cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The importance of the within-trial interval in the superiority of the recall over anticipation method of paired-associate learning

The magnitude of the difference between the recall and anticipation methods of paired-associate learning was shown to increase as the length of the within-trial interval increased in the recall method. It was noted that only those studies which used short within-trial intervals fail to consistently show the recall method to be statistically superior to the anticipation method. Recall method learning rate was not affected when the within-trial interval was filled, suggesting that rehearsal is not responsible for the effect of interval. Alternate mechanisms were suggested.
Considerations in the management of patients taking oral contraceptives.

Deleterious effects associated with the use of oral contraceptives include altered fib rinolytic activity and gingival inflammation and loss of attachment. An increased incidence of major systemic problems, including strokes, myocardial infarction, hypertension, and coagulation abnormalities and altered laboratory findings, is found in patients using oral contraceptives. Osteitis and gingivitis may also be found in these patients. Dentists should be aware of the possible effects of these drugs.
Surface plasmon study of electrochemically prepared polymers: Polyazulene

Abstract The work reported here shows that by using a modified gold working electrode, the surface plasmon technique can successfully be used to obtain information on the optical constants and the film thickness of electropolymerized films. Polyazulene films deposited at three different surface charge densities are investigated in the oxidized and corresponding reduced forms. Our result shows that the refractive index, and hence the dielectric constant at 632 nm, is complex, the imaginary part being larger for the oxidized form compared to that for the corresponding reduced form. Thickness determination shows that its relationship with the amount of charge is qualitatively similar to that reported for polypyrrole. The film thickness measurement reveals a shrinkage in going from the oxidized to the reduced form as the counter anions are removed. Our study, therefore, shows that the surface plasmon technique can be used to probe ionic processes.
Determination of the concentration of explosives in air by isotope dilution analysis

Abstract The concentrations in air of dinitrotoluene (DNT), trinitrotoluene (TNT), nitroglycerin (NG), ethylene glycol dinitrate (EGDN), and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) were measured at 25°C under equilibrium conditions, and that of cyclomethylene trinitramine (RDX) was measured at elevated temperature by means of an isotope dilution technique. Isotopically multilabeled compounds were synthesized and used as diluents. Field ionization mass spectrometry was used to measure the abundance ratios of the unlabeled materials. The concentrations in air at 25°C of DNT, TNT, NG, EDGN, PETN, and RDX are 184, 4, 31, 37,000, 7, and 0.8 ppb v/v, respectively. The data obtained may be used for the assessment of the required sensitivity of air-monitoring detection systems.
Economically feasible options for increased women participation in Kenyan aquaculture value chain

Abstract This paper used value chain analysis to determine economically viable opportunities for increased female participation in the aquaculture value chains in Kenya. The main opportunities for women are as fish marketers and as fish farmers, especially in the Western Province of Kenya. Fish marketing is economically more viable than fish farming with an overall benefit–cost ratio of over 1.00 while the benefit–cost ratios for fish farmers were less than 0.5. The western region had the strongest fish production sector compared to the Central Province and the Rift Valley and provides relatively better opportunities for women participation in fish production. In the Rift Valley Province, women could work as paid laborers on fish farms as this region showed the largest employment impact on the community from a growth in fish farming activities.
ABC SMC for parameter estimation and model selection with applications in systems biology

Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) methods can be used in situations where the evaluation of the likelihood is computationally prohibitive. They are thus ideally suited for analyzing the complex dynamical models encountered in systems biology, where knowledge of the full (approximate) posterior is often essential.This talk gives an overview of an ABC algorithm based on Sequential Monte Carlo (ABC SMC). Different uses of the algorithm will be presented, depending on the application question of interest. The first is the general parameter estimation framework, where the interest lies in estimating the posterior parameter distribution from available experimental data. In the second context we ask whether the model can reproduce a desired qualitative or semi-quantitative behavior, and what dynamic behaviors the system can achieve. The third context discussed here for use of the ABC SMC algorithm is that of model selection. Here we ask which of the models (i.e. model topologies) from a pool of proposed candidate models represents the most suitable hypothesis about the biological system of interest.The focus of the presentation is applications of ABC SMC to questions from systems biology. ABC SMC is applied to a variety of biological models, including stochastic and deterministic descriptions of eukaryotic signaling pathways and prokaryotic stress response pathways. In particular, the algorithm is employed to understand understand the qualitative behavior of the phage shock protein response in bacteria Escherichia coli, and the model selection algorithm is applied to distinguish between differential equation models of MAP kinase phosphorylation dynamics and the JAK-STAT signaling pathway.
Double standards: when an undergraduate dissertation becomes the object of two different assessment approaches

