cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analytical methods for performance evaluation of nonlinear filters

In the investigation, the filtering problem is considered in the continuous time domain. The postulated simple suboptimal nonlinear filter structure closely parallels the structure of the Kalman-Bucy optimal linear filter algorithm. Two filter performance evaluation methods are developed based on the Kolmogorov equations for the transition density of Markov processes. The expansions in the approximations for the nonlinear system and observation functions are in effect carried out up to second-order terms in both methods. The description of the filter's performance is sought in terms of second-order statistics in both methods.
Concentric evaporating spray jets in dilute gas–solids pipe flows

Abstract Hydrodynamic mixing of evaporating spray jets in dilute gas–solids pipe flows was investigated both experimentally and analytically. An analytical model was developed for the field description of each phase while an experimental system with a thermocouple matrix was set up to assist the modeling development and validation. A mechanistic model of thermocouple measurements in a general gas–solid–droplet three-phase flow was further established for building up the linkage between the averaged mixture temperature and the temperature of each phase as well as for the measurement interpretation. Phase transfer and interactions between the spray and the ambient flow such as entrainment and turbulent transfer across the jet boundary were delineated in the analytical model. The histogram of spray droplet evaporation, the jet boundary expansion, and the phase distributions of velocity, temperature and concentration were predicted. Effects of the ambient flow velocity, solids loading and spray jet mass flow rate on both the jet structure and temperature profiles were illustrated. Unique phenomena such as the shortening of the spray penetration, the ambient temperature reduction, and the ambient gas acceleration were explored and interpreted. The comparison between the modeling predictions and measurements on the mixture temperature profiles suggests that the proposed analytical approach is reasonably correct.
Effects of nitration on the structure and aggregation of α-synuclein

Substantial evidence suggests that the aggregation of the presynaptic protein α-synuclein is a key step in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Although the molecular mechanisms underlying α-synuclein aggregation remain unknown, oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of PD. Here, we report the effects of tyrosine nitration on the propensity of human recombinant α-synuclein to fibrillate in vitro. The properties of nitrated α-synuclein were investigated using a variety of biophysical and biochemical techniques, which revealed that nitration led to formation of a partially folded conformation with increased secondary structure relative to the intrinsically disordered structure of the monomer, and to oligomerization at neutral pH. The degree of self-association was concentration-dependent, but at 1 mg/mL, nitrated α-synuclein was predominantly an octamer. At low pH, small-angle X-ray scattering data indicated that the nitrated protein was monomeric. α-Synuclein fibrillation at neutral pH was completely inhibited by nitrotyrosination and is attributed to the formation of stable soluble oligomers. The presence of heparin or metals did not overcome the inhibition; however, the inhibitory effect was eliminated at low pH. The addition of nitrated α-synuclein inhibited fibrillation of non-modified α-synuclein at neutral pH. Potential implications of these findings to the etiology of Parkinson's disease are discussed.
Comparing Employed and Unemployed Workers' Job Motivations for Sector Choice in East Asia: Does Employment Status Matter?

This article seeks to extend the understanding of the varying nature of job motivations on choosing public sector employment by comparing the two different groups of people—the employed and the unemployed—in the context of East Asia. Utilizing a subset of data from the International Social Survey Program on Work Orientation module in 2005, this article examines how eight job motivational aspects correlate with the choice between public and private sector employment. Major findings indicate that there are significant differences in job motivations between people of different employment status. Moreover, public service motivation was a not a significant factor of sector choice for the unemployed workers, compared to the employed workers who cited job usefulness to society as a reason to join the public sector employment. Practical implications are presented at the end of the article.
Vibrational, rotational, and isotopic dependence of CaBr X2Σ spin-rotational and HFS parameters

Abstract The previously published molecular-beam, laser-rf, double-resonance study of the rotational and isotopic dependences of the spin-rotational and hyperfine interactions in the v″ = 0, X2Σ state of CaBr is supplemented here with data for v″ = 1. The vibrational dependence of the parameters is now obtained. The results for CaBr are displayed along with analogous, previously published results for CaF and CaCl.
Efficient automatic OCR word validation using word partial format derivation and language model

In this paper we present an OCR validation module, implemented for the System for Preservation of Electronic Resources (SPER) developed at the U.S. National Library of Medicine.1 The module detects and corrects suspicious words in the OCR output of scanned textual documents through a procedure of deriving partial formats for each suspicious word, retrieving candidate words by partial-match search from lexicons, and comparing the joint probabilities of N-gram and OCR edit transformation corresponding to the candidates. The partial format derivation, based on OCR error analysis, efficiently and accurately generates candidate words from lexicons represented by ternary search trees. In our test case comprising a historic medico-legal document collection, this OCR validation module yielded the correct words with 87% accuracy and reduced the overall OCR word errors by around 60%.
Acquired inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies: clinical and electrodiagnostic features.

The acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies include acute (AIDP, Guillain-Barre syndrome, GBS) and chronic (CIDP, dysproteinemic) forms which differ primarily in their temporal profile. They are inflammatory-demyelinating diseases of the peripheral nervous system and likely have an immunologic pathogenesis. Although these neuropathies usually have a characteristic presentation, the electromyographer plays a central role in their recognition, since the demyelinating component of the neuropathy, which greatly reduces the differential diagnosis, is often first identified in the electromyography laboratory. In AIDP, the electromyographer, in addition to establishing the diagnosis, can sometimes predict the prognosis. Recognition of the chronic and dysproteinemic forms of acquired demyelinating polyneuropathy is important since they are treatable. The dysproteinemic forms also may be associated with occult systemic disorders that also may require treatment, independent of the neuropathy.
Alcohol Withdrawal and Limbic Kindling: A Hypothesis of Relapse

In this concept paper, the authors review the arguments and evidence for the hypothesized link between the alcohol withdrawal syndrome and the anxiety and craving that occurs during abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients. This hypothetical construct suggests that the repeated experience of alcohol withdrawal and its associated limbic-neuronal discharge induces a permanent state of limbic hyperexcitability. This phenomenon has been referred to as “kindling.” Subsequent episodes of limbic discharge may then be precipitated during abstinence by alcohol-related cues or may even occur spontaneously. Subjectively experienced as anxiety or craving, such a neuronal discharge could provoke relapse to drinking in vulnerable subjects. The clinical, neurochemical, and electrophysiologic rationale for this hypothesis will be presented, along with implications for treatment and suggested future studies.
Anomalous resistivity and the Pease-Braginskii current in a Z pinch.

The concept of the Pease-Braginskii current in a {ital Z} pinch is reexamined in the light of the anomalous resistivity that arises in a plasma when the electron drift velocity is greater than the ion sound speed. Radial profiles of density and current are derived on the assumption that anomalous resistivity will prevent the drift velocity from exceeding the sound speed. The value of the Pease-Braginskii current then depends upon the line density, and may be significantly greater than its classical value.
Respiratory Arrest in the Eye Clinic

(CHEST 2001; 119:1953‐1955) A 66-year-old man underwent retrobulbar anesthesia for repair of a detached retina. Anesthesia consisting of 5 mL of a 1:1 mixture of 2% lidocaine and 0.5% bupivacaine was injected with a 1-inch, 23-gauge needle into the retrobulbar space. There was no sanguinous return during pullback of the syringe plunger just before the injection. The patient had received this combination of medications during prior ophthalmologic procedures without any adverse effects. Three minutes after the injection, he became unresponsive with a respiratory rate of 3 to 5 breaths/min. Bag-mask ventilation was administered, and he was transferred to the emergency department.
Observations of field line resonance with global auroral images

Abstract We report results from a detailed analysis of an auroral luminosity pulsation event in the Pc 5 range associated with auroral breakup using Polar ultraviolet imager data and magnetic field observations from the ground-based CARISMA magnetometer array and in space by the GOES 8 satellite. It is found that (1) the auroral pulsation appeared predominantly at frequencies around ~0.9 mHz and ~1.8 mHz in the midnight sector centered at the onset (~2100 magnetic local time (MLT)), (2) the longitudinal extent of the auroral pulsation is wider (~12 h in MLT) for the lower-frequency mode and is much narrower for the higher-frequency mode (~3 h in MLT), (3) both auroral and ground magnetic field data show latitudinal wave amplitude and phase shift structures consistent with the field-line resonance (FLR) theory, (4) magnetic field measurements from GOES 8, which was near the onset location, also show two spectral peaks at ~0.9 mHz in the compressional component and at ~2.1 mHz in the poloidal component. It is suggested the observed Pc 5 ULF waves are FLRs produced by the onset-associated magnetic field dipolarization.
Parallel programming for computer vision

Two Unix environments developed for programming parallel computers to handle image-processing and vision applications are described. Visx is a portable environment for the development of vision applications that has been used for many years on serial computers in research. Visx was adapted to run on a multiprocessor with modest parallelism by using functional decomposition and standard operating-system capabilities to exploit the parallel hardware. Paragon is a high-level environment for multiprocessor systems that has facilities for both functional decomposition and data partitioning. It provides primitives that will work efficiently on several parallel-processing systems. Paragon's primitives can be used to build special image-processing operations, allowing one's own programming environment to be grown naturally. >
Reducing DRAM row activations with eager read/write clustering

