cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple Social Influence: Models and Applications

Cascading processes are models of network diffusion used to study phenomenon concerning the spread of new trends and innovations in social networks. Each node can be in one of two states: infected (i.e., supports an idea or a product) or uninfected. Every infected node can infect its neighbors and thus, the infection, formally called a cascade, propagates through the network. These processes have been studied in many applications such as viral marketing, blog networks, and contagion models.
A novel temporal identity window generates alternating cardinal motor neuron subtypes in a single progenitor lineage

Spatial patterning specifies neural progenitor identity, with further diversity generated by temporal patterning within individual progenitor lineages. These mechanisms generate cardinal classes of motor neurons (sharing a transcription factor identity and common muscle group targets). In Drosophila, two cardinal classes are Even-skipped (Eve)+ motor neurons projecting to dorsal muscles and Nkx6+ motor neurons projecting to ventral muscles. The Drosophila neuroblast 7-1 (NB7-1) lineage generates distinct Eve+ motor neurons via the temporal transcription factor (TTF) cascade Hunchback (Hb)-Kruppel-Pdm-Castor (Cas). Here we show that a newly discovered Kr/Pdm temporal identity window gives rise to an Nkx6+ Eve- motor neuron projecting to ventral oblique muscles, resulting in alternation of cardinal motor neuron subtypes from a single progenitor (Eve>Nkx6>Eve). We show that co-overexpression of Kr/Pdm generate ectopic VO motor neurons within the NB7-1 lineage and that Kr/Pdm act via Nkx6, which itself is necessary and sufficient for VO motor neuron identity. Lastly, Nkx6 is required for ventral oblique muscle targeting, thereby linking temporal patterning to motor neuron morphology and synaptic target selection. In conclusion, we show that one neuroblast lineage generates interleaved cardinal motor neurons fates; that the Kr/Pdm TTFs form a novel temporal identity window that promotes expression of Nkx6; and that the Kr/Pdm>Nkx6 pathway is necessary and sufficient to specify VO motor neuron identity and morphology.
Neurophysiologic Detection of Spinal Cord Ischemia During Anterior Vertebral Tethering.

Study design Case report. Objective The aim of this study was to present how computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM) detect spinal cord ischemia during anterior spine surgery. These data directed expedient surgical and anesthetic interventions that restored IONM signals and prevented neurologic sequalae. Summary of background data Anterior vertebral tethering (AVT) is a fusionless surgical treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods AVT was performed on a skeletally immature patient with AIS. Preoperative CTA detailed location of the dominant radicular artery (DRA). Transcranial motor (tcMEP) and somatosensory (SEP) evoked potentials were monitored during operation. Results There was significant decline in tcMEP, but not SEP, after compression of the DRA during cable tensioning of AVT. There was complete tcMEP recovery following release of instrumentation. Conclusion This article identifies a rare but potentially catastrophic vascular hazard associated with anterior spine operation, including AVT. Sacrifice of multiple unilateral segmental vessels may overwhelm the capacity of collateral spinal cord perfusion to compensate for DRA blood supply. This vascular risk may be eliminated by identifying the DRA in order that it may be preserved during the procedure. Level of evidence 5.
Distribution of Ventilation Patterns During Incentive Spirometer and EzPAP Lung Expansion Therapies

Background: Lung expansion therapy (LET) in post-operative upper abdominal surgery patients is not well described beyond global indicators for patient improvement. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) reveals changes in lung volume and is an objective measurement tool for lung expansion in patients undergoing LET. The primary purpose of this study is to describe the distribution of ventilation during incentive spirometry (I.S.) and EzPAP comparing breath cycles during LET and post LET period. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of an IRB approved randomized control trial on dorsal redistribution of ventilation comparing IS to EzPAP LET after upper abdominal surgery. Subjects were allocated to receive LET with IS (n = 56) targeting predicted inspiratory capacity or EzPAP (n = 56) targeting 15 cm H2O TID on postoperative days (POD) 1-5. An EIT device (Pulmovista 500; Drager) was connected to subjects for a single LET session on POD 1, 3, and 5 to measure changes in during breath cycles of LET end-expiratory lung impedance (ΔEELI%) and post LET ΔEELI%. LET sessions with EIT included 2-min normal breathing, 3 breath cycles x 10 breaths, and 2-min normal breathing after breath cycle 3. The EIT device was removed after monitoring sessions. LET cycle ΔEELI% was compared individually to the post LET ΔEELI% measurement with a paired samples T-test. Data are reported as mean (SD). Effect size is described by eta squared (η2). Alpha (2-tail) is .05. A Bonferroni Correction was applied due to the multiple comparisons in each group (P .01; see Figure) to post LET. In the EzPAP group, on POD 1 dorsal post LET had a significant decrease from LET cycles 1 and 3 (P 0.14) between all comparisons in the EzPAP group, excluding dorsal LET2 on POD1 (η2 = 0.12), and Dorsal LET1, LET2, and LET3 (η2
Simulation Study on Line Backup Protection Fixed Value Optimization of Multi-Infeed DC Transmission System

