cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Model Identification for Estimating Missing Values in Space-Time Data Series: Monthly Inflation in the U. S. Urban System, 1977–1985

Many applications- as well as theoretically-oriented scholars who study economic phenomena are interested in features of inflation. Inflation in the United States has been indexed in a variety of different ways, including with the consumer price index (CPI). Because of time and resource constraints, this index is computed for selected urban areas either on a monthly, a bimonthly, or a semiannual basis. Because of representativeness and accuracy concerns, the manner in which these statistics are computed changed in 1987. The general problem to be addressed in this paper pertains to the incomplete time series that are due to (1) bimonthly collection of data for some urban places, and (2) redefinition of the original series for all urban places. The usefulness of completing series is found in studies that, say, try to relate temporal inflation trends with spatial variations in cost of living (see, for example, cost of living data compiled by the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association, 1989).
Current Aspects of Construction Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation work suffers from wasteful attitudes, social conditions, and regulatory barriers that prevent it from reaching its potential. There are four primary ways in which rehabilitation projects are adversely affected by codes which are intended for use in new construction. Such codes tend to increase project costs 10-20%, add unnecessary project approval time, discourage feasible rehabilitation projects, and encourage payoffs to building officials. The Federal Government however, has issued draft rehabilitation guidelines designed to alleviate the negative impact building codes have on rehabilitation projects. The study conducted for this presentation shows that the management of rehab work is difficult and that many construction companies tend to shun rehabilitation. The investigation also indicates that producing plans and specifications is more time consuming, and that rehabilitation projects require more inspection and change orders compared with that of new construction. In addition, there may be a productivity decrease in rehabilitation that could possibly affect cost estimates and decrease profitability. Rehabilitation’s positive aspects, however, include conservation of resources, providing contractors with interim work during slack periods, and helping to alleviate the current housing shortage.
Profile of the bovine acute-phase response following an intravenous bolus-dose lipopolysaccharide challenge.

Our objective was to characterize further the acute-phase response following endotoxin (i.e. lipopolysaccharide; LPS) exposure in the bovine. Nine pure-bred Angus castrated males (i.e. steers; average body weight=299+/-5 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design in environmentally controlled chambers, set at thermoneutral level, to characterize the acute physiological, endocrine, immune, and acute-phase protein responses following an i.v. bolus administration of 2.5 microg of LPS/kg body weight. One day before administration of LPS, all steers were fitted with an indwelling jugular vein catheter for serial blood collection. Blood samples were collected at 30-min intervals from -2 h to 8 h relative to the LPS challenge (time 0), and serum was harvested and stored at -80 degrees C until analyzed for concentrations of cortisol, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and acute-phase proteins. Indicators of thermal status (i.e. rectal temperature, ruminal temperature, respiration rate, sweat rate, and skin temperatures) were measured at 30-min intervals from -1 h to 6 h relative to the challenge. Endotoxin exposure increased (P 0.24) by the challenge. To our knowledge, this report is the most complete characterization of the bovine acute-phase response to a bolus-dose endotoxin challenge conducted under thermoneutral conditions and should provide foundation data for future research.
CHIP regulates leucine-rich repeat kinase-2 ubiquitination, degradation, and toxicity

Mutation in leucine-rich repeat kinase-2 (LRRK2) is the most common cause of late-onset Parkinson's disease (PD). Although most cases of PD are sporadic, some are inherited, including those caused by LRRK2 mutations. Because these mutations may be associated with a toxic gain of function, controlling the expression of LRRK2 may decrease its cytotoxicity. Here we show that the carboxyl terminus of HSP70-interacting protein (CHIP) binds, ubiquitinates, and promotes the ubiquitin proteasomal degradation of LRRK2. Overexpression of CHIP protects against and knockdown of CHIP exacerbates toxicity mediated by mutant LRRK2. Moreover, HSP90 forms a complex with LRRK2, and inhibition of HSP90 chaperone activity by 17AAG leads to proteasomal degradation of LRRK2, resulting in increased cell viability. Thus, increasing CHIP E3 ligase activity and blocking HSP90 chaperone activity can prevent the deleterious effects of LRRK2. These findings point to potential treatment options for LRRK2-associated PD.
In vitro determination of normal and neoplastic human brain tissue optical properties using inverse adding-doubling

