cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparative evaluation of four response formats in personality ratings

Four basic response formats that are most frequently used in personality ratings were distinguished in terms of two psychometric criteria—the neutral response option and hierarchical gradients on the underlying measurement continuum. Theoretical discussions of their relative superiorities were substantiated by a comparative evaluation of empirical personality ratings under different formats for the same PRF scale items. Results indicated the existence of three types of inter-format relationships for all personality dimensions measured. In addition, the free-choice discriminating format was found to be the most appropriate for future personality and trait attribution research. Finally, implications were made concerning the validity and utility of various measurement instruments using different response formats.
Effect of reaction kinetics on predicted concentration profiles during subsurface bioremediation

The lack of a complete mechanistic description of subsurface interactions between contaminants and microbes has limited the ability to predict the effectiveness of subsurface bioremediation processes. Important microbial processes which must be included in such mechanistic descriptions of bioremediation are microbial growth, death and transport, including microbial attachment to and detachment from the soil surfaces. Recent advances have provided a better understanding of the relationships between contaminant destruction rates and such microbial processes. In this manuscript, contaminant profiles predicted using more realistic descriptions are compared with those obtained using less complete, previously published mathematical models. The more comprehensive model described here includes mathematical descriptions for microbial growth and transport. Contaminant profiles predicted using this model are compared with those obtained when the contaminant destruction processes are described by assuming that (1) no reaction occurs, (2) the contaminant reacts instantaneously with any available oxygen, and (3) dual-substrate Monod kinetics without consideration of microbial growth and transport. This work demonstrates that if reaction kinetics are ignored, the size of the plume will be overpredicted at large times and if the reaction is assumed to occur instantaneously, the plume will be underpredicted at small times. Thus, if these processes are not included in the mathematical description of bioremediation, erroneous interpretations of site characterization data collected during this period would be likely.
Audio quality assessment using the mean structural similarity measure

Efficient transmission and storage of digital audio signals can be accomplished using a wide variety of compression algorithms. To compare and optimize the performance of such algorithms, objective metrics are often used to measure the quality of such compressed audio signals since subjective testing is extremely time consuming. In this paper, we consider the application of the structural similarity measure, originally developed for image quality assessment, to the problem of audio quality assessment. Specifically, we study two different implementations of the structural similarity index: the first applies it to short and fixed time-domain frames of an audio sequence while the second decomposes the audio signals into a non-redundant, time-frequency map and then compares the structural similarity in the resulting 2-dimensional domain. We compare the accuracies of the two structural similarity measures with those of other accepted objective audio quality metrics relative to MUSHRA-based subjective audio evaluations.
The development of awareness and the use of compensatory strategies for cognitive deficits

Background : Cognitive rehabilitation often involves teaching individuals with acquired brain injuries (ABI) to use compensatory strategies for cognitive deficits. The use of compensatory strategies is frequently limited by reduced awareness of deficits. The process through which a person with ABI develops awareness and begins to use compensatory strategies is rarely explored from the clients' perspectives. Objective : To explore the development of awareness and the use of compensatory strategies by adults with ABI. Setting : A cognitive rehabilitation day treatment programme. Method : A critical incidents, qualitative inquiry was conducted with three clients who had made good recovery. The development of awareness and the use of compensatory strategies is examined from the clients' perspectives. Their perspectives are compared to the perspectives of the therapists with whom they worked during the cognitive rehabilitation process. Results : Clients described the development of deficit awareness as a slow ...
Understanding how race/ethnicity and gender define age-trajectories of disability: an intersectionality approach.

A number of studies have demonstrated wide disparities in health among racial/ethnic groups and by gender, yet few have examined how race/ethnicity and gender intersect or combine to affect the health of older adults. The tendency of prior research to treat race/ethnicity and gender separately has potentially obscured important differences in how health is produced and maintained, undermining efforts to eliminate health disparities. The current study extends previous research by taking an intersectionality approach (Mullings & Schulz, 2006), grounded in life course theory, conceptualizing and modeling trajectories of functional limitations as dynamic life course processes that are jointly and simultaneously defined by race/ethnicity and gender. Data from the nationally representative 1994–2006 US Health and Retirement Study and growth curve models are utilized to examine racial/ethnic/gender differences in intra-individual change in functional limitations among White, Black and Mexican American Men and Women, and the extent to which differences in life course capital account for group disparities in initial health status and rates of change with age. Results support an intersectionality approach, with all demographic groups exhibiting worse functional limitation trajectories than White Men. Whereas White Men had the lowest disability levels at baseline, White Women and racial/ethnic minority Men had intermediate disability levels and Black and Hispanic Women had the highest disability levels. These health disparities remained stable with age—except among Black Women who experience a trajectory of accelerated disablement. Dissimilar early life social origins, adult socioeconomic status, marital status, and health behaviors explain the racial/ethnic disparities in functional limitations among Men but only partially explain the disparities among Women. Net of controls for life course capital, Women of all racial/ethnic groups have higher levels of functional limitations relative to White Men and Men of the same race/ethnicity. Findings highlight the utility of an intersectionality approach to understanding health disparities.
Characterization of Nano-Crystalline Materials Using Electron Backscatter Diffraction in the Scanning Electron Microscope