Within a transnational educational programme, students residing in the Czech Republic obtain baccalaureate degrees from an accredited American college. The college has a distinctive approach towards learning, co‐creation of knowledge and the use of mentors. Part of the degree assessment is an undergraduate dissertation, which serves as a capstone experience. The Czech partner instituted a policy whereby students could obtain a second local degree by, among other things, using the same dissertation. This study examines the situation confronting mentors from the American college. It considers assessment as an integral component of a constellation of educational assumptions and pedagogic values: a paradigm. It analyses the competing/conflicting, paradigms involved and discusses ways in which educational practice was reconsidered and changed to allow a single work product to be authentically and meaningfully assessed under both approaches.
Histoplasma capsulatum: Effects of pH on the yeast and mycelial phases in vitro

The yeast phase of the A and B phenotype of Histoplasma capsulatum will grow well in shake culture in Modified Sabouraud broth with an initial pH between 5–10. There is minimal growth at pH 4·5 and pH 11 and no growth or survival at pH 3–4. The mycelial phase at 25°C in stationary cultures will grow and sporulate in media with an initial pH 6–12 for the A phenotype and an initial pH 6–8 for the B phenotype. The minima and maxima of growth for both mycelial phenotypes extend from initial pH 5–12. The ecological and isolation implications of these in vitro results are discussed.
Explosion of multidimensional image histograms

Enhancement of multispectral and true-color images is frequently accomplished by histogram modification. The color components are generally separately adjusted within an appropriate, often perceptually based, color coordinate system. However, independent component modification is seldom able to exploit the full extent of the RGB gamut unless some color values are clipped at the RGB boundaries. Further improvement in color contrast is sometimes more important than preserving perceptual attributes. For example, color composites derived from multispectral images have little basis in human perception and thus need not be perceptually constrained. "Histogram explosion", a new concept for multivariate enhancement, enables the full RGB extent to be exploited without clipping. While the algorithm is not generally based upon a perceptual model, original hue values may be preserved with proper parameter choices. The paper presents details of the histogram explosion method, an analysis of its computational complexity, and some experimental results. >
Brief interventions for alcohol problems: a meta‐analytic review of controlled investigations in treatment‐seeking and non‐treatment‐seeking populations

Brief interventions for alcohol use disorders have been the focus of considerable research. In this meta-analytic review, we considered studies comparing brief interventions with either control or extended treatment conditions. We calculated the effect sizes for multiple drinking-related outcomes at multiple follow-up points, and took into account the critical distinction between treatment-seeking and non-treatment-seeking samples. Most investigations fell into one of two types: those comparing brief interventions with control conditions in non-treatment-seeking samples (n = 34) and those comparing brief interventions with extended treatment in treatment-seeking samples (n = 20). For studies of the first type, small to medium aggregate effect sizes in favor of brief interventions emerged across different follow-up points. At follow-up after > 3-6 months, the effect for brief interventions compared to control conditions was significantly larger when individuals with more severe alcohol problems were excluded. For studies of the second type, the effect sizes were largely not significantly different from zero. This review summarizes additional positive evidence for brief interventions compared to control conditions typically delivered by health-care professionals to non-treatment-seeking samples. The results concur with previous reviews that found little difference between brief and extended treatment conditions. Because the evidence regarding brief interventions comes from different types of investigation with different samples, generalizations should be restricted to the populations, treatment characteristics and contexts represented in those studies.
On utility of inductive learning in multiobjective robust design

Most engineering design problems involve optimizing a number of often conflicting performance measures in the presence of multiple constraints. Traditional vector optimization techniques approach these problems by generating a set of Pareto-optimal solutions, where any specific objective can be further improved only at the cost of degrading one or more other objectives. The solutions obtained in this manner, however, are only single points within the space of all possible Pareto-optimal solutions and generally do not indicate to designers how small deviations from predicted design parameters settings affect the performance of the product or the process under study.In this paper we introduce a new approach to robust design based on the concept of inductive learning with regression trees. Given a set of training examples relating to a multiobjective design problem, we demonstrate how a multivariate regression tree can utilize an information-theoretic measure of covariance complexity to capture optimal, tradeoff design surfaces. The novelty of generating design surfaces as opposed to traditional points in the design space is that now designers are able to easily determine how the responses of a product or process vary as design parameters change. This ability is of paramount importance in situations where design parameter settings need to be modified during the lifetime of a product/process due to various economic or operational constraints. As a result, designers will be able to select optimal ranges for design parameters such that the product's performance indices exhibit minimal or tolerable deviations from their target values. To highlight the advantages of our methodology, we present a multiobjective example that deals with optimum design of an electric discharge machining (EDM) process.
The isotropy groups of bounded homogeneous domains are nontrivial

It will be shown in this paper that the automorphism group of a bounded homogeneous domain D in ℂn can never act freely on $D$. An equivalent statement is that the isotropy groups of bounded homogeneous domains always contain at least two elements.
Precoder selection and rank adaptation in MIMO-OFDM

The knowledge of the channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter can significantly improve the performance of a MIMO system. In a limited-feedback MIMO system, the feedback overhead from the receiver to the transmitter is significantly reduced by using a codebook. The codebook is made up of finite set of precoding matrix that is predetermined by quantizing the CSI. The receiver selects the best precoding matrix and sends back only the index of the selected precoding matrix. However, in MIMO-OFDM if the precoding is performed per subcarrier, the feedback overhead still remains large. Therefore, to reduce the amount of feedback one precoder per a group or band of subcarriers is used. In this paper we develop reduced-complexity algorithms that select the best precoding matrix per band of subcarriers. We also derive rank adaptation algorithm for further performance improvement.
BMI, RQ, Diabetes, and Sex Affect the Relationships Between Amino Acids and Clamp Measures of Insulin Action in Humans

Previous studies have used indirect measures of insulin sensitivity to link circulating amino acids with insulin resistance and identify potential biomarkers of diabetes risk. Using direct measures (i.e., hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps), we examined the relationships between the metabolomic amino acid profile and insulin action (i.e., glucose disposal rate [GDR]). Relationships between GDR and serum amino acids were determined among insulin-sensitive, insulin-resistant, and type 2 diabetic (T2DM) individuals. In all subjects, glycine (Gly) had the strongest correlation with GDR (positive association), followed by leucine/isoleucine (Leu/Ile) (negative association). These relationships were dramatically influenced by BMI, the resting respiratory quotient (RQ), T2DM, and sex. Gly had a strong positive correlation with GDR regardless of BMI, RQ, or sex but became nonsignificant in T2DM. In contrast, Leu/Ile was negatively associated with GDR in nonobese and T2DM subjects. Increased resting fat metabolism (i.e., low RQ) and obesity were observed to independently promote and negate the association between Leu/Ile and insulin resistance, respectively. Additionally, the relationship between Leu/Ile and GDR was magnified in T2DM males. Future studies are needed to determine whether Gly has a mechanistic role in glucose homeostasis and whether dietary Gly enrichment may be an effective intervention in diseases characterized by insulin resistance.
An oscillation-based model for the neuronal basis of attention

We propose a model for the neuronal implementation of selective visual attention based on the temporal structure of neuronal activity. In particular, we set out to explain the electrophysiological data from areas V4 and IT in monkey cortex of Moran and Desimone [(1985) Science, 229, 782-784] using the "temporal tagging" hypothesis of Crick and Koch [(1990a) Cold Spring Harbor Symposiums in Quantitative Biology, LV, 953-962; (1990b) Seminars in the neurosciences (pp. 1-36)]. Neurons in primary visual cortex respond to visual stimuli with a Poisson distributed spike train with an appropriate, stimulus-dependent mean firing rate. The firing rate of neurons whose receptive fields overlap with the "focus of attention" is modulated with a periodic function in the 40 Hz range, such that their mean firing rate is identical to the mean firing rate of neurons in "non-attended" areas. This modulation is detected by inhibitory interneurons in V4 and is used to suppress the response of V4 cells associated with non-attended visual stimuli. Using very simple single-cell models, we obtain quantitative agreement with Moran and Desimone's (1985) experiments.
Development and use of bioenergy feedstocks for semi-arid and arid lands

Global climate change is predicted to increase heat, drought, and soil-drying conditions, and thereby increase crop sensitivity to water vapour pressure deficit, resulting in productivity losses. Increasing competition between agricultural freshwater use and municipal or industrial uses suggest that crops with greater heat and drought durability and greater water-use efficiency will be crucial for sustainable biomass production systems in the future. Agave (Agavaceae) and Opuntia (Cactaceae) represent highly water-use efficient bioenergy crops that could diversify bioenergy feedstock supply yet preserve or expand feedstock production into semi-arid, abandoned, or degraded agricultural lands, and reclaim drylands. Agave and Opuntia are crassulacean acid metabolism species that can achieve high water-use efficiencies and grow in water-limited areas with insufficient precipitation to support traditional C3 or C4 bioenergy crops. Both Agave and Opuntia have the potential to produce above-ground biomass rivalling that of C3 and C4 crops under optimal growing conditions. The low lignin and high amorphous cellulose contents of Agave and Opuntia lignocellulosic biomass will be less recalcitrant to deconstruction than traditional feedstocks, as confirmed by pretreatments that improve saccharification of Agave. Refined environmental productivity indices and geographical information systems modelling have provided estimates of Agave and Opuntia biomass productivity and terrestrial sequestration of atmospheric CO2; however, the accuracy of such modelling efforts can be improved through the expansion of field trials in diverse geographical settings. Lastly, life cycle analysis indicates that Agave would have productivity, life cycle energy, and greenhouse gas balances comparable or superior to those of traditional bioenergy feedstocks, but would be far more water-use efficient.
The Effects of Age and Sex on Mental Rotation Performance, Verbal Performance, and Brain Electrical Activity

