cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Suggestions regarding a more appropriate understanding of atopic dermatitis.

Purpose of review The importance of consistency and accuracy of medical terminology must be recognized by all health care providers and researchers. Yet, recent publications by recognized authorities regarding atopic dermatitis seem to defy that basic tenet. I (an allergist/dermatologist) have (objectively) reviewed and (subjectively) interpreted the currently (peer reviewed) published designations etymologically, and some of their concepts scientifically. Recent findings Interdisciplinary, regional and international meetings have been discussing, assessing, and deliberating the newest data and observations, consistently realizing little consensus. The concluding trivial agreement denotes their individual bias. Given the same information, allergists, dermatologists, and generalists do not conceptualize, and yet dogmatically manage patients with atopic dermatitis. Summary Etymologically, and scientifically, atopic dermatitis can only be distinctively designated as the dermatologic syndrome, which heralds the atopic diathesis. Concomitantly, atopic dermatitis without atopy would be an oxymoron. Definitions based on anachronistic criteria demand updating. IgE, like eosinophilia, must be appreciated as epiphenomena of the transient Th1/Th2 cell reversal, which clearly differentiates 'atopic eczema' from all the 'other' eczemas. Failure to recognize the isomorphic feature of the eczema of atopic dermatitis denies patients with an essential therapeutic modality, namely 'Do not scratch, nor rub'. Education regarding the 'triggers' of itch would yield greater success (from recurrences), than prescribing immunomodulation.
Method for assigning structure of 1,2,3-triazoles.

1,4-Disubstituted-1H-1,2,3-triazoles 1 can easily be distinguished from the isomeric 1,5-disubstituted-1H-1,2,3-triazoles 2 by simple one-dimensional 13C NMR spectroscopy using gated decoupling. The C5 signal of 1 appears at δ ∼120 ppm, while the C4 signal of 2 appears at δ ∼133 ppm. Computational studies also predict the upfield shift of C5 of 1 relative to C4 in 2.
A Statistical Methodology to Discover Precipitation Microclimates in Southeast Louisiana: Implications for Coastal Watersheds*

Abstract This study quantifies the spatial distribution of precipitation patterns on an annual basis for southeast Louisiana. To compile a long-term record of 24-h rainfall, rainfall reports collected by National Weather Service (NWS) cooperative observers were gathered from National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) archives, private collections of observational data held at regional and local libraries, NWS offices, and local utility providers. The reports were placed into a digital database in which each station’s record was subjected to an extensive quality control process. This process produced a database of daily rainfall reports for 59 south Louisiana stations for the period 1836–2002, with extensive documentation for each site outlining the differences between the study’s data and the data available from the NCDC Web page. A statistical methodology was developed to determine if the four NCDC climate divisions for southeast Louisiana accurately depict average monthly rainfall for the area. This method em...
An Empirical Study on the Context of Tacit Knowledge Transfer in Knowledge Alliances

On the basis of reviewing on the existing literatures about knowledge transfer, this paper states that the context factors proposed in prior research do not apply for the situation of the tacit knowledge transfer in knowledge alliances very well. And basing on an empirical research, tacit knowledge transfer context in knowledge alliance are obtained and then a tacit knowledge transfer model in knowledge alliance is presented in order to propose some concrete strategies to promote the tacit knowledge transfer in knowledge alliances.
Risk communication and risky choice in context: ambiguity and ambivalence hypothesis

This chapter takes a synthetic approach to six related lines of research on decision making at risk and views risky choice as a function of cue use with priorities in the context of risk communication. An evolutionary analysis of risk and risk communication is presented in which risk is defined not only as variance in monetary payoff but also as variance in biological relatedness, social relations, and ultimately in reproductive fitness. Empirical evidence of ecological and social significance embedded in risk messages is analyzed, and how these risk cues affect behavioral decision making is examined. A new explanatory framework, the ambiguity and ambivalence hypothesis, identifies two key preconditions contributing to inconsistency and biases in making risky choices as a result of cue use in the course of risk communication.
Design and operation of an order-consolidation warehouse: Models and application

Abstract A warehouse is a service facility, often comprising the only view that customers actually have of a manufacturing firm. The management of this facility has significant leverage over order leadtimes and fill-rate reliability. As with other service facilities, system design and operation are decision problems that are closely interlinked. In this paper we describe and model in general terms the composite design and operating problems for a typical order-consolidation warehouse. These problems include warehouse layout, equipment and technology selection, item location, zoning, picker routing, pick list generation and order batching. The complexity of the overall problem mandates developing a new multi-stage hierarchical decision approach. Our hierarchical approach utilizes a sequence of coordinated mathematical models to evaluate the major economic tradeoffs and to prune the decision space to a few superior alternatives. Detailed simulation employing actual warehousing data is then used for validation and fine tuning of the resulting design and operating policies. We describe the application of this analytical approach to an automotive spare-parts distribution centre. The case study demonstrates substantial savings in operating costs and highlights several generic management tradeoffs.
Plasma Processes Driven by Current Sheets and Their Relevance to the Auroral Plasma

