cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pathogenesis of Coronavirus-Induced Infections

Coronaviruses and arteriviruses infect multiple species of mammals, including humans, causing diseases that range from encephalitis to enteritis. Several of these viruses infect domestic animals and cause significant morbidity and mortality, leading to major economic losses. In this category are included such pathogens as transmissible gastroenteritis virus, porcine respiratory and reproductive virus and infectious bronchitis virus. The feline coronaviruses (FECV) generally do not cause infections with high morbidity but in a small percentage of cases, the virus mutates to become more virulent. This virus, feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV), causes severe disease in young cats. This disease is in large part immunopathological and understanding it is a major goal of Coronavirus research.
Application of the spreading techniques to structural heterozygotes

The stage at which sperm atocyte nuclei are analyzed can be anticipated to yield information about different meiotic events: homologous recognition, initiation and progression of homologous synapsis, and factors regulating nonhomologous synapsis, crossing over and segregation to name but a few.
Topic Models, Latent Space Models, Sparse Coding, and All That: A Systematic Understanding of Probabilistic Semantic Extraction in Large Corpus

Probabilistic topic models have recently gained much popularity in informational retrieval and related areas. Via such models, one can project high-dimensional objects such as text documents into a low dimensional space where their latent semantics are captured and modeled; can integrate multiple sources of information---to "share statistical strength" among components of a hierarchical probabilistic model; and can structurally display and classify the otherwise unstructured object collections. However, to many practitioners, how topic models work, what to and not to expect from a topic model, how is it different from and related to classical matrix algebraic techniques such as LSI, NMF in NLP, how to empower topic models to deal with complex scenarios such as multimodal data, contractual text in social media, evolving corpus, or presence of supervision such as labeling and rating, how to make topic modeling computationally tractable even on web-scale data, etc., in a principled way, remain unclear. In this tutorial, I will demystify the conceptual, mathematical, and computational issues behind all such problems surrounding the topic models and their applications by presenting a systematic overview of the mathematical foundation of topic modeling, and its connections to a number of related methods popular in other fields such as the LDA, admixture model, mixed membership model, latent space models, and sparse coding. I will offer a simple and unifying view of all these techniques under the framework multi-view latent space embedding, and online the roadmap of model extension and algorithmic design toward different applications in IR and NLP. A main theme of this tutorial that tie together a wide range of issues and problems will build on the "probabilistic graphical model" formalism, a formalism that exploits the conjoined talents of graph theory and probability theory to build complex models out of simpler pieces. I will use this formalism as a main aid to discuss both the mathematical underpinnings for the models and the related computational issues in a unified, simplistic, transparent, and actionable fashion.
Aquatic invertebrate production in moist-soil managed wetlands on Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area, east-central Texas

Abstract Aquatic invertebrates have significant value to wetland-dependent species as well as to wetlands themselves. They process organic matter through producer and detritus food webs, modify wetland habitats, and provide a food resource to wetland-dependent species such as waterfowl and shorebirds. Timely flooding and drawdown of water within moist-soil managed wetlands will increase invertebrate diversity and abundance, allowing wetland managers to maximize the production of such areas. We examined how flood timing and duration influenced aquatic invertebrate density, diversity, richness, and production within four moist-soil managed wetlands on Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area, east-central Texas from January 2004 through December 2006. A total of 12,089 aquatic invertebrates from 41 aquatic invertebrate families were collected. Overall, diversity indices were 0.76 (Simpson's Index) and 2.47 (Shannon-Wiener Index). Most common aquatic invertebrates were Crustacea (n = 3,568) and Ephemeroptera ...
Foreign Exploration for Predators: A Proposed New Methodology

That most biological control success stories involve parasitic rather than predatory natural enemies is a well-entrenched myth. In fact, recent analyses have shown that introduced parasitoids and predators have not differed significantly in their rates of establishment or success as agents of biological control. However, it is true that introductions of predators have been attempted much less often than introductions of parasitoids. This may be partly because of controversy over the attributes of the ideal natural enemy. A more basic obstacle has been the lack of a methodology for identifying any but the most prey-specific of predators of target pests. I propose a new methodology, using on-the-spot serological stomach analysis of predators. The feasibility of this approach is illustrated with data from monoclonal antibody-based ELISA assays of predators fed larvae of species of the corn earworm complex.
Design of Gas Sampling System in Intrinsic Safety Detection Robot

According to the coal mine detection robot collecting a certain height of ambient gas information requirements, With the modularization thinking in designing a small gas sampling system,mainly consisting of the sampling device, gas detection sensor, control system and power supply. The automatic sampling device can drive the guide tube in a drive unit, to achieve the acquisition of gas in certain height,Bet on the rotor current mode to realize the sampling device is obstacle avoidance by collecting motor. In the light of the sampling system is mainly analyzed the working principle and realization method of the sampling device and control system.
Improved 6.5kV FREEMD-Pair based on SiC JFET and Si IGBT

