cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Principles of Nuclear Medicine Imaging Modalities

Nuclear medicine utilizes radioactive molecules (radiopharmaceuticals) for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The diagnostic information obtained from imaging the distribution of radiopharmaceuticals is fundamentally functional and thus differs from other imaging disciplines within radiology, which are primarily anatomic in nature. Imaging using radiopharmaceuticals can be subdivided into single- and dual-photon modalities. A wide selection of radiopharmaceuticals is available for single-photon imaging designed to study numerous physiologic processes within the body. Static, dynamic, gated and tomographic modes of single-photon acquisition can be performed. Dual-photon imaging is the principle underlying positron emission tomography (PET) and is fundamentally tomographic. PET has expanded rapidly due to the clinical impact of the radiopharmaceutical 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose, a glucose analogue used for imaging of malignancy. The fusion of nuclear medicine tomographic images with anatomic CT is evolving into a dominant imaging technique. The current chapter will review physical, biological and technical concepts underlying nuclear medicine.
Preventing Zika Virus Infection during Pregnancy Using a Seasonal Window of Opportunity for Conception.

It has come to light that Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can result in trans-placental transmission to the fetus along with fetal death, congenital microcephaly, and/or Central Nervous System (CNS) malformations. There are projected to be >9,200,000 births annually in countries with ongoing ZIKV transmission. In response to the ZIKV threat, the World Health Organization (WHO) is strategically targeting prevention of infection in pregnant women and funding contraception in epidemic regions. I propose that the damaging effects of ZIKV can be reduced using a seasonal window of opportunity for conception that may minimize maternal exposure. Like other acute viral infections—including the related flavivirus, dengue virus (DENV)—the transmission of ZIKV is anticipated to be seasonal. By seasonally planning pregnancy, this aspect of pathogen ecology can be leveraged to align sensitive periods of gestation with the low-transmission season.
Natural Disaster and Depression: A Prospective Investigation of Reactions to the 1993 Midwest Floods

A statewide sample of 1735 Iowa residents, approximately half of whom were victims of the 1993 Midwest Floods, participated in interviews 1 year prior to, and 30 to 90 days after, the disaster. Employing a rigorous methodology including both control-group comparisons and predisaster assessments, we performed a systematic evaluation of the disaster's impact. Overall, the disaster led to true but small rises in depressive symptoms and diagnoses 60-90 days postflood. The disaster-psychopathology effect was not moderated by predisaster depressive symptoms or diagnostically defined depression; rather, predisaster symptoms and diagnoses uniquely contributed to increases in postdisaster distress. However, increases in symptoms as a function of flood impact were slightly greater among respondents with the lowest incomes and among residents living in small rural communities, as opposed to on farms or in cities. Implications for individual- and community-level disaster response are discussed.
Optimizing the yield of transient mono-dimethyl disulfide adducts for elucidating double bond positions of long chain alkenones

Abstract Long chain alkenones (LCAs) are among the most successful biomarkers for paleotemperature reconstructions. However, fundamental questions regarding the biosynthesis and cellular functions of alkenones in haptophyte algae remain poorly understood. Recent discoveries of LCAs with double bond positions and chain lengths that differ from common structures further highlight the importance of continued research into structural variations of this important class of lipid biomarkers to improve LCA applications as temperature proxies. Double bond positions on alkyl chains can be effectively determined by preparing mono-double bond adducts with dimethyl disulfide (DMDS-1), and subsequent gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. However, previously published procedures for adduct preparation were originally designed for mono-unsaturated fatty acids, and generally produce low product yields when applied to alkenones. Here we demonstrate that the problem originates mainly from DMDS and alkenone overreaction at high temperatures for long time periods, and, secondarily, insufficient amount of iodine catalyst. The overreaction results in DMDS reacting with multiple double bonds, and the possible formation of intermolecular linkages, creating non-volatile products. These products are of little use for elucidating alkenone structures. We demonstrate that by reducing the reaction temperature and time, and by using an optimal amount of iodine, we can maximize the yield of transient DMDS-1 adducts for alkenone structure determination.
Identifying Multiple Authors in a Binary Program

Knowing the authors of a binary program has significant application to forensics of malicious software (malware), software supply chain risk management, and software plagiarism detection. Existing techniques assume that a binary is written by a single author, which does not hold true in real world because most modern software, including malware, often contains code from multiple authors. In this paper, we make the first step toward identifying multiple authors in a binary. We present new fine-grained techniques to address the tougher problem of determining the author of each basic block. The decision of attributing authors at the basic block level is based on an empirical study of three large open source software, in which we find that a large fraction of basic blocks can be well attributed to a single author. We present new code features that capture programming style at the basic block level, our approach for identifying external template library code, and a new approach to capture correlations between the authors of basic blocks in a binary. Our experiments show strong evidence that programming styles can be recovered at the basic block level and it is practical to identify multiple authors in a binary.
Systematic Identification of Promoters for Methane Oxidation Catalysts Using Size- and Composition-Controlled Pd-Based Bimetallic Nanocrystals

