cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Check But No Mate: Balancing the Rights of Employees and Employers Under the National Labor Relations Act—The Ongoing Saga

Prior to 1995, employers had enjoyed significant success in asserting management prerogatives over organized labor in cases heard under the National Labor Relations Act. However, at that time, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling which essentially leveled the playing field by affirming the rights of union organizers and supporters to employ an aggressive organizing strategy called “salting.” Employers have subsequently attempted to counter the effects of salting through the use of a variety of practices that potentially disrupt salting activities. These strategies have received mixed support with the courts and the National Labor Relations Board. This paper examines the current state of permissible union organizing and management behaviors under the National Labor Relations Act.
Prevalence and correlates of sexual morbidity in long-term breast cancer survivors.

Objective: Breast cancer survivors report adverse sexual effects (sexual morbidity) such as disrupted sexual function, sexual distress and body dissatisfaction. However, most studies have failed to evaluate the persistence of these effects in long-term survivors. The present study comprehensively assessed the prevalence and predictors of sexual/body image problems among survivors three or more years post diagnosis.Design/outcome measures: Eighty-three breast cancer survivors completed surveys a median of seven years post diagnosis. Survey items probed demographic, diagnostic and clinical information, in addition to sexual activity, sexual function (Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI]), body image, and distress regarding body changes and sexual problems (Female Sexual Distress Scale-revised; FSDS-R).Results: Seventy-seven percent of all participants and 60% of sexually active participants qualified for sexual dysfunction based on the FSFI. Between 37 and 51% met criteria for female sexual dysfunction, base...
Palatalization in cretan and cypriot Greek

(1969). Palatalization in cretan and cypriot Greek. Paper in Linguistics: Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 593-598.
Of language knowledge, apes, and brains.

Man's language ability is due to a more general, deep-seated cognitive ability characteristic of the species. It is argued that man's ability for mathematical thinking is a product of the same species-specific form of cerebration as language. The basis for mathematical constructs seems to be contained in the basis for language constructs; apparently, for every mathematical notion there is a homologous one in the sphere of language, the former always being more restricted and well defined than the latter. Mathematical ability may therefore be regarded as a special case of the more general ability that also generates language, and this point is further emphasized by certain similarities in the formal structure of mathematics (arithmetic in particular) and language. Taking advantage of the commonalities between language and arithmetic, it is possible to use the latter to illustrate important general characteristics of the former. The insights gained are relevant to biology at large, and to comparative zoology and neurology in particular. The zoologist who wishes to compare animal communication with language must know what the nature of language is-how (or whether) one might analyze it into components. He must know what might constitute a primitive or simple language. It is shown that the irreducible elements of the two systems under study (language and arithmetic) are processes (i.e., processes of “relating,” or simply “relations”) and that these processes combine into interrated systems. The systems have ontogenetic histories that might, perhaps, furnish a criterion for the notion of simplicity. We do not yet know what might be a homologous phylogenetic “cousin” of the basic human ability under consideration; howerver, we should expect it to be “homeomorphic” to the human system if it is derived from a common ancestral ability. Homeomorphic mapping is therefore the most reliable criterion so far for phylogenetic relatedness. By characterizing language and arithmetic simultaneously (in order to get at their common biological foundations) it is also possible to sharpen up the questions that the student of language should put to the neurophysiologist. The quest for innovation or differences in brain processes and functions now appears to be the primary one, whereas a description of structural changes in the human brain would be of interest only insofar as this would elucidate how brain functions might have become modified by them.
The Reductionistic Fallacy in Learning Disabilities Replicating the Past by Reducing the Present

Theoretical and empirical debates and political schisms have characterized the movement of the field of learning disabilities from its early medical and psychological process model orientations through the more recent behavioral and cognitive strategy phases. These debates have elucidated, perhaps even exaggerated, the differences between these models. It is proposed here that the four models are far more similar than they are different and that the similarities are grounded in the fact that each defines, assesses, and instructs students with learning disabilities in a reductionistic manner. It is the author's contention that the reductionistic fallacy undergirds the efficacy problems that have plagued the field since its inception.
The brief rise and early decline of radical sociology at Washington University: 1969–1972

The most ambitious effort in this country to build a radical sociology program at a major university took place in the Department of Sociology at Washington University in the late 1960s. For a brief period it appeared that a unique program had been created?a department comprising a broad range of radical scholars. However, by 1972 almost all the radical faculty had either been expelled or had left of their own accord. Similarly, within the American Sociological Association a broad based radical caucus had arisen that eventually evolved into a more narrowly based Marxist Section. The failure to institutionalize radical sociology can be explained, in part, by the internal dynamic of radical movements as well as by the opposition they engender.
Genetic testing in autism: how much is enough?

