cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Food Insecurity Among Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Individuals in the Southeast United States: A Qualitative Study

Purpose: Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people experience high rates of poverty, joblessness, and homelessness, which drive risk for food insecurity. TGNC people also face discrimination due to transphobia and cissexism, which may contribute to these drivers. Minimal empirical evidence describes experiences with food insecurity among TGNC people. This project investigated food insecurity among TGNC people and how these experiences relate to their physical and mental health. Methods: Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with 20 TGNC people residing in the Southeast United States (U.S.), recruited through social media. Interviews were transcribed and qualitatively coded. Results: TGNC people reported living in extreme poverty. They described how the conservative sociopolitical climate of the Southeast United States made it difficult to find and maintain employment, which was a primary driver of food insecurity. Participants experienced discomfort seeking food assistance due to discrimination and concern for reducing emergency food availability for people in greater need. Stress from unemployment and underemployment, inadequate food supplies, and discrimination was reported as a contributor to poor physical and mental health, and weakened support systems. Conclusion: Poverty and food insecurity erode TGNC people's physical and mental health and support systems. TGNC people faced substantial barriers-including unemployment and underemployment and multilevel discrimination-which prevented them from affording adequate food. Public health solutions include implementing employment nondiscrimination policy to protect TGNC people in the workplace and building relationships between local food pantries and LGBT organizations to create safer environments for all persons in need of food assistance.
Zinc homeostasis and zinc signaling in white matter development and injury

Zinc is an essential dietary micronutrient that is abundant in the brain with diverse roles in development, injury, and neurological diseases. With new imaging tools and chelators selectively targeting zinc, the field of zinc biology is rapidly expanding. The importance of zinc homeostasis is now well recognized in neurodegeneration, but there is emerging data that zinc may be equally important in white matter disorders. This review provides an overview of zinc biology, including a discussion of clinical disorders of zinc deficiency, different zinc pools, zinc biomarkers, and methods for measuring zinc. It emphasizes our limited understanding of how zinc is regulated in oligodendrocytes and white matter. Gaps in knowledge about zinc transporters and zinc signaling are discussed. Zinc-induced oligodendrocyte injury pathways relevant to white matter stroke, multiple sclerosis, and white matter injury of prematurity are reviewed and examples of zinc-dependent proteins relevant to myelination highlighted. Finally, a novel ratiometric zinc sensor is reviewed, revealing new information about mobile zinc during oligodendrocyte differentiation. With a better understanding of zinc biology in oligodendrocytes, new therapeutic targets for white matter disorders may be possible and the necessary tools to appropriately study zinc are finally available.
Sequential advantage selection for optimal treatment regime

Variable selection is gaining more attention because it plays an important role in deriving practical and reliable optimal treatment regimes for personalized medicine, especially when there are a large number of predictors. Most existing variable selection techniques focus on selecting variables that are important for prediction. With such methods, some variables that are poor in prediction but are critical for treatment decision making may be ignored. A qualitative interaction of a variable with treatment arises when the treatment effect changes direction as the value of the variable varies. Variables that have qualitative interactions with treatment are of clinical importance for treatment decision making. Gunter, Zhu and Murphy [Stat. Methodol. 8 (2011) 42–55] proposed the S-score method to characterize the magnitude of qualitative interaction of an individual variable with treatment. In this paper, we develop a sequential advantage selection method based on a modified S-score. Our method sequentially selects variables with a qualitative interaction and can be applied in multiple decision-point settings. To select the best candidate subset of variables for decision making, we also propose a BIC-type criterion that is based on the sequential advantage. The empirical performance of the proposed method is evaluated by simulation and an application to depression data from a clinical trial.
Initial clinical and hemodynamic results of a regional pulmonary thromboendarterectomy program.

Background Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE) is the treatment of choice for eligible patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). However, access to CTEPH and PTE care is limited. There is a paucity of published data on PTE efficacy and outcomes from alternative, regional centers of excellence in CTEPH and PTE care in the USA, outside a single national and international referral center. Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients undergoing PTE at our institution from June 2013 to December 2016 (42 months), and collected clinical, echocardiographic and hemodynamic data on our patients pre- and post-PTE (N.=71). Results Patients age ranged between 20-83 years (mean±SD: 56±16), with 54% of patients female and 61% Caucasians. The predominant symptom was shortness of breath with a median duration of symptoms of 17 months. Following PTE, clinical improvements included a reduction in NYHA class from 3.1±1.1 to 2.2±1.2. There were major improvements in hemodynamics and echocardiographic parameters pre- versus post-PTE: mean pulmonary artery pressure (mmHg) 45±11 to 24±8, cardiac index (L/min/m2) 2.1±0.5 to 2.8±0.5, pulmonary vascular resistance (mmHg/L/min) 8.9±4.5 to 2.8±1.8, ratio of right ventricle (RV): left ventricle (LV) 1.2±0.3 to 0.9±0.2, RV fractional area change (%) 23±14 to 44±13, reduction in the incidence of RV outflow tract Doppler notching and improved pulmonary artery acceleration time (96% to 30%, and 74±19 to 111±21). In-hospital mortality was 4.2% (3 patients). Conclusions Herein, we report for the first time, the improvements in patient functionality, hemodynamics, right heart function and outcomes at a major regional PTE program.
Preischemic autologous mitochondrial transplantation by intracoronary injection for myocardial protection.

