cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bats Track and Exploit Changes in Insect Pest Populations

The role of bats or any generalist predator in suppressing prey populations depends on the predator's ability to track and exploit available prey. Using a qPCR fecal DNA assay, we document significant association between numbers of Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) consuming corn earworm (CEW) moths (Helicoverpa zea) and seasonal fluctuations in CEW populations. This result is consistent with earlier research linking the bats' diet to patterns of migration, abundance, and crop infestation by important insect pests. Here we confirm opportunistic feeding on one of the world's most destructive insects and support model estimates of the bats' ecosystem services. Regression analysis of CEW consumption versus the moth's abundance at four insect trapping sites further indicates that bats track local abundance of CEW within the regional landscape. Estimates of CEW gene copies in the feces of bats are not associated with seasonal or local patterns of CEW abundance, and results of captive feeding experiments indicate that our qPCR assay does not provide a direct measure of numbers or biomass of prey consumed. Our results support growing evidence for the role of generalist predators, and bats specifically, as agents for biological control and speak to the value of conserving indigenous generalist predators.
Too many or too few unintentional firearm deaths in official U.S. mortality data

We examined the accuracy of data on unintentional firearm fatalities in the United States. We began with data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) and examined every firearm death reported as an accident by any NVDRS data source--the NVDRS abstracter, the State Vital Statistics Registry (i.e., the ICD-10 Underlying Cause of Death code and manner of death from the death certificate), the medical examiner or coroner report, and the police Supplementary Homicide Report. After carefully reading the information from all sources, we then classified each case as either unintentional or intentional using NVDRS definitions. Comparing our classification with that of the NVDRS abstracter, we conclude that NVDRS data accurately report unintentional firearm deaths (sensitivity 98%; positive predictive value [PPV] 99%). We then compared our classification with that of the State Vital Statistics Registry based on the ICD-10 Underlying Cause of Death code and found great inaccuracy (sensitivity 62%; PPV 58%). Thirty-eight percent of true cases were missed and 42% of reported cases were false positives. As has been previously reported in the literature, over half of unintentional shootings that were inflicted by another person were classified as homicides, not accidents. This is a particular problem for the data on young victims. What was unexpected, however, was the opposite problem: we found many unambiguous suicides and homicides that were reported as accidents. We believe this is due to the ICD-10 coding practice of assigning injury deaths to the "accident" category when manner of death is "pending" or left blank. Finally, at the state-level, we compared our overall results for each state and year with the official National Vital Statistics System count (reported on CDC's WONDER website). We found evidence of even greater over-reporting of unintentional firearm deaths there. In answer to the question, "Are there too many or too few unintentional firearm deaths in official mortality data?" the best answer is, "Both." Many true accidents are missed, while many suicides and homicides are mistakenly reported as accidents. By contrast, the NVDRS applies a case definition for unintentional firearm deaths with consistency and accuracy.
Effect of ionic strength on the passivation of zinc electrodes in KOH solutions

Times to passivation have been measured for zinc electrodes in KOH-KF solutions at room temperature. A linear relationship betweeni andt−1/2 was obtained. The intercept of these lines is interpreted to be a limiting current density. This limiting current density reaches a maximum in solutions 5M in KOH. Beyond this concentration the limiting current density decreases. This phenomenon is explained in terms of the loss of unbound water as the ionic strength of the solution increases.
Polarization asymmetry in two-electron photodetachment - A cogent test of the ionization threshold law

A very sensitive test of the electron-atom ionization threshold law is suggested: for spin-aligned heavy negative ions it consists of measuring the polarization asymmetry A(PA) coming from double detachment by left- versus right-circularly polarized light. The respective yields are worked out for the Te(-) (5p)5 2P(3/2) ion. The Coulomb-dipole theory predicts A(PA) to be the ratio of two oscillating functions in sharp contrast to any power law (specifically that of Wannier, 1953) for which the ratio is expected to be a smooth function of energy.
Plasma control system upgrade and increased plasma stability in NSTX

Abstract Plasma control on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) was previously accomplished using eight 333 MHz G4 processors built by Sky computers. Several planned improvements and additional control algorithms required significant upgrades to our real-time control computers and real-time data acquisition infrastructure. Several in-house modules have been designed and implemented including: the digital time stamp module (DITS) and for digital/analog front panel data port (FPDP) output, the FPDP output module digital/analog (FOMD/A). Standard Linux based Intel computers perform the real-time control tasks and InfiniBand as been employed for communication between a user-accessible “host” server and the real-time computer. In addition to several independent real-time processes the General Atomics developed PCS (Bell (2006) [1] ) system infrastructure continues to be used on NSTX. While maintaining previous functionality, improvements in the control system software include: an RWM feedback algorithm, beta feedback NBI control, more comprehensive error logging and trapping, more user-friendly interface, more complete archiving and restoring functionality, and better status reporting and diagnostic tools. Once completed, we succeeded in increasing overall plasma stability and decreasing control system latency by several times.
Epstein-Barr Virus in Gastric Carcinomas from Singapore:

One hundred and thirty-seven consecutive cases of gastric carcinomas were evaluated for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) by use of an in situ hybridization (ISH) assay for EBV-encoded RNA (EBER1) transcript and by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the internal repeat segment of the EBV genome. EBER1 was localized in tumor nuclei of 6 (4.3%) specimens, 5 of which were lymphocpithclioma-like carcinomas. Forty-five cases (32.8%) were positive by PCR, but evidence suggests that EBV positivity in many of these cases was due to latently infected lymphocytes. The presence of EBV by ISH was strongly associated with increased lymphocytic infiltration of tumors. Our inability to identify significant correlations between EBV-infected tumors and patient age, gender, or ethnicity, and tumor stage or histologic type was partly thwarted by low numbers of ISH-positive cases. Int J Surg Pathol 4(3):00-00, 1997
On type B cyclogenesis in a quasi‐geostrophic model

A quasi-geostrophic (QG) model is used to approximate some aspects of ‘type B’ cyclogenesis as described in an observational paper that appeared several decades earlier in this journal. Though often cited, that earlier work has some ambiguity that has propagated into subsequent analyses. The novel aspects examined here include allowing advective nonlinearity to distort and amplify structures that are quasi-coherent and nearly stable in a linear form of the model; also, separate upper and lower structures are localized in space. Cases are studied separately where the upper trough tracks across different low-level features: an enhanced baroclinic zone (stronger horizontal temperature gradient) or a region of augmented temperature. Growth by superposition of lower and upper features is excluded by experimental design. The dynamics are evaluated with the vertical motion equation, the QG vorticity equation, the QG perturbation energy equation, and ‘potential-vorticity thinking’. Results are compared against ‘control’ cases having no additional low-level features. Nonlinearity is examined relative to a corresponding linear calculation and is generally positive. The results are perhaps richer than the seminal article might imply, because growth is enhanced not only when properties of the lower feature reinforce growth but also when the lower feature opposes decay of the upper feature. For example, growth is enhanced where low-level warm advection introduces rising warm air to oppose the rising cold air ahead of the upper trough. Such growth is magnified when adjacent warm and cold anomalies have a strong baroclinic zone between them. The enhanced growth triggers an upstream tilt in the solution whose properties further accelerate the growth. Copyright © 2005 Royal Meteorological Society
On the information-theoretic capacity of magnetic recording systems in the presence of medium noise

The compound behavior of the magnetic recording channel is modeled by combining the Lorentzian read-back pulse, the microtrack channel model, and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). By noting that at the output of this model the read-back signal is cyclostationary, the average autocorrelation function and corresponding power spectral density over one period are computed. The average power spectral density is then used to characterize the capacity of the magnetic recording channel for various linear density and medium noise scenarios by using the conjectured Shamai-Laroia lower bound. It is shown that from a capacity point of view, medium noise is better in certain cases than AWGN.
Perinatal HIV testing among African American, Caucasian, Hmong and Latina women: exploring the role of health-care services, information sources and perceptions of HIV/AIDS

Perinatal HIV transmission disproportionately affects African American, Latina and potentially Hmong women in the United States. Understanding racially and ethnically diverse women’s perceptions of and experiences with perinatal health care, HIV testing and HIV/AIDS may inform effective health communications to reduce the risk of perinatal HIV transmission among disproportionate risk groups. We used a qualitative descriptive research design with content analysis of five focus groups of African American, Caucasian, Hmong and Latina women of reproductive age with low socioeconomic status distinguished by their race/ethnicity or HIV status. A purposive stratified sample of 37 women shared their health-care experiences, health information sources and perceptions of HIV testing and HIV/AIDS. Women’s responses highlighted the importance of developing and leveraging trusted provider and community-based relationships and assessing a woman’s beliefs and values in her sociocultural context, to ensure clear, consistent and relevant communications. Perinatal health communications that are culturally sensitive and based on an assessment of women’s knowledge and understanding of perinatal health and HIV/AIDS may be an effective tool for health educators addressing racial and ethnic disparities in perinatal HIV transmission.
Function of a mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in N gene-mediated resistance in tobacco.

