cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advice generation from observed execution: abstract Markov decision process learning

An advising agent, a coach, provides advice to other agents about how to act. In this paper we contribute an advice generation method using observations of agents acting in an environment. Given an abstract state definition and partially specified abstract actions, the algorithm extracts a Markov Chain, infers a Markov Decision Process, and then solves the MDP (given an arbitrary reward signal) to generate advice. We evaluate our work in a simulated robot soccer environment and experimental results show improved agent performance when using the advice generated from the MDP for both a sub-task and the full soccer game.
Growth, Sporulation, and Germination of Clostridium perfringens in Media of Controlled Water Activity

Requirements in terms of water activity (a(w)) for the growth, sporulation, and germination of Clostridium perfringens were determined. Strain A48 was used in all phases, and in addition either NCTC 8239 or NCTC 8797 was used for growth, sporulation, and germination studies. The desired a(w) of the test media was obtained by the addition of one of three solutes: glycerol, sucrose, or sodium chloride. The freezing point depression method was used to determine the a(w). The basal medium for growth and germination was Fluid Thioglycollate Medium. It had an a(w) of 0.995 and produced maximum growth and fastest growth rate among the six levels of a(w) tested. The lowest a(w) supporting growth and germination of C. perfringens was between 0.97 and 0.95 in the test media made with sucrose or sodium chloride and 0.93 or below in the test media adjusted with glycerol. Spore production by C. perfringens in Ellner's or modified medium required a higher a(w) than growth.
Strategic Behavior and Variation in the Supreme Court's Caseload Over Time

abstractOver the past sixty years, the size of the Supreme Court's docket has varied tremendously, growing at some points in time and shrinking at others. What accounts for this variation in the size of the docket? We focus on two key strategic factors—the predictability of outcomes within the Court and whether justices consider the potential actions of other political institutions—and assess whether these factors help to explain the variation in docket size over time. We discover that uncertainty and institutional constraints prevent the Court from choosing cases with complete freedom, even after accounting for other potential influences on the size of the Court's docket.
Sauropod (Saurischia: Dinosauria) material from the Early Cretaceous Griman Creek Formation of the Surat Basin, Queensland, Australia

An isolated ischium and possible neural arch recovered from the lower–middle Albian Griman Creek Formation near Surat, are the only sauropod postcranial elements from that unit in Queensland. This is the southernmost occurrence of sauropod post-cranial remains in eastern Australia. Comparison with other sauropod remains suggests that the ischium might represent an indeterminate titanosaur that is different from taxa previously named from Australia.
Computational studies of formaldehyde dissociation and protonated carbon monoxide isomerization with density functional theory methods

Abstract A systematic computational study of the transformation of formaldehyde to carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and protonated carbon monoxide to the formyl cation, was undertaken with density functional theory (DFT) methods. Four groups of DFT methods (hybrid, local, non-local and exchange functionals only) with the 6-311++G(3df,3pd) Gaussian-type basis set were used. The computed results were compared with high-level ab initio calculations and suitable DFT methods for computing these and similar molecular systems were suggested.
CORRELATIONS AMONG SCORES ON THE 1966, 1973, AND 1979 NORMS OF RAVEN'S STANDARD PROGRESSIVE MATRICES FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS

The correlations between the scores on the 1966, 1973, and 1979 norms on Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices for economically disadvantaged students in Grades 3 to 5 were significantly high. It s...
Theory of a tunnel diode oscillator in a microwave structure

This paper is primarily concerned with the theoretical calculation of the effective load impedance of a tunnel diode mounted in a microwave structure. The general procedure is outlined and the particular problem of a tunnel diode mounted in a rectangular waveguide is analyzed in some detail. The theoretical results are compared with experimental data of other authors.
Rigid-plastic and damage behavior in metal forming: Part I—theoretical development

Abstract Indeterminacy of the Levy-Mises relations in plane strain rigid-plasticity is overcome by considering change in plastic strain rate due to triaxiality. Better agreement is achieved on the coincidence of uniaxial data with the effective stress and effective strain in addition to the removal of ill conditions associated with necking stresses derived from other theories of rigid plasticity. The formulation accounts for material compressibility and makes use of the variational principle when applied to discrete locations of the continuum. These physical refinements provide the necessary accuracy for predicting potential damage sites and establishing design limits on metal forming products. Developed are damage thresholds for defining the integrity of rigid-plastic materials with nonlinear behavior. Distortion and dilatation of the material elements are mutually interactive and their proportion changes with the local strain rates in the metal forming process. Only the stationary values of the volume energy density could automatically account for the nonlinear relationship between distortion and dilation. Completed in Part I is the development of a modified theory of rigid-plasticity that better describes the yield and fracture behavior of metals. Numerical results for the permanent deformation of sheet metals are provided in Part II; they are compared with those obtained from other theories of rigid-plasticity.
The use of nonreactive measures with preschoolers

The purpose of this article is to illustrate the utility of nonreactive measures for those measuring preschool children in a variety of contexts. The topics presented are: 1) a rationale for using nonreactive, as well as observational, test, and interview measures; 2) a description of four types of nonreactive measures and their limitations; and 3) examples of how caregivers and teachers can use nonreactive measures for preschoolers in order to gather information.
Hysterectomy and autonomy.

