cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Instructional Objectives in Text: Managing the Reader's Attention

It is well established that the provision of instructional objectives before reading a text increases the learning of objective-rel evant material in the text. The purpose of the present study was to identify some of the mechanisms by which objectives affect learning. College students studied text under three conditions: with specific objectives, with a general objective, and with no objectives. The objective-relevant material was located either high or low in the content structure of the text. The dependent measures were secondary task reaction time—a measure of cognitive capacity use—reading time, and free recall for objective-relevant material. The results indicated that with specific objectives, the secondary-task reaction times while reading objective-relevant material were longer, reading times were longer, and recall was greater than with either a general objective or with no objectives. Reading times were significantly correlated with recall, but secondary task reaction times were not. In addition, more information was recalled when the objective-relevant material was located high in the text structure. The interpretation of these results is that, with specific objectives, students devote more cognitive capacity to objective-rel evant material, spend more time reading it, and recall more of it than when they do not have specific objectives.
Measuring Extracellular Ion Gradients from Single Channels with Ion-Selective Microelectrodes

Under many different conditions activated plasma membrane ion channels give rise to changes in the extracellular concentration of the permeant ion(s). The magnitude and duration of these changes are dependent on the electrochemical driving force(s) on the permeant ion(s) as well as conductance, open time, and channel density. We have modeled the change in the extracellular [K+] due to efflux through Ca2+-activated K+ channels, mSlo, to determine the range of parameters that would give rise to measurable signals in the surrounding media. Subsequently we have used extracellular, K+-selective microelectrodes to monitor localized changes in [K+]ext due to efflux through mSlo channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. The rapid changes in [K+] show a close fit with the predicted model when the time response of the ion-selective microelectrode is taken into account, providing proof of the concept. Measurement of the change in extracellular ion concentration with ion-selective microelectrodes provides a noninvasive means for functional mapping of channel location and density, as well as characterizing the properties of ion channels in the plasma membrane.
Dominance Theater, Slam-a-Thon, and Cargo Cults: Three Illustrations of How Using Conceptual Metaphors in Qualitative Research Works

Although a metaphor is often viewed either as a literary device or as the distinguishing characteristic of figurative language, taking a conceptual view of metaphor enables delving into the research process itself. Specifically, the authors address how a metaphor is both reflexive of a researcher’s worldview and potentially generative of new research directions previously unconsidered. To illustrate this, the authors examine three case studies that exemplify how a conceptual metaphor can greatly facilitate the researcher’s understanding of an emerging topic and its defining issues. They conclude by suggesting some premises and steps researchers should consider if interested in using conceptual metaphors as an analytic tool.
A Static Load-Balancing Scheme for Parallel XML Parsing on Multicore CPUs

A number of techniques to improve the parsing performance of XML have been developed. Generally, however, these techniques have limited impact on the construction of a DOM tree, which can be a significant bottleneck. Meanwhile, the trend in hardware technology is toward an increasing number of cores per CPU. As we have shown in previous work, these cores can be used to parse XML in parallel, resulting in significant speedups. In this paper, we introduce a new static partitioning and load-balancing mechanism. By using a static, global approach, we reduce synchronization and load-balancing overhead, thus improving performance over dynamic schemes for a large class of XML documents. Our approach leverages libxm12 without modification, which reduces development effort and shows that our approach is applicable to real-world, production parsers. Our scheme works well with Sun's Niagara class of CMT architectures, and shows that multiple hardware threads can be effectively used for XML parsing.
Compositional specification of behavioral semantics

An emerging common trend in model-based design of embedded software and systems is the adoption of Domain-Specific Modeling Languages (DSMLs). While abstract syntax metamodeling enables the rapid and inexpensive development of DSMLs, the specification of DSML semantics is still a hard problem. In previous work, we have developed methods and tools for the semantic anchoring of DSMLs. Semantic anchoring introduces a set of reusable "semantic units" that provide reference semantics for basic behavioral categories using the Abstract State Machine (ASM) framework. In this paper, we extend the semantic anchoring framework to heterogeneous behaviors by developing a method for the composition of semantic units. Semantic unit composition reduces the required effort from DSML designers and improves the quality of the specification. The proposed method is demonstrated through a case study.
Optical forces on particles of arbitrary shape and size

In this paper we present a theory of optical forces on particles of arbitrary shape and size and with fields of arbitrary spatial profiles. This means the theory applies to particle–light interactions in every optical regime: Rayleigh, Mie and geometrical. The theory has the advantage of conceptual simplicity and can handle the real, focused Gaussian beams typically found in optical tweezer experiments. We present optical force calculations on spheres and cubes, and the results obtained with our theory agree well with benchmark calculations obtained using other techniques.
Addressing the challenges of the global nursing community.

