cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urban tree cover change in Detroit and Atlanta, USA, 1951–2010

Abstract We assessed tree cover using random points and polygons distributed within the administrative boundaries of Detroit, MI and Atlanta, GA. Two approaches were tested, a point-based approach using 1000 randomly located sample points, and polygon-based approach using 250 circular areas, 200 m in radius (12.56 ha). In the case of Atlanta, both approaches arrived at similar estimates of tree cover (50–53%) for both time periods, yet they show that roughly one-third of the tree-covered land area in 1951 was also tree-covered in 2010 and about 30–31% of the sampled land area lacked tree cover during both assessment periods. In the case of Detroit, the two approaches resulted in different estimates of tree cover (19.6% vs. 30.8% in 2010), yet similar levels of transitions over time. The only similarities between the two cities were that about 15–20% of each city’s land area was covered with trees in 1951, yet lacked tree cover in 2010. While the polygon-based approach to estimating tree cover may result in a product that more explicitly represents covered areas, the point-based approach is recommended due to the time and effort involved with the polygon-based approach and potential error introduced through topographic displacement of trees and shadows. Overall, canopy cover over time remained stable while distribution varied greatly. However, while multi-decade change in aggregate is undetectable at the scale of a city, there seems to be substantial shifts in the spatial arrangement of the tree canopy.
A simple theory of stuttering

Abstract This paper presents a simple theory of stuttering. The theory states that the proximal cause of stuttering is the elevated activity in the muscles that are involved in speech production. The data in support of this theoretical position are reviewed in an effort to show that the theory accounts for a large amount of empirical findings on stuttering. The paper includes a discussion of the limitations of this theory and suggests research and clinical implications.
Personal digital assistant use by nurse practitioners: a descriptive study.

Purpose: We sought to describe the prevalence and patterns of use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) among active nurse practitioners (NPs). Data sources: A descriptive correlational survey was conducted among NPs in the United States (N = 126). Participants were randomly selected from members of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners who had listed a practice site on their application. Conclusions: Sixty-four percent of participants used PDAs. A drug reference was reported to be the most useful and frequently installed application. A large majority of PDA users believed that PDA use supported clinical decision making (91%), promoted patient safety (89%), and increased productivity (75%). Sixty-two percent predicted that PDA use would change their practice within the next 5 years. Implications for practice: As innovative PDA applications with potential to improve patient outcomes become increasingly available, handheld computer skills will be a fundamental practice competency. To prevent errors in clinical decision making with quick access to PDA reference materials, NPs must critically evaluate the legitimacy and worth of PDA software programs. There is a critical need to evaluate the effectiveness of PDA use in clinical settings and develop an evidence base to guide use of the PDA in solving clinical problems.
64 INTERDISCIPLINARY ASSESSMENT OF MORBIDITY OF INFANTS WITH BIRTHWEIGHTS ≤ 950 GRAMS

26/31(84%) surviving NICU infants with birthweights ≤950 g.born 4/74-1/77 were evaluated by an interdisciplinary team including pediatricians(2), psychologist, audiologist, optometrist, developmentalist, social worker, nutritionist and R.N. The study began in 1/76 with evaluations performed at ages 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 mos. Mean age at last evaluation was 18 mos.(range 6-38 mos.). Population characteristics included mean birth weight 889 g.(range 650-940 g.); mean gestational age 28.4 wks.(range 24-33 wks., 7/26 small for gestational age); male:female 10:16; inborn:outborn 5:21; and Black:White:Other 13:12:1. Results were corrected for gestational age. Significant major morbidity was found in 9/26(34.6%)including stage V retrolental fibroplasia (RLF)(1); developmental delay (7 with DQ≥70); cerebral palsy(6); acquired hydrocephalus(2); extreme failure to thrive (FTT)(3). 6/9(67%) affected infants had multiple major handicaps. 11/17 infants without major handicaps had one or more minor disabilities including stage II RLF(1); recurrent lower respiratory disease(4); serous otitis media(11); mild conductive hearing loss(8); mild FTT(2); visual disorders(4) arrested hydrocephalus(3) and scoliosis(1). Although longitudinal followup may alter some of the results reported, it appears that survival without major morbidity is occurring in 65% of surviving infants with birthweights ≥950 g.
Outwardly rectifying chloride channels and CF: A divorce and remarriage

Outwardly rectifying Cl− channels were originally thought to be the central element in cystic fibrosis. The role of these channels in CF was questioned to such an extent that doubts were rasied about the validity of the original experiments. Recent data reestablishes a role for outwardly rectifying Cl− channels (ORCC) in CF and suggests that the protein encoded by the CF gene, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), can effect the regulation of more than one channel in the airway. This minireview deals with the rise, fall, and resurrection of the role of outwardly rectifying Cl− channels in CF.
New greedy heuristics for the Multiple-choice Multi-dimensional Knapsack Problem