Hysterectomy (or hysterectomy with oophorectomy) is the most frequently performed major surgery in the United States, affecting approximately 700,000 women each year (Easterday, 1983). There has long been interest in the psychological effects of these surgeries. However, apart from the concern that some hysterectomies may be unnecessary (Pearse, 1976), there has been little attention to bioethical issues relating to hysterectomy. Physicians and nurses are ethically obligated to respect the woman who may have a hysterectomy by treating her as an autonomous agent. Informed consent within the context of a decision for hysterectomy should include balanced information and supportive exploration of the woman's values, goals, and life plan. Care of the patient should assist her adjustment, thereby also promoting her autonomy. Physician attitudes toward hysterectomy and the hysterectomy patient can have a major influence on patient self-determination.
Recent Advances in the Study of Convective Clouds and their Interaction with the Environment

Recent developments in two main phases of cumulus cloud studies are discussed; first the relations between the clouds and their energy sources in the subcloud layer and second, the interaction between the clouds and their environment in the cloud layer. Under the first heading, the various originating impulses for cumulus formation are mentioned, and how the character of this impulse affects the spacing, scale and temperature structure of the clouds. The possible origins of trade cumuli are considered. The second phase is primarily concerned with the nature of the resistive forces operating against cloud growth, how these arise and how they affect the clouds' life cycle. The resistive forces are shown to be of importance in the transports of momentum, moisture and heat by the cumuli and to serve as controls in the feeding of latent energy into the high tropical troposphere and hence into the general circulation. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1952.tb00992.x
Racial differences in colorectal cancer screening practices and knowledge within a low-income population.

BACKGROUND. Although colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death among US women and is particularly deadly among African Americans, CRC screening rates remain low. Within a low-income population of women, the authors examined racial differences in practices, knowledge, and barriers related to CRC screening. METHODS. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 941 women (white, n = 186; African American, n = 755) older than age 50 years who were living in subsidized housing communities in 11 cities in North and South Carolina. Women were asked questions about their CRC screening history and their knowledge and beliefs concerning CRC screening. RESULTS. Half (49%) of the women interviewed were within CRC screening guidelines, and this did not vary by race (P = .17). However, African American women were half as likely as white women to report having had a screening colonoscopy within the past 10 years (odds ratio [OR], 0.46; P < .001). Awareness of tests for CRC was low overall (39%) and was lower among African Americans than whites (OR, 0.44; P < .001). Compared with white women, African American women were less likely to report embarrassment as a barrier (OR, 0.59; P = .008) and more likely to report lack of insurance coverage (OR, 1.75; P = .098). CONCLUSIONS. Efforts must continue to increase women's knowledge of both CRC screening tests and colon cancer risk factors. Among these low-income women, routine encounters with the healthcare system may present opportunities to reduce deficits in CRC knowledge and to improve overall CRC screening rates. Cancer 2008. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Rocket investigation of the auroral green line

Auroral green line rocket measurements, showing roles of atomic and molecular oxygen dissociative recombinations
Transformation in Bacillus subtilis using excreted DNA.

The excretion of DNA by Bacillus subtilis cultures at the time of competence has been studied. A strain was isolated, RUB 758, which was unable to transform with excreted DNA, but was fully capable of transformation when either phenol-extracted bacterial DNA, bacteriophage DNA, or DNA released by lysed L-forms was used. The difference between excreted and extracted DNA could not be resolved by shearing extracted DNA or phenol treating excreted DNA.
Factors affecting retention and resolution of peptides in high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract Retention of small peptides (20 residues or less) on reversed-phase columns can be predicted by summing the contribution to retention of each amino acid and end group. The high correlation ( r = 0.98) for 100 peptides of predicted versus actual retention times indicates that conformation and sequence have minor effects on retention. Resolution depends not only on the column, but also on the mobile phase composition and flow-rate, the gradient rate and the size and composition of the peptides themselves. These factors were studied using 9 small peptides. Column efficiency (height equivalent to a theoretical plate) in isocratic separation improved linearly with decreasing flow-rate and decreasing log molecular weight of peptide. Resolution in gradient separations was primarily a function of gradient rate; flow-rate had little effect on resolution, but did affect peak height. A compromise must be made between analysis time and resolution: separation with a given mobile phase can be improved by using slower gradients, but only at the expense of exponentially increasing analysis time.
Shifting the Focus From What to Why