Shandong power grid is a typical uhv ac/dc mixed power grid, is also a typical feed in HVDC system, in order to be complicated working condition, the shandong company by optimizing the way of backup protection setting to prevent refusing action, the main cause of multiple dc commutation failure in a row, causing more HVDC pole blocking collapse, leading to power grid in this paper, mainly aimed at distance zero sequence backup protection backup protection period of matching principle and matching principle to carry out the simulation analysis. Simulation results show that de where access will not bring communication relay protection backup segment with the new problems, from a backup using simplified setting principle, when a line of all the main protection loses, may cause the line fault line distance II at the next higher level and at the corresponding level line distance II action conditions at the same time, due to the delay, as possible match problem, the follow-up to carry out special study for this problem.
Physiological effects of inactivation and the roles of Elovl3/ELOVL3 in maintaining ocular homeostasis

Recently, elongase of very long chain fatty acids-3 (ELOVL3) was demonstrated to play a pivotal role in physiology and biochemistry of the ocular surface by maintaining a proper balance in the lipid composition of meibum. The goal of this study was to further investigate the effects of ELOVL3 ablation in homozygous Elovl3-knockout mice (E3hom) in comparison with age and sex matched wild-type controls (E3wt). Slit lamp examination of the ocular surface of mice, and histological examination of their ocular tissues, highlighted a severe negative impact of Elovl3 inactivating mutation on the Meibomian glands (MG) and conjunctiva of mice. MG transcriptomes of the E3hom and E3wt mice were assessed and revealed a range of up- and downregulated genes related to lipid biosynthesis, inflammation, and stress response, compared with E3wt mice. Heat stage polarized light microscopy was used to assess melting characteristics of normal and abnormal meibum. The loss of Elovl3 led to a 8°C drop in the melting temperature of meibum in E3hom mice, and increased its fluidity. Also noted were the excessive accumulation of lipid material and tears around the eye and severe ocular inflammation, among other abnormalities.
Exit problems in regime-switching models

Abstract This paper provides a general framework for pricing of perpetual American and real options in regime-switching Levy models. In each state of the Markov chain, which determines switches from one Levy process to another, the payoff stream is a monotone function of the Levy process labeled by the state. This allows for additional switching within each state of the Markov chain (payoffs can be different in different regions of the real line). The pricing procedure is efficient even if the number of states is large provided the transition rates are not very large w.r.t. the riskless rates. The payoffs and riskless rates may depend on a state. Special cases are stochastic volatility models and models with stochastic interest rate; both must be modeled as finite-state Markov chains. As an application, we solve exit problems for a price-taking firm, and study the dependence of the exit threshold on the interest rate uncertainty.
Health Insurance and Health Access: Re-engineering Local Safety Nets

National policy makers focus on insurance coverage from a national perspective-expanding it (or not) or re-engineering it (or not). Because "the era of big government is over," they often act through mandates or incentives on states, as for Medicaid and the new children's health insurance programs. Increasingly, national policy makers also micro-manage Medicare's national insurance. Interest in fully national health insurance has for the moment waned, though the number of uninsured Americans has generally increased for over a decade. The ultimate backstop for uninsured access is the local safety net, dominated by hospitals and clinics with a mission to serve the underserved. Federal policy mandates limited hospital access to emergency hospital care, but only indirectly influences general provision of care. General safety net access is left for local provision of care, and often, local funding. Insurance policy, public and private, is pressuring the hospital-based safety net through payment cuts and managed care shifts in patterns of delivery. Some localities are experimenting with new organizational arrangements. Their experience suggests some policy options for the twenty-first century. The safety net ought to get more policy attention.
World of trouble: a Philadelphia Quaker family’s journey through the American Revolution: by Richard Godbeer, New Haven, CT, Yale University Press, 2019, 460 pp., $38.00 (hardback), ISBN: 978-0-300-21998-2

Richard Godbeer concludes this dual biography of eighteenth-century Philadelphia Quakers Elizabeth and Henry Drinker with a quotation from Elizabeth’s diary that they lived in “a world of trouble” ...
Implementation of two-phase flow models for recycled materials in embankments

Recycled materials like Bauxite Residue (Red Mud) and Fly Ash are prevalent in recent feasibility studies on reused materials in geotechnical engineering applications. Red Mud is a mining waste from aluminum manufacturing, and Fly Ash is a by-product of coal combustion in power plants. Nevertheless, to fully reveal the feasibility of using those materials for constructing above-ground earth structures, a better understanding of their unsaturated performance in geo-structure is essential. While some popular empirical models (e.g., van Genuchten 1980) in Soil Water Retention Curves (SWRC) are commonly used to describe soils' unsaturated conditions, those models may not apply to unique materials like Red Mud and Fly Ash. Recently, SWRC curves of both materials were acquired through the Steady-State Centrifuge (SSC) Unsaturated Flow Apparatus (UFA) procedure at Cal State LA. The experimental data were used to develop analytical models following the van Genuchten model. Using a finite-difference software (FLAC) and obtained SWRC curves, this study performed numerical simulations of embankments filled with Fly Ash and Red Mud, comparing it with an embankment filled with typical silty soil with the same dimensions and conditions. Results showed seepage flow rates for Fly Ash and Red Mud are higher when used as fill material as above-ground embankments.
SiC Substrate-Integrated Waveguides for High-Power Monolithic Integrated Circuits Above 110 GHz

