a localized activator of Dsh may be missing in these cells. Wnt signaling may be localized in the early sea urchin embryo, as it is in Xenopus, but findings point to possible differences in the initial polarizing signal in amphibians and echinoderms. Further studies will be required to determine the extent to which mechanisms that control beta-catenin nuclearization in early embryogenesis have been conserved during animal evolution.
Instructional Television versus Traditional Teaching of an Introductory Psychology Course

In this study we compared the effectiveness of an introductory psychology course delivered through instructional television (ITV) with the same course taught in a traditional classroom. We compared 3 groups of undergraduates, with 83 receiving traditional classroom instruction one quarter. The next quarter, new enrollees were split into 2 groups: One received instruction in an ITV studio with the instructor (n = 29); the second received televised broadcasts in a remote classroom on campus (n = 29). The 3 instructional formats produced similar outcomes in performance, attrition, and attendance. Likewise, attitudes toward the course were favorable and rarely differed by format. Student attitudes toward ITV were positively affected by exposure to the experience.
The chronology of distress, anxiety, and depression in older prostate cancer patients.

Objective. Current research suggests that older cancer patients report less distress than younger cancer patients. However, this research has generally not teased apart the differences among general distress, anxiety, and depression. Methods. We conducted a secondary analysis of merged datasets using cross-sectional data on 716 men with prostate cancer (mean age, 68 10 years; range, 50–93 years). Approximately half the participants were recruited from doctors’ offices throughout the U.S. and the other half were from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (New York). Participants were asked to complete the Distress Thermometer, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Prostate Quality of Life questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire. Results. Aging was related to less distress (r 0.14), less anxiety (r 0.22), and greater emotional quality of life (r 0.16). In contrast, aging was associated with greater depressive symptoms in these cancer patients (r 0.18). The mean depression scores of 5-year cohorts consistently trended upward. The significant association between age and depression remained after controlling for stage of disease, hormone therapy use, time since diagnosis, and social, physical, and functional well-being. Conclusions. Despite theoretical and empirical evidence that older cancer patients may cope more effectively than younger cancer patients, depressive
Mass Conserving Cavitation Effects in Squeeze-Film Journal Bearings Subjected to Sinusoidal Loads

This article presents a study of cavitation effects associated with the performance of fluid-film journal bearings subjected to fully reversing sinusoidal loading. Employing an established mass-conserving cavitation algorithm, it is observed that periodic time histories of journal eccentricity and maximum film pressure are strongly influenced by the process of cavitation formation and collapse. A new set of design charts for the prediction of cyclic-minimum film thickness is provided over a range of nondimensional loads, bearing geometric parameters, feed hole orientations, and cavitation threshold pressures typically found in practice. Good agreement of numerical and experimental results is obtained over a large range of loads for cavitation threshold pressure values typically associated with vaporous cavitation.
I know where you are secretly attending! The topography of human visual attention revealed with fMRI.

Previous studies have described the topography of attention-related activation in retinotopic visual cortex for an attended target at one or a few locations within the subject’s field of view. However a complete description for all locations in the visual field is lacking. In this human fMRI study, we describe the complete topography of attention-related cortical activation throughout the central 28° of the visual field and compare it with previous models. We cataloged separate fMRI-based maps of attentional topography in medial occipital visual cortex when subjects covertly attended to each target location in an array of three concentric rings of six targets each. We combined the attentional maps for each of the 18 target locations for each subject into a unique composite display to identify common principles of attentional organization for different target locations. Attentional activation was universally highest at the attended target but spread to other segments in a manner depending on eccentricity and/or target size. For targets scaled in size with eccentricity, the attentional effects spread circumferentially as a gradient whose full width at half maximum was consistently 1.5 times the target width at each eccentricity. For targets in the inner (1.8–8.5°) and middle (8.5–15.6°) rings, attention also tended to spread outward, radially to other segments. For targets in the outer ring (15.6–28°), the radial spread of attention was primarily inward to targets of the middle ring. We propose an “attentional landscape” model that is more complex than a “spotlight” or simple “gradient” model but includes aspects of both. Finally, we asked subjects to secretly attend to one of the 18 targets without informing the investigator. We then show that it is possible to determine the target of attentional scrutiny from the pattern of brain activation alone with 100% accuracy. Together, these results provide a comprehensive, quantitative and behaviorally relevant account of the macroscopic cortical topography of visuospatial attention. We also show the pattern of attentional enhancement as it would appear distributed within the observer’s field of view thereby permitting direct observation of a neurophysiological correlate of a purely mental phenomenon, the “window of attention”.
Tectonic Chronology of Pennsylvanian Borderlands: ABSTRACT