Purpose: To evaluate the yield of genetic testing in children with autism spectrum disorders. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 71 unrelated patients with a diagnosis of an isolated autism spectrum disorder seen in a genetics clinic over a period of 14 months. For most, referrals occurred after evaluation by a developmental pediatrician and/or psychologist to establish the diagnosis. Tiered laboratory testing for the majority of the patients followed a guideline that was developed in collaboration with clinicians at The Autism Center at Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH. Results: The patients included 57 males and 14 females; 57 met DSM-IV criteria for autism, with the rest being Asperger or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. Macrocephaly [head circumference (HC) ≥95%] was present in 19 (27%). Two children had visible chromosome abnormalities (47,XYY; 48,XY + 2mar/49,XY + 3mar). Two patients with autism and macrocephaly had heterozygous mutations in the PTEN tumor suppressor gene. Three females had Rett syndrome, each confirmed by DNA sequencing of the MECP2 gene. Extensive metabolic testing produced no positive results, nor did fragile X DNA testing. Conclusion: The overall diagnostic yield was 10% (7/71). PTEN gene sequencing should be considered in any child with macrocephaly and autism or developmental delay. Metabolic screening may not be warranted in autism spectrum disorders without more specific indications or additional findings.
Elemental composition of aerosols collected with airborne cascade impactors

Aerosols were collected from an aircraft using a wing-mounted cascade impactor sampler fitted with isokinetic inlets. Particle size distributions of elemental concentrations in four different size ranges were determined by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE), and for 1-h samples the results for Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, and Fe are reported. In two sampling periods (fall 1979 and summer 1980) aerosol concentrations and size distributions over the northeastern U.S. showed distinct differences. Sulfate concentrations, higher in summer than in the fall, averaged x ± s = 16.7 ± 9.9 and 6.6 ± 3.0 μgm−3, respectively, while Cl concentrations were much lower in summer than in the fall with median concentrations equal to 90 and 600 ng m−3, respectively, a Cl deficit in the more acidic summertime aerosols. The average size distributions of aerosol sulfur showed a distinct difference between the two seasons. Estimates of the mass median diameters of sulfate particles, corrected for humidification growth, resulted in dry diameters of 0.22 μm in the fall and 0.28 μm in the summer, the latter corresponding to a two-fold greater sulfate mass per particle. This result may reflect an enhancement of sulfate in aerosol droplets by liquid-phase oxidation of SO2 which may be more rapid under atmospheric conditions in the summer than the fall.
Recovery of a temporally based visual discrimination after visual cortex lesion in the rat

In Expt. 1, rats were conditioned to emit a shock avoidance response when the pulse rate of a light was increased. Then, after bilateral visual cortex lesions, the rats were given 10, 20, or 40 days recovery before relearning the discrimination. While all rats were able to relearn the discrimination response, lesion rats had a performance deficit after all recovery periods. Expt. 2 compared the effects of postoperative visual pulse rate training to those of auditory pulse rate training on relearning of the photic pulse-rate discrimination 10 days after visual decortication. Recovery of discrimination responding was better after auditory pulse rate training than after visual training. These data suggest that visual cortex lesions in the rat disrupt perceptual or associational functions involving the temporal features of a visual stimulus. In addition, generalization of relational properties during cross-modal training through multimodal CNS structures appears to enhance recovery of behavior after brain insult.
An optimization study of a mathematical model of the urine concentrating mechanism of the rat kidney.

Abstract The rat kidney’s morphological and transepithelial transport properties may change in response to different physiologic conditions. To better understand those processes, we used a non-linear optimization technique to estimate parameter sets that maximize key measures that assess the effectiveness and efficiency of a mathematical model of the rat urine concentrating mechanism (UCM). We considered two related measures of UCM effectiveness: the urine-to-plasma osmolality ( U / P ) ratio and free-water absorption rate (FWA). The optimization algorithm sought parameter sets that separately maximize FWA, maximize U / P with the constraint that the predicted urine flow rate is consistent with reported experimental value (denoted by ( U / P ) ρ ), and maximize the ratio U / P to the total NaCl active transport (TAT) (denoted by ( U / P )/TAT). When the principal need of the animal is to maximize the impact of its UCM on blood plasma osmolality, the kidney likely undergoes changes that increase FWA. By selecting parameter values that increase model urine flow rate (while maintaining a sufficiently high urine osmolality), the optimization algorithm identified a set of parameter values that increased FWA by 95.6% above base-case efficiency. If, on the other hand, water must be preserved, then the animal may seek to optimize U / P instead. To study that scenario, the optimization algorithm separately sought parameter sets that attained maximum ( U / P ) ρ and ( U / P )/TAT. Those parameter sets increased urine osmolality by 55.4% and 44.5%, respectively, above base-case value; the outer-medullary concentrating capability was increased by 64.6% and 35.5%, respectively, above base case; and the inner-medullary concentrating capability was increased by 73.1% and 70.8%, respectively, above base case. The corresponding urine flow rate and the concentrations of NaCl and urea are all within or near reported experimental ranges.
Construction of fixed points of demicompact mappings in Hilbert space