Promoters enhance the performance of catalytic active phases by increasing rates, stability, and/or selectivity. The process of identifying promoters is in most cases empirical and relies on testing a broad range of catalysts prepared with the random deposition of active and promoter phases, typically with no fine control over their localization. This issue is particularly relevant in supported bimetallic systems, where two metals are codeposited onto high-surface area materials. We here report the use of colloidal bimetallic nanocrystals to produce catalysts where the active and promoter phases are colocalized to a fine extent. This strategy enables a systematic approach to study the promotional effects of several transition metals on palladium catalysts for methane oxidation. In order to achieve these goals, we demonstrate a single synthetic protocol to obtain uniform palladium-based bimetallic nanocrystals (PdM, M = V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Sn, and potentially extendable to other metal combinations) with a wide variety of compositions and sizes based on high-temperature thermal decomposition of readily available precursors. Once the nanocrystals are supported onto oxide materials, thermal treatments in air cause segregation of the base metal oxide phase in close proximity to the Pd phase. We demonstrate that some metals (Fe, Co, and Sn) inhibit the sintering of the active Pd metal phase, while others (Ni and Zn) increase its intrinsic activity compared to a monometallic Pd catalyst. This procedure can be generalized to systematically investigate the promotional effects of metal and metal oxide phases for a variety of active metal-promoter combinations and catalytic reactions.
Globalization, political orientation and wage inequality: From Donald Trump’s election to Angela Merkal’s re-election

Abstract. The recent election results in US, Germany, Japan and China and vote for BRIXIT in Britian suggest that political outcomes increasingly relate to the economic, political and social orientation in both developed and developing countries. Countries that have not promoted social and economic harmony in the country - democracy eventually puts the pressure through the discontent local polity resulting in election outcomes similar to US presidential elections in 2016. To avoid anti-globalization feelings among local population and its negative outcomes, improving political orientation towards greater participation of local polity and investments in education in developing countries would result in more equality. The research is applicable to countries like India, China, Pakistan, Argentina, Sub-Saharan Africa who have all liberalised but still need to draw lessons from East Asia for their Industrialisation and Growth Promotion with early emphasis on Social and Institutional Development. Keywords. Democracy, Autocracy, Wage inequality, International trade. JEL. E24, F40, J30.
Home Health Aides' Perceptions of Quality Care: Goals, Challenges, and Implications for a Rapidly Changing Industry

Home care payment models, quality measures, and care plans are based on physical tasks workers perform, ignoring relational care that supports clients' cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. ...
Gültigkeit und Zuverlässigkeit von Interviewdaten

Im folgenden soll versucht werden, die Diskussion um den Stellenwert des Interviews im Forschungsprozes und die Stichhaltigkeit von Interviewdaten vor dem Hintergrund des Konzeptes von „Zuverlassigkeit und Gultigkeit” zu fuhren. Was Fischer (1968, S. 31) uber dieses Konzept sagt, gilt u. E. nicht nur fur die Testtheorie, sondern auch fur das Interview: „Das Anliegen der klassischen Theorie (ist) vorwiegend pragmatisch. Tests sollen durch gewisse Kennzahlen bezuglich ihrer Leistungsfahigkeit charakterisiert werden — Reliabilitat als Mas fur die Zuverlassigkeit der Messung, und Validitat als Mas des Zusammenhanges zwischen Test und Kriterium. Diese Kennzahlen sind auch in der klassischen Testkonstruktionstheorie entscheidend fur die Auswahl von Items, Lange der Tests, und so weiter.”
Die funktionelle Harnröhrenplastik bei der weiblichen subsymphysealen Epispadie

Eine Epispadie bei Madchen ist relativ selten. So fand Dees [1] auf 5 Millionen Patientenaufnahmen nur 11 Falle bei Madchen (1:500000). Gleichzeitig registrierte er 45 Falle (1.100000) bei Jungen. Danach ergibt sich eine Geschlechtsverteilung von ca. 1:5. Hierbei handelte es sich nur um Falle mit Harninkontinenz, die nach der Einteilung von Campbell [2] immer bei der vollstandigen, meist bei der subsymphysealen und niemals bei der klitorischen Epispadie zu erwarten ist (Abb. 1). Alle Formen der Epispadie mit Harninkontinenz stellen fur den Urologen ein schwieriges therapeutisches Problem dar.
Interactive and Incremental Learning via a Mixture of Supervised and Unsupervised Learning Strategies

Machine learning paradigms are generally separated into supervised learning and unsupervised learning. Both of these paradigms have their own advantages in practice. But existing algorithms of these two paradigms also expose some hard problems in many different applications. In this paper, we first analyze the general problems of these two paradigms, and some successful techniques for boosting their performance. Then we propose a novel algorithm that can overcome some of existing problems through a mixture of these two paradigms. The algorithm is tested with a robot language-learning task. Equipped with this algorithm, our robot is able to acquire short audio information online, and gradually understand the audio input through human’s intensive teaching.
Critical Reflection and Generativity: Toward a Framework of Transformative Teacher Education for Diverse Learners:

This chapter provides a critical and synthesizing review of the literature on issues related to preparing teachers for diverse learners from historical and theoretical standpoints, reviewing more t...
A comparative study of secondary depolymerization methods on oxidized lignins

Selective oxidation of lignin's β-aryl ether units combined with secondary chemical treatment for depolymerization can generate valuable oxygen-rich aromatics. Although there have been many reports of the successful oxidative depolymerization of lignin, an accurate assessment of the merits of each method is hampered by the wide array of lignins used. Here, we test a selection of literature methods for secondary lignin depolymerization using a common set of lignin substrates. In an initial step, the lignins were oxidized using 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ)/tert-butyl nitrite (tBuONO)/O2. The oxidized lignins were then subjected to a variety of depolymerization methods, the yield of aromatic monomers being quantified and compared to lignin depolymerized using an Au/Li-Al LDH catalyst followed by hydrolysis without prior Cα-OH oxidation. The Au/Li-Al LDH system gave the highest monomer yield for the untreated lignins, moreover, for DDQ-oxidized lignins, the Au/Li-Al LDH method produced similar monomer yields with high selectivity towards aromatic acids and aldehydes.
Proinflammatory Chemical Signaling: Cytokines

An increasing body of data has documented altered cytokine concentrations from Parkinson’s disease brains and its rodent models. These changes have been reported in the periphery as well as in the cerebrospinal fluid, where they may be released from a variety of cell types to possibly traffic to and from the brain. Brain resident macrophage, or microglia, is commonly implicated as the cell type contributing to cytokine elevations in the brain during disease. Beyond serving as biomarkers of disease, many studies indicate that the cytokines directly stimulate both neuroprotective and neurotoxic effects on dopaminergic neurons. In particular, rodent models of disease have allowed mechanistic testing of the correlative findings from human diseased brain to suggest that cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1β have pleiotropic roles during disease that may vary based upon temporal concentrations and coincident stimulation.
Effect of stopping sight distance on crashes at crest vertical curves on rural two-lane highways

This paper demonstrates that the crash reduction benefits of improving stopping sight distance (SSD) vary substantially over the highway system, with the greatest benefits likely at locations where a horizontal curve, intersection, or driveway is in a sight-restricted area. The paper analyzes crash data for 452 crest vertical curves on two-lane highways in the state of Washington, approximately equally distributed between sites with SSD below and above existing design criteria. Preliminary analyses found statistically significant differences in crash frequency between the groups of sites in SSD categories, but the statistical significance of these differences disappeared when a factor was introduced to account for the presence of horizontal curves, intersections, or driveways that were hidden from an approaching driver’s view by the sight restriction. The presence of such hidden features was found to be highly statistically significant. There is a need for highway design guidance to give higher priority t...
MgO modified biochar produced through ball milling: A dual-functional adsorbent for removal of different contaminants.

Abstract A facile ball-milling method was developed to synthesize MgO/biochar nanocomposites as a dual-functional adsorbent. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized nanocomposites indicated that the composites achieved nano-scaled morphologies and mesoporous structure with MgO nanoparticles, which is approximate 20 nm and dispersed uniformly on the surface of the biochar matrix. Batch sorption experiments yielded 62.9% removal of phosphate, an anion, and 87.5% removal of methylene blue, a cationic organic dye, at low adsorbent dosages of 1.0 g L−1 and 0.2 g L−1, respectively. This work indicates that ball milling, as a facile and promising method for synthesis of carbon-metal oxide nanocomposites, lends the advantage of operational flexibility and chemical adjustability for targeted remediation of diverse environmental pollutants.
Ludwig's angina and steroid use: A narrative review.

Abstract Background Ludwig's angina, a rapidly progressive cellulitis causing airway obstruction, has traditionally been managed with antibiotics and surgical intervention. More controversial is the use of steroids in the management of patients with this condition. This article summarizes the literature of steroid use in the management of Ludwig's angina. Methods The study used a narrative review method alongside the PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews. PubMed, Ovid Medline, Cochrane, and Web of Science were searched for cases of Ludwig's angina with documented steroid use in patient management. Inclusion criteria were articles in the English language with direct patient outcomes. There were 17 articles selected with 31 patient cases. Results Most reports of steroid use in Ludwig's angina in the literature are case reports, with one retrospective review, and one letter to the editor. Dexamethasone was the steroid of choice in most cases reviewed. All patient cases reported used antibiotics alongside their steroid use, and 27 out of 31 patient cases required surgery. Most patients recovered with no further sequelae or complications. Three (9.68%) patients suffered mortality due to unrelated causes. Conclusions Primary literature reporting the use of steroids in the management of Ludwig's angina includes few cases. While the role steroids have in these cases remains uncertain, the articles summarized do not suggest an adverse influence, and may suggest a benefit.
Sport Specialization Is Associated with Impaired Sleep and Well-Being in Female Adolescent Athletes

