cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social Science Knowledge and Institutional Change

Over the last several decades agricultural economists have made major contributions to our understanding of the impact of advances in natural science knowledge on technical change and of the impact of technical change on economic growth. We have also significantly advanced our understanding of the sources of demand for and supply of technical change. Work carried out within the framework of the induced technical change paradigm has demonstrated that technical change can be treated as largely endogenous to the development process (Hayami and Ruttan 1971, Binswanger and Ruttan). We have made less progress in our attempts to understand the contributions of advances in social science knowledge to institutional innovation or of the contribution of institutional innovation to economic, political, or social change. And our knowledge of the sources of demand for and supply of institutional change remains rudimentary. In this paper I suggest an approach to thinking about the sources of demand and supply for institutional change. I then proceed to explore the use of social science knowledge, and the role of social scientists, in the design and evolution of institutional innovations. Finally, I examine the contribution of agricultural economics research and of agricultural economists to the design and evolution of the "direct payment" approach to farm price and income policy. I follow the lead of Commons and Knight and define institution to include both the behavioral rules that govern patterns of relationships and action as well as decision-making units such as government bureaus, firms, and families. The term institutional change will at times be used to refer to both institutional innovation and to changes in institutional performance.I
Praising God Online

After identifying some of the strengths and weaknesses of online social interaction, this article examines whether church practices (specifically confession of sin and communion) should ever be off...
Functional delineation of hyperprolactinemic-amenorrhea.

To account for the development of PRL hypersecretion and acyclic gonadotropin release, the separate functional activity of the pituitary and the ovary were assessed in two overlapping groups of patients with amenorrhea-galactorrhea and comparable levels of hyperprolactinemia. Group I was composed of 13 patients with a ‘probable’ microadenoma and Group II was composed of 5 patients with surgically documented pituitary PRL-secreting microadenomata. Pituitary functional capacity was determined by alternating pulses of LRF (10 μg) and TRF (200 μg)—3 doses of each. When responses in the early follicular phase (EF) of normal women were used as a reference point, there appeared to be a progressive decline in pituitary LH sensitivity (Δ max to 1st pulse) as well as reserve (net integrated release during 2nd and 3rd pulses) from Group I to Group II patients. In contrast, there was an increase in pituitary sensitivity and reserve for FSH in both groups of patients. Hence, there exists a marked reduction of the LH/F...
A COMPARISON OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND RADIOGRAPHY FOR THE DETECTION OF SMALL AMOUNTS OF FREE PERITONEAL FLUID IN THE DOG

The detection of small amounts of free peritoneal fluid in the canine patient can be a diagnostic dilemma. Ultrasonography and radiography have been advocated to detect intraabdominal fluid not detectable by physical exam. The purpose of this study was to determine the more sensitive method for detecting small amounts of free peritoneal fluid. Ultrasound examinations and radiographs were performed after increments (1 ml/lb body weight) of fluid were injected intraperitoneally. Ultrasonography detected fluid in one animal at 2 ml/lb. AH other animals had fluid detected at 3 ml/lb. With radiographs fluid could be detected with a high degree of accuracy at 4 ml/lb. The lateral view was more accurate than the ventrodorsal view in detecting fluid. The authors concluded that Ultrasonography is more sensitive than radiography and is the method of choice to detect small amounts of free peritoneal fluid.
Elastic Scattering of 22-Mev Alpha Particles

The elastic scattering of 22-Mev alpha paticles from silver, gold, and lead has been measured as a function of angle. The differential cross section has been found to follow Rutherford's equation at forward angles but at some critical angle the cross section deviates, first increasing slightly for lead and gold and then decreasing monotonically. The silver distribution shows no increase.The lead and gold data have been fitted with a modification of Blair's sharp angular momentum cut-off theory but there is no satisfactory agreement between theory and experiment for the silver data. Using this type of analysis one is able to find a nuclear radius that follows the $R={r}_{0}{A}^{\frac{1}{3}}$ law with ${r}_{0}=1.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm only if one assumes a large size, \ensuremath{\sim}2.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm, for the alpha particle.
Examining the associations between emotion regulation difficulties, anxiety, and eating disorder severity among inpatients with anorexia nervosa

Objective There is growing interest in the role of emotion regulation in anorexia nervosa (AN). Although anxiety is also hypothesized to impact symptoms of AN, little is known about how emotion regulation, anxiety, and eating disorder symptoms interact in AN. In this study, we examined the associations between emotion regulation, anxiety, and eating disorder symptom severity in AN.
Millimeter-wave complex-conductivity measurements of Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O superconducting thin films.

The first experimental determination of the complex conductivity ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{1}(T)$ and ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{2}(T)$ of superconducting oriented polycrystalline thin films of Bi-Ca-Sr-Cu-O has been made at 60 GHz. A sharp rise in ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{1}$ is observed below ${T}_{c}$. The microwave data can be fit by a model of superconducting grains nucleating in a normal conducting matrix. The penetration depth at 40 K deduced from this model is 1.3 \ensuremath{\mu}m.
Microvascular perfusion upon exchange transfusion with stored red blood cells in normovolemic anemic conditions.

