cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A prospective study of low fasting glucose with cardiovascular disease events and all-cause mortality: The Women's Health Initiative.

Abstract Background While there is increasing recognition of the risks associated with hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes, few studies have investigated incident cause-specific cardiovascular outcomes with regard to low fasting glucose in the general population. Objective We hypothesized that low fasting glucose would be associated with cardiovascular disease risk and all-cause mortality in postmenopausal women. Methods To test our hypothesis, we used both continuous incidence rates and Cox proportional hazards models in 17,287 participants from the Women's Health Initiative with fasting glucose measured at baseline. Participants were separated into groups based on fasting glucose level: low ( Results Participants were free of cardiovascular disease at enrollment, had mean age of 62 years, and were 52% Caucasian, 24% African American, 8% Asian, and 12% Hispanic. Median follow-up was 15 years. Graphs of continuous incidence rates compared to fasting glucose distribution exhibited evidence of a weak J-shaped association with heart failure and mortality that was predominantly due to participants with treated diabetes. Impaired and diabetic fasting glucose were positively associated with all outcomes. Associations for low fasting glucose differed, with coronary heart disease (HR = 0.64 (0.42, 0.98)) significantly inverse; stroke (0.73 (0.48, 1.13)), combined cardiovascular disease (0.91 (0.73, 1.14)), and all-cause mortality (0.97 (0.79, 1.20)) null or inverse and not significant; and heart failure (1.27 (0.80, 2.02)) positive and not significant. Conclusions Fasting glucose at the upper range, but not the lower range, was significantly associated with incident cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality.
Romance, Sexual Attraction, and Women’s Political Ambition: Initial Findings from Two Experiments

This study develops and begins to test the hypothesis that considerations of romance and sexual attractiveness may impede women’s expression of political ambition (in the sense of either interest in holding public office or willingness to disclose such interest). As this is a very new area of research, and as the subject is difficult to test, this study does not draw firm conclusions, but the initial data results suggest at least some support for the hypothesis. It does seem from these two experiments that politics makes one less popular as a date or mate choice, and that women who hypothetically hold office would be less likely to reveal that fact to a potential sexual or romantic partner. Further research is needed to both develop the measurements for this exciting new area of study and confirm these initial results.
The RecQ-family helicases

Helicases participate in virtually all processes involving nucleic acid metabolism. Based on sequence analysis of a large number of known and presumptive helicases, this vast group of proteins has been divided into several superfamilies; the sole common sequence motif shared among all superfamilies is a nucleoside binding domain, termed the Walker box (1), a sequence also found in many proteins that do not function as helicases. However, helicases in the two largest families of helicases, termed SF1 and SF2, share seven distinct helicase motifs, and therefore newly discovered members of these two families can typically be identified on the basis of sequence homology. Some proteins that possess helicase motifs nevertheless do not appear to act as helicases - Snf2p in yeast, for example (2, 3). The appropriate substrate for a helicase - DNA duplex, DNA-RNA hybrid, or RNA duplex - must be determined through direct experimentation for each helicase; however such data by itself cannot definitively demonstrate the actual in vivo substrate for a given helicase. Helicases are thought to act as multimers, typically either dimers or hexamers (4).
The Homemaking Trajectories and Challenges of Chinese Immigrants in Canada

This chapter explores the challenges of the Chinese immigrants who make Canada their home in the twenty-first century. After a brief historical overview of the Chinese in Canada and their relationship to present trends in immigration, this chapter examines current aspects of Chinese settlement in Canada. The chapter argues that Chinese Canadians view their new home in complex and multifaceted ways due to the myriad general governmental policies and societal norms. The interaction of Canadian policies and the past and recurring experiences of the immigrants themselves create distinct meanings of home. The chapter highlights the key barriers to their settlement process and sheds lights on the future of the Chinese immigrants in Canada. Many Canadian Chinese, as products of a diaspora, will continue to view their home as consisting of multiple physical, geographical, and cultural locations.
A high-performance connected components implementation for GPUs

Computing connected components is an important graph algorithm that is used, for example, in medicine, image processing, and biochemistry. This paper presents a fast connected-components implementation for GPUs called ECL-CC. It builds upon the best features of prior algorithms and augments them with GPU-specific optimizations. For example, it incorporates a parallelism-friendly version of pointer jumping to speed up union-find operations and uses several compute kernels to exploit the multiple levels of hardware parallelism. The resulting CUDA code is asynchronous and lock free, employs load balancing, visits each edge exactly once, and only processes edges in one direction. It is 1.8 times faster on average than the fastest prior GPU implementation running on a Titan X and faster on most of the eighteen real-world and synthetic graphs we tested.
Molecular Biology of Cushing’s Disease

