cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does subsidizing fertilizer contribute to the diet quality of farm women? Evidence from rural Mali

Agricultural policies can change incentives to grow one crop versus another, affecting farm family nutrition. Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa have implemented fertilizer subsidies with the aim of boosting agricultural productivity and enhancing food security. Yet, little is known about the intrahousehold nutritional consequences of fertilizer subsidies that often favor the production of starchy food staples—supporting calorie consumption but not micronutrient intake. We test the effects of fertilizer subsidies on gender-differentiated value of production and sales of target crops and the diet quality of female plot managers in Malian farming households. We find positive effects of the subsidy on production and sales whether plots are managed by men or women. However, more than half the women in our sample do not consume the minimum number of food groups needed for an adequate diet. Subsidized fertilizer significantly contributes to the chances that female plot managers will meet this threshold, and to consumption of iron-rich foods. Positive effects appear to be offset by the negative association of diet quality with all subsidized fertilizer received by other plot managers—perhaps because it leads to greater farm orientation toward targeted cereals and cotton. Disaggregating data by gender provides policy insights. Observing the low use rates of female plot managers for subsidized fertilizer that is obtained 51% of the time through others, ensuring that they have direct access may support higher application rates. If the subsidy program is to continue, considering nutrient-rich crops as part of the subsidy package might enhance nutritional outcomes.
CNS control of the endocrine pancreas.

Increasing evidence suggests that, although pancreatic islets can function autonomously to detect and respond to changes in the circulating glucose level, the brain cooperates with the islet to maintain glycaemic control. Here, we review the role of the central and autonomic nervous systems in the control of the endocrine pancreas, including mechanisms whereby the brain senses circulating blood glucose levels. We also examine whether dysfunction in these systems might contribute to complications of type 1 diabetes and the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.
An unusual case of a solitary cardiac myofibroma causing severe right ventricular outflow tract obstruction in an infant

Cardiac tumours are relatively uncommon, particularly in children. Myofibroma is an extremely rare variety of cardiac tumour, which nearly always arises in the context of infantile myofibromatosis. Herein, we present a case of a solitary cardiac myofibroma causing right ventricular outflow tract obstruction in a 2-month-old male infant.
T Cell Abnormalities in the Pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: an Update.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a complex disease with broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. In addition to abnormal B cell responsive leading to autoantibody production, various T cells also play different roles in promoting systemic autoimmunity and end organ damage. We aim to provide a review on recent developments in how abnormalities in different T cells subsets contribute to systemic lupus erythematosus pathogenesis and how they inform the consideration of new promising therapeutics. Distinct subsets of T cells known as T follicular helper cells enable the production of pathogenic autoantibodies. Detailed understanding of the B cell helping T cell subsets should improve the performance of clinical trials targeting the cognate T:B cell interaction. CD8+ T cells play a role in peripheral tolerance and reversal of its exhausted phenotype could potentially alleviate both systemic autoimmunity and the risk of infection. Research on the abnormal lupus T cell signaling also leads to putative therapeutic targets able to restore interleukin-2 production and suppress the production of the pathogenic IL-17 cytokine. Recently, several studies have focused on dissecting T cell populations located in the damaged organs, aiming to target the pathogenic processes specific to each organ. Numerous T cell subsets play distinct roles in SLE pathogenesis and recent research in understanding abnormal signaling pathways, cellular metabolism, and environmental cues pave the way for the development of novel therapeutics.
Hotter and sicker: External energy expenditure and the tangled evolutionary roots of anthropogenic climate change and chronic disease

Background The dual crises of climate change and chronic, or non-communicable, disease (NCD) have emerged worldwide as the global economy has industrialized over the past two centuries. Aims In this synthesis I examine humans' dependence on external (non-metabolic) energy expenditure (e.g., fire, fossil fuels) as a common, root cause in these modern crises. Materials and methods Using fossil, archeological, and historical evidence I show that the human lineage has been dependent on external energy sources since the control of fire in the Paleolithic. This reliance has grown with the development of agriculture, the use of wind- and water-power, and the most recently with industrialization and the transition to fossil fuels. To place industrialization in context I develop a Rule of 50, whereby individuals in industrialized economies consume roughly 50-times more external energy and manufacture roughly 50-times more material than do hunter-gatherers. Results Industrialization and mechanization, powered by fossil fuels, have promoted centralization and processing in food production, reduced physical activity, and increased air pollution (including greenhouse gas emissions). These developments have led in turn to NCD and climate change. Discussion and conclusion Climate change and NCD are connected both to one another and to our species' deep evolutionary dependence on external energy. Transitioning to carbon-free energy is essential to reduce the existential risks of climate change, but will likely have only modest effects on NCD. With the impending exhaustion of oil, coal, and natural gas reserves, developing replacements for fossil fuels is also critical to maintaining our species' external energy portfolio.
Commentary on "Seven institutionalized children and their adaptation in late adulthood: the children of Duplessis".

