cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Modeling Language for Constraint Programming.

Probably the main contribution of constraint programming is the observation that constraint-solving techniques from various areas can be embedded in programming languages to offer effective tools to tackle a variety of combinatorial search problems. The benefits come from the ease of programming which reduces development time and encourage more experimentation and tuning. Many constraint programming languages are however "constrained" by the environment they are embedded into or by the natural desire to offer a generalpurpose programming language. These host languages are appropriate for some aspects of the task at hand but they may be obstacles to a natural expression of some other components of the application. For instance, constraint logic programming is based a clean semantic framework offering nondeterminism for free but it has little support to stating constraints and heuristics at a high level. A C-b+ library such as Ilog Solver is an efficient and extensible tool for constraint programming offering the advantage of object orientation but search is tess natural and the specificities of C + + may be an obstacle to non-computer scientists. This state of affairs is hardly new and was experienced before the operations research community, where the use of linear (and nonlinear) programming code used to be a difficult task.-The inception of modeling languages such as GAMS and AMPL satisfied the need to abstract irrelevant details of the programming languages and tools. These languages made it possible to state linear programming problems almost as in textbooks and scientific papers. This talk describes a similar effort for constraint programming and illustrates the approach using VISUAL SOLVER, a modeling language for constraint programming. VISUAL SOLVER makes it possible to state many combinatorial search problems in a form close to a mathematical description of the problem. It goes beyond traditional modeling languages both by supporting traditional constraint programming technology and by letting practitioners specify both the problem statement and the heuristics used to find solutions.
Does Exposure to Ideas About “Morally Leading Change” Make a Difference in Students’ Leadership Aspirations?

A fundamental objective of contemporary business education is the preparation of students to effectively deal with the many different challenges they will encounter in their future business careers. Two of the more important challenges that students will face involve leading change and promoting ethical conduct in business. This chapter discusses the nature and ramifications of these two challenges for future business leaders and then examines one approach for helping students develop their capacities for morally leading change in business organizations and in society.
Therapeutically Targeting Platelet-Derived Growth Factor-Mediated Signaling Underlying the Pathogenesis of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage-Related Vasospasm.

Introduction Vasospasm accounts for a large fraction of the morbidity and mortality burden in patients sustaining subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-β levels rise following SAH and correlate with incidence and severity of vasospasm. Methods The literature was reviewed for studies investigating the role of PDGF in the pathogenesis of SAH-related vasospasm and efficacy of pharmacological interventions targeting the PDGF pathway in ameliorating the same and improving clinical outcomes. Results Release of blood under high pressure into the subarachnoid space activates the complement cascade, which results in release of PDGF. Abluminal contact of blood with cerebral vessels increases their contractile response to PDGF-β and thrombin, with the latter upregulating PDGF-β receptors and augmenting effects of PDGF-β. PDGF-β figures prominently in the early and late phases of post-SAH vasospasm. PDGF-β binding to the PDGF receptor-β results in receptor tyrosine kinase domain activation and consequent stimulation of intracellular signaling pathways, including p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, Rho-associated protein kinase, and extracellular regulated kinase 1 and 2. Consequent increases in intracellular calcium and increased expression of genes mediating cellular growth and proliferation mediate PDGF-induced augmentation of vascular smooth muscle cell contractility, hypertrophy, and proliferation. Conclusion Treatments with statins, serine protease inhibitors, and small molecular pathway inhibitors have demonstrated varying degrees of efficacy in prevention of cerebral vasospasm, which is improved with earlier institution.
Predictors of progressive disease (PD) and subsequent outcomes in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients (pts) treated with nivolumab (nivo).

e16563Background: Nivo is approved for the treatment (tx) of refractory mRCC. Predictors of PD on nivo and outcomes in such pts are lacking. Methods: A retrospective analysis of pts with clear cell...
Diagnosis, Differential Diagnosis, and Prognosis of Crohn’s Disease the Pouch

Abstract Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis is the standard surgical treatment modality for patients with ulcerative colitis or indeterminate colitis who require colectomy. De novo Crohn’s disease of the pouch (CDP) can develop in those patients. There is no published consensus on terminology and diagnostic criteria of CDP, largely due to overlap features with surgery-associated complications. CDP is classified into inflammatory, fibrostenotic, and fistulizing phenotypes. The term histologic CDP is proposed to describe the situation in which a patient with noncaseating granulomas in biopsy has no or minimum clinical and endoscopic disease activity. There is no test specific for the diagnosis of CDP. Endoscopy plays a critical role in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and management of CDP. However, a combined assessment of endoscopy, histology, radiography, and examination under general anaesthesia is often required for an accurate diagnosis.
Smart Seismic Sensing for Indoor Fall Detection, Location, and Notification

