cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Epidemiology of Pertussis: A Comparison of the Epidemiology of the Disease Pertussis With the Epidemiology of Bordetella pertussis Infection

In the prevaccine era pertussis epidemics followed a cyclic pattern, with peaks every 2 to 5 years. With the marked reduction of pertussis by vaccination, the same cyclic pattern still occurs. Studies relating to reported pertussis and Bordetella pertussis infection have been reviewed and analyzed. The increase in reported pertussis over the last 2 decades is mainly due to a greater awareness of pertussis and perhaps to the use of several less efficacious vaccines. Studies of prolonged cough illnesses in adolescents and adults reveal that 13% to 20% are a result of B pertussis infection. Serologic studies suggest that the rate of B pertussis infection in adolescents and adults is ∼2.0% per year. The rate of cough illnesses (pertussis) caused by B pertussis infection in adolescents and adults is between 370 and 1500 per 100 000 population. These data suggest that there are between ∼800 000 and 3.3 million cases per year in the United States. The coming availability of adolescent- and adult-formulated diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccines for adolescents and adults and their widespread use should reduce the reservoir of B pertussis disease. It is suggested that a universal program of adolescent and adult boosters would decrease the circulation of B pertussis in these age groups and possibly could lead to the elimination of the organism from the population.
Antigenic comparison of five species of mammalian zonae pellucidae.

A comparison of glycoproteins of the zona pellucida (ZP) of five different mammalian species (cat, dog, rabbit, pig, and rat) has been made using polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. In an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), polyclonal antisera against total rabbit and pig ZP recognize their homologous ZP to the greatest extent but also detect crossreactive antigenic determinants in the ZP of all other species tested. Polyclonal antibodies against each of two purified rabbit ZP glycoproteins or one purified pig ZP glycoprotein also show some recognition of heterologous (pig, cat, and dog) ZP, but not rat ZP. Monoclonal antibodies (McR5-rabbit ZP protein determinant; McPSI-determinant associated with post-translational modifications of pig ZP proteins such as carbohydrates) further demonstrate that specific determinants are shared between some but not all of these mammalian species. For example, both of these antibodies recognize distinct determinants which are most abundant in pig and cat ZP. However, McR5 recognizes a determinant on all species of ZP except the rat, while McPSI does not recognize either the rabbit or rat ZP. Collectively, these studies suggest that the molecules of the pig, dog, and cat ZP are more closely related to each other than to those of the rabbit ZP, while there is little similarity with rat ZP molecules. Immunoblot analysis of ZP glycoproteins separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to identify antigenic relationships among four different species. The polyclonal antisera show that all of the major proteins of pig, rabbit, cat, and dog ZP are antigenically related. These studies provide information that is important for the comparison of structural and functional similarities and dissimilarities in the molecular components of the mammalian zona pellucida that are involved in the fertilization process.
Facile Syntheses of Thiophene-Substituted 1,4-Diazabutadiene (Alpha-Diimine) Ligands and their Conversion to Phosphenium Triiodide Salts

Four novel N-aryl-2-thienyl substituted 1,4-diazabutadiene (α-diimine) ligands 5–8 have been prepared by cyanide ion-catalyzed intermolecular coupling of the appropriate aromatic aldimines. A ligand featuring a phenyl spacer moiety between a thiophene carbon atom and each imino nitrogen atom (12) has been prepared by a similar synthetic route. Ligands 5–8 and 12 were characterized on the basis of 1H and 13C NMR, IR and MS-CI spectroscopy. Upon treatment with PI3 in CH2Cl2 solution, ligands 5–8 undergo redox reactions to furnish the triiodide salts of the corresponding phosphenium cations 13–16 which were characterized by 1H, 13C and 31P NMR, and MS-CI spectroscopy. The phosphenium triiodide salt 15, and ligands 5–7 and 12 were also structurally authenticated.
Interactions between nematodes and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae

Abstract Nematodes and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi often occur in the rhizosphere and roots of plants and therefore frequently encounter each other. Mycorrhizal fungi benefit the plant by increasing the absorption of nutrients and water and by protecting the root from soil-borne diseases. Nematodes can interfere with any of these functions. Vesicular-arbuscular fungi do not colonize regions infected by endoparasitic nematodes, and nematodes rarely infect regions colonized by VA fungi. Nematode-mycorrhizal interactions appear to be very specific and highly dependent on the particular association of plant cultivar, fungal and nematode species, the order of colonization by the symbionts and the soil nutrient level. Plant-parasitic nematodes generally reduce the amount of benefit gained by the association with the fungus. However, VA mycorrhizae usually more than compensate for the amount of nematode damage sustained by non-mycorrhizal plants, since their function is generally not affected except in close proximity to the nematode feeding site. Mycorrhizal fungi and endoparasitic nematodes are often mutually inhibitory, each reducing the population of the other. In other cases, the stimulation of root growth by the fungus provides greater habitat and nematode populations increase. Some studies have also observed increased spore production and higher percent root colonization by the fungus when nematodes were present. Fungal-feeding nematodes may feed on the fungal symbiont to such an extent that in vitro cultures may be killed and in vivo infections significantly reduced. In some studies, plants were severely disadvantaged by this grazing pressure on the fungus, while in others plant growth was not affected. Under heavy grazing pressure by fungal-feeding nematodes, sufficient hyphae may be destroyed to limit phosphorus uptake to a level inadequate for nodulation in legumes.
Phase II study of doxercalciferol for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome

We conducted a phase II trial of doxercalciferol, a vitamin D2 analogue, in 15 patients with MDS. Each received doxercalciferol 12.5 microg orally daily for 12 weeks. Nine of 15 patients completed the prescribed course and of these, six had stable disease. No patient had a response (IWG criteria) and overall eight patients experienced progressive disease while on therapy. Two patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) had a marked rise in monocytes on study. Overall the treatment was well tolerated. One patient was removed from study due to hypercalcemia. We conclude that short-term treatment with doxercalciferol has limited activity in patients with MDS.
The Learning Process Related to Architecture and the Atmosphere

Abstract There has been a rapidly growing awareness in the past few years of the role that the atmospheric scientist can play in assisting the architect to achieve a structure that is designed for, and not in spite of, the climate. The concept of a comfortable cryptoclimate is developed, and the recent history of the intercommunication between the disciplines is discussed. Some examples of basic ideas developed from studies of primitive architecture are cited also. The outline of a course in meteorology, specifically designed for architectural students, that has been taught at Texas A&M University for nine years is described together with certain relevant observations and techniques. Some of the more surprising findings in this interdisciplinary field are detailed.
Molybdenum toxicity: abnormal cellular division of teratogenic appearance in Euglena gracilis

Molybdenum (10−3M) induced the formation of abnormal multiple nuclear and cellular (teratogenic in appearance) divisions ofEuglena gracilis-Z,E. gracilis var.bacillaris-C and streptomycin-bleachedE.gracilis.
Design of a 527 GHz gyrotron for DNP-NMR spectroscopy

We report on the design studies of a >20W, continuous wave 527 GHz gyrotron for the Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) enhanced solid state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy on a 800 MHz spectrometer. A 9.8 T helium-free superconducting magnet with a warm bore diameter of 76mm is planned for the gyrotron operation. The gyrotron resonator cavity is designed to operate in the TE 11, 3 mode at 527 GHz which is the second harmonic (ω=2ω c ) of the electron cyclotron frequency. The design is based on a diode electron gun (V k =15 kV, I b =190 mA) and lateral output with an internal Vlasov-type mode converter. Frequency tunability of Δf/f ≈ 0.25% is being studied around the nominal frequency of 527 GHz, with a goal of constant output power of more than 20W.
An innovative electro-corrosion recess creation technique for improved microelectrode fabrication.

Abstract A new and simple electrochemical (corrosion) method for recess creation for the fabrication of metal and metal–metal oxide microelectrodes has been developed. Controlled recess was created in low melting point alloy (LMA)-filled micropipettes using slightly acidic 1–3 M ZnCl 2 as the electro-corrosion solution. The current was applied from a 3 V DC source. The recess length in the LMA-filled micropipette can be manipulated as needed for a specific microelectrode by varying the electro-corrosion time. The present method is expected to make microelectrode fabrication a less tedious process. Dissolved oxygen, oxidation–reduction potential and pH microelectrodes have been made using the present method and the microelectrode characteristics were found to be in conformity with those reported by other researchers.
Novel enzymatic recognition of the ferrocene framework: nitrile hydratase/amidase catalyzed cascade biotransformations

For the first time, two bacterial strains expressing a nitrile hydratase/amidase activity were able to recognize the ferrocene framework: Rhodococcus erythropolis A4 and Rhodococcus rhodochrous PA-34. Important parameters for the enzymatic recognition are the specific structural features of the substrates, and the inducers adopted during the bacterial growth phase.
Pantothenate kinase 1 is required to support the metabolic transition from the fed to the fasted state.

Coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis is regulated by the pantothenate kinases (PanK), of which there are four active isoforms. The PanK1 isoform is selectively expressed in liver and accounted for 40% of the total PanK activity in this organ. CoA synthesis was limited using a Pank1−/− knockout mouse model to determine whether the regulation of CoA levels was critical to liver function. The elimination of PanK1 reduced hepatic CoA levels, and fasting triggered a substantial increase in total hepatic CoA in both Pank1−/− and wild-type mice. The increase in hepatic CoA during fasting was blunted in the Pank1−/− mouse, and resulted in reduced fatty acid oxidation as evidenced by abnormally high accumulation of long-chain acyl-CoAs, acyl-carnitines, and triglycerides in the form of lipid droplets. The Pank1−/− mice became hypoglycemic during a fast due to impaired gluconeogenesis, although ketogenesis was normal. These data illustrate the importance of PanK1 and elevated liver CoA levels during fasting to support the metabolic transition from glucose utilization and fatty acid synthesis to gluconeogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. The findings also suggest that PanK1 may be a suitable target for therapeutic intervention in metabolic disorders that feature hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia.
Retinoids upregulate phagocytosis by human dermal microvascular endothelial cells

Animals fed a diet deficient in vitamin A show severe physiological changes that often result in death. At the cellular level, retinoids have been shown to induce differentiation of cells dervied from a wide spectrum of tissues, including the vasculature. To understand further the mechanisms for these events, we studied the effects of 13-cis-retinoic acid, all trans-retinoic acid, all-trans-retinol, and all-trans-retinol acetate on human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC). Concentrations of retinoids in the physiological range from 0 to 1 μM were used in our experiments. These concentrations were nontoxic to HDMEC. Here we report that in addition to the known effect of retinoids on keratinocytes and sebacytes, retinoids induced morphological and functional changes in HDMEC that gave these cells macrophage like characteristics. 13-Cis-retinoic acid and all-trans-RA induced HDMEC to phagocytize and to increase the production of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion. These two retinoids also changed the morphology of endothelial cells from typical small compact cuboidal epithelioid cells to cells with larger cytoplasm and indistinct cell membranes. The retinoidstimulated HDMEC deposited increased amounts of extracellular matrix. All-trans-retinol and all-trans-retinol acetate did not significantly affect HDMEC in all parameters tested. The induction of these properties provides a new model with which to study how retinoids regulate gene expression using a normal, nontransformed cell line. © 1994 wiley-Liss, Inc.
Zea mI, the maize homolog of the allergen-encoding Lol pI gene of rye grass.

Abstract Sequence analysis of a pollen-specific cDNA from maize has identified a homolog ( Zea mI ) of the gene ( Lol pI ) encoding the major allergen of rye-grass pollen. The protein encoded by the partial cDNA sequence is 59.3% identical and 72.7% similar to the comparable region of the reported amino acid sequence of Lol pIA. Southern analysis indicates that this cDNA represents a member of a small multigene family in maize. Northern analysis shows expression only in pollen, not in vegetative or female floral tissues. The timing of expression is developmentally regulated, occuring at a low level prior to the first pollen mitosis and at a high level after this postmeiotic division. Western analysis detects a protein in maize pollen lysates using polyclonal antiserum and monoclonal antibodies directed against purified Lolium perenne allergen.
Toward a New Welfare History

��� Histories of American welfare have been stories about the state. Like Walter Trattner’s widely read From Poor Law to Welfare State, now in its sixth edition, they have offered a narrative about the slow but steady expansion and elaboration of state and federal protections granted to poor and working people, and have usually done so by charting increases in government expenditures, by documenting the institutionalization of welfare bureaucracies, and by tracing rises or declines in poverty, unemployment, and other aggregate measures of well-being. 1 This has been the case even in more critical accounts that emphasize that American social welfare history is not a story just of progress, such as Michael Katz’s In the Shadow of the Poorhouse. 2 These narratives have emphasized programs, not people (whether it is the poorhouse, the asylum, and mother’s pensions, or the more recent innovations of national unemployment insurance, Social Security, AFDC and TANF, and Medicare and Medicaid). In the investigations of the welfare state that dominate academic research, the content and timing of government policy itself has served as the dependent variable, while the independent variables have been a congeries of interests, institutions, and policy entrepreneurs. Our attention has been focused upon what government has done, why it was done, and what the effects were as measured in official data. Recent scholarship has thereby brought us new understandings of the patronage powers that led to the expansion of pensions to Civil War veterans, 3 evaluated the influence of organized business interests during debate over the Social Security Act of 1935 4 and in other eras, 5 shown
Further validation of the economic subscale of the Sport Fan Motivation Scale.

The current investigation further validated the Economic, i.e., gambling, subscale of the Sport Fan Motivation Scale as subscale scores were highly correlated with both estimates of gambling frequency and estimates of money wagered by 91 college students.
Energy balance and branching ratios for the chemiluminescent SiNO2 reaction: Formation of SiO a3Σ+, ν′ ⩾ 0, and ultrafast a3Σ+ −b3Π EE energy transfer