Summary The active defense of plants against pathogens often includes rapid and localized cell death known as hypersensitive response (HR). Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are implicated in this event based on studies using protein kinase and phosphatase inhibitors. Recent transient gain-of-function studies demonstrated that the activation of salicylic acid-induced protein kinase (SIPK) and wounding-induced protein kinase (WIPK), two tobacco mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) by their upstream MAPK kinase (MAPKK), NtMEK2 leads to HR-like cell death. Here, we report that the conserved kinase interaction motif (KIM) in MAPKKs is required for NtMEK2 function. Mutation of the conserved basic amino acids in this motif, or the deletion of N-terminal 64 amino acids containing this motif significantly compromised or abolished the ability of NtMEK2 DD to activate SIPK/WIPK in vivo. These mutants were also defective in interacting with SIPK and WIPK, suggesting protein-protein interaction is required for the functional integ- rity of this MAPK cascade. To eliminate Agrobacterium that is known to activate a number of defense responses in transient transformation experiments, we generated permanent transgenic plants. Induction of NtMEK2DD expression by dexamethasone induced HR-like cell death in both T1 and T2 plants. In addition, by using PVX-induced gene silencing, we demonstrated that the suppression of all three known compo- nents in the NtMEK2-SIPK/WIPK pathway attenuated N gene-mediated TMV resistance. Together with previous report that SIPK and WIPK are activated by TMV in a gene-for-gene-dependent manner, we con- clude that NtMEK2-SIPK/WIPK pathway plays a positive role in N gene-mediated resistance, possibly through regulating HR cell death.
Likelihood ratio in a SVM framework: Fusing linear and non-linear face classifiers

The performance of score-level fusion algorithms is often affected by conflicting decisions generated by the constituent matchers/classifiers. This paper describes a fusion algorithm that incorporates the likelihood ratio test statistic in a support vector machine (SVM) framework in order to classify match scores originating from multiple matchers. The proposed approach also takes into account the precision and uncertainties of individual matchers. The resulting fusion algorithm is used to mitigate the effect of covariate factors in face recognition by combining the match scores of linear appearance-based face recognition algorithms with their non-linear counterparts. Experimental results on a heterogeneous face database of 910 subjects suggest that the proposed fusion algorithm can significantly improve the verification performance of a face recognition system. Thus, the contribution of this work is two-fold: (a) the design of a novel fusion technique that incorporates the likelihood ratio test-statistic in a SVM fusion framework; and (b) the application of the technique to face recognition in order to mitigate the effect of covariate factors.
ADR rule of thumb: validity and suggestions for its application.

Abstract Hotel investors use the ADR rule of thumb because it's simple—a hotel should generate one dollar in ADR per every $1,000 in value per guest room; but that rule is not without its problems.
Multi-location wideband through-the-wall beamforming

Significant multipath propagation and heavy clutter in indoor environments renders through-the-wall radar imaging a difficult and complex proposition. It is highly desirable to properly interpret the radar images and determine the contents of the indoor scene with a high level of confidence. Data collected from multiple positions around a structure can be used to improve imaging visibility into the indoor scene, thereby enhancing indoor target detection and localization. In this paper, we consider multi-location radar imaging. Image fusion techniques for combining radar images acquired from multiple locations along two sides of an enclosed structure are presented. Supporting results, based on real-data, are also provided.
Tracking of Multiple Humans in Meetings

Tracking conferees in meeting rooms is important for many applications. In this paper, we present an approach based on single-frame head-shoulder detection to track multiple humans in meetings. The responses of a multiple view head-shoulder detection system are taken as the observation of the human hypotheses. Trajectory initialization and termination are fully automatic and rely on the evidence collected from the detection responses. An object is tracked by data association if its corresponding detection response can be found; otherwise it is tracked by a meanshift style tracker. Finally the tracked hypotheses are verified by evidence collected from body part movements. The system is evaluated on two meeting video corpora.
Osteoblasts lacking the vitamin D receptor display enhanced osteogenic potential in vitro

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D plays an important role in the regulation of osteoblast gene expression, regulating the expression of bone matrix proteins as well as that of Runx2, a key regulator of osteoblast differentiation. Studies in mice lacking the vitamin D receptor (VDR) have revealed that the actions of the VDR on the skeleton are not required in the setting of normal mineral ion homeostasis. Since paracrine and endocrine factors can compensate for gene defects in vivo, studies were performed to determine whether ablation of the VDR alters the program of osteoblast differentiation in vitro. Studies in primary calvarial cultures revealed that ablation of the VDR enhanced osteoblast differentiation. The cells from the VDR null mice exhibited an earlier onset and increased magnitude of alkaline phosphatase activity, as well as an earlier and sustained increase in mineralized matrix formation, demonstrating that this enhancement persists throughout the program of osteoblast differentiation. The expression of bone sialoprotein, which enhances mineralization, was also increased in the VDR null cultures. To determine whether the increase in osteoblast differentiation was associated with an increase in the number of osteogenic progenitors, the number of osteoblastic colony forming units (CFU-OB) was evaluated. There was a twofold increase in the number of CFU-OB in the cultures isolated from the VDR null mice. Furthermore, the VDR null CFU-OB demonstrated an earlier onset and higher magnitude of expression of alkaline phosphatase activity when compared to the CFU-OB from their wild-type control littermates. These studies demonstrate that the VDR attenuates osteoblast differentiation in vitro and suggest that other endocrine and paracrine factors modulate the effect of the VDR on osteoblast differentiation in vivo.
Measuring V1 Receptive Fields Despite Eye Movements in Awake Monkeys

