cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sides of the Moon: Detroit and the Cinema of Proximity

Fly into the Detroit Wayne County Airport today, or DTW as it is notated on your boarding pass, and you cannot help but notice a large sign declaring Detroit to be ‘America’s Great Comeback City’. It’s an intriguing designation, not least in light of the shape of the city and its suburbs. Modern Detroit is a sprawling metropolis, spreading into parts of what is called the Tri-County Area, meaning Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties, in South-East Michigan. The city is both indicative of late-modern American cities in its own post-war shift toward the suburban and historically distinctive in its major role in the automotive industry, while notable also in the history of the American popular music industry, not least played on your car radio.
Properties of novel metamorphic III-V materials with ultra-low bandgaps (Conference Presentation)

We present magnetooptical and transport properties of metamorphic periodic structures containing InAsSb layers with controllable modulated Sb composition [1]. The modulation period is determined by the thicknesses of the strain compensated InAsSbx/InAsSby pairs grown on a virtual AlGaInSb substrate with a lattice constant of 6.25 A. We demonstrate that the bandgap energy of ordered InAsSb0.3/InAsSb0.75 alloy varies from 100mev to a few meV as a result of the well-regulated variation of the modulation period from ∼3 to ∼7.5 nm. The material effective masses and the specific character of the energy spectra will be discussed. 1. G. Belenky, Y. Lin, L. Shterengas, D. Donetsky, G. Kipshidze and S. Suchalkin, Electron. Lett. 51 (19), 1521, (2015)
Turning Your Place into Projects

This chapter discusses how educators can turn their place into projects that might occur either in their immediate learning environment, such as their school or university, or in their local community. I begin with a brief discussion of place-based learning definitions and then explain the theoretical constructs of experiential learning. The chapter moves from the theoretical to the practical by describing a series of place-based projects that instructors can incorporate into their courses. These projects are located in two different environments: schools/universities and the local community. These projects are described in enough detail that instructors could incorporate them in their own classes including practical examples.
Electrochemiluminescence detection in paper-based and other inexpensive microfluidic devices

There is a need in the field of microfluidics for integration of analytical detection methods onto small fluidic chips. Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) is an effective method for detecting a wide range of analytes, including small molecules, metal ions and bacteria. This Minireview discusses recent applications of ECL-based detection methods to inexpensive microfluidic devices. We discuss various paper and cloth based devices, including 3D-origami devices and devices utilizing bipolar electrodes. We also discuss novel devices that have replaced traditional instrumentation with inexpensive and portable equipment, such as mobile phones.
Adding Insult to Injury: Sex, Sexual Orientation, and Juror Decision-Making in a Case of Intimate Partner Violence

Societal definitions of intimate partner violence (IPV) are highly gendered and heteronormative, resulting in dissonance regarding cases of same-sex IPV. This study explored perceptions of IPV when the context of the case is inconsistent with societal norms regarding sex and sexuality. Mock jurors read a vignette describing a case of alleged IPV in which the sex and sexual orientation of the defendant were manipulated. Participants (N = 415) rendered a verdict and provided ratings of the defendant, victim, and case. Results suggest participants were more confident in a guilty verdict when the defendant was male, compared to female. Further, male defendants were perceived as more morally responsible, but only when the victim was female. Perceptions regarding the crime suggest violence perpetrated by a man against a woman is viewed more adversely than any other condition. Data are discussed in terms of implications for legal decision-makers and public policy.
Ten-year review of Clostridium difficile infection in acute care hospitals in the USA, 2005-2014

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a major health concern for acute care hospitals because of the increase in the number and severity of cases. Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, a 10-year review was performed on the trends in incidence, mortality, and hospital charges for CDI patients in acute care hospitals during 2005-2014. The review found increased CDI incidence and hospital charges, but decreased mortality during the 10-year study period.
Quantitative [Fe]MRI determination of the dynamics of PSMA-targeted SPIONs discriminates among prostate tumor xenografts based on their PSMA expression.

