cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Average speech levels and spectra in various speaking/listening conditions : a summary of the Pearson, Bennett, & Fidell (1977) report

The large study undertaken by Pearsons et al. (1977) for the Environmental Protection Agency nicely demonstrates "usual" speech levels in a variety of settings in classrooms, homes, hospitals, depa...
The effect of business taxation on the location of industry

Abstract A theoretical and econometric model is specified which permits the estimation of the effect of local taxes on economic activity in a locality. A location elasticity of −0.35 is found for manufacturing activity in New York City with respect to business taxes, while no significant elasticity is found for nonmanufacturing activity. The deadweight losses and revenue effects of the tax are analyzed and calculated, as are the optimal second-best taxes for a locality.
A Comparison of Various Meshless Schemes Within a Unified Algorithm

An algorithm for use with several meshless schemes is presented based on a local extremum diminishing property. The scheme is applied to the Euler equations in two dimensions. The algorithm is suitable for use with many meshless schemes, three of which are detailed here. First, a method based on Taylor series expansion and least squares is highlighted. Next, a similar least squares method is used, but using polynomial basis functions with fixed Gaussian weighting. A third method makes use of the Hardy multiquadric radial basis functions on a local cloud of points. Results indicate that all three methods perform essentially equally well for flows without shocks. For flows with shocks, the least squares methods perform significantly better than the radial basis method, which displays discrepancies in shock location and magnitude. All methods are compared to an established finite volume method for validation purposes.
Pregabalin for fibromyalgia: Some relief but no cure

What is the role of pregabalin (Lyrica) in the treatment of fibromyalgia? In this article the authors explore the putative pathophysiology of fibromyalgia, pregabalin's mechanism of action and evidence of efficacy, and its emerging role in treating this challenging disease.
Heterosocial anxiety and contraceptive behavior

Abstract In this study three hypotheses regarding the role of heterosocial anxiety in contraceptive behavior were evaluated. It was hypothesized that heterosocial anxiety would be inversely related to (a) willingness to initiate discussion about birth control, (b) the effectiveness of each partner's communication about birth control matters, and (c) use of more effective contraceptive methods. These hypotheses were assessed in a sample of college women for both their first experiences of intercourse and for their recent sexual experiences with subsequent partners. Tests of the incremental effects of two heterosocial anxiety factors when controlling for several covariates showed the following results. For a woman's first intercourse experience, general heterosocial anxiety was inversely correlated to when birth control was discussed, male partner's communication effectiveness, and use of more effective contraceptive methods. For recent intercourse experiences, general heterosocial anxiety was inversely correlated to who initiated discussion about birth control and male partner's communication effectiveness, while contraceptive task anxiety was inversely correlated to use of more effective contraceptive methods in a couple's subsequent sexual relations but not their initial sexual encounter. Results are discussed relative to the social anxiety literature and for limitations that restrict conclusions about the degree of influence that social anxiety may exert on contraceptive behavior.
Alexander Hamilton Founder of the American Public Administration

This article describes the foundation of Hamilton’s theory and practice of public administration. That foundation consists of four interconnected pillars: politics, organization design, ethics, and law. These pillars undergird the public administration today but are not recognized as the foundation of the field. We may be entering a period of reform in our conception of the field. If this is so, we will perhaps also reconsider the interpretation of the field’s origins. Hamilton should figure prominently in any such revision for he, more than any other founder, attended to the theory and practice of public administration in the American Republic. We cannot help but practice the craft of public administration in his shadow.
Comment on “Emergence of complex societies after sea level stabilized”

Day et al. [2007] made a provocative proposal: that complex societies evolved in response to the increased productivity of coastal marine ecosystems following sea level stabilization (SLS). Although the known record of complex societies does roughly coincide with SLS, neither the linkage to increased marine productivity nor the assertion that complex societies emerged at that time is warranted. Although increased marine productivity would have influenced coastal societies, the most prominent early societies (e.g., Nile, Mesopotamia, Indus, Yellow) relied primarily on riparian grain production. Coeval Mississippi Valley society was centered more than 300 kilometers inland and relied on riverine resources (freshwater fish and so forth) [Saunders et al., 2005]. These are the societies that apparently first constructed permanent structures (temples, permanent buildings, mound systems).
Learning and memory of factual content from narrative and expository text.

