cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dressed return maps distinguish chaotic mechanisms.

Chaotic data generated by a three-dimensional dynamical system can be embedded into ${\mathbb{R}}^{3}$ in a number of inequivalent ways. However, when lifted into ${\mathbb{R}}^{5}$ they all become equivalent, indicating that they all belong to a single universality class sharing a common chaos-generating mechanism. We present a complete invariant determining this universality class and distinguishing attractors generated by distinct mechanisms. This invariant is easily computable from an appropriately ``dressed'' return map of any particular three-dimensional embedding.
Effects of Carbaryl and Methyl Parathion Poisoning on the Bioelimination of 65 Zn and 54 Mn in Popilius disjunctus1

Homed Passalus beetles, Popilius disjunctus (Illiger), were labelled with 65Zn or 54Mn and treated with varying concentrations of carbaryl or methyl parathion. Whole-body radiation assays were taken at intervals for 8 days following insecticide treatment. Beetles labelled with 65Zn eliminated the radiozinc more slowly than untreated controls, while those labelled with 54Mn eliminated the radiomanganese more rapidly than untreated controls.
The Mechanisms for Nanoparticle Surface Diffusion and Chain Self-Assembly Determined from Real-Time Nanoscale Kinetics in Liquid

The mechanisms for nanoparticle self-assembly are often inferred from the morphology of the final nanostructures in terms of attractive and repulsive interparticle interactions. Understanding how nanoparticle building blocks are pieced together during self-assembly is a key missing component needed to unlock new strategies and mechanistic understanding of this process. Here we use real-time nanoscale kinetics derived from liquid cell transmission electron microscopy investigation of nanoparticle self-assembly to show that nanoparticle mobility dictates the pathway for self-assembly and final nanostructure morphology. We describe a new method for modulating nanoparticle diffusion in a liquid cell, which we employ to systematically investigate the effect of mobility on self-assembly of nanoparticles. We interpret the observed diffusion in terms of electrostatically induced surface diffusion resulting from nanoparticle hopping on the liquid cell window surface. Slow-moving nanoparticles self-assemble predomi...
Studies on Effect of Hypericum Chinense on Eliminating Active Oxy-radical

Objective: To study the effect of the extracts of Hypericum Chinense on eliminating active oxy-radi- cal. Methods: Chemiluminescence method and spectrometric method were used to measure the eliminating effect of Hypericum chinense on superoxide anion (O2 ) .hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 ) and hydroxyl radical (.OH ). Its protective effects on damage and lipid peroxidation of red blood cell induced by H2 O2 and mitochondria swelling in- duced by Fe2 + -Vit C were also investigated. Results: The extracts of hypericum chinense could eliminate O2 -. H2O2 and. OH effectively. They could also prevent the damage and lipid peroxidation of red blood cell induced by hydrogen peroxide and the mitochondria swelling induced by Fe2 + -Vit C. Conclusion:The results showed that Hypericum chinense was effective in eliminating active oxy-radical.
Effects of Sheath Blight on Rice Quality and Yield

The experiment was conducted to investigate effects of sheath blight on rice quality and yield.The results indicate that the injure of rice sheath blight increases the protein and amylase contents,decreases grain thickness and width,reduces grain maturity degree and 1000-grain weight and lowers the stick and taste degree,which results in decrease of rice yield and grain quality.
Strength of Elastomers

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the conditions under which a fracture initiates and the laws that govern the growth of a crack. It discusses the initiation of fracture from flaws or points of weakness, where the applied stresses are magnified greatly. It studies the rate of development of cracks after initiation. This not only depends on the local stress levels, but also on the way in which these stresses vary with time. The phenomenon of accelerated growth under dynamic stressing is termed mechanical fatigue or dynamic crack growth. Because rubber is viscoelastic, or more generally anelastic, to varying extents and because the mechanical properties depend on rate of deformation and temperature, the strength is also dependent on the rate at which stresses are applied and on the temperature of measurement. This chapter also elucidates other effects of the environment, notably the destructive action of ozone. This chapter closes with a brief survey of abrasive wear.
Molecular Sculpting: Active Learning of Subcellular Systems & Processes

Abstract Students often struggle to understand the complex molecular systems and processes presented in introductory biology courses. These include the Calvin cycle, the Krebs cycle, transcription and translation, and DNA replication, among others. Traditionally, these systems and processes are taught using textbook readings and PowerPoint slides as lecture aids; video animations have also become popular in recent years. Students tend to be passive observers in many of these methods of instruction, relying heavily on “memorization” learning techniques. To address this, I developed an active-learning intervention called “molecular sculpting” in which students construct two-dimensional or three-dimensional versions of an assigned molecular system or process, complete with representations of proteins, chromosomes, electrons, protons, and other molecules (depending on the system). The value of this learning activity was measured in five class sessions in an introductory biology course during the 2014–2015 aca...
Diabetes Distress or Major Depressive Disorder? A Practical Approach to Diagnosing and Treating Psychological Comorbidities of Diabetes

The presence of major depressive disorder (MDD) in people with diabetes may be up to three times more common than in the general population. People with diabetes and major depressive disorder have worse health outcomes and higher mortality rates. Diabetes distress refers to an emotional state where people experience feelings such as stress, guilt, or denial that arise from living with diabetes and the burden of self-management. Diabetes distress has also been linked to worse health outcomes. There are multiple treatment options for MDD including pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral approaches. Providers treating patients with diabetes must be aware of the frequent comorbidity of diabetes, diabetes distress, and depression and manage patients using a multidisciplinary team approach. This article discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and bi-directional relationship of diabetes and depression and provides a practical, patient-centered approach to diagnosis and management.
The Impact of Virgin Coconut Oil and High-Oleic Safflower Oil on Body Composition, Lipids, and Inflammatory Markers in Postmenopausal Women.

Abstract This randomized crossover study compared the impact of virgin coconut oil (VCO) to safflower oil (SO) on body composition and cardiovascular risk factors. Twelve postmenopausal women (58.8 ± 3.7 year) consumed 30 mL VCO or SO for 28 days, with a 28-day washout. Anthropometrics included body weight and hip and waist circumference. Fat percent for total body, android and gynoid, fat mass, and lean mass were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Women maintained their typical diet recording 28 days of food records during the study. Results were analyzed with SPSS v24 with significance at P ≤ .05. Comparisons are reported as paired t-test since no intervention sequence effect was observed. VCO significantly raised total cholesterol, TC (+18.2 ± 22.8 mg/dL), low-density lipoprotein (+13.5 ± 16.0 mg/dL), and high-density lipoprotein, HDL (+6.6 ± 7.5 mg/dL). SO did not significantly change lipid values. TC and HDL were significantly different between test oils. The TC/HDL ratio change showed ...
A systematic review of strategies for overcoming the barriers to energy-efficient technologies in buildings

Abstract The energy used to construct, operate and eventually demolish buildings has accounted for 40% of total energy used globally and 9% of the world’s greenhouse emissions. When examining major energy consumers such as Europe or the United States, the amounts of energy used for buildings is even higher. The use of energy-efficient technologies (EETs), such as low-energy windows and programmable thermostats, have had many positive results, including long-term energy reductions, a healthier living environment, the creation of jobs, and better quality housing. Unfortunately, there continue to be barriers to the use of EETs. While there are dozens of strategies for overcoming these barriers, many have gotten overlooked or lost. This paper provides a review of the literature that has focused on barriers to the use of EETs and strategies for overcoming these barriers. The method used for identifying relevant literature was a systematic search of scholarly publications addressing barriers and/or strategies for EET use. A theoretical framework is presented as a means of organizing the literature. The framework includes three broad groups of barriers: knowledge of EETs, access to EETs, and desire to use EETs. Strategies for overcoming the barriers are likewise organized and described.
Home Medication Safety and Adherence

There has been a shift from inpatient to ambulatory care, including home care, for many reasons, including the growing emphasis on providing patient-centered care. For pediatric hematology/oncology patients, this shift has included the administration of oral and parenteral chemotherapy, clotting factors, as well as oral and parenteral antibiotics and nutrition. Along with the other home medications for pediatric hematology/oncology, such as oral immunosuppressants, over-the-counter and prescription medications to treat symptoms, including narcotics, and herbal medications, these home medications now have to be managed and administered by parents/caregivers and adolescents. This change away from the inpatient or clinic-based pharmacy as the dispensary and the nurse as the administrator results in a loss of our traditional safety nets and opens new vulnerabilities for errors and nonadherence.
The Viologen Cation Radical Pimer: A Case of Dispersion-Driven Bonding.

Pi bonds between organic radicals have generated recent excitement as an orthogonal interaction for designing self-assembling architectures in water. Here, we provide the first a systematic investigation of the effect of the viologen cation radical structure on the strength and nature of the pimer bond. A striking and unexpected feature of the this pi bond is that the bond strength is unchanged by substitution with electron-donating groups or withdrawing groups or with increased conjugation. Furthermore, the interaction is undiminished by sterically bulky N-alkyl groups. