cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Idiographic assessment: Conceptual and psychometric foundations of individualized behavioral assessment.

Idiographic assessment is the measurement of variables and functional relations that have been individually selected, or derived from assessment stimuli or contexts that have been individually tailored, to maximize their relevance for the particular individual. This article first reviews various definitions and clinical applications of idiographic assessment. Several properties of behavior problems and causal relations provide the conceptual basis for idiographic assessment: (a) differences across persons in the attributes, response systems, and dimensions of a behavior problem, and (b) differences across persons in the causal relations relevant to a particular behavior problem. Because of these individual differences, nomothetic measures often reflect variance that is irrelevant to the targeted construct for the individual. We present a psychometric framework for idiographic assessment by first summarizing why the psychometric principles used to develop standardized measures of nomothetic constructs can create incongruity between the nomothetic measure and the characteristics of the targeted construct for an individual. We then develop a psychometric framework for idiographic assessment that combines components of multilevel modeling (random effects) and confirmatory factor analyses applied to repeated measurements of each individual. We also provide a step-by-step guide for the development and evaluation of an idiographic assessment instrument.
Effect of fat and cholesterol ingestion upon formation and storage of lipids and cholesterol from acetate-1-C14.

SummaryRats were fed a cholesterolemic diet which contained either 20% lard or corn oil. The blood lipid and cholesterol levels were appreciably lower in the rats fed diets containing an excess of PUFA. The livers of these rats had a higher cholesterol content but equal lipid and appreciably lower cholesterol activities than the group ingesting saturated fatty acids. Results suggest that a decreased rate of cholesterol synthesis occurs only after sufficient cholesterol has accumulated in the liver to inhibit its formation. The greater activities in the lipids of the intestinal and fatty tissue apparently were not promoting higher blood lipid levels. The activities of the cholesterol of both intestinal and fatty tissues were lower in the PUFA fed rats. Thus a decreased synthesis of cholesterol occurs in the liver as well as the intestinal tissue along with a slightly decreased content in the fatty tissues of rats fed a cholesterolemic diet containing large amounts of PUFA.
Middleware for data mining applications on clusters and grids

This paper gives an overview of two middleware systems that have been developed over the last 6 years to address the challenges involved in developing parallel and distributed implementations of data mining algorithms. FREERIDE (FRamework for Rapid Implementation of Data mining Engines) focuses on data mining in a cluster environment. FREERIDE is based on the observation that parallel versions of several well-known data mining techniques share a relatively similar structure, and can be parallelized by dividing the data instances (or records or transactions) among the nodes. The computation on each node involves reading the data instances in an arbitrary order, processing each data instance, and performing a local reduction. The reduction involves only commutative and associative operations, which means the result is independent of the order in which the data instances are processed. After the local reduction on each node, a global reduction is performed. This similarity in the structure can be exploited by the middleware system to execute the data mining tasks efficiently in parallel, starting from a relatively high-level specification of the technique. To enable processing of data sets stored in remote data repositories, we have extended FREERIDE middleware into FREERIDE-G (FRamework for Rapid Implementation of Data mining Engines in Grid). FREERIDE-G supports a high-level interface for developing data mining and scientific data processing applications that involve data stored in remote repositories. The added functionality in FREERIDE-G aims at abstracting the details of remote data retrieval, movements, and caching from application developers.
Technology-Mediated Writing Assessments: Principles and Processes

This paper explores developments in technology-mediated writing environments that may support new forms of formative assessment and the closer relation of formative to summative assessment. Not only might these provide more learner-responsive and effective assessment of writing, but they may also support the assessment of disciplinary knowledge embedded in written and multimodal texts. After an overview of current debates on contemporary assessment practice, the paper goes on to develop six principles for effective assessment of writing. On this basis, the paper identifies potentially promising aspects of emerging processes of technology-mediated writing assessment.
Nurse-parent relationship building in child psychiatric units.

PROBLEM. The role of nursing with parents in child psychiatric units has undergone significant change over the years. Historically, nurses had minimal contact with parents; more recently, the nurse work with parents has intensified. METHODS. A grounded theory study was undertaken to learn about the process of relationship building between nurses and parents on these units. Interviews and participant observation were used to collect data on 21 nurseparent interactions. FINDINGS. Two phases in the relationship, four patterns of interactions in the working phase, and factors that influence these relationships were identified. CONCLUSIONS. The results provide the practicing nurse with information that should facilitate engaging parents.
MERS and global health governance

The contemporary global health governance system has evolved over 150 years to facilitate cooperation among states in dealing with cross-border health concerns. This article uses the current outbre...
The Making of the 2011 Revision of the Integrating Resources Manual

