cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Carbon isotope discrimination and foliar nutrient status of Larrea tridentata (creosote bush) in contrasting Mojave Desert soils

We investigated the relationships between foliar stable carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), % foliar N, and predawn water potentials (ψpd) and midday stomatal conductance (g s) of Larrea tridentata across five Mojave Desert soils with different age-specific surface and sub-surface horizon development and soil hydrologies. We wished to elucidate how this long-lived evergreen shrub optimizes leaf-level physiological performance across soils with physicochemical characteristics that affect the distribution of limiting water and nitrogen resources. We found that in young, coarse alluvial soils that permit water infiltration to deeper soil horizons, % foliar N was highest and Δ, g s and ψpd were lowest, while %N was lowest and Δ, g s and ψpd were highest in fine sandy soils; Larrea growing in older soils with well-developed surface and sub-surface horizons exhibited intermediate values for these parameters. Δ showed negative linear relationships with % N (R 2=0.54) and a positive relationship with ψpd (R 2=0.14). Multiple regression analyses showed a strong degree of multicolinearity of g s and Δ with ψpd and N, suggesting that soil-mediated distribution of co-limiting water and nitrogen resources was the primary determinant of stomatal behavior, which is the primary limitation to productivity in this shrub. These findings show that subtle changes in the soil medium plays a strong role in the spatial and temporal distribution and utilization of limiting water and nitrogen resources by this long-lived desert evergreen, and that this role can be detected through carbon isotope ratios.
Intersymbol and co-channel interference in diffusion-based molecular communication

Molecular Communication (MC) is a bio-inspired paradigm where information is exchanged by the release, the propagation and the reception of molecules. The objective of this paper is to analyze the effects of interference in the most general type of MC system, i.e., the diffusion of molecules in a fluidic medium. The study of the InterSymbol Interference (ISI) and Co-Channel Interference (CCI) is conducted through the analysis of the propagation of signals in a diffusion-based channel. An in-depth analysis of the attenuation and the dispersion of signals due to molecule diffusion allows to derive simple closed-form formulas for both ISI and CCI. In this paper, two different modulation schemes, namely, the baseband modulation and the diffusion wave modulation are considered for the release of molecules in the diffusion-based MC and are compared in terms of interference. It is determined that the diffusion wave modulation scheme shows lower interference values than the baseband modulation scheme. Moreover, it is revealed that the higher is the frequency of the modulating diffusion wave, the lower are the effects of the ISI and the CCI on the communication channel. The obtained analytical results are compared and validated by numerical simulation results.
A Movement Wrestling: American Labor's Enduring Struggle with Immigration, 1866–2007

This article examines the American labor movement's struggles since the nineteenth century over how to respond to mass immigration. Labor's struggles have turned on whether it views new waves fundamentally as a threat, which elicits a strategy of restriction, or an opportunity, which elicits a strategy of solidarity. It also captures the advantages of a longue-duree approach for understanding the fraught and evolving relationship between American unionism and immigration. Rather than a Briggsian story of labor traditionally embracing a restrictionist position, our archival and interview research from the Reconstruction Era to present shows that labor's position on immigration has been in regular contention—with disagreements getting resolved in a restrictionist direction during certain periods and an expansionist one during others. Likewise, the familiar scholarly claim that an unprecedented “turnabout” in labor's response to immigration can be pinpointed to 1999 ignores more than a century of internal debate and variegated external activism on this issue. We lay out an analytical model for understanding why the labor movement has viewed new immigrant workers as a threat in certain contexts and an opportunity for growth in others. The model highlights how three external variables—the fluid structure of the labor market, immigration trends, and the state's disposition toward organized labor—establish either a secure or insecure environment within which unions respond to immigration. It also underscores the importance of how dominant modes of unionism within the movement interact with these external forces to shape its perception of “new” immigrants in restrictive or solidaristic terms. Significantly, the sequence and recombination of these forces during the past century or more have transformed how organized labor responds to new immigrant workers in an insecure environment today. Our research presents a diverse movement honestly wrestling with immigration's profound conundrums, including elemental issues of who it identifies as part of its fold (workers deserving of fraternity and sorority) and who it deems as permanent outsiders (workers who were a menace to the cause).
Using code instrumentation to enhance testing on J2ME: a lesson learned with JInjector

A wide range of J2ME applications are GUI-driven with significant code dedicated to handle the graphical user interface (GUI). To maximize the chances of detecting bugs, effective testing of such applications require end-to-end testing on devices; as some bugs are related to specific devices. Unfortunately there are few software tools, such as code coverage and GUI testing tools, suitable for testing J2ME applications. A tool which we implemented, JInjector, instruments the system under test (SUT) in order to run automated tests in emulators and on the actual devices we need to support. In this paper we discuss the theory behind two features of JInjector: code coverage, and end-to-end testing, and the results from testing a fully-featured commercial application.
Phylogenetic analysis of the Amphitritinae (Polychaeta: Terebellidae)