This paper examines the Multiple-choice Multi-dimensional Knapsack Problem (MMKP) a more complex variant of the classic knapsack problem (KP). We survey existing algorithms for the variants of the KP and critically examine existing test problems for the MMKP. We present an empirical study of sample legacy solution approaches compared to two new systematically-developed greedy heuristics for the MMKP. We extend our testing to include a new systematically-generated test problem set. Characteristics of all the problem sets are compared and used to explain the empirical performance results obtained and demonstrate the superiority of our greedy heuristic approach.
The puzzling behavior of short sellers around earnings announcements

Abstract We examine the performance of ‘predictive’ and ‘reactive’ short sellers who take relatively large short positions immediately before and after quarterly earnings announcements, respectively. While both types short into advancing markets, it is surprising for reactive shorts since their trades are in stocks that just announced unexpected good news and thus, according to the post-earnings announcement drift anomaly, will subsequently have abnormally high cumulative returns. Nevertheless, we find that for both types of short sellers: (1) subsequent cumulative returns are significantly negatively related to the amount of abnormal short selling, suggesting they are informed, and (2) relative to non-earnings dates, the subsequent returns around earnings announcements are significantly more negative, indicating they appear to be adept at exploiting earnings announcements. Surprisingly, we find that the subsequent returns of reactive short sellers are significantly greater than those of predictive short sellers except for S&P 500 stocks, perhaps due to their greater analyst following. Importantly, we are left with two puzzles. First, reactive shorts would have significantly improved their performance had they based their trades on the size of standardized unexpected earnings (‘SUE’). Second, predictive shorts of Micro stocks would have significantly improved their performance had they simply waited until earnings were announced and then based their trades on SUE.
Sampling characteristics and biases of enclosure traps for sampling fishes in estuaries

We evaluated the sampling characteristics of enclosure traps in estuaries in southern California, USA. Using enclosure traps that sampled 0.25, 0.5, and 1-m2 footprints, we found that enclosure trap size significantly affected estimates of fish density and the precision of these estimates. The highest estimates were produced by the 0.5-m2 trap and the lowest by the 0.25-m2 trap. Precision of the density estimates improved with increasing trap size, while the proportion of zero values in the data sets decreased and estimates of species richness increased. The largest trap was difficult to use in the field and often did not function properly; thus we concluded that intermediate enclosure trap sizes offered the best compromise between statistical and logistical considerations. By examination of burrows in sediment cores taken in fished out enclosure traps, we found no evidence to support the widely held view that burrow-dwelling fishes evaded capture by hiding in burrows. We also used mark-recapture techniques to estimate recovery efficiency in 0.43-m2 enclosure traps. Recovery efficiency averaged 91% and did not differ significantly among estuaries or sampling stations within estuaries. Based on extensive netting within enclosure traps, we determined that in areas with dense fish populations (>90 fish 0.43-m−2), netting could be ceased after the first sweep that captured no fish with only a trivial effect on the estimate of density. In more sparsely populated areas, netting had to continue until 2–3 sweeps had captured no fish in order to obtain estimates of density that were within 90% of the actual values present. Overall, we found enclosure traps to be effective tools for sampling small, abundant fishes in shallow estuaries in southern California, but we recommend that care be taken when choosing trap size and sampling (netting) effort within traps in order to optimize their sampling characteristics.
Concepts in Late Paleozoic Correlations: ABSTRACT

Correlation of late Paleozoic strata presents two contrasting sets of concepts, one of intra-regional correlation and the other of inter-regional correlations. Correlation within a region, exemplified by a basin, segment of a geosyncline, or an epicontinental shelf, follows most of the classical procedures developed during the last 180 years. Where abundant well-log data or surface exposures permit the tracing of individual beds, development of three-dimensional facies analysis, key beds, and recognition of individual cycles within cyclical deposits provide accurate and detailed information for lithologic correlation. Where lithologic data are sparse, correlation based on fossil occurrence and abundance furnishes an additional type of correlation. Attempts to quantify fos il correlation include (1) presentation of the percentage of forms that two different localities have in common and (2) an analysis of the population in terms of the number of individuals. Individual guide fossils or sets of guide fossils with overlapping stratigraphic ranges also are widely used. Many of the most widely used guide fossils are pelagic, e.g., the ammonoids. However, some benthonic fossils also are excellent guide fossils, particularly along depositional strikes. Inter-regional correlations in the late Paleozoic, in contrast, are challenging in other aspects, because the tectonic and fossil history in one region may have virtually no similarity with nearby regions. Nevertheless, fossils still are the most reliable criteria for inter-regional correlation in late Paleozoic strata although the fossil yardstick as a time-stratigraphic scale commonly seems considerably less precise. One problem of particular concern is the development of faunal provinces and subprovinces in what appear to be isolated and semi-isolated regions segregated by late Paleozoic orogenic activity. Threshold levels of evolutionary adaptation and changes in physical environments seem to have enabled sporadic and irregular dispersal of different parts of these semi-isolated b otas, so that first appearances of one group in an adjacent region may have little relation to the first appearance of other groups. End_of_Article - Last_Page 479------------
A flow and routing control policy for communication networks with multiple competitive users