This paper presents a novel real-time smart system performing fall detection, location, and notification based on floor vibration data produced by fall downs. Only using floor vibration as the recognition source, the system incorporates a person identification through vibration produced by footsteps to inform who is the fallen person. Our approach operates in a real-time style, which means the system recognizes a fall immediately and can identify a person with only one or two footsteps. A collaborative in-network location method is used in which sensors collaborate with each other to recognize the person walking, and more importantly, detect if the person falls down at any moment. We also introduce a voting system among sensor nodes to improve person identification accuracy. Our system is robust to identify fall downs from other possible similar events, such as jumps, door close, and objects fall down. Such a smart system can also be connected to smart commercial devices (such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa ) for emergency notifications. Our approach represents an advance in smart technology for elder people who live alone. Evaluation of the system shows that it is able to detect fall downs with an acceptance rate of 95.14% (distinguishing from other possible events), and it identifies people with one or two steps in a 97.22% (higher accuracy than other methods that use more footsteps). The fall down location error is smaller than 0.27 m, which is acceptable compared with the height of a person.
Opioid Overdose Knowledge among College Students in a High Overdose Death State.

The goal of this study was to investigate university students’ knowledge about the identification of opioid overdose and actions to take in an overdose emergency. A cross-sectional, anonymous, 36-i...
Minimally Invasive Low Anterior Resection

Laparoscopic low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer remains one of the most challenging colorectal operations. Its aim is proper oncologic resection with total mesorectal excision (TME) while striving to minimize the morbidity associated with a low pelvic anastomosis. Additionally, it combines the necessary challenge of splenic flexure mobilization prior to deep pelvic dissection to achieve a well-perfused, tension-free colorectal anastomosis. Thus, a systematic approach to managing the colonic mesentery of the left upper quadrant and the embryologic planes of the pelvis for TME is critical for a proper anatomic dissection and successful outcome. In this chapter, we describe our approach to LAR with a minimally invasive approach.
Abstract WP153: Post-Stroke Physical Exercise Improves Cognition in Middle-Aged Female Rats

Background: A woman’s risk of a stroke increases exponentially following the onset of menopause, andpost-stroke cognitive decline is a significant consequence of stroke survivors. Our earlier study...
Conclusion: Women’s Representation and the Cycles of Exclusion from Local Politics

While most female local politicians belong to the local elite, they suffer from cycles of exclusion which start prior to their political career and extend beyond their election. In assessing these cycles of exclusion, this book aimed to restore the conceptual interest in women’s descriptive representation in Turkey, a non-quota country. It showed that differences between the political parties and distinctions based on local configurations not only explain the mechanisms of women’s exclusion but also account for women’s agency and individual as well as collective strategies to advance their careers and spur institutional change. Turkey’s case provided an opportunity to revise concepts such as intersectionality, biographical availability, and agency. It yielded several counter-intuitive conclusions with regard to the link between women’s representation and democracy.
Indentation and Transverse Diameter of the Meckel Cave: Imaging Markers to Diagnose Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Clinical and imaging manifestations of idiopathic intracranial hypertension should prompt early diagnosis and treatment to avoid complications. Multiple diagnostic imaging criteria are reported to suggest the diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension with questionable sensitivity and/or specificity. Increased intracranial pressure results in dilation of the perineural cisternal spaces such as the optic nerve sheaths and the Meckel cave. It may also cause protrusion of cisternal structures of the Meckel cave through the skull base foramina, which could result in indentation or a bilobed appearance of the Meckel cave. We investigated the changes in the Meckel cave in patients with proved idiopathic intracranial hypertension versus healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 75 patients with a diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension and 75 age-and sex-matched healthy controls. The transverse diameter of Meckel cave was measured in the axial and coronal planes of T2-weighted MR imaging sequences, and comparison was made between the 2 groups. RESULTS: The mean diameters of the Meckel cave on the coronal T2 plane in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension were 5.21 ± 1.22 mm on the right side and 5.16 ± 0.90 mm on the left side, while in the control group, they measured 3.89 ± 0.62 mm and 4.09 ± 0.68 mm, respectively (P value CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm for the first time that the shape and size of the Meckel cave can be used as sensitive and specific diagnostic imaging markers for the diagnosis of idiopathic intracranial hypertension.
Dr. Richard Leo Report on Sedley Alley

This report by Dr. Richard Leo furnishes an overview of the relevant social science research on the psychology of police interrogation practices and techniques, police-induced false confessions, risk factors for false confession, psychological coercion, police interrogation contamination, and indicia of unreliability. Dr. Leo discusses these issues as they relate to the investigation, interrogations and confession statement of Sedley Alley. Alley was convicted for the rape and murder of Marine Lance Corporal Suzanne Marie Collins in 1985, and he was executed in Tennessee in 2006.
An Analysis of 5 Years of Randomized Trials in Gastroenterology and Hepatology Reveals 52 Medical Reversals.