BACKGROUND: Transfusions are intended to augment oxygen-carrying capacity. The ability of fresh and stored red blood cells (RBCs) to maintain microvascular perfusion and oxygen delivery to the tissue has not been directly measured. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Microvascular responses to exchange transfusion with fresh and stored RBCs after acute isovolemic hemodilution with a plasma expander were investigated with the hamster window chamber model. In-vivo functional capillary density (FCD), blood flow, and high-resolution oxygen distribution in microvascular networks were measured by noninvasive methods. RESULTS: Exchange transfusion with an RBC suspension after a 60 percent isovolemic hemodilution with dextran 70 (6% MW = 70 kDa) resulted in a hematocrit of 18 percent (5.6 ± 0.2 g/dL hemoglobin [Hb]). All other systemic variables were unchanged. Stored RBCs (28 days in citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine-1) resuspended in fresh frozen plasma matched to the Hct and Hb concentration were exchange transfused until 25 percent of the circulating RBCs were stored RBCs. Stored RBCs reduced microvascular flow and FCD by 63 and 54 percent, respectively, of the level achieved when fresh RBCs were exchange transfused. Microvascular oxygen extraction by the stored RBC was 54 percent lower than that of the fresh RBCs. The tissue oxygen levels were 3.5 and 14.4 mmHg for the stored and fresh RBCs, respectively. CONCLUSION: Circulation of stored RBCs in a hemodiluted animal resulted in significantly malperfused and underoxygenated microvasculature that was not detectable at the systemic level. ransfusion of blood to treat anemia in normovolemic patients is prescribed with the belief that it enhances oxygen-carrying capacity. Increasing hemoglobin (Hb) concentration by transfusion increases global oxygen delivery as measured by systemic variables, but little is known about whether transfusions provide an immediate increase in the oxygen delivery to tissue at the microvascular level thereby alleviating tissue hypoxia. Prior studies have shown that transfusion of stored blood is less efficacious than anticipated as critically ill patients were not able to augment their oxygen consumption. 1,2 Storage of red blood cells (RBCs) results in biochemical and physical changes that hinder their function during transfusion 3,4 and could increase risk factors. RBC 2,3-diphosphoglycerate acid (2,3 DPG) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations become depleted during storage, which decreases their ability to off-load oxygen to the tissue and hinders their flexibility reducing local tissue perfusion. 5-7 RBC fragility increases during storage accelerating the release of cellfree Hb leading to nitric oxide scavenging and subsequent vasoconstriction. 8 All these factors tend to negate the positive effect of increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity by RBC transfusion. Avoidance of unnecessary transfusion and reduction in the risk of transfusion-associated disorders requires a quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of stored RBCs T
The pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension in congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease with increased pulmonary blood flow commonly leads to the development of pulmonary hypertension and increased vascular reactivity. These serious sequelae are associated with the following two major categories of congenital heart defects: those resulting in increased pulmonary blood flow and increased pulmonary arterial pressure and those resulting in increased pulmonary venous pressure. Recent evidence that the pulmonary vascular endothelium is an important determinant of vascular tone has led to the hypothesis that endothelial injury, secondary to congenital heart disease with increased pulmonary blood flow, disrupts these regulatory mechanisms and thereby plays a role in the development of pulmonary hypertension and its associated increased vascular reactivity. In many animal models, endothelial dysfunction is a precursor for smooth muscle dysfunction, and there is an apparent progression from endothelial dysfunction to smooth muscle dysfunction as vascular changes progress. We established a chronic model of pulmonary hypertension with increased pulmonary blood flow in young lambs by placing a systemic-to-pulmonary shunt in utero. In this model, we found significant physiologic and molecular alternations of both the nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin signaling pathways, two important mechanisms by which the endothelium regulates pulmonary vascular tone. These alterations occur extremely early and precede severe anatomic changes. Early endothelial damage may contribute to the development of pulmonary hypertension and its associated enhanced pulmonary vascular reactivity.
Thaddeus Stevens: Nineteenth-Century Egalitarian

One of the most controversial figures in 19th-century American history, Thaddeus Stevens is best remembered for his role as congressional leader of the radical Republicans and as a chief architect of Reconstruction. Long painted by historians as a vindictive "dictator of Congress, " out to punish the South at the behest of big business and his own ego, Stevens receives a more balanced treatment in Hans L. Trefousse's biography, which portrays him as an impassioned orator, an indefatigable advocate of racial equality, and a leader in the struggle against slavery. Trefousse addresses the riddle of Stevens' personality - his seeming harshness toward his foes, his kindness toward the poor and powerless, his stern manner and biting sarcasm - and explores the motivations for this leader's lifelong commitment to racial equality. He offers a fascinating portrait of the man whose impassioned opposition to slavery helped move his more moderate congressional colleagues toward the implementation of egalitarianism.
Thickness of ice on perennially frozen lakes.