Abstract This paper is concerned with deriving an optimal flow and routing control policy for two-node parallel link communication networks with multiple competing users. The model assumes that each user has a flow demand which needs to be optimally selected and routed on the network links. The flow and routing control policy for each user seeks to maximize the user's total throughput and minimize its expected delay. To derive such a policy, we consider a utility function for each user that combines these two objectives in an additive fashion with preference constants that can be adjusted to reflect the user's own preferences between maximizing throughput and minimizing delay. Additionally, we provide each user with the ability to make these preferences link-dependent to reflect the user's preferences for certain links over others in the network. A condition that depends on the link capacities and preference constants is derived to guarantee the existence and uniqueness of a non-symmetric flow and routing control policy solution which satisfies the Nash equilibrium of non-cooperative game theory. The Nash equilibrium is a desirable solution for such networks because it insures that no user can improve its utility by unilaterally deviating from its Nash control policy. We discuss in detail several interesting properties of this equilibrium and in particular, its relationship to the users’ preference constants. Two illustrative examples are also presented.
Pathologic basis of the symptomatic epilepsies in childhood.

The epilepsies in childhood are classified as primary (or idiopathic) and secondary (or symptomatic). The primary epilepsies account for two thirds of all childhood epilepsies and are presumed to be genetically determined. In the remaining one third of cases, a neuropathologic lesion can be identified. This paper summarizes the etiologies of the symptomatic epilepsies. They are classified according to the pathologic processes; malformative, metabolic, neoplastic and phakomatoses, hypoxic-ischemic, infectious, and of unknown pathologic process. (J Child Neurol 1998;13:361-371).
Reciprocal sex partner concurrency and STDs among heterosexuals at high-risk of HIV infection.

Inconsistent findings on the relationship of sex partner concurrency to infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) may result from differences in how sex partner concurrency is conceptualized. We examine the relationship of reciprocal sex partner concurrency (RSPC) to diagnosed STDs among heterosexuals. Heterosexually active adults (N = 717) were recruited for a cross-sectional study using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) from high-HIV-risk areas in New York City (NYC, 2006–2007) and interviewed about their sexual risk behaviors, number of sex partners, last sex partners, and STD diagnoses (prior 12 months). RSPC was when both the participant and her/his last sex partner had sex with other people during their sexual relationship. Odds ratios (OR), adjusted odds ratios (aOR), and 95 % confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated by logistic regression. The sample was 52.4 % female, 74.3 % Black; median age was 40 years. RSPC was reported by 40.7 % and any STD diagnoses by 23.4 %. Any STDs was reported by 31.5 % of those reporting RSPC vs. 17.9 % of those who did not (OR = 2.11, 95%CI = 1.49–3.0). Any STDs was independently associated with RSPC (aOR = 1.54, 95%CI = 1.02–2.32), female gender (aOR = 2.15, 95%CI = 1.43–3.23), having more than three sex partners (aOR = 1.72, 95%CI = 1.13–2.63), and unprotected anal sex (aOR = 1.65, 95%CI = 1.12–2.42). Heterosexuals in high-HIV-risk neighborhoods in sexual partnerships that involve RSPC are at greater risk of STDs and, potentially, HIV. RSPC, in addition to sexual risk behaviors and the number of sex partners, may facilitate the heterosexual spread of HIV through STD cofactors and linkage into larger STD/HIV sexual transmission networks.
The Magical Number 7

Summary This article describes an interactive activity that involves students participating in a memory recall test. Data collected from the activity may be used to illustrate the one-sample t test or one-sample sign test.
Initial Algebra Semantics and Continuous Algebras

Many apparently divergent approaches to specifying formal semantics of programming languages are applications of initial algebra semantics. In this paper an overview of initial algebra semantics is provided. The major technical feature is an initial continuous algebra which permits unified algebraic treatment of iterative and recursive semantic features in the same framework as more basic operations.
Tetrazine ligation: fast bioconjugation based on inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reactivity.

Described is a bioorthogonal reaction that proceeds with unusually fast reaction rates without need for catalysis: the cycloaddition of s-tetrazine and trans-cyclooctene derivatives. The reactions tolerate a broad range of functionality and proceed in high yield in organic solvents, water, cell media, or cell lysate. The rate of the ligation between trans-cyclooctene and 3,6-di-(2-pyridyl)-s-tetrazine is very rapid (k2 2000 M−1 s−1). This fast reactivity enables protein modification at low concentration.
Mechanical properties of silver at low temperatures

In this study the authors obtained detailed information about the stress, strain, strain rate, and temperature-dependence of plastic flow in cold-worked high-purity (99.99 wt%) silver. They performed tensile and creep tests at temperatures from 77 K to 473 K and at strain rates of 10/sup -8/ to 10/sup -3/ per second. It is generally agreed that silver, like most facecentered-cubic metals, deforms at low temperatures by the dislocation intersection mechanism. The rate-controlling process in the intersection mechanism is the overcoming of obstacles (forest dislocations) by glide dislocations. The process involves the formation of jogs and constrictions, with an activation energy appropriate to those processes. The amount of local deformation per successful event is expressed by an activation volume, or activation area times the Burgers vector. As the density of the forest increases--at higher strains and lower temperatures--the activation area is expected to decrease. At temperatures near half the absolute melting point (617 K) the metal begins to deform predominantly by climb-controlled dislocation creep. The data generated thus far show some interesting phenomena concerning the transition between these two mechanisms.
PROPHYLAXIS AGAINST BICARBONATE INDUCED HYPOCALCEMIA IN INFANTS WITH RDS