This article describes and evaluates a new approach to optimizing DRAM performance and energy consumption that is based on eagerly writing dirty cache lines to DRAM. Under this approach, many dirty cache lines are written to DRAM before they are evicted. In particular, dirty cache lines that have not been recently accessed are eagerly written to DRAM when the corresponding row has been activated by an ordinary, noneager access, such as a read. This approach enables clustering of reads and writes that target the same row, resulting in a significant reduction in row activations. Specifically, for a variety of applications, it reduces the number of DRAM row activations by an average of 42p and a maximum of 82p. Moreover, the results from a full-system simulator show compelling performance improvements and energy consumption reductions. Out of 23 applications, 6 have overall performance improvements between 10p and 20p, and 3 have improvements in excess of 20p. Furthermore, 12 consume between 10p and 20p less DRAM energy, and 7 have energy consumption reductions in excess of 20p.
Soft vacuum, pulsed electron-beam hardening of lithographic polymers

A 25 kV pulsed electron beam was used to harden 0.5--3.0 ..mu..m thick AZ-type, MacDermid, and polyamic acid (PMDA+ODA) resist patterns. The resist profiles are stable against high-temperature treatment that ranges between 200--350 /sup 0/C. The short pulse approx.100 ns, electron beams employed in resist hardening are produced from a cold cathode in 30--50 mTorr air by discharging energy stored in a 7.5 nF capacitor producing a dose/pulse approx.1 ..mu..C/cm/sup 2/ at the processed surface. Comparisons with conventional hardening methods using ultraviolet emission from a high-pressure mercury lamp, a windowless, vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lamp, and low-energy electron emission from a cw source are also made.
Sub-100 ps laser-driven dynamic compression of solid deuterium with a ~40 μJ laser pulse

We dynamically compress solid deuterium over <100 ps from initial pressures of 22 GPa to 55 GPa, to final pressures as high as 71 GPa, with <40 μJ of pulse energy. At 25 GPa initial pressure, we measure compression wave speeds consistent with quasi-isentropic compression and a 24% increase in density. The laser drive energy per unit density change is 109 times smaller than it is for recent longer (∼30 ns) time scale compression experiments. This suggests that, for a given final density, dynamic compression of hydrogen might be achieved using orders of magnitude lower laser energy than currently used.
Bromus inermis and Elymus canadensis but not Poa pratensis demonstrate strong competitive effects and all benefit from priority.

In the Northern Great Plains, invasive grasses Bromus inermis (smooth brome) and Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass) are substantial threats to remnant prairies because they form monotypic stands that decrease diversity and alter nutrient cycling. A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the competitive ability of these two invaders and how priority effects influence competition. We grew each invasive species alone, with a conspecific neighbor, and a native neighbor (Elymus canadensis) to assess competitive ability. Priority treatments included planting both species concurrently, planting the invader prior to the native (by 21 days), and planting the native prior to the invader (by 21 days). Final aboveground biomass and a relative interaction index (RII) were used as response variables to determine the competitive ability of each species. Both competition and priority were found to have a significant effect on native and invasive species performance. Bromus inermis demonstrated a large competitive effect that increased with priority. Poa pratensis demonstrated smaller competitive effects but also benefited from priority. Unexpectedly, our native phytometer E. canadensis demonstrated a very strong competitive effect that, when coupled with priority, nearly excluded one of the invasive species.
Detailed Kinetic Modeling of Moist CO Oxidation Inhibited by Trace Quantities of HCl

Abstract A detailed kinetic model for moist CO oxidation chemistry inhibited by HCl is developed and analyzed by sensitivity and reaction flux analyses. The model is validated against experimental data obtained from an atmospheric pressure flow reactor. The kinetics were studied experimentally and numerically with dilute mixtures of CO (∼ 1%), H2O (∼ 0.5%), O2 and HCl reacting in N2 at a temperature near 1000 K. The effect of increasing the Cl/H ratio was investigated by increasing HCl concentrations from 0 to 200 ppm while the effect of excess O2 was studied by varying the fuel oxidizer equivalence ratio from 1.0 to 0.33. The results showed that small quantities of HCl inhibit CO oxidation and that increasing O2 concentrations to stoichiometric mixtures further decreases the oxidation rate, a counter intuitive result. The model predictions for CO, O2, CO2 and temperature profiles agree well with the experimental results (within 10%). Thus the inhibiting characteristics of HCl are well described. However,...
Managing Copyright in a Digital World

The article begins with a brief overview of copyright law and an examination of those laws that have been enacted in recent years to delineate appropriate uses of information in the electronic environment. Also discussed are copyright movements such as Creative Commons and Open Access. The impact of copyright is then discussed in relation to various types of electronic information and resources, and their delivery. Examples include course management systems, e-reserves, and streaming video and key copyright cases are discussed. The article ends with a discussion of future copyright trends.
Design of multi-dimensional derivative filters

Many multi-dimensional signal processing problems require the computation of signal gradients or directional derivatives. Traditional derivative estimates based on adjacent or central differences are often inappropriate for multi-dimensional problems. As replacements for these traditional operators, the author designs a set of matched pairs of derivative filters and lowpass prefilters. The author demonstrates the superiority of these filters over simple difference operators. >
Autonomous screening of C. elegans identifies genes implicated in synaptogenesis