To complement a project towards the development of real-time optical biopsy for brain tissue discrimination and surgical resection guidance, the optical properties of various brain tissues were measured in vitro and correlated to features within clinical diffuse reflectance tissue spectra measured in vivo. Reflectance and transmission spectra of in vitro brain tissue samples were measured with a single-integrating-sphere spectrometer for wavelengths 400-1300 nm and converted to absorption and reduced scattering spectra using an inverse adding-doubling technique. Optical property spectra were classified as deriving from white matter, grey matter or glioma tissue according to histopathologic diagnosis, and mean absorption and reduced scattering spectra were calculated for the three tissue categories. Absolute reduced scattering and absorption values and their relative differences between histopathological groups agreed with previously reported results with the exception that absorption coefficients were often overestimated, most likely due to biologic variability or unaccounted light loss during reflectance/transmission measurement. Absorption spectra for the three tissue classes were dominated by haemoglobin absorption below 600 nm and water absorption above 900 nm and generally determined the shape of corresponding clinical diffuse reflectance spectra. Reduced scattering spectral shapes followed the power curve predicted by the Rayleigh limit of Mie scattering theory. While tissue absorption governed the shape of clinical diffuse reflectance spectra, reduced scattering determined their relative emission intensities between the three tissue categories.
Finite element analysis of interacting Vickers indentations on brittle materials

Abstract A three-dimensional finite element model for interacting Vickers indentations on brittle materials is presented. The induced damage due to double indentations is investigated using an “elastic–plastic-cracking” constitutive model that takes into account “tensile cracking and compressive yielding” behavior in ceramics. The interaction between the induced damage zones and the influence of separation distance between the indentations are assessed by considering simultaneous and sequential Vickers indentations separately. It is shown that for simultaneous double indentations, there exists an optimum separation distance that minimizes the median damage in a ceramic specimen. When the distance between the indenters is small, the combined indenter can be viewed as a single blunt indenter where the extent and severity of damage is comparable to that of a single indentation. The induced damage is found to be proportional to a brittleness parameter that characterizes the propensity for brittle cracking. When sequential indentations are considered, the damage tends to accumulate in a central region in between the two indentations and the severity of damage is significantly higher. This result is confirmed by conducting experiments on pyrex glass. The implication of these results on grinding of brittle materials, where material removal occurs due to simultaneous interaction of several grits is discussed.
Free vibration of antisymmetric, angle-ply laminated plates including transverse shear deformation by the finite element method

Abstract A finite element formulation of the equations governing the laminated anisotropic plate theory of Yang, Norris and Stavsky, is presented. The theory is a generalization of Mindlin's theory for isotropic plates to laminated anisotropic plates and includes shear deformation and rotary inertia effects. Finite element solutions are presented for rectangular plates of antisymmetric angle-ply laminates whose material properties are typical of a highly anisotropic composite material. Two sets of material properties that are typical of high modulus fiber-reinforced composites are used to show the parametric effects of plate aspect ratio, length-to-thickness ratio, number of layers and lamination angle. The numerical results are compared with the closed form results of Bert and Chen. As a special case, numerical results are presented for thick isotropic plates, and are compared with those for 3-D linear elasticity theory and Mindlin's thick plate theory.
X-ray studies of interface Fe-oxide in annealed MgO based magnetic tunneling junctions

Abstract X-ray absorption spectroscopy and X-ray scattering have been used to determine the oxidation reactions at the buried MgO/Fe interface as a result of the deposition of MgO. We confirm that Fe-oxide is present at the MgO/Fe and MgO/CoFe interfaces and amounts to less than 1 mL in thickness. The Fe-oxide is a mixture of different iron oxide phases within the ultra-thin layer which can be reduced following annealing. We observe the transformation of the interfacial oxide from a more Fe2O3-like phase to a more FeO-like phase following annealing, and that this process is most noticeable between the 200 and 350 °C annealing steps. In addition, the formation of a more bulk like MgO electronic structure following annealing was observed.
Digital preservation in a box: outreach resources for digital stewardship

"Digital Preservation in a Box" is a major activity of the National Digital Stewardship Alliance (NDSA) Outreach Working Group. This toolkit of digital stewardship outreach resources can be utilized by diverse communities as a gentle introduction to the concepts of preserving digital information.
Development of a Gas-Fed Pulse Detonation Research Engine