The newly proposed FREEDM-Pair is an ideal and economical solution to address high cost issue in high power SiC power devices. The FREEDM-Pair, in which a Si IGBT and a SiC JFET are connected in parallel, combines the advantages of SiC JFET's low switching losses and Si IGBT's superior forward conduction characteristics. One issue of the JFET based FREEDM-Pair is the incompatible gate drive voltage for the SiC JFET and Si IGBT which complicates the gate driver design and increases the total cost. Also, the high voltage SiC JBS reverse diode in FREEDM-Pair is indispensable for the reverse current conduction, leading to higher cost and larger package size. To address these issues, an improved FREEDM-Pair is proposed in this paper, in which the SiC JBS diode is eliminated and the normally-off SiC JFET is operated in cascode configuration to unify the gate driver voltage level and speed up the switching of the JFET. The design and operation of improved FREEDM-Pair is elaborated and experimental results verified its advantages. Also, the affordable cost demonstrates that this promising concept is an ideal step to introduce high voltage SiC power devices.
Routine Use of the Psoas Hitch in Ureteral Reimplantation

Previously, the psoas hitch had been advocated only for difficult cases of ureteral implantation, especially when there had been inadequate ureteral length. However, during the last 10 years the paoas hitch in association with a modified Paquin technique has been used routinely at this institution for ureteral reimplantation. The technique has been used in all unilateral cases and in most bilateral reimplants. Results have been excellent. The psoas hitch allows for a long submucosal tunnel, with a fixed relationship between the ureter and posterolateral bladder wall. Intermittent hydronephrosis is not seen with this method of reimplantation and there have been no voiding disturbances.
Engaged Leadership: Understanding and Respecting the Shades of Gray

Many leaders have difficulty understanding when employees do not have the same organizational committment or career perspectives as themselves. This column looks at engaging with others to understand their desire, or lack thereof, for development opportunities and growth. Using the analogy of a black-and-white photograph, it is how the various diverse pieces come together as a whole that results in a successful operational model.
Defining 'Popular Constitutionalism: The Kramer versus Kramer Problem

Scholars of the American legal system use the term “popular constitutionalism” with considerable frequency. Ironically, as the usage of the term ballooned in the first decade of the twenty-first century its utility diminished. It came close to being a catchall phrase made to mean anything its user wanted it to mean. Drawing upon data we collected about the usage of the term in law journal articles published since 1980, we charted the temporal changes in legal academic usage of “popular constitutionalism.” We then analyzed some of the consequences of those changes for the traditional understanding of “popular constitutionalism” – paying particular attention to one recent and ongoing effort to reinvigorate the concept of “constitutionalism” (as distinct from “constitutional law”).That traditional understanding takes as the central animating principle of “popular constitutionalism” “the idea that ordinary citizens,” rather than the courts, “are our most authoritative interpreters of the Constitution.” Under this approach, courts should not have “normative priority in the conversation” about the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. Challenges to interpretive judicial supremacy have always existed, but they enjoyed a mini academic revival in the late 1990s and early 2000s, in no small part because of the “popular constitutionalism” writings of Larry Kramer – in particular his acclaimed 2004 book The People Themselves. Our data show a dramatic increase, between 2004 and 2006, in the number of law review articles that include substantive discussions of “popular constitutionalism” – an increase we show to be largely attributable to the influence of Kramer’s work. However, the data also evidence a precipitous decline in the percentage of “popular constitutionalism” articles that are actually employing the traditional anti-judicial supremacy understanding of that term (even though the majority of their authors claim that they are discussing ‘popular constitutionalism according to Larry Kramer’). This is the result of what we term the Kramer versus Kramer problem – Professor Kramer’s failure, in his most popular “popular constitutionalism” writings, to employ a clear and consistent theory. Instead of adhering to a simple, objective definition that takes aim at judicial supremacy, Kramer is too easily distracted by judicial supremacy that takes the form of court decisions with which he ideologically disagrees. This definitional inconsistency has enabled other law professors to pen articles overusing and under-defining “popular constitutionalism” – for a term by any other name is neither as sweet nor as popular.
Dissecting spinal cord regeneration

The inability to recover functions lost after severe spinal cord injury has been recognized for millennia and was first attributed to a failure of spinal cord neural regeneration over 100 years ago. The last forty years have seen intense research into achieving such regeneration, but in spite of conceptual advances and many reports announcing successful interventions, progress has been slow and often controversial. Here, I examine consequential advances and setbacks, and critically consider assumptions underlying certain approaches. I argue that expanding mechanistic knowledge about multiple forms of neural regeneration, why they fail and how they can restore function will resolve conceptual contentions and push the field forward.
The pathogenesis of cast nephropathy

The initial description of the disease we now know as multiple myeloma occurred in 1848 when Bence Jones [1] described a novel protein in the urine of MacIntyre’s patient with bone pain, edema, and constitutional symptoms. However, it was not until 1920 that Thannhauser and Krauss [2] reported unusual renal tubular structural abnormalities in a myeloma patient with proteinuria who succumbed from the illness. They described and illustrated a peculiar type of tubular cast; following contributions by other investigators, this renal lesion eventually became known as myeloma kidney, or more recently since the elucidation of the composition of the cast [3], Bence Jones cast nephropathy [4]. It is somewhat surprising that almost 75 years elapsed before the recognition of the distinctive pathological change in the kidneys, for it is well known that in excess of 50% of patients with multiple myeloma develop renal failure [5–11] and that the cast lesion is the most common structural feature [10, 12]. It is also surprising that virtually all patients with multiple myeloma do not develop renal impairment and cast formation, for it has been shown that abnormal free light chains are directly responsible for renal damage [7, 8, 13]. Finally, although the morphological features of the casts are well characterized [11], the events leading to their formation and the tissue reaction to their presence are controversial [6,10,15–21].
Towards a Theory of Qualitative Reasoning about Mechanisms and its Role in Troubleshooting

One of the intriguing properties of many expert trouble-shooters is their ability to diagnose systems that they have never seen before. These experts construct their own qualitative causal models of how a system functions given a description of its structure and what it is supposed to do. What is the basis of this skill? Towards answering this question, we have been investigating properties of the “mental models” that such experts might be constructing for representing the underlying mechanisms of a system, i.e. their understanding. Some of these properties are apparent. Firstly, they involve a qualitative understanding of how the system functions in contradistinction to the analytic or quantitative models often taught to engineers. Secondly, these models appear to have many of the properties of a simulation which is, metaphorically speaking, “run” in the mind’s eye or what might be called an envisionment. From running such an envisionment the expert can discover and/or encode much of a system’s underlying causality.
Hospital Prices Grew Substantially Faster Than Physician Prices For Hospital-Based Care In 2007–14

Evidence suggests that growth in providers’ prices drives growth in health care spending on the privately insured. However, existing work has not systematically differentiated between the growth ra...
Market Orientation and Poverty Reduction: A Study of Rural Small Businesses in Ghana: An Abstract

This paper examines how rural small businesses in Ghana enact market orientations within the context of government policy initiatives on small business growth with the aim of reducing poverty in rural communities. The present study recognizes that a large population of Ghana is reliant on the success of these small businesses in rural areas. We acknowledge that government policy intervention in rural economic development is necessary for small business growth and that market orientation is essential to the success of rural small businesses and subsequently poverty reduction. Therefore, the aims of this research are: (1) to examine the application of market orientation strategies among small businesses in rural Ghana, (2) to assess the impact of market orientation on business performance, and (3) to examine the implications of government rural development policy on poverty reduction through rural small businesses’ pursuit of market orientation strategies. To this end, the study addresses five specific research questions: What market orientation strategies do small businesses in rural Ghana pursue? What is the effect of market orientation strategies on rural small business performance in terms of sales and profits, market share, and consumer perceptions? How has the government of Ghana poverty reduction policies affected rural small businesses’ marketing practices? What are the key policy challenges encountered in the rural small business marketing domain?
Osteoid Osteoma About the Hip in Children and Adolescents.

Background:The etiology of hip pain in pediatric and adolescent patients can be unclear. Osteoid osteoma (OO) about the hip in children has only been described in case reports or small studies. The present study assessed the clinical presentation and diagnostic course, imaging, and treatment approac
Managing code transformations for better performance portability

Code optimization is an intricate task that is getting more complex as computing systems evolve. Managing the program optimization process, including the implementation and evaluation of code varia...
A wild microbiome improves mouse modeling of the human immune response

With the genetics of a laboratory strain but a more diverse microbiome, ‘wildling’ mice could be a novel complement to commonly used specific pathogen-free animals in preclinical studies.
Are you sure your software will not kill anyone

Using software to control potentially unsafe systems requires the use of new software and system engineering approaches.
Diverse students collaborating to address social determinants of health using listening sessions

Abstract In this article, a Nursing Workforce Diversity grant-funded project examined the social determinants of health (SDH) including diverse high school and baccalaureate nursing students. All involved students were from educationally and/or economically disadvantaged backgrounds and/or underrepresented minority groups. The purpose of this article is to report the project outcome data and analysis gathered from students' experiences of SDH, using the collaborative method, listening sessions. The project staff and student nurses discussed SDH with high school students, who then identified and prioritized key SDH in their neighborhoods during a series of facilitated listening sessions in their schools. Initial analysis included reviewing, with the students, the notes taken during the sessions, resulting in a list of SDH to address. As a secondary analysis, the listening session tapes were transcribed and independently coded and examined by project staff. Six themes evolved that illustrate the depth of understanding of the complex challenges of SDH experienced by students in their local communities. Based on student-determined priorities, the project staff developed programs to meet the identified SDH needs at both high schools. Nursing and other health professionals are in ideal positions to collaborate with schools to create programming interventions for addressing SDH effectively into the future.
Assessment of stability of sulphated lactosyl archaeol archaeosomes for use as a vaccine adjuvant.