In a world that encompasses vast populations uprooted and dispersed by war, disease, and disaster, children are routinely denied that most basic pillar of childhood, a parent. The resulting effects of childhood privation and trauma deserve concentrated, serious, and prolonged scientific inquiry. Institutionalized children have always represented the human fallout of economic, medical, and political catastrophes, their stories preserved in literature from Victorian England to contemporary accounts from Romania and Africa. Lest it seem a historical or distant problem, each local community tragedy of severe abuse or death in the American foster care system generates a brief media frenzy that seems to alternate with long periods of almost complete apathy and neglect. This article is the latest in a series of pa
Tear Down this Wall Street: Anti-finance Rhetoric, Subjective Beliefs, and Investment

Anti-finance rhetoric pre-dates modern capitalism, is diffused in capitalistic economies, and peaks during economic crises. Is anti-finance rhetoric an inert cultural byproduct of crises, or does it in turn affect economic decision-making? If it does, through which channels? To avoid the confounding shocks that accompany economic crises, I manipulate exposure to anti-finance rhetoric in an artefactual field experiment. Subjects exposed to anti-finance rhetoric invest less often and less money in risky opportunities framed as stock investments relative to controls. Risk aversion does not change with exposure, whereas exposed subjects distrust the financial sector more than others. Consistent with ideologically-motivated cognition, educated, experienced, and female subjects react more than others. Treated subjects react to positive news but not to negative news about investment outcomes---anti-finance rhetoric might make them expect bad investment outcomes despite knowing the objective probabilities of each potential payoff.
Uncertainty quantification for honest regression trees

Abstract A new method is developed for quantifying the uncertainties of the estimates and predictions produced by honest random forests. This new method is based on the generalized fiducial methodology, and provides a fiducial density function that measures how likely each single honest tree is the true model. With such a density function, estimates and predictions, as well as their confidence/prediction intervals, can be obtained. The promising empirical properties of the proposed method are demonstrated by numerical comparisons with several state-of-the-art methods, and by applications to a few real data sets. Lastly, the proposed method is theoretically backed up by an asymptotic guarantee.
III Tools of Theoretical Quantum Optics

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the tools of theoretical quantum optics. Three different theoretical techniques have been used extensively in quantum optical problems: density matrix, Green's function, and quantum noise operator techniques. However, while many workers use one or the other of these approaches, most do not include all three in their tool boxes. Therefore, the chapter provides a simple discussion of each while demonstrating some of their strengths and interconnections. This is accomplished by treating the well-known problem of a single mode of the radiation field coupled to a reservoir using the density matrix, Green's function, and quantum noise operator approaches. This helps in making simple comparisons among these theoretical approaches and to see clearly the way they provide equivalent complementary descriptions of the reservoir interaction. In addition, the chapter also explains two appendices on the density matrix and Green's function descriptions of more complicated problems.
The genetic aspects of human cancer.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the genetic transmission of factors influencing the occurrence of cancer in man. It discusses the cancers that have received greater emphasis in this area of investigation and makes an assessment of the kinds of evidence in support of genetic influences. Evidence on parental factors influencing the occurrence of cancer in experimental animals, particularly mice, together with the information already known regarding genetic influences in respect to cancer in man, made it imperative that geneticists extend their knowledge on the genetic influences in human cancer and place such knowledge in proper balance with the increase in information on the chemical and physical agents and other nongenetic factors. Of principal interest is that many kinds of cancer in experimental animals are now known to be induced by viruses and that many of these viruses are endogenous. These are of particular concern to the geneticist because of evidence that they are transmitted vertically as a part of the host genome, much as genes are transmitted. If viruses are involved in the induction of cancer in man, and they most surely will be shown to be involved, the geneticist must take a very active role in their discovery.
IV Zone Plate Coded Imaging: Theory and Applications

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the theory and applications of zone plate coded imaging and presents comprehensive mathematical framework for a specific coded imaging (CI) technique, zone plate coded imaging (ZPCI), in which the coded aperture is a Fresnel zone plate and the image decoding method is coherent optical reconstruction. The chapter also discusses the applications of zone plate coded imaging in laser fusion experiments. As coded apertures offer a significant improvement in radiation collection over pinhole optics of equivalent resolution, and as laser fusion targets are small, ZPCI is particularly well-suited for imaging low level x-ray and particle emissions from these experiments. In addition, a compilation of ZPCI data is presented in the chapter, including 3.5 MeV alpha particle images of the region of thermonuclear burn and multispectral x-rays images covering the spectral range from 3–30 keV.
Improving loblolly pine somatic embryo maturation: comparison of somatic and zygotic embryo morphology, germination, and gene expression

Clonal production of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) through somatic embryogenesis has the potential to meet the increasing industrial demands for high-quality uniform raw materials. A major barrier to the commercialization of this technology is the low quality of the resulting embryos. Twenty-five newly initiated loblolly pine genotypes were followed through the process of liquid culture establishment, embryo maturation, germination, and retrieval from cryogenic storage. A maturation medium, capable of promoting the development of loblolly pine somatic embryos that can germinate, is presented that combines 1/2 P6 modified salts, 2% maltose, 13% polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG), 5 mg/l abscisic acid (ABA), and 2.5 g/l Gelrite. A procedure for converting and acclimating germinants to growth in soil and greenhouse conditions is also described. A set of somatic seedlings, produced from the maturation medium, showed 100% survival when planted in a field setting. Somatic seedlings showed normal yearly growth relative to standard seedlings from natural seed. The quality of the resulting embryos was examined and compared to that of zygotic embryos using such parameters as morphology, dry weight, germination performance, and gene expression. All of the observations that were made support the conclusion that even with the new maturation medium somatic embryos grow approximately only halfway through the normal sequence of development and then prematurely discontinue growth.
Comparing Language Disorders in Two Groups of Students with Severe Behavioral Disorders.

This study compared two groups of students (i.e., day versus residential) with severe behavioral disorders on several language measures to determine whether more severe language deficits were prese...
Three-dimensional reconstruction of cytoplasmic membrane networks in parietal cells.

There is general agreement that stimulation and consequent secretion of gastric parietal cells result in a great expansion of the apical canalicular membrane at the expense of an extensive intracellular network of membranes rich in the gastric proton pump (H,K-ATPase). However, there is ongoing controversy as to the precise nature of the intracellular membrane network, conventionally called tubulovesicles. At the heart of this controversy lies the question of whether tubulovesicles are a distinct membrane compartment or whether they are continuous with the apical plasma membrane. To address this controversy we used high-pressure, rapid freezing techniques to fix non-stimulated (resting) rabbit gastric glands for electron microscopy. Ultra-thin (60-70 nm) serial sections were used for conventional TEM; 400-500 nm sections were used for tomography. Images were digitized and models constructed using Midas and Imod software (http://bio3d.colorado.edu ). Images were aligned and contours drawn on specific cellular structures. The contours from a stack of serial sections were arranged into objects and meshed into 3D structures. For resting parietal cells our findings are as follows: (1) The apical canaliculus is a microvilli-decorated, branching membrane network that extends into and throughout the parietal cell. This agrees well with a host of previous studies. (2) The plentiful mitochondria form an extensive reticular network throughout the cytoplasm. This has not previously been reported for the parietal cell, and the significance of this observation and the dynamics of the mitochondrial network remain unknown. (3) H,K-ATPase-rich membranes do include membrane tubules and vesicles; however, the tubulovesicular compartment is chiefly comprised of small stacks of cisternae. Thus a designation of tubulocisternae seems appropriate; however, in the resting cell there are no continuities between the apical canaliculus and the tubulocisternae or between tubulocisternae. These data support the recruitment-recycling model of parietal cell stimulation.
Noise benefits in spiking retinal and sensory neuron models

This paper presents two new theorems that give sufficient conditions (and necessary in the first case) for a noise benefit or stochastic-resonance effect in popular spiking models of retinal neurons and sensory neurons. Small amounts of additive white noise increase the neuron's input-output bit count or Shannon mutual information. This stochastic-resonance (SR) effect applies to standard Poisson spiking models of retinal neurons for all possible types of finite-variance noise and for all impulsive or infinite-variance stable noise. A similar SR result holds for several types of sensory spiking neurons such as the Fitzhugh-Nagumo model and the integrate-and-fire model if the additive noise is Gaussian white noise.
Surface modified PVDF nanofiber supported thin film composite membranes for forward osmosis

Abstract Hydrophilic electrospun nanofiber supported thin film composite (TFC) membranes have recently been considered for forward osmosis (FO). Our previous work has shown that the high degree of swelling in hydrophilic nanofibers compromises fiber strength and membrane integrity. To reduce swelling, we propose to modify a non-swelling hydrophobic fiber to make it hydrophilic and fully wettable without negatively impacting the mechanical properties of the material. The method chosen for this work involves the interfacial polymerization of 1,6-hexane diamine and adipoyl chloride to form nylon 6,6 directly onto electrospun PVDF fibers. The result is a dual benefit of hydrophilization and strengthening of nanofibers to improve their wettability. The modified nanofibers exhibited significantly lower swelling propensity than intrinsically hydrophilic nylon 6,6 nanofibers due to the hydrophobic core fiber, and are thus able to retain strength in an aqueous environment. These modified PVDF supports were used in making TFC membranes that exhibited excellent flux performance and one of the lowest structural parameters reported in open literature.
Disparities in Adherence to Pediatric Sepsis Guidelines across a Spectrum of Emergency Departments: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Observational In Situ Simulation Study.