Abstract Objective To investigate preischemic intracoronary autologous mitochondrial transplantation (MT) as a therapeutic strategy for prophylactic myocardial protection in a porcine model of regional ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Methods The left coronary artery was cannulated in Yorkshire pigs (n = 26). Mitochondria (1 × 109) or buffer (vehicle [Veh]) were delivered as a single bolus (MTS) or serially (10 injections over 60 minutes; MTSS). At 15 minutes after injection, the heart was subjected to temporary regional ischemia (RI) by snaring the left anterior descending artery. After 30 minutes of RI, the snare was released, and the heart was reperfused for 120 minutes. Results Coronary blood flow (CBF) and myocardial function were increased temporarily during the pre-RI period. Following 30 minutes of RI, MTS and MTSS hearts had significantly increased CBF that persisted throughout reperfusion (Veh vs MTS and MTSS; P = .04). MTS and MTSS showed a significantly enhanced ejection fraction (Veh vs MTS, P Conclusions Preischemic MT by single or serial intracoronary injections provides prophylactic myocardial protection from IRI, significantly decreasing infarct size and enhancing global and regional function.
Identifying Concomitant Health Conditions in Individuals With Chronic Voice Problems.

Summary Objective Current clinical practice guidelines recommend a laryngoscopic referral for patients who present with hoarseness for longer than 28 days and earlier for patients with certain high-risk factors. The goal of this study was to identify additional possible concomitant health conditions in individuals with chronic (>28 days) hoarseness to improve early detection of chronic voice problems. Methods Using data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey, four health conditions were selected: Swallowing problems, respiratory problems, hormonal-cycle problems, and physical activity limitations. Multivariable logistic regressions controlling for age, gender, race, and smoking status, were used to calculate the odds ratios for the association of each of these four health conditions to chronic versus acute voice problems. Results Of the 2,746 respondents who reported a voice disorder within the last year, 736 reported a voice problem lasting longer than 4 weeks in duration. After controlling for covariates, individuals reporting swallowing problems and physical activity limitations were more likely to report a chronic voice problem versus an acute voice problem, odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals of 1.983 (1.619, 2.430) and 1.716 (1.355, 2.173), respectively. No significant associations were found for respiratory or hormonal-cycle problems. Conclusion Individuals who present with both a voice problem and a swallowing problem or physical activity limitation may be at increased risk for developing a chronic voice problem. Therefore, these two health conditions should be included as high-risk factors when determining the escalation of care for a patient presenting with acute dysphonia.
The metabolic reprogramming and vulnerability of SF3B1 mutations.

Mutations in the splicing factor 3b subunit 1 (SF3B1) gene create a neomorphic protein that disrupts RNA splicing, but the downstream consequences of this missplicing are unclear. Our recent study ...
Spiral waves: Linear and nonlinear theory

Spiral waves are striking self-organized coherent structures that organize spatio-temporal dynamics in dissipative, spatially extended systems. In this paper, we provide a conceptual approach to various properties of spiral waves. Rather than studying existence in a specific equation, we study properties of spiral waves in general reaction-diffusion systems. We show that many features of spiral waves are robust and to some extent independent of the specific model analyzed. To accomplish this, we present a suitable analytic framework, spatial radial dynamics, that allows us to rigorously characterize features such as the shape of spiral waves and their eigenfunctions, properties of the linearization, and finite-size effects. We believe that our framework can also be used to study spiral waves further and help analyze bifurcations, as well as provide guidance and predictions for experiments and numerical simulations. From a technical point of view, we introduce non-standard function spaces for the well-posedness of the existence problem which allow us to understand properties of spiral waves using dynamical systems techniques, in particular exponential dichotomies. Using these pointwise methods, we are able to bring tools from the analysis of one-dimensional coherent structures such as fronts and pulses to bear on these inherently two-dimensional defects.
Synergetic effect of surface plasmon resonance and schottky junction in Ag-AgX-ZnO-rGO (X= Cl & Br) nanocomposite for enhanced visible-light driven photocatalysis

