cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the Application of Earth Observations for Improved Environmental Decision-Making Using the Early Warning eXplorer (EWX)

The mitigation of losses due to extreme climate events and long-term climate adaptation requires climate informed decision-making. In the past few decades, several remote sensing and modeled-based Earth Observations (EOs) have been developed to provide an unprecedented global overview and routine monitoring of climate and its impacts on vegetation and hydrologic conditions, with the goal of supporting informed decision-making. However, their usage in decision-making is particularly limited in climate-risk vulnerable and in situ data-scarce regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, due to lack of access to EOs. Here, we describe the Early Warning eXplorer (EWX), which was developed to address this crucial limitation and facilitate the application of EOs in decision-making, particularly in the food and water-insecure regions of the world. First, the EWX’s core framework, which includes (i) the Viewer, (ii) GeoEngine and (iii) Support Applications, is described. Then, a comprehensive overview of the Viewer, which is a web-based interface and is used to access EOs, is provided. This includes a description of (i) the maps and associated features to access gridded EO data and anomalies for different temporal averaging periods, (ii) time series graphs and associated features to access EOs aggregated over polygons such as administrative boundaries, and (iii) commonly used EOs served by the EWX that provide assessments of climate and vegetation conditions. Next, examples are provided to demonstrate how EWX can be used to timely monitor development, progression, spatial extent, and severity of climate-driven extreme events to support decisions related to mitigation of food insecurity and flooding impacts. Finally, the value of a regional implementation of EWX at the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) in Nairobi, Kenya, is highlighted. Regional implementation of the EWX facilitate access to regionally-focused EOs and their availability at polygon boundaries most relevant to the local decision-makers. Similar instances of EWX implemented in other regions, especially those susceptible to food and water security, will likely further enhance the application of EOs for informed decision-making.
Image Compression and Classification Using Qubits and Quantum Deep Learning.

Recent work suggests that quantum machine learning techniques can be used for classical image classification by encoding the images in quantum states and using a quantum neural network for inference. However, such work has been restricted to very small input images, at most 4 x 4, that are unrealistic and cannot even be accurately labeled by humans. The primary difficulties in using larger input images is that hitherto-proposed encoding schemes necessitate more qubits than are physically realizable. We propose a framework to classify larger, realistic images using quantum systems. Our approach relies on a novel encoding mechanism that embeds images in quantum states while necessitating fewer qubits than prior work. Our framework is able to classify images that are larger than previously possible, up to 16 x 16 for the MNIST dataset on a personal laptop, and obtains accuracy comparable to classical neural networks with the same number of learnable parameters. We also propose a technique for further reducing the number of qubits needed to represent images that may result in an easier physical implementation at the expense of final performance. Our work enables quantum machine learning and classification on classical datasets of dimensions that were previously intractable by physically realizable quantum computers or classical simulation
Frey procedure for chronic pancreatitis in children: A single center experience.

Abstract Background There is paucity of literature regarding the Frey procedure for children with chronic pancreatitis. The purpose of this study is to present our experience with the Frey procedure in children. Methods This is an observational retrospective review study. All children, who underwent a Frey procedure between August 2007 and May 2014 in the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Kolkata, India were included in this study. Results Twenty four children were included in our study. There were 13 girls and 11 boys. Mean age at operation was 13.95years (range, 4 to 18years). Mean duration between the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis and surgery was 4.41years (range, 1 to 14years). Frey procedure was performed after failure of medical or endoscopic therapy. Mean duration of operation and blood loss were 215minutes (range, 150–300minutes) and 177ml (range, 50 to 500ml) respectively. Average postoperative hospital stay was 8days (range, 5 to 16days). Five patients (21%) developed postoperative complications. There was no in hospital mortality and no patient required reoperation for postoperative complications. More than a median follow-up of 29months (range, 3–78months), 91% of the patients remained pain free. Conclusion Frey procedure is safe and feasible in children with acceptable perioperative complications and good short-term pain control.
USapiens: A System for Urban Trajectory Data Analytics

In the past few years a growing number of cities have started monitoring the position of public transportation vehicles using GPS devices. In this paper, we focus on a particularly important urban dataset: GPS bus data. Buses are valuable sensors and information associated with buses can provide unprecedented insight into many different aspects of city's life, from human behavior to mobility patterns. But analyzing these large urban datasets presents many challenges. Urban datasets are complex, containing location and temporal components in addition that they are commonly released in their raw format. Furthermore, urban datasets may have noisy and missing data, locations gathered in a low sampling rate and not mapped to the underlying road network, among other issues which makes it difficult for citizens, administrators and developers to get insights. In this paper, we present a system, called USapiens, for analyzing large urban trajectory data. We first describe the architecture of the proposed system for pre-processing and analyzing urban trajectory data. We then detail five use cases we build using very large GPS dataset obtained from buses operating in the city of Rio de Janeiro to get insights into various aspects of public transportation in the city.
Microcomputers and Field Instruction

