cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lifetime Earnings in the United States over Six Decades

Using panel data on individual earnings histories from 1957 to 2013, we document empirical facts about the distribution of lifetime earnings in the United States. First, from the cohort that entered the labor market in 1957 to the cohort that entered in 1983, median lifetime earnings of men declined by 10%–19%. Moreover, there was little-to-no rise in the lower three-quarters of the male lifetime earnings distribution during this period. Accounting for rising employer-provided health and pension bene- fits partly mitigates these findings but does not alter the substantive conclusions. For women, median lifetime earnings increased by 22%–33% from the 1957 to the 1983 cohort, but these gains were relative to the very low median lifetime earnings for the early cohorts. Much of the difference between newer and older cohorts comes from differences in median earnings at the time of labor market entry. Second, inequality in lifetime earnings has increased significantly within each gender group, but the closing lifetime gender gap has kept overall lifetime inequality virtually flat over the entire period. The increase among men is largely attributable to subsequent cohorts enter- ing the labor market with progressively higher levels of inequality, and not so much to faster inequality growth over the life cycle for newer cohorts. Partial life-cycle earnings data for younger cohorts indicate that both the stagnation of median lifetime earnings and the rise in lifetime inequality are likely to continue.
Ileal Derived Organoids From Crohn’s Disease Patients Show Unique Transcriptomic and Secretomic Signatures

Background & Aims We used patient-derived organoids (PDOs) to study the epithelial-specific transcriptional and secretome signatures of the ileum during Crohn’s disease (CD) with varying phenotypes to screen for disease profiles and potential druggable targets. Methods RNA sequencing was performed on isolated intestinal crypts and 3-week-old PDOs derived from ileal biopsies of CD patients (n = 8 B1, inflammatory; n = 8 B2, stricturing disease) and non-inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) controls (n = 13). Differentially expressed (DE) genes were identified by comparing CD vs control, B1 vs B2, and inflamed vs non-inflamed. DE genes were used for computational screening to find candidate small molecules that could potentially reverse B1and B2 gene signatures. The secretome of a second cohort (n = 6 non-IBD controls, n = 7 CD, 5 non-inflamed, 2 inflamed) was tested by Luminex using cultured organoid conditioned medium. Results We found 90% similarity in both the identity and abundance of protein coding genes between PDOs and intestinal crypts (15,554 transcripts of 19,900 genes). DE analysis identified 814 genes among disease group (CD vs non-IBD control), 470 genes different between the CD phenotypes, and 5 false discovery rate correction significant genes between inflamed and non-inflamed CD. The PDOs showed both similarity and diversity in the levels and types of soluble cytokines and growth factors they released. Perturbagen analysis revealed potential candidate compounds to reverse B2 disease phenotype to B1 in PDOs. Conclusions PDOs are similar at the transcriptome level with the in vivo epithelium and retain disease-specific gene expression for which we have identified secretome products, druggable targets, and corresponding pharmacologic agents. Targeting the epithelium could reverse a stricturing phenotype and improve outcomes.
FDG PET metabolic signatures distinguishing prodromal DLB and prodromal AD.

Abstract Background and Purpose Patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are characterized by hypometabolism in the parieto–occipital cortex and the cingulate island sign (CIS) on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET. Whether this pattern of hypometabolism is present as early as the prodromal stage of DLB is unknown. We investigated the pattern of hypometabolism in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who progressed to probable DLB compared to MCI patients who progressed to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia and clinically unimpaired (CU) controls. Methods Patients with MCI from the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center who underwent FDG PET at baseline and progressed to either probable DLB (MCI-DLB; n = 17) or AD dementia (MCI-AD; n = 41) during follow-up, and a comparison cohort of CU controls (n = 100) were included. Results Patients with MCI-DLB had hypometabolism in the parieto-occipital cortex extending into temporal lobes, substantia nigra and thalamus. When compared to MCI-AD, medial temporal and posterior cingulate metabolism were preserved in patients with MCI-DLB, accompanied by greater hypometabolism in the substantia nigra in MCI-DLB compared to MCI-AD. In distinguishing MCI-DLB from MCI-AD at the maximum value of Youden’s index, CIS ratio was highly specific (90%) but not sensitive (59%), but a higher medial temporal to substantia nigra ratio was both sensitive (94%) and specific (83%). Conclusion FDG PET is a potential biomarker for the prodromal stage of DLB. A higher medial temporal metabolism and CIS ratio, and lower substantia nigra metabolism have additive value in distinguishing prodromal DLB and AD.
Improving MATLAB's isprime performance without arbitrary-precision arithmetic.