Abstract Plasmonic photocatalysis has encouraged quick improvement in improving the photocatalytic activity under visible light illumination, augmenting the potential for utilizing light for ecological and energy application. Plasmonic photocatalysis utilizes noble metal nanoparticles embedded with semiconductor nanocatalyst and utilizes Schottky junction and surface plasmonic resonance (SPR). In this particular work, a novel photocatalyst Ag-AgX-ZnO-rGO (X = Cl & Br) was synthesized making use of a hydrothermal-photoreduction method by means of zinc nitrate, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), AgNO3, and also graphene oxide (GO), during the course of which the crystallization of ZnO, Ag nanoparticles generation, as well as reduction of GO to rGO were attained at the same time. Main essential benefits in plasmonic photocatalyst (Ag-AgX-ZnO-rGO) over a two-component (ZnO-rGO) system and detailed processes for improved photocatalytic activity in terms of band-edge positions have been proposed. The degradation mechanism of methylene orange (MO) was discussed based on the intermediate products detected by mass spectrometry analysis. Physical mechanisms of plasmonic enhancement for photocatalytic degradation of MO in terms of the band-bending and surface plasmon resonance have been discussed. In addition, comparisons are made between photo-oxidation and photo-reduction effectiveness in Ag-AgBr-ZnO-rGO and Ag-AgCl-ZnO-rGO plasmonic photocatalyst on the foundation of charge polarization.
Stepwise Selection on Steroids

It’s likely that everyone reading this book is familiar with stepwise selection. Typically, you have a large set of candidates for some task, often prediction or classification. You test each individual candidate and select the one candidate that performs the task best. Then you test the remaining candidates, seeking the one that, in conjunction with the one already selected, performs best. This is repeated as desired. It is a fast, efficient, and usually fairly effective way of selecting a respectable subset of features from a potentially large population.
The Development of Sociolinguistic Competence across the Lifespan: Three Domains of Regional Dialect Perception

This study investigated the developmental trajectories of three perceptual domains related to regional dialect competence: the linguistic domain, tested through an intelligibility in noise task; th...
The effect of moving away from home on employee retention: Evidence among U.S. army soldiers

Abstract We study the effect of an employee moving away from home for their job on short-term retention with the firm. Our context is soldiers in the U.S. Army who are stationed to their first post based on the needs of the Army rather than their preferences. We find that a soldier stationed within driving distance of home is around 4 percent more likely to voluntarily separate from the Army relative to someone who is stationed further from home.
The negative impact of violence on children’s education and well-being: Evidence from Northern Nigeria

Abstract This study provides comprehensive evidence on the negative effects of physical, sexual, and emotional violence on children’s well-being and educational outcomes in Northern Nigeria. In this paper, we analyzed household survey data, conducted surveys with a representative sample of pupils, and carried out interviews and focus groups with stakeholders. We provide some evidence that exposure to physical or emotional violence is negatively associated with social-emotional skills and self-efficacy. Subsequently, we find that children who experience any kind of violence are more likely to be out of school, have reduced learning, and are less likely to feel safe traveling to and from school. Exposure to sexual violence has a pronounced negative relationship with children’s mental health, an increased the likelihood of early marriage, and a lower likelihood of attending school.
Macrophage activation in stellate ganglia contributes to lung injury-induced arrhythmogenesis in male rats.

Aim Patients suffering from acute lung injury (ALI) are at high risk of developing cardiac arrhythmias. We hypothesized that stellate ganglia (SG) neural inflammation contributes to ALI-induced arrhythmia. Methods We created an ALI rat model using a single tracheal instillation of bleomycin (2.5 mg/kg), with saline as a sham control. We recorded ECGs by implanted radiotelemetry in male bleomycin and sham rats treated with and without oral minocycline (20 mg/kg/d), an anti-inflammatory drug that inhibits microglia/macrophage activation. The SG neuronal excitability was assessed by electrophysiology experiments. Results ECG data showed that bleomycin-exposed rats exhibited significantly more spontaneous premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) from 1- to 3-week post-induction compared with sham rats, which was mitigated by chronic oral administration of minocycline. The bleomycin-exposed rats displayed a robust increase in both the number of Iba1-positive macrophages and protein expression of interferon regulatory factor 8 in the SG starting as early at 1-week post-exposure and lasted for at least 4 weeks, which was largely attenuated by minocycline. Heart rate variability analysis indicated autonomic imbalance during the first 2-week post-bleomycin, which was significantly attenuated by minocycline. Electrical stimulation of the decentralized SG triggered more PVCs in bleomycin-exposed rats than sham and bleomycin + minocycline rats. Patch-clamp data demonstrated enhanced SG neuronal excitability in the bleomycin-exposed rats, which was attenuated by minocycline. Co-culture of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-pretreated macrophages with normal SG neurons enhanced SG neuronal excitability. Conclusion Macrophage activation in the SG contributes to arrhythmogenesis in bleomycin-induced ALI in male rats.
The Receptor-Like Kinase ERECTA Confers Improved Water Use Efficiency and Drought Tolerance to Poplar via Modulating Stomatal Density.