In response to the growing need for empirical data on pulse detonation engine performance and operation, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center has developed and placed into operation a low-cost gas-fed pulse detonation research engine. The guiding design strategy was to achieve a simple and flexible research apparatus, which was inexpensive to build and operate. As such, the engine was designed to operate as a heat sink device, and testing was limited to burst-mode operation with run durations of a few seconds. Wherever possible, maximum use was made of standard off-the-shelf industrial or automotive components. The 5-cm diameter primary tube is about 90-cm long and has been outfitted with a multitude of sensor and optical ports. The primary tube is fed by a coaxial injector through an initiator tube, which is inserted directly into the injector head face. Four auxiliary coaxial injectors are also integrated into the injector head assembly. All propellant flow is controlled with industrial solenoid valves. An automotive electronic ignition system was adapted for use, and spark plugs are mounted in both tubes so that a variety of ignition schemes can be examined. A microprocessor-based fiber-optic engine control system was developed to provide precise control over valve and ignition timing. Initial shakedown testing with hydrogen/oxygen mixtures verified the need for Schelkin spirals in both the initiator and primary tubes to ensure rapid development of the detonation wave. Measured pressure wave time-of-flight indicated detonation velocities of 2.4 km/sec and 2.2 km/sec in the initiator and primary tubes, respectively. These values implied a fuel-lean mixture corresponding to an H2 volume fraction near 0.5. The axial distribution for the detonation velocity was found to be essentially constant along the primary tube. Time-resolved thrust profiles were also acquired for both underfilled and overfilled tube conditions. These profiles are consistent with previous time-resolved measurements on single-cycle tubes where the thrust is found to peak as the detonation wave exits the tube, and decay as the tube blows down.
The effects of irrelevant stimulus dimensions on children's oddity-problem learning

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of irrelevant nonspatial dimensions varying within settings on children's performance on three- and four-position oddity problems. The presence of these irrelevant nonspatial dimensions were expected to make it more difficult to discriminate the stimulus that is odd with respect to a single nonspatial dimension. In Problems 0, 1, and 2 of both Experiments I and II, the number of irrelevant nonspatial dimensions present on a setting was 0, 1, and 2, respectively. In the four-position oddity problems of Experiment I, the number of identical stimuli present on a setting was 3, 2, and 0 in Problems 0, 1, and 2, respectively, and was inversely correlated with the number of irrelevant nonspatial dimensions present on a setting. In the three-position oddity problems of Experiment II, the number of identical stimuli present on a setting was 2, 0, and 0 in Problems 0, 1, and 2, respectively. It was concluded from the results of the two experiments that the number of irrelevant nonspatial dimensions present on a setting adversely affects children's performance on three- and four-position oddity problems. No statistically significant evidence was obtained to indicate that the number of identical stimuli present on a setting affects the rate of learning.
Solubilization and metal complexation in a reversed micellar hydroxyoxime—sulfonic acid liquid—liquid extraction system

Abstract The solubilization of 5,8-diethyl-7-hydroxy-6-dodecanone oxime (HL, the active reagent in the commercial metal extractant LIX63) by reversed micelles of dinonylnaphthalene sulfonic acid (HDNNS) in hexane has been investigated with the vapor pressure osmometry (VPO) technique. The effect of HDNNS concentration on the solubilization of HL is compared with the corresponding effect on the distribution of nickel between an HDNNS-HL-hexane organic phase and an aqueous phase containing 1.0 mol dm −3 KNO 3 at pH 1.0. For a given total concentration of hydroxyoxime, s , the number of HL molecules solubilized per HDNNS reversed micelle (i.e., (HDNNS) 7 ) decreases with increase in total HDNNS concentration. The HDNNS concentration that gives s = 3 coincides approximately with the corresponding concentration that gives a maximum in nickel distribution. It is concluded that the formation of a tris metal-hydroxyoxime complex depends on the availability of HDNNS reversed micelles that contain at least three molecules of solubilized HL per reversed micelle.
The social pregnancy interaction model: conceptualizing cognitive, social and cultural barriers to prenatal care

Although prenatal care appears to improve perinatal outcome, many women fail to seek care. Research has established the importance of removing structural barriers for women by improving financial access, establishing providers of care, and providing transportation. Such steps are essential, but not sufficient to ensure that all women receive adequate prenatal care. Individual experiences, attitudes, beliefs, social setting, and culture are important in the decision to seek prenatal care. Most research on these nonstructural barriers to prenatal care, however, has been limited by the use of inadequate instruments and retrospective and cross-sectional collection of data. More importantly, this field of inquiry lacks a comprehensive theoretical framework to guide its research agenda. In this paper, we propose the social pregnancy interaction model (SPIM), a theoretical model for predicting the utilization of prenatal care which incorporates the theory of reasoned action and the concept of social pregnancy from symbolic interaction theory. The SPIM illustrates that a woman's decision to initiate prenatal care occurs within a social, cultural, and historical context that depends on social interpretations. If validated, this model has the potential to increase our understanding of the process of initiating prenatal care, to provide much greater predictive power in anticipating the use of prenatal care, and to facilitate the development and evaluation of effective approaches to increase the early utilization and continuation of prenatal care in a variety of cultural, social, and economic settings. The model also may be useful for studying other issues surrounding pregnancy such as family planning, contraceptive behavior, infertility, and elective abortion. We conclude by framing a research agenda and posing a series of research questions that emerge from this model.
A multilevel, multidimensional undergraduate course and lab experience on embedded multimedia systems

