cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association between the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Screening Tool and obesity severity in youth referred to weight management

Summary Background The Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Screening Tool (FNPA) evaluates family behavioural and environmental factors associated with pediatric obesity, but it is unknown if FNPA scores differ among youth across obesity severities. Our aim was to determine the association between the FNPA and obesity severity in youth referred to weight management. Methods Upon initiating treatment, height, weight, and the FNPA were collected according to standard procedures. Cut-points for overweight/obesity, severe obesity (SO) class 2, and SO class 3 were calculated. FNPA scores were compared across weight status groups using analysis of covariance, and odds of SO across FNPA quartiles were evaluated with multiple logistic regression. Results Participants included 564 5–18 year old who initiated treatment and completed the FNPA. After adjustment, FNPA scores differed by weight status with higher/healthier scores in youth with overweight/obesity (56.6 ± 8.5) when compared to those with SO class 2 (55.0 ± 7.1; p = 0.015) or SO class 3 (53.6 ± 9.0; p Conclusions Results suggest a consistent inverse relationship between the FNPA and adiposity among youth presenting for weight management. The FNPA is a useful metric for programs and clinicians targeting family behaviours and the home environment to combat obesity.
Using Cultural Historical Activity Theory to Examine How Teachers Seek and Share Knowledge in a Peer-to-Peer Professional Development Network.

Many researchers have found that the main reason teachers participate in peer-to-peer professional development networks (PDNs) is to seek and share professional knowledge. Yet, the majority of studies about PDNs focus on how and why teachers participate in these virtual spaces rather than how teachers find and distribute knowledge. Each PDN has its own unique rules, tools, community members, and culture that shape how knowledge is created, organised, curated, and shared. Without understanding the factors that shape how and why knowledge is shared in a PDN, teachers may not be able to access the knowledge they need to grow their practice. This study was designed to examine teachers’ knowledge seeking and sharing actions in the Edmodo Math Subject Community, a popular PDN. Cultural historical activity theory was used as a framework for examining the socially constructed actions of seeking and sharing knowledge in a PDN. The findings suggest that seeking and sharing knowledge is a complex, dynamically evolving process that is shaped by the technical (e.g., tools) and social (e.g., community members, rules, roles) aspects of the PDN. Implications and ideas for further research are discussed.
Improved glowworm swarm optimization algorithm applied to multi-level thresholding

Image segmentation is considered an important basic task in the analysis and understanding of images. The process of image segmentation involves the partitioning of an image into multiple regions, i.e., each pixel in the image is assigned a label that corresponds to certain visual characteristics. Therefore, image segmentation is widely used for image processing tasks such as classification and object recognition. The thresholding process, however, is an NP-hard problem since n thresholds need to be found and each threshold can take numbers from 0 to 255 according to the intensity values. Thus, exact methods are only feasible for a small number of thresholds. Nature-inspired algorithms have recently been applied to this hard optimization problem and shown very good results. In particular, many swarm intelligence methods have been applied to multi-level thresholding. This paper uses a glowworm swarm optimization (GSO) approach and further enhances it in order to improve the accuracy of the thresholding as well as to improve the robustness of the results. The proposed approach makes adjustments to the local decision radius, the selection method, and the step size. The proposed GSO algorithm shows improved results in particular for larger numbers of thresholds as compared to the basic GSO algorithm.
Timed Sequential Therapy Induction and Consolidation in Newly Diagnosed AML: Achievement of Leukemia-Free Survival in Patients Using Two Cycles of Therapy Alone

Abstract Long term outcomes for patients with AML are unsatisfactory following induction and consolidation chemotherapy alone except in patients with favorable–risk cytogenetics. The additional administration of the same or different agents starting 8–10 days after start of initial chemotherapy (timed sequential therapy, TST) may enable the killing of leukemic cells synchronized into cell cycling by the initial chemotherapy. However, it is unclear if patients with intermediate and unfavorable cytogenetics achieve improved outcomes using this approach. Sixty-nine unselected patients with AML (42M, 27F; median age = 53, range 16–74; cytogenetic risk group favorable =2, intermediate = 37, unfavorable = 23; 10 with an antecedent hematologic disorder) referred to a tertiary leukemia center received initial chemotherapy with a regimen of cytarabine 667mg/m2/d by 24 hour infusion on d1–3, idarubicin 12mg (age 60)/m2/d on d1–3 and etoposide 100mg/m2 on d 8–10. Induction death occurred in 7 patients (10%). Complete remission was achieved following one cycle of induction therapy in 30 patients (43.5%). The corresponding complete response (CR) rates by cytogenetic subgroup were100%, 48.6% and 26% in the favorable, intermediate and unfavorable cytogenetic groups respectively. In patients who achieved CR, median time to ANC > 1000/mm3 and platelets > 100,000/mm3 were 29 d (range 21–76d) and 26d (range 17–83d). Mucositis was the most common non-hematologic toxicity. Of the 69 patients treated, 30 (43%) and 4 (6%) patients proceeded to allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation respectively. Of the patients who did not receive stem cell transplantation, eleven patients (median age 54, range 23–72; median WBC 27.1, range 1–250; cytogenetics -9 normal, 1 t(9;22); 1 11q23 abnormality) underwent consolidation with TST–consisting of a single cycle of cytarabine 667mg/m2/d (continuous infusion) on d1–3 and 10–12, and idarubicin (same dose as induction). Two year estimated probabilities of overall survival and relapse in this group were 65% and 26% respectively. In summary, TST as administered in these patients can be safe in patients with newly diagnosed AML, including those patients aged between 60 and 70. However, the regimen does not appear to improve CR rates over that seen using conventional induction regimens. Patients with intermediate risk cytogenetics who achieve CR and are not candidates for stem cell transplantation may receive consolidation with a single additional cycle of TST.
The Effect of Chronic Stimulation of Cerebellar Cortex on Epilepsy in Man