After 4 decades of research on infant behavior and development, the time has come to shift our focus from What infants do to Why they do it when they do-to move beyond the single-minded search for mechanism and to consider the larger question of funcrion. Infants ate not merely incomplete adults who simply get better with age, but they are different organisms altogether, perfectly adapted at every point in ontogeny. For this reason, answers to the Why question will necessarily build upon an evolutionary framework that reflects the infant’s changing “occupations” or ecological niches. Through this pursuit, infancy researchers will develop a more integrative science and a greater sense of community.
Photoluminescence and Raman Spectroscopy of Cubic SiC Grown by Chemical Vapor Deposition on Si Substrates

Thin films of cubic SiC were grown on Si substrates by a new CVD heteroepitaxial technique. The cubic polytype and crystal quality were verified by room temperature Raman spectroscopy. Low temperature photoluminescence (PL) studies detected nitrogen donor bound excitons, N-Al donor-acceptor pairs in Al-doped samples, and some defect complexes usually observed only in irradiated samples. Evidence of strain due to the Si-SiC lattice mismatch was observed in both the Raman and PL spectra and the effects of substrate removal and high temperature annealing on these optical spectra were studied.
TWO NEW SPECIES OF ELEODES FROM THE PACIFIC COAST REGION (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE.)

The following new species of Eleodes have recently, come to hand and are described as follows: Eleodes indentata n. sp. (Subgenus Blapylis Horn .) Female —From ovate, about twice as long as wide, widest across middle of the elytra. Color deep black, luster polisheci ancl shining. Head slightly widest across the eyes, before the post-ocular line a little more than twice as wide as long; sides of the front scarcely as prominent as the eyes, arcuately convergent to the oblique sutures and there broadly sinuate; sides of the epistoma straight and convergent, angles evenly. rounded, apex broadly sinuate : frons feebly convex, s1ight1y and broadly impressed within the moderatc supra-antennal convexities, very densely punctate, punctures coarse and more or less coalescent, smaller on the occiput. Labmrum transverse, densely punctete in apical one-half, thence to base smooth and very sparsel punctate.
Interplay of magnetism and impurity band in a Kondo insulator

Abstract We consider Kondo holes in a Kondo insulator described by the symmetric Anderson lattice within the mean-field approximation in terms of four slave-bosons per site. Each Kondo hole introduces a bound state in the hybridization gap and a finite concentration of Kondo holes gives rise to an impurity band. The impurity band reduces the threshold for the antiferromagnetic instability displaying re-entrance as a function of Kondo hole concentration, but does not substantially affect ferromagnetism.
Assessment of the Compositional Variability of RP-1 and RP-2 with the Advanced Distillation Curve Approach

Abstract : RP-1 is a long-established hydrocarbon fuel that continues to be widely used as the kerosene component in rocket propulsion systems. The desire in recent years to use rocket motors many times, rather than a single time, has led to reformulations of RP-1. In terms of processing, increased hydro-treating of the component feedstock fluids used in the manufacture of RP-1 can lower the sulfur, olefin and aromatic content significantly. The resulting fuels have demonstrably lower metal corrosion effects, and are thus more amenable to multiple use rocket motors. In recent years, the reformulated RP-1 mixtures have been extensively studied in terms of thermophysical properties, combustion processes and kinetics, and performance. Still unknown is how compositional variability resulting from the various blending strategies affects the properties, and our ability to correctly predict the fluid behavior with mathematical models. To address this question, we have obtained eleven orthogonal batches of RP-1 that were prepared to represent the range of formulation recipes. For each of these representative formulations, we have assessed the compositional variability with the advanced distillation curve (ADC) metrology. This method is an improvement of classical boiling curve techniques. In this paper, we use the temperature grid of the ADC to conclude that the variability of RP-1 and RP-2 are significant, and perhaps higher than expected.
Multivariate Visualization of Chromatographic Systems

Chromatography is a technique used to separate and quantify the components in a complex chemical mixture. We have created a 3D visualization system capable of comparing the chemical properties of chromatographic systems. The visualization system combines scatter plots, parallel coordinates, and specialized glyphs to assist in the analysis of chromatographic data and comparisons of multiple systems. Using this tool, numerous separation systems can be readily compared simultaneously - greatly facilitating the ability to select systems that are likely to produce desired separations during method development.
Nutrient flux in the Rhode River: Tidal transport of microorganisms in brackish marshes

Concentrations of bacteria, chlorophyll a, and several dissolved organic compounds were determined during 11 tidal cycles throughout the year in a high and a low elevation marsh of a brackish tidal estuary. Mean bacterial concentrations were slightly higher in flooding (7·1 × 106 cells ml-1) than in ebbing waters (6·5 × 106 cells ml-1), and there were no differences between marshes. Mean chlorophyll a concentrations were 36·7 µg 1-1 in the low marsh and 20·4 µg 1-1 in the high marsh. Flux calculations, based on tidal records and measured concentrations, suggested a small net import of bacterial and algal biomass into both marshes. Over the course of individual tidal cycles, concentrations of all parameters were variable and not related to tidal stage. Heterotrophic activity measured by the uptake of 3H-thymidine, was found predominantly in the smallest particle size fractions ( <1·0 pin). Thymidine uptake was correlated with temperature (r=0·48, P<0·01), and bacterial productivity was estimated to be 7 to 42 µg C l-1 day-1.
Intensification of diabetes medication and risk for 30-day readmission.

