cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stratigraphic Charcoal Analysis on Petrographic Thin Sections: Application to Fire History in Northwestern Minnesota

Results of stratigraphic charcoal analysis from thin sections of varved lake sediments have been compared with fire scars on red pine trees in northwestern Minnesota to determine if charcoal data accurately reflect fire regimes. Pollen and opaque-spherule analyses were completed from a short core to confirm that laminations were annual over the last 350 yr. A good correspondence was found between fossil-charcoal and fire-scar data. Individual fires could be identified as specific peaks in the charcoal curves, and times of reduced fire frequency were reflected in the charcoal data. Charcoal was absent during the fire-suppression era from 1920 A.D. to the present. Distinct charcoal maxima from 1864 to 1920 occurred at times of fire within the lake catchment. Fire was less frequent during the 19th century, and charcoal was substantially less abundant. Fire was frequent from 1760 to 1815, and charcoal was abundant continuously. Fire scars and fossil charcoal indicate that fires did not occur during 1730–1750 and 1670–1700. Several fires occurred from 1640 to 1670 and 1700 to 1730. Charcoal counted from pollen preparations in the area generally do not show this changing fire regime. Simulated “sampling” of the thin-section data in a fashion comparable to pollen-slide methods suggests that sampling alone is not sufficient to account for differences between the two methods. Integrating annual charcoal values in this fashion still produced much higher resolution than the pollen-slide method, and the postfire suppression decline of charcoal characteristic of my method (but not of pollen slides) is still evident. Consideration of the differences in size of fragments counted by the two methods is necessary to explain charcoal representation in lake sediments.
Metabolism of haloforms to carbon monoxide. IV. Studies on the reaction mechanism in vivo

In vivo studies have been carried out in order to understand more fully the mechanism of haloform oxidation to carbon monoxide. A deuterium isotope effect on carbon monoxide production from chloroform was observed in both control and phenobarbital-treated rats. Diethyl maleate treatment decreased blood carbon monoxide concentrations produced from bromoform and chloroform and attenuated the effect of deuterium substitution on the metabolism of both compounds to carbon monoxide. Cysteine also decreased blood carbon monoxide concentrations seen after giving chloroform. A reaction mechanism similar to that proposed on the basis of in vitro data, which included a central role for dihalocarbonyl compounds in the formation of 2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, is suggested for the in vivo metabolism of haloforms to carbon monoxide. These data indicate that carbon monoxide production may be a detoxification pathway for haloforms and that both the inhibition of carbon monoxide production from haloforms and the potentiation of haloform-hepatotoxicity by diethyl maleate are due to the depletion of glutathione.
3He—4He mixture in aerogel

Abstract Results of recent superfluid fraction measurements of a 3 He— 4 He mixture in aerogel are reported. It is observed that for the mixtures at low and intermediate 3 He concentrations the critical behavior of the superfluid transition is not different from that of pure 4 He in aerogel. Evidence of phase separation between 3 He and 4 He inside the aerogel is found at low temperatures. The phase separation region, however, is detached from the superfluid transition line, thus removing the tricritical point and creating a miscible superfluid mixture that is rich in 3 He.
Thermal birefringence in freely quenched multilayered slabs of amorphous polymers: Experiment and simulation

The simulation of the gapwise distribution of the thermally-induced residual birefringence and stresses in freely-quenched PS-PC-PS and PC-PS-PC multi-layered slabs in water was carried out to calculate the gapwise distribution of the transient and residual birefringence. The modeling was based on the linear viscoelastic and photoviscoelastic constitutive equations combined with the first-order rate equation for volume relaxation. The master curves for the Young's relaxation modulus and strain-optical coefficient functions obtained earlier for PS and PC were used in the simulations. The obtained numerical results provided the evolution of the thermally-induced stress and birefringence with time during and after quenching. The predicted gapwise residual birefringence distribution in these slabs was found to be in a fair agreement with the measured results. In addition, the gapwise distribution of the thermally-induced residual birefringence in the multi-layered PS-PMMA-PS, PMMA-PS-PMMA, PMMA-PC-PMMA, and PC-PMMA-PC slabs quenched from different initial temperatures was measured. Explanations were provided for the observed gapwise distribution of the thermal residual birefringence in each layer of these slabs including the effect of the initial temperature. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:2097–2111, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
Reliability and Validity of Two Types of Objective Test Items

The 120 items in Part one provided estimates of reliability of the F and A items. Part two served as the criterion for validation of the two item classes. After answering the first part of the examination Ss were instructed to answer items in the second part as "true" or "false" and then to write the reasons for their answers. These items were ambiguous and were designed to stimulate application of general principles taught in the course. This was assumed to be related to practical application of acquired knowledge and principles, and thus to constimte a satisfactory criterion. That these items actually did elicit application of general psychological principles (see below), at least on a verbal level, was regarded as evidence supporting their adequacy. Examples of the items are: (a) "In general, it would be better for a class to meet once a week for three hours than to meet three times a week for 'This is based on a graduate research project performed by the author at Louisiana State University. The author wishes to thank Linda G. Cieutat for help with the statistical analyses, and Irwin A. Berg and Robert Thompson for providing Ss.
Maternal psychological adjustment to the birth of an infant weighing 1,500 grams or less**

Guided by a transaclional stress and coping model, within-group processes associated with the psychological adjustment of 90 mothers with a very low birthweight infant (VLBW; ≤ 1,500 gms) were assessed. The rates of significant psychological distress varied from 48% at the time of birth, to 33% at 3 to 6 weeks postpartum, to 41 % at 6 months corrected age. Furthermore, there was only 53% stability in the classification of mothers as high or low distress across the three assessment times. There was also considerable change in processes hypothesized to mediate maternal adjustment. Over the course of their infant's first 6 months, mothers perceived less stress related to the infant but more stress associated with daily hassles and less family support and more conflict. In particular, support was provided for the mediational role of the stress of daily hassles, efficacy expectations, coping methods, and family functioning in maternal adjustments.
Identification of novel targets for breast cancer by exploring gene switches on a genome scale

Background An important feature that emerges from analyzing gene regulatory networks is the "switch-like behavior" or "bistability", a dynamic feature of a particular gene to preferentially toggle between two steady-states. The state of gene switches plays pivotal roles in cell fate decision, but identifying switches has been difficult. Therefore a challenge confronting the field is to be able to systematically identify gene switches.
What am I doing?: automatic construction of an agent's state-transition diagram through introspection

Infrastructures for implementing agent architectures are currently unaware of what tasks the implemented agent is performing. Such knowledge would allow the infrastructure to improve the agent's autonomy and reliability. For example, the infrastructure could detect abnormal system states, predict likely faults and take preventive measures ahead of time, or balance system load based on predicted computational needs. In this paper we introduce a learning algorithm to automatically discover a state-transition model of the agent's behavior. The algorithm monitors the communication between architectural components, in the form of function calls, and finds the frequencies at which various functions are polled. It then determines the states according to what polling frequencies are active at any time. The two main novel features of the algorithm are that it is completely unsupervised (it requires no human input) and task-agnostic (it can be applied to any new task or architecture with minimal effort).
Vector analysis of optical dielectric waveguide bends using finite-difference method

A full-vectorial analysis of optical dielectric waveguide bends using the finite-difference method has been developed. The formulation was based on the transverse electric field components, E/sub r/ and E/sub z/. To set up the boundary conditions at each dielectric interface, the continuity of E/sub /spl theta//, H/sub /spl theta//, and the tangential component of the electric field, and the discontinuity of the normal component of the electric field were satisfied. The finite-difference scheme was modified to satisfy these boundary conditions. The results of the analysis using the current method is compared with previous results. The optimal offset for 90/spl deg/ bends was obtained, and the losses for these optimal bend structures are also presented.
Sound assemblage for navigating distributed information

Presents techniques for using sound to search information space. The authors are concerned with continuous display of auditory feedback in the human computer interface, recognizing an observer plays an important role in becoming engaged with messages from the interface. Three aspects of auditory signals are discussed: spatial attributes, spectral identifiers, and sequences of patterns. Two interface implementations are discussed, involving granular synthesis of sound and musical element transformation. The authors introduce the use of topological characteristics of an information space and navigation using alpha shapes. The authors conclude with a method for encoding sounds as synthesis instructions to achieve low latency interactive sound across computer networks.
Cultural Policy: Definitions and Theoretical Approaches

(2006). Cultural Policy: Definitions and Theoretical Approaches. The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society: Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 319-330.
Energy efficient data collection in distributed sensor environments

Sensors are typically deployed to gather data about the physical world and its artifacts for a variety of purposes that range from environment monitoring, control, to data analysis. Since sensors are resource constrained, often sensor data is collected into a sensor database that resides at (more powerful) servers. A natural tradeoff exists between the sensor resources (bandwidth, energy) consumed and the quality of data collected at the server. Blindly transmitting sensor updates at a fixed periodicity to the server results in a suboptimal solution due to the differences in stability of sensor values and due to the varying application needs that impose different quality requirements across sensors. We propose adaptive data collection mechanisms for sensor environments that adjusts to these variations while at the same time optimizing the energy consumption of sensors. Our experimental results show significant energy savings compared to the naive approach to data collection.
PETRA: Performance Evaluation Tool for Modern Parallelizing Compilers

