cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A self-defining dynamic data management system using multiple access methods

The advent of Generalized Arrays introduces a broad range of new possibilities for Application Systems. This is the description of such a system that introduces two new concepts.The first concept is the use of different access methods, written in APL, on the same data base using Generalized Arrays.The second one is the use of an algorithm to monitor the Data Base and initiate prompting for action-by-the-user function.
Dopamine D2 receptors in the posterior region of the nucleus tractus solitarius mediate the central pressor action of quinpirole (LY171555).

Abstract Our previous studies demonstrated that intravenous (IV) administration of the selective dopamine (DA) D2 receptor agonist quinpirole (LY171555) induces a pressor response in conscious Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats through a central mechanism. The present study was designed to identify the neurons which medicate this pressor response. Injection of quinpirole (1–150 μg/kg) into the 4th ventricle produced a greater pressor response of a more rapid onset than similar injections into the lateral ventricle in conscious, freely moving S-D rats, suggesting a site of action in brainstem. Further, microinjections (5–10 μg/kg in 200 nl) of quinpirole into major hypothalamic nuclei of conscious, freely moving rats elicited no pressor response. Uni- or bilateral microinjections of quinpirole (5 μg/200 nl) into the posterior region of nucleus tractus solitarius (P-NTS) caused a consistent increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) (Max = 12.4 ± 1.1 mmHg, n = 12) with a rapid onset (
Novel Fluorescent Glycan Microarray Strategy Reveals Ligands for Galectins

Galectin-1 (Gal-1) and galectin-3 (Gal-3) are widely expressed galectins with immunoregulatory functions in animals. To explore their glycan specificity, we developed microarrays of naturally occurring glycans using a bifunctional fluorescent linker, 2-amino-N-(2-aminoethyl)-benzamide (AEAB), directly conjugated through its arylamine group by reductive amination to free glycans to form glycan-AEABs (GAEABs). Glycans from natural sources were used to prepare over 200 GAEABs, which were purified by multidimensional high-pressure liquid chromatography and covalently immobilized onto N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated glass slides via their free alkylamine. Fluorescence-based screening demonstrated that Gal-1 recognizes a wide variety of complex N-glycans, whereas Gal-3 primarily recognizes poly-N-acetyllactosamine-containing glycans independent of N-glycan presentation. GAEABs provide a general solution to glycan microarray preparation from natural sources for defining the specificity of glycan-binding proteins.
The combined controls of land use legacy and earthworm activity on soil organic matter chemistry and particle association during afforestation

Abstract The chemistry and physical association of soil organic matter in the patchwork of successional forest stands in the eastern US is strongly controlled by past land use. Invasive earthworm activity in these same systems, however, may impart a chemical and physical disturbance exceeding that of land use legacy. We established eight plots within forests of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) (Edgewater, MD), to compare sites with no record of significant agricultural disturbance or earthworm activity and successional mixed hardwood forests recovering from past agriculture (60–132 yr) that contained both native and non-native earthworms. Soils (0–15 cm) were separated into physical fractions by size (microaggregates) and density (light and heavy particulate organic matter) and investigated for organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) partitioning. In addition, molecular composition was analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy and lignin phenol and substituted fatty acid (SFA) extraction. Even after 132 yr of recovery, the successional forests were nearly devoid of O a+e horizons; a condition we attribute to high activity of invasive earthworms. Additionally, soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration profiles, and 14 C derived mean residence times indicated mixing of the surface soils and fresh input of carbon to 10 cm, distinct from the undisturbed, mature sites. The proportion of microaggregated particulate organic matter (iPOM) and silt + clay (iSC) was significantly higher in successional than undisturbed forests, which we attribute to the combined influence of past agricultural land use and high earthworm activity. Among the successional sites, older forests exhibited a significant decrease in the proportion of C and N in iSC but an increase in their proportion in iPOM, suggesting selective incorporation of iPOM with earthworm activity over great periods of time. In addition, continual consumption and mixing activities of the earthworm population could also be a primary control of the higher concentration and less oxidized lignin phenols as well as a higher proportion of lignin phenols to SFA in all soil fractions in the successional sites. Using partial least squares (PLS) regression of FTIR spectra, we also demonstrated a strong correlation between soil C physical distribution (microaggregated vs. non-microaggregated) and chemical aspects of specific FTIR regions which confirmed our findings from the lignin and SFA and showed distinct chemical dominance among the different sites. Our results indicated that while past agricultural practice may have been the primary initial influence on C and N stock and soil physical distribution in the successional sites, the prolonged legacy and trajectory of recovery from the past land disturbance can be controlled by the nature of the invasive and native earthworm activity during afforestation.
A search for porphyrin biomarkers in Nonesuch Shale and extraterrestrial samples