Background: Sport specialization has been found to be associated with increased injury risk in youth athletes. Sleep and well-being have also been shown to be modifiable risk factors for injury in this population, but the relationship between specialization, sleep and well-being is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between sport specialization, sleep and subjective well-being in female youth soccer players. Methods: Forty-nine female youth soccer players (ages 13-18) underwent pre-season evaluation to determine age, soccer experience, and sport participation. During a subsequent 4-month …
Hypoxia and Oxygen-Sensing Signaling in Gene Regulation and Cancer Progression.

Oxygen homeostasis regulation is the most fundamental cellular process for adjusting physiological oxygen variations, and its irregularity leads to various human diseases, including cancer. Hypoxia is closely associated with cancer development, and hypoxia/oxygen-sensing signaling plays critical roles in the modulation of cancer progression. The key molecules of the hypoxia/oxygen-sensing signaling include the transcriptional regulator hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) which widely controls oxygen responsive genes, the central members of the 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG)-dependent dioxygenases, such as prolyl hydroxylase (PHD or EglN), and an E3 ubiquitin ligase component for HIF degeneration called von Hippel–Lindau (encoding protein pVHL). In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the canonical hypoxia signaling, HIF transcription factors, and pVHL. In addition, the role of 2-OG-dependent enzymes, such as DNA/RNA-modifying enzymes, JmjC domain-containing enzymes, and prolyl hydroxylases, in gene regulation of cancer progression, is specifically reviewed. We also discuss the therapeutic advancement of targeting hypoxia and oxygen sensing pathways in cancer.
Critical Role of Ion Exchange Conditions on the Properties of Network Ionic Polymers

Ionic polymers are important in a wide range of applications and can exhibit widely different properties depending on the ionic species. In the case of single ion conducting polymers, where one cha...
Moving from Private to Public Ownership: Selling Out to Public Firms versus Initial Public Offerings

We study two alternative means to move assets from private to public ownership: through the acquisition of private companies by firms that are public (sellouts) or through initial public share offerings (IPOs). We consider firm-specific characteristics for 1,074 IPO and 735 sellout firms to identify differences in growth, capital constraints, and asymmetric information between the two types of transactions. Our results suggest that firms move to public ownership through an IPO when they have greater growth opportunities and face more capital constraints. We provide a better understanding of the firm-specific characteristics that lead firms to go public.
New Verbeekite-type polymorphic phase and rich phase diagram in the PdSe 2 − x Te x system

We report a combined experimental and theoretical study of the ${\mathrm{PdSe}}_{2\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Te}}_{x}$ system. With increasing Te fraction, structural evolutions, first from an orthorhombic phase (space group Pbca) to a monoclinic phase (space group $C2/c)$ and then to a trigonal phase (space group $P\text{\ensuremath{-}}3m1)$, are observed accompanied with clearly distinct electrical transport behavior. The new monoclinic phase $(C2/c)$ belongs to the very rare Verbeekite polymorphism and is discovered within a narrow range of Te composition $(0.3\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}0.8)$. Electronic calculations and detailed transport analysis of the Verbeekite polymorphic ${\mathrm{PdSe}}_{1.3}{\mathrm{Te}}_{0.7}$ phase are presented. In the trigonal phase region, superconductivity with enhanced critical temperature is also observed within a narrow range of Te content $(1.0\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}1.2)$. The rich phase diagram, new polymorphic structure, and abnormally enhanced superconductivity could further stimulate interest to explore new types of polymorphs and investigate their transport and electronic properties in the family of transition metal dichalcogenides, which are of significant interest.
Command-Shaping Control of Linear Resonant Actuators for Haptic Force Generation

Abstract Generating haptic forces in portable electronic devices and wearables is often accomplished with small vibrating motors, such as linear resonant actuators (LRAs). While these motors are favorably small, lightweight, inexpensive, and low-power, they are limited in the types of forces they can generate. Command-shaping techniques are presented that can either accentuate or attenuate haptic forces generated by LRAs. The proposed methods are advantageous because they generate force profiles that cannot be produced by standard haptic libraries. The methods are experimentally verified using a laser vibrometer.
Gross Pathology of Abdominal Viscera

Ulceration in the rumen of cattle, I think, commonly or more frequently represents a rapid change in diet, producing rumen acidosis which is followed by necrosis of the epithelium, and ulceration. These ulcers frequently can lead to rumen abscessation. Bacteria can get into the submucosa and then metastasize to the liver. Spherophorus necrophorus is most commonly in the textbooks associated with these lesions, but in our particular locality at Auburn we very seldom see it. Other organisms can cause it. Many fungal agents also get in the submucosa of the rumen, but the primary problem is acidosis. The lesion would be typical of a fungal infection starting out in the rumen. But rumen acidosis following a rapid change in diet is the primary cause of rumen ulceration. Other causes that should not be neglected are infectious, such as virus diarrhea.
Predicting black soldier fly larvae biomass and methionine accumulation using a kinetic model for batch cultivation and improving system performance using semi-batch cultivation.