This paper describes PETRA: a portable performance evaluation tool for parallelizing compilers and their individual techniques. Automatic parallelization of sequential programs combined with performance tuning is an important alternative to manual parallelization for exploiting the performance potential of today's multicores. Given the renewed interest in autoparallelization, this paper aims at a comprehensive evaluation, identifying strengths and weaknesses in the underlying techniques. The findings allow engineers to make informed decisions about techniques to include in industrial products and direct researchers to potential improvements. We present an experimental methodology and a fully automated implementation for comprehensively evaluating the effectiveness of parallelizing compilers and their underlying optimization techniques. The methodology is the first to (1) include automatic tuning, (2) measure the performance contributions of individual techniques at multiple optimization levels, and (3) quantify the interactions of compiler optimizations. The results will also help close the gap between research compilers and industrial compilers, which are still far behind. We applied the proposed methodology using PETRA on five modern parallelizing compilers and their tuning capabilities, illustrating several use cases and applications for the evaluation tool. We report speedups, parallel coverage, and the number of parallel loops, using the NAS Benchmarks as a program suite. We found parallelizers to be reasonably successful in about half of the given science-engineering programs. An important finding is also that some techniques substitute each other. Furthermore, we found that automatic tuning can lead to significant additional performance and sometimes matches or outperforms hand-parallelized programs. Advanced versions of some of the techniques identified as most successful in previous generations of compilers are also most important today, while other techniques have risen significantly in impact. Finally, we analyze specific reasons for the measured performance and the potential for improvement of automatic parallelization.
Information Dissemination in Power-Constrained Wireless Networks

Dissemination of common information through broadcasting is an integral part of wireless network operations such as query of interested events, resource discovery and code update. In this paper, we characterize the behavior of information dissemination in power-constrained wireless networks by defining two quantities, i.e., broadcast capacity and information diffusion rate and derive fundamental limits in both random extended and dense networks. We find that using multihop relay, the rate of broadcasting continuous stream is Θ(log(n)− α 2 ) in extended networks; while direct single-hop broadcast is efficient for dense networks. Furthermore, regardless of the density, information can diffuse at constant speed, i.e., Θ(1) in both extended and dense networks. The theoretical bounds obtained and proof techniques are instrumental to the modeling and design of efficient wireless network protocols.
An implementation-focused process evaluation of an incentive intervention effectiveness trial in substance use disorders clinics at two Veterans Health Administration medical centers

One of the pressing concerns in health care today is the slow rate at which promising interventions, supported by research evidence, move into clinical practice. One potential way to speed this process is to conduct hybrid studies that simultaneously combine the collection of effectiveness and implementation relevant data. This paper presents implementation relevant data collected during a randomized effectiveness trial of an abstinence incentive intervention conducted in substance use disorders treatment clinics at two Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical centers. Participants included patients entering substance use disorders treatment with diagnoses of alcohol dependence and/or stimulant dependence that enrolled in the randomized trial, were assigned to the intervention arm, and completed a post intervention survey (n = 147). All staff and leadership from the participating clinics were eligible to participate. A descriptive process evaluation was used, focused on participant perceptions and contextual/feasibility issues. Data collection was guided by the RE-AIM and PARIHS implementation frameworks. Data collection methods included chart review, intervention cost tracking, patient and staff surveys, and qualitative interviews with staff and administrators. Results indicated that patients, staff and administrators held generally positive attitudes toward the incentive intervention. However, staff and administrators identified substantial barriers to routine implementation. Despite the documented low cost and modest staff time required for implementation of the intervention, securing funding for the incentives and freeing up any staff time for intervention administration were identified as primary barriers. Recommendations to facilitate implementation are presented. Recommendations include: 1) solicit explicit support from the highest levels of the organization through, for example, performance measures or clinical practice guideline recommendations; 2) adopt the intervention incrementally starting within a specific treatment track or clinic to reduce staff and funding burden until local evidence of effectiveness and feasibility is available to support spread; and 3) educate staff about the process, goals, and value/effectiveness of the intervention and engage them in implementation planning from the start to enhance investment in the intervention.
Broadcast channels in Estelle

Using notation consistent with the Estelle ISO 9074 International Standard, the syntax and formal semantics for a broadcast channel are presented. These semantics make precise the meaning of an intuitive concept and additionally are compatible with those of the current Estelle FDT (formal description technique). If introduced to the Estelle FDT, broadcast channels would strengthen its specification capabilities by permitting clearer formal specifications. Broadcast channels provide a foundation for a powerful synchronization mechanism. >
Comparison between experimental and calculated results on the decomposition of chemically activated alcohols