MATLAB is a numerical computing platform used by scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and students which contains many mathematical functions, including isprime. MATLAB's isprime function determines which elements of an input array are prime. This research details modular arithmetic techniques, the Miller-Rabin primality test, vectorized operations, and division-minimizing strategies which harness the power of MATLAB's capabilities to improve isprime's performance. The results are typically 5 to 10 times faster for small integers and many hundreds of times faster for large integers and long arrays.
Reflexivity: A Source-Book in Self-Reference

Introduction: The Role of Reflexivity in Understanding Human Understanding (S.J. Bartlett). Semantical Self-Reference. Paradox (W.V. Quine). The Theory of Types (P. Weiss). A System which can Define its own Truth (J. Myhill). Heterologicality (G. Ryle). Some Reflections on Reflexivity (J. Jorgenson). On Non-translational Semantics (R.M. Martin). Languages in Which Self-Reference is Possible (R.M. Smullyan). On a Family of Paradoxes (A.N. Prior). A Note on Self-Referential Statements (N. Rescher). Towards a Solution to the Liar Paradox (R.L. Martin). Presupposition, Implication and Self-Reference (B.C. van Fraassen) Pragmatical Self-Reference. Pragmatic Paradoxes (D.J. O'Connor). Mr. O' Connor's "Pragmatic Paradoxes" (L.J. Cohen). Pragmatic Paradoxes (P. Alexander). Fugitive Propositions (A. Duncan-Jones). Pragmatic Paradoxes and Fugitive Propositions (D.J. O'Connor). Pragmatic Implication (C.K. Grant). On Self-Reference (W.D. Hart). Metalogical Self-Reference. Self-Reference in Philosophy (F.B. Fitch). Universal Metalanguages for Philosophy (F.B. Fitch). The Idea of a Metalogic of Reference (S.J. Bartlett). Referential Consistency as a Criterion of Meaning (S.J. Bartlett) Computational Self-Reference. First Order Theories of Individual Concepts and Propositions (J. McCarthy). Foundations of a Functional Approach to Knowledge Representation (H.J. Levesque). A Computational Theory of Belief Introspection (K. Konolige). Languages with Self-Reference, I: Foundations (D. Perlis). Languages with Self-Reference, II: Knowledge, Belief, and Modality (D. Perlis). Self-Referential Argumentation. Cosmic Necessities (P. Weiss). On the Self-Reference of a Meaning Theory (R.J. Richman). Argumentation and Inconsistency (H.W. Johnstone, Jr.). On Self-Reference and a Puzzle in Constitutional Law (A. Ross). Self-Referential Inconsistency, Inevitable Falsity and Metaphysical Argumentation (J.M. Boyle, Jr.). Index.
Micromechanical Structure With Stable Linear Positive And Negative Stiffness

We introduce a novel micromechanical structure that exhibits two regions of stable linear positive and negative stiffness. Springs, cantilevers, beams and any other geometry that display an increasing return force that is proportional to the displacement can be considered to have a “Hookean” positive spring constant, or stiffness. Less well known is the opposite characteristic of a reducing return force for a given deflection, or negative stiffness. Unfortunately many simple negative stiffness structures demonstrate either unstable buckling which can require extraneous moving constraints during deflection, so as not to deform out of useful shape, or are highly nonlinear such as the disk cone spring. In MEMS, buckling caused by stress at the interface of silicon and thermally grown SiO2 causes tensile and compressive forces that will warp structures if the silicon layer is thin enough. The structure presented here utilizes this effect but overcomes its limitations and empirically demonstrates linearity in both regions. The structure is manufactured using only common micromachining techniques and can be made in situ with other devices.
Catecholamines and the control of prolactin secretion in humans.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the normal physiology of prolactin secretion in humans. The chapter mentions the role of catecholamines in terms of studies with pharmacological agents that deplete or antagonize cerebral catecholamines, such as phenothiazines, as well as studies with L-3,C dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA). The existence of prolactin in human blood, for so long a matter of speculation, is firmly established within the last three years by the development of bioassay systems sensitive enough to be applied to unextracted human plasma, and the demonstration that the material so measured is immunologically distinct from growth hormone. The subsequent isolation of the human hormone from pituitary glands has permitted the development of a homologous radioimmunoassay. The recent development of bioassay and radioimmunoassay techniques has confirmed the existence of a human prolactin and has opened a new field of physiologic studies. Some of the recently identified physiological and pharmacological factors affecting prolactin secretion in man are also discussed in the chapter.
Bootstrapping Credit Curves from CDS Spread Curves

We present a simple procedure to construct credit curves by bootstrapping a hazard rate curve from observed CDS spreads. The hazard rate is assumed constant between subsequent CDS maturities. In order to link survival probabilities to market spreads, we use the JP Morgan model, a common market practice. We also derive approximate closed formulas for "cumulative" or "average" hazard rates and illustrate the procedure with examples from observed credit curves.
Comparison of Airbag-Aggressivity Predictors in Relation to Forearm Fractures

The paper reports on a study that used 4 unembalmed human cadavers in 8 direct forearm airbag interaction static deployments to assess the relative aggressivity of two different airbag modules. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the forearm predictors, peak and average distal forearm speed to the incidence of transverse, oblique, and wedge fractures of the radius and ulna. Also measured were the internal airbag pressure and axial column loads.
Human-centered robotics and haptic interaction: from assistance to surgery, the emerging applications