An integrated system composed of a microfluidic device, computer-vision tools and statistical methods for automatically handling, imaging, classifying and sorting C. elegans organisms is presented. The system performs automated screens of subcellular phenotypes and is used here to identify genes involved in synaptogenesis.
Meeting project commitments with teamwork

IBM, like many other companies, has adopted the Personal Business Commitment (PBC) process to focus on the critical responsibilities that employees must assume to ensure both their success and that of the company. The PBC process requires that individuals know and understand the overall objectives of their organization, department and team, and with input from their colleagues, customers, team leaders, etc, determine if personal business commitments are being met. This paper describes how applying this process across the Hot Process organization with cross-functional teams at IBM's Microelectronics Division semiconductor manufacturing facility in Essex Junction, Vermont, resulted in significant improvements by each major area in the fabricator. It also illustrates how the team approach created a strong participative workforce that performed as a unit to either meet or exceed new PBC commitments and improve morale.
Identification of a cytoplasm to vacuole targeting determinant in aminopeptidase I.

Aminopeptidase I (API) is a soluble leucine aminopeptidase resident in the yeast vacuole (Frey, J., and K.H. Rohm. 1978. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 527:31-41). The precursor form of API contains an amino-terminal 45-amino acid propeptide, which is removed by proteinase B (PrB) upon entry into the vacuole. The propeptide of API lacks a consensus signal sequence and it has been demonstrated that vacuolar localization of API is independent of the secretory pathway (Klionsky, D.J., R. Cueva, and D.S. Yaver. 1992. J. Cell Biol. 119:287-299). The predicted secondary structure for the API propeptide is composed of an amphipathic alpha-helix followed by a beta-turn and another alpha-helix, forming a helix-turn-helix structure. With the use of mutational analysis, we determined that the API propeptide is essential for proper transport into the vacuole. Deletion of the entire propeptide from the API molecule resulted in accumulation of a mature-sized protein in the cytosol. A more detailed examination using random mutagenesis and a series of smaller deletions throughout the propeptide revealed that API localization is severely affected by alterations within the predicted first alpha-helix. In vitro studies indicate that mutations in this predicted helix prevent productive binding interactions from taking place. In contrast, vacuolar import is relatively insensitive to alterations in the second predicted helix of the propeptide. Examination of API folding revealed that mutations that affect entry into the vacuole did not affect the structure of API. These data indicate that the API propeptide serves as a vacuolar targeting determinant at a critical step along the cytoplasm to vacuole targeting pathway.
The Nature of Long-Term Vegetational Change

Many important vegetational patterns and processes extend beyond the time span ordinarily considered within the purview of contemporary studies of gapphase dynamics (Shugart 1984) or patch dynamics (Pickett and White 1985). The dynamics of temperate forests not only include forest succession but also incorporate vegetational changes that are not readily observable in successional time. Changes in location and dominance of tree populations and processes such as competitive exclusion in response to long-term trends in environmental change occur on a time scale of millennia. Studies of successional patterns and processes on contemporary landscapes observe only local, short-term growth trends or spatial relationships of plant communities. Extrapolation of these relationships to evaluate the likelihood of stability or change within communities through longer periods of time is problematic without empirical data (White et al. 1985).
Integrating Chronic Illness into One's Life A Phenomenological Inquiry

Chronic illness is currently the number one health problem facing the United States. Little is known about the experience of making chronic illness a part of one's life, particularly from the perspective of the chronically ill person. The purpose of this phenomenological inquiry was to explore how chronically ill adults integrate chronic illness into their lives. Seventeen chronically ill adults were interviewed by the researcher. Using a modification of Colaizzi's (1978) method of data analysis, 4 major themes emerged. These themes were: confronting loss, fluctuating emotions, making changes, and gaining control of an altered life direction. Some of the major recommendations and implications for nursing practice centered around perceiving the entire experience of chronic illness with an emphasis on the need to recognize and assess loss as an ongoing and unending experience, and how this loss influences a participant's willingness and ability to implement changes required by the medical treatment plan.
Limestone Channel Storm Complex (Lower Cretaceous) Elkhorn Mountains, Montana