Background. Research on the presentation of information in narrative versus expository text genres is inconclusive with respect to the question of which is more beneficial for student learning. Aims. We examine the effect of presenting factual content in either narrative or expository genres on student learning. We also consider relevant prior knowledge and working memory capacity (WMC) as potential mediating variables. Sample. Ninety university undergraduate students. Methods. Subjects studied circulatory system content embedded in either narrative or expository texts. Prior circulatory system knowledge, knowledge improvement (learning) and free recall were assessed. Results. Learning and recall did not differ as a function of text genre overall, but did interact with prior knowledge. Learning from the narrative and one expository text was optimal at intermediate levels of prior knowledge, with higher knowledge readers benefiting more from the expository text compared with the narrative text. Prior knowledge was positively related to recall for the expository texts, but unrelated for the narrative text. Subjects' WMC did not predict learning or recall. Conclusions. Results suggest that narrative and expository processing differ with respect to integration of text content with prior knowledge.
The solubility of gases in aqueous solutions of sodium 1-heptanesulfonate and sodium perfluorooctanoate

Abstract Measurements have been made to determine the solubilities of oxygen, argon, methane, ethane, propane, and tetrafluoromethane at elevated pressures in aqueous solutions of sodium 1-heptanesulfonate and sodium perfluorooctanoate. The solubility of each gas follows Henry's law at all surfactant concentrations. In the case of sodium 1-heptanesulfonate, gas solubility data are obtained above and below the critical micelle concentration (CMC). Below the CMC, the solubility of each gas is approximately the same as that in pure water. Above the CMC, the solubility of each gas increases with surfactant concentration indicating micellar solubilization. Intramicellar solubilities of the various gases are calculated from this latter data for each surfactant. The intramicellar solubilities for the various gases dissolved in sodium 1-heptanesulfonate agree well with values predicted by the Laplace pressure model for micelles composed of surfactant ions having an alkyl chain length of seven carbon atoms. The 1-atm micellar solubilities of these same gases in sodium perfluorooctanoate are found to be considerably larger than those measured for sodium 1-heptanesulfonate, even though the alkyl chain lengths of the two surfactant anions are the same. The enhanced capacity for gas solubilization exhibited by the perfluorooctanoate micelles can be explained satisfactorily in terms of bulk properties of perfluorocarbon solvents using the Laplace pressure model.
The Heuristic Defense of Scientific Models: An Incentive-Based Assessment

Using facts about scientists’ incentives in doing research, I argue that a purely heuristic defense of scientific modeling should be cautiously approached. Firstly, due to the need for mathematical tractability, those employing analytic models have an incentive to employ known mathematical structures. This makes it unlikely that their models can suggest novel conclusions. Secondly, while those employing simulations are generally better off in this respect, a look at the details of the way the models are being used is necessary here, too, as there are often prior simulations that can be used as templates for new ones.
Effect of dl-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine on 1,2-dimethyl-hydrazine-induced colonic tumors in rats

Abstract The effect of dl -buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine (BSO), a specific inhibitor of glutathione biosynthesis, on colon tumor development was studied in rats. Weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups following a week of adaptation. Group 1 rats received BSO (4.5 mM) daily in the drinking water one week before 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) injections and continued to receive BSO daily until sacrificed; group 2 rats received BSO (4.5 mM) after the last DMH injection, and continued to receive BSO daily until sacrificed; group 3 rats did not receive BSO. All experimental rats received 20 weekly subcutaneous injections of DMH (20 mg/kg body wt.) for colon tumor induction. The tumor incidence was lower in group 1 (54%) than in group 2 (97%) or group 3 (96%). The median tumor size is significantly smaller in group 1 (11 mm 2 ) than group 3 (46 mm 2 ). The group 2 had the largest median tumor size (65 mm 2 ).
Behavior Analytic Contributions to the Study of Creativity

As researchers continue to study creativity, a behavior analytic perspective may provide new vistas by offering an additional perspective. Contemporary behavior analysis began with B. F. Skinner and offers a selectionist approach to the scientific investigation of creativity. Behavior analysis contributes to the study of creativity by investigating the controlling variables for novel behavior that people often times designate as creative. Specific environment-behavior relations producing novelty include imitation, instructions, variability, interconnection of repertoires and contingency adduction.
Disruption of Dear Enemy Recognition Among Neighboring Males by Female Leon Springs pupfish, Cyprinodon bovinus

Males defending territories often settle into adjacent areas, sharing a common border that is maintained by a reduced level of aggression known as dear enemy recognition. While social conditions may affect the dear enemy relationship among males, what role females play, if any, is unclear. In a field study of the highly promiscuous Leon Springs pupfish, Cyprinodon bovinus, we asked whether females influenced this relationship of neighbors to their advantage. We observed 16 territorial residents, mapping the precise location of each male's behaviors within its territory. Resident males engaged in less aggression against neighbors compared with intruders, and neighbors intruded less deeply into the residents' territories than intruders. Despite this locality restriction, neighbors were responsible for as many spawning interruptions as intruders. Females did not spawn randomly in the males' territories, nor did they spawn near territory centers where aggression was low. Rather, females were more likely to settle and spawn in the outer half of the territories where competition among males was highest. When a neighbor entered a resident's territory to interrupt a spawn, the female was more likely to leave the resident's territory for the neighbor's than to remain. These observations suggest that the female used the intrusion by the neighbor to engage the resident and interrupt the spawn as a measure of this male's quality and that, while neighboring males benefit from the presence of dear enemy recognition, females benefit from its disruption.
Improving residents' understanding of issues, comfort levels, and patient needs regarding screening for and diagnosing Down syndrome.

