cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
America's response to the rise of China and Sino‐US relations

This article examines America's response to the rise of China and its impact on Sino‐US relations by putting it in the context of the overall Asia policy of the Bush administration. It first looks at the Bush administration's global strategy and the place of Asia policy in the hierarchy of US foreign policy. Then, the article examines the changing dynamics of American foreign policy towards China and China's response. This study introduces Power Transition theory as an analytical tool behind America's China policy. It further uses two flashpoints in the Asia Pacific — the Taiwan issue and the North Korea nuclear crisis — as examples to analyse recent developments in Sino‐US relations. It also provides assessments of the conditions for a change of tide concerning the future direction of US policy towards China.
Role of an alginate lyase for alginate transport in mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

ABSTRACT The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa secretes a capsule-like polysaccharide called alginate that is important for evasion of host defenses, especially during chronic pulmonary disease of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Most proteins for alginate biosynthesis are encoded by the 12-gene algD operon. Interestingly, this operon also encodes AlgL, a lyase that degrades alginate. Mutants lacking AlgG, AlgK, or AlgX, also encoded by the operon, synthesize alginate polymers that are digested by the coregulated protein AlgL. We examined the phenotype of an ΔalgL mutation in the highly mucoid CF isolate FRD1. Generating a true ΔalgL mutant was possible only when the algD operon was under the control of a LacIq-repressed trc promoter. Upon induction of alginate production with isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside, the ΔalgL mutant cells were lysed within a few hours. Electron micrographs of the ΔalgL mutant showed that alginate polymers accumulated in the periplasm, which ultimately burst the bacterial cell wall. The requirement of AlgL in an alginate-overproducing strain led to a new model for alginate secretion in which a multiprotein secretion complex (or scaffold, that includes AlgG, AlgK, AlgX, and AlgL) guides new polymers through the periplasm for secretion across the outer membrane. In this model, AlgL is bifunctional with a structural role in the scaffold and a role in degrading free alginate polymers in the periplasm.
Design, Development and Optimization of Highly Efficient Solar Cars: Gato del Sol I-IV

- Engineering students at the University of Kentucky have designed and built solar powered cars for the 2008 North American Solar Challenge and the 2009 Formula Sun Grand Prix. Gato del Sol III, our most accomplished car, is powered by a solar array of 480 Silicon monocrystalline photovoltaic cells. Maximum Power Point trackers efficiently made use of these cells and tracked the perfect load. The cells are mounted on a fiber glass and foam core composite shell. The shell rides on a lightweight aluminum tube chassis, which is then powered by a 90% efficient brushless DC motor. Gato del Sol IV will be one of the fastest solar powered cars in the world with a top speed of 75mph. Internally, the car makes use of 168 high density lithium-polymer batteries to account for a 5kWh pack, enough to travel over 75 miles without sun. A homebuilt battery protection system and charge balancing system ensures safe and efficient use of the batteries. Various electrical sub-systems on the car communicate between themselves via Controller Area Network (CAN). This real time data is then transmitted to an external computer via RF communication for further analysis and on the fly improvements. Gato del Sol IV is building on the team's previous successes including a 2nd place finish at the 2009 Formula Sun Grand Prix beating teams from top ranked schools from across the globe. The team continues to promote awareness about smarter and greener technologies to K-12 students throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Many educational tours and forums are organized to the same end in elementary, middle, and high schools around the state. More information about Gato del Sol can be found on the web at www.uksolarcar.com.
Technology Based Delivery of an Undergraduate Laboratory Course

Use of Internet technology for offering physical laboratory courses are a relatively new challenge for engineering educators. Towards this the paper presents the design and development of an Internet based facility that will be used to offer an undergraduate laboratory course. The facility will enable students to perform experiments involving real-life hardware over the Internet. The system is developed by using commercially available hardware and software technologies. The highlighting features of the developed system are its cost effectiveness, modularity in design, web security, and system and student evaluation facility. The system has the provision to monitor the extent of utilization of the facility to assess its usefulness. Multiple experiments can be delivered through the systems at any time; however, one experiment can be performed by a single student, while others can view the results.
Constrained least squares filtering

In the following we: 1) present a frequency domain derivation of the constrained least squares filter, which is much simpler than previous approaches relying on the diagonalization of block circulant matrices; 2) derive a lower bound on the Lagrange multiplier appearing in the filter and obtain conditions under which the Lagrange multiplier may assume negative values; and 3) indicate how the frequency domain expression for the error energy can be used to reduce computation time in the iterative determination of the Lagrange multiplier.
Equity Analysis and Natural Hazards Policy