Traditional curricular structures can be fragmented in the sense that course inter-relationships or links between theories, methodologies, and practices, are not immediately recognized by the students. The completion of the course puzzle and the integration of course knowledge usually become evident only after graduation. In this paper, we describe a course/lab implementation that has offered students a unique opportunity to experience the full spectrum of course elements, namely, fundamentals of theory, algorithmic design, hardware design and simulation, and implementation and testing on programmable logic devices all within a single framework. The course/lab design has been a collaborative effort between the Dept. of Electrical Engr. (EE) at the University of New Orleans (UNO) and the Dept. of Math and Computer Science (CS) at Barry University (BU). This has helped ensure that the course/ lab offerings can be implemented successfully in diverse environments.
The effects of brief variable foreperiods on simple reaction time

Highly practiced subjects responded to a visual stimulus that was presented with a probability of 1.00 (no catch trials) or 0.90 (catch trials) after one of five randomly determined brief fore-periods (300, 400, 500, 600, or 700 msec). Mean reaction time decreased linearly under the no catch-trials condition and curvilinearly under the catch-trials condition, as a function of increasing foreperiod duration. The results were consistent with the hypothesis that reaction time covaries with the momentary probability of occurrence of the response signal. Specifically, an increase in this momentary probability leads to an increase in the subject’s readiness to detect the signal. Because performance was virtually errorless, it appears that any concomitant tendency to anticipate the signal can be successfully inhibited.
The Theatrical Satanism of Self-Awareness Itself

In 1975, Italian poet, novelist and director Pier Paolo Pasolini released Salo o le 120 giornate di Sodoma [Salo or 120 Days of Sodom]. The Republic of Salo, the northeast Italian province to which...
Speech production before and after orthognathic surgery: A review

A review of investigations in which speech production has been studied before and after orthognathic surgery indicates that many subjects demonstrate preoperative articulation errors. The error type most frequently identified was of the distortion variety, which suggests that misarticulating speakers were attempting to produce the sounds but that in most cases the sounds were phonetically incorrect. The /s/ speech sound and the sibilant class in general, of which /s/ is a member, were often found defective in the subjects' speech. Not all speakers had preoperative articulation errors, which suggests the possibility of compensatory articulation patterns. The literature indicates that some persons with certain occlusal and dental conditions do compensate for structural aberrations. Finally, the vast majority of subjects with preoperative misarticulations eliminated or reduced their errors following orthognathic surgery. In the case of speech behavior, it can be stated that surgical alterations in form brought about positive changes in function.
Elaborated metaphors support viable inferences about difficult science concepts

Instructional metaphors scaffold learning better when accompanied by an elaboration. Applying structure mapping theory, we developed and used an elaborated instructional metaphor (text and illustrations) for introductory chemistry concepts. In two studies (N 1 = 44, N 2 = 57), college students with little chemistry background read either the elaborated metaphor, sub‐concept metaphor statements (e.g. an atom is like a tile) only or (Study 2) sub‐concept labels (e.g. atom) only. When asked to write what they knew about the sub‐concept, those in the elaborated metaphor condition wrote more sophisticated domain inferences than those in the other condition(s), p < .05. The elaborated metaphor helped participants construct accurate pre‐conceptual mental models that could prepare them for future learning (i.e. acquisition of new knowledge). The results also suggested that acquisition of high‐level concepts may require active learner transactions with the analogue, as can be had in interactive instructional game ...
Design of millimetre wave components using inverted strip dielectric waveguides

Abstract Design techniques of millimetre wave components using inverted strip dielectric waveguides are described in this paper. The design procedures are centred around 80 GHz but are equally valid For other frequencies of millimetre waves.
Ownership Rights and the Rites of Ownership

Using condominium owner and landowner narratives about their property, I consider how people answer the question, What does it mean to own something? These property narratives are framed around three sets of social practices, myths, and beliefs which I call rites of identity, rites of settlement, and rites of struggle—the rites of ownership. According to these narratives, ownership requires that the person possessing the property carry out these rites. Their sense of entitlement—ownership rights—is framed by these rites. Following the rites makes one a deserving property owner. Property rights are seen as protectors against arbitrary, unpredictable changes in status that violate these owners, sense that they are entitled to keep what they had worked so hard for and planned for so long. I conclude with a discussion of the value of property narratives for understanding the link between law and culture.
Historical Implications of a Changing Earth-Moon Relationship: ABSTRACT