Archaeosomes, composed of sulphated lactosyl archaeol (SLA) glycolipids, have been proven to be an effective vaccine adjuvant in multiple preclinical models of infectious disease or cancer. In addi...
Association Between Medicaid Expansion and the Use of Outpatient General Surgical Care Among US Adults in Multiple States.

Importance The Affordable Care Act expanded access to Medicaid coverage in 2014 for individuals living in participating states. Whether expanded coverage was associated with increases in the use of outpatient surgical care, particularly among underserved populations, remains unknown. Objective To evaluate the association between state participation in the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion reform and the use of outpatient surgical care. Design, Setting, and Participants This case-control study used a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences design to compare the use of outpatient surgical care at the facility and state levels by patient demographic characteristics and payer categories (Medicaid, private insurance, and no insurance). Data from 2013 (before Medicaid expansion reform) and 2015 (after Medicaid expansion reform) were obtained from the State Ambulatory Surgery and Services Database of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. The absolute and mean numbers of procedures performed at outpatient surgical centers in 2 states (Michigan and New York) that participated in Medicaid expansion (expansion states) were compared with those performed at outpatient surgical centers in 2 states (Florida and North Carolina) that did not participate in Medicaid expansion (nonexpansion states). The population-based sample included 207 176 patients aged 18 to 64 years who received 4 common outpatient procedures (laparoscopic cholecystectomy, breast lumpectomy, open inguinal hernia repair, and laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair). Data were analyzed from May 19 to August 25, 2019. Interventions State variation in the adoption of Medicaid expansion before and after expansion reform was implemented through the Affordable Care Act. Main Outcomes and Measures Changes in the mean number of procedures performed at the facility level before and after Medicaid expansion reform in states with and without expanded Medicaid coverage. Results A total of 207 176 patients (106 395 women [51.35%] and 100 781 men [48.65%]; mean [SD] age, 45.7 [12.4] years) were included in the sample. Overall, 116 752 procedures were performed in Medicaid expansion states and 90 424 procedures in nonexpansion states. A 9.8% increase (95% CI, 0.4%-20.0%;P = .04) in cholecystectomies, a 26.1% increase (95% CI, 9.8%-44.7%;P = .001) in lumpectomies, and a 16.3% increase (95% CI, 2.9%-31.5%;P = .02) in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs were observed at the facility level in expansion states compared with nonexpansion states. Among patients with Medicaid coverage, the mean number of procedures performed in all 4 procedure categories increased between 60.5% (95% CI, 24.7%-106.6%;P Conclusions and Relevance Study results suggest that Medicaid expansion was associated with increases in the use of outpatient surgical care in states that participated in Medicaid expansion. Most of this increase represented patients who were newly treated rather than patients who converted from no insurance to Medicaid coverage.
Appearance of circularly polarized light in an atmosphere-ocean system.

Using a Monte Carlo algorithm to simulate the scattering of sunlight in an atmosphere–ocean system, the degree of circular polarization of light in the ocean has been calculated at multiple depths and directions. In this system circularly polarized light is produced by the reflection of light from beneath the surface at an incident angle greater than the critical angle. We present the results of these simulations for different solar angles, wavelengths of light, and models that include the presence of aerosols in the atmosphere and hydrosols in the water.
The Rise, Critique and Persistence of the DALY in Global Health

A barrage of criticism from global health scholars in disciplines ranging from economics to anthropology immediately followed the introduction of the disability-adjusted life year, or DALY, in 1994. Despite demonstrated flaws in its justification and design, the DALY is still in wide use in the field of global health, promoted by scholars as well as by major publications such as The Lancet and by funding agencies like the Gates Foundation. Two case studies first pointed out flaws in the mid-1990s that are still being overlooked in current research projects. The DALY has persisted while the power structure of global health has changed from the political to the economic and biomedical, and power (and money) have become concentrated in the hands of a few individuals. This change in regime is the reason that the DALY has persisted despite its flaws, but it also has positive implications for the future. Because of the extreme concentration of power in global health today, it would not be impossible to uproot the DALY, even though it is so widely used. If research dollars were devoted to the development of a better metric, only a handful of leaders would need to be convinced of its value in order for it to take over. The elimination of the DALY and development of a replacement is therefore not only necessary, as has been pointed out for almost twenty years, but also feasible, due to more recent changes in the political structure of global health. A new, two-part metric is proposed that would address the most common critiques of the DALY while still providing numerical guidance for health policy decision-making.
Neurologist prescribing versus psychiatry referral: Examining patient preferences for anxiety and depression management in a symptomatic epilepsy clinic sample.