EBSD should now be considered a standard analytical accessory for the SEM. The spatial resolution of EBSD is quite high (as high as a few nm, depending upon material) and is suitable for the study of many nano-crystalline materials. For applications of EBSD where the highest spatial resolution is required, an SEM with a field emission electron source is mandatory as the resolution of the technique is most directly determined by the electron beam size. Further developments the electron optics of the SEM should allow even higher spatial resolutions. For nano-crystalline materials, EBSD is most useful for the mapping of grain orientations and grain boundary misorientations as demonstrated in the examples shown in this chapter.
Preservation of local dynamics when applying central difference methods: application to SIR model

We apply the central difference method (u t+1 − u t − 1)/(2Δt) = f(u t ) to an epidemic SIR model and show how the local stability of the equilibria is changed after applying the numerical method. The above central difference scheme can be used as a numerical method to produce a discrete-time model that possesses interesting local dynamics which appears inconsistent with the continuous model. Any fixed point of a differential equation will become an unstable saddle node after applying this method. Two other implicitly defined central difference methods are also discussed here. These two methods are more efficient for preserving the local stability of the fixed points for the continuous models. We apply conformal mapping theory in complex analysis to verify the local stability results.
Optical thickness of tropical cirrus clouds derived from the MODIS 0.66and 1.375-/spl mu/m channels

In this paper, we introduce a method to retrieve the optical thickness of tropical cirrus clouds using the isolated visible cirrus reflectance (without atmospheric and surface effects). The isolated cirrus reflectance is inferred from level 1b calibrated 0.66- and 1.375-/spl mu/m Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. We created an optical properties database and optical thickness lookup library using previously calculated single-scattering data in conjunction with the discrete ordinates radiative transfer (DISORT) code. An algorithm was constructed based on this lookup library to infer the optical thickness of tropical cirrus clouds for each pixel in a MODIS image. We demonstrate the applicability of this algorithm using several independent MODIS images from the Terra satellite. The present method is complimentary to the MODIS operational cloud retrieval algorithm for the case of cirrus clouds.
CHAUCER'S "MAKYNG" OF THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE

Despite its being the first testimony of Chaucer's genius, the interest of modern criticism in the Romaunt has mainly focused on the issue of authorship, whereas the efforts to assess this text as a translation have been limited both in their number and in their scope. This paper discusses Chaucer's translation of the Roman de la Rose, and provides an evaluation of Fragment A from a modern traductological perspective, while taking account of contemporary theoretical positions. First, this article compares the Romaunt with Chaucer's later translating practice. Second, taking into account that the immediate audience of the Romaunt would have been cognizant of French, this essay considers the pragmatic function of this translation. Finally, I reconstruct some of Chaucer's decisions in the translation process, and then I present the translation strategies he adopted in order to create an English metapoem which replicated the spirit of the Roman, thus proving the adequacy of English for poetic expression
Long-Term Outcomes in Borderline Psychopathology: Old Assumptions, Current Findings, and New Directions

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and his- torical variants of the diagnosis were long held to represent an intractable syndrome of psychopathology consisting of interpersonal, intrapsychic, and affective disturbances. For years, patients labeled "borderline" were regarded pejora- tively due at least in part to the lack of effective treatments. Prospective data from recent naturalistic follow-along studies along with the development of treatments with empirically demonstrated efficacy have changed how BPD is viewed. It is now less common to hide the diagnosis from the patient, and BPD has become a useful label to guide the treatment process and help the patient make sense of his or her suffering. Although it is now accepted that BPD is a treatment-responsive disorder and that remission is the norm, more work is needed to help patients achieve a higher level of functioning, and targeting persistent trait-like features suggests new directions for future efforts in treatment development.
Applications of Optimization to Logic Testing

A tradeoff exists in software logic testing between test set size and fault detection. Testers may want to minimize test set size subject to guaranteeing fault detection or they may want to maximize faults detection subject to a test set size. One way to guarantee fault detection is to use heuristics to produce tests that satisfy logic criteria. Some logic criteria have the property that they are satisfied by a test set if detection of certain faults is guaranteed by that test set. An empirical study is conducted to compare test set size and computation time for heuristics and optimization for various faults and criteria. The results show that optimization is a better choice for applications where each test has significant cost, because for a small difference in computation time, optimization reduces test set size. A second empirical study examined the percentage of faults detected in a best, random, and worst case, first for a test set size of one and then again for a test set size of ten. This study showed that if you have a limited number of tests from which to choose, the exact tests you choose have a large impact on fault detection.
Temporal Logic Motion Planning and Control With Probabilistic Satisfaction Guarantees