Aim: To describe both the initial and the subsequent impact of the 2001 Global Nursing Partnerships Conference: ‘Strategies for a Sustainable Workforce’, the first ever forum of its type, on the key challenges facing the global nursing community. Design: Identification of short- and long-term outcomes through descriptive review of immediate post-conference evaluations and follow-up questionnaires sent out 13 months later to nursing leaders in the participating countries. Methods: Content analysis of quantitative data from 61 immediate post-conference evaluations and 13 follow-up questionnaires, as well as qualitative data from participant comments on the evaluation forms and questionnaires. Findings: Analysis indicated conference participants viewed the conference as a beneficial forum to collaboratively examine nursing workforce issues and trends, develop country-specific nursing action plans, establish and strengthen national and international partnerships, and build stronger international nursing bodies. Conclusion: The Global Nursing Partnerships Conference was an international success – addressing the unique challenges facing nursing leaders in developed and developing countries and the needs of nurses throughout the world.
Robustness and computational aspects of nonlinear stochastic estimators and regulators

Robustness properties of nonlinear extended Kalman filters with constant gains and modeling errors are presented. Sufficient conditions for the nondivergence of state estimates generated by such nonlinear estimators are given. In addition, the overall robustness and stability properties of closed-loop stochastic regulators, based upon the linear-quadratic Gaussian design methodology using linearized dynamics, are presented; the sufficient conditions for closed-loop stability have a "separation-type" property.
Early surgical outcomes comparison between robotic and conventional open thyroid surgery for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

Background Robotic operations have enabled a safer and more meticulous approach to thyroidectomy with the notable benefit of improved cosmesis and decreases in postoperative pain and swallowing discomfort. The aim of this study was to document the early surgical outcomes of robotic thyroidectomy in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) by comparing it with conventional open thyroidectomy. Methods From October 2007 to September 2008, 458 patients with PTC underwent thyroidectomy at the Yonsei University Health System. Of these patients, 266 patients were in the conventional open group and 192 patients were in the robotic group. These 2 groups were compared retrospectively with respect to clinicopathologic characteristics and surgical outcomes. Results The mean follow-up period was 29.1 months. Mean tumor size, incidence of capsular invasion, multiplicity, and central nodal metastasis showed no significant difference between the 2 groups. Total thyroidectomy was performed more frequently in the open group. In terms of operation times, the robotic group had a significantly greater length of time for total thyroidectomy and subtotal thyroidectomy. The total number of retrieved central lymph nodes was greater in the open group (5.7 vs 4.6, P = .004). The 2 groups showed no differences in intraoperative and postoperative complications. The postoperative serum thyroglobulin levels were similar in both groups (0.25 vs 0.22 ng/mL, P = .648) and 2-year follow-up sonography of 433 patients revealed no recurrences. No abnormal I 131 uptake was observed in whole-body scans in either group. Conclusion Robotic thyroidectomy was similar to conventional open thyroidectomy in terms of early surgical outcomes but offers advantages. We conclude that robotic thyroidectomy offers a safe, feasible alternative to conventional open thyroidectomy in patients with PTC.
Using elements of game engine architecture to simulate sensor networks for eldercare

When dealing with a real time sensor network, building test data with a known ground truth is a tedious and cumbersome task. In order to quickly build test data for such a network, a simulation solution is a viable option. Simulation environments have a close relationship with computer game environments, and therefore there is much to be learned from game engine design. In this paper, we present our vision for a simulated in-home sensor network and describe ongoing work on using elements of game engines for building the simulator. Validation results are included to show agreement on motion sensor simulation with the physical environment.
Lithospheric Dilation on Europa

Abstract Lithospheric dilation on Europa has occurred at ridges, bands, and various hybrid lineaments on a global scale over a large part of the geological age of the surface. Dilational ridges (Class 2 in the R. Greenberg et al. (1998, Icarus 135 , 64–78) taxonomy) are elevated, are usually a few kilometers across, and may have a lineated or hummocky interior and a pronounced medial groove. Bands are lower and usually wider than Class 2 ridges, and may have a lineated interior with no prominent medial groove. Some lineaments have characteristics of both ridges and bands. The character of Class 2 ridges, bands, and hybrid forms suggests that they are dilational gaps in the lithosphere, filled from below, and that they constitute a morphological continuum with Class 2 ridges and bands as end-members. These relationships may be explained by a model in which external forcing superimposes a secular dilation on the tidal cycle that opens and closes cracks each Europan day, resulting in incomplete closure with accumulation and possible extrusion of new ice fill. Where the lineament ultimately falls on the morphological continuum—especially how much it is elevated above ambient terrain—depends upon the ratio of daily secular dilation to the amplitude of the cyclic tidal separation. We call this ratio the “dilation quotient”. Changes in the dilation quotient during the active life of the lineament will create variable lineament forms. One driver for dilation is tidal “walking” of strike-slip faults, which dilates linked nonparallel cracks. That process is prominent in the 800-km-long strike-slip fault Astypalaea Linea. A subsurface liquid water ocean allows the decoupling needed for horizontal displacements and is the source for the ice that fills the dilated lineaments.
Marital satisfaction, recovery from work, and diurnal cortisol among men and women.