This study examined the effects of age and sex on mental rotation performance, verbal performance, and brain-wave activity. Thirty-two 8-year-olds (16 boys) and 32 college students (16 men) had EEG recorded at baseline and while performing four computerized tasks: a two-dimensional (2D) gingerbread man mental rotation, a 2D alphanumeric mental rotation, of three-dimensional (3D) basketball player mental rotation, and lexical decision making. Additionally, participants completed a paper- and pencil water level task and an oral verbal fluency task. On the 2D alphanumeric and 3D basketball player mental rotation tasks, men performed better than boys, but the performance of women and girls did not differ. On the water level task, men performed better than women whereas there was no difference between boys and girls. No sex differences were found on the 2D gingerbread man mental rotation, lexical decision-making, and verbal fluency tasks. EEG analyses indicated that men exhibited left posterior temporal activation during the 2D alphanumeric task and that men and boys both exhibited greater left parietal activation than women and girls during the 2D gingerbread man task. On the 3D basketball player mental rotation task, all participants exhibited greater activation of the right parietal area than the left parietal area. These data give insight into the brain activity and cognitive development changes that occur between childhood and adulthood.
Time-domain solution for horizontal coaxial dipoles on a half-space

The practice of transforming frequency‐domain results into the time domain is fairly common in electromagnetics. For certain classes of problems, it is possible to obtain a direct solution in the time domain. A summary of these solutions is given in Hohmann and Ward (1986). Presented here is another problem which can be solved directly in the time domain—the magnetic field of horizontal coaxial dipoles on the surface of a homogeneous half‐space. Solutions are presented for both an impulse transmitter current and a step turnon in the transmitter current. The solution in the time domain is obtained by taking the inverse Laplace transform of the product of the frequency‐domain solution and the Laplace‐domain representation of the current waveform.
A Link-Layer Broadcast Service for SpaceWire Networks

SpaceWire, a recent ESA standard, is gaining popularity because of its simple circuitry, low power consumption, and high-link speed. However network management on SpaceWire networks is hampered by the lack of a link-layer broadcast mechanism which is required for services such as the address resolution protocol (ARP) and the dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP). Currently, address resolution and host IP assignments require manual configuration. This paper describes a link-layer broadcast service and encapsulation service for SpaceWire that is implemented in the host node software drivers and requires no change to routers or host node interface hardware. We believe this work will help move SpaceWire towards a future of plug and play networks, decreasing the cost and time required to develop and integrate space systems.
Reliability analysis of static and dynamic fault-tolerant systems subject to probabilistic common-cause failures:

Fault-tolerant systems designed with redundancy techniques are typically subject to common-cause failures, which are multiple dependent component failures caused by a shared root cause or a common cause (also known as a shock). There are two types of shocks: fatal and non-fatal. A fatal shock (FS) will fail all components of a system. A non-fatal shock (NFS) will affect only a subset of system components. Most of the existing shock models have assumed that the occurrence of an NFS results in deterministic and simultaneous failures of the affected components. In practice, however, the occurrence of an NFS may result in failures of different components with different probabilities of occurrence. This behaviour is referred to as prob- abilistic NFS. In this paper, we consider the effects of probabilistic NFS in the reliability analysis of fault-tolerant systems. Both an explicit method and an implicit method are proposed for incorporating probabilistic NFS in the reliability analysis of static systems. A Markov approach combined with the Poisson decomposition law is proposed for incorporating probabilistic NFS in the reliability analysis of dynamic systems. The proposed approaches are illustrated through the analyses of several examples.
Validity guided clustering for brain tumor segmentation [treatment planning]

Clustering of MRI for unsupervised tumor volume segmentation often fails to identify pathological tissues. In this paper, a refinement of fuzzy c-means segmentation is proposed using a validity measure. The method is applied to three patient cases with different tumor types. A significant improvement compared to FCM is achieved for two tumor types, both in the detection of the tumor and the accuracy of the pixel assignments.
SUPPORT FOR THE SUPREME COURT AS A NATIONAL POLICYMAKER

The most frequent explanations for the endurance of the Supreme Court's policies and of its power as a national policymaker assume public reverence for the Court, widespread support for it as an institution, or broad-based agreement with its policies. Public opinion studies refute most of these assumptions. Our research confirms those studies and shows, in addition, that the Court cannot claim strong support among occasional political activists. It does, however, have a strong constituency among liberal activists and liberal position-holders. We hypothesize, therefore, that the Court's endurance as a national policymaker is explained by special support from one wing of the dominant party coalition that, because of its strategic location in the complex national policy process, is able to obstruct broadly-based attacks on the Court's authority and policy. Such attacks gain force, however, when critical elections alter the dominant party coalition and therefore weaken the hold of the Court's ideological allies. Yet even then—or at least so far—the Court and its policies have prevailed against various court curbing efforts.
Controlling Embryonic Stem Cell Growth and Differentiation by Automation: Enhanced and More Reliable Differentiation for Drug Discovery