We describe a computational framework for automatic deployment of a robot with sensor and actuator noise from a temporal logic specification over a set of properties that are satisfied by the regions of a partitioned environment. We model the motion of the robot in the environment as a Markov decision process (MDP) and translate the motion specification to a formula of probabilistic computation tree logic (PCTL). As a result, the robot control problem is mapped to that of generating an MDP control policy from a PCTL formula. We present algorithms for the synthesis of such policies for different classes of PCTL formulas. We illustrate our method with simulation and experimental results.
Inconsistency of auditory middle latency and steady-state responses in infants.

Abstract Auditory middle latency and steady-state responses (MLR/SSRs) were recorded in normal infants (aged 3 weeks to 28 months) and adults. SSR amplitudes were maximum using stimulus presentation rates near 40 Hz in adults. By contrast, the infant data showed no consistent amplitude maximum across the rates tested (9–59 Hz). With the exception of the brain-stem response wave V to MLR Na deflection, MLR components in infant's responses to 10.85 Hz clicks did not show any consistent pattern. To investigate the hypothesis that the 40 Hz SSR is derived from overlapping of the 10 Hz MLR components, 43.4 Hz SSRs were synthesized from the responses recorded at 10.85 Hz and compared with those recorded at 43.4 Hz. The predictive accuracy of the synthesized 43.4 Hz SSRs was significantly better in adults than in infants. The results of these studies indicate the presence of large age-related differences in the auditory MLR and SSR, and in the relationship between the two responses.
Enantiomeric Determination of Amphetamine and Methamphetamine in Urine by Precolumn Derivatization with Marfey's Reagent and HPLC

[Abstract [ An analytical method was developed for enantiomeric determination of amphetamine and methamphetamine in human urine. The enantiomers were isolated from urine by solid-phase extraction, and diastereomers were formed by derivatization with the chiral Marfey's reagent (1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl-5-I-aniline amide). The diastereomers were separated by reversed-phase highperformance liquid chromatography in a water/methanol mobile phase and detected by absorbance spectrophotometry at 340 nm. Linear standard curves were obtained for all four enantiomers over a concentration range of 0.16-1.00 m~/L in urine. The detection limit was 0.16 mg/L urine for each enantiomer, and the limit of quantitation was 0.40 ms/L. The urine of 10 decedents was analyzed by this method and by a previously published precolumn derivatization procedure using (-)-l-(9-fluorenyl)ethyl chloroformate (FLEC) as the derivatizing agent and fluorescence detection. Comparison of the results of the two methods by linear regression showed comparable results for both d-amphetamine and d-methamphetamine. Neither method detected the presence of the I-enantiomers in the urine samples.
Psychostimulant Abuse and HIV Infection: Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and ‘Bath Salts’ Cathinone Analogs

Psychostimulants are among the most widely-abused substances worldwide, and typically exert their abuse-related effects via interactions with monoamine reuptake transporters within the CNS. Over the last decade, a symbiotic relationship between psychostimulant abuse and HIV infection has been demonstrated, where psychostimulants potentiate the effects of HIV infection, and HIV infection increases sensitivity to psychostimulant drugs. Most recently, a new class of designer psychostimulants has emerged in abuse-ready "bath salt" preparations. These commercial products typically contain ring-substituted and/or side-chain-substituted analogues of cathinone, which is itself a psychostimulant drug of abuse in its natural plant form. The cathinone analogues exhibit a range of interactions with monoamine transporters, from cocaine-like reuptake inhibition to methamphetamine-like release. Since the primary mechanism of action of these novel drugs overlaps with those of traditional psychostimulants, it may be the case that the cathinone analogues also interact with HIV infection. As use of these emerging cathinone-derived drugs continues to rise, there is an urgent need to better understand the pharmacology and toxicology of these novel compounds, both in terms of their abuse-related effects, and in terms of their capacity to interact with HIV infection.
Prediction of Spike‐Wave Bursts in Absence Epilepsy by EEG Power‐Spectrum Signals