Objective This study assessed obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics residents' knowledge about Down syndrome (DS) and their comfort in delivering a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of DS before and after interaction with a web-based tutorial. Study Design A team of physicians, parents, and educational specialists developed an interactive tutorial that asked resident physicians to provide their own responses to “virtual patient” cases related to DS diagnoses in utero and at birth. We tested resident knowledge and comfort-level changes and their satisfaction with the web-based tool. Results The study yielded significant improvement in knowledge and level of comfort changes with both obstetrics and gynecology and pediatric resident physicians at 16 programs nationally. There were no significant differences between the 2 specialties. Conclusion This interactive tutorial is effective in improving physicians' knowledge of and comfort level with imparting accurate, balanced information about DS pre- and postnatally.
Migration and household adaptation to climate: A review of empirical research

Abstract This paper reviews empirical research on migration and land use impacts associated with climate change. Household migration arises due to changes in economic opportunities and climate amenities resulting from climate change. Throughout the paper, efforts are made to highlight key empirical findings as well as areas in need of additional research. The existing literature is discussed through the lens of reduced form and structural approaches paying particular attention to preference heterogeneity and the often complex interconnections between economic sectors in determining household migration. Areas in need of additional research include improving our understanding of the coupling between human and natural systems, accounting for endogenous attributes and payoffs, and incorporating richer characterizations of the tradeoffs driving migration across multiple economic sectors.
Cascading effects of predator richness

Biologists have long known that predators play a key role in structuring ecological communities, but recent research suggests that predator richness – the number of genotypes, species, and functional groups that comprise predator assemblages – can also have cascading effects on communities and ecosystem properties. Changes in predator richness, including the decreases resulting from extinctions and the increases resulting from exotic invasions, can alter the composition, diversity, and population dynamics of lower trophic levels. However, the magnitude and direction of these effects are highly variable and depend on environmental context and natural history, and so are difficult to predict. This is because species at higher trophic levels exhibit many indirect, non-additive, and behavioral interactions. The next steps in predator biodiversity research will be to increase experimental realism and to incorporate current knowledge about the functional role of predator richness into ecosystem management.
Metal–insulator transition in the Hubbard model on a triangular lattice with disorders: Renormalization group approach

A multistages block renormalization group approach to study the metal-insulator transition in the Hubbard model on a triangular lattice with hexagonal blocks is presented and implemented. A second-order phase transition with a critical point at U/t 12.5 is obtained (the coupling parameters U and t correspond to the repulsive charging energy and to the nearest-neighbor exchange coupling terms, respectively). In the presence of disorder the phase diagram for the system exhibits a metallic phase, an insulating phase, and a domain-localized phase that separates them in the Mott regime. The subtle influence of electron- electron interactions upon inverse participation rate in the Anderson regime is also investigated. The results are discussed in light of experimental evidence for arrays of metalic quantum dots and exact numerical diagonalization of the Hubbard Hamiltonian. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 93: 360 -374, 2003
DELIMITING THE PHYSICAL CITY: DISPARITIES BETWEEN VARIOUS METHODS OF CALCULATING POPULATION DENSITIES*

The legal city and the urbanized area fail to depict accurately the physical area of urban development and therefore prevent an accurate calculation of population densities. When underbounding occurs, densities tend to be unrealistically high and with overbounding they are low. Delimitations made by air photo interpretation demonstrate that the physical city, measured on a 21/2 acre scale of generalization, provides a more accurate basis for calculating population densities of urban areas than either the legal city or urbanized area because the bounding problems are eliminated.
Pharmacological treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.