Abstract Silicon atoms react under single collision conditions with NO2 to yield intense chemiluminescent emission from the SiO a3Σ+−X1Σ+ and b3Π−X1Σ+ intercombination band systems and weak emission from the A1Π−X1Σ+ band system While the cross section for formation of the SiO a3Σ+ and b3Π states appears to be notably greater than that for the far more exothermic Si + N2O reaction, the observed intercombination emissions from the SiNO2 reaction involve far fewer b3Π vibrational quantum levels and hence considerably less spectral overlap. This facilitates the first observation of emission from SiO a3Σ+ vibrational quantum levels, ν′ 0. Pressure-dependent studies demonstrate that the SiO A1Π and b3Π (Poxidant 0 and (3) indicates, through a comparison of single and multiple collision chemiluminescent spectra, the presence of a significant ultrafast EE transfer between the SiO a3Σ+ and b3Π states, the dominant intramolecular process corresponding to SiO a3Σ+, ν′= 3 ÷ Ar → SiO b3Π, ν = 2 + Ar.
Nonintegrable velocities and nonholonomic coordinates

Abstract Euler's equations of rigid body motion for the Cartesian rotation rates ω i are normally derived directly from Newton's second law rather than from a Lagrangian formulation. The reason is that a set of ƒ independent velocities ω i that are defined by linear transformations on time rates of change of group parameters is generally nonintegrable and therefore cannot be integrated to yield a set of ƒ generalized coordinates. We analyze and answer the following related question: when can a particular parameterization of a continous group be used as a set of generalized coordinates? An understanding of the distinction between holonomic and nonholonomic coordinates via elementary Lie theory paves the way toward a more qualitatively complete understanding of the idea of integrability of a Hamiltonian dynamical system.
Neuroscience of Addiction

This is publication number 11130-NP from The Scripps Research Institute. Research was supported by National Institutes of Health grants DA04043, DA04398, and DA08467 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and AA06420 and AA08459 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The authors would like to thank Mike Arends for his valuable assistance with manuscript preparation.
Emergence of Distinct Verbal Phases in Group Therapy

This study attempted to ascertain whether discrete stages emerged in the group therapeutic process. Ss were drawn from four different groups using similar therapeutic techniques. Results indicated ...
Novel adaptive IIR filter for frequency estimation and tracking [DSP Tips&Tricks]

In many applications, a sinusoidal signal may be subjected to nonlinear effects in which possible harmonic frequency components are generated. In such an environment, we may want to estimate (track) the signal's fundamental frequency as well as any harmonic frequencies. Using a secondorder notch filter to estimate fundamental and harmonic frequencies is insufficient since it only accommodates one frequency component. On the other hand, applying a higher-order infinite impulse response (IIR) notch filter may not be efficient due to adopting multiple adaptive filter coefficients. In this article, we present a novel adaptive harmonic IIR notch filter with a single adaptive coefficient to efficiently perform frequency estimation and tracking in a harmonic frequency environment. Furthermore, we devise a simple scheme to select the initial filter coefficient to insure algorithm convergence to its global minimum error.
International analysis of the frequency and outcomes of NK/T-cell lymphomas.

Peripheral T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas are uncommon disorders accounting for 10–15% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The NHL classification project represents the first attempt to systematically study the distribution of NHL subtypes based on a collaborative international effort and it confirmed the wide geographic variation in the frequency of different subtypes of PTCL. Subsequently, the International T-cell Lymphoma Project (ITLP), the largest collaborative international effort to date, reported prevalence and outcomes of 1314 cases of PTCL from 22 institutions worldwide with central pathology review. The ITLP consortium launched a prospective study, the T-cell project, in September 2006 aimed at collecting an exhaustive clinical and biologic data set on 1000 patients with PTCL for better definition of prognostic factors that would influence outcomes of these patients. This review aims to describe the difference in frequency and outcomes for various subtypes of PTCL based on these studies.
Paths and circuits in partially directed graphs

Abstract Although questions about Eulerian circuits, paths, and covering edges by edge disjoint paths are easily answered for graphs or directed graphs, they are not easily answered if some edges are directed and others are not. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for an Eulerian path or circuit, and a necessary and sufficient condition for covering the edges by n edge disjoint paths when every vertex has even degree.
Malignant epithelial tumors of the anal canal.

A simplified staging for malignant epithelial tumors of the anal canal is presented. The pattern of recurrence in males is pelvic and perineum, in females pelvis and posterior vaginal wall. Concomitant posterior vaginectomy is advocated. The disease is more common in females than males (4:1). There is little difference between histologic types, i.e. cloacagenic or squamous cell type. Recurrence and survival depend upon depth of invasion and extent of spread rather than histologic cell type. The tumors respond to well-designed surgery, radiotherapy and probably chemotherapy.
Kikuyu agroforestry: an historical analysis