For some time now, there has been broad agreement among astronomers that the distance from the earth to the moon is not a physical "constant," that it has been gradually increasing. The generally accepted rate of increase, however, has been so slow that during most of recorded geologic time, the moon could not have affected earth processes any more significantly than it does today. Recent work by Munk of Scripps and MacDonald of NASA reopens the debate on the history of the earth-moon system. They have shown that earlier conclusions by Jeffreys and others may be in error. Extrapolation backward into geologic time, if a drastically increased rate of change in the distance to the moon is assumed, suggests a moon close enough to earth to produce major effects on geologic processes, perhaps of catastrophic proportions. Investigations by Ewing in the South Atlantic, using seismic reflection techniques, have indicated a widespread surface below the present sea floor. Tentative interpretations of this surface by Heezen and others suggest it may represent a major event in the history of ocean sedimentation, perhaps a world-wide fall of volcanic ash or even cosmic dust. The correlation of possible ancient earth-moon positions with known events in the geologic time table, as well as with such "uniformitarianistic" phenomena as tidal action, is thought-provoking. Recent research appears to be significant enough to warrant a closer coupling between historical geology and the "new" astronomy. End_of_Article - Last_Page 334------------
Computational Modeling of Future Wind Power Installations

Advanced wind power installations are likely to include floating wind turbines that can be placed far off-shore and airborne wind power generator that can harvest the wind at altitude beyond what tower-based turbines can reach. The feasibility of such installations does, however, depend on the ability to optimize the design to make it economical. Here we describe computational studies of the dynamics of floating wind turbine platform and planned examination of airborne energy generation devices. The computational approach for both systems relies on the use of an immersed boundary method for the moving platforms. For the floating wind turbine the free surface is captured by a level set approach. In addition to capturing the dynamics of a moving turbine tower and a flexible wing, the modeling of the tethers provides new challenges in both cases.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Chronic fatigue: an evolutionary concept analysis.

Title. Chronic fatigue: an evolutionary concept analysis. Aim. This paper is a report of a concept analysis of chronic fatigue. Background. Fatigue is a prevalent symptom encompassing both acute and chronic manifestations. It is chronic fatigue that is most problematic because of its duration and impact on life quality. The rise in prevalence of chronic conditions will result in a need to address coexistent symptoms, clarification of which is needed. Chronic fatigue is one of the most common symptoms in chronic illness. Clarification of the concept and an understanding of its use by discipline are needed. Data sources. The evolutionary method of concept analysis was used to ascertain the attributes, antecedents, consequences and surrogate terms for chronic fatigue. A review of the literature published between 1966 and 2007 was carried out to determine the contextual use of the concept of chronic fatigue among disciplines. Sources used for this analysis included CINAHL, Medline, PsychINFO and Social Work Abstracts and the search yielded 66 papers. Results. The chronic fatigue experience is associated with a multitude of physical, psychological and social factors. The defining attributes of chronic fatigue are constancy, abnormality, whole-body experience, inexplicability and disabling. The antecedents of chronic fatigue are physical disease, psychopathology, female gender and a history of abuse. Consequences found include social isolation and stigmatization, physical inactivity, psychological disturbances and a reduced quality of life. Conclusion. Further research is needed to identify the aetiology of chronic fatigue and to address the social context of living with this disabling symptom.
Economics and Politics in France: Economic Performance and Mass Political Support for Presidents Pompidou and Giscard d'Estaing*

During recent years the state of the economy has been a very salient issue for the mass publics of the industrial democracies, and the French electorate is no exception. In this article the influence of inflation, unemployment and real income growth performance on popular ‘satisfaction’ with Presidents Pompidou and Giscard d'Estaing is analysed. The empirical analyses are based on a model of qualitative political responses. The most important features of the model are that people evaluate a President's economic performance relatively rather than absolutely, and that the weights placed upon current and past performance in the formation of contemporaneous political judgments decline geometrically. The empirical results indicate clearly that a President's standing with the mass public depends primarily on the performance of the real economy (in particular, the real income growth rate), rather than on nominal economic conditions (the inflation rate). This suggests that deflationary macroeconomic policies sacrificing employment and real output and income growth in order to achieve price deceleration are not likely to enhance a President's support in the French electorate.
The subunit CSN6 of the COP9 signalosome is cleaved during apoptosis.

The COP9 signalosome is a large multiprotein complex that consists of eight subunits termed CSN1–CSN8. The diverse functions of the COP9 complex include regulation of several important intracellular pathways, including the ubiquitin/proteasome system, DNA repair, cell cycle, developmental changes, and some aspects of immune responses. Nod1 is also thought to be an important cytoplasmic receptor involved in innate immune responses. It detects specific motifs of bacterial peptidoglycan, and this results in activation of multiple signaling pathways and changes in cell function. In this report, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screening and discovered that Nod1 interacts with several components of the COP9 signalosome through its CARD domain. Moreover, we observed that activation of the Nod1 apoptotic pathway leads to specific cleavage of the subunit CSN6. This cleavage is concomitant with caspase processing and generates a short amino-terminal peptide of 3 kDa. A complete inhibition of this cleavage was achieved in the presence of the broad spectrum pharmacological inhibitor of apoptosis, Z-VAD. Furthermore, overexpression of CLARP, a specific caspase 8 inhibitor, completely blocked cleavage of CSN6. Taken together, these results suggest a critical role of caspase 8 in the processing of CSN6. Moreover, these findings suggest that CSN6 cleavage may result in modifications of functions of the COP9 complex that are involved in apoptosis.
Review of time-dependent fatigue behavior of structural alloys

Abstract “A review and assessment of time-dependent fatigue was needed to provide an understanding of time-dependent fatigue processes, to define the limits of our present knowledge, and to establish bases for the development of verified design methods for structural components and systems for operation at elevated temperatures. This report reviews the present state of understanding of that phenomenon, commonly called ‘creep fatigue’, and separates it into crack-initiation and crack-propagation processes. Criteria for describing material behavior for each of these processes are discussed and described within the extent of present knowledge, which is limited largely to experience with one-dimensional loading. Behaviors of types 304 and 316 stainless steel are emphasized. Much of the treatment of time-dependent failure presented here is new and of a developing nature; areas of agreement and areas requiring further resolution are enumerated.” These words are from the abstract of the report on a comprehensive study of time-dependent fatigue. This paper briefly reviews some of the contents and discusses important conclusions reached, especially in terms of current status and needs for additional work.
Relationship of Articulatory Defects to Speech-Sound Identification

Normal-speaking and speech-defective children were compared on a speech-sound identification task which included sounds the speech-defective subjects misarticulated and sounds they articulated corr...
Terminating A Prison Conditions Suit: A Case Study of Palmigiano V. Garrahy

Although hundreds of prisons in the United States have been the object of court orders, few have been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of all parties. Following a summary of the long history of one such case, Palmigiano v. Garrahy, this paper presents an in-depth analysis of the process of disengagement that ultimately led to the termination of court supervision. The process is related to contextual factors bearing upon it; the major issues in the process are identified, and the manner of their res olution described. The agreement reached in Palmigiano could serve as a model for the settlement of other cases.
SIMPLE: Software for ab initio reconstruction of heterogeneous single-particles

The open source software suite SIMPLE: Single-particle IMage Processing Linux Engine provides data analysis methods for single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). SIMPLE addresses the problem of obtaining 3D reconstructions from 2D projections only, without using an input reference volume for approximating orientations. The SIMPLE reconstruction algorithm is tailored to asymmetrical and structurally heterogeneous single-particles. Its basis is global optimization with the use of Fourier common lines. The advance that enables ab initio reconstruction and heterogeneity analysis is the separation of the tasks of in-plane alignment and projection direction determination via bijective orientation search - a new concept in common lines-based strategies. Bijective orientation search divides the configuration space into two groups of paired parameters that are optimized separately. The first group consists of the rotations and shifts in the plane of the projection; the second group consists of the projection directions and state assignments. In SIMPLE, ab initio reconstruction is feasible because the 3D in-plane alignment is approximated using reference-free 2D rotational alignment. The subsequent common lines-based search hence searches projection directions and states only. Thousands of class averages are analyzed simultaneously in a matter of hours. Novice SIMPLE users get a head start via the well documented front-end. The structured, object-oriented back-end invites advanced users to develop new alignment and reconstruction algorithms. An overview of the package is presented together with benchmarks on simulated data. Executable binaries, source code, and documentation are available at http://simple.stanford.edu.
Equity among assistant professors in instructional work load

In recent years salary equity has been the focus of studies dealing with equity. This paper extends the concept of equity to include faculty instructional activities or work load. In an effort to determine to what extent instructional efforts differed between men and women at a large land-grant university, the following variables were investigated: number of weighted student credit hours, number of sections taught, number of different courses taught, and didactic hours by level of course. Because the faculty members varied in their full-time-equivalent instructional effort, it was necessary to normalize the data. When men and women were compared for equity of instructional activity (MANOVA) taking their college into consideration, there was no significant difference by sex or from the interaction of college with sex. When a balancing technique was used to review men and women by departments, again no significant differences were found in the pattern of instructional activity within the group of departments being compared.
Chemical and physical properties of obsidian: a naturally occuring glass