Abstract Background Each year in the United States, 72,000 pediatric patients develop septic shock, at a cost of $4.8 billion. Adherence to practice guidelines can significantly reduce mortality; however, few methods to compare performance across a spectrum of emergency departments (EDs) have been described. Objectives We employed standardized, in situ simulations to measure and compare adherence to pediatric sepsis guidelines across a spectrum of EDs. We hypothesized that pediatric EDs (PEDs) would have greater adherence to the guidelines than general EDs (GEDs). We also explored factors associated with improved performance. Methods This multi-center observational study examined in situ teams caring for a simulated infant in septic shock. The primary outcome was overall adherence to the pediatric sepsis guideline as measured by six subcomponent metrics. Characteristics of teams were compared using multivariable logistic regression to describe factors associated with improved performance. Results We enrolled 47 interprofessional teams from 24 EDs. Overall, 21/47 teams adhered to all six sepsis metrics (45%). PEDs adhered to all six metrics more than GEDs (93% vs. 22%; difference 71%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 43–84). Adherent teams had significantly higher Emergency Medical Services for Children readiness scores, MD composition of physicians to total team members, teamwork scores, provider perceptions of pediatric preparedness, and provider perceptions of sepsis preparedness. In a multivariable regression model, only greater composite team experience had greater adjusted odds of achieving an adherent sepsis score (adjusted odds ratio 1.38, 95% CI 1.01–1.88). Conclusions Using standardized in situ scenarios, we revealed high variability in adherence to the pediatric sepsis guideline across a spectrum of EDs. PEDs demonstrated greater adherence to the guideline than GEDs; however, in adjusted analysis, only composite team experience level of the providers was associated with improved guideline adherence.
Adolescents' Pregnancy Intentions, Wantedness, and Regret: Cross-Lagged Relations with Mental Health and Harsh Parenting.

The authors used cross-lagged analyses to examine the across-time influences on and consequences of adolescents' pregnancy intentions, wantedness, and regret. One hundred pregnant Latina adolescents were studied during pregnancy and at 6 and 12 months postpartum. The results revealed 4 main findings: (a) similar to what has been found in adult women, adolescents' lower prenatal pregnancy intendedness and wantedness predicted initial difficulties in parenting; (b) frequent depression symptoms predicted subsequent lower pregnancy intendedness and wantedness; (c) adolescents' poor mental health and harsh parenting of their child predicted subsequent higher childbearing regret, and (d) high childbearing regret and parenting stress were reciprocally related across time. In addition, adolescents' wantedness of their pregnancy declined prenatally to postbirth, and strong pregnancy intendedness and wantedness were not concurrently related to adolescents' poor prenatal mental health. The findings reveal how adolescents' thoughts and feelings about their pregnancies are influenced by and predictive of their mental health and parenting experiences.
The maximum distortional strain energy density criterion for shear fracture propagation With applications to the growth paths of En Échelon faults

A maximum distortional strain energy density criterion is proposed for shear fracture propagation under mixed mode loading conditions. It is shown that an isolated mode-II shear fracture would propagate in its own plane. However, the growth paths of two en echelon shear fractures deviate from straight lines due to crack interaction. Using a displacement discontinuity boundary element method, we show that the shear fracture propagation paths of two en echelon mode-II faults always converge toward each other regardless of the sense of shear and fault step. In contrast, opening (mode-I) fracture growth paths of two en echelon faults depend on the sense of stepping and shearing. The predicted propagation paths of en echelon shear fractures agree well with those observed in the field.
Efficiency aspects of electric utility coal operations

Abstract Ownership of reserves and production of coal by electric utilities presents special problems for the agencies charged with regulating these utilities. The regulatory bodies have employed various methods to prevent the utilities earning monopoly profits on their downstream coal operations. This paper uses a linear regression model to explore price and productivity differences between utility-owned coal and independent coal mines. Differences between utility-owned coal mines based on the method of regulation are also examined. The results indicate that utility-owned coal mines tend to have lower productivity and higher prices relative to independent mines. It appears that this inefficiency results from the regulation per se rather than the method of regulation to which the utility is subject.
On inverses of Hessenberg matrices

Abstract The lower half of the inverse of a lower Hessenberg matrix is shown to have a simple structure. The result is applied to find an algorithm for finding the inverse of a tridiagonal matrix. With minor modifications, the technique applies to block Hessenberg matrices.
Maximal periods of (Ehrhart) quasi-polynomials

A quasi-polynomial is a function defined of the form q(k)=c"d(k)k^d+c"d"-"1(k)k^d^-^1+...+c"0(k), where c"0,c"1,...,c"d are periodic functions in k@?Z. Prominent examples of quasi-polynomials appear in Ehrhart's theory as integer-point counting functions for rational polytopes, and McMullen gives upper bounds for the periods of the c"j(k) for Ehrhart quasi-polynomials. For generic polytopes, McMullen's bounds seem to be sharp, but sometimes smaller periods exist. We prove that the second leading coefficient of an Ehrhart quasi-polynomial always has maximal expected period and present a general theorem that yields maximal periods for the coefficients of certain quasi-polynomials. We present a construction for (Ehrhart) quasi-polynomials that exhibit maximal period behavior and use it to answer a question of Zaslavsky on convolutions of quasi-polynomials.
Growth of the marsh elder Iva frutescens in relation to duration of tidal flooding