Infants with the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) often become hypocslcemic after NaHCO3 therapy. This report concerns the effectiveness of prophylactic calcium infusion (CaIV) in prevention of this complication. Forty-eight infants with birth weight less than 2000 gm (mean 1498), gestational age 28-36 wks., and varying degrees of RDS were studied within 48 hrs. of birth. Serum Ca was measured at the beginning and end of a 2h hr. study period during which all urine was collected. Twenty-three subjects received CaIV at 1 mg/kg/hr for 24 hrs. In 4 groups of infants, arranged by treatment, the outcome was as follows: The data show that CaIV prevented hypocalcemia without inducing hypercalcemia. Urine Ca was below 3.2 mg/24 hr. in all groups. Ca leaving the plasma during the advent of hypocalcemia, as well as the much larger amounts retained during CaIV, probably formed bone mineral, as urinary Ca did not account for the Ca shifts implicit in the data.
Four-Coordinate Iron(II) Porphyrinates: Electronic Configuration Change by Intermolecular Interaction

The syntheses and structures of three four-coordinate iron(II) porphyrinates are reported. The three derivatives are tetraarylporphyrin species, where the aryl is either phenyl, p-methylphenyl, or p-methoxyphenyl. One of these derivatives, that of tetraphenylporphyrin, Fe(TPP), is a new crystalline phase that is distinct from the earlier reported phase (Collman, J. P.; et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1975, 97, 2676). This new phase of Fe(TPP) has a very saddled porphyrin core; the prior phase was ruffled. The iron atom has close interactions (approximately 3.10 A) with two pyrrole Cb-Cb bonds above and below the porphyrin plane. Mossbauer spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements, different for the two phases, provide strong evidence that the two phases of Fe(TPP) have distinct electronic structures that originate from intermolecular interactions.
Loss of ability to kill Fasciola hepatica in sensitised rats

RATS infected orally with metacercariae of the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica develop a partial resistance to oral challenge. This resistance occurs when the sensitising flukes have reached and are living in the bile ducts; resistance also develops if the sensitising infection is terminated by anthelmintics whilst the flukes are migrating through the liver parenchyma1–3. Living adult flukes can be successfully transplanted into the peritoneal cavity of rats4,5, but if the rats have been infected with F. hepatica metacercariae approximately 10 weeks previously, the flukes transferred into the peritoneal cavity will be killed2,6. We report here that although a marked resistance to intraperitoneal challenge with adult flukes develops as early as 2 weeks after oral infection with normal metacercariae, rats which have been infected 12 months previously, and which still have living adult flukes present in their bile ducts have lost this immunity. If rats with long-standing fluke infections in their bile ducts are reinfected with metacercariae, however, the ability of the rats to kill the challenge flukes is restored.
A coding theorem for distributed computation

In this dissertation, we prove a coding theorem for distributed network protocols. We show that any distributed protocol which runs on a noiseless network in time T, can be simulated on an identical noisy network with a slow-down factor proportional to log(d + 1), where d is the maximum degree in the network, and with exponentially small probability of error. Our theorem is a network analog of the classical coding theorem of Shannon (1948), which addresses the issue of the transmission of data over a noisy link. Although Shannon's original theorem is non-constructive--it proves the existence of codes that transfer data at asymptotically optimal rates--the subsequent development of coding theory makes this result constructive. Shannon's theory, however, does not address issues that arise when noise occurs in the communications of a wide area computational network with a number of links available for simultaneous use. This question of what happens when computation is interleaved with noisy communications was proposed and first addressed by Schulman in the special case of a pair of computers connected by a bidirectional communication link. In this case, Schulman obtains an analog of Shannon's theorem. Like those of Shannon and Schulman, the results we exhibit are non constructive. However, in our case, it is possible to obtain constructive simulations by compromising the reliability with which they run. For a particular problem, the 'telephone' game, we exhibit a constructive solution for which this compromise is unnecessary. Work reported in this dissertation stems from that done jointly with Leonard Schulman.
Design and experimental results of a tunable vibration turning device operating at ultrasonic frequencies

The development of a tunable ultrasonic vibration-assisted diamond-turning tool is described. The resonance operation method, which formerly served to achieve mechanical motion at ultrasonic frequencies, is now replaced by a newly developed pulse driving technique. The prototype tools allow for vibration frequencies from dc up to 40 kHz and vibration amplitudes from 0 to 10 μm. This paper reviews the design of the new tool system and summarizes the experimental results from diamond turning steel work materials. As in other studies on vibration-assisted machining, the results show that the surface turned with a vibrating tool contains scalloped geometric features superimposed on the tool marks left from conventional turning, resulting in a lower total surface roughness. Tool wear comparisons document advantages from the added vibration, and variations in the carbon content in the resulting chips were also examined.
Whiteboards: a graphical database tool

The “Whiteboards” system is intended to be an electronic equivalent of the whiteboards and corkboards that we have in our offices. A Whiteboard database has similar qualities of storing disparate collections of data and saving their spatial location in a window to help with organization. A Whiteboard database can contain references to arbitrary entities: text files, notes, programs, tools, pictures, etc. Whiteboards runs as an application in the Cedar programming environment developed at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center.
Simplified methods for fabricating tissue-supported implant-retained overdentures with retention from a resilient liner.