A simple energy-balance model for the perenially frozen lakes of Antarctica's southern Victoria Land is presented which, using the measured ablation rate of 30 cm/yr, can explain the observed ice thickness. Some speculations are presented on the ice cover that could have existed on possible former lakes in the equatorial regions of Mars.
Bioassay versus chemical analysis for chemical residues in soil: the eglin air force base experience

The analysis of soil residues by the use of bioassays and chemical analyses provided an insight into the nature of the chemical residues that persisted after the termination of the spray equipment test program in July 1970. The application of both methods proved valuable in deciding how to proceed with the environmental and ecological studies of the test site. Indeed these studies provided the foundation for the subsequent 15 years of scientific investigations of Test Area C-52. Fig 4. is an overview of the subsequent studies that occurred after the bioassay and chemical studies in 1969-1970. The Eglin Experience represents one the few available ‘classic studies’ of an entire ecosystem that has been massively contaminated with chemicals (in this case, herbicides) and followed for decades after the contamination [1].
Practical Diets for Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar) Fry and Fingerlings

(1975). Practical Diets for Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar) Fry and Fingerlings. The Progressive Fish-Culturist: Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 253-256.
The genetic basis of insecticide resistance in the house fly: Evidence that a single locus plays a major role in metabolic resistance to insecticides

Abstract Genetic evidence indicates that insecticide resistance in insects is controlled by relatively few genes. In the house fly, Musca domestica L., major resistance genes include one for decreased uptake of insecticides, three for changes at the target sites of insecticide action, and a single gene for metabolic resistance to multiple types of insecticides. The latter gene, which is located on chromosome II, interacts with minor genes located on other chromosomes. The product of the major gene for metabolic resistance appears to be a receptor protein which recognizes and binds xenobiotics, including insecticides and plant defense substances, and then induces synthesis of appropriate detoxifying enzymes.
Experimental study of wave occlusion on falling films in a vertical pipe

Experiments were conducted to study wave occlusion on falling films in a vertical pipe with aqueous solutions of glycerine with viscosities from 0.022 to 1.25 kg/(m·s). Pipe diameters were varied from 0.00635 to 0.015875 m. For each case, the critical liquid flow rate was determined at which the free falling wavy annular flow transforms into slug flow due to wave occlusion. The experimental results are correlated in terms of the liquid Reynolds number at occlusion (ReLS = 4q/πνD) and two dimensionless groups influencing the transition: the Kapitza number Ka = σ/[(νg)1/3 μ], and the Bond number Bo = ρgD2/σ. The annular-slug transition correlation was ReLS = 0.062 Ka4/3 Bo2/3 and valid in the range 0.1<ReLS <200, 0.2<Ka<55 and 7<Bo<50. Experimental results were compared to related published results, and the experimental correlation is explained qualitatively.
California households' willingness to pay for ‘green’ electronics

Abstract Concerns about rapid increases in the volume of electronic waste (e-waste) and its potential toxicity have sharpened policy makers' interest for extended producer responsibility to encourage manufacturers of consumer electronic devices (CEDs) to ‘design for the environment’. This paper examines consumer willingness to pay for ‘green’ electronics based on a 2004 mail survey of California households. Using ordered logit models, it was found that significant predictors of willingness to pay for ‘greener’ computers and cell phones include age, income, education, beliefs about the role of government for improving environmental quality, as well as environmental attitudes and behaviors, but neither gender nor political affiliation. Although most respondents are willing to pay only a 1% premium for ‘greener’ CEDs, innovation and EU directives may soon make them competitive with conventional CEDs.
Numerical simulation of underexpanded plumes using upwind algorithms

The solution of the flow characteristics of highly underexpanded plumes is presently sought by means of a high-resolution total variation-diminishing upwind scheme featuring finite-volume metrics, Roe averaging with entropy correction, and monotonic upstream schemes for conservation laws. The existing approximate factorization schemes are used both as preconditioners and in order to apply the conjugate residual algorithm. The plumes treated are axisymmetric and laminar, and for an ideal gas that is allowed to be thermally incomplete. Simulations of the SSME and SRB plumes have been successfully conducted.
One Hundred Years of Knowing: The Changing Science of Adolescence, 1904 and 2004

The practice of science as a mode of discovery is subject to change. This paper examines the “sciences” practiced by G. Stanley Hall in his Adolescence of 1904 and by contemporary researchers who study youth in 2004. After briefly reviewing the nature of Hall's empiricism, we draw on a representative sample of articles (n=182) published between 1999 and 2004 in specialty journals to analyze the interdisciplinary science of adolescence today. Results reveal that Hall was largely concerned with the conceptual and empirical description of phenomena, and he seldom offered causal explanations. In contrast, contemporary research frequently neglects description and emphasizes causal modeling. While a shift in focus from description to causation may seem a natural progression, we conclude by arguing that description is necessary even for a “mature” science. The study of adolescence needs a new regime of scientific practice that fully appreciates the value of both description and causal modeling.
Approach to insomnia in patients with dementia

