cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Similarity to Find Length and Area

Generally in high school, students learn how to find the length of straight lines and can use that information to find the perimeter and the length of the diagonal of simple polygons. They also learn the formula relating the diameter and the perimeter of a circle, and they know how to find the areas of circles, rectangles, triangles, and, possibly, regular rc-gons. But the curves whose length and the figures whose area can be calculated by students are relatively mundane, and the methods are straightforward. The tech niques used do not lend themselves easily to com bining algebra and geometry. In the spirit of the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics (NCTM 1989), this article shows one way in which algebra and geometry can be used together to find the lengths and areas of spirals. This method also develops in students a better understanding of shapes, similar ity, and mathematical connections. I had previously thought that many of these examples could be worked only by using geometric series. But the fine article by Banchoff (1990) opened my eyes to an al ternative approach that seems much more appropri ate for most secondary school mathematics classes. In his article, Banchoff discusses similar figures and scaling factors. Specifically, suppose a side of one figure is of length S and that the corresponding side of a similar figure is of length s. Then the scal ing factor for these two figures is defined to be = s/S.
Reliability of Computer Algorithm-Based Binding Predictions for the Identification of Leukemia Antigens.

Abstract Major Histocompatibility Complex class I (MHC-I) molecules present antigenic peptides to T cells on the cell surface as a prerequisite for stimulating cytotoxic T cell response. Thus, the ability to reliably identify the peptides that can bind to MHC molecules is of practical importance for rapid vaccine development. Several computer-based prediction methods have been applied to study the interaction of MHC class I/peptide binding. Here we have compared three of the most commonly used predictive algorithms BIMAS, SYFPEITHI and Rankpep with actual binding of HLA-A*0201 peptides in vitro. Forty six HLA-A*0201 peptides were selected from several target oncoproteins: Wilms' tumor (WT1), native and imatinib- mutated bcr-abl p210 and JAK2 protein. Experimental peptide binding to HLA-A*0201 was assessed using a MHC stabilization assay on T2, TAP deficient cells. Peptides were considered to show positive in vitro binding if the mean fluorescence was at least 50 % of the binding of a high affinity reference peptide. Peptides qualified as positive in vitro if the BIMAS score was ≥ 100, the SYFPEITHI score ranked ≥ 24 or the Rankpep was ≥ 50. Results are summarized below: BIMAS SYFPEITHI RANKPEP Sensitivity 84 % 72 % 60 % Specificity 76 % 71 % 81 % Positive Predictive Value 84 % 72 % 60 % Negative Predictive Value 80 % 68 % 63 % Combining two or more computer methods did not appear to improve the predictive value. In conclusion, of the three predictive algorithms, the best correspondence with the actual MHC binding was demonstrated with the BIMAS algorithm. Predictive computer algorithms are important for preselection of potential T-cell epitope candidates for the application in vaccine design.
Shore protection by oblique seabed bars

Shore protection by small seabed bars was once considered possible because seafloor undulations strongly reflect surface waves of twice the wavelength by the so-called Bragg resonance mechanism. The idea, however, proved ‘unreliable’ when it was realized that a patch of longshore seabed bars adjacent to a reflective shore could result in larger waves at the shoreline than for the case of a flat seabed. Here we propose to revamp the Bragg resonance mechanism as a means of coastal protection by considering oblique seabed bars that divert, rather than reflect, shore-normal incident waves to the shore-parallel direction. We show, via multiple-scale analysis supported by direct numerical simulations, that the creation of a large protected wake near the shoreline requires a bi-chromatic patch to deflect the incident waves to the shore-parallel direction. With two superposed sets of oblique seabed bars, the incident wave energy becomes efficiently deflected far to the sides, leaving a wake of decreased wave activity downstream of the patch. We demonstrate that the shore protection efficiency provided by this novel arrangement is not affected by reflection of leaked waves at the shoreline, and that it is relatively robust against small frequency detuning.
Introductory Nuclear Reactor Statics

(1984). Introductory Nuclear Reactor Statics. Nuclear Science and Engineering: Vol. 87, No. 4, pp. 496-497.
A Preferred Frame of Reference

The energy and momentum conservation governs particle collision and decay processes. The concept of the center of momentum (CM) reference frame, analogous to the center of mass system, is introduced and the Lorentz coordinate transformation into the CM-frame constructed. We study decays of particles into several lighter particles, and look at the situation in several frames of reference. The energy balance of a particle decay is then considered in the CM-frame. Special attention is given to the decay that produces one of the reaction products at rest in the laboratory frame of reference. An exercise shows that photons do not decay into two massive particles.
Between Africa and the Caribbean: The Nature of Afro-Caribbean Philosophy

In this chapter, Headley presents a conception of Afro-Caribbean philosophy that critically considers the presence of Africa within Afro-Caribbean philosophy. This task is pursued in an unorthodox manner which deliberately introduces certain tensions in order to reflect the contestability of the relationship of Africa to Afro-Caribbean philosophy. Hence, in accordance with the anticipated theoretical instability of Africa in the context of Afro-Caribbean philosophy, Headley utilizes a both/and rather than an either/or logic to pursue the task at hand. While using Wright’s position to contextualize the chapter, Headley eschews any uncritical dependence upon a metaphysical, essentialist notion of Africa, as well as a universalistic conception of philosophy. First, Headley critically exploits the idea of Africa as trace within Afro-Caribbean philosophy. Second, the chapter argues that Afro-Caribbean philosophy, broadly construed, is an intertextual disciplinary practice, informed by the lived experience of Afro-Caribbean subjects. Third, in order to facilitate the contestability of the “betweenness” of Africa and the Caribbean, Headley focuses on the thinking of such thinkers as Kamau Braithwaite, Wilson Harris, and Paget Henry to articulate an existential ontological conception of Afro-Caribbean philosophy that is responsive to the relevance of Africa in theorizing Afro-Caribbean existence.
Influence of within-field and landscape factors on aphid predator populations in wheat

The influence of prey density, within-field vegetation, and the composition and patchiness of the surrounding landscape on the abundance of insect predators of cereal aphids was studied in wheat fields in eastern South Dakota, USA. Cereal aphids, aphid predators, and within-field vegetation were sampled in 104 fields over a three year period (1988–1990). The composition and patchiness of the landscape surrounding each field were determined from high altitude aerial photographs. Five landscape variables, aggregated at three spatial scales ranging from 2.6 km2 to 581 km2, were measured from aerial photographs. Regression models incorporating within-field and landscape variables accounted for 27–49% of the variance in aphid predator abundance in wheat fields. Aphid predator species richness and species diversity were also related to within-field and landscape variables. Some predators were strongly influenced by variability in the composition and patchiness of the landscape surrounding a field at a particular spatial scale while others responded to variability at all scales. Overall, predator abundance, species richness, and species diversity increased with increasing vegetational diversity in wheat fields and with increasing amounts of non-cultivated lands and increasing patchiness in the surrounding landscape.
STYRENE-MALEIC ANHYDRIDE-VINYL MONOMER TERPOLYMERS AND BLENDS

Styrene and its polymers deserve a special place in polymer science history. The polymerization of a liquid obtained by Simon by the pyrolysis of storax in 1839 was the first recorded polymerization of a vinyl monomer (1). Since he confused the polymer with an oxidation product, he called it styrene oxide. Blythe and Hofmann (2) suggested the name meta-styrol and Kopp (3) showed that this product and cinnanol, obtained by the distillation of cinnamic acid to be identical. Erlenmeyer (4) described this product as vinylbenzene.
Surveillance after Primary Therapy

Primary treatment for cancer is often a very regimented experience, with schedules and protocols. These provide comfort to patients because of their certainty. Constant contact with the medical staff helps patients feel that everything must be under control for now, and that if anything develops, someone will notice it. Yet as the end of treatment approaches, it is not uncommon for anxiety levels of patients to rise.
Mammary tumor and mastectomy synergistically promote neuroinflammation in a breast cancer survivor model.

Abstract Understanding why breast cancer survivors are at an increased risk for cognitive and affective disorders is essential for developing targeted treatment plans and improving quality of life. Microglia priming results in chronic neuroinflammation and can contribute to neuronal degeneration and dysfunction, thereby offering a potential mechanism for altered brain function that persists after tumor removal. This study examined whether mammary tumors alter microglia and augment the inflammatory profile and behavior of mice. To test this, non-metastatic mammary tumor cells (67NR) were injected orthotopically into the mammary glands of BALB/c mice, allowed to grow for 16 days, and then the tumors were removed via mastectomy. Following a 14-day surgical recovery, the mice were challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and then central and peripheral inflammation, anxiety, and depressive-like behavior were evaluated. Here we show that major central and peripheral inflammatory markers were not altered by tumor growth nor mastectomy surgery alone. However, hippocampal mRNA expression of major proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNFα was increased in tumor removal animals, persisting past surgical recovery. Nonetheless, the immune and behavioral responses following LPS administration were comparable among groups. In sum, these data demonstrate that the combination of tumor and mastectomy promotes neuroinflammation; however, immune challenge did not elucidate this inflammation as maladaptive for the host.
Investments and Firm Characteristics

We investigate how firm characteristics affect the sensitivity of a firm's investment to its cash flow. Our empirical findings indicate that financial constraints, firm size, and Tobin's Q explain firms' investments. Surprisingly, the asset pricing literature shows that these same three characteristics explain the cross-section of returns. We show that their effects on investments are opposite the effects on returns, in keeping with the negative correlation between investments and returns observed in the data.
4D Flow MRI Estimation of Boundary Conditions for Patient Specific Cardiovascular Simulation

Accurate image based cardiovascular simulations require patient specific boundary conditions (BCs) for inlets, outlets and vessel wall mechanical properties. While inlet BCs are typically determined non-invasively, invasive pressure catheterization is often used to determine patient specific outlet BCs and vessel wall mechanical properties. A method using 4D Flow MRI to non-invasively determine both patient specific outlet BCs and vessel wall mechanical properties is presented and results for both in vitro validation with a latex tube and an in vivo pulmonary artery stenosis (PAS) stent intervention are presented. For in vitro validation, acceptable agreement is found between simulation using BCs from 4D Flow MRI and benchtop measurements. For the PAS virtual intervention, simulation correctly predicts flow distribution with 9% error compared to MRI. Using 4D Flow MRI to noninvasively determine patient specific BCs increases the ability to use image based simulations as pressure catheterization is not always performed.
SELECTIVE PRESSURES ON ISOZYMES IN DROSOPHILA

ABSTRACT . The results of a five-year experiment involving inbreeding Drosophila pseudoobscura in an attempt to isolate single-gene selective effects at two polymorphic loci are reviewed, along with the rationale for the experiment. Despite 38 generations of brother-sister mating, the effects of background genotype were still apparent in that many of the effects observed were sex-limited. Generally, however, inbred flies segregating for two isozymes of octanol dehydrogenase were affected by octanol or ethanol in the medium, both of which are substrates for this enzyme. Inbred flies segregating for two isozymes of esterase-5 were affected by tributyrin in the medium, a substrate for this enzyme. There was some cross-effect, either because of background or because the pathways in which these two enzymes play a role share a common step. No effect was seen in outbred flies subject to the same conditions. While heterosis was apparent in earlier generations at the ODH locus, it had virtually disappeared by the 38th generation. This does not rule out conditional heterosis as a mechanism for the maintenance of these polymorphisms, however.
Blocking Block-Formation: Evidence from Private Loan Contracts

Change in control clauses are pervasive in loan contracts, yet their terms are not boilerplate. Examining 14,940 contracts, we document significant heterogeneity in the use and size of ownership caps, which limit large equity block formation. Lenders set lower caps to mitigate risks arising from activism, takeovers, within-syndicate coordination costs, and power contests among shareholders. We confirm some of these effects using two quasi-natural experiments. Caps below 50% are associated with a drop in firm value but not in the cost of debt, consistent with exacerbated firm-manager agency costs. Finally, two findings shed light on ways creditors may influence corporate governance: the largest block size increases when these minority block restrictions expire, and the likelihood of withdrawing an announced buyback increases during the life of these loans.
Bridging the Efficacy-Effectiveness Gap in HIV Programs: Lessons From Economics.

Background:Bridging the efficacy–effectiveness gap in HIV prevention and treatment requires policies that account for human behavior.Setting:Worldwide.Methods:We conducted a narrative review of the literature on HIV in the field of economics, identified common themes within the literature, and ident
Bacteria forming drag-increasing streamers on a drop implicates complementary fates of rising deep-sea oil droplets

Competing time scales involved in rapid rising micro-droplets in comparison to substantially slower biodegradation processes at oil-water interfaces highlights a perplexing question: how do biotic processes occur and alter the fates of oil micro-droplets (<500 μm) in the 400 m thick Deepwater Horizon deep-sea plume? For instance, a 200 μm droplet traverses the plume in ~48 h, while known biodegradation processes require weeks to complete. Using a microfluidic platform allowing microcosm observations of a droplet passing through a bacterial suspension at ecologically relevant length and time scales, we discover that within minutes bacteria attach onto an oil droplet and extrude polymeric streamers that rapidly bundle into an elongated aggregate, drastically increasing drag that consequently slows droplet rising velocity. Results provide a key mechanism bridging competing scales and establish a potential pathway to biodegradation and sedimentations as well as substantially alter physical transport of droplets during a deep-sea oil spill with dispersant.
Validation of the surprise question in gynecologic oncology: A one-question screen to promote palliative care integration and advance care planning.

Abstract Objective The “surprise question” (“Would you be surprised if this patient died in the next year?”) has been shown to be predictive of 12-month mortality in multiple populations, but has not been studied in gynecologic oncology (GO) patients. We sought to evaluate the prognostic performance of the surprise question in GO patients among physician and non-physician providers. Methods GO providers at two tertiary care centers were asked the surprise question about a cohort of their patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation. Demographic and clinical information was chart abstracted. Mortality data were collected at one year; relative risk of death at one year based on response to the surprise question was then calculated. Results 32 providers (12 MDs, 7 APPs, 13 RNs) provided 942 surprise question assessments for 358 patients. Fifty-seven % had ovarian cancer and 54% had recurrent disease. Eighty-three (24%) patients died within a year. Patients whose physician answered “No” to the surprise question had a 43% one-year mortality (compared to 10% for “Yes”). Overall RR of 12-month mortality for “No” was 3.76 (95% CI 2.75–5.48); this association remained significant in all provider types. Among statistically significant predictors of 12-month mortality (including recurrent disease and >2 prior lines of chemotherapy), the surprise question had the highest RR. Conclusions The surprise question is a simple, one question tool that effectively identifies GO patients increased risk of 12-month mortality. The surprise question could be used to identify patients for early referral to palliative care and initiation advance care planning.
The biology and conservation status of the oceanic whitetip shark ( Carcharhinus longimanus ) and future directions for recovery

The oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) was once considered one of the most abundant and ubiquitous pelagic shark species in tropical seas globally. However, over the last several decades, the oceanic whitetip has experienced substantial population declines throughout its range due to fishing pressure and utilization in the international fin trade. In recent years, a significant amount of research has been undertaken on this species, revealing new information on life history, movements and behavior, and threats to the species. Additionally, a recent surge of protective measures has been implemented for the oceanic whitetip shark, both internationally and nationally. These include (but are not limited to) retention prohibition measures in every major tuna Regional Fishery Management Organization (RFMO), its listing in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), and its listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) as a threatened species. However, despite its global distribution and common occurrence in many commercial fisheries in tropical waters, little is still known regarding the oceanic whitetip shark’s biology and population status. Therefore, we summarize what is known on the biology and conservation of the oceanic whitetip shark, identify information gaps, and discuss future directions for recovery of this imperiled species.
Epilepsy and COVID-19: Associations and important considerations.

Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, which initially occurred in Wuhan, China in late 2019, is now rapidly spreading globally. Epilepsy, a disease characterized by a spontaneous recurrence of unprovoked seizures, is a common chronic neurological condition. Associations between epilepsy and COVID-19 have not been reported. Here, we discuss the important considerations for epilepsy patients by reviewing known facts of COVID-19 and suggestions from medical societies associated with epilepsy, as well as inferences from past experiences of infectious diseases. We discuss the risk of COVID-19 for epilepsy patients, the effect of COVID-19 on epilepsy patients, and the importance of maintaining seizure control. We also consider suggestions for epilepsy monitoring units or surgery, what caregivers should know, and the importance of public awareness. The effect of COVID-19 on individuals with epilepsy remains unclear due to the lack of enough evidence. Clinicians and researchers need to share case information, continue investigations, and provide known facts to epilepsy patients and their families.
Using Social Media and Technology to Communicate in Pediatric HIV Research: Qualitative Study With Young Adults Living With or Exposed to Perinatal HIV.

Background: As young adults living with perinatal HIV (PHIV) or perinatal HIV exposure but uninfected (PHEU) grow older and manage the challenges and competing demands of young adulthood, new approaches are needed to facilitate their retention in longitudinal research and clinical care beyond in-person clinic visits. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the novel virus that causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), emerged in the United States in January 2020 and has underscored this need; studies are adapting to remote communication with and data collection from participants. However, there are limited data on communication preferences among young adults who are living with PHIV or PHEU. Objective: The objectives of this qualitative study were to describe participants’ perceptions and use of social media and technology in their personal lives and in the context of participating in longitudinal pediatric HIV research and to describe the implications of the use of technology and social media for communication and retention purposes within a longitudinal pediatric study about HIV. Methods: We conducted 6 focus group discussions with 31 young adults living with PHIV and 13 in-depth interviews with 6 young adults living with PHIV and 7 living with PHEU. We asked about their preferences for the use of social media and digital technology in the Adolescent Master Protocol, a US-based longitudinal cohort study of youth affected by HIV. Results: Participants’ willingness to use social media platforms, telephone calls, SMS text messages, and video calls within the context of HIV research varied due to fears of HIV stigma and inadvertent disclosure. However, trusting relationships with clinical staff positively impacted their willingness to use these platforms. Conclusions: Our findings offer insight into how pediatric studies and clinics can communicate with participants as they age, even as new technologies and social media platforms emerge and replace old ones. For optimal retention, pediatric clinical staff should consider communication approaches offering flexible and tailored options for young adults participating in HIV research.
Extension of Soft Set to Hypersoft Set, and then to Plithogenic Hypersoft Set

In this paper, we generalize the soft set to the hypersoft set by transforming the function F into a multi-attributefunction. Then we introduce the hybrids of Crisp, Fuzzy, Intuitionistic Fuzzy, Neutrosophic, and Plithogenic Hypersoft Set.
Heterotopic Nodules in the Placenta, an Immunohistochemical Re-evaluation of the Diagnosis of Adrenocortical Heterotopia.

BackgroundRare nodules of heterotopic adrenocortical and hepatic tissue are reported in the placenta. A mechanism for adrenocortical tissue in the placenta has been perplexing, while hepatic tissue...
OPTIMAL SERVICE-RATE CONTROL OF EXPONENTIAL QUEUEING SYSTEMS

We analyze M/M/l queueing systems with variable service rates under weak cost and probabilistic assumptions by using semi-Markov decision-process formulations. The methods used in studying the characteristics of optimal policies are induction arguments involving supermodular (or submodular) properties of the objective function. First, we establish monotonicity properties of the optimal policies and sufficient conditions for extremal­ policy optimality for the (mite-horizon problem. The :malyses are then extended to show that the monotone optimal policies carry over to the discounted infinite-horizon and long-run average-return problems.
Adjoining a Strong Unit to an Archimedean Lattice-Ordered Group

Within archimedean l-groups, “G ∈ SW∗” means there are H with strong unit (H ∈ W∗) and an embedding G ≤ H. A. Theorem (6.1). For X a Tychonoff space (or completely regular locale), C(X) ∈ SW∗ iff X is pseudocompact (which means C(X) ∈ W∗). But any G ∈ SW∗ embeds into various C(X), and any C(X) contains many H ∈ W∗. We define cardinal invariants $\mathfrak {b}G$ , $\mathfrak {d}G$ , λG which generalize respectively, the bounding and dominating numbers for $\mathbb {R}^{\mathbb {N}}$ , $\mathfrak {b}$ and $\mathfrak {d}$ , and the π-weight of a topological space. B. Theorem (6.3, 7.5). SupposeG ≤ C(X), and X contains densely $\bigcup _{I} X_{i}$ , the Xi compact. Then G ∈ SW∗ if either (|I| = ω and $\mathfrak {d}G < \mathfrak {b}$ ) or ( $|I| < \mathfrak {b}$ and $\mathfrak {d}G = \omega $ ). This “ $\omega , \mathfrak {b}$ symmetry” fades a bit in the following, where $\mathfrak {p}$ is the pseudo-intersection number for $\mathbb {R}^{\mathbb {N}}$ ( $\mathfrak {p} \le \mathfrak {b}$ , with = under Martin’s Axiom). C. Theorem (8.2). G ∈ SW∗ if either $(\mathfrak {d}G = \omega $ and $\lambda G < \mathfrak {b}$ ) or ( $\mathfrak {d}G < \mathfrak {p}$ andλG = ω). Examples (§9) show limits on the hypotheses in B and C.
Detection of FGFR3 alt in plasma cfDNA in metastatic UC patients receiving Erda therapy.

e16519Background: The pan-FGFR inhibitor erdafitinib (erda) is FDA-approved for pretreated mUC pts harboring FGFR2/3 alterations. We explored concordance of FGFR3 alt profiles between primary tumor...
Specificity in salience and threat value

This chapter addresses the issue of how anxious processes become tied to specific classes of stimuli; or the individual learning histories through which particular sets of stimuli acquire or retain their threat value. The chapter describes both, associative and non-associative pathways. The magnifying impact of broader vulnerabilities upon these pathways is also described. According to associative principles of fear acquisition, stimuli gain elevate threat value due to traumatic conditioning, vicarious acquisition, and informational transmission of threat. The strongest evidence for these pathways to fear acquisition comes from experimental studies, given the fallibility of retrospective accounts of fear origins. However, the potency of each aversive experience is embedded within a broad context of constitutional variables, contextual variables, and post-conditioning variables. Negative affectivity and a threat-based style of emotion regulation present as strong candidates for constitutional variables that also influence post-conditioning and contextual variables. The non-associative model refutes the role of learning in phobic responding, and instead posits that phobias are innate and that their failure to diminish over time is representative of the vulnerability to anxiety. Unfortunately, support for this argument is limited to retrospective recall, which is unreliable and assumes full conscious awareness of precipitating factors that in fact may not be obvious to the individual even at the time of their occurrence.
Parametric study on the performance of a solid particle solar receiver

Abstract Solid particle solar receivers (SPRs) can be used as a high efficient solar energy absorber to collect concentrated radiation energy. The high temperature heat energy from SPRs can be applied as a heat source in a thermo-chemical water-splitting (TCWS) hydrogen production process. A parametric study has been conducted on a conceptual design from Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model which includes the heat transfer and aerodynamics behaviors between the air and the particles is used to evaluate the performance of the SPR, both the cavity efficiency and the exit particle temperature. The main purpose of this study is to find the optimal design and working conditions of the SPR.
MODIS derived vegetation greenness trends in African Savanna: Deconstructing and localizing the role of changing moisture availability, fire regime and anthropogenic impact

Abstract In African savanna, spatio-temporal variability in moisture availability, fire regime and land transformation related to exploitative land uses are the main drivers of changing vegetation greenness patterns. Deconstructing the role of these drivers at local scale is critical for managing the impact of projected climate and land use changes on savanna ecosystems. Focusing on an area encompassing Africa's largest terrestrial protected area, this study utilized time-series MODIS NDVI (2000–2014) and employed a robust trend analysis technique to detect significant temporal trend in key greenness metrics including overall greenness, peak and timing of the peak of annual greenness and examined how spatial variability in vegetation morphology and land use impacted the distribution of these greenness parameters. To access causation of change, we linked detected greenness trends to precipitation trends derived from Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM), annual burnt area extent and fire frequency and compared multi-temporal imagery in Google Earth. Results show that distribution of both overall and peak annual greenness was vegetation morphology specific as with decreasing woody cover the proportion of pixels showing negative overall and peak annual greenness trend increased consistently. Majority of the area with significant trend in the timing of the peak of annual greenness showed late greenup, implying changing phenological patterns. Trend analysis of TRMM derived mean annual precipitation showed no significant change in precipitation over the study period. At local scale, increase in overall and peak annual greenness was associated with woody plant encroachment due to increased moisture availability and reduced fire frequency due to construction of fire breaks in areas under farm/ranch land use. In protected areas, negative overall and peak annual greenness was driven by unmanaged high intensity mega fire events and outside due to anthropogenic land clearing for pastoral agriculture. These results further our understanding of the complex interaction of multiple ecological factors and resultant spatial variability in savanna inter-annual vegetation greenness patterns and are useful for implementing local scale management strategies.
Sequential Analysis ‐ Further Developments