The microcomputer revolution presents educators with a new set of curricular challenges. This paper describes how one graduate school of social work has successfully incorporated microcomputing into its foundation curriculum. Through their yearlong work with a custom program, over 400 students have been introduced to database management at the direct service level. So far the project has been unilaterally successful for reasons that have more to do with educational philosophy than with computer technology. The key factors identified include integrating the project into existing curricular offerings, making the assignment part of a required, first-year course, and using a computer application designed specifically for novice social work users.
Hybrid control of a gasoline direct injection engine

This paper describes an automotive control problem where switching is an essential feature of the operation of a direct injection spark ignition engine. The engine operates in two distinct combustion modes with different emissions and torque characteristics: the homogeneous mode and the stratified mode. The control system must be capable of changing the combustion mode and the air-to-fuel ratio of the engine rapidly and without any noticeable torque disturbance to the driver. A hybrid control scheme is described in this paper to control the mode transitions in this engine and its operation is illustrated with simulations on a mean-value model of the engine.
Discussion¿Reactions to Dividend Changes Conditional on Earnings Quality

Corporate disclosures are an important source of information for investors. Many studies have documented strong price reactions to earnings, dividends, and other corporate announcements. For dividend announcements, the price implications appear straightforward: price is the present value of expected future dividends. Hence, to the extent that future dividends are related to current dividends, dividend changes should trigger price responses. Other corporate disclosures, such as earnings, may also be viewed as proxies for future dividends. The price reaction to a particular disclosure should increase in the difference between the implied equity value based on that disclosure and price prior to the disclosure. The magnitude of price reaction should also increase in the precision of the disclosure and decrease in the precision of all prior price-related information (see, e.g., Holthausen and Verrecchia [1988]). Mikhail, Walther, and Willis (2003, MWW) test this precision effect focusing on dividend disclosures and using “earnings quality” (the association between future cash flow and past earnings) as a proxy for the precision of prior information. In particular, MWW test whether the magnitude of price reactions to dividend change announcements is negatively related to earnings quality. They also use revisions in analysts’ earnings forecasts as an alternative proxy for the change in expected cash flows triggered by the dividend change announcement. For dividend increases, MWW find that the magnitudes of both price reactions and revisions in analysts’ earnings forecasts are negatively related to earnings quality. For dividend decreases, however, they find insignificant results. The hypothesis that MWW test is simple, intuitive, and well established in the analytical literature. Their focus on dividend change announcements is also justified. Analytically, dividends are linked directly to stock prices, and empirically, dividend changes appear to convey relevant information to investors, as is evident by the significant price reactions (e.g., Aharony and Swary [1980]; Asquith and Mullins [1983]) and by the change in expected future earnings (e.g., Ofer and Siegel [1987]; Nissim and Ziv [2001]). Therefore, the research question is relevant. As discussed below, however, I have some concerns regarding the analysis, pri-
A Comparison of Russian and American Factory Quality Practices

The shift of the Russian economy toward a market-oriented approach has led to an increasing awareness of Russian product quality problems. To help understand these problems, this article presents the results of a study comparing product quality practice..
A long-term survey of parasitoid species composition and parasitism of Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), and Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in Minnesota cabbage.

Field studies were conducted near Rosemount, MN, during the years 1991–1994, 1996–1997, and 1999–2003, to assess the diversity of and parasitism by larval and pupal parasitoids of cabbage looper, T...
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of acamprosate in alcohol-dependent individuals with bipolar disorder: a preliminary report.

Tolliver BK, DeSantis SM, Brown DG, Prisciandaro JJ, Brady KT. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of acamprosate in alcohol-dependent individuals with bipolar disorder: a preliminary report. Bipolar Disord 2012: 14: 54–63. © 2012 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Background: Alcohol use disorders commonly co-occur with bipolar disorder and are associated with a more severe course of bipolar illness, yet treatment research in this important clinical population is scarce. The current study assessed the effects of acamprosate on alcohol use and mood symptoms in subjects with co-occurring bipolar disorder and active alcohol dependence. Methods: Thirty-three adults meeting criteria for bipolar I or bipolar II disorder and current alcohol dependence were randomized to receive add-on acamprosate (1998 mg/day) or placebo while concurrently maintained on mood stabilizing medications. Participants were assessed weekly for frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption and general clinical severity for eight weeks. Depressive symptoms, manic symptoms, and alcohol craving were assessed biweekly. Biomarkers of alcohol use were assessed at study baseline and endpoint. Results: Of the 33 subjects randomized, 23 (69.7%) completed all active phase visits. Over the trial as a whole, no statistically significant treatment differences were detected in drinking outcomes. Post-hoc analysis revealed lower Clinical Global Impression scores of substance use severity in acamprosate-treated participants in weeks 7–8 of the trial. No significant differences in depressive symptoms, manic symptoms, or adverse events were observed between groups. Conclusions: Acamprosate was well-tolerated, with no worsening of depressive or manic symptoms, and appeared to confer some clinical benefit in study completers in the last two weeks of the trial. Larger studies of longer duration are required to fully explore the utility of acamprosate in this population.
Nonspecific hyperamylasemia and hyperlipasemia in diabetic ketoacidosis: incidence and correlation with biochemical abnormalities.