An organic solvent extract of billion year old Nonesuch Shale was examined for porphyrins by means of fluorometry and high resolution mass spectrometry. It appears to contain at least three or more classes of porphyrins, one similar to tetraphenyl porphin and the others more complex. Many are apparently chelated with copper, nickel, zinc, iron and vanadyl and are highly aromatic. We have also examined the extracts of Apollo 11, 12 and 14 surface fines for porphyrins by spectrophotofluorometry, but we found none.
Asymptotic behavior of exclusive and almost exclusive processes

Abstract The elastic nucleon form factor, the pion longitudinal structure function at x near 1, and wide angle elastic π-π scattering are discussed in the context of the renormalization group.
Cohen–Macaulay Complexes and Koszul Rings

Throughout this paper k denotes a fixed commutative ground ring. A Cohen–Macaulay complex is a finite simplicial complex satisfying a certain homological vanishing condition. These complexes have been the subject of much research; introductions can be found in, for example, Bjorner, Garsia and Stanley [6] or Budach, Graw, Meinel and Waack [7]. It is known (see, for example, Cibils [8], Gerstenhaber and Schack [10]) that there is a strong connection between the (co)homology of an arbitrary simplicial complex and that of its incidence algebra. We show how the Cohen–Macaulay property fits into this picture, establishing the following characterization.A pure finite simplicial complex is Cohen–Macaulay over k if and only if the incidence algebra over k of its augmented face poset, graded in the obvious way by chain lengths, is a Koszul ring.
The Construction of Ethnic Identity of Balkan Muslim Immigrants: A Narrativization of Personal Experiences

This paper explores the construction of ethnic identity in the first generation of Balkan Muslim immigrants now living in the Chicago metropolitan area, with the aim of showing the intricacy of global events (civil wars in the homeland and war on terror in the host society) and local contexts (meaningmaking occurring during the interviews). In-depth interviews conducted with three men were treated as a series of narratives in order to emphasize the importance of personal meaning-making. With awareness that “Muslim” can denote various subjectivities, this paper proposes research that theorizes the constant shift of identities, the interplay between ascribed and performed ethnicity, as well as the role of societal and historical mediators that influence the agency of these identities. Key Words: Balkan Muslims, Immigrants, Ethnic Identity, and Narratives Experiences This paper is a part of a larger study (my dissertation research) that was guided with a broad question of how the first generation of Balkan immigrants in Chicago view their ethnicity and race, as well as which personal and cultural elements constitute the building blocks of ethnic and racial identity construction. Identity, as time and context bound, requires an interpretive study of situated human behavior as well as the careful analysis of individual diversity within different societies. Individual identities are inseparable from their sociocultural environment, as each individual's subjectivity is shaped by the searching for meaning in that environment. The close connection between individuals and narrativization of life emerges, “since selfhood arises out of the meanings that people attribute to their experiences, [and] what is meaning other than placing an event in a narrative context?” (Sarbin, 2000, p. 255, emphasis original). Individuals cannot depart from cultural conventions in infinite ways, since individual action is constrained by culture inasmuch it is enhanced by it (Gone, Miller, & Rappaport, 1999). The role of language is crucial here, for language is “inherently a form of relatedness” (Gergen, 1991, p. 157) that creates sense among individuals. Seen through this perspective, the meaning of one's identity derives from interdependence between the personal and societal. Narrative analysis seems to be a particularly effective method for the investigation of cultural identity, which encompasses ethnicity, since it allows an understanding of the co-constructed nature of cultural ingredients and personal moral world. In this paper I first review recent writings on self, identity, and ethnicity. The selection of the sources was shaped by an ongoing debate between modernist and postmodernist views on identity, with awareness that a firm distinction between the two is neither possible nor viable. I then turn to the concept of ethnic identity as related to Balkan Muslims. The Balkans consists of distinct countries, ethnicities, languages, and religions. If
Daniel M. Goldstein 2012: Outlawed: Between Rights and Security in a Bolivian City. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.

The article reviews the book "Outlawed: Between Rights and Security in a Bolivian City," by Daniel M. Goldstein.
Microscopic interpretation of optically pumped NMR signals in GaAs

By numerical modelling and least squares fitting to the field, time and polarization dependence of optically pumped 69Ga NMR data in semi-insulating GaAs at low temperature and high field, a microscopic picture of this phenomenon emerges. Numerical values can be obtained for the key optical pumping parameters: the correlation time for the electron-nuclear contact interaction, and the electronic g-factor. The values of these parameters, which are in close agreement with previously reported values, can be combined with literature estimates for the average hyperfine interaction and spin diffusion coefficient D to generate numerical solutions for the Zeeman nuclear spin order, (r,t). The modelling permits the influence of variations with any other relevant parameter to be predicted. Experimentally, the optical polarization and time dependence data are presented. Least squares fits to the optical polarization dependence yield a value for the optically induced electron spin polarization at the given field, temperature, and excitation intensity. With the numerical solutions (r,t) that best fit the available data, the hyperfine frequency shift can be used to simulate the time evolution of the 69Ga NMR line shape. These simulations provide guidance on how to optimize the experimental conditions to most effectively observe hyperfine effects near shallow donors in this particular material.
An innovative technique for pore structure analysis of fuel cell and battery components using flow porometry

