cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What Factors Work in Mental Health Court? A Consumer Perspective

Mental health court (MHC) participation is associated with reduced recidivism and increased access to services but there is little empirical support for the factors that impact outcomes. Previous research supports the importance of social support in recovery and reducing criminal recidivism for populations similar to the population served by MHCs. This research project used mixed-methodology to explore MHC participant perceptions (n = 26) of factors important in recovery and estimated the associations between social support and outcomes (n = 80). Although social support was not associated with outcomes quantitatively, social support emerged as a salient theme in the qualitative analysis. Participants reported support, structure, accountability, treatment, and instilling motivation as key factors in recovery and recidivism.
Spatial Assessment of Selected Soil Properties within an Industrial Poultry Production Site

Waste resulting from industrial poultry production systems is becoming an increasingly significant environmental problem in the US, threatening both soil and water quality. The goal of this study was to assess the spatial variability and interactions of selected soil properties (physical, chemical, and biochemical), viz., particle size, pH, enzymatic activity, Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), and Total Nitrogen (TN), across an agricultural landscape used for industrial poultry production. The measured soil properties were separated according to biochemical constituents and soil texture based on the first two principal components, accounting for approximately 60% of the variability across the site. These principal components were then used to generate soil surface maps, indicating areas of possible catalytic activity. Surface maps showed possible increases in biochemical activity around areas of stored poultry litter, suggesting the utility of these methods in determining changes to soil management.
Experimental support that ocular tremor in Parkinson's disease does not originate from head movement

Introduction: Our recent report of ocular tremor in Parkinson’s disease (PD) has raised considerable controversy as to the origin of the tremor. Using an infrared based eye tracker and a magnetic head tracker, we reported that ocular tremor was recordable in PD subjects with no apparent head tremor. However, other investigators suggest that the ocular tremor may represent either transmitted appendicular tremor or subclinical head tremor inducing the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). The present study aimed to further investigate the origin of ocular tremor in PD. Methods: Eye movements were recorded in 8 PD subjects both head free, and with full head restraint by means of a head holding device and a dental impression bite plate. Head movements were recorded independently using both a high sensitivity tri-axial accelerometer and a magnetic tracking system, each synchronized to the eye tracker. Results: Ocular tremor was observed in all 8 PD subjects and was not influenced by head free and head fixed conditions. Both magnetic tracking and accelerometer recordings supported that the ocular tremor was fully independent of head position. Conclusion: The present study findings support our initial findings that ocular tremor is a fundamental feature of PD unrelated to head movements. Although the utility of ocular tremor for diagnostic purposes requires validation, current findings in large cohorts of PD subjects suggest its potential as a reliable clinical biomarker. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
An underwater stereo-camera trap

Abstract This paper describes the design and deployment of a new type of underwater stereo camera capable of triggering when animals are present in the field of view. Unobtrusive evaluation of the camera view field for potential targets is achieved using far-red illumination invisible to most fishes. The triggered camera (TrigCam) system is designed to be low cost by incorporating off-the-shelf commercial camera and computer components. It also incorporates several novel software and hardware developments such as the Cannon Hackers Development Kit which provides a high degree of control over the cameras, and a Raspberry Pi computer-on-board module for low-power, cost-efficient computing. The innovative triggering algorithm for fine control of the size and intensity of targets necessary to trigger an image is described in detail. Stereo image analysis provides estimates of fish size, position, and orientation to provide quantitative data from images. Test field deployments demonstrate operational capacity and illustrate potential applications for sampling marine organisms through example descriptions of analytical methods, including the trigger process and stereo image analysis. The TrigCam is intended to be an open source project to encourage continued development within the marine research community, with design information available through internet posts.
Phosphorylation-dependent Localization of Microtubule-associated Protein MAP2c to the Actin Cytoskeleton

Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) is a neuronal phosphoprotein that promotes net microtubule growth and actin cross-linking and bundling in vitro. Little is known about MAP2 regulation or its...
On selective absorption in an axially excited slab of a dielectric thin-film helicoidal bianisotropic medium

The planewave response of an axially excited slab made of an absorbing dielectric thin-film helicoidal bianisotropic medium (TFHBM) is examined. A three-zone classification scheme for non-absorbing TFHBMs collapses into a two-zone classification scheme for absorbing TFHBMs, one of the two zones being unphysical. The effect of absorption on circular Bragg reflection is brought out, as also are the incidence-polarization-state-dependent characteristics of an absorption suppression phenomenon and the Borrmann effect, in absorbing TFHBM slabs.
Influence of projectile inner-shell vacancies on stopping power