Satellite and rocket observations have revealed a host of auroral plasma processes, including large dc perpendicular electric fields (E?) associated with electrostatic shocks, relatively weak parallel electric fields (E?) associated with double layers, upflowing ions in the form of beams and conics, downflowing and upflowing accelerated electron beams, several wave modes such as the electrostatic ion-cyclotron (EIC), lower hybrid (LH), very low frequency (VLF), extremely low frequency (ELF), and high-frequency waves and associated nonlinear phenomena. Recently, we have attempted to simulate the various processes using a two-dimensional particle-in-cell code in which the plasma is driven by current sheets of a finite thickness. Striking similarities between the observed auroral plasma processes and those seen in the simulations are found. In this paper we give a review of the plasma processes dealing with dc and ac electric fields, formation of ion beams and conics, and electron acceleration. Electrostatic shock-type electric fields (E?e) occur near the current sheet edges. Such fields arise because of the contact between the high-and low-density plasmas inside and outside the sheet, respectively. Double layers having upward electric fields form inside the sheet and they are distinguishable from the large perpendicular electric fields (E?e) only in wide sheets with thicknesses l >> ?i, the ion Larmor radius. Double layers with a reverse polarity form outside the sheet where downward currents flow. The most energetic ions are found to have pitch angles near 90°, implying a large perpendicular acceleration of the ions.
Effect of coronary artery bypass grafting on subsequent hospitalization

The rates of hospitalization during follow-up for a matched pair cohort of medically and surgically treated patients from the Angiography Registry of Seattle Heart Watch were compared. Medically and surgically treated patients were matched according to extent of disease, left ventricular ejection fraction, age, and 3 other survival rate-related characteristics. There was a 26% reduction in cardiovascular hospitalizations in the surgically treated patients (19%/year) compared with the medically treated patients (26%/year). This was due to a significant reduction in hospitalization rate for myocardial infarction (surgically treated patients 1.1%/year, medically treated patients 2.6%/year), and for other cardiovascular reasons (surgically treated patients 12.5%/year, medically treated patients 15.7%/year). No significant (p = 0.146) reduction occurred in hospitalization rate for chest pain not due to myocardial infarction (surgically treated patients 5.6%/year, medically treated patients 7.7%/year). When the perioperative infarctions are included for the surgical cohort, the overall myocardial infarction rate is not significantly different (p = 0.173) between the 2 treatment groups (surgically treated patients 1.9%/year, medically treated patients 2.6%/year). Acute myocardial infarction was an uncommon reason for hospitalization, accounting for only 8% (55 of 685) of all cardiovascular hospitalizations, and was not related to the number of stenotic vessels in medically treated patients.
A T cell gene expression panel for the diagnosis and monitoring of disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) remains a challenging disease to diagnose and follow, as no reliable biomarkers are known to date. We designed a gene expression panel with 40 genes known to play a role in SLE pathogenesis. We found that the combined expression of these genes in SLE T cells can accurately differentiate SLE from healthy individuals and patients with other autoimmune diseases. The accuracy of the test increased further (83%) when only three out of the initial genes (OAS2, CD70 and IL10) were used. A T cell score, calculated from the combined expression levels of these genes, correlated positively with various SLE activity markers in a cross-sectional cohort and in a few patients that were followed prospectively. These data showcase the usefulness of measuring mRNA levels of key molecules in diagnosing and following patients with SLE.
The impact of development centers on national park landscapes: The views of senior national park service officials

Abstract Fitzsimmons, A.K., 1977. The impact of development centers on National Park landscapes: the views of senior National Park Service officials. Landscape Plann., 4: 349–358. Debate over the intrusion of man-made landscape elements into national parks has persisted. National Park Service officials are the most important debate participants since they translate policy into landscape elements. A survey of senior Park Service decisionmakers involved with western national parks reveals their awareness of the potential for park development to spoil the inherent scenic quality of park landscapes. Moreover, they are willing to modify traditional policy interpretation to protect scenic environments.
Global activities in the world of reference materials including the needs of developing countries