Abstract The phylogenetic relationships of the Amphitritinae (Polychaeta: Terebellidae) were studied using parsimony analysis of 22 external morphological characters. To choose outgroups to polarize the characters, I carried out a preliminary analysis of the relationships of the four terebellid subfamilies and the Trichobranchidae. The single most parsimonious tree from the analysis supports monophyly of the Terebellidae by the presence of ventral glandular shields. However, this character is homoplasious within the Terebellomorpha, and further evaluation of the Terebellidae is recommended.ArtacamaandThelepuswere chosen as outgroups for the analysis of amphitritine genera. The generic level analysis yielded seven equally parsimonious trees, which are consistent in their topologies except for the relationships among seven genera in one large clade. In all trees,Artacamais the sister taxon to a large clade within the Amphitritinae; the Artacaminae is therefore synonymized with the Amphitritinae, which is diagnosed by the presence of double rows of uncini. Within the Amphitritinae, the status of several monotypic genera is questioned; plesiomorphic character states indicated by the analysis are discussed. The results presented are offered as working hypotheses of the relationships among amphitritine genera. The large number of homoplasies indicated by the analysis emphasizes the need to further evaluate these hypotheses using additional characters. With a robust phylogenetic hypothesis of amphitritine relationships, a re-classification of the group based on apomorphic character states can be undertaken, and questions regarding the evolution of morphological characters, reproductive modes, or biogeographical patterns can be properly addressed.
Comparison of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Di-22:6-Bis(monoacylglycerol)Phosphate and Other Urinary Phospholipids for Drug-Induced Phospholipidosis or Tissue Injury in the Rat

Cationic amphiphilic drugs and aminoglycoside antibiotics can induce phospholipidosis (PLD), an abnormal accumulation of phospholipids in lysosome-derived vesicles, in preclinical studies. The incidence of PLD in patients and its clinical relevance are difficult to assess without noninvasive biomarkers. Di-docosahexaenoyl bis(monoacylglycerol)phosphate (di-22:6-BMP) is a phospholipid that is enriched in lysosomal membranes and a proposed urinary biomarker of drug-induced PLD. The specificity of di-22:6-BMP for PLD was compared to other phospholipid species that can increase in urine with nephrotoxicity. Using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, 12 phospholipids were assayed in the urine of rats treated with drugs that induced PLD or caused renal or skeletal muscle injury. In receiver operating curve analyses, urinary di-22:6-BMP was a significantly better predictor of PLD and the least predictive of tissue injury of the phospholipids assayed. The data provide evidence supporting the use of di-22:6-BMP as a urinary biomarker of PLD in rats.
Identifying mechanisms underlying the pain and disability relationship in later life: what role does the brain play?

Among older adults, chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a common, costly, and often disabling condition [1–3]. Low back pain is thought to be the second most common cause of disability across all adult age groups [4]. Furthermore, recent evidence indicates that the prevalence of CLBP is increasing at a significant rate in this country, as well as the percentage of affected individuals seeking treatment from health care providers [5]. Although prior cross-sectional studies [6–8] have identified strong and independent relationships between back pain and self-reported disability, and at least one longitudinal study [9] has demonstrated that back pain of sufficient intensity to cause activity restriction leads to declines in lower extremity physical function, the mechanisms underlying the disablement process remain poorly elucidated. In this issue of Pain Medicine , Buckalew and colleagues extend their previous research [10,11] regarding the possible role that brain structure and function play in this process. In this well-conducted pilot study, the investigators …
The synthesis and N.M.R. spectroscopy of derivatives of 6-amino-6-deoxy-D-galactose-6-15N☆

Abstract Derivatives of 6-amino-6-deoxy- D -galactose-6-15N have been synthesized by reaction of the 6-deoxy-6-iodo (1) or 6-O-p-tolylsulfonyl derivative of 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α- D -galactopyranose with potassium phthalimide-15N. The reaction of 1 also yielded an elimination product, 6-deoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-β- L -arabino-hex-5-enopyranose. The structures of the 6-amino-6-deoxy- D -galactose derivatives and their precursors were characterized by proton- and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy, with confirmation of the 13C assignments by selective proton decoupling. Selective broadening of the C-1, C-4, C-5, and C-6 resonances of 6-amino-6-deoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α- D -galactopyranose by low concentrations of cupric ion was observed, and studied by computerized measurements of the 13C linewidths. The application of this broadening to 13C-spectral assignments of amino sugar derivatives is indicated.
Software engineering considerations for the design of simulation languages

Software engineering has proven useful in reducing the cost of developing large and complex software systems and improving the quality of the resulting product. Since many simulation models are both large and complex, simulation-oriented pro gramming languages should be designed to support software engineering techniques. Some key concepts of software enginer ing are discussed, with particular emphasis on modular design and structured programming. Fundamental language structures to support the use of these techniques are proposed for inclu sion in simulation-oriented programming languages. Several ex amples demonstrating the use of these language structures are presented, with particular attention given to their use in com bined discrete/continuous simulation.
Follicle curetting at the time of oocyte retrieval increases the oocyte yield

Purpose To determine whether follicle curetting at the time of oocyte retrieval increases oocyte yield.
After rotator cuff tears, the remaining (intact) tendons are mechanically altered

Although presumed, damage in the remaining (intact) rotator cuff tendons in the presence of an isolated supraspinatus tendon tear or multiple tendon tear has not been well studied. This study used an animal model of multiple rotator cuff tendon tears to investigate alterations in the remaining (intact) tendon mechanical properties at 4 and 8 weeks after injury. Twenty-four rats served as uninjured controls, whereas 72 were divided among 3 tendon detachment groups: supraspinatus tendon detachment, supraspinatus + infraspinatus tendon detachment, and supraspinatus + subscapularis tendon detachment. The remaining (intact) rotator cuff tendons had decreased mechanical properties in the presence of rotator cuff tears. The remaining (intact) subscapularis and infraspinatus tendon cross-sectional areas increased, whereas tendon modulus decreased after tears of both 1 and 2 tendons. The remaining (intact) tendon cross-sectional areas continued to increase with time after injury. These alterations could potentially lead to further tendon damage and tear progression.
Polyantibiotic Treatment of Pulpless Teeth

This is an era of great scientific achieve­ ment and of tremendous progress in medicine and dentistry— one which has witnessed the introduction of sulfona­ mides and antibiotics. It is also an era of considerable progress in endodontics. The dream of sterilizing the root canal of an infected pulpless tooth in one treatment is today much closer to realiza­ tion than ever before. Intelligent treat­ ment with selected antibiotics should make it possible to obtain sterility of al­ most all pulpless teeth in one or two treatments. This presupposes judicious selection of cases for treatment coupled with adequate mechanical-biologic pre­ paration and irrigation of the canal be­ fore sterilization with antibiotics is at­ tempted. The term “ polyantibiotic” is new. It denotes treatment simultaneously with two or more antibiotics. The term anti­ biotic was introduced by Waksman1 to define a chemical substance derived from living organisms which inhibits the growth of, or destroys, other microorgan­ isms. More than 400 antibiotics have been prepared from bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes but only a few of these are highly destructive to microbial cells and are nontoxic to the cells o f the host. Much still has to be learned about antibiotics, their mode of action, their spectrum or range of activity against microorganisms, their cytologic reactions, and even their pharmacologic effects. Considerable workable information is available concerning a handful of betterknown antibiotics. The best use of this knowledge in its application to endo­ dontic practice should be made and such knowledge should be supplemented by in vitro tests and by clinical studies. Efforts to reduce the time consumed in treating infected pulpless teeth have engaged the attention and time of those interested in endodontics for the last quarter of a century or more. This has been partly due to the realization that
Contingent Lives: Fertility, Time, and Aging in West Africa.

Contingent Lives: Fertility, Time, and Aging in West Africa. Caroline H. Bledsoe. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2002. xii. 396 pp.
ALLCN: an automatic logic-to-layout tool for carbon nanotube based nanotechnology

Since rapid progress has been made in device improvement and integration of small carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNFETs) circuits, the time has come for developing computer-aided design (CAD) methodologies and tools for the design of larger CNFET circuits. In this paper, we present the first automatic logic-to-layout (ALLCN) tool for CNFET circuits. The main purpose of this work is to bridge the wide gap that currently exists between research on the development of nanoscale devices and design tools for such devices. ALLCN is built on top of existing CAD tools including Magic, TimberWolf and YACR. It can automatically generate a CNFET circuit layout from a logic implementation and then perform circuit extraction from the physical layout for SPICE simulation. Experiments were performed with various MCNC benchmarks and logic blocks. Their performance, area and power are reported.
Is a single force plate adequate for stabilographic analysis in horses

Summary Reasons for performing study: Postural balance can be quantified using stabilographic variables derived from force plate data that describe movements of the horse's centre of pressure (COP) in the horizontal plane. Most force plates are not large enough to accommodate all 4 limbs of a standing horse, so the study was designed to assess whether representative stabilographic data could be collected from the forelimbs or hindlimbs. Objective: To determine whether stabilographic data from either the forelimbs or the hindlimbs were representative of data for the total body. Methods: Stabilographic data (960 Hz) were collected from 17 sound horses standing with the forelimbs and the hindlimbs on separate force plates. To increase variability in the data, horses were of different sizes, the recording duration was varied (15–60 s) and data were collected under sighted and blindfolded conditions. Results: Correlation matrices indicated that total body stabilographic variables were highly significantly correlated with both forelimb and hindlimb data but correlation coefficients were higher for forelimb data. Forward stepwise regression selected forelimb data for inclusion in the model for 15/16 variables, the exception being mean absolute mediolateral velocity. Conclusions: Ground reaction force data from a pair of limbs, preferably the forelimbs, can be used to measure variables that represent total body postural balance in sound standing horses. Potential relevance: Stabilographic data from either the forelimbs or hindlimbs may be useful for detecting and quantifying deficiencies in postural balance in ataxic horses.
Quantitating genetic and nongenetic factors that determine plasma sex steroid variation in normal male twins

We have observed that familial factors have a decided influence on the plasma content of sex steroids in men both in the general population and in men of families with prostatic cancer. The contribution of genetic and nongenetic familial factors on the variation of plasma sex steroid content and action has now been investigated in 75 pairs of normal male monozygotic (MZ) twins and 88 pairs of dizygotic (DZ) twins. Zygosity was determined by measuring ten blood proteins and enzymes. The mean plasma values for testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), and 3α-androstanediol glucuronide (3α-diol G), free T, LH, FSH, SHBG, age, and degree of adiposity were all similar between the groups of twins. Familial factors (P < 0.01) accounted for 50% or more of the variation in plasma hormone levels in MZ twins (3α-diol G, 84%; TDHT, 70%; T, 63%; E1, 63%; free T, 61%; E2, 57%; DHT, 56%; LH, 55%; and FSH, 54%) except for SHBG, which was 30%. The familial influence was greater in MZ twins than in DZ twins for all measurements except for SHBG. The heritability of the variation of hormone levels in plasma was determined from the equation: 2[rMZ(intraclass correlation) - rDZ]. Genes regulate 25% to 76% of the total variation of plasma content of the hormones except for DHT (12%) and SHBG (<1%). Genetic regulation of tissue DHT formation was suggested by observing a 48% genetic effect on the plasma content of 3α-diol G. These observations suggest that genetic factors make major contributions in regulating estrogen and testosterone levels and tissue DHT production in normal men.
High Vacuum Flame Sterilized Fruits: Storage Study on Sliced Clingstone Peaches, Sliced Bartlett Pears, and Diced Fruit

Slices of four major commercial clingstone peach varieties, slices of Bartlett pears from major growing areas, and mixtures of diced peaches and pears were successfully vacuum packed without the conventional covering syrup or water. For selected packs, the fruits were sweetened to the desired cutout ∘Brix value with concentrated syrup. The high vacuum flame sterilized packs (HVFS) required only 7.5 min total heating for pear and peach slices and 5.5 min for diced fruit to achieve biological stability. Because of the minimal process, all HVFS fruits retained more of the original flavor attributes and texture of the fresh fruit through 18 months storage than did the conventional packs. Omission of the covering liquid, combined with the necessary blanching treatment, allowed packing of 1/3 more fruit into a standard size can.
Printed Electronic Nose Vapor Sensors for Consumer Product Monitoring

Embedded sensors based on printed organic semiconductors are attractive for use in product content monitoring due to their low cost. Arraying multiple sensor elements, in a bridge topology, yields signatures that achieve high specificity using non-specific elements. The output signal is amplified and digitized to detect numerous analytes with up to 10ppm sensitivity. A wine-spoilage application is demonstrated
New EM algorithms for source separation and deconvolution with a microphone array

This paper presents new algorithms for source separation with a microphone array. Key to our algorithms are exploiting detailed source models, using subband filtering ideas to model the reverberant environment, and employing explicit models for background and sensor noise. We demonstrate strong performance which is robust to noise and reverberations. Good scaling properties are obtained using machine learning techniques.
Physiological reactivity of pregnant women to evoked fetal startle.

Abstract Objective The bidirectional nature of mother–child interaction is widely acknowledged during infancy and childhood. Prevailing models during pregnancy focus on unidirectional influences exerted by the pregnant woman on the developing fetus. Prior work has indicated that the fetus also affects the pregnant woman. Our objective was to determine whether a maternal psychophysiological response to stimulation of the fetus could be isolated. Methods Using a longitudinal design, an airborne auditory stimulus was used to elicit a fetal heart rate and motor response at 24 ( n = 47) and 36 weeks ( n = 45) of gestation. Women were blind to condition (stimulus versus sham). Maternal parameters included cardiac (heart rate) and electrodermal (skin conductance) responses. Multilevel modeling of repeated measures with 5 data points per second was used to examine fetal and maternal responses. Results As expected, compared to a sham condition, the stimulus generated a fetal motor response at both gestational ages, consistent with a mild fetal startle. Fetal stimulation was associated with significant, transient slowing of maternal heart rate coupled with increased skin conductance within 10 s of the stimulus at both gestational ages. Nulliparous women showed greater electrodermal responsiveness. The magnitude of the fetal motor response significantly corresponded to the maternal skin conductance response at 5, 10, 15, and 30 s following stimulation. Conclusion Elicited fetal movement exerts an independent influence on the maternal autonomic nervous system. This finding contributes to current models of the dyadic relationship during pregnancy between fetus and pregnant woman.
Biogenic contributions to atmospheric volatile organic compounds in Azusa, California