One difficulty with measuring receptive fields in the awake monkey is that even well-trained animals make small eye movements during fixation. These complicate the measurement of receptive fields by blurring out the region where a response is observed, causing underestimates of the ability of individual neurons to signal changes in stimulus position. In simple cells, this blurring may severely disrupt estimates of receptive field structure. An accurate measurement of eye movements would allow correction of this blurring. Scleral search coils have been used to provide such measurements, although little is known about their accuracy. We have devised a range of approaches to address this issue: implanting two coils into a single eye, exploiting the small size of V1 receptive fields and developing maximum-likelihood fitting techniques to extract receptive field parameters in the presence of eye movements. All our investigations lead to the same conclusion: our scleral search coils (which were not sutured to the globe) are subject to an error of approximately the same magnitude as the small eye movements which occur during fixation: SD approximately 0.1 degrees. This error is large enough to explain the SD of measured vergence in the absence of any real changes in vergence state. This, and a variety of other arguments, indicate that the real variation in vergence is much smaller than coil measurements suggest. These results suggest that monkeys, like humans, maintain very stable vergence. The error has a slower time course than fixational eye movements so that search coils report the difference in eye position between two consecutive trials more accurately than the eye position itself on either trial. Receptive field estimates are unlikely to be improved by assuming the coil record is veridical and correcting for eye position accordingly. However, receptive field parameters can reliably be determined by a fitting technique that allows for eye movements. It is possible that suturing coils to the globe reduces the artifacts, but no method has been available to demonstrate this. These receptive field measurements provide a general means by which the reliability of eye-position measurements can be assessed.
Closely Spaced Pregnancies Are Associated With Increased Odds of Autism in California Sibling Births

To determine whether the interpregnancy interval (IPI) is associated with the risk of autism in subsequent births. METHODS: Pairs of first- and second-born singleton full siblings were identified from all California births that occurred from 1992 to 2002 using birth records, and autism diagnoses were identified by using linked records of the California Department of Developmental Services. IPI was calculated as the time interval between birth dates minus the gestational age of the second sibling. In the primary analysis, logistic regression models were used to determine whether odds of autism in second-born children varied according to IPI. To address potential con- founding by unmeasured family-level factors, a case-sibling control analysis determined whether affected sibling (first versus second) varied with IPI. RESULTS: An inverse association between IPI and odds of autism among 662 730 second-born children was observed. In particular, IPIs of12, 12 to 23, and 24 to 35 months were associated with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for autism of 3.39 (3.00 -3.82), 1.86 (1.65- 2.10), and 1.26 (1.10 -1.45) relative to IPIs of 36 months. The associ- ation was not mediated by preterm birth or low birth weight and per- sisted across categories of sociodemographic characteristics, with some attenuation in the oldest and youngest parents. Second-born children were at increased risk of autism relative to their firstborn siblings only in pairs with short IPIs. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that children born after shorter intervals between pregnancies are at increased risk of developing autism; the highest risk was associated with pregnancies spaced 1 year apart. Pediatrics 2011;127:246-253
An interaction between apolipoprotein E and TERE1 with a possible association with bladder tumor formation.

TERE1, a recently discovered gene/protein appears to play a role in bladder tumor growth regulation but to date does not have clear functional correlates. The objective of this study was to gain further insight into the function of the TERE1 protein by identifying potential protein to protein interactions with TERE1 and determining whether these interactions are associated with putative growth regulatory pathways and/or bladder tumor formation. Towards this aim, we have performed a bacterial two hybrid assay and isolated interacting clones, which then were sequenced and further examined by affinity chromatography and immunoprecipitation. From among several positive clones, we isolated a putative interacting plasmid containing the C-terminal portion of preapolipoprotein E starting from amino acid number 124 from the pBT-TERE1/pTarget-cDNA bacterial two hybrid system. The C-terminal portion of apoE interaction with the TERE1 was confirmed using ProBond columns by the expression of 6XHis recombinant and 35S methionine/cysteine labeled proteins. We found that there was ubiquitous expression of the apoE transcript in normal bladder and in various grades and stages of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. Likewise, we detected the apoE protein in both normal and malignant bladder tissues by Western blot. There was a significant decrease in the apoE protein in 12 of 16 muscle invasive TCCs of the bladder compared to normal bladder mucosa samples. Previous studies in rat fibroblasts have found that expression of apoE can decrease the phosphorylation of the growth factor-related p42/44 MAP kinase. A significant decrease in p44/p42 MAPK phophorylation was also apparent using a phosphorylation specific antibody in human 293 kidney cells upon transfection and expression of apoE. In conclusion, the results from this study suggest that the expression and regulation of the apoE pathway may yield clues toward understanding the function of TERE1. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A waveform independent gate model for accurate timing analysis