Iva frutescens is a common shrub at the upland fringe of salt marshes throughout the East and Gulf Coasts of North America. Within a marsh, its location and relative size are governed largely by the degree of flooding by seawater.Iva’s wide distribution and restricted location within salt marshes may make it a useful indicator of overall conditions of the marshes. This work was designed to provide basic information on the age and growth ofI. frutescens, especially as they relate to the degree of flooding that is needed in order to investigateIva’s potential as an indicator. Cross-sections of older stems (living and standing dead) from salt marshes in Rhode Island, United States, were examined in order to age stems and estimate their growth rate from cumulative increase in woody tissue. Most stems were six yr old or less, suggesting that aboveground structures live for only a few years. Stem diameter correlated with growth rate and aboveground biomass. Elevation at the root zone was used to estimate the duration that plants were flooded, which was negatively correlated with stem diameter. The most robust plants came from sites that were flooded only up to 6–7% of the total time during the growing season. No plants were found in areas flooded more than 30% of the time.
Abstract B122: Multi‐SNP analysis of one‐carbon metabolism genes and prostate cancer outcomes

Introduction: There is little known about the epigenetics of prostate severity. One‐carbon metabolism genes in conjunction with folate and B‐vitamins influence DNA repair mechanisms and methylation patterns. Better understanding of the relationship of gene activity that may potentially be altered by nutrient intake can provide new strategies for decreasing the prevalence of advanced prostate cancer. The goal of this project is to determine the association of one‐carbon cycle genes in relation to prostate cancer outcomes. Materials and Methods: We studied prostate cancer patients with one‐carbon genotypes (604 European American, 92 African American.) The genes of interest included CBS, MTHFD1, MTHFR, MTRR, MTR, SHMT1, TYMS, SLC19A1 and TCN2. Data were analyzed with race stratification. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated by logistic regression models adjusted for age and percent African ancestry (African‐Americans only.) These models were used to examine case‐case associations analyzing tumor stage, grade and aggressiveness (high stage and high grade combined) and age at onset. Cox regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) for the incidence of biochemical failure after treatment. Multi‐SNP associations were conducted in European American cases only using risk scores derived from the per allele ORs from a combination of 6 SNPs (MTHFD1 R653Q, MTHFR A222V, MTRR L333V, MTR D919G, SHMT L474F, TCN R259P) and 9 SNPs (the 6 mentioned previously plus CBS 68bp Ins, SLC19A1 61bpDel and Tyms 3UTRdel6.) Results: Genotypes involved in one‐carbon metabolism differed significantly by race. Among African‐American cases, a significant protective association was found for SLC19A1 61bpDel for aggressive disease (OR=0.1, 95% CI=0.01–0.9, additive model.) Associations with biochemical failure in European Americans were observed for recessive carriage of MTR D919G (HR=2.8, 95% CI=1.1–7.3) and MTRR K350R (HR=4.3, OR=1.1–16.3, additive model.) In the multi‐SNP model, biochemical failure was associated with the risk scores of 9 SNPs (HR=0.77, 95% CI=0.61–0.94.) No additional associations were observed for other clinical characteristics of prostate cancer. Conclusions: These results suggest that one‐carbon metabolism genotypes in combination may be associated with prostate cancer in specific subgroups. Multi‐SNP models may provide more information than single SNP analyses for studying complex genetic pathways. Additional research of gene interactions and effects of nutrient intake may provide clues about prevention and treatment of prostate cancer, especially in groups at high risk for poor outcomes. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):B122.
Bayesian compressive sensing and projection optimization

This paper introduces a new problem for which machine-learning tools may make an impact. The problem considered is termed "compressive sensing", in which a real signal of dimension N is measured accurately based on K
No measles virus genetic information detected in multiple sclerosis‐ derived brains

Measles virus nucleotide sequences were searched for in diseased and normal-appearing white matter from brains of four multiple sclerosis victims. At the level of sensitivity established, 2.5 to 7.8 measles virus genome-equivalents of RNA, or 4.9 genome-equivalents of putative DNA per diploid cell quantity of DNA, could have been detected. At these levels, no measles virus genetic information was found in any of the four brains.
The double-elliptic harmonograph

Harmonographs are mechanical devices that compound perpendicular simple-harmonic motions of various frequencies, amplitudes, and phasings. Building such an apparatus would be an excellent independent project for students who savor the experimental side of physics.
Carbon Monoxide Production and Upregulation of Heme Oxygenase Activity in Mice after Heme Administration

Carbon Monoxide Production and Upregulation of Heme Oxygenase Activity in Mice after Heme Administration
Kenneth Onwuka Dike, Trade and Politics, and the Restoration of the African in History