BACKGROUND There is a need for a quantitative MRI method for iron concentration magnetic resonance imaging suitable for measuring the delivery of targeted superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to tumors. PURPOSE To apply our newly developed [Fe]MRI method to the quantitative imaging in both space and time of the iron dynamics of anti-prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) conjugated SPIONs within human prostate tumor xenografts in nude mice. STUDY TYPE Longitudinal. ANIMAL MODEL 45 Harlan Sprague Dawley athymic nude mice bearing xenografts from PSMA-positive LNCaP, C4-2 and PSMA-negative DU145 tumors from human prostate tumor cell lines. FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE 1.0 Tesla/ T1 and T2 weighted spin echo. ASSESSMENT Image intensity and contrast measurements. STATISTICAL TESTS Student's t-test. RESULTS The SPION diffusion coefficient within tumors was D = 44.8 ± 2.4 × 10-6 mm2 /s. The iron taken up by PSMA-positive LNCaP and C4-2 tumors was proportional to the tail-vein injected dose from 60 nmol to 1.6 μmol; injection of 1 μmol of iron in anti-PSMA conjugated SPIONs resulted in a tumor [Fe] of 76 μM. Even at the highest iron dose of 1.6 μmol, the PSMA-negative DU145 tumors took up no significant iron from the anti-PSMA conjugated SPIONs. A similar lack of nonspecific uptake was observed when the antibodies against PSMA were omitted from the injected SPION preparation. The fraction of the initial iron dose that was taken up by PSMA-positive tumors was 2.32 ± 0.75% (n = 10); uptake by the PSMA-negative DU145 tumors and for SPIONs without anti-PSMA antibodies was 0.16 ± 0.34% (n = 7) giving a ratio of [Fe] in PSMA + versus PSMA- tumors greater than 15:1 (P = 0.01). DATA CONCLUSION Quantitative [Fe]MRI of anti-PSMA conjugated SPIONs discriminated between PSMA-positive LNCaP and C4-2 and PSMA-negative DU145 human prostate tumor xenografts in vivo. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017. J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2018;48:469-481.
Molecular computation of complex Markov chains with self-loop state transitions

This paper describes a systematic method for molecular implementation of complex Markov chain processes with self-loop transitions. Generally speaking, Markov chains consist of two parts: a set of states, and state transition probabilities. Each state is modeled by a unique molecular type, referred to as a data molecule. Each state transition is modeled by a unique molecular type, referred to as a control molecule, and a unique molecular reaction. Each reaction consumes data molecules of one state and produces data molecules of another state. As we show in this paper, the produced data molecules are the same as the reactant data molecules for self-loop transitions. Although the reactions corresponding to self-loop transitions do not change the molecular concentrations of the data molecules, they are required in order for the system to compute probabilities correctly. The concentrations of control molecules are initialized according to the probabilities of corresponding state transitions in the chain. The steady-state probability of Markov chain is computed by equilibrium concentration of data molecules. We demonstrate our method for a molecular design of a seven-state Markov chain as an instance of a complex Markov chain process with self-loop state transitions. The molecular reactions are then mapped to DNA strand displacement reactions. Using the designed DNA system we compute the steady-state probability matrix such that its element (i, j) corresponds to the long-term probability of staying in state j, given it starts from state i. For example, the error in the computed probabilities is shown to be less than 2% for DNA strand-displacement reactions.
Multiple grain growth events in liquid phase sintering

Sintered tungsten heavy alloys consist of a solidified liquid alloy matrix phase which interpenetrates a solid tungsten skeletal structure. A consequence of liquid phase sintering is considerable grain growth while the compact densifies. The driving force for grain growth is a decrease in the interfacial surface energy, and the process itself is the combined result of liquid diffusion, solid diffusion, and vapor diffusion if porosity is present. In this study, we utilized microgravity sintered samples to avoid solid-liquid segregation to study the multiple diffusion processes. Coupled with the diffusion event through the liquid phase, there is simultaneous solid-state sintering such as coalescence. The dihedral angle determines the contiguity and the grain growth rate. The liquid diffusion grain growth rate constant is at least one order of magnitude larger than the solid diffusion grain growth rate constant. As composition changes, the ratio of grain growth contributions from these three components also changes, which, in turn, causes grain size, grain size distribution, and contiguity variations.
Resource Contention Metrics for Oversubscribed Scheduling Problems.

We investigate a task insertion heuristic for oversubscribed scheduling problems, max-availability, that uses a simple estimate of resource contention to assign tasks to intervals expected to have the best worst case resource availability. Prior research in value and variable ordering heuristics for scheduling problems indicated that sophisticated, but more costly measures of resource contention can outperform simpler ones by more reliably pruning the search space. We demonstrate that for oversubscribed, priority-based problems where a feasible, optimal solution may not even exist, max-availability generates schedules of similar quality to other contention based heuristics with much less computational overhead.
Challenges to the Adenosine Hypothesis for the Regulation of Coronary Blood Flow

In the past few years there have been several objections raised to the concept that adenosine is involved in reactive hyperemia and in the adjustment of coronary blood flow to myocardial needs. In some cases (1, 2, 3) the reports have essentially repudiated the hypothesis whereas in others (4, 5) the hypothesis has been modified. Furthermore, there is lack of agreement of experimental results bearing on certain aspects of the hypothesis. It is the purpose of this communication to consider the points raised by critics of the adenosine hypothesis and to attempt to clarify them where this seems possible.
Survival of Firms and the Infinite Horizon Formula: A Contradiction for Corporate Valuation?