Aim To examine the association of in-hospital diabetes regimen intensification with subsequent 30-day risk for unplanned readmission/emergency department admission. Methods We retrospectively studied 1949 adults with Type 2 diabetes receiving primary care within an academic health network admitted to the hospital between January 2007 and December 2009. Glucose therapy intensification was defined as new start of insulin or oral hypoglycaemic agents, or addition of prandial insulin or insulin mixtures. The association of glucose therapy intensification with subsequent 30-day risk for unplanned readmission/emergency department admission was examined, with focus on medicine service patients with poorly controlled glycaemia (baseline HbA(1c) ≥ 64 mmol/mol). Results One in six patients (324/1949, 17%) had early readmission/emergency department admission. Compared with patients without early readmission, readmitted patients were more often male (58 vs. 52%, P = 0.03), had higher Charlson co-morbidity score [mean (sd) 3.0 (2.0) vs. 2.8 (1.8), P = 0.02], longer length of stay [5 (4.4) vs. 3.9 (3.3) days, P Conclusions Diabetes medical regimen intensification during hospitalization was not associated with early readmission. Among patients with elevated HbA(1c) , glucose therapy intensification was associated with a decreased 30-day readmission/emergency department admission risk and lower outpatient HbA(1c) levels. Our findings support the safety and durable impact of diabetes regimen optimization during hospital admission.
Thoracoscopy and Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery in the Treatment of Lung Cancer

The contemporary surgical repertoire for the evaluation and treatment of patients with lung cancer includes the bronchoscope, mediastinoscope, thoracoscope, and standard surgical instrumentation. The recent advances in video optics and the development of endoscopic instruments have significantly expanded the surgical options for patients with lung cancer. Thoracoscopy, or the more inclusive term of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), has been characterized as "minimally invasive" surgery. Thoracoscopy and VATS have decreased operative trauma and facilitated surgical staging prior to neoadjuvant therapy. An ancillary benefit to diminished surgical morbidity is shorter hospital stays with a concomitant reduction in costs to the patient and health-care system. These advantages make VATS ideal for elderly patients or patients with significant comorbidity.
Boosting dose ritonavir does not alter peripheral insulin sensitivity in healthy HIV-seronegative volunteers.

Background: Some HIV protease inhibitors (PIs), including full-dose ritonavir (800 mg) and ritonavir-boosted lopinavir, acutely induce insulin resistance in the absence of HIV infection and changes in body composition. Boosting dose ritonavir (100-200 mg) is the most commonly prescribed PI, yet its effects on glucose metabolism have not been described in the absence of another PI. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, cross-over study, a single dose of ritonavir 200 mg or placebo was given to healthy HIV-seronegative volunteers before assessment of insulin sensitivity by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. Results: Boosting dose ritonavir had no effect on insulin-mediated glucose disposal (M/I, placebo: 8.59 +/- 0.83 vs. ritonavir: 8.51 +/- 0.64 mg/kg per minute per mu U/mL insulin, P = 0.89). Conclusions: A single boosting dose of ritonavir does not alter insulin sensitivity, suggesting lopinavir is likely responsible for the induction of insulin resistance demonstrated in prior short-term studies of lopinavir/ritonavir. There is a dose-dependent effect of ritonavir on insulin sensitivity.
"Turning brain into blood"--clinical applications of stem-cell research in neurobiology and hematology.

A recent report by Bjornson et al.1 of a study entitled, in part, “Turning Brain into Blood” challenges much of the dogma in the field of stem-cell research by claiming the existence of a common ne...
Extreme Ultraviolet Series in Cr VI, Mn VII and Fe VIII

Lines in the extreme ultraviolet region involving the $3d^{2}D,4p^{2}P,5s^{2}S,6s^{2}S$, and several $\mathrm{nf}^{2}F$ terms have been identified in the spectra of Mn VII and Fe VIII. In Cr VI the first member of the $3d^{2}D\ensuremath{-}nf^{2}F$ series has been found. These spectra have been photographed with a twenty-one foot grazing incidence vacuum spectrograph. Identification was facilitated by the use of constant second difference displaced frequency diagrams.
Spatiotemporal wavelets and tracking in noisy environments

In this paper we address the problem of target tacking when flare decoys and severe noise are present in the acquired sensor data. The input imagery is assumed to be obtained from an optical sensor mounted on the interceptor missile, where the goal of the interceptor is to neutralize the target. For this purpose algorithms running on on-board processors must extract information from the input imagery in order to steer the interceptor's course toward the target. Two challenging cases are considered here. First, the input imagery is assumed to be corrupted by additive Gaussian nose. Here we see, to determine the usefulness of our approach when low cost poor quality sensors are employed for acquisition. Second, scenarios where standard flare decoys are released by the target aircraft are considered, which represent a challenge due to the disparity in intensity of the target aircraft versus the decoys. Results using synthetically generated test sequences are presented.
Population Pressure, Deforestation, and Land Degradation: A Case Study from the Dominican Republic