The removal from history follows logically from the loss of power which colonialism represented. The power to act independently is the guarantee to participate actively and consciously in history. To be colonized is to be removed from history except in the most passive sense.Kenneth Onwuka Dike (1917-1983) is a definite turning point in African historical scholarship. West Africa (28 September 1957) appropriately called him “The Pioneer Historian.” Robert July credits Dike with being “responsible for many of the advances in historical scholarship that marked the two decades following the conclusion of the Second World War.”Dike was born in Awka, Nigeria, on 17 December 1917. In 1933 he entered Dennis Memorial Grammar School (DMGS), Onitsha, Nigeria. After three years at DMGS, Dike spent another two years at Achimota College in the Gold Coast. From Achimota he moved on to Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone. At the time, Fourah Bay was affiliated to, and awarding the degrees of, Durham University. This meant that through Fourah Bay, Dike took the B.A. (in English, Geography, and Latin) of Durham University. In 1943, he went home to Nigeria, but not to stay for long. In November 1944 he left, on a British Council scholarship, for the M.A. degree in History at University of Aberdeen. In June 1947 he graduated, taking a first-class honors (the best of his year) at Aberdeen. Four months later, Dike registered for his Ph.D. at King's College, University of London. Under the supervision of Vincent Harlow and Gerald S. Graham, he did a dissertation entitled “Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta, 1830-1879.” He earned his Ph.D. degree on 28 July 1950. With it he became the first African to “pass through professional training” in Western historical scholarship.
THE FACTUAL FOUNDATION FOR CERTAIN KEY ASSUMPTIONS OF GUN CONTROL

The case for legal restrictions on gun ownership and use as a strategy for reducing criminal violence relies on factual assumptions about the nature of gun ownership and violent behavior. Five of the most crucial ones are identified and subjected to a comparison with the available empirical evidence. All of the following assumptions were found to be substantially at variance with the evidence: (1) Guns are five times deadlier than the weapons most likely to be substituted for them in assaults in which guns are not available. (2) The sight of a gun can elicit aggression, due to the learned association between guns and violence. (3) If guns are made more expensive, more difficult to obtain, or legally risky to own, people will do without them. (4) Guns are useless for self-defense or protection of one's family, home, or business, and have no deterrent effect on criminals. (5) Homicides are largely “crimes of passion” committed by otherwise law-abiding citizens not distinguishable from other people. Therefore, control must be directed at all gun owners rather than select criminal subgroups.
Rubber and Resin Yield Performance of New Guayule Selections

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray) is a promising alternative to the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.) for domestic production of natural rubber in semiarid regions. Guayule is not yet a crop and its commercialization will depend on the development of higb rubber-yielding cultivars. The objectives of this study were to determine if individual plant selection has been effective in improving rubber yield; to determine the suitability of California selections for rubber and resin production in Arizona; and to examine the extent of genotype-by-environment (G×E) interactions in improved guayule selections (...)
Methods to Recover Value-Added Coproducts from Dry Grind Processing of Grains into Fuel Ethanol

Three methods are described to fractionate condensed distillers solubles (CDS) into several new coproducts, including a protein-mineral fraction and a glycerol fraction by a chemical method; a protein fraction, an oil fraction and a glycerol-mineral fraction by a physical method; or a protein fraction, an oil fraction, a mineral fraction, and a glycerol fraction by a physicochemical method. Processing factors (ethanol concentration and centrifuge force) were also investigated. Results show that the three methods separated CDS into different fractions, with each fraction enriched with one or more of the five components (protein, oil, ash, glycerol and other carbohydrates) and thus having different targeted end uses. Furthermore, because glycerol, a hygroscopic substance, was mostly shifted to the glycerol or glycerol-mineral fraction, the other fractions had much faster moisture reduction rates than CDS upon drying in a forced air oven at 60 °C. Thus, these methods could effectively solve the dewatering problem of CDS, allowing elimination of the current industrial practice of blending distiller wet grains with CDS for drying together and production of distiller dried grains as a standalone coproduct in addition to a few new fractions.
Curcumin alleviates immune-complex-mediated glomerulonephritis in factor-H-deficient mice

Complement factor H (Cfh) is a key regulator of the complement cascade and protects C57BL/6 mice from immune complex-mediated complement-dependent glomerulonephritis. In chronic serum sickness (CSS) there are increased deposits of immune complexes in the glomeruli with inflammation and a scarring phenotype. As cucurmin is an effective anti-inflammatory agent and reduces complement activation, we hypothesized that it should alleviate renal disease in this setting. To determine the effectiveness of curcumin, an apoferritin-induced CSS model in Cfh-deficient (Cfh(-/-)) mice was used. Curcumin treatment (30 mg/kg) given every day in parallel with apoferritin reduced glomerulonephritis and enhanced kidney function (blood urea nitrogen, 45·4 ± 7·5 versus 35·6 ± 5·1; albuminuria, 50·1 ± 7·1 versus 15·7 ± 7·1; glomerulonephritis, 2·62 + 0·25 versus 2 + 0·3, P < 0·05). In line with reduced IgG deposits in mice with CSS given curcumin, C9 deposits were reduced indicating reduced complement activation. Mice treated with curcumin had a significant reduction in the number of splenic CD19(+) B cells and the ratio of CD19 : CD3 cells (P < 0·05) with no change in the T-cell population. Myeloperoxidase assay showed reduced macrophages in the kidney. However, a significant reduction in the M2 subset of splenic macrophages by apoferritin was prevented by curcumin, suggesting a protective function. Curcumin treatment reduced mRNA expression of inflammatory proteins monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and transforming growth factor-β and matrix proteins, fibronectin, laminin and collagen. Our results clearly illustrate that curcumin reduces glomerulosclerosis, improves kidney function and could serve as a therapeutic agent during serum sickness.
Production of a nanosecond-pulsed He ++ beam from a standard 5.5 MV Van de Graaff accelerator