Despite significant use in basic research, embryonic stem cells have just begun to be used in the drug discovery process. Barriers to the adoption of embryonic stem cells in drug discovery include the difficulty in growing cells and inconsistent differentiation to the desired cellular phenotype. Embryonic stem cell cultures require consistent and frequent handling to maintain the cells in a pluripotent state. In addition, the preferred hanging drop method of embryoid body (EB) differentiation is not amenable to high-throughput methods, and suspension cultures of EBs show a high degree of variability. Murine embryonic stem cells passaged on an automated platform maintained ≥90% viability and pluripotency. We also developed a method of EB formation using 384-well microplates that form a single EB per well, with excellent uniformity across EBs. This format facilitated high-throughput differentiation and enabled screens to optimize directed differentiation into a desired cell type. Using this approach, we identified conditions that enhanced cardiomyocyte differentiation sevenfold. This optimized differentiation method showed excellent consistency for such a complex biological process. This automated approach to embryonic stem cell handling and differentiation can provide the high and consistent yields of differentiated cell types required for basic research, compound screens, and toxicity studies.
Impact of collagen structure on matrix trafficking by human fibroblasts.

Biodegradation of collagen biomaterial matrices and the deposition of new collagen extracellular matrix (ECM) are critical to the integration of in vitro bioengineered materials and tissues in vivo. In previous studies, we observed significant impact of collagen matrix structure on primary lung fibroblast behavior in vitro. In the present work, to begin to understand the mechanistic basis for our previous observation, the response of human fibroblasts (IMR-90) to the structural state of collagen matrices was studied with respect to cell proliferation, cell morphology, β-galactosidase level, and transcript content for collagen (Col-1), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-2), tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2). Collagen digestion was assessed quantitatively by uptake of collagen-coated fluorescent beads incorporated in the preformed collagen matrix. Transcript levels related to the deposition of new ECM proteins varied as a function of the structure of the collagen matrix presented to the cells. Col-1 expression was 2-fold higher and expression for MMP-1, MMP-2, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 increased for cells when grown on 156 μg/cm2 denatured collagen compared with cells grown on tissue culture (TC) plastic. On 156 μg/cm2 nondenatured (native) collagen, Col-1 expression was decreased by half and MMP-2 was increased by 2.5-fold compared with cells grown on TC plastic. On 78 μg/cm2 denatured collagen, Col-1 expression was 80% whereas the MMPs and TIMPs were increased by 1.25- to 2-fold compared with cells grown on TC plastic. On 78 μg/cm2 nondenatured collagen expression of all 5 transcripts was reduced 60-90% of the levels determined for the cells grown on TC plastic. Cell viability, based on cell morphology and β-galactosidase activity, was improved on the denatured collagen. A higher level of collagen matrix incorporation was observed for cells grown on denatured collagen than on nondenatured collagen or TC plastic. These data suggest that tissue engineering matrices incorporating denatured collagen may promote more active remodeling toward new ECM in comparison to cells grown on nondenatured collagen or cells grown on TC plastic. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 70A: 39–48, 2004
Anthropology and child development

The field of child development is too closely tied to the field of psychology and should include a variety of cultural perspectives.
MORSE DECOMPOSITION, ATTRACTORS AND CHAIN RECURRENCE

The global behavior of a dynamical system can be described by its Morse decompositions or its attractor and repeller configurations. There is a close relation between these two approaches and also with (maximal) chain recurrent sets that describe the system behavior on finest Morse sets. These sets depend upper semicontinuously on parameters. The connection with ergodic theory is provided through the construction of invariant measures based on chains.
The fox and the fat: an unexpected new treatment for brain tumors.

When one thinks of the popular lipid-lowering drug fenofibrate, it is usually in connection with trying to prevent heart attack or stroke. One of the most unlikely discoveries of recent weeks is that fenofibrate may represent a new way to treat the deadly brain tumors, glioblastomas.4 Glioblastoma multiforme is an astrocytoma form of glioma, or glial cell tumor, that accounts for more than 50% of all brain tumors. Glioblastoma is one of the deadliest tumors known, with the worst prognosis of any CNS neoplasia. Despite some hopeful advances, the median survival time after diagnosis is a dismal 14 mo.3 Although glioblastoma strikes only about three out of 100,000 Americans, it does so without any clear genetic predisposition or environmental suspect. Glioblastoma was recently highlighted as the cause of death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a strong proponent of cancer research.2 Krzysztof Reiss and colleagues, presently at the Neurological Cancer Research, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, LSU have been working on means of stimulating apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in gliomas. Their focus has been on the Bim pathway. Although other recent work focuses on Bim,1 the signals triggering this pathway have been ill-defined. Working on the hypothesis that switching cancer cells from glycolysis to fat-burning could inhibit them, the LSU group tested fenofibrate, a drug used frequently along with statins to lower lipids and cholesterol by stimulating fat metabolism. They found that low doses of fenofibrate arrest growth of glioblastoma cells in culture, while higher doses induce massive apoptosis. Their results revealed that fenofibrate induced phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of the transcription factor, FoxO3A. FoxO3A, in turn, induced expression of Bim, resulting in glioblastoma cell death. The connection with FoxO3A is a promising new avenue of investigation for these deadly brain tumors. This is far from a cancer cure, but fenofibrate is a drug already on the market, and with few side effects. It can presumably be used immediately as an adjunct with existing anticancer agents (Fig. 1). Figure 1. Glioblastoma cells in culture showing cells undergoing apoptosis (arrows). Blue, DAPI, is DNA stained to show cell nuclei.
Assessing Replication and Extension. A Commentary on Glaister and Buckley: Measures of Performance in UK International Alliances:

This article reviews and critiques Glaister and Buckley's (1998) examination of measures of performance for a sample of UK international alliances. This article identifies and addresses issues regarding three aspects of Glaister and Buckley's research: (1) concerns regarding their efforts to 'replicate' an earlier study by Geringer and Hebert (1991), (2) concerns with their efforts to extend the study to non-equity alliances, and (3) concerns with efforts to extend their study to issues of alliance performance and culture. Suggestions are provided for improving the Glaister and Buckley study and for conducting future research on alliance performance.
ORBITAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE β Pic INNER PLANET CANDIDATE WITH KECK ADAPTIVE OPTICS

A point source observed 8 AU in projection from β Pictoris in L � (3.8 μm) imaging in 2003 has been recently presented as a planet candidate. Here we show the results of L � -band adaptive optics imaging obtained at Keck Observatory in 2008. We do not detect β Pic b beyond a limiting radius of 0. �� 29, or 5.5 AU in projection, from the star. If β Pic b is an orbiting planet, then it has moved 0. �� 12 (2.4 AU in projection) closer to the star in the five years separating the two epochs of observation. We examine the range of orbital parameters consistent with the observations, including likely bounds from the locations of previously inferred planetesimal belts. We find a family of low-eccentricity orbits with semimajor axes ∼8–9 AU that are completely allowed, as well as a broad region of orbits with e 0.2, a 10 AU that are allowed if the apparent motion of the planet was toward the star in 2003. We compare this allowed space with predictions of the planetary orbital elements from the literature. Additionally, we show how similar observations in the next several years can further constrain the space of allowed orbits. Non-detections of the source through 2013 will exclude the interpretation of the candidate as a planet orbiting between the 6.4 and 16 AU planetesimal belts.
A Decentralized Control Synthesis Method for Large-Scale Interconnected Systems

A decentralized control synthesis method which is developed using a concept of interconnection rejection is proposed herein. Sufficient conditions under which this type of decentralized controllers can be synthesized are given.
DC link stabilized field oriented control of electric propulsion systems

Induction motor based electric propulsion systems can be used in a wide variety of applications including locomotives, hybrid electric vehicles, and ships. Field oriented control of these drives is attractive since it allows the torque to be tightly and nearly instantaneously controlled. However, such systems can be prone to negative impedance instability of the DC link. This paper examines this type of instability and sets forth a readily implemented albeit nonlinear control strategy to mitigate this potential problem.
An Absence Explained: Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and the Battle of Mohács

On April 23, 1526, Suleiman, the Turkish sultan, left Constantinople at the head of an army numbering around 120,000 men. He marched in a northwesterly direction, his apparent purpose being the conquest of the Kingdom of Hungary. The Magyars and their subjects had once been a formidable barrier to the westward expansion of the Ottomans, but they were now badly weakened by the ineptness of their youthful king Louis and the rapacity and shortsightedness of their nobility.
IMPORTANCE OF DOSE-THRESHOLD FOR DRUG-INDUCED TISSUE LESIONS