This installment of Electronic Journal Forum describes the steps taken to revise Integrating Resources: A Cataloging Manual, which was first published in 2003. The revision reflects recent changes in MARC 21 coding and Program for Cooperative Cataloging practices, including provider-neutral record guidance. Examples in the manual were reviewed and purged of inconsistencies in coding.
Counselor Education Accountability: Training the Effective Professional School Counselor

With recent calls for accountability in school counseling, it is imperative that counselor educators are structuring the professional identity development of counselors-in-training through guided learning experiences with a focus on demonstrated effectiveness. The author presents examples of course objectives and learning experiences from five courses in a counselor education program that specifically address training the effective professional school counselor. Suggested classroom activities, projects, and resources are included. An action research project undertaken by the author demonstrates her accountability through a disciplined process of inquiry to improve counselor education practice for training the effective professional school counselor.
Real-Time Forecasting of Snowfall Using a Neural Network

Abstract A set of 53 snowfall reports was collected in real time from the 2004/05 and 2005/06 cold seasons (November–March). Three snowfall-amount forecast methods were tested: neural network, surface-temperature-based 676-USDT table, and climatological snow ratio. Standard verification methods (mean, median, bias, and root-mean-square error) and a new method that places the forecasts in the context of municipal snow removal, and introduces the concept of forecast credibility, are used. Results suggest that the neural network method performs best for individual events, owing in part to the inverse relationship between melted liquid equivalent and snow ratio; hence, the ongoing difficulty of producing accurate forecasts of melted equivalent precipitation (a problem in all seasons) is compensated for rather than amplified when converting to snowfall amounts. This analysis should be extended to a larger selection of reports, which is anticipated in conjunction with efforts currently ongoing at the National O...
Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Tissue Inhibitor during Viral Encephalitis

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) participate in remodeling the extracellular matrix and facilitate entry of inflammatory cells into tissues. Infection of the murine central nervous system (CNS) with a neurotropic coronavirus induces encephalitis associated with increased levels of mRNA encoding MMP-3 and MMP-12. Whereas virus-induced MMP-3 expression was restricted to CNS resident astrocytes, MMP-12 mRNA was expressed by both inflammatory cells and CNS resident cells. Immunosuppression increased both MMP-3 and MMP-12 mRNA levels in CNS resident cells, suggesting that the presence of virus rather than inflammation induced protease up-regulation. MMP activity is partially regulated by a small family of genes encoding tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs); among the TIMPs, only TIMP-1 mRNA expression increased in the CNS following coronavirus infection. During inflammation TIMP-1 mRNA was most prominently expressed by infiltrating cells. By contrast, in the immunosuppressed host TIMP-1 mRNA was expressed by CNS resident cells. Analysis of cytokine and chemokine mRNA induction within the infected CNS of healthy and immunocompromised mice suggested a possible correlation between increased viral replication and increased levels of beta interferon, MMP-3, MMP-12, and TIMP-1 mRNA. CD4+ T cells which localize to the perivascular and subarachnoid spaces were identified as the primary source of TIMP-1 protein. By contrast, protein expression was undetectable in astrocytes or CD8+ T cells, the primary antiviral effectors that localize to the CNS parenchyma in response to infection. These data suggest that in contrast to the results seen with MMPs, inhibition of protease activity via TIMP-1 expression correlates with the differential tissue distribution of T-cell subsets during acute coronavirus-induced encephalitis.
Carcinoma of the skin metastatic to the parotid area lymph nodes.

This is a retrospective analysis of 60 patients with previously untreated metatypical basal cell (3 patients) or squamous cell (57 patients) carcinoma of the skin, metastatic to the parotid area. All patients had a minimum 2-year follow-up, and 43% had a minimum 5-year follow-up. Treatment was surgery alone (8 patients), irradiation alone (16 patients), or planned combined surgery and irradiation (36 patients). The ultimate rates of control of disease in the parotid area were surgery alone, 5 of 8 (63%); irradiation alone, 6 of 13 (46%); planned combined surgery and irradiation, 32 of 36 (89%). In the combined-treated group, all 4 recurrences were in patients who had positive surgical margins and gross involvement of the facial nerve. In patients with negative surgical margins, without involvement of the facial nerve, who had combined treatment, the control rate was 100%. Of the surgery-alone group, only 1 patient ultimately had the disease controlled and retained a functioning facial nerve.
ARMA based approaches for forecasting the tuple of wind speed and direction