Abstract This paper provides a historical analysis of indigenous agroforestry practices among Ndia and Gichugu Kikuyu cultivators in Kirinyaga District, Kenya. The Kikuyu have long-devised agroforestry practices such as selective cutting, protection of woodland, and intercropping, in response to competing pressures for retaining and removing tree cover. Traditional religious beliefs, common property resource tenure, and farm forestry practices contributed to the conservation of trees. It is argued that indigenous agroforestry techniques and strategies mitigated the impact of deforestation by incorporating valued multipurpose trees in local production systems. The paper briefly examines how indigenous agroforestry was modified by state forestry, agricultural, and land use policies and programs. Although communal tree management strategies have collapsed, indigenous farm forestry practices remain a resilient and viable part of contemporary land use strategies.
A study on nonlinear dispersive partial differential equations of compact and noncompact solutions

In this paper we study two genuinely nonlinear dispersive partial differential equations in one- and higher-dimensional spaces. We show that the focusing branch and the defocusing branch of these equations each leads to a different physical structure. In addition, we develop general solutions of compact and noncompact support which are not obtainable through classic techniques.
Sequential and parallel computation for matrix relative primeness, stability and inertia problems

We present sequential and parallel algorithms for two important linear algebra problems in control theory, namely, determining relative primeness and the number of common eigenvalues between two matrices and inertia and stability of a matrix. Sequentially, these algorithms are more efficient than the existing ones and in parallel they can be implemented in almost linear time step using at most O(n2) processors. An important and desirable feature of these algorithms is that they comprise of basic linear algebraic operations only for which there already exist effective parallel algorithms.
An Empirical Analysis of the Relationship Between GDP and Unemployment

Okun's law has been proven to be one of the most accepted theories in the macroeconomics field. It describes the relationship between gross domestic product (GDP) and unemployment. Arthur Okun's (1962) study was developed to help apply appropriate macroeconomic policy changes. Though the coefficient has been re‐estimated, Okun's original work states that a one‐percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate would produce approximately 3% more output. This correlation has continuously been scrutinized, its accuracy studied, and the degree of dependency these variables have on one another has been evaluated.
The Role of Plant Breeding in Improving the Nutritive Value of Forages

Abstract In recent years many public forage breeders have added breeding for higher forage quality to their programs. Genetic studies have revealed that improvement of quality traits may be slow because most quality traits have intermediate to low heritability. A reasonable selection scheme under these circumstances would be to progeny test large populations of parental clones over locations, harvests, and generations. This presents a problem related to the resources required to obtain quality measurements on large numbers of samples. Fortunately, a new technology, infrared reflectance spectroscopy, has been developed that has the capability of analyzing large numbers of samples for multiple quality factors. But even if this technology is available to the breeder, he must interface this quality information with other important plant criteria. To accomplish this the breeder needs a selection index to facilitate decision making regarding multiple traits. For this information the breeder can rely on animal computer simulation models to integrate both yield and quality data into a single selection index value. This total approach, considering both plant and animal factors in the breeding program, would make it possible for the forage breeder of the future to develop new forage varieties with greater profit in terms of animal production per unit of land area.
THE EFFECTS OF GROWTH PROMOTING AND GONAD STIMULATING PRINCIPLES OF THE ANTERIOR LOBE OF THE PITUITARY ON BASAL GASEOUS METABOLISM IN THE RAT

A considerable amount of work, both clinical and experimental, has been published on the effects of the anterior lobe of the pituitary body on the respiratory metabolism. The most of this work previous to 1928 has been cited by Raab (1) in his review on “Hypophysis and Metabolism,” and need not be reviewed here. In general, the greater part of the clinical evidence has indicated that in patients with anterior lobe deficiency there may be a slight decrease in the basal gaseous metabolism. In cases of hyperactivity of the anterior lobe, as in acromegaly, there is often a slightly increased metabolism. Rowe (2) from his wide experience with the use of several functional tests for determining over or under-activity of the pituitary is in agreement with this majority opinion. Falta (3), on the other hand, has recently reaffirmed his belief that hyperactivity of the anterior lobe has a tendency to decrease the metabolic level. It is certain that clinically there are not seen the marked disturbances in metabolis...
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: Emission Leakage and the Effectiveness of Interstate Border Adjustments

We use theoretical and numerical general equilibrium models to analyze the Regional Greenhouse Gas Emission Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-trade scheme to limit carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generators across ten states in the northeast U.S. Although RGGI’s economic impacts are small, they induce substantial increases in power exports from unconstrained states which result in emission leakage rates of more than 50%. Harmonized taxes of 2-7% on electricity sales in participating states can neutralize leakage and increase aggregate abatement without significant adverse income effects. These results suggest that setting electricity tariffs in conjunction withthe emission cap might improve RGGI’s environmental performance.
A Concentration Training Approach for the Movement Professional

(2009). A Concentration Training Approach for the Movement Professional. Strategies: Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 22-24.
Home Builders' Evaluation of Acceptability of Solar and Earth-Sheltered Housing Designs