This note clarifies that the infinite horizon assumption in corporate valuations is empirically justified in most cases.
Magnetron-Enhanced Reactive-Ion-Etching of Al-1%Si-2%Cu Alloy

Plasma etching of Al-1%Si-2%Cu presents serious challenges in corrosion, residue, and critical dimension (CD) control in single wafer etchers. One approach is to pattern the metal with oxide mask so chlorine can no longer be trapped in resist and sidewall polymers to cause corrosion. The magnetron-enhanced reactive-ion-etching (MERIE) offers a high degree of ionization at very low pressure, so anisotropic etching with reasonably high etch rate can be achieved even without sidewall protection. This paper summarizes our MERIE process characterization in terms of the effects of SiCl 4 flow rate and plasma power on selectivity and CD control using an oxide mask. Typical etching was performed at 1000 watts and 40 sccm SiCl 4 with the unthrottled pressure at 4.0 mTorr and a self-induced dc bias of 75 V. A 2-minute NF 3 plasma at 250 watts and 100 sccm of NF 3 flow served as the passivation step. This metal etch process has been successfully implemented in a doublelayer-metal interconnect technology.
Salmonellosis Outbreaks by Food Vehicle, Serotype, Season, and Geographical Location, United States, 1998 to 2015.

ABSTRACT Salmonella is a major cause of foodborne illness in the United States. Although salmonellosis outbreaks are relatively common, food vehicles and other characteristics are not well understo...
Residency Program Directors of United States Ophthalmology Programs: A Descriptive Analysis.

Purpose To analyze the academic background, scholarly achievements, and demographic characteristics of all US ophthalmology residency program directors (PDs). Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Online search of publicly available resources conducted from February 16, 2019, to February 26, 2019. Study population: 116 ophthalmology residency PDs. Main outcome measurements were demographic and academic data. Results A total of 116 program directors were analyzed. Eighty-four of 116 (72%) PDs were male. The average age was 50.0 years old. The mean age at appointment was 42.9 years old. Ninety-three percent graduated from an American medical school, and 97% received an MD degree. Twenty percent of PDs completed an additional graduate degree, most commonly a master's degree (7 of 23) and doctor of philosophy (7 of 23). Seventy-eight percent completed a fellowship, with the most frequent in glaucoma (24%), cornea and external diseases (22%), and neuroophthalmology (21%). The mean number of publications according to PubMed was 17.6 (range, 0–92). There were no significant differences between the average number of publications by male PDs and those by female PDs (19.2 ± 20.5 vs. 13.5 ± 23.1, respectively; P = 0.21). On average, the H-index was 8.7 (range, 0–35) and was higher in male than in female PDs (9.8 ± 8.3 vs. 5.4 ± 4.0, respectively; P = 0.01). Conclusions Ophthalmology PDs are predominantly male with fellowship training in glaucoma, cornea, or neuro-ophthalmology. Women remain underrepresented, and future efforts should be aimed at addressing this disparity.
Fluctuation and diversity of Hydromedusae (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria) in a highly productive region of the Gulf of Mexico inferred from high frequency plankton sampling.

Hydrozoa medusae undergo blooms and seasonal fluctuations; however the drivers of such fluctuations are unknown. To understand how medusa populations fluctuate in response to seasonal factors such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll a, and to enhance our taxonomic knowledge of Hydrozoa in Galveston Bay (TX), we performed frequent plankton sampling from September 2015 to September 2016. We collected 1,321 medusae in 190 sampling days. Using molecular barcoding and morphological analyses we identified 25 species, of which 21 are a first record for Galveston Bay and eight for the Gulf of Mexico. Daily medusa abundance is non-linearly related to temperature, with peak abundance estimated with multivariate regression analysis at approximately 21C. The role that temperature plays in driving medusa abundance has implications for future climate change scenarios, given that temperature in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to rise 4 °C by the end of the century. We also show that the biodiversity of the Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico is underestimated and that molecular barcoding is an important and efficient tool to identify large number of medusae. We conclude that dense plankton sampling is necessary to capture both diversity and abundance of planktonic medusae.
Verifying Policy-based Routing at Internet Scale

Routing policy configuration plays a crucial role in determining the path that network traffic takes to reach a destination. Network administrators/operators typically decide the routing policy for their networks/routers independently. The paths/routes resulted from these independently configured routing policies might not necessarily meet the intent of the network administrators/operators. Even the very basic networkwide properties of the routing policies such as reachability between a pair of nodes need to be verified.In this paper, we propose a scheme that characterizes routingpolicy verification problems into a Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT) problems. The key idea is to formulate the SMT model in a policy-aware manner so as to reduce/eliminate the mutual dependencies between variables as much as possible. Further, we reduce the size of the generated SMT model through pruning. We implement and evaluate the policy-aware model through an outof-box SMT solver. The experimental results show that the policyaware model can reduce the time it takes to perform verification by as much as 100x even under a modest topology size. It takes only a few minutes to answer a query for a topology containing tens of thousands of nodes.
Chapter 11 Rights Offerings and Private Placements: How Creditors Can Strike a Windfall

Debtors-in-Possession have increasingly turned to rights offerings and/or private placement sales as an exit financing option in chapter 11 bankruptcy. When timed and executed properly, these offerings can provide a windfall of returns to select creditors. The windfall does not appear to exist outside of chapter 11, as rights offerings and private placements are subject to heightened fiduciary duties without the flexibility of the Bankruptcy Code. Notwithstanding objections to many aspects of these sales and their outcomes, courts adjudicating these disputes have found no violations of the Code. As the popularity of these offerings within chapter 11 has increased in recent years and courts have consistently approved them, the ability for creditors to strike a windfall has become more apparent. This Article asserts that courts adjudicating rights offerings disputes have correctly applied the text of the Code. However, unbridled financing terms combined with intentional complexity, opaque value incurred, and strategic negotiation methods have created the opportunity for favored groups of creditors to strike a windfall that the drafters of the Code never intended to allow, as it undermines the equitable nature of bankruptcy. While some commentators and at least one judge have discussed rights offering components through a reasonability lens, there is currently no standard reasonability test when assessing rights offerings. This Article argues that a judicially established reasonability standard assessed against rights offering finance terms would mitigate the windfall yet preserve reasonable returns for investors willing to take financial risks. This result would more properly align with the equitable goals of bankruptcy, while still allowing for successful debtor exit financing.
Posttraumatische stressstoornis en opvoedingsstijl: de mediërende rol van emotieregulatie

Trauma bij de moeder wordt vaak in verband gebracht met opvoedingsproblemen, zoals overmatige strengheid of juist overmatig permissief gedrag. Er is echter weinig bekend over de mechanismen die hierachter schuilgaan. In deze studie is onderzoek gedaan naar de mogelijke invloed van posttraumatische stressstoornis (PTSS) en emotieregulatie op disfunctioneel opvoedingsgedrag van moeders. De hypothese gaat uit van een mediatiemodel waarin PTSS en disfunctioneel ouderschap (zowel permissief als overreactief opvoedingsgedrag) indirect met elkaar in verband staan via een gebrekkige emotieregulatie (emotionele disregulatie) bij de moeder. De deelnemers aan het onderzoek, 78 moeders van kinderen tussen de 1,5 en 3 jaar, zijn getest op basis van de CAPS‑5 (Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5). Van deze moeders voldeden er 19 aan de criteria voor PTSS. Verder zijn er meetinstrumenten voor zelfrapportage gebruikt, waarin de moeders aangeven in hoeverre zij problemen ervaren in emotieregulatie, permissief gedrag en overreactief ouderschap. De resultaten wijzen uit dat het verband tussen PTSS en permissief gedrag (maar niet tussen PTSS en overreactief gedrag) volledig wordt gemedieerd door emotionele disregulatie. Vergeleken met de andere moeders blijken de moeders met PTSS indirect, via emotionele disregulatie, een grotere mate van permissief ouderschap te rapporteren. Mogelijk hebben moeders met PTSS moeite met assertief opvoeden wanneer de traumasymptomen hun vermogen tot emotieregulatie verstoren. Dit onderzoek benadrukt de noodzaak om interventies te ontwikkelen die getraumatiseerde moeders leren omgaan met hun negatieve gevoelens, zodat ze in staat zijn hun kinderen beter en effectiever op te voeden.
Transcatheter balloon dilatation of cor triatriatum dexter with percutaneous atrial septal defect closure

Abstract Cor triatriatum dexter is an extremely rare congenital heart defect and cause of hypoxia in adults. We describe a case of cor triatriatum dexter discovered incidentally due to an iatrogenic atrial septal defect. The cor triatriatum dexter resolved with balloon dilation - a novel technique to manage this rare clinical condition.
Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) versus Yoga Impact on 12 Month Post Intervention Cognitive Outcome in Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment

There is currently limited and mixed evidence for the cognitive benefits of Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) and yoga in persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment (pwMCI). The objective of this study was to investigate the benefit of computerized cognitive training (CCT) vs. physical (yoga) intervention on cognitive abilities. Participants in this study were part of the larger Mayo Clinic's Healthy Action to Benefit Independence and Thinking (HABIT) program comparative effectiveness trial. The HABIT program is designed for pwMCI and their care partner and consists of five behavioral interventions: CCT, Memory Support System-Calendar (MSS-Calendar), wellness education, support groups, and yoga. The subtractive study design randomly withheld one of the interventions for a total of five study arms. Longitudinal mixed-effects regression models were used to investigate the hypothesis that CCT and yoga has a greater positive impact on psychomotor and basic attention abilities at 12 months post-intervention as compared to the other HABIT interventions. Findings showed CCT had a positive impact compared to yoga on the Cogstate psychomotor/attention composite at 12 months post-intervention (ES = 0.54; unadjusted p value = 0.007, adjusted p value = 0.021). The impact of yoga or combining CCT with yoga did not show statistically significant improvement. Continued CCT practice at home showed further benefit on psychomotor/attention at 12 months post-intervention. There was no significant benefit of CCT or yoga on Cogstate learning/working memory composite.
Primary and Revision Rhinoplasty: A Single Surgeon Experience and Patient Satisfaction.