Global demand for poultry and associated feed are projected to double over the next 30 years. Insect meal is a sustainable alternative to traditional feeds when produced on low-value high-volume agricultural byproducts. Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) are high in protein and contain methionine, an essential amino acid that is critical to poultry health. BSF larvae can be grown on many organic residues, however, larvae growth and quality vary based on feedstock and cultivation processes. Experiments were completed to monitor temporal changes in BSF larvae growth and composition using almond hulls as a growth substrate under batch and semi-batch processes and with varying substrate carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N). A logistic kinetic growth model was developed to predict larval biomass and methionine accumulations during batch production. Estimated ranges of model parameters for larvae maximum specific growth rate and carrying capacity were 0.017-0.021 h-1 and 9.7-10.7 g larvae kg-1 hulls dry weight, respectively. Methionine content in larvae increased from 11.1 to 17.1 g kg-1 dry weight over a 30-day batch incubation period. Larvae-specific growth and yield increased by 168% and 268%, respectively, when cultivated in a semi-batch compared to a batch process. Increasing C/N ratio from 26 to 40 increased density of methionine content in larvae per unit feedstock by 25%. The findings demonstrate a logistic model can predict larvae biomass accumulation, harvest time can achieve specific methionine contents, and a semi-batch process is more favorable for larvae biomass accumulation compared to a batch process.
Extra electron in (H2O)-24 cluster isomers: A theoretical study

The isomers of (H2O)24− tetrakaidecahedral cluster are studied by applying the Becke-3-parameter density functional theory and Lee–Yang–Parr correlation functional (B3LYP) and 6-311++G** basis set. Three isomers are selected on the basis of stabilization energy values. The vertical electron dissociation energies (VDE) of these isomers are 1.353, 0.404, and 0.258 eV, respectively. The experimental VDE value of 1.31 eV [J. Chem. Phys. 92, 3980 (1990)] for this cluster size is in excellent agreement with that calculated for isomer 1, suggesting the dominance of this isomer in the experiment. Four water molecules in this isomer share most of the −1 charge. These four water molecules have non-H-bonding H (NHB H) atoms turned toward the cavity, and the inward turned H atoms exhibit a significant lowering of O–H stretch frequency compared to that of a monomer. Isomers 2 and 3 have all 12 NHB H atoms projected outward and have the −1 charge distributed among 7–8 water molecules on the cluster surface.
Phase I study of carfilzomib, lenalidomide, vorinostat, and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma.

Summary Research has shown that proteasome inhibitors (e.g., carfilzomib), immunomodulatory agents (e.g., lenalidomide), histone deacetylase inhibitors (e.g., vorinostat) and corticosteroids (e.g., dexamethasone) have synergistic anti-multiple myeloma (MM) activity. This phase I dose-escalation study evaluated a regimen combining carfilzomib, lenalidomide, vorinostat and dexamethasone (QUAD) in patients with relapsed and/or refractory MM. Seventeen patients received carfilzomib (15, 20, or 20/27 mg/m2; 30-min infusion; days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16), lenalidomide (15 or 25 mg; days 1–21), vorinostat (300 or 400 mg; days 1–7, 15–21), and dexamethasone (40 mg; days 1, 8, 15, 22) in 28-d cycles. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed; the maximum tolerated dose was not reached. The maximum administered dose was carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m2, lenalidomide 25 mg, vorinostat 400 mg, and dexamethasone 40 mg. Common grade ≥3 adverse events included neutropenia (53%), thrombocytopenia (53%) and anaemia (41%). The overall response rate was 53%: 12% of patients achieved a very good partial response (PR) and 41% of patients achieved a PR. At a median follow-up of 10 months, median progression-free survival was 12 months and median overall survival was not reached. Treatment with QUAD was feasible and had encouraging activity in patients with relapsed and/or refractory MM.
Toward a Comprehensive Understanding of North Korea's Nuclear Conundrum: The Six Parties in Complex Interdependence from 2002 to 2008

In order to address the tensions that erupted out of North Korea's nuclear crisis, a multilateral framework, known as the Six-Party Talks, was arranged between the United States and North Korea along with four other countries in Northeast Asia. On the surface, Washington seems to possess many of the requisite means to win other countries to its side, whereas Pyongyang is widely considered a pariah with little influence over the given issue. However, North Korea has posed strategic challenges to the major powers, including the United States, over the years by accumulating more nuclear materials and conducting nuclear tests in between subsequent negotiations. This study is designed to shed light on the security conundrum caused by North Korea's nuclear crisis. In particular, I seek to examine the differences and compatibilities of the six negotiating parties' major policy objectives and priorities, the effects of which can explain bargaining positions and subsequent negotiated outcomes (or lack thereof) in complex multilateral talks, dealing with North Korea's controversial nuclear program.
The "In-Training Examination" of the American Board of Pediatrics: Does It Test for "New" or "Old" Information?