ABSTRACT An unusual limestone channel complex is present at the top of the Kootenai Formation in the southeastern foothills of the Elkhorn Mountains, Montana. Eight calcirudite-filled channels and one quartz arenite-filled channel are present within the channel complex which is laterally traceable for 200 meters before becoming covered or complexly faulted. In apparent cross-sectional view, individual channels are 0.9 m by 11.0 m to a maximum of 7.0 m by 59.4 m. The quartz arenite-filled channel is fine- to medium-grained and moderately to well-sorted; in contrast the limestone-clast-filled channels are very poorly-sorted with a grain size range from clay size to 37 cm (maximum diameter). Thin section modal analyses reveal the following percentage breakdown of major clast types: micrite-microspar 44 percent, ostracod biomicrite 24 percent, gastropod biomicrite 19 percent, biopelmicrite 5 percent, quartz + chert 6 percent and coated grains 2 percent. Clast composition reflects derivation primarily from the upper calcareous member of the Kootenai Formation. Individual clasts range from angular to well rounded. The channel complex is interpreted as having its origin along a storm-dominated coastline within overall transition from a nonmarine (Kootenai) to marine (Blackleaf) depositional setting. The following phases are postulated for the process of formation: 1) upper calcareous member deposition and lithification; 2) formation of a sedimentary sill; 3) fair-weather channel cutting; 4) storm cutting and filling; and 5) onlap.
Complications After Flexor Tendon Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Purpose Although outcomes after flexor tendon repair have reportedly improved with modern treatment, complications are common. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of these complications and the potential contributory factors within the published literature. Methods We performed a systematic review of the available literature to identify publications in which patients with flexor tendon ruptures were surgically treated. We extracted demographics, zone of injury, core suture technique (only modified Kessler or a combination of techniques), use of epitendinous suture, and date of publication (before or after January 1, 2000). We excluded articles if they did not report information on reoperation, rupture, or adhesions. We used unadjusted pooled meta-analysis to report the incidence of complications, and meta-regression to describe the potential contributory factors for each complication while controlling for age, gender, and zone of injury. Results Unadjusted meta-analysis revealed rates of re-operation of 6%, rupture of 4%, and adhesions of 4%. Meta-regression analysis of 29 studies showed that core suture technique or use of an epitendinous suture does not influence rupture. However, the presence of an epitendinous suture decreases re-operation by 84%. Adhesion development is 57% lower when the modified Kessler technique is used. The incidence of complications did not vary with publication date. Conclusions The published literature supports use of the modified Kessler repair technique with an epitendinous suture to minimize complications. Although complication rates are low, our data suggest that there has been no definitive improvement in reported complications before and after 2000. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic III.
Role of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Interleukin-1, Interleukin-6, Tumor Necrosis Factor, and Dexamethasone in Regulation of LPS-Binding Protein Expression in Normal Hepatocytes and Hepatocytes from LPS-Treated Rats

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP) has been reported to be an acute-phase protein. LBP binds to LPS with a high affinity; LPS-LBP complexes then interact with the receptor CD14, resulting in increased expression of LPS-inducible genes. Hepatocytes represent a major source of LBP, but little is known about the regulation of rodent hepatocyte LBP synthesis. In these studies, undertaken to characterize hepatocyte LBP expression, we show that greater-than-20-fold increases in LBP mRNA levels in hepatocytes occurred following injection of LPS or turpentine in rats. In primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, the addition of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and LPS led to 4.5- and 3.2-fold stimulation in LBP mRNA levels, respectively. The induction of LBP by IL-6 or LPS was attenuated by dexamethasone. In contrast to IL-6 and LPS, in the presence of 10(-6) M dexamethasone, IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) led to maximal LBP mRNA induction levels, 4.7- and 3.8-fold, respectively, suggesting that IL-6 and LPS stimulate LBP expression by mechanisms different from those of IL-1 and TNF. Similar induction levels of LBP mRNA were seen in rat H35 hepatoma cells for all four stimuli, and dexamethasone inhibited these responses. Dexamethasone alone increased the spontaneous induction in primary hepatocytes at early time points but suppressed induction at later time points. Furthermore, hepatocytes from rats treated with LPS in vivo exhibited a > 10-fold increase in mRNA expression in response to LPS and enhanced responses to TNF and IL-1. As with the normal hepatocytes, dexamethasone inhibited the LPS-dependent induction in the LPS-treated rat hepatocytes. These data suggest that LBP synthesis by hepatocytes is under the control of LPS, IL-1, TNF, IL-6, and glucocorticoids and that the LPS treatment primes hepatocytes for subsequent responses to LPS, TNF, and IL-1 for LBP synthesis.
Classical economic man: Was he interested in keeping up with the Joneses?

