cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Encircling the tendon repair site with collagen-GAG reduces the formation of postoperative tendon adhesions in a chicken flexor tendon model.

Background Tendon healing is a complex and coordinated event involving the activation of extrinsic mechanisms as in classic reparative skin wound healing as well as intrinsic mechanisms characteristic of regenerative wound healing. Despite improvements in surgical and rehabilitative techniques, tendon adhesions remain the most frequent cause of disability following tendon surgery. In this animal model, we evaluated the use of a clinically available, biocompatible collagen- glycosaminoglycan (GAG) material as an adjunct to surgical tendon repair. Methods Thirty-two white leghorn chickens underwent surgical tendon repair of their left second and fourth digits. Digits were randomized to study and control groups. In both groups, the long flexor tendon was divided and repaired using a modified Kessler's repair. In the study group, collagen-GAG membrane was wrapped around the repair site. Animals were immobilized with a plaster cast and sacrificed at 3 wk. Sixteen animals had their tendon repair sites histologically assessed and graded for healing and adhesion formation. Eight animals had their tendon repairs assessed for quantification of the work associated with flexion, employing a specifically designed biomechanical apparatus. Eight animals had their repair sites tested for bursting strength. Results Control (untreated) tendons showed fibrous tissue surrounding the repair sites with approximately 50% of the circumference of the repair site adherent to surrounding tissue elements. The mean histologic grades for control and study group were 3.1 ± 0.2 and 1.9 ± 0.2, respectively. The difference between mean grades for control and study group samples was statistically significant (paired t-test: P Conclusions Collagen-GAG reduces formation of early postoperative tendon adhesions in this chicken flexor tendon repair model. Collagen-GAG wrapped tendons healed with minimal peritendinous adhesion formation and required less effort for flexion. The investing collagen-GAG membrane did not appear to interfere with either the quality or strength of healing.
Tunable UV generation at 286 nm by frequency tripling of a high-power mode-locked semiconductor laser.

We produced ultraviolet radiation by frequency tripling the mode-locked emission of an external cavity laser containing a tapered GaAlAs amplifier gain element. The 429-nm second harmonic produced by a KNbO3 crystal was sum-frequency mixed with the 858-nm fundamental in a Li3BO5 crystal, generating as much as 50 μW of power at 286 nm.
In situ fenestration of the internal iliac artery as a bailout technique associated with endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm: long-term follow-up.

PurposeTo describe a bailout technique for in situ fenestration of an inadvertently covered internal iliac artery (IIA) associated with endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).TechniqueThe procedure is demonstrated in a 76-year-old patient who underwent elective repair of a 5-cm infrarenal AAA using an Excluder endovascular graft 2 years following thoracic aortic stent-graft repair of a chronic type B aortic dissection. A completion angiogram demonstrated unintentional coverage of the left IIA. The iliac limb of the stent-graft was not able to be displaced away from the ostium, so to preserve IIA perfusion in a patient with prior thoracic aortic stent-grafting, a bailout technique was performed using an Outback re-entry device to successfully fenestrate the polytetrafluoroethylene graft material. An iCast balloon-expandable stent was placed across the fenestration creating a patent side branch to maintain patency. Six-year follow-up demonstrates a stable repair.ConclusionIn situ fenestra...
Women Sociologists in the Midwest: A Status Report*

This report examines the status of Midwest women sociologists in occupational attainment and professional participation, and seeks to answer three questions: (1) What is the current status of Midwest women sociologists? (2) What changes have occurred in the status of Midwest women sociologists in recent years? and (3) How does the status of women sociologists in the Midwest compare to their colleagues nationally?
Decoding Brain Activation from Ipsilateral Cortex using ECoG Signals in Humans

OF THE THESIS Decoding Brain Activation from Ipsilateral Cortex using ECoG Signals in Humans by Yuzong Liu Master of Science in Computer Science Washington University in St. Louis, 2011 Research Advisor: Professor Kilian Weinberger Today, learning from the brain is the most challenging issue in many areas. Neural scientists, computer scientists, and engineers are collaborating in this broad research area. With better techniques, we can extract the brain signals by either non-invasive approach such as EEG (electroencephalography), fMRI, or invasive method such as ECoG (electrocorticography), FP (field potential) and signals from single unit. The challenge is, given the brain signals, how can we possibly decipher them? Brain Computer Interfaces, or BCIs, aim at utilizing the brain signals to control prothetic arms or operate devices. Previously almost all the research on BCIs focuses on decoding signals from the contralateral hemisphere to implement BCI systems. However, the loss of functionality in the contralateral cortex often occurs due to strokes, resulting in total failure to motor function of fingers, hands, and limbs contralateral to the damaged hemisphere. Recent studies indicate that the signals from ipsilateral cortex is relevant to the planning phase of motor movements. Therefore, it is critical to find out if human motor movements can be decoded using signals from ii the ipsilateral cortex. In the thesis, we propose using ECoG signals from the ipsilateral cortex to decode finger movements. To our knowledge, this is the first work that successfully detects finger movements using signals from the ipsilateral cortex. We also investigate the experiment design and decoding directional movements. Our results show high decoding performance. We also show the anatomical feature analysis for ipsilateral cortex in performing motor-associated tasks, and the features are consistent with previous findings. The result reveals promising implications for a stroke relevant BCI.
The (Mis)Uses of Detention and the Impact of Bed Space in One Jurisdiction