Design: Multilevel modeling was used to model relationships between salivary cortisol, daily diary ratings of work experiences, and Marital Adjustment Test scores (Locke & Wallace, 1959), in a sample of 60 adults who sampled saliva 4 times per day over 3 days. Results: Among women but not men, marital satisfaction was significantly associated with a stronger basal cortisol cycle, with higher morning values and a steeper decline across the day. For women but not men, marital satisfaction moderated the within-subjects association between afternoon and evening cortisol level, such that marital quality appeared to bolster women’s physiological recovery from work. For both men and women, evening cortisol was lower than usual on higher-workload days, and marital satisfaction augmented this association among women. Men showed higher evening cortisol after more distressing social experiences at work, an association that was strongest among men with higher marital satisfaction. Conclusion: This work has implications for the study of physiological recovery from work, and also suggests a pathway by which marital satisfaction influences allostatic load and physical health.
Accurate bit allocation and rate control for DCT domain video transcoding

For video transmission over heterogeneous networks and devices, the compressed video stream has to be converted into a lower transmission bit rate or a small spatial resolution. The operation of converting a video in compressed format into another video also in compressed format is called video transcoding. The specific transcoding issue mentioned here is referred to as bit rate adaptation or rate shaping. We present a novel bit allocation and rate control algorithm for DCT domain video transcoding. Implementation results show that the proposed algorithm can provide accurate bit allocation and better video quality. Compared to TMN-8, the proposed scheme can generate a more stable video stream and maintain an even buffer occupancy level. This rate control scheme can be used to provide flexible video bit rate adaptation and stable transmission of video streams over heterogeneous networks.
Novel 3-D Coaxial Interconnect System for Use in System-in-Package Applications

This paper presents the design and demonstration of a novel die-to-die interconnect system for deployment in system-in-package (SiP) applications with adjacent or stacked-die configurations. The interconnect system consists of miniature coaxial cables that are mounted to a standard Silicon substrate using an etched trench along the perimeter of the die. The trench serves as a self-alignment feature for both the signal and ground contacts in addition to providing mechanical strain relief for the coaxial cable. The system is designed to interface on-chip coplanar transmission lines to off-chip coaxial transmission lines to produce a fully impedance matched system. This approach promises to dramatically improve the electrical performance of high-speed, die-to-die signals by eliminating impedance discontinuities, providing a shielded signal path, and providing a low-impedance return path for the switching signal. The new interconnect system is designed to be selectively added to a standard wire bond pad configuration using an incremental etching process. This paper describes the design process for the new approach including the fabrication sequence to create the transition trenches. Finite-element analysis is performed to evaluate the electrical performance of the proposed system.
Reproducible Production of Protective Human Monoclonal Antibodies by Fusion of Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes with a Mouse Myeloma Cell Line

The production of monoclonal antibodies of human origin may represent a significant advance in immunotherapy for disease in humans. Although human monoclonal antibody has been produced from human lymphocytes by fusion with human myeloma cell lines or by Epstein-Barr viral transformation, fusion of postimmunization human lymphocytes with a mouse myeloma cell line is a relatively simple and reproducible alternative. Mouse-human hybrid cell lines were obtained in 205 (53%) of the microtiter wells initially seeded. Thirty-one (15%) of these hybrid cell lines secreted antibody of predefined specificity. Cloning was attempted with eight of the hybrid cell lines, and long-term antibody production was established in four of the lines: two hybridomas secreted antibody to the capsule of Haemophilus influenzae type b, one secreted antibody to tetanus toxoid, and one secreted antibody to diphtheria toxin. The production of mouse-human hybridomas appears to be a reliable method for obtaining human monoclonal antibody of predefined specificity.
A Cockroach Inspired Robot With Artificial Muscles

A robot, Robot V (Ajax) has been constructed based on the death head cockroach, Blaberus discoidalis. In an attempt to further take advantage of the neuromechanics of the animal, actuators with muscle-like properties have been employed that demonstrate a superior force to weight ratio over conventional actuation devices. Although it is not feasible to capture the entire range of motion displayed by the animal (seven degrees of freedom per leg), research has shown that twenty-four degrees of freedom provide a sufficiently close approximation for agile walking and climbing. The fifteen kilogram robot has an offboard power source and control system.
Urban Life in Kingston, Jamaica: The Culture and Class Ideology of Two Neighborhoods