The proximal molecular pathogenesis of ACTH-secreting pituitary ­adenomas remains enigmatic. Several transgenic mice models have contributed important knowledge to understanding human pituitary disease; animal and cell models have provided novel insights into mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas, mostly due to cell cycle disruption. Defective glucocorticoid feedback mechanisms also likely lead to enhanced POMC expression and corticotroph proliferation. Novel peptide therapies targeting ­somatostatin and/or dopamine (D2) receptors may also provide further insights into ACTH-secreting pituitary tumor pathogenesis. Studies investigating microRNA expression in pituitary corticotroph adenomas point to important functions of a unique class of gene regulators in the molecular biology of Cushing’s disease. Continuing research advancement will lead to better understanding of Cushing’s disease and development of novel therapeutic approaches.
The WHO Growth Curves and US Infants

There are pros and cons for the adoption of the WHO 2006 Growth Charts in the United States, though the American Academy of Pediatrics supports their use for children during the first 2 years of life. Infants included in the CDC 2000 charts received significantly more infant formula (including the period after weaning from the breast) than the infants used to generate the WHO 2006 charts, though initiation rates and duration of breast-feeding in the United States have increased in the last 10 years. A direct comparison between the CDC 2000 and WHO 2006 charts for 0–2 years of age for the prevalence of overweight and shortness is minimized if the recommended CDC and WHO cut points for overweight and shortness are used on their respective growth charts. However, the prevalence for underweight using low weight-for-age is notably lower using the WHO 2006 charts compared to the CDC 2000 charts. There are no advantages to using the WHO 2006 cross-sectional charts from 2 to 5 years of age in US infants, as the CDC 2000 charts compare favorably between 2 and 5 years of age and extend up to age 20 years.
Nondestructive Inspection and Evaluation of Metal Matrix Composites

A review is presented of work performed in our laboratory on the nondestructive inspection of metal matrix composites. In order to obtain damage representative of that which occurs in service, the specimens were mechanically loaded to intermediate load levels below that which causes final, catastrophic failure. Various nondestructive techniques were used both during and after the applied loadings to follow damage initiation and progress.
Influence of an Extreme Environment on the Tensile Mechanical Properties of a 3D Printed Thermoplastic Polymer

Inspired by the concept of deploying 3D printers into the field to produce parts on demand, the purpose of this study is to examine the effects of the environment on a 3D printing apparatus and its ability to produce consistent operative prints. The inelastic deformation behavior of Poly-lactic Acid, a biodegradable thermoplastic, 3D printed in extreme environments was investigated. The experimental program was specifically designed to explore the influence of ambient temperature (25–40 °C) during the printing process on the mechanical performance of the printed material. In order to understand the effects of the printing environment versus general exposure to extreme environments, samples were also printed at 25 °C and subsequently aged in an oven at temperatures ranging from 30 to 40 °C before mechanical testing. All mechanical testing was performed in standard laboratory temperature and humidity. The influence of the print temperature and oven aging on the elastic modulus, yield stress, strain energy, and tensile stress are all compared. In addition, the capacity to accumulate strain before failure is compared.
A Survey on the Moving Target Defense Strategies: An Architectural Perspective

As the complexity and the scale of networks continue to grow, the management of the network operations and security defense has become a challenging task for network administrators, and many network devices may not be updated timely, leaving the network vulnerable to potential attacks. Moreover, the static nature of our existing network infrastructure allows attackers to have enough time to study the static configurations of the network and to launch well-crafted attacks at their convenience while defenders have to work around the clock to defend the network. This asymmetry, in terms of time and money invested, has given attackers greater advantage than defenders and has made the security defense even more challenging. It calls for new and innovative ideas to fix the problem. Moving Target Defense (MTD) is one of the innovative ideas which implements diverse and dynamic configurations of network systems with the goal of puzzling the exact attack surfaces available to attackers. As a result, the system status with the MTD strategy is unpredictable to attackers, hard to exploit, and is more resilient to various forms of attacks. There are existing survey papers on various MTD techniques, but to the best of our knowledge, insufficient focus was given on the architectural perspective of MTD strategies or some new technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT). This paper presents a comprehensive survey on MTD and implementation strategies from the perspective of the architecture of the complete network system, covering the motivation for MTD, the explanation of main MTD concepts, ongoing research efforts of MTD and its implementation at each level of the network system, and the future research opportunities offered by new technologies such as Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Internet of Things (IoT).
Medications for Substance Use and Relapse Prevention

Adolescent substance use disorders (SUDs) are difficult to treat and associated with negative functional and health outcomes. Even with the use of evidence-based psychosocial interventions, many youth drop out of treatment or relapse within 6 months of treatment engagement. Medications for addiction treatment (MAT, formerly known as medication-assisted treatments), or the use of other adjunctive pharmacotherapy in conjunction with psychosocial interventions, have demonstrated effectiveness in improving adult SUD treatment outcomes. Only a few controlled pharmacotherapy trials have been completed in adolescents to date. Results have been mixed, with some medications showing promise and others showing no benefit over psychosocial treatment alone. Nicotine replacement therapy and bupropion for tobacco, N-acetylcysteine for cannabis, and buprenorphine-naloxone for opioid use disorders have shown early promise in improving youth SUD treatment outcomes when combined with psychosocial interventions. Providers may consider trialing addiction pharmacotherapies in youth who fail to improve with psychosocial treatments or who have additional negative prognostic factors.
Performative State-Formation in the Early American Republic:

How do proto-state organizations achieve an initial accumulation of power, such that they are in a position to grow (or shrink) as an organization, maintain their prestige (or lose it), and be view...
Comment on: Non-Cholesterol Sterol Concentrations as Biomarkers for Cholesterol Absorption and Synthesis in Different Metabolic Disorders: A Systematic Review

The use of non-cholesterol sterols as biomarkers for cholesterol metabolism is well established in health-related topics [...].
Biomechanical test protocols to detect minor injury effects in intervertebral discs.

Intervertebral discs (IVDs) maintain flexibility of the spine and bear mechanical load. Annulus fibrosus (AF) defects are associated with IVD degeneration and herniation which disrupt biomechanical function and can cause pain. AF puncture injuries can induce IVD degeneration but are needed to inject therapies. Identifying small AF defects with biomechanical testing can be difficult because IVDs have a complex, composite structure and nonlinear biomechanical properties that are dependent on AF fiber tension. It remains unclear how choice of biomechanical testing protocols affect the sensitivity of biomechanical properties to AF injuries. This study determined whether axial preload or magnitude of cyclic axial or torsional testing affected the ability to detect minor AF defects in rat caudal motion segments using ex vivo biomechanical testing. Intact and injured motion segments were subjected to a repeated measures study design with multiple biomechanical testing protocols that varied axial tension-compression force amplitude (±1.6 N, ±8.0 N, ±16.0 N), axial preload (-1.6 N, -8.0 N, -16.0 N, corresponding to -0.1 MPa, -0.5 MPa, and -1.0 MPa, respectively), and torsional rotation angle (±10°, ±15°, and ±20°). Biomechanical properties obtained from the lowest force testing conditions for axial tension-compression (±1.6 N), axial preload (-1.6 N), and angular rotation (±10°) exhibited the largest differences in biomechanical properties between intact and injured conditions. Biomechanical properties determined under low axial force or torsion amplitudes involve less AF fiber tension and were most sensitive to injury. Low force testing protocols are recommended for detecting minor structural AF defects and may enable more precise assessments of IVD injuries, healing or repair.
Patient-reported outcomes of the relative severity of side effects from cancer radiotherapy

It is not known which side effects (SEs) cancer patients undergoing definitive radiotherapy (RT) perceive as worse than others. Our objectives were to (1) identify the worst SEs in patients receiving definitive RT-predominant treatment using patient-reported outcomes and (2) investigate the prominence of physical SEs relative to psychosocial SEs. In a single-center outpatient radiation oncology clinic, patients were surveyed on the final day of definitive RT. Sixty-seven cards listed SEs (40 physical and 27 psychosocial), and patients ranked the five most severe. Fifteen points were assigned to the top five selected SEs with descending scores of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. Fifty-five patients completed ≥ 4 weeks of RT with or without concurrent chemotherapy and had not received ≥ 4 weeks of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with head and neck and pelvis cancers perceived physical SEs as worse relative to psychosocial SEs; physical SEs filled 78% and 69% of the 15 points, respectively. In breast cancer patients, however, psychosocial SEs filled 45% of the 15 points in breast cancer patients (anxiety, depression, and sequelae), compared to 25% in others (P = 0.007). Affects my work, home duties, a SE not associated with the treatment itself, was the most frequently cited psychosocial SE (20% of cohort) and was ranked ninth overall. Perceptions of SEs of cancer RT are dominated by physical quality of life (QoL) concerns and are influenced by the anatomic area receiving RT. Psychosocial QoL concerns are significantly more frequent in breast cancer patients. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02978846
Ecumenical epistemic instrumentalism

According to extant versions of epistemic instrumentalism, epistemic reasons are instrumental reasons. Epistemic instrumentalism is unpopular. I think it’s just misunderstood. Rather than saying epistemic reasons are instrumental reasons, epistemic instrumentalists should only say that if there is an epistemic reason, there is also an instrumental reason. This is the view I call ecumenical epistemic instrumentalism. In this paper, I first motivate, next sketch, and finally highlight the advantages of this version of epistemic instrumentalism.
The Theory of Electron Attachment to Molecules

In analogy to the lecture on electron-ion recombination, we will focus on the processes of dissodative attachment (DA), $$\text{e + AB} \to \text{AB}^\text{ - } \to \text{A + B}^\text{ - } $$ (1) and three body attachment $$\text{e + AB + C} \to \text{AB}^\text{ - } \text{ + C}$$ (2) where the third body C is usually another molecule.
The health promoting effects of social flourishing in young adults: A broad view on the relevance of social relationships