Analysis of booking data prior to and following the opening of a new facility doubling available bed space reveals that 53.0% of detentions end prior to or at a detention hearing, charges for 48.8% of bookings are for technical violations of probation or status offenses only, and that 62.5% of bookings are for a combination of the prior two offense and other minor offenses. These trends as well as the actual number of youths detained increased with the move into a new facility with twice the bed space. The data suggest that detention is frequently used as shelter and/or punishment even though a juvenile does not technically represent a threat to self, community, or of absconding.
History, Politics, and the General Education Initiative: Sleeter's Reinterpretation of Learning Disabilities as a Case Study

A general education initiative has recently been suggested as a solution for problems related to special education eligibility and management of mildly handicapped students. This approach treats mildly handicapped students as failures of regular education to be dealt with by more effective instructional procedures delivered through regular education. The general education initiative, however, ignores the essential nature of mildly handicapping conditions, which is well illustrated in Sleeter's (1986) reinterpretation of the history of learning disabilities. Sleeter suggested that beginning in the late 1950s, school reform increased school failure, and that the category of learning disabilities was created to explain the failure of white middle class children. It is argued here that this interpretation is fallacious and that the category of learning disability is best viewed as the culmination of a long series of events resulting in service arrangements for particular children. It is also argued that Sleet...
Suppression of cyclic AMP-induced cell excitation in Dictyostelium discoideum by inhibitors of eicosanoid oxidation

Receptor-mediated stimulation of Dictyostelium cells by the aggregative chemoattractant cyclic AMP leads to a complex excitatory response resulting in chemotaxis and the synthesis and release of cyclic AMP as the relayed chemotactic signal. However, the mechanism of this stimulus-response coupling is not well understood. In this study, we show that a number of compounds, best known as inhibitors of cyclooxygenase activity in mammalian cells, prevent cyclic AMP receptor-mediated cell excitation and cyclic AMP accumulation in aggregation-competent Dictyostelium cells. These observations suggest that some eicosanoid-like compound(s) may be involved in stimulus-response coupling in this organism, as is the case in higher eukaryotic cells.
Two Genre and Form Lists for Moving Image and Broadcast Materials: A Comparison

SUMMARY The Moving Image Genre-Form Guide and Library of Congress Subject Headings are compared as sources of genre or form terms for moving image and broadcast materials. Based on the findings of this comparison, it is recommended that any library, media collection or archive that uses LCSH for the provision of topical subject access to moving images and broadcast materials strongly consider using LCSH for genre and form access to moving images and broadcast materials as well. A number of recommendations are made for improving LCSH as a tool for form and genre access to moving image materials and an exhaustive list of LCSH terms which are examples of a form or genre is appended.
Error Modeling in RF-based Location Detection (EMLD) for Pervasive Computing Environments

In recent years, a plethora of signal-based (radio frequency based) location detection techniques have been proposed for pervasive computing due to the limited scope of GPS when considering indoor and highly urban environments. However, these techniques have a major drawback in the error they incorporate. This paper addresses the problem of erratic location detection of mobile devices when signal-based technologies (non-GPS based solutions) are used. It generates an error model, EMLD, the parameters of which may be modified and used based on the surroundings of the target location to generate accurate location coordinates. This paper also provides an implementation of EMLD that can be used in order to determine location coordinates. It is a highly generalized approach that becomes more specific based on clients' needs that result in the assumptions and setup criteria of the approach
History and Anthropology Reflections on Visits across Borders

This short commentary on Louise Tilly's paper offers a reflection on the usefulness of recognizing disciplinary borders, taking as a point of departure her description of a shift over the past twenty-five years in dominant styles of analysis in urban history from structural to cultural approaches. Careful consideration of cross-disciplinary differences in the meanings attributed to such apparently shared terms as "structure" and "culture" promises both to enhance the fruitfulness of exchange across disciplines and to clarify our own disciplinary practices. [History, anthropology, culture, structure, academic disciplines]
Combined Analysis of Overlapping Stratified Random Sample and Simple Random Sample Data

This article provides a methodology to combine overlapping stratified random samples and a simple random sample to estimate subpopulation proportions. That is, all the available data can be used to better estimate the quantities of interest. The methodology based on a Bayesian approach is illustrated with a synthetic data set. WinBUGS code that implements the combined analysis is also presented. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cholesterol-induced alteration in liver mineral concentrations in corn oil and olive oil fed rats