Short-term forecasting of wind speed and direction is of great importance to wind turbine operation and efficient energy harvesting. In this study, the forecasting of wind speed and direction tuple is performed. Four approaches based on autoregressive moving average (ARMA) method are employed for this purpose. The first approach features the decomposition of the wind speed into lateral and longitudinal components. Each component is represented by an ARMA model, and the results are combined to obtain the wind direction and speed forecasts. The second approach employs two independent ARMA models – a traditional ARMA model for predicting wind speed and a linked ARMA model for wind direction. The third approach features vector autoregression (VAR) models to forecast the tuple of wind attributes. The fourth approach involves employing a restricted version of the VAR approach to predict the same. By employing these four approaches, the hourly mean wind attributes are forecasted 1-h ahead for two wind observation sites in North Dakota, USA. The results are compared using the mean absolute error (MAE) as a measure for forecasting quality. It is found that the component model is better at predicting the wind direction than the traditional-linked ARMA model, whereas the opposite is observed for wind speed forecasting. Utilizing VAR approaches rather than the univariate counterparts brings modest improvement in wind direction prediction but not in wind speed prediction. Between restricted and unrestricted versions of VAR models, there is little difference in terms of forecasting performance.
Predicting pulmonary adenocarcinoma outcome based on a cytology grading system.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary adenocarcinoma (AD) has a variety of architectural patterns. Recently, a 3-tiered histological pattern-based grading system was developed for stage I lung AD, stratifying patients into low, intermediate, and high risk for recurrence. However, cytology may serve as the primary method for diagnosis in patients with inoperable disease. Attempts to correlate architecture between parallel cytological and histological preparations have not been successful. Therefore, we evaluated cytomorphologic features of previously histologically graded AD to identify features of potential prognostic significance. METHODS: One hundred and thirteen fine-needle aspirations with excised adenocarcinomas were reviewed. In the liquid-based preparation, we evaluated cell arrangements (flat sheets vs 3-D clusters vs single cells), nuclear features (size variability, shape, and contour), nucleoli (prominent or inconspicuous), presence of nuclear inclusions, chromatin (fine, coarse, or clumped), and quality of background. The features were tested by multivariate analysis to identify associations with histological grade and disease-free survival (DFS), and a cytological score was generated. RESULTS: Nuclear size, chromatin pattern, and nuclear contours showed a significant association with histological grade and DFS. These features were included in the composite cytological score (range, 0-5). By grouping the cytological scores, we stratified the tumors into low (median DFS, 100%), intermediate (median DFS, 78%), and high (median DFS, 55%) rate of recurrence (P = .008). There was a good correlation with the histological grading system. CONCLUSIONS: In liquid-based preparations, distinctive cytological features of pulmonary adenocarcinoma correlate with levels of histological differentiation and can be combined into a score with prognostic significance. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2012. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Void growth in a pulsed irradiation environment

Abstract The shrinkage of voids in pure nickel during the pulse annealing period was found to be significant only for very small voids. Rapid void growth and coarsening become the dominant mechanism early in the irradiation period at high temperatures. Pulsed irradiation produced increased coarsening which could be accounted for by increased time at temperature compared to steady irradiation. Qualitatively the change in microstructure upon changing irradiation temperature agreed with results from other studies.
Feedback control of an unstable ducted flame

Active control of a naturally unstable ducted flame was realized using acoustic forcing of either the shear layer of the flame jet or the duct itself. The feedback signal was derived from either the duct pressure signal or the CH intensity (related to the flame heat release rate), and delayed in time to produce cancellation of the natural resonant oscillations of the system. Direct driving of the shear layer using the duct pressure signal feedback produced the best control with the lowest power requirements. The controller was able to reduce the acoustic power in the duct at the resonant frequency from 19 Pa to about 0.7 Pa, or nearly 30 dB. When operating in the cpntrolled mode, the driving speaker is producing a sound pressure level more than three orders of magnitude below the natural duct uncontrolled level (both measured in the duct), so the effect is clearly not just acoustic cancellation.
Altered B-cell receptor signaling kinetics distinguish human follicular lymphoma B cells from tumor-infiltrating nonmalignant B cells.

The B-cell receptor (BCR) transmits life and death signals throughout B-cell development, and altered BCR signaling may be required for survival of B-lymphoma cells. We used single-cell signaling profiles to compare follicular lymphoma (FL) B cells and nonmalignant host B cells within individual patient biopsies and identified BCR-mediated signaling events specific to lymphoma B cells. Expression of CD20, Bcl-2, and BCR light chain isotype (κ or λ) distinguished FL tumor B-cell and nontumor host B-cell subsets within FL patient biopsies. BCR-mediated signaling via phosphorylation of Btk, Syk, Erk1/2, and p38 occurred more rapidly in tumor B cells from FL samples than in infiltrating nontumor B cells, achieved greater levels of per-cell signaling, and sustained this level of signaling for hours longer than nontumor B cells. The timing and magnitude of BCR-mediated signaling in nontumor B cells within an FL sample instead resembled that observed in mature B cells from the peripheral blood of healthy subjects. BCR signaling pathways that are potentiated specifically in lymphoma cells should provide new targets for therapeutic attention.
Experimental production of diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis utilizing arteriovenous fistula stress with bacteremia.