What is an "equitable" policy for mitigating the impacts of hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and other natural hazards? Economists tend to see "equity" or "distribution" as irreducibly political and subjective. But, in truth, equity analysis and cost-benefit analysis are on a par. Both require a normative justification. Moreover, normative argument can help us structure equity analysis, just as it can help structure cost-benefit analysis. This chapter, written for a forthcoming book on natural hazards policy after Katrina, argues that equity is a normative consideration distinct from efficiency or overall well-being. It then argues that equity is: individualistic, not group-based; ex post, not ex ante; that the "currency" for equity consists in the multiple dimensions of well-being, not income or longevity; and that, at a minimum, equity analysis should be concerned to avoid serious deprivations with respect to any well-being dimension. The upshot is an account with a close affinity to an emerging body of scholarship in development economics, inspired by Amartya Sen's work on capabilities and functionings; and a set of concrete recommendations for how equity analysis of natural hazards policy should be structured.
Convergence to equilibrium on invariant d-hypersurfaces for strongly increasing discrete-time semigroups

Abstract Convergence to equilibrium for every positive semi-orbit of strongly increasing discrete-time semigroups on strongly ordered spaces is proved. The domain of the semigroup is assumed to be slightly more general than a closed order interval in a strongly ordered Banach space which is continuously imbedded into a Banach lattice. The semigroup is assumed to be order-compact, and every positive semi-orbit is assumed to be order-bounded. The crucial hypothesis is the Ljapunov stability of all equilibria. It is also proved that the set of equilibria is a simply ordered arc. The key tools are invariant d -hypersurfaces.
On bandwidth and storage tradeoffs in multimedia distribution networks

Multimedia distribution on demand will impose extremely severe bandwidth requirements on the distribution network and will require the use of very high capacity video servers. In the context of archival programs playout (typical video-on-demand applications), the information source can potentially be stored at any level in the distribution network. Part of the information may even be duplicated. Of course, there is a tradeoff between the bandwidth required to transport the programs to the users and the storage server capabilities of the overall deployment. The paper presents an analytical study of this tradeoff considering different mechanisms aimed at reducing the overall bandwidth and/or storage server costs. A model of the distribution network is established. A cost function is proposed to capture the different parameters and allow comparison of the possible strategies. Results provide good insight into the problem, and are used to discuss the proper placement of storage in a distribution network.
Determinants of C3 forb growth and production in a C4 dominated grassland

Forbs are the most abundant species within the vascular flora of tallgrass prairie and they make the greatest contribution to biodiversity of all growth forms. However, little is known about the factors that determine their productivity and growth rates. The objective of this study was to assess the controls of forb growth (absolute and relative) and production in tallgrass prairie from a long-term burning experiment at the Konza Prairie in NE Kansas. Over the 14-year study, forbs comprised 9% of the total biomass production on sites with a high fire frequency vs. 29% on the low fire frequency site, with gramminoids accounting for the remainder. Although interannual variations in peak biomass of the grasses was strongly correlated with environmental variables related to water availability, there were no similar relationships for forbs, suggesting that production of forbs and grasses responded to interannual variations in climate in different ways. Multivariate analysis of climatic controls on growth rates of grasses and forbs yielded similar results. Although forbs had low biomass and absolute growth per unit ground area in frequently burned prairie, their relative growth rates were highest in such sites. Thus, it appears that reduced growth rates of individual forbs per se do not limit forb success in annually burned prairie. Instead, direct negative effects of fire on forbs (increased mortality) may be responsible. Determinants of forb growth and productivity in unburned prairie remain unresolved.
What Do Transnational Terrorists Target? Has It Changed? Are We Safer?:

This article utilizes Bayesian Poisson changepoint regression models to demonstrate how transnational terrorists adjusted their target choices in response to target hardening. In addition, changes in the collective tastes of terrorists and their sponsorship have played a role in target selection over time. For each of four target types— officials, military, business, and private parties—the authors identify the number of regimes and the probable predictors of the events. Regime changes are tied to the rise of modern transnational terrorism, the deployment of technological barriers, the start of state sponsorship, and the dominance of the fundamentalists. The authors also include two sets of covariates—logistical outcome and victim’s nature—to better explain the dynamics. As other targets have been fortified and terrorists have sought greater carnage, private parties have become the preferred target type. In recent years, terrorists have increasingly favored people over property for all target types. Moreover, authorities have been more successful at stopping attacks against officials and the military, thereby motivating terrorists to attack business targets and private parties.
Intraperitoneal administration of adenosine inhibits formation of abdominal adhesions.