The life times of chemically activated alcohols have been determined using the high-pressure unimolecular rate parameters for thermal decomposition of alcohols from shocktube studies and RRKM calculations. They are compared with literature numbers (from insertion of 0(1D) into hydrocarbons). It is suggested that in some cases singlet oxygen carries excess energy into the hydrocarbon. The consequences of such an assumption are explored and discrepancies with previously published conclusions discussed.
Negotiation of `how to' at the cross-section of cultural capital and habitus: Young children's procedural practices in a student-led literacy group

In order to become productive members of an academic community, it is important for students to master its procedural practices. By adapting Bourdieu's concepts of cultural capital, habitus, and fi...
Parametric analysis of f-f transition intensities in trigonal Na3[Nd(oxydiacetate)3]·2NaClO4·6H2O

Abstract Optical intensity data available from axial and polarized orthoaxial absorption measurements on single crystals of trigonal Na3 [Nd (oxydiacetate)3]·2NaClO4·6H2O are analyzed in terms of a parametric model for 4f-4f transition line strengths. The model contains 12 parameters related to the electric-dipole contributions to 4f-4f transition intensities, and these parameters are used to fit calculated to empirical line strengths for 47 transitions observed in axial absorption spectra and 27 transitions observed in π-polarized orthoaxial absorption spectra at low temperature (4.2 K). The parameters obtained from these line strength fits are then used to calculate line intensities for all transitions occurring between 12000 and 39000 cm−1, and comparisons are made between simulated and observed absorption spectra over this frequency range (at temperatures between 4.2 and 300 K). The set of parameters (denoted by Atpλ) derived from our fits of 74 transition line strengths is shown to be quite adequate for simulating spectra outside the fitted transition regions at sample temperatures ranging from 4.2 to 300 K. The Atpλ intensity parameters obtained in this study for neodymium are compared to those reported previously for other lanthanides in trigonal Na3 [Ln (oxydiacetate)3]·2NaClO4·6H2O. Possible structural and mechanistic interpretations of the parameters are discussed.
Nonuniform update for sparse target recovery in fluorescence molecular tomography accelerated by ordered subsets

Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is a promising imaging modality and has been actively studied in the past two decades since it can locate the specific tumor position three-dimensionally in small animals. However, it remains a challenging task to obtain fast, robust and accurate reconstruction of fluorescent probe distribution in small animals due to the large computational burden, the noisy measurement and the ill-posed nature of the inverse problem. In this paper we propose a nonuniform preconditioning method in combination with L (1) regularization and ordered subsets technique (NUMOS) to take care of the different updating needs at different pixels, to enhance sparsity and suppress noise, and to further boost convergence of approximate solutions for fluorescence molecular tomography. Using both simulated data and phantom experiment, we found that the proposed nonuniform updating method outperforms its popular uniform counterpart by obtaining a more localized, less noisy, more accurate image. The computational cost was greatly reduced as well. The ordered subset (OS) technique provided additional 5 times and 3 times speed enhancements for simulation and phantom experiments, respectively, without degrading image qualities. When compared with the popular L (1) algorithms such as iterative soft-thresholding algorithm (ISTA) and Fast iterative soft-thresholding algorithm (FISTA) algorithms, NUMOS also outperforms them by obtaining a better image in much shorter period of time.
Origin and diversification of the L-amino oxidase family in innate immune defenses of animals

L-amino acid oxidases (LAOs), because they produce hydrogen peroxide as a by-product, function in innate immune defenses of both vertebrates and mollusks. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two major subfamilies of LAOs: (1) a subfamily including LAOs from vertebrates and mainly from Terrabacteria and (2) a subfamily including LAOs from mollusks and Hydrobacteria. These subfamilies thus originated early in the history of life, implying that their innate immune functions in vertebrates and mollusks have evolved separately. Mammalian LAOs were found to belong to three separate clades: (1) LAO1, (2) LAO2, and (3) IL4I1. Phylogenetic analysis supported the hypothesis that LAO1 and LAO2 arose by a gene duplication prior to the divergence of marsupials from placental mammals, while IL4I1 duplicated from the ancestor of the LAO1 and LAO2 prior to the divergence of tetrapods from bony fishes. Mammalian IL4I1 clustered with LAOs from bony fishes, and these molecules shared a number of unique sequence features, including both amino acid replacements and a unique two-codon deletion. It is certain such unique features may be functionally important, especially three unique amino acid replacements in close proximity to the putative active site.
Delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol inhibits macrophage protein expression in response to bacterial immunomodulators