Abstract OBJECTIVES: Amylase and lipase estimations are the standard tests to diagnose acute pancreatitis (AP). Elevation of amylase and lipase ≤3 times normal may be nonspecific, but elevation of either one >3 times normal is reported to be diagnostic of AP. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and magnitude of nonspecific elevations of amylase and lipase in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and to correlate their elevation with known metabolic derangements of DKA. METHODS: A total of 150 consecutive episodes of DKA in 135 patients were evaluated for serum amylase, lipase, and biochemical markers of DKA on admission and 24 h later. Patients were divided according to the following: 1) Clearly nonspecific amylase elevation (CNSA): Amylase elevation 3 times elevation of amylase or lipase or both with normal abdominal CT. RESULTS: Elevated amylase and lipase levels ranged from 111 to 1257 IU/L (normal 30–110 IU/L) and 25–529 IU/dl (normal CONCLUSIONS: In DKA nonspecific elevations of amylase and lipase occur in 16–25% of cases. Amylase elevation is correlated with pH and serum osmolality, but lipase elevation is correlated with serum osmolality alone. Diagnosis of AP based soley on elevated amylase or lipase, even > 3 times normal, is not justifiable.
The expected likelihood of transitivity for probabilistic choosers with single-peaked preferences

Abstract May developed an algebraic choice model of pairwise preference comparison in which subjects make comparisons precisely according to ordinal information on attributes of comparison. This paper considers a variation of May's model, in which subjects are probabilistic choosers and make comparisons with various degrees of precision relative to May's model. This precision can be viewed as an indirect measure of the subject's level of perception of the attributes of comparison. The purpose of the study is to examine the expected likelihood with which subjects will have transitive responses in agreement with May's model as this degree of precision is varied. Of particular interest is the impact that the imposition of the assumption of single peaked preferences on the ordinal information on attributes has on this expected likelihood.
THE DEBT/TAX CHOICE IN THE FINANCING OF STATE AND LOCAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURES*

ABSTRACT. State and local governments commonly finance investment in public capital by issuing bonds and by using current revenues. This paper presents a model of state and local governments' reliance on borrowing in which the optimal share of debt in the financing of capital investment depends on the relative costs of tax and debt finance. Equations are derived and estimated for spending on public capital and the share of debt in the financing of that spending. The results reveal that the level of private incomes plays an important role in both the capital investment and financial decisions of the jurisdiction. Even after controlling for Sunbelt-Snowbelt differences in incomes, grants, outstanding debt and certain demographic factors, the results indicate that state and local governments located in the Snowbelt rely more heavily on bond issues to finance capital investment. Finally, the estimated invariance of the level of state and local capital investment to the share of debt in the financing of the investment suggests that investment decisions are not greatly affected by factors influencing the willingness to issue bonds.
COCORP deep seismic reflection traverses of the U.S. Cordillera

Summary. COCORP seismic reflection traverses of the U.S. Cordillera at 40"N and 48.5"N latitude reveal some fundamental similarities as well as significant differences in reflection patterns. On both traverses, autochthonous crust beneath thin-skinned thrust belts of the eastern part of the Cordillera is unreflective; immediately to the west the Cordilleran interior is very reflective above a flat, prominent reflection Moho. Mesozoic accreted terranes in the western part of the orogen are underlain on both traverses by very complex reflection patterns, in constrast to more easily deciphered patterns beneath areas of Cenozoic accretion. The prominent reflection Moho beneath the orogenic interior on both transects probably evolved through a combination of magmatic and deformational processes during Cenozoic extension. The main differences between the two traverses lie in the reflection patterns of the middle and lower crust in the Cordilleran interior; these differences are probably related to the way Cenozoic extension was accommodated at depth. Laminated middle and lower crust above the reflection Moho in the western Basin and Range (40"N) may be related to magmatism, ductile pure shear and large-scale transposition during Cenozoic extension. By contrast, beneath the eastern Basin and Range (40"N), and the orogenic interior in the NW United States (48.5"N), Cenozoic extension was probably accommodated along dipping deformation zones throughout the crust.
Nonconserved active site residues modulate CheY autophosphorylation kinetics and phosphodonor preference