Robots are moving towards applications beyond the structured environment of a manufacturing plant, making their way into the everyday world that people inhabit. The discussion focuses on the models, strategies, and algorithms associated with the basic capabilities needed for robots to work, interact, and cooperate with humans. In addition to the new capabilities they bring to the physical robot, these models and algorithms and more generally the overall body of developments in robotics is making a significant impact on the virtual world. Tactile or haptic interaction with an accurate dynamic simulation provides unique insights into the real-world behaviors of physical systems. The potential applications of this emerging technology include virtual prototyping, animation, surgery, teleoperation, cooperative work, and education among many others.
The neural network control application in a power plant boiler

Two neural networks are used in the control of power plant boiler throttle pressure and megawatt load, where one network acts as an emulator, and the other as a controller. The learning scheme is a two-phase procedure in which the first involves training the emulator in mapping the plant dynamics and the second to train a controller network to learn the desired performance using a backpropagation algorithm and minimize plant output error cost function. This example illustrates the potential application of neural network technique in the power plant control area.
Grow a Spine, Have a Heart: Responding to Patient Requests for Marginally Beneficial Care.

The lack of policies for fair allocation of medical resources in the US obliges physicians to discuss marginally beneficially care with patients and to act collectively toward development of such policies; it does not justify their taking rationing decision into their own hands at the bedside.
A new method for the estimation of diffusive resistance of leaves

Abstract The measurement of diffusive resistance in leaves is a difficult task, and is frequently accomplished with diffusion porometers. A new energy budget method is shown, where the internal diffusive resistance, the aerodynamic resistance, and the absorbed radiation may be estimated using the temperature of three leaves, the air temperature, and the relative humidity or vapor pressure deficit. Of the three leaves, one is coated with a substance impervious to water, one with water, and one is left uncoated. Absorbed solar irradiances in the 400 to 1100 nm wavelength region for coated leaves were within 2% and 6% of uncoated leaves for adaxial and abaxial surfaces, respectively. The methodology was tested on soybean plants with diffusion porometry used as a reference. The results showed a good correspondence between the two methods, with only as much scatter as reported in inter-porometer comparisons. The method presented here may be developed for automatic unattended operation.
Evolving discrete coefficient modified filter banks

A hybrid Evolutionary algorithm using Evolutionary Programming (EP) and Genetic algorithms (GA), is proposed for the design of hardware efficient discrete coefficient modified filter banks. The proposed hybrid algorithm has improved convergence compared to the convergence provided by the two techniques individually. The filter coef-ficients are expressed as a sum of powers of two. Design examples are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm
Not all fat is equal: differential gene expression and potential therapeutic targets in subcutaneous adipose, visceral adipose, and endometrium of obese women with and without endometrial cancer.

Objective To identify obesity-related cancer genes in endometrial and adipose tissue depots of body mass index–matched morbidly obese women with and without endometrial cancer. Methods Eight women undergoing hysterectomy (4 women with and 4 women without endometrial cancer) were matched by age (52.6 years) and body mass index (44.5 kg/m2). Endometrium, visceral adipose tissue, and subcutaneous adipose tissue were collected and subjected to microarray analysis using Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Arrays. Gene set enrichment analysis used to extract biological information from the gene expression data and t test metric ranked and compared genes in the expression data set. Protein expression was measured in the endometrial samples, and serum was collected for hormone/metabolite assays. Results No significant differences were detected in hormone/metabolite levels between groups. Gene set enrichment analysis comparisons demonstrated that endometrial, visceral adipose and subcutaneous adipose tissues displayed 40, 47, and 38 alternatively regulated gene set pathways when comparing patients with and without cancer. Nineteen gene sets were alternately regulated in both visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues; however, eighteen of these were regulated in the opposite direction. Five pathways were significantly and alternately regulated in all 3 tissue types and included glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, ribosome, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor signaling, pathogenic Escherichia coli infection, and natural killer–mediated cytotoxicity. In the malignant endometrium, liver kinase B1 underexpression was observed in all patients with cancer. Liver kinase B1 underexpression decreased adenosine monophosphate–activated protein kinase activity toward acetyl-CoA carboxylase and implied enhanced lipid biosynthesis in obesity-induced endometrial cancer. Conclusions Subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue depots have opposite patterns of gene expression in obese patients with and without endometrial cancer. The altered de novo lipogenesis and individual gene targets identified provide new potential targets for cancer treatment and prevention for at-risk obese women.
Cognitive strategies in patients with unilateral temporal lobe excisions

Abstract The performance of patients with surgical excisions of either the left or right temporal lobe and a normal control group was compared on a hypothesis test. Subjects in both temporal lobectomy groups solved fewer problems than controls; and there was no difference in the performance of left and right lobectomy patients. However, analyses of cognitive patterns revealed specific strategies associated with subjects having undergone left temporal lobe excisions. These patients formulated fewer hypotheses than controls and tended to shift from a given hypothesis even when it was indicated to be correct. Conversely, right temporal lobectomy patients tended to retain a given hypothesis which was indicated to be incorrect. The same results were found with and without memory assistance, indicating that these cognitive strategies occur independent of overt memory deficits.
U–Pb calcite age of the Late Permian Castile Formation, Delaware Basin: a constraint on the age of the Permian–Triassic boundary (?)