Introduction: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic, relapsing, debilitating disorder, associated with markedly impaired social and occupational functioning. Pharmacological treatment is considered standard care and several drug classes are now FDA approved for the treatment of GAD. While there are clear data for the efficacy of short-term acute treatment, long-term treatment and treatment-resistant GAD remain challenging. Areas covered: This article describes current pharmacological treatment options for GAD, with focus on benzodiazepines, azapirones, antidepressants and anticonvulsant and antipsychotic drugs. Recent findings from placebo-controlled clinical trials are reviewed and evidence-based clinical implications are discussed. A PubMed search was completed using the terms: ‘generalized anxiety disorder AND treatment’ and ‘generalized anxiety disorder AND therapy’. Additional pivotal trials were included for a historical perspective (older landmark trials that established efficacy and safe...
Interconnect testing for networks on chips

A scheme to functionally test the networking infrastructure of a system within a network on chip is presented. A fault model and a test pattern generation and application algorithm that relies on a network simulator are presented. Experimental results demonstrate the impact of the presented algorithm.
Are we insane? Observations on the idea of gynecologic screening cytology "productivity".

> Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. > > —Albert Einstein In this issue of the Journal , a distinguished group of cytotechnologists and pathologists have collaborated, in my opinion, to bravely report that Papanicolaou (Pap) screening at high slide volumes negatively affects screening performance.1 Are we at all surprised? This study focuses on experiments that used a state-of-the-art location-guided screening system, and similar data have also been reported by one of the senior authors using the other major competing system.2 Both systems were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on clinical trials that demonstrated similar or modestly improved accuracy compared with manual screening. Yet based on mathematical considerations of slide area, slide cellularity, etc, such systems also include, as part of their FDA labeling, the potential to have per-individual-slide throughput limits substantially higher than the 100-slide-per-day ceiling set by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). Both of these studies and many of their cited references demonstrated that the real-world performance of technologists who screen at anywhere near the workload limits has decreased sensitivity and accuracy by a variety of measures. As medical professionals, are technologists and pathologists actually comfortable working day in day out at the limits of personal productivity? How does one reconcile that comfort zone with our mandates to do no harm and always put patients first? Rather than going into the details of the important study by Levi and coworkers,1 I would like to take this opportunity to make some admittedly anecdotal and personal comments related to the inherent tensions and conflicts that exist even today between professional responsibility and perceptions or mandates of productivity. Parenthetically I note that once again the paradigm of cervical cancer screening is an excellent lens for reflecting on more general tensions …
Principles of fluid warming in trauma

Summary Adverse consequences of perioperative hypothermia include myocardial ischemia, cardiac arrhythmias, coagulopathy, shivering, increased oxygen consumption during rewarming, alteration in drug metabolism, impaired offloading of oxygen from hemoglobin, and increased wound infection. Administration of cold or inadequately warmed intravenous fluids contributes to hypothermia, whereas administration of normothermic fluids may reduce both the incidence and complications of hypothermia. Infusion of adequately warmed fluids is mandatory in trauma patients requiring fluid resuscitation to minimize thermal stress and maintain thermal homeostasis.
Distinct p53, p53:LANA, and LANA Complexes in Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Lymphomas

The role of p53 in primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is complicated. The latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) binds p53. Despite this interaction, we had found that p53 was functional in PEL, i.e., able to induce apoptosis in response to DNA damage (C. E. Petre, S. H. Sin, and D. P. Dittmer, J. Virol. 81:1912-1922, 2007), and that hdm2 was overexpressed. To further elucidate the relationship between LANA, p53, and hdm2, we purified LANA complexes from PEL by column chromatography. This confirmed that LANA bound p53. However, the LANA:p53 complexes were a minority compared to hdm2:p53 and p53:p53 complexes. The half-life of p53 was not extended, which is in contrast to the half-life of simian virus 40 T antigen-transformed cells. p53:p53, LANA:p53, and LANA:LANA complexes coexisted in PEL, and each protein was able to bind to its cognate DNA element. These data suggest that under normal conditions, p53 is inactive in PEL, thus allowing for exponential growth, but that this inactivation is driven by the relative stoichiometries of LANA, hdm2, and p53. If p53 is activated by DNA damage or nutlin-3a, the complex falls apart easily, and p53 exercises its role as guardian of the genome.
Underrepresentation by Race–Ethnicity across Stages of U.S. Science and Engineering Education

Blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians/Alaskan Natives are underrepresented in science and engineering fields. A comparison of race-ethnic differences at key transition points was undertaken to better inform education policy. National data on high school graduation, college enrollment, choice of major, college graduation, graduate school enrollment, and doctoral degrees were used to quantify the degree of underrepresentation at each level of education and the rate of transition to the next stage. Disparities are found at every level, and their impact is cumulative. For the most part, differences in graduation rates, rather than differential matriculation rates, make the largest contribution to the underrepresentation. The size, scope, and persistence of the disparities suggest that small-scale, narrowly targeted remediation will be insufficient.
Neuroimaging and genetic associations of attentional and hypnotic processes.