Insomnia occurs in one-fourth to one-third of patients with dementia, and can lead to patient and caretaker distress and early institutionalization. An array of effects from the disease, medication, behaviors, and mood issues may play a role in influencing sleep. This perplexing issue can be handled effectively with appropriate evaluation and understanding of basic sleep-wake physiology. For most patients, appropriate timing of cues, modifying behavior, and optimizing medications can improve the patient's and caregiver's quality of life. In this article, we review signs that may help the clinician recognize insomnia early and approach the issue in a logical manner.
Loop Current Mixed Layer Energy Response to Hurricane Lili (2002). Part I: Observations

AbstractThe ocean mixed layer response to a tropical cyclone within and immediately adjacent to the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current is examined. In the first of a two-part study, a comprehensive set of temperature, salinity, and current profiles acquired from aircraft-deployed expendable probes is utilized to analyze the three-dimensional oceanic energy evolution in response to Hurricane Lili’s (2002) passage. Mixed layer temperature analyses show that the Loop Current cooled <1°C in response to the storm, in contrast to typically observed larger decreases of 3°–5°C. Correspondingly, vertical current shear associated with mixed layer currents, which is responsible for entrainment mixing of cooler water, was found to be up to 50% weaker, on average, than observed in previous studies within the directly forced region. The Loop Current, which separates the warmer, lighter Caribbean Subtropical Water from the cooler, heavier Gulf Common Water, was found to decrease in intensity by −0.18 ± 0.25 m s−1 over an appro...
ROLE OF THE ULTRASONIC SURGICAL ASPIRATOR IN GYNECOLOGY

As is true in neurosurgery and general surgery, the ultrasonic surgical aspirator is a powerful tool for the general gynecologist and gynecologic oncologist in assisting in the treatment and management of benign and malignant diseases. The physical properties of ultrasonic sound waves along with the composition of the tissues in question allow for safe, selective, and precise tissue resection. Although the ultrasonic surgical aspirator has had favorable results to date and future applications seem promising, the ultimate role of this device needs to be established with clinical trials.
Existing gap between theory and application of blind equalization

The problem of blind equalization was thought to have been solved by some `globally convergent' blind equalizers. However, the established local convergence of some blind equalizers demonstrates the possibility of ill-convergence in the true equalizer parameter space by these supposedly ideal algorithms. In this paper, we analyze the reason why an algorithm globally convergent in the combined channel and equalizer parameter space can have undesirable local convergence in the true equalizer parameter space. We demonstrate that the existing results on global convergence are implicitly based on an idealistic assumption that the equalizer is infinitely parameterized with infinite output delay. We show that despite the engineering intuition that such results should carry over to the finitely parametrized case; in reality the theory breaks down and local minima are common place. Thus, while the theories proving global convergence are elegant and positive, the reality is that for realizable systems such convergence behavior may not materialize.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Patterns of growth dominance in forests of the Rocky Mountains, USA

We used data from 142 stands in Colorado and Wyoming, USA, to test the expectations of a model of growth dominance and stand development. Growth dominance relates the distribution of growth rates of individual trees within a stand to tree sizes. Stands with large trees that account for a greater share of stand growth than of stand mass exhibit strong growth dominance. Stands with large trees that contribute less to stand growth than to stand mass show reverse growth dominance. The four-phase model predicts that forests move from a period of little dominance (Phase 1), with trees accounting for similar contributions to stand growth and stand mass. Phase 2 is a period of strong growth dominance, where larger trees account for a disproportionately large amount of total stand growth. Growth dominance declines during Phase 3 as growth of the larger trees slows. A final Phase 4 shows reverse growth dominance when the growth of larger trees is less than their proportional contribution to total stand mass. The datasets supported the expectation of reverse growth dominance in old forests of ponderosa pine, Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir, lodgepole pine, and mixed stands of aspen and conifers. Pure aspen stands did not show reverse growth dominance. An age sequence of lodgepole pine failed to show the expected Phase 2 period of strongly developed growth dominance. Future work needs to combine quantitative descriptions of patterns in growth dominance with experimental manipulations of resource supplies and environmental conditions to connect forest dynamics at the scales of individual trees, groups of trees, and stands.
Modelling communication network effect on emergency evacuation times: public vs. personal