There is minimal information describing the common characteristics among patients seeking primary/revision rhinoplasty. Success is traditionally interpreted from the surgeon's viewpoint, without considering the patient's perspective. The study's aims were to (1) identify/compare anatomic and functional characteristics commonly found in patients seeking primary and revision rhinoplasties; (2) assess patient satisfaction using a survey; and (3) explore whether graft choice (auricular cartilage versus rib cartilage) affects patient satisfaction and outcome in revision rhinoplasty. Methods A retrospective review of all rhinoplasties by a single surgeon from June 2016 to January 2020 was performed, focusing on preoperative anatomic/functional characteristics and operative interventions performed. A survey was then used to assess patient satisfaction. Finally, survey outcomes were compared between patients who received auricular and rib cartilage grafts in revision rhinoplasty. Results A total of 102 rhinoplasties (53 primary and 49 revisions) were included. Primary rhinoplasties were noted to have more patients with "big" noses (P = 0.015) or humps (P < 0.010). Patients undergoing revision rhinoplasties more commonly exhibited middle vault collapse (P = 0.022). The survey response rate was 60%. Revision rhinoplasty patients had a higher incidence of dissatisfaction with their outcome. Conclusions Several features among patients seeking revision rhinoplasties could have been created in the primary operation. The rhinoplasty surgeon should be careful to not introduce new issues or create worse deformities than those seen following the initial operation. Survey-based outcome analysis demonstrated that revision rhinoplasty patients are more likely to have a greater rate of dissatisfaction following their operation.
Three orphan histidine kinases inhibit Clostridioides difficile sporulation

The ability of the anaerobic gastrointestinal pathogen, Clostridioides difficile, to survive outside the host relies on the formation of dormant endospores. Spore formation is contingent on the activation of a conserved transcription factor, Spo0A, by phosphorylation. Multiple kinases and phosphatases regulate Spo0A activity in other spore-forming organisms; however, these factors are not well conserved in C. difficile. Previously, we discovered that deletion of a conserved phosphotransfer protein, CD1492, increases sporulation, indicating that CD1492 inhibits C. difficile spore formation. In this study, we investigate the functions of additional conserved orphan phosphotransfer proteins, CD2492, CD1579, and CD1949 which are hypothesized to regulate Spo0A phosphorylation. Disruption of the conserved phosphotransfer protein, CD2492, also increased sporulation frequency, similarly to the CD1492 mutant, and in contrast to a previous study. A CD1492 CD2492 mutant phenocopied the sporulation and gene expression patterns of the single mutants, suggesting that these proteins function in the same genetic pathway to repress sporulation. Deletion of the conserved CD1579 phosphotransfer protein also variably increased sporulation frequency; however, knockdown of CD1949 expression did not influence sporulation. We provide evidence that CD1492, CD2492 and CD1579 function as phosphatases, as mutation of the conserved histidine residue for phosphate transfer abolished CD2492 function, and expression of the CD1492 or CD2492 histidine site-directed mutants or the wild-type CD1579 allele in a parent strain resulted in a dominant negative hypersporulation phenotype. Altogether, at least three phosphotransfer proteins, CD1492, CD2492 and CD1579 (herein, PtpA, PtpB and PtpC) repress C. difficile sporulation initiation by regulating activity of Spo0A.
Law and Terrorism in the US and Beyond

Development of a legal regime to counterterrorism is a modern phenomenon that is maturing in the twenty-first century. Prior to the 9/11 attacks, in most states terrorism was treated as criminal behavior, and the methods of deterring and sanctioning terrorism were drawn from the law enforcement experience. Counterterrorism law today includes distinct prevention elements, including investigations and detention authorities, discrete interrogation rules and practices, and the use of military force, among other elements. Counterterrorism law blends international and domestic laws, and includes human rights protections, special laws to govern armed conflicts, and several specific international treaties that respond to unique attributes of international terrorism.
Abstract 354: Vascular Oxidative Stress Promotes Aortic Stiffening In Hypertension

We have previously shown that T cells and the cytokine IL-17a contribute to aortic stiffening in hypertension. Because oxidative stress also contributes to hypertension, we sought to determine if chronic oxidative stress causes aortic stiffening and to determine if T cells are involved. We studied tgsm/p22phox mice, which have an overexpression of the NADPH oxidase subunit p22phox in the vascular smooth muscle and approximately 2-fold increase vascular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Six month-old tgsm/p22phox mice were normotensive at baseline but exhibited increased aortic stiffness as indicated by the leftward shift of stress-strain curves (p
Cerebral blood flow during HUTT in young patients with orthostatic intolerance.