Purpose Previously we demonstrated that peritoneal lavage with high concentrations of adenosine (1 mM) provides pharmacologic levels of adenosine in the intestines without elevating adenosine levels in the systemic circulation and without causing systemic hemodynamic effects (Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics 2000; 14:1371-80). Because adenosine can be safely administered into the peritoneal cavity, and because it inhibits fibroblast proliferation and collagen production and inflammation and enhances angiogenesis, we tested the hypothesis that adenosine applied into the abdominal cavity safely and effectively reduces formation of abdominal adhesions. Methods To test this hypothesis, in Sprague-Dawley rats, a window of right parietal peritoneum was removed and the cecum was brushed and placed next to the damaged peritoneum. After injury, rats received in the abdominal cavity either 20 ml of saline (n = 12, Saline Group) or 20 ml of 1 mM adenosine (n = 12, Adenosine 1X Group; and n = 12, Adenosine 4X Group). At 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery, rats received by intraperitoneal injection either 10 ml of saline (Saline Group and Adenosine 1X Group) or 10 ml of 1 mM adenosine (Adenosine 4X Group). Results After 14 days, the degree of adhesion formation was scored (0 to 4) by a blinded observer. Animals tolerated the adenosine treatments without signs of discomfort or distress. The adhesion scores were 2.6 +/- 0.34, 1.7 +/- 0.40, and 0.74 +/- 0.29 in the Saline, Adenosine 1X, and Adenosine 4X groups, respectively (P = 0.0035, Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance). Conclusion Peritoneal administration of 1 mM adenosine safely and effectively reduces adhesion formation.
Variable upper and lower crop water stress index baselines for corn and soybean

Upper and lower crop water stress index (CWSI) baselines adaptable to different environments and times of day are needed to facilitate irrigation scheduling with infrared thermometers. The objective of this study was to develop dynamic upper and lower CWSI baselines for corn and soybean. Ten-minute averages of canopy temperatures from corn and soybean plots at four levels of soil water depletion were measured at North Platte, Nebraska, during the 2004 growing season. Other variables such as solar radiation (R s ), air temperature (T a ), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (u), and plant canopy height (h) were also measured. Daily soil water depletions from the research plots were estimated using a soil water balance approach with a computer model that used soil, crop, weather, and irrigation data as input. Using this information, empirical equations to estimate the upper and lower CWSI baselines were developed for both crops. The lower baselines for both crops were functions of h, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), R s , and u. The upper baselines did not depend on VPD, but were a function of R s and u for soybean, and R s , h, and u for corn. By taking into account all the variables that significantly affected the baselines, it should be possible to apply them at different locations and times of day. The new baselines developed in this study should facilitate the application of the CWSI method as a practical tool for irrigation scheduling of corn and soybean.
A 2.7-mW 2-MHz Continuous-Time $\Sigma \Delta$ Modulator With a Hybrid Active–Passive Loop Filter

In this paper, passive continuous-time (CT) Sigma Delta modulators are briefly reviewed and compared with conventional active CT Sigma Delta modulators. A fifth-order CT Sigma Delta modulator with a hybrid active-passive loop filter is realized with only three active integrators. The hybrid CT Sigma Delta modulator is robust to the excess loop delay, clock jitter, and RC product variations. The prototype chip is designed in a 0.25- mum CMOS technology targeting for GPS or WCDMA applications. The experimental results show that the prototype Sigma Delta modulator achieves a 68-dB dynamic range and a - 75 dB IM3 over a 2-MHz bandwidth with a 150-MHz clock, consuming 1.8 mA from a 1.5-V supply.
TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE AND THE MALE CLIMACTERIC1

THE QUESTION of the male climacteric has long been of interest. For many men such a period does not become manifest, while in others it appears as absence of libido or as a depressive melancholia. That men have involutional melancholia can be confirmed by psychiatrists, for most institutions caring for mental cases have had these patients. Werner (1) gives a very adequate description of the male climacteric, in which he states: “The climacteric disturbance may be so severe in some men that they become despondent and develop a psychosis with thoughts of self-destruction. It is very probable that many men have committed suicide and no one could understand the reason for their having done so.” The term “male climacteric” is being widely used at present, both in the clinic and the experimental laboratory. Because of such usage we here subscribe to the term, but in a limited way.
Job Insecurity: Toward Conceptual Clarity

A model is presented that summarizes existing knowledge concerning job insecurity, points at its deficiencies, and identifies further research needed to understand the nature, causes, and consequences of this increasingly important phenomenon. Such knowledge is crucial because job insecurity is a key element in a positive feedback loop that accelerates organizational decline.
A Traveling-Wave Directional Filter

A new type of microwave filter is presented in which resonance occurs in the form of a traveling wave rather than in the conventional form of a standing wave. This device is a constant-resistance circuit, and therefore presents a very low input vswr. Formulas for loaded Q and insertion loss are given. Experimental results verify the theoretical approach. This filter, which is constructed of a transmission-line loop and two directional couplers, finds application in multiplexing filters as well as in matched band-pass and band-rejection filters.
Optimal Treatment Strategies for Patients With Hypertension and Diabetes: Are Effects on Metabolism Important?