Some of the porous sheet materials used in fuel cells and batteries hardly permit gas flow through the thickness of the sheet, although flow parallel to the sheet is appreciable. Determination of the porosity of such materials is not possible by the available techniques. A novel technique based on flow porometry is reported. This technique can measure the pore structure of such porous sheets. A composite porous sheet material containing one of the electrodes and the separator in two layers was investigated. The largest pore diameter, the mean flow pore diameter and the pore size distributions were measured. The pore structures of both layers were identified.
Dynamic auscultation in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: what can we learn from a murmur?

Dynamic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction and mitral leaflet systolic anterior motion (SAM) are complex haemodynamic features of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Dynamic auscultation remains a mandatory step in clinical assessment; augmentation of the crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur with reduced preload (Valsalva maneuver, amyl nitrite, and squat-to-stand) and diminution with increased afterload (handgrip and …
Teaching in the Social Laboratory and the Mission of SSSP: Some Lessons from the Chicago School

L'A. porte son attention sur l'Ecole de Chicago pendant les annees 1920. Il souligne son dynamisme et cela malgre le petit nombre d'enseignants. Il affirme que ceux-ci etaient animes par la mission de fonder une sociologie scientifique. Il evoque le climat pedagogique au sein de l'Ecole de Chicago ou l'on encourageait la collaboration entre les etudiants, ou regnait un certain esprit critique, un certain eclectisme sur le plan methodologique. Il souligne que la recherche ou les etudiants prenaient une part active constituait un element fondamental sur le plan de l'enseignement. Il affirme toutefois que si l'Ecole de Chicago fut un agent de changement social, ses membres dans le meme temps ne sont pas parvenus a isoler l'influence des structures economiques et politiques sur les processus qu'ils etudiaient. Il met en cause, au sein de l'Ecole de Chicago, le rejet des autres perspectives et insiste sur le caractere patriarcal de son organisation
Evaluation of the characteristic polynomial of a graph

Two algorithms for the evaluation of the characteristic polynomial of a graph G are described. Both algorithms have the operation count of the order n^3, where n is the number of the vertices in the graph G. These algorithms are stable, fast, and efficient. They are one order of magnitude faster than the Le Verrier-Faddeev-Frame method, which is presently claimed to be the most efficient method for the calculation of the characteristic polynomial of a graph. A related problem of finding a characteristic polynomial from the known eigenvalues @l"i of the adjacency matrix is also considered. An algorithm requiring only O(n^2) operations is described.
Angioembolization for solid organ injury: A brief review

Abstract Introduction Non-operative management is the standard of care for blunt solid organ injuries in stable patients. Angioembolization is an important technique that improves success rates of non-operative management. We aimed to provide a brief review of the indications, effectiveness and complications associated with angioembolization for solid organ injuries. Methods We conducted a literature search of the PubMed database using the terms “trauma”, “angioembolization”, and “solid organ embolization” limited to studies published in the English language. Abstracts and full text were manually reviewed to identify suitable articles. Results The current brief review is based on content from the more recently published articles related to angioembolization for solid organ injuries after trauma. Discussion Angioembolization is appropriate for hemodynamically stable patients with contrast extravasation on CT scan or high-grade injury to a solid organ. Non-operative management success rates have improved with the adoption of angioembolization. The complications associated with angioembolization are acceptable in the context of avoiding a laparotomy, and are often related to the severity of the injury. Conclusion Angioembolization is a natural extension of the move towards non-operative management for solid organ injuries. Randomized controlled trials are required to fully characterize the indications and efficacy of its use.
Superfluid density in gapless superconductor CeCoIn 5

Temperature dependence of the London penetration depth λ measured in single crystals of CeCoIn5 is interpreted as being caused by a strong pair-breaking scattering that makes the superconductivity in this compound gapless. For a gapless d-wave superconductor, we derive λ = λ0(1 − T 2 /T 2 c ) −1/2 caused by the combined effect of magnetic and non-magnetic scattering, in excellent agreement with the data in the full temperature range and with the gapless s-wave case of Abrikosov and Gor’kov. We also obtain the slope of the upper critical field at Tc that compares well with the measured slope. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)
The mixed mating system of the sea palm kelp Postelsia palmaeformis: few costs to selfing