Poplar is one of the most important tree species in the north temperate zone, but poplar plantations are quite water intensive. We report here that CaMV 35S promoter-driven overexpression of the PdERECTA gene, which is a member of the LRR-RLKs family from Populus nigra × (Populus deltoides × Populus nigra), improves water use efficiency and enhances drought tolerance in triploid white poplar. PdERECTA localizes to the plasma membrane. Overexpression plants showed lower stomatal density and larger stomatal size. The abaxial stomatal density was 24–34% lower and the stomatal size was 12–14% larger in overexpression lines. Reduced stomatal density led to a sharp restriction of transpiration, which was about 18–35% lower than the control line, and instantaneous water use efficiency was around 14–63% higher in overexpression lines under different conditions. These phenotypic changes led to increased drought tolerance. PdERECTA overexpression plants not only survived longer after stopping watering but also performed better when supplied with limited water, as they had better physical and photosynthesis conditions, faster growth rate, and higher biomass accumulation. Taken together, our data suggest that PdERECTA can alter the development pattern of stomata to reduce stomatal density, which then restricts water consumption, conferring enhanced drought tolerance to poplar. This makes PdERECTA trees promising candidates for establishing more water use efficient plantations.
Effect of focused protocol on reducing radiation dose for children who require computed tomography for suspected appendicitis.

Abstract Background Despite efforts to incorporate ultrasound into the evaluation of children for appendicitis, computed tomography (CT) is often used to aid in its diagnosis. CT scans, however, expose children to a considerable amount of radiation. In 2017, our institution began using a height-based Focused CT protocol for children with suspected appendicitis in need of CT. Objective To compare the radiation dose received by children with suspected appendicitis who underwent a Standard CT of the abdomen and pelvis (CTAP) with that of a Focused CT. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of children Results A total of 474 patients who underwent CT were included. Prior to CT, 362(76%) had received an ultrasound. In total, 309(65%) patients underwent a Standard CTAP and 165(35%) underwent a Focused CT. The appendix was identified in 259(84%) Standard CTAPs compared to 151(92%) Focused CTs (p = 0.02). Compared to the Standard CTAP, children who received a Focused CT were exposed to a significantly lower effective dose (relative difference: CTDI-adjusted −13%[95% CI:-21,-5]; SSDE-adjusted −14%[95% CI:-24,-3]). Conclusions Our height-based Focused CT protocol reduces radiation for children undergoing CT evaluation for suspected appendicitis without sacrificing diagnostic accuracy. Further study is needed to validate these findings at other institutions.
“My Parents May Influence my Feelings about It But That’s Also Something That I Can Change Myself:” Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth Perspectives on Parental Messages about Sexuality

This study describes transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth perceptions of parental messages regarding sexuality and sexual/romantic relationships and how those messages impact feelings and dec...
Relative significance of hydrophilic partitioning and surface adsorption to the retention of polar compounds in hydrophilic interaction chromatography.

Abstract It is commonly acknowledged that the retention of non-ionized polar analytes on polar stationary phases is governed by hydrophilic partitioning and surface adsorption. However, it has been difficult to evaluate whether partitioning or adsorption is the dominant mechanism for a specific polar compound on a polar stationary phase. We have developed a simple method based on the thermodynamic principle of partitioning to quantitatively investigate the retention contributed by the partitioning or adsorption mechanism. By varying phase ratio through changing salt concentration in the mobile phase, we were able to determine the distribution coefficients of cytosine between the adsorbed water layer and the mobile phase containing various levels of acetonitrile. The retention factors of cytosine attributed to partitioning and adsorption were quantitatively determined. The results demonstrate that the dominant retention mechanism for cytosine is hydrophilic partitioning on ZIC-HILIC, XBridge Amide and LUNA-HILIC columns.
Leader sensemaking style in response to crisis: Consequences and insights from the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract The international scope of the 2020 COVID-19 crisis compelled a response from world leaders across the globe. However, the nature of these responses was far from universal. These circumstances present a unique opportunity to study how leader style influences, and is influenced by, a common crisis. To explore these relationships, the present effort used a content analysis of weekly COVID-19 statements from world leaders spanning the first 19 weeks of the crisis. Results suggest that leaders shifted toward increasingly pragmatic sensemaking approaches as COVID-19 infections increased and that sustained use of pragmatic leadership styles was associated with fewer infections in the long term. In contrast, sustained use of the charismatic sensemaking style was associated with higher observed infection rates.
Postural Stability While Holding Loads in Various Postures

Stability while handling loads is an important issue in the prevention of injuries. This study investigated the effects of load positioning on recovery from an unexpected balance disturbance while ...
Evaluation of Pathologic Nipple Discharge: What is the Added Diagnostic Value of MRI?