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (delta‐9‐THC), the major psychoactive component of marihuana, on macrophage protein expression in response to bacterial immunomodula‐tors. Peritoneal macrophages of (B6C3)F1 mice receiving Propionibacterium acnes exhibited a novel protein profile when compared to resident or vehicle‐treated macrophages. In contrast, macrophages from mice treated with P. acnes in concert with delta‐9‐THC exhibited profiles for which the majority of protein species reverted to patterns seen in profiles of resident or vehicle‐treated macrophages. Treatment of the murine macrophage line P388D1 (DBA/2) in vitro with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in the hyperproduction of a subset of proteins ranging from 73 to 18 kD relative molecular weight. Coexposure of the P388D1 cells to LPS and 10−7 M to 10−5M delta‐9‐THC resulted in a dose‐related depletion of these proteins. These results suggest that delta‐9‐THC suppresses the express...
Gastric bypass oxalosis in renal transplant: clinicopathologic correlates

Background: Reports of oxalate nephropathy after gastric bypass (GB) leading to graft loss of kidneys causes concern for transplant professionals. We examined the clinical phenotype of GB related oxalate nephropathy (ON), its contribution to graft loss and propose a management strategy to mitigate graft loss in renal transplant recipients. Methods: Retrospective case series of patients who had GB surgery prior to renal transplant at a single institution were studied. Oxalate burden in renal transplant biopsies was quantified by intratubular calcium/glomeruli (Ca T/G) ratio and correlated with other clinical covariates. Results: We identified 16 GB patients; the mean BMI pre-GB was 52.5 kg/m2 (range 42-80), with a follow-up BMI of 30.9 kg/m2 (range 22-36.5) at transplant evaluation. Among 11 patients who had for cause biopsies, 3 patients had significant intra tubular allograft calcium oxalate deposition with a median time from graft to failure of 9 months. Among patients with functioning grafts, follow up creatinine averaged 1.6 mg/dl (0.9-3.4 mg/dl); median follow up was 4 years (0.5-7 years). Conclusions: The relationship between GB and ON post renal transplant is variable. The expression of ON after acute kidney injury (AKI) suggests that mitigating strategies should be directed at preventing alloimmune and other forms of AKI in addition to managing oxalate intake.
A Descriptive Analysis of Prehospital Response to Hazardous Materials Events.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the overall frequency of hazardous materials (HazMat) events in the United States and the nature of prehospital care for those exposed. The purpose of the current study was to perform a descriptive analysis of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) activations reported to a national EMS database. METHODS: Analysis of the 2012 National EMS Information System (NEMSIS) Public Release Research Data Set v.2.2.1, containing EMS emergency response data submitted by 41 states, was conducted. Mandatory data elements E0207 (Type of Response Delay), E0208 (Type of Scene Delay), and E0209 (Type of Transport Delay) contained specific codes for HazMat events and were used to identify specific EMS activation records for subsequent analysis. Overlapping data elements were identified and combined in order to prevent duplicate entries. Descriptive analyses were generated from the NEMSIS Research Data Set. RESULTS: A total of 17,479,328 EMS activations were reported, of which 2,527 unique activations involved HazMat response. Mass-casualty incident was coded for 5.6% of activations. The most common level of prehospital care present on scene was Basic Life Support (BLS; 51.1%); 2.1% required aggressive Advanced Life Support (ALS) response. The most common locations for HazMat activations were homes (36.2%), streets or highways (26.3%), and health care facilities (11.6%). The primary symptoms observed by EMS personnel were pain (29.6%), breathing problems (12.2%), and change in responsiveness (9.6%). Two percent of HazMat activations involved cardiac arrest, with 21.7% occurring after EMS arrival. Delays in patient care included response delay, scene delay, and transport delay. CONCLUSION: Hazardous materials events are rare causes of EMS activation in the United States. The majority occur in non-industrial venues and involve two or fewer patients. Scene time frequently is delayed due to multiple barriers. Cardiac arrest is rare but occurred after EMS arrival in one-fifth of patients. Martin AJ , Lohse CM , Sztajnkrycer MD. A descriptive analysis of prehospital response to hazardous materials events. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(5):466-471. Language: en
Network Games with Local Correlation and Clustering

In many contexts an individual's beliefs and behavior are affected by the choices of his or her social or geographic neighbors. This influence results in local correlation in people's actions, which in turn affects how information and behaviors spread. Previously developed frameworks capture local social influence using network games, but discard local correlation in players' strategies. This paper develops a network games framework that allows for local correlation in players' strategies by incorporating a richer partial information structure than previous models. Using this framework we also examine the dependence of equilibrium outcomes on network clustering — the probability that two individuals with a mutual neighbor are connected to each other. We find that clustering increases the provision of public goods and makes it easier for a beneficial new technology to break into a market dominated by a less preferred standard.
The Effect of State–Local Complementarity and Local Governance on Development: A Comparative Analysis from Post-War Guatemala