A statewide survey of home builders was conducted to discover their perceptions of the acceptability of current solar and earth-sheltered housing designs. Analyses of responses from 182 home builders indicate that many perceive it difficult to obtain designs that consumers find attractive, that are acceptable within existing neighborhoods, that consumers find psychologically easy to live in, and that consistently work. The student's t-test indicated that home builders who found it less difficult to obtain acceptable designs were more favorable toward the construction of solar and earth-sheltered housing. Analyses of variance with the Least Significant Difference Test suggested that home builders who construct houses primarily in rural areas find it less difficult to obtain designs attractive to consumers and acceptable in existing neighborhoods than those who build homes primarily in urban areas.
A Review and Synthesis of Situational Strength in the Organizational Sciences

Situational strength pertains to the idea that various characteristics of situations have the ability to restrict the expression and, therefore, the criterion-related validity of individual differences. Despite situational strength’s intuitive appeal, however, little information exists regarding its construct space. This review (a) categorizes extant operationalizations into four facets (constraints, consequences, clarity, and consistency), (b) examines the empirical literature on situational strength—relevant hypotheses, and, on the basis of the proposed taxonomy and literature review, (c) provides several avenues for future theoretical and empirical research. It is the authors’ hope that these efforts will encourage additional research and theorizing on this potentially important psychological construct.
Influence of surface heterogeneity on scalar dissimilarity in the roughness sublayer

Whileitisgenerallyknownthatsurfaceheterogeneityweakenstheapplica- tionofMonin-Obukhovsimilarity(MOS),fewstudieshaveinvestigatedhowseasonal changes in the degree of surface heterogeneity at a particular site may influence the validity of the similarity application. Exploiting seasonal changes in forest function associated with senescence, we conduct a unique evaluation of the effects of surface heterogeneity on the validity of similarity theory at two sites through time. Using high frequency (10Hz) velocity and scalar time series collected within the rough- ness sublayer over mixed hardwood deciduous and coniferous forests during both periods of peak leaf area and senescence of deciduous foliage, we examined con- formity with proposed universal flux-variance predictions and agreement amongst normalized standard deviations of different scalars (temperature, water vapour and carbon dioxide concentrations). Normalized scalar standard deviations were elevated above MOS flux-variance predictions, with more pronounced deviations observed during and following senescence, particularly in the case of CO2. Power-law scaling of normalized standard deviations as a function of stability was upheld and robust to seasonal changes in surface heterogeneity. However, dissimilarity of normalized standard deviations for the scalars increased during senescence, as heterogeneity in the source/sink field increased. Scalewise decomposition of scalar time series using waveletanalysisindicatedthatcorrelationsbetweenscalarswereconservativethrough much of the inertial cascade but decayed for eddies <10m. Senescence lowered corre-
Failure Rate/MTBF

Failure rate is the most commonly used term in reliability and related engineering interests, yet it is still not well understood by perhaps the majority of those using it. Indeed, more than one reliability treatise wrongly defines failure rate as a conditional probability density, i.e., wrong by the accepted criterion of what constitutes any probability density. The fact that these two concepts are by no means the same is clarified and made more precise. Mean time between failures and dimensionality are also briefly considered.
Relationship of Age and Education to Performance on A Standardized Version of Luria's Neuropsychological Tests in Different Patient Populations

A. R. Luria, a Russian neuropsychologist, developed many qualitative bedside tests that have been effective in the diagnosis and localization of neurological disorders. Recently, a standardized and objectively-scored version of Luria's tests has been developed. Knowledge of the effects of patient age and education on neuropsychological test performance has been found crucial in the neurodiagnostic decision-making process. The present study examined the effects of patient age (younger subjects between 20 and 40 years and older subjects between 50 and 70 years of age), education (grade school, high school, and post-high school), and diagnosis (normal, schizophrenic, brain damaged) on 14 standardized Luria measures. A weighted means analysis of variance found 11 significant age effects, 14 significant educational effects, and 14 significant effects for diagnosis. One significant interaction was found between education and diagnosis, The results support the contention that with appropriate age and educational...
Skin Tone Stratification among Black Americans, 2001–2003

In the past few decades, a dedicated collection of scholars have examined the matter of skin tone stratification within the black American population and found that complexion has significant net effects on a variety of stratification outcomes. These analyses relied heavily on data collected between 1950 and 1980. In particular, many scholars have utilized the National Survey of Black Americans (1979–1980). This leaves the question of whether or not the effect of skin tone on stratification outcomes remains decades later. Newly available data from the National Survey of American Life (2001–2003) are used to examine this question. I find that skin tone is significantly associated with black Americans’ educational attainment, household income, occupational status, and even the skin tone and educational attainment of their spouses. Consequently, this study demonstrates that skin tone stratification among black Americans persists into the 21st century. I conclude by discussing the implications of these findings for the study of ethnoracial inequality in the United States and beyond.
Laparoscopically assisted biomaterial graft for reconstruction in congenital atresia of vagina and cervix