Proceedings of previous BERM meetings have been used to assess emerging trends in the development of RMs to meet AQC requirements of clinical, food, nutrition, and environmental health areas. BRM-1 reflected a strong need to initiate and expand RM activities for certifying organic nutrients in foods. BRM-2 highlighted the distinction between primary (certified) and secondary (e.g. check samples for proficiency testing) RMs1. BRM-3 identified the need for producing different levels of an analyte in a given matrix (spiked standards) to address matrix related measurement problems in foods. BERM-4 highlighted the need for a global vision in dealing with standards, illustrated by the activities of GESREM. Also, the logistics required for setting up intercomparison programs related to food safety monitoring programs were outlined. BERM-5 presented the changing outlook of the AOAC International in recognizing the usefulness of incorporating RMs for use in conjunction with their methods validation protocol. BERM-6 brought to the forefront the concern for traceability of chemical measurements to internationally recognized standards. BERM-7 recognized the need for multidisciplinary approaches for preparing certain types of CRMs, partly in response to the measurement needs arising from governmental regulations dealing with food safety and environmental health criteria. Finally, BERM symposia have promoted a meaningful dialogue on the RM needs of African, Asian and South American countries and provided the developing countries opportunities to discuss their problems with the international analytical community. The issue of health safety is involved in movement of foodstuffs between countries, and therefore, international efforts as voiced by the World Health Organization to provide guidance and assistance in AQC matters to the needy countries deserve consideration.
Dissertation Abstract: “Rationality, Minds, and Machines in the Laboratory: A Thematic History of Vernon Smith’s Experimental Economics”

This dissertation aims at elucidating the history of Vernon Smith’s experimental economics by focusing its attention upon the three themes of rationality, minds and machines that assumed significance at different (albeit overlapping) stages of the development of Smith’s experimental economics with the help of his published and unpublished papers. Chapter 1 is devoted to the scrutiny of the form of rationality incorporated into the portions of Smith’s laboratory experiments whose results have usually been taken as corroborations of his “Hayek Hypothesis.” By bringing into the foreground Smith’s definite position on demand theory and its concrete instantiations on many different occasions, we make the case that Smith has consistently imposed by means of the induced value theory certain narrowly defined preference structures that have definite implications for the form of rationality instantiated in the laboratory. The main narrative in Chapter 2 concerns Smith’s intellectual interchanges with behavioral scientists in the early 1960s, more specifically, his reactions to behavioral scientists’ attempts at cognitive modeling. We present several reasons for interpreting Smith’s initiation of the attempt at the maximization-based induced value theory as an endeavor to discipline subjects’ minds. We also provide in Chapter 2 a portrayal of Smith’s missed opportunities to get involved in the large-scale laboratory experimentation projects pursued in the 1950s in close connection with several branches of psychology. Chapter 3 consists of two parts. In Part 1, we describe the origin of mechanism design economics, and offer a detailed explanation of the analytical kinship between Smith’s “microeconomic system theory” and the standard conceptual framework utilized in mechanism design economics. Part 2 is devoted to describing the roles played by the computer in both Smith’s empirical research agenda and the theoretical, mechanism design research pursued by Stanley Reiter (one of Smith’s intellectual companions since the 1950s). Our historical narrative in Chapter 3 is intended to clarify that computer experience and computational theory drove the development of Reiter’ version of mechanism design economics, and that they also (partially) shaped some crucial events in the history of Smith’s version of experimental economics.
Assessing students' understanding of inquiry: What do prospective science teachers notice?

The theoretical construct of teacher noticing has allowed mathematics teacher educators to examine teacher thinking and practice by looking at the range of activities that teachers notice in the classroom. Guided by this approach to the study of teacher thinking, the central goal of this exploratory study was to identify what prospective science teachers notice when evaluating evidence of student understanding in another teacher's inquiry-based unit. Our results are based on the qualitative analysis of 43 prospective teachers' evaluations of assessment evidence presented to them in the form of a video case and associated written artifacts. Analysis of our data revealed two major categories of elements, Task-General and Task-Specific, noticed by our study participants. Task-General elements included attention to learning objectives, independent student work, and presentation issues and they often served to guide or qualify the specific inquiry skills that were evaluated. Task-Specific elements included the noticing of students' abilities to perform different components of an investigation. In general, study participants paid attention to important general and specific aspects of student work in the context of inquiry. However, they showed preferential attention to those process skills associated with designing an investigation versus those practices related to the analysis of data and generation of conclusions. Additionally, their interpretations of assessment outcomes were largely focused on the demonstration of general science process skills; much less attention was paid to the analysis of the epistemological validity or scientific plausibility of students' ideas. Our results provide insights into the design of meaningful learning experiences for prospective teachers that elicit, challenge, and enrich their conceptions of student understanding in the context of inquiry. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 50:189–208, 2013
Research on reading aids for the blind—A dilemma

In several countries at the present time efforts are being made to develop mechanical aids which will enable blind people to read. Often the conduct and direction of research is influenced to a greater or lesser degree by factors lying outside the purely scientific questions that are raised. The work on reading aids has been no exception. This article describes something of the dilemma facing the blind organizations who, with limited finances, must weigh the high cost of research toward more desirable print recognition machines with speech output against some less expensive less efficient compromise devices which might be available sooner. Also in the balance must be weighed a projection of future technological developments which may lead to lower costs and the possibility that complex reading devices may, before long, be brought within reach of individual blind people. The article goes on to describe some of the research which has been conducted by St. Dunstan's on the development of one particular type of reading aid for the blind.
Subsets of nonclonal neighboring CD4+ T cells specifically regulate the frequency of individual antigen-reactive T cells.