Abstract Organic-rich calcite laminated with gypsum in the evaporitic, non-fossiliferous Castile Formation of the Delaware Basin, southwest USA, yields a Total Pb/U isochron age of 251.5±2.8 Ma (MSWD=1.3). The Castile Formation is almost certainly Late Permian based on its 87 Sr/ 86 Sr value of 0.706923, identical to the distinct minimum in the late Permian Sr curve. In this paper we explore the potential for using U–Pb calcite ages to date traditionally undatable sections and show how this southern-midcontinent USA (far west Texas and southeast New Mexico) deposit can be correlated to the type section in China. We accept that diagenetic alteration can bias U–Pb results, but the data set we present shows no evidence for such alteration. Clearly with alteration the age we present would represent a minimum age for the Castile Formation. If the age actually dates the Castile Formation then it requires the Permian–Triassic boundary to be younger than 251.5±2.8 Ma.
Sir2 deacetylates histone H3 lysine 56 to regulate telomeric heterochromatin structure in yeast.

Summary At telomeric heterochromatin in yeast, the Sir protein complex spreads from Rap1 sites to silence adjacent genes. This cascade is believed to occur when Sir2, an NAD + -dependent enzyme, deacetylates histone H3 and H4 N termini, in particular histone H4 K16, enabling more Sir protein binding. Lysine 56 of histone H3 is located at the entry-exit points of the DNA superhelix surrounding the nucleosome, where it may control DNA compaction. We have found that K56 substitutions disrupt silencing severely without decreasing Sir protein binding at the telomere. Our in vitro and in vivo data indicate that Sir2 deacetylates K56 directly in telomeric heterochromatin to compact chromatin and prevent access to RNA polymerase and ectopic bacterial dam methylase. Since the spread of Sir proteins is necessary but not sufficient for silencing, we propose that silencing occurs when Sir2 deacetylates H3 K56 to close the nucleosomal entry-exit gates, enabling compaction of heterochromatin.
Differential Predictors of Emotional Distress in HIV-Infected Men and Women

Changes in the AIDS epidemic in many areas of the United States require information about the experience of the growing segment of women afflicted. This study compared patterns of emotional distress between men and women with symptomatic HIV and examined potential predictors of different levels of vulnerability. A sample of 126 low socioeconomic men and women seeking care from HIV treatment centers was surveyed using measures of physical and psychological well-being. Women had more HIV symptoms, poorer functioning, and greater disruptions in physical and psychosocial well-being. Physical health status and optimism were primary predictors of emotional distress in both men and women. More than 50% of men and women had scores indicative of clinical anxiety. Approximately 1 out of 10 had clinically relevant scores for depression. Gender differences may provide potentially useful information for tailoring assessment interventions for emotional distress in people infected with HIV.
Inhibition of protein kinase A activity interferes with long-term, but not short-term, memory of conditioned taste aversions

The present experiments examined whether inhibition of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) activity interferes with conditioned taste aversion (CTA) memories. Rats were centrally infused with the selective PKA inhibitor Rp-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphothioate triethylamine (Rp-cAMPS) before conditioning. Direct infusions of Rp-cAMPS into the amygdala showed no interference with short-term memory but did show significant attenuation of long-term memory and more rapid extinction. Results suggest that PKA activity is involved in the consolidation of long-term memory of CTAs, and that the amygdala may be 1 site that is important for this activity.
Modeling the impact of capillary pressure and air entrapment on fiber tow saturation during resin infusion in LCM

Traditionally, capillary effects have been neglected when modeling the filling stage of Liquid Composite Molding processes. This simplification is justified because the inlet resin pressures are much higher than the capillary pressure. This simplification is also acceptable when impregnating fabrics in which their fiber tows saturate at the same rate as the bulk preform. However, this assumption is questionable for fabrics that exhibit dual scale in which the fiber tows saturate at a much slower rate than the bulk preform. In such cases, the capillary pressure can influence the time to saturate a fiber tow significantly and impact the overall impregnation dynamics. Since the flow front velocity inside the fiber tows is significantly smaller than the flow around them, it is important to include the capillary pressure that may aid the saturation of the tow. In this paper, we modify our existing simulation that can predict the filling of the bulk preform and the saturation of the fiber tows to include the capillary forces at the fiber tow level. Important parameters are identified and grouped in non-dimensional form. A parametric study is conducted to examine the role of these dimensionless parameters on the overall tow saturation levels. The modeling is extended to include the effect of entrapped air inside the tows on the overall saturation of the preform. An experimental technique using the optical properties of vinyl ester and glass fiber was used to qualitatively validate the proposed model.
Study on the Static and Dynamic Characteristics of Linear Rolling Guideway