In two-component signal transduction, response regulator proteins contain the catalytic machinery for their own covalent phosphorylation and can catalyze phosphotransfer from a partner sensor kinase or autophosphorylate using various small molecule phosphodonors. Although response regulator autophosphorylation is physiologically relevant and a powerful experimental tool, the kinetic determinants of the autophosphorylation reaction and how those determinants might vary for different response regulators and phosphodonors are largely unknown. We characterized the autophosphorylation kinetics of 21 variants of the model response regulator Escherichia coli CheY that contained substitutions primarily at nonconserved active site positions D + 2 (CheY residue 59) and T + 2 (CheY residue 89), two residues C-terminal to conserved D57 and T87, respectively. Overall, the CheY variants exhibited a >105-fold range of rate constants (kphos/KS) for reaction with phosphoramidate, acetyl phosphate, or monophosphoimidazole,...
Population genetic diversity and structure of two rare vernal pool grasses in central California

Vernal pool ecosystems are declining throughout California, with only 10% of historic habitat remaining. This has endangered many specialist endemic plant species, leaving extant populations fragmented, isolated, and threatened or endangered. Recovery plans for the increasing number of endangered vernal pool species require information on their genetic and ecological status to guide conservation and restoration efforts. Federally threatened Neostapfia colusana (Colusa grass) and federally endangered Tuctoria greenei (Greene’s tuctoria) are two endemic vernal pool grasses of high conservation concern in central California. Remaining populations are highly fragmented due to range-wide habitat destruction. Using five polymorphic microsatellite markers for each species, we performed genetic surveys of 240 individuals from eight vernal pools for N. colusana, and 317 individuals from 13 vernal pools for T. greenei. We detected high within-population genetic diversity for both species, with average allelic diversities of 24 alleles/locus (mean Hobs = 0.68, mean Hexp = 0.71) for N. colusana, and 19 alleles/locus (mean Hobs = 0.77, and mean Hexp = 0.79) for T. greenei. Bayesian clustering and AMOVA indicated two genetically distinct population groups for N. colusana (Fst = 0.268, P < 0.0001), and three for T. greenei (Fst = 0.11, P < 0.0001). We found very slight temporal genetic structure at one N. colusana (Fst = 0.013, P < 0.05) and two T. greenei (Fst = 0.015, Fst = 0.018, P < 0.05) pools. These estimates of population genetic diversity and structure are critical measures for both species that will help inform recovery management actions.
Computation of metastable phases in tungsten-carbon system

Metastable phase equilibria in the W-C system are presented in the vicinity of the metastable reactions involving W2C, WC1−x , and WC. Metastable phase boundaries were obtained by reproducing the stable boundaries using optimized Gibbs energy formulations and extrapolating them into regions of metastability. Four metastable reactions were obtained: a metastable congruent melting reaction of WC at 3106 K, a metastable eutectic reaction between WC1−x and graphite at 2995 K, a metastable eutectic reaction between W2C and WC at 2976 K, and a metastable eutectic reaction between W2C and graphite at 2925 K. The reaction enthalpies and entropies associated with these transitions are also computed using the available Gibbs energy data. Furthermore, possible kinetic paths that could lead to metastability are discussed.
Transport in random media with space-time noise

Transport of particles in media whose cross sections are random functions of space and time is considered. The linear transport equation, in the presence of this space-time noise, is viewed as a Boltzmann-Langevin equation, the solution of which generates a stochastic process, the angular flux, for different realizations of the cross section. A Gaussian model of fluctuations is adopted with a prescribed mean, variance and correlation function. For white noise in time, but with otherwise arbitrary spatial correlation, an exactly closed equation for the ensemble averaged angular flux is obtained and seen to be identical to the transport equation but with renormalised cross sections. Similar exact closures are demonstrated for the second moment and the two-point space-angle correlation of the angular flux. Standard methods may be adapted to solve these averaged transport equations which are valid in the small correlation time limit.
Formal education level as a significant marker of clinical status in rheumatoid arthritis

Clinical status was assessed in 385 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to erythrocyte sedimentation rate, joint count, grip strength, walking time, and other quantitative measures. All measures indicated substantially poorer clinical status in patients who did not complete high school, compared with those who had completed high school. In general, the poorest results were seen in patients with only a grade school education. Progressively better results were seen in patients with some high school education, high school graduates, and patients with some college education. No differences in clinical status were seen among patients who had attended college, graduated from college, or had post-graduate education. Although patients seen at the Veterans Administration Medical Center had lower levels of formal education than those seen at a university clinic and private practices, trends in clinical status according to formal education level were similar in all three clinical settings. Differences in clinical status according to formal education level are not explained by age, sex, duration of disease, clinical setting, or multiple comparisons. Formal education level may identify an important marker of clinical status in rheumatoid arthritis.
Inhibition of RNA cleavage but not polyadenylation by a point mutation in mRNA 3′ consensus sequence AAUAAA