We have attempted to use the /sup 1/H(/sup 19/F,..cap alpha gamma..)/sup 16/O resonance reactions at a /sup 19/F energy of 16.44 MeV to investigate the influence of projectile inner-shell vacancies on stopping power (dE/dx). The ..gamma..-ray yield curves were obtained as a function of energy for F/sup q/+ incident on Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ (approx.20 --at. % H) with q = 6, 7, and 8. Within experimental error (approx.5%) there was no difference in the three yield curves indicating that (a) the characteristic length for K-shell vacancy equilibrium is < or approx. =10 ..mu..g/cm/sup 2/ for all three charge states or (b) the influence of K-shell vacancies on dE/dx is < or approx. =5%. The former hypothesis is consistent with measurements of x-ray production for F incident on a variety of other target materials and indicates that it is not necessary to consider the near-surface-depth dependence of dE/dx in determining H profiles with this resonant nuclear reaction.
Toward an integrated framework of information and communication behavior: College students' information resources and media selection

This study investigated college students' selection of information resources and engagement in information activities from the perspective of an integrated framework of information and communication behavior, by examining students' interactions with many different types of information resources and media across their school, personal, entertainment, problem solving, and other daily routines. Both web-based diaries and semi-structured interviews were used to capture students' information behavior in natural settings. The subjects logged into a web-based diary and recorded the details of their most important information seeking activity on that day by responding to eleven questions including information seeking topic, resources used, time taken, difficulty, familiarity, and confidence. Two hundred and forty-five information seeking episodes reported by twenty-four subjects from three different colleges and universities were collected over a ten-day period. Findings indicate that the students used multiple information resources in one information seeking episode to verify the content in, often, both information and communication behaviors. The results also reveal that information seeking can be better understood from a social framework because students were aware that human information behavior is influenced by other people's opinions and recommendations and may also affect other people's lives.
Toward a Better Benchmark: Assessing the Utility of Not-at-Fault Traffic Crash Data in Racial Profiling Research:

As studies on racial profiling and biased policing have begun to proliferate, research-ers are debating which benchmark is most appropriate for comparison with policetraffic stop data. Existing benchmark populations, which include populations esti-mated from census figures, licensed drivers, arrestees, reported crime suspects, andobserved drivers and traffic violators, all have significant limitations. This articleoffers a new, alternative benchmark for police traffic stops, a benchmark that has notbeen previously applied or tested in a racial profiling research setting. The analysispresented compares traffic observation data, gathered at selected, high volume inter-sections during an ongoing racial profiling study in Miami-Dade County, Florida, tonot-at-fault driver demographic data from two-vehicle crashes at those same inter-sections. Findings indicate that non-responsible drivers in two-vehicle crashes appearto represent a reasonably accurate estimate of the racial composition of drivers onthe roadways at selected intersections and within areas of varying racial composi-tion. The implications of this finding for racial profiling research are discussed, andsuggested areas for future inquiry are identified.
“Asbestos” Bodies: Their Nonspecificity

Abstract So-called “asbestos” bodies were produced in the lungs of hamsters injected intratracheally with respirable filamentous particles composed of aluminum silicate. The production of “asbestos” bodies by aluminum silicate challenges the concept that “asbestos” bodies are a pulmonary response specific to inhaled asbestos fibers. Instead of the term “asbestos” body, the designation of ferruginous body is suggested for the iron-containing structure that forms in response to the inhalation of filamentous dust of unknown composition, since the term “asbestos” body may be misleading and inappropriate.
The Impact of Reading Competence on the Ability to Take a Perspective

Students grouped as good or poor readers on the basis of a vocabulary test were asked to read a story from a certain perspective or with instructions to read carefully. While the groups given a perspective recalled more information than the control groups, the most interesting results came from the significant interaction of reading ability, reading instruction and type of information. Relative to good readers in the control condition, good readers given a perspective responded with greater recall of information related to the perspective. The poor readers appeared unable or unwilling to use the perspective in differentially processing the perspective relevant sentences. In several recent studies, Anderson and his colleagues {Anderson, Reynolds, Schallert & Goetz, 1977; Pichert & Anderson, 1977) have demonstrated convincingly ly that what a reader retains from a passage is strongly influenced by the cognitive structure the reader imposes on the reading material. The imposed structure may reflect the reader's background or perhaps a purpose in reading. Anderson has con- ceptualized the reader's knowledge structure in a manner similar to Bartlett's (1932) use of the term schema: an abstract and general structure with placeholders for specific items of relevant information. As an example, a subject's burglary schema might contain general categories related to entering the premises, avoiding detection, finding loot and making a getaway. Anderson was able to demonstrate that factual information which could logically be related to some aspect of the reader's perspec- tive (schema) was more likely than irrelevant material to be retained. Related studies (Geiselman, 1977; Grabe & Prentice, 1978) indicate that this result can not be at- tributed to the differential viewing of relevant and irrelevant material but seems to depend in some way on the storage or retrieval functions of the schema. While the research cited to this point has relied upon the use of mature ac- complished readers, the present study seeks to determine the influence of schemata on the comprehension skills of a sample with less reading experience and a greater diversity of reading aptitude. There is good reason to test the generalizability of the existing research. Brown and Smiley (1977a) have argued that a reader's ability to detect the structure or theme of a passage and to utilize this information in determin- ing which statements within the passage are important develops with age. The ability
An overview of radar cross section measurement techniques