This article gives an overview of sequential analysis and its applications to data and safety monitoring of clinical trials, determination of median effective dose and maximum tolerated dose, fixed-width confidence intervals, and adaptive design of biomedical studies. Keywords: group sequential tests; sequential design; stochastic approximation; fixed-width confidence intervals; backward induction
THE EFFECT OF CULTURE, PHYSICIAN INCOME ON INFANT FEEDING PRACTICES (IFP)

IFP may influence overall health outcome. Breastfeeding (BF) months of bottle feeding (MB), use of cow's milk (CM), use of bottle in bed (BB), age beikost introduced, use of infant force feeders (FF) and resources for nutritional information (NI) are factors which influence nutritional status. IFP are determined by ethnicity, health care provider (HCP) and income level. We assessed reported IFP and maternal knowledge of IFP recommended by the AAP in economically and culturally different health care groups. A bilingual Mexican-American interviewed 4 patient groups (N=277): 1) 75% Hispanic (HS) clinic population (N=142), 2) Hispanic private practice (N=45), 3&4) Two Anglo private practice (N=89). Significant differences (p<0.05) existed in both demographics and IFP, within and between the four groups. Demographically, the HS group was heterogeneous. Ethnicity significantly influenced NI and the following IFP's: frequency of BF, MB, use of FF and CM. After controlling for ethnicity, HCP influenced NI and BF, use of BB, and CM. BF remained significantly different by HCP, after controlling for ethnicity and income. HS breastfed significantly less than anglo (23% vs. 50%), while blacks introduced CM earlier (8.2 vs 10.4 mos) and used FF significantly more often (30.8% vs. 1.2%). Only 46% of low income mothers followed physician's advice on IFP. Some IFP appeared influenced by ethnicity and others by the HCP and/or level of income.
Credit Reform and the States: The Vital Role of Attorneys General after Dodd-Frank (Practitioner Version)

Congress employed multiple strategies in the wake of the Great Recession to provide greater protections for consumers in the financial marketplace. One strategy harnessed the forces of federalism, empowering state attorneys general to enforce federal law. The role of attorneys general has received little attention to this point in time. This Article seeks to fill that void. I begin by placing this dual enforcement scheme within the context of recent history and the evolving infrastructure for consumer financial protection in the United States. I next consider several interpretive issues to account for the substantive, procedural, and remedial powers Congress placed in the hands of state attorneys general. Recognizing that the success of this concurrent enforcement regime will depend in part on early coordination, I then identify several implementation priorities necessary to create a scheme that is both effective and efficient.
Tracheoesophageal constriction produced by an unusual combination of anomalies of the great vessels. A case report.

Abstract A case which demonstrates an unusual combination of anomalies of the great vessels is described. These include three of the more commonly recognized vascular rings, namely, right aortic arch with left ligamentum arteriosum, anomalous left common carotid artery, and anomalous left subclavian artery. An additional anomaly was the insertion of the ligamentum arteriosum to the site of coarctation of the anomalous left subclavian artery and a ventricular septal defect. The importance of considering the simultaneous occurrence of multiple anomalies of the heart and great vessels is emphasized.
A Review of “Striking Back: The 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre and Israel's Deadly Response”

The killing of eleven Israeli Olympic athletes at the 1972 Munich games at the hands of Black September terrorists marked a turning point in the history of counterterrorism. What became known as th...
A CDS Observation of the Relationship Between a Coronal Hole and Chromospheric Structure

This paper studies the relationship between chromospheric structure and the location of the coronal hole boundary, using a SOHO-CDS observation made on 13 June 1996. The cell structure visible in the oxygen and helium data is smoothed and a basin algorithm is used to find the individual cells. As the smoothing scale increases, cells merge to form larger ones. A tradeoff between merging and smoothing was made, a scale of 5,000 km being used. There is good agreement between the edges of cells and the coronal hole boundary, as determined in Mg IX 368 A, although it is not perfect. This preliminary analysis shows that the coronal hole boundary is located along chromospheric network cell edges in most places, as would be expected if the chromosphere is the source of the coronal structure and solar wind.
Characterization of the Genome of Cytoplasmic Polyhedrosis Virus