Abstract Resilient denture liner materials can be useful for tissue-supported implant-retained overdentures. They allow physiologic movement of the denture toward the tissues. This article presents a technique that offers several advantages over other methods of fabricating the overdenture with a resilient liner, and of transferring the superstructure: the acrylic resin base and the heat-cured resilient liner material are cured simultaneously; superstructure blockout is performed in the laboratory instead of in the mouth, where blockout is difficult; and direct transfer of the superstructure bar is more accurate and eliminates possible fracture of the duplicated superstructure if formed in die stone. (J Prosthet Dent 1999;82:242-5.)
Culturally competent transplant program improves Hispanics' knowledge and attitudes about live kidney donation and transplant.

Context—Hispanics receive disproportionately fewer live donor kidney transplants than non-Hispanic whites. Increasing Hispanics' knowledge and changing attitudes about live kidney donation may reduce these disparities.Objective—To evaluate the effectiveness of culturally and linguistically competent educational sessions delivered through Northwestern University's Hispanic Transplant Program.Design—Baseline and postsession questionnaires were used to evaluate changes in patients' and family members' knowledge and attitudes toward live kidney donation and program satisfaction. Knowledge items related to live kidney donation were scaled, and changes in scores were evaluated via a paired t test. Multiple regression analysis of follow-up knowledge scores controlled for baseline scores was used to estimate the effects of patients' and families' sociodemographic characteristics. Changes in attitude items, including comfort with exploring live kidney donation, were analyzed with χ2 tests.Results—One-hundred thirt...
The magnitude distribution of declustered earthquakes in Southern California.

Abstract The binned distribution densities of magnitudes in both the complete and the declustered catalogs of earthquakes in the Southern California region have two significantly different branches with crossover magnitude near M = 4.8. In the case of declustered earthquakes, the b-values on the two branches differ significantly from each other by a factor of about two. The absence of self-similarity across a broad range of magnitudes in the distribution of declustered earthquakes is an argument against the application of an assumption of scale-independence to models of main-shock earthquake occurrence, and in turn to the use of such models to justify the assertion that earthquakes are unpredictable. The presumption of scale-independence for complete local earthquake catalogs is attributable, not to a universal process of self-organization leading to future large earthquakes, but to the universality of the process that produces aftershocks, which dominate complete catalogs.
Noncontingent partial reinforcement of running: A replication

A previous study showed, contrary to frustration theory, that the resistance to extinction(R to E)of a runway response was not increased by a combination of partially reinforced direct goalbox placements (DPs) and interspersed continuously reinforced running trials, when the DPs were conducted so as to minimize locomotion. When Ss were required to locomote a short distance on DPs, however, partial reinforcement via DP, whether interspersed with reinforced running trials or not, led to increased R to E. The present study replicated the critical groups of the earlier study with more appropriate control groups and with a larger reward magnitude. The results were in substantial agreement with the earlier ones.
A polymer cell chip with in situ monitoring capability of cell viability for cadmium cytotoxicity test of human rhabdomyosarcoma cells

This paper presents a polymer cell chip integrated with interdigitated array electrodes (IDA) and a planar cadmium (Cd) micro sensor for on-chip monitoring of cell culture and performing Cd cytotoxicity test of human rhabdomyosarcoma (HR) cells. HR cells were maintained in static culture on the cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) chip for up to seven days, and the cellular behavior was characterized using IDA by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. A microfabricated Cd sensor with bismuth working electrode was adapted for in situ Cd sensing when cells were exposed to Cd at different concentrations, and the corresponding Cd cytotoxicity was monitored.
Protective anti-reovirus monoclonal antibodies and their effects on viral pathogenesis.