[1] An objective of the 1997 Southern California Ozone Study (SCOS97) was to provide an up-to-date assessment of the importance of biogenic emissions for tropospheric ozone production in the South Coast Air Basin. To this end, ambient air samples were collected during September 1997 at the Azusa air-monitoring station for subsequent measurement of their radiocarbon (14C) content of the atmospheric nonmethane volatile organic compound (VOC) fraction. The 14C/12C ratio is proportional to the fraction of a sample's carbon that is biogenic. The proportionality constant was determined from local samples of vegetation, gasoline, and ambient CO2 collected during the same period. The median fraction of biogenic VOC observed from 0600 to 0900 hours (LT) was 7% (n = 5) with a range of −8% to 24%, from 1300 to 1600 hours it was 27% (n = 4) with a range of 11% to 39%, and from 1700 to 2000 hours it was 34 ± 7% for a single sample. On the basis of calculated 24-hour back trajectories the dominant source region for the air masses associated with periods of high biogenic VOC-C levels was a sector extending from the north to the east. Over all time and space that the samples represent, the median fraction of biogenic VOC was 18% (n = 10). Expressed as an atmospheric mixing ratio, the overall (median and 95% confidence interval) biogenic VOC-carbon contribution was 80 ± 50 nmol mol−1 which may be representative of the natural VOC-C background for the Los Angeles air basin.
Trust and the Growth of Government

A feature of post-World War II economic history is the growth in government, paradoxically accompanied by a decline in trust of government. How does a mistrusted institution continue to grow? We utilize key findings in the economics, behavioral, and psychology literatures to develop a model to understand how this can occur, as well as illuminating the interconnections between government, rent seeking, productivity, and trust. When an increase in government powers leads to more rent-seeking activity, mistrust of government is engendered, which lowers productivity and sows the seeds for more rent seeking and further government growth. Also, a version of our model has a “trust trap,” illustrating how an economy may become stuck in a low trust/high rent seeking/big government equilibrium.
Individualized chiropractic and integrative care for low back pain: the design of a randomized clinical trial using a mixed-methods approach

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a prevalent and costly condition in the United States. Evidence suggests there is no one treatment which is best for all patients, but instead several viable treatment options. Additionally, multidisciplinary management of LBP may be more effective than monodisciplinary care. An integrative model that includes both complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and conventional therapies, while also incorporating patient choice, has yet to be tested for chronic LBP. The primary aim of this study is to determine the relative clinical effectiveness of 1) monodisciplinary chiropractic care and 2) multidisciplinary integrative care in 200 adults with non-acute LBP, in both the short-term (after 12 weeks) and long-term (after 52 weeks). The primary outcome measure is patient-rated back pain. Secondary aims compare the treatment approaches in terms of frequency of symptoms, low back disability, fear avoidance, self-efficacy, general health status, improvement, satisfaction, work loss, medication use, lumbar dynamic motion, and torso muscle endurance. Patients’ and providers’ perceptions of treatment will be described using qualitative methods, and cost-effectiveness and cost utility will be assessed. Methods and Design: This paper describes the design of a randomized clinical trial (RCT), with cost-effectiveness and qualitative studies conducted alongside the RCT. Two hundred participants ages 18 and older are being recruited and randomized to one of two 12-week treatment interventions. Patient-rated outcome measures are collected via self-report questionnaires at baseline, and at 4, 12, 26, and 52 weeks post-randomization. Objective outcome measures are assessed at baseline and 12 weeks by examiners blinded to treatment assignment. Health care cost data is collected by self-report questionnaires and treatment records during the intervention phase and by monthly phone interviews thereafter. Qualitative interviews, using a semi-structured format, are conducted with patients at the end of the 12-week treatment period and also with providers at the end of the trial. Discussion: This mixed-methods randomized clinical trial assesses clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and patients’ and providers’ perceptions of care, in treating non-acute LBP through evidence-based individualized care delivered by monodisciplinary or multidisciplinary care teams. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00567333
Preventing surgical site infections after bariatric surgery: value of perioperative antibiotic regimens

Bariatric surgery for obesity has emerged as an effective and commonly used treatment modality. This paper reviews the surgical site infections (SSIs) that occur post bariatric surgery and SSI prevention. The benefit of bariatric surgery resulting in profound weight loss brings with it consequences in the form of postoperative complications that can have profound effects on morbidity and mortality in these patients. This paper sets out to define different types of SSIs that occur following bariatric surgery and to discuss existing literature on the critical aspects of SSI prevention and the appropriate use of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis for bariatric surgery.
Computation of Three-Dimensional Blood Flows in Arteries