Let B, be a closed ball of radius Y > 0 in a real or complex Hilbert space H, aB, the boundary of B, , and S a nonlinear contraction map of B, into H such that Sx Ax f 0 for all x in aB, and any h > 1. Using the theory of monotone operators developed in [l, 21, Browder [3] (for the independent proof of Browder’s results see also De Prima [4]) showed that S has at least one fixed point in B, . The purpose of this paper is to discuss an iteration method for the actual construction of fixed points of S under the additional assumption that S is demicompact. In establishing our main result we derive at the same time certain properties of monotone operators and of demicompact operators which seem to be of interest in their own right. In the case where S is a completely continuous contraction of B,. into B, our results reduce to those derived by Krasnoselsky [5] and Schaefer [6] in a more general setting of a uniformly convex Banach space. It should be noted that the interesting and useful feature of the above processes lies in the fact that their applicability and convergence take place under rather general conditions which do not insure the uniqueness of solutions.
Spatial relations between shrubs and Prosopis glandulosa canopies.

Abstract. Prosopis glandulosa, an arborescent legume, may act as a nurse plant that facilitates the establishment of other woody species. We hypothesized that attenuation of radiant energy and increased soil nutrients beneath P. glandulosa canopies facilitate establishment of subordinate shrubs and shrub cluster development. We determined the spatial distribution pattern of shrubs under P. glandulosa at three locations in southern Texas. Density of Celtis pallida, Zanthoxylum fagara, and total woody plants were comparable among the four cardinal directions at each location, which countered the prediction that shrub density would be greater on the north side of P. glandulosa canopies if attenuation of solar energy was a factor in cluster development. Total woody plant density increased with increasing P. glandulosa basal diameter, canopy radius, and height only at one location. Total woody plant density decreased with increasing total N in the upper 15 cm of soil at two of the three locations. Late in shrub cluster development, extraction of N from the soil and incorporation of N into plant tissue in dense shrub clusters may operate to inhibit further increases in subordinate shrub density.
Triadins Modulate Intracellular Ca2+ Homeostasis but Are Not Essential for Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Skeletal Muscle

To unmask the role of triadin in skeletal muscle we engineered pan-triadin-null mice by removing the first exon of the triadin gene. This resulted in a total lack of triadin expression in both skeletal and cardiac muscle. Triadin knockout was not embryonic or birth-lethal, and null mice presented no obvious functional phenotype. Western blot analysis of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) proteins in skeletal muscle showed that the absence of triadin expression was associated with down-regulation of Junctophilin-1, junctin, and calsequestrin but resulted in no obvious contractile dysfunction. Ca2+ imaging studies in null lumbricalis muscles and myotubes showed that the lack of triadin did not prevent skeletal excitation-contraction coupling but reduced the amplitude of their Ca2+ transients. Additionally, null myotubes and adult fibers had significantly increased myoplasmic resting free Ca2+.[3H]Ryanodine binding studies of skeletal muscle SR vesicles detected no differences in Ca2+ activation or Ca2+ and Mg2+ inhibition between wild-type and triadin-null animals. Subtle ultrastructural changes, evidenced by the appearance of longitudinally oriented triads and the presence of calsequestrin in the sacs of the longitudinal SR, were present in fast but not slow twitch-null muscles. Overall, our data support an indirect role for triadin in regulating myoplasmic Ca2+ homeostasis and organizing the molecular complex of the triad but not in regulating skeletal-type excitation-contraction coupling.
COMPARISON OF FOUR BILIRUBIN BINDING TESTS

We have compared the results of four bilirubin binding tests performed simultaneously on blood samples collected from jaundiced newborn infants with serum bilirubin concentrations ranging from 7.3-34.4 mg/dl. Data from 176 blood samples were correlated using the Pearson (r) and Spearman(rho) correlation coefficients. Salicylate saturation index (SSI) correlated with the HBABA dye binding test (HABA)(r= -.16,rho= -.14, P<.05), the horseradish peroxidase apparent unbound bilirubin concentration (AUBC) (r=.45, rho= .48,P<.001), and the direct yellow fluorescent dye binding test (DY7) (r= -.43, rho= -.57, P<.001). Each test correlated significantly with the others using parametric and non-parametric methods. However,none of the bilirubin binding tests correlate well enough with another that one test could be used clinically to predict the value of the other.
Studies in Direct Tooling Using Stereolithography