Linear rolling guides are widely used in the NC machine tool, and usually the NC machine tool's characteristics shall been influenced by the characteristics of the guide greatly. The HSR series of liner rolling guides are taken as the research object of the paper. The methods of constructing the dynamic finite element analysis models are studied. The contact element is applied to simulate the characteristics of junction surfaces during the static characteristic analysis. The spring damping element is applied during the dynamic characteristic analysis. The static stiffness, natural frequencies, modal shapes and other characteristics are obtained by finite element analysis. Then the experiments of linear rolling guide are carried out and verified the model that had been built and calculation results of finite element analysis.
The “Ground Zero mosque”: sacred space and the boundaries of American identity

For much of 2010, plans to develop a multipurpose Islamic center near the site of the 9/11 attacks in Lower Manhattan occasioned an intense nationwide debate. In this study of the “Ground Zero mosque” controversy, we focus on questions of identity and the sacred in the contemporary USA. We argue that the response to the “Ground Zero mosque” illuminates three important phenomena. First, it reveals the dynamics of cultural guardianship among those who opposed Park51, an effort to “preserve” a national identity tightly linked with Christianity (and antithetical to Islam). Second, as illustrated by the rights-based response by defenders of the project, we suggest that the language of liberalism may be insufficient to address a more expansive and complex understanding of the relationship between religion and political identity. And third, the controversy highlights the challenges that remain in the post-9/11 USA for American Muslims, many of whom understood the proposed center as their own, rather conventional...
Elastic Scattering of 188-Mev Electrons from the Proton and the Alpha Particle

The elastic scattering of 188-Mev electrons from gaseous targets of hydrogen and helium has been studied. Elastic profiles have been obtained at laboratory angles between 35\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 138\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The areas under such curves, within energy limits of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.5 Mev of the peak, have been measured and the results plotted against angle. In the case of hydrogen, a comparison has been made with the theoretical predictions of the Mott formula for elastic scattering and also with a modified Mott formula (due to Rosenbluth) taking into account both the anomalous magnetic moment of the proton and a finite size effect. The comparison shows that a finite size of the proton will account for the results and the present experiment fixes this size. The root-mean-square radii of charge and magnetic moment are each (0.74\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.24)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{13}$ cm. In obtaining these results it is assumed that the usual laws of electromagnetic interaction and the Coulomb law are valid at distances less than ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm and that the charge and moment radii are equal. In helium, large effects of the finite size of the alpha-particle are observed and the rms radius of the alpha particle is found to be (1.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm.
Ribosomal RNA cistron number in Nicotiana species and derived haploids

Twelve Nicotiana species, and haploids obtained by anther culture from three of these species, were assayed for the proportion of DNA complementary to ribosomal RNA. No variation was observed in the proportion of DNA coding for ribosomal RNA between diploid and haploid plants within a given species. Wide variation was observed in this proportion between the species with values ranging between 0.068% and 0.43% of the total DNA. No relationship between the proportion of DNA complementary to rRNA and the chromosome number of the species was observed.
Photonic crystals with topological defects

We introduce topological defects to a square lattice of elliptical cylinders. Despite the broken translational symmetry, the long-range positional order of the cylinders leads to a residual photonic band gap in the local density of optical states. However, the band-edge modes are strongly modified by the spatial variation of the ellipse orientation. The $\ensuremath{\Gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}X$ band-edge mode splits into four regions of high intensity and the output flux becomes asymmetric due to the formation of crystalline domains with different orientation. The $\ensuremath{\Gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}M$ band-edge mode has the energy flux circulating around the topological defect center, creating an optical vortex. By removing the elliptical cylinders at the center, we create localized defect states, which are dominated by either clockwise or counterclockwise circulating waves. The flow direction can be switched by changing the ellipse orientation. The deterministic aperiodic variation of the unit cell orientation adds another dimension to the control of light in photonic crystals, enabling the creation of a diversified field pattern and energy flow landscape.
Nondestructive mechanical imaging of carbon nanotubes

Differential ultrasonic force microscopy (d-UFM) has been used to investigate the nanoscale mechanical response of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) synthesized via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). In contrast to earlier studies, MWNTs with relatively high numbers (~ 60) of concentric walls were investigated. Quantitative analysis of the MWNT d-UFM data utilized Si3N4 cantilevered tips and Si substrates as a calibration standard. Initial investigations of the CVD MWNTs through d-UFM revealed a surprisingly large radial indentation modulus compared to Si. Frictional force imaging (FFM) was also carried out on the MWNTs in the presence and absence of an ultrasonic vibration. A FFM contrast reversal was observed between the MWNT and the Si substrate as the static set point force of the AFM cantilever was increased. This is attributed to an increase in the local indentation of the MWNT by the Si3N4 tip.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Subsequent Health Complaints in Elite Athletes