By combining the effects of systemic cardiovascular stress produced by large arteriovenous fistulas with bacteremia, a new method has been found by which acute diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis may be produced experimentally.
Molecular genetics and potential gene therapy

Contemporary molecular techniques including gene cloning, DNA sequencing, and gene transfer permit precise and comprehensive analysis of genetic disorders. For example, the molecular basis of hemoglobin synthesis disorders (the thalassemias) can now be ascribed to more than 30 different specific mutations. These affect virtually all aspects of gene expression. The more recent capacity to reintroduce cloned genes into mammalian cells in a functional form has raised the prospect of gene therapy, that is, the replacement of an abnormal gene with its normal counterpart or merely the introduction of a normal gene into a cell containing a defective copy. Genetic correction of enzyme-deficiency disorders whose effects are manifest in bone-marrow-derived cells seems most likely to be amenable to "somatic" (as opposed to germ line) gene therapy. Treatment of severe combined immunodeficiency due to adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency may be a suitable model for this approach. This report will review the molecular genetics of ADA, the methods by which ADA gene sequences may be transferred into various cells, and goals for current and future research.
The General Welfare in Relation to Problems of Taxation and of Railway and Utility Rates

In this paper we shall bring down to date in revised form an argument due essentially to the engineer Jules Dupuit, to the effect that the optimum of the general welfare corresponds to the sale of everything at marginal cost. This means that toll bridges, which have recently been reintroduced around New York, are inefficient reversions; that all taxes on commodities, including sales taxes, are more objectionable than taxes on incomes, inheritances, and the site value of land; and that the latter taxes might well be applied to cover the fixed costs of electric power plants, waterworks, railroads, and other industries in which the fixed costs are large, so as to reduce to the level of marginal cost the prices charged for the services and products of these industries. The common assumption, so often accepted uncritically as a basis of arguments on important public questions, that “every tub must stand on its own bottom,” and that therefore the products of every industry must be sold at prices so high as to cover not only marginal costs but also all the fixed costs, including interest on irrevocable and often hypothetical investments, will thus be seen to be inconsistent with the maximum of social efficiency. A method of measuring the loss of satisfactions resulting from the current scheme of pricing, a loss which appears to be extremely large, will emerge from the analysis. It will appear also that the inefficient plan of requiring that all costs, including fixed overhead, of an industry shall be paid out of the prices of its products is responsible for an important part of the instability which leads to cyclical fluctuations and unemployment of labor and other resources.
Whole body turbo STIR MRI in unknown primary tumor detection.

This brief report outlines the novel use of whole body coronal turbo short tau inversion recovery (STIR) imaging to localize a primary tumor in patients with known metastatic disease without a previously identified source.
Two ideas on energy transfer phenomena: Ion-pair effects involving the OH stretching mode, and sensitization of photovoltaic cells

Abstract a) Calculations are presented which show that the vibrational dipole field of the OH− ion at ≈3600 cm−1 is great enough to participate effectively in ion-pair processes with rare earth ions. b) It is suggested that energy transfer from an organic coating of a semiconductor be used to produce e-h pairs in the latter.
C–H activation in strongly acidic media. The co-catalytic effect of the reaction medium

Quantum mechanical (QM) results are used to establish the role of sulfuric acid solvent in facilitating the reaction between PtII(bpym)Cl2 (bpym = 2,2′-bipyrimidinyl) and methane; coordination of methane to the platinum catalyst is found to be catalyzed by the acidic medium.
Reduced-Order Modeling of Two-Dimensional Supersonic Flows with Applications to Scramjet Inlets

Control-oriented models of hypersonic vehicle propulsion systems require a reduced-order model of the scramjet inlet that is accurate to within 10% but requires less than a few seconds of computational time. To achieve this goal, a reduced-order model is presented, which predicts the solution of a steady two-dimensional supersonic flow through an inlet or around any other two-dimensional geometry. The model assumes that the flow is supersonic everywhere except in boundary layers and the regions near blunted leading edges. Expansion fans are modeled as a sequence of discrete waves instead of a continuous pressure change. Of critical importance to the model is the ability to predict the results of multiple wave interactions rapidly. The rounded detached shock near a blunt leading edge is discretized and replaced with three linear shocks. Boundary layers are approximated by displacing the flow by an empirical estimate of the displacement thickness. A scramjet inlet is considered as an example application. The predicted results are compared to two-dimensional CFD solutions and experimental results. Nomenclature a = local soundspeed [m/s] c = specific heat [J/kg K] h = specific enthalpy [J/kg] H = length normal to flow [m] M = Mach number n = number of a given quantity L = length tangent to flow [m] p = pressure [Pa] Pr = Prandtl number r = radius [m] R = normalized gas constant [J/kg K] R = 8314.47 J/kmol K T = temperature [K] u = velocity magnitude [m/s] W = molecular weight [kg/kmol] x = forward body-frame coordinate [m] Y = mass fraction z = vertical body-frame coordinate [m] = shock angle = ratio of specific heats = thickness of layer [m] " = ratio = flowpath angle = dynamic viscosity [kg/m s] = ln p0=p = += 2
WRAPPED IN PLASTIC: Transformation and Alienation in the New Finnish Economy