The EEGs of subjects with absence seizures were examined to determine if changes occurred prior to spike-wave bursts that could be used to predict bursts. A number of 20-s epochs of EEG prior to spike-wave bursts (preburst epochs) and during periods remote from bursts (control epochs) were examined in 5 subjects. Power-spectrum analysis was carried out on each epoch and frequency bands from 0 to 50 c/s were combined into 2-c/s bandwidths. Logarithmically transformed power values in each frequency band were entered into a discriminant analysis algorithm for each subject separately. Results were expressed in terms of a test for significant differences between preburst and control epochs (F statistic) and a "success ratio" of discriminant analysis classification, defined as the proportion of correct classifications in both groups, as obtained using a cross-validation procedure. A significant preburst EEG pattern was found in 4 of the 5 subjects, and success ratios ranged from 0.64. to 0.83. Each subject's preburst EEG seemed to be characterized by a unique pattern of changes, and thus no common prodromal signal was found. The EEG changes did not appear to be caused by overt behaviors, such as eye closure or drowsiness. The findings suggest that the preburst EEG pattern represents a functional alteration in brain activity which could arise from the burst-producing mechanism directly.
Level of maxinum isometric strength and relative load isometric endurance.

Forty-seven male college students were tested for maximum isometric strength and relative load isometric endurance of the right elbow flexor muscles at 50, 60, 70 and 80 per cent of their maximum strength level. Three groups were formed based on the maximum isometric strength of the subjects. The data were analysed by an analysis of variance treatment by subjects design and by an analysis of variance of trends. The low strength group was able to maintain the specified tension levels of 50, 60 and 70 per cent of maximum strength significantly longer than the high strength group. Only on the 80 per cent measure were the holding times of the three groups identical
Technological Power as a Strategic Dilemma: CO 2 Capture and Storage in the International Oil and Gas Industry

This article offers a comparative analysis of the emergence of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) activities and strategies in three multinational oil and gas companies. Exxon/ExxonMobil was first to make plans for a major, pioneering CCS project, but later pursued a relatively cautious strategy. In contrast, BP showed little interest in CCS up until 1997, but from that point on developed a particularly ambitious strategy. Statoil, meanwhile, has been relatively strongly involved in CCS activities for a long time. An explanatory framework with potential for wider application is developed, highlighting how the overall compatibility of CCS with oil and gas industry characteristics created a strategic dilemma for the companies. In explaining their responses, the article emphasizes the process towards institutionalization of CCS as a widely recognized mitigation option, and the three companies’ different climate change strategies.
A multimedia database project and the evolution of the database course

The database course needs to continue evolving to reflect changes in the computing environment and changes in current thought about how best to engage the student. We propose one possible evolution that is based on a semester-long multimedia database project involving a web interface, called MeTube. The project supports uploading and downloading videos, images, and audio files as well as supplementary features such as ratings, comments, viewer blocking, and contact lists. Having a project that focuses on multimedia data and is web-accessible using current web technology will be more interesting, relevant, and useful for the students. Our description of the project includes both the requirements and the division of it into assignments. We show an example implementation and report on our experiences with the project. Finally, we explain how the project fits into the context of the course and future directions for the project.
Small business participation in the advanced technology program research alliances

This study uses a database of small businesses that participated in the US Department of Commerce's Advanced Technology Program (ATP) to observe the role of research alliances in undertaking high-risk technology research and development. The initial hypothesis is that small businesses benefit from membership in research alliances. This study examines two forms of research alliances: single applicants with subcontractor(s) and membership in a joint venture. The basis for the analysis includes data collected during the term of the project. Using data collected at project end provides a limited view of success as commercial achievements may come much later, and small businesses may derive advantages from participating in alliances not captured in the variables used. In light of this, the findings point to successful participation in ATP for small businesses as being dependent upon the type of organizational structure chosen as well as the role played by the small business in the research alliance. For example, assuming the role of the joint venture lead contributed to more successful technical and business outcomes.
Thermal expansion of fluids and fracture initiation in compacting sediments: Summary

INTRODUCTION Fluid pressures in excess of hydrostatic can be generated in sedimentary basins by way of several mechanisms. Among the most common mechanisms proposed are gravitational loading (Dickinson, 1953), the montmorillonite-illite transformation (Burst, 1969), and the thermal expansion of water due to heating (Barker, 1972). Of these, gravitational loading has been singled out as being most susceptible to mathematical treatment, largely because the dissipation of such pressures is a problem in fluid flow for which the physics have been known for more than 50 years (Terzaghi, 1925). Examples here include the work of Bredehoeft and Hanshaw (1968) and of Smith (1971), who dealt with the problem of fluid pressure development In isothermal sedimentary basins receiving sediments over long periods of time. The primary motivation of this current study is to incorporate the effects of a geothermal gradient in theoretical models of deep sedimentary basins and to determine the conditions under which thermal effects provide an important contribution to the total excess pressure development. Because the cumulative effect of gravitational loading and water expansion can result in excess pressures of sufficient magnitude to initiate some sort of inelastic deformation, an opportunity is provided to qualitatively assess the significance of excess pressure generation insofar as it influences the initiation of fracture in the host rock.
Alternative paths in HIV-1 targeted human signal transduction pathways