Pennsylvanian sedimentary rocks that are exposed in the eastern United States were deposited as a broad undulating blanket from highly deformed borderlands--Appalachia on the east and Ouachita on the south. These rocks were universally involved in borderland folding. Two separate sedimentological investigations of essentially undeformed rocks closely adjoining the borderland indicate that regionally distinct segments affected depositional patterns at various times during the Pennsylvanian, and that other segments were not active until latest Pennsylvanian or Permian time. The first study indicates that the Ouachita deformed belt, now buried beneath Gulf Coastal Plain sediments, was one of the earliest Pennsylvanian tectonic welts and provided the major source of sediments for the Black Warrior basin of northern Alabama and Mississippi. Contrasts in mineral composition of these sediments as compared with correlative sediments in northern Arkansas indicate that this tectonic welt probably plunged northwestward, with the deepest portions of the structure thus being exposed at the southeastern terminus. Exposed Appalachian structures in the southeast are definitely post-early Pennsylvanian and did not affect Pennsylvanian sedimentation in this area. A second study of paleogeographic patterns in Allegheny and late Pottsville sediments of Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky shows that major source areas lay to the south, probably related to a tectonic highland paralleling the present Pine Mountain fault. Major structural deformation in the classical fold area of Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia is clearly post-Pennsylvanian and Permian. End_of_Article - Last_Page 340------------
Sleep misperception in persons with epilepsy.

Abstract Being able to confidently ascertain the amount of sleep is critical to the clinical management of epilepsy. Sleep misperception is the phenomenon in which an individual underestimates the amount of time spent asleep. Little is known about sleep misperception in patients with epilepsy. We conducted retrospective chart reviews on individuals who self-identified as having epilepsy in a questionnaire database of patients undergoing polysomnography (PSG) at the Massachusetts General Hospital Sleep Laboratory. Our metric for sleep misperception was the difference between subjective and objective sleep latency (S–O SL) and subjective and objective total sleep time (S–O TST) with subjective values based on questionnaire and objective values based on PSG. We confirmed 64 patients with epilepsy. We then selected age- and sex-matched diagnostic PSG data for comparison from 50 patients with insomnia symptoms but no obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and another 50 patients with OSA but no insomnia symptoms. In our cohort with epilepsy, the median SL overestimation was 20 min (p Our findings suggest that sleep misperception occurs similarly in patients with epilepsy as in patients without epilepsy with insomnia. Our findings further support the potential clinical utility of objective PSG testing in patients with epilepsy, as this may not only identify occult OSA but also disclose sleep misperception.
Compressive sensing in medical imaging

The promise of compressive sensing, exploitation of compressibility to achieve high quality image reconstructions with less data, has attracted a great deal of attention in the medical imaging community. At the Compressed Sensing Incubator meeting held in April 2014 at OSA Headquarters in Washington, DC, presentations were given summarizing some of the research efforts ongoing in compressive sensing for x-ray computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems. This article provides an expanded version of these presentations. Sparsity-exploiting reconstruction algorithms that have gained popularity in the medical imaging community are studied, and examples of clinical applications that could benefit from compressive sensing ideas are provided. The current and potential future impact of compressive sensing on the medical imaging field is discussed.
Use of a mandatory declination form in a program for influenza vaccination of healthcare workers.