Substrate-integrated waveguides (SIWs) of different geometry are designed, fabricated, and measured on a SiC wafer, along with SIW-based resonators, SIW-based filters, grounded coplanar waveguides (GCPWs), GCPW-SIW transitions, and calibration structures. Two-tier calibration is used to extract the intrinsic SIW characteristics from GCPW-probed scattering parameters. The resulted D-band (110–170 GHz) SIWs exhibit a record low insertion loss of 0.22 ± 0.04 dB/mm, which is four times better than that of the GCPWs. A 3-pole filter exhibits a 1.0-dB insertion loss and a 25-dB return loss at 135 GHz, which represents the state of the art of SiC SIW filters and is order-of-magnitude better than Si on-chip filters. These results show the promise of SIWs for integrating HEMTs, filters, antennas, and other circuit elements on the same SiC chip.
Selection of data weights for determining orbits with biased sensors.

T problem discussed in this note is the following: suppose that measurements are made of an orbit by two radars, one with random errors but no bias and the other with both random and bias errors. Measurements are made of an orbiting body with each radar. The question is, do weights for the data from each radar exist, such that the orbit determined by using both sets of data is always more accurate than the orbit determined with one set? In other words, can even highly biased data improve the orbit determination? It is shown that such a set of weights exists and that it differs from those used for unbiased data.
Production of monoclonal antibodies that detect Hodgkin's high molecular weight transforming growth factor-beta.

High molecular weight transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) is a physiologically active TGF secreted by nodular sclerosing Reed- Sternberg cells. Five monoclonal murine antibodies were prepared that distinguished Hodgkin's TGF beta from platelet-derived TGF beta using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, neutralization of biologic activity, and Western blotting. These monoclonal antibodies directed at unique antigenic determinants (epitopes) of Hodgkin's TGF beta will allow further characterization of the role of Hodgkin's TGF beta in Hodgkin's disease and related entities.
Connectionism for Fuzzy Learning in Rule-Based Expert Systems

A novel approach to rule refinement based upon connectionism is presented. This approach is capable of performing rule deletion, rule addition, changing rule quality, and modification of rule strengths. The fundamental algorithm is referred to as the Consistent-Shift algorithm. Its basis for identifying incorrect connections is that incorrect connections will often undergo larger inconsistent weight shift than correct ones during training with correct samples. By properly adjusting the detection threshold, incorrect connections would be uncovered, which can then be deleted or modified. Deletion of incorrect connections and addition of correct connections then translate into various forms of rule refinement just mentioned.
Photometric calibration for quantitative spectral microscopy under transmitted illumination.

Summary Over the past decade, there have been significant developments in the mechanisms for examination of biological and material samples. These developments exploit techniques in light microscopy to elucidate specific parts of cells and tissues, as well as inorganic particles. In recent years, spectral microscopy has become more prevalent for characterization of samples. Simultaneously, sensor technology has progressed as well and modern charge-coupled devices (CCD) cameras are now capable of achieving high spatial resolution and high sensitivity measurements of signals in the optical microscope. One major impediment in obtaining absolute quantitative information of imaged samples is the lack of automated photometric calibration mechanisms for spectral microscopes. In this paper, we present a methodology for achieving photometric calibration of an automated spectral imaging system targeted towards examination of biological samples. By acquiring spatial and spectral data simultaneously, spectral imaging allows one to exploit physical connections between a particle's morphology and its characteristic response to the optical spectrum. In composite biological material, the interpretation of the spectra is a complicated problem. This is because any light source and charge-coupled device camera used for data acquisition does not have a uniform illumination spectra and quantum efficiency, respectively, across the emitted light spectra. To balance the spectral response across individual wavelengths, our method modulates the exposure duration for the charge-coupled device camera during image acquisition. We present an image similarity based method to calibrate the system. Experiments to test the effectiveness of the calibration method under the various image similarity metrics are presented along with results to show the calibrated system's ability to accurately measure spectra based on the measured transmission profiles of optical filters.
In-the-dark network traffic classification using support vector machines

This work addresses the problem of in-the-dark traffic classification for TCP sessions, an important problem in network management. An innovative use of support vector machines (SVMs) with a spectrum representation of packet flows is demonstrated to provide a highly accurate, fast, and robust method for classifying common application protocols. The use of a linear kernel allows for an analysis of SVM feature weights to gain insight into the underlying protocol mechanisms.
Effective Replays and Summarization of Virtual Experiences