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) has a minimal genome of only 9 genes, which encode 15 proteins. HIV-1 thus depends on the human host for virtually every aspect of its life cycle. The universal language of communication in biological systems, including between pathogen and host, is via signal transduction pathways. The fundamental units of these pathways are protein protein interactions. Understanding the functional significance of HIV-1, human interactions requires viewing them in the context of human signal transduction pathways. Integration of HIV-1, human interactions with known signal transduction pathways indicates that the majority of known human pathways have the potential to be effected through at least one interaction with an HIV-1 protein at some point during the HIV-1 life cycle. For each pathway, we define simple paths between start points (i.e. no edges going into a node) and end points (i.e. no edges leaving a node). We then identify the paths that pass through human proteins that interact with HIV-1 proteins. We supplement the combined map with functional information, including which proteins are known drug targets and which proteins contribute significantly to HIV-1 function as revealed by recent siRNA screens. We find that there are often alternative paths starting and ending at the same proteins but circumventing the intermediate steps disrupted by HIV-1. A mapping of HIV-1, human interactions to human signal transduction pathways is presented here to link interactions with functions. We proposed a new way of analyzing the virus host interactions by identifying HIV-1 targets as well as alternative paths bypassing the HIV-1 targeted steps. This approach yields numerous experimentally testable hypotheses on how HIV-1 function may be compromised and human cellular function restored by pharmacological approaches. We are making the full set of pathway analysis results available to the community.
Maximum likelihood estimation with side information of 1-D layered media from noisy impulse reflection responses

We consider the problem of computing the maximum likelihood estimates of the reflection coefficients of a discrete 1-D layered medium from noisy observations of its impulse reflection response. We have side information in that a known subset of the reflection coefficients are known to be zero; this knowledge could come from either a priori knowledge of a homogeneous subregion inside the scattering medium, or from a thresholding operation in which noisy reconstructed reflection coefficients with absolute values below a threshold are known to be zero. Our procedure is simple, noniterative, and requires only solutions of systems of linear equations. Numerical examples are provided which demonstrate not only the operation of the algorithm, but also that the side information improves the reconstruction of unconstrained reflection coefficients as well as constrained ones, due to the nonlinearity of the problem.
MODULARITY: INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRY BENCHMARKING AND RESEARCH ROADMAP

Increased time to market pressure and globally distributed engineering design environments demand a modular product structure that provides affordable life-cycle cost, high quality, and efficient development work tasks among the engineering enterprise, its partners and its suppliers. This project intends to develop a systematic methodology to achieve effective product modularity and work tasks that will enhance product development process. As an initial effort, we conducted a twophased survey to explore the level of understanding and to benchmark modularity practice in various industries. The results indicate that the form and the extent of modularity practice depend on industry specific drivers, which are largely affected by strategic preferences, external uncertainties and tactical alternatives. This paper presents an introductory overview of modularity as defined in academia, presents the results of the survey, and then proposes potential directions for future research.
Novel 2-D photonic bandgap structure for microstrip lines

A new two-dimensional (2-D) photonic bandgap (PBG) structure for microstrip lines is proposed, in which a periodic 2-D pattern consisting of circles is etched in the ground plane of microstrip line. No drilling through the substrate is required. Three PBG circuits were fabricated with different circle radii to determine the optimum dimensions, as well as a PBG circuit with the compensated right-angle microstrip bend. Measurements show that deep and wide stopbands can be achieved using this method.
Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase of Streptococcus diacetilactis.

Abstract Streptococcus diacetilactis produced more reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH 2 ) oxidase when aerated during growth and when grown in tryptone broth instead of a less complex casein-hydroly-sate medium. The oxidase converted NADH 2 to NAD and water without producing hydrogen peroxide as an intermediate, was optimally active at pH 7.0, stimulated by acetate, and did not contain cytochrome c. The production of acetoin plus diacetyl by S. diacetilactis in aerated partially defined casein-hydrolysate medium was attributed to the action of NADH 2 oxidase, enabling the organism to divert some pyruvate from the formation of lactic acid.
Real-time communication in multiple token ring networks

A communication architecture and a dynamic control protocol are presented for real-time communication in multiple token ring networks. The network can be formed by multiple channels through bandwidth subdivision of a high-speed ring. A flexible preemption and dynamic load allocation scheme is developed which can reduce the lost percentage of critical packets and can maintain a high channel utilization at the same time. This performance improvement is demonstrated with extensive simulation results. >
Discussions of “contemporary perspectives on self: Toward an integration”