One of the significant contributions of the The Wealth of Nations was to bring to the consciousness of economists the centrality of the pursuit of self-interest in economic affairs. Following the publication of the The Wealth of Nations, economists increasingly assumed that the pursuit of self-interest was the prime psychological drive of mankind. As economics developed, modifications of the self-interest postulate occurred. Economists began to formally model the pursuit of self-interest and a specific form of the pursuit of self-interest ultimately came to dominate economists' thinking. Specifically, economists have taken a methodologically individualistic approach to this question. With rare exception, economists presume that the individual pursues self-interest more or less in â€œisolation.â€ As Frank Knight pointed out, the purely rational action of the economic man requires the complete absence of personal relations, in effect requiring persons to treat each other as vending machines (Knight 1960, p. 73). Robinson Crusoe alone on his island is thus the epitome of the economic man assumed by neoclassical economic theory.
Fault-Tolerant Reliable Delivery of Messages in Distributed Publish/Subscribe Systems

Reliable delivery of messages is an important problem that needs to be addressed in distributed systems. In this paper we briefly describe our basic strategy to enable reliable delivery of messages in the presence of link and node failures. This is facilitated by a specialized repository node. We then present our strategy to make this scheme even more failure resilient, by incorporating support for repository redundancy. Each repository functions autonomously. The scheme enables updates to the redundancy scheme depending on the failure resiliency requirements. If there are N available repositories, reliable delivery guarantees will be met even if N-1 repositories fail.
Connecting With Families to Improve Students’ School Attendance: A Review of the Literature

School attendance is a rising issue in public schools. Students regularly absent from school can end up involved in destructive behaviors and dropout of school. Family characteristics are strong determining factors in students’ school attendance. This presents the question, “Can family involvement improve public school students’ attendance?” One way to do this is through phone calls from the school faculty to students’ caregivers. Promoting attendance early in a student's life can encourage attendance and maintain this habit throughout his or her school career. The studies reviewed—using parent involvement—show promise to improving students’ attendance. When parents or caregivers are regularly apprised of their child's attendance, they can provide appropriate feedback at home. Other findings and implications for phone call interventions and attendance are discussed.
The functional asymmetry of ON and OFF channels in the perception of contrast

To fully understand the relationship between perception and single neural responses, one should take into consideration the early stages of sensory processing. Few studies, however, have directly e...
Strategic change in hospitals: an examination of the response of the acute care hospital to the turbulent environment of the 1980s.

Abstract Changes in strategies of hospitals responding to the turbulent health care environment of the 1980s are examined both in the aggregate and from the perspective of the individual hospital. The Miles and Snow typology is used to determine strategy type. Both investor-owned and not-for-profit hospitals were well represented in the broad mix of hospital types sampled. In addition, freestanding hospitals and members of multihospital systems were present in the sample. Last, hospitals of all sizes were included. Strategic change was evaluated by classifying hospitals by strategy type in each of two consecutive five-year time periods (1976 through 1980 and 1981 through 1985). Changes in reimbursement policies, the emergence of new technologies, changing consumer expectations, and new sources of competition made the environment for hospitals progressively more turbulent in the latter period and provided an opportune setting to evaluate strategic change. Results showed that a significant number of hospitals did change strategy as the environment changed, and in the direction anticipated. Logistic regression was used to determine whether prior strategy, type of ownership, system membership, or size would predict which hospitals would change strategy as the environment changed: only prior strategy was found to be a predictor of strategy change.
General Molecular Strategy for Development of Arenavirus Live-Attenuated Vaccines.

ABSTRACT Hemorrhagic fever arenaviruses (HFA) pose important public health problems in regions where they are endemic. Thus, Lassa virus (LASV) infects several hundred thousand individuals yearly in West Africa, causing a large number of Lassa fever cases associated with high morbidity and mortality. Concerns about human-pathogenic arenaviruses are exacerbated because of the lack of FDA-licensed arenavirus vaccines and because current antiarenaviral therapy is limited to an off-label use of ribavirin that is only partially effective. The Mopeia virus (MOPV)/LASV reassortant (ML29) is a LASV candidate live-attenuated vaccine (LAV) that has shown promising results in animal models. Nevertheless, the mechanism of ML29 attenuation remains unknown, which raises concerns about the phenotypic stability of ML29 in response to additional mutations. Development of LAVs based on well-defined molecular mechanisms of attenuation will represent a major step in combatting HFA. We used the prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) to develop a general molecular strategy for arenavirus attenuation. Our approach involved replacement of the noncoding intergenic region (IGR) of the L genome segment with the IGR of the S genome segment to generate a recombinant LCMV, rLCMV(IGR/S-S), that was highly attenuated in vivo but induced protection against a lethal challenge with wild-type LCMV. Attenuation of rLCMV(IGR/S-S) was associated with a stable reorganization of the control of viral gene expression. This strategy can facilitate the rapid development of LAVs with the antigenic composition of the parental HFA and a mechanism of attenuation that minimizes concerns about increased virulence that could be caused by genetic changes in the LAV. IMPORTANCE Hemorrhagic fever arenaviruses (HFA) cause high morbidity and mortality, and pose important public health problems in the regions where they are endemic. Implementation of live-attenuated vaccines (LAV) will represent a major step in combatting HFA. Here we have used the prototypic arenavirus LCMV to document a general molecular strategy for arenavirus attenuation that can facilitate the rapid development of safe and effective, as well as stable, LAV to combat HFA.
Quantifying uncertainty in sample average approximation