To determine the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the evaluation of patients with pathologic nipple discharge. We performed a retrospective review of women with nipple discharge who underwent breast MRI between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2013. Radiographic findings, pathology results, and clinical notes were reviewed. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of MRI were calculated. Over a 10-year period, 103 women (mean age 46 years, range 25–72 years) underwent MRI for evaluation of nipple discharge. Ninety-one patients (88 %) underwent surgical excision or had clinical and/or radiographic follow-up at least 2 years after presentation and thus comprise the study population. Eleven (30 %) of 37 patients with MRIs coded as American College of Radiology Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 4 of 5 were diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (n = 6) or invasive adenocarcinoma (n = 5). Seven (64 %) of 11 patients diagnosed with malignancy had a negative mammographic and sonographic workup. None of the patients with MRIs coded as BI-RADS 1, 2, or 3 was diagnosed with malignancy immediately after presentation or during the 2-year follow-up period. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI for the detection of malignancy were 100 % (11 of 11) and 68 % (54 of 80), respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 37 and 100 %, respectively. MRI is a valuable additional diagnostic tool for the evaluation of pathologic nipple discharge when conventional imaging is negative. A negative MRI in this symptomatic population may obviate the need for duct exploration and excision.
Molecular kin estimation from eggs in the threatened Gulf sturgeon.

Molecular kin estimation from eggs in the threatened Gulf sturgeon By E. V. Saarinen*, J. H. Flowers , W. E Pine III, F. Parauka and J. D. Austin Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; School of Forest Resources & Conservation, Program in Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Panama City Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Panama City, FL, USA
Computational requirements for media signal processing

Media signal processing is characterized by high computing power and a great deal of parallelism on low precision data, which usually consists of simple integers with 8, 12, or 16 bits of precision. Efficient processing of media signals requires modifications of the traditional data-path found in general purpose processors. In this paper, we address those differences and propose adequate solutions for efficient implementation of datapath that support main classes of media instructions.
Effects of the Flood of 1993 on the Chemical Characteristics of Bed Sediments in the Upper Mississippi River

Concentrations of pollutants stored in the surficial bed sediments in the navigation pools of the Upper Mississippi River showed a general decrease after the record flood of 1993. Percent clay and total organic carbon in the surficial sediments decreased as a result of an increase in the proportion of coarser sediment. Decreases in pollutant concentration may have been a result of the dilution by coarser and relatively less polluted sediment that was mobilized and transported into the Upper Mississippi River from its tributaries or from mainstem locations upstream but outside of the sampling area.
RuleBAM: a rule-based framework for business activity management

This paper describes a rule-based framework for business activity management called RuleBAM. It is a novel framework whose objective is to support the requirements of dynamic monitoring and control of business applications using policies and rules. RuleBAM is composed of a customized assemblage of built-time and run-time technologies that include business rules and application modeling tools, code generators, transformation services, rules engines, business integration adaptors and Web services. Business activity management (BAM) polices are used to define the requirements of RuleBAM systems and business rules are exploited as execution platform for BAM policies. Taken as a whole, these form a new method of using business rules to enable business activity management. A case study is also presented in this paper.
Innate Immunity in the Human Female Reproductive Tract: Antiviral Response of Uterine Epithelial Cells to the TLR3 Agonist Poly(I:C)

The objective of this study was to examine the expression of TLR by human primary uterine epithelial cells (UEC) and to determine whether exposure to the TLR agonist poly(I:C) would induce an antiviral response. The secretion of several cytokines and chemokines was examined as well as the mRNA expression of human beta-defensin-1 and -2 (HBD1 and HBD2), IFN-beta, and the IFN-beta-stimulated genes myxovirus resistance gene 1 and 2',5' oligoadenylate synthetase. The expression of TLR1-9 by UEC was demonstrated by RT-PCR, with only TLR10 not expressed. Stimulation of UEC with the TLR3 agonist poly(I:C) induced the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6, GM-CSF, and G-CSF, as well as the chemokines CXCL8/IL-8, CCL2/MCP-1, and CCL4/MIP-1beta. In addition, poly(I:C) exposure induced the mRNA expression of HBD1 and HBD2 by 6- and 4-fold, respectively. Furthermore, upon exposure to poly(I:C) UEC initiated a potent antiviral response resulting in the induction of IFN-beta mRNA expression 70-fold and myxovirus resistance gene 1 and 2',5' oligoadenylate synthetase mRNA expression (107- and 96-fold), respectively. These results suggest that epithelial cells that line the uterine cavity are sensitive to viral infection and/or exposure to viral dsRNA released from killed epithelial cells. Not only do UEC release proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines that mediate the initiation of an inflammatory response and recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection, but they also express beta-defensins, IFN-beta, and IFN-beta-stimulated genes that can have a direct inhibiting effect on viral replication.
Earth Islands: Darwin and Melville in the Galapagos

A Thinking Path In the fall of 1842, Charles and Emma Darwin plucked their family from the crowded environs of London and moved sixteen miles southwest to the village of Down, in Kent. "I shall become a Kentish hog," Darwin told his scientific friends, with great satisfaction. The new home was a rambling vic arage, a bit "oldish & ugly," Darwin noted, but it had a large well-treed yard and nearby fields that led to open walks on the Northern Downs. In Kent and Sussex, a down (from Old English dun, hill) is a dune composed of chalk, a fine-grained limestone that crushes easily. Once covered with old-growth forest, the Downs were later cleared for farming; Darwin's new landscape was lightly fringed with trees, but as smooth and rolUng as any summer sea. An American visitor today might recall the prairies, with greater elevation, or the "palouse" country of buried dunes along the Idaho-Oregon border. At sunrise and sunset the backUt Downs most resemble islands, each mounded slope a gray tumulus in the green English countryside. On the ground floor of Down House, Darwin set up a large study to hold his papers and collections, then began to write about his globe-circling voy age on the HMS Beagle in 1831-36. A man of routine habits and chronic indigestion, he soon estabUshed a daily ritual. After breakfast he walked through a back garden and across a pasture, planted in hay or clover. His journey followed a path, known as "the sand walk," that wound up and over the Downs, then descended through thick woods, before returning to Down House along a hedge-lined field. A single 40-minute circuit passed through varying scenes, from open and cultivated to tangled and wild, rising to a prospect of country before descending to the snug confines of garden and desk. The purpose of this rite was to obtain exercise, to settle his dyspepsia (a problem ever since the Beagle voyage), and to ponder the day's writing. Dar win called his route "my thinking path," and it clearly stimulated his mind. Well-versed in the new geology of Cuvier and Lyell, he knew that to build
LU Factorization: Towards Hiding Communication Overheads with a Lookahead-Free Algorithm

Lookahead is a well-known technique for masking communication in matrix factorization, but at the cost of complicating application software. We present a new approach, based on automated code-restructuring, that realizes the benefits of lookahead while avoiding the complications. We apply our technique to HPL, the Linpack benchmark used to assess the performance of supercomputers. Starting with the simpler non-lookahead version of the application, we are able to meet the performance of lookahead on the Stampede mainframe.
A 12 bits/200 MHz resolution/sampling/power-optimized ADC in 0.25 /spl mu/m SiGe BiCMOS

Design of a resolution/sampling-rate/power-optimized analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in a foundry 0.25 /spl mu/m SiGe BiCMOS for digital communications is presented. It is based on a combined four-stage multi-bit pipelined, subranging and interpolating architecture with novel digital correction technique. The expanded subranging structure along with the proposed multiple MDAC (multiplying DAC) and relative comparison method used in sub ADC simplifies the 2/sup nd/ and 3/sup rd/ stages. The ADC features 12 bit resolution, 200 MHz sampling rate, differential nonlinearity (DNL) of /spl plusmn/0.6 LSB, integral nonlinearity (INL) of /spl plusmn/1.1 LSB, power dissipation of 380 mW and a die size of 6 mm/sup 2/.
The effects of an insecticide stress on genetic composition and population dynamics of a population of feral Mus musculus.

Abstract 1. A feral population of Mus musculus was placed in 8 quarter-acre enclosures, equally divided into test and control grids; treated mice were exposed to a total of 8.8 kg of the carbamate insecticide Sevin. 2. Chi-square values indicated no significant allele frequency changes in serum esterase loci ES-2 and ES-5 between pre-and post-spray populations. 3. The mean number of captures per trapping date showed that test populations were significantly larger but fluctuated more than those in control grids; percent survival was slightly better in test grids. 4. Significant differences in population growth or genetic variation of Mus musculus cannot be attributed to the application of Sevin.
Thermally Stimulated Discharge Currents from Polyacrylonitrile

Abstract Electrical polarizations in as-cast and electrically polarized films of stretched and unstretched polyacrylonitrile have been measured with the thermally stimulated discharge technique. Preferential orientation of nitrile side groups in polarized specimens is inferred from birefringence and x-ray diffraction experiments, but the contribution of observed persistent electrical polarization appears to be small. The major contribution is concluded as being due to trapped space charges, some part of which may be associated with residual solvent molecules. Small ordered regions within polyacrylonitrile are expected to play a role in development of each contribution to final persistent electrical polarization.
Flow in the Stenotic Carotid Bifurcation

The carotid artery bifurcation is prone to the development of atherosclerotic plaques, and is a site where the consequences of this development can be severe. The most immediate effects are changes in lumenal cross-section, volumetric blood flow, and forces on the wall. The end result may be plaque rupture, possibly resulting in a stroke. Plaque development, and plaque rupture, are likely both strongly influenced by the changes of the shear stress, and possibly normal stress, at the artery wall [1]. Numerical simulations of the flow in the carotid bifurcation can elucidate the influence of the flow on the plaque and vice versa. The irregular geometries of severely stenotic vessels make numerical modeling of these flows particularly challenging [2, 3]. We describe simulations in fully three-dimensional, realistic geometries under steady and pulsatile flow conditions.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
YIELD AND QUALITY OF CATSUP PRODUCED TO A STANDARD SOLIDS AND CONSISTENCY LEVEL II. INFLUENCE OF HANDLING PRACTICES, BREAK TEMPERATURE AND CULTIVAR