Naturally isolated populations have conflicting selection pressures for successful reproduction and inbreeding avoidance. These species with limited seasonal reproductive opportunities may use selfing as a means of reproductive assurance. We quantified the frequency of selfing and the fitness consequences for inbred versus outcrossed progeny of an annual kelp, the sea palm (Postelsia palmaeformis). Using experimentally established populations and microsatellite markers to assess the extent of selfing in progeny from six founding parents, we found the frequency of selfing was higher than expected in every population, and few fitness costs were detected in selfed offspring. Despite a decline in heterozygosity of 30 per cent in the first generation of selfing, self-fertilization did not affect individual size or reproduction, and correlated only with a marginally significant decline in survival. Our results suggest both that purging of deleterious recessive alleles may have already occurred and that selfing may be key to reproductive assurance in this species with limited dispersal. Postelsia has an alteration of a free-living diploid and haploid stage, where the haploid stage may provide increased efficiency for purging the genetic load. This life history is shared by many seaweeds and may thus be an important component of mating system evolution in the sea.
Preventing Cardiovascular Complications of Acute Infection: A Missed Opportunity?

> … this is an experimental verification of this medical concept, relatively new, suggesting that infections merit an important place in the etiology of human atheromatous arteritis … > > —Gilbert and Lion, 1889, > > Comptes Rendus Hebdomadairesdes > > Seances et Memoires de la Societe de Biologie 1 The connections between infection and cardiovascular disease have been postulated for at least 125 years, when Gilbert and Lion1 observed that acute infection with the typhoid bacillus resulted in atherosclerotic changes to the rabbit aorta. In the past few decades, much work has investigated the role for chronic viral and atypical bacterial infections in the progression of atherosclerosis; however, trials of antibiotics as secondary prevention for cardiovascular events have been disappointing.2 More recently, epidemiological studies demonstrated an association between acute infection and cardiovascular events, such as acute myocardial infarction,3 stroke,4 cardiomyopathy,5 or atrial fibrillation.6 Article see p 1387 In this issue of Circulation , Dalager-Pedersen et al7 explore the association between community-acquired bacteremia and acute myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke using a population-based cohort study of bacteremic patients from northern Denmark. The authors compare rates of myocardial infarction and stroke among 4389 bacteremia patients to rates among 43 831 matched community-dwelling controls and 21 893 matched hospitalized controls. The use of a hospitalized control group allows for the assessment of excess cardiovascular risks associated with bacteremia compared with age-, sex-, and admission year–matched acutely ill, hospitalized patients and reduces potential detection bias for cardiovascular events during a hospitalization. The community-dwelling cohort allows for the assessment of excess cardiovascular risk compared with matched general population controls. The authors found that patients with community-acquired bacteremia had higher rates of a composite end point of acute ischemic stroke or acute myocardial infarction (3.6% incidence) compared with both hospitalized patients (1.7%) and …
What's Going On With Car Seats?

I was recently asked by a patient9s mother for help in choosing a car seat for her child. Although I had seen advertisements for this type of product, none of my pediatric journals contained any information about the child automobile restraint devices available. Looking elsewhere, I found only confusing and conflicting statements. The material from the American Medical Association pointed out that although car seats built after April 1971 had to meet federal standards, many unsafe models built earlier could still be purchased.
Generating Boolean networks with a prescribed attractor structure

Motivation: Dynamical modeling of gene regulation via network models constitutes a key problem for genomics. The long-run characteristics of a dynamical system are critical and their determination is a primary aspect of system analysis. In the other direction, system synthesis involves constructing a network possessing a given set of properties. This constitutes the inverse problem. Generally, the inverse problem is ill-posed, meaning there will be many networks, or perhaps none, possessing the desired properties. Relative to long-run behavior, we may wish to construct networks possessing a desirable steady-state distribution. This paper addresses the long-run inverse problem pertaining to Boolean networks (BNs). Results: The long-run behavior of a BN is characterized by its attractors. The rest of the state transition diagram is partitioned into level sets, the j-th level set being composed of all states that transition to one of the attractor states in exactly j transitions. We present two algorithms for the attractor inverse problem. The attractors are specified, and the sizes of the predictor sets and the number of levels are constrained. Algorithm complexity and performance are analyzed. The algorithmic solutions have immediate application. Under the assumption that sampling is from the steady state, a basic criterion for checking the validity of a designed network is that there should be concordance between the attractor states of the model and the data states. This criterion can be used to test a design algorithm: randomly select a set of states to be used as data states; generate a BN possessing the selected states as attractors, perhaps with some added requirements such as constraints on the number of predictors and the level structure; apply the design algorithm; and check the concordance between the attractor states of the designed network and the data states. Availability: The software and supplementary material is available at http://gsp.tamu.edu/Publications/BNs/bn.htm Contact: edward@ee.tamu.edu
HABITAT LOSS INHIBITS RECOVERY OF PLANT DIVERSITY AS FORESTS REGROW