Summary What accounts for variation in human development levels across similar communities? Why, for example, have some equally poor, indigenous, highland communities in Guatemala made advances in health and education while others have stagnated or regressed? This paper argues that, contrary to an emerging recognition of the role of “ordinary citizens” in peacebuilding or crime reduction, human development requires the complementarity of non-state leaders and government resources. Results are demonstrated through a quantitative analysis of all of Guatemala’s 334 municipalities, combined with a qualitative analysis, including over 250 key informant interviews and focus group participants from four paired communities throughout the Western Highlands, which effectively traces the implementation of a widely acclaimed government anti-hunger program. This paper underscores the variability in local governance present across short distances in Guatemala, with dramatic influence on local development outcomes. In most communities, the role of traditional leaders and other non-state actors is increasingly crowded out by political conflicts exacerbated by growing, and shifting political party and religious affiliations. In these instances, development governance has broken down and development resources are distributed along locally derived lines of patronage versus need. Elsewhere, however, where state actors have identified and incorporated the legitimacy, informal authority, and networks of traditional leaders at the village level, the implementation of the anti-hunger program is visibly more effective. The role of local, informal leaders is pivotal in legitimizing the program, mobilizing citizen participation, and overseeing more equitable distribution of key resources. The paper concludes with an exploration of what explains variation in the quality of local governance across space and its implications for development practice.
Born Lucky? A Study of the Birthdates and Ages of Paradigm-Shifting Entrepreneurs

We studied the age of entrepreneurs at the time when they started companies that made significant contributions to the birth and growth of the micro/personal computer industry; we also looked at their birthdates. The main reason for our study was to test Gladwell’s widely disseminated assertion that paradigm changers in that industry were born between 1953 and 1955 and were 25 years old or younger when they started their ventures. In contrast to Gladwell’s sample of just three companies, Apple, Microsoft, and Sun Microsystems, and the seven entrepreneurs who founded them, our data set comprised 74 companies and 89 entrepreneurs. Unlike Gladwells’s seven entrepreneurs, all of whom were born between 1953 and 1955, our 89 entrepreneurs — including the Gladwell seven — were born between 1917 and 1965 and their average age when they started their ventures was 34.
Effect of Soil Colloids on Migration of Cadmium in Soils from Water Level Fluctuating Zone of Three Gorges Reservoir

Four kinds of typical soils such as purple soil,yellow soil,purple alluvium and grey-brown alluvium in water level fluctuating zone of the Three Gorges reservoir were used to study the effect of these soil colloids and Ca-montmorillonite on leaching of cadmium from soil columns,respectively.With the addition of the leaching solutions of cadmium mixed with the above colloids,the migration amounts of cadmium in purple soil,yellow soil,purple alluvium and grey-brown soil column were 1.18~4.96,1.05~2.37,1.10~4.33 and 1.03~3.33 times as the controls,respectively.These results indicated that these colloids can enhancethe migration of cadmium,and the migration capability of cadmium follows the order of purple soil colloid ≥ purple alluvium soil colloid grey-brown alluvium soil colloid Ca-montmorillonite yellow soil colloid.Therefore, the migration capability of colloid-absorbed cadmium is dependent on colloid type and soil column properties.
Role of lung function parameter FEF_(75) in step-down therapy in asthmatic children

Objective To evaluate the role of lung function parameter FEF75(75% forced expiratory flow)in step-down therapy in asthmatic children.Methods A total of 108 children with severe or moderate asthma received regimens including ICS plus LABA.When the asthma was in control,the lung function was tested before these children underwent step-down therapy.They were divided into two groups according to FEF75.The control conditions were compared before and after treatment.Results After step-down therapy,children with normal FEF75,compared to abnormal FEF75 group,had higher control rates,lower partially controlled and uncontrolled rates(χ2 = 12.89,P 0.05).When LABA were withdraw,the uncontrolled rate increased significantly in patients with abnormal FEF75(χ2 = 8.65,P 0.05).Conclusions FEF75 could be a good index of successful step-down therapy in severe or moderate asthmatic children.
Polyglutamine androgen receptor-mediated neuromuscular disease

An expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract at the amino-terminus of the androgen receptor (AR) confers toxic properties responsible for neuronal and non-neuronal degeneration in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), one of nine polyQ expansion diseases. Both lower motor neurons and peripheral tissues, including skeletal muscle, are affected, supporting the notion that SBMA is not a pure motor neuron disease but a degenerative disorder of the neuromuscular system. Here, we review experimental evidence demonstrating both nerve and muscle degeneration in SBMA model systems and patients. We propose that polyQ AR toxicity targets these components in a time-dependent fashion, with muscle pathology predominating early and motor neuron loss becoming more significant at late stages. This model of pathogenesis has important therapeutic implications, suggesting that symptoms arising from degeneration of nerve or muscle predominate at different points and that directed interventions targeting these components will be variably effective depending upon disease progression.
Determination of fault probabilities for ARAIM

Two critical parameters for Advanced Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (ARAIM) are the probability of satellite fault, Psat, and the probability of constellation fault, Pconst. A satellite fault is one whose root cause is only capable of affecting a single satellite; while a constellation fault has a root cause that is capable of affecting more than one satellite at the same time. This paper provides more specific definitions for each of these fault types. We describe how performance commitments supplied by Constellation Service Providers (CSPs) are used to complete the fault definitions and to estimate their probability of occurrence. Providing a precise definition of what constitutes a fault is essential so that all observers are able to agree on whether or not one has occurred. This paper is intended to lead to a framework for an open and transparent system for determining these parameters. This framework is intended to be the basis for an internationally agreed upon process for determining the fault rates that may be safely used for ARAIM.
Machine Learning Refined: Foundations, Algorithms, and Applications

Providing a unique approach to machine learning, this text contains fresh and intuitive, yet rigorous, descriptions of all fundamental concepts necessary to conduct research, build products, tinker, and play. By prioritizing geometric intuition, algorithmic thinking, and practical real world applications in disciplines including computer vision, natural language processing, economics, neuroscience, recommender systems, physics, and biology, this text provides readers with both a lucid understanding of foundational material as well as the practical tools needed to solve real-world problems. With in-depth Python and MATLAB/OCTAVE-based computational exercises and a complete treatment of cutting edge numerical optimization techniques, this is an essential resource for students and an ideal reference for researchers and practitioners working in machine learning, computer science, electrical engineering, signal processing, and numerical optimization. Additional resources including supplemental discussion topics, code demonstrations, and exercises can be found on the official textbook website at mlrefined.com
Relating dispositional mindfulness, contemplative practice, and positive reappraisal with posttraumatic cognitive coping, stress, and growth.

Objective A growing body of theoretical and empirical work suggests that mindfulness may support more positive posttraumatic outcomes by reducing posttraumatic stress (PTS) and encouraging posttraumatic growth (PTG). Positive reappraisal (PR), a cognitive coping correlate of dispositional mindfulness (DM) has also been linked with greater PTG. However, neither DM nor PR have been modeled in relation to core posttraumatic constructs such as core belief disruption, intrusive rumination, deliberate rumination, PTS and PTG. Method This study explored associations between these constructs in a sample of college students (N = 505), also investigating the impact of contemplative practice involvement on the relationships between the constructs. Results Results indicate that including DM and PR into established models of PTG increases the model's explanatory power, which distinct cognitive coping pathways connect DM and core belief disruption with PTS as well as PTG, and that contemplative practice involvement substantially alters relationships between the core PTG variables. Conclusions The present study contributes to the growing reconceptualization of trauma as linked with both positive and pathogenic outcomes, emphasizing the need to better understand how posttraumatic cognitive coping strategies contribute to more positive outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record
Applying recovery biomarkers to calibrate self-report measures of sodium and potassium in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Measurement error in assessment of sodium and potassium intake obscures associations with health outcomes. The level of this error in a diverse US Hispanic/Latino population is unknown. We investigated the measurement error in self-reported dietary intake of sodium and potassium and examined differences by background (Central American, Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican and South American). In 2010-2012, we studied 447 participants aged 18-74 years from four communities (Miami, Bronx, Chicago and San Diego), obtaining objective 24-h urinary sodium and potassium excretion measures. Self-report was captured from two interviewer-administered 24-h dietary recalls. Twenty percent of the sample repeated the study. We examined bias in self-reported sodium and potassium from diet and the association of mismeasurement with participant characteristics. Linear regression relating self-report with objective measures was used to develop calibration equations. Self-report underestimated sodium intake by 19.8% and 20.8% and potassium intake by 1.3% and 4.6% in men and women, respectively. Sodium intake underestimation varied by Hispanic/Latino background (P<0.05) and was associated with higher body mass index (BMI). Potassium intake underestimation was associated with higher BMI, lower restaurant score (indicating lower consumption of foods prepared away from home and/or eaten outside the home) and supplement use. The R2 was 19.7% and 25.0% for the sodium and potassium calibration models, respectively, increasing to 59.5 and 61.7% after adjusting for within-person variability in each biomarker. These calibration equations, corrected for subject-specific reporting error, have the potential to reduce bias in diet-disease associations within this largest cohort of Hispanics in the United States.
phi-meson production in the reaction p/sub arrow-up/p. -->. pK/sup -/K/sup +/p at 11. 75 GeV/c