Abstract A standard HVEC† 5.5 MV Van de Graaff accelerator and ion source have been used to produce an average beam current of 20 nA of He ++ ions with a pulse width less than 2.5 nsec at a repetition rate of 2 MHz. A time pickoff located on the mass 2 port of the 90° analyzing magnet was used to provide a signal from the He + beam component to trigger the beam deflection system of the Mobley magnet and to stop the time to amplitude converter (TAC) used to measure the neutron time-of-flight in a nuclear scattering experiment.
Content-based retrieval of distorted images using a hybrid genetic algorithm augmented by a self-organizing network

Content-based image retrieval involves a direct matching operation between a query image and a database of stored images. In case where the query image can be significantly distorted in relation to the stored image, the common methods of computing similarities between the feature vectors of the images might not provide sufficiently robust base for successful image retrieval. The retrieval problem can be re-formulated then as an optimization problem of finding a correct mapping between images when a search space is considerably large. An approach is proposed that combines a hybrid genetic algorithm and a self-organizing neural network in a global search for a set of parameters defining a correct mapping between images. In order to compute unique characteristics of the query image that are invariant to image transformation and distortion, an image transform is introduced in the form of image local response. The transform is applied at the pre-processing stage to the stored and the query images, to extract their dynamic content. Correlation is applied then to both images in the response space. The technique reduces the search space and allows to find a set of subregions that can contain a potentially correct match. After pre-processing, a hybrid genetic algorithm augmented by a self-organizing network for local refining finishes the search in the reduced parameter space.
John Walker: The “mechanical” man revisited

This article reexamines the traditional view that John Walker founded the “mechanical” school of elocution. It points out that there were already strong formalistic influences in the elocutionary movement prior to the time of Walker. It also establishes Walker's role as that of a synthesizer rather than an originator of elocutionary theory. Finally, it suggests that the dichotomy between “mechanical” and “natural” elocution was not distinct enough to justify labeling one man as being clearly in one school and another man clearly in the other.
Optical power limiting with photoinduced anisotropy of azobenzene films

We study the power-limiting properties of photoanisotropic azobenzene films with low-power lasers. The trans-cis photoisomerization and molecular reorientation of azobenzene molecules induced by polarized laser beams result in intensity-dependent anisotropic effects. Consequently, the transmittance of the input beam that passes through the film between two crossed polarizers becomes enhanced at low intensities and clamped at high intensities. The limiting threshold is adjustable by changing the intensity of excitation beam.
The Role of Decision Strategies in Understanding Professionals'Susceptibility to Judgment Biases

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether professionals' ability to structure a judgment task mitigates the recency effects predicted by the belief-adjustment model. Although the model implicitly assumes that evaluation order is a contextual factor incidental to the judgment task, the identification and organization of evidence is often an important strategic component of accounting judgment tasks. We predict that allowing tax professionals control over evidence evaluation order will facilitate use of familiar and purposeful decision strategies and mitigate susceptibility to recency. The results suggest that recency is dependent on the interaction of the decision maker's control over the judgment task and familiarity with the decision context.
The use of bipolar cautery, laparosonic coagulating shears, and vascular clips for hemostasis of small and medium-sized vessels

Advanced laparoscopic surgery requires a reliable method of hemostasis. In order to determine the efficacy of common hemostatic devices, we tested bipolar electrosurgery (BPES), laparosonic coagulating shears (LCS), and vascular clips (VC) on arteries of various sizes to compare the strength of hemostasis against elevated intraarterial pressure. The procedures were performed on a porcine model through a laparotomy. Segments of visceral arteries were isolated and cannulated with an angiocatheter that was linked to a pressure monitor. After hemostasis with the tested instrument and division of the vessel, the intraarterial pressure was elevated by infusion of saline solution through the angiocatheter. The pressure was recorded when bleeding occurred through the cut end of the vessel or when the pressure reached 300 mm Hg. All three devices were effective in maintaining hemostasis on small (diameter, 0.25–0.5 mm) and medium-sized arteries (diameter, 2–3.5 mm) with a success rate ranging between 75% and 100% (p= n.s.). Practice and technical finesse were required with the use of the LCS and BPES before excellent results could be obtained. The LCS has an advantage over BPES because it allows the surgeon to perform hemostasis and division simultaneously, thus keeping the operating field clean and avoiding instrument adhesion to the tissue.
Robust analogs of hotelling's two-sample t2