Abstract Social relationships are important to physical and mental health, but research is largely limited to examining a unitary social relationship construct as related to a few health outcomes. We analyzed data from a survey conducted in a large sample of college students (N = 40,250) from 54 universities across the United States. We compared three constructs of social relationships as measured by the Social Flourishing Scale (1) supportive and rewarding nature of relationships; (2) perception of contributing to other’s happiness and wellbeing; and (3) feeling respected by others to twelve health outcomes. Findings indicate that better perceived social relationships in all three constructs was significantly associated with improved health outcomes for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, suicidality, cigarette use, non-prescription drug use, unhealthy weight, and insufficient sleep adjusted by sociodemographic, educational and social support covariates. However, positive perceived social relationships were significantly associated with binge drinking. Effect sizes indicated that ‘feeling respected by others’ was the most important construct of social relationships relevant to predicting health outcomes.
Robust and LPV Economic Linear Optimal Control

This work investigates how to address box-type uncertainties in economic linear optimal control (ELOC). We consider two methods, a robust formulation for when the uncertainty is completely unknown and a Linear Parameter Varying formulation for when uncertainty can be measured in real time. In both cases, the infinite number of conditions that need to be satisfied are reduced to a finite set of constraints. The resulting problem formulations have similar structure to the ELOC and can be solved globally by employing the generalized Benders decomposition.
Approaches to Aesthetics in Art Education: A Critical Theory Perspective

The ambiguity surrounding what it means to undertake aesthetic study can be profitably used to gain a perspective on art that is lacking in most art education programs. In this paper a brief background on current developments in aesthetics and on how aesthetics consists of contested concepts is followed by a discussion of three approaches to aesthetics: (1) historical, philosophical aesthetics, (2) aesthetic perception and experience, and (3) aesthetic inquiry. A fourth approach consisting of an emphasis on the contested nature of art will be proposed from the perspective of critical theory. This fourth approach entails an examination of assumptions, of taken-for-granted attitudes, and of the social origins and implications of aesthetic theories, values, and designations.
Co-registered ultrasound and acoustic-resolution photoacoustic endoscopy for rectal cancer imaging in a pilot patient study* (Conference Presentation)

Rectal adenocarcinoma is a common cancer in the United States. Current standard of care techniques (colonoscopy and MRI) have notable drawbacks and surgeons have aggressively put most patients into surgical intervention. Developing an efficient and sensitive method to evaluate rectal cancer is urgently needed. Here we have developed a new handheld co-registered ultrasound and acoustic-resolution photoacoustic endoscope (AR-PAE) to evaluate human rectal cancer in vivo. Normal rectal ultrasound images revealed typical layered structure, while photoacoustic images resolved rich vascular supply of submucosa. Our pilot patient data suggest that AR-PAE is effective to distinguish rectal cancer from normal rectum.
Cosmic Ray Spectrum and Composition from Three Years of IceTop and IceCube

The IceCube Observatory includes both a deep in-ice array of 86 strings of sensors, and a surface array of 81 stations of frozen water tank detectors (IceTop). These multiple detectors make it possible to measure different cosmic ray air shower components, and to combine these measurements to determine both the spectrum and composition of cosmic rays. This work focuses on two analyses of 3 years of IceCube/IceTop data, from 2010–2013. In one, IceTop alone is used to measure an all-particle spectrum using an assumed composition model. In the other, coincidence events which trigger both IceTop and IceCube are used to create individual spectra for four different nuclear groups (protons, helium, oxygen, and iron).
Differential susceptibility of white bass (Morone chrysops), striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and hybrid striped bass (M. chrysops × M. saxatilis) to Flavobacterium columnare and effects of mucus on bacterial growth and biofilm development.

Columnaris disease generates substantial losses of many freshwater fish species; one is the hybrid striped bass. The ubiquitous aquatic bacterium Flavobacterium columnare can be highly effective in biofilm formation on fish skin and gills. Previous research showed a difference between columnaris disease susceptibility of hybrid striped bass (Morone saxatilis × M. chrysops) and white bass (M. chrysops). To understand these differential susceptibilities and possible mucosal relationship, we assessed total bacterial growth and biofilm formation with mucus derived from each moronid parental species: white bass and striped bass (M. saxatilis). Differential susceptibility was confirmed of the other parent species, the striped bass (M. saxatilis). In addition to intraspecies investigations, individual hybrid striped bass mucosal affects were also studied for deferential responses to bacterial growth and biofilm formation. Species- and concentration-dependent differences were detected in the total growth of the bacteria to host mucus. Our data suggest that bass mucus can significantly affect biofilm formation with the F. columnare isolate tested. There appears to be a correlation between the bacteria's response of growth and biofilms and bass species susceptibility. This study provides insight into our understanding of the host-pathogen interaction between F. columnare and moronids.
Microenvironmental determinants of organized iPSC-cardiomyocyte tissues on synthetic fibrous matrices

Cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CMs) show great potential for engineering myocardium to study cardiac disease and create regenerative therapies. However, iPSC-CMs typically possess a late embryonic stage phenotype, with cells failing to exhibit markers of mature adult tissue. This is due in part to insufficient knowledge and control of microenvironmental cues required to facilitate the organization and maturation of iPSC-CMs. Here, we employed a cell-adhesive, mechanically tunable synthetic fibrous extracellular matrix (ECM) consisting of electrospun dextran vinyl sulfone (DVS) fibers and examined how biochemical, architectural, and mechanical properties of the ECM impact iPSC-CM tissue assembly and subsequent function. Exploring a multidimensional parameter space spanning cell-adhesive ligand, seeding density, fiber alignment, and stiffness, we found that fibronectin-functionalized DVS matrices composed of highly aligned fibers with low stiffness optimally promoted the organization of functional iPSC-CM tissues. Tissues generated on these matrices demonstrated improved calcium handling and increased end-to-end localization of N-cadherin as compared to micropatterned fibronectin lines or fibronectin-coated glass. Furthermore, DVS matrices supported long-term culture (45 days) of iPSC-CMs; N-cadherin end-to-end localization and connexin43 expression both increased as a function of time in culture. In sum, these findings demonstrate the importance of recapitulating the fibrous myocardial ECM in engineering structurally organized and functional iPSC-CM tissues.
Employee Choice of Consumer Driven Health Insurance in a Multi-Plan, Multi-Product Setting

Objective: To determine who chooses a Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP) in a multi-plan, multi-product setting, and, specifically, whether the CDHP attracts the sicker employees in a company's risk pool. Study Design: We estimated a health plan choice equation for employees of the University of Minnesota, who had a choice in 2002 of a CDHP and three other health plans - a traditional HMO, a preferred provider organization (PPO), and a tiered network product based on care systems. Data from an employee survey were matched to information from the university's payroll system. Principal Findings: Chronic illness of the employee or family members had no effect on choice of the CDHP, but such employees tended to choose the PPO. The employee's age was not related to CDHP choice. Higher-income employees chose the CDHP, as well as those who preferred health plans with a national provider panel that includes their physician in the panel. Employees tended to choose plans with lower out-of-pocket premiums, and surprisingly, employees with a chronic health condition themselves or in their family were more price-sensitive. Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence on who chooses a CDHP in a multi-plan, multi-product setting. The CDHP was not chosen disproportionately by the young and healthy, but it did attract the wealthy and those who found the availability of providers more appealing. Low out-of-pocket premiums are important features of health plans and in this setting, low premiums appeal to those who are less healthy.
Loci discovery, network-guided approach, and genomic prediction for drought tolerance index in a multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) cowpea population.

Cowpea is a nutrient-dense legume that significantly contributes to the population’s diet in sub-Saharan Africa and other regions of the world. Improving cowpea cultivars to be more resilient to abiotic stress such as drought would be of great importance. The use of a multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population has been shown to be efficient in increasing the frequency of rare alleles that could be associated with important agricultural traits. In addition, drought tolerance index has been reported to be a reliable parameter for assessing crop tolerance to water-deficit conditions. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to evaluate the drought tolerance index for plant growth habit, plant maturity, flowering time, 100-seed weight, and grain yield in a MAGIC cowpea population, to conduct genome-wide association study (GWAS) and identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers associated with the drought tolerance indices, to investigate the potential relationship existing between the significant loci associated with the drought tolerance indices, and to conduct genomic selection (GS). These analyses were performed using the existing phenotypic and genotypic data published for the MAGIC population which consisted of 305 F8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) developed at University of California, Riverside. The results indicated that: (1) large variation in drought tolerance indices existed among the cowpea genotypes, (2) a total of 14, 18, 5, 5, and 35 SNPs were associated with plant growth habit change due to drought stress, and drought tolerance indices for maturity, flowering time, 100-seed weight, and grain yield, respectively, (3) the network-guided approach revealed clear interactions between the loci associated with the drought tolerance traits, and (4) the GS accuracy varied from low to moderate. These results could be applied to improve drought tolerance in cowpea through marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on marker loci associated with drought tolerance indices in cowpea.
Are students learning what we want them to learn? A communication program assessment

Assessment has become increasingly integral to college and university accreditation. While formal assessment has become more of a responsibility for instructors as related to their individual class...
Spreading the sonic color line in American policy debate

Auditory privacy is an unequally distributed resource. Inequitable access to the auditory shield, a practice that excludes the public from educational spaces to allow for experimentation with convi...
Use of Livers With Fibrosis Based on Donor Hospital Biopsy: Missed Opportunities?