Rapid prototyping (RP) technologies are valuable for reducing product development cycle times by creating physical models for visual inspection and form-fit studies directly from a 3-D database. However, if the part is meant for volume production, tooling will be necessary. Tool development and fabrication using conventional techniques and materials is time consuming and expensive. Therefore, it is risky to commit to production tooling in the initial stages of product development. Low volume prototyping is highly desirable but requires a small number of parts (hundreds) to be produced quickly and economically. To meet this need, this paper studies direct tooling using the RP technology of stereolithography (SL) to produce photopolymer tools. Without modifications to improve thermal response, SL molds will not be able to produce production-quality parts. This experimental study quantifies the thermal characteristics of an SL mold for a simple part geometry. Several modifications that affect thermal properties are then studied and both thermal response and part quality are quantified. The data indicate that although it is possible to change the thermal response of an SL mold and obtain reasonable parts, the ability to duplicate traditional mold characteristics (and thus simulate part production before committing to high-volume tooling) is probably not practical. Similar results were achieved when using a more realistic final-part geometry on a production mold machine. Although mold process simulation using SL molds could provide useful design guidance for traditional high-volume part production, this work suggests that these SL molds can be used for low-volume part production. By reducing mold fabrication time and costs, low-volume part production could become cost-effective using traditional high- volume manufacturing techniques.
Re-casting the veil: Situated meanings of covering:

This commentary offers a socio-cultural anthropological critical overview of studies of covering, popularly called “veiling” and “the veil” as practiced predominantly (though not exclusively) by so...
Rheology and Tube Model Theory of Bimodal Blends of Star Polymer Melts

Experiments on solution-cast blends of two anionically synthesized monodisperse star-shaped polyisoprene molecules of widely different molecular weight exhibit a very rich rheological behavior. The time-dependent moduli are exponentially dependent on the relative volume fraction of each species. This work models these new features by extending existing theories for monodisperse melt of star polymers to the blend of two monodisperse star polymers with different molecular weight, keeping the same chemistry. The theory is based on the tube model with constraint release for star polymers in both an approximate and then a more exact level. The latter, with its treatment of nonactivated as well as activated breathing modes, is able to account quantitatively for the huge range of blend rheologies. With no extra parameters, it is able to account qualitatively for relaxation times and entire relaxation functions that vary over many orders of magnitude on blending.
DOUBLET Stentor DO NOT DISPLAY PHOTODISPERSAL

— Normal Stentor, called singlets since they have a single membranellar band and oral groove surrounding their frontal field, swim away from light sources and collect in the darker areas of an unevenly illuminated container (photodispersal). Phenotypic variants, called doublets since they have 2 membranellar bands and 2 oral grooves, do not exhibit this behavior. Doublets produce photophobic responses and contractions when illuminated at the same fluence rates which produce those responses in singlets, hence their sensitivity to light is normal. Illumination of the frontal field of doublets produces a photophobic response at lower fluence rates than does illumination of their side or posterior. This directional sensitivity is quantitatively similar to that observed in singlets. However, doublets do not reorient their swimming direction after a phobic response as extensively as do singlets. This failure in reorientation is the probable reason that doublets fail to show photodispersal. These results imply that the mechanism producing photodispersal in singlets depends on photophobic responses or some other, presently undescribed, response which requires an asymmetric frontal field.
The missing piece(s).

In the article by Quinn and colleagues appearing in this issue regarding ovarian tissue cryopreservation (Quinn et al. 2012), the informed consent process and its participants remain vague or invis...
Multimodal express shipment service design: Models and algorithms

Abstract The research objective is to develop models and algorithms to provide quality solutions for large-scale service design problems. Service design problems arising at railroads, airlines, trucking firms, intermodal partnerships, etc. require the determination of the cost minimizing or profit maximizing set of services and their schedules, given limited resources and service requirements. The model is applied to a large express shipment transportation problem involving over 1.3 billion decision variables and 200,000 constraints. We develop a new model and solution approach — branch-and-price-and-cut. Computational results show that near optimal solution is achieved within a reasonable run time using novel problem reduction methods involving node consolidation, link consolidation, derived schedules and a branch-and-price-and-cut solution procedure.
Design rules for producing logically complete two-process interactions and communications protocols

This paper addresses the problem of protocol failures that are caused by logically incompletely specified designs. A design is logically complete if it specifies all occurrable event (message) receptions under normal operating conditions. A more stringent requirement is that of dual completeness. A design is dually complete if it neither contains unspecified event receptions nor unspecified event transmissions. Rules for creating dually-complete designs are established and a design methodology based on these rules is proposed. The problem of designing interactions that involve interrupt-masked computations is also treated.
Combined Labeled Leukocyte and Technetium 99m Sulfur Colloid Bone Marrow Imaging for Diagnosing Musculoskeletal Infection

The use of labeled leukocyte (white blood cell [WBC]) studies in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis can be problematic. A combined study consisting of WBC imaging and complementary bone marrow imaging performed with technetium 99m (99mTc) sulfur colloid is approximately 90% accurate and is especially useful for diagnosing osteomyelitis in situations involving altered marrow distribution. There are limitations and pitfalls associated with a combined study. If there is no labeled WBC activity in the region of interest, marrow imaging is not useful. The sulfur colloid image becomes photopenic within about 1 week after the onset of infection, so that the study should be interpreted cautiously in the acute setting. Labeled WBC accumulation in lymph nodes can also confound image interpretation, although nodal activity can usually be recognized because it is typically round, discrete, multifocal, linear in distribution, and often bilateral. Furthermore, 99mTc-sulfur colloid that is improperly prepared or is more than about 2 hours old degrades image quality, potentially causing erroneous conclusions. Nevertheless, WBC-marrow imaging is a very accurate technique for diagnosing osteomyelitis. Knowledge of the criteria for image interpretation and of the aforementioned limitations and pitfalls, combined with careful attention to imaging technique, will maximize the value of this study.
Reduced insular volume in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether structural differences in the insula and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), two critical areas of the "salience network," co-exist in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) compared with healthy controls (HC). In addition we aimed to determine if structural changes within these regions correlate with attention and inhibitory function. Nineteen adolescents with ADHD and 25 HC received MRI scans on a 3T magnet. Morphometric analysis was performed with FreeSurfer. Youths with ADHD were found to have a bilateral reduction in anterior insular (AIC) gray matter volumes compared to HC. Furthermore, the left AIC was found to positively correlate with oppositional symptoms, while the right AIC was found to associate with both attention problems and inhibition. To our knowledge this is the first report of a bilateral reduction in AIC volumes in ADHD. Our findings suggest a role for the insula in modulating attention and inhibitory capacity in ADHD.
Characteristics of Travelers to Asia Requiring Multidose Vaccine Schedules: Japanese Encephalitis and Rabies Prevention.

Background Japanese encephalitis (JE) and rabies are serious vaccine preventable diseases which are an important consideration for travelers to Asia. Methods Five Boston-area travel clinics collected demographic data, trip information, and interventions for travelers to Asia seen at pre-travel consultations from March 1, 2008, through July 31, 2010. We evaluated travelers for proportion vaccinated for JE and rabies, those traveling for >1 month, and whether travelers had adequate time to complete the JE series (clinic visit ≥28 days before departure) and rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis (clinic visit ≥21 days before departure). Results Among 15,440 travelers from five Boston Area Travel Medicine Network travel clinics, Asia was the most common destination region, visited by 5,582 (36%) of travelers. Among these travelers, 4,810 (86%) planned to travel to only one Asian subregion. Median trip duration was 17 days, with more than 20% traveling for >1 month. The most common destinations were South (41%), Southeast (26%), and East (23%) Asia. Of those traveling to South, Southeast, or East Asia, over one-third with trips >1 month had insufficient time to complete a series for either JE or rabies vaccine. Overall, only 10% of travelers were vaccinated (past and pre-travel visit) for either JE or rabies, with lowest percentages among travelers visiting friends and relatives. Most travelers received advice on vector precautions (96%) and rabies prevention, which included avoiding animal contact, washing wounds, and obtaining appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis (88%). Conclusion Given the insufficient time for completion and relatively low vaccination rates, greater awareness of earlier pre-travel consultations, at least 4–6 weeks before travel, and accurate risk assessment for travelers are important. Effective counseling about vector avoidance, rabies, and animal bite prevention and management remains critical.
A bandwidth efficient signaling for MFSK systems

The use of a multiple-tone modulation scheme for a M-ary frequency shift keying (MFSK) system proves to be an efficient alternative for bandwidth constraint channels. A combinatorial design, called balanced incomplete block design, used to select the signaling format based on blocks of frequencies rather than single tones, as in a conventional MFSK system, is shown to reduce drastically the system bandwidth requirement and also to improve the performance of the system of a Rayleigh fading type of channel by adding an implicit diversity to the system. A nonbinary block code concatenated to the multi-tone MFSK system is considered, and it is shown to increase the diversity of the system, and consequently to improve its performance. >
Virus replication begins in dendritic cells during the transmission of HIV-1 from mature dendritic cells to T cells