Agricultural expansion has resulted in loss of natural habitats worldwide, threatening remnant populations and communities. However, during the past several centuries in much of Europe and eastern North America, extensive forest clearance (usually resulting in 65% of the variation in species diversity of “ancient forest herbs” in recent forests relative to ancient forests. This result suggests that ancient-forest loss has had a strong influence on the recovery of herbaceous plant diversity in post-agricultural fore...
The Quest for the Cinematic Jesus: Scholarly Explorations in Jesus Films:

This article looks at an emerging research trend in biblical studies: Jesus and film. Within the past two decades, New Testament scholars have been attracted to the numerous films about Jesus not merely as a source of illustrations, but as an avenue to interpret the New Testament Gospels—or as Larry Kreitzer proposes, ‘reversing the hermeneutical flow’. With a growing interest in this new discipline to the task of biblical interpretation, it has become an accepted critical approach to the study of Jesus and the Gospels. This article surveys some various ways in which scholars have explored Jesus films, such as with a view to provide refreshing insights into difficult scholarly issues (e.g. the Synoptic problem). Furthermore, the article examines how scholars have begun in recent years to function as critics of controversial Jesus films and also as consultants for new film projects.
The Social Construction of Violence: The Case of Sexual and Domestic Violence

What counts as "violence" is socially constructed, has varied over time, and reflects power relationships. Informed by social constructionism, we illustrate these points using as examples sexual violence and domestic violence. We review changes in how society and social scientists have defined and understood these topics during the last 30 years. We then discuss 3 areas of continuing controversy: who should decide if sexual or domestic violence has occurred, what to count as sexual and domestic violence, and the role of gender in defining sexual and domestic violence.
Individual differences as mediators of participant behavior and self-descriptive change in two human relations training programs

Human relations training programs of two graduate business schools were studied to determine the role of individual differences in mediating both the T group behavior of the participants and the labs' overall effectiveness. The peer ratings of individual behavior revealed that flexible, tolerant, independent, and decisive trainees fared best in their T groups; those who were extremely self-confident or defensive were not positively evaluated. The self-report measures, obtained at three points in time, indicated that both programs were relatively successful in meeting their goals and that differences between the two were less critical than differences between reentry environments and continuation arrangements. Self-descriptive changes in one program confirmed expectations, but these findings did not cross-validate due, perhaps, to characteristics of the training labs themselves.
Small-angle solution scattering using the mixed-mode pixel array detector.

Solution small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements were obtained using a 128 × 128 pixel X-ray mixed-mode pixel array detector (MMPAD) with an 860 µs readout time. The MMPAD offers advantages for SAXS experiments: a pixel full-well of >2 × 107 10 keV X-rays, a maximum flux rate of 108 X-rays pixel−1 s−1, and a sub-pixel point-spread function. Data from the MMPAD were quantitatively compared with data from a charge-coupled device (CCD) fiber-optically coupled to a phosphor screen. MMPAD solution SAXS data from lysozyme solutions were of equal or better quality than data captured by the CCD. The read-noise (normalized by pixel area) of the MMPAD was less than that of the CCD by an average factor of 3.0. Short sample-to-detector distances were required owing to the small MMPAD area (19.2 mm × 19.2 mm), and were revealed to be advantageous with respect to detector read-noise. As predicted by the Shannon sampling theory and confirmed by the acquisition of lysozyme solution SAXS curves, the MMPAD at short distances is capable of sufficiently sampling a solution SAXS curve for protein shape analysis. The readout speed of the MMPAD was demonstrated by continuously monitoring lysozyme sample evolution as radiation damage accumulated. These experiments prove that a small suitably configured MMPAD is appropriate for time-resolved solution scattering measurements.
Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Viral Infections among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected and High-Risk HIV-Uninfected Women

Viruses that can persist in the host are of special concern in immunocompromised populations. Among 871 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and 439 high-risk HIV-uninfected women, seroprevalences of cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 and prevalence of human papillomavirus DNA in cervicovaginal lavage fluids were all >50% and were 2-30 times higher than prevalences in the general population. Prevalences were highest among HIV-infected women, of whom 44.2% had >or=5 other infections, and were relatively high even among the youngest women (age 16-25 years). In multivariate analyses, viral infections were independently associated not only with behaviors such as injection drug use and commercial sex but also with low income, low levels of education, and black race. Disadvantaged women and women who engage in high-risk behaviors are more likely to be coinfected with HIV and other viruses and, thus, may be at high risk of serious disease sequelae.
Homogenized models for three dimensional elastic structures