Urban Life in Kingston, Jamaica: The Culture and Class Ideology of Two Neighborhoods. Diane J. Austin. Caribbean Studies Series, Volume 3. Switzerland: Gordon and Breach Science Publishers/Harwood Academic Publishers, 1987 [1984]. xvii + 281 pp., appendices, notes, bibliography, subject index, street index. $35.00 (cloth). ISBN 2–88124–006–2.
The Effects of a Community-Based, Culturally Tailored Diabetes Prevention Intervention for High-Risk Adults of Mexican Descent

PurposeThis article reports the results of a community-based, culturally tailored diabetes prevention program for overweight Mexican American adults on weight loss, waist circumference, diet and ph...
Field averaging micro-lenses that synthesize highly uniform illumination in coherent EUV optical systems

Illumination uniformity in exposure tools is critical to several aspects of the extreme ultraviolet lithography development task. We've developed a field-averaging scanning-micro-lens system synthesizing robust, uniform illumination from non-uniform, high-coherence extreme ultraviolet sources enabling these sources to be used in applications requiring a high degree of illumination uniformity.
Temporal trends in nitrogen isotope values of nitrate leaching from an agricultural soil

The concentration and d 15 No f NO y in leachate from two undisturbed and unfertilized soil lysimeters, one convention- 3
Oceanographic gradients and seabird prey community dynamics in glacial fjords

Glacial fjord habitats are undergoing rapid change as a result of contemporary global warming, yet little is known about how glaciers influence marine ecosystems. These ecosystems provide important feeding, breeding and rearing grounds for a wide variety of marine organisms, including seabirds of management concern. To characterize ocean conditions and marine food webs near tidewater glaciers, we conducted monthly surveys of oceanographic variables, plankton, fish and seabirds in Kenai Fjords, Alaska, from June to August of 2007 and 2008. We also measured tidal current velocities near glacial features. We found high sediment load from glacial river runoff played a major role in structuring the fjord marine ecosystem. Submerged moraines (sills) isolated cool, fresh, stratified and silt-laden inner fjord habitats from oceanic influence. Near tidewater glaciers, surface layers of turbid glacial runoff limited availability of light to phytoplankton, but macrozooplankton were abundant in surface waters, perhaps due to the absence of a photic cue for diel migration. Fish and zooplankton community structure varied along an increasing temperature gradient throughout the summer. Acoustic measurements indicated that low density patches of fish and zooplankton were available in the surface waters near glacial river outflows. This is the foraging habitat occupied most by Kittlitz’s murrelet (Brachyramphus brevirostris), a rare seabird that appears to be specialized for life in glacially influenced environments. Kittlitz’s murrelets were associated with floating glacial ice, and they were more likely to occur near glaciers, in deeper water, and in areas with high acoustic backscatter. Kittlitz’s murrelet at-sea distribution was limited to areas influenced by turbid glacial outflows, and where prey was concentrated near the surface in waters with low light penetration. Tidewater glaciers impart unique hydrographic characteristics that influence marine plankton and fish communities, and this has cascading effects on marine food webs in these ecosystems.
Nedd4 haploinsufficient mice display moderate insulin resistance, enhanced lipolysis, and protection against high-fat diet-induced obesity

Neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated protein 4 (Nedd4) is the prototypical protein in the Nedd4 ubiquitin ligase (E3) family, which governs ubiquitin-dependent endocytosis and/or degradation of plasma membrane proteins. Loss of Nedd4 results in embryonic or neonatal lethality in mice and reduced insulin/IGF-1 signaling in embryonic fibroblasts. To delineate the roles of Nedd4 in vivo, we examined the phenotypes of heterozygous knockout mice using a high-fat diet-induced obesity (HFDIO) model. We observed that Nedd4+/- mice are moderately insulin resistant but paradoxically protected against HFDIO. After high-fat diet feeding, Nedd4+/- mice showed less body weight gain, less fat mass, and smaller adipocytes vs the wild type. Despite ameliorated HFDIO, Nedd4+/- mice did not manifest improvement in glucose tolerance vs the wild type in both genders. Nedd4+/- male, but not female, mice displayed significantly lower fasting blood glucose levels and serum insulin levels. Under obesogenic conditions, Nedd4+/- mice displayed elevated stimulated lipolytic activity, primarily through a β2-adrenergic receptor. Combined, these data support novel complex roles for Nedd4 in metabolic regulation involving altered insulin and β-adrenergic signaling pathways.
A Review of Genetic Polymorphisms and Prostate Cancer Risk

In this study, we review a variety of genetic polymorphisms that may have an etiologic role in prostate cancer. We include associations identified in molecular epidemiology studies and the consistency of findings reported to date. Suggestions for further research are also offered. For the purposes of this review, we identified relevant articles through a MEDLINE search for the period of January 1987 through March 2001. The searches were limited to articles published in English. Medical subject headings were used to scan titles, abstracts, and subject headings in the databases using the keywords "prostate neoplasms," "genetics," and "polymorphisms."
An outbreak of herpesvirus infection in a flock of ringed turtle doves (Streptopelia risoria).