Publisher Summary An important result of drug metabolism studies in recent years has been the realization that many foreign compounds are metabolized by the liver and certain other tissues to potent alkylating or arylating agents. Such studies demonstrate how chemically stable compounds can produce serious tissue lesions in man and experimental animals, including neoplasia, hepatic and renal necrosis, bone marrow aplasia, and other injuries. The chapter discusses many of the initial concepts of metabolic activation that have been developed during studies of chemical carcinogenesis. The realization that the enzyme pathways responsible for the metabolic activation of carcinogens are the same microsomal mixed-function oxidases that metabolize most drugs led to the concept that drug-induced tissue lesions are mediated through the covalent binding of reactive metabolites. Potential therapeutic agents that reproducibly cause pathological lesions in animal toxicity tests are rarely marketed for clinical use. Most active drug metabolites produce their effects by combining reversibly with receptor sites. Thus, their pharmacologie activity is evaluated simply by measuring the concentration of the metabolite in plasma. But when the response is tissue damage, caused by the covalent binding of chemically reactive metabolites to tissue macromolecules, the relationship between the plasma level of the metabolite and the severity of the lesion is rarely determined. Indeed, with highly reactive metabolites, little or none ever reaches the plasma.
Necrotizing Fasciitis Among Patients With Liver Cirrhosis in Texas, 2001 - 2010: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: Liver cirrhosis is a risk factor for necrotizing fasciitis (NF), and is associated with markedly worse outcomes than for NF among non-cirrhosis patients. Only limited, mostly single-center, data were reported to date on the epidemiology, clinical features, resource utilization and outcomes of NF among patients with cirrhosis. Methods: We studied a population-based cohort of adult hospitalizations associated with cirrhosis, who had a diagnosis of NF during the years 2001 - 2010, using the Texas Inpatient Public Use Data File. The annual volume of NF hospitalizations was benchmarked against all annual hospitalizations with a diagnosis of cirrhosis. The patterns of demographics, chronic comorbidities, evolving organ failure, resource utilization and outcomes were examined. Results: There were 371,745 hospitalizations associated with liver cirrhosis, with 381 NF hospitalizations during study period. The annual volume of NF hospitalizations rose 7.9%/year (P = 0.0287), while its incidence among cirrhosis-associated hospitalizations remained unchanged (P = 0.2955). Non-cirrhosis comorbidities were reported in 69.6% and ICU care was required in 67.2% of NF hospitalization. The key changes noted between 2001 - 2003 and 2008 - 2010 among NF hospitalizations included rising mean (SD) Deyo-Charlson index 2.4 (1.5) vs. 3.9 (2.4) (P < 0.0001), development of ≥ 3 organ failures in 9.1% vs. 39.8% (P < 0.0001), and discharge to long-term care facilities 7.8% vs. 21.1% (P = 0.0204). Hospital mortality was unchanged (26% vs. 33.1%; P = 0.3659). Inflation-adjusted total hospital charges did not change (P = 0.1025) during study period. Conclusions: The present cohort of NF associated with liver cirrhosis is the largest reported to date. A rising annual volume of NF events matched a corresponding increase in cirrhosis-associated hospitalizations. There was increasing burden of chronic comorbidity and rising severity of illness, with a majority of patients requiring ICU care. Case fatality was high and there has been increasing residual morbidity among hospital survivors. The observed findings warrant further study in other populations. J Clin Med Res. 2016;8(2):90-96 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jocmr2420w
Comments on Niosh's Proposed 'B Reader Code of Ethics'

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a program to certify doctors as competent to interpret pulmonary X-rays using the International Labour Office (ILO) International Classification of Radiographs (X-rays) of Pneumoconiosis. Doctors so certified are referred to as B Readers. The NIOSH B Reader Program was established to reduce the level of variability among X-ray readers by objectively documenting proficiency in evaluating the characteristics and patterns of images on chest X-rays for occupationally related lung disease. NIOSH currently certifies approximately 400 B Readers. Of this number, approximately 15-25 current and former B Readers have done a majority of the several hundred thousands of B-readings that have been submitted in support of asbestos and silica-related personal injury claims. In several published articles, I have offered the opinion, based upon the evidence I presented, that many of these 15-25 B Readers are not engaged in good faith medical practice but rather provide X-ray readings and diagnoses for litigation purposes that are primarily a function of the millions of dollars a year in income that they receive for their services. Earlier this year, U.S. District Court Judge Janis Jack, presiding over the silica MDL (Docket No. 1553), concluded that lawyers, doctors and screening companies had created a scheme to manufacture [diagnoses] for money. Taking note of the mounting evidence that certain physicians, including NIOSH-certified B Readers, were engaged in improper practice, NIOSH is proposing to adopt Ethical Considerations for B Readers. Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 221 (Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005/Notices at 69765). I have responded to NIOSH's request for comments on its proposal. In my comments, I briefly review the elements of an entrepreneurial model of nonmalignant asbestos litigation that I more fully describe in my published writings as having come into being in the mid to late 1980s. The core of this entrepreneurial model is the mass screening and the use of B Readers and other physicians to generate medical evidence in support of hundreds of thousands of mostly specious claims. I recommend that NIOSH create an audit process to review the work of high volume B Readers who read X-rays for litigation purposes. Under my proposal, a neutral panel of B Readers will, upon complaint, reread a sample of the B-reads of a litigation doctor to determine whether there is a prima facie case of nonconformance with ILO standards. If the panel concludes that that B Reader has substantially departed from ILO standards, it shall recommend to NIOSH that it withdraw its certification of that Reader. In the event of such recommendation, NIOSH shall notify appropriate state licensing authorities and medical certification boards of that recommendation.
Competition Against Common Sense: Insights on Peer-to-Peer Lending as a Tool to Allay Financial Exclusion