Objective.To evaluate the utility and impact of using a declination form in the context of an influenza immunization program for healthcare workers.Methods.A combined form for documentation of vaccination consent, medical contraindication(s) for vaccination, or vaccination declination was used during the 2006-2007 influenza season in a healthcare system employing approximately 9,200 nonphysician employees in 3 hospitals; a skilled nursing care facility; a large, multisite, faculty-practice plan; and an administrative building. Responses were entered into a database that contained files from human resources departments, which allowed correlation with job category and work location.Results.The overall levels of influenza vaccination coverage of employees increased from 43% (3,892 of 9,050) during the 2005-2006 season to 66.5% (6,123 of 9,214) during the 2006-2007 season. Of 9,214 employees, 1,898 (20.6%) signed the declination statement. Among the occupation groups, nurses had the lowest rate of declining vaccination (13.2% [393 of 2,970]; P < .0001), followed by pharmacy personnel (18.1% [40 of 221]), ancillary personnel with frequent patient contact (21.9% [169 of 771), and all others (24.7% [1,296 of 5,252]). Among the employees who declined vaccination, nurses were the least likely to select the reasons “afraid of needles” (3.8% [15 of 393], vs. 9.1% [137 of 1,505] for all other groups; P < .001) and “fear of getting influenza from the vaccine” (13.5% [53 of 393], vs. 20.5% [309 of 1,505]; P = .002). Seven pregnant nurses had been advised by their obstetricians to avoid vaccination. When declination of influenza vaccination was analyzed by age, 16% of personnel (797 of 4,980) 50 years of age and older declined to be vaccinated, compared with 26% of personnel (1,101 of 4,234) younger than 50 years of age {P < .0001).Conclusions.Implementing use of the declination form during the 2006-2007 influenza season was one of several measures that led to a 55% increase in the acceptance of influenza vaccination by healthcare workers in our healthcare system. Although we cannot determine to what degree use of the declination form contributed to the increased rate of vaccination, use of this form helped the vaccination program assess the reasons for declination and will help to focus future vaccination campaigns.
Novel Routes to Angular and Linear Triquinanes via Radical Induced Epoxide Fragmentation-H-Abstraction-Cyclization Cascades

Reported below are the first two applications of our radical induced epoxide fragmentation-H-abstraction-cyclization sequence to triquinane compounds. This tandem sequence has provided the basis of novel routes to both linear and angular triquinanes.
Reflections of pulses from polar ice sheets

In the models considered, the variation of the dielectric constant due to density variation is taken into account in the middle section. Since the density variation is caused by the conversion of snow into ice during many thousands of years. The density changes can be either assumed to be discrete or random. The first model assumes a specific discrete variation while the second model assumes the variation to be random, 1. The top and bottom layers are assumed to be ice while the centre section, (also of ice), consists of 20 layers of 10m length. The dielectric constant of odd layers is E +A€, u + Au while the dielectric constant of even layers is E - AE, u - Au where E = 3.2, AE = ,064, u = .6 x 10- and Au = .012. 2. The top and bottom layers are assumed to be ice while the centre section, (also of ice), consists of 20 layers of 10m length. The dielectric constant of each layer was assumed to vary randomly around a mean value of E. (CAE> = .O~E) The time reflection coefficient Ro(t) at Z = 0 was calculated using eq (1)
Sequestered bowel in a atresia.

A 3-day-old male baby was diagnosed to have proximal small bowel atresia. At operation type-IIIa jejuno-ileal atresia (JIA) was encountered with a jumbled up sequestered bowel-loop-mass. The jejunum was 10 cm and ileum merely 1 cm. The bowel was sequestered on account of volvulus in-utero.
Re-Evaluation of the Model-Free Analysis of Fast Internal Motion in Proteins Using NMR Relaxation

NMR spin relaxation retains a central role in the characterization of the fast internal motion of proteins and their complexes. Knowledge of the distribution and amplitude of the motion of amino acid side chains is critical for the interpretation of the dynamical proxy for the residual conformational entropy of proteins, which can potentially significantly contribute to the entropy of protein function. A popular treatment of NMR relaxation phenomena in macromolecules dissolved in liquids is the so-called model-free approach of Lipari and Szabo. The robustness of the mode-free approach has recently been strongly criticized and the remarkable range and structural context of the internal motion of proteins, characterized by such NMR relaxation techniques, attributed to artifacts arising from the model-free treatment, particularly with respect to the symmetry of the underlying motion. We develop an objective quantification of both spatial and temporal asymmetry of motion and re-examine the foundation of the model-free treatment. Concerns regarding the robustness of the modelfree approach to asymmetric motion appear to be generally unwarranted. The generalized order parameter is robustly recovered. The sensitivity of the model-free treatment to asymmetric motion is restricted to the effective correlation time, which is by definition a normalized quantity and not a true time constant and therefore of much less interest in this context. With renewed confidence in the model-free approach, we then examine the microscopic distribution of side chain motion in the complex between calcium-saturated calmodulin and the calmodulin-binding domain of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Deuterium relaxation is used to characterize the motion of methyl groups in the complex. A remarkable range of Lipari-Szabo model-free generalized order parameters are seen with little correlation with basic structural parameters such as the depth of burial. These results are contrasted with the homologous complex with the neuronal nitric oxide synthase calmodulin-binding domain, which has distinctly different thermodynamic origins for high affinity binding.
The success of animal invaders