The method of homogenization by two-scale convergence is applied to an eigenvalue problem arising in a problem of three-dimensional linearized elasticity. Since the only extension operator required is the extension by zero, the method can be applied to problems on perforated domains. The homogenized coefficients are computed and numerical results are presented for a periodic structure whose representative period is a cube with material distributed along the faces.
Troponin T as a Predictor of End-Stage Renal Disease and All-Cause Death in African Americans and Whites From Hypertensive Families

Abstract Objective To evaluate cardiac troponin T (cTnT) as a predictor of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and death in a cohort of African American and white community-dwelling adults with hypertensive families. Patients and Methods A total of 3050 participants (whites from Rochester, Minnesota; African Americans from Jackson, Mississippi) of the Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy study were followed from baseline examination (June 1, 1996, through August 31, 2000) through January 22, 2010. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine the association of cTnT with ESRD and death after adjusting for traditional risk factors. Results Cohort demographic characteristics and measurements included 1395 whites (45.7%), 2174 hypertensive (71.3%), 992 estimated glomerular filtration rate of less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 (32.5%), 1574 high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of greater than 3 mg/L (51.6%), and 66 abnormal cTnT level of 0.01 ng/mL or higher (2.2%). The estimated cumulative incidence of ESRD at 10 years was 27.4% among those with abnormal cTnT levels compared with 1.3% for those with normal levels. Similarly, the estimated cumulative incidence of death at 10 years was 47% among those with abnormal cTnT compared with 7.3% among those with normal cTnT. Abnormal cTnT levels were strongly associated with ESRD and death. This effect was attenuated but was still highly significant after adjustment for demographic characteristics, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and traditional risk factors for ESRD (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR], 23.91; 95% CI, 12.9-44.2; adjusted HR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.3-5.9) and death (unadjusted HR, 8.43; 95% CI, 6.0-11.9; adjusted HR, 3.46; 95% CI, 2.3-5.1). Conclusion Cardiac troponin T makes an independent contribution to the prediction of ESRD and all-cause death in community-dwelling individuals beyond traditional risk markers. Further studies may be needed to determine whether cTnT screening in individuals with hypertension or in a subset of hypertensive individuals would help identify those at risk of ESRD and all-cause death.
Value of Exercise Treadmill Testing in the Risk Stratification of Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension

Background— The ability of the Naughton-Balke exercise treadmill test, an objective indicator of exercise capacity, to predict abnormal hemodynamics and mortality in pulmonary hypertension is unknown. Methods and Results— We performed a cohort study of 603 patients with pulmonary hypertension from 1982 to 2006, and studied the utility of exercise treadmill test as a predictor of abnormal hemodynamics and death. We used multivariable linear regression to determine whether exercise capacity, measured in metabolic equivalents, was associated with abnormal hemodynamics, and we used a Cox proportional hazards model to determine whether decreased exercise capacity predicted death. Mean age was 50�15 years, 76% were women, 63% had World Health Organization category I pulmonary arterial hypertension, and 23% were World Health Organization functional classes I and II. Mean exercise capacity was 3.7�2.2 metabolic equivalents. Decreased exercise capacity was independently associated with elevated right atrial and me...
Evaluation and Research in Physical Therapy

The profession of physical therapy has an obligation to evaluate its many treatment and testing methods to ascertain their value, importance, and usefulness. Our evaluation of what we do must be based on measurement and research in physical therapy. The principles of measurement and research are discussed in some detail. The four scales of measurement, and the data they produce, are described. Test reliability and validity are discussed. Research is defined and its two principal forms, experimental and correlational, are discussed. The use of these principles in evaluating physical therapy treatment and testing methods is described by using clinical examples.
Enhancing light absorption within the carrier transport length in quantum junction solar cells

Colloidal quantum dot (CQD) solar cells have attracted tremendous attention because of their tunable absorption spectrum window and potentially low processing cost. Recently reported quantum junction solar cells represent a promising approach to building a rectifying photovoltaic device that employs CQD layers on each side of the p-n junction. However, the ultimate efficiency of CQD solar cells is still highly limited by their high trap state density in both p- and n-type CQDs. By modeling photonic structures to enhance the light absorption within the carrier transport length and by ensuring that the carrier generation and collection efficiencies were both augmented, our work shows that overall device current density could be improved. We utilized a two-dimensional numerical model to calculate the characteristics of patterned CQD solar cells based on a simple grating structure. Our calculation predicts a short circuit current density as high as 31 mA/cm2, a value nearly 1.5 times larger than that of the conventional flat design, showing the great potential value of patterned quantum junction solar cells.
Rethinking Barriers to Legal Practice: It is Time to Repeal Unauthorized Practice of Law Statutes