The American Board of Pediatrics In-Training Examination or "Pre-Test" is not in widespread use as a means of evaluating the cognitive knowledge and problem-solving skills of hourse officers. The examination is modeled after the certifying examination of the American Board of Pediatrics. The 1977 Pre-Test was analyzed in an attempt to determine whether awareness of recent medical knowledge was required to pass this examination. The 7th through 10th editions of the Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics were used as a reference source. These editions represent information that is from 5 to at least 20 years of age. Analysis of the 190 items revealed that the correct answer was known for 148 or 78% of the questions at least 20 years ago. These results suggest that the Pre-Test, and presumably the American Board of Pediatrics certifying exam, measures the candidates' knowledge of long-standing core information.
Instance-aware simplification of 3D polygonal meshes

Virtual worlds and games increasingly deliver 3D meshes over the Internet using instanced file formats, such as COLLADA. However, existing simplification algorithms do not account for instancing in their inputs, operating instead on triangle soups or indexed triangle meshes. This makes them unsuitable for highly instanced meshes, since expanding an instanced mesh to an indexed triangle mesh and then simplifying it can result in a larger output file size. The high cost of delivering these larger files over the Internet results in long network latencies and low performance. This paper presents instance-aware simplification (IAS), an algorithm designed to efficiently simplify instanced 3D meshes. To ensure smaller output file sizes, IAS incorporates the existing compression of mesh instancing into its cost metrics. Unlike existing algorithms, IAS strictly reduces file size as it simplifies, so that IAS-simplified meshes of a given file size have higher visual quality than meshes simplified using existing algorithms. On highly instanced models, IAS results in simplified versions that are orders of magnitude smaller than existing algorithms for a given triangle count.
REVIEW OF ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS ACCOMPANYING SEISMIC AND VOLCANIC ACTIVITY

New observations of magnetic, electric and electromagnetic field variations, possibly related to recent volcanic and seismic events, have been obtained on Mt. Unzen in Japan, Reunion Island in Indian Ocean, the Long Valley volcanic caldera in California, and for faults in China and Russia, California and several other locations. For volcanic events, contributions from different physical processes can be identified during the various eruption stages. Slow processes (weeks to months) include near-surface thermal demagnetization effects, piezomagnetic effects, and effects from rotation/displacement of magnetized material. Rapid processes (seconds to days) include piezomagnetic effects from instantaneous stress redistribution with explosive eruptions and electrokinetic effects from rupture of high pressure fluid compartments commonly encountered in volcanic regions. For seismic events, the observed coseismic offsets are instantaneous, provided care has been taken to ensure sensors are insensitive to seismic shaking and are in regions of low magnetic field gradient. Simple piezomagnetic dislocation models based on geodetically and seismically determined fault parameters generally match the observed signals in size and sign. Electrokinetic effects resulting from rupture of fluid filled compartments at hydrostatic to lithostatic pore pressures can generate transient signals in the frequency band 100 Hz to 0.01 Hz. However, large-scale fluid driven processes are not evident in near-field measurements in the epicentral region minutes to weeks before large earthquakes. The subset of ionospheric disturbances generated by trapped atmospheric pressure waves (also termed gravity waves and/or acoustic waves, traveling ionospheric disturbances or TID's) that are excited by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common and propagate to great distances. These are known and expected consequences of earthquakes, volcanic explosions (and other atmospheric disturbances), that must be identified and their effects removed from VLF/ULF electromagnetic field records before associating new observations of ionospheric disturbances with earthquake activity.
Adequacy of retirement income after pension reforms in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe

The former transition countries of Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe (CESE) inherited defined benefit public pension systems financed on a pay-as-you-go basis. Under central planning, these systems exhibited fiscal strains which worsened during the early years of the transition and became unsustainable under a market economy and projected population aging. All CESE countries introduced reforms that varied but typically focused on issues of sustainability rather than benefit adequacy. Nine case studies-Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Serbia-suggest the following broad policy conclusions: (i) fiscal sustainability has improved in most study countries, but few are fully prepared for the inevitability of population aging; (ii) the linkage between contributions and benefits has been strengthened, and pension system designs are better suited to market conditions; (iii) levels of income replacement are generally adequate for all but some categories of workers (including those with intermittent formal sector employment or low lifetime wages); (iv) further reforms to cope with population aging should focus on extending labor force participation by the elderly to avoid benefit cuts that could undermine adequacy and very high contribution rates that could discourage formal sector employment; and (v) more decisive financial market reforms are needed for funded provisions to deliver on the return expectations of participants.
Carbonate preservation in marine sediments: Mid to higher latitude quantitative proxies