Z ebra mussel, kudzu, fire ant, gypsy moth, common carp—whether you are a farmer, outdoors enthusiast, cottage owner, or ecologist, you have undoubtedly witnessed the spread and adverse impacts of invasive species. As long as humans have migrated, we have carried species from their homeland to provide some familiar comforts of home in new lands. This trend was exemplified by the acclimatization societies of North America in the 19th century, which systematically imported and introduced Old World species. The expansion of global trade and tourism during the past century has fostered an explosion of unintentional (mostly invertebrate) species introductions, further accelerating the spread of species beyond their native range, as has been documented for the Laurentian Great Lakes (Fig. 1). The article in this issue of PNAS by Jeschke and Strayer (1) provides a much needed assessment of invader success patterns for vertebrate species exchange between the continents of Europe and North America. Fig. 1. The accelerating rate of species invasions during the past two centuries in North America's Laurentian Great Lakes. Adapted from Riccardi (22). The introduction and spread of invasive species, both intentional and unintentional, is emerging as among the most dramatic ways that humans are transforming the planet (2), and nonnatives are now recognized as a central agent of human-caused global change (3). What's more, the combined effect …
Job creation in California's enterprise zones: a comparison using a propensity score matching model

Abstract This study examines the impact of California's enterprise zone program on employment growth at the census tract level and at the establishment level. EZ census tracts are matched to non-EZ census tracts using a propensity score matching model. Annual establishment level employment data from 1992 through 1999 are used to estimate the impact of the program on growth in employment and wages. Estimates suggest that the enterprise zone designation raises employment growth about 3 percent each year during the first six years after designation, but this effect does not persist in later years. The number of employees at each business in an enterprise zone also rises more than employment at businesses that do not have the same tax incentives.
Comparative analysis of SOFC-GT freight locomotive fueled by natural gas and diesel with onboard reformation

Due to increasing awareness of the deleterious environmental and health effects of diesel combustion emissions, major regulatory action and policy measures are focused on reducing emissions from diesel engines. Freight operations, including rail-based freight transportation, have received special attention as an industry where major change can be affected, especially in neighborhoods located near operations centers. A FORTRAN-based dynamic simulation model of an SOFC–GT (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell–Gas Turbine) system from a prior feasibility study has been adapted to analyze system operation along a representative but demanding route in southern California. In previous simulations with the model, the basic operational feasibility of the system has been demonstrated as well as the in-service operation for pre-reformed fuels. In the current study, the analysis is extended to include reformation of two fuels (diesel and natural gas) onboard the locomotive and analyses of system efficiency, fuel consumption, CO2 emission, and NOx emission that can be attained through careful thermal integration of the reformer unit. Route-averaged fuel-to-wheels system efficiencies of 60% and 52% are predicted for natural gas and diesel fuel, respectively. Additionally, SOFC–GT operation could provide (1) a reduction approaching 98% in NOx for both fuels; (2) a 54% savings in CO2 for operation on natural gas; and (3) a 30% CO2 reduction for operation on diesel fuel compared to state-of-the-art locomotive technology. These gains may be offset by design challenges, especially for the diesel case, due to the requirement for large volumes of water to support the reformation process even for medium-length freight hauling trips.
An analytical model for virtual topology reconfiguration in optical networks and a case study

An analytical model for virtual topology reconfiguration (VTR) in optical networks is developed. It aims at the optical networks with a circuit-based data plane and an IP-like control plane. By identifying and analyzing the important factors impacting the network performance due to VTR operations on both planes, we can compare the benefits and penalties of different VTR algorithms and policies. The best VTR scenario can be adaptively chosen from a set of such algorithms and policies according to the real-time network situations. For this purpose, a cost model integrating all these factors is created to provide a comparison criterion independent of any specific VTR algorithm and policy. A case study based on simulation experiments is conducted to illustrate the application of our models.
Dorsal dislocation of the four ulnar metacarpals