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to provide insights into peer-to-peer (P2P) lending which has served as one important tool to mitigate financial exclusion. The main proposition of this research is that P2P platforms, which in many ways resemble auctions, naturally instill competitive mindset among lenders; furthermore, given only limited objective decision criteria, certain borrower personal characteristics fuel interpersonal competition enough to impact lending decisions in suboptimal ways. Our two experiments support this proposition. As the result, while P2P lending offers unprecedented financial opportunities to some consumer groups, it may unintentionally exclude others, and even pose threat to the financial wellbeing of lenders.Design/methodology/approach – Two experiments were used to collect data and are reported here. Rigorous pretesting of manipulation stimuli preceded a pilot (exploratory) and the main experiment.Findings – We generally find a significant age bias, where ceteris paribus, younger borrowers are offered lower loan amounts as lenders most likely infer greater risk and lower likelihood to repay loans on time. However, and perhaps more interestingly, when age is not a strong indicator of experience (as in the case with thirtysomethings), we repeatedly find evidence of lending decisions driven by interpersonal competition: more attractive and financially successful loan applicants of the same gender as lenders are most likely perceived as a personal threat, decreasing lenders’ confidence, which subsequently results in lower amounts being invested into loans that are possibly the most promising.Originality/value – To our best knowledge, this research is first to demonstrate the impact of interpersonal competition on decision making in the context of P2P lending. Furthermore, this article contributes to better understanding of P2P lending as a tool to allay financial exclusion, while raising concerns of possible unintended exclusion of certain consumer segments due to the competitive nature of P2P platforms.
Effect of Electrothermal Treatment on Nerve Tissue Within the Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex, Scapholunate, and Lunotriquetral Interosseous Ligaments.

Purpose To evaluate the effect of thermal treatment on neural tissue in the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC), scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL), and lunotriquetral interosseous ligament (LTIL). Methods The intact TFCC, SLIL, and LTIL were harvested from cadaveric specimens and treated with a radiofrequency probe as would be performed intraoperatively. Slides were stained using a triple-stain technique for neurotrophin receptor p75, pan-neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5), and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole for neural identification. Five TFCC, 5 SLIL, and 4 LTIL specimens were imaged with fluorescence microscopy. Imaging software was used to measure fluorescence signals and compare thermally treated areas with adjacent untreated areas. A paired t test was used to compare treated versus untreated areas. P Results For the TFCC, a mean of 94.9% ± 2.7% of PGP 9.5–positive neural tissue was ablated within a mean area of 11.7 ± 2.5 mm 2 ( P = .02). For the SLIL treated from the radiocarpal surface, 97.4% ± 1.0% was ablated to a mean depth of 2.4 ± 0.3 mm from the surface and a mean horizontal spread of 3.4 ± 0.5 mm ( P = .01). For the LTIL, 96.0% ± 1.5% was ablated to a mean depth of 1.7 ± 0.7 mm and a mean horizontal spread of 2.6 ± 1.0 mm ( P = .02). Differences in the presence of neural tissue between treated areas and adjacent untreated areas were statistically significant for all specimens. Conclusions Our study confirms elimination of neuronal markers after thermal treatment of the TFCC, SLIL, and LTIL in cadaveric specimens. This effect penetrates below the surface to innervated collagen tissue that is left structurally intact after treatment. Clinical Relevance Electrothermal treatment as commonly performed to treat symptomatic SLIL, LTIL, and TFCC tears eliminates neuronal tissue in treated areas and may function to relieve pain through a denervation effect.
Computation vs. Experiment for High-Frequency Low-Reynolds Number Airfoil Pitch and Plunge

For a set of pure-pitch and pure-plunge sinusoidal oscillations of the SD7003 airfoil, phase-averaged measurements using particle image velocimetry in a water tunnel are compared with computations using an Immersed Boundary Method and an unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes solver. Re = 40,000 and Re = 10,000, based on free stream velocity and airfoil chord, were chosen as representative values for, respectively, a case where transition in attached boundary layers would be of some importance, and a case where transition would not be expected to occur in attached boundary layers. The two computational approaches were compared for capacity to resolve shed vortical structures near the airfoil and in the wake, and for capacity to resolve the mean streamwise momentum balance in the wake. The plunge and pitch were each at reduced frequency k = 3.93 and with kinematically equivalent amplitudes of effective angle of attack, with the pivot point at the quarter chord. For the plunge cases, agreement between computation and experiment was qualitatively excellent and quantitatively acceptable, but for the pitch cases, the wake structure in the experiment was markedly different from that predicted by both computations, which were however similar among one another. This result was not appreciably altered by whether or not the test section walls were modeled in the computation. In all cases, Reynolds number effects were found to be negligible. Experimental-computational agreement for plunge, but lack of agreement for pitch, is presently left unresolved.