In nanoscale regime, it is becoming increasingly difficult to model signal shapes using simple ramp-like waveforms due to various noise coupling effects. We present an accurate waveform independent gate (WiM) model without any assumption of signal waveforms. Our model can be applied to arbitrary gate inputs while maintaining excellent near-SPICE accuracy. The application of the proposed gate modeling technique is demonstrated under the context of the gate-level timing simulation.
Analyzing ‘visual world’ eyetracking data using multilevel logistic regression

A new framework is offered that uses multilevel logistic regression (MLR) to analyze data from ‘visual world’ eyetracking experiments used in psycholinguistic research. The MLR framework overcomes some of the problems with conventional analyses, making it possible to incorporate time as a continuous variable and gaze location as a categorical dependent variable. The multilevel approach minimizes the need for data aggregation and thus provides a more statistically powerful approach. With MLR, the researcher builds a mathematical model of the overall response curve that separates the response into different temporal components. The researcher can test hypotheses by examining the impact of independent variables and their interactions on these components. A worked example using MLR is provided.
Gendering desire in speed-dating interactions

This study examines how potential romantic partners in speed-dating encounters use gender to both proffer and formulate mate-preferences as a means of establishing affiliation. Drawing on a corpus of 36 speed-dating interactions, a sequential discursive psychological approach was used to analyze how gendered mate-preferences were initially elicited and formulated, as well as the interactional effects of mate-preferences that were designed to appear complicit versus resistant to gender conventionality. The findings reveal that both mate-preference solicitations and formulations were categorically gendered and were treated as incipient or expected, suggesting that gendering mate-preferences is a normative action in first encounters by potential romantic partners. Further, mate-preferences that were marked as conventional rarely promoted an environment of mutual affiliation, whereas mate-preferences that were formulated as resistant to gender-conventionality did tend to function as a preliminary for affectiv...
How Positive-Strand RNA Viruses Benefit from Autophagosome Maturation

The autophagic degradation pathway is a powerful tool in the host cell arsenal against cytosolic pathogens. Contents trapped inside cytosolic vesicles, termed autophagosomes, are delivered to the lysosome for degradation. In spite of the degradative nature of the pathway, some pathogens are able to subvert autophagy for their benefit. In many cases, these pathogens have developed strategies to induce the autophagic signaling pathway while inhibiting the associated degradation activity. One surprising finding from recent literature is that some viruses do not impede degradation but instead promote the generation of degradative autolysosomes, which are the endpoint compartments of autophagy. Dengue virus, poliovirus, and hepatitis C virus, all positive-strand RNA viruses, utilize the maturation of autophagosomes into acidic and ultimately degradative compartments to promote their replication. While the benefits that each virus reaps from autophagosome maturation are unique, the parallels between the viruses indicate a complex relationship between cytosolic viruses and host cell degradation vesicles.
Treatment of fecal incontinence with a comprehensive bowel management program.

Abstract Purpose Many articles describe the antegrade continence enemas (ACEs), but few refer to a bowel management program. A successful ACE may not help a patient without such management. Valuable lessons were learned by implementation of bowel management in 495 fecally incontinent patients. Methods We previously reported 201 patients. Thereafter, another 294 patients participated in our program. On the basis of a contrast enema and symptoms, they were divided as follows: ( a ) 220 constipated patients and ( b ) 74 patients with tendency toward diarrhea. Colonic stool was monitored with abdominal radiographs, modifying the management according to the patient's response and radiologic findings. For constipated patients, the emphasis was on using large enemas. For patients with tendency toward diarrhea, we used small enemas, a constipating diet, loperamide, and pectin. Diagnoses included anorectal malformation (223), Hirschsprung's (36), spina bifida (12), and miscellaneous (23). Results The management was successful in 279 patients (95%)—higher in constipated patients (98%) and less successful in patients with tendency toward diarrhea (84%). Conclusions The key to a successful bowel management program rests in tailoring the type of enema, medication, and diet to the specific type of colon. The best way to determine the effect of an enema is with an abdominal film. The ACE procedures should be recommended only after successful bowel management.
A procedure for developing warning message prioritization rules in integrated collision warning systems for heavy trucks

This paper presents the results of an effort to create a comprehensive and systematic procedure for developing warning message prioritization rules in integrated Collision Warning Systems (CWS) for heavy trucks. Although there are existing guidelines and even ISO standards for accomplishing this, in practice these sources are inadequate because they are not designed to handle the high degree of complexity and large number of warning conflict permutations that occur in integrated systems that have multiple subsystems, each with multiple warning levels. This paper presents a procedure that expands on existing sources, but has the level of detail and structured tools necessary to represent the variety of information that requires consideration when making decisions about the prioritization of warning messages.
Preemptive Ketamine Decreases Postoperative Narcotic Requirements in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery

The aim of this study was to determine if preemptive administration of systemic ketamine decreases postoperative pain when compared with postwound closure administration of ketamine.Patients undergoing abdominal procedures were randomized into a preemptive or postwound closure ketamine administration group. Before surgical incision, patients in the preemptive group (n = 20) were given 0.5 mg/kg ketamine followed by a ketamine infusion of 10 micro g [centered dot] kg-1 [centered dot] min-1, which was discontinued at abdominal closure. The patients in the postwound closure (n = 20) group were given 0.5 mg/kg of ketamine immediately after abdominal closure. Postoperatively, all patients received intravenous (IV) morphine in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and were started on IV morphine patient-controlled analgesia after discharge from the PACU. Postoperative pain was assessed by measuring morphine consumption and visual analog scale (0-100 mm) pain scores at rest. Patients in the preemptive group had significantly lower morphine consumption on postoperative Days 1 and 2. No significant intergroup differences were seen in the pain scores throughout the study period. Preemptive ketamine decreased postoperative opioid requirements, which was observed long after the normal expected duration of ketamine. (Anesth Analg 1997;84:1086-90)
Priority Fights in Economic Science

Eponymic honor is a common form of professional recognition in economics, as it is in other sciences. There also seems to be convincing evidence that individuals exposed to economic theory behave less cooperatively and more self-interestedly than individuals who have not been exposed to such economic ideas. Taken together these two facts would seem to suggest that the history of economic thought would be a history of rather contentious priority fights. If economists generally behave in self-interested and non-cooperative ways, and having your name attached to a particular result serves one's professional self-interest, then economists should be quick to fight for these eponymic honors. This means that economists should be continually involved in sordid disputes about who does, and who does not, get credit for various economic discoveries. The paradox is that such priority fights do not exist in economics. The paper examines absence of such disputes from a Mertonian perspective.
Trust in Scientists on Climate Change and Vaccines

On climate change and other topics, conservatives have taken positions at odds with a strong scientific consensus. Claims that this indicates a broad conservative distrust of science have been coun...
An Undescribed Species of Elsinoë from Mysore

(1946). An Undescribed Species of Elsinoe from Mysore. Mycologia: Vol. 38, No. 2, pp. 220-225.
Impact of X-Ray Tomographic Microscopy on Deformation Studies of a SiC/Al MMC

Damage in a continuous, aligned-fiber SiC/Al metal matrix composite (MMC), e.g. fiber fracture, fiber-matrix interphase microcracking, intra-ply matrix voids and cracks, is examined with synchrotron x-ray tomographic microscopy (XTM). Quantitative three-dimensional measurements of damage are reported in as-fabricated and monotonically loaded SiC/Al. The XTM results indicate that increases in observed macroscopic structural stiffness during the first few fatigue cycles of an MMC coupon correspond to elimination of processing-related matrix porosity and to displacement of the fibers from a somewhat irregular arrangement into a more nearly hexagonal array. The XTM data also show that the carbon cores of the SiC fibers begin to fail at or below 828 MPa, that is, at loads far less than those for fracture of the entire fiber. The implications of these results and of the use of in situ loading for fatigue damage quantification are also discussed for mechanical/thermal modelling.
Trees and Power-Sums

(1985). Trees and Power-Sums. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 92, No. 5, pp. 328-331.
USING GROUND PENETRATING RADAR TO CHARACTERIZE SOIL FROST

Seasonal soil freezing is an important natural perturbation common in cold regions around the world. A thorough evaluation of ecological responses to seasonally frozen ground is hampered by our inability to adequately characterize the frequency, depth, duration and intensity of soil frost events. When soil freezes, its dielectric value drops creating a detectable interface. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) has the potential to nondestructively quantify seasonal soil freezing in forests, though it requires further evaluation before it can be used in ecological applications. A series of test plots were established at sites in Vermont (2) and New Hampshire (1). Each site was fitted with frost tubes (30) to make direct comparisons with GPR estimates of frost depth using a SIR-3000 GPR system equipped with a 900 MHz antenna (Geophysical Survey Systems, Salem, NH) during winter 2011-2012. Half of the experimental plots were shoveled free of snow every other week to increase frost penetration. GPR was able to reliably detect and delineate frost at depths greater than 10 cm. Favorable conditions for GPR include bare soil or shallow snow; while standing water, wet snow and surface thawing interfered with detection. Soil frost was detectable through snow 50cm. The best use of GPR would be intensive campaigns where capturing spatial variability is valuable.
Designing Control Logic for Cockpit Display Systems using Model-Based Design

Cockpit display systems require logic for managing the modes of multiple components aboard the aircraft. Multiple competing criteria for display need to be applied and prioritized to ensure the most important and relevant information is displayed at all times. State machines provide a natural mechanism for representing system modes while flow charts make it easy to represent complex flow logic. This paper outlines the use of ModelBased Design to efficiently design the control logic for a cockpit display system. By conducting functional and structural verification on the design model, errors in the design can be quickly discovered and corrected before the design is implemented in software.
Electrical measurement for detecting early postmortem changes in porcine muscle.