See related article, pp 776–783 Ruggenenti et al1 conducted a multicenter randomized, controlled 3-arm trial in 380 hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without albuminuria to examine whether treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor alone, an ACE inhibitor with a third generation calcium channel blocker, or placebo, would ameliorate target organ complications over a period of 3 years. At baseline, measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was well preserved at ≈100 mL/min per 1.73 m2 in each group. Urinary albumin excretion was minimal (≈5 to 6 μg/min), and >10% of the patients had no evidence of microalbuminuria. The primary plan of this study was to evaluate whether different forms of antihypertensive treatment would impact changes in measured GFR over time in patients with minimal or no evidence of diabetic kidney disease. Given the diminished likelihood that the different antihypertensive treatments could measurably affect kidney function at such an early stage of diabetes mellitus, the investigators also considered other biomeasures of diabetic complications, such as cardiovascular events, retinopathy, and neuropathy progression. Even so, it was a bold plan to evaluate the possibility of treatment effects at such an early stage of disease. The observations of this clinical trial are fascinating and raise some important questions about treatment. The first interesting observation was the amazingly fast loss of GFR in this population of nonproteinuric diabetic patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension, ≈4 mL/min per 1.73 m2 per year. This rate of loss of renal function is on par with the trials of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone …
Incidence of sexually transmitted infections in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected adolescents in the USA:

Little is known about the incidence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among HIV-infected vs. HIV-uninfected adolescents. This secondary analysis of a national, multisite study included adolescents aged 12–18 years who were behaviorally HIV-infected (n=346) or HIV-uninfected but at-risk (n=182). Incidence rates of bacterial STIs (gonorrhea, chlamydia [CT], and trichomonas [TV; females]) were calculated using Poisson modeling. Factors associated with incident STIs were explored using Cox proportional hazards modeling. HIV-infected vs. HIV-uninfected women had higher TV incidence (1.3 vs. 0.6/100 person-months; p=0.002). HIV-uninfected vs. HIV-infected women had higher CT incidence (1.6 vs. 1.1/100 person-months; p=0.04). Among women, demographic, behavioral, and HIV-related factors were associated with incident STIs. Among men, there were no differences in incident STIs. In this first analysis comparing STI incidence between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected adolescents, bacterial STI incidence among women significantly differed by HIV status, and factors associated with incident STIs varied by STI and HIV status.
Space storable propulsion components development

The current development status of components to control the flow of propellants (liquid fluorine and hydrazine) in a demonstration space storable propulsion system is discussed. The criteria which determined the designs for the pressure regulator, explosive-actuated valves, propellant shutoff valve, latching solenoid-actuated valve and propellant filter are presented. The test philosophy that was followed during component development is outlined. The results from compatibility demonstrations for reusable connectors, flange seals, and CRES/Ti-6Al4V transition tubes and the evaluations of processes for welding (hand-held TIG, automated TIG, and EB), cleaning for fluorine service, and decontamination after fluorine exposure are described.
Environmental Prediction Markets

This chapter explores the use of prediction markets to generate, collect, and process information relating to a variety of environmental problems. Prediction markets, artificially constructed markets for contracts for contingent payoffs, have been used to generate projections of future conditions and outcomes in a variety of different settings. Prediction markets provide incentives for individuals to bring private and decentralized information into the marketplace through trading. This chapter proposes that prediction markets could be applied to a number of environmental problems that suffer from poor information pertaining to the causes and severities of the problems or pertaining to solutions to the problems. The general form of the proposal is a two-part instrument consisting of (1) a unitary environmental tax that is indexed to the amount of environmental harm, and (2) a cap-and-trade system of permits to pollute in the future that can be redeemed in lieu of paying the tax. The amount of the tax would be indexed each year to one or more non-manipulable environmental conditions reflecting the degree of environmental harm. This cap-and-trade system is the prediction market, and indexed tax is the measurement of the future conditions for which predictions are needed. The tradable permits to emit in the future are essentially unitary exemptions from the future environmental tax, and prices for these permits should largely reflect market expectations of the future tax level. By linking the price of permits to the future tax, and by linking the future tax to future environmental conditions, this instrument solicits and processes information and expectations of future environmental conditions.
Forest Nutrient Cycling: Influence of Acid Precipitation