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are linked to myriad health concerns. There is a dearth of research exploring the association of ACEs and health among athletes. Elite athletes are an important population to explore the associations between adversity and health because athletes engage in frequent exercise, which may be associated with resilience. In this study, athletes (N = 304) completed questionnaires about ACEs, somatization, and alcohol and drug use. Researchers utilized objective healthcare data, including medication use, athletic injury, and treatment. Logistic regressions revealed that athletes who self-reported multiple ACEs were at increased risk for self-reported physical health symptoms, alcohol use, and prescription medication use. These findings indicated athletes may not be immune to the negative health effects of childhood adversity.
Feminism, militarism, and attitudes toward the role of women in the military

Attitudes toward the role of women in the military require the reconciliation of two often conflicting beliefs: those toward the roles and rights of women and those toward the military. This article explores the relationships between positive attitudes toward women’s roles throughout society, or feminism, and positive attitudes toward defense spending, or militarism, both with each other and with attitudes toward gender integration in the military. Results of this analysis show there to be a negative relationship between feminism and militarism, a positive relationship between feminism and gender integration, and a negative relationship between militarism and gender integration. The results of multiple regression analysis show that feminism is the strongest predictor of attitudes toward gender integration, while militarism is weak in its predictive ability. The author argues that the issue of women in the military is more one of women’s equality than of national defense and that policy discussions should be structured accordingly.
Vocal cord dysfunction in former World Trade Center (WTC) rescue and recovery workers and volunteers

Background Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is a condition characterized by paradoxical partial adduction of the vocal cords on inspiration. It has been associated with exposures to irritants, as well as with psychological illnesses and conditions. Workers who participated in the recovery of the WTC disaster site were exposed to a large amount of irritants as well as considerable psychological stressors. We describe the clinical characteristics of 10 symptomatic former WTC workers diagnosed with this condition, as well as the frequency of spirometric findings suggestive of variable extrathoracic obstruction. Methods Workers who became symptomatic after their WTC work experience have been evaluated clinically by a multidisciplinary team at an academic medical center. The evaluation included history, physical examination, chest radiograph, blood tests, and pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry in all patients. Additional evaluations and diagnostic tests included otolaryngological evaluation with flexible rhinolaryngoscopy and stroboscopy, gastroenterological and psychiatric evaluations. A randomly selected sample of 172 spirometry results were reviewed for evidence of inspiratory flow limitation. Results Variable extrathoracic obstruction was found in 18.6% of the spirometries. Ten patients were diagnosed with VCD. In addition to symptoms suggestive of co-morbid conditions (particularly rhinitis and acid reflux disease), most of the 10 patients had (1) hoarseness, (2) dyspnea that was not associated with bronchial hyperreactivity, or (3) dyspnea associated with asthma, with either mild bronchial hyperreactivity and/or poor response to asthma treatment. Conclusions VCD appears to be part of the spectrum of airway disorders caused by occupational exposures at the WTC disaster site. Further study of this association is warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:161–165, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Inequalities of power, costs and benefits across geographic scales: the future uses of the Hanford reservation

Abstract Although the United States has a federal system of government, and there are many constituencies which extol and defend local autonomy, there appear to be yet stronger forces and more powerful interests which lead to a pronounced tendency for higher levels of government and wider interests to prevail in conflicts across geographic scales. Reasons for the supremacy of higher levels are discussed theoretically, and then illustrated through an examination of controversies surrounding the future uses of the Hanford nulcear reservation in Washington state.
Template-directed olefin cross metathesis.

A template containing two secondary dialkylammonium ion recognition sites for encirclement by olefin-bearing dibenzo[24]crown-8 derivatives has been used to promote olefin cross metatheses with ruthenium-alkylidene catalysts. For monoolefin monomers, the rates of metatheses and yields of the dimers are both amplified in the presence of the template. Likewise, for a diolefin monomer, the yield of the dimer is enhanced in the presence of the template under conditions where higher oligomers are not formed.
Time-resolved and phase-resolved vibrational spectroscopy by use of step-scan FTIR

Step-scan FT-IR is one of the most versatile and conceptually simple means of applying the power of interferometry to the study of time dependent phenomena. The fundamental advantage of the step-scan method is the separation of the spectral multiplexing from the time domain by collecting the data while the retardation is held constant. This permits impulse- response (time domain, or time-resolved) studies with temporal resolution limited only by the signal strength, detector rise time and speed of the electronics, as well as modulation- demodulation (frequency domain, or phase-resolved) studies at essentially any modulation frequency or by use of multiple simultaneous modulation frequencies, unhindered by the Fourier frequencies of the continuous-scan FT-IR method. In this paper a review of the approaches to the step-scan method is coupled with a report of recent results in the areas of photoacoustic spectral depth profiling and in time-resolved and phase-resolved investigation of the millisecond-to-nanosecond dynamics of liquid crystal and polymer films, as well as of transition metal complexes and heme proteins.
The effectiveness of school-based bullying prevention programs: A systematic review