Consistency and serum separation were found to be unrelated quality attributes. When consistency was standardized to a given Bostwick level serum separation varied from none to considerable. Consistency was found to be directly dependent upon the fraction of water insoluble solids (WIS) of the total solids (TS) of the tomato pulp used. Serum separation was found to depend upon the break system employed. Retention of at least 80% of the tomatoes' original serum viscosity was required for minimal serum flow. The data suggested that serum separation best measures quality, whereas the percentage of water insoluble solids in the total solids of a pulp determines the ratio of tomato solids to sugar required to achieve a standardized consistency level, which makes this ratio a measure of yield. The data also indicate that automation of catsup making is possible provided the “yield factor” is determined by the method described, or the water insoluble solids and total solids contents of the pulp are known beforehand.
Early generation selection at multiple locations may identify potato parents that produce more widely adapted progeny

Potato production in the eastern United States occurs over a wide range of environments from Maine to Florida; many of these states do not have a breeding program. Initial selections are usually made at the breeding location for more than 2 years before undergoing evaluation elsewhere, at which point, few clones remain from the original population. The purpose of this study was to determine if parents that produce progeny with broad adaptation could be identified early in the USDA/ARS Potato Breeding Program. For 3 years (2007–2009), seed of all second field generation clones was distributed to five locations for selection. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, selections were made among 339, 321, and 381 clones, respectively. For each parent in each year, Chi-square values were calculated from the observed and expected number of progeny selected. Each year, parents that produced poorly- or broadly-adapted offspring were identified. Among the progeny selected at three or more locations, 27 to 70 % had not been selected by the breeding program. Early generation selection can be used to identify parents that produce broadly adapted progeny and may identify broadly adapted progeny before they are discarded by the breeding program. Because potatoes display such strong genotype × environment interactions, this selection approach may be particularly beneficial for selecting potato cultivars with broad adaptation.
The impact of new accreditation and certification standards for secondary computer science teachers on university computer science departments

The establishment of accreditation and certification standards for secondary computer science teachers has been taking place over the past 5 years. The ACM has taken the lead in developing certification standards for adoption by states and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has taken the lead in developing national accreditation standards for teacher preparation programs through affiliation with NCATE, the accrediting body for professional education units in the USA. The impact of institutionalizing these new standards is discussed, and the role that university computer science departments should now take in the teacher preparation process is described.
Carbon monoxide substitution of anionic and neutral (η5-dicarbollyl)Rh(CO)2 with phosphines and phosphites: a kinetic and mechanistic study of ring slippage as compared to (η5-C5H5)Rh(CO)2

Abstract Anionic rhodacarborane isomers of the type [closo-3,3-(CO)2-3,1,2-Rh(η5-C2B9H11)]− (1), [closo-3,3-(CO)2-3,1,7-Rh(η5-C2B9H11)]− (2), and the charge-compensated derivative closo-3,3-(CO)2-4-(C5H5N)-3,1,2-Rh(η5-C2B9H10) (3) are described. Their CO substitution reactions with phosphorus ligands were found to follow a second-order rate law. The relative rates for the reactions decrease in the order 3 ⪢ 1 > 2 , with activation parameters of ΔH# = 10.2, 11.6, 16.5 kcal mol−1 and ΔS# = −31, −36, −26 cal mol−1 K−1, respectively. These reactions are believed to occur by associative pathways similar to the η5→η3→η5 ring-slippage mechanism proposed for CO substitution of (η5-C5H5)Rh(CO)2 with the relative rates of reaction decreasing in the order 3 >(η 5 - C 5 H 5 ) Rh ( CO ) 2 > 1 . Detailed kinetic data are presented and mechanisms of reaction are discussed.
Cosmic-Ray Negatron and Positron Spectra Between 12 and 220 MeV

The interplanetary negatron and positron spectra from 12 to 220 MeV have been determined with a balloon-borne magnetic spectrometer. The observed charge ratio e^+(e^+ + e^−)≈0.3 indicates that the flux most likely consists of a mixture of "primary" negatrons and interstellar "secondary" negatrons and positrons. We deduce an absolute solar modulation of the interstellar positron flux which decreases with decreasing magnetic rigidity below about 80 MV.
Tonic in vivo inhibition of rabbit myometrial adrenergic receptors.

With the development of radioligand binding assays for identifying hormone receptors directly, it has become evident that the number of receptors in a particular cell or tissue does not remain constant but can in fact, be regulated by a variety of agents1. Receptor concentrations decrease with exposure to homologous hormone (called densitization or down-regulation) but may be affected differently by heterologous hormones. Thus in the adrenergic contractile response of rabbit myometrium, mediated by α-adrenergic receptors2, the concentration of α-adrenergic receptors is regulated by sex steroids3,4. This oestrogen treatment increases the concentration of myometrial α-adrenergic receptors approximately threefold over that measured in myometrium from immature rabbits, and, furthermore, is accompanied by an increased contractile response to catecholamines5. We report here that, after 24 h in organ culture. rabbit myometrium is more sensitive to α-adrenergic stimulation in vitro, and that particulate fractions prepared from cultured myometrium have a threefold increase in αadrenergic receptors but not β-adrenergic receptors when compared with myometrium that has not been cultured. Our results suggest that the myometrium α-adrenergic receptor, in addition to being regulated by oestrogen, seems to be under tonic inhibitory control in vivo and that this control may only in part be accounted for by catecholamines.
Inverted urothelial papilloma: is ploidy, MIB-1 proliferative activity, or p53 protein accumulation predictive of urothelial carcinoma?