Acid precipitation is defined as rain or snow having a pH of less than 5.6. The pH parameter is a measurement of the difference in hydrogen ion activity between an unknown solution and a standard buffer of assigned pH value. Upon ionization water yields hydrogen and hydroxyl ions. When the activity of these ions is equal, water is neutral and the pH recorded will be 7. At pH values below 7 water becomes increasingly acid, and above 7 increasingly alkaline. In the absence of air pollutants, the pH of precipitation is presumed to be dominated by carbonic acid formed from ambient carbon dioxide, which produces a pH of approximately 5.6–6.0. The pH of precipitation presently falling in North and Central Europe and in the northeastern United States and adjacent portions of Canada is commonly in the range of 3–5.5. Individual storm events have been recorded with pH values between 2.0 and 3.0.
Do Underwriters Collaborate with Venture Capitalists in Ipos? Implications and Evidence

We test for potential collaboration between underwriters, venture capitalists, and other major owner managers in initial public offerings (IPOs). We find that VCs who are more loyal and tolerate higher underpricing receive long-term marketing support and favorable analyst revisions, allowing them to exit at high prices. Cooperating underwriters receive repeat business and more profits from allocating underpriced shares. The end of this extended support coincides with heavy insider selling and significantly negative abnormal returns. VCs enforce cooperation by switching lead underwriters when favors are not returned. Our collaboration hypothesis resolves some previously surprising findings regarding underpricing, long-term underperformance, insider trading patterns, and analyst research.
MR Imaging–Guided Attenuation Correction of PET Data in PET/MR Imaging

Attenuation correction (AC) is one of the most important challenges in the recently introduced combined PET/magnetic resonance (MR) scanners. PET/MR AC (MR-AC) approaches aim to develop methods that allow accurate estimation of the linear attenuation coefficients of the tissues and other components located in the PET field of view. MR-AC methods can be divided into 3 categories: segmentation, atlas, and PET based. This review provides a comprehensive list of the state-of-the-art MR-AC approaches and their pros and cons. The main sources of artifacts are presented. Finally, this review discusses the current status of MR-AC approaches for clinical applications.
Observations of Nuclei in Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

(1987). Observations of Nuclei in Vesicular-Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi. Mycologia: Vol. 79, No. 2, pp. 331-333.
Restructuring of Octanethiolate and Dialkyldithiocarbamate Monolayers in the Formation of Sequentially Adsorbed Mixed Monolayers

Two-component octanethiolate-dialkyldithiocarbamate (DTC) monolayers were formed on Au(111) surfaces and studied using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Octanethiolate monolayers exposed to DTC in solution results in the erosion of octanethiolate domain boundaries and areas along terrace step edges and the insertion of DTC into these areas; this is consistent with the broad literature of substitution in alkanethiolate monolayers. Conversely, a DTC monolayer exposed to octanethiol results in displacement of DTC and the eventual formation of ordered octanethiolate domains. The effects of temperature, solution concentration, and deposition time are investigated.
Labor unions and immigration policy in France

The majority of French unions favored restrictionist immigration policy measures in the interwar period. In contrast, French unions have adopted more nuanced policy preferences in recent years, despite high unemployment levels. While they continue to favor some restrictionist measures, they have modified their positions with respect to a number of aspects of French immigration policy and have opposed some restrictionist measures considered or adopted by various French governments in the 1980s and 1990s. This study seeks to understand this multidimensional approach of unions and to account for the variation in preferences of unions at those times when unemployment hit in the interwar period and in recent years. The study asks to what extent the explanation is enhanced by considering changing union assumptions on the ability of the state to control effectively migration due to economic internationalization. The data suggest that this theme helps to explain union immigration policy preferences in recent years, although a thorough explanation also requires considering other causes
Concentration of Serum Protein Following a Singale Severe Hemorrhage in the Fasting Dog

Numerous observations have been made on the fall in serum protein immediately following hemorrhage (particularly plasmapheresis), and its subsequent rise. According to one view, this rise is ascribed to regeneration of new serum protein, presumably from amino-acids which were absorbed from the intestinal tract or mobilized from various tissues, notably the liver and muscle. According to another view, the rise of serum protein is due to the direct entrance of protein from a “body store”. This “body store” is apparently different from that contained in the various tissue fluids and lymph which furnish a ready source of fluid, but contain only 1% of protein, which is but one-seventh of its concentration in normal blood plasma.There is general agreement regarding the fall in serum protein which follows a severe hemorrhage. Accompanied as it is by a fall in the red cell count, the process is obviously one of dilution whereby the fluid stores of the body, poor in protein, enter the blood stream in the attempt t...
Nanocomposite Teflon AF 2400 films as tunable platforms for selective transport.