A single U → G transversion in the 3′ consensus sequence AAUAAA of the adenovirus early region 1A gene was constructed and the effect of this mutation on processing of the 3′ end of the nuclear early region 1A RNAs was analysed. The results demonstrate that the intact AAUAAA is not required for RNA polyadenylation but is required for the cleavage step preceding polyadenylation to occur efficiently.
A comparison of mouth-to-mouth and manual artificial respiration techniques

Chemical, industrial, and mechanical progress have increased the incidence of cases requiring artificial respiration in industrial, military, and civilian spheres. The danger from electricity is a potent factor in all of these situations.
Alanine-scanning mutagenesis of Bacillus subtilis trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) reveals residues involved in tryptophan binding and RNA binding

In Bacillus subtilis, expression of the trp genes is negatively regulated by an RNA binding protein called TRAP (trp RNA-binding Attenuation Protein), which is activated to bind RNA by binding l-tryptophan. TRAP contains 11 identical subunits assembled in a symmetric ring. We have used alanine-scanning mutagenesis to analyze the functions of surface amino acid residues of TRAP. The in vivo regulatory activity of each mutant TRAP was analyzed in a B. subtilis reporter strain containing a trpE'-'lacZ fusion. Mutant TRAP proteins with defective in vivo regulatory activities were characterized in vitro by measuring their tryptophan binding and RNA binding activities. Most of the mutant proteins with altered tryptophan binding, either affinity or cooperativity, contained substituted residues located on two loops formed by residues 25 to 33 and residues 49 to 52, as well as on the beta-strand and beta-turn contiguous with these loops. Substitution of three residues (Lys37, Lys56 and Arg58) with alanine resulted in significant decreases in the RNA binding activity of TRAP without altering tryptophan binding. Structural analysis shows that these three residues are directly aligned on the outer edge of TRAP. Further mutagenic analysis of these three residues revealed that only lysine or arginine residues at positions 37 or 58 allow proper TRAP function, whereas at position 56, only lysine is functional. Residue Asn20 is the only other residue in TRAP that is located on the line formed by residues 37, 56 and 58, and virtually any amino acid residue is functional at position 20. We propose that RNA wraps around TRAP by interacting with residues Lys37, Lys56 and Arg58.
Phenetic analysis shows conspecificity between Hispaniolan Viola domingensis Urban and North American Viola macloskeyi sensu lato (Violaceae)

Phenetic investigations were undertaken to evaluate differences between the cloud forest endemicViola domingensis of the Dominican Republic and the morphologically similarV. macloskeyi of continental North America. Cluster, principal components (PCA), and canonical variates analyses (CVA) of leaf characters and of ratios derived from them consistently separateV. macloskeyi subsp.macloskeyi of the Pacific states fromV. domingensis and transcontinentalV. macloskeyi subsp.pallens. However, all analyses portray the latter two as extensively intergradient extremes of a continuum, withV. domingensis plants tending to be smaller. Phenetic analyses of capsule and seed features, which are often divergent among other species of subsect.Stolonosae, showV. domingensis to be nested within a broaderV. macloskeyi subsp.pallens. Similarly, floral morphology does not provide observable differences between the pair. Results support the synonymy ofV. domingensis underV. macloskeyi subsp.pallens and reveal that it represents a disjunct outlier of an otherwise continental North American violet.
Phosphorylation of the Conditioning‐Associated GTP‐Binding Protein cp20 by Protein Kinase C

The phosphorylation state of cp20, a low molecular weight membrane-associated GTP-binding protein, was previously shown to increase two- to threefold 24 h after associative conditioning. Here, cp20 is shown to be phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC) in vitro. Pronounced differences in activity were observed with the three major isoforms of PKC, whereas casein kinase, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase produced no detectable phosphorylation of cp20. Phosphorylation of cp20 had no effect on its GTPase or GTP-binding activity but caused a translocation of cp20 from cytosol to the nuclei/mitochondrial particulate fraction. These results suggest that the increase in phosphorylation of cp20 after conditioning may be due to PKC.
Is Newton a ‘radical empiricist’ about method?

Abstract Recently, some Newton scholars have argued that Newton is an empiricist about metaphysics—that ideally, he wants to let advances in physical theory resolve either some or all metaphysical issues. But while proponents of this interpretation are using ‘metaphysics’ in a very broad sense, to include the ‘principles that enable our knowledge of natural phenomena’, attention has thus far been focused on Newton’s approach to ontological, not epistemological or methodological, issues. In this essay, I therefore consider whether Newton wants to let physical theory bear on the very ‘principles that enable our knowledge’. By examining two kinds of argument in the Principia, I contend that Newton can be considered a methodological empiricist in a substantial respect. I also argue, however, that he cannot be a ‘radical empiricist’—that he does not and cannot convert all methodological issues into empirical issues.
Localization of the cell attachment region in types I and II collagens.