Direct replay of the experience of a user in a virtual environment is difficult for others to watch due to unnatural camera motions. We present methods for replaying and summarizing these egocentric experiences that effectively communicate the user's observations while reducing unwanted camera movements. Our approach summarizes the viewpoint path as a concise sequence of viewpoints that cover the same parts of the scene. The core of our approach is a novel content-dependent metric that can be used to identify similarities between viewpoints. This enables viewpoints to be grouped by similar contextual view information and provides a means to generate novel viewpoints that can encapsulate a series of views. These resulting encapsulated viewpoints are used to synthesize new camera paths that convey the content of the original viewer's experience. Projecting the initial movement of the user back on the scene can be used to convey the details of their observations, and the extracted viewpoints can serve as bookmarks for control or analysis. Finally we present performance analysis along with two forms of validation to test whether the extracted viewpoints are representative of the viewer's original observations and to test for the overall effectiveness of the presented replay methods.
Stage and Gene Specific Signatures Defined by Histones H3K4me2 and H3K27me3 Accompany Mammalian Retina Maturation In Vivo

The epigenetic contribution to neurogenesis is largely unknown. There is, however, growing evidence that posttranslational modification of histones is a dynamic process that shows many correlations with gene expression. Here we have followed the genome-wide distribution of two important histone H3 modifications, H3K4me2 and H3K27me3 during late mouse retina development. The retina provides an ideal model for these studies because of its well-characterized structure and development and also the extensive studies of the retinal transcriptome and its development. We found that a group of genes expressed only in mature rod photoreceptors have a unique signature consisting of de-novo accumulation of H3K4me2, both at the transcription start site (TSS) and over the whole gene, that correlates with the increase in transcription, but no accumulation of H3K27me3 at any stage. By in silico analysis of this unique signature we have identified a larger group of genes that may be selectively expressed in mature rod photoreceptors. We also found that the distribution of H3K4me2 and H3K27me3 on the genes widely expressed is not always associated with their transcriptional levels. Different histone signatures for retinal genes with the same gene expression pattern suggest the diversities of epigenetic regulation. Genes without H3K4me2 and H3K27me3 accumulation at any stage represent a large group of transcripts never expressed in retina. The epigenetic signatures defined by H3K4me2 and H3K27me3 can distinguish cell-type specific genes from widespread transcripts and may be reflective of cell specificity during retina maturation. In addition to the developmental patterns seen in wild type retina, the dramatic changes of histone modification in the retinas of mutant animals lacking rod photoreceptors provide a tool to study the epigenetic changes in other cell types and thus describe a broad range of epigenetic events in a solid tissue in vivo.
Extended averaging and control procedures

Following a brief review of the use of stated space models for switched power electronic systems, we illustrate the need for care in extending the use of state-space averaging techniques, and point out the possible relevance of averaging methods of classical mathematical physics. The existence of potentially useful control synthesis procedures for periodically-varying state-space systems is finally outlined.
Surface composition effects on martensitic phase transformations in nickel aluminium nanowires

Atomistic simulations are utilized to quantify the effects of surface composition on stress-induced B2 to body centred tetragonal (BCT) martensitic phase transformations in intermetallic nickel aluminium (NiAl) nanowires. The simulations show that the phase transformation is observed in all considered cases, regardless of the material composition of the transverse {100} surfaces of the initially B2 wires. The results indicate that, for ⟨100⟩ oriented B2 wires with {100} transverse surfaces, the {100} orientation and not the material composition of the {100} surfaces is the dominant factor in controlling the ability of NiAl alloys to undergo martensitic phase transformations at nanometer scales.
Using Planar Kinematics to Construct the Full 4-D Tolerance-Map for a Line-Profile

Tolerances on line-profiles are used to control cross-sectional shapes of parts, even mildly twisted ones such as those on turbine or compressor blades. Such tolerances limit geometric manufacturing variations to a specified two-dimensional tolerance-zone, i.e. an area, the boundaries to which are curves parallel to the true profile. The single profile tolerance may be used to control position, orientation, and form of the profile.For purposes of automating the assignment of tolerances during design, a math model, called the Tolerance-Map (T-Map), has been produced for most of the tolerance classes that are used by designers. Each T-Map is a hypothetical point-space that represents the geometric variations of a feature in its tolerance-zone. Of the six tolerance classes defined in the ASME/ANSI/ISO Standards, only one attempt has been made at modeling line-profiles [1], and the method used is a kinematic description, based largely on intuition, of the allowable displacements of the middle-sized profile within its tolerance-zone. The result presented is a 4-D double pyramid having a 3-D shape for the common base. Allowable small changes in size represent the fourth dimension in the altitude-direction of the pyramids. However, that work is limited to square, rectangular, and right-triangular profile shapes for which the 3-D transverse sections (called hypersections) of the 4-D T-Map are all geometrically similar to the base because the boundaries are doubly traced. For more generally shaped profiles, [2] the hypersections are not geometrically similar to the base.The objective of this paper is to expand the kinematic description of a profile in its tolerance-zone to include the changing constraints that take place as size is incremented or decremented within the allowable tolerance-range. It provides validation of a different method that is described in a companion paper [3].Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Specific expression of soluble adenylyl cyclase in male germ cells.

The cAMP signaling pathway is an important mediator of extracellular signals in organisms from prokaryotes to higher eukaryotes. In mammals two types of adenylyl cyclase synthesize cAMP; a ubiquitous family of transmembrane isoforms regulated by G proteins in response to extracellular signals, and a recently isolated soluble enzyme insensitive to heterotrimeric G protein modulation. Using the very sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) expression is detectable in almost all tissues examined; however, Northern analysis and in situ hybridization indicate that high levels of sAC message are unique to male germ cells. Elevated levels of sAC mRNA are first observed in pachytene spermatocytes and expression increases through spermiogenesis. The accumulation of high levels of message in round spermatids suggests sAC protein plays an important role in the generation of cAMP in spermatozoa, implying possible roles in sperm maturation through the epididymis, capacitation, hypermotility, and/or the acrosome reaction. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 56:6–11, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The equity debate: distributional impacts of individual transferable quotas

Abstract The twin goals of economic efficiency and social equity often seem at odds, particularly in the debate over two marine policy approaches: firm-level regulation of inputs and outputs (“command and control”) and individual transferable quotas. This paper examines the debate over social equity in a US fishery that transitioned from command and control to individual transferable quotas—the mid-Atlantic clam fishery. The analysis draws on 17 years of data on fishing trips, vessel ownership, tradable property rights ownership, and output market shares. The results show that no segment of the industry was disproportionately adversely affected by the regulatory change; however, they also demonstrate the emergence of a new sector in the industry, which is predominantly made up of former small-scale harvesters.
M-mode and 2-dimensional echocardiographic characteristics of the lonescu-shiley valve in the mitral and aortic positions

Using M-mode and 2-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography, ultrasonic features of the lonescu-Shiley valve were characterized. A number 23 prosthesis was placed in a saline-filled chamber and subjected to pulsatile flow. Production of a linear tear at the base of a cusp resulted in coarse fluttering in the open position, and there was a reduction in the anterior cusp slope. Partial detachment of a cusp from its stent produced high-amplitude low-frequency fluttering during ejection. Alteration of transducer position eliminated the abnormal echoes. Fourteen patients with aortic and 11 with mitral prostheses were studied. There was a close approximation of echographically determined values for the bare stent internal diameter, cusp excursion, and valve orifice diameter compared with the manufacturer's specifications. Random punctiform echoes were noted when the cusps opened. Cusp echoes were superimposed on stent echoes in 21% of patients, and a third cusp was detected in 29%. Two-dimensional echocardiograms of good quality were recorded in the vast majority of subjects. Cusp echoes were smooth and had a consistent motion in both the short and longitudinal axis. Multiple transducer positions were required to delineate prosthetic components with optimal clarity. It is concluded that (1) M-mode and 2-D echocardiography is useful in assessing Ionescu-Shiley valve function, (2) in vitro valve tears or detachment produces characteristic cusp fluttering, (3) careful attention to transducer positions is necessary to record high-quality valve images, and (4) these findings represent a data base for the longitudinal follow-up study of patients with the Ionescu-Shiley valve.
Effects of agents known to antagonize the enhancement of in vitro transformation by 12-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) on the TPA suppression of metabolic cooperation.

Summary Utilizing the phenomenon of metabolic cooperation in Chinese hamster V79 cells, we have studied the effects of agents which suppress the 12-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) enhancement of transformation in vitro, on the TPA suppression of cell-cell communication. None of the agents tested, namely all- trans -retinoic acid, the trimethyl methoxyphenyl analogue of N -ethyl-retinamide, soybean trypsin inhibitor, antipain nor superoxide dismutase, decreased the enhanced recovery effect of TPA on metabolic cooperation. One of the compounds, retinoic acid, significantly increased the % recovery above that observed for TPA alone.
A formula for the grössencharacter of a parametrized elliptic curve

Abstract A formula for the grossencharacter of an elliptic curve with complex multiplication, in a family parametrized by modified Weierstrass functions or classical theta-functions, is given. The method is based on Shimura's Reciprocity Law for modular functions, and applies to Legendre, Jacobi, and Hesse curves. As an application, the conductors of the CM curves in these families are determined.
Quiltmaking and the Modern Guild: A Cultural Idiom