This brief essay draws upon the author's research, reported in his forthcoming book, Legal Advocacy: Lawyers and Nonlawyers at Work (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1998), systematically comparing lawyer and nonlawyer advocates. He argues that the performance of advocates does not support continued limitations on the use of nonlawyers as advocates; he suggests several possible mechanisms for regulating nonlawyers that would protect the public while also giving the public alternatives to representation by licensed attorneys.
Efficient Oxidative Degradation of 2,4-Dichlorophenol over Supported CuO-Based Catalysts

The catalytic oxidative degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol(2,4-DCP)was studied.The results indicated that CuO/γ-Al2O3 exhib-ited high activity for the reaction.Adding alkaline-earth metal oxides into CuO/γ-Al2O3 improved the liberation rate of chloride ion from 2,4-DCP remarkably and SrO was the most efficient.The 2,4-DCP conversion and the liberation rate of chloride ion reached 100% when the CuO/γ-Al2O3-SrO catalyst was used 3 times.The results of X-ray diffraction and the temperature-programmed-desorption of ammonia indi-cated that the catalyst with good dispersion of CuO particles and a less amount of acid sites was favorable for the efficient oxidative degrada-tion of 2,4-DCP.A probable pathway of the oxidative degradation for 2,4-DCP over the copper-based catalyst was suggested.
Simulation Research of Transient Impulse of Pressure in Hydraulic Impulse System

Pressure impulse of hydraulic system directly influences the lifetime of hydraulic component and brings the serious threatens to reliability of airplane hydraulic system. The pressure impulse test of airplane hydraulic system is the important equipment which tests the lifetime of hydraulic component. In order to deeply research the generation and control of pressure impulse, the mathematical model of fluid inside pipeline was established based on characteristic method. Aiming at tow types of test wave-trapezium wave and sin wave, the mathematical model of pressure impulse test equipment of airplane hydraulic system was set up based on the mathematic model of fluid inside pipeline and the series of coupling equation of pipeline interface. It is proved by simulation test that the model reflects the physical characteristic of real system and the result of simulation is accurate and assumable.
A reliable, delay bounded and less complex communication protocol for multicluster FANETs

Abstract Recently, Flying Ad-hoc Networks (FANETs), enabling ad-hoc networking between Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) is gaining importance in several military and civilian applications. The sensitivity of the applications requires adaptive; efficient; delay bounded and scalable communication network among UAVs for data transmission. Due to communication protocol complexity; rigidity; cost of commercial-off-the-shelf (COT) components; limited radio bandwidth; high mobility and computational resources; maintaining the desired level of Quality of Service (QoS) becomes a daunting task. For the first time in this research we propose multicluster FANETs for efficient network management; the proposed scheme considerably reduces communication cost and optimizes network performance as well as exploit low power; less complex and low cost IEEE 802.15.4 (MAC) protocol for intercluster and intracluster communication. In this research both beacon enabled mode and beaconless modes have been investigated with Guaranteed Time Slots (GTS) and virtual Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) respectively. The methodology plays a key role towards reserving bandwidth for latency critical applications; eliminate collisions and medium access delays. Moreover analysis ad-hoc routing protocols including two proactive (OLSR, DSDV) and one reactive (AODV) is also presented. The results shows that the proposed scheme guarantees high packet delivery ratios while maintaining acceptable levels of latency requirements comparable with more complex and dedicatedly designed protocols in literature.
Aerial Vehicle Path Planning for Monitoring Wildfire Frontiers

This paper explores the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in wildfire monitoring. To begin establishing effective methods for autonomous monitoring, a simulation (FLAME) is developed for algorithm testing. To simulate a wildfire, the well established FARSITE fire simulator is used to generate realistic fire behavior models. FARSITE is a wildfire simulator that is used in the field by Incident Commanders (IC’s) to predict the spread of the fire using topography, weather, wind, moisture, and fuel data. The data obtained from FARSITE is imported into FLAME and parsed into a dynamic frontier used for testing hotspot monitoring algorithms. In this paper, points of interest along the frontier are established as points with a fireline intensity (British-Thermal-Unit/feet/second) above a set threshold. These interest points are refined into hotspots using the Mini-Batch K-means Clustering technique. A distance threshold differentiates moving hotspot centers and newly developed hotspots. The proposed algorithm is compared to a baseline for minimizing the sum of the max time untracked J(t). The results show that simply circling the fire performs poorly (baseline), while a weighted-greedy metric (proposed) performs significantly better. The algorithm was then run on a UAV to demonstrate the feasibility of real world implementation.
Enhancing the Possibility of Justice under Daubert