Coming out from the shadow of the economic crisis of the 1990s, the neoliberalizing Finnish state identified another emergent threat: “burnout,” a mental disorder characterized by cynicism and loss of productivity affecting nearly all strata of the workforce. Efforts to identify and rehabilitate workers focused on improving “self-awareness,” and having individuals reevaluate their relationship with and expectations of society. For many Finnish mental health professionals, burnout stemmed from individuals who were too “conscientious,” holding attitudes that were increasingly maladaptive in the new competition-oriented economy. Yet for many in rehabilitation centers, calls to “know yourself” paradoxically generated questions about being, and the challenge to come into oneself as a sovereign, beyond these temporally contingent constructions. Many of those under rehabilitative care spoke of finding themselves estranged and metamorphosized in the face of a diagnosis that presented themselves to themselves as an entity yet to be discovered. In this way, rather than focus on the generative potential of institutional categories to construct new subject identities, I instead locate their power in their capacity to open up to examination that which they name. [subjectivity, alienation, emergent disorder, neoliberalism, sovereignty]
Detection of Pathogens Via High-Throughput Sequencing

Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology have allowed the rapid sequencing of pathogen genomes for detection and forensic purposes. DNA sequencing emerged in 1977 with the chemical method of Maxam and Gilbert, followed by the biochemical dideoxy method of Sanger, Nicken, and Coulson. The Sanger method revitalized the sequencing industry with the completion of the sequence of the first draft of the human genome published in 2001, but the refinement and analysis of the human genome sequence and understanding the biology of different aspects of the human genome will continue for the unforeseeable future. During the past 5 years, new “massively parallel” sequencing methods coupled with automation are greatly increasing sequencing capacity and making it possible to collect large amounts of data in a day or two to be analyzed for functional significance for detection, diagnostic, and forensic use. This review article will focus on how to analyze the different sequencing methodologies available in the market and their application in the clinical microbiology laboratory for detection, diagnostic, and forensic use and, therefore, the management of infectious disease outbreaks.
On accuracy of marching isosurfacing methods

Representational accuracy of the isosurface meshes produced by well-known marching isosurfacing methods is considered. Accuracy is determined versus the isosurface given by trilinear interpolation and quantified using a new measure of volumetric divergence. The new measure is an accurate estimate of spatial discrepancy between a produced mesh and the isosurface of trilinear interpolation. Through experimental testing using the measure, suitability of the considered methods to well-model the isosurface of trilinear interpolation's behavior on grid cell interiors is also established.
Threshold selection in gene co-expression networks using spectral graph theory techniques

Gene co-expression networks are often constructed by computing some measure of similarity between expression levels of gene transcripts and subsequently applying a high-pass filter to remove all but the most likely biologically-significant relationships. The selection of this expression threshold necessarily has a significant effect on any conclusions derived from the resulting network. Many approaches have been taken to choose an appropriate threshold, among them computing levels of statistical significance, accepting only the top one percent of relationships, and selecting an arbitrary expression cutoff. We apply spectral graph theory methods to develop a systematic method for threshold selection. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors are computed for a transformation of the adjacency matrix of the network constructed at various threshold values. From these, we use a basic spectral clustering method to examine the set of gene-gene relationships and select a threshold dependent upon the community structure of the data. This approach is applied to two well-studied microarray data sets from Homo sapiens and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This method presents a systematic, data-based alternative to using more artificial cutoff values and results in a more conservative approach to threshold selection than some other popular techniques such as retaining only statistically-significant relationships or setting a cutoff to include a percentage of the highest correlations.
Characterization, Dissolution and Diffusion Properties of Tolbutamide-β-Cyclodextrin Complex System

AbstractThe solubility of tolbutamide was increased about 2.5 fold due to complex formation with (β -cyclodextrin (β -CD). Phase solubility studies showed that at high β -CD concentrations an insoluble microcrystalline complex was formed which had a stoichiometry of 1:2 (tolbutamide: β -CD); this was confirmed by chemical analysis. The endothermic peak for tolbutamide completely disappeared in differential scanning calorimetry studies and x-ray diffraction spectra indicated that the prepared complex was less crystalline than the parent drug. More evidence of the complex formation was obtained from infra-red studies. The dissolution of tolbutamide in pH 1.2 buffer was significantly enhanced by complexation with β-CD. after 20 minutes the % of drug released was 12 and 93 for the drug alone and the complex samples respectively. Increased solubility, decreased crys-tallinity, and improved wettability are responsible for the observed enhancement in dissolution rate. Diffusion studies across dimethyl poly-silox...
Dynamic Load Analysis of Spur Gears Using a New Tooth Profile