Abstract Background: To initiate immunity, dendritic cells (DCs) capture antigens or viruses at body surfaces, undergo maturation to express T-cell costimulatory molecules, and then migrate to lymphoid organs. DCs at body surfaces can capture human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), but mature DCs do not support replication of the virus unless T cells are added. The initial site for HIV-1 replication remains unknown and it is unclear whether replication can take place in DCs or whether the virus must first be transmitted from DCs to T cells. Results: We generated mature DCs from monocyte precursors. Upon infection with HIV-1, reverse transcription was completed only when T cells were added. When the reverse transcriptase inhibitor azidothymidine was added to the DCs during exposure to HIV-1, the DCs remained fully infectious, as long as the drug was removed just before culturing the DCs with T cells. HIV-1 variants that were engineered to undergo only one cycle of replication were able to infect DCs and replicate once in these cells. When T cells were added, newly produced HIV-1 Gag protein was exclusively localized to the DCs. With wild-type virus, subsequent rounds of replication took place in T cells. Soluble CD40 ligand (CD40L) and CD40L-transfected fibroblasts stimulated HIV-1 replication in purified mature DCs. Conclusions: Mature DCs provide a drug-resistant reservoir for HIV-1. This reservoir is activated within DCs by CD40L and upon interaction with T cells, and the virus then spreads rapidly to other T cells.
Conditional persistence in logistic models via nonlinear diffusion

A nonlinear diffusion process modelling aggregative dispersal is combined with local (in space) population dynamics given by a logistic equation and the resulting growth-dispersal model is analysed. The nonlinear diffusion process models aggregation via a diffusion coefficient, which is decreasing with respect to the population density at low densities. This mechanism is similar to area-restricted search, but it is applied to conspecifics rather than prey. The analysis shows that in some cases the models predict a threshold effect similar to an Allee effect. That is, for some parameter ranges, the models predict a form of conditional persistence where small populations go extinct but large populations persist. This is somewhat surprising because logistic equations without diffusion or with non-aggregative diffusion predict either unconditional persistence or unconditional extinction. Furthermore, in the aggregative models, the minimum patch size needed to sustain an existing population at moderate to high densities may be smaller than the minimum patch size needed for invasibility by a small population. The tradeoff is that if a population is inhabiting a large patch whose size is reduced below the size needed to sustain any population, then the population on the patch can be expected to experience a sudden crash rather than a steady decline.
Are They Worth Reading? An In-Depth Analysis of Online Advertising Companies’ Privacy Policies

We analyzed the privacy policies of 75 online tracking companies with the goal of assessing whether they contain information relevant for users to make privacy decisions. We compared privacy policies from large companies, companies that are members of self-regulatory organizations, and non-member companies and found that many of them are silent with regard to important consumer-relevant practices including the collection and use of sensitive information and linkage of tracking data with personally-identifiable information. We evaluated these policies against self-regulatory guidelines and found that many policies are not fully compliant. Furthermore, the overly general requirements established in those guidelines allow companies to have compliant practices without providing transparency to users. Few companies disclose their data retention times or offer users the opportunity to access the information collected about them. The lack of consistent terminology to refer to affiliate and non-affiliate partners, and the mix of practices for first-party and third-party contexts make it challenging for users to clearly assess the risks and make meaningful decisions. We discuss options to improve the transparency and usability of online tracking companies' privacy practices.
An examination of summary writing as a measure of reading comprehension

Abstract This study investigated the effects of topic interest, writing ability, and summarization training on seventh‐grade subjects’ ability to summarize a social studies text. In addition, subjects’ performance on a multiple‐choice text was examined in relation to their summaries. These effects were then considered for their concomitant effect on the issue of using summaries to measure reading comprehension. Results indicated that multiple‐choice and summarization measures shared very little overlap in the kinds of text comprehension that they assessed. Additionally, it appeared that each of the three factors investigated had some degree of influence on summarization scores. Recommendations for future research are presented.
Butterflies visit more frequently, but bees are better pollinators: the importance of mouthpart dimensions in effective pollen removal and deposition

Pollination studies often use visitation frequency of potential pollinators as an indicator of their importance, but this is only one component and may not reflect actual pollen transfer rates. In this study, we determine the most effective pollinator group of Angadenia berteroi, a tropical perennial subshrub with large yellow flowers that set few fruits. We determined visitation frequency and pollen transfer effectiveness of the four most common groups of visitors (long- and short-tongued bees, and skipper and non-skipper butterflies). Using potted plants, we exposed flowers to single visits from different types of pollinators to measure fruit set. We demonstrate that A. berteroi is most effectively pollinated by long-tongued bees, though many other species visit the flowers; the most frequent visitor group is not the most important pollinator, because they neither carry nor deposit much pollen, as the width of their proboscis is small compared with long-tongued bees. In this system, the width of the proboscis of the pollinators correlates with pollen transfer efficiency. Our results demonstrate the importance of pollen removal, pollen deposition, and fruit set, in determining the most effective pollinators, rather than visitor frequency. The distinctive morphology of these flowers, with a large bell and a narrow, short tube, suggests that other flowers of this shape may similarly benefit more from visitors with mouthparts shorter than previously considered optimal.
A New Ray-based Offset-to-angle Transform For Anisotropic Medium And Its Implication In the Prestack Waveform Inversion of Seismic Data

Summary We present a ray-based approach to convert offset domain prestack seismic data into angles. From any given time sample, we ray-trace through the medium to the corresponding source and receiver locations and compute the ray-path length, travel time, offset, and the angle mute for a given angle. We then search for the offset traces that are within the angle mute, locally fit a polynomial to obtain the times corresponding to those offsets and partially stack those offset trace samples to obtain the corresponding zerooffset angle domain response. It is straightforward to compute both primary (P-P) and converted wave (P-S) angle gathers using this approach. Although we present our method for a horizontally stratified VTI medium, it can be easily extended to arbitrarily anisotropic dipping layers. Computing theoretical offset domain seismograms for a variety of models and converting them to angles, we verify that we are able to extract accurate response out to large angles. Our new ray-based transform will be useful for AVO/AVA analysis. In addition, it will also be useful for computing accurate angle gathers from observed seismic data and iteratively matching them with synthetic angle gathers in a prestack single or multicomponent waveform inversion for dipping anisotropic medium.
PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF PHENOTYPIC COVARIANCE STRUCTURE. II. RECONSTRUCTING MATRIX EVOLUTION.

A modified minimum evolution approach is used to estimate covariance matrices for hypothetical ancestors. Branch lengths are calculated as the mean disparity in corresponding ancestor-descendent covariances. Branches are longest leading to terminal populations and subspecies, while interspecific branches are relatively short, indicating a general conservation of covariance structure among species despite a high degree of intraspecific variability. Absolute deviations in covariance structure are not correlated with phenotypic divergence. Interpreted in light of other studies, the analyses suggest that deviations in covariance structure are most strongly associated with the formation of diagnosably distinct taxa and stochastic sampling of genotypes at the population level. There is no evidence for restructuring of phenotypic covariance structure in association with reproductive isolation. The results suggest that phenotypic covariances are dynamic over short time scales and do not support attempts to extrapolate genetic covariance structure to explain or predict macroevolutionary change. This study further demonstrates that branch lengths, which are not usually analyzed in detail, contain valuable evolutionary information complementary to that residing in the branching pattern.
Texture deformation by oscillatory superflow in superfluid3He A1

The resonant response of spin-entropy (second sound) wave was studied in cylindrical chamber filled with superfluid3He A1 in magnetic fields applied either parallel or perpendicular to the chamber axis. In the perpendicular orientation and when the drive level is low, the observed response is nonlinear and depends on the direction of frequency sweep. When the drive level is increased, surprisingly, the response becomes linear. The nonlinear effects are not observed in the parallel field orientation.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy Techniques for Counseling Incarcerated Female Adolescents: A Case Illustration

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) may successfully address the needs of female juvenile offenders, but systemic barriers prohibit adherence to the full DBT protocol. The authors built a rationale for using select DBT techniques with female adolescent offenders and provided a case illustration.
Neuron-specific enolase. Assessment by ELISA in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Measurement of tissue-specific enolase isoenzymes may be of assistance in identifying small cell carcinomas of the lung and in distinguishing them from other pulmonary tumors. Enolase (E.C. 4.2.1.11) is a dimeric enzyme composed of various permutations of three immunologically distinct subunits alpha, beta, and gamma. Five isoenzymes alpha alpha, beta beta, gamma gamma, alpha beta, and alpha gamma have been identified. Immunohistochemical studies using antibodies to the gamma subunit have localized alpha gamma and gamma gamma specifically within neuronal and neuroendocrine tissues. Because of this limited distribution, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) can function as a biochemical marker for neuroendocrine tumors. The authors developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the double antibody sandwich method. The sandwich is composed of rabbit antirat enolase that cross-reacts to the human gamma monomer, making the test specific for the gamma gamma isoenzyme. The avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex system is used to provide increased assay sensitivity. Serum samples from patients with histologically diagnosed small cell carcinoma have concentration of NSE 20- to 30-fold greater than that found in normal serum. Studies were conducted on patients with a variety of malignant pulmonary lesions and compared with controls to determine the value of NSE as a tumor marker.
Oxidation Kinetics of Metastable Electrodeposited and Sputtered Nickel Thin Films Via Thermogravimetric Analysis

The effetzct of the amorphous state and the disordered sputtered state on the oxidation kinetics of nickel films was investigated by a comparison with annealed films and with pure nickel foil and powder. Specimens were exposed to oxygen in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) in the temperature scan mode. An electrodeposited amorphous Ni-P alloy and sputtered pure nickel films were annealed in situ in argon and then oxidized in the same manner as the as deposited films. The as sputtered films oxidized faster at 500%C than pieces of the same film first annealed in argon. Conversely, the as deposited Ni-P film was more oxidation resistant below its crystallization temperature than the annealed Ni-P films.
Epidemiological Analysis on HIV Infector in Xinyang City