We used a recently isolated and characterized panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for cross-reactive determinants on reovirus outer capsid proteins to define mechanisms of antibody-mediated protection in vivo. We studied the capacities of MAbs to protect against lethal infection with reoviruses which differ in site of primary replication, route of spread, and central nervous system tropism. We found the following. (i) MAbs specific for each of the viral outer capsid proteins (sigma 1, sigma 3, and mu 1) and the core spike protein (lambda 2) were protective under certain circumstances. (ii) In vitro properties of MAbs, including isotype, neutralization of viral infectivity, inhibition of virus-induced hemagglutination, and avidity of binding, were poorly predictive of the capacities of MAbs to protect in vivo. (iii) MAbs did not act at a single stage during pathogenesis to mediate protection; instead, protective MAbs were capable of altering a variety of stages in reovirus pathogenesis. (iv) MAbs protective against one reovirus also protected against other reoviruses that utilized different pathogenetic strategies, suggesting that the viral epitope bound by an antibody rather than the pathogenetic strategy employed by the virus is a critical determinant of antibody-mediated protection in vivo. (v) A prominent mechanism of protective MAb action is inhibition of viral spread through nerves from a site of primary replication (e.g., the intestine or muscle tissue) to the central nervous system.
The effect of feeding diets containing deoxynivalenol contaminated corn on channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) challenged with Edwardsiella ictaluri.

Channel catfish were fed practical corn-soybean meal diets for 10 weeks that contained various weighed amounts of ground, dried field corn contaminated with 20 mg deoxynivalenol (DON) kg−1. Weighed amounts of DON corn were blended with weighed amounts of ground, clean corn that contained no DON (0 mg kg−1) to yield five diets that had 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 mg DON kg−1 of diet. Results show that catfish fed diets that contained DON for 7 weeks did not experience lower weight gains or poorer feed conversion ratios that were significantly (P > 0.05) different from control-fed fish. Mortality of catfish during the 21-day post-challenge period indicate that catfish fed diets containing DON-contaminated corn that provided at least 5.0 mg DON kg−1 of diet had significantly (P 0.05) alter fish body weight gains and appeared to provide a protective effect for channel catfish challenged with the pathogenic bacterium Edwardsiella ictaluri.
A Highly Selective Bicyclic Fluoroionophore for the Detection of Lithium Ions

Abstract The macrobicyclic molecule, 21-(9-anthrylmethyl)-4,17,13,16-tetraoxa-1,10,21-triazabicyclo [8.8.5]tricosane-19,23-dione, I, was designed, synthesized and characterized as a fluoroionophore for the selective, optical detection of lithium ions. Compound I is based on a bridged diazacrown structure, which provides a semirigid binding framework. Binding takes place by electrostatic interactions between the oxygen atoms of the crown and the cation and is transduced to fluorescence emission from an attached anthracene fluorophore. In a 75:25 dichloromethane/tetrahydrofuran solvent mixture, I acts as an intramolecular electron transfer “off–on” fluorescence switch, exhibiting a greater than 190-fold enhancement in fluorescence emission intensity in the presence of lithium ions. The relative selectivity of I for lithium ions over sodium, potassium and ammonium ions was found to be log KLi+,Na+ ∼ −3.36, log KLi+,K+ ∼ −1.77 and log KLi+,NH4+ ∼ −2.78.
Coupled Large Strain Consolidation and Solute Transport. I: Model Development

The development of a numerical model, CST1, for coupled large strain consolidation and solute transport in saturated porous media is presented. The consolidation algorithm is one-dimensional and includes the capabilities of a previous code, CS2, with the addition of time-dependent loading, unload/reload effects, and an externally-applied hydraulic gradient. The solute transport algorithm is two-dimensional and accounts for advection, longitudinal and transverse dispersion, first-order decay reactions, and linear equilibrium sorption. Solute transport is consistent with temporal and spatial variations of porosity and seepage velocity in the consolidating layer. The key to the transport model is the definition of two Lagrangian fields of elements that follow the motions of fluid and solid phases separately. This reduces numerical dispersion and simplifies transport calculations to that of dispersion mass flow between contiguous fluid elements. The effect of relative numerical resolution of fluid and solid elements on the accuracy of sorption/desorption is also discussed. This paper presents the theoretical and numerical development of the CST1 model. A companion paper presents verification checks of CST1 and the results of simulations that illustrate the significance of consolidation-induced solute transport for some interesting numeric examples.
Endocrine active substances and dose response for individuals and populations

Dose-response characteristics for endocrine disruption have been major focuses in efforts to understand potential impacts on human and ecological health. Issues include as- sumptions of thresholds for developmental effects, effects at low doses with nonmonotonic (e.g., "U-shaped") behaviors, population vs. individual responses, and background exposures (e.g., dietary phytoestrogens). Dose-response analysis presents a challenge because it is multidisciplinary, involving biologists and mathematicians. Statistical analyses can be valu- able for evaluating issues such as the reproducibility of data as illustrated for contradictory findings on low-dose effects. Mechanistically based modeling provides insights into how per- turbations of biological systems by endocrine active substances can create different dose-re- sponse behaviors. These analyses have demonstrated that higher order behaviors resulting from the interaction of component parts may appear highly nonlinear, thresholded, low-dose linear, or nonmonotonic, or exhibit hysteresis. Some effects need to be evaluated as popula- tion impacts. For example, alterations in male:female ratio may be important at the popula- tion level even though not adverse for the individual. Descriptions of the contributions of background exposures to dose-response behaviors are essential. The challenge for improv- ing dose-response analyses is to better understand how system characteristics create differ- ent dose-response behaviors. Such generalizations could then provide useful guidance for developing risk assessment approaches.
The Effect of Certainty on Consensus Judgments