Abstract The chemical composition of obsidian samples from 28 sources in Western America is that of a high alumina glass (ca. 12 wt% Al 2 O 3 ) with a silica content exceeding that of normal granite. Considerable complexity of phase states is indicated by a wide range of variability of properties. The results of thermal expansion, density measurements, Vicker's hardness, chemical durability, electrical properties. Mossbauer and infrared spectra are presented. It was found that obsidian is a glass of high chemical durability, comparable to Pyrex, and high hardness, comparable with silica glass. Research in the fields of geochemistry and archaeology has developed a useful chronometric technique based on the reaction and diffusion of water in obsidian for dating geological features and aboriginal obsidian artifacts. Correlation of hydration and radiocarbon data indicates that the hydration rates vary among the obsidian sources.
A review of transmission switching and network topology optimization

Currently, there are multiple national directives that call for the development of a smarter electrical grid. This includes, but is not limited to, the development of advanced transmission technologies as well as optimizing the use of transmission. Transmission control has been identified as a valuable mechanism for a variety of benefits, from improving the system reliability to improving the market surplus. However, the use of transmission as a controllable asset today is limited. This paper provides a literature review on transmission control and discusses current industry practices involving transmission control; the goal of this paper is to reemphasize the importance of transmission control in order to initiate future research and development in this area so that we are able to truly build and operate a smarter, more flexible transmission grid.
Epigenetic mechanisms of tumorigenicity manifesting in stem cells

One of the biggest roadblocks to using stem cells as the basis for regenerative medicine therapies is the tumorigenicity of stem cells. Unfortunately, the unique abilities of stem cells to self-renew and differentiate into a variety of cell types are also mechanistically linked to their tumorigenic behaviors. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the close relationship between stem cells and cancer cells has therefore become a primary goal in the field. In addition, knowledge gained from investigating the striking parallels between mechanisms orchestrating normal embryogenesis and those that invoke tumorigenesis may well serve as the foundation for developing novel cancer treatments. Emerging discoveries have demonstrated that epigenetic regulatory machinery has important roles in normal stem cell functions, cancer development and cancer stem cell (CSC) identity. These studies provide valuable insights into both the shared and distinct mechanisms by which pluripotency and oncogenicity are established and regulated. In this review, the cancer-related epigenetic mechanisms found in pluripotent stem cells and cancer cells will be discussed, focusing on both the similarities and the differences.
An addendum to a Noether Skolem theorem for group-graded rings

Abstract We extend our previous result from crossed products to strongly graded central simple algebras.
Shared Vulnerability of Two Synaptically-Connected Medial Temporal Lobe Areas to Age and Cognitive Decline: A Seven Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

The medial temporal lobe (MTL) is the first brain area to succumb to neurofibrillary tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Postmortem human tissue evaluation suggests that this pathology propagates in an ordered manner, with the entorhinal cortex (ERC) and then CA1 stratum radiatum and stratum lacunosum-moleculare (CA1–SRLM)—two monosynaptically connected structures—exhibiting selective damage. Here, we hypothesized that, if ERC and CA1–SRLM share an early vulnerability to AD pathology, then atrophy should occur in a proportional manner between the two structures. We tested this hypothesis in living humans, using ultra-high field 7.0 T MRI to make fine measurements of MTL microstructure. Among a pool of age-matched healthy controls and patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and mild AD, we found a significant correlation between ERC and CA1–SRLM size that could not be explained by global atrophy affecting the MTL. Of the various structures that contribute axons or dendrites into the CA1–SRLM neuropil, only ERC emerged as a significant predictor of CA1–SRLM size in a linear regression analysis. In contrast, other synaptically connected elements of the MTL did not exhibit size correlations. CA1–SRLM and ERC structural covariance was significant for older controls and not patients, whereas the opposite pattern emerged for a correlation between CA1–SRLM and episodic memory performance. Interestingly, CA1–SRLM and ERC were the only MTL structures to atrophy in older controls relative to a younger comparison group. Together, these findings suggest that ERC and CA1–SRLM share vulnerability to both age and AD-associated atrophy.
Colonial laboratories, irreparable subjects: the experiment of ‘(b)ordering’ San Juan's public housing residents

This article provides a genealogy of the discourses that shaped the public housing policies of the mid-twentieth century in the US island colony of Puerto Rico. In the 1950s and 1960s, a conversation arose between government officials, social science experts, and the local press about how to fix social inequalities by ‘ordering’ mostly black and mulato, economically dispossessed families residing in shantytowns and barrios. This led to the establishment of caserios (housing projects) as places where the government would attempt to ‘modernize’ residents through architectural design, planning, and social betterment programs. Because the caserios did not address the structural causes of inequalities of power and wealth in the island, they failed in lifting residents out of poverty. From the mid-1960s onwards, a host of writings blamed caserio dwellers for the failure of the projects, attributing it to their purportedly dysfunctional – and nearly incorrigible – ‘culture of poverty’. This perpetuated a particu...
The effect of renoportal venous shunts on growth and hepatic function in the dog.

Three litters of mongrel puppies underwent renoportal venous anastomoses at 6 weeks of age. Liver function tests and weights were recorded weekly until the animals were sacrificed at 4, 6, and 7 months, respectively. There was no significant difference in liver function studies or growth characteristics in the shunted animals as compared to their control littermates. At the time of sacrifice the anastomoses were patent. However, large ureteral collateral veins into the systemic system were present. This collateralization would limit this modality as a method for controlling hypertension. However, renoportal venous anastomosis may prove of some value in patients requiring inferior venacaval resection at a level above the renal veins. This study confirms that collateralization occurs as previously reported. However, no adverse effects on liver function or growth were noted in our animals.
A re-evaluation of relationships in the Metastriata (Acari: Parasitiformes: Ixodidae)

A systematic analysis of generic/subgeneric relationships in the ixodid lineage Metastriata was conducted based on 82 structural and developmental characters, 15 of which have multiple states. Results of the analysis show considerable agreement with current classifications of the Ixodidae, including good support for monophyly of the Metastriata, the genera Ixodes and Haemaphysalis, and the grouping of Hoogstraal's Rhipicephalinae and Hyalomminae, and fair support for the genus Hyalomma. Our results differ from these classifications most notably by rejecting monophyly of the genera Aponomma and Amblyomma. Instead, the analysis provides weak support for a hypothesis in which the basal two to three lineages in the Metastriata are all composed of Aponomma species, and in which a fourth lineage within that genus, Aponomma elaphense, clusters with Amblyomma quadricavum to form a more derived lineage. Resolution is insufficient to support or reject monophyly of the genera Dermacentor and Rhipicephalus, or to resolve the position of the genus Haemaphysalis relative to the other Metastriata. Overall resolution within the Rhipicephalinae/Hyalomminae is quite good, but it is quite poor among the Amblyomminae and Haemaphysalinae. These results are similar to the results of recent 16S and 18S rDNA based molecular analyses. There are few indications of host specificity among the lineages analysed. The basal metastriate lineages contain a large number of squamate associates, but the pattern is not sufficiently clear to reject the hypothesis that these ticks will feed on all available vertebrate hosts. On the other hand, nearly all of the basal taxa are Australian. This suggests a possible origin of the Metastriata in Australia, with subsequent dispersal to other parts of the world.
Oligodendroglial neoplasms: current concepts, misconceptions, and folklore.

Abstract Given current prognostic and therapeutic implications, the accurate classification and grading of oligodendroglial neoplasms has become critical. However, the prevalence of morphologically ambiguous gliomas, subjective histologic criteria, personal biases, oligodendroglioma mimics, and the lack of specific oligodendroglioma markers has led to high interobserver variability and created a contentious problem encountered daily in active surgical neuropathology practices. Since histologic assessment is still a powerful prognosticator, it appropriately remains the diagnostic gold standard. However, recent efforts have focused on identifying the most reproducible and clinically relevant criteria, standardizing classification and grading schemes, and searching for useful ancillary biologic and genetic markers capable of further stratifying an otherwise heterogeneous patient population. This paper reviews the morphologic and genetic spectrum of oligodendroglial neoplasms, recent diagnostic and prognostic developments, and potential future directions.
Fusing Frequency, Spatial and Color Features for Face Recognition

This paper presents a face recognition method by fusing the frequency, spatial and color features for improving the face recognition grand challenge performance. In particular, the frequency features are extracted from the magnitude, the real and imaginary parts in the frequency domain of an image; the spatial features are derived from two different scales of a face image; and the color features are from a new hybrid color space, namely, the RIQ color space. Specifically, every color component in the RIQ color space has two scales: Scale 1 image and Scale 2 image (with a larger face region). First, the frequency feature extraction procedure applies to all the Scale 1 and Scale 2 color component images. Then, an improved Fisher model extracts discriminating features from the frequency data for similarity computation using a cosine similarity measure. Finally, the similarity scores from the three component images in the RIQ color space are fused by means of a weighted summation at the decision level for the overall similarity computation. Experiments on the Face Recognition Grand Challenge (FRGC) version 2 Experiment 4 show that the proposed method achieves the face verification rate (corresponding to the ROC III curve) of 82.8% at the false accept rate of 0.1%.