cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
All-Weather Hydrogen Peroxide-Based Decontamination of CBRN Contaminants

A hydrogen peroxide-based decontaminant, Decon Green, is efficacious for the decontamination of chemical agents VX (S-2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl O-ethyl methylphosphonothioate), GD (Soman, pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate), and HD (mustard, bis(2-chloroethyl) sulfide); the biological agent anthrax (Bacillus anthracis); and radiological isotopes 137Cs and 60Co; thus demonstrating the ability of this decontamination approach to ameliorate the aftermath of all three types of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Reaction mechanisms afforded for the chemical agents are discussed as are rationales for the enhanced removal efficacy of recalcitrant 60Co on certain surfaces. Decontaminants of this nature can be deployed, and are effective, at very low temperatures (−32 °C), as shown for studies done with VX and HD simulants, without the need for external heat sources. Finally, the efficacy of a lower-logistics, dry decontaminant powder concentrate (utilizing the solid active-oxygen compounds peracetyl borate and P...
Low- Cost Parallel FIR Filter Structures With 2-Stage Parallelism

Based on recently published low-complexity parallel finite-impulse response (FIR) filter structures, this paper proposes a new parallel FIR Filter structure with less hardware complexity. The subfilters in the previous parallel FIR structures are replaced by a second stage parallel FIR filter. The proposed 2-stage parallel FIR filter structures can efficiently reduce the number of required multiplications and additions at the expense of delay elements. For a 32-parallel 1152-tap FIR filter, the proposed structure can save 5184 multiplications (67%), 2612 additions (30%), compared to previous parallel FIR structures, at the expense of 10089 delay elements (-133%). The proposed structures will lead to significant hardware savings because the hardware cost of a delay element is only a small portion of that of a multiplier, not including the savings in the number of additions
Neurobiochemical alterations induced by the artificial sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet)

The dipeptide aspartame (NutraSweet) is a newly approved and widely used artificial sweetener in foods and beverages. Consumption of aspartame (ASM) has been reported to be responsible for neurologic and behavioral disturbances in sensitive individuals. Unfasted male CD-1 mice were dosed orally with 13, 130, or 650 mg/kg ASM in corn oil, while control animals received corn oil alone. Three hours after dosing, the animals were killed, and the concentrations of the catecholamines norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA), catecholamine metabolites 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid (VMA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), the indoleamine serotonin (5-HT), and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were determined by electrochemical high-performance liquid chromatography in six brain regions. ASM exerted its primary effect on adrenergic neurotransmitters in various brain regions. In the hypothalamus, the region richest in NE, increases in NE concentrations of 12, 49, and 47% were found in the low, medium, and high dose groups, respectively, relative to control. Significant increases of NE in the medulla oblongata and corpus striatum were also observed. Increases of the catecholamine DA and catecholamine metabolites VMA, HVA, and DOPAC were seen in various regions. The indoleamine serotonin and its metabolite 5-HIAA were unaffected by ASM treatment. These findings are consistent with ASM-induced increases in the brain catecholamine precursor amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine, as reported earlier. Such observed alterations in brain neurotransmitter concentrations may be responsible for the reported clinical and behavioral effects associated with ASM ingestion.
Notes on overlap management in conversation: The case of delayed completion

A turn‐taking system allocates speaking turns in conversation. Nonetheless, on occasion speakers start up “out of turn.” This report examines one procedure, Delayed Completion, that speakers use to finish a discontinued turn after an intervening utterance by another speaker. Speakers employ resources intrinsic to the turn‐taking system, such as the projectability of turn unit completion, to regain turn occupancy and to locate the utterance of the out‐of‐turn speaker as having been interruptive. When the intervening utterance makes a next action relevant, Delayed Completion can also cancel the relevance of that next action.
On the Terminology of 'Abstraction'in Aristotle

This chapter makes a fresh analysis of the terminology of 'abstraction' as it is used in the Aristotelian corpus. Significantly, such an analysis has not been done recently in the literature on Aristotle, presumably because the question has been taken as settled. The chapter begins with a passage from the Posterior Analytics where the terminology of abstraction appears side by side with terms like 'induction' and 'demonstration'. It embarks upon a brief philological excursus for the purpose of digging beneath the technical surface and exposing the mundane roots of the abstraction terminology. The chapter investigates both how the terminology of abstraction comes to have a narrower technical function and what other technical terms are linked with it. The chapter concentrates on showing that it is the logical method of subtraction which makes the so-called 'abstract objects' available for scientific study. Keywords:abstraction; Aristotle; philological excursus; terminology
David Davies, art as performance

davies, david. Art as Performance Oxford: Blackwell, 2004, xii+278 pp., $64.95 cloth, $29.95 paper.
“Big Jim” Parker and the Assassination of William McKinley: Patriotism, Nativism, Anarchism, and the Struggle for African American Citizenship