The purpose of this report is to summarize our observations of the effects of chronic stimulation of the cerebellar cortex in 7 patients with intractable epilepsy and one patient totally incapacitated by generalized intention myoclonus. These 8 patients represent part of a series of 28 cases in whom we have attempted to utilize the inhibitory function of cerebellar cortex to achieve a therapeutic modification of motor behavior. The remaining 20 patients were incapacitated by various types of spasticity and/or rigidity. Preliminary results in this latter group have been reported separately (Cooper, Crighel, & Amin, 1973).
On stability and convergence of semi-Lagrangian methods for the first-order time-dependent nonlinear partial differential equations in 1D

Abstract In this article, one-step semi-Lagrangian method is investigated for computing the numerical solutions of the first-order time-dependent nonlinear partial differential equations in 1D with initial and boundary conditions. This method is based on Lagrangian trajectory or the integration from the departure points to the arrival points (regular nodes) and Runge–Kutta method for ordinary differential equations. The departure points are traced back from the arrival points along the trajectory of the path. The convergence and stability are studied for the implicit and explicit methods. The numerical examples show that those methods work very efficient for the time-dependent nonlinear partial differential equations.
Representational Capacities in Chimpanzees: Numerical and Spatial Reasoning

The results from these preliminary studies show that chimpanzees are capable of understanding the relationship between a scale model or photographs of the corresponding real space. The results replicate and extend the innovative studies of similar skills in children (e.g., DeLoache, 1987, 1991) to a nonverbal species with whom previous attempts to demonstrate such understanding had failed (Premack and Premack, 1983). However, recognizing these relationships was not necessarily demonstrable in all chimpanzees, as evidenced by the failure of some of the subjects to successfully complete the task. The second study, using a model of the animals’ outdoor enclosure, allowed us to examine the error patterns shown by unsuccessful subjects. Such search patterns differed from those reported for young children (2–1/2 years). The younger children were similarly unable to complete DeLoache’s scale model task but did not show the perseverative search patterns used by the chimpanzees. It may not have been an inability to form a dual orientation that plagued the unsuccessful ape subjects, but rather in the inability to inhibit patterns of deeply rooted behavior. Nonetheless, specified variables that contribute to forming such complex representations as tested in these experiments have not been adequately defined or empirically tested for either human children or for chimpanzees.
Recent advances in understanding the adaptive immune response to Zika virus and the effect of previous flavivirus exposure.

Zika virus (ZIKV) caused explosive epidemics across the Americas, starting in Brazil in 2015, and has been associated with severe manifestations such as microcephaly in babies born to infected mothers and Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. As the underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis remain largely unknown, diverse investigations have focused on a potential role for flavivirus cross-reactive antibodies in enhancing ZIKV infection. Antibody-dependent enhancement is especially concerning due to structural similarities between ZIKV and other flaviviruses, especially dengue virus (DENV), that co-circulate in areas affected by ZIKV. Conversely, investigating cross-neutralizing antibodies is important for understanding protection among flaviviruses, including ZIKV. In this review, we discuss the latest findings regarding ZIKV-induced adaptive immunity, such as monoclonal and polyclonal antibody responses, structural immunology, and T cell-mediated responses. Much progress has been made in a short amount of time, but many questions remain. Fully understanding the specificity, magnitude, and kinetics of B cell/antibody and T cell responses in ZIKV-infected individuals with or without prior exposure to flaviviruses is of great relevance for diagnostics and vaccine development.
Abstract 2062: Inhibition of STAT3 overcomes gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer cells