Population pressure, deforestation, and land degradation are major ecological concerns in developing countries. This research investigates causal linkages among interrelated physical and social processes in a case study conducted within the Plan Sierra resource management region of the Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic. Results of bivariate regression analysis, based on a sample of 450 traditional hillslope farms, support a linear relationship between population pressure and deforestation at two spatial scales. However, the strength of the relationship between population pressure and forest cover change decreases over a twenty-year time frame. Results also confirm a positive relationship between deforestation and land degradation. This case study contributes to an understanding of the precise nature of these relationships at sub-national scales of analysis.
On the uniqueness of the ADS spacetime

The uniqueness of the ADS spacetime among all static vacuum spacetimes with the same conformal infinity is proved for dimension n ≤ 7. For dimension n > 7, the same result is established under the spin assumption.
Effect of reduced acclimation temperature on responses of frog cold receptors.

Abstract 1. 1. Acclimation of Rana pipiens to 9·5°C increased maximum dynamic sensitivity (impulses/ °C per sec), increased the range of static sensitivity and decreased the temperature of peak static sensitivity of cold receptors when compared to those of warm-acclimated animals. 2. 2. Cold receptors of cold-acclimated animals were markedly less sensitive to the application of epinephrine to the inner skin surface than were animals acclimated to 23°C, and showed much less enhancement of maximum dynamic sensitivity by sympathetic stimulation. 3. 3. Since circulating catecholamines are known to be elevated in the cold-acclimated amphibian, the present results may be interpreted as evidencing hormonal modulation of sensory input.
Sacral pseudoradiculopathy due to centrum semiovale stroke

Lesions affecting localized regions of the cerebral cortex may result in pseudoperipheral neurologic deficits. Such deficits have not been reported in association with subcortical lesions. A 60-year-old man with a history of hypertension presented with an acute sacral pseudoradiculopathy corresponding to an S1–S2 dermatomal distribution. The presence of hyperreflexia in the affected limb suggested an intracranial lesion. A brain magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed an isolated, small area of infarction localized to the centrum semiovale deep to the primary motor and sensory cortices. This case serves to illustrate that stroke can mimic a sacral radiculopathy. The distribution of the present patient's sensory disturbance suggests that thalamocortical projections maintain a dermatomal organization as they pass through the centrum semiovale.
Rapid leaf closure of Mimosa in response to light.

VARIOUS higher plants make rapid movements in response to stimuli1–3, among them Mimosa which rapidly closes its leaves when touched. We wish to report a series of experiments demonstrating such fast closure in response to light alone. Usually, light causes opening of the leaves, although it is known that after a few hours in the dark, light (< 550 nm) will cause the petiole to fall rapidly4,5.
The Black Church and Defining the Political

Examining the Black church demonstrates that the way people understand politics is dynamic; as a group's status changes, its understanding of politics changes. If we understand politics as the atte...
Lower Thoracic Spinal Cord Stimulation to Restore Cough in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury: Results of a National Institutes of Health–Sponsored Clinical Trial. Part I: Methodology and Effectiveness of Expiratory Muscle Activation