Abstract Bullying is a social phenomenon. About 30% of school children are involved in bullying as victims, bullies, or bully/victims. The victims of bullying suffer multiple negative consequences, including poor social and academic adjustment, depression, and anxiety. This paper extends Farrington and Ttofi's (2009) meta-analysis of controlled trials of 44 bullying interventions, which suggests that bullying programs are effective in decreasing bullying and victimization. We review controlled trials of bullying interventions published from June, 2009 through April, 2013, focusing on substantive results across 32 studies that examined 24 bullying interventions. Of the 32 articles, 17 assess both bullying and victimization, 10 assess victimization only, and 5 assess bullying only. Of the 22 studies examining bullying perpetration, 11 (50%) observed significant effects; of the 27 studies examining bullying victimization, 18 (67%) reported significant effects. Although the overall findings are mixed, the data suggest that interventions implemented outside of the United States with homogeneous samples are more successful than programs implemented in the United States, where samples tend to be more heterogeneous. Few studies have measured bullying with sufficient precision to have construct validity. Finding strong measures to assess the complex construct of bullying remains a major challenge for the field.
Effects of chronic amitriptyline administration on saliva from the parotid and submandibular glands of the rat.

The effect of prolonged treatment with amitriptyline on the secretory activity of rat salivary glands evoked by parasympathetic nerve stimulation and isoprenaline administration has been studied. Low doses of amitriptyline (10 mg/kg per day for 2 or 4 weeks), did not significantly affect salivary flow evoked by either parasympathetic nerve or isoprenaline stimulation. Higher doses of amitriptyline (50 mg/kg/day for 2 or 4 weeks) however, markedly decreased parasympathetic-evoked salivary secretion (flow and volume) from both parotid and submandibular glands, while isoprenaline-evoked secretions were unaffected. Sodium, potassium, and calcium concentrations of nerve-elicited or isoprenaline-evoked saliva were not significantly altered by amitriptyline treatment. Protein concentration and amylase activity of nerve-elicited parotid saliva were, however, greatly increased by chronic amitriptyline administration. Possible mechanisms for drug-induced increase in nerveelicited salivary protein concentration include changes in cholinergic receptor binding, release of neuropeptides and variations in phosphatidylinositol turnover, which need further study.
Beyond antibiotic selection: concordance with the IDSA guidelines for uncomplicated urinary tract infections

The purpose of this report was to evaluate concordance with the most recent guidelines for the treatment of uncomplicated UTI based on antibiotic selection, dosage, frequency, and duration. A historical review of patients’ medical records at a university-based internal medicine clinic was conducted. When aggregated across antibiotic type, frequency, and duration, overall concordance was 33.96 %. Prescribing concordance for uncomplicated UTI in the local region is suboptimal.
Signal to noise ratio of information in documentation

The signal to noise ratio is a common concept in radio communications and electronic communication in general. For a radio, the static is the noise. Too much static and the storm report gets drowned out, or at least you must listen closely to understand the announcer. Unfortunately, information designers do not posses a clear cut set of techniques available to electrical engineers. For information systems, taking the raw data in a system and deciding what is signal and what is noise proves to be extremely difficult. This paper will examine how the concept of signal to noise ratio can be applied to documentation. It will consider how the need to address different tasks and audience forces compromises on the writer to meet those different needs, when each audience has different definitions of which information constitutes signal and which constitutes noise.
A prospective investigation of the prevalence and prognostic significance of weight loss and changes in body condition in feline cancer patients.

The objectives of this study were to prospectively identify and characterize weight loss and changes in body condition in feline cancer patients and to investigate the prognostic significance of these findings. Fifty-seven cats with neoplasia were evaluated. Body condition was assessed with a nine-point scoring system (BCS) and multiple sites were assessed for muscle and fat mass using four-point scoring systems. Feline cancer patients had a mean BCS of 4.4+/-2.1 kg (1=cachectic, 5=optimal, 9=obese). Fat mass was reduced in both sites assessed in 60% of the patients. Muscle mass was reduced at all three sites assessed in 91% of the patients. Feline cancer patients having a BCS or = 5 (P=0.008).
The quantum traversal times of Nassar and of Jonson

The completely different approaches of Nassar and of Jonson lead to identical expressions for the quantum traversal time. Their result is applied to resonant tunneling through a symmetric double rectangular barrier exactly on resonance, a special case for which the correct result is known, and found to seriously underestimate the average time that the particle is trapped in the quantum well.
Methane dynamics across wetland plant species.