A novel method was presented by the authors to minimize the static transmission error using cubic splines (C.S.) for gear tooth profile. A reduction in the transmission error is expected to reduce the gear vibration and noise by lowering the dynamic tooth load in a meshing cycle. To establish this fact, a dynamic analysis of the gear drive with involute tooth and modified tooth profiles (using C.S.) is performed. For this, first the tooth deformation is found and then the tooth dynamic load is determined for all reasonable speeds. A parametric study is conducted to establish the superiority of the C.S. based gear profile over the involute profile as well as the other profiles based on the use of linear and parabolic tip reliefs.
Safety and efficacy of midface-lifts with an absorbable soft tissue suspension device.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of midface-lifting using an absorbable suspension device (Endotine ST). Design: Prospective cohort of 10 consecutive adult female patients seen in a p...
Gender, Globalization, and HIV/AIDS Treatments

Abstract: In this investigative article, I explore how the HIV/AIDS pandemic has increasingly become gendered, whereby low-income women who, especially in the global south, are the population most at-risk of contraction and transmission, are simultaneously subjected to the stigmatization associated with the disease, and are least able to access treatment and care. I argue that women's preponderance in marginal locations as both voluntary migrants (i.e. for work and leisure), and involuntary ones (e.g. as refugees and compulsory labor in the sex industry, domestic work and sweatshops) that characterize neoliberal globalization has added to their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. To illustrate how global corporations focused solely on profit generation subvert assurance of equitable access to treatment, I discuss the recently settled lawsuit filed by the pharmaceutical industry against the South African government, which attempted to block efforts to make affordable generic drugs available to an impoverished HIV/AIDS infected population of over 4.2 million, many of whom are increasingly women.
The Origins and Character of American Exceptionalism

Exceptionalism seems like a perfectly unexceptional concept—until one asks what it means. Those who use the term will then either offer definite, but usually conflicting, definitions or greet the question with a bewildered stare. Exceptionalism is evidently a far less obvious idea than most suppose. This essay has two parts. It begins by looking at the different ways in which Americans conceive of exceptionalism, treating perceptions and interpretations but leaving the question of whether America is in fact exceptional to the real social scientists. It will turn next to one of the important meanings of exceptionalism—the idea of a mission—and subject the dominant understanding of this idea to critical analysis, offering an alternative account.
United Nations peacekeeping personnel commitments, 1990–2011:

This paper presents new data on personnel commitments to United Nations peacekeeping operations from 1990 to 2011. For every operation during this period, data on the number of deployed troops, police and military observers are coded at the monthly level. Additionally, the number of each personnel type contributed by every UN member state is recorded. These data offer opportunities for testing theories of peacekeeping and conflict processes and present research avenues for which data have hitherto not existed. Herein, I introduce the data and coding processes, present trends, illustrate prospects for research that could benefit from these data and provide an empirical application.
Who goes to the ICU postoperatively

Objective To describe changes in ICU postoperative management strategies utilized for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The treatment of these patients serves as a useful illustration of the changing patterns of ICU utilization and care associated with contemporary surgery. Design Evidence-based review of the clinical literature following a MEDLINE search, direct observation of rapid recovery programs following surgery, and informal inquiry of others utilizing similar approaches to postoperative cardiac surgery care. Setting and patients The reports reviewed are from a diverse set of hospitals providing cardiac surgery services in both Europe and the United States. Most reports focus efforts on patients undergoing coronary artery revascularization. Measurements Outcome measures used to gauge the effectiveness of postoperative ICU care typically include time to extubation, ICU and hospital length of stay, postoperative complications including reintubation and ICU readmission, patient satisfaction, and health resource savings. Main results The literature regarding current practice for postoperative ICU management in cardiac surgery consists primarily of grade 2 and 3 literature. Conclusions Despite the paucity of controlled data, rapid recovery, extubation, and discharge from the ICU following cardiac surgery is an approach to care that is growing in acceptance. The goals include reduction in the utilization of resources and costs associated with cardiac surgery and maintenance of quality of care and patient satisfaction. Assessment of outcomes requires a program to monitor outcomes. Success does not appear to be linked to preoperative risk for most patients but does relate directly to the anesthetic management delivered in the operating room. Few adverse consequences from this approach have been reported. Experience to date suggests that programs designed to truncate ICU admission following cardiac surgery can be implemented with the cooperation between the health delivery team including surgeon, anesthesiologist, intensivist where available, nursing, respiratory care, and patient and family. These programs can serve as useful models for reassessing the utilization and role of the ICU in the postoperative treatment of routine surgical patients.
Identification of microsatellite markers linked to Russian wheat aphid resistance genes Dn4 and Dn6.