Objective To report successful treatment by laparoscopically assisted biomaterial graft for reconstruction in patients with congenital atresia of the uterine cervix and vagina. Design Technique and instrumentations. Setting University-based tertiary care hospital. Patient(s) An 18-year-old woman with vaginal agenesis and cervical dysgenesis and a 13-year-old woman with vaginal agenesis and cervical agenesis, both patients with a functional uterus. Intervention(s) Creation of a neovagina by vaginal procedure and laparoscopically assisted biomaterial graft for uterovaginal anastomosis was performed in all patients. Main Outcome Measure(s) All surgical findings were carefully reviewed to determine the anatomic characteristics of the malformed cervix. Subsequent follow-up was done by referring physicians. Result(s) Uterovaginal continuity was established successfully in both patients, and all of the women were menstruating normally. Granulomatous polyps occurred in one patient, and this condition was successfully managed. At 6-month follow-up, mean vaginal length was 12 cm and ≥80% of neovaginal epithelium was iodine positive in both patients. Unimpeded menstrual flow continued after 4 years of follow-up in one patient and 5 years of follow-up in the other patient. Conclusion(s) A combined laparoscopic and vaginal procedure with biomaterial graft could be an effective alternative in selected women with atresia of cervix and vagina.
Decomposition in data mining: an industrial case study

Data mining offers tools for discovery of relationships, patterns, and knowledge in large databases. The knowledge extraction process is computationally complex and therefore a subset of all data Is normally considered for mining. In this paper, numerous methods for decomposition of data sets are discussed. Decomposition enhances the quality of knowledge extracted from large databases by simplification of the data mining task. The ideas presented are illustrated with examples and an industrial case study. In the case study reported in this paper, a data mining approach is applied to extract knowledge from a data set. The extracted knowledge is used for the prediction and prevention of manufacturing faults in wafers.
Long Term Trends in Microwave Brightness Temperature and Vegetation from SSM/I and AVHRR

Ecological and hydrological cycles play a key role in global climate dynamics. Remote sensing data are important in climate studies as they provide a global coverage of important hydrological variables at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. In this paper we study the long term relationships between NDVI derived from AVHRR and microwave brightness temperature from SSM/I sensor for different climate regimes in the world.
A RASE approach to acquisition in SSMA systems

The rapid acquisition by sequential estimation (RASE) method of DS/SS acquisition is applied to acquisition in a multiple-access channel (MARASE). In MARASE, a set of equations is developed which are nonlinear, noisy, and have a solution over a finite domain. An effective solution method is given which involves finding separate solutions to each equation, and then combining them using the error-correction capability of the maximal length spreading codes. Average acquisition time is analyzed and compared with simulation results. >
An overview of weather and climate extremes – Products and trends

Abstract This paper provides an overview of trends in weather and climate extremes as presented at a recent WMO Symposium on global food security and biodiversity. Analyses and conclusions about weather and climate extremes are best based on daily data, and an internationally agreed-upon set of daily extremes indices has been devised for this purpose. Characteristics of climate data sets which are necessary for an adequate analysis of changes or trends in extremes are identified. Analyses summarized in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report indicate that, since the 1950s, there has been a trend toward fewer cold days and nights and more warm days and nights globally, increasing heavy precipitation events in many parts of the world, and regional trends (both increasing and decreasing) in drought and dryness extremes. A more detailed discussion of indices for the USA illustrates features of some of these trends, including a significant change in trends of extremes which occurred in the 1970s. There is considerable decadal variability in drought area in the contiguous USA, and the long-term trend depends on the beginning and ending years chosen, but there has generally been an increasing trend in drought area over the 20th to 21st centuries and over the last four decades. The annual percent area of the USA experiencing greater-than-normal number of days with (without) precipitation has increased (decreased) over the 20th to 21st centuries, but both indices have increased over the last four decades. There has been an increase in the occurrence of extreme 1-day precipitation events over the last hundred years, with the rate of increase accelerating in recent decades. Extremely warm maximum and minimum temperatures have shown an increasing trend over the 20th to 21st centuries and over the last four decades, while the occurrence of extremely cold maximum and minimum temperatures has decreased over these periods. The U.S. Climate Extremes Index, which integrates several extremes indices, indicates that the 1940s and 1960s were the decades of most stable (smallest occurrence of extremes) climate in the last 104 years, and that recent decades have become as unstable (variable) as, or more unstable than, the early decades of the 20th century but for different reasons.
Passivity as a Design Tool for Group Coordination