Abstract Objective Anxiety and depression symptoms in epilepsy are common, impactful and under-recognized and undertreated. While prior survey data suggests equipoise among epileptologists for managing anxiety and/or depression via prescribing in the epilepsy clinic versus psychiatry referral, patient preferences are unknown and should potentially influence practice habits among epileptologists. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to determine patient preference for anxiety and/or depression prescribing by neurologists versus psychiatry referral among an adult epilepsy clinic sample of symptomatic patients. Methods Management preferences for anxiety and/or depression were surveyed in an adult tertiary care epilepsy clinic. Individuals who screened positive for anxiety and/or depression symptoms on validated instruments during a routine care-embedded learning health system study were recruited. Demographics, social variables, psychiatric treatment history, and treatment priorities and preferences were surveyed. Preference was defined as a slightly greater than 2:1 ratio in favor neurology prescribing or psychiatry referral. The study was powered to assess this primary objective using a two-sample binomial test. Multinomial logistic regression examined an a priori multivariable model of treatment preference (secondary objective). Results The study sample included N = 63 symptomatic adults, with 64% women and mean age 42.2 years. Most reported past or current treatment for anxiety and/or depression, and treatment for these symptoms was a high or moderate priority among 65.1% of the sample. Neurologist prescribing was preferred in 83.0% (nearly 5:1) over psychiatry referral among those who chose neurology or psychiatry (as opposed to neither of the two; p Conclusion In this sample, most patients indicated a preference for neurologists to prescribe for anxiety or depression symptoms in the epilepsy clinic. Care models involving neurologist prescribing for anxiety and depression symptoms merit further investigation and potential adoption in clinical practice.
Pak1 kinase regulates ribonucleoprotein granules through Sts5 for polarized growth and the glucose starvation response

ABSTRACT Fission yeast cells maintain a rod shape due to conserved signaling pathways that organize the cytoskeleton for polarized growth. We discovered a mechanism linking the conserved protein kinase Pak1 with cell shape through the RNA-binding protein Sts5. Pak1 prevents Sts5 association with P bodies by directly phosphorylating its intrinsically disordered region (IDR). Pak1 and the cell polarity kinase Orb6 both phosphorylate the Sts5 IDR but at distinct residues. Mutations preventing phosphorylation in the Sts5 IDR cause increase P body formation and defects in cell shape and polarity. Unexpectedly, when cells encounter glucose starvation, PKA signaling triggers Pak1 recruitment to P bodies with Sts5. Through retargeting experiments, we reveal that Pak1 localizes to these ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules to promote rapid dissolution of Sts5 upon glucose addition. Our work reveals a new role for Pak1 in regulating cell shape through RNPs during normal and stressed growth conditions.
Novel Issues in Canadian Labour Arbitration Related to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-21 changed working conditions for millions of Canadians quickly and dramatically. Employers responded by requiring employees to quarantine, implementing workplace COVID policies, disciplining employees who violated those policies, changing work schedules, cancelling leaves or vacations, and furloughing or laying off employees. Union have challenged many of these actions, raising a variety of novel issues that are now being resolved through labour arbitration. This article surveys those labour arbitration awards.
The undelivered dream: Policing, administrative rules and social equity

The overly aggressive use of force by police on African Americans illustrates a fundamental dissonance within the American polity. The ideal of justice and liberty juxtaposed with the reality of su...
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among youth

The purpose of this evaluation is to describe COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among a sample of youth aged 12-15 and inform efforts to increase vaccination uptake among youth populations. We used data collected in May 2021 through a health education program for 9th graders (N = 345). We used Spearman correlations and chi-square tests to assess the statistical significance of bivariate relationships. Less than half of students (42%) reported they are not hesitant at all about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. The remainder reported they were "a little hesitant" (22%), "somewhat hesitant" (21%), or "very hesitant" (15%). There were no statistically significant differences across age, gender, race/ethnicity, parental education, self-reported grades, or hours playing video games during school days. There was a statistically significant relationship between COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and hours of TV watched during school days. The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in this sample is high, but more research is needed to estimate its prevalence for youth at the state or national level. Correlates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adult populations may not match those found in youth populations. Research which recognizes youth as agentic rather than passive participants in decision-making opens opportunities for developing age-appropriate health communication and interventions for vaccination.
SULFUR: POTENTIAL PAVEMENT BINDER OF THE FUTURE