Despite increases in the number of deceased donors in the US, the donor supply fails to meet the ever-increasing demand. Centers have had to increase utilization of 'marginal' liver grafts to increase the number of deceased donor liver transplants (DDLT).
On the automorphism group of an integral group ring, II

Let G be a finite group, Z(G) denote the integral group ring ofG, and NA(G) denote the group of normalized automorphisms of Z(G). That is, NA(G) denotes the group of ring automorphismsfof Z(G) such thatf(g) has augmentation one for all g e G. As remarked in [1] and [5], little generality is lost by studying normalized automorphisms over arbitrary automorphisms of Z(G). The objective of this paper is to extend the previously known list of metabelian E. R. groups. E. R. groups are groups G in which every element ofNA(G) has an elementary representation. Here, by saying that f in NA(G) has an elementary representation, we mean that f can be written in the form f where tr lies in the automorphism group of G, denoted by Aut (G), (actually extended linearly to Z(G)) and zu denotes conjugation by a unit u in Q(G) (the group algebra ofG over the rational field). In the notation of[5], saying that G is an E. R. group is equivalent to saying that NA(G)= CP(G) Aut (G) where CP(G) {zlu is a unit in Q(G)normalizing Z(G)}.
On the Consistency of Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Monotone and Concave Production Frontiers

Banker and Maindiratta (1992) provides a method for the estimation of a stochastic production frontier from the class of all monotone and concave functions. A key aspect of their procedure is that the arguments in the log-likelihood function are the fitted frontier outputs themselves rather than the parameters of some assumed parametric functional form. Estimation from the desired class of functions is ensured by constraining the fitted points to lie on some monotone and concave surface via a set of inequality restrictions. In this paper, we establish that this procedure yields consistent estimates of the fitted outputs and the composed error density function parameters.
Reducing unintended pregnancy through provider training

Although the WHO encourages first-line use of long-acting permenant methods of contraception (LARCs) for most women because of excellent safety and effectiveness profiles they are still an underutilized method. This commentary discusses a study recently published in The Lancet by Cynthia Harper and colleagues presenting a multicentre randomised trial done in the USA in which they investigated whether a clinic-based initiative to educate providers could overcome knowledge and logistical barriers to the use of LARCs and reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy.
Emergent Individuals and the Resurrection

We present an original emergent individuals view of human persons, on which persons are substantial biological unities that exemplify metaphysically emergent mental states. We argue that this view allows for a coherent model of identity-preserving resurrection from the dead consistent with orthodox Christian doctrine, one that improves upon alternatives accounts recently proposed by a number of authors. Our model is a variant of the “falling elevator” model advanced by Dean Zimmerman that, unlike Zimmerman’s, does not require a closest continuer account of personal identity. We end by raising some remaining theological concerns.
TWO-DISTRIBUTION METHOD FOR FLOOD-FREQUENCY ANALYSIS

A new method for flood-frequency analysis is developed using the concept of mixed distributions. A mixture of only two component distributions is shown to fit the various observed flood distributions. The two-distribution method is tested using annual flood series from 33 streams in Illinois. The flood distributions computed by this method fit the observed flood distributions better than other methods in use, insofar as the mean of absolute deviations of the computed floods from those observed is the least. The proposed method satisfactorily matches the medium and high floods which are of great interest to the engineers and hydrologists. An objective methodology has been formulated for computer application. The methodology is free from errors and uncertainties that exist when third and higher order moments are used for obtaining estimates of the component distribution parameters.
Theoretical studies of reaction pathways and energy barriers for alkaline hydrolysis of phosphotriesterase substrates paraoxon and related toxic phosphofluoridate nerve agents

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations were carried out to study reaction pathways and evaluate energy barriers for alkaline hydrolysis of O,O-diethyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate (paraoxon), diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (DFP), O-isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate (sarin), O-pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate (soman) and O,O-dimethyl phosphorofluoridate. This is the first computational study on the reaction pathways for hydrolysis of phosphotriesters and their structural variants that have small pKa values for the leaving groups. The reaction coordinate calculations reveal that the hydrolysis of DFP, sarin, soman and O,O-dimethyl phosphorofluoridate proceeds through the attack of hydroxide ion at the phosphorus center to form a pentacoordinate intermediate and the decomposition of the intermediate through F leaving. The hydrolysis of paraoxon was found to occur by a one-step process, which strongly supports the conclusion, based on the previously observed primary and secondary 18O isotope effects, of an SN2-like transition state with the absence of a stable pentacoordinate intermediate during the paraoxon hydrolysis. The energy barriers calculated in the gas phase for the pentacoordinate intermediate decomposition step are slightly lower than for the formation step for DFP and sarin, and are higher for soman and O,O-dimethyl phosphorofluoridate. Solvent effects significantly increase the energy barriers for the pentacoordinate intermediate formation step and significantly decrease the energy barriers for the decomposition step. Thus, the pentacoordinate intermediate formation step of hydrolysis in aqueous solution is always rate-determining. For the hydrolysis of all the compounds examined in this study, the energy barrier, 0.8 kcal mol−1, calculated for the paraoxon hydrolysis is the lowest in the gas phase, whereas the corresponding barrier, 10.1 kcal mol−1, is the highest in aqueous solution. For the hydrolysis of sarin in aqueous solution, for which the experimental activation energy is available, the calculated energy barrier of 8.6 kcal mol−1 for the pentacoordinate intermediate formation (i.e. the rate-determining step) is in good agreement with the experimental activation energy of 9.1 kcal mol−1. Finally, the relative magnitudes of the energy barriers calculated for the alkaline hydrolysis were qualitatively compared with the relative magnitudes of the available experimental rate constants reported for the corresponding phosphotriesterase-catalyzed hydrolysis, and were employed to discuss substituent effects.
SU‐E‐T‐479: Dosimetric Evaluation of 3 Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy (3DCRT), Dynamic Conformal Arc Therapy (DCAT) & Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT) in the Management of Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Using Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT)