We pursue a group coordination problem where the objective is to steer the differences between output variables of the group members to a prescribed compact set. To stabilize this set we study a class of feedback rules that are implementable with local information available to each member. When the information flow between neighboring members is bidirectional, we show that the closed-loop system exhibits a special interconnection structure which inherits the passivity properties of its components. By exploiting this structure we develop a passivity-based design framework, which results in a broad class of feedback rules that encompass as special cases some of the existing formation stabilization and group agreement designs in the literature. The passivity approach offers additional design flexibility compared to these special cases, and systematically constructs a Lurie-type Lyapunov function for the closed-loop system. We further study the robustness of these feedback laws in the presence of a time-varying communication topology, and present a persistency of excitation condition which allows the interconnection graph to lose connectivity pointwise in time as long as it is established in an integral sense.
Reference specification in multilingual document production

To produce documents in multiple languages automatically requires a language-independent representation of the documents' meaning. For a person to build this language-independent representation by communicating in natural language with a computer system, the problem of reference must be addressed. This problem, inherent in natural language, presents itself not only in the specification of the language-independent representation, but also in the generation of documents with the meaning contained in this representation. This thesis presents methods to make both the specification of entities in the user interface and the generation of expressions to refer to these entities in documents more natural and provides empirical evidence demonstrating the efficacy of these methods. More specifically, this thesis describes the development of three types of reference mechanisms: a statistical model that uses domain and lexical knowledge to organize new options in the interface; techniques for controlling coreference specification that take advantage of discourse structure and genre features; and automatically learned models for generating expressions to refer to new and already mentioned entities in a particular domain. The evaluation of these reference mechanisms establishes that specifying new entities using an interface informed by computational linguistic processing reduces the amount of time required to refer to entities in the interface; exploiting discourse structure and genre features is more helpful than traditional knowledge-editing interfaces for referring to entities in the interface that are already contained in the knowledge representation; and using learned linguistic information to generate referring expressions in documents leads to expressions that more closely match the decisions of people.
The Asian American Advantage in Math among Young Children: The Complex Role of Parenting

Asian American children exhibit stronger math and reading skills than white children at school entry, a pattern that has motivated scholars to examine early childhood to determine when and why these gaps form. Yet, to date, it has been unclear what parenting practices might explain this “Asian Advantage.” Analyzing more than 4,100 children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort, we find that the role of parenting is complex. Asian American parents have high educational expectations compared with whites but are less engaged in traditional measures of parenting (e.g., reading to the child, maternal warmth, parent-child relationship), and these differences matter for understanding the Asian American/white math advantage in early childhood. Thus, even by age four, Asian American parents (across ethnic subgroups) play an important but complex role in the development of a child’s cognitive skills in the first few years of life.
Relating Pneumococcal Carriage Among Children to Disease Rates Among Adults Before and After the Introduction of Conjugate Vaccines

The use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in children has a strong indirect effect on disease rates in adults. When children are vaccinated with PCVs, other serotypes that are not targeted by the vaccine can increase in frequency (serotype replacement) and reduce the direct and indirect benefits of the vaccine. To understand and predict the likely impacts of serotype replacement, it is important to know how patterns in the transmission of serotypes among children relate to disease rates in adults. We used data on pneumococcal carriage and disease from Navajo Nation children and adults collected before and after the routine use of PCVs (1998-2012). Using regression models within a Bayesian framework, we found that serotype-specific carriage and invasiveness (disease incidence divided by carriage prevalence) had similar patterns in children and adults. Moreover, carriage in children, invasiveness in children, and a serotype-specific random intercept (which captured additional variation associated with the serotypes) could predict the incidence serotype-specific pneumococcal disease in adults 18-39 years of age and those 40 years of age or older in the era of routine use of PCVs. These models could help us predict the effects of future pneumococcal vaccine use in children on disease rates in adults, and the modeling approach developed here could be used to test these findings in other settings.
Analysis of Health Status of Workers in A Iron and Steel Plant

[Objective]To understand the health status of workers in the cold rolled stainless steel plant via health examination,and provide basic information for occupational disease control. [Methods]455 workers working in the cold rolled plant were studied by collecting the occupational and medical history and examining the health. Workers from the raw materials and the center of technology in this iron and steel plant were selected as control group. Examination items included:blood pressure measurements,the internal medicine and surgical routine inspection,examination by abdomen B-ultrasound and chest X-ray,eye-nose-throat (ENT) and oral cavity checks (including hearing,lung function determination),and some laboratory tests.[Results]The detection rates of hearing abnormalities,ECG abnormalities,and ENT and oral cavity abnormalities among workers working in the cold rolled plant were significantly higher than those of control group,the differences were significant(P0.05). With the extending length of service,the abnormal detection rates of hearing and ENT and oral cavity gradually increased(P0.01).[Conclusion]The abnormal detection rates of ECG,hearing and ENT and oral cavity were high among workers in the cold rolled stainless steel plant,related protection should be strengthened.
Circumscribed Choroidal Hemangioma

Abstract Circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors that can produce retinal exudation and fluid leakage.