In this paper, we interpret the meaning of contemporary quiltmaking by characterizing how the collective activities of quilt guild members have structured women's understanding of quilt tradition. Ethnography offers a methodological orientation by which meaning can be interpreted by analyzing the sociocultural context of the guild and considering the quilters' perspective. We analyze a particular example of "feminine culture," Minnesota Quilters, Inc. The guild community is important to individual expression, and members' activities provide evidence about a socialization process by which individuals draw upon a collective knowledge of quilt tradition to express themselves. Women's statements about their quilts refer to the significance of quiltmaking in the expression of personal experience. Three components of the discourse suggest that quiltmaking facilitates a woman's increasing integration within the quilting community and appropriation of traditional values: identification as guild member, characteri...
Centering resonance analysis: a potential tool for IT program assessment

Knowledge is organized according to the meaning of words that define the relationships established among the ideas that the words represent. Knowledge structures that humans have in their minds can be represented spatially as concept maps. Another means of representing mental schemas is with written text, such as a project report. Assuming that explicit textual artifacts are a reasonable representation of an individual's mental schema, then network text analyses can be used to summarize and represent the text. Centering resonance analysis is an approach for text analysis that uses the premises of centering theory, where a center is defined as a noun or noun phrase that links utterances to produce coherence in discourse. Through centering resonance analysis, word networks of nouns that represent main concepts can be constructed and influence and resonance statistics can be calculated. Capabilities of centering resonance analysis are presented as it is applied to examples from information systems education. Its applicability as a tool for program assessment is considered.
Steroids and spinal cord injury : revisiting the NASCIS 2 and NASCIS 3 trials

The National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study (NASCIS) 2 and 3 trials are often cited as evidence that high-dose methyl-prednisolone is an efficacious intervention in the management of acute spinal cord injury. Neither of these studies convincingly demonstrate the benefit of steroids. There are concerns about the statistical analysis, randomization, and clinical end points. Even if the putative gains are statistically valid, the clinical benefits are questionable. Furthermore, the benefits of this intervention may not warrant the possible risks. This paper comments on these two clinical trials.
TWO EFFICIENT SYNTHESES OF INDOLE-3-PROPIONIC ESTERS AND ACIDS. FURTHER APPLICATIONS OF MELDRUM'S ACID

(1981). TWO EFFICIENT SYNTHESES OF INDOLE-3-PROPIONIC ESTERS AND ACIDS. FURTHER APPLICATIONS OF MELDRUM'S ACID. Organic Preparations and Procedures International: Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 39-48.
Changes in limb dynamics during the practice of rapid arm movements

Abstract In our study we examined Bernstein's hypothesis that practice alters the motor coordination among the muscular and passive joint moments. In particular, we conducted dynamical analyses of a human multisegmental movement during the practice of a task involving the upper extremity. Seven male human volunteers performed maximal-speed, unrestrained vertical arm movements whose upward and downward trajectories between two target endpoints required the hand to round a barrier, resulting in complex shoulder, elbow, and wrist joint movements. These movements were recorded by high-speed cine film, and myopotentials from selected upper-extremity muscles were recorded. The arm was modeled as inter-connected rigid bodies, so that dynamical interactions among the upper arm, forearm, and hand could be calculated. With practice, subjects achieved significantly shorter movement times. As movement times decreased, all joint-moment components (except gravity) increased, and the moment-time and EMG profiles were changed significantly. Particularly during reversals in movement direction, the changes in moment-time and EMG profiles were consistent with Bernstein's hypothesis relating practice effects and intralimb coordination: with practice, motor coordination was altered so that individuals employed reactive phenomena in such a way as to use muscular moments to counterbalance passive-interactive moments created by segment movements.
Reversal of long-term potentiation by inhibitors of haem oxygenase.

EVIDENCE that carbon monoxide can serve as an intercellular messenger in brain1–3, a role much like that demonstrated for nitric oxide in various tissues4, prompted us to investigate whether carbon monoxide participates in long-term potentiation (LTP), the cellular mechanism that may underlie certain forms of learning and memory. Although LTP is triggered in the postsynaptic neuron, at least some fraction of LTP is expressed presynaptically as an increase in the quantity of neurotransmitter released5–14. Thus, a retrograde signal must form the communication link between the postsynaptic site of induction and the presynaptic site of expression. To test whether carbon monoxide might act as a retrograde signal in LTP, we have investigated the effect on LTP of inhibitors of the enzyme haem oxygenase-2, which catalyses the production of carbon monoxide in the brain. We find that these inhibitors prevent the induction of LTP and have no effect on one form of long-term depression. Furthermore, they will reverse LTP that is already established.
Effect of antibody and complement on volume control in an ascites tumour cell.