Abstract DiMarco AF, Kowalski KE, Geertman RT, Hromyak DR. Lower thoracic spinal cord stimulation to restore cough in patients with spinal cord injury: results of a National Institutes of Health–sponsored clinical trial. Part I: methodology and effectiveness of expiratory muscle activation. Objective Evaluation of the capacity of lower thoracic spinal cord stimulation (SCS) to activate the expiratory muscles and generate large airway pressures and high peak airflows characteristic of cough, in subjects with tetraplegia. Design Clinical trial. Setting Inpatient hospital setting for electrode insertion; outpatient setting for measurement of respiratory pressures; home setting for application of SCS. Participants Subjects (N=9; 8 men, 1 woman) with cervical spinal cord injury and weak cough. Interventions A fully implantable electrical stimulation system was surgically placed in each subject. Partial hemilaminectomies were made to place single-disk electrodes in the epidural space at the T9, T11, and L1 spinal levels. A radiofrequency receiver was placed in a subcutaneous pocket over the anterior portion of the chest wall. Electrode wires were tunneled subcutaneously and connected to the receiver. Stimulation was applied by activating a small portable external stimulus controller box powered by a rechargeable battery to each electrode lead alone and in combination. Main Outcome Measures Peak airflow and airway pressure generation achieved with SCS. Results Supramaximal SCS resulted in high peak airflow rates and large airway pressures during stimulation at each electrode lead. Maximum peak airflow rates and airway pressures were achieved with combined stimulation of any 2 leads. At total lung capacity, mean maximum peak airflow rates and airway pressure generation were 8.6±1.8 (mean ± SE) L/s and 137±30 cmH 2 O (mean ± SE), respectively. Conclusions Lower thoracic SCS results in near maximum activation of the expiratory muscles and the generation of high peak airflow rates and positive airway pressures in the range of those observed with maximum cough efforts in healthy persons.
Association between feeding difficulties and language delay in preterm infants using Bayley Scales of Infant Development-Third Edition.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between abnormal feeding patterns and language performance on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-Third Edition at 18-22 months adjusted age among a cohort of extremely premature infants. Study design This is a descriptive analysis of 1477 preterm infants born ≤26 weeks gestation or enrolled in a clinical trial between January 1, 2006 and March 18, 2008 at a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network center who completed the 18-month neurodevelopmental follow-up assessment. At 18-22 months adjusted age, a comprehensive neurodevelopmental evaluation was performed by certified examiners including the Receptive and Expressive Language Subscales of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-Third Edition and a standardized adjusted age feeding behaviors and nutritional intake. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multilevel linear and logistic regression modeling. Results Abnormal feeding behaviors were reported in 193 (13%) of these infants at 18-22 months adjusted age. Abnormal feeding patterns, days of mechanical ventilation, hearing impairment, and Gross Motor Functional Classification System level ≥2 each independently predicted lower composite language scores. Conclusions At 18 months adjusted age, premature infants with a history of feeding difficulties are more likely to have language delay. Neuromotor impairment and days of mechanical ventilation are both important risk factors associated with these outcomes.
Loss-of-function CYP2C9 variants: finding the correct clinical role for Type 2 diabetes pharmacogenetic testing

Continuing advances in genetic discovery have uncovered several dozen loci that are associated with Type 2 diabetes, including genetic variants that appear to modify responses to commonly prescribed diabetes medications. The use of an individual's genetic information to guide therapy choices raises the possibility of 'personalized medicine', wherein each patient's treatment plan is tailored based on genotype results. However, before such a model of care can be implemented, research is needed to more clearly quantify the association of genetic variation with treatment outcomes and adverse effects. In this article, we review a study examining the association of genetic variation in the cytochrome P450 2C9 enzyme with glycemic response to sulfonylureas in a large cohort of patients with Type 2 diabetes from the Genetics of Diabetes Audit and Research Tayside Study (Go-DARTS).
Web-enabled wireless technology: an exploratory study of adoption and continued use intentions

This study builds upon previous research by comparing and contrasting the decision to adopt wireless technologies with the decision to continue to use wireless technologies. In the context of web-enabled cell phones, we propose, test and compare the predictive ability of two value-based models using a multi-group analysis. The findings suggest that regardless of whether an individual was choosing to adopt or continue to use a web-enabled cell phone, perceived usefulness, enjoyment and perceived fee influenced perceived value. In turn, perceived value influenced the adoption or continued use decision. Technicality had a significant negative effect on perceived value in the context of continued use, but not for adoption. Our results also suggested a shift in the importance of benefits in the formation of perceived value; perceived usefulness played a greater role for adopters, while enjoyment played a better role for continued users. Lastly, our results indicated that uncertainty avoidance did not mediate the relationship between perceived value and intention in either the continued use or adoption contexts, while habit was significant in its mediation of the relationship between perceived value and continued use intention. Collectively, habit and perceived value explained 71% of the variation in continued use intention.
Imprinting mechanisms and genes involved in Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes

Abstract Prader-Willi (PWS) and Angelman (AS) syndromes illustrate a disease paradigm of genomic imprinting, an epigenetic modification of DNA that results in parent-of-origin specific expression during embryogenesis and in the adult. From genetic data, at least two imprinted genes may be required for the classical PWS phenotype, whereas AS probably involves a single imprinted gene, and rare familial forms of both disorders involve imprinting mutations. In addition, the nonimprinted P gene is associated with pigmentation disorders in PWS, AS and oculocutaneous albinism. Identification of new genes, delineation of small deletions in unique patients, and direct screening for imprinted sequences, should soon identify candidate genes for PWS and AS. The mechanism of imprinting involves DNA methylation and replication timing, and appears to include multiple imprinted genes within a large imprinted domain. Imprinting of these genes may be regulated in cis, by an imprinting control element (ICE). Future studies can be expected to unravel the gene identities and imprinting mechanisms involved in these fascinating disorders; ultimately it may be possible to reactivate imprinted gene expression as a therapeutic approach.
Factors affecting agricultural and other rural extension services in Botswana

Abstract The quality of services rendered by three rural extension cadres in Botswana is adversely affected by factors in addition to the quality of their message and programme. These factors include: the number and continuity of personnel, recruitment, pre-service training, field support (housing, transport, supervision and rewards and incentives), time allocation, communication within extension cadres, co-operation between extension cadres and the level of involvement of the local community. Many of these problems could be alleviated by re-organization and/or administrative action.
When the black dog barks: An autoethnography of adult learning in and on clinical depression