If some courts have been using unduly constrained, idealized, or overly simple heuristics for reviewing scientific testimony on causation, how might they conduct this task differently? How can they better address complex patterns of evidence? Can their admissibility decisions better serve the aims of both law and science? One route to improve reviews of expert testimony would be for judges to use court-appointed experts; I briefly consider this idea. A likely better approach (because of the costs) is for courts to follow the lead of the First Circuit Court's Milward v. Acuity Products that in turn is anchored by the Supreme Court's Kumho Tire and Daubert v. Merrell-Dow Pharmaceutical decisions. To give scientific content to this second idea, one should understand more nuanced patterns of evidence from consensus scientific committees. These illustrate varieties of studies and complex patterns of evidence that scientists have utilized. Courts should be able to recognize and assess a wider range of evidentiary patterns than some have previously. I consider a few legal cases other than Milward in which judges have recognized the subtlety of issues they faced or in which they addressed well the shortcomings of studies or reasoning with which they were faced. Toward the end of the chapter, I revisit a few decisions discussed in Chapter 1 to illustrate in view of subsequent chapters more specifically some of the problems they raise. Courts can choose how they implement Daubert and its progeny. They could unduly restrict scientific testimony, or fail to recognize more subtle scientific mistakes that can affect litigants. In contrast, they could better utilize scientific evidence and more closely follow the science than they have in the past, by reviewing scientific testimony with Milward v. Acuity Specialty Products as a model to assess whether testimony falls within a “zone where experts might reasonably differ” (following Kumho Tire) . Were they to do this, it is reasonable to expect several consequences to result. Expert testimony would be better founded in science than at present and comport better with how scientists themselves assess evidence. This would likely increase the acceptability of admissibility decisions within the scientific community and reassure respectable scientists who testify that their testimony will not be judicially condemned as inadequate.
The Influence of Gender-Ethnic Intersectionality on Gender Stereotypes about IT Skills and Knowledge

One line of investigation in attempting to better understand the gender imbalance in the information technology (IT) field is to examine gender stereotypes about the skills and knowledge in the IT profession. A survey of 4046 university students in the United States was conducted to examine gender stereotypes held by contemporary university students (White, Black and Latino men and women) about the skills and knowledge in the IT profession. The Individual Differences Theory of Gender and IT was used as the motivating theory for this study because it enabled the incorporation of gender-ethnic intersectionality in the research design. The results revealed that while gender stereotypes about the skills and knowledge involved in the IT profession do exist, they are not uniform across all members of a gender group. The men tended to rate all of the skills as more masculine than did the women respondents. Technical skills were more consistently stereotyped by both men and women in each of the gender-ethnic groups than were nontechnical skills. However, gender stereotypes about nontechnical skills were more contested and revealed both within-gender and within-ethnicity variation. The women students' rating of nontechnical skills as less masculine than the men suggests that these nontechnical skills are being incorporated into the women's sense of gender identity. These results show that gender-ethnic intersectionality provides one important explanation for within-gender variation in gender stereotypes that are held by contemporary university students. These findings suggest promising avenues for interventions to address not only the masculine gender stereotyping of skills in the IT profession, but also differential gender stereotyping of technical vs. nontechnical skills and variation in gender stereotyping by the intersectionality of gender-ethnic groups.
Dividends on Unearned Shares and Corporate Payout Policy: An Analysis of Dividend Equivalent Rights

We investigate an executive compensation device called dividend equivalent rights, which are provisions attached to some options and performance-based equity awards that permit executives to receive dividends on shares they do not own and may ultimately never own. We find that dividend equivalent policies and payments are associated with higher dividends. While shareholders react negatively to such payments, our evidence shows a tendency for these devices to induce companies to disgorge unproductive cash. We estimate their cost at an average increment of 25% to the CEO’s salary but conclude that they can reduce the agency costs of excess cash.
Aflatoxin contamination of dried red chilies: Contrasts between the United States and Nigeria, two markets differing in regulation enforcement

Abstract Dried red chilies are among the world’s most consumed spices. From farm to fork, chilies go through cropping, harvest, drying, processing and storage. Chilies are susceptible to infection by aflatoxin producing fungi and subsequent contamination by aflatoxins at every stage. Aflatoxins are highly regulated, hepatotoxic carcinogens produced by fungi in Aspergillus section Flavi. The current study examined prevalence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in chilies from markets across the United States (US) and Nigeria, and determined predisposition of chilies to aflatoxins post-harvest. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in 64% chilies from US markets (n = 169), and 93% of Nigerian chilies (n = 55) with a commercial lateral flow assay (Limit of Detection = 2 μg/kg). Two percent of US samples exceeded the aflatoxin regulatory limit of 20 μg/kg, while the highest concentration detected was 94.9 μg/kg. Aspergillus spp. could be recovered only from 40% of samples from the US, and aflatoxin levels did not correlate with quantities of Aspergillus section Flavi (Colony Forming Units g−1), suggesting fungi associated with chilies in US markets were killed during processing. Both average AFB1 concentrations and fungal quantities were significantly higher (p