Summary The sites on type I and II collagen which bind to the cell attachment protein (CAP) have been identified using an inhibition assay. Both chains of type I collagen contain binding sites but αI(I) is more active than the α2 chain. The most active peptide obtained from the α1(I) chain corresponds to residues 568 through 835. A comparable region was found to be the only active site on the α1 (II) chain.
Using print media for STD prevention: reflections of a journalist/public health researcher.

This paper focuses on the role of print media in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The study presents specific studies that have been published in Glamour magazine and aims to: 1) enhance understanding so that health care providers journalists and researchers can work together more effectively; and 2) suggest styles of presentation that will also be effective with patients. The following are examples of how the author made condom stories newsworthy and influenced the readers: 1) raising the HIV/STD susceptibility awareness of the readers is an essential component in getting them to use condoms; 2) emphasizing that STDs are preventable through consistent condom use; 3) the publics lingering doubt about condom safety is a barrier to condom use; 4) studies focusing on the lack of easy accessibility which is a critical predictor of condom use; 5) consistent and proper use of condom are necessary in the prevention of STD transmission; 6) introducing comfortable condoms that minimize reduced sensation increases the likelihood of compliance with the directive to use condoms from beginning to end of each sexual act; and 7) identifying other reasons that detract from consistent condom use. In addition the media should focus on good news about STDs contraception and other important health issues in order to make it newsworthy.
A generalized linear mixing model for hyperspectral imagery

We continue previous work that generalizes the traditional linear mixing model from a combination of endmember vectors to a combination of multi-dimensional affine endmember subspaces. This generalization allows the model to handle the natural variation that is present is real-world hyperspectral imagery. Once the endmember subspaces have been defined, the scene may be demixed as usual, allowing for existing post-processing algorithms (classification, etc.) to proceed as-is. In addition, the endmember subspace model naturally incorporates the use of physics-based modeling approaches ('target spaces') in order to identify sub-pixel targets. In this paper, we present a modification to our previous model that uses affine subspaces (as opposed to true linear subspaces) and a new demixing algorithm. We also include experimental results on both synthetic and real-world data, and include a discussion on how well the model fits the real-world data sets.
Maternal and child health and family planning service utilization in Guatemala : implications for service integration

Does the utilization of modern maternal and child health (MCH) services influence subsequent contraceptive use? The answer to this question holds important implications for proposals which advocate MCH and family planning service integration. This study uses data from the 1995/6 Guatemalan Demographic Health Survey and its 1997 Providers Census to test the influence of MCH service utilization on individual contraceptive use decisions. We use a full-information maximum likelihood regression model to control for unobserved heterogeneity. This model produces estimates of the MCH effect, independent of individual women's underlying receptiveness to MCH and contraceptive messages. The results of the analysis indicate that the intensity of MCH service use is indeed positively associated with subsequent contraceptive use among Guatemalan women, even after controlling for observed and unobserved individual- , household- , and community-level factors. Importantly, this finding holds even after controlling for the unobserved factors that 'predispose' some women to use both types of services. Simulations reveal that, for these Guatemalan women, key determinants such as age and primary schooling work indirectly through MCH service use to increase contraceptive utilization.
Suppression of the pedestal in a chirped-pulse-amplification laser

The pedestal (prepulse and postpulse) associated with a chirped-pulse-amplification (CPA) laser is studied. Four components have been identified that contribute to the pedestal. Pulses are spectrally shaped by gain narrowing in a frequency-matched, regenerative amplifier, while self-phase modulation is avoided. The intensity contrast is further improved through the use of a saturable absorber, resulting in Gaussian pulses of ~0.9-ps duration with an intensity contrast exceeding 105:1. Both experimental and numerical descriptions of these processes are presented. This investigation makes possible the study of high-intensity ultrashort laser–plasma interactions with a fiber–grating CPA system.
gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase activity in Ascaris suum.

Using histochemical techniques γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity has been localized mainly in the cuticle-hypodermis in Ascaris suum. The specific activity of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase was 3.87 ± 0.49 μmol h−1 (g tissue)−1 in cuticle-hypodermis as compared to gastrointestinal tract, where it was 0.07 ± 0.02 μmol h−1 (g tissue)−1, and muscle and reproductive tract where it was <0.001 μmol h−1 (g tissue)−1. When cuticle sections were incubated with labelled glutamine a large portion of the glutamine nitrogen was recovered as ammonia which indicated glutamine uptake and utilization by the cuticle-hypodermis. Collectively these histochemical and biochemical data support the fact that γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity is found in the cuticle-hypodermis of A. suum and this may be an indication that amino acid absorption could occur through the cuticle via the γ-glutamyl cycle.
Studies on desalination by reverse osmosis: II. The relation between the fabrication procedure and the structure of cellulose acetate desalination membranes