Purpose: Initial clinical results of NSCLC usually delivered using 3DCRT & using extreme hypo‐fractionated radiotherapy (SBRT) have been very encouraging. Dynamic‐conformal‐arc therapy or volumetric‐arc therapy could also be potentially used to deliver the tumorcidal dosage. This study aims to evaluate 3D conformal radiation therapy techniques (3DCRT) vs DCAT & VMAT planning methods using dosimetric indices and doses to critical structures as per various Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) protocols 0236, 0813, and 0915 for treating Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients using SBRT for tumors based on their geographical location within thorax. Methods: 25 patients (5 in each lobe) previously treated with 3DCRT were retrospectively re‐planned with DCAT & VMAT methods. All treatment plans were designed to ensure 95% of the PTV volume gets 100% of the prescription dose. Same dosimetric indices & dose to critical structures were used to evaluate respective plan qualities. Results: The conformity index of 3DCRT, DCAT & VMAT was 1.2 ±0.1, 1.2±.1, 1.0±.0, respectively. The respective volume (cc) of PTV exceeding 105% of the prescription were 3.3 ±2.5, 3.1±.2.8, 0.2±.0.3. The ratio of 50% isodose volume over PTV volume was found to be 4.1 ±0.9, 1±0.5, 3.6±.0.3, respectively for 3DCRT, DCAT & VMAT. The respective V20 values for 3DCRT, DCAT & VMAT were found to 4.0 ±2.6, 4.2±3.1, 3.8±.2.9. Conclusion: Our analysis show that almost all DCAT & VMAT plans provided better conformity with the PTV and generally better sparing of tumor critical structures & satisfied respective RTOG constraints. DCAT & VMAT are possible alternative to 3DCRT for the treatment of NSCLC with SBRT regardless of the location of the tumor within in the thorax. The use of VMAT for NSCLC cases has the potential to shorten treatment planning times as well as treatment times experienced by the patient while satisfying planning constraints.
Theory of spin‐lattice relaxation in lipid bilayers and biological membranes. 2H and 14N quadrupolar relaxation

Based on a previous, more approximate treatment [M. F. Brown, J. Magn. Reson. 35, 203 (1979)], expressions are derived for the quadrupolar spin‐lattice (T1) relaxation rates of 2H and 14N in lipid bilayers. Results are presented for the most general, anisotropic rotational diffusion model describing the segmental or molecular reorientation in lipid bilayers, and the analysis is extended to include relatively slow fluctuations of the local director with respect to the macroscopic bilayer normal. Numerically computed values of T1 for the diffusion model suggest that, even for extremes of ordering and motional anisotropy, such a model cannot by itself quantitatively account for the observed 2H T1 values of multilamellar dispersions of 1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (DPPC), in the liquid crystalline state, as a function of temperature and frequency. The contribution from relatively low frequency motions is modeled in terms either (i) a simple noncollective model in which the slow motions are described in terms of a single effective correlation time, or (ii) a collective model in which the relatively slow reorientation is described by a distribution of correlation times, corresponding to collective fluctuations of the instantaneous director. The experimentally observed dependence of the 2H T1 relaxation rates on the acyl chain segmental order parameter SCD and the resonance frequency ω0 are most consistent with a collective model for slow molecular reorientations in lipid bilayers. The 2H T1 data for the saturated DPPC bilayer, in the liquid crystalline state, can be quantitatively described by a relaxation law of the form T−11 = Aτf+BS2CD ω−1/20 as observed for simpler nematic and smectic liquid crystals. The first (A) term is suggested to correspond to trans–gauche isomerizations of the lipid acyl chains, while the (B) term describes collective bilayer modes which predominantly influence the frequency dependence of the relaxation. In contrast to earlier conclusions [M. F. Brown et al., J. Chem. Phys. 70, 5045 (1979)], the dominant contribution to the 2H T1 relaxation rates of the saturated DPPC bilayer may arise from collective order fluctuations rather than fast local motions. The value of τf∼10−11 s obtained by extrapolating T−11 to infinite frequency or zero ordering is consistent with the correlation times calculated from 2H or 13C T1 data for n‐alkanes of equivalent chain lengths, suggesting that the microviscosity of the bilayer hydrocarbon region is not appreciably different from that of paraffinic liquids.
Millisecond spatiotemporal dynamics of FRET biosensors by the pair correlation function and the phasor approach to FLIM.