WHEN Krebs mouse ascites tumour cells are exposed to the action of rabbit antibodies and complement, the permeability properties of the cells are altered in such a way as to permit rapid equilibration of small molecules and ions between the interior of the cells and the medium1. This deprives the cells of the ability to regulate their internal cation concentration, which is necessary for normal control of cell volume (ref. 2 and Tosteson, D. C., and Hoffman, J. F., personal communication). As a result, the cell volume then responds passively to whatever colloid osmotic pressure difference exists between the cell interior and the medium. In ordinary media, the colloid osmotic pressure of which is lower than that of the cells, the cells take in water3,4. As they swell, they lose protein and ribonucleic acid to the medium1, probably until the colloid osmotic pressure inside the cells is reduced to that of the medium, when cell volume is stabilized at a new value.
Stability of α‐, γ‐, or δ‐Tocopherol during Soybean Oil Oxidation

ABSTRACT: The decomposition of α-, γ-, or δ-tocopherol in soybean oil during 24 d of storage at 50 °C was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The initial contents of α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherol in soybean oil were 53, 750, and 268 ppm, respectively. The degradation rates of α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherol for the first 10 d were 5.6%, 1.2, and 0.5% per day, respectively. The α-tocopherol was completely destroyed in 16 d. The destructions of γ- and δ-tocopherol were 28% and 17% after 24 d. The induction period of soybean oil determined by headspace oxygen, conjugated diene, and peroxide value was 8 d. As the degradations of α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherol increased, the headspace oxygen disappearance, conjugated diene formation, and peroxide value of soybean oil increased. The correlation coefficient between the degradation of tocopherols and the oxidation of soybean oil was about 0.95. The degradation of tocopherols in soybean oil during storage was due to the oxidation.
On the power of robust tests in analysis of covariance

The simple analysis of covariance model is considered where the response variable is modeled in terms of one classification variable (with two groups) and one independent variable or covariate. The usual tests of parallelism and equality of adjusted means for this model are evaluated for a number of different testing procedures. The power of the standard t test procedures, based on the least squares estimates, are compared for small samples by Monte Carlo techniques to the power of proposed t-like and F-like tests procedures based on M estimates. These procedures are compared across a variety of error distributions which include the normal and contaminated normals. The results show that the power of the t-like procedures are highly robust in that they maintain near equal power to the usual t tests under normal errors while resulting in greater power, sometimes substantially greater, than the usual t tests when the errors are from the contaminated normal family. The F-like tests cannot be recommended becau...
Asymmetric Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Pyrrolidines from Sulfinimine-Derived Pyrrolidine 2-Phosphonates. Synthesis of Pyrrolidine 225C

[reaction: see text] The Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction of aldehydes with sulfinimine-derived 3-oxo pyrrolidine phosphonates represents a new method for the asymmetric synthesis of ring-functionalized cis-2,5-disubstituted 3-oxo pyrrolidines.
Socrates in Hellenistic Philosophy

In what sense did the Hellenistic philosophers see themselves as the heirs or critics of Socrates? Was Socrates, in their view, a philosopher on whom Plato was the decisive authority? What doctrines or strategies of Socrates were thoroughly alive in this period? These are the principal questions I shall be asking in this paper, particularly the third. To introduce them, and to set the scene, I begin with some general points, starting from two passages which present an image of Socrates at the beginning and at the end of the Hellenistic era. Here first are three lines from the Silloi of the Pyrrhonean Timon of Phlius:From these matters (i.e. the inquiry into nature) he turned aside, the people-chiselling moralising ‘chatterer, the wizard of Greece, whose assertions were sharply pointed, master of the well-turned sneer, a pretty good ironist.
Educate, communicate, anticipate‐practical recommendations for transitioning adolescents with IBD to adult health care

The cyclical nature of chronic illness requires that children with inflammatory bowel disease be transitioned to the adult medical system with as much continuity of care as possible. Transition from pediatric to adult medical care continues to present significant barriers. The philosophy of transition centers on a process, with the actual transfer to adult care as a point along this clinical pathway. Concrete steps can be taken to help patients prepare for new responsibilities. The aim of this review is to propose a clinical and developmental timeline for both patients and their medical team, including specific responsibilities for both, so that the partnership can best promote a successful transition.
Lynx: An unattended sensor system for detection of gamma-ray and neutron emissions from special nuclear materials

This manuscript profiles an unattended and fully autonomous detection system sensitive to gamma-ray and neutron emissions from special nuclear material. The LYNX design specifically targets applications that require radiation detection capabilities but possess little or no infrastructure. In these settings, users need the capability to deploy sensors for extended periods of time that analyze whatever signal-starved data can be captured, since little or no control may be exerted over measurement conditions. The fundamental sensing elements of the LYNX system are traditional NaI(Tl) and 3He detectors. The new developments reported here center on two themes: low-power electronics and computationally simple analysis algorithms capable of discriminating gamma-ray signatures indicative of special nuclear materials from those of naturally occurring radioactive material. Incorporating tripwire-detection algorithms based on gamma-ray spectral signatures into a low-power electronics package significantly improves performance in environments where sensors encounter nuisance sources.
The Paris Bourse on the Eve of the Revolution, 1781–1789