Use of electrical measurements to detect quality defects in porcine muscle in the early postmortem period was evaluated. Justification for use of a tetrapolar, constant current electrode configuration instead of bipolar electrodes was provided for measurements at low frequencies. Interrelationships among electrical properties, pH values, ATP decline, temperature, time postmortem, and final water-holding capacity (WHC) of porcine muscle were quantified using 25 hogs. Immediately after exsanguination, a section of the left longissimus muscle (LM) was excised to obtain rigor shortening patterns and complex impedance measurements over a 10-h period at 37 degrees C. Complex impedance measurements were taken using a tetrapolar electrode configuration at 1 kHz and .156 mA. At 15, 45, and 90 min postmortem, pH, ATP/IMP absorbance (R), and conductivity measured by the Tecpro Pork Quality Meter (PQM) were measured on the right side LM. At 24 h postmortem, WHC, pH, R, PQM, Hunter Color Lab values, and subjective quality scores were evaluated on the left LM. The WHC measurements were used to group carcasses into normal (n = 17) and abnormal (n = 8) categories. Mean pH and R at 45 and 90 min were different (P < .05) but pH at 24 h was not different between the normal and abnormal groups. Onset and completion of rigor were more rapid in carcasses with low WHC (P < .05). The PQM values were greater (P < .05) in the abnormal group at 90 min and 24 h postmortem. Excised muscle measurements of relative impedance (Z*) and phase (theta*) showed Z* and theta* increased more rapidly within the first 15 min postmortem (P < .1) for samples with abnormal WHC. However, one PSE carcass showed an immediate rapid decrease in Z* and theta*. Results suggest measurement of rate of change of impedance and phase angle before 90 min postmortem would be a better prediction of ultimate quality than absolute magnitude of impedance.
Financing Capability of Farmers′Cooperatives in Fujian

The financing channels and funding sources the Provincial Farmers′Cooperatives in the province relied on for raising their capital were surveyed.Based on the information obtained,the causes of the financial shortages the organizations experienced in the past were thoroughly analyzed by means of the analytical hierarchy process and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation.As a result,aprogram consisting of 21 criteria was developed to evaluate the individual cooperative′s ability to provide basic loan guarantees and maintain a sustainable development and a stable fiscal status,as well as the executive's professional competency and managerial skills.Our survey on 44farmers' cooperatives in the province seemed to show(a)ageneral lack of marketing expertise in the organizations;(b)a significant deviation between the cooperatives' ability to secure funds for the businesses associated with crop breeding/aquaculture and that for the operations involved in conventional farming;also,between that for the largescale commodity segments and the small-sized firms;and,(c)a considerable variation on the professional skill levels of the top management.These shortfalls inevitably impeded an efficient operation for some cooperatives,even though their infrastructures were generally updated.Accordingly,suggestions concerning how to effectively enhance their fundraising capability,strengthen personnel training,and vitalize support mechanism are presented.
A Discussion about Teacher's Salary in Higher School from the View of Human Capital

This paper tries to analyses the problem about teacher's salary in higher school from the view of human capital.Firstly,it discusses the significance of improving the teacher's salary in higher school based on the formation and characteristics of human capital.Secondly,it analyses the irrational influence on human capital price of high school's teachers at present.At last this paper gives some suggestions about the realization of rational human capital price of high school's teachers.
Social Studies Teacher Education in the Early Twentieth Century: A Historical Inquiry into the Relationship between Teacher Preparation and Curriculum Reform.

Background/ContextThe field of social studies education is hardly lacking in historical investigation. The historiography includes sweeping chronicles of longtime struggles over the curriculum as w...
A Dangerous Woman: Mary Speke, her Family, and the Puritan Gentry

The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Peter Mews, kept a careful watch over the Speke family of Whitelackington in Somerset. A thorough-going royalist, Mews was no friend to the many Puritan gentry families in the West Country about whose activities he made regular reports to the authorities in London. But of all the wealthy nonconformist families within his diocese, the Spekes rankled him the most. In early July 1683, Mews informed Secretary Leoline Jenkins that “Mrs. Speak, the wife of Mr. Speak of Whitelackington in this county is now in London and hath been there for some time. There is not a more dangerous woman in the West, and what her sons are I need not tell you.” A couple weeks later, the Bishop wrote to Jenkins again, imploring him to have Whitelackington house searched for arms and papers. “I need give no character of their family. I suppose it is sufficiently known how actively of late years they have all appeared against his Majesty’s interest, especially the mother and her son, Hugh ….”2
The Emerging Role of Multiscale Modeling in Nano- and Micro-mechanics of Materials