Continuing his efforts to formulate a comprehensive “relational psychoanalysis,” Stephen Mitchell focuses on the concept of the “self” and reviews selected aspects of current views on the subject. He offers a challenging addition to recent discussions of object relations and the self. His paper deals directly with a few of the many theoretical, methodological, and clinical issues that have occupied the literature of the self in the last 20 years; however, the few aspects that Mitchell chooses for constructing his own views are essential ones. My discussion is necessarily limited to only a few points of agreement and disagreement that seem particularly important.
Der Sozialismus und andere soziale Systeme

Wenn wir die sozialen Zustande unserer Zeit und unserer Gesellschaft im einzelnen betrachten, konnen wir kaum daran vorubergehen, das man uns heute ganz andere, von der unsrigen abweichende Sozialordnungen vorschlagt, die, so erfahren wir, mehr Gluck, ein zivilisierteres Leben und einen besseren Lebensstandard fur die grose Mehrheit aller Manner und Frauen herbeifuhren sollen. Viele einfache Menschen sind heute unzufrieden und haben nicht genugend Chancen zu einem befriedigenden Leben; wir sind daher keineswegs zu der Annahme berechtigt, das unsere soziale Ordnung die beste erreichbare Sozialordnung sei. Unsere Gesellschaftsordnung hat auch unseren materiellen Wohlstand noch nicht entsprechend dem von uns erreichten Stand an Wissen und technischem Konnen gesteigert.
Friction Processes in Brittle Fracture

In this paper we consider the interrelations between friction and fracture in highly brittle materials. First we examine frictional effects in the mechanics of crack formation at elastic and elastic-plastic contacts on brittle surfaces. Then we consider how fundamental intersurface forces manifest themselves as “internal friction” at crack interfaces in “model” solids like mica and glass, with special reference to environmental chemistry. Finally, we examine the controlling role of frictional processes in the strength and toughness of modem ceramic systems.
Consumption of voles and vole food caches by Yellowstone grizzly bears: exploratory analyses

Abstract Previously published observations of bears consuming murid rodents have been limited to short anecdotes. Only 2 studies reported bears consuming rodent food caches. I investigated the consumption of voles (Microtus spp.) and vole food caches by grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in the Yellowstone region, 1977–92, using data collected during a study of 140 radiomarked bears. Study bears excavated vole nests, burrows, or food caches at 45 different sites. Excavations of nests (n = 37) were more common than excavations of food caches (n = 15). The remains of voles were found in 62 bear feces. Occurrences of voles in bear feces and excavations by bears for vole nests or food caches were essentially uncorrelated over time, suggesting that total consumption of voles and pursuit of voles or vole food caches by excavation were affected by different factors. Excavations by bears were largest in size and peaked in number during the driest months of the study period and were most likely to occur on gently slopin...
New Results in Bimodal Plasticity of Fibrous Composite Materials

ABSTRACT We examine here the matrix-dominated mode of the bimodal plasticity theory for fibrous composite materials (Dvorak and Bahei-El-Din, 1987). The original plane stress formulation is extended to the general six-dimensional stress state, and to systems with kinematically hardening matrices. Overall plastic strains are found in terms of the shear strains on the active slip systems, with a two-surface plasticity theory.
A Comparison of Scapulothoracic and Trunk Muscle Activities among Three Variations of Knee Push-up-plus Exercises

[Purpose] This study compared the activations of the shoulder and trunk muscles during dominant-leg-extended knee push-up-plus (KPP) exercises on a mat, on an unstable surface, and with loading. [Subjects] Fourteen healthy subjects, all right-side dominant and with no history of injury or surgery to the shoulder or neck were the subjects. [Methods] The subjects performed dominant-leg-extended knee push-up-plus using three variations. Electromyography activities of the serratus anterior (SA), upper trapezius (UT), external oblique (EO), and internal oblique (IO) muscles were recorded. [Results] We observed significant differences in SA activity among the exercise conditions. Dominant-leg-extended KPP on a stable surface produced the highest SA muscle activity. Dominant-leg-extended KPP using a wobble board produced the highest EO and IO muscle activity. [Conclusion] To apply the proper resistance to enhance selective SA muscle activity in KPP, the best technique is to raise the ipsilateral leg. Furthermore, KPP on an unstable surface can facilitate lumbar stabilization.
The effects of intranasal oxytocin in opioid-dependent individuals and healthy control subjects: a pilot study