A fatal epornitic disease of parrots that resembled psittacosis clinically was reported in 1930. The disease was characterized macroscopically by foci of necrosis in the liver and spleen and microscopically by acidophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies at the site of the lesions. The agent involved in the outbreak was a novel viral disease of psittacines, which was later identified as a herpesvirus (PSHV). The disease was named Pacheco’s Parrot Disease in recognition of the investigator who first identified the condition. Herpesviruses causing disease syndromes similar to Pacheco’s Parrot Disease have since been isolated from owls (OHV), falcons (FHV), cranes (CHV), quails (QHV), storks (SHV), and a cormorant from Lake Victoria, Australia (LVCV). In 1970, a naturally occurring herpesvirus infection in pigeons (PHV) characterized by intralesional eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies was reported and experimentally transmitted. Other herpesviruses infecting avian species and causing distinct disease syndromes include Marek’s disease virus (MDV), infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), duck enteritis virus (DEV), and turkey herpesvirus (THV). Pathogenicity and antigenic comparison studies indicate that avian herpesviruses are distinct from mammalian herpesviruses. 1,3,5,8,11 Although the avian herpesviruses are a
Self-assembly of nanoscale cuboctahedra by coordination chemistry

Self-assembled polyhedral structures are common in biology. The coats of many viruses, for example, have a structure based on icosahedral symmetry. The preparation of synthetic polyhedral molecular assemblies represents a challenging problem, but supramolecular chemistry has now advanced to the point where the task may be addressed. Macromolecular and supramolecular entities of predefined geometric shape and with well-defined internal environments are potentially important for inclusion phenomena, molecular recognition and catalysis. Here we report the use of self-assembly of molecular units driven by coordination to transition-metal ions to prepare a cuboctahedron from 20 tridentate and bidentate subunits in a single step. The cuboctahedron is an archimedean semiregular polyhedron that combines square and triangular faces. Our self-assembled polyhedral capsules, characterized by NMR and electrospray mass spectrometry, are around 5 nanometres in diameter.
Sales Force Training Evaluation

An important indicator of an effective sales force training program is the evaluation of whether or not the training has directly impacted professional selling in retail organizations as defined by sales volume, sales personnel performance as well as other bottom line metrics . Despite spending thousands of dollars training their sales force every year, retail organizations often fail to follow through in evaluating the effectiveness of their training programs, thereby not allowing corrective actions for improvements to take root. This article investigates the importance of sales training evaluations and provides insights into the challenges and impediments faced by retailers in conducting sales training evaluation . This study essentially propose utilizing Kirkpatrick's Four-Level Training Evaluation Model (Donald Kirkpatrick, 1994) to examine the interrelationships among its four levels of training evaluation (reaction, learning, behavior change, and organizational outcomes) and how they can be applied in determining sales training effectiveness in retail organizations. Future research emphasis and implications are then discussed that may help retailers better evaluate their sales training provisions while developing effective and accountable sales training efforts that will increase overall sales force productivity.
Cross-field electron transport through a rotating spoke in the cylindrical hall thruster

Summary form only given. A rotating spoke has been observed on a cylindrical Hall thruster with a cusp-shaped magnetic field. The spoke rotates with a velocity near 2 km/s in the ExB direction. The crossfield electron transport induced by the spoke has been directly measured for the first time using a segmented anode. Approximately 50% of the total current is found to pass through the spoke. The cross-field transport mechanism has been explored using emissive probe measurements of the fluctuating potential. The findings reveal a perturbed electric field which enhances electron transport across the field.
A Modest Proposal: A Dialogue to Implement the Human Right to Water