On September 6, 1901, at the Buffalo Pan-American Exposition, Leon Czolgosz, the son of immigrants and an avowed anarchist, shot President William McKinley. As McKinley clung to life for several days before succumbing, praise was heaped upon James B. “Big Jim” Parker, an African American Exposition employee who was credited with saving McKinley's life by subduing and disarming Czolgosz. By the time of Czolgosz's execution, government officials and the mainstream press were characterizing Parker as a glory-seeker who had played no role in capturing Czolgosz. African American spokespersons vigorously defended Parker, contrasting the brave, patriotic black hero with the treacherous foreign radical whose murderous act struck symbolically at the heart of the nation. These black commentators constructed a framework for understanding the assassination as a cultural critique of an American society that was paying the price for its acquiescence to extralegal violence against blacks. At the same time, black spokespersons used the assassination to create a narrative in support of African Americans’ claims to American citizenship and national belonging.
Changes in sperm-bound amidase activity suggest subtle damage to ram sperm acrosomes by freezing/thawing, not detected by light microscopy.

Abstract We have measured sperm-bound amidase activity in fresh, cooled and frozen/thawed ram spermatozoa, in order to study if freezing and thawing led to some degree of acrosome damage of motile/viable spermatozoa not detected by optical methods. This assay was based on the fact that membrane damage would result in an increased access of the enzyme substrate to the sperm acrosome. Semen was collected from adult Australian Merino rams, and spermatozoa were washed by centrifugation through a Ficoll solution. Sperm-bound amidase activity was measured in whole spermatozoa using the protease substrate benzoyl-arginyl-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA). Acrosomal status was also assessed by light microscopy after Giemsa staining. Most amidase activity was shown to be sperm-bound, as only a minor fraction of the enzyme activity was released into the medium after induced damage. Simultaneous assessment of sperm-bound amidase activity and the percentage of spermatozoa with microscopically evident acrosomal damage, after mild sonication for different times, showed a high correlation between both parameters (r = 0.97, p
The effect of dexamethasone on the urinary excretion of steroids during pregnancy.

Summary The urinary excretion of oestriol, total 17-oxosteroids, pregnanediol and Pettenkofer chromogens were studied in eight pregnancies before, during and after the administration of dexamethasone. Both the oestriol and 17-oxosteroid levels declined during the period of drug administration. The change in Pettenkofer chromogens was less consistent but generally paralleled the 17-oxosteroid values. Pregnanediol excretion greatly increased in three subjects, decreased in one and was relatively unchanged in the other patients. The present studies support the concept that placental pregnenolone is utilized by the fetal tissues for the biosynthesis of oestrogen precursors and by the placenta for progesterone synthesis.
TiQi: Towards natural language trace queries

One of the surprising observations of traceability in practice is the under-utilization of existing trace links. Organizations often create links in order to meet compliance requirements, but then fail to capitalize on the potential benefits of those links to provide support for activities such as impact analysis, test regression selection, and coverage analysis. One of the major adoption barriers is caused by the lack of accessibility to the underlying trace data and the lack of skills many project stakeholders have for formulating complex trace queries. To address these challenges we introduce TiQi, a natural language approach, which allows users to write or speak trace queries in their own words. TiQi includes a vocabulary and associated grammar learned from analyzing NL queries collected from trace practitioners. It is evaluated against trace queries gathered from trace practitioners for two different project environments.
Recollagenation of acne scars.

BACKGROUND. Depressed acne scars remain a difficult problem to correct with present methods. OBJECTIVE. A new process to restore the dermal thickness destroyed by acne inflammation, called recollagenation, was developed. METHODS. After an intradermal pocket was created at each depressed site, an implant of freeze-dried, irradiated, human cadaver fascia lata was inserted through a needle hole to elevate the depressed epidermis. Selected sites were retreated to establish the desired dermal topography. RESULTS. Initially, local inflammation created an elevated phlegmon at the treatment site, which then progressively leveled over the subsequent 4-10 weeks. Ultimately, a predictable improvement in skin contour occurred in the majority of depressions. CONCLUSION. Recollagenation is an effective method to repair acne lesions.
Intercomparsion of regional biases and doubled CO 2 -sensitivity of coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model experiments

We compared regional biases and transient doubled CO2 sensitivities of nine coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation models (GCMs) from six international climate modeling groups. We evaluated biases and responses in winter and summer surface air temperatures and precipitation for seven subcontinental regions, including those in the 1990 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Scientific Assessment. Regional biases were large and exceeded the variance among four climatological datasets, indicating that model biases were not primarily due to uncertainty in observations. Model responses to altered greenhouse forcing were substantial (average temperature change=2.7±0.9 °C, range of precipitation change =−35 to +120% of control). While coupled models include more climate system feedbacks than earlier GCMs implemented with mixed-layer ocean models, inclusion of a dynamic ocean alone did not improve simulation of long-term mean climatology nor increase convergence among model responses to altered greenhouse gas forcing. On the other hand, features of some of the coupled models including flux adjustment (which may have simply masked simulation errors), high horizontal resolution, and estimation of screen height temperature contributed to improved simulation of long-term surface climate. The large range of model responses was partly accounted for by inconsistencies in forcing scenarios and transient-simulation averaging periods. Nonetheless, the models generally had greater agreement in their sensitivities than their controls did with observations. This suggests that consistent, large-scale response features from an ensemble of model sensitivity experiments may not depend on details of their representation of present-day climate.
55 Student Learning Through the Development of Comprehensive Disease-Specific Web Resources for Pediatric Oncology.

OBJECTIVES: To combine the need of patients and their families for comprehensive disease-specific web resources with a unique learning experience for medical students.
PERFORMANCE-BASED MANAGEMENT FOR PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE U.S. ARMY’S VELOCITY MANAGEMENT

This paper surveys the lessons learned from the U.S. Army’s Velocity Management for reform in pubic organizations toward a new paradigm of strategic performance-based management. The Velocity Management has adopted the multidimensional metrics of time, cost, and quality. This led to changes from the view of provider by function to customer by process. Shifts of management focus occurred from compliance and budget execution toward customer satisfaction and performance improvement. Velocity Management has used the “Define-Measure- Improve” (D-M-I) methodology analogous to systematic methodologies of leading commercial firms. This paper examines how this simple and iterative tool has lead continuous improvements efforts, and built consensus in reforming Army logistics as well as how these lessons can be applied to other non-defense public organizations.
Safety and efficacy of ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid in the treatment of infections of soft tissue, bone, and joint

The efficacy and safety of ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid in the treatment of patients with infections of soft tissue, bone, and joint were evaluated in this open study. Clinical diagnoses included osteomyelitis, soft tissue abscess or ulcer, cellulitis, bite wound, traumatic or postoperative cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, septic arthritis, septic bursitis, and septic thrombophlebitis. Trauma or underlying disease such as diabetes mellitus or vascular insufficiency was common (more than 50 percent) in the patient population. Clinical efficacy was evaluable in 66 patients who received 3 g of ticarcillin and 0.1 g of clavulanic acid every four or six hours for a mean of 23.4 days. A satisfactory clinical response was observed in 92 percent of the patients. Major pathogens isolated were Enterobacteriaceae, anaerobic cocci, Staphylococcus aureus, and beta-hemolytic Streptococcus. Of the 143 isolates recovered from 55 bacteriologically evaluable cases, 87 percent were eradicated by therapy. Overall, a satisfactory bacteriologic outcome occurred in 93 percent of the patients, and the pathogen(s) persisted in 7 percent. More than 98 percent of the isolates were susceptible to ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid in vitro. Emergence of resistance during therapy occurred with three strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Adverse drug-related reactions required discontinuation of treatment in two patients, although other minor abnormal laboratory findings were common. These results indicate that ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid offers safe and effective therapy for infections of soft tissue, bone, and joint.
Survival and Hatching Success of Stonefly Eggs (Paragnetina media) Following Ingestion by Three Stream Fishes

ABSTRACT The effects of predation by three stream fishes (emerald shiner, creek chub, and mottled sculpin) on the survival and hatching success of eggs of the northern stonefly, Paragnetina media (Walker), were investigated with feeding and incubation experiments. Stonefly eggs displayed a 75% survival rate through the digestive system, but no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in the recovery of intact eggs from the three fishes. Approximately 73% of the eggs that passed through the emerald shiners and mottled sculpins hatched within 60 days. Significantly fewer eggs (p = 0.002, 63%) hatched following passage through the creek chubs. Previous studies have shown that stonefly eggs can survive periods of freezing, desiccation, and harsh physical conditions. The present study shows that stonefly eggs can also survive passage through the digestive system of predatory stream fishes and this may represent a previously uninvestigated mechanism for localized dispersal.
Bundle Binding in Polyelectrolyte Solutions

Stiff polyelectrolytes are found to spontaneously form oriented bundles. Conditions under which bundling occurs are found. Molecular dynamics simulations show that divalent counterions are necessary, and the chains must be sufficiently long and stiff. No aggregation occurs for monovalent counterions. For flexible or short chains aggregation occurs, but bundle formation does not. Due to dynamical constraints the systems tend to order into a network of connected bundles, not a single bundle.
Effects of feeding level and sexual maturation on carcass and fillet characteristics and indices of protein degradation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract Sexual maturation in salmonids requires mobilization of proteins from muscle tissue, which is evidenced by increased expression of proteolysis-related genes and decreased muscle protein content. However, it is unknown how ration level affects this proteolytic response. In the current study, female diploid rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) approaching ovulation were fed for 12 weeks at 0.25% and 0.50% tank biomass, and to apparent satiation. Triploid trout, which exhibit little ovarian growth, were included at the 0.50% ration level. Gonad somatic index increased in diploids from 3.98% to approximately 13% and was unaffected by ration. Reduced feed intake and maturation negatively affected protein and lipid deposition in skeletal muscle, as indicated by reduced fillet weight and reduced fillet protein and lipid content. During mid-vitellogenesis, expression of genes involved in proteolytic pathways was higher in diploids compared to triploids and the majority of the differentially expressed transcripts were cathepsin and autophagy-related genes. These differences increased with maturation and expanded to include multiple components of the proteasome, ubiquitin ligases, calpastatins, and caspase 9. Expression patterns of multiple proteolysis-related genes suggest that fish consuming the moderate 0.50% ration had the lowest capacity for protein degradation. In summary, these results suggest that maturation increases protein degradation and that higher levels of feed intake are unable to alleviate these effects. However, higher levels of feed intake prevent a net loss of muscle protein, suggesting that dietary nutrients are able to replace endogenous nutrients mobilized from skeletal muscle in support of gonad growth.
Distribution of the maxima of random Takagi functions