SUMMARY After an immune response, the expanded population of antigen-specific CD4 + T cells contract to steady state levels. We have found that the contraction is neither cell-autonomous nor mediated by competition for generic trophic factors, but regulated by relatively rare subsets of neighboring CD4 + T cells not necessarily of a conventional regulatory T cell lineage. These regulators, referred to as deletors, specifically limit the frequency of particular antigenspecific T cells even though they are not reactive to thesameagonist astheir targets. Instead, anisolated deletor could outcompete the target for recognition of a shared, nonstimulatory endogenous peptideMHC ligand. This mechanism was sufficient to prevent even agonist-driven autoimmune disease in a lymphopenic environment. Such a targeted regulation of homeostasis within narrow colonies of T cells with related TCR specificities for subthreshold ligands might help to prevent the loss of unrelated TCRs during multipleresponses, preserving thevaluable diversity of the repertoire.
Based on region division setup planning for sheet metal assembly in aviation industry

The task of setup planning is to determine the number and sequence of setups and the machining features or operations in each setup. Due to the locating method’s character, the position of the locators may keep away joining tools from arriving at joining points during the joining process of sheet metal. In order to solve these problems, a novel method is proposed, which consists of three parts: (1) the points on the skin are divided into sets of supplied riveting and prior riveting points by convex hull generating method; (2) fixture vector is defined, and a suitable fixture region is generated by vector multiplication; and (3) the particle swarm optimization algorithm is applied to generate optimal setup scheme by setting up the parameters. The new setup planning approach can accomplish riveting work by minimum setup times and workpiece variation without finite element analysis software. At last, a certain kind of aircraft wing joining process is illustrated as an example to demonstrate the effect of the...
Comparative Zirconium Bromide Cluster Chemistry. A New Structure in K4Zr6Br18C

Abstract Reactions of ZrBr4, Zr,ABr (A=Li–Cs, Ba), andZ(Be, B, C, Mn) mixtures with suitable compositions in sealed Ta containers have revealed 19 additional examples ofAx(Zr6Br12Z) Bry-type phases that span 0≤y≤6. A new triclinic structure is reported for K4Zr6Br18C (P 1 ,Z=1,a=10.114(2),b=10.283(3),c=10.374(3),α=118.54(2),β=99.98(2),γ=104.08(2),R(F)/Rw=5.1/4.7%) and K4Zr6Br18Fe. Nearly octahedral Zr6(C)Br4−18clusters stack in layers with K+in pseudo-tetrahedral bromine cavities on their outward surfaces. The present structure can be converted to a pseudo-C-centered monoclinic version that is related to those of Rb4Zr6Cl18C (C2/m) and, more distantly, Rb5Zr6Cl18B (Pnam) according to cluster size and the need for good bonding sites for the cations. A variety of other new bromide phases that form in seven known zirconium cluster chloride or iodide structure types according to powder pattern or single crystal data is also reported. Some of these demonstrate greater, lesser, or alternative cation site occupancies in the same basic structure types.
Finder's Fees for Research Subjects

At a specialty conference, a postdoctoral fellow describing a new study being conducted at a neighboring institution showed a recruiting letter from the investigator, which outlined the study and n...
Fast Template Evaluation with Vector Quantization

Applying linear templates is an integral part of many object detection systems and accounts for a significant portion of computation time. We describe a method that achieves a substantial end-to-end speedup over the best current methods, without loss of accuracy. Our method is a combination of approximating scores by vector quantizing feature windows and a number of speedup techniques including cascade. Our procedure allows speed and accuracy to be traded off in two ways: by choosing the number of Vector Quantization levels, and by choosing to rescore windows or not. Our method can be directly plugged into any recognition system that relies on linear templates. We demonstrate our method to speed up the original Exemplar SVM detector [1] by an order of magnitude and Deformable Part models [2] by two orders of magnitude with no loss of accuracy.
Differentiation of Spores of Bacillus subtilis Grown in Different Media by Elemental Characterization Using Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