It is well known that the Hotelling's T2 test for the significance of a mean vector is variously optimal under the assumption of multivariate normality; but is inappropriate otherwise. The assumption of mulitvariate normality is rarely satisfied since it involves joint normality in addition to marginal normality of the components. This suggests a need for robust procedures in the multivariate setting but such development is still in rudimentary stages. Mudholkar and Srivastava(1999, b) proposed the T2 test based on the vector of coordinatewise trimmed means as a robust alternative to one sample Hotelling's T2. In this paper we consider two two-sample extensions and , of the T2 test for comparing two mean vectors. The asymptotic null distributions of the two statistics and their finite sample refinements are obtained. An extensive Monte Carlo study suggests that the two statistics provide satisfactory type I error control and have comparable power. A substantial gain in power over Hotelling's T2 when the u...
Technology Design Rules - A User's Perspective

The interaction of IC design rules and CAD has several perspectives: the CAD developer strives to design “technology independent” software, the CAD support group wants software that is easy to modify for new technologies and changing design rules, the CAD user (designer) wants software that he can modify for technology changes.From a user's perspective existing CAD is already reasonably technology independent. Simulators require additions of new elements as technologies change, but the changes are infrequent. Existing physical design tools are generally generic, only techniques or technology tables need be altered as technologies change. The ability of existing CAD tools to react to changing IC technology is not optimum, but the current problems are workable and represent only a small portion of a typical custom IC development project.
Electrical analysis of interconnections in a solid state circuit environment

A new technique for analyzing the transmission properties of dense integrated circuit interconnections will be discussed. Analytical methods for calculation of appropriate equivalent circuit elements representing conductor geometries will be presented.
Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression by immunohistochemistry in glioblastoma multiforme.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (an enzyme responsible for the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin) upregulation has been described in association with a variety of tumors including gliomas. This study reviews the immunohistochemical profile of 47 glioblastoma multiforme using COX-2 antibody and correlates the results with MIB-1 (marker of cell proliferation) immunostaining. Positive staining with COX-2 was observed in 35 tumors (74.5%); more than 10% tumor cell positivity was seen in 10 tumors (21.3%). Immunostaining results were as follows: no staining, N = 12 (25.5%); 0% to 5% of tumor cells, N = 20 (42.6%); 5% to 10%, N = 5 (10.6%); 10% to 20%, N = 4 (8.5%); 20% to 50%, N = 4 (8.5%); and greater than 50%, N = 2 (4.3%). The mean MIB-1 labeling index for all tumors ranged from 3.0 to 76.4 (mean, 19.6). Mean MIB-1 labeling indices were higher in tumors with greater than 5% COX-2 immunostaining (mean MIB-1 labeling index, 23.5) versus tumors with 0% to 5% COX-2 immunostaining (mean MIB-1 labeling index, 17.7). There is evidence of COX-2 expression by immunohistochemistry in the majority of glioblastoma multiforme. As a group, tumors with a higher rate of cell proliferation tended to have increased expression of COX-2. These findings are significant in that therapeutic agents, which inhibit COX-2, are currently available and may play a role in the management of glioblastoma multiforme.
Photoautotrophic growth of soybean cells in suspension culture IV. Free amino acid pools and the effect of nitrogen on chlorophyll levels

A photoautotrophic soybean suspension culture was used to study free amino acid pools during a subculture cycle. Free amino acid analysis showed that the intracellular concentrations of asparagine, serine, glutamine, and alanine reached peaks of 200, 10, 9 and 7 mM, respectively, at specific times in the 14-day subculture cycle. Asparagine and serine levels peaked at day 14 but glutamine level rose quickly after subculture, peaking at day three and then declined gradually. Roughly similar patterns were found in the conditioned culture medium although the levels were 1000-fold lower than those found in cells. Photoautotrophic (SB-P) and photomixotrophic (SB-M) cultures were quantitatively similar with regard to free asparagine and serine but not glutamine or free ammonia. Heterotrophic (SB-H) cells had 81–85% less free asparagine on day seven than did SB-M or SB-P cells. Hence, similar to the phloem sap of a soybean plant, asparagine, glutamine, alanine and serine were the predominant amino acids in photoautotrophic soybean cell cultures. Varying the amount of total nitrogen in culture medium for two subcultures at 10, 25, 50, and 100% Of normal levels showed that growth was inhibited only at the 10 and 25% levels but that growth on medium containing 50% of the normal nitrogen was as good as that on 100% nitrogen. Moreover, cellular chlorophyll content correlated exceptionally well with initial nitrogen content of the medium. Thus, the photosynthesis of SB-P cells was not limited by chlorophyll content. SB-P cells grown for two subcultures on 10% nitrogen contained very low free amino acid levels and only 1% of the free ammonia levels found in cells growing on a full nitrogen complement.