The special structure of Loeb-type desalination membranes has been considered in relation to the complex casting and immersion procedures by which they are fabricated. The role of each procedure in determining ultimate structure has been elucidated. This has enabled the rigid conditions which previously governed casting to be modified, so that the fabrication can be carried out at ambient temperatures rather than the low temperatures previously employed.
Effects of aerosol UV extinction on the formation of ozone and secondary particulate matter

Abstract A radiative transfer model based on the Delta-Eddington approximation is coupled into the framework of a three-dimensional air quality model that represents airborne particles as a source-oriented external mixture. Model simulations performed for Southern California on 25 September 1996 show that ultra-violet (UV) irradiance calculated by the model is in good agreement with measured ground level UV at central Los Angeles. Ozone performance statistics show that the use of the fully coupled radiative transfer calculation within the air quality models leads to more realistic predictions in regions with significant concentration gradients of airborne particulate matter and absorbing gases. The new air quality model with fully coupled radiative transfer calculations predicts lower ozone concentrations (10–22% reduction) and lower PM2.5 concentrations (2.3–8.5% reduction) relative to air quality models that use decoupled radiative transfer calculations or surface UV observations from sparse measurement networks. The greatest ozone reduction predicted by the fully coupled model occurs in polluted regions where photolysis rates are greatly reduced. The feedback effect on ozone concentrations decreased when VOC emissions increased but was insensitive to temperature. The greatest PM2.5 reduction occurs in regions with high gas-phase ammonia and particle-phase ammonium nitrate concentrations. The representation of airborne particulate matter as an internal mixture vs. source-oriented external mixture and homogenous particle vs. core-and-shell configuration did not have a significant effect on the relationship between UV feedback and secondary pollutant concentrations.
The nature of the semantic scale : evidence from sign language research

Author(s): Zaremba, Kathryn Davidson | Abstract: A difficult learning problem for both children and artificial language learning systems is knowing what is intended to be conveyed based on what is literally said. For example, adults usually take "Some teas contain caffeine" to also convey that "Not all teas contain caffeine", an inference known as a scalar implicature. The present work investigates the role of language-specific knowledge in such inferences through three studies on scalar implicatures in American Sign Language (ASL). The first study illustrates a new experimental paradigm and compares prototypical scalar implicatures in ASL and English. The second study includes the first investigation of general use coordinators in ASL that can be interpreted as either conjunction ("and") or disjunction ("or"). This provides a test case for the role of language-specific lexical contrast in scalar implicatures, with results showing that lexically non-contrastive scales (i.e., lexical scales whose items differ in meaning but not in form) trigger less scalar implicatures than prototypical lexically contrastive scales, which are based on contrasting lexical items. In the third study, both lexically contrastive and non-contrastive scales are interpreted by deaf native signers and also deaf signers who learned ASL at later ages. Result show that later ASL learners calculated less implicatures than early learning signers, but only on the lexically contrastive scale. Together, these studies support a view that despite their context dependence, scalar implicatures are most likely to be triggered by lexical items which contrast with each other in form to create a context-independent "scale", and that there may even be advantages to learning scales early in life. The dissertation concludes with suggestions for incorporating lexical contrast into theories of implicature and for further study of the semantic/ pragmatic interface in sign languages
A SENSITIVE MICROASSAY FOR TRYPTOPHAN HYDROXYLASE IN BRAIN

—A specific and sensitive, radioisotopic microassay for tryptophan hydroxylase (EC 1.14.36) is described, which is capable of determining enzymatic activity in as little as 5 μg of crude brainstem homogenate. 5-Hydroxytryptophan, the immediate product of hydroxylation of tryptophan is enzymatically converted to N-acetylserotonin. A radioisotopic label is then introduced by the enzymatic methylation of N-acetylserotonin in the presence of [3H]methyl-S-adenosyl-methionine. The [3H]-melatonin thus formed is isolated by extraction and counted. With this assay, the activity in individual hypothalamic nuclei (arcuate nucleus, median eminence, suprachiasmatic nucleus, and medial forebrain bundle) has been measured.
Phase transition in a class of Hamiltonians

We consider a class of Hamiltonians for a system of one localized spin-1/2 particle per lattice site with the total spin as a good quantum number. We introduce a set of conditions in the form of a hypothesis relating the subpartition function, which is the partition function defined by the subset of energies with a specific value of spin. If the equality in the hypothesis is satisfied, then the system undergoes a phase transition as a consequence of Yang-Lee theorem. As an application, we estimate the bounds on the spectrum of the Heisenberg Hamiltonian.
Reciprocal Communication Between Endometrial Stromal Cells and Macrophages