There has been an explosion of research on the potential benefits of the social neuropeptide oxytocin for a number of mental disorders including substance use disorders. Recent evidence suggests that intranasal oxytocin has both direct anti-addiction effects and pro-social effects that may facilitate engagement in psychosocial treatment for substance use disorders. We aimed to assess the tolerability of intranasal oxytocin and its effects on heroin craving, implicit association with heroin and social perceptual ability in opioid-dependent patients receiving opioid replacement therapy (ORT) and healthy control participants. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, within- and between-subjects, crossover, proof-of-concept trial to examine the effects of oxytocin (40 international units) on a cue-induced craving task (ORT patients only), an Implicit Association Task (IAT), and two social perception tasks: the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task (RMET) and The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT). Oxytocin was well tolerated by patients receiving ORT but had no significant effects on craving or IAT scores. There was a significant reduction in RMET performance after oxytocin administration versus placebo in the patient group only, and a significant reduction in TASIT performance after oxytocin in both the patient and healthy control groups. A single dose of intranasal oxytocin is well tolerated by patients receiving ORT, paving the way for future investigations. Despite no significant improvement in craving or IAT scores after a single dose of oxytocin and some evidence that social perception was worsened, further investigation is required to determine the role oxytocin may play in the treatment of opioid use disorder. Methadone Oxytocin Option. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01728909
Neonatal nasal noninvasive ventilatory support bundling fixed and intervention strategies

Objective: To investigate neonatal nasal obstruction in children with non- invasive ventilatory support optimal intervention strategies fixed. Methods: A retrospective noninvasive ventilatory support children with undeveloped cluster of intervention strategies from Aug.- Dec. 2012 55 cases of the control group,chose to carry out from January- May 2013 intervention strategies cluster of noninvasive ventilatory support children with 60 cases for the experimental group. Compared nasal skin damage and " overturned nose" after bundling incidence of intervention of two groups. Results: The occurate of nasal skin damage and " overturned nose" in experimentral group were lower than in control group. Conclusion: Implementation of cluster intervention strategies can effectively lower the incidence of non- invasive ventilatory support children with nasal skin damage and overturned nose.
Risk factors for transmission of tuberculosis among United States-born African Americans and Whites.

Setting Tuberculosis (TB) patients and their contacts enrolled in nine states and the District of Columbia from 16 December 2009 to 31 March 2011. Objective To evaluate characteristics of TB patients that are predictive of tuberculous infection in their close contacts. Design The study population was enrolled from a list of eligible African-American and White TB patients from the TB registry at each site. Information about close contacts was abstracted from the standard reports of each site. Results Close contacts of African-American TB patients had twice the risk of infection of contacts of White patients (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 2.1, 95%CI 1.3-3.4). Close contacts of patients whose sputum was positive for acid-fast bacilli on sputum smear microscopy had 1.6 times the risk of tuberculous infection compared to contacts of smear-negative patients (95%CI 1.1-2.3). TB patients with longer (>3 months) estimated times to diagnosis did not have higher proportions of infected contacts (aRR 1.2, 95%CI 0.9-1.6). Conclusion African-American race and sputum smear positivity were predictive of tuberculous infection in close contacts. This study did not support previous findings that longer estimated time to diagnosis predicted tuberculous infection in contacts.
Family study of vesicoureteral reflux.

AbstractA retrospective analysis of 242 families revealed that the incidence of reflux among siblings of children with reflux was 2.2 per cent. In a prospective study of 24 families, 8 of 50 siblings (16 per cent) had reflux. Although the incidence of reflux in the prospective study is surprisingly high infection was absent in all affected siblings in whom cultures were obtained and in only 2 siblings (4 per cent) was surgical correction necessary.
"Pseudo" twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and fetal outcome.

OBJECTIVE To assess the fetal outcome, in a tertiary center, in pregnancies with suspected twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) not confirmed using ultrasonographic examination, diagnosis of pathology, or both. STUDY DESIGN Forty-four pregnancies with suspected TTTS were followed longitudinally using ultrasonographic examination until delivery. The minimal criteria for the diagnosis of TTTS were: (1) suspicion of monochorionicity gleaned from ultrasound examination (to be confirmed at birth); (2) presence of polyhydramnios in one gestational sac (either assessed subjectively--or, finding that the largest vertical pocket of amniotic fluid was >8 cm in diameter before 20 weeks' gestation and >10 cm in diameter thereafter); and (3) presence of oligohydramnios in the other gestational sac (finding either that there was a "stuck" twin complication or that the largest vertical pocket of amniotic fluid was 0.05). Large twins developed respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) more often than small twins (p < 0.05). Five percent of the large twins and 50% of the small twins had a velamentous insertion of the cord (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION In pregnancies complicated by "pseudo" TTTS our data indicate that: (1) small twins have abnormal cord insertion more frequently than large twins, (2) large twins develop RDS more frequently than small twins. Our data suggest that the perinatal mortality in these pregnancies appears to be lower than that reported for the classical TTTS.
Parking lot lighting based upon predictions of scene brightness and personal safety