We consider stochastic optimization problems in which the input probability distribution is not fully known, and can only be observed through data. Common procedures handle such problems by optimizing an empirical counterpart, namely via using an empirical distribution of the input. The optimal solutions obtained through such procedures are hence subject to uncertainty of the data. In this paper, we explore techniques to quantify this uncertainty that have potentially good finite-sample performance. We consider three approaches: the empirical likelihood method, nonparametric Bayesian approach, and the bootstrap approach. They are designed to approximate the confidence intervals or posterior distributions of the optimal values or the optimality gaps. We present computational procedures for each of the approaches and discuss their relative benefits. A numerical example on conditional value-at-risk is used to demonstrate these methods.
A Program to Convert Conventional Units to Units in the International System

Whatever one's personal preference, the International System of units is gaining wider acceptance. A simple microcomputer program can be used to perform the conversion between conventional and International System units for some of the common analytes encountered in clinical laboratories. Written in Applesoft BASIC, the program presented can be easily adapted to other microcomputers.
What if? Politics and Post-Capitalism:

A variety of pessimistic economic forecasts predicts a long period of poor growth and continued high levels of unemployment even as the stock market has reached new highs. Trend extrapolation sugge...
Cigarette smoking and its comorbidity.

Comorbidity is the existence of two conditions in the same individual at a greater frequency than would be expected by chance alone. The existence of such associations says nothing about the underlying cause of the comorbidity. Cigarette smoking in the United States has long been associated with an increased level of psychiatric symptomatology, but until recently this was not thought of in terms of specific diagnostic entities. Cigarette smokers were simply thought more likely to be "nervous" people than nonsmokers (Glassman 1993). However, it is important to realize that the appearance of comorbidity can be strongly influenced by social factors. If everybody smoked, there could be no association between smoking and any psychiatric condition.
The changing clinicopathological pattern of abscesses in or adjacent to the kidney.

AbstractWe reviewed retrospectively 43 patients with various renal and perirenal abscesses. In contrast to previously published data a primary renal etiology was noted for nearly every abscess in or adjacent to the kidney, irrespective of the type of abscess. Currently, the concept that the renal carbuncle is a metastatic abscess whose origin lies at some distant site may be applicable no longer. Despite earlier recognition of symptoms, improved diagnostic techniques and better therapy the morbidity and mortality of abscesses in and adjacent to the kidney remain high, suggesting the important role of associated medical conditions and the need for early aggressive therapy.
Early events pre-initiation of alphaherpes viral gene expression

The regulated transcription of the HSV IE (immediate–early, α) genes has been a model system for elucidating principles and mechanisms of combinatorial-differential regulation, basic RNAPII -directed transcription, and multiprotein assembly specificities. The regulation exemplifies viral mechanisms dedicated to the recruitment of cellular components into complex viral–host interactions that illustrate general parameters of protein–protein, DNA –protein, RNA transcription, and protein complex assembly. Continued studies hold promise of advancing the understanding of the complexities of biochemical interactions in gene expression as well as complex cellular response pathways. The regulation of the IE genes within specific contexts may also lead to the understanding of signals and pathways which modulate viral infection and determine the extent of lytic-latent infection. While HSV has been extensively studied and will represent the focus of this review, the regulatory domain of the VZV IE gene (IE62) contains similar elements and is regulated by similar mechanisms. The HSV IE regulatory domains: multiple sites for differential regulation The regulatory domains of the HSV IE genes have been the focus of numerous studies that have defined the sequence elements and their contributions to the basal and induced levels of transcription. These IE domains typically consist of a reiterated inducible enhancer core element (consensus: TAATGARAT) that is flanked by binding sites for members of the ets and kruppel transcription family (Fig. 8.1, left) (Roizman and Sears, 1996; Vogel and Kristie, 2001).
Evaluation of the Addition of an Adjuvant to Late Season Foliar Applications of Insecticides for the Control of Flea Beetle in Cranberry, 2015

The objective of this experiment was to assess the efficacy of adding the nonionic adjuvant Apsa (spreader/activator) to a late foliar application of an insecticide currently labeled for use in cranberry (Altacor) and insecticides not currently labeled on cranberry (Bifenthrin, Cyclaniliprole, and Exirel) on cranberry flea beetle (CFB). This experiment was conducted in a mature cranberry planting on a commercial farm near Warrens, Wisconsin. The trial consisted of 13 main effect treatments arranged in a Complete Randomized Block design with four experimental replicates. Each replicate plot was 7 × 10 ft. …
Ideology, capitalism, and climate: Explaining public views about climate change in the United States