Abstract This study was undertaken to compare the effects of 1% cholesterol (Ch) on some liver mineral concentrations in rats fed with corn oil (C) or olive oil (O). Male Sprague–Dawley rats ( n =4 per group) were fed AIN76A semi-purified diets containing either 5% corn oil or 5% olive oil replacing corn oil with or without 1% cholesterol for 21 days. The analysis of minerals: Phosphorous (P), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), and Sulfur (S), of liver were conducted by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopic method. In the C fed rats addition of 1% cholesterol produced significant increase in P concentrations but not K, Mg, and S concentrations. In contrast, in O fed rats, 1% Ch significantly decreased Mg and S concentrations. There was no significant change in K and P concentrations. In conclusion, this study describes the interactions between dietary oils and cholesterol on certain mineral concentrations in liver of rats. The results obtained may have clinical significance and nutritional significance in cardiovascular health.
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY‐GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS BIOPSY IN THE DOG AND CAT: DESCRIPTION OF TECHNIQUE AND PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IN 14 PATIENTS

A technique for computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous biopsy described for use in humans was adapted to the dog and cat and is evaluated in 14 patients. Nine retrobulbar, 1 cranial mediastinal and 4 pulmonary masses and 1 hilar lymph node were biopsied in 13 dogs and 1 cat. Tissue samples sufficient for diagnosis were obtained in 12 of the 15 lesions. Diagnoses were made following cytologic (3/12) or histopathologic (3/12) evaluation or both (6/12) and included retrobulbar lymphoma, carcinoma, spindle cell sarcoma and suppurative inflammation; pulmonary carcinoma, granuloma and eosinophilic/histiocytic inflammation; nasal carcinoma, thymoma and metastatic carcinoma of a hilar lymph node. In each patient, the needle tip was identified within the lesion on the CT image. The primary limitation was non-diagnostic samples in 3 of 15 lesions due to necrosis or insufficient tissue. Complications were minor. In addition to biopsy guidance, CT imaging provided information not obtainable with fluoroscopy or ultrasonography which assisted in tumor staging and therapy planning. Although a larger number of patients and biopsy locations would be required for a thorough assessment, the free-hand technique described in this preliminary report appeared to be a safe and useful option of biopsy guidance in the dog and cat.
Scalable Clustering for Large High-Dimensional Data Based on Data Summarization

Clustering large data sets with high dimensionality is a challenging data-mining task. This paper presents a framework to perform such a task efficiently. It is based on the notion of data space reduction, which finds high density areas, or dense cells, in the given feature space. The dense cells store summarized information of the data. A designated partitioning or hierarchical clustering algorithm can be used as the second step to find clusters based on the data summaries. Using Kmeans as an example, this paper presents GARDEN-Kmeans, which performs data space reduction using Gamma Region DENsity partition, and utilizes Kmeans to cluster the summarized information. The experimental study shows that GARDEN-Kmeans executes several orders of magnitude faster than basic Kmeans and the recursive bisection Kmeans algorithm of CLUTO, while producing comparable clustering quality
Effects of Voriconazole on Cryptococcus neoformans

Voriconazole is a broad-spectrum triazole that offers extended activity against molds and yeasts that are not susceptible to earlier azole-type drugs. Recent studies indicate that melanization can severely reduce the susceptibility of certain antifungal drugs, but there is no information as to whether voriconazole is vulnerable to this effect. The activity of voriconazole on C. neoformans was assessed by MIC analysis and time-kill assays for melanized and nonmelanized cells. Cell morphology, capsule release, and phagocytosis of C. neoformans were studied in the presence or absence of subinhibitory concentrations of voriconazole. Voriconazole was fungicidal at concentrations of >/=8 microg/ml in vitro against the strains of C. neoformans examined, and its efficacy was not diminished by melanization. Cells grown in subinhibitory concentrations of voriconazole had smaller cellular and capsular volumes than cells grown in the absence of drug. The induction of the capsule by serum was not affected by voriconazole. Cells grown in subinhibitory concentrations of voriconazole released their capsule and were phagocytosed at rates comparable with yeast grown without the antifungal. The high activity of voriconazole against both melanized and nonmelanized cells results suggest that voriconazole may be a particularly valuable drug for cryptococcosis.
Diagnosis of Head Pain: An Idiographic Approach to Assessment and Classification

SYNOPSIS The headache literature is characterized by controversy regarding theoretical explanations, pain mediating processes and treatment efficacy. The present paper reviews past assessment and classification practices within this literature. The data suggest that inadequate adherence to the iagnostic scheme originally proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Classification of Headache has resulted in major nosological errors. Thus, the literature presents a confusing array of inconsistent results and inconclusive investigations. Criteria for classification of head pain are provided and the utilization of more sophisticated assessment methodology advocated. It is hypothesized that an idiosyncratic analysis of head pain parameters will eventuate in the empirical delineation of well-defined subgroup populations of migraine, muscle-contraction, psychogenic, and combined headache patients.
Independent and interactive effects of blood pressure and cardiac function on brain volume and white matter hyperintensities in heart failure