As a result of surging interest in finding fundamental descriptions for the strength and failure properties of materials, and the exciting prospects of designing materials from their atomic level, an international symposium on Multiscale Modeling was convened in Los Angeles during August 23 25, 2000. In this symposium, 23 speakers with research interests spanning fields as diverse as traditional mechanics, physics, chemistry and materials science have given talks at this symposium. The topics of discussion were focused on sub-continuum modeling of the mechanics of materials, taking into account the atomic structure of solid materials. The main motivation of the symposium was the realization of the limitations of current continuum mechanics modeling approaches (e.g. the finite element method (FEM)) to describe the behavior of materials at scales smaller than tens of microns. The speakers represented the international scientific community in different countries, and utilized diverse simulation and modeling tools for sub-continuum systems. The discussions covered Ab Initio quantum simulations (e.g., density functional theory and tight-binding methods), atomistic simulations using empirical many-body interatomic potentials, Monte Carlo methods, mesoscopic statistical and dislocation dynamics, and advanced continuum field equation approaches. In this article, we provide a perspective on the variety of methods presented at the symposium, and a vision for future developments in multiscale simulations for nanoand micromechanics of materials.
The Litchfield Pluton in South-Central Maine: Carboniferous Alkalic Magmatism in northern New England, USA

The Litchfield pluton is a poorly exposed 7 km 2 composite alkalic intrusive complex that cuts previously deformed and metamorphosed Silurian turbidites in south-central Maine. The pluton includes a variety of alkaline syenites, including the type locality of “litchfieldite”, a coarse-grained cancrinite, sodalite, and lepidomelane bearing nepheline syenite first recognized over 150 years ago and common in many petrologic collections. A new U-Pb zircon age of 321 ± 2 Ma from the nepheline syenite is interpreted to represent the crystallization age of the plutonic complex. A new biotite 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age of 239 ± 1 Ma from the syenite is similar to previously published mica ages from the surrounding country rocks and dates the time of regional cooling in the area below ~ 300°C. Whole rock geochemical analyses from rocks of the Litchfield pluton are compatible with strongly alkaline A-type granitoid rocks that formed in a within plate or continental rift tectonic setting. The age and geochemical characteristics of the alkalic igneous rocks near Litchfield are consistent with a model that invokes the generation of a small volume of alkalic magma beneath south-central Maine during a period of Carboniferous transcurrent tectonism in the northern Appalachian orogen.
Nuclear High-level Waste Tank Explosions: Potential Causes and Impacts of a Hypothetical Accident at India's Kalpakkam Reprocessing Plant

ABSTRACTTanks holding liquid high level waste from reprocessing spent fuel have large inventories of highly radioactive materials. These tanks could potentially be damaged by a variety of chemical explosions, leading to the dispersion of a significant fraction of their radioactive contents. This article describes some of the different chemical explosions that could occur and examines how such explosions could occur at the Kalpakkam Reprocessing Plant in India, which likely stores a large volume of high level liquid waste because vitrification of that waste did not begin until more than 15 years after the plant began operating in 1998. The atmospheric dispersion of the hypothetical radioactive release is modeled using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model developed by the Air Research Laboratory of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The results suggest that the modeled accident scenario would lead to nearly 97,000 cancers, with roughly 47,000 of these bein...
Role of High-Dose Chemotherapy with Autologous Haematopoetic Stem Cell Transplantation for Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin's Disease.

Abstract Background: Hodgkin disease (HD) is a potentially curable lymphoma with overall survival exceeding 60% at 10 years. However, patients with relapsed Hodgkin's disease have a dismal prognosis when treated with conventional salvage chemotherapy. The primary objective of our systematic review/meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplant (HSCT) versus conventional chemotherapy in patients with relapsed Hodgkin's disease which has not been done before. Methods: Data search of published studies included Medline (1966–2006), Cochrane library and hand search of references. Studies were included if they were randomized controlled trials of HSCT versus conventional chemotherapy only. Data were extracted on benefits as well as harms (overall survival, event-free survival, and treatment related mortality). All data extraction was done in duplicate independently. Results: Out of 47 identified studies only 2 met the inclusion criteria of the current systematic review. Overall survival was similar for HSCT and conventional chemotherapy arms (see figure 1) with a pooled hazard ratio (HR) of 0.69 (95%CI 0.40, 1.18, p=0.2). However, the event-free survival was better in the HSCT arm than the conventional chemotherapy alone group (HR = 0.59, 95%CI 0.41, 0.85, p=0.005). Treatment related mortality was similar in both groups. (HR = 0.40, 95%CI 0.11, 1.44, p=0.2). Conclusion: Results from our meta-analysis indicate that treatment with HSCT compared with conventional chemotherapy only improves event free survival without excessive toxicity. However, overall survival was not affected by the HSCT therapy. In summary patients with relapsed Hodgkin's disease should be offered HSCT therapy. Download : Download high-res image (175KB) Download : Download full-size image