This paper concerns the maximum value and the set of maximum points of a random version of Takagi’s continuous, nowhere differentiable function. Let F(x):=∑ =1 ∞ $$ (\tfrac{1} {2})^{n - 1} $$ e n ϕ(2 n−1 x), x ∈ R, where ɛ 1, ɛ 2, ... are independent, identically distributed random variables taking values in {−1, 1}, and ϕ is the “tent map” defined by ϕ(x) = 2 dist (x, Z). Let p:= P (ɛ 1 = 1), M:= max {F(x): x ∈ R}, and $$ \mathcal{M} $$ := {x ∈ [0, 1): F(x) = M}. An explicit expression for M is given in terms of the sequence {ɛ n }, and it is shown that the probability distribution µ of M is purely atomic if p < $$ \tfrac{1} {2} $$ , and is singular continuous if p ≧ $$ \tfrac{1} {2} $$ . In the latter case, the Hausdorff dimension and the multifractal spectrum of μ are determined. It is shown further that the set $$ \mathcal{M} $$ is finite almost surely if p < $$ \tfrac{1} {2} $$ , and is topologically equivalent to a Cantor set almost surely if p ≧ $$ \tfrac{1} {2} $$ . The distribution of the cardinality of $$ \mathcal{M} $$ is determined in the first case, and the almost-sure Hausdorff dimension of $$ \mathcal{M} $$ is shown to be (2p − 1)/2p in the second case. The distribution of the leftmost point of $$ \mathcal{M} $$ is also given. Finally, some of the results are extended to the more general functions Σa n − 1 ɛ n ϕ(2 n − 1 x), where 0 < a < 1.
Energy literacy of secondary students in New York State (USA): A measure of knowledge, affect, and behavior

Abstract Energy literacy, which encompasses broad content knowledge as well as affective and behavioral characteristics, will empower people to make appropriate energy-related choices and embrace changes in the way we harness and consume energy. Energy literacy was measured with a written questionnaire completed by 3708 secondary students in New York State, USA. Results indicate that students are concerned about energy problems (affective subscale mean 73% of the maximum attainable score), yet relatively low cognitive (42% correct) and behavioral (65% of the maximum) scores suggest that students may lack the knowledge and skills they need to effectively contribute toward solutions. High school (HS) students scored significantly better than middle school (MS) students on the cognitive subscale; gains were greatest on topics included in NY State educational standards, and less on topics related to “practical” energy knowledge such as ways to save energy. Despite knowledge gains, there was a significant drop in energy conservation behavior between the MS and HS students. Intercorrelations between groups of questions indicate energy-related behaviors are more strongly related to affect than to knowledge. These findings underscore the need for education that improves energy literacy by impacting student attitudes, values and behaviors, as well as broad content knowledge.
To disclose hepatitis C virus infection or not: who decides?

In their article, “Hepatitis C virus–infected resident: end of residency, end of career?” Dresler and colleagues [1] present us with a dilemma that residency directors likely commonly face: should they include information about a resident’s health status in their letter of recommendation? In the case they present, the particular health condition involved is an infectious one, hepatitis C virus (HCV), although, as Dresler notes, other conditions could be relevant. The authors provide a thorough examination of the arguments for and against disclosure, reflecting common principles in medical ethics. Two points missing from the discussion—the role of institutional policies and the role of antidiscrimination laws on the director’s decision—deserve consideration for the insight they provide into the residency director’s dilemma.
Separation of methylated isomers of benzo[a]pyrene using micellar electrokinetic chromatography

Abstract There is a growing need for developing pseudostationary phases (PSPs) for micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) capable of resolving very hydrophobic compounds that differ minimally in their structure. Separation of highly hydrophobic compounds (e.g., isomers of methylated benzo[a]pyrene (MBAP)) using MEKC with conventional surfactant such as sodium dodecyl sulfate is very difficult, if not impossible. Recent studies have shown that polymeric surfactant are capable of separating highly hydrophobic compounds. In this report, the use of polymeric surfactant, poly(sodium undecenyl sulfate) (poly-SUS) is described for separations of MBAP isomers. Several parameters were manipulated to provide optimum separation of these isomers. These included buffer pH, acetonitrile (ACN) concentration, poly-SUS concentration, capillary temperature, and effect of a second organic modifier, isopropanol. Optimum MEKC separation conditions were: 35% (v/v) acetonitrile, 7.5 mM sodium borate buffer, pH 12.0, 30 kV with 0.5% (w/v) poly-SUS and 25 °C. These conditions provide separation of 7 of the 12 MBAP isomers within 26 min demonstrating the potential of poly-SUS as a useful PSP for the MEKC separation of highly hydrophobic, geometrical MBAP isomers.
Assessment and risk analysis of casing and cement impairment in oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania, 2000–2012