The performance of polymeric film-based sensors, separations, including extractions, depends on solute transport rates and selectivity. The membrane’s chemical composition, its state (e.g, crystalline, glassy, rubbery), and its fractional free volume are all important in defining performance attributes. Other properties of films important in sensors are robustness in the environment, chemical inertness and biocompatibility, thermal stability, and optical transparency. With the long-term goal of selective transport/extraction based on molecular recognition, we have focused on fluorous media such as Teflon AF 2400. We present a novel approach to create nanocomposite Teflon AF 2400 films with the polymer in different states to facilitate permeation and fluorous selectivity in liquid phase transport. Films cast from stable suspensions of the fluorocarbon polymer Teflon AF 2400 (Tg ∼ 240 °C), fluoroalkylsilane-modified solid, low polydispersity silica nanoparticles (FNPs: 116 nm diameter), and with or without ...
Radiological evaluation of interstitial lung disease.

Purpose of reviewChest radiograph, computed tomography and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) are an integral part in the diagnosis and evaluation of diffuse interstitial lung disease (DILD) and are reviewed briefly. This review then delves into the burgeoning interest associated with enhanc
Information Security Level Assessment Based on Integrated Platform

With the continuous improvement of the integration level of the power system, the information security risks it facing increased contrast, how to comprehensive evaluate information security of integrated platform becomes the key issue to improve the level of business applications. Aiming at complex system architecture for the integration of information integrated platform, this paper studies information safety assessment index system modeling using Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process(FAHP) and improved D-S evidence theory,puts forward a set of information security integrated platform rating system. It takes a regional of Guangdong province metering automation system for instance, to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the information security level assessment system.
The Factor and Analysis Affecting the Charge Standard Establishment in High Education School

The student in the high education school the charges establishment is subjected to the traditional factor,the thought idea factor,international factor of political factor,economic factor,the history cultural etc.the influence of various factor,carried on the analysis of the system and study,inquiry into to the influence of the economic factor,undertook the ability and livinged to all develop the cost both side to elaborate that the high school practices the possibility of the charges in a specific way in all its bearingly,charged to provide the worth foundation for reasonable list price in high education school.
Epidemiological analysis on malaria in Dalian city from 2010 to 2012

Objective The study was aimed to analyze the epidemiologicalcharacteristics ofmalaria in Dalian, and provide scientific basis for prevention and control. Methods Malaria data derived from china information system for disease control and prevention from 2010 to 2012 was analyzed, and descriptive study was done according to malaria case report of Dalian. Results Thirty-five malaria cases were reported in Dalian from 2010 to 2012. Among those cases, 33 cases were reported by laboratory diagnosis, while two cases were reported by clinicaldiagnosis. The male to female ratio for the infected person was 34: 1. The average age of infected person was 38. Allofthe malaria cases were imported, and 34 cases were imported from Africa, accounting for 94.44%(34/35). The infected person living in Wafangdian district, Pulandian district, Zhuangheshi district, and Changhaixian district accounted for65.71%(23/35). The median interval time for symptom to appear following diagnosis was five days, and only five patients(14.29%)werediagnosed within 24 hours. Thirtycases(85.71%)werereported bymunicipalmedicalinstitutions. Two cases(5.71%)were reported by county level medical institutions. Conclusion In order to avoid fatal cases and local spreading risk, it is necessary to enhance the training associated with malaria, improve the malaria diagnostic ability of medical institutions at the county level, and strengthen the malaria surveillance and health education for those returned from malaria-endemic areas.
Divergent Perspectives and Contested Ecologies: Three Cases of Land-Use Change in Calaveras County, California

Amenity migration and associated exurbanization are changing the ways that rural areas are viewed, used, and managed, shifting the landscapes and social norms of places along the rural–urban interface. As such, exurbia, that particular form of growth or development that occupies the edges and borders between rural and urban spaces and places, is significant not just for its spatial patterns, but also for its characteristic social, cultural, and political dynamics. The functional shifts to land and society occurring in exurbia make understanding environmental management regimes both challenging and critical as the implications for land-use change in the exurban context are multiple and profound. In an effort to guide and frame these ongoing analyses, I develop and apply the concept of contested ecologies, wherein disagreements over the meaning, values, and/or function of land or resources lead to contrasting perspectives of a particular place, environment, or landscape. In this paper, I present three cases of land-use change in Calaveras County, California, and their contested ecologies, focusing, in particular, on the policy and political dimensions of the case of the Trinitas golf course. The cases serve to demonstrate the ecological consequences of various land-use debates. I conclude with an evaluation of the significance of divergent environmental and ideological perspectives for land-use decision-making and environmental management in the context of contested ecologies along the rural–urban edge.
Genetics Aware Clinical Decision Support