Three-dimensional blood flows in arteries are numerically simulated using finite volume formulation. Two geometries are considered: a circular artery with two successive bends, and a tapered artery with stenosis. Comparison between Newtonian and non-Newtonian models for blood viscosity show that wall shear stress is larger for a non-Newtonian model. The artery curvature induced secondary flows that become stronger as the Reynolds number increases. Blood flow in a tapered artery with stenosis shows that a 50% reduction in diameter is likely to produce damage to the endothelial layer. Nomenclature d = distance between inlet and stenosis h = stenosis height p = pressure Re = Reynolds number 0 R = inlet radius t = time T = period of oscillation of the pulsating inlet velocity
Mathematics as natural science

Mathematics is a natural science whose great generality makes many philosophers think of it as a supernatural science, consisting of truths derived independently of experience about objects not given in experience. Some mathematicians, like Simpson [16], try to defend mathematics from the resulting objection that it is merely a mental game by first conceding that most of it is meaningless and then trying to save what is left by some technical tour de force. Some physicists, like Wigner [20], admit that mathematics is applicable to the world, but declare themselves unable to understand what makes its applications possible. Both Simpson's worries and Wigner's puzzlement can be relieved if we assimilate mathematics more closely to the other natural sciences.
George's Revised Forecasts

This case shows George Lassiter's revised forecast based on "George's T-Shirts" (UVA-QA-0346) and "George's T-Shirts Addendum" (UVA-QA-0548).
Reprogrammable multiplexed detection of circulating oncomiRs using hybridization chain reaction

In this study, we have coupled the DNA polymerization capability of hybridization chain reaction (HCR) with the plasmonic properties of gold nanoparticles to develop a reprogrammable and multiplexed detection of three circulating oncomiRs (miR-10b, miR-21 and miR-141) dysregulated in various disease states of breast cancer. We have demonstrated that by simply changing the initiator (label-free short single stranded DNA) content of the HCR, while keeping everything else unchanged, the same nanoparticle assembly can be reprogrammed for the detection of the target oncomiRs individually or simultaneously in all possible combinations. We have shown that as little as 20 femtomoles of each oncomiR can be detected visually without using any analytical instrument. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the target oncomiR can be detected in an RNA pool isolated from a liquid biopsy mimic of breast cancer.
Immediate Versus Delayed Treatment of Mandibular Fractures: A Stratified Analysis of Complications.

Purpose To analyze the rate of complication outcomes of mandibular fracture repairs across different injury-to-repair time spans. Patients and Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with repaired mandibular fractures. The independent variable was the time span from injury to surgical repair. The primary outcome variable was the rate of complications measured postoperatively during the follow-up appointments. Other variables were grouped for performance of a stratified analysis: favorability of the fracture, patient compliance, substance abuse, and fracture location. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed. Results The final sample was composed of 505 patients, and the time span from injury to repair ranged from 0 to 90 days. The total number of patients from the sample with reported complications was 124. There was no statistical significance correlating the time spans and complication rates (P = .796). The variables for the stratified analysis also showed no significant correlations except for fracture location. Body fractures resulted in the highest rate of complications (33%; P = .041). Of the noncompliant patients (n = 144), 28.5% presented with complications (P = .352). No significance was seen in unfavorable fractures (n = 283), with a rate of complications of 28.6%. No significance could be correlated with substance abuse (n = 107, 29.9% with complications; P = .262). Conclusions The results of this study suggest that although time from injury to repair does not affect the rate of complications, the global standard of care for the management of non-emergent mandibular fractures should consider the cost-effectiveness of delaying treatment while exercising a reasonable length of delay for the comfort of the patient.
Quantum Mechanisms: Expanding the Boundaries of Power, Space, and Time in Global Security Studies

This inaugural issue of the Journal of Global Security Studies stakes out important new frontiers in security studies, pushing the boundaries of the possible in power politics (Goddard and Nexon), space (Adamson), and time (Ward). Goddard and Nexon attempt to wrest global security studies away from the traditional international relations (IR) perspective of states as primary actors acting within the structure of anarchy; Adamson calls for a “spatial turn” in IR, drawing attention to geographies that challenge the dominant conception of the world as a set of territorially defined entities; and Ward challenges the field to move beyond description and prescription. They offer a broad pluralistic view that focuses attention on collective mobilization processes rather than covering laws, erases boundaries between states, and promotes prediction as a goal for theories. However, expanding the boundaries of power, space, and time in global security studies cannot be fully realized within traditional IR philosophies of science. To reap these benefits requires a rejection of the traditional neo-Newtonian view of mechanisms in favor of a quantum mechanical perspective. Ward begins with a discussion of the Antikythera Mechanism, constructed to predict future events based on the Ancient Greek (pre-Keplerian) understanding of the motion of celestial bodies. The use of this (literal) mechanism as a starting place for discussing predictions in political science is quite apt, in that social science is still stuck with a neo-Newtonian conception of mechanisms for both prediction and explanation. Jon Elster aptly describes this orthodoxy in this paean to methodological individualism: “To explain is to provide a mechanism , to open up the black box and show the nuts and bolts, the cogs and wheels, the desires and beliefs that generate the aggregate outcomes” (emphasis in original; Elster 1985, 5). For Elster, as for many in social science, mechanisms are …
Crystalline Films on Amorphous Substrates by Zone Melting and Surface-Energy-Driven Grain Growth in Conjunction with Patferning