Abstract Background Reduced systemic perfusion and comorbid medical conditions are key contributors to adverse brain changes in heart failure (HF). Hypertension, the most common co-occurring condition in HF, accelerates brain atrophy in aging populations. However, the independent and interactive effects of blood pressure and systemic perfusion on brain structure in HF have yet to be investigated. Methods Forty-eight older adults with HF underwent impedance cardiography to assess current systolic blood pressure status and cardiac index to quantify systemic perfusion. All participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging to quantify total brain, total and subcortical gray matter volume, and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) volume. Results Regression analyses adjusting for medical and demographic factors showed decreased cardiac index was associated with smaller subcortical gray matter volume ( P P = .03). The combination of higher blood pressure and lower cardiac index exacerbated WMH ( P = .048). Conclusions Higher blood pressure and systemic hypoperfusion are associated with smaller brain volume, and these factors interact to exacerbate WMH in HF. Prospective studies are needed to clarify the effects of blood pressure on the brain in HF, including the role of long-term blood pressure fluctuations.
DNA-based asymmetric catalysis: role of ionic solvents and glymes

Recently, DNA has been evaluated as a chiral scaffold for metal complexes to construct so called ‘DNA-based hybrid catalysts’, a robust and inexpensive alternative to enzymes. The unique chiral structure of DNA allows the hybrid catalysts to catalyze various asymmetric synthesis reactions. However, most current studies used aqueous buffers as solvents in these asymmetric reactions, where substrates/products are typically suspended in the solutions. The mass transfer limitation usually requires a long reaction time. To overcome this hurdle and to advance DNA-based asymmetric catalysis, we examined a series of ionic liquids (ILs), inorganic salts, deep eutectic solvents (DES), glymes, glycols, acetonitrile and methanol as co-solvents/additives in the DNA-based asymmetric Michael addition. In general, these additives induce indistinguishable changes to the DNA B-form duplex conformation as suggested by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, but impose a significant influence on the catalytic efficiency of the DNA-based hybrid catalyst. Conventional organic solvents (e.g. acetonitrile and methanol) led to poor product yields and/or low enantioselectivities. Most ILs and inorganic salts cause the deactivation of the hybrid catalyst except 0.2 M [BMIM][CF3COO] (95.4% ee and 93% yield) and 0.2 M [BMIM]Cl (93.7% ee and 89% yield). Several other additives have also been found to improve the catalytic efficiency of the DNA-based hybrid catalyst (control reaction without additive gives >99% ee and 87% yield): 0.4 M glycerol (>99% ee and 96% yield at 5 °C or 96.2% ee and 83% yield at room temperature), 0.2 M choline chloride–glycerol (1 : 2) (92.4% ee and 90% yield at 5 °C or 94.0% ee and 88% yield at room temperature), and 0.5 M dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether (>99% ee and 87% yield at room temperature). The use of some co-solvents/additives allows the Michael addition to be performed at a higher temperature (e.g. room temperature vs. 5 °C) and a shorter reaction time (24 h vs. 3 days). In addition, we found that a brief pre-sonication (5 min) of DNA in MOPS buffer prior to the reaction could improve the performance of the DNA-based hybrid catalyst. We have also shown that this DNA-based catalysis method is suitable for a variety of different substrates and relatively large-scale reactions. In conclusion, a judicious selection of benign co-solvents/additives could improve the catalytic efficiency of DNA-based hybrid catalyst.
Theory and Research Pertaining to Families with Adolescents

This book chapter covers a complex and multifaceted area of family development: families with adolescents. Following some preparatory remarks regarding definitions of terms, this chapter presents two related sections regarding our knowledge base about families facing the demands of this particular developmental period. The first section is concerned with theories that frame our understanding of families with adolescents, whereas the second section deals with family-based research findings. These two sections draw evenly from a broad cross-section of social science disciplines, providing an integrative and concise approach to the interdisciplinary nature of work being conducted in this area of inquiry.
Setting an Agenda for a Study of Tax and Black Culture

At present the Internal Revenue Code unthinkingly reflects many aspects of white culture including historical opportunities that whites have received for wealth building and marriage. In order for the federal tax laws to tax fairly all cultures within the purview of taxation must also find their values reflected. The article sets out how the tax laws might begin to incorporate black culture.
Keynote 2: Massive-Scale Parallel Network Simulations, Past, Present and Future by George Riley