Abstract More extensive electronic clinical decision support (CDS) will be required to support the adoption of genetic information in healthcare. This support is needed to help clinicians track and interpret genetic results that may remain relevant throughout a patient’s lifetime, apply evolving genetic knowledge, obtain just-in-time reference information on demand, effectively use pharmacogenomics to guide drug ordering and generally manage the increasing amounts information these tests are generating. Passive, active, and asynchronous CDS strategies are required to achieve these objectives. Multiple challenges must be overcome to improve genetic CDS. Genetic results must be transferred to electronic health records (EHRs) in a format that can be used by CDS, rules and displays must be developed, and the clinician workflow must be carefully considered as support is introduced (Table 14.1). Progress will depend on cross-industry collaborations surrounding standards and best practices, the augmentation of the EHR using infobuttons and pretest, posttest, and knowledge alerts.
Using the Sand Tray to Facilitate Client Creativity: A Strengths Focused Approach to Adolescent Depression

ABSTRACTInterventions incorporating the sand tray are presented as a tool for facilitating creative solutions in adolescent clients presenting with depression. The authors describe how interventions using the sand tray promote client strengths and provide a tool for adolescent clients to better understand their depressive symptoms, identify triggers, and practice coping skills. Attention will be given to how these interventions can be used across counseling perspectives including cognitive-behavioral, narrative, and psychodramatic approaches. The intervention is described and the authors present a case study of its use with an adolescent client experiencing significant levels of depression.
Hyper-heuristic general video game playing

In general video game playing, the challenge is to create agents that play unseen games proficiently. Stochastic tree search algorithms, like Monte Carlo Tree Search, perform relatively well on this task. However, performance is non-transitive: different agents perform best in different games, which means that there is not a single agent that is the best in all the games. Rather, some types of games are dominated by a few agents whereas other different agents dominate other types of games. Thus, it should be possible to construct a hyper-agent that selects from a portfolio, in which constituent sub-agents will play a new game best. Since there is no knowledge about the games, the agent needs to use available features to predict the most suitable algorithm. This work constructs such a hyper-agent using the General Video Game Playing Framework (GVGAI). The proposed method achieves promising results that show the applicability of hyper-heuristics in general video game playing and related tasks.
Limitations on the compensation of gamete donors: a public opinion survey

Objective To determine public opinion on gamete donor compensation. Design Cross-sectional web-based survey. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) A nationally representative sample of 1,427 people in the United States. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Support for the compensation of gamete donors. Results Of 1,427 respondents, 51 (4%) disagreed with use of IVF for any indication, and 232 (16%) believed that oocyte and/or sperm donation to be always unacceptable. Of the remaining 1,185 respondents, 953 (80%) supported and 41 (4%) opposed paying sperm donors; 1,063 (90%) supported and 24 (2%) opposed paying oocyte donors. Of respondents, 90% believed that appropriate compensation for one cycle of oocyte donation should be less than $10,000. A total of 559 (47%) supported a limit on sperm donor compensation and 544 (46%) supported a limit on oocyte donor compensation. Individuals who had personal knowledge of someone with infertility or who used assisted reproductive technology (ART), and Republicans compared with Democrats, were more likely to support limits on both oocyte and sperm donor compensation. Divorced compared with married respondents were less likely to support limits on gamete donor compensation. Men were less likely to support limits on sperm donor compensation. Conclusions Most respondents in a nationally representative cohort support compensating gamete donors. Although most do not support limits on gamete donor compensation, most agree the appropriate payment for one cycle of oocyte donation is in line with former American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines.
Perceived Parental Legitimacy as a Moderator of Parent−Child Communication’s Effects on Latina/o Adolescent Substance Use