A brief overview of radar cross section (RCS) measurement techniques is presented. Parameters to be measured include: RCS versus target aspect angle; RCS versus frequency; high-resolution range profiles (one-dimensional images); and high-resolution two-dimensional inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) images. In this review, the measurement radar is limited to ground-based radar systems. Targets include: operational full-scale ships and aircraft; full-scale aircraft mounted on pylons; scale model aircraft mounted on pylons; and scale model ships in water. The review includes compact ranges in anechoic chambers. >
Interactive smooth-motion animation of high resolution ocean circulation calculations

The authors describe how their recent high resolution North Atlantic ocean circulation calculations were visualized and animated. The calculations, performed on the Cray T3D at the Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center, required display technology beyond today's limited resolution screens. The authors describe how they post-process the calculation datasets, the hardware required, and how interactive smooth-motion animation is achieved at full model resolution.
Covalidation of Dissimilarly Structured Models

A methodology is presented which allows comparison between models under different modeling paradigms. Consider the following situation: Two models have been constructed to study different aspects of the same system. One model simulates a fleet of aircraft moving a given combination of cargo and passengers from an onload point to an offload point. A second model is an optimization (linear programming) model, which for given cargo and passenger requirements, optimizes aircraft and route selection in order to minimize late- and non-deliveries. The optimization model represents a much more aggregated view of the airlift system than does the simulation. The two models do not have immediately comparable input or output structures, which complicates a comparison of the two models’ outputs. A methodology is developed to structure this comparison. Two models which compare favorably using this methodology are considered covalid models. We define the covalidity of models in the narrow sense as models which perform similarly under approximately the same input conditions. Structurally different models which are covalid (in the narrow sense) may hold the potential to be used in an iterative fashion to improve the input (and thus, the output) of one another. Ultimately it is hoped that we may, through such a series of innovations, effect a convergence to valid representations of the real-world situation. We define such a condition as covalidation in the wide sense. Further, if one of the models has been independently validated (in the traditional meaning), then we may effect a validation by proxy of the other model through this process.
Correlates of Serum Lutein + Zeaxanthin: Findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

The determinants of blood levels of carotenoids were previously investigated in small or select samples. The relations of serum lutein + zeaxanthin to possible diet, lifestyle, and physiological determinants in 7059 participants of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994), > or = 40 y old, were examined. In a fully adjusted, multiple linear regression model, lower serum lutein + zeaxanthin was significantly associated with smoking, heavy drinking, being white, female, or not being physically active, having lower dietary lutein + zeaxanthin, higher fat-free mass, a higher percentage of fat mass, a higher waist-hip ratio, lower serum cholesterol, a higher white blood cell count, and high levels of C-reactive protein (P < 0.05). The model explained 24% of the variation present in serum lutein + zeaxanthin for the current sample. The correlation between dietary and serum lutein + zeaxanthin was 0.17 and increased to 0.18 after adjusting for the effects of given covariates. Each 10% increase in dietary lutein + zeaxanthin was associated with a 1% increase in serum conditional on other terms in the model. Many factors that influence the level of serum lutein + zeaxanthin remain unknown.
Freedom and life satisfaction in transition

Freedom and life satisfaction are desirable conditions and they both have a special meaning in Eastern Europe — transition was largely about gaining freedom and ultimately overall wellbeing. There are several studies about the effect of freedom on life satisfaction, but none of them focuses on Eastern Europe. I investigate the effect of self-reported freedom on life satisfaction in post-transition Eastern Europe using the World Values Survey. Surprisingly, East Europeans feel less free and less satisfied with their lives than other nationals. But a personal feeling of freedom increases their life satisfaction at a higher rate than in other countries. Freedom is a strong predictor of life satisfaction as compared to national income.
Multivariate analysis: Theory and practice

Abstract This paper reviews the problem of analyzing and estimating linear multivariate relationships. A convenient taxonomic framework is established for discussing a variety of multivariate procedures.
Total quality management: a journey

The implementation of total quality management (TQM) at the authors' Division is summarized, and lessons learned are presented. Particular attention is given to the TQM start-up process, demonstrating the criticality of management commitment and initial planning. Results to date are discussed. >
Regulation of calreticulin-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I interactions by ATP.