Gemcitabine is used as the first line treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), however, either innate or acquired resistance to gemcitabine limit its therapeutic efficacy. In this study, several DNA damage agents including DNA repair inhibitors, and kinase inhibitors were examined for suppression of cell growth of gemcitabine resistant cells. The results show that most of these compounds are cross-resistant to gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cells. By using STRING protein network database, we found that STAT3 signaling pathway plays a connectional role to link targeted proteins we tested. Interestingly, gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cells have higher level of phosphor-STAT3 (pSTAT3) and are more sensitive to STAT3 inhibitor, S3I-201. Furthermore, combined S3I-201 with gemcitabine synergically suppresses the growth of both cell lines in vitro. We also confirmed the therapeutic efficacy of combined treatments using xenografted model. Taken together, inhibition of STAT3 overcomes gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer cells. This study may provide us with a new approach to treat pancreatic cancer as well as gemcitabine resistance of pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: Chi-Wei Chen, Ruiqin Wu, Yunxiao Meng, Wenge Zhu. Inhibition of STAT3 overcomes gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2062. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2062
Abstract WP192: The Association Between Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis and Silent Brain Infarction: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction: Silent brain infarctions (SBI) are asymptomatic lesions whose presence is associated with a two-fold increased risk of future stroke. Though carotid atherosclerosis is responsible for ∼20% of ischemic strokes, the strength of association between carotid disease and SBI is unclear based on estimates from individual studies. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that a synthesis of the existing literature would show that two separate manifestations of carotid atherosclerosis, carotid intima-media thickening (IMT) and luminal stenosis, are associated with SBI. Methods: We searched multiple online literature databases from their inception to April 2015. Articles were included if they reported an association between MRI defined SBI and carotid IMT or stenosis, excluding SBI evaluation after a procedure. The association between SBI and IMT or stenosis was estimated using pooled random-effects (RE) standard mean difference (SMD) or odds ratio, respectively. Results: We pooled 6 IMT studies reporting on 1434 subjects with SBI and 5058 subjects without SBI. Subjects with SBI had a larger mean IMT compared to subjects without SBI (pooled RE SMD, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.51; P Conclusions: Both carotid IMT and stenosis are significantly associated with the presence of SBI. Patients with SBI and carotid atherosclerosis may represent a group at higher risk of clinically overt stroke and who may therefore benefit from more intensive stroke prevention measures.
Hybrid Indoor Tracking Using Crowdsourced Measurements

Tracking of user equipment in indoor areas is becoming ubiquitous with the development of location-based services. The use of an RF received signal strength map in wireless positioning systems, a so-called site survey, is a well- studied technique. In this paper, we propose a hybrid method that combines the trilateration technique used in Wi-Fi and an extended Kalman filtering for visible light with crowdsourced measurements to create a received light-signal strength map. How to efficiently create such a site survey is an open challenge. Our aim is to offer a solution to this problem that is able to automate the map creation step using data sourced from the users. The results show that the proposed method outperforms Wi-Fi-only based trilateration methods. The accuracy of the proposed method is around 5 cm when the resolution of the fingerprint map is 1 dm.
Meta-Analysis of Complex Interventions.

Meta-analysis is a prominent method for estimating the effects of public health interventions, yet these interventions are often complex in ways that pose challenges to using conventional meta-analytic methods. This article discusses meta-analytic techniques that can be used in research syntheses on the effects of complex public health interventions. We first introduce the use of complexity frameworks to conceptualize public health interventions. We then present a menu of meta-analytic procedures for addressing various sources of complexity when answering questions about the effects of public health interventions in research syntheses. We conclude with a review of important practices and key resources for conducting meta-analyses on complex interventions, as well as future directions for research synthesis more generally. Overall, we argue that it is possible to conduct meaningful quantitative syntheses of research on the effects of public health interventions, though these meta-analyses may require the u...
Joint quantum-state and measurement tomography with incomplete measurements

Estimation of quantum states and measurements is crucial for the implementation of quantum information protocols. The standard method for each is quantum tomography. However, quantum tomography suffers from systematic errors caused by imperfect knowledge of the system. We present a procedure to simultaneously characterize quantum states and measurements that mitigates systematic errors by use of a single high-fidelity state preparation and a limited set of high-fidelity unitary operations. Such states and operations are typical of many state-of-the-art systems. For this situation we design a set of experiments and an optimization algorithm that alternates between maximizing the likelihood with respect to the states and measurements to produce estimates of each. In some cases, the procedure does not enable unique estimation of the states. For these cases, we show how one may identify a set of density matrices compatible with the measurements and use a semidefinite program to place bounds on the state's expectation values. We demonstrate the procedure on data from a simulated experiment with two trapped ions.
Regional flow and deposition variability in adult female lungs: A numerical simulation pilot study.