Unexpected, catastrophic events initially result in anxiety and confusion. The congestion of pedestrians and vehicles further exacerbates the already turbulent environment. This uncertainty results in a chaotic site of victims, curiosity seekers, emergency responders, and mere transient individuals. Initial public announcements are often delayed, inaccurate, and met with skepticism and disbelief. However, interpersonal communications, although potentially less accurate, may have a greater influence on behaviour. With this in mind, an agent-based model was developed that included vehicle movement on roadways with traffic lights and stop signs, a disaster site, evacuation sites, and communication systems consisting of both public broadcast and personal communication networks. As an extension of earlier work, we explored the effect of the public announcement control variables and contrasted the results with those from a personal communication network. In addition, the model is thoroughly explored, explained, and shown to demonstrate the potential for improved site evacuation via personal communication networks, i.e., cell phones.
Application of Volterra series to the problem of self-oscillating mixer

A new approach to the nonlinear problem of self-oscillating mixer has been investigated using Volterra series. The circuit under consideration is first converted into a one-port network. The input and coupling impedances of various ports are represented by Volterra kernels generated by nonlinear current method. Advantage of this approach is that the phase relationships among signals are not required for the analysis. Also, no stability criterion testing is needed to ensure convergence to the correct solution numerically. It is computationally efficient and mathematically simple, yet reasonably accurate. Measured results with respect to RF frequency and power show good agreement with that calculated.
The simultaneous perturbation method for processing magnetospheric images

Extracting a multivariate nonlinear physical model from a set of satellite images is considered as a multivariate nonlinear regression problem. Multiple local solutions often prevent gradient type algorithms from obtaining global optimal solutions. This paper presents a method of solving this problem based on the simultaneous perturbation stochastic approximation (SPSA) algorithm. The method is applied to a problem of estimating the distribution of energetic ion populations in the magnetosphere from global images of the magnetosphere. The approach uses multiple objective functions: single image errors and the summation of square image errors. The algorithm is demonstrated on simulated energetic-neutral atom (ENA) images. Within a reasonable number of function evaluations, the process converges and reconstructs the images with a mean square error less than or equal to 0.1% of the original image. Also, the SPSA method is compared with results obtained from simulated annealing (SAN) in a single objective function setting. In the comparison study, SPSA has a 3:1 advantage over SAN in both accuracy and efficiency measures.
Respiration, dissolution, and the lysocline

[1] Here I synthesize the results of several types of measurements of organic carbon respiration and calcium carbonate dissolution rates in pelagic seafloor sediments. Measurements of pore water oxygen demonstrate that most of the respiration takes place very near the sediment-water interface, with a scale depth of a few millimeters. The remainder of the oxic respiration occurs much deeper in the sediments, with a scale depth of several centimeters. All measures of respiration from locations as disparate as the tropical Pacific and Atlantic, and the subtropical North Atlantic agree that pelagic seafloor rates of oxic respiration of organic carbon are relatively independent of depth and location, with the exception of sediments beneath the Pacific eastern equatorial upwelling zone. Calcite dissolution in seafloor sediments requires forcing by respiration-produced CO2, and rates are consistent with a first-order dependence on pore water undersaturation, solubility as determined by Mucci [1983] at atmospheric pressure, and locally variable mass-specific dissolution rate constants. Respiration-driven calcite dissolution fluxes predicted by this combination of respiration and dissolution rate expressions are significantly lower than many previous estimates. Comparison of dissolution fluxes in the oligotrophic open ocean measured by other researchers with benthic chamber incubation techniques with those predicted by this combination of rate expressions is, within stated uncertainties, in agreement in all but one case, questioning the need for complicated mechanisms such as surface buffering or authigenic precipitation to explain seafloor calcite diagenesis. Applying these kinetics to a simple one-dimensional, steady state model of the bulk calcite content and sediment accumulation rates of the sediment mixed layer yields results consistent with observations of the seafloor lysocline, the region of transition from high calcite to low-calcite sediments, on the Ceara Rise in the western tropical North Atlantic and the Ontong-Java Plateau in the western equatorial Pacific. Scenarios ignoring dissolution driven by respiration-produced CO2 in pore waters and using the high-order dependence on undersaturation and very large dissolution rate constants implied by some earlier laboratory studies do not simulate these observations. While the scheme represented here does, in fact, imply a strong shift in the locus of carbonate dissolution toward the sediment water interface as bottom-water saturation decreases, as implied by the observations of Martin et al. [2000], no simple combination of sediment transport coefficients and reaction kinetics can reproduce the observation of increasing 14C age as dissolution progresses. These results emphasize the importance of accurate knowledge of the kinetics of respiration and dissolution to interpretation of either the present-day or paleolysocline.
Slow echo: facial EMG evidence for the delay of spontaneous, but not voluntary, emotional mimicry in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Spontaneous mimicry, including that of emotional facial expressions, is important for socio-emotional skills such as empathy and communication. Those skills are often impacted in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Successful mimicry requires not only the activation of the response, but also its appropriate speed. Yet, previous studies examined ASD differences in only response magnitude. The current study investigated timing and magnitude of spontaneous and voluntary mimicry in ASD children and matched controls using facial electromyography (EMG). First, participants viewed and recognized happy, sad, fear, anger, disgust and neutral expressions presented at different durations. Later, participants voluntarily mimicked the expressions. There were no group differences on emotion recognition and amplitude of expression-appropriate EMG activity. However, ASD participants’ spontaneous, but not voluntary, mimicry activity was delayed by about 160 ms. This delay occurred across different expressions and presentation durations. We relate these findings to the literature on mirroring and temporal dynamics of social interaction.
Evaluation of the Vidas Chlamydia test to detect and verify Chlamydia trachomatis in urogenital specimens.