Abstract Over the last three decades, climate change has become publicly defined as an important social problem deserving action. A substantial body of social science research examines the patterns of climate change views in the general publics of countries around the world. In this review essay, we identify the strongest and most consistent predictors of key dimensions of climate change views within many countries, and we also discuss the prevailing theoretical explanations of these specific effects. Since the US has yet to adopt comprehensive climate change mitigation policy and has historically played an obstructionist role in international climate negotiations, we further explain the political dynamics of US climate change views that help characterize the US’s outlier status among industrial capitalist democracies. We then present an integrative theoretical framework—based upon an extension of the anti-reflexivity thesis—that explains why the strength and consistency of predictors relate to how closely those predictors distinguish ideological and material positions defending the industrial capitalist system from those positions accepting that it should be reformed or restructured. We end with a brief discussion of promising avenues through which future research may address key gaps in our understanding of climate change views.
Towards a validation of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for use in forensic science: repeatability and reproducibility experiments

Abstract In order for a new analytical technique such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) to be used in a routine manner, data and studies on the validation of the method are required. In that context, we performed a systematic study of the variability observed at different levels of the analytical procedure (i.e. respectively measurement, sampling, colloids aliquots, colloids batches, laboratories). Our goal is to provide data towards a qualitative validation of the technique for identification purposes. Three molecules of forensic interest were used as probes, respectively crystal violet, methamphetamine and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). We demonstrate that the method is repeatable with RSD and multivariate techniques (PCA). The % RSD at the different analytical stages vary between the molecules and the peaks considered. The repeatability is on the order of 2-6% for crystal violet, and 5-16% for TNT. Methamphetamine binds very weakly to the silver colloids giving much greater variability in the measurements (5-29%). We show that spectra measured in the same conditions (e.g. same laboratory and instrument), even a few days apart, are comparable and stable. The largest source of variation has been identified to be the measurement conditions and the associated random fluctuations in intensity (i.e. Brownian motion of the particles, solvent evaporation and concentration). The influence of the substrate is confirmed to be negligible. However, the reproducibility between different laboratories and different instruments introduced the largest source of variability (∼ 10-70%). Despite these factors, we demonstrate that qualitative identification of the species under analysis by measurement and comparison of peaks position is always successful even though quantitative analysis is, at present, difficult. Regardless of the amount of variability determined, the molecules could always be successfully identified, even on different instruments from different laboratories by utilizing the criterion proposed in the literature (i.e. 3:1 signal-to-noise ratio).
Addition Theorems in Ordinary Differential Equations

(1987). Addition Theorems in Ordinary Differential Equations. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 94, No. 9, pp. 872-875.
From Sinograms to Surfaces: A Direct Approach to the Segmentation of Tomographic Data

Under ideal circumstances the problem of tomographic reconstruction is well-posed, and measured data are sufficient to obtain accurate estimates of volume densities. In such cases segmentation and surface estimation from the reconstructed volume are justified. In other situations the reconstructed volumes are not suitable for subsequent segmentation. This can happen in the case of incomplete sinograms, noise in the measurement process, or misregistration of the views. This paper presents a direct approach to the segmentation of incomplete and noisy tomographic data. The strategy is to impose a fairly simple model on the data, and treat segmentation as a problem of estimating the interface between two substances of somewhat homogeneous density. The segmentation is achieved by simultaneously deforming a surface model and updating density parameters in order to achieve a best fit between the projected model and the input sinograms. The deformation is implemented with level-set surface models, calculated at the resolution of the input data. Several computational innovations make the approach feasible with state-of-the-art computers. The usefulness of the approach is demonstrated by reconstructing the shape of spiny dendrites from electron microscope tomographic data.
Politics and the Effectiveness of Humanitarian NGOs in Civil Conflict

Is the ability of humanitarian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to effectively improve the health and welfare of aid recipients affected by the source of the organization’s funding? This paper examines the effectiveness of humanitarian NGOs as a function of their funding sources, with a particular focus on civil conflict. I argue that NGOs whose revenue depends on private individual contributions suffer from accountability and coordination issues. Therefore, organizations that work with and accept funds from governments are more likely to be efficacious in improving health than those that eschew government funding. The argument is tested using original dataset of NGO programs and activities, and finds differences in the effectiveness of various types of organizations. The analysis speaks to scholars interested in governance, security studies, and foreign assistance, focusing on a stream of revenue and class of actor which have not been extensively analyzed in this manner. The findings, which can be used to improve organizational performance, are also highly salient to aid practitioners. Most importantly, the results are critical to the individuals these organizations assist, whose lives and welfare depend on effective and efficient aid.
From estimation to optimization via shrinkage

Abstract We study a class of quadratic stochastic programs where the distribution of random variables has unknown parameters. A traditional approach is to estimate the parameters using a maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) and to use this as input in the optimization problem. For the unconstrained case, we show that an estimator that shrinks the MLE towards an arbitrary vector yields a uniformly better risk than the MLE. In contrast, when there are constraints, we show that the MLE is admissible.