The MHC class I peptide loading complex (PLC) facilitates the assembly of MHC class I molecules with peptides, but factors that regulate the stability and dynamics of the assembly complex are largely uncharacterized. Based on initial findings that ATP, in addition to MHC class I-specific peptide, is able to induce MHC class I dissociation from the PLC, we investigated the interaction of ATP with the chaperone calreticulin, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) luminal, calcium-binding component of the PLC that is known to bind ATP. We combined computational and experimental measurements to identify residues within the globular domain of calreticulin, in proximity to the high-affinity calcium-binding site, that are important for high-affinity ATP binding and for ATPase activity. High-affinity calcium binding by calreticulin is required for optimal nucleotide binding, but both ATP and ADP destabilize enthalpy-driven high-affinity calcium binding to calreticulin. ATP also selectively destabilizes the interaction of calreticulin with cellular substrates, including MHC class I molecules. Calreticulin mutants that affect ATP or high-affinity calcium binding display prolonged associations with monoglucosylated forms of cellular MHC class I, delaying MHC class I dissociation from the PLC and their transit through the secretory pathway. These studies reveal central roles for ATP and calcium binding as regulators of calreticulin–substrate interactions and as key determinants of PLC dynamics.
The spatial segregation of pericentric cohesin and condensin in the mitotic spindle

In mitosis, the pericentromere is organized into a spring composed of cohesin, condensin, and a rosette of intramolecular chromatin loops. Cohesin and condensin are en- riched in the pericentromere, with spatially distinct patterns of localization. Using model convolution of computer simulations, we deduce the mechanistic consequences of their spa- tial segregation. Condensin lies proximal to the spindle axis, whereas cohesin is radially dis- placed from condensin and the interpolar microtubules. The histone deacetylase Sir2 is re- sponsible for the axial position of condensin, while the radial displacement of chromatin loops dictates the position of cohesin. The heterogeneity in distribution of condensin is most accurately modeled by clusters along the spindle axis. In contrast, cohesin is evenly distrib- uted (barrel of 500-nm width × 550-nm length). Models of cohesin gradients that decay from the centromere or sister cohesin axis, as previously suggested, do not match experimental images. The fine structures of cohesin and condensin deduced with subpixel localization ac - curacy reveal critical features of how these complexes mold pericentric chromatin into a functional spring.
Slow Inactivation of L-Type Calcium Current Distorts the Measurement of L- and T-Type Calcium Current in Purkinje Myocytes

We have examined slow inactivation of L-type calcium current in canine Purkinje myocytes with the whole cell patch clamp technique. Slow inactivation is voltage dependent. It is negligible at -50 mV but can inactivate more than half of available iCaL at -10 mV. There are two major consequences of this slow inactivation. First, standard protocols for the measurement of T-type current can dramatically overestimate its contribution to total calcium current, and second, the position and steepness of the inactivation versus voltage curve for iCaL will depend on the method of measurement. Given the widespread attempts to identify calcium current components and characterize them biophysically, an important first step should be to determine the extent of slow inactivation of calcium current in each preparation.
A study of using 2D vision system for enhanced industrial robot intelligence

Recent research and development in industrial robotics aims at improving robustness, flexibility and intelligence of industrial robot applications. In this paper, the method of applying the 2D vision technique for enhanced industrial robot's intelligence in picking/placing operation is presented. The approach addresses the concerns and solutions related to 2D vision system setup, robot system setup, and robot programming. The result shows that the developed method is effective for improved accuracy, flexibility, and intelligence in vision-guided robot operations.
Genetic Variation in Steelhead of Oregon and Northern California

Abstract Steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss from various sites between the Columbia River and the Mad River, California, were genetically characterized at 10 protein-coding loci or pairs of loci by starch gel electrophoresis. Fish from coastal streams differed from fish east of the Cascade Mountains and from fish of the Willamette River (a tributary of the Columbia River, west of the Cascade Mountains). Coastal steelhead from the northern part of the study area differed from those in the southern part. Genetic differentiation within and among drainages was not statistically significant; however, gene diversity analysis and the life history of steelhead suggested that fish from different drainages should be considered as separate populations. Genetic variation among fish in separate drainages was similar to that reported in northwestern Washington and less than that reported in British Columbia. Allele frequencies varied significantly among year-classes. Genetic variation within samples accounted for 98.3% of t...
A proven methodology for effective software maintenance

The maintenance experiences of the DTS Division of the Harris Corporation are described. Harris DTS supports large real-time software systems with very high reliability requirements. Maintenance goals, the evolution of maintenance methodologies and the current methodology in use are described. The impact of this current methodology on personnel organization, the development process, and support tools is discussed. >
Effect of body size, temperature, and salinity on the routine metabolism of larval and juvenile spotted seatrout