One manifestation of low-value medical practice is the medical reversal, a practice in widespread use that, once subjected to a randomized controlled trial (RCT), is found to be no better—or worse—than a prior established standard of care. We aimed to determine the prevalence of medical reversals in gastroenterology (GI) journals and characterize these reversals. We searched the American Journal of Gastroenterology, Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Gut, Hepatology, and the Journal of Hepatology, reviewing studies published in 2015–2019. We identified RCTs that tested an established clinical practice and produced negative results, considered tentative reversals. Any systematic review or meta-analysis that included the article was categorized as confirming the reversal, refuting the reversal, or providing insufficient data. During the 5-year period, we identified 5,898 original articles, of which 212 tested an established practice and 52 were categorized as unrefuted medical reversals (25% of articles testing standard of care). Of the reversals, 21 (40%) tested procedures and devices, 15 (29%) tested medications, and 8 (15%) tested vitamins/supplements/diet. Twenty-three (44%) considered the alimentary tract, 12 (23%) considered the liver, pancreas, or biliary tract, and 17 (33%) considered endoscopy. Thirty-eight (73%) were funded exclusively by non-industry sources. This review reveals a total of 52 reversals across all subfields of GI and medical, procedural, screening, and diagnostic interventions, occurring in 25% of randomized trials testing an established practice. More research is needed to determine the optimal way to engage stakeholders and remove reversed practices from medical care.
Abstract A04: PI3K regulation of RAC1 is required for Kras-induced pancreatic tumorigenesis

Nearly all pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas are caused by oncogenic mutations in the KRAS gene. Pharmacological inhibition of mutant KRAS has thus far been unsuccessful in the clinical setting, precipitating a need to understand the pathways downstream of KRAS which may prove more easily targeted with small molecule inhibitors. Here we show that PI3K p110α is absolutely required for pancreatic tumorigenesis while p110β is dispensable for this process. Surprisingly, ablation of p110α does not impair the ability of KRAS to activate AKT, demonstrating that AKT activation is not sufficient for transformation. Instead we find that p110α is required for robust activation of RAC1, a small GTPase required for pancreatic metaplasia. Consistent with this, our data show that p110α is necessary for regulating epithelial expression and activation of RAC-GEFs including Vav1, Tiam1 and Ect2. Ultimately, these results define the mechanistic role of p110α in pancreatic tumorigenesis and suggest selective inhibition of this PI3K isoform as a promising therapeutic approach to treating patients with pancreas cancer. Citation Format: Kenneth K. Takeuchi, Eileen Carpenter, Claire Wu, Christopher J. Halbrook, Richard Z. Lin, Howard C. Crawford. PI3K regulation of RAC1 is required for Kras-induced pancreatic tumorigenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A04.
Arbitrary primer polymerase chain reaction, a powerful method to identify Bacillus thuringiensis serovars and strains.

Arbitrary primer polymerase chain reaction technology has been applied to the identification of commercial strains of Bacillus thuringiensis by using total DNAs extracted from single bacterial colonies as templates. Characteristic DNA banding patterns can be readily and reproducibly obtained by agarose gel electrophoresis. This method has been used to distinguish commercial products containing B. thuringiensis serovar kurstaki (3a3b). When a single primer was used this method was capable of producing discriminating DNA fingerprints for 33 known serovars. Differentiation from the closely related species Bacillus cereus is also readily achieved. This technique should prove to be a powerful tool for identification and discrimination of individual B. thuringiensis strains. Images
A study of the microbiological flora of the vagina.

N ONSPECIFIC vaginitis is a term which is used to classify the vaginitides that have no obvious etiological agent such as trichomonads, fungi, or bacteria. In order to understand more thoroughly the connotations of this classification, it was deemed necessary to investigate the microbiological flora not only in the infected vagina but also in the normal vagina. There have been numerous studies of vaginal flora. These studies indicate that the following groups of organisms should be tested for in a study of this nature : lactobacilIi, diphtheroids, streptococci, micrococci, baeteroides, pleuropneumonia-like organisms, acid-fast organisms, trichomonads, fungi, neisseriae, and enterobacteria, For a more complete understanding it appeared that a quantitative, as well as a qualitative, study of the microbiological flora was necessary. This is especially true since recent workers have indicated that synergy occurs among bacteria. It was believed that actual counts of microorganisms in the vaginal flora would adapt themselves to statistical analysis and thus would yield specific information as to the cause or causes of nonspecific vaginitis.
Law and Popular Culture: Examples from Colombian Slang and Spanish-Language Radio in U.S.