A patient presented to the emergency department (ED) with hand pain after striking a wall with a partially clenched fist. X-rays showed small dorsal carpal avulsion fractures and a dorsal dislocation of the ulnar four metacarpals. Closed reduction maneuvers reduced all but the second metacarpal. The patient underwent open reduction, internal fixation of this joint, and was healed within 6 weeks. Although typically associated with significant amounts of kinetic energy, the particular position of the hand and wrist during this injury may have allowed this dislocation pattern to occur with relatively minor trauma. A discussion of this injury, the carpometacarpal joint, and important radiographic features is presented.
Cultural Influences on Service Quality Expectations

Service quality has been conceptualized as the difference between perceived service performance and expected service level. The authors study the effect of consumers' cultural orientation on their ...
STOPOVER HABITATS OF LANDBIRDS DURING FALL: USE OF EDGE-DOMINATED AND EARLY-SUCCESSIONAL FORESTS

Abstract Despite much interest in the conservation of landbirds during migratory stopover periods, relatively few studies have examined spatial and temporal variation in habitat use and identified important habitats for migrating landbirds in North America. We surveyed migrant landbirds in five habitats (mature forest interior, mature forest-agricultural edge, mature suburban forest, mid-successional pole-stage forest, and early successional shrub-saplingstage forest) in central Pennsylvania from late August to early October, 1997–1999. We used abundances of individual species and migrant guilds, species richness, and fruit availability to assess relative habitat quality for fall migrants and measured structural characteristics associated with migrant habitat use. Of 15 species that differed in abundance among habitats, species that breed in mature forest (n = 10) were typically broadly distributed among habitats during stopover, with highest abundance in edge-dominated forests (forest-agricultural edge a...
Synthesis and Characterization of Layered Double Hydroxides/Nafion Composites for Fuel Cell Application

In this study, magnesium-aluminum (Mg-Al) based LDHs with different Mg2+/Al3+ ratios were prepared by co-precipitation method and modified with perfluorooctane-sulfonic acid tetraethylammonium salt (PFOSA). X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Fourier Transfer Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) were carried out to obtain the structural and thermal characteristics of resulting materials. The organo-modified LDHs have been used in the formulation of Nafion® nanocomposites. Nanocomposite membranes were prepared by casting of LDH/PFOSA nanoparticles dispersed in Nafion® solution. Then, modified LDH/Nafion composite membranes were evaluated for water retention capability at ambient and elevated temperature.
Removal of bromide from surface waters using silver impregnated activated carbon.

Abstract The main objectives of this study were to develop an understanding of silver impregnated activated carbon (SIAC) preparation for enhanced bromide (Br−) removal from water, and to investigate the impact of aqueous background composition on the Br− removal. Several SIACs were produced using various combinations of oxidation and silver impregnation procedures and powdered activated carbons (ACs). Regardless of the preparation procedure, SIACs showed significantly Br− uptakes than the virgin ACs. The Br− removal efficiency was affected by (i) the background water composition (e.g. Cl− and NOM competition reduced the Br− uptake), (ii) silver impregnation process (e.g. silver content, pre-oxidation of virgin AC; silver impregnation largely increased the Br− removal, and the pre-oxidation of AC prior to silver impregnation was found to be important), and (iii) AC characteristics (e.g. surface area, oxygen content; SIACs with higher silver contents and larger surface areas exhibited higher degrees of Br− removal). The Br− removal by SIAC reduced the formation of brominated THMs. Jar test results showed that coagulation did not have an impact on Br− removal by SIAC.
The state of play in the U.S.A: concerns and hopeful trends

Think of your early play experiences and whether they influenced the kind of person you have become. Through my childhood play, I learned a lot about myself and how to interact with others. I also ...
Simulation of Moving Bodies Using a Meshfree Method

Comparing to conventional CFD methods, meshfree methods have a great potential in dealing with moving boundary problems as mesh points can move in a truly arbitrary manner without the concern of ruining the integrity of the computational mesh. In the present work, we develop a meshfree solver to compute flow problems with moving boundaries. The initial set of points is generated with an automated mesh generator given user defined geometries. The mesh generator can also modify the point set to allow the geometrical bodies to move based on user prescribed motions. The developed tool is tested with several stationary and moving boundary problems. The potential of the meshless solver for moving boundary problems is successfully demonstrated for relatively complex geometries.
Comparison of the Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels by Dialysis and Sephadex Column Methods