The Vidas Chlamydia test (CHL) is an automated enzyme-linked immunofluorescence assay for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis. Positive and equivocal results are confirmed with a blocking assay. A mouse monoclonal antibody directed against the chlamydial lipopolysaccharides was used for the test. The CHL assay is widely used in Europe, but U.S. experience with it is limited. Three clinical test sites (The Arlington Hospital, Arlington, Va., Indiana University, Indianapolis, and the University of California, San Francisco) compared CHL with tissue culture (TC) for the identification of chlamydia in urogenital specimens (2,453 females and 850 males). True positives (TP) were defined as either TC positive or TC negative and CHL positive by a positive direct fluorescent-antibody assay or PCR test. Overall prevalence was 5.5% for females, 10.3% for male urethral swabs, and 10.7% for combined male TC urethral swabs and CHL with first catch urine (FCU) specimens. Compared to TP, CHL and TC had sensitivities of 89.6 and 94.1% with female cervical swabs and 90.9 and 86.4% with male urethral swabs, respectively. CHL sensitivity was 81.2 for male FCU specimens and 77.7% for matching male TC swabs. There were relatively few false-positive results, with all specificities being >99.4%. With the blocking assay, Vidas CHL specificity was >99.7%. However, male FCU specimen sensitivity was compromised because 9.2% (7 of 76) of the TP were initially positive but were not confirmed. An improvement in the Vidas blocking assay is needed before we can recommend its use with male urine. Alternatively, one could argue that the specificity of the test is so high that a confirmatory assay is not needed. For male and female swabs, the Vidas CHL assay has a performance that is similar to that of TC.
THE UPTAKE OF INORGANIC ELECTROLYTES BY THE CRAYFISH

1. Reasons are given for believing that the uptake of Na+, Cl-, and NaCl by the crayfish occurs through the gills. 2. A crayfish in fresh water, with a Cl concentration of about 0.2 mEq./l., can) by active Cl absorption, compensate entirely for Cl lost in the urine. 3. The carbonic anhydrase activity of the gills is markedly higher than that of other tissues of the crayfish, but the equivalent CO2 output of the crayfish is far in excess of the equivalent Cl absorption per unit time and weight and thus fails to warrant the supposition that Cl absorption is of respiratory importance. 4. The carbonic anhydrase activity of the soft integument of the lobster, before and after molting, and of the hypodermis of the hard-cuticled animal is almost identical and of the same order as that of other tissues of the lobster. 5. The concentration of the electrolytes was about 7.5 mEq./l.; i.e., considerably lower than in the blood of the crayfish. Cl- can be taken up independently of the complementary cation. Na+ can be taken up independently of the complementary anion. K+ and SO4= are not taken up at all. In pure NaCl, the Na+ and Cl- are absorbed evidently largely together. Ca++ is absorbed only in newly molted animals and in animals preparing to molt but is not absorbed by hard-cuticled animals not preparing to molt. Ca++ is taken up independently of Cl- in pure CaCl2. 6. Newly molted animals absorb Ca++ at a rate exceeding that of the absorption of other absorbable ions (Na+ and Cl-) in the same equivalent concentration. 7. A crayfish utilizes the Ca++ in fresh water in the calcification of its cuticle. Since the animal does not swallow water, the Ca++ must enter through the exterior. Reasons are given for believing that, unlike Na+ and Cl-, Ca++ is absorbed directly from the exterior by the integument and does not enter the body through the gills. 8. During molting, only about 4 per cent of the raw ash and 2.3 per cent of the organic material of the old cuticle is resorbed.
Likelihood-based complex trait association testing for arbitrary depth sequencing data.