Abstract We examined patterns of methane flux, plant biomass, and microbial methanogenic populations in nine wetland plant species. Methane dynamics varied across plant functional groupings, with patterns distinctive among forbs, clonal dominants, and tussock/clump-forming graminoids. Carex stricta and Scirpus atrovirens showed the highest emissions (31.7 and 20.6 mg CH4-C m−2 h−1), followed by other tussock- or clump-forming graminoids that averaged 11.0 mg CH4-C m−2 h−1 (Scirpus cyperinus, Glyceria striata, and Juncus effusus). The clonal dominants (Phalaris arundinacea and Typha angustifolia) had the lowest methane emissions (1.3 and 3.4 mg CH4-C m−2 h−1) of all seven graminoid species, and the forbs (Mimulus ringens and Verbena hastata) emitted no detectable methane flux from their leaves. In general, methane emissions decreased with greater plant biomass. Terminal restriction fragment analysis (T-RFLP) of archaeal 16S rRNA revealed that the structure of the soil methanogen communities isolated from plant rhizospheres had no effect on methane flux. The relative proportions of the different terminal fragments were not correlated with either methane emissions or plant biomass. Methanogen populations from J. effusus soils were dominated by acetoclastic archaea of the Methanosarcinaceae and Methanosaetaceae families, while all other graminoid soils were colonized primarily by hydrogenotrophic archaea of the Methanobacteriaceae family. The results indicate that plant functional groups and plant biomass are useful in predicting methane flux differences across plant species, while soil methanogen community structure showed no distinguishable patterns.
Monte Carlo tests of autocorrelation

Abstract Barnard's Monte Carlo test procedure can be used to eliminate the problem of the inconclusive region of the Durbin-Watson statistic in an elegant way. In contrast to conventional tests, this procedure can be extended straightforwardly to systems of equations, which is illustrated here for a translog system. An extension to bootstraps, which avoids the normality assumption, is also discussed.
Ibotenate injections into the pre- and parasubiculum provide partial protection against kainate-induced epileptic damage in layer III of rat entorhinal cortex.

Summary: Purpose: A loss of neurons in layer III of the entorhinal cortex (EC) is often observed in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and in animal models of the disorder. We hypothesized that the susceptibility of layer III of the EC to prolonged seizure activity might be mediated by excitatory afferents originating in the presubiculum. Methods: Experiments were designed to ablate the presubiculum unilaterally by focal ibotenate injections and to evaluate the effect of this deafferentation on the vulnerability of EC layer III neurons to the chemoconvulsant kainate (injected systemically 5 days later). Results: After treatment with kainate, 11 of the 15 rats preinjected with ibotenate showed clear-cut, partial neuroprotection in layer III of the EC ipsilateral to the ibotenate lesion. Serial reconstruction of the ibotenate-induced primary lesion revealed that entorhinal neurons were protected only in animals that had lesions in the pre- and parasubiculum, especially in the deep layers (IV–VI). Conclusions: The deep layers of the pre- and parasubiculum appear to control the seizure-induced damage of EC layer III. This phenomenon may be of relevance for epileptogenesis and for the pathogenesis of temporal lobe epilepsy.
Real-time encoding frame rate control for H.263+ video over the Internet

Abstract Most existing H.263+ rate control algorithms, e.g. the one adopted in the test model of the near-term (TMN8), focus on the macroblock layer rate control and low latency under the assumptions of a constant frame rate and through a constant bit rate (CBR) channel. These algorithms do not accommodate the transmission bandwidth fluctuation efficiently, and the resulting video quality can be degraded. In this work, we propose a new H.263+ rate control scheme which supports the variable bit rate (VBR) channel through the adjustment of the encoding frame rate and quantization parameter. A fast algorithm for the encoding frame rate control based on the inherent motion information within a sliding window in the underlying video is developed to efficiently pursue a good tradeoff between spatial and temporal quality. The proposed rate control algorithm also takes the time-varying bandwidth characteristic of the Internet into account and is able to accommodate the change accordingly. Experimental results are provided to demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed scheme.
Instantaneous and noninstantaneous nonlinear effects in femtosecond pulse propagation

Propagation of intense femtosecond pulses in solids and liquids is investigated experimentally and numerically. A brief review of experiments in fused silica that reveal complicated spatio-temporal dynamics including temporal pulse splitting is presented. Experiments in methanol show the expected effects of linear dispersion and an instantaneous Kerr nonlinearity as well as a contribution from a noninstantaneous nonlinearity with a response time on the order of 10 femtoseconds. Propagation in these two systems is modeled using a modified (3 + 1)-dimensional nonlinear Schroedinger equation (NLSE) that includes nonlinear shock and space-time coupling terms and a (1 + 1)-dimensional NLSE that includes a response time of the nonlinear part of the refractive index.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Transmission lines power measurements for the 110 GHz electron cyclotron heating system on DIII-D and gyrotron operational performance

Operational trends for the six-gyrotron electron cyclotron heating system on DIII-D are presented. Losses in the transmission lines were measured and values close to theoretical were attained for one of the lines with the existing components. Improved alignment and reduction of the number of miter bends in the lines will increase the power transmitted through the waveguide to the DIII-D tokamak.