Routine oxygen consumption rates of young spotted seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus (Sciaenidae) were measured over a range of temperatures (24, 28, 30 and 32° C) and salinities (5, 10, 20, 35 and 45). Larvae and juveniles, 4.1-39.5 mm standard length (L S ), ranging several orders of magnitude in dry body mass were used to estimate the mass--metabolism relationship. Oxygen consumption (μl O 2 larva -1 h -1 ) scaled isometrically with body mass for larvae <5.8 mm L S (phase I, slope = 1.04) and allometrically thereafter (phase II, slope = 0.78). The inflection in the mass--metabolism relationship coincided with the formation of the hypural plate and an increase in the relative tail size of larvae. Salinity did not have a significant effect on routine metabolism during phase 1. Temperature and salinity significantly affected routine metabolism during phase II of the mass-metabolism relationship. The effect of salinity was temperature dependent, and was significant only at 30° C. Response surfaces describing the environmental influences on routine metabolism were developed to provide a bioenergetic basis for modelling environmental constraints on growth.
Modeling insights into the locations of density enhancements from the Enceladus water vapor jets

Monte Carlo modeling of the vapor erupting from Enceladus' south polar region is presented to demonstrate the influence of physical characteristics of the emitted vapor on the distribution of particles at altitude. The modeled sources include localized jets and eruptions distributed along the surface features labeled “tiger stripes.” The modeling reveals that density enhancements are displaced from the source location caused not only by the angle of emission but also by superposition of material from nearby sources. The altitude of the superposition is mass dependent and contributes to differences observed in the mass 28 and mass 44 channels of the Cassini Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) during Enceladus encounters. INMS data are well modeled using only the tiger stripe sources; however, certain regions require additional sources to reproduce some features of the data. In particular, an excess source is required for 44 unified atomic mass unit (u) on the Saturn-facing hemisphere of Baghdad Sulcus. It is apparent in three parallel Cassini flybys. A relative decrease in the source rate is observed for mass 28 u for E14. The more diffuse nature of the 28 u INMS observations compared to the more collimated structure of the 44 u INMS observations is consistent with increased thermal spreading for low-mass constituents of the plume.
Neural Mechanisms of Attention

Publisher Summary Evolution has crafted powerful brain mechanisms for attending and ignoring objects and events in the visual environment. The properties of spatial attention have been contemplated for hundreds of years, and experimental observations can be traced back to the end of the nineteenth century. In studies in humans, event-related brain potentials have been used to investigate what stage(s) of information processing could be influenced by top-down attentional factors. It remains unclear precisely how early, during visual processing, top-down attention influences may be manifest; however, most selective processes appear to be operating at the cortical sensory level. Attention can be directed by voluntary, top-down processes but may also be “captured” by sensory events. This automatic orienting of attention has been called reflexive to indicate that control over attention is externally controlled. This chapter concludes that attention involves top-down processes that influence the gain of sensory transmission early in the visual cortex. In a similar fashion, though presumably via different control circuitry, bottom-up reflexive control over attention can modulate visual cortical processing in humans.
20 Years After Reforms: Challenges to Planning and Development in China’s City-Regions and Opportunities for Remote Sensing

Since economic and agricultural reforms were initiated in the late 1970s, China’s cities have grown at a remarkable pace. Urban population increased from 172 million in 1978 to 517 million in 2003, increasing the urbanization level from 19 percent to 40 percent (2004 State Statistical Bureau data). The number of Chinese cities has increased from 132 in 1949 to 667 in 1999 (Anderson and Ge 2004). It is estimated that urban population will grow to almost 5 billion by 2030, an expected increase of 2 billion people from the estimated level for 2003 (United Nations 2004). However, aggregate growth measures give limited information regarding spatial patterns of urbanization or the underlying processes that shape urban areas.
The Demise of Vermont's Single-Payer Plan

Last December, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin ended a 4-year initiative to create a single-payer health care system. The plan was abandoned because of legitimate political considerations, and any other state considering single payer will face similar obstacles.
Ab initio thermodynamics of magnesium carbonates and hydrates in water-saturated supercritical CO2 and CO2-rich regions

Abstract ab initio Thermodynamics is used to determine how free energies of magnesium carbonates and hydrates in a CO 2 -rich environment change with water concentration across a range temperature and pressure relevant to geochemistry and carbon sequestration (275 K to 375 K and pCO 2 of 1 to 210 bar). The methodology is based on first principles density-functional theory (DFT) calculations of the total energies and vibrational entropy of periclase, magnesite, brucite, nesquehonite, and hydromagnesite coupled to the experimental chemical potentials of CO 2 and H 2 O. The impact of water in supercritical CO 2 (scCO 2 ), even though less than 1% at saturation, is found to have a significant impact on the stability of hydrated carbonate minerals. Hydromagnesite and nesquehonite are found to be more thermodynamically stable than periclase and brucite in water-saturated scCO 2 and hence may be expected to result kinetically from carbonation of these minerals during CO 2 sequestration. Under dehydrating conditions nesquehonite destabilizes rapidly, whereas hydromagnesite is much more likely to persist in a CO 2 -rich environment, consistent with the observations that hydromagnesite is widespread in nature and nesquehonite is relatively rare.
The executive compensation implications of the tax component of earnings