In the aftermath of the human genome project, genotyping is fast becoming an affordable and technologically viable complement to phenotyping. Whereas attempts to characterize hypnotic responsiveness have been largely phenomenological, data emanating from exploratory genetic data may offer supplementary insights into the genetic bases of hypnotizability. We outline our genetic and neuroimaging findings and discuss potential implications to top–down control systems. These results may explain individual differences in hypnotizability and propose new ideas for studying the influence of suggestion on neural systems. 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Characterization of Polyurethane Foam Dielectric Strength

Internal flashovers in hollow insulation systems can produce serious damage. Frequently, SF6 or N2 is used to eliminate this problem, but possible gas leakage may endanger the insulation. This paper proposes the use of polyurethane foams to fill the hollow spaces in insulation systems. Thus far, few publications deal with the dielectric properties of foams. This paper demonstrates the dielectric strength of three different foams which are investigated using ac and lightning impulse voltages under different humidity and temperature conditions. The results show that polyurethane foams have 2-3 times better dielectric strength than air. The breakdown strength decreases with the thickness of the foam; temperature and humidity have negligible effects on the breakdown voltage. The major parameter is the size of the voids in the foam. Reducing the size of the voids increases the breakdown strength. This can be achieved by improving the manufacturing technology.
Transportation Infrastructure and Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa:

The study explores the relationship between transportation infrastructure and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa. Transportation infrastructure is operationalized in terms of road density per capita, whereas economic development is defined in terms of gross national product per capita. The findings support the hypothesis of a positive association between the two variables. The association is stronger for roads in good conditions—defined as roads that are free of major defects and require no more than routine maintenance—than for roads in general. The presence of an association between transportation and economic development at both the theoretical and empirical levels suggests that authorities in sub-Saharan Africa will do well to pay far more attention to the transport sector of their economies than they have done in the past.
A model for closed loop discrete time systems with small clock frequency drifts

This paper addresses problems arising in discrete-time feedback loops with synchronization errors. The paper introduces a model that captures the effects of clock frequency drifts, with emphasis on the case where the two system clocks are close in frequency. An input/output approach based on Toeplitz matrix representations is employed.
Daily Symptom Diaries Versus Retrospective Symptom Questionnaires in Clinical Trials: Is This Burden Worth The Effort?

M O N D A Y 839 Daily Symptom Diaries Versus Retrospective Symptom Questionnaires in Clinical Trials: Is This Burden Worth The Effort? A. Y. Okupa, C. A. Sorkness, D. T. Mauger, D. J. Jackson, R. F. Lemanske; University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA. RATIONALE: Diary data are burdensome to gather, often incomplete, susceptible to backfilling or data fabrication and therefore, are of questionable reliability. However, there is also concern that questionnaires administered during study encounters (based on retrospective assessments over the previous 1-4 weeks or more) may be subject to incomplete recall and recall bias. Presently, there is insufficient information to compare the value of daily symptom diaries versus retrospective symptom questionnaires for asthma clinical trials. METHODS: 182 children (6-17 years of age) who had uncontrolled asthma were enrolled into the Best Add-on Therapy Giving Effective Responses (BADGER) trial. Asthma control was assessed first, by asthma control days (ACDs) determined by manually recorded daily diary symptom and rescue medication use scores; and second, by monthly retrospective assessments using the age-appropriate version of the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Correlations between ACDs and ACT scores were analyzed, and the sensitivity of each method for measuring asthma control and determining differential response among the three treatments was evaluated. RESULTS: ACT scores correlated better with daily diary information from the previous two weeks (r50.4) than the previous four weeks (r50.3), which is the validated ACT recall period. In addition, significant differential treatment responses were detected using ACD but not ACT scores. CONCLUSIONS: Daily symptom diaries are a more sensitive tool than ACT for assessing differential treatment responses with respect to asthma control. In the BADGER trial, differential treatment response would not have been ascertainable using the ACT tool alone. Using this protocol design, the burden was clearly worth the effort.
Montane refugia predict population genetic structure in the Large-blotched Ensatina salamander

Understanding the biotic consequences of Pleistocene range shifts and fragmentation remains a fundamental goal in historical biogeography and evolutionary biology. Here, we combine species distribution models (SDM) from the present and two late Quaternary time periods with multilocus genetic data (mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites) to evaluate the effect of climate-induced habitat shifts on population genetic structure in the Large-blotched Ensatina (Ensatina eschscholtzii klauberi), a plethodontid salamander endemic to middle and high-elevation conifer forest in the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges of southern California and northern Baja California. A composite SDM representing the range through time predicts two disjunct refugia, one in southern California encompassing the core of the species range and the other in the Sierra San Pedro Martir of northern Baja California at the southern limit of the species range. Based on our spatial model, we would expect a pattern of high connectivity among populations within the northern refugium and, conversely, a pattern of isolation due to long-term persistence of the Sierra San Pedro Martir population. Our genetic results are consistent with these predictions based on the hypothetical refugia in that (i) historical measures of population connectivity among stable areas are correlated with gene flow estimates; and (ii) there is strong geographical structure between separate refugia. These results provide evidence for the role of recent climatic change in shaping patterns of population persistence and connectivity within the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges, an evolutionary hotspot.
Microresonator-based all-optical transistor