[Objective] Analyze the prevailing state of AIDS and influence factor of 11 years in Xinyang in purpose,offer basis for making the effective prevention measure.[Methods] Analyzes the materials of person living with HIV/AIDS in 1995—2006 in Xinyang.[Results] Morbidity on average every year is 1.785/lakh for result 1995—2006.The case fatality rate is 0.55/lakh.It exceeds more than 20 villages and towns that there are 17 in the whole city.This 17 villages and towns have 1015 HIM the infeted in all,accounts for 73.50% of the whole city.[Conclusion ]It is mainly a route of paid blood collecting and supplying before general survey that the person living with HIV/AIDS of our city of infects the route,Transmit through sex and form increasing after general survey;Monitor the epidemic situation actively,control AIDS dissemination the focal point that is AIDS preventing and controlling.VCT is at present discovered the HIV infected person's main way,should further strengthen the VCT work.
Benchmarking and medication error rates

NCC MERP and ISMP provide exemplary leadership in this area, including important policy suggestions. To be effective, benchmarking must include comparative measures of performance that are based on modifiable risk factors that cause the performance to suffer. It is also important to remember that
Cost of speed: A practical approach to evaluate a screening method from a Bayesian perspective

Abstract Utilization of rapid screening method presents an investment decision of laboratory assets. Screening methods are filtering procedures implemented to enable analysis of a large volume of samples in a rapid fashion. The principle of screening includes establishment of a threshold value as a selection criteria for the follow up confirmative analysis. Selection of a quality screening method determines the optimized utilization of laboratory resources. Two mathematical models are used to evaluate a screening method by directly comparing to a gold standard reference method. The first model utilizes the traditional receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve model to evaluate the screening method. A new model is proposed to access the accuracy and reliability of the screening method based on the gold standard reference method. The two models are extremely practical for a single laboratory to evaluate the reliability of a screening method when limited resources are available.
The Impact of Female Life-cycle Time-allocation Decisions on Income Distribution Among Families

Female time allocation patterns have dramatically changed in the past decades, as more and more women have chosen to participate in the labour force. Perhaps this has been one of the most significant phenomena the American economy has experienced during this period. Although many studies have been directed toward understanding the determinants of female allocation of time, much remains unknown about its effects. This paper focuses on one important effect: the impact of married women’s time-allocation decisions over the life cycle on the inequality of the income distribution across households.
Acquisition of L2 Spanish requests in short-term study abroad

The aim of this investigation was to examine the pragmatic development of 20 students during a short-term study abroad program in Spain. Request strategies were assessed with a written request production questionnaire. A language contact profile (LCP) was used to measure the relationship between pragmatic performance ratings and target language contact. Pretest and posttest mean scores on the request production questionnaire indicated that the students improved their request performance as rated by two native speakers. In looking at the specific request strategies used on the pretest and posttest vignettes, it is clear, however, that the students improved some aspects of their request production while other aspects remained unchanged. Further, LCP scores indicated that the students had little contact with native speakers during their time in Spain. No significant relationships were found between the LCP and request performance ratings. Results suggest that study abroad leadership should support students’ L2 pragmatic development before, during, and after study abroad.
Encouragement of Transplacental Stem Cell Transplantation.

Human fetomaternal cell trafficking has been demonstrated to result in persistent microchimerism of the mother and offspring from 20–100% of pregnancies. The level of microchimerism is small but in disease states may compose up to 0.96% of some cell types. This microchimersim could conceivably have therapeutic affects by serving as a reservoir of normally functioning stem cells. In order to determine if the level of microchimerism could be increased we have begun to explore methods to increase the number of stem cells and permeability of the placental barrier. To assess the affect of increasing stem cell number, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) was delivered subcutaneously during mid-gestation in pregnant heterozygous mucopolysaccharidosis VII (MPS VII, a deficiency of beta-glucuronidase) mice. We observed an increase in the proportion of sections from mutant offspring with demonstrable beta-glucuronidase producing cells from ∼2% in PBS treated mice to ∼25% in GCSF treated mice. To assess the affect of increasing placental permeability, pregnant MPS VII heterozygous mice were injected IV with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and a transfusion of 1 × 10 7 GFP positive bone marrow cells. We observed an increase in circulating GFP positive cells to 0.15% of circulating cells in 25% of the offspring of high dose VEGF-treated animals. Analysis of mutant offspring from the VEGF-treated animals reveals a dose effect of VEGF with 61% of sections from the group receiving the highest dose having demonstrable beta-glucuronidase producing cells. These studies demonstrate a proof-of-principle that microchimerism can be increased substantially and subsequent studies will focus on optimizing this transfer and analyzing therapeutic effect.