To investigate patterns of change in cerebral perfusion during head-up tilt testing (HUTT) in children and young adults with autonomic dysfunction. We utilized near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to estimate bilateral cerebral perfusion patterns during HUTT in 71 adolescents and young adults with a diagnosis of autonomic dysfunction. In addition, we used transthoracic impedance to measure cardiac stroke volume and thus infer autonomic tone, heart rate, and blood pressure during the test. Cerebral blood-flow wave-patterns were then visually analyzed and associated with clinical symptoms and measures of cardiovascular and autonomic function. Visual analysis of contour changes in head NIRS values during phases of HUTT revealed variable patterns of cerebral blood flow, some specifically associated with severe symptomatology (i.e., syncope). We also observed an inequality in blood flow of the cerebral hemispheres in many patients. Finally, we observed changes in cardiac stroke volume during HUTT, as previously reported, that related to changes in head NIRS. These results confirm a decrease in cerebral blood flow during HUTT as assessed by head NIRS in patients with autonomic dysfunction. Specifically, we have profiled the cerebral blood flow contours throughout the phases of HUTT, which add insight into the clinical spectrum of the disorder and may correlate with clinical severity.
Measuring inequality change in an economy with income growth

Abstract This paper reassesses an article by Fields which criticizes using standard income inequality indices for the evaluation of high income sector enlargement growth. This paper dissents in three ways: the intuition that motivated Fields' paper is found to only partially account for the changes occurring during growth; the inequality index that Fields developed is shown to incorporate the concept of ‘symmetry’; and the concept of inequality as the expected experience of income differences is shown to support the use of the standard indices.
3′,5′-Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate-Requiring Mutants of Escherichia coli

Mutants that require exogenous 3′,5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) for exponential growth were isolated from strains deficient in adenyl cyclase. Studies of one strain showed that cAMP is not incorporated into macromolecules; instead, it seems to have a regulatory function, i.e., in media lacking cAMP, cells form ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein at linear rather than exponential rates. The exact lesion is not known; ribosomes, messenger RNA, and the β and β′ subunits of RNA polymerase continue to be made in absence of added cAMP.
Frequency Switching in Dispersive Optical Bistability

The theory of dispersive optical bistability is considered with special attention to the cavity dynamics when the input frequency is changed. Changes in the conventions used in the slowly varying amplitude and phase approximation (SVEA) are necessary. The distinction between phase- and frequency-switching is shown. Preliminary results are discussed.
Smallholder maize production and climatic risk: a case study from Mexico.

This article explores the strategies employed by smallholder farmers in Mexico to cope with the affects of climatic variability, and how seasonal climate forecasts may assist these farmers in mitigating climatic risk. Recognizing that the decisions of smallholder farmers are intricately tied to the political-economic circumstances in which they operate, the article discusses how agricultural policy in Mexico affects the vulnerability of small-scale producers and may inhibit their ability to use climatic forecasts to their advantage. The article first reviews the literature on smallholder adaptation in Mexico, and discusses briefly policy and institutional issues affecting adaptation at the farm-level. Using the case of small-scale maize producers in Tlaxcala, Mexico, as an illustration, the article then argues that political-economic uncertainty outweighs climatic variability as a determinant of the production strategies of small-scale producers. In these circumstances, the farmers are unlikely to use new seasonal climate forecasts.
Factors Influencing the Production of H and M Antigens by Histoplasma capsulatum: Development and Evaluation of a Shake Culture Procedure

Abstract Studies were undertaken to improve the production of histoplasmin for use in complement-fixation tests and in the determination of H and M antibodies. A shake culture method performed at 25 C was developed with a yeast-phase inoculum. Eight strains of Histoplasma were tested in three synthetic media to evaluate the effects of strain and medium on H and M antigen production. Intrastrain variation was negligible, and antigen production was reproducible. All of the strains produced H antigen; six strains produced both H and M antigens, and two produced only H antigen. The time of H and M antigen appearance varied with the medium; M antigen appearance was dependent upon the strain and medium used. Titers of M antigen appeared to be greater in stagnant culture.
Online Learning in Practice: An Introduction to Statistics Course

Recently, online learning has generated a great deal of interest. The offering of MOOCs for interested students and for possible college credit has stimulated a lot of animated discussion, in both online and face-to-face modalities. Here we introduce and share with interested colleagues course materials for the standard introduction to statistics course. Our purpose is to provide needed course material for instructors teaching an introductory course in statistics. In fact, this material may be used as-is or topic-by-topic in a fully online course or a hybrid (blended) course. The course materials include course notes, narrated slideshow lectures, virtual handouts, homework assignments and solutions. Suggested course outlines are included in this document.
Synthesis and amino acid composition of basic proteins in mammalian sperm nuclei.

Abstract The basic chromosomal proteins (SCP) of human, mouse, rabbit and guinea pig sperm nuclei were characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and amino acid analysis. Spermatozoa were decapitated with 1% SDS and the nuclei recovered by density gradient centrifugation. Examination by Nomarski and electron microscopy revealed the nuclei to be intact and 99% pure. The basic proteins were extracted from nuclei, aminoethylated and purified by ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. The SCP of human, rabbit and guinea pig gave single protein bands with similar mobilities when subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In contrast, aminoethylated mouse SCP consisted of two proteins, SCP·AE1 and SCP·AE2, which had different electrophoretic mobilities. The SCP of these mammalian species were characteristically rich in arginine (47–54.4%) and cysteine (7.7–12.2%). Major differences existed in the amino acid compositions of these proteins. Mouse and human SCP were rich in histidine (12.2 and 7.7%, respectively) and guinea pig was high in tyrosine (11.7%) and phenylalanine (3.5%). Valine was detected only in rabbit SCP and proline in human and guinea pig. Aspartic acid, methionine and tryptophan were not detected in all four species. Studies on the incorporation of [3H]arginine into mouse SCP demonstrated that these basic proteins are synthesized during the terminal stages of spermatogenesis and are subsequently conserved.
Balancing personalized medicine and personalized care.

The current description of personalized medicine by the National Institutes of Health is “the science of individualized prevention and therapy.” Although physicians are just beginning to see the promise of genetic medicine coming to fruition, the rapid pace of sequencing technology, informatics, and computer science predict a true revolution in the ability to care for patients in the near future. The enthusiasm expressed by researchers is well founded, but the expectations voiced by the public do not center on advancing technology. Rather, patients are asking for personalized care: a holistic approach that considers an individual’s physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. This perspective considers psychological, religious, and ethical challenges that may arise as the precision of preventive medicine improves. Psychological studies already highlight the barriers to single gene testing and suggest significant barriers to the predictive testing envisioned by personalized medicine. Certain religious groups will likely mount opposition if they believe personalized medicine encourages embryo selection. If the technology prompts cost-containment discussions, those concerned about the sanctity of life may raise ethical objections. Consequently, the availability of new scientific developments does not guarantee advances in treatment because patients may prove unwilling to receive and act upon personalized genetic information. This perspective highlights current efforts to incorporate personalized medicine and personalized care into the medical curriculum, genetic counseling, and other aspects of clinical practice. As these efforts are generally independent, the authors offer recommendations for physicians and educators so that personalized medicine can be implemented in a manner that meets patient expectations for personalized care.
The utility of a biased activation cell for laser-ion beam photodissociation studies

Abstract The use of a biased activation cell for performing photodissociation experiments on a triple sector ion-beam mass spectrometer is described. The objective of this work is to eliminate or reduce background signals from metastable ion and/or residual collision-induced dissociation and thereby increase sensitivities for laser-ion beam photodissociation. Selected photodissociation reactions demonstrate the utility of the biased activation cell. Biasing the activation cell separates a significant fraction (⪢ 85%) of the metastable background from the photodissociation signals, thereby increasing signal-to-noise ratios and shortening data collection times in the photodissociation experiment. In addition, the rates of photodissociating ions can be estimated. The photodissociation mass spectra of the geometric isomers trans,trans-2,4-hexadiene and cis,trans-2,4-hexadiene ions (C6H+10 are distinguishable.
An analysis of student privacy rights in the use of plagiarism detection systems.

Plagiarism detection services are a powerful tool to help encourage academic integrity. Adoption of these services has proven to be controversial due to ethical concerns about students’ rights. Central to these concerns is the fact that most such systems make permanent archives of student work to be re-used in plagiarism detection. This computerization and automation of plagiarism detection is changing the relationships of trust and responsibility between students, educators, educational institutions, and private corporations. Educators must respect student privacy rights when implementing such systems. Student work is personal information, not the property of the educator or institution. The student has the right to be fully informed about how plagiarism detection works, and the fact that their work will be permanently archived as a result. Furthermore, plagiarism detection should not be used if the permanent archiving of a student’s work may expose him or her to future harm.
Lack of sprouting and its presence after lesions of the cat spinal cord

Abstract Degeneration methods were used to study the dorsal root and descending projections after chronic partial denervation of adult cat spinal cord. Conventional mapping methods were used, supplemented in some cases by densitometric measurements of the amounts of degeneration present. The amount of shrinkage of spinal gray matter in some sections was estimated by planimetric measurement. Two preparations were used: (1) partial unilateral rhizotomy in which all dorsal roots caudal to T4 were cut except L6 (spared root preparation); (2) complete unilateral deafferentation. The projection of L6 dorsal roots was examined in spared root preparations. T13 dorsal root projections were examined in deafferented preparations in which T13 was the lowest remaining root. The projection of descending systems was mapped in spared root and deafferented preparations. The spared root displayed an increased projection in the lateral portion of the dorsal horn, in the zona intermedia. Clarke's nucleus and in the base and reticular zone of nucleus gracilis. The lowest remaining root (T13) increased its projection to laminae VII and VIII and to the base and reticular zone of nucleus gracilis. In all cases, when an increased projection resulted from prior denervation, the increase never exceeded the boundaries of the normal projection. No sprouting was observed in those regions with the strictest topographical organization, the cell nests of nucleus gracilis or lamina IX of the spinal cord, even though these regions were partially denervated by the chronic lesions. Descending projections were increased on the experimental side of deafferented preparations 12 but not of spared root preparations, suggesting that the presence of the spared root may prevent sprouting by descending systems. Because measurements of gray matter indicated that maximal sprouting occurred in segments showing least shrinkage (sprouting of L6 spared root into L6 segment), in this case shrinkage cannot account for the increased density of degeneration. These results suggest that certain conditions are important for the regulation of sprouting in the adult CNS. Firstly, sprouting is limited by a requirement for proximity and/or overlap. Secondly, the strictness of topographical localization within a particular region may limit the likelihood of sprouting into that region. Finally, a competitive or hierarchical relationship among the remaining systems may modify the capacity of a particular system to sprout.
Reference Effects of Price and Promotion on Brand Choice Behavior