This article argues that critical analysis of popular culture themes benefits legal scholarship by providing distinct cross-border perspectives and illuminating popular resistance efforts to hegemonic forces. This examination occurs in an Inter-American context, characterized by a south-north dynamic and migration's transnational influence. In these dynamics, there is significant popular resistance and anti-subordination to hegemonic forces. Legal scholarship often overlooks this by focusing on formal legal texts and processes. This resistance is visible within popular culture, as part of ?hidden transcripts.? This article makes two claims about popular culture's relevance, one methodological/theoretical claim and one substantive claim. First, observing how popular culture reflects societal interpretations of the law and politics greatly benefits the scholarly objectives of international research by promoting an exchange across national borders with an appreciation for different perspectives. Second, critically exploring popular culture illuminates how resistance and anti-subordination efforts often exercised by popular sectors, civil society, or Southern countries may be represented in this culture. As evidence of this, Colombian slang and Spanish radio in the U.S during 2006 immigration demonstrations are examined as two popular culture examples. This article incorporates theoretical innovations from law and popular culture scholarship, Latin American cultural studies such as N?stor Garc?a Canclini's work, James Scott's ?arts of resistance? and ?hidden transcripts,? and post-colonial theory.
Differentiation of U.S. and European isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus by monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to two U.S. isolates of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus were prepared. Two MAbs specifically recognized a conserved epitope on the putative 15-kDa nucleocapsid protein of U.S. and European isolates of PRRS virus. Four other MAbs recognized epitopes on the 15-kDa protein of U.S. but not European isolates of PRRS virus. Collectively, this indicates that PRRS viruses contain both conserved and divergent epitopes on the 15-kDa viral protein.
Multimodal Analgesia in Abdominal Sepsis: A Case Report of Liposome Bupivacaine in Ultrasound-Guided Rectus Sheath Blocks After Unexpected Open Hemi-Colectomy

ABSTRACTObjective: Contrasted with open laparotomy, the risk-benefit ratio of epidural anesthesia in laparoscopic surgery frequently disfavors its use. The presence of abdominal sepsis also affects utilization with concerns about the risks of epidural abscess and hypotension. In the unplanned conversion to open laparotomy, postoperative pain control becomes more difficult. We discuss utilization of rectus sheath blocks with liposome bupivacaine as a component of multimodal analgesia in a patient with abdominal sepsis from a perforated appendix. Case Report: A 33-year-old healthy male Soldier presented with a perforated appendix. Treatment consisted of urgent laparoscopic appendectomy that was subsequently converted to an open right hemicolectomy. Bilateral rectus sheath blocks were performed with liposome bupivacaine before awakening to mitigate postoperative pain. The patient reported mild postoperative pain scores, was able to ambulate comfortably on the day of surgery, and had early return of bowel fun...
Technology’s Impact on SLA: A Response to Bhatia and Ritchie (2009)

Bhatia and Ritchie (2009) focus on the positive impact of technology, specifically “the potential and promise of technology in shaping and reshaping the direction of research on SLA and in providing a potential testing ground for current theories of SLA” (p. 545). Their enthusiastic assessment, subsequently elaborated from the perspectives of users and researchers, seems intuitively relevant in this age. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge technology’s limitations in language education. For example, Bhatia and Ritchie (2009) accurately observe that the emergence of technology is responsible for “the democratization of language teaching” (p. 547) to the degree that it facilitates exposure both to less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) and to almost never taught languages (ANTLs). This democratization emerges as problematic for researchers in that it generates a level of participant assimilation within a technology-driven learning space that tends to obscure not only important inter-learner differences, but also the differential effects on acquisition of technology.
Preparation of homogeneous juvenile hormone specific esterase from the haemolymph of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Abstract Juvenile hormone specific esterase has been purified to homogeneity from the haemolymph of Manduca sexta by a combination of gel permeation, ion exchange and hydroxylapatite chromatography. The pure esterase has a molecular weight of 68,000 and consists of a single peptide chain. Juvenile hormone specific esterase hydrolyzes JH I at about twice the rate as JH III, has appreciable activity against methyl farnesenate, but does not hydrolyze 1-naphthyl acetate. The homogeneous enzyme is stable for several months when stored at low temperature.
Effect of Race on the Occurence of Posttransplant Diabetes in Kidney Transplant Recipients Treated With Early Steroid Discontinuation

Abstract Introduction Early steroid discontinuation (within 5 days after transplant) has been associated with a lower incidence of posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM). A retrospective study was done to assess the incidence of PDTM in relation to racial groups in kidney transplant recipients who received early steroid discontinuation. Methods Between January 2002 and January 2004, 125 consecutive, primary adult kidney transplant recipients (51 cadaveric donor, 74 living donor) were performed at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The first 34 recipients were treated with steroid maintenance therapy, while the remaining 91 underwent early steroid discontinuation. Group A (n = 91) had steroids discontinued on postoperative day 6 and maintenance immunosuppression consisting of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil. Group B (n = 34) received the same immunosuppression but was maintained on steroids indefinitely. Induction consisted of Thymoglobulin in African-Americans; all others received Simulect. Results At 1 year, patient and graft survivals were similar in both groups; there was a trend for reduction of acute rejection rates in group A (4% vs 12%). The incidence of PTDM was significantly lower in group A (7%) compared to group B (26%; P = .0209). The incidence of PTDM in group A was limited to Hispanic patients. African-Americans and Caucasians in group A did not experience PTDM (P = .005 compared to African-Americans in group B). Conclusion A steroid-free protocol virtually eliminated the incidence of PTDM in African-Americans and Caucasians but had no effect on the development of PTDM in Hispanic recipients. Alternative immunosuppression may benefit this population.
The inorganic geochemistry of coal, petroleum, and their gasification/combustion products