This study tested the hypothesis that reciprocal communication occurs between macrophages and cultured human endometrial stromal cells and that this communication may contribute to the pathology of endometriosis. An endometrial stromal cell line (telomerase-immortalized human endometrial stromal cell [T-HESC]) was treated with macrophage-conditioned medium (CM) +/- estradiol + progesterone. Macrophages were treated without or with T-HESC CM. DNA microarray identified 716 differentially expressed genes in T-HESCs in response to factors secreted by macrophages. Upregulated genes in T-HESC included interleukin 8 (IL-8)/chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8 (CXCL8), matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), phospholamban, cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), tenascin C, and nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), whereas integrin alpha-6 was downregulated. In contrast, 15 named genes were differentially expressed in macrophages in response to factors secreted by endometrial stromal cells. The data document reciprocal communication between macrophages and endometrial stromal cells and suggest that interaction with macrophages stimulates the expression of genes in endometrial stromal cells that may support the establishment of endometriosis.
Bending and symmetric pinching of pressurized tubes

Abstract Two experiments quantified the forces necessary for large deformation of an inflated cylindrical tube made of a material with a high elastic modulus. In the first experiment, the end force required to maintain a buckled cylinder at a given kink angle was determined. In the second experiment, the lateral force required to pinch the membrane symmetrically between two flat blades was measured. An approximate theory is used, based on the observation that during deformation the membrane conserves its initial zero Gaussian curvature in regions free of wrinkling. The novel feature is a simple approximation for the cross-sectional shape. This permits the volume of the deformed cylinder to be quickly calculated. For walls that have negligible extensional and bending energy, the potential energy consists of only the pressure multiplied by the volume and the work of the prescribed load. Minimization of this potential energy yields results for the indentation and buckling problems that are in reasonable agreement with the experimental measurements. For small displacements in the blade pinching experiment, the volume approximation overestimates the force. It is found that a local solution analogous to the Hertzian contact problem provides a better approximation. For the kinked tube with end loading, an interesting feature is a decrease in the load when the fold from one side contacts the opposite side of the tube. The calculations indicate that a minimum potential energy exists with the fold straight. For slightly larger kink angles, however, the fold buckles out of the plane of symmetry. The moment at the single kink, due to the end loads, remains between bounds from the analysis of a pressurized elastic tube with nonpositive stresses.
SpoIID-Mediated Peptidoglycan Degradation Is Required throughout Engulfment during Bacillus subtilis Sporulation

SpoIID is a membrane-anchored enzyme that degrades peptidoglycan and is essential for engulfment and sporulation in Bacillus subtilis. SpoIID is targeted to the sporulation septum, where it interacts with two other proteins required for engulfment: SpoIIP and SpoIIM. We changed conserved amino acids in SpoIID to alanine to determine whether there was a correlation between the effect of each substitution on the in vivo and in vitro activities of SpoIID. We identified one amino acid substitution, E88A, that eliminated peptidoglycan degradation activity and one, D210A, that reduced it, as well as two substitutions that destabilized the protein in B. subtilis (R106A and K203A). Using these mutants, we show that the peptidoglycan degradation activity of SpoIID is required for the first step of engulfment (septal thinning), as well as throughout membrane migration, and we show that SpoIID levels are substantially above the minimum required for engulfment. The inactive mutant E88A shows increased septal localization compared to the wild type, suggesting that the degradation cycle of the SpoIID/SpoIIP complex is accompanied by the activity-dependent release of SpoIID from the complex and subsequent rebinding. This mutant is also capable of moving SpoIIP across the sporulation septum, suggesting that SpoIID binding, but not peptidoglycan degradation activity, is needed for relocalization of SpoIIP. Finally, the mutant with reduced activity (D210A) causes uneven engulfment and time-lapse microscopy indicates that the fastest-moving membrane arm has greater concentrations of SpoIIP than the slower-moving arm, demonstrating a correlation between SpoIIP protein levels and the rate of membrane migration.
Nuclear response theory with multiphonon coupling in a covariant framework

Background: Nuclear excited states within a wide range of excitation energies are formally described by linear response theory. Besides its conventional formulation within the quasiparticle random phase approximation representing excited states as two correlated quasiparticles, there exist extensions for four-quasiparticle configurations. Such extended approaches are quite successful in the description of gross properties of nuclear spectra; however, accounting for many of their fine features requires further extension of the configuration space.Purpose: This work aims at the development of an approach which is capable of such an extension as well as of reproducing and predicting fine spectral properties, which are of special interest at low energies.Method: The method is based on covariant density functional theory and the time-blocking approximation, which is extended for couplings between quasiparticles and multiphonon excitations.Results: A covariant multiphonon response theory is developed and adopted for nuclear structure calculations in medium-mass and heavy nuclei. The equations are formulated in both general and coupled forms in the spherical basis.Conclusions: The developed covariant multiphonon response theory represents a new generation of approaches to nuclear response, which aims at a unified description of both high-frequency collective states and low-energy spectroscopy in medium-mass and heavy nuclei.