We extend prior research by examining the weight applied to earnings generated by changes in ETRs (i.e., the tax component of earnings) in determining CEO and CFO compensation. We examine both bonus and total compensation and find that the predicted relationships between compensation and the tax component of earnings are largely limited to bonus compensation. This is not surprising since bonus compensation represents an unambiguous link between contemporaneous performance and compensation, while equity compensation is in part determined by agency considerations. Our evidence suggests that both CEOs and CFOs are compensated for the tax component of earnings. We find that CEOs are rewarded equally for the tax component of earnings relative to other components of earnings, while CFOs are rewarded more for the tax component of earnings relative to other components of earnings. Additionally, the weight applied to the tax component of earnings when determining CFO bonus compensation is greater when; (1) the tax component of earnings does not appear to be related to earnings management; (2) ETRs decrease rather than increase, (3) the firm pays bonus based on after-tax earnings rather than pre-tax earnings, and (4) the firm is tax aggressive rather than non-tax aggressive. The variations in the weighting of the tax component of earnings for CFO bonus compensation noted above in combination with evidence that CEO bonus compensation is indifferent to ETR-related earnings versus other components of earnings, suggests that the tax component of earnings is a contractual component of CFO bonus compensation.
Board level drop test: exact solution to the problem of the nonlinear dynamic response of a PCB to the drop impact

An analytical predictive model has been developed for the evaluation of the nonlinear dynamic response of a printed-circuit-board (PCB) to the drop impact during board-level testing. The hypothesis of “heavy-and-flexible” PCB is used in the analysis: the surface-mounted-devices (SMDs) are assumed to be small enough not to affect the PCB’s flexural rigidity, but their masses have been considered and accounted for by “spreading out” the SMD total mass over the PCB surface. The analysis is restricted to the fundamental mode of vibrations, and the method of principal coordinates is used to evaluate the response. The exact solution to the nonlinear differential equation for the principal coordinate has been obtained. Another important finding is that the nonlinear amplitudes were determined even without solving the nonlinear differential equation of motion. The main objective of the analysis is to provide design guidelines for constructing a feasible experimental setup. A simply supported board is suggested as the most appropriate structure for an adequate test vehicle: the experimental data for such a board, as far as the behavior of the solder material in the second level of interconnections is concerned, can be easily and reliably interpreted and extrapolated for the practical use. The developed model enables one to predict the induced bending moments and the in-plane (membrane) forces that could be applied in the subsequent analyses to the PCB areas in the proximity of the package and its solder joint interconnections.
Effect of temperature on myosin phosphorylation in mouse skeletal muscle

The effect of muscle contraction on phosphorylatable myosin light chain (P-light chain) phosphate content and isometric twitch tension was examined at 25, 30, and 35 degrees C in intact mouse exten...
Political Opening and Economic Reform

At the conclusion of the 1970s China initiated an open policy toward the rest of the world. Politically, closer relations were established with other countries, especially the industrialized nations. In addition, closer ties and membership were initiated vis-a-vis leading international organizations (the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank, and the European Community). Economically, China embarked on a program of increasing its foreign trade and investment with all regions of the world. On the trade side this included reducing tariff and other barriers to imports. Also, China embarked on a program of bringing foreign investors into the country, and providing them with assurances of stable operating conditions and better legal protection of property rights. Equally important, China reached out to make strategically important contacts around the globe. These included tapping overseas capital markets to obtain investment funds and foreign exchange, and undertaking overseas investments in selected natural resources and technology enterprises.
Smaller than a Breadbox: Scale and Natural Kinds

ABSTRACTI propose a division of the literature on natural kinds into metaphysical worries, semantic worries, and methodological worries. I argue that the latter set of worries, which concern how cl...
MgB2 ultrathin films fabricated by hybrid physical chemical vapor deposition and ion milling

In this letter, we report on the structural and transport measurements of ultrathin MgB2 films grown by hybrid physical-chemical vapor deposition followed by low incident angle Ar ion milling. The ultrathin films as thin as 1.8 nm, or 6 unit cells, exhibit excellent superconducting properties such as high critical temperature (Tc) and high critical current density (Jc). The results show the great potential of these ultrathin films for superconducting devices and present a possibility to explore superconductivity in MgB2 at the 2D limit.
Multi-Agent-Based Technique for Fault Location, Isolation, and Service Restoration