ONE of the remarkable features of late eighteenth-century capitalism was the speculative frenzy of the Paris Bourse during the 1780's. After a long period of only moderate activity, the Bourse became lively and dangerous during the reign of Louis XVI. Trading in government loans and joint-stock shares took on the frenetic character of a boom. Prices fluctuated with a violence unknown since the time of Law. Groups of speculators fought to manipulate values by coordinating their operations and propagandizing the market; like twentieth-century traders, they bought on margin, sold short, and floated insurance and utilities companies that functioned as investment trusts. Rival coalitions struggled for control and solicited decrees that released them from unprofitable contracts or deflected prices in some advantageous way. Like the American bull market of the 1920's, the Bourse of the 1780's aroused public concern. Directly and indirectly banks and big commercial houses were involved. In a crash many of them would be ruined, and their bankruptcies would shatter the Paris money market and extend themselves as though by chain reaction to all the provincial centers, paralyzing business and unleashing social and political reactions. The minister Calonne, who directed royal finance during I783-I787, understood the danger and feared it, not only for its political implications but also because any serious contraction of private capital would narrow the market for the annual loans on which his budgets depended. He therefore entered the market with treasury funds and tried to shore up prices by buying falling issues. At heavy cost he liquidated private speculative contracts which, by their volume, threatened to bring on a general collapse. Scandals broke out. They were publicized. Nobles, clergymen, even ministers figured in them. Rightly or wrongly the belief spread that the government was permitting irresponsible men to endanger public prosperity, and the ill-fated ministerial interventions in the Bourse undermined confidence in the government, sapped its prestige, and, like the failures in finance and foreign policy, helped
Verbal communication for the ventilator-dependent patient: voice intensity with the Portex "Talk" tracheostomy tube.

A patient's ability to communicate is critical to overall medical care, psychological functioning, and social interactions. Voice intensity levels produced by 20 patients with Portex "Talk" cuffed speaking tracheostomy tubes were investigated at three different airflow rates. Results indicated that audible and intelligible speech was produced with significantly greater intensity (P less than .001) over ambient room noise at 5 l/minute, 10 l/minute, and 15 l/minute of airflow. Also, significantly greater voice intensity (P less than .001) was noted as airflow increased from 5 l/minute to 10 l/minute and from 10 l/minute to 15 l/minute. The criteria, rationale, and importance of using a speaking tracheostomy tube with cognitively intact ventilator-dependent patients are discussed. The specific advantages and disadvantages of the Portex "Talk" tracheostomy tube are delineated. A case study is included.
Automated MEMS-based Drosophila embryo injection system for high-throughput RNAi screens

We have developed an automated system based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) injectors for reliable mass-injection of Drosophila embryos. Targeted applications are high-throughput RNA interference (RNAi) screens. Our injection needles are made of silicon nitride. The liquid to be injected is stored in an integrated 500 nl reservoir, and an externally applied air pressure pulse precisely controls the injected volume. A steady-state water flow rate per applied pressure of 1.2 nl s−1 bar−1 was measured for a needle with channel width, height and length of 6.1 µm, 2.3 µm and 350 µm, respectively. A typical volume of 60 pl per embryo can be reliably and rapidly delivered within tens of milliseconds. Theoretical predictions of flow rates match measured values within ±10%. Embryos are attached to a glass slide surface and covered with oil. Packages with the injector chip and the embryo slide are mounted on motorized xyz-stages. Two cameras allow the user to quickly align the needle tip to alignment marks on the glass slide. Our system then automatically screens the glass slide for embryos and reliably detects and injects more than 98% of all embryos. Survival rates after deionized (DI) water injection of 80% and higher were achieved. A first RNAi experiment was successfully performed with double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) corresponding to the segment polarity gene armadillo at a concentration of 0.01 µM. Almost 80% of the injected embryos expressed an expected strong loss-of-function phenotype. Our system can replace current manual injection technologies and will support systematic identification of Drosophila gene functions.
Buffer and pH Effects on Propranolol Binding by Human Albumin and α1‐Acid Glycoprotein

Propranolol binding to isolated human alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and human albumin (HSA) was studied by equilibrium dialysis at 37 degrees C. With AGP (0.067%) and HSA (4%), total propranolol concentration was varied from 0.7 to 93,000 ng mL-1. Over this concentration range the percentage drug bound to HSA declined from 49 to 39% while that to AGP declined from 68 to 4%. Two classes of sites were identified on AGP with n1k1 = 8.50 X 10(4) M-1 and n2k2 = 3.12 X 10(4) M-1. With a pH 7.4 phosphate buffer, propranolol binding to AGP was greatest when the protein was initially dissolved in pH 7.4 water compared with pH 7.2 water or the phosphate buffer. Thus, the method of AGP solution preparation affected propranolol binding by this protein. For both AGP and HSA, greater drug binding was noted with phosphate buffers in comparison with a physiological buffer. With phosphate buffers, decreasing pH from 7.4 to 7.0 decreased propranolol binding by AGP, while decreasing pH from 7.7 to 7.4 had little effect. With HSA, the percent propranolol bound consistently decreased on lowering pH from 7.7 to 7.0.