A number of experimental pavement projects constructed by state highway agencies in the United States utilizing sulfur as an asphalt cement extender indicate that a good durable pavement surface can be constructed with this material utilizing existing paving plant and laydown equipment. Perhaps the most revolutionary and far-reaching concept in the highway pavement field since the development of asphalt cement as a binder for flexible pavements is the potential use of plasticized sulfur as an independent pavement binder. Sulfur has been identified as a material that possesses desirable engineering properties when modified with hydrocarbon plasticizers. It is also available in sufficient quantities in the earth's crust for use as an economically viable pavement binder material. The results of research by the Federal Highway Administration indicate that plasticized sulfur is a very promising pavement binder material.
The Triumph of the Prague Workers' Councils

The auction at Sotheby's of European political memorabilia was under way. Jessica Neumann had come to New York from Chicago on the off-chance some Situationist material might turn up. Elaine Friedman had come from Massachusetts for precisely the same reason. Jessica found herself behind the main auditorium, in front of the long wooden table where the next few lots had been placed before being auctioned. Elaine was already there. Nothing on the table much interested Jessica?Popular Front claptrap and reactionary fodder?but on a chair nearby she spotted a pile of posters and pamphlets. She sifted quickly through the pages, and halfway through, she found a single, handwritten sheet of paper. She recognized the handwriting at once?it was Guy Debord's; Debord was one of the Situationists' leading ideologues. The document, evidently the rough draft for a communique issued during the occupation of the Sorbonne in May 1968, called upon workers to occupy a Renault plant in Lyons. Inside a large box filled with political buttons, meanwhile, Elaine Friedman had found, tucked all the way at the bottom, a small jewel box with a rusty clasp. She finally managed to open the box and took out a small handmade silver pendant. She opened the pendant and inside was a tiny painting of Charles Fourier. Jessica tried to stifle a cry when she saw what Elaine was holding, but a small moan escaped. And then, softly: "Tatiana." "Yes," Elaine agreed. She turned over the jewel box. A label from a store in Brussels was pasted to the bottom. "We'll go together," Jessica said. "Of course."
Global Ethics and Corruption Measurement Issues in Latin America: The Cases of Colombia and Honduras

Current international organizations focus more on measuring corruption rather than ethics, integrity or transparency in government. Even Transparency International (TI) does not actually measure “transparency” but corruption itself. More critical, those measurements may not be considering government efforts to prevent public corruption at the national and local level. For instance, according to TI’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), during the last decade the phenomenon of corruption in Latin America and the Caribbean countries has remained low-moderate, reaching ratings between 4 and 5 within the CPI rating scale, which includes values between 1 (more corruption) and 10 (less corruption). However, CPI scores may be ignoring specific data from the situation at the local government level. Moreover, CPI scores may have been seriously ignoring socio-political factors that affect corruption perceptions in society, as in the case of Colombia, or extreme poverty, such as in the case of Honduras. In order to escape a trap in which transparency efforts enhance the image of more affluent democracies while only appearing to confirm negative perceptions of societies in a developing stage, the author proposes the creation or improvement of “active transparency” practices at the local government level. This will transform citizens into key actors instead of just receptors of laws and anticorruption programs designed by government. Hence, this paper first discusses the problem with corruption and transparency measurement in the Latin.
Thick non-crossing paths and minimum-cost continuous flows in polygonal domains

We study the problem of finding shortest non-crossing thick paths in a polygonal domain, where a thick path is the Minkowski sum of a usual (zero-thickness, or thin) path and a disk. Given K pairs of terminals on the boundary of a simple n-gon, we compute in O(n + K) time a representation of the set of K shortest non-crossing thick paths joining the terminal pairs; using the representation, any particular path can be output in time proportional to its complexity. In a polygonal domain with h holes we compute K shortest thick non-crossing paths in O (( K + 1)hh! poly(n,K)) time, using an efficient method to compute any one of the K thick paths if the "threadings" of all paths amidst the holes are specified. We show that if h is not constant, the problem is NP-hard; we also show the hardness of approximation. We give a pseudopolynomial-time algorithm for some rectilinear versions of the problem. We apply our thick paths algorithms to obtain the first algorithmic results for the minimum-cost continuous flow problem—an extension of the standard discrete minimum-cost network flow problem to continuous domains. The results are based on showing a continuous analog of the Network Flow Decomposition Theorem. We investigate the problem of finding the maximum number of thick paths that can be routed in a polygonal domain. Using a modification of the "continuous uppermost path" algorithm, we give a constructive proof of a continuous Menger-type result: the maximum number of paths equals to the length of a shortest path in the "thresholded critical graph" of the domain. The algorithm computes (a representation of) the paths in O( nh + n log n) time. We show how to use the algorithm to find maximum monotone flows and paths. For simple polygons we give faster, linear-time algorithms. The non-crossing thick paths problems, as well as the continuous flow problems, arise in the air traffic management problem of optimally routing air traffic lanes in Flow Constrained Areas while avoiding weather hazards, no-fly zones, and other constraints. The other motivations for studying the problems come from wire routing for circuits and from information propagation in sensor networks. We also consider other motion planning problems: the touring problems, shortest paths with bounded number of links in rectilinear domains, and optimal tours in "pixelated" environments and grids.
A simple GPU implementation of FDTD/PBC algorithm