We demonstrate the use of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) in a forensics application to distinguish Bacillus subtilis spores grown in various media based on the elemental signatures of the spores. Triplicate cultures grown in each of four different media were analyzed to obtain TOF-SIMS signatures comprised of 16 elemental intensities. Analysis of variance was unable to distinguish growth medium types based on 40Ca-normalized signatures of any single normalized element. Principal component analysis proved successful in separating the spores into groups consistent with the media in which they were prepared. Confusion matrices constructed using nearest-neighbor classification of the PCA scores confirmed the predictive utility of TOF-SIMS elemental signatures in identifying sporulation medium. Theoretical calculations based on the number and density of spores in an analysis area indicate an analytical sample size of about 1 ng, making this technique an attractive method for bioforensics applications.
Games, Beliefs and Credences

1. To offer a new kind of reason for being unsatisfied with the simple Lockean reduction of belief to credence. 2. To defend the legitimacy of appealing to credences in a theory of belief. 3. To illustrate the importance of theoretical, as well as practical, interests in an interest-relative account of belief. 4. To have another try at extending my basic account of belief to cover propositions that are practically and theoretically irrelevant to the agent.
Translational research: A systems engineer approach

The World Health Organization, in its World Health Report 2000 - Health Systems: Improving Performance said, ldquoThe U.S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries according to its performance...rdquo National Institute of Health (NIH) established the Common Fund in 2004 to advance interdisciplinary research across institutes and research centers. In 2006 the Congress passed the NIH Reform Act that instructed the NIH to support cross-cutting trans-NIH programs. As a result of the NIH Reform Act, the NIH Institutes and Centers developed specific criteria for Common Fund programs.
Empirical evaluation of some high-level synthesis scheduling heuristics

Over the past few years a large number of heuristics for performing scheduling of non-pipelined designs have been proposed. The quality of results produced by these heuristics have not been quantified and neither have these heuristics been compared on a common platform. In this paper we first present a new heuristic for performing non-pipelined scheduling which uses the as-late-as-possible (ALAP) time of operation and the as-soon-as-possible property to schedule a node. Next, an experimental test-bed for evaluating this heuristic and a few of the more popular heuristics is described. Some results of the experiments we conducted to compare HAL-FDS, HAL-FDLS, MAHA and ALAP scheduling heuristics are also given. Results of the experiments indicate that the ALAP heuristic, which has least computational complexity and computer execution time of the four heuristics, almost always produces the best results.
Limited response of ponderosa pine bole defenses to wounding and fungi

Tree defense against bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) and their associated fungi generally comprises some combination of constitutive (primary) and induced (secondary) defenses. In pines, the primary constitutive defense against bark beetles consists of preformed resin stored in resin ducts. Induced defenses at the wound site (point of beetle entry) in pines may consist of an increase in resin flow and necrotic lesion formation. The quantity and quality of both induced and constitutive defenses can vary by species and season. The inducible defense response in ponderosa pine is not well understood. Our study examined the inducible defense response in ponderosa pine using traumatic mechanical wounding, and wounding with and without fungal inoculations with two different bark beetle-associated fungi (Ophiostoma minus and Grosmannia clavigera). Resin flow did not significantly increase in response to any treatment. In addition, necrotic lesion formation on the bole after fungal inoculation was minimal. Stand thinning, which has been shown to increase water availability, had no, or inconsistent, effects on inducible tree defense. Our results suggest that ponderosa pine bole defense against bark beetles and their associated fungi is primarily constitutive and not induced.
A dynamic query-tree energy balancing protocol for sensor networks

Static broadcast tree protocols have been proposed in literature to optimize the querying procedure in sensor networks. In this paper we address the issue of how to mitigate the unevenness of energy distribution and its undesirable effects like reduced network lifetime and loss of connectivity in a sensor network that are caused by static broadcast trees. We propose a "dynamic query-tree energy balancing" (DQEB) protocol to dynamically adjust the tree structure and minimize the overall broadcast cost. The proposed algorithm scales well, is distributed and does not need any global information. Locally, the broadcast power consumption is minimized while globally, the broadcast load and power distribution are balanced across the whole sensor network. Our simulation results verify that the DQEB protocol achieves significantly better balance in the battery power distribution and extends the network's lifetime considerably.
Habit Persistence and Teen Sex: Could Increased Access to Contraception Have Unintended Consequences for Teen Pregnancies?