Two approaches to preparing oriented crystalline films on amorphous substrates are reviewed briefly: zone-melting recrystallization (ZMR) and surface-energy-driven grain growth (SEDGG). In both approaches patterning can be employed either to establish orientation or to control the location of defects. ZMR has been highly successful for the growth of Si films on oxidized Si substrates, but its applicability is limited by the high temperatures required. SEDGG has been investigated as a potentially universal, low temperature approach. It has been demonstrated in Si, Ge, and Au. Surface gratings favor the growth of grains with a specific in-plane orientation. In order for SEDGG to be of broad practical value, the mobility of semiconductor grain boundaries must be increased substantially. Mobility enhancement has been achieved via doping and ion bombardment.
Observations on the Mechanism of Action of Penicillin.

SummaryPenicillin acts either as a bacteriostatic or bactericidal agent depending on the experimental conditions. The number of organisms decreases at a constant rate until 99% of the organisms hav...
Comments on “the Distribution of Selling Effort among Geographic Areas” by H R. Wellman

Professor Wellman apparently fails to recognize an important implication of Multiple Correlation-that it provides a tool for extracting from specific data a general tendency for the buying power of markets to follow a measured relationship to a series of market factors. For example, the statement, "the figures on estimated walnut sales.. . apply only to the average of the period 1926-1933" is literally true in a very restricted sense. However, this criticism is relatively unimportant in the practical determination of sales potentials for later periods of time, because the correlation process is simply the most accurate tool for extracting out of past sales experience the general tendency which gives us a basis for making current market measurements from time to time later on. It also is true that in using the results of any one specific correlation analysis "we necessarily assume that the relationship between the dependent and the independent variables which prevail in the past will also hold during the future period," but in actual practice we constantly revise our correlations and broaden the base so that we minimize the danger of changes in market patterns which may have affected the relationships analyzed. Again, "if the independent variables used in the correlation analysis had explained all the variations in the dependent variable, the estimated values would have been identical with the actual values," is a literally true statement as it stands, but meaningless from any practical point of view. Who has ever f un a correlation coefficient of I.o in solving a concrete problem with correlation methods? However, it does not follow that this statement, which precedes the comment just quoted, is correct-"The differences between the actual values and the estimated values shown in column 3 simply represent the amounts by which the independent variables used fail to explain the variation in actual sales." Here is another example where Professor Wellman fails to recognize the basic function of the Multiple Correlation process in measuring a general tendency of sales response to vary with measured market conditions. As a matter of fact, the test of the value of
Two Possible Pitfalls for Adaptive Mesh Refinement Calculations

We present two cases where the adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) calculation can have larger error than that of uniform grid without AMR. The first one is for AMR calculation with locked time step, which uses the same small stepsize for all grid cells. The locked time step without subcycling on the fine mesh can lead to larger dispersion error than the coarse grid without AMR. The second one is for AMR calculation on cylindrical (r, z) coordinate. The reflection wave at the coarse-fine interface of AMR with several refinement levels can trigger shock instability, i.e., Carbuncle phenomenon, near the z-axis. In both cases, the AMR should be used cautiously.
Early exposure to stimulant medications and substance-related problems: The role of medical and nonmedical contexts.

Background The age of onset (early vs. late) and context (medical vs. nonmedical) of exposure to stimulant medications for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have been identified as important factors in the addictive potential of these controlled medications. This study examines the role of medical and nonmedical contexts in the association between early exposure to stimulant medications and substance use and substance-related problems among adolescents.
A Comparative Study on the Benefit of Industrial Structure in Guangzhou and Shenzhen

In this article the industrial structure in Guangzhou and Shenzhen is studied, combined with capital profit tax rate, the benefit index method of industrial structure is used,to analyze the structural bebefit as well as the proportions of the industrial sectors in the two cities. The result demonstrates that,the benefit of overall industrial structure of Guangzhou is more superior than that of Shenzhen. The heavy industry structure of Guangzhou is improving, while the high-tech industry in Shenzhen is at an early development stage, and its processing industry structure is characterized by the "unrealistically high" phenomenon. The authors consider that Guangzhou’s labor-intensive industry with some traditional advantages should not fully withdraw in the time being ,while its technology should be updated; the efficiency of fund utilization should be improved; the sectors that are in the vertical supply chain of the automotive industry should grasp opportunities for development. Shenzhen could timely develop some raw material industries. For realizing leap-forward development and making breakthroughs of innovation, the leading industries in Shenzhen, such as computer and electronic equipment manufacturing, communications equipment manufacturing, and other high-tech industries should be focused on the reserve of "quality", gradually grasp the core technology of the industry, promote their independent innovation.
Self-Reporting Degradable Fluorescent Grafted Copolymer Micelles Derived from Biorenewable Resources