15 000 events of the reaction $p_{\ensuremath{\uparrow}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p{K}^{+}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}p$ were obtained at 11.75 GeV/c using the Zero Gradient Synchrotron polarized proton beam and the Effective Mass Spectrometer. This event sample includes 1500 events of $p_{\ensuremath{\uparrow}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p\ensuremath{\varphi}p$. The characteristics of $\ensuremath{\varphi}$ production are examined. The $t$ distribution is found to be quite shallow (exponential slope parameter 3.3 Ge${\mathrm{V}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$). The cross section for $\ensuremath{\varphi}$ production is compared to that for $\mathrm{pp}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}p\ensuremath{\omega}p$ measured in the same apparatus. A ratio of $\frac{\ensuremath{\varphi}}{\ensuremath{\omega}}$ cross sections of 0.010\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002 is found, substantially larger than the value of 0.002 predicted by the Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka rule. Upper limits are set for the production of narrow states, possibly of a $\mathrm{qqqq}\overline{q}$ quark composition, decaying into $\ensuremath{\varphi}p$, ${K}^{+}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}p$, or ${K}^{+}{Y}^{*}(1520)$.
Alcohol and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Male Central Asian Labor Migrants and Non-migrants in Kazakhstan: Implications for HIV Prevention.

This paper examines the association between alcohol consumption and sexual risk behaviors (unprotected sex, multiple sex partners, sex under influence of drugs or alcohol and commercial sex) in a sample of Central Asian migrant and non-migrant laborers in the largest marketplace in Kazakhstan. We used data from The Silk Road Health Project, conducted from 2010 to 2013 with 1342 male migrant and non-migrant market workers. Participants were selected through respondent driven sampling at the Baraholka Market in Almaty, Kazakhstan. We used regression analyses adjusting for potential confounders to examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and sexual risk behavior. We found that hazardous drinking was associated with an increase in the odds of sex under the influence of drugs (aOR = 6.09, 95% CI 3.48, 10.65; p < .001) and purchasing commercial sex (aOR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.02, 4.02; p < .05). We identified potential targets for HIV interventions to reduce sexual risk behaviors among this key population.
Emerging paradigms for CS education and their implications for visual languages (Invited keynote)

Most of today's approaches to introductory computer science education reflect a 1970s view of computer science: students typically create single-threaded programs that do local IO. Some of the technologies used within these educational experiences include post-70s visual language elements like blocks to assist with the syntax of programming, but the semantics of the programming have generally remained frozen in time. Yet, the field of computer science has progressed enormously since the 1970s: multi-core computing, distributed systems, and machine learning are now ubiquitous, and have deep philosophical and practical ramifications for computer science education, including our definitions of what computational thinking is, and for how we design new programming languages, including visual languages. I will compare the current state of the art of novice programming tools and theories to the current state of computer science, and describe how new conceptual frameworks and visual programming tools could support contemporary computer science education.
Foreign bodies of the nose and ears in children. Should these be managed in the accident and emergency setting

Summary Objective This study reviews the management of children with foreign bodies in the nose or ear in an attempt to see whether these children can be successfully managed in the Accident and Emergency (A & E) Department or whether they should be directly referred to the Otolaryngology service. Methods The records of all children with a foreign body in either the nose or ear who presented to the Accident and Emergency Department at The National Children's Hospital over a 2-year period were reviewed. Results 82 children presented with a foreign body in the nose and 53 (65%) were successfully managed in the A & E Department. In contrast, of the 58 children with a foreign body in the ear only 4 (7%) were successfully removed in the A & E Department. Conclusion Most foreign bodies in the nose can be successfully removed in the Accident and Emergency Department. In contrast there is a high failure rate in removal of foreign bodies from the ear in the A & E Department and these should be referred directly to the ENT service.
Gas-liquid chromatography of fatty derivatives

The separation of fatty amines has been carried out with nonpolar substrates on solid supports of Chromosorb and Chromosorb W, which were previously treated with potassium hydroxide to overcome adsorptivity. In this manner well-resolved symmetrical peaks are obtained. Untreated supports give peaks which trail and prohibit precise quantitative measurements. Both Apiezon L on Chromosorb W and Silicone Grease on Chromosorb have proved effective, the latter at 176°C. and the former at 225°C. Relative detector sensitivity factors have been determined for the amines C8 to C18, thus permitting accurate analyses. The relative response for primary alkyl fatty amines is a linear function of molecular weight.