We develop a dynamic discrete-choice model of teen sex and pregnancy that incorporates habit persistence. Habit persistence has two sources here. The first is a “fixed cost” of having sex, which relates to a moral or psychological barrier that has been crossed the first time one has sex. The second is a “transition cost,” whereby once a particular relationship has progressed to sex, it is difficult to move back. We estimate significant habit persistence in teen sex, implying that the long-run effects of contraception policy may be different from their short-run counterparts, especially if the failure rate of contraception is sufficiently large. Programs that increase access to contraception are found to decrease teen pregnancies in the short run but increase them in the long run.
COAL ASH BASIN EFFECTS (PARTICULATES, METALS, ACIDIC pH) UPON AQUATIC BIOTA: AN EIGHT‐YEAR EVALUATION

ABSTRACT Coal ash effluent effects including particulates, acidic pH excursions, elemental concentrations and bioconcentration in selected organisms have been studied as changes in water quality and densities of benthic macroinvertebrate and mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) populations in a swamp drainage system over an eight-year period. Three changes in the ash basin settling system were made between mid- 1973 and January 1982. Initial density of the aquatic biota was altered severely by heavy ash siltation, followed by acidic pH excursions and perhaps overall by elemental concentrations and bioaccumulation. Heavy ash siltation, followed by acidic Ph excursions (mean of 5.5, extreme of 3.5) after the addition of fly ash to the original settling basin system, had the most profound effect on biota. Dipterans (chironomids) and some odonates (Plathemis lydia and Libellula spp.) were resistant to heavy ash siltation, while mosquitofish, which showed no discernible responses to ash siltation, were absent at acidic pH, along with the few previously surviving invertebrate populations. Elemental concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, selenium, and zinc did not appear to limit aquatic flora and fauna on a short-term, acute basis. Long, chronic elemental exposures may have been instrumental in retarding the recovery of all forms of aquatic life in the receiving system. Elemental concentrations (except for arsenic and selenium) in the receiving system were generally one to two orders of magnitude higher than the Water Quality Criteria set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1980) for protection of aquatic life for the minimum and 24-hour mean values. From collective elemental exposures in the receiving system, bioconcentration factors in macrophytes, invertebrates and fish were generally lower than those reported in the literature for laboratory, single elemental concentrations. By 1978, when the new settling basin systems were operating effectively, invertebrate populations were largely recovered, and mosquitofish populations recovered within one year afterward.
Wavelength Multicasting of 320-Gb/s Channel in Self-Seeded Parametric Amplifier

We report the first 320-Gb/s all-optical wavelength multicast experimental demonstration in two-pump parametric amplifier, assisted by pump-pump self seeding. A single 320-Gb/s channel was successfully multicast to eight wavelengths with minimal conversion efficiency of -1 dB and less than 5-dB gain ripple. Self seeding was achieved by efficient spectral management and optimization of multiple-pump phase. The Q -factor penalty induced by the self-seeding process was found to be less than 1 dB compared to the single-pump parametric wavelength conversion.
Mobile personal health care system for patients with diabetes

In this paper, we propose a personal diabetes monitoring system which integrates wearable sensors, 3G mobile phone, smart home technologies and Google Health to facilitate the management of chronic disease - diabetes. Our system utilizes wearable sensors and 3G cellular phone to automatically collect physical signs, such as blood glucose level and blood pressure. It allows users, especially seniors with diabetes, to conveniently record daily test results and track long term health condition changes regardless of their locations. It does so without having to ask users to manually input them into the system. Our system also utilizes Google Health to manage Personal Health Records (PHRs), which not only bridges the gaps between patients and different health care providers but enabling accesses to patients' PHRs anywhere and anytime by taking advantage of the universal accessibility of Google Health.
The energy costs of insulators in biochemical networks.

Complex networks of biochemical reactions, such as intracellular protein signaling pathways and genetic networks, are often conceptualized in terms of modules—semiindependent collections of components that perform a well-defined function and which may be incorporated in multiple pathways. However, due to sequestration of molecular messengers during interactions and other effects, collectively referred to as retroactivity, real biochemical systems do not exhibit perfect modularity. Biochemical signaling pathways can be insulated from impedance and competition effects, which inhibit modularity, through enzymatic futile cycles that consume energy, typically in the form of ATP. We hypothesize that better insulation necessarily requires higher energy consumption. We test this hypothesis through a combined theoretical and computational analysis of a simplified physical model of covalent cycles, using two innovative measures of insulation, as well as a possible new way to characterize optimal insulation through the balancing of these two measures in a Pareto sense. Our results indicate that indeed better insulation requires more energy. While insulation may facilitate evolution by enabling a modular plug-and-play interconnection architecture, allowing for the creation of new behaviors by adding targets to existing pathways, our work suggests that this potential benefit must be balanced against the metabolic costs of insulation necessarily incurred in not affecting the behavior of existing processes.
Brains over Brawn: Experience overcomes a size disadvantage in fish social hierarchies