If you were told that every two minutes, you could save the life of a future Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., or Liu Xiaobo simply by giving them two buckets of water a day, you probably would not hesitate to do this seemingly small thing. That is, unless you had to watch your own child die from thirst to save those global luminaries. Daily, 3,900 children under the age of 5 suffer such a tragic outcome as they die from water-related diseases, diarrhea and dehydration.Water is quickly and, in some parts of the developed world, quietly becoming a scarce natural resource that is vital for mankind’s survival. The average person needs at least 26 gallons of water every day to satisfy basic survival and health needs. Although water is unequivocally essential for human survival, over 1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water, and more than twice as many lack sanitary facilities. Globally, more than 5 million people die every year from water-related illnesses; annually, only HIV/AIDS and malnutrition cause more deaths in the developing world. Recent estimates indicate global water consumption may double during the next 20 years. The United Nations anticipates that by 2040, demand for water will exceed the world’s supply by more than 30 percent. Further, despite our status as a developed country and “leader of the free world,” the National Resources Defense Council predicts that more than 1,100 counties in the United States will face higher risks of water shortages by 2050. A prominent emerging quandary among national and world leaders is how to solve the water shortage, both now and in the future, while adjusting (1) legal doctrines effecting competing ethical and property claims to water sources, and (2) the stratagem between governments, in parens patriae, and private corporations to share the benefits and costs of water privatization. Arguments have been made that have factions diametrically opposed based on the belief that corporate money to exploit water should be rejected and those who believe government should grab corporate cash with both hands. A problem is that no matter what the solution, there is a resulting cost that many governments are not prepared to address. This article surveys this nation’s efforts to define its obligations as one of the members of the international community struggling with implementing the human right to water as recently reaffirmed by the United Nations. To explore the magnitude and complexity of this task, it is instructive to examine the most recent United Nations resolutions addressing the global water shortage, as well as the United States’ reticence about prematurely undertaking this monumental task. Thereafter, this article examines the need to bring private companies into the discussions of implementing the human right to water, the potential issues faced by letting the proverbial “fox in the hen house,” and, finally, suggestions for successfully overcoming those concerns.
Myelographic Techniques for the Detection of Spinal CSF Leaks in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension

OBJECTIVE. Spinal leakage of CSF causes almost all cases of spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Leak detection and localization are important for both diagnosis and treatment. The myelographic appearance of the leaks may vary, however, depending on the cause of the leak, rate of leakage, and imaging modality used. CONCLUSION. The purpose of this article is to review the imaging of spinal CSF leaks and to assist in the selection of appropriate imaging modalities in this condition.
Vulnerability to pesticide neurotoxicity is a lifetime issue.

Early development is not the only life stage during which which we see intensified responses to the adverse effects of chemicals. Vulnerability to toxic processes rises again late in life, and in many ways recapitulates the imperfect defenses deployed by the immature organism. One feature common to both early and late phases is a reduced capacity to compensate for impairment. In the first case, the functional mechanisms have yet to evolve. In the second, they have passed into what might be called a post-mature decline. Traced across the life cycle, this progression might be depicted as an inverted U. The developing brain, however, is equipped with immense plastic potential; the aging brain has lost much of its plasticity. The altered function of the aging brain, however, is not simply an outcome of how long the organism has lived. "Aging" is not a mechanistic explanation. Events occurring during life must account for the changes. Older brains are already high-maintenance properties, so that exposure to substances with neurotoxic properties, such as pesticides, may accelerate the process, or exploit its dwindling capacities to resist their effects. From this vantage point, toxicants can act in three ways to depress function during advanced age: they may interfere with brain development, leaving a legacy of diminished redundancy not apparent until it is further compromised during aging; they may hasten the progressive erosion of function observed with certain abilities; they may exert greater effects in the aging brain because the aging nervous system has already undergone a reduction in its ability to withstand toxic challenges. Language: en
Coupled Heterogeneities and Their Impact on Parasite Transmission and Control

Most host-parasite systems exhibit remarkable heterogeneity in the contribution to transmission of certain individuals, locations, host infectious states, or parasite strains. While significant advancements have been made in the understanding of the impact of transmission heterogeneity in epidemic dynamics and parasite persistence and evolution, the knowledge base of the factors contributing to transmission heterogeneity is limited. We argue that research efforts should move beyond considering the impact of single sources of heterogeneity and account for complex couplings between conditions with potential synergistic impacts on parasite transmission. Using theoretical approaches and empirical evidence from various host-parasite systems, we investigate the ecological and epidemiological significance of couplings between heterogeneities and discuss their potential role in transmission dynamics and the impact of control.
A Systematic Review of Nerve Transfer and Nerve Repair for the Treatment of Adult Upper Brachial Plexus Injury

Nerve reconstruction for upper brachial plexus injury consists of nerve repair and/or transfer. Current literature lacks evidence supporting a preferred surgical treatment for adults with such injury involving shoulder and elbow function. We systematically reviewed the literature published from January 1990 to February 2011 using multiple databases to search the following: brachial plexus and graft, repair, reconstruction, nerve transfer, neurotization. Of 1360 articles initially identified, 33 were included in analysis, with 23 nerve transfer (399 patients), 6 nerve repair (99 patients), and 4 nerve transfer + proximal repair (117 patients) citations (mean preoperative interval, 6 ± 1.9 months). For shoulder abduction, no significant difference was found in the rates ratio (comparative probabilities of event occurrence) among the 3 methods to achieve a Medical Research Council (MRC) scale score of 3 or higher or a score of 4 or higher. For elbow flexion, the rates ratio for nerve transfer vs nerve repair to achieve an MRC scale score of 3 was 1.46 (P = .03); for nerve transfer vs nerve transfer + proximal repair to achieve an MRC scale score of 3 was 1.45 (P = .02) and an MRC scale score of 4 was 1.47 (P = .05). Therefore, for elbow flexion recovery, nerve transfer is somewhat more effective than nerve repair; however, no particular reconstruction strategy was found to be superior to recover shoulder abduction. When considering nerve reconstruction strategies, our findings do not support the sole use of nerve transfer in upper brachial plexus injury without operative exploration to provide a clear understanding of the pathoanatomy. Supraclavicular brachial plexus exploration plays an important role in developing individual surgical strategies, and nerve repair (when donor stumps are available) should remain the standard for treatment of upper brachial plexus injury except in isolated cases solely lacking elbow flexion.
Organophosphate Resistance in the Banks Grass Mite