ABSTRACTUtilizing primary socialization theory (PST) and longitudinal survey data from 381 Latina/o sixth- through eighth-grade students, we hypothesized that four types of parent anti-substance use messages (i.e., parents’ own past substance use, religious beliefs, respect for family, and peer resistance) would discourage Latina/o students’ substance use, particularly when the students perceived their parents’ anti-substance use messages were legitimate. The results supported moderation. For Latina/o students who thought that their parents’ anti-substance use messages were legitimate, many of the anti-substance use messages were negatively related to substance use, but the associations were positive or nonsignificant for Latina/o students who thought that their parents’ anti-substance use messages were not legitimate. The findings extend past work on PST and anti-substance use parent−child communication, highlighting the importance of perceived legitimacy and message content.
Interpreting multiscale domains of tree cover disturbance patterns in North America

Abstract Spatial patterns at multiple observation scales provide a framework to improve understanding of pattern-related phenomena. However, the metrics that are most sensitive to local patterns are least likely to exhibit consistent scaling relations with increasing extent (observation scale). A conceptual framework based on multiscale domains (i.e., geographic locations exhibiting similar scaling relations) allows the use of sensitive pattern metrics, but more work is needed to understand the actual patterns represented by multiscale domains. The objective of this study was to improve the interpretation of scale-dependent patterns represented by multiscale domains. Using maps of tree cover disturbance covering North American forest biomes from 2000 to 2012, each 0.09-ha location was described by the proportion and contagion of disturbance in its neighborhood, for 10 neighborhood extents from 0.81 ha to 180 km2. A k-means analysis identified 13 disturbance profiles based on the similarity of disturbance proportion and contagion across neighborhood extent. A wall to wall map of multiscale domains was produced by assigning each location (disturbed and undisturbed) to its nearest disturbance profile in multiscale pattern space. The multiscale domains were interpreted as representing two aspects of local patterns – the proximity of a location to disturbance, and the interior-exterior relationship of a location relative to nearby disturbed areas.
Immunization of mice with Borrelia burgdorferi lp54 gene encoded recombinant proteins does not provide protection against tick transmitted infectious challenge

The Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface membrane proteins BBA65, BBA66, BBA69, BBA70, and BBA73 were tested for their ability to confer protection against B. burgdorferi infection challenge. Mice were immunized with recombinant forms of the proteins singly or in combinations. Following initial protein inoculation and booster injections, seroconversion was confirmed prior to B. burgdorferi challenge by tick bite. Despite mice having high antibody titers for each antigen, no significant protections against the challenge infections were observed. These results demonstrate that these recombinant proteins were not protective and reflects the challenges confronted to identify effective novel vaccine candidates for Lyme disease.
NLRP3, keep it down so we can hear

A gain-of-function mutation in NLRP3 is associated with cochlear inflammation and hearing loss.
Re-thinking floor mat design from an ergonomics perspective: Can a two-part mat system reduce biomechanical loads during normal mat handling tasks?

Abstract Floor mats are commonplace in commercial buildings, particularly in entry ways. These mats are routinely handled by delivery personnel as the mats are picked up for cleaning and clean mats are deployed. A new two-part mat design, which eliminates the need to move the rubber base during mat change operations, was hypothesized to reduce the physical demands on delivery personnel. Electromyographic data from back and shoulder muscles and spinal kinematics were obtained as 12 volunteers simulated mat selection, mat deployment, and mat pick-up tasks. Other factors considered in this study included mat size, pick-up method, and mat textile orientation during deployment. Results indicated that the two-part design reduced muscle activation levels across all tasks. Biomechanical benefits were also found when the mats were picked-up using a kick-fold as opposed to hand-fold method and when mats were deployed with the textile component rolled towards the inside of the roll.
THE SEROTONERGIC NEUROTRANSMITTER SYSTEM IN THE AFFECTIVE DISORDERS – A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF THE ANTIDEPRESSANT AND ANTIMANIC EFFECTS OF FENFLURAMINE

Abstract Antidepressant and antimanic responses to fenfluramine, a drug which is thought to preferentially affect brain serotonergic function, were examined in patients receiving a median dose of 120 mg/day. More frequent reductions in depression ratings in bipolar (5/7) then unipolar patients (1/6) were observed after 24 days of treatment. Post-treatment elevations in depression ratings occurred in the majority of the responding patients. Small but statistically significant reductions in blood pressure and pulse were also observed. Weight reductions were small and were not statistically significant. An acute, single dose (60 mg) study of the subjective effects of fenfluramine compared to d-amphetamine and placebo in sixteen depressed patients revealed no immediate differences in fenfluramine vs. placebo, while d-amphetamine had the expected activating effects. However, a delayed activating effect of fenfluramine was observed 6–8 hours after drug administration.
The Anatomy and Physiology of Olfaction and Gustation

■ The olfactory and gustatory systems rely on moleculereceptor-specific binding at specialized receptor sites to transduce afferent stimuli.