Abstract It is possible to oxidize in situ the 3′-terminals of the double-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) contained in structurally intact cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus. The number of 3′-terminals subsequently found by reduction with tritiated sodium borohydride was equivalent to the number observed in RNA first isolated from the virus and then oxidized and reduced. The viral RNA appears to occur in 10 distinct polynucleotide segments present in equimolar amounts.
Aldehyde Ferredoxin Oxidoreductase

Aldehyde ferredoxin oxidoreductase (AOR) is a homodimer where each subunit contains a [4Fe–4S] cluster and a mononuclear tungsten atom coordinated by the dithioline groups of two pterin molecules. The two subunits of the dimer are bridged by a monomeric iron site. AOR is a member of a family of five closely related tungstoenzymes found in organisms that grow at high temperatures in marine volcanic vents. The enzyme catalyzes the two-electron oxidation of its aldehyde substrate to the corresponding acid with the concomitant reduction of ferredoxin, its physiological electron acceptor. The enzyme can oxidize a wide range of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes. The most efficient substrates for AOR are acetaldehyde, isovaleraldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, and indoleacetaldehyde, the aldehyde derivatives of some of the most common amino acids.
Serological estimation of prey-protein gut-residence time and quantification of meal size for grass shrimp consuming meiofaunal copepods.

Abstract A series of experiments using serological reagents was conducted to examine predation, ingestion and digestion in a model predator–prey system. The harpacticoid copepod Amphiascoides atopus , obtained from mass culture, was used as prey and the grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio , as predator. Bulk-gut passage time in P. pugio was measured by visualization of latex beads and ranged from 0.5 to 4 h in starved and continuously-fed grass shrimp. A polyclonal antibody was prepared from crude extracts of A. atopus ; cross reactions with P. pugio and three other crustaceans were either negligible or not detected using slide agar-gel-double-immunodiffusion (AGID) and Western blot preparations. The presence of A. atopus antigens was detected with great sensitivity (e.g., seven copepods, 35 μg dry weight, gave positive results) in grass shrimp gut contents even when proteins of other crustacean prey were present. Prey-proteins could be detected for as long as 4 h with AGID and 8 h with Western blot techniques. Individual grass shrimp that were fed A. atopus and consumed from 0 to 98 copepods h −1 were subjected to Western-blot preparation with chemiluminescence detection and densitometric evaluation. There was a significant curvilinear relationship between protein content and the number of copepod prey ingested. Results suggest that serological techniques can be modified to estimate the mass or abundance of standard-sized prey ingested by field-collected predators.
Graft infection after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Introduction Although the natural history and management of infected open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is well described, only sporadic case reports have described the fate of patients with infected endografts placed in the abdominal aorta. The present study describes a tertiary referral center's experience with infected endovascular aneurysm repairs (EVARs). Methods The medical records of 1302 open and endovascular aortic procedures were queried from January 2000 to January 2010. The cases were reviewed for prior aortic procedures, prosthetic implants, and etiology of current open procedure. Demographics, operative details, and perioperative courses were documented. Results Nine patients (1 woman) with a mean age of 71 years had an EVAR that later required an open procedure for explantation and surgical revision for suspected infection. All grafts were explanted through a midline transperitoneal approach, with a mean time to explant of 33 months. The explanted endografts included 4 Zenith (Cook, Bloomington, Ind), 2 Ancure (Endovascular Technologies, Menlo Park, Calif), 2 Excluders (Gore, Flagstaff, Ariz), and 1 AneuRx (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minn). Eight of the nine original EVARs were performed at other hospitals; 1 patient had EVAR and open explant at the University of Michigan. All patients had preoperative computed tomography scans, except one who was transferred in extremis with a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Three patients also had a tagged leukocyte scan, and two had magnetic resonance imaging to further reinforce the suspicion of infection before explantation and bypass planning. Rifampin-soaked Hemashield (Boston Scientific) in situ grafts were used in four patients, with extra-anatomic (axillary-bifemoral) bypass used in the other five. The in situ group had no positive preoperative or postoperative cultures, with the exception of the unstable patient who died the day of surgery. For the other five patients, positive tissue cultures were found for Bacteroides, Escherichia coli, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Candida. Three patients were found to have aortic-enteric fistula, two of whom died before discharge from the hospital. The remaining seven survived to discharge. Average length of stay was 22 days, with a median follow-up of 11 months. Conclusion This series of infected EVARs is the largest group of infected AAA endografts reported to date. Because EVAR of AAAs is presently the most common method of repair, development of endograft infection, while rare, can be managed with acceptable mortality rates. Patients presenting with aortic-enteric fistula after EVAR appear to have a more virulent course.
Female Participation in The Occupational System: A Comparative Institutional Analysis

This paper uses cross-national data to examine how economic, political, and educational structures affect both the participation of women in the labor force and their employment in more powerful and wellrewarded positions. We find that both the level of industrialization and the degree of state corporateness positively influence the participation of women, but that these fail to affect the proportion of women in the administrative and managerial occupations. However, the relative number of women in higher education shows positive effects on both dependent variables. We interpret this finding as a process of ‘institutional demystification’ and discuss the overall pattern of effects as ‘incorporation at the rear of the bus.’
Developing a dual degree program to support public sector information stewardship

We report results of research into curriculum development for dual degree programs and the development of a dual degree curriculum jointly undertaken by the University of North Carolina's School of Information and Library Science and School of Government. This IMLS-funded program provides training in public information stewardship to four cohorts of eighteen masters' level students. The curriculum development rests upon previous IMLS-funded curriculum development projects, examination of masters' programs throughout the world, semi-structured interviews of public sector information experts, recommendations from an expert Advisory Board, and focus group responses from current and alumni project Fellows.
Sloshing-Modulated Liquid-Vapor Interface Fluctuations Activated by Orbital Accelerations Associated with Spinning and/or Slew Motions

Abstract The formulation of sloshing dynamics for a Dewar partially filled with cryogenic superfluid helium II driven by both gravity gradient and jitter accelerations associated with spinning and/or slew motions in a microgravity environment is investigated. The jitter accelerations include slew motion, spinning motion, atmospheric drag on the spacecraft, spacecraft attitude motions arising from machinery vibrations, thruster firing, pointing control of spacecraft, and crew motion. The numerical computation of sloshing dynamics is carried out through the formulation of noninertial frame spacecraft-bound coordinates and the solution of three-dimensional formulations of time-dependent, partial differential equations subject to initial and boundary conditions. The examples given demonstrate how sloshing dynamics affects the liquid-vapor interface oscillations of cryogenic superfluid helium II driven by orbital accelerations of a spacecraft associated with spinning and/or slew motions.
Recurrence of primary sclerosing cholangitis following liver transplantation

Recurrence of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) following liver transplantation has been suggested; however, it has not been fully defined because of numerous complicating factors and the lack of diagnostic criteria. In the present study, we investigated the recurrence of PSC by developing strict criteria and applying them to a large cohort of PSC patients who underwent liver transplantation. Between March 1985 and June 1996, 150 PSC patients underwent liver transplantation at the Mayo Clinic; mean follow up was 55 months. The incidence of nonanastomotic biliary strictures and hepatic histologic findings suggestive of PSC were compared between patients transplanted for PSC and a non-PSC transplant control group. Our definition of recurrent PSC was based on characteristic cholangiographic and histologic findings that occur in nontransplant PSC patients. By using strict criteria, 30 patients with other known causes of posttransplant nonanastomotic biliary strictures were excluded leaving 120 patients for analysis of recurrence of PSC. We found evidence of PSC recurrence after liver transplantation in 24 patients (20%). Of these, 22 out of 24 patients showed characteristic features of PSC on cholangiography and 11 out of 24 had compatible hepatic histologic abnormalities with a mean time to diagnosis of 360 and 1,350 days, respectively. Both cholangiographic and hepatic histologic findings suggestive of PSC recurrence were seen in nine patients. The higher incidence and later onset of nonanastomotic biliary strictures in patients with PSC compared with a non-PSC control group is supportive of the fact that PSC does recur following liver transplantation. We were unable to identify specific clinical risk factors for recurrent PSC, and the overall patient and graft survival in patients with recurrent PSC was similar to those without evidence of recurrence. Our observations provide convincing evidence that PSC frequently recurs in the hepatic allograft using strict inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Recovery of strain amplitude independent dislocation damping in single crystal lif

Abstract The recovery of strain amplitude independent damping in single crystal LiF, after driving at high strain amplitudes, has been investigated. Results show that the amplitude independent damping is increased by driving at high strain amplitudes, but upon removal of the high strains the amplitude independent damping recovers with time to very near its original value. The rate of recovery was found to be temperature dependent with an activation energy of ~0.3 eV. The kinetics of the recovery were found to obey a t 1 3 aging law rather than the more familiar t 2 3 aging law. Measurements of the amplitude independent damping while simultaneously applying a static stress, below the yield stress, gave similar results.
Statistical motion prediction with drift

In this paper we present a statistical analysis of motion prediction with drift in video coding. The drift effect occurs when the video decoder does not have access to the same reference information used in the encoder in a hybrid video codec using motion prediction. Although the drift effect has been known to the video research community for a long time, there has not been a systematic theoretical treatment of this mechanism. Generally the performance of motion prediction with drift is evaluated experimentally. In this paper we derive a closed-form expression for the drift error. Based on this result, we derive an efficient rate distortion optimization given the statistical knowledge of the channel.
Explosion‐breccia in the Wrangell district, southeastern Alaska

Unusual breccias were noted at several places in the vicinity of Groundhog and Glacier Basins, about 13 miles east of Wrangell on the mainland of southeastern Alaska, in 1942 and 1943. They are similar in some respects to the clastic dikes in Colorado described by Burbank [see 1 of “References” at end of paper] and Haff [2], and to some explosion breccias in the Samoan Islands described by Stearns [3].