Several concentrations of parathion, carbophenothion, disulfoton, and phorate in EC or T formulations were tested in the laboratory on 4 Texas strains (Pecos, Seagraves, Petersburg, and Olton) of Oligonychus pratensis (Banks) to determine baseline LC50 and resistance levels. Considerable resistance was detected in all strains to 3 of the compounds but phorate remained fairly effective for the 3 strains on which it was tested. The LC50 for parathion in the Pecos strain was 60-fold higher than for the most susceptible (Olton) strain tested. The highest LC50 in ppm for each of the chemicals was: phorate-10, disulfoton-1095, carbophenothion-1946, and parathion-2067.
Extraction, characterization, purification and catalytic upgrading of algae lipids to fuel-like hydrocarbons

Abstract The extraction, characterization, purification and upgrading of algal lipids was examined, utilizing Scenedesmus acutus microalgae grown with flue gas from a coal-fired power plant. Lipid extraction was achieved using a procedure based on the Bligh–Dyer method, modified so as to utilize a significantly decreased solvent:biomass ratio than the original protocol. Both activated carbon and K10 montmorillonite were found to function as efficient adsorbents for the removal of chlorophyll, phospholipids and sterols from the crude algae oil. The yield of purified lipids using this approach was similar to that obtained by in situ transesterification of the lipids in S. acutus, confirming that adsorption is an effective method for the removal of non-esterifiable lipids. During the deoxygenation of the purified algae oil at 260 °C over a Ni–Al layered double hydroxide catalyst, deactivation of the catalyst was observed, attributed to the presence of highly unsaturated lipid chains which can act as poisons by adsorbing strongly to the catalyst surface and/or acting as precursors to coke formation. However, upgrading at 300 °C gave better results, the liquid product consisting of ∼99 wt% hydrocarbons, diesel-like (C10–C20) hydrocarbons constituting 76 wt% of the liquid after 4 h on stream.
Study on Cluster Strategies for the Undeveloped Regions Based on Systematic Structure Models

After stating the literature review and systematic characteristic of industrial cluster,this study presents systematic structure models for industrial cluster on the level of enterprises and whole cluster,based on the System Dynamics,to describe enterprises' competitive and cooperative mechanisms in the cluster and relations among the whole cluster,demand,and resources respectively.The feedback loops in models reflect and explain the systematic structure of cluster mainly,and the dominant ones vary in different stages of cluster life cycle.According to the systematic characteristic and different dominant feedback loops in systematic structure models,the strategic suggestions of undeveloped regions are presented for the cooperation,coordinative competition of enterprises,and the whole cluster development respectively.
Legacy and Later Life

In a treatise that was published by an engineer turned economist and financier, who persevered and even had to pay for the publication of his great work, Williams established the field of fundamentals analysis and, for the first time, provided a scientifically-based methodology to value corporations and their securities. His methodology of securities pricing based on discounted present values formed the foundation of modern asset pricing and also formed the foundation for securities returns, which was later augmented by measures of risk and uncertainty.
The Formation and Maturation of Neuromuscular Junctions

A principle function of the nervous system is the integration and transmission of electrochemical signals to and from the brain, and arguably the most important part of this system is the specialized connection formed when these cells make contact, the synapse. Derived from the Greek syn- (together) and haptein (to clasp), the term synapse was first coined by 1921 Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Sir Charles S. Sherrington (1852–1952), who argued that the final stop in the transmission of signals in the nervous system was the junction between neurons. Neuromuscular junctions have been used since Sherrington's time to understand how synapses are formed, how they function, and how they are maintained as integral elements of a neural circuit.
Matching in Two-Sided Platforms for IT Services: Evidence from Online Labor Markets