Constant horizontal wavenumber approach is a simple method to model periodic boundary conditions (PBC) in the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method proposed for efficient analysis of periodic structures, however, it requires execution of the FDTD simulations many times, each time for a different value of horizontal wavenumber, to achieve useful results. In this contribution we present an implementation of the FDTD/PBC algorithm using the Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) to run the simulations on graphics processor unit (GPU) devices to speed-up the FDTD/PBC simulations.
WHAT'S IN A WORD? ON THE CHILD'S ACQUISITION OF SEMANTICS IN HIS FIRST LANGUAGE

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on of the knowledge that one has to have about a word to use it appropriately. From the developmental point of view, what the child knows about the meaning of a word needs to be found in addition to the way in which this knowledge changes during the language acquisition process. The semantic feature hypothesis assumed that the meanings of words are made up of features or components of meaning and proposed that children learn word meanings gradually by adding more features to their lexical entries. The general predictions made by this theory have been shown to be remarkably consistent with data from several different sources in the literature on children's language. The theory contains a number of lacunae that future work will have to fill. For example, there is no account of the internal structure or lack of it in the child's earliest lexical entries. To study language acquisition properly, semantics cannot be ignored, for it is essential to know what the children means by what they says, and to know how they understand what they hear.
Sarcoidosis with subcutaneous lesions

A 30-year-old man presented for evaluation of multiple, hypopigmented macules and erythematous papules on his upper and lower lips and upper extremities. He subsequently developed firm, non-tender, subcutaneous, mobile nodules on the left forearm, left calf, and right thigh. Clinical and histopathologic features were consistent with cutaneous and subcutaneous sarcoidosis. Systemic evaluation showed no evidence of extracutaneous involvement. Subcutaneous sarcoidosis is a rare form of nodular cutaneous sarcoidosis. Typical skin findings are painless, firm, mobile nodules without overlying epidermal involvement and with a predilection for the trunk and extremities. Histopathologic alterations include epilthelioid cell tubercles in the subcutaneous fat. As this is a diagnosis of exclusion, other etiologies of granulomatous inflammation must be ruled out with tests and special stains. The mainstay of treatment is with oral glucocorticoids.
How Integrated are Global Bond Markets? Estimating the Limits of Covered Interest Arbitrage

This paper contributes a new empirical dimension to the Feldstein-Horioka puzzle. It demonstrates that large deviations from covered interest parity (CIP) persist in equilibrium. In the presence of market imperfections, textbook arbitrage does not equate covered interest yields. It confines them only to no-arbitrage neutral zones. Bid-ask spreads alone lead to neutral zones of +/-20 basis points or more, so neutral zones need not be small. Confirming this prediction, the magnitude and persistence of deviations from CIP are estimated for a broad sample of currencies and securities. Both vary systematically with factors related to currency, credit quality, and maturity. Surprisingly, they are greatest for government benchmark bonds, particularly after the Russian devaluation and subsequent LTCM crisis.
Ionized calcium concentrations in cats with septic peritonitis: 55 cases (1990-2008)

Abstract Objective – To report the prevalence of ionized hypocalcemia (iHCa) in cats with septic peritonitis, and to determine whether hypocalcemic cats had increased morbidity and mortality when compared with normocalcemic cats. Design – Retrospective clinical study. Setting – University teaching hospital. Animals – Fifty-five client-owned cats with septic peritonitis. Measurements – Medical records of 55 cats with confirmed septic peritonitis meeting the study inclusion criteria were reviewed. Information obtained included signalment, cause of peritonitis, length of hospitalization (LOH), length of ICU stay, and outcome. Results from serum biochemical analysis, blood gas analysis, and coagulation testing from the time of diagnosis, and all ionized calcium (iCa) measurements during hospitalization were recorded. Systolic blood pressure, the presence of arrhythmias and administration of vasopressor agents, blood products, and sodium bicarbonate were documented. iCa concentration at the time of diagnosis and lowest recorded value during hospitalization were compared with LOH and length of ICU stay, survival to hospital discharge, and clinical and clinicopathologic data. Main Results – iHCa (iCa<1.20 mmol/L) was found in 89% of cats (49/55) at the time of diagnosis of septic peritonitis and 93% (51/55) at any time during hospitalization. There was no association between the presence or severity of iHCa at diagnosis and survival to hospital discharge. LOH (P=0.046) and duration of ICU stay (P=0.026) were significantly correlated with the lowest iCa recorded during hospitalization. Failure to normalize iCa during hospitalization was associated with a decreased survival rate to discharge (P=0.029) in patients with iHCa. iHCa was not associated with an increased prevalence of hypotension, coagulopathy, arrhythmias, or evaluated therapies. Conclusions – iHCa is more prevalent in cats with septic peritonitis than described previously. Failure of iCa to normalize during hospitalization may be a negative prognostic indicator. iHCa may be predictive of a longer LOH and ICU stay, but is not necessarily associated with a poorer prognosis.
The $\rho - \pi$ Puzzle of J/\psi and \psi' Decays