Summary: In next generation sequencing (NGS)-based genetic studies, researchers typically perform genotype calling first and then apply standard genotype-based methods for association testing. However, such a two-step approach ignores genotype calling uncertainty in the association testing step and may incur power loss and/or inflated type-I error. In the recent literature, a few robust and efficient likelihood based methods including both likelihood ratio test (LRT) and score test have been proposed to carry out association testing without intermediate genotype calling. These methods take genotype calling uncertainty into account by directly incorporating genotype likelihood function (GLF) of NGS data into association analysis. However, existing LRT methods are computationally demanding or do not allow covariate adjustment; while existing score tests are not applicable to markers with low minor allele frequency (MAF). We provide an LRT allowing flexible covariate adjustment, develop a statistically more powerful score test and propose a combination strategy (UNC combo) to leverage the advantages of both tests. We have carried out extensive simulations to evaluate the performance of our proposed LRT and score test. Simulations and real data analysis demonstrate the advantages of our proposed combination strategy: it offers a satisfactory trade-off in terms of computational efficiency, applicability (accommodating both common variants and variants with low MAF) and statistical power, particularly for the analysis of quantitative trait where the power gain can be up to � 60% when the causal variant is of low frequency (MAF < 0.01). Availability and implementation: UNC combo and the associated R files, including documentation, examples, are available at http://www.unc.edu/� yunmli/UNCcombo/ Contact: yunli@med.unc.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Tai chi improves balance in people with Parkinson's disease

Commentary on: Li F, Harmer P, Fitzgerald K, et al. Tai chi and postural stability in patients with Parkinson's disease. N Engl J Med 2012;366:511–19.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] The study by Li et al used tai chi (TC) to treat postural instability in people with Parkinson's disease. Participants, aged 40–85 years, with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease, were randomised into three groups: TC, resistance-training or stretching. All groups met for 60 min twice per week for 24 weeks. The TC programme consisted of six distinct forms that focused on balance and locomotion. The resistance programme focused on the lower extremity and trunk muscles responsible for posture, balance and gait. The stretching programme involved seated and standing stretches of the upper body and lower extremities. Outcome measures included the following: … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DNew%2BEngland%2BJournal%2Bof%2BMedicine%26rft.stitle%253DNEJM%26rft.issn%253D0028-4793%26rft.aulast%253DLi%26rft.auinit1%253DF.%26rft.volume%253D366%26rft.issue%253D6%26rft.spage%253D511%26rft.epage%253D519%26rft.atitle%253DTai%2Bchi%2Band%2Bpostural%2Bstability%2Bin%2Bpatients%2Bwith%2BParkinson%2527s%2Bdisease.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1056%252FNEJMoa1107911%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F22316445%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1056/NEJMoa1107911&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=22316445&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F18%2F1%2Fe2.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000299991300007&link_type=ISI
Increased frequency of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation induced by gastric distention in reflux patients with hiatal hernia

Abstract Background & Aims: This study aimed to determine if hiatal hernia influences vulnerability to reflux and transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (tLESR) during gastric distention in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods: Eight normal subjects and 15 patients with GERD were studied. A metal clip attached to the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) was beneath the hiatus in all control subjects. Eight GERD patients with ≥1-cm SCJ-hiatus separation were considered hernia patients, and 7 with Results: Baseline reflux was comparable among groups. Gastric distention increased the frequency of reflux by the tLESR mechanism in all groups. Controls and nonhernia patients had median increases of 4.0 and 4.5 in tLESR frequency, respectively, and hernia patients had a median increase of 9.5/h. tLESR frequency was highly correlated with the SCJ-hiatus separation ( r = 0.76; P Conclusions: Gastric air infusion was a potent stimulus for tLESR and reflux. The resultant tLESR frequency was directly proportional to the separation between the SCJ and hiatus, suggesting that the perturbed anatomy associated with hiatal hernia predisposed to eliciting tLESRs in patients with GERD. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2000;118:688-695
Software reliability with architectural uncertainties

Architecture-based software reliability analysis can provide early identification of critical components which can then be targeted for cost-effective reliability improvement of the application. However, an important challenge in conducting this analysis early in the life cycle is that it is nearly impossible to estimate the architectural and component parameters with certainty. The issue of estimating software application reliability in the presence of uncertain component reliabilities has been addressed in the previous research. In this paper we consider the estimation of software reliability in the presence of architectural uncertainties. We present a methodology to estimate the confidence levels in the architectural parameters using limited testing or simulation data based on the theory of confidence intervals of the multinomial distribution. The sensitivity of the system reliability to uncertain architectural parameters can then be quantified by varying these parameters within their confidence intervals. The illustration of the methodology using a case study indicates that the impact of the uncertainty in a given architectural parameter on the overall application reliability is determined by the inherent branching behavior of the application and the component reliabilities.
A CROSS-CULTURAL INVESTIGATION OF FACTORS INFLUENCING ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONS

This article investigates contextual and individual factors influencing environmental behaviors for the 26 countries included in the 2000 International Social Survey Programme (ISSP). Individuals in countries with better environmental quality tend to have slightly more environmental involvement, but this relationship is mediated by economic circumstances, which have a greater independent impact on environmental actions. Respondents living in wealthier countries, no matter the environmental quality, more frequently join environmental groups, sign petitions concerning the environment, and give money for environmental causes.
Suicidal Ideation and School Bullying Experiences After Controlling for Depression and Delinquency