To investigate the effect of opinion certainty on attributions of opinion similarity, we examined projections of own verdict on a court case. The first study was correlational in nature; it assessed the relation between self-ratings of certainty of verdict correctness and attributions of own verdict to others. In two additional studies, we used conceptually distinct operations to manipulate certainty experimentally and again measured attributions of verdict similarity. Taken together, the three studies provide converging evidence that people are more apt to attribute their opinion to others when they are highly certain as opposed to uncertain about its correctness. Further, those who rendered a verdict of guilty (as opposed to not guilty) attributed their vote to a larger portion of people. Independent of own verdict and manipulated certainty, subjects ascribed their opinion to liked targets more than to disliked targets. The findings are discussed in relation to two competing theoretical positions regard...
AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE IN LANGUAGE LEARNING. Phil Benson & Peter Voller (Eds.). London: Longman, 1997. Pp. viii + 263. $30.40 paper.

Promoting autonomy and independence (A & I) has for years been an accepted goal of Western education in general and has more recently joined such aims as developing “communicative competence” or using “authentic materials” in the canons of second language teaching and learning. As is the case with other pedagogical bandwagons we have jumped aboard, too little attention has been paid to its underlying theoretical bases and assumptions, and too few calls for empirical evidence of learning outcomes have been made. Benson and Voller offer a thought-provoking collection of papers that, although strongly endorsing the A & I movement in general, bring several of its implicit assumptions and values to conscious scrutiny and explore both apparent paradoxes and issues for debate.
Did an ancient chlamydial endosymbiosis facilitate the establishment of primary plastids

Background: Ancient endosymbioses are responsible for the origins of mitochondria and plastids, and they contribute to the divergence of several major eukaryotic groups. Although chlamydiae, a group of obligate intracellular bacteria, are not found in plants, an unexpected number of chlamydial genes are most similar to plant homologs, which, interestingly, often contain a plastid-targeting signal. This observation has prompted several hypotheses, including gene transfer between chlamydiae and plant-related groups and an ancestral relationship between chlamydiae and cyanobacteria. Results: We conducted phylogenomic analyses of the red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae to identify genes specifically related to chlamydial homologs. We show that at least 21 genes were transferred between chlamydiae and primary photosynthetic eukaryotes, with the donor most similar to the environmental Protochlamydia. Such an unusually high number of transferred genes suggests an ancient chlamydial endosymbiosis with the ancestral primary photosynthetic eukaryote. We hypothesize that three organisms were involved in establishing the primary photosynthetic lineage: the eukaryotic host cell, the cyanobacterial endosymbiont that provided photosynthetic capability, and a chlamydial endosymbiont or parasite that facilitated the establishment of the cyanobacterial endosymbiont. Conclusion: Our findings provide a glimpse into the complex interactions that were necessary to establish the primary endosymbiotic relationship between plastid and host cytoplasms, and thereby explain the rarity with which long-term successful endosymbiotic relationships between heterotrophs and photoautotrophs were established. Our data also provide strong and independent support for a common origin of all primary photosynthetic eukaryotes and of the plastids they harbor.
Howling Suppression in Hearing Aids Using Least-Squares Estimation and Perceptually Motivated Gain Control

Howling is a significant problem even in digital hearing aids equipped with adaptive feedback cancellation. Among the many causes of howling is the inability of the adaptive filter to track rapid changes in the feedback path. Many systems use howling detectors to detect the start of howling and reduce the hearing aid gain for several seconds to avoid prolonged howling. Unfortunately the inadequate speech pressure levels (SPL) during times when the gain is reduced causes loss of information and reduced intelligibility of speech signals arriving at the patient's ears. This paper presents a new method that switches to a least-squares adaptation scheme with linear complexity at the onset of howling. The method adapts to the altered feedback path quickly and allows the patient to not lose perceivable information. The complexity of the least-squares estimate is reduced by reformulating the least-squares estimate into a Toeplitz system and solving it with a direct Toeplitz solver. In addition, the gain function is changed immediately after howling detection in such a way that the system operates in a stable manner and the distortions caused are not perceived because of temporal masking. Simulation results comparing with a conventional method is presented in the paper to demonstrate the superior howling suppression capabilities of the method.
An asperity-based fractional coverage model for transfer films on a tribological surface

An asperity-based fractional coverage (AFC) model has been developed for studying the process of lubricant film transfer on a real surface. A solid/powder lubricant film is transferred to a test disk surface by intentionally shearing a compacted pellet against the rotating disk surface. A slider pad simultaneously riding on the disk can be lubricated or starved during a competition process where the pellet deposits film as the slider depletes it. The tribological behavior of this film transfer process is modeled at the asperity scale to get an understanding of the macro-scale transient and steady-state friction. The AFC model was developed for this study by extending the range of applicability of its predecessor, the control volume fractional coverage (CVFC) model, to a real tribosurface. Topography data for the tribosurface was obtained from an atomic force microscope (AFM) image of the tungsten carbide (WC) test disk. The model predicts the wear rate of the pellet, pellet/disk and pad/disk friction coefficients, and lubricant thickness as a function of the pellet load, slider pad load, disk speed, and material properties.
Tomographic Imaging of Nanocrystals by Aberration-Corrected Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy

In aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy, the depth of focus is of the order of a few nanometers, so that the three-dimensional shape of nanocrystals could so far not be determined with atomic resolution. Here we show that with the assistance of image simulations it is possible to achieve atomic-scale information in the depth direction by analyzing a through-focal series where the number of atoms in most columns can be determined by Z-contrast simulations. The error in this analysis is about two atoms in the thickest regions, and less in thinner regions.
Wrestling With the High Price of Cancer Care: Should We Control Costs by Individuals' Ability to Pay or Society's Willingness to Pay?

microsatellite instability testing in phenotyping colorectal tumors. J Clin Oncol 20:1043-1048, 2002 8. Lanza G, Gafa R, Santini A, et al: Immunohistochemical test for MLH1 and MSH2 expression predicts clinical outcome in stage II and III colorectal cancer patients. J Clin Oncol 24:2359-2367, 2006 9. Kakar S, Aksoy S, Burgart LJ, et al: Mucinous carcinoma of the colon: Correlation of loss of mismatch repair enzymes with clinicopathologic features and survival. Mod Pathol 17:696-700, 2004 10. Popat S, Hubner R, Houlston RS: Systematic review of microsatellite instability and colorectal cancer prognosis. J Clin Oncol 23:609-618, 2005 11. Elsaleh H, Joseph D, Grieu F, et al: Association of tumour site and sex with survival benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer. Lancet 355: 1745-1750, 2000 12. Sargent D, Marsoni S, Monges G, et al: Defective mismatch repair as a predictive marker for lack of efficacy of FU-based adjuvant therapy in colon cancer. J Clin Oncol 28:3219-3227, 2010 13. Ribic CM, Sargent DJ, Moore MJ, et al: Tumor microsatellite-instability status as a predictor of benefit from fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer. N Engl J Med 349:247-257, 2003 14. QUASAR Collaborative Group, Gray R, Barnwell J, et al: Adjuvant chemotherapy versus observation in patients with colorectal cancer: A randomised study. Lancet 370:2020-2029, 2007 15. Roth AD, Tejpar S, Yan P, et al: Correlation of molecular markers in colon cancer with stage-specific prognosis: Results of the translational study on the PETACC3 – EORTC 40993-SAKK 60-00 trial. Presented at the ASCO GI Cancer Symposium, San Francisco, CA, January 15-17, 2009 (abstr 288) 16. Kerr D, Gray R, Quirke P, et al: A quantitative multigene RT-PCR assay for prediction of recurrence in stage II colon cancer: Selection of the genes in four large studies and results of the independent, prospectively designed QUASAR validation study. J Clin Oncol 27:15s, 2009 (suppl; abstr 4000)
Decreased expression of uteroglobin-related protein 1 in inflamed mouse airways is mediated by IL-9.

Uteroglobin-related protein 1 (UGRP1) is a secretory protein, highly expressed in epithelial cells of airways. Although an involvement of UGRP1 in the pathogenesis of asthma has been suggested, its...
Leadership trends in academic pediatric departments.

Objective. To examine recent turnover trends among chairs of academic pediatric departments. Methods. Membership data for the 150 institutions represented by the Association of Medical School Pediatric Department Chairs in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico were reviewed for the time period of 1993–2003. Results. From 1993 to 2003, 278 individuals (250 men and 28 women) held the position of chair. The mean time of service was 5.58 ± 3.2 years (median: 5 years). Twenty-nine individuals served continuously as chairs during the 11-year period. Seventy-two individuals served as interim chairs. Twenty-eight women were appointed either chairs or interim chairs during the 11 years. The number of female chairs decreased from 13 in 1993 to 11 in 2003. Female chairs were in office 3.42 ± 2.72 years. A total of 123 departments had a change in leadership, with a mean annual turnover rate of 17% (range: 4.6–24%). Three departments had 5 different leaders as either interim chair or chair and 6 departments had 4 different leaders during this time period. Neonatology was the most common subspecialty represented by recent pediatric chairs, although nephrology was the subspecialty with the greatest proportional representation. Conclusions. Departments of pediatrics have high turnover of leadership. Women, in particular, serve for relatively short periods and appear to be under-represented within the leadership of pediatrics. Efforts should be made to ascertain personal qualities that allow sustained leadership and to attract more women into leadership positions.
Tracking behavior of adaptive equalizers in filtered multitone communication systems

Although orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication systems that uses inverse discrete Fourier (IDFT) for multicarrier modulation and discrete Fourier transform (DFT) for demodulation are dominantly adopted in the current broadband communication standards, there have been some reports in recent years that discuss the shortcomings of OFDM in highly mobile and/or multiple access environments. To resolve these problems, a number of authors have proposed a shift from OFDM to filterbank-based multicarrier (FBMC) techniques.