When consumers are exposed to pricing and promotional activity by frequently purchased packaged goods, they may develop expectations that are used as points of reference in evaluating future activi...
Rapid characterization of amyloid-β side-chain oxidation by tandem mass spectrometry and the scoring algorithm for spectral analysis

Purpose. Amyloid-β (Aβ) is a self-aggregating protein found in senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain and is thought to play a major role in the disease process. Oxidative stress may be a predominant cause of the formation of these Aβ aggregates. This study aims at identifying possible sites of copper-catalyzed oxidation of Aβ1-40 using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and scoring algorithm for spectral analysis (SALSA). Traditionally, identification of post-translational modifications by tandem mass spectrometric analysis requires users to inspect manually thousands of MS/MS spectra, which can be a tedious and time-consuming process. With the use of SALSA, users can automatically search for post-translational modifications based on the spacing of the m/z values associated with the ion series of an amino acid sequence. Methods. Aβ1-40 was subjected to copper-catalyzed oxidative stress. LC/MS/MS and SALSA analyses were used to determine the sites of post-translational modification within the tryptic fragments. Results. Oxidation was found to occur preferentially at the histidine residues His13 and His14 and at the methionine residue (Met35) of Aβ1-40. Conclusions. The combination of LC/MS/MS and SALSA searches could dramatically improve the efficiency and accuracy of determining the specific sites of oxidation of in vitro, copper-oxidized Aβ1-40 as well as other oxidized proteins.
China: Does Government Health and Education Spending Boost Consumption?

Consumption in China is unusually low and has continued to decline as a share of GDP over the past decade. A key policy question is how to reverse this trend, and rebalance growth away from reliance on exports and investment and toward consumption. This paper investigates whether the sizable increase in government social spending in recent years lowered precautionary saving and increased consumption. The main findings are that spending on health, but not education, had an impact on household behavior. The impact, moreover, is large. A one yuan increase in government health spending is associated with a two yuan increase in urban household consumption.
Reported Level of Supervision of Young Children While in the Bathtub

Background.—Unintentional drownings cause over 600 deaths annually among children ≤5 years of age. Bathtubs are one of the leading sites for such drownings for children ≤2 years of age and especially for children 1 year or younger. Objective.—To determine reported levels of supervision of children while they are in the bathtub. Methods.—A face-to-face questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of parents or guardians of children ≤5 years of age who presented to the emergency centers of 2 children's hospitals. The investigators developed a 17-point survey that included items related to general demographics and bathtub supervision. Parents and guardians were asked details concerning who supervised while the child was bathing, any unsupervised periods, length of unsupervised periods, and activities during any unsupervised periods. Results.—A total of 259 families participated in the survey (16% Caucasian, 79% African American, 1% Hispanic, 3% Asian, and 1% biracial). The mean caregiver age was 29.1 years (SD 7.9). The mean age of the child was 30.5 months (SD 22). Overall, 31% of the respondents reported leaving their child unsupervised for some period of time in the bathtub. The mean age of children left alone was 37.5 months, with the youngest being 5 months old. Seventeen percent of children ≤24 months of age (N = 123, mean age 12.7 months) and 15% of children ≤12 months of age (N = 60, mean age 6.7 months) were reportedly at times left unsupervised in the bathtub. Common caregiver activities when leaving the child unsupervised included getting a towel or diapers, answering a phone, and cooking. A 5-month-old child was left unsupervised for >2 minutes, and an 8-month-old child was reportedly left unsupervised for >5 minutes to cook a meal. In addition, 20 of 259 respondents (7.7%) reported that their children bathed alone before the age of 5 years, and 4 respondents (1.5%) reported that their children bathed alone before the age of 2 years. Although most primary supervisors were adults, 5 children were at times supervised by children Conclusions.—Many parents reported leaving their young children at times inadequately supervised in the bathtub. This occurred in children as young as 5 months of age. Given the potential risk of drowning when their children are inadequately supervised, parents should be advised concerning proper supervision in early anticipatory guidance.
Computer-based system for target identification training based on synthetic image generation of infrared scenes

Development of a computer-based system for generating simulated infrared imagery is described. The system provides realistic representations of infrared targets and backgrounds for training soldiers in combat vehicle identification (CVI). Using Army-supplied lists of desired items, Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) constructed geometric and thermal models of NATO and Warsaw Pact combat vehicles, terrain backgrounds, countermeasures, distractors, and obscurants. Simulations of several fielded infrared sensors enable system users to generate training imagery sets, both snapshots and animated sequences, showing realistic sensor effects. The system is workstation-based and has a user interface that permits a non-expert to generate desired imagery sets from menus of available models and scenarios.