Duplicate plasma samples from 64 human donors were tested and compared for the levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) by the conventional dialysis and sephadex column methods. Results from the column method were similar to those from the dialysis method, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9959. In addition, the assay time by the sephadex column was only four to five hours, as compared with 18 to 24 hours for the dialysis procedure. The potential usefulness in substituting the sephadex column for the dialysis method in CEA determinations is discussed.
Interrupted Fischer-Indole Intermediates via Oxyarylation of Alkenyl Boronic Acids

The oxyarylation of alkenyl boronic acids with N-arylbenzhydroxamic acids has been achieved under both copper-mediated and copper-catalyzed conditions to provide access to interrupted Fischer-indole intermediates. This transformation is believed to proceed through a copper-promoted C–O bond forming event followed by a [3,3] rearrangement. The scope of the method is described and mechanistic experiments are discussed.
Cloning of the human kidney PAH transporter: narrow substrate specificity and regulation by protein kinase C

Conserved from fish to mammals, renal proximal tubule organic anion secretion plays an important role in drug and xenobiotic elimination. Studies with the model substrate p-aminohippurate (PAH) hav...
Closed-Loop Endo-Atmospheric Ascent Guidance ∗

This paper presents a comprehensive treatment to the optimal atmospheric ascent problem of launch vehicles subject to path constraints and final condition constraints. The development is particularly tailored for the purpose of eventual realization of closed-loop endo-atmospheric ascent guidance. We demonstrate that the classical finite difference method for two-point boundary-value problems is well suited for solving the optimal ascent problem onboard. The performance and execution of the guidance algorithm are assessed with a series of open-loop and closedloop tests using the vehicle data of a reusable launch vehicle. The test results render strong supporting evidence to the belief that closed-loop optimal endo-atmospheric ascent guidance is now feasible.
Incorporating Actuation Effects in Reduced-Order Models for Feedback Control of Axisymmetric Jets

Localized arc lament plasma actuators have demonstrated signi cant potential in controlling high-speed and high Reynolds number axisymmetric jets in open-loop. As a rst step in incorporating feedback for this control system, we have recently developed an empirical reduced-order model of the essential ow dynamics in the unforced jet using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition and Galerkin Projection. This modeling protocol has been validated using an existing direct numerical simulation (DNS) database of a low Reynolds number Mach 0.9 jet developed by Freund. The present article describes an extensive experimental e ort undertaken on a high Reynolds number Mach 0.9 jet with two primary objectives. First, relevant unforced jet data is collected for deriving a reduced-order model of this high Reynolds number jet. The simulation of this model shows appreciable delity in the short term, which is su cient for developing a feedback controller. Second, data for several salient forcing cases are collected to validate a proposed technique for incorporating actuation e ects in the model. This latter objective is also guided by an implicit large eddy simulation (ILES) database of a forced high Reynolds number Mach 1.3 jet developed by Gaitonde. The validation of the actuator model requires simulation over a long time, for which we resort to the reduced-order model developed earlier for the DNS database. The e ect of actuation in this model is found to be remarkably similar to the e ects observed in experiments as well as in the ILES data.
Hyperoxic exposure of immature mice increases the inflammatory response to subsequent rhinovirus infection: Association with danger signals

Infants with a history of prematurity and bronchopulmonary dysplasia have a high risk of asthma and viral-induced exacerbations later in life. We hypothesized that hyperoxic exposure, a predisposing factor to bronchopulmonary dysplasia, modulates the innate immune response, producing an exaggerated proinflammatory reaction to viral infection. Two- to 3-d-old C57BL/6J mice were exposed to air or 75% oxygen for 14 d. Mice were infected intranasally with rhinovirus (RV) immediately after O2 exposure. Lung mRNA and protein expression, histology, dendritic cells (DCs), and airway responsiveness were assessed 1-12 d postinfection. Tracheal aspirates from premature human infants were collected for mRNA detection. Hyperoxia increased lung IL-12 expression, which persisted up to 12 d postexposure. Hyperoxia-exposed RV-infected mice showed further increases in IL-12 and increased expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, CCL2, CCL3, and CCL4, as well as increased airway inflammation and responsiveness. In RV-infected, air-exposed mice, the response was not significant. Induced IL-12 expression in hyperoxia-exposed, RV-infected mice was associated with increased IL-12-producing CD103(+) lung DCs. Hyperoxia also increased expression of Clec9a, a CD103(+) DC-specific damaged cell-recognition molecule. Hyperoxia increased levels of ATP metabolites and expression of adenosine receptor A1, further evidence of cell damage and related signaling. In human preterm infants, tracheal aspirate Clec9a expression positively correlated with the level of prematurity. Hyperoxic exposure increases the activation of CD103(+), Clec9a(+) DCs, leading to increased inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness upon RV infection. In premature infants, danger signal-induced DC activation may promote proinflammatory airway responses, thereby increasing respiratory morbidity.
Application Effects of Herbicide-Insecticide Fertilizer on Rice