The American Psychiatric Association estimates that over 17 million Americans currently suffer from severe clinical depression. Learning how to live with and fight such depression must therefore be considered a massive societal adult learning task.
PULMONARY TOXICITY OF DRUGS USED TO TREAT SYSTEMIC AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

A large number of drugs are now used to treat systemic autoimmune diseases. These include cytotoxic drugs, antimetabolites, antimalarial agents, gold, penicillamine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antihyperuricemic drugs, and immune modulators, such as corticosteroids and cyclosporin. In the last few decades, it has been recognized that many of these agents cause pulmonary toxic manifestations. Recognition of a respiratory complication in a patient with a systemic autoimmune disease as being caused by drug toxicity rather than other causes can be problematic. First, these disorders themselves involve the lung in patterns that can be indistinguishable from drug toxicity. Bronchospasm, pleural effusions, pulmonary infiltrates with eosinophilia, interstitial pneumonitis, and pulmonary fibrosis can all be manifestations of drug toxicity or the underlying autoimmune disease. From a histopathologic viewpoint, the lung tends to respond to injury in a limited number of ways, so that there are no pathologic findings that are pathognomonic of antirheumatic drug toxicity. Similarly, radiologic and pulmonary function findings of drug toxicity are often nonspecific. Additionally, in systemic autoimmune disorders, particularly in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it is common to use more than one disease-modifying agent at a time, and therefore, even if drug toxicity is suspected it may be difficult to ascertain the precise offending agent. Recognition of pulmonary toxicity of antirheumatic drugs then depends on a careful clinical assessment and requires knowledge of the manifestations of the underlying rheumatologic disorder and the type and time course of pulmonary toxicity associated with the antirheumatic drugs being used. This article reviews the most important of the antirheumatic drug-related pulmonary complications, discusses difficulties with their diagnosis, and where known, gives proposed mechanisms of toxicity.
Cinderella Goes to Market: Citizenship, Gender and Women s Movements in East Central Europe

Barbara Einhorn. Cinderella Goes to Market: Citizenship, Gender and Women's Movements in East Central Europe. London and New York: Verso, 1993. 280pp. ISBN 0-86091-615-4 (paper).
Voltage-controlled spin precession

Spin-transport properties of a lateral spin-valve structure originating from spin precession in its two-dimensional semiconducting channel under the influence of Rashba spin-orbit (RSO) coupling are explored. The effect of the finite extent of the injecting and detecting contact pads, along the length of the channel, on the spin signals is studied in these structures using (1) a simple theoretical treatment leading to analytical expressions for spin-dependent voltages derived using the stationary phase approximation, and (2) a more rigorous theoretical treatment based on nonequilibrium Green's function formalism to calculate these voltages, in a nonlocal spin-valve setup. Using both these approaches, it is found that the oscillation in spin voltages, which is observed by varying RSO when the magnetization directions of the injector and detector are parallel to the current flow, reduces in amplitude and shifts in phase for contact pads having finite length when compared to the corresponding results for a zero length (point-contact) limit. The amplitude and phase of the oscillation can be recovered to its point-contact limit if the RSO underneath the contacts is assumed to be zero. These models were compared against a recent experiment, and it is found that certain aspects of the experiment can be described well while some other aspects deserve further investigation. Factors that could have influenced the experiment and thereby could explain the discrepancy with the theory were analyzed. Conditions for observing Hanle oscillation in such a structure is discussed. Finally, the possibility of controlling the magnetization reversal via the gate is discussed, which could extend and quantify the `Datta-Das' effect for voltage controlled spin-precession.
UAV Sensor Operator Training Enhancement through Heat Map Analysis

Heat map based data visualization and mining is an emerging area in game engine design and architecture. Employed by many state of the art game engines and popular commercial games, this technology helps populate and collate player activity and behavior to better inform the system for further action. Simulation and serious games can tremendously benefit by applying heat map based visualization for the purposes of analyzing and tracking player behavior. Heat maps are time varying texture maps that represent a chosen activity over a certain grid at any particular interval of elapsed time. In this paper results of applying a real-time heat map data capture and generation tool on two military simulations: 1) Ground-based combat scenario and 2) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle sensor operator scenario is presented. The research showcases several real-time visualization techniques developed into the simulation with the main goal of understanding participant behavior. Novice and expert data is populated as part of the experiment to validate the effectiveness of our methods.
Differentiation and complexity in the functionalist corpus : Rethinking the metaphor of System