[1] Observations of carbonate preservation in marine sediments have long been used to infer changes in ocean circulation or biogenic production. When combined with measures of organic carbon rain and calcite accumulation rates, quantitative estimates of changes in preservation can reveal variation in biogenic fluxes, the org. C to calcite flux ratio and saturation state of bottom waters. Here we develop quantitative dissolution proxies for mid to higher latitudes based on foraminiferal test fragmentation. Examining surface sediments, we find that fragmentation in G. bulloides and G. truncatulinoides is linear with increasing seabed dissolution rate and can be used to quantify changes in carbonate preservation. G. truncatulinoides shows a constant relationship of fragmentation to dissolution. However, we observe that, although linear to dissolution rate, the fragmentation in G. bulloides depends on which morphotype is present. Other species, such as G. inflata, have complex responses to increasing dissolution and are less direct preservation indicators.
Deadly Connections: States that Sponsor Terrorism

1. Introduction 2. Why do states support terrorism? 3. The nature and impact of state support 4. Iran and the Lebanese Hizballah 5. Syria and Palestinian radical groups 6. Pakistan and Kashmir 7. Afghanistan under the Taliban 8. Passive sponsors of terrorism 9. The difficulties of stopping state sponsorship 10. Halting support for terrorism.
The Banality of Cyber Discrimination, or, the Eternal Recurrence of September

In the debate over how to regulate cyber harassment, there those who believe that cyber harassment is a serious phenomenon ("condemners") and those who think cyber harassment is not a serious phenomenon ("defenders"). What condemners often mean by calling cyber harassment serious is that it creates some kind of harm, whether criminal, tortious, discriminatory, or some combination of the three. What defenders often mean by arguing that cyber harassment is not serious is that it is an expected, predictable, and even valuable aspect of Internet interaction, the virtual equivalent of frat-boy antics and bathroom wall scribbles. In this short piece I argue that the defenders are largely correct in their description of cyber harassment as predictable, commonplace, and juvenile – in a word, banal – but that this very banality is what makes it both so effective and so harmful, especially as a form of discrimination. While there is little new or radical about the content of cyber harassment – the racist, sexist, and homophobic epithets, adolescent exultation in mindless profanity, and cheap camaraderie of sexual objectification and violence are all tropes straight from high school – the form of online harassment makes a world of difference. The capacity of the Internet to amplify, aggregate, and permanently record harassment can transform banal behavior into powerful discrimination.
Nonsense mutations in the rhodopsin gene that give rise to mild phenotypes trigger mRNA degradation in human cells by nonsense-mediated decay

Eight different nonsense mutations in the human rhodopsin gene cause retinitis pigmentosa (RP), an inherited degenerative disease of the retina that can lead to complete blindness. Although all these nonsense mutations lead to premature termination codons (PTCs) in rhodopsin mRNA, some display dominant inheritance, while others are recessive. Because nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) can degrade mRNAs containing PTCs and modulate the inheritance patterns of genetic diseases, we asked whether any of the nonsense mutations in the rhodopsin gene generated mRNAs that were susceptible to degradation by NMD. We hypothesized that nonsense mutations that caused mild RP phenotypes would trigger NMD, whereas those that did not engage NMD would cause more severe RP phenotypes-presumably due to the toxicity of the truncated protein. To test our hypothesis, we transfected human rhodopsin nonsense mutants into HEK293 and HT1080 human cells and measured transcript levels by qRT-PCR. In both cell lines, rhodopsin mutations Q64X and Q344X, which cause severe phenotypes that are dominantly inherited, yielded the same levels of rhodopsin mRNA as wild type. By contrast, rhodopsin mutations W161X and E249X, which cause recessive RP, showed decreased rhodopsin mRNA levels, consistent with NMD. Rhodopsin mutant Y136X, a dominant mutation that causes late-onset RP with a very mild pathology, also gave lower mRNA levels. Treatment of cells with Wortmannin, an inhibitor of NMD, eliminated the degradation of Y136X, W161X, and E249X rhodopsin mRNAs. These results suggest that NMD modulates the severity of RP in patients with nonsense mutations in the rhodopsin gene.
Bacteriophage T4 Inhibits Colicin E2-Induced Degradation of Escherichia coli Deoxyribonucleic Acid II. Inhibition by T4 Ghosts and by T4 in the Absence of Protein Synthesis

The deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of Escherichia coli B is converted by colicin E2 to products soluble in cold trichloroacetic acid; we showed previously that this DNA degradation (hereafter termed solubilization) is subject to inhibition by infection with phage T4 and that at least two modes of inhibition can be differentiated on the basis of their sensitivity to chloramphenicol (CM). This report deals exclusively with the inhibition of E2 produced by T4, or T4 ghosts, in the absence of protein synthesis. The following observations are described. (i) The stage of T4 infection that inhibits E2 occurs after reversible adsorption of the phage to the bacterial surface, but probably prior to injection of T4 DNA into the cell9s interior. (ii) The extent of inhibition increases as the T4 multiplicity is increased; however, the fraction of bacterial DNA that eventually is solubilized is virtually independent of the phage multiplicity. (iii) Phage ghosts (DNA-less phage particles) possess an approximately 15-fold greater inhibitory capacity toward E2 than do intact phage; however, because highly purified T4 (completely freed of ghost contamination) still inhibit E2, we discount the possibility that preparations of “intact phage” inhibit exclusively by virtue of contaminating ghosts. (iv) T4 infection does not liberate an extracellular inactivator of E2. In fact, infection with sufficiently high multiplicities of T4 produces a supernatant factor that protects E2 from nonspecific inactivation at 37 C. This protective factor does not interfere with the colicin9s ability to induce DNA solubilization. (v) Inhibition of E2 occurs even when phage are added well after initiation of DNA solubilization by E2, suggesting that a late stage of E2 action is the target of inhibition by T4 infection. (vi) Increasing the CM concentration from 50 μg/ml to 200 μg/ml appears to reduce the inhibition appreciably; however, this can be attributed to an enhancement by CM of the rate of E2-induced DNA solubilization. (vii) The same degree of inhibition of E2 by T4 seen in CM is observed when CM is replaced by puromycin or rifampin. (viii) Others have shown that raising the multiplicity of E2 increases the rate of DNA solubilization. We find that the fractional inhibition (i), [i = (1 − y i /y o ), where y i and y o represent the inhibited and uninhibited rates of solubilization of DNA, respectively], produced by a given T4 multiplicity is independent of the multiplicity of E2 and hence is independent of the rate of DNA solubilization induced by E2.
The Empirical Determination of Phonological Representations

Publisher Summary This report concentrates on the nature of lexical representations with respect to their segmental phonology. In particular, this paper questions the empirical validity of lexical representations in terms of minimal contrastive units, or phonemes. There are several types of phonemes—namely. autonomous, classical, and systematic phonemes. Phonemes have a number of defining properties that could be examined critically. The focus here is on a single property, the central property that all types of phonemes have in common, that is, phonemes is discrete phonological unit which contain no information which is predicted by rule. This is the essence of the phoneme as a descriptive device, and it is a very good descriptive device. There are, however, some facts about language that have been discussed in the literature in the last few years that are quite incompatible with this traditional descriptive notion. The chapter discusses this evidence and its implications for phonological theory.
Effect of Term Structure Model of Futures Price on Procurement Policies

The commodity futures price information conveyed by organized exchanges can be used by commodity processors to improve their procurement process. A practical obstacle in the utilization of this information is that the maturity dates of the traded contracts on the exchange and the decision cycle of commodity processors are not synchronized. In this paper, we develop a modeling framework that incorporates the dynamically evolving futures prices to negotiate forward contracts with their supplier. In particular, the pricing of these forward contracts are critical when their delivery dates are not synchronized with the maturities of the futures contracts traded on the exchange. In addition, we propose a systematic approach to model the trade-offs involved in commodity procurement and to incorporate the latest market prices in the development of optimal procurement polices. To test our models we use two well known models of commodity prices with increasing levels of complexity and precision. We use historical futures prices from CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) and NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) for wheat and unleaded gasoline respectively, to fit the price model parameters, and to test the inventory model on actual out of sample market prices. Our findings suggest that significant benefits are derived from incorporating systematically the latest futures prices on price models of increased precision.
Physical associations to spring phytoplankton biomass interannual variability in the U.S. Northeast Continental Shelf

The continental shelf of the Northeast United States and Nova Scotia is a productive marine ecosystem that supports a robust biomass of living marine resources. Understanding marine ecosystem sensitivity to changes in the physical environment can start with the first-order response of phytoplankton (i.e., chlorophyll a), the base of the marine food web. However, the primary physical associations to the interannual variability of chlorophyll a in these waters are unclear. Here we used ocean color satellite measurements and identified the local and remote physical associations to interannual variability of spring surface chlorophyll a from 1998 to 2013. The highest interannual variability of chlorophyll a occurred in March and April on the northern flank of Georges Bank, the western Gulf of Maine, and Nantucket Shoals. Complex interactions between winter wind speed over the Shelf, local winter water levels, and the relative proportions of Atlantic versus Labrador Sea source waters entering the Gulf of Maine from the previous summer/fall were associated with the variability of March/April chlorophyll a in Georges Bank and the Gulf of Maine. Sea surface temperature and sea surface salinity were not robust correlates to spring chlorophyll a. Surface nitrate in the winter was not a robust correlate to chlorophyll a or the physical variables in every case suggesting that nitrate limitation may not be the primary constraint on the interannual variability of the spring bloom throughout all regions. Generalized linear models suggest that we can resolve 88% of March chlorophyll a interannual variability in Georges Bank using lagged physical data.