Abstract Background Despite the promise of respiratory simulations improving diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary diseases, model predictions have yet to be translated into the clinical setting. Current state-of-the-art in silico models have not yet incorporated subject variability in their predictions of airflow distributions and extent of deposited particles. Until inter-subject variability is accounted for in lung modeling, it will remain impossible to translate model predictions into clinical practice. Methods Airflow and particle trajectories (dp = 1,3,5μm) are calculated in three subject-specific female adults by performing physiologically-based simulations. The computation framework features the ability to track air and particles throughout the respiration cycle and in the entire lung. Airway resistances, air velocities, and local deposition sites are correlated to airway anatomical features. Findings Smaller airway diameters are correlated to larger airway resistances and pressure gradients in one subject compared to the other two. Irregular shape of the airway and flow direction (e.g. inspiration or expiration) correspond with peak velocities and secondary flow motions. Largest subject variability in deposition between conducting and respiratory zones is seen for 1 μm diameter particles. Little difference in total deposition is found among subjects. Localized deposited particle concentration hotspots are linked to airway anatomy and flow motion. Interpretation Simulation predictions provide a first look into the correlation of anatomical features with airflow characteristics and deposited particle concentrations. Global deposition percentages ranged (at most, by 20%) between subjects and variances in localized deposition hotspots are correlated to variances in flow characteristics.
Students' Experiences and Outcomes from Participation in an Extracurricular Club

Student involvement in extracurricular activities has the potential to contribute to a variety of valued college outcomes. The purpose of this study was to understand the outcomes associated with r...
The Thriller Killer

C harlie sat quietly waiting for me. When I called him into the interview room, a thin, almost silly smile took over his face. The story he told seemed plausible at first. He considered himself a security expert, and he was hired to help an armored car company reduce theft. As part of the job, he rode in the armored cars and came to know some of the thieves that preyed on them. He also came to know many of the members of the local police. In his description of his activities, his casual air turned serious as he began to talk about the robberies.
Prevalence of a Histologic Change of Ocular Adnexal Lymphoma in Patients With a History of Lymphoma.

Purpose The authors examined the prevalence of a histologic change of ocular adnexal lymphoma (OAL) grade in patients with a history of lymphoma in nonocular sites. Methods In this retrospective study, the authors reviewed the clinical and pathological data of 209 patients with OAL treated by the senior author during 2000 to 2017. Results Of 209 patients with OAL, 65 (31%) had a history of lymphoma. In 54 of the 65 patients (83%), the original lymphoma and OAL were of the same histologic type. In 8 of the 65 patients (12.3%), the OAL was more indolent than the original lymphoma: 6 patients with a history of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, one of mantle cell lymphoma, and one of grade 3 follicular lymphoma had biopsy-proven extranodal marginal-zone lymphoma in the orbital area. Two additional patients (3%) with a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia developed OAL: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in one patient and extranodal marginal-zone lymphoma in the other. One patient (1.5%) with a history of a low-grade follicular lymphoma relapsed as a different low-grade histology of extranodal marginal-zone lymphoma. Lower-grade OAL than the original lymphoma was more common than higher-grade OAL than the original lymphoma (p = 0.048). Conclusions In this cohort of 209 patients with OAL, the authors found that nearly one third had a history of lymphoma, 17% of whom had a different histologic type of lymphoma in the orbit, more commonly a more indolent type. This underscores the importance of biopsy of OAL even in patients with a known history of lymphoma to determine the histologic subtype of orbital lymphoma and to help guide appropriate treatment.
Cellular Antenna Performance Impact on MIMO in Vehicle

This paper addresses considerations for the performance of MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) Antennas to support LTE in an automotive environment. In the paper performance of roof mount antennas are measured as well as antennas located in the interior of the vehicle. The interior antenna performance is compared to a set of reference antennas located on the roof with a large separation for decorrelation to support a good MIMO antenna configuration. The antennas are characterized as a component and then assessed in a field test.
A unified charge-current compact model of gallium nitride transistors for RF and digital applications

We present an analytic model to capture the static and dynamic behavior of ultra-scaled III-nitride high electron mobility transistors as well as nanowire field-effect transistors. Excellent agreement of the model against measured data-sets is demonstrated over a broad range of bias and temperature conditions. The model is used for technology-device-circuit co-design for both RF and digital applications.
Movement Disorders: Overview

Movement disorders are neurological syndromes in which there is either an excess of movement or a paucity of voluntary and automatic movements, unrelated to weakness or spasticity. Most movement disorders originate within the central nervous system (CNS), particularly the basal ganglia or their connections. Certain localizations within the basal ganglia are classically associated with specific movement disorders: substantia nigra – bradykinesia and rest tremor; subthalamic nucleus – ballism; caudate nucleus – chorea; and putamen – dystonia. Still, movement disorders can arise from any part of the neuraxis, including the CNS.
Babesiosis Vaccines: Lessons Learned, Challenges Ahead, and Future Glimpses