The following paper examines the cybernetics trajectory of Parsons’ later work and its extension in the work of Luhmann. While the earlier work was focused on social action as a basic unit of sociological analysis, in The Social System Parsons articulates a notion of systems as self-generating and self-regulating. In Luhmann’s Social Systems this trajectory is made more explicit and developed in opposition to the early Parsons. Its metaphorical dimensions are also developed, creating additional levels and layers of abstraction. Those developments are deemed necessary in order to come to terms with the increasingly “complex” nature of modern society; however they are problematic in several respects—including their tautological nature which provides a basis for the unrestrained explanatory power of “system.“
Localization and the anomalous Hall effect in a dirty metallic ferromagnet

We report magnetoresistance measurements over an extensive temperature range $(0.1\ensuremath{\le}T\ensuremath{\le}100\text{ }\text{K})$ in a disordered ferromagnetic semiconductor $({\text{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}\text{x}}{\text{Mn}}_{\text{x}}\text{As})$. The study focuses on a series of metallic ${\text{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}\text{x}}{\text{Mn}}_{\text{x}}\text{As}$ epilayers that lie in the vicinity of the metal-insulator transition $({k}_{F}{l}_{e}\ensuremath{\sim}1)$. At low temperatures $(Tl4\text{ }\text{K})$, we first confirm the results of earlier studies that the longitudinal conductivity shows a ${T}^{1/3}$ dependence, consistent with quantum corrections from carrier localization in a ``dirty'' metal. In addition, we find that the anomalous Hall conductivity exhibits universal behavior in this temperature range with no pronounced quantum corrections. We argue that the observed scaling relationship between the low-temperature longitudinal and transverse resistivity, taken in conjunction with the absence of quantum corrections to the anomalous Hall conductivity, is consistent with the side-jump mechanism for the anomalous Hall effect. In contrast, at high temperatures $(T\ensuremath{\gtrsim}4\text{ }\text{K})$, neither the longitudinal nor the anomalous Hall conductivity exhibit universal behavior, indicating the dominance of inelastic-scattering contributions down to liquid-helium temperatures.
Sweet-bitter and umami-bitter taste interactions in single parabrachial neurons in C57BL/6J mice

We investigated sweet-bitter and umami-bitter mixture taste interactions by presenting sucrose or umami stimuli mixed with quinine hydrochloride (QHCl) while recording single-unit activity of neuro...
Energetic particle effects on n = 1 resistive MHD instabilities in a DIII-D hybrid discharge

The ?f kinetic-magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model in the 3D extended-MHD code NIMROD is used to perform a linear simulation study of energetic particle effects on the n = 1 mode in a DIII-D hybrid discharge. The hybrid discharge has a long steady state with low qmin 1 at high confinement, is useful for numerous physics studies, and is a candidate operational scenario for burning plasma experiments. But hybrid discharges are limited to moderate ?N by the m/n = 2/1 instability, which onsets with small increases in ?N. Using realistic equilibria based on experimental reconstructions from DIII-D, the stability of the n = 1 mode during the steady state of a hybrid discharge is computed over a (qmin, ?N) space. MHD stability analyses do not indicate instability to the n = 1 for small increases in ?N above that of the experimental discharge. Our results show that energetic particles significantly change the stability map in (qmin, ?N) parameter space from the MHD-only result. Unstable modes are driven by energetic particles far into the MHD stable region in (qmin, ?N) space. Three different unstable regions are identified, each being defined by the fastest growing mode and distinctly different frequencies. We examine sample eigenmodes from these three regions. At low qmin ~ 1 the drive is associated with the fishbone mode, while the higher qmin 1.12 the drive is associated with the Beta induced Alfven eigenmode. Overlaying the experimental trajectory in the same (qmin, ?N) parameter space shows that all three regions are in proximity to the trajectory. In the higher qmin region a mode with a broad m/n = 2/1 dominant structure is most unstable, while in the region of the trajectory the most unstable mode has a m/n = 1/1 component localized near the axis. Experimentally, a nonlinearly saturated m/n = 1/1 structure is observed localized near the magnetic axis. This agreement suggests that the m/n = 2/1 mode may be triggered by energetic particles in these discharges.
An Acoustic Analysis of Excellent Female Esophageal, Tracheoesophageal, and Laryngeal Speakers

Acoustic data for female esophageal speakers is sparse, particularly with regard to characteristics of female tracheoesophageal speakers. This study quantified and compared six acoustic characteris...
Threat, Anxiety, and Support of Antiterrorism Policies

The perception of threat and the experience of anxiety are distinct but related public reactions to terrorism. Anxiety increases risk aversion, potentially undercutting support for dangerous military action, consistent with terrorists' typical aims. Conversely, perceived threat increases a desire for retaliation and promotes animosity toward a threatening enemy, in line with the usual goals of affected governments. Findings from a national telephone survey confirm the differing political effects of anxiety and perceived threat. The minority of Americans who experienced high levels of anxiety in response to the September 11 attacks were less supportive of aggressive military action against terrorists, less approving of President Bush, and favored increased American isolationism. In contrast, the majority of Americans who perceived a high threat of future terrorism in the United States (but were not overly anxious) supported the Bush administration's antiterrorism policies domestically and internationally.