To study the application effects of herbicide-insecticide fertilizer on rice, comparison test in field was conducted in 3 cities of Hunan province of Qidong, Miluo and Guidong in 2014. Results showed that herbicide-insecticide fertilizer had dramatic efficiency against the yearly weeds as barnyard grass, sheathed monochoria herb, Sagittaria pygmaea, Eleocharis parvula, convexutricle sedge herb, difformed galingale herb etc., as well as the insects like Chilo suppressalis. Statistics showed that after 45 d application, controlling efficiency for yearly weeds was 90.5%~97.9%; and 86.5%~98.4% for Chilo suppressalis after 30 d; compared with the non-experimented fields, yield was increased with 90.0~151.6 kg/667m2 by the rate of 18.4% ~21.7%, and the input-output ratio reached 1 ︰ 3.2~1 ︰ 6.5. It' s obvious the economic benefit is quite considerable, and the operation is not only simple and convenient, but can save labor, so it is worth popularizing.
Clinical, Neuroendocrine, and Sleep EEG Diagnosis of "Unusual" Affective Presentations: A Practical Review

The boundaries of affective illness have been broadened such that a considerable universe of psychotic, neurotic, and characterologic suffering is being subsumed under the affective disorders and treated accordingly. This article focuses on the application of the most important new techniques used in resolving boundary questions in the clinical diagnosis of affective disorders.
Electron beam versus photon beam radiation therapy for the treatment of orbital lymphoid tumors.

Shielding the lens of the eye while treating orbital lymphoid tumors and achieving a relatively homogeneous dose can be a dosimetric challenge. There are many clinical cases of tumors close to one or both eyes, where it is desirable to spare the lens as much as possible. We will show isodose curves comparing direct anterior fields using various electron beam energies to a single 6 mv photon beam to a multifield combination. The presence of an eye shield in a photon beam may impair the dose distribution at the back of the eye to an undesirable degree. The strong in-depth dose drop-off in electrons and the ease with which the beam can be intercepted suggests that an electron beam with an eye shield may offer advantages. We designed a suspended movable lens shield .8 cm wide with a height of 4.5 cm made of cerrobend surrounded by a brass cylinder mounted to a thin plexiglass plate to insert into a Varian electron 6 x 6 cone. A 1.5 cm gap between block and eye surface was used. Verification of dose distribution under the lens shield was obtained by film dosimetry.
Simultaneous heart rate and blood pressure variability analysis. Insight into mechanisms underlying neurally mediated cardiac syncope in children.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of our investigation was to examine serial changes in autonomic nervous system activity along with measurements of hemodynamics and cardiac contractility, in assessing the mechanism(s) that underlie neurally mediated cardiac syncope (NMCS) in children. BACKGROUND Previous research that used heart rate variability analysis alone to understand changes in autonomic activity that result in NMCS has provided conflicting results. We performed simultaneous heart rate and blood pressure variability analyses to characterize dynamic alterations in sympathetic and vagal tone during tilt-table testing in 23 children with a history of syncope or frequent dizziness. METHODS Power spectra of heart rate and blood pressure variability were analyzed using autoregressive modeling. Maximum dP/dT of systolic blood pressure and the electrical-mechanical activation time were used to assess cardiac contractility. RESULTS Tilt-table testing was positive in 12 children and negative in 11. Syncope was associated with decreased heart rate, blood pressure and low-frequency (LF) power. Before episodes of syncope, systolic blood pressure dP/dT decreased, and the electrical-mechanical activation time was prolonged. The decrease in blood pressure LF power exceeded and occurred before the decrease in heart rate LF power. Despite similar early increases in LF power to the initial stress of upright tilting, no significant decline in LF power (heart rate or blood pressure) was observed during negative tilt-table tests. CONCLUSIONS All of these changes considered in total provide evidence supporting the hypothesis of sympathetic withdrawal/failure, resulting in a decrease in peripheral vascular tone and cardiac contractility, which results in profound hypotension in children with NMCS.