Life experiences can alter cognitive abilities and subsequent behavior. Here we asked whether differences in experience could affect social status. In hierarchical animal societies, high-ranking males that typically win aggressive encounters gain territories and hence access to mates. To understand the relative contributions of social experience and physical environment on status, we used a highly territorial African cichlid fish species, Astatotilapia burtoni, that lives in a dynamic lek-like social hierarchy. Astatotilapia burtoni males are either dominant or submissive and can switch status rapidly depending on the local environment. Although dominant males are innately aggressive, we wondered whether they modulated their aggression based on experience. We hypothesized that as males mature they might hone their fighting tactics based on observation of other males fighting. We compared males of different ages and sizes in distinctly different physical environments and subsequently tested their fighting skills. We found that a size difference previously thought negligible (<10% body length) gave a significant advantage to the larger opponent. In contrast, we found no evidence that increasing environmental complexity affected status outcomes. Surprisingly, we found that males only a few days older than their opponents had a significant advantage during territorial disputes so that being older compensated for the disadvantage of being smaller. Moreover, the slightly older winners exploited a consistent fighting strategy, starting with lower levels of aggression on the first day that significantly increased on the second day, a pattern absent in younger winners. These data suggest that experience is an advantage during fights for status, and that social learning provides more relevant experience than the physical complexity of the territory.
Leisure and consumption: incompatible concepts?

In this paper I shall describe four conceptions of leisure and the views of consumption associated with each. I shall conclude with a defence of the fourth conception which rests upon a revised notion of Moral Realism.
Who Consents? Competing Pivots in Federal Judicial Selection

The salience of judicial appointments in contemporary American politics has precipitated a surge of scholarly interest in the dynamics of advice and consent in the U.S. Senate. In this article, we compare alternative pivotal politics models of the judicial nominations process, each capturing a different set of potential veto players in the Senate. We use these spatial models to guide empirical analysis of rejection patterns in confirmation contests for the lower federal courts. Using data on the outcomes of all nominations to the U.S. Courts of Appeals and the U.S. District Courts between 1975 and 2006, we show that models incorporating the preferences of the majority party median and the filibuster pivots best account for confirmation patterns we observe at the appellate and trial court levels, while advice and consent for trial courts has more recently been influenced by home-state senators.
A Case Study of Megaselia scalaris (Diptera: Phoridae) Causing Ocular Myiasis in a Western Hognose Snake

Late instar larvae of the scuttle fly, Megaselia scalaris Loew, were found near the right eye of a live captive-reared western hognose snake, Heterodon nasicus Baird and Girard. Dissection and removal of the snake's dorsal cranial bones revealed tissue degradation of the infected eye, the optic nerve, and the brain case; we suggest that these factors contributed to the death of this snake. This case study further demonstrates the opportunistic behavior of M. scalaris.
On the Decoder Error Probability of Bounded Rank-Distance Decoders for Maximum RankDistance Codes

In this correspondence, we first introduce the concept of elementary linear subspace, which has similar properties to those of a set of coordinates. We then use elementary linear subspaces to derive properties of maximum rank distance (MRD) codes that parallel those of maximum distance separable codes. Using these properties, we show that, for MRD codes with error correction capability , the decoder error probability of bounded rank distance decoders decreases exponentially with based on the assumption that all errors with the same rank are equally likely.
High-Throughput Screen for Escherichia coli Heat Shock Protein 70 (Hsp70/DnaK): ATPase Assay in Low Volume by Exploiting Energy Transfer

Members of the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) family of molecular chaperones are emerging as potential therapeutic targets. Their ATPase activity has classically been measured using colorimetric phosphate detection reagents, such as quinaldine red (QR). Although such assays are suitable for 96-well plate formats, they typically lose sensitivity when attempted in lower volume due to path length and meniscus effects. These limitations and Hsp70's weak enzymatic activity have combined to create significant challenges in high-throughput screening. To overcome these difficulties, the authors have adopted an energy transfer strategy that was originally reported by Zuck et al. (Anal Biochem 2005;342:254-259). Briefly, white 384-well plates emit fluorescence when irradiated at 430 nm. In turn, this intrinsic fluorescence can be quenched by energy transfer with the QR-based chromophore. Using this more sensitive approach, the authors tested 55,400 compounds against DnaK, a prokaryotic member of the Hsp70 family. The assay performance was good (Z' ~0.6, coefficient of variation ~8%), and at least one promising new inhibitor was identified. In secondary assays, this compound specifically blocked stimulation of DnaK by its co-chaperone, DnaJ. Thus, this simple and inexpensive adaptation of a colorimetric method might be suitable for screening against Hsp70 family members.
COMPONENT AND TOTAL TASK RELATIONS AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF LEARNING A COMPLEX TRACKING TASK.