Casing and cement impairment in oil and gas wells can lead to methane migration into the atmosphere and/or into underground sources of drinking water. An analysis of 75,505 compliance reports for 41,381 conventional and unconventional oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania drilled from January 1, 2000–December 31, 2012, was performed with the objective of determining complete and accurate statistics of casing and cement impairment. Statewide data show a sixfold higher incidence of cement and/or casing issues for shale gas wells relative to conventional wells. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate risk of impairment based on existing data. The model identified both temporal and geographic differences in risk. For post-2009 drilled wells, risk of a cement/casing impairment is 1.57-fold [95% confidence interval (CI) (1.45, 1.67); P < 0.0001] higher in an unconventional gas well relative to a conventional well drilled within the same time period. Temporal differences between well types were also observed and may reflect more thorough inspections and greater emphasis on finding well leaks, more detailed note taking in the available inspection reports, or real changes in rates of structural integrity loss due to rushed development or other unknown factors. Unconventional gas wells in northeastern (NE) Pennsylvania are at a 2.7-fold higher risk relative to the conventional wells in the same area. The predicted cumulative risk for all wells (unconventional and conventional) in the NE region is 8.5-fold [95% CI (7.16, 10.18); P < 0.0001] greater than that of wells drilled in the rest of the state.
Current Practices and Future Directions in Psychopharmacological Training and Collaboration in School Psychology

School psychologists frequently examine children who are prescribed psychotropic medications. With advanced training in psychological assessment and professional consultation, school psychologists may play an integral role in assisting with children’s psychopharmacological treatment regimens. In this vein, this article discusses various ways for school psychologists to overcome barriers to collaborating with physicians including, strategies to overcoming obstacles related to cross-discipline information sharing time or workload constraints, communication challenges, and professional role expectations. Finally, the article discusses ways for school psychology students or practitioners of school psychology to increase their knowledge of pediatric psychopharmacology relative to their current training or experience.
CMATRIX: Software for physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling using a symbolic matrix representation system

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling is based on an understanding of the physical and biological factors governing drug distribution. It is a procedure requiring composition of differential equations describing the distribution of drugs among physiologically defined compartments. CMATRIX is a program that facilitates development of PBPK models. In CMATRIX, the model is represented as a matrix of transfer parameters; the program generates a corresponding system of differential equations, and solves them numerically. This system dramatically improves the ease with which PBPK models can be developed, allowing the freedom to construct subcompartments down to the receptor level.
Adrenal activity during repeated long-access cocaine self-administration is required for later CRF-Induced and CRF-dependent stressor-induced reinstatement in rats.

Understanding the neurobiological processes that contribute to the establishment and expression of stress-induced regulation of cocaine use in addicted individuals is important for the development of new and better treatment approaches. It has been previously shown that rats self-administering cocaine under long-access conditions (6 h daily) display heightened susceptibility to the reinstatement of extinguished cocaine seeking by a stressor, electric footshock, or i.c.v. administration of the stressor-responsive neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). This study tested the hypothesis that adrenal responsiveness during earlier long-access cocaine self-administration (SA) is necessary for the establishment of later CRF-dependent stress-induced reinstatement. Reinstatement by footshock, but not a cocaine challenge (10 mg/kg, i.p.) following long-access SA, was blocked by i.c.v. administration of the CRF receptor antagonist, α-helical CRF9−41 (10 μg). Elimination of SA-induced adrenal responses through surgical adrenalectomy and diurnal corticosterone replacement (ADX/C) before 14 days of SA under long-access conditions had minimal impact on cocaine SA, but blocked later footshock-induced reinstatement. By contrast, ADX/C after SA, but before extinction and reinstatement testing, failed to reduce footshock-induced reinstatement. Likewise, ADX/C before 14 days long-access SA prevented later reinstatement by i.c.v. CRF (0.5 or 1.0 μg). However, significant CRF-induced reinstatement was observed when rats underwent ADX/C following SA, but before extinction and reinstatement testing, although a modest but statistically nonsignificant reduction in sensitivity to CRF's reinstating effects was observed. Taken together, these findings suggest that adrenal-dependent neuroadaptations in CRF responsiveness underlie the increased susceptibility to stress-induced relapse that emerges with repeated cocaine use.
The Economics of International Refugee Law