This paper proposes a communication-assisted fault localization, isolation, and restoration method for microgrids based on a multi-agent system. The proposed system comprises distributed agents, located in the middle and at the two ends of a protection section, which will detect a fault through phase angle comparison of current signals at both sides of a given distribution line. The agents then send trips signal to corresponding circuit breakers accordingly. The importance of the proposed protection technique is twofold. First, it eliminates the use of voltage transformers and thus reduces costs. Second, it does not require transfer of data along long distances, which decreases the delay time for fault isolation. Power restoration processes following the fault clearance considering voltage, frequency, and power flow constraints in the microgrid under study were also performed. Simulation of the proposed protection methodology was presented followed by experimental verification. The experimental results showed excellent agreement with the simulated protection scheme.
Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Tumors

Although intradural tumors are uncommon, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with back pain, radicular pain, sensorimotor deficits, or sphincter dysfunction. These tumors can be subclassified into extradural, intramedullary, and extramedullary spinal cord tumors on the basis of their anatomical relation to the spinal parenchyma. The heterogeneous cell composition of the intradural compartment allows the formation of neoplasms, arising from glial cells, neurons, and cells of spinal vasculature. In this chapter, we discuss the epidemiology, radiographic and histological characteristics, as well as the management of intradural extramedullary tumors.
Irreversible thermodynamics of uniform ferromagnets with spin accumulation: Bulk and interface dynamics

Using ideas from Landau's Fermi-liquid theory, we apply irreversible thermodynamics to conducting and insulating ferromagnets with magnetic variables $\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{M}$ for the quantization axis and for the spin accumulation $\stackrel{P\vec}{m}$ of the nonequilibrium excitations; thus the total magnetization is taken to be $\stackrel{P\vec}{\mathcal{M}}=\stackrel{P\vec}{M}+\stackrel{P\vec}{m}$. The resulting theory closely corresponds to the theory of Silsbee et al. [Silsbee, Janossy, and Monod, Phys. Rev. B 19, 4382 (1979)]. For the bulk, in addition to confirming the usual Landau-Lifshitz equation for $\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{M}$ and a Bloch-like equation for $\stackrel{P\vec}{m}$ (with a nonuniform precession term), there are two related cross-relaxation terms between the transverse parts of the nonequilibrium $\stackrel{P\vec}{m}$ and $\stackrel{P\vec}{M}$. Unlike the s-d model, where in a field $\stackrel{P\vec}{H}$ the equilibrium magnetizations ${\stackrel{P\vec}{M}}_{s}$ and ${\stackrel{P\vec}{M}}_{d}$ are both nonzero, for this m-M model in a field $\stackrel{P\vec}{H}$, only the equilibrium magnetization $\stackrel{P\vec}{M}$ is nonzero. For the interface, the boundary condition for $\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{M}$ is given by micromagnetics, and that for $\stackrel{P\vec}{m}$ is given by irreversible thermodynamics, where the current of transverse spins crossing the interface is proportional to the discontinuity in the transverse part of the vector spin chemical potential. $\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{M}, \stackrel{P\vec}{m}$, and $\stackrel{P\vec}{H}$ are coupled; in the decoupled approximation, we find the wave vectors for the modes of $\stackrel{\ifmmode \hat{}\else \^{}\fi{}}{M}$ and the transverse $\stackrel{P\vec}{m}$. We discuss reciprocity between spin pumping ($\stackrel{P\vec}{\mathcal{M}}$ driven out of the ferromagnet) and spin transfer torque ($\stackrel{P\vec}{\mathcal{M}}$ driven into the ferromagnet).
Political Deliberation & the Adversarial Principle

Retrieving an insight dating back to antiquity, this essay argues that the confrontation of opposing views and arguments is desirable in political deliberation. But freedom of speech and diversity ...
Heart Protection Using a New Approach - Antisense to Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Mrna

P200 Introduction. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), plays a major role in many cardiovascular pathophysiological conditions, such as hypertension, heart failure and myocardial ischemia. Currently used ACE inhibitors have some adverse effects and non-compliance problem. Therefore, our lab has been developing an antisense approach to inhibit the renin-angiotensin system at the gene expression level. The present study had three aims: 1. Design antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN) directed at ACE mRNA 2. Check tissue distribution of AS after iv injection 3. Test AS for heart protection in ischemia- reperfusion injury Methods. Epifluorescent and confocal laser-scanning microscopy, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting. Animals : mice, males, 20 g and Sprague-Dawley rats, males, 200-250 g. AS 5’ -ATTTCGTGGTGGG-3’ , inverted control (INV) 5’ -GGGTGGTGCTTTA-3’, phosphorothioates mixed with liposomes and injected iv 0.04 mg/mouse and 0.2 mg/rat. Captopril dose was 5 mg/kg. Isolated perfused heart function recordings : coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), left ventricular end-diastolic (LVEDP) and systolic pressures (LVSP). Results. Based on the rat ACE cDNA sequence, the AS was designed as 13-mer directed to the second zinc-binding domain (2998-3010 bp). Tissue distribution of phosphorothioated, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled AS, 4h after iv injection, showed its presence in the lung, spleen, liver and heart, but absence in the brain. Immunostaining of the parallel heart slices with anti sarcomeric alpha-actinin antibody indicated AS localization within cardiomyocytes. ACE AS injected iv to the rats 24 h before excising the heart, which was then subjected to 25 min ischemia and 30 min reperfusion, preserved heart function. Increase in CPP and LVEDP during reperfusion was attenuated by AS as compared to INV or saline treatment (n=8 in each group, p
Thyroid Nodules in Children