We present theoretical estimates for a low-loss, all-optical transistor using a microresonator device whose fields interact evanescently with rubidium vapor. We use a four-level, electromagnetically induced absorption scheme to couple the light fields of the transistor. We show results indicating that a weak control beam with less than single-photon intensities can switch a much stronger signal beam with switching contrast of greater than 25 dB and loss less than 0.5 dB.
context in environmental conflicts: where you stand depends on where you sit

Environmental conflicts occur within a complex and dynamic “context” that can influence disputants' perceptions of the conflict and may alter it in dramatic ways. Context is the complex “setting” in which a conflict occurs. Federal environmental laws provide a context in which decisions and actions occur. Likewise, government administrations, the make-up and political leanings of legislatures, events such as catastrophic droughts or wildfires, and public attitudes toward the environment are all part of that context and affect it in some way. Moreover, individuals function within their own organizational, social, and political environments and view conflict through a lens that is colored by that context. Environmental conflicts are played out in both dynamic and stable contexts, over which disputants can sometimes exercise influence. A change in context may suddenly alter the balance of power, affect the distribution of resources, shift priorities, and ultimately either limit existing options or create new...
LDPC Codes for Information Embedding and Lossy Distributed Source Coding

Inspired by our recent work on lossy distributed source coding with side information available at the decoder, we propose a practical scheme for information embedding system with side information available at the encoder. Our proposed scheme is based on sending parity bits using LDPC codes. We provide a design procedure for the LDPC code that guarantees performance close to the Gelfand-Pinsker and Wyner-Ziv limits. Using simulation results, we show that the proposed method performs close to both Wyner-Ziv and Gelfand-Pinsker theoretical limits for even short length codes.
Electrocardiographic Observations on die Heart of the Guppy (Lebistes reticulatus)

Summary1. A method is described whereby the electrocardiogram of a small fish may be easily and reproducibly recorded after urethane anesthesia. 2. The anatomy of the heart of the common guppy (Lebistes reticulatus) was found to be similar to the hearts of larger teleosts. 3. The electrocardiogram and vectorcardiogram of the common guppy were characterized by the use of high gain and high speed recording apparatus. The electrocardiogram was found to consist of the same components present in the electrocardiograms of larger teleosts and mammals (P, QRS, and T). 4. Intraperitoneal injection of digitoxin (2.0 micrograms) produced typical changes in the electrocardiogram consisting of first, second, and third degree A-V block as well as Wenckebach phenomenon and ST displacement within 5 to 23 minutes (average 14.6 minutes).
Time-critical distributed visualization with fault tolerance

It is often desirable or necessary to perform scientific visualization in geographically remote locations, away from the centralized data storage systems that hold massive amounts of scientific results. The larger such scientific datasets are, the less practical it is to move these datasets to remote locations for collaborators. In such scenarios, efficient remote visualization solutions can be crucial. Yet the use of distributed or heterogeneous computing resources raises several challenges for large-scale data visualization. Algorithms must be robust and incorporate advanced load balancing and scheduling techniques. In this paper, we propose a time-critical remote visualization system that can be deployed over distributed and heterogeneous computing resources. We introduce an "importance" metric to measure the need for processing each data partition based on its degree of contribution to the final visual image. Factors contributing to this metric include specific application requirements, value distributions inside the data partition, and viewing parameters. We incorporate "visibility" in our measurement as well so that empty or invisible blocks will not be processed. Guided by the data blocks' importance values, our dynamic scheduling scheme determines the rendering priority for each visible block. That is, more important blocks will be rendered first. In time-critical scenarios, our scheduling algorithm also dynamically reduces the level-of-detail for the less important regions so that visualization can be finished in a user-specified time limit with highest possible image quality. This system enables interactive sharing of visualization results. To evaluate the performance of this system, we present a case study using a 250 Gigabyte dataset on 170 distributed processors.
Paedomorphosis in Ambystoma talpoideum: effects of initial body size variation and density