The incidence and prevalence of babesiosis in animals and humans is increasing, yet prevention, control, or treatment measures remain limited and ineffective. Despite a growing body of new knowledge of the biology, pathogenicity, and virulence of Babesia parasites, there is still no well-defined, adequately effective and easily deployable vaccine. While numerous published studies suggest that the development of such anti-Babesia vaccines should be feasible, many others identify significant challenges that need to be overcome in order to succeed. Here, we review historic and recent attempts in babesiosis vaccine discovery to avoid past pitfalls, learn new lessons, and provide a roadmap to guide the development of next-generation babesiosis vaccines.
Liposomal Bupivacaine Infiltration Versus Bupivacaine Hydrochloride for the Management of Unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty in Geriatric Patients at a 287-Bed Community Hospital.

Introduction: Geriatric patients receiving total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are found to have similar postoperative complications, functional scores, and perioperative mortality, as compared to younge...
Motivational processes in college freshmen's exercise participation: A goal content theory perspective.

Grounded in goal content theory, this study tested two mediation models that examined the direct and indirect effects of intrinsic and extrinsic goals on exercise participation and subjective vital...
Quasar variability measurements with SDSS repeated imaging and POSS data

We analyze the properties of quasar variability using repeated SDSS imaging data in five UV-to-far red photometric bands, accurate to 0.02 mag, for ∼13,000 spectroscopically confirmed quasars. The observed time lags span the range from 3 hours to over 3 years, and constrain the quasar variability for rest-frame time lags of up to two years, and at rest-frame wavelengths from 1000A to 6000A. We demonstrate that ∼66,000 SDSS measurements of magnitude differences can be described within the measurement noise by a simple function of only three free parameters. The addition of POSS data constrains the long-term behavior of quasar variability and provides evidence for a turn-over in the structure function. This turn-over indicates that the characteristic time scale for optical variability of quasars is of the order 1 year.To search for other articles by the author(s) go to: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html
Climate Change Adaptation Priority Strategies in the Philippines: Differences Between Local Government Decision Makers and Marginalized Coastal Communities

Consequences of climate inaction are already felt by many vulnerable populations, and adapting to these impacts is an increasingly important necessity for affected communities. This study assessed ...
Assessment of Gender Parity: Leadership Representation in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.

Background: Academic centers' and professional societies' top leadership representation and professional societies' award recipients remain disparate by gender in many fields. Little is known regar...
Intracranial Hypotensive Crisis From an Insidious Spinal Cerebrospinal Fluid-Venous Fistula: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE Progressive episodic spells of altered levels of consciousness, often advancing to include paroxysmal autonomic instability, may be indicative of a diencephalic dysfunction underlying spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). A rare, and often indolent, etiology may be spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak-an elusive diagnosis, especially in cases of CSF-venous fistula (CVF) that are often missed on routine computed tomography (CT) myelography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CLINICAL PRESENTATION We report an unusual case of a 50-yr-old woman who presented with rapidly progressive cyclical, self-resolving episodes of altered mentation and decreased arousal later in the day. Scrutiny of serial brain MRIs led to a diagnosis of SIH, with severe downward diencephalic and brain stem displacement-resulting in cerebral aqueduct occlusion with obstructive hydrocephalus. Initial clinical improvement occurred with CSF diversion, but the patient quickly deteriorated-developing diencephalic spells, including extensor posturing and severely depressed levels of consciousness. Clinical improvement was seen with stopping CSF diversion and Trendelenburg-positioning. After intensive spinal imaging, dynamic CT myelography identified a left T10 nerve root diverticula and CSF-venous fistula. Surgical obliteration resulted in rapid, profound neurological improvement, and ultimately full neurological recovery by 1 yr. CONCLUSION In our patient, worsening episodes of confusion, postural headaches, and autonomic instability developed due to SIH, which induced profound downward displacement and compression of the diencephalon and brain stem, and accompanied by subsequent obstructive hydrocephalus. Diagnostic persistence identified the CVF, which had caused the complex multifold pathophysiology and clinical presentation. If suspicion remains high for CVF, persistent spinal imaging, particularly with dynamic myelography, may be crucial.
A Tribological Comparison of Facet Joint, Sacroiliac Joint, and Knee Cartilage in the Yucatan Minipig.

ObjectivePathology of the facet and sacroiliac (SI) joints contributes to 15% to 45% and 10% to 27% of lower back pain cases, respectively. Although tissue engineering may offer novel treatment opt...
New night vision goggle gain definition

A new definition is proposed for the calibration of Night Vision Goggle (NVG) gains. This definition is based on the measurement of radiometric input and output quantities of the NVG. While the old definition used the “equivalent fL” which is a non SI traceable luminance unit, the new definition utilizes the radiance quantities that are traceable to the SI units through NIST standards. The new NVG gain matches the previous one as a result of the application of a correction coefficient originating from the conversion of the radiance to luminance units. The new definition was tested at the NIST Night Vision Calibration Facility and the measurement results were compared to the data obtained with a Hoffman Test Set Model ANV-126. Comparing the radiometric quantities of the Hoffman Test Set and those measured by the NIST transfer standard radiometer, indicates that the observed differences up to 15% were due to the calibration and experimental errors of the ANV-126 Test Set. In view of different spectral characteristics of luminophores that can be utilized in the NVG design, the simulation of the NVG output for gain measurement was performed. The NVG output was simulated with a sphere-based source using different LEDs and the measured gain was compared to that obtained with the ANV-126 internal luminance meter. The NVG gain uncertainty analysis was performed for the Type A, B, and C goggles.
Protecting Status: The Mortgage Crisis, Eminent Domain, and the Ethic of Homeownership

Homeownership is in crisis. Millions of families are at risk of foreclosure as they are caught between declining housing values and rising interest payments on adjustable-rate mortgages. The primary concern for such families is not that they will become homeless - most families who lose their homes could afford to become renters - but rather that they will lose their status as homeowners. For families required to sell their property by the government's use of eminent domain, a similar issue arises, as the 'fair market value' of some homes (the standard measure of compensation) is generally not enough to allow the family to purchase another home. The harm of losing one's status as homeowner has afar-reaching impact at both the individual and collective levels. Property ownership ties one to the larger community in myriad ways. As compared to renters, homeowners - even those with the same income, education, and other socioeconomic characteristics - tend to be more civically active and more apt to engage in market transactions linked to their homes. Losing this link to the larger market and community will harm a family's long-term prospects. When many families lose these connections, whole communities suffer.The link between the mortgage crisis and the full-scale financial meltdown has led to bipartisan support for a degree of government intervention unseen since the Great Depression. In this Article, we explore why homeownership is so highly valued-and whether the loss of homeownership status should impel government action. We conclude that this loss does warrant government intervention - but also argue that the myopic focus on homeownership absent an adequate regulatory regime and a broader economic agenda has had dire effects. The families caught by the subprime mortgage debacle were often targeted by predatory lenders because of their membership in vulnerable groups. The government's failure to prevent this exploitative behavior then requires its intervention now. However, it is crucial to ensure that government intervention does not create insurmountable barriers to entry for aspiring homeowners or moral hazard. Accordingly, our status-preservationist approach would protect only those who would have received loans had sound lending practices been utilized and would counsel against the view that homeownership alone is adequate to ensure healthy communities. Rather, homeownership has in the past been linked to behaviors that create sound communities. In the context of eminent domain, the argument for status preservation is even stronger, as it is justified by the U.S. Supreme Court's maxim that compensation should be based on fair market value unless doing so 'would result in manifest injustice to owner or public.' We conclude by considering the broader implications of the economic meltdown and reflect on whether it has so permanently altered our conception of homeownership that homeowner status is in the process of losing its value.
A Unified Approach to Retrieving Web Documents and Semantic Web Data

The Semantic Web seems to be evolving into a property-linked web of RDF data, conceptually divorced from (but physically housed in) the hyperlinked web of HTML documents. We discuss the Unified Web model that integrates the two webs and formalizes the structure and the semantics of interconnections between them. We also discuss the Hybrid Query Language which combines the Data and Information Retrieval techniques to provide a convenient and uniform way to retrieve data and documents from the Unified Web. We present the retrieval system SITAR and some preliminary results.
Epidermal growth factor or okadaic acid stimulates phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4F

Eukaryotic initiation factor 4F, a multi-protein mRNA cap binding complex, was isolated by m7GTP-Sepharose affinity chromatography from human mammary epithelial cells (184A1N4) incubated with [32P] orthophosphate. Treatment of cells with epidermal growth factor resulted in enhanced phosphorylation of both p28 (eIF-4E) and p220 subunits. The identities of the p28 and p220 subunits were confirmed by immunoprecipitation. The phosphorylation was both rapid and sustained in duration; p28 attained maximal levels (2-3-fold) within 30 min of treatment and remained elevated for at least 2 h, while p220 reached one-half maximal levels by 30 min, and maximal levels (3-4-fold) by 2 h of treatment. Two phosphorylated isoforms of p28 and multiple phosphorylated forms of p220 were detected by two-dimensional isoelectric focusing/sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Phosphoamino acid analysis of 6 N HCl hydrolyzates of p28 and p220 isolated from epidermal growth factor-treated and control cells indicated that serine is the predominant phosphorylated amino acid in both instances. In no case was phosphotyrosine observed. Pretreatment of cells with 1 microM okadaic acid resulted in the hyperphosphorylation of both p28 and p220 subunits. These results suggest that mitogenic growth factors and cellular serine/threonine phosphatases (pp1 and/or pp2A) serve essential roles in regulating phosphorylation levels of eukaryotic initiation factor 4F and support the concept that translational control is a component of the signal transduction mechanisms involved in growth regulation.
Supportive Housing for the Chronically Homeless with HIV/AIDS