A series of hydrolytically degradable fluorescent poly(ferulic acid-co-tyrosine)-g-mPEG graft copolymers were synthesized and shown to undergo self-assembly in aqueous media to yield fluorescent micelles. The polymers and their micellar assemblies exhibited greater fluorescence emission intensity than did their small molecular building blocks, which provides a self-reporting character that has potential for monitoring the polymer integrity and also for performing in theranostics applications. The amphiphilic graft-copolymers were synthesized by Cu-assisted azide–alkyne “click” addition of azido-functionalized mPEG polymers onto fluorescent degradable hydrophobic copolymers displaying randomly distributed alkyne side-chain groups along their biorenewably derived poly(ferulic acid-co-tyrosine) backbones. The morphologies and photophysical properties of the supramolecular assemblies generated in aqueous solutions were evaluated by DLS, TEM, AFM, and steady-state optical spectroscopies. The 15–30 nm sized mic...
Understanding Health Care Reform Legislation: A Summary and Implications for HR Educators and Professionals

The voluminous and especially-complex health care reform legislation passed in March 2010 has left many human resource (HR) educators and professionals confused and in search of summary information. This paper chronologically summarizes the major components of this critical and expansive law, particularly with respect to how it impacts U.S. employers. Implications for HR educators and professionals are also discussed. While the legislation has passed, many regulations are still forthcoming, and HR educators and professionals need to stay informed. Health care reform is also a strategic decision making point, characterized by normative and financial implications, that can affect organizational competitiveness.
Diuretic and diet effect on Menière's disease Evaluated by the 1985 Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium Guidelines:

Fifty-four patients, diagnosed with Meniere's disease and treated with diuretics and a low-salt diet, were evaluated retrospectively with the 1985 AAO/HNS Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium (CHE) guidelines for vertigo and hearing changes. The patient data base was also evaluated with other methods that helped determine the effectiveness of the 1985 AAO/HNS CHE guidelines. After 24 months of therapy, vertigo control was complete or substantial in 79% of the patients, limited or insignificant in 19%, and worse in 2% as evaluated by the CHE 1985 guidelines. Hearing improved in 35% of the patients, was unchanged in 29%, was worse in 22%, and could not be classified by CHE guidelines in 14%. Hearing was also evaluated by comparison of individual thresholds before medical therapy, and at 22 and 74 months after the start of medical therapy. We found a stabilization of low- and mid-threshold frequencies, with an average rate of hearing loss approximating 0 dB/yr with 74 months of followup. The results of this preliminary study suggest that diuretics and a low-salt diet may decrease the natural progression of sensorineural hearing loss in patients with Meniere's disease. Compared with other methods of data analysis, the 1985 CHE guidelines lacked sensitivity to evaluate the hearing changes observed.
Adjuvant therapies utilization pattern and survival outcomes in high-grade head and neck soft tissue sarcoma; a population based study

Abstract Purpose Head and neck soft tissue sarcoma (HNSTS) is a distinct entity within the soft tissue sarcoma group and the evidence supporting treatment options for this disease is poorly defined. Using the National Cancer Database, this study aims to reveal adjuvant therapy utilization patterns and their outcomes. Materials HNSTS patients constituted 6.5% of all sarcoma patients and the analysis was limited to non-metastatic patients who underwent resection between 2004 and 2012. Chi-square test assessed the distribution of demographic, tumor and treatment variables in the treatment subgroups. Kaplan-Meier method estimated overall survival and proportional hazards model estimated survival hazard ratios for prognostic factors including age, comorbidity, gender, race, size, grade, margin status, histology, chemotherapy administration and radiotherapy technique/dose. Results The cohort included 2493 patients with a median age of 62 years. Adjuvant therapies were more frequently delivered in high-grade, large tumors and with positive surgical margins. Limiting the analysis to 788 high-grade HNSTS patients, adjunctive radiotherapy improved 5-year survival from 44% (95% confidence interval (CI): 38–50) to 49% (CI: 43–55); reducing mortality hazards ratio by 24% (p Conclusion Our analysis suggests that adjuvant radiotherapy is associated with improved survival in high-grade HNSTS. Higher dose and precise technique did not accentuate this benefit; however, further studies are needed to refine the treatment strategies, including the role of chemotherapy in the management of this rare disease.
Multiple key generation with restricted public discussion structure

In this paper, the problem of simultaneously generating multiple keys in a model where the key generating parties have restricted access to public discussions is considered. The model consists of four terminals, i.e., Alice, Bob, Carol and Eve. Alice and Bob are connected via a noiseless channel while Bob connects with Carol and Eve via a wiretap channel. There is no direct link connecting Alice with Carol or Eve, and hence Carol and Eve cannot directly access the discussion between Alice and Bob. Alice wishes to share a secret key with Carol while Bob wishes to share another independent secret key with Carol. Under this model, inner and outer bounds on the secret-key capacity region are provided. It is shown that the two bounds match when a certain Markov chain relationship holds.