Abstract The inorganic makeup of coal and petroleum differ in several crucial ways. The origins of these differences include the disparate geologic environments of formation, the contrasting parent materials (plant versus planktonic) and hence distinct organic species, and the physical state of the fuels (solid versus liquid). The inorganic chemistry of petroleum is usually controlled by the type and abundance of its organic compounds (i.e., V, Ni, ± Fe-bearing porphyrins and S-bearing thiols, sulfides, disulfides, thiophenic derivatives, resins, and asphaltenes), with significant, though often smaller contributions from entrained mineral phases. This near balance of inorganic compositional control causes petroleum to form combustion/gasification (pyrochemical) slag and ash with a large number of elements (i.e., V, Ni, S, Fe, Ca, Na, K, Mg, Si, and Al) in significant relative concentrations. This balance provides also opportunities for large departures from any given “norm”. The inorganic chemistry of coal, on the other hand, is dominantly controlled by its contained detrital and authigenic mineral matter, with relatively small contributions from organically carried elements other than sulfur. Detrital minerals are those that survive the geological processes of weathering and transport, and hence are a small group of physically resistant and chemically stable minerals including quartz, clay minerals, and oxides of Fe and Ti. The most abundant authigenic minerals in coal include clay minerals, pyrite/marcasite, carbonates, Ca- and Fe-sulfates, and Fe-oxides and hydroxides. Pyrochemical slag and ash from coal are therefore primarily enriched in Si, Al, Ca, Fe, and S. From a processing standpoint, the behavior of slag and fly ash is largely a function of the complexity of the fuel's inorganic chemistry (including the original mode of occurrence of the various elements), and the observed oxygen fugacity. Pyrochemical environments vary from reducing to oxidizing as a result of proximity to the flame and operational mode (combustion versus gasification). Consequently, multivalent elements further contribute to the complexity of slag/ash behavior by essentially behaving as separately unique elements when in their various valence states. In coal, the two abundant, multivalent inorganic elements are Fe (0, + 2, and +3) and S (−2, 0, +2, +4, and +6). In petroleum there are four abundant, multivalent inorganic elements: Ni (0 or +2), Fe (0, +2, and +3), V (+2, +3, +4, and +5), and S (−2, 0, +2, +4, and +6). The larger number of abundant inorganic elements in petroleum than coal, as well as the broader range of associated valence states, leads to more diverse slag/ash species formed during petroleum combustion/gasification, and consequently less predictable slag/ash behavior. A phase characterization of slags produced by the gasification of petroleum coke (a petroleum refining byproduct) illustrates their increased complexity with respect to typical coal slags.
Root Structure and Function

The intensity and diversity of biological activity around plant roots dwarf those in the arid wasteland above ground, but the root environment— literally life beneath our feet—has received even less attention than the polar icecaps or the ocean depths. As a result, rudimentary issues in root biology remain unresolved. About half of terrestrial primary production goes on below ground, but ‘‘its fate is still unlearned‘‘ (Steiner and Hawes 1949). Appropriately, a book series about roots, now in its Received: 24 January 2003; accepted: 28 January 2003; Online publication: 17 April 2003 Thomas L. Rost, Guest Editor Andrew J. Bloom, Guest Editor J Plant Growth Regul (2003) 21:245–246 DOI: 10.1007/s00344-003-0010-2
A simple method for determining specific esterase activity in tissue extracts

Abstract A simple procedure for estimating specificB-naphthyl esterase enzyme content and activity in small amounts of crude tissue extract is described. Esterase activity is determined by quantitative densitometry of histochemically stained acrylamide gels. Activity measured this way is linear with the extract volume applied. Esterase content is determined by isotopic labeling with a stoichiometric covalently binding enzyme inhibitor, diisopropylfluorophosphate; followed by electrophoresis and gel slice counting.
An optimal time and minimal space algorithm for rectangle intersection problems

Given a set ofn iso-oriented rectangles in the plane whose sides are parallel to the coordinate axes, we consider the rectangle intersection problem, i.e., finding alls intersecting pairs. The problem is well solved in the past and its solution relies heavily on unconventional data structures such as range trees, segment trees or rectangle trees. In this paper we demonstrate that classical divide-and-conquer technique and conventional data structures such as linked lists are sufficient to achieve a time bound ofO(n logn) +s, and a space bound of Θ(n), both of which are optimal.
Examining the Employer-Size Wage Premium in the Manufacturing, Retail Trade, and Service Industries Using Employer-Employee Matched Data