Abstract This article examines an innovative supportive housing program for chronically homeless individuals with HIV/AIDS. A Better Place (ABP), a supportive housing program in New York City that provides housing and social services to HIV-positive individuals with multiple diagnoses (mental illness, mental retardation, developmental disability and/or chemical addictions), is offered as an example of an effective and economical model of service that aims to break the cycle of homelessness by providing comprehensive preventative care with positive long-term results. The structure and functioning of the program, along with two case summaries, are described in order to provide a service framework for practitioners engaged in this field of service.
Primary Amine (−NH2) Quantification in Polymers: Functionality by 19F NMR Spectroscopy

A convenient, reliable, and general method for determining the primary amine functionality of amino polymers is described. It is based on 19F NMR spectroscopy and has many advantages over known methods. The amino polymer is derivatized in situ with a reactive, trifluoromethylated aromatic aldehyde. The resultant, spontaneously formed imine (Schiff base) is then quantified by integration of its unique 19F resonance vs that of an added internal standard. The quantitative reliability of the method was first unequivocally established using a small molecule amine. Functionality determination was then demonstrated for a very broad range of polymer classes, including PS, PMMA, PEG-like, PDMS, PB, and polyamide. In contrast to, e.g., titration, this method can be carried out quickly, with small sample sizes (e.g., ca. 10 mg) and using routine NMR spectroscopic techniques.
One Size Fits All: The Supreme Court's Interpretation of Ne Exeat Rights for Purposes of the Hague Convention

With wrongful child abductions occurring worldwide, the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction was drafted for the purpose of protecting children from its harmful effects. The United States implemented provisions of the Hague Convention in 1988 into the International Child Abduction Remedies Act, for the same purpose. Under the two, the drafters draw a distinction between "rights of custody" and "rights of access", the determination of which would ultimately establish a parent’s right to the return remedy under the Convention. Specifically, if a parent has "rights of custody" a wrongfully abducted child would be ordered back by the abducting parent where as a parent with "rights of access" has no such remedy.In Spring 2010, Abbott v. Abbott which entailed the interpretation of "rights of access" and "rights of custody" under the Hague Convention was heard and decided by the United States Supreme Court. In Abbott, a Chiliean custody ordered granted a father access rights coupled with a ne exeat clause preventing the custodial parent from leaving the country without permission. The issue was whether these rights coupled together amounted to "rights of custody" which would entitle the father to the return remedy. Thus, the mother would have to return the child to Chile. With the facts and circumstances unique to Abbott, the United States Supreme Court held that ne exeat rights do confer rights of custody for purposes of the Convention. This paper will examine the danger in the Court’s ruling and long lasting negative effects that it is likely to have on the nation and international communities.
Active out-of-sequence thrust faulting in the central Nepalese Himalaya

Recent convergence between India and Eurasia is commonly assumed to be accommodated mainly along a single fault—the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT)—which reaches the surface in the Siwalik Hills of southern Nepal1,2,3. Although this model is consistent with geodetic4,5, geomorphic6 and microseismic data7, an alternative model incorporating slip on more northerly surface faults has been proposed to be consistent with these data as well8,9,10. Here we present in situ cosmogenic 10Be data indicating a fourfold increase in millennial timescale erosion rates occurring over a distance of less than 2 km in central Nepal, delineating for the first time an active thrust fault nearly 100 km north of the surface expression of the MHT. These data challenge the view that rock uplift gradients in central Nepal reflect only passive transport over a ramp in the MHT. Instead, when combined with previously reported 40Ar–39Ar data9, our results indicate persistent exhumation above deep-seated, surface-breaking structures at the foot of the high Himalaya. These results suggest that strong dynamic interactions between climate, erosion and tectonics have maintained a locus of active deformation well to the north of the Himalayan deformation front.
Synthesis and structural analysis of 2-quinuclidonium tetrafluoroborate

The amide functional group is one of the most fundamental motifs found in chemistry and biology, and it has been studied extensively for the past century. Typical acyclic amides are planar. But the amide groups of bicyclic bridgehead lactams are highly twisted, and this distortion from planarity can dramatically affect the stability and reactivity of these amides; it also increases the basicity of the nitrogen so that it often behaves more like an amine than a typical planar amide. As a result, the structures and reactivity profiles of these 'anti-Bredt' amides differ significantly from those of planar amides. It is possible that this twisting phenomenon is not exclusive to cyclic systems—non-planarity may also be a critical biological design element that leads to amide ground-state destabilization and alters the reactivity, selectivity and mechanism of various protein and enzymatic processes (such as amide hydrolysis). The intriguing qualities of these twisted amides were first recognized in 1938 (ref. 11), wherein one of the simplest families was introduced—molecules containing the 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-one system. But the parent member of this group, 2-quinuclidone (molecule 1 in this paper), has not yet been unambiguously synthesized. Here, we report the chemical synthesis, isolation and full characterization of the HBF_4 salt of 1. Critical to the success of the synthesis and isolation was the decision to generate 1 by a route other than classical amide bond formation. We anticipate that these results will provide a greater understanding of the properties of amide bonds.
Using the elasticities from the AIDS model to evaluate international market competitiveness: the case of three Egyptian wheat markets

The Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS) model approach is used to assess the competitive position of US wheat relative to Australian wheat in the Egyptian market. Results from expenditure elasticities suggest that US import share will rise with Egyptian household income. Cross price elasticities obtained suggest that US wheat is a stronger substitute for Australian wheat, but the reverse is asymmetrical. The study finds that for USA to maintain and expand its competitive position in the Egyptian market in the long-run, it is necessary to maintain current low prices, while improving wheat quality in the long-run.
Observation of local thickness fluctuations in surfactant membranes using neutron spin echo

Experimental evidence of local thickness fluctuations of a surfactant membrane, as observed by neutron scattering, is reported. A swollen lamellar structure consisting of nonionic surfactant, water, and oil was investigated by neutron spin echo spectroscopy. Different dynamical processes are recognized at three different length scales. At length scales larger than the membrane thickness, the bending motion is observed, which follows the Zilman and Granek theory [Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 4788 (1996)]. At the length scale corresponding to the membrane thickness, a clear excess dynamics in addition to the bending motion is observed. This mode is interpreted as the local thickness fluctuations. At even shorter length scales, smaller than the membrane thickness, intramembrane dynamics such as protrusion motions may have been observed.
Reconsidering gauge-Higgs continuity

The 3d Z(2) lattice gauge-Higgs theory is cast in a partial axial gauge leaving a residual Z(2) symmetry, global in two directions and local in one. It is shown both analytically and numerically that this symmetry breaks spontaneously in the Higgs phase and is unbroken in the confinement phase. Therefore they must be separated everywhere by a phase transition, in contradiction to a theorem by Fradkin and Shenker. It relied on a fully fixed unitary gauge, which prohibits this phase transition explicitly. Thus the unfixed gauge theory is not, in this case, equivalent to the unitary-gauge version.
Auxospore formation in two marine clones of the diatom genus Coscinodiscus

Auxospore formation has been observed in two marine clones of the diatom genus Coscinodiwcus. In each of these clones the variation in valve morphology and structure before and after auxospore formation is appreciable. This variability suggests a reappraisal of the taxonomic characters within the genus will be required if the kinds and types of variation noted are substantiated in other clones. The clones are monecious and the 32 uniflagellate colorless monads, inferred from indirect evidence to be male gametes, form within an undifferentiated mother celL. The method of release of the male gametes differs in the two clones; otherwise their development is similar. The zygote is recognizable and the formation of large diameter cells within the zygote membranes has been observed. THE CYTOLOGICAL events associated with auxospore formation in marine centric diatoms has recently received considerable attention by von Stosch (1956, 1953). These studies show that auxospore formation in the marine centric diatoms investigated is a sexual process. Although the sexual nature of this process had long been suspected (Geitler, 1935) adequate documentation was first provided by von Stosch (1951) in Melosira. Since 1951 the number of observations with different genera and species has steadily increased (von Stosch, 1954, 1956, 1958), leaving little doubt that auxospore formation in the centric diatoms is a sexual process. In this laboratory two marine clones of diatom genus Coscinodiscus (C. concinnus W. Smith and C. asteromphalus Ehrenberg) produced auxospores within a few months of each other, and this report summarizes the results of observations on these two clones. The report is divided into two sections. The first deals with the changes in valve pattern and structure observed during the life cycle of these diatoms and reveals the variability in taxonomic characters. The second deals with observations on the production of "male gametes" and auxospores (zygotes).
A probabilistic model for approximate identity matching

Identity management is critical to various governmental practices ranging from providing citizens services to enforcing homeland security. The task of searching for a specific identity is difficult because multiple identity representations may exist due to issues related to unintentional errors and intentional deception. We propose a probabilistic Naive Bayes model that improves existing identity matching techniques in terms of effectiveness. Experiments show that our proposed model performs significantly better than the exact-match based technique as well as the approximate-match based record comparison algorithm. In addition, our model greatly reduces the efforts of manually labeling training instances by employing a semi-supervised learning approach. This training method outperforms both fully supervised and unsupervised learning. With a training dataset that only contains 10% labeled instances, our model achieves a performance comparable to that of a fully supervised learning.