Abstract Purpose This cross-sectional study examines differences in the frequency of suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviors across a group of verbal bullies, bully-victims, victims, physically aggressive bullies, and students not involved in bullying. Methods A large sample of middle school students (n = 661; fifth through eighth grades; ages 10–13 years of age) completed a pencil-and-paper survey that included the University of Illinois Bully, Fight, and Victim scales. Students also self-reported how often they had thought of killing themselves or deliberating hurting themselves in past 6 months, and provided information about delinquent behaviors and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Results We used cluster analysis to create bully-victim subtypes: uninvolved (n = 357), victims (n = 110), verbal bullies (n = 114), bully-victims (n = 29), and physically aggressive bullies (n = 42). Approximately 32%–38% of verbal bullies and victims, 60% of bully-victims, and 43% of physically aggressive bullies reported suicidal ideation, compared with 12% of uninvolved youth. Similarly, 24%–28% of verbal bullies and victims, 44% of bully-victims, and 35% of physically aggressive bullies reported deliberately trying to hurt or kill themselves, compared with 8% of uninvolved youth. Females in the bully-victim subtype reported particularly elevated suicidal ideation and behavior. After controlling for delinquency and depression, differences in suicidal thoughts and behaviors emerged only between uninvolved youth and the victim and bully-victim groups, but these differences were minimal. Conclusions Findings highlight that at a bivariate level, involvement in bullying in any capacity is linked to increased risk for suicidal ideation and behavior, and echoes previous literature documenting particularly strong mental health implications for bully-victims. Furthermore, this study points to the importance of considering delinquency and depression in conjunction with suicidal ideation and behaviors.
Human---robot planning and learning for marine data collection

We propose an integrated learning and planning framework that leverages knowledge from a human user along with prior information about the environment to generate trajectories for scientific data collection in marine environments. The proposed framework combines principles from probabilistic planning with nonparametric uncertainty modeling to refine trajectories for execution by autonomous vehicles. These trajectories are informed by a utility function learned from the human operator's implicit preferences using a modified coactive learning algorithm. The resulting techniques allow for user-specified trajectories to be modified for reduced risk of collision and increased reliability. We test our approach in two marine monitoring domains and show that the proposed framework mimics human-planned trajectories while also reducing the risk of operation. This work provides insight into the tools necessary for combining human input with vehicle navigation to provide persistent autonomy.
Filtration and Breakdown of Clay Clusters during Resin Transfer Molding of Nanoclay/Glass/Epoxy Composites

Dispersion of nanoclay clusters during resin transfer molding of nanoclay/glass/epoxy disks is investigated. In addition to a center-gated disk containing only 14% glass fibers, three nanocomposite disks are fabricated with the addition of 2, 5 or 10 wt% Cloisite 25A nanoclay. The spatial distribution of nanoclay clusters along the radial axis of the nanocomposite disks are characterized at two length scales. Clusters larger than 1.5mm are characterized by performing image analysis on the SEM micrographs whereas smaller nanoclay clusters are identified by wavelength dispersive spectrometry. Results obtained from image analysis indicate that nanoclay clusters are filtered out by as much as 50% in the flow direction by the glass fiber preforms. In addition, increasing nanoclay content led to higher filtration, suggesting that cluster formation is more prominent at higher nanoclay loadings. Cluster size distribution analyses revealed that the outer edges of the disks, on average, contain finer nanoclay particles. For instance, the outer edge of the nanocomposite with 2% clay contains 22% more small nanoclay clusters compared to center of the disk. Glass transition temperature, Tg, of four specimens obtained from each molded disks is characterized under oscillatory shear. Glass transition temperature of the samples are shown to increase with the nanoclay content, yielding a 40% higher Tg at 10% nanoclay loading compared to glass/epoxy composite without clay. Increasing glass transition temperature with increasing nanoclay content may be an indication of intercalation of nanoclay within the epoxy matrix.
Modeling methanogenesis with a genome-scale metabolic reconstruction of Methanosarcina barkeri

We present a genome-scale metabolic model for the archaeal methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri. We characterize the metabolic network and compare it to reconstructions from the prokaryotic, eukaryotic and archaeal domains. Using the model in conjunction with constraint-based methods, we simulate the metabolic fluxes and resulting phenotypes induced by different environmental and genetic conditions. This represents the first large-scale simulation of either a methanogen or an archaeal species. Model predictions are validated by comparison to experimental growth measurements and phenotypes of M. barkeri on different substrates. The predicted growth phenotypes for wild type and mutants of the methanogenic pathway have a high level of agreement with experimental findings. We further examine the efficiency of the energy-conserving reactions in the methanogenic pathway, specifically the Ech hydrogenase reaction, and determine a stoichiometry for the nitrogenase reaction. This work demonstrates that a reconstructed metabolic network can serve as an analysis platform to predict cellular phenotypes, characterize methanogenic growth, improve the genome annotation and further uncover the metabolic characteristics of methanogenesis.