Online labor markets, two-sided platforms that match buyers with freelancers for IT services, have become increasingly important for sourcing labor and creating jobs around the globe. However, matching buyers and freelancers is challenging, largely because of the difficulty in pricing idiosyncratic IT services, and buyers and freelancers face uncertainty over the price (termed value uncertainty) they should pay, or bid, for an IT service, respectively. We propose “bid price dispersion” as a key determinant of matching (the percentage of posted IT services that are actually contracted between buyers and freelancers), and we empirically examine the effect of bid price dispersion on the two key sequential stages of matching in online labor markets: (a) buyer indecision — whether a buyer offers a contract to any freelancer; and (b) freelancer regret — whether the freelancer accepts the contract offered by the buyer. Using panel data from a leading online labor market (Freelancer), our results show that bid price dispersion is associated with an increase in both buyer indecision and freelancer regret, thus hurting matching. The results are robust across several alternative model specifications and various measurements of bid price dispersion. We contribute to the literature on two-sided platforms by theorizing and empirically quantifying the negative effect of bid price dispersion on buyer-freelancer matching in online labor markets for IT services. We discuss the study’s practical implications for enhancing the design of online labor markets and the matching capability of two-sided platforms.
Association of Diet With Skin Histological Features in UV-B–Exposed Mice

Importance Long-term exposure to solar radiation produces deleterious photoaging of the skin. It is not known if diet can influence skin photoaging. Objectives To study the influence of a calorie-restricted diet and an obesity diet in mice exposed to long-term UV-B irradiation to assess if there is an association between diet and histopathological response to UV-B irradiation. Design, Setting, and Participants In this animal model study in an academic setting, the dorsal skin of SKH1 hairless mice receiving normal, calorie-restricted, and obesity diets was exposed to UV-B irradiation 3 times a week for 10 weeks and were compared with corresponding controls. The mice were placed in the following groups, with 8 animals in each group: (1) intact control (C) with regular diet and no UV-B exposure, (2) intact control with UV-B exposure (CR), (3) calorie-restricted diet (CrC), (4) calorie-restricted diet with UV-B exposure (CrR), (5) obesity diet (OC), and (6) obesity diet with UV-B exposure (OR). The experiment was conducted during October through December 2013. Tissue processing and histological analysis were completed in 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures Histomorphometric analysis was performed on paraffin-embedded skin sections stained by histological and immunohistochemical methods for estimation of epidermal thickness, epidermal proliferating cell nuclear antigen index, collagen I, elastic fibers, fibroblasts, mast cells, dermal cellularity, and adipose layer ratio. Changes in wrinkles were noted. Results Hairless female mice (age range, 6-8 weeks) were obtained. With a normal diet, changes from UV-B irradiation occurred in epidermal thickness, epidermal proliferating cell nuclear antigen index, collagen I, elastic fibers, fibroblasts, and mast cells, which were modestly influenced by an obesity diet. Calorie restriction influenced the skin in nonirradiated control animals, with higher values for most variables. After UV-B exposure in animals with calorie restriction, epidermal thickness was increased, but other variables were unaffected. Animals receiving the calorie-restricted diet lost weight when exposed to long-term UV-B irradiation. Wrinkles were reduced in the calorie-restricted control group and in UV-B–exposed animals who received the obesity diet. Conclusions and Relevance Dietary alterations seem to modify histopathological responses to UV-B exposure in the skin of hairless mice. Level of Evidence NA.
Environmental Contingencies as Sources of Stress in Animals

Control over one’s destiny, knowledge of the “laws of nature”, privilege of choice, and freedom from conflict are among the higher values and goals espoused by individuals. Are these values culturally determined and uniquely human, or are they rooted in the evolutionary biology of the organism? The latter belief is fostered by continued recognition that learning is an evolutionarily derived adaptive mechanism (e.g., Spencer, 1855) the raison d’etre of which is to engage behavioral dependencies (control), environmental contingencies (prediction), and behavioral-environmental alternatives (choices). Averill (1973) and White (1959), recognizing the general adaptive significance of control over the environment, have argued that need for control is a “deep seated” motivational variable of phylogenetic as well as ontogenetic origin. If striving for control, prediction, and choice are emergent properties of basic biological processes, we might well inquire about the pathological consequences for the organism--psychological or physiological--of not having control, of inability to predict, or of the absence of choice. These might be potent sources of stress for man in modern societies which tend toward ever more minute regulation. But how do we assess this within ethical bounds?
Prevalence of Serious Emotional Disturbance Among U.S. Children: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective:Prevalence estimates of child psychiatric disorders with severe impairment vary widely, and there is a critical need for precise estimates to inform clinical practice and policy in the United States. This study presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based U.S. studies estimating the prevalence of youths with serious emotional disturbance (SED), as defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Methods:Studies were identified through searches of the MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases and nine prior reviews. Two raters evaluated 423 full-text articles, and studies were included if they assessed psychopathology and functional impairment among community samples of youths (age ≤18) in the United States via structured interviews or standardized, nationally normed rating scales and if they reported point to 12-month prevalence estimates. Prevalence estimates of SED with domain-specific and global impairment were extracted, along with study characteristics and...