Economists have long sought to understand why large employers pay higher wages than small employers. Despite decades of study and analysis, researchers have been unsuccessful in fully accounting for the employersize wage premium. One problem has been insufficient data. Most empirical efforts to examine the size-related wage premium rely on worker-level data that contain little information about a worker’s employer, or firm-level data that lack information on the characteristics of a firm’s workforce. Although more recent attempts exploit newly developed employer–employee matched data (Kevin T. Reilly, 1995; Troske, 1999), most matched data sets cover only limited segments of the population, thus raising doubt about the generality of the findings. In this paper, we use the recently created New Worker Establishment Characteristics Database (NWECD) to examine the employer-size wage premium. Unlike other matched data sets, the NWECD contains information on workers and employers in all sectors and regions of the econ-
Structure and chemistry of coals: Calorimetric analyses

Abstract Heats of immersion ( h i ) of coals have been shown to be a valuable means of investigating structure and chemistry of coals. This report outlines some of the factors involved. Lower ranked coals imbibe more liquids (i.e., H 2 O) onto more polar sites (carbonyl, phenolic, etc.) than higher ranked coals. Mineral matter reacts strongly with polar liquids (i.e., H 2 O) giving rise to enhanced h i . Grinding of coals not only decreases particle size but modifies the coal structure to an increasing degree dependent upon the extent and severity of grinding. The magnitude of h i and the rate of reaction are both modified consistent with the existence of a “shrinking core” or unperturbed coal structure serving as substrate to which the modified (less ordered) material is bound. Chemical (alkali) attack seems to loosen the coal structure markedly to allow enhanced access to fluid reagents. These exploratory studies have shown that calorimetric analyses similar to those developed and used by A. C. Zettlemoyer and his co-workers are excellent means for elucidating the structure and chemistry of coals and related materials. The complexity of the problem is quite apparent due to the complexity of coals themselves. Further work is warranted to assure efficient utilization of this exhaustible natural resource.
Detection of liquid mass fraction at the evaporator exit of refrigeration systems

Abstract The article presents four methods of detecting droplets in the stream of superheated vapor at the evaporator exit of refrigeration systems: (a) an energy balance, (b) a thin-film resistance (MEMS) sensor developed for this project, (c) a laser and photodiodes for measuring light scattered by entrained droplets, and (d) an exposed beaded thermocouple. Three configurations of the plate evaporator are examined, with refrigerant flow controlled by: (1) a thermostatic expansion valve, (2) a manual valve, and (3) a separate liquid injector used to examine the detection of controlled flow of droplets. The signals were recorded at both slow (0.5 Hz) and fast (40 Hz) rates in order to characterize the unsteady flow exiting the evaporator. The presence of liquid in superheated vapor at the evaporator exit indicates nonequilibrium conditions and maldistribution of two-phase refrigerant within the evaporator. The performances of the MEMS sensor and the beaded thermocouple when exposed to small liquid mass fractions in a superheated vapor stream are examined to assess the feasibility of using each instrument to detect and control liquid mass fraction instead of superheat at evaporator exit and improve distribution among evaporator plates. Results show that the MEMS sensor is more sensitive to liquid mass fraction (LMF) in superheated vapor than the thermocouple at lower values. Both instruments in current versions exhibit a saturation point beyond which they can no longer detect increases in LMF.
Islet‐expressed TLR2 and TLR4 sense injury and mediate early graft failure after transplantation

Although islet transplantation is an effective treatment for Type 1 diabetes, primary engraftment failure contributes to suboptimal outcomes. We tested the hypothesis that islet isolation and transplantation activate innate immunity through TLR expressed on islets. Murine islets constitutively express TLR2 and TLR4, and TLR activation with peptidoglycan or LPS upregulates islet production of cytokines and chemokines. Following transplantation into streptozotocin-induced diabetic, syngeneic mice, islets exposed to LPS or peptidoglycan had primary graft failure with intra- and peri-islet mononuclear cell inflammation. The use of knockout mice showed that recipient CD8(+) T cells caused engraftment failure and did so in the absence of islet-derived DC. To mimic physiological islet injury, islets were transplanted with exocrine debris. Transplantation of TLR2/4(-/-) islets reduced proinflammatory cytokine production and improved islet survival. Stressed islets released the alarmin high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) and recombinant HMGB1 (rHMGB1) induced NFkB activation. NFkB activation was prevented in the absence of both TLR2 and TLR4. rHMGB1 pretreatment also prevented primary engraftment through a TLR2/4-dependent pathway. Our results show that islet graft failure can be initiated by TLR2 and TLR4 signaling and suggest that HMGB1 is one likely early mediator. Subsequent downstream signaling results in intra-islet inflammation followed by T-cell-mediated graft destruction.
Jovian dual‐sinusoidal HOM Lane features observed by Galileo