Thyroid nodules are less common in children than in adults, but when present they are more likely to be malignant; by far the most common thyroid malignancy in childhood is papillary thyroid carcinoma, and it is increasing in frequency. When a thyroid nodule is discovered by palpation or incidentally on imaging, the focus should be on determining the risk of malignancy.
Preoperative Invasive Hemodynamic Determinants of Survival Among Patients Undergoing Aortic or Mitral Valve Surgery.

Objectives To evaluate the association of preoperative invasive hemodynamic parameters with mortality in valvular heart surgery. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Single tertiary academic medical center. Participants A total of 382 patients who underwent preoperative right and/or left heart catheterization before open aortic valve replacement (AVR), open mitral valve repair/replacement (MVR), or combined AVR and MVR, from July 2009 to December 2014. Interventions Retrospective chart review. Measurements and Main Results Common hemodynamic indices derived from direct catheterization measurements were assessed, including pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), pulmonary artery pulse pressure (PPP), mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (mPCWP), pulmonary artery pulsatility index, diastolic pressure gradient, left ventricular work index, and right ventricular work index. Bivariable and multivariable associations of these measures with survival were determined using Cox proportional hazards regression. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were generated using the log-rank test. The median age of the cohort was 69 years (interquartile range 60-79 years), and 162 (42.4%) of the patients were female. Elevated PASP (hazard ratio [HR] 1.32 per 10 mmHg, p Conclusions PASP, PPP, mPCWP, and DBP were significantly associated with mortality in valvular heart surgery patients. These hemodynamic parameters may be useful in risk stratification of this population subset.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Soft Relief Device for Typing Applications

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) affects roughly 3%–6% of the working population ages 18–64 [1]. This affliction is caused by applying stress on the median nerve that is routed through the carpal tunnel while it is at a positive or negative angle, greater than 15 degrees in either direction, to the human wrist [2]. The median nerve can become inflamed and swollen due to pressure from the palmar carpal ligament causing numbness, stiffness and in some cases severe pain. Tasks like typing can become nearly impossible when the median nerve is inflamed. A number of products on the market and research prototypes have been suggested that try to alleviate CTS strains, however, these designs are generally passive e.g. braces, splints, etc. Instead of actively trying to adjust the wrist angle, the general trend is to prop the wrist up with some sort of rigid ramp, similar to the bottom of a keyboard [3]. The goal of this work is to design a wearable, soft-actuated, robotic sleeve that will dynamically adjust the position of the wrist in real-time to a neutral angle to prevent or release CTS strains.Copyright © 2017 by ASME
What's new in pediatric dermatology?: Part I. Diagnosis and pathogenesis

The field of pediatric dermatology has been rich in new developments. Part I of this continuing medical education article will focus on new diagnoses and new insights into the etiology and pathogenesis of pediatric skin disorders. Insights into the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis, new forms of contact dermatitis, recently recognized mimickers of port wine stains, associations with infantile hemangiomas, the concept of genetic diseases being classified by common pathways (RASopathies), newly recognized genetic discoveries in mosaic disorders, the recognition of cystic fibrosis being associated with aquagenic wrinkling of the palms, new forms of epidermolysis bullosa, and genital ulcers in non–sexually active adolescent girls will be discussed.
Identity Politics and Kinesiology.

Recognizing the increased focus on identity politics in higher education and the broader culture, the National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE) recently focused on the topic ...
Academy Awards Speeches Reflect Social Status, Cinematic Roles, and Winning Expectations:

An analysis of Academy Awards acceptance speeches revealed that social status is indicated through pronouns. Speeches from high status movie directors contained fewer self-references than relativel...
Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) alters proliferation and uterine gland numbers in the uteri of adult exposed mice.

Abstract Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that has been shown to impair normal reproductive function in males and females. This study investigated whether adult exposure to environmental and occupational doses of DEHP alters homeostasis of uterine proliferation, morphology, and number of uterine glands. Adult female CD1 mice were orally dosed with DEHP (0, 20 μg/kg/day, 200 μg/kg/day, 20 mg/kg/day or 200 mg/kg/day) for 30 days. Results indicated that DEHP at 200 μg/kg/day caused a reduction in epithelial cell proliferation in the uterus (p