The recent BES Collaboration data on $\psi' \ra PV$, particularly the isospin violating mode $\psi' \ra \pi^0 \omega^0$ and finding of a finite number for $B(\psi' \ra K^{*0}\bar{K}^0)$, enable us now to deal more precisely about the challenges to theory concerning this extraordinary and remarkable so called $\rho - \pi$ Puzzle of $J/\psi$ and $\psi'$ Decays. In terms of existing data, and deploying the simplest phenomenology, measurement of $\psi' \ra \pi^+\pi^-$ and whether a finite number for the $K^{*+} K^-$ mode might require a significantly larger accumulation of data, remain interesting questions.
Linear growth rates of ice crystals grown from the vapor phase

Abstract Measurements of the linear growth rates of individual basal and prism faces of ice grown on a substrate were made as functions of temperature, excess vapor pressure, and partial pressure of air. The crystals grown in an environment of pure water vapor appear relatively featureless and flat, but still exhibit well-defined specular faces, indicating a domination of surface kinetic effects. Addition of air to the system decreases the growth in proportion to the diffusivity of water vapor in air, so it appears that the effects of the environment are separable from the surface kinetic processes. Steps were observed on both the basal and prism faces and are an important feature of the growth mechanism. Trains of macroscopic steps were observed being “shunned” in an area packed by etch pits and initially inhibited faces were seen to assume the same linear growth velocity as overtaking adjoining faces. The temperature dependences of the linear growth rates of basal and prism faces are remarkable with local maxima and minima which are consistent with the observed alternation with temperature of the primary habit. The temperature trends are not readily explained, but they are correlated with previously measured values of the velocity and interaction distance of steps on the basal face. This correlation and the other observations of this study are consistent with a growth mechanism based on spiral steps arising from emergent screw dislocations.
Attentional deficits in Cocaine-dependent patients: Converging behavioral and electrophysiological evidence

Although there are several reports of patients with cocaine dependence displaying cognitive deficits, the nature of their information processing deficits is not well characterized. In the present study, the attentional performance of cocaine-dependent patients (n=14) was examined and compared with that of healthy control individuals (n=15). Attention was assessed using an auditory oddball event-related task as well as the Continuous Performance Test (CPT, Identical Pairs version). The cocaine-dependent group displayed P300 amplitude reduction compared to controls. The group difference in P300 response latency did not reach significance. On the CPT, the cocaine-dependent patients displayed significantly poorer discriminability and greater errors of commission than the controls. There was a positive correlation between performance on the oddball event-related task and performance on the CPT. This investigation provides converging behavioral and electrophysiological evidence of attentional deficits in cocaine-dependent patients.
Trade unions and cleaner production: perspectives and proposals for action.

Despite their reputation for linking progress and security to dirty smokestacks, many trade unions around the world have designed and fought for sophisticated environmental policies—many of which promote a radical restructuring of production in order to prevent environmental harm. This article surveys trade union perspectives on cleaner production and offers examples of trade union action for cleaner production in the United States and around the world. Two general conceptual frameworks arising out of union writing on the subject—the “Transition Position” and the European-based “Harmony of Interests”—are elaborated. The article concludes with recommendations for employee participation in pollution prevention activities and ideas for a trade union agenda on cleaner production.
Optimal conditions for isolating human placental alkaline phosphatase by immunosorption

Abstract The conventional method for isolating and purifying human placental alkaline phosphatase is complex, involving many steps (Ghosh and Fishman, 1968; Doellgast and Fishman, 1974). Isolation of this protein antigen by using immunosorption was attempted, (Pitarra et al. , 1975). In this study the following factors were found to be critical for optimal association of antigen to the immunosorbent and its subsequent dissociation: (a) the effect of type of antiserum (early or hyperimmune) used to prepare the immunosorbent; (b) the importance of saturating the immunosorbent with a maximal load of antigen for subsequent recovery in high yield; and (c) the effect of pH at which the antigen is bound to the immunosorbent on facility of subsequent dissociation. Employing optimal conditions for antigen association and dissociation, it was possible to obtain 100-fold purification of the enzyme at 90% yield.