Here we present a fluctuation-based approach to biosensor Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) detection that can measure the molecular flow and signaling activity of proteins in live cells. By simultaneous use of the phasor approach to fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and cross–pair correlation function (pCF) analysis along a line scanned in milliseconds, we detect the spatial localization of Rho GTPase activity (biosensor FRET signal) as well as the diffusive route adopted by this active population. In particular we find, for Rac1 and RhoA, distinct gradients of activation (FLIM-FRET) and a molecular flow pattern (pCF analysis) that explains the observed polarized GTPase activity. This multiplexed approach to biosensor FRET detection serves as a unique tool for dissection of the mechanism(s) by which key signaling proteins are spatially and temporally coordinated.
Estrogen restores cognition and cholinergic phenotype in an animal model of Down syndrome

Estrogen maintains normal function of basal forebrain (BF) cholinergic neurons and estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) has therefore been proposed as a therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We provide evidence to support this hypothesis in an animal model of Down syndrome (DS), a chromosome 16 segmental trisomy (Ts65Dn) mouse. These mice develop cholinergic degeneration similar to young adults with DS and AD patients. ERT has not been tested in women with DS, even though they are more likely than normosomic women to develop early menopause and AD. Female Ts65Dn and normosomic mice (11-15 months) received a subcutaneous estrogen pellet or a sham operation. After 60 days, estrogen treatment improved learning of a T-maze task and normalized behavior in the Ts65Dn mice in reversal learning of the task, a measure of cognitive flexibility. Stereological evaluation of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunopositive BF neurons showed that estrogen increased cell size and total number of cholinergic neurons in the medial septum of Ts65Dn mice. In addition, estrogen increased NGF protein levels in the BF of trisomic mice. These findings support the emerging hypothesis that estrogen may play a protective role during neurodegeneration and cognitive decline, particularly in cholinergic BF neuronal systems underlying cognition. The findings also indicate that estrogen may act, at least partially, via endogenous growth factors. Collectively, the data suggest that ERT may be a viable therapeutic approach for women with DS coupled with dementia.
System level Validation of Improved IO Buffer Behavioral Modeling Methodology Based on IBIS

System level simulation and validation of a new macromodeling methodology based on IBIS (Input/Output Buffer Information Specification) models is presented. Enhancements of the black-box techniques discussed in [1] are discussed. The proposed macromodel is circuit based and can be customized by model makers or users. The new macromodel produces models that can be simulated accurately for Simultaneous Switching Noise (SSN). To demonstrate the solution, a CMOS voltage-mode driver circuit and a MICRON DDR2 driver are simulated using real life package models and compared with equivalent circuits created with IBIS models of the same drivers.
Controlling residual stresses in 52100 bearing steel by heat treatment

Compressive residual stresses can be induced in the surface of quenched and tempered 52100 steel (1 pct carbon, 1.5 pct chromium) by austenitizing in a carburizing atmosphere, even though the austenitizing temperature is well below that needed to dissolve all pri-mary carbides. The carburized surface layer contains a larger volume fraction of pri-mary carbides, more retained austenite and is slightly harder than the interior. Rolling contact fatigue tests show that carburizing can produce a 50 pct improvement in the fa-tigue life of 52100 steel.
Effect of Acids and Stimulation Additives on the Cloud Point of Nonionic Surfactants

Nonionic surfactants are commonly used during well stimulation for several reasons. They reduce interfacial tension between the acid and oil phases, thus improving acid/rock interaction. They are also used to form a stable foam which improves the sweep efficiency during acidizing. However, these surfactants should be employed at temperatures below their cloud point (defined as the temperature at which the surfactant solution becomes cloudy). This temperature signifies the onset of the surfactant salting out, which will reduce the efficiency of the stimulation and may damage the formation. An experimental study was conducted to assess the effect of various acids and stimulation additives on the cloud point of nonionic surfactants. The influences of acids (inorganic and organic), mutual solvents, friction reducers, hydrogen sulfide scavengers, sequestering agents, short chain alcohols, simple salts, scale inhibitors, anionic surfactants on the cloud point of several nonionic surfactants were examined over a wide range of parameters. The results indicated that the cloud point monotonically increased with the acid concentration. However, the rate of increase depended on the acid type and the number of ethylene oxide groups of the surfactant. Salts depressed the cloud point of nonionic surfactants at all hydrochloric acid concentrations examined. Alcohols, methanol and isopropanol enhanced the cloud point of nonionic surfactants. The effect of mutual solvents was found to be a function of the number of ethylene oxide groups of the surfactant, acid and mutual solvent concentrations. Anionic surfactants depressed the cloud point of nonionic surfactants at all sodium chloride concentrations examined Clay stabilizers (cationic polymers) and hydrogen sulfide scavengers depressed the cloud point whereas scale inhibitor and phosphonic acid did not affect the cloud point significantly. It is extremely important to measure the cloud point of nonionic surfactants before performing a stimulation job. It is also recommended to use the acid formulation and mixing waters that will be used in the field