AbstractWe model the evolution of international refugee law and analyze reform proposals. We show that the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees can be understood as an agreement among states to supply the global public good of refugee protection but that the increase in economic migration has led states to shade on their obligations under the convention. Furthermore, one state shading on its obligations strengthens incentives for other states to shade, potentially creating multiple equilibria. Under the open-ended nonrefoulement norm of the convention, reforms that make a state less attractive for potential immigrants, such as taxes or north-to-south transfer systems, would create negative externalities for third countries. In contrast, reforms in which wealthy states pay poor states to resettle refugees from other poor states would create positive externalities on third countries. Subsidizing such transfers would be more efficient than current policies used to reduce the social costs caused...
Accurate estimation of object location in an image sequence using helicopter flight data

In autonomous navigation, it is essential to obtain a three-dimensional (3D) description of the static environment in which the vehicle is traveling. For a rotorcraft conducting low-latitude flight, this description is particularly useful for obstacle detection and avoidance. In this paper, we address the problem of 3D position estimation for static objects from a monocular sequence of images captured from a low-latitude flying helicopter. Since the environment is static, it is well known that the optical flow in the image will produce a radiating pattern from the focus of expansion. We propose a motion analysis system which utilizes the epipolar constraint to accurately estimate 3D positions of scene objects in a real world image sequence taken from a low-altitude flying helicopter. Results show that this approach gives good estimates of object positions near the rotorcraft's intended flight-path.
Current status and future trends of diversity initiatives in the workplace: Diversity experts' perspective

This article reports the results of a study on the current status and future trends in diversity initiatives in the workplace as perceived by a group of twelve experts. The experts were surveyed through in-depth, open-ended telephone interviews. The study identified barriers that have inhibited the employment, development, retention, and promotion of diverse groups in the workplace and the significant factors that are influencing diversity initiatives. It revealed that the primary reasons for managing diversity are to improve productivity and remain competitive, to form better work relationships among employees, to enhance social responsibility, and to address legal concerns. This article presents these findings as well as the best strategies for managing diversity. It also discusses components of an effective diversity training program and future trends related to diversity.
Pseudo-random thoughts on space, scale and ideology in political geography

Abstract This paper poses some questions concerning the theoretical debate within political geography. In the first instance, political geography possesses no explicit rationale which advances it beyond international relations or political science. It has no formal discussions of spatial relations which survive detailed scrutiny. It has not yet developed any notion of action-in-place which fully articulates such a relationship. Most seriously, it remains apparently torn between the alternatives of materialism and public choice theory. The paper suggests some ways in which these dilemmas can be overcome, particularly in terms of theoretical developments.
High-dose, short-duration ribavirin aerosol therapy in children with suspected respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Nine children (aged 6 weeks to 7 years) with suspected respiratory syncytial virus infection received aerosal treatment with ribavirin, 60 mg/ml for 2-hour periods three times daily for up to 5 days. Five children received treatment via an endotracheal tube and four via an oxygen hood. Blood samples (3 to 17 per patient) and respiratory secretions (4 to 23 per patient) were assayed for ribavirin with reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Ribavirin triphosphate in erythrocytes was determined by ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography. The mean (±SD) peak ribavirin level after the first dose was 1725±2179 μmol/L in secretions and 3.8±2.6 μmol/L in plasma. Ribavirin in the secretions was rapidly cleared, with a mean (±SD), half-life of 1.9±0.8 hours. Plasma ribavirin increased with treatments to reach a steady state of 5 to 10 μmol/L. Mean peak ribavirin triphosphate levels were 15- to 300-fold higher than plasma ribavirin levels by the end of therapy. More than 98% reduction of viral load without the emergence of resistant virus was noted on day 3 of therapy. High-dose treatment was compatible with the aerosol equipment routinely used (small-particle aerosol generator, model 2-6000) for ribavirin administration and with ventilators. High-dose, short-duration ribavirin therapy was well tolerated by all patients, permitted easier accessibility for patient care, and may result in less environmental exposure of health care workers.
What Does “Materiality” Really Mean?

These days, auditors are more concerned than ever about what is “material.” SEC Staff Bulletin No. 99 listed qualitative factors to consider when determining materiality. It's worth re-examining. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The perception and production of rhyme in normal and developmentally apraxic children

The phonological competence of four children, aged 5-7 years old, who demonstrated a cluster of symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of developmental apraxia of speech (DAS), was contrasted to that of four normal children. Four rhyming tasks were used to assess the ability of the children to both spontaneously generate rhyming words to targets and to judge the (in)appropriateness of a rhyme in both a word series and forced-choice word pairs. The DAS children revealed a severe deficit in rhyming ability across all tasks and had rhyming abilities markedly inferior to those shown by normal children. The rhyming results were interpreted as possibly indicative of an impoverishment of an internalized phonemic representation system, which precludes accessing and evoking the needed sound image for the vowel + coda for a rhyme. These results, while preliminary in nature, lend support to a conceptualization of DAS as a fundamental disorder of the segmental phonological level of language that impacts on all hierarchically relevant language components. The hypothesis that the underlying etiology of DAS is a developmental dysmorphology of the neural substrates that mediate such basic phonological representational structure is discussed.
Reaction of o-diamino-pyrimidines with alloxan and isatin.