Discrete event simulation tools for analyzing performance of computer networks have been available for decades, dating back to the early days of the venerable ns-2, continuing through GTNetS, SSFNet, ROSSNet, and most recently ns-3. At each step along the way various developers and researchers have reported on "large-scale" simulation experiments using these tools. As the available hardware platforms grow in scale, the scale of network simulation experiments have grown similarly. In this talk, we will discuss the various reported "large-scale" or "massive-scale" experiments, the approach used to achieve the larger scale and the drawbacks of the experiments. Finally, we will try to look a bit in to the future to see where this field might be in the coming years.
Ridge preservation comparing the clinical and histologic healing of a mineralized particulate allograft with a nonporous PTFE membrane vs. mineralized particulate xenograft with a collagen plug membrane

RIDGE PRESERVATION COMPARING THE CLINICAL AND HISTOLOGIC HEALING OF A MINERALIZED PARTICULATE ALLOGRAFT WITH A NONPOROUS PTFE MEMBRANE VS. MINERALIZED PARTICULATE XENOGRAFT WITH A COLLAGEN PLUG MEMBRANE Jason Witonsky, DMD
Co-Evolving Host-Pathogen Interactions

I just read with great interest the feature article on co-evolving host-pathogen interactions by Shannon Weiman (Microbe, November 2013, page 447). Reading the section on the work of my laboratory (“S. aureus also can undermine innate immune responses”) I noticed a small, but yet significant “overstatement.” The statement prior to the last sentence; “Moreover, individuals who are resistant to HIV through deletion of the CCR5 gene are also resistant to S. aureus” is inaccurate, as we don't currently know if CCR5 negative individuals are resistant to S. aureus infection. What we do know is that T cells, macrophages, and DC from CCR5 negative individuals are resistant to the LukED-mediated toxicity, and that mice lacking CCR5 are resistant to infection by LukED-producing S. aureus strains (Alonzo et al, Nature 493:51–5, 2013).
Response to Comments on Fixing U.S. International Taxation

In responding to the thoughtful comments offered by Stephen Shay, Yariv Brauner, and Fadi Shaheen, my first priority is to thank both of them and the editors of the Jerusalem Review of Legal Studies. The book symposium is a great format, offering the focused attention that authors more often want than get, and here its potential has been richly fulfilled. Each commentator either disagrees with, or at least significantly augments, certain aspects of the discussion in Fixing U.S. International Taxation. For example, Shay questions my policy suggestions, based on the importance of existing tax treaties and the difficulty of revising them. Brauner suggests that I am too critical of formulary apportionment, and that ‘‘correctness’’ in sourcing income is even less promising and useful as an evaluative perspective than I suggest. Shaheen augments my analysis of how home country deferral for foreign source income interacts with foreign tax creditability, by more fully addressing the scenario in which higher after-foreign-tax returns are persistently available for income that is reported as arising in low-tax than in high-tax countries. Fundamentally, however, all three commentators appear not just to share my dissatisfaction with the ‘‘quality and scope of U.S. international tax policy discussion,’’ but to ascribe some value and interest to my proposed analytical framework Even the most critical comments in the three reviews can be viewed either as friendly amendments or as suggesting that countervailing considerations limit the practical feasibility of adjusting the U.S. international tax rules in response to analytically correct points that I make. Given the limited scope of disagreement, along with the importance, in my view, of revamping the dominant intellectual framework for international tax policy analysis, this response will mainly focus on summarizing the book’s motivation and chief aims.
Cell elastimetry in the detection of antineutrophil antibodies.

Cell elastimetry has been applied to the measurement of antineutrophil antibodies. This technique measures, under direct visualization, the negative pressure required of aspirate PMNs into small-pored pipettes. Two groups of studies were carried out: (A) In the first group of studies, normal PMNs were incubated with 1 of 8 known antineutrophil serums. Each serum significantly decreased membrane deformability-- i.e., cells became more rigid. The study was conducted in an entirely blind fashion. Randomly coded serums from patients and controls were studied for deformability by observers unaware of the code. (B) In the second group of studies, sera containing immune complexes were incubated with normal PMNs. No significant effects were noted upon deformability. As a single cell assay that partially reflects membrane rigidity, elastimetry may, therefore, have potential in the further characterization of mechanisms by which such antineutrophil antibodies compromise neutrophil functions.
Analysis of suspected food poisoning occurred in 2006-2011 in the Yuexiu district of Guangzhou city

Objective To study the characteristics and distribution of bacterial food poisoning occurred in 2006-2011 in the Yuexiu district of Guangzhou city and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of bacterial food poisoning. Methods Bacteria were isolated from the suspected food samples. The isolated bacteria were then identified. Data were analyzed usign Excel 2003 software. Results 69 of 112 cases were found to have pathogenic bacteria(detection rate of 61.61%). Bacterial food poisoning was found throughout the year,and most of theevents occurred from July to October. The food poisoning occurred mainly in the restaurant industry. Twelve categories of pathogenic bacteria were detected and Vibrio parahaemolyticus was the most common pathogen,followed by Staphylococcus aureus,Proteus,and Salmonella.Vibrio parahaemolyticus was the major pathogen in the contaminated environmental samples;Staphylococcus aureus was the major pathogen contaminating the food samples.Proteus was the major pathogen contaminating the utensils. Conclusions The control of bacterial food poisoning in this area should focus on the canteens. Attention should be focusing on thestrengthening of hygiene of the environment and utensils.
L 2 Bibo Output Feedback Stabilization With Saturated Control

Abstract For the problem of stabilization of mildly nonlinear systems with saturated control, a simple and computationally attractive method of designing a stabilizing gain scheduled output feedback is proposed. The resulting controller is supplied with rigorously proven input/output performance bounds. For the case of stabilization of a linear time invariant system without exponentially unstable modes, the closed-loop map from the plant disturbances and state estimation noise to the state and control variables is shown to be L 2 -bounded. For an exponentially unstable open-loop plant, the asymptotic stability is guaranteed in the case of disturbances which do not affect the exponentially unstable states of the system directly. In particular, for the reference tracking problems with actuator rate saturation, stability with respect to the reference input takes place.
Are Charter Schools the Second Coming of Enron?: An Examination of the Gatekeepers That Protect against Dangerous Related-Party Transactions in the Charter School Sector

In 2001, Enron rocked the financial world by declaring bankruptcy due to the effects of an accounting scandal. Special purpose entities (SPEs) were instrumental to Enron’s demise. Enron parked assets in the SPEs to improve its credit rating. Enron violated accounting principles by not revealing that its SPE partnerships were related-party transactions. Andrew Fastow, who was Enron’s CFO, made millions of dollars by managing the SPEs. He also used these illegal proceeds to invest in other ventures. Enron’s gatekeepers failed to protect against this accounting fraud.Related-party transactions are now posing a threat to the charter school sector. Similar to Fastow, individuals are using their control over charter schools and their affiliates to obtain unreasonable management fees and funnel public funds into other business ventures.In this article, we discuss how some charter school officials have engaged in Enron-like related-party transactions. We also identify several measures that can be taken to strengthen the ability of charter school gatekeepers to protect against this danger. This article is divided into four parts. Part I describes how Fastow used his management of Enron and the SPEs to obtain illegal profits. Part II discusses why financial sector gatekeepers failed to stop these related-party transactions. Part III shows how charter school officials are benefitting from their control over charter schools and their affiliates in a manner similar to Fastow. Part IV analyzes pertinent statutory and regulatory provisions to identify steps that can be taken to increase the gatekeepers’ ability to protect against harmful related-party transactions.
In the Beginning: Identity Processes in Multi-founder Nascent Ventures

The vibrant body of recent work in founder identity theory has focused on ventures that are already operational and that are dominated by a single founder. Our study moves beyond both of these limi...
Predictors of HPV knowledge and awareness in rural America

Predictors of HPV Knowledge and Awareness in Rural America by Melanee Dulfon Dr. Linda Stetzenbach, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Environmental Health University ofNevada, Las Vegas Prior research has shown that overall awareness of HPV is low among women in America. Yet limited research exists as to the awareness ofHPV among rural U.S. women. The goal of this study was to determine the factors that predict women's knowledge and awareness of HPV in rural America. Secondary data was utilized from the National Cancer Institute Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) of 2005. The sample consisted of788 adult women over the age of 18 from rural areas of the U.S. Results indicated younger age, increased education, receipt of a Pap exam in over three years, and having read health sections of newspapers and magazines to be predictors of HPV awareness among rural women in America.
Surveillance and Spies in the Civil War: Exposing Confederate Conspiracies in America's Heartland

Review of: Surveillance and Spies in the Civil War: Exposing Confederate Conspiracies in America’s Heartland, by Stephen E. Towne
The impact of speed and time on gait dynamics

Abstract To determine the effects of speed on gait previous studies have examined young adults walking at different speeds; however, the small number of strides may have influenced the results. The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate and long-term impact of continuous slow walking on the mean, variability and structure of stride-to-stride measures. Fourteen young adults walked at a constant pace on a treadmill at three speeds (preferred walking speed (PWS), 90% and 80% PWS) for 30 min each. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were computed over six successive 5-min intervals. Walking slower significantly decreased stride length, while stride period and width increased. Additionally, stride period and width variability increased. Signal regularity of stride width increased and decreased in stride period. Persistence of stride period and width increased significantly at slower speeds. While several measures changed during 30 min of walking, only stride period variability and signal regularity revealed a significant speed and time interaction. Healthy young adults walking at slower than preferred speeds demonstrated greater persistence and signal regularity of stride period while spatiotemporal changes such as increased stride width and period variability arose. These results suggest that different control processes are involved in adapting to the slower speeds.
Potent Inhibition of HIV-1 Replication in Resting CD4 T Cells by Resveratrol and Pterostilbene

HIV-1 infection of resting CD4 T cells plays a crucial and numerically dominant role during virus transmission at mucosal sites and during subsequent acute replication and T cell depletion. Resveratrol and pterostilbene are plant stilbenoids associated with several health-promoting benefits. Resveratrol has been shown to inhibit the replication of several viruses, including herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, papillomaviruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome virus, and influenza virus. Alone, resveratrol does not inhibit HIV-1 infection of activated T cells, but it does synergize with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in these cells to inhibit reverse transcription. Here, we demonstrate that resveratrol and pterostilbene completely block HIV-1 infection at a low micromolar dose in resting CD4 T cells, primarily at the reverse transcription step. The anti-HIV effect was fully reversed by exogenous deoxynucleosides and Vpx, an HIV-1 and simian immunodeficiency virus protein that increases deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) levels. These findings are consistent with the reported ability of resveratrol to inhibit ribonucleotide reductase and to lower dNTP levels in cells. This study supports the potential use of resveratrol, pterostilbene, or related compounds as adjuvants in anti-HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) formulations.
Evaluating platelet aggregation dynamics from laser speckle fluctuations.

Platelets are key to maintaining hemostasis and impaired platelet aggregation could lead to hemorrhage or thrombosis. We report a new approach that exploits laser speckle intensity fluctuations, emanated from a drop of platelet-rich-plasma (PRP), to profile aggregation. Speckle fluctuation rate is quantified by the speckle intensity autocorrelation, g2(t), from which the aggregate size is deduced. We first apply this approach to evaluate polystyrene bead aggregation, triggered by salt. Next, we assess dose-dependent platelet aggregation and inhibition in human PRP spiked with adenosine diphosphate and clopidogrel. Additional spatio-temporal speckle analyses yield 2-dimensional maps of particle displacements to visualize platelet aggregate foci within minutes and quantify aggregation dynamics. These findings demonstrate the unique opportunity for assessing platelet health within minutes for diagnosing bleeding disorders and monitoring anti-platelet therapies.
Contracting Timely Delivery with Hard to Verify Quality

I study a continuous-time principal-agent model with hidden effort and imperfect monitoring about project quality. I consider a situation in which the agent can manipulate output so as to reduce the completion time of a project at the expense of quality. In order to deter manipulation the principal must make payments contingent on the subsequent performance of the project. The principal balances the provision of incentives to exert effort and the cost of deferring compensation. Unlike in previous models with pure moral hazard, the agent may never be terminated. Moreover, if the optimal contract requires termination, this must be unpredictable. If this were not the case the agent would manipulate performance when he is close to being fired. I analyze the case in which the principal can commit to a mixed strategy of termination, and also where the principal cannot commit to terminate the agent. In the latter case, the mixed strategy of termination has to be incentive compatible for the principal. In the optimal contract, cash compensation is deferred longer than in the absence of manipulation. Finally, I observe that contracts have longer duration when quality is more difficult to observe.
Steady States in Continuous Culture

Simulation exercises based on setting the differential equations for cell mass and substrate to zero reveal the effects of various coefficients and conditions on steady states for continuous cultivation of microorganisms.
Mimicking Nature: A Review of Successional Agroforestry Systems as an Analogue to Natural Regeneration of Secondary Forest Stands

Over the past 30 years, successional agroforestry systems (SAFS) have been increasingly promoted in Latin America as an approach for recovering soils and improving agro-ecosystems in degraded landscapes. Successional agroforestry systems (SAFS) are complex, multi-strata systems composed of species assemblages that resemble native forest structures. The concept of SAFS integrates indigenous knowledge of intercropping multi-purpose subsistence species, modern agroforestry techniques, and applications of assisted natural regeneration to emphasize biodiversity, adaptive management, and the use of ecological succession to establish a productive system. Much like the management of assisted regeneration of forest stands, mimicking natural ecosystems in agroecosystems requires the knowledge of species survival, growth, functional traits, and niche resource requirements in order to appropriately select multi-functional species and to develop spatial arrangements for stratified stand structures. In recent years, conceptual theories have been proposed that support parallels drawn between natural succession models of forest stand development to management of SAFS. This chapter summarizes background theory to ground the reader in key principles of ecological regeneration and silvicultural management; provides examples that have tested biomimicry hypotheses in agroforestry systems in the tropics; and introduces three case studies from current SAFS in Brazil, Nicaragua, and Belize to examine their potential to promote agro-biodiversity, regenerate severely disturbed agricultural landscapes, diversify harvest yields, and reduce ecological and economic risks associated with conventional agricultural systems.
The effects of climate variability on psychological well-being in India

Abstract Climate variability has been shown to have adverse effects on morbidity and mortality. Less is known about its effects on psychological well-being, especially in developing countries with agriculture-based economies. In this paper, we test whether extreme temperature and precipitation in India have an effect on self-reported depression symptoms, cognitive and sleep difficulties, and ability to cope with and control life. We use time and geographic variation in weather and show that hot weather in the previous year worsens psychological well-being among rural, but not urban, Indian adults. We examine potential mechanisms and show that the effect is largely driven by hot temperatures during the agricultural season and could be partly attributed to a reduction in agricultural production. We further provide suggestive evidence that the effects of weather shocks could be mitigated with poverty reduction programs such as India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Poor mental health has been associated with low productivity and high healthcare expenditures and is a serious concern in India and many developing countries. The adverse impacts of climate change on rural, agriculture-based economies such as India are likely to increase over time. Given that nearly half of the global population lives in rural areas and is vulnerable to climate variability, understanding the effects of climate on psychological well-being and identifying potential resolutions is critical for insuring vulnerable populations and breaking the poverty cycle.
Cox Proportional Hazards Regression Model

The Cox proportional hazards model 132 is the most popular model for the analysis of survival data. It is a semiparametric model; it makes a parametric assumption concerning the effect of the predictors on the hazard function, but makes no assumption regarding the nature of the hazard function λ(t) itself. The Cox PH model assumes that predictors act multiplicatively on the hazard function but does not assume that the hazard function is constant (i.e., exponential model), Weibull, or any other particular form. The regression portion of the model is fully parametric; that is, the regressors are linearly related to log hazard or log cumulative hazard. In many situations, either the form of the true hazard function is unknown or it is complex, so the Cox model has definite advantages. Also, one is usually more interested in the effects of the predictors than in the shape of λ(t), and the Cox approach allows the analyst to essentially ignore λ(t), which is often not of primary interest.
Advantages, Disadvantages, and Future Challenges of the Use of Electrochemical Technologies for Water and Wastewater Treatment

Abstract Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) are emerging as a viable option for water and wastewater treatment. The major appeal of this technology is that electrochemical cells do not need the addition of chemical reagents and instead produce oxidizing species by the reactions that occur at the anode surface. Numerous studies have validated the effectiveness of EAOPs for a broad range of waste streams. This chapter summarizes the research and development in the area of EAOPs for water and wastewater treatment. Specific topics covered include a discussion of stable anode materials, advantages and recent innovations in EAOPs, challenges associated with EAOP implementation, and future research and engineering needs.
The use of immortalized mouse L1210/OAP cells established in culture to study the major class 1 aldehyde dehydrogenase-catalyzed oxidation of aldehydes in intact cells.

NAD(P)-linked aldehyde dehydrogenases are a group of enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of a wide variety of aldehydes to their corresponding acids (Sladek et al., 1989; Goedde and Agarwal, 1990). Based on their primary structure, and/or subcellular distribution and kinetic, physical and immunological properties, these enzymes have been divided into three classes, viz., 1,2, and 3 (Lindahl and Hempel, 1991). The major class 2 enzyme has been studied quite extensively both in vivo and in cell-free experiments, in large part because of its importance in ethanol metabolism. More recently, class 3 aldehyde dehydrogenases have, because of their association with tumorigenesis, also been the subject of extensive investigation both in vivo and in cell-free experiments. In contrast, class 1 aldehyde dehydrogenases have not been as extensively studied, especially ex or in vivo. This is probably because their importance in catalyzing the oxidation of several biologically and/or pharmacologically important aldehydes, e.g., aldophosphamide, has only recently been recognized (Sladek et al., 1989).
The Neurobiology of Anxiety: A Tale of Two Systems

When introducing the neurobiology of anxiety, there is an irresistable temptation to launch into a discussion of the neuropharmacology of the benzodiazepines. Clearly one could seriously misrepresent depression or schizophrenia by discussing the mode of action of antidepressants or phenothiazines. However, our understanding of the mechanisms of benzodiazepine action has evolved so quickly and the possible implications for clinical states seem so important that one might be almost forgiven for putting the pharmacologic cart before the clinical horse. Furthermore, in contrast to other psychopharmacologic agents, there is now growing evidence that the same molecular systems which mediate the therapeutic effects of benzodiazepines may be involved in the generation of anxiety. So one might justly feel that the neuropharmacology of the benzodiazepines is directly relevant to a biological basis of anxiety (Ninan, Insel, Cohen, Skolnick, & Paul, 1982).
Behavioural approaches to smoking cessation

Tobacco advertising is an example of an attempt to influence behaviour. Whether it or any other approach influences people to change their behaviour depends on a number of factors, including the way the individual perceives the approach and whether or not opportunities arise for change to occur. Behavioural interventions focus on the environment and the individual’s thoughts and actions in relation to the environment. Behavioural approaches based on social learning theory stem from the observation that behavioural change is difficult: environment influences lifestyle choices, while at the same time lifestyle choices influence the environment (Orlandi, 1996).