Practice on a 3-dimensional complex tracking task was given to 203 Ss for 17 sessions extending over a period of 6 wk. Measures of 3 component performances (azimuth, elevation, and sideslip errors) and 2 total-performance criterion scores (integrated error and “time on target”) were obtained. The intercorrelations of these 5 measures at 10 critical stages along the learning curve were computed. The resulting 50 × 50 matrix of intertrial and intermeasure correlations was factor analyzed. The differential factor patterns, representing different combinations of part-whole relationships, provided insights into the skill-learning process at different stages of practice, and identified components related to eventual proficiency on the task.
The Determination of the “Monetary Expression of Labor Time” (“MELT”) in the Case of Non-Commodity Money

This paper suggests a way to determine the “monetary expression of labor” (the “MELT”) in today’s regime of inconvertible credit money, a way that is consistent with Marx’s general theory of money ...
446 -- Electrochemical examination of nucleoside interaction : Adenosine-guanosine and cytidine-guanosine

Abstract The adsorption at the solution/mercury electrode interface of guanosine, adenosine and cytidine alone and in guanosine—adenosine and guanosine—cytidine mixtures was examined for pH 4.0 and 7.2 solutions at 25 and 40°C; the principal index used was the a.c. polarographic quadrature current component. All of the nucleosides are adsorbed at the 1.0 mM and lower concentrations examined. There is evidence at 25°C for: 1. the self-association of uncharged adsorbed guaosine; 2. formation at pH 4 of a 2 : 1 guanosine—adenosine complex, which is at least partially positively charged, is more stable than the self-associated guanosine and associates in the adsorbed state; 3. formation at pH 7.2 of a similar 2 : 1 but uncharged guanosine—adenosine complex; 4. formation of a probably positively charged 1 : 1 guanosine—cytidine complex, which 5. adsorbs and associates at pH 4 and of a similar neutral complex at pH 7.2. Association of the adsorbed species is not seen at 40°C. The controlling factor in determining the differential capacitance at the interface is generally the presence of the most surface-active species, guanosine.
A wavelength-maintaining polarization-insensitive all-optical 3R regenerator

We introduce a wavelength converter into the folded ultrafast nonlinear interferometer, demonstrating a polarization-insensitive wavelength-maintaining 3R all-optical regenerator that gives constant output polarization. Bit-error rate data show <0.3-dB power penalty.
Heuristic configuration of hidden units, in backpropagation neural networks

Summary form only given, as follows. For optimum statistical classification and generalization with single hidden-layer backpropagation neural network models, two tasks must be performed: (a) learning the best set of weights for a network of k hidden units and (b) determining k, the best complexity fit. Two approaches to learning have been contrasted: (a) standard backpropagation as applied to a series of networks with different numbers of hidden units; and (b) a heuristic cascade-correlation approach that quickly and dynamically learns and configures a network. Four real-world statistical applications were considered. On these examples, the backpropagation approach yielded somewhat better results, but with far greater computation times. The best k's for the two approaches were quite similar, suggesting a hybrid approach that chooses k by cascade-correlation, and optimizes the weights by backpropagation. >
Ronsard and the ‘sein verdelet’ of Cassandre: uncovering an unexplored Italian source*

In a well-known essay, Michael Riffaterre has explained a puzzling reference in one of Ronsard's sonnets, celebrating the beauty of the beloved's Cassandre's breast: “un coeur ja meur dans un sein verdelet” (“an already mature heart in a greenish bosom”). Riffaterre interprets the phrase “un sein verdelet” as an allusion to Ariosto's description of Alcina's breasts as “due pome acerbe” (“two unripe [i.e., green] apples”). But a further look at Italian lyric poetry of this period reveals that there is another possible explanation for this odd expression, one that is instead related to a famous sonnet by Pietro Bembo, which contains a reference to his lady's “senno maturo a la piu verde etate” (“mature wisdom in the greenest [i.e., youngest] age”). Ronsard appears to have conflated (intentionally or otherwise) the Italian words “senno” (wisdom) and “seno” (bosom) in this fragmentary citation. He thus shows himself to be far more influenced by graphic and accoustic (but not necessarily semantic) similarities between Italian and French words, engaging in bilingual and intertextual paronomasia or punning, a tendency that might be considered characteristic of his playful approach to imitatio and intertextual allusion.
“We’re Like Visitors” Moral Identity Work by Citizen and Noncitizen Teachers at an Alternative School

This article examines the rise and fall of collective moral identity by two groups of unequally positioned teachers in a new school for immigrant and refugee students who were learning English. One group was composed of predominately white, US-born tenured teaching professionals. The other consisted of racially and ethnically diverse, foreign-born teachers who were participating in a cultural exchange program and had temporary visas to work in the United States for one to three years. Using participant observation and in-depth interviewing, I show how school administrators and organizational arrangements fostered the development of a shared moral identity that allowed teachers to see themselves as virtuous—if beleaguered—professionals who were doing important work. Although their identity work helped bridge cultural differences and promoted feelings of closeness between the groups, it did so by deflecting and masking inequalities in their structural positions. I show how these inequalities and the relucta...