Inverted urothelial papilloma is an unusual neoplasm of the urinarytract. Although the association between inverted urothelial papilloma and urothe-lial carcinoma is not entirely clear, many studies indicate that patients withinverted papilloma are at increased risk for the development of urothelial carci-noma. In addition, aneuploid inverted papillomas have been associated with thesubsequent development of urothelial carcinoma. The objective of this study wasto determine whether ploidy, MIB-1 proliferative activity, or p53 protein staining ininverted papilloma were predictive of urothelial carcinoma.
Instream flow and cottonwood growth in the eastern Sierra Nevada of California, USA

Dendro-ecological studies indicated that radial growth of Populus trichocarpa was significantly related to annual streamflow at 20 riparian sites in the eastern Sierra Nevada of California. The strength of the relationship varied among sites, depending on geomorphology and tree cover. The strongest correlation between streamflow and tree growth occurred at sites in wide, unconfined valleys, where alluvial groundwater typically fluctuates directly with surface water. In such areas, trees on streambanks and in the floodplain showed equally strong relationships between flow and growth. In narrow mountain canyons, relationships between tree growth and streamflow were weaker and showed more within-site variability. Streambank trees in the canyon settings generally showed stronger relationships with streamflow than did floodplain trees. These data suggest that P. trichocarpa trees in confined canyons, in comparison with those in wide alluvial valleys, may rely to a greater extent on water sources that are not in direct hydraulic connection with surface water. Flow-growth models were also stronger at sites where tree basal area and density were low, including sites where flow diversion has caused tree mortality. Sparse tree cover may allow for a greater expression of flow-growth relationships by minimizing the effects of competition for light and other resources, and allowing for greater control of growth by abiotic rather than biotic factors.
Dynamic flight modeling of a multi-mode flying wing quadrotor aircraft

As the demand for versatile and efficient aerial vehicles increases, the limits of current aerial vehicles become more apparent. There is a necessity for autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) which can execute tasks that no manned aircraft has the ability to perform. This paper focuses on vertical take off and landing (VTOL) hybrids, a category of UAVs that encompasses features from both VTOL rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft. While there is a multitude of unique UAVs that can perform specific tasks, an effective autonomous UAV is one that retains the versatility of VTOL and the efficiency of a winged aircraft. The research presented demonstrates the navigation, guidance, and transition modeling of a VTOL hybrid. The research presented focuses heavily on the future of navigation models concerning this vehicle, where the full potential of a VTOL hybrid will be most useful in real world situations. The models developed are low fidelity to focus on the development of a navigation algorithm.
Identification and evaluation of centrilobular opacities on high-resolution CT

Abnormal findings on high-resolution CT that are localized to the centrilobular region imply primary disease of the small airways or primary peribronchiolar or perivascular pathology. We review methods of localizing abnormal opacity to the centrilobular region and discuss differential diagnostic considerations for centrilobular disease. Straightforward ways to differentiate between primary small-airways disease and peribronchiolar or perivascular conditions are also emphasized. Although perilymphatic disorders can also be associated with centrilobular opacities, these conditions have a distinctive appearance that warrants separate categorization; distinguishing characteristics of perilymphatic disorders with respect to the centrilobular conditions are discussed.
A variable myopathy associated with heterozygosity for the R503C mutation in the carnitine palmitoyltransferase II gene

Adult-onset carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by muscle pain and stiffness with rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria in severe cases. Exercise, fasting, viral infection, anesthesia, or extremes in temperature may trigger symptoms. A 54-year-old woman exhibited a 35-year history of progressive weakness and myopathic symptoms. CPT II activity in the patient's lymphoblasts, cultured skin fibroblasts, and skeletal muscle was reduced to 47, 43, and 13% of normal, respectively. Respiratory chain enzymes were also reduced in muscle ranging from 22 to 49% of their respective normal reference means. beta-oxidation enzymes in fibroblasts ranged from 29 to 63% of normal. The patient, her father, and her 26-year-old son were all heterozygous for the R503C mutation. The patient's son has a lifelong history of myopathic symptoms while his grandfather only had mild weakness during childhood. Analysis of the V368I and M647V polymorphisms in the CPT2 gene showed that the mutant allele is linked to 368I and 647M in this family and that the normal allele is linked to 647V in the affected patient and her son, and to 647M in the patient's father. While the variability in CPT2 gene haplotypes may contribute to the phenotypic complexities in this family, it is also possible that an additional gene defect in the transport of mitochondrial proteins contributes to the complex phenotype in the patient. We present biochemical and molecular evidence for vertical transmission of a variable myopathy caused by heterozygosity for a single mutation, R503C, in the CPT2 gene.