A well defined sinusoidal-shaped “band” of reduced emission intensity exists within Jovian HOM from 500 kHz to 3 MHz at all Jovian longitudes as observed by the Galileo spacecraft. A less prominent sinusoidal-shaped band feature exists in the same frequency range but is 180° out of phase with the more prominent feature. We used a multiple Jovian rotation spectrogram technique to fully display both bands and found that these sinusoidal-shaped features are the source of the “lanes” previously studied in Voyager and Ulysses data. Our extension of the simple straight-line ray model by Gurnett et al. [1998] provides a qualitative explanation for the observed features. We found that the two sinusoidal bands show an asymmetry about the longitude of the northern tip of the magnetic dipole (202° CML). Enhancements of emission can be seen along the edges of the bands which may be interpreted as caustic surfaces.
Erythropoiesis in Patients Stimulated with Erythropoietin: The Relevance of Storage Iron

Background and Objectives: The clinical importance of iron-restricted erythropoiesis in erythropoietin (EPO)-stimulated patients is controversial. Materials and Methods:&lt
Full‐day kindergarten offsets negative effects of poverty on state tests

The purpose of this study was to compare scores on state standardised tests for five‐year‐old children in full‐ and half‐day kindergarten programmes in the United States. Four thousand four hundred and eleven students participated in this three‐year cohort study; each completed standards‐based instruction in an urban public school setting. Students of poverty in full‐day kindergarten programmes achieve significantly higher test scores in both English/Language Arts (+18.6 points) and Mathematics (+25.1 points) than students who participated in half‐day kindergarten programmes. The significant difference in the scores of the two groups resulted in gains indicating an abatement of the student achievement gap that exists between students of poverty and students who are not impoverished. The calculated effects for students who came from poverty were subtracted from the average score for English/Language Arts (−22.6 points) and Mathematics (−23.2). The gain in scores attributed to full‐day kindergarten amounted...
Spectrum of Insecticide Cross-resistance in Pyrethroid-resistant Populations of Haematobia irritans (Diptera: Muscidae)

Pyrethroid (permethrin and fenvalerate)-resistant populations of Haematobia irritans (L.) were bioassayed with five pyrethroids: permethrin, fenvalerate, cypermethrin, flucythrinate, and deltamethrin. Resistance ratios (LD50 population ÷ LD50-susceptible population) for the Ben Hur population ranged from 6.9 for permethrin to 85.8 for cypermethrin, while those for the Red River population ranged from 12.1 to 35.3 for permethrin and cypermethrin, respectively. Resistance to DDT in the Red River population was 51.5-fold and there was only a low level of cross-resistance (0.8- to 4.8-fold) to a carbamate (bendicarb) and three organophosphorus (dioxathion, stirofos, sulprofos) insecticides. The level of synergism observed for cypermethrin in the resistant Red River population was 2.2- and 3.5-fold greater (for DEF and piperonyl butoxide, respectively) than that observed in the susceptible population, suggesting that metabolism alone cannot account for the level of resistance (35-fold) observed. Due to the broad spectrum of pyrethroid cross-resistance, the future of pyrethroids in ear tags for the control of H. irritans appears to be very limited.
Control of velocity in a bimanual grasp task

We study the control strategies used in a bimanual grasp task using two wrist joints. The velocity of the task is controlled by torques from wrist flexors, with extensors playing little or no role.
Isolation and characterization of the Drosophila melanogaster gene encoding translation-initiation factor eIF-2β

Abstract Drosophila melanogaster cDNA clones encoding the β subunit of translation initiation factor 2 (eIF-2) were isolated and sequenced. The longest cDNA predicts a protein of 312 amino acids (aa), which possesses a putative RNA-binding motif and a highly charged N-terminal region composed of three basic polylysine blocks. The aa sequence comparison of D. melanogaster eIF-2β with its human and yeast counterparts demonstrates a high degree of similarity, especially within the C-terminal region. Northern analysis indicates quasi-constitutive expression of eIF-2 β throughout D. melano gaster development.
Distinction between alkaline phosphatase and Mg2+-ATPase of the human polymorphonuclear leukocyte.

Abstract Both alkaline phosphatase and Mg 2+ -ATPase have been reported as marker enzymes for the plasma membrane of the human polymorphonuclear leukocyte; the question of whether both activities might be reflections of the same enzyme has not been clearly addressed. Cells from patients with chronic granulocytic leukemia were essentially devoid of alkaline phosphatase while cells from patients with acute infection or polycythemia vera had markedly elevated levels of the enzyme when compared to normal control cells. In contrast, the activity of Mg 2+ -ATPase was nearly constant in all cell types. 1- p -Bromolevamisole markedly inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity in homogenates of normal cells, but had much less effect on Mg 2+ -ATPase activity. The addition of various detergents likewise discriminated between the two activities, generally activating alkaline phosphatase but inhibiting Mg 2+ -ATPase. These results suggest the two activities are catalyzed by separate enzymes and might be used as two distinct markers for the plasma membrane fraction.
Divorce in Early Modern Neuchâtel, 1547-1806:

Analysis of all divorce litigation extant in Neuchâtel from the introduction of divorce in the mid-sixteenth century to the early nineteenth century suggests substantial changes, both quantitative and qualitative, over this long period. The proportion of couples going through divorce remained a small minority during the whole period, but the reasons for requesting divorce and the grounds on which divorce was granted changed, with the most noteworthy changes ap pearing in the second half of the eighteenth century. It may be said that by the end of the eighteenth century matrimoniul courts in Neuchâtel had begun to nurture componionate marriage.
Conformational stability, barriers to internal rotation, ab initio calculations and vibrational assignment of ethyl methyl sulfide

Abstract The far-infrared spectrum of ethyl methyl sulfide in the gas phase has been recorded at a resolution of 0.10 cm −1 in the region 370-30 cm −1 . The fundamental asymmetric torsions of the gauche and trans conformations have been observed at 93.4 cm −1 and 90.8 cm −1 respectively, with the gauche form having several excited-state transitions. From these data, the asymmetric torsional potential function has been recalculated with the following coefficients: V 1 =310±10, V 1 −190±7, v 3 =997±17, V 4 =101±4 and V 6 = −94±7 cm −1 . From this potential function, the trans to gauche, gauche to gauche and gauche to trans barriers are determined to be 1012±17 cm −1 , 1184±9 cm −1 and 881±21 cm −1 respectively, with an energy difference of 131 ± 45 cm −1 , the trans conformer being the more stable form in the gas phase. The enthalpy difference has also been determined experimentally from the variable temperature studies of the Raman lines and a value of 133±34 cm −1 (380±97 cal mol −10 ) has been obtained for the gas with the trans form more stable, but for the liquid phase the value is too small to be measured. A complete vibrational assignment is proposed for a trans/gauche equilibrium in the gas and liquid phases from the Raman (3200-10 cm −1 ) and infrared (3200-35 cm −1 ) spectra obtained for the gas, liquid and solid phases, and in the solid only the gauche conformer remains. The structural parameters, conformational stability, barriers to internal rotation and fundamental vibrational frequencies which have been determined experimentally are compared to those obtained from ab initio calculations employing both the 3-21 G* and 6-31G* basis sets. These results are compared to those obtained for some similar molecules.
Neural reuse and human individual differences

We find the theory of neural reuse to be highly plausible, and suggest that human individual differences provide an additional line of argument in its favor, focusing on the well-replicated finding of "positive manifold," in which individual differences are highly correlated across domains. We also suggest that the theory of neural reuse may be an important contributor to the phenomenon of positive manifold itself.
Plenary talk II Advances in high-performance computing

High-performance computing, or supercomputing, is the field of exploiting massive parallelism through advanced hardware technology and architectures to solve large application problems. There have been many important turning points at which the field has made significant shifts and changes. Among these are the golden years of vector supercomputers, the rapid developments of the massively parallel architectures in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the cluster computing era starting from the mid 1990s, the Grid Computing, from the late 1990s, the development of the Earth Simulator in Japan, the U.S. regaining of the leadership of Supercomputing with the introduction the IBM Blue Gene L, then finally the emergence of the first PetaFLOPS machine, the roadrunner, in mid 2008. This talk will consider the progress in this field from an architectural, performance and historical points of view. It will then introduce some of the implications and challenges associated with the latest developments and the needed research directions. It will then introduce some of the ongoing efforts that are likely to produce the next generation of Parallel Supercomputers, such as the DARPA High-Productivity Computing Systems initiative.
Role of acid concentration in leaching of cordierite and alkali borosilicate glass

The leaching rates of both cordierite and heat-treated alkali borosilicate glass were studied in hot nitric acid solutions ranging from ∼0.1 to ∼16N. Weight loss and penetration measurements of the specimens showed that the reaction rates go through a maximum with acid concentration. The data indicate that the rate of leaching, which involves ion-exchange and hydration reactions, is controlled not only by acid strength, but also by water activity.
Weighted Mean Survival Test Statistics: a Class of Distance Tests for Censored Survival Data

A class of test statistics is introduced which is sensitive against the alternative of stochastic ordering in the two-sample censored data problem. The test statistics for evaluating a cumulative weighted difference in survival distributions are developed while taking into account the imbalances in base-line covariates between two groups. This procedure can be used to test the null hypothesis of no treatment effect, especially when base-line hazards cross and prognostic covariates need to be adjusted. The statistics are semiparametric, not rank based, and can be written as integrated weighted differences in estimated survival functions, where these survival estimates are adjusted for covariate imbalances. The asymptotic distribution theory of the tests is developed, yielding test procedures that are shown to be consistent under a fixed alternative. The choice of weight function is discussed and relies on stability and interpretability considerations. An example taken from a clinical trial for acquired immune deficiency syndrome is presented.
Recent advances in Cr: Colquiriite laser technology

We summarize recent progress in low-cost and highly-efficient Cr:Colquiriite laser technology. Pumping with inexpensive single-mode diodes, 270-mW of output power and a total tunability from 754 to 1042 nm were demonstrated in continuous-wave operation. In mode-locked operation, 100-fs pulses with 50-nJ pulse energy were demonstrated.