Providing subjective impressions of security is central to outdoor lighting design. Current parking lot lighting recommendations are based upon photopic illuminances, regardless of spectrum. Scene brightness perception is directly related to impressions of security, and depends upon both light level and spectrum. A provisional model was used to predict scene brightness for three parking lots, each illuminated to different levels by different light sources. Observers judged scene brightness, security and other factors for each lot. The provisional model accurately predicted both scene brightness and security judgements. The lighting associated with the best subjective ratings also had the lowest power density. A design method using ‘brightness illuminance’ is presented, which can lower system costs while maintaining a sense of security by users.
Raising the Retirement Age, Fairly

A growing chorus of policy analysts is calling for an increase in the Social Security retirement age. Even staunch defenders of Social Security have begun to concede that the retirement age of 66 is too low, in light of the increasing longevity, improving health, and expanding work options of older Americans. Still, some progressives worry that the only way to protect disadvantaged workers is to leave the early and full retirement ages as they are. The result is a debate that pits intergenerational fairness against intragenerational fairness: either we shortchange the young (by paying unneeded benefits to the old) or else we shortchange the disadvantaged (by raising the retirement age to levels that are unrealistic for low-earners).We can solve the policy deadlock by reframing the question. Policy debates tend to focus on how high the retirement age should rise. But age is, more and more, a contingent category, with shifting physical and social meaning. Instead of beginning with chronological age, we can and should start with a deeper account of the objectives of retirement policy.These two chapters from A NEW DEAL FOR OLD AGE (Harvard University Press, 2016) lay out criteria for inter- and intragenerational justice and show that it is possible, both technically and politically, to preserve Social Security early retirement for workers who need it while creating financial incentives for better-off workers, still able to work, to delay their Social Security claims. And well-crafted reforms could accomplish this progressive goal while preserving the appearance of universality.
Africanized honeybee habitat suitability: a comparison between models for southern Utah and southern California

Abstract The Africanized honeybee (AHB; Apis mellifera scutellata ) is an invasive species which poses a threat to the United States' agricultural industry because of potential decline in pollination services. Previous research has confirmed that the AHB may still expand its range farther north and that limiting environmental factors for AHB distribution vary across the country. This study examines similarities and differences in AHB distribution and the relative importance of environmental factors between two regions of the southwestern United States: southern Utah and southern California. The Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling approach was used to create two species distribution models of the AHB. First a model was created based on AHB presence data in Utah. This model was used to estimate the Utah distribution and also to project the California distribution based on Utah environmental preferences. The second model was created to predict distribution in California and to project distribution in Utah based on AHB environmental preferences in California. The level of influence of each variable was measured through percent contribution and permutation importance. Model performance was assessed through the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Models estimated AHB presence with high accuracy (AUC > 0.95) in original environments, but were less accurate (AUC
The Tissue Factor/Thrombin/Protease-Activated Receptor 1 Pathway Enhances Double-Strand RNA Induced Immune Responses in Macrophages

Abstract Introduction: Co-regulation of the immune response and the coagulation cascade after infection is thought to be an ancient response to limit pathogen spread. Recently, we showed that activation of the thrombin receptor, protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1), on fibroblasts enhanced the innate immune responses to RNA virus infection. Here, we investigated whether PAR1 activation by the extrinsic coagulation pathway contributes to dsRNA-induced innate immune responses in macrophages. Methods: Activation of the type-I interferon (IFN) pathway in the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 and bone-marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) from WT and PAR1-/- was analyzed after dsRNA (poly I:C) and/or PAR-1 stimulation. In addition, innate immune responses in the spleen were analyzed in vivo 4 hours after poly I:C (8mg/kg) injection in mice with reduced tissue factor expression (LowTF) or global PAR1 deletion (PAR1-/-) as well as in WT mice with a thrombin inhibitor (dabigatran etexilate, 10g/kg chow) or PAR-1 inhibitor (SCH79797, 25μg/kg). Lastly, we investigated the innate immune response in the spleen of WT and PAR1-/-mice after infection with the single-stranded RNA virus coxsackievirus B3. Results: RAW264.7 and BMDM exhibited a toll-like receptor 3 dependent induction of IFNβ and CXCL10 after poly I:C stimulation. Activation of PAR-1 with either thrombin or agonist peptide enhanced poly I:C induction of IFNβ and CXCL10. A deficiency of tissue factor levels, thrombin inhibition, PAR-1 inhibition or PAR1 deficiency resulted in reduced expression levels of type-I IFNs and IFN-response genes such as CXCL10 in the spleen and plasma in mice given poly I:C. Last, PAR1-/-mice exhibited impaired IFNβ immune response 4 days after coxsackievirus B3 infection compared to WT mice. Conclusion: Our study indicates that the coagulation dependent activation of PAR1 on macrophages is important for anti-viral responses to dsRNA. We speculate that PAR1 inhibition may interfere with anti-viral responses in humans. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.