The Russian wheat aphid (RWA), Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko), is a serious economic pest of wheat worldwide. Host plant resistance is the preferred method to control RWA infestations. The identification and mapping of RWA-resistant genes and the development of resistant wheat cultivars can be facilitated through the use of molecular markers. In the present study, microsatellite (SSR) markers linked to the RWA-resistant genes Dn4 and Dn6 were identified using several F2 mapping populations derived from crosses of susceptible wheat cultivars and resistant sources. Two flanking microsatellite markers Xgwm106 and Xgwm337 are linked in coupling phase with Dn4 on the short arm of wheat chromosome 1D at 7.4 cM and 12.9 cM, respectively. Two other microsatellite markers Xgwm44 and Xgwm111 are linked to Dn6 in coupling phase near the centromere on the short arm of chromosome 7D at 14.6 cM and 3.0 cM, respectively. This is the first report on the chromosomal location of Dn6, which proved to be either allelic or tightly linked to Dn1, Dn2 and Dn5. This result of Dn6 location contradicts previous reports that Dn6 was independent of Dn1, Dn2 and Dn5. The linked markers can be conveniently used for marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding programs for the identification and/or pyramiding of Dn4 and Dn6 genes.
Microwave Oscillator Noise Reduction by a Transmission Stabilizing Cavity

The theory of cavity stabilization of a microwave oscillator is reviewed and the appropriate design equations presented. The theory is verified with data taken on three different types of microwave oscillators: 1) a 10-GHz reflex klystron (stabilization factor achieved-22; FM noise reduction-28 dB; typical FM noise level-0.008 Hz in a 1-Hz bandwidth); 2) a 9.7-GHz low-noise two-cavity klystron oscillator (stabilization factor achieved-10; FM noise reduction--21.7 dB; typical FM noise level-0.0007 Hz in a 1-Hz bandwidth); 3) a 10-GHZ avalanche transit time diode oscillator (stabilization factor estimated at 30; FM noise reduction-29.5 dB; typical FM noise level--0.5 Hz in a 1-Hz bandwidth). Stabilization of the avalanche transit time diode oscillator produced a significant reduction in AM noise for modulation frequencies larger than the bandwidth of the stabilizing cavity.
Sensory nerves and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 channels in CO2 regulation of cerebrovascular tone

Abstract This study investigated the involvement of sensory nerves and, in particular, neuronal transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) 1 channels, in the CO2-mediated regulation of cerebrovascular tone. Basilar artery diameter and blood flow velocity in the ventral midbrain were determined in a rat cranial window preparation by digital imaging and laser-Doppler flowmetry, respectively. Superfusion of the basilar artery with capsaicin, a selective TRPV1 receptor agonist, caused a transient relaxation, consistent with acute desensitization of neuronal TRPV1 channels. Constriction to respiratory hypocapnia remained unaffected following capsaicin superfusion. Denervation of sensory nerves by repeated capsaicin injection of neonates also did not reduce the respiratory hypocapnia constriction of the basilar artery as well as the decreased flow velocity in the ventral midbrain in adults. These findings suggest that sensory nerves and, in particular, neuronal TRPV1 channels, do not play a role in respiratory hypocapnia constriction and decreased flow, at least in rat basilar artery and ventral midbrain.
On dual-rate discounting

Dual rates of pure time preference, recently introduced for analysing long-term environmental problems, are reinterpreted as shifts in preferences.
A new binary conflict resolution‐based MAC protocol for impulse‐based UWB ad hoc networks

Ultra wide band (UWB) technology offers a promising high capacity solution for short-range wireless ad hoc networks, as in home networks or in wearable ad hoc networks. In this paper, we propose a novel multi-band MAC protocol for use in small ad hoc networks that deploy an underlying UWB based physical layer. In our approach, we divide the available UWB bandwidth into multiple simultaneously usable bands. In the absence of a sophisticated equalizer, the size of a slot for transmitting a UWB pulse is typically dictated by the delay spread of the channel. Therefore, using a wider frequency band to shorten the transmission time for each pulse does not increase the data rate in proportion to the available bandwidth. A multi-band approach that uses a plurality of bands that adhere to FCC specifications, with slightly elongated pulse durations, provides a solution that can effectively utilize the UWB spectrum. Our approach is based on the idea of conflict resolution using binary ‘something’/‘nothing’ feedback, which has not been widely studied in wireless and specifically in UWB networks. Our protocol unites binary conflict resolution and multi-band utilization to effectively utilize the available bandwidth. To ensure that our proposed approach is tightly knit with the underlying physical layer, we discuss physical–layer dependencies and the conformance to FCC-imposed emission limits. We evaluate our approach via extensive simulations. Our simulation results demonstrate the significant advantages of our approach over single-band solutions: the throughput increases significantly, and the number of collisions decreases considerably. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Unpowered opens test with X-ray laminography

It is shown how X-ray laminography can be used to detect solder opens. With this method X-ray images are taken of the device under test (DUT). The lead content in solder makes the solder joints appear clearly in the image. Using image processing algorithms and also calibration information, the captured image of the solder joint is automatically translated into key mechanical measurements of the solder joint, such as heel height, center height, toe height, average height, fillet length and width at the toe and the heel. An important feature of this method is that these mechanical characteristics of the solder joint are used by the image processor to automatically determine an open solder joint from a good solder joint. All pins, including VCC and grounds, almost all component types, including bypass capacitors, can be inspected for opens as well as marginal opens. Typically over 98% of all solder joints on a PCB can be inspected.
A Statistical Model for the Cloud Structure of the Interstellar Medium

We have formulated and studied the properties of a mathematical model intended to span between the hydrodynamical and discontinuous regimes. Model parameters and predictions permit matching the observed mass spectrum of those interstellar clouds with masses between 103 and 106 M⊙. The central element of the theory is the specification of P (m, m′; µ, µ′,… µ″), the conditional probability that once a collision has occurred between clouds of mass m, m′ the result is clouds of mass µ, µ′, … µ″. For stable solutions to exist we require that the total mass in the system be conserved. Such simple models as total coalescence, geometric overlap and partition statistics were considered for P as well as several probabilities based on possible physical conditions that might prevail in cloud-cloud collisions. One immediate numerical result of these models is that nearly total coalescence must obtain in actual cloud-cloud collisions before one can build up a non-infinitesimal concentration of large mass couds. Field and coworkers (1965, 1968) indicate that total coalescence would produce a minimum in the mass spectrum and that as the position of the minimum went to infinity the spectrum itself more closely approximates a power law curve with index \( - \frac{3}{2} \). In none of our calculations was anything but strict monotonic decrease observed and under the same physical assumptions as Field the curve we obtain (analytically) has no minimum, independent of the largest mass in the system. Both of these spectra are flatter than recent observational evidence indicate. True equilibrium solutions exist in our formulation with an e-folding time ≃ 107 yr for objects such as these. We are continuing work on the detailed time evolution of interstellar clouds in particular and formulating other astronomically interesting applications of the general theory.
Rational clocking [digital systems design]

Communication between independently-clocked digital subsystems typically involves a finite probability of synchronization failure whose minimization introduces delays and consequent performance costs. This paper explores a technique that eliminates both the inherent unreliability of such communication and the performance overhead it implies. Our approach maintains a known phase relationship, between clocks whose frequencies are related by a rational factor, and exploits the predictability of their relative phases to algorithmically time communications without run-time arbitration contests.
Desilylation versus elimination reactions of β-hydroxysilanes: effect of substituents on silicon

Abstract β-Hydroxy( trimethyl )silanes undergo stereospecific desilylation reactions to give alcohols using KOt-Bu in DMSO:H2O, but the reactions are very slow. In this work, desilylation reactions are facilitated using β-hydroxysilanes with (i-PrO)Me2Si, HMe2Si, or HOMe2Si groups (e.g. 9 → 11 ). The (HO)Me2Si compound ( 10 ) (or alkoxide) was shown to be an intermediate, and undergoes β elimination less readily than the Me3Si compound ( 7 ).
Strategically Valuable Information

In this paper, we extend the Blackwell (1953) comparison of experiments to a strategic setting. We introduce a new partial order more strategically informative — information held by players is “better” — and prove it is equivalent to the partial order more strategically valuable — the ability to induce more equilibrium payoff vectors in all Bayesian games. The conditions we provide are easily checked, are useful in an array of economic settings, and have straightforward geometric interpretations. We establish the existence and uniqueness of the maximally informative information structure. Our results provide a natural partial ordering on sunspot equilibria, regardless of the environment in which they operate. The centerpiece application is to repeated games with private monitoring where the more strategically informative order ranks monitoring structures. Consequently, we can show when a change in monitoring structure will weakly expand the set of sequential equilibria. This mirrors a classic result of Kandori (1992) for repeated games with imperfect public monitoring.
Neo-Noncontinuity Theory

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the neo-noncontinuity theory. Noncontinuity theory is a theory dealing with choice responses during discrimination learning. Specifically, it holds that the choices reflect hypotheses that S is testing. It is less well known that noncontinuity theory is today enjoying a revival. Indeed, it may fairly be characterized as the leading theory of discrimination learning by adult humans. Theory, then, is proceeding at two levels, one abstract, probabilistic, intended for a variety of problem-solving situations; the other qualitative in description, concerned with the specific processes in the specific task. The development along these lines has already produced some notable accomplishments and promises both application to a greater variety of discrimination tasks and a finer analysis of each task. The concomitant development of theory and of probes, such as the blank-trials probe, should yield a rigorous, detailed, yet comprehensive description of human discrimination learning.