Deux nouveaux corps heterocycliques a noyaux, 7,9-diaza-alloxazine et indopteridine, etaient obtenus et leurs structures etablies.
Storage-based file system integrity checker

In this paper we present a storage based intrusion detection system (IDS) which uses time and space efficient point-in-time copy and performs file system integrity checks to detect intrusions. The storage system software is enhanced to keep track of modified blocks such that the file system scan can be performed more efficiently. Furthermore, when an intrusion occurs a recent undamaged copy of the storage is used to recover the compromised data.
Convective–Stratiform Precipitation Variability at Seasonal Scale from 8 Yr of TRMM Observations: Implications for Multiple Modes of Diurnal Variability

Abstract This study investigates the variability of convective and stratiform rainfall from 8 yr (1998–2005) of Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) and TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) measurements, focusing on seasonal diurnal variability. The main scientific goals are 1) to understand the climatological variability of these two dominant forms of precipitation across the four cardinal seasons and over continents and oceans separately and 2) to understand how differences in convective and stratiform rainfall variations ultimately determine how the diurnal variability of the total rainfall is modulated into multiple modes. There are distinct day–night differences for both convective and stratiform rainfall. Oceanic (continental) convective rainfall is up to 25% (50%) greater during nighttime (daytime) than daytime (nighttime). The seasonal variability of convective rainfall’s day–night difference is relatively small, while stratiform rainfall exhibits very apparent day–night vari...
Measured resection: an outdated technique in total knee arthroplasty.

Abstract Multiple methods may be used to determine correct femoral component rotation during TKA. Numerous reports document surgeon inability to precisely identify critical bone landmarks when deciding correct femoral component rotation using a measured resection methodology. While the author recommends using all available methods in combination, use of gap balancing provides a more accurate and reproducible way to obtain satisfactory flexion gap stability.
Development of the antibody repertoire in rabbit: gut-associated lymphoid tissue, microbes, and selection.

Summary: Rabbits generate their antibody repertoire in three stages. First, a neonatal repertoire is generated by B lymphopoiesis in fetal liver and bone marrow and is limited by preferential VH gene segment usage. Between 4 and 8 weeks after birth a complex primary antibody repertoire is developed by somatically diversifying the neonatal repertoire through somatic hypermutation and a somatic gene conversion-like mechanism in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). In rabbits, unlike other species, the development of the primary antibody repertoire through somatic diversification of Ig genes appears to be dependent on intestinal microbial flora. The primary antibody repertoire is subsequently modified during antigen-dependent immune responses in which VDJ genes further diversify both by somatic hypermutation and by a gene conversion-like mechanism (the secondary repertoire). During the various stages of development, the antibody repertoire is modified and shaped by selective processes. In this review, we discuss the roles of GALT, microbes, and B-cell selection in generating antibody diversity in rabbits.
Peroneal tendon abnormalities in subjects with an enlarged peroneal tubercle

To examine the association between inframalleolar peroneal tendon abnormalities and an enlarged peroneal tubercle. Two independent readers evaluated consecutive ankle MR imaging studies to classify inframalleolar peroneal tendon findings as normal, tenosynovitis, partial tear or complete tear. The size and morphology of the peroneal tubercle was also recorded. We performed statistical analyses for inter-observer agreement and to assess differences in peroneal tubercle size between groups with and without peroneal tendon abnormalities. The study group comprised 121 subjects (mean age, 45.5 years) of whom 28 % (34 out of 121) had lateral ankle symptoms. The peroneal tubercle was absent in 56 % of subjects (68 out of 121). In subjects with a peroneal tubercle (>0 mm), the mean size was 3.5 mm (37 % triangular and 7 % plateau-shaped). Male subjects had significantly larger mean peroneal tubercle size than female subjects (2.1 ± 2.5 vs 1.2 ± 1.9 mm, P = 0.04). Overall, 26 % (32 out of 121) of subjects had some peroneal tendon abnormality: 17 % (20 out of 121) had tenosynovitis and 17 % (20 out of 121) had partial thickness tears. The peroneal tubercle size was significantly larger in subjects with peroneal tendon partial tears (P = 0.036), tenosynovitis (P < 0.001), and when both abnormalities were present (P = 0.007). ROC statistic showed 73 % sensitivity and 74 % specificity for detection of partial tears for peroneal tubercle size ≥4.3 mm. Our study shows a significantly larger peroneal tubercle in subjects with inframalleolar peroneal tendon abnormalities. A cut-off of 4.3 mm showed good sensitivity and specificity for the presence of partial tears of the peroneal tendon.
Lymphocyte transformation in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphomas

The proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from ten patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma were tested after stimulation with a variety of mitogens, including phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), staphylococcal protein A (SPA), and lymphocyte-conditioned medium (LyCM). Responses were measured by the incorporation of tritiated thymidine and by flow microfluorometry (FMF). In general, responses were depressed, although a broad range of responses were observed ranging from very poor to near normal responses. SPA and PWM were the most potent mitogens in the CTCL patients, unlike controls in whom PHA and SPA were the optimum mitogens and PWM was weakly mitogenic. FMF studies in two patients clearly demonstrated that aneuploid Sezary cells and not admixed normal lymphocytes were proliferating in response to SPA and PWM stimulation. The unusual pattern of mitogen responses found in these CTCL patients suggests Sezary cells may be derived from T-cell subpopulations with special affinity for SPA and PWM. The ability of FMF to demonstrate that aneuploid cells respond to mitogen stimulation makes it a useful additional technique in the evaluation of lymphocyte blastogenesis in patients with malignant lymphoproliferative disorders.
Use of mining-contaminated sediment tracers to investigate the timing and rates of historical flood plain sedimentation

Abstract Changes in land use practices following European settlement in the 1830s produced accelerated sedimentation on virtually all valley floors in the Blue River Watershed, Wisconsin. The contamination of sediments by Pb and Zn mining allowed us to calculate cross-valley rates of flood plain sedimentation for three time periods: the pre-mining period (1830–1900), the mining period (1900–1920), and the post-mining period (1920–1997). Most of the eight valley floors examined contained multiple presettlement surfaces. Significantly higher rates of sedimentation occurred on the lower flood plain surfaces, while the terraces were high enough to prevent sedimentation from most floods. Higher rates of sedimentation on the lower surfaces eventually reduced valley floor relief and, consequently, lateral differences in sedimentation rates. Tributaries and larger valleys downstream exhibited differences in the timing and rates of historical flood plain sedimentation. While rates of sedimentation were high during the pre-mining period in tributary valleys, the lower valleys were receiving little or no pre-mining alluvium. Little pre-mining alluvium was found in mid-basin reaches, suggesting that most of the pre-mining sedimentation was limited to headwater locations. During the mining period, lateral channel migration and the development of meander belts increased the conveyance capacity of tributary and mid-basin channels, which decreased overbank flooding and produced lower rates of sedimentation during the post-mining period. The meander belt channels also had an effect on the lower portion of the watershed by increasing flood magnitudes and the transport of sediment downstream, thereby shifting the locus of sedimentation from the tributaries to the larger, lower valleys. Sedimentation rates in the largest, most downstream site were an order of magnitude higher during the post-mining period than any of the sites upstream.
A New Superconducting State

In long one-dimensional superconductors, such as whiskers and thin wires, new current-carrying states above the critical current were found that are due to spatially periodic solutions of the modulus of the order parameter and spatially periodic super and normal transport currents in parallel. The order parameter is zero a t certain points in the whisker, thereby permitting the phase of the order parameter to slip in time of one singly-connected superconducting region with respect to the adjacent, the consequence of which is a dc potential difference between the separate singly-connected superconducting regions. In this model the modulus of the order parameter is time-independent, the phase is time-dependent and the difference of the pair electrochemical potentials between adjacent singly-connected superconducting regions is an integer fraction of the total voltage difference across the whisker. These solutions lead to voltage steps in the dc voltage-current characteristic of thin whiskers. The upper critical current is derived at which the superconductor becomes completely normal conducting. This current is much larger than the current at which the first voltage step occurs. Agreement with experiments is good. Stromfuhrende Zustande oberhalb des kritischen Stroms wurden in langen, eindimensionalen Supraleitern, wie zum Beispiel in Whiskern und dunnen Drahten, gefunden, die auf raumlich periodische Losungen des Betrages des Ordnungsparameters zuruckgehen und zu parallelen raumlich periodischen supra- und normalleitenden Transportstromen fuhren. Der Ordnungsparameter ist Null an gewissen Stellen im Whisker, wobei die Phase des Ordnungsparameters zeitlich zwischen benachbarten einfachzusammenhangenden supraleitenden Gebieten gleiten kann. Dadurch entsteht ein elektrostatischer Potentialunterschied zwischen den getrennten, einfach-zusammenhangenden supraleitenden Gebieten. In diesem Modell ist der Betrag des Ordnungsparameters zeitunabhangig, seine Phase zeitabhangig und die Differenz der elektrochemischen Paarpotentialstufen zwischen den einfachverbundenen supraleitenden Gebieten ein ganzzahliger Bruchteil des Potentialunterschiedes zwischen den Enden des Whiskers. Diese Losungen fuhren zu Spannungsstufen in den Gleichstrom-Spannungscharakteristiken dunner Whisker. Der obere kritische Strom, bei dem der Supraleiter vollig in den normalleitenden Zustand ubergeht, wird abgeleitet. Dieser Strom ist viel groser als der Strom, bei welchem die erste Spannungsstufe auftritt. Man findet gute Ubereinstimmung mit Experimenten.