Facultative paedomorphosis is the ability of a salamander to either metamorphose into a terrestrial, metamorphic adult or retain a larval morphology to become a sexually mature paedomorphic adult. It has been hypothesized that density and initial body size variation within populations are instrumental in cueing metamorphosis or paedomorphosis in salamanders, yet few studies have adequately tested these hypotheses in long-term experiments. Beginning in the spring of 2004, 36 experimental ponds were used to manipulate three body size variation levels (low, medium, high) and two density levels (low, high) of Ambystoma talpoideum larvae. Larvae were individually marked using visible implant elastomers and collected every 2 weeks in order to measure snout–vent length and mass. Bi-nightly sampling was used to collect new metamorphs as they appeared. Analysis revealed significant effects of density, size variation and morph on body size of individuals during the summer. Individuals that metamorphosed during the fall and following spring were significantly larger as larvae than those becoming paedomorphic across all treatments. These results support the Best-of-a-Bad-Lot hypothesis, which proposes that the largest larvae metamorphose in order to escape unfavorable aquatic habitats. Large larvae may metamorphose to leave aquatic habitats, regardless of treatment, due to the colder climate and lower productivity found in Kentucky, which is in the northern-most part of A. talpoideum’s range. By maintaining a long-term experiment, we have provided evidence for the transition of both larvae and paedomorphs into metamorphs during fall and spring metamorphosis events. Furthermore, the production of similar morphs under different environmental conditions observed in this research suggests that the ecological mechanisms maintaining polyphenisms may be more diverse that first suspected.
Prosodically-governed Segmental Fission in Washo

Stress-sensitive quantity alternation is commonplace in Scandinavian languages (Elert 1964; Eliasson 1985; Kiparsky To appear; Leyden 2002), but few reports have detailed similar types of alternation in Native American languages. This paper will offer both phonetic and phonological evidence for a case of segmental quantity alternation in Washo. It is argued that the segmental alternations observed are motivated by a previously unnoticed requirement in the language to keep the stressed syllable heavy. The paper begins with a brief overview of the phonological system of Washo (Section 1), and phonetic and phonological evidence will be presented demonstrating the existence of stress-sensitive segmental length and fission alternations (Section 2). Finally, a formal analysis couched within Optimality Theory is given in Section 3.
John Wesley on rhetoric and belles lettres

Students of public address have long admired the rhetorical works of two of the leading ministers of the eighteenth century—Hugh Blair and George Campbell. Little has been said, however, about the rhetorical theory of another eighteenth‐century preacher, John Wesley. The purpose of this paper is to analyze Wesley's views on rhetoric and belles lettres. Since most of the subjects covered by Blair in his Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres were also discussed by Wesley in his Journal, Letters, and essays, Blair's pattern of organization is followed here. Hence the study considers Wesley's precepts on taste, genius, style, the speaker's content and organization, delivery, poetry, and historical and philosophical writing.
The role of pharmacokinetics in drug discovery: finding drug candidates with the greatest potential for success.

Searching for new drugs is an extremely time-consuming and costly endeavor. Much of the time and cost is expended on clinical studies to obtain efficacy and safety data. Many drug candidates fail during these clinical trials. There are three main reasons for clinical failure, namely, lack of efficacy, serious side effects, and unacceptable pharmacokinetics. In a survey by PMA/FDA (1991), approximately 40% of clinical failures were attributable to poor pharmacokinetics, while lack of efficacy and adverse effects accounted for about 30% and 10%, respectively. Obviously, the ability to predict the efficacy, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics from preclinical and in vitro studies can reduce the high incidence of clinical failures and improve the success rate of drug candidates to reach the market. However, prediction of clinical efficacy and toxicity is not easy; in most cases, they can be determined only by clinical experience. In contrast, prediction of human pharmacokinetics is relatively easy. There is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that a reasonable prediction of bioavailability and clearance in humans can be obtained when applying appropriate pharmacokinetic principles (Houston 1994; Iwatsubo et al. 1997; Lave et al. 1999; Lin 1999).
Inventory Policies for Sequences of Multi-Item Demands with No Backorders Permitted

We consider a multi-item inventory system of the following sort. Demands arrive randomly in the form of requests for subsets of the multiple items. A demand is met only when its entire subset of items is available. The key difference between this system and many typical inventory models is that it is the number of demands met (or not met) that is important, rather than the number of items supplied (or short).
SODIUM-GATED CATION CHANNEL IMPLICATED IN THE ACTIVATION OF LOBSTER OLFACTORY RECEPTOR NEURONS

Zhainazarov, Aslbek B., Richard E. Doolin, and Barry W. Ache. Sodium-gated cation channel implicated in the activation of lobster olfactory receptor neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 1349–1359, 1998. The role of Na+-activated channels in cellular function, if any, is still elusive. We have attempted to implicate a Na+-activated nonselective cation channel in the activation of lobster olfactory receptor neurons. We show that a Na+-activated channel occurs in the odor-detecting outer dendrites. With the use of pharmacological blockers of the channel together with ion substitution, we show that a substantial part of the odor-evoked depolarization in these cells can be ascribed to a Na+-activated conductance. We hypothesize, therefore, that the Na+-activated channel amplifies the receptor current as a result of being secondarily activated by the primary odor transduction pathway.
Unnecessary Estate Tax Returns: Removing the Residue of the 'Widow's Tax'

One of the most burdensome aspects of estate administration is completion of a Form 706 - the federal estate tax return. When Congress enacted an unlimited marital deduction in 1981, it eliminated the so-called widow's tax. The vast majority of estates of married decedents consequently owe no estate tax. The authors now propose that Congress finish the job by eliminating the automatic requirement that estates of married decedents whose estate exceeds the applicable estate tax exclusion file estate tax returns. Instead, they suggest, this filing should be required only in those relatively rare instances where an estate tax liability exists. This would roughly halve the number of estate tax returns filed, achieving a significant reduction in compliance burdens, at no significant loss of either revenue or useful tax information.
23.6 A 30Gb/s 0.8pJ/b 14nm FinFET receiver data-path

The demand for energy-efficient I/O link transceivers operating at raw data-rates in the tens of Gb/s continues to fuel innovation in the field of wireline communication [1]. Receiving equalizers under one pJ/b are sought for chip-to-chip and chip-to-module links designed to operate across short-reach copper channels. Standards such as CEI-28G-VSR suit chip-to-module communication at raw data rates up to 28Gb/s and 10–12dB insertion loss at Nyquist. Proprietary and open standards in the same speed range are being developed too for data and memory-centric systems co-designed with CPUs and GPUs and channels with insertion loss on the order of 20dB [2].
Acupuncture for substance use disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract Background This systematic review aims to estimate the effects of acupuncture for adults with substance use disorders (SUDs). Methods We searched 7 electronic databases and bibliographies of previous studies to identify eligible randomized trials. Two independent reviewers screened citations, extracted data, and assessed risks of bias. We performed random effects meta-analyses. We assessed quality of evidence using the GRADE approach. Results We included 41 studies with 5,227 participants. No significant differences were observed between acupuncture and comparators (passive controls, sham acupuncture, treatment as usual, and active interventions) at post-intervention for relapse (SMD −0.12; 95%CI −0.46 to 0.22; 10 RCTs), frequency of substance use (SMD −0.27; −2.67 to 2.13; 2 RCTs), quantity of substance use (SMD 0.01; −0.40 to 0.43; 3 RCTs), and treatment dropout (OR 0.82; 0.63 to 1.09; 22 RCTs). We identified a significant difference in favor of acupuncture versus comparators for withdrawal/craving at post-intervention (SMD −0.57, −0.93 to −0.20; 20 RCTs), but we identified evidence of publication bias. We also identified a significant difference in favor of acupuncture versus comparators for anxiety at post-intervention (SMD −0.74, −1.15 to −0.33; 6 RCTs). Results for withdrawal/craving and anxiety symptoms were not significant at longer follow-up. Safety data (12 RCTs) suggests little risk of serious adverse events, though participants may experience slight bleeding or pain at needle insertion sites. Conclusions Available evidence suggests no consistent differences between acupuncture and comparators for substance use. Results in favor of acupuncture for withdrawal/craving and anxiety symptoms are limited by low quality bodies of evidence.
Porous Polymer-Ceramic Systems for Tissue Engineering Support the Formation of Mineralized Bone Matrix

Osteoblast cell differentiation and bone formation using rat calvaria cells were studied on the surface of a porous 3-dimensional polymer matrix of 50:50 poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLAGA)/ hydroxyapatite (HA). Cell proliferation was determined at 24 hr, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. Exponential growth was observed during the first week and a steady increase in the population continued until 21 days after cells were seeded. Cell growth kinetics on PLAGA/HA showed an exponential pattern. Environmental scanning electron microscopy revealed the formation of multilayers of cells growing throughout the polymer matrices by day 7 and through day 21. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity was demonstrated after 21 days of culture on PLAGA/HA using a commercial diagnostic kit. Light microscopy observations of experiment cultures revealed active osteoblastic cells forming a characteristic mineralized matrix in the presence of s-glycerophosphate as a phosphate donor. Mineralization was not seen when the matrix alone was incubated with the reagent, indicating that the mineralization was due to the cells and not the HA in the matrix. These results suggested that the 3-dimensional PLAGA/HA matrix studied provided an excellent matrix for bone cell differentiation and mineralization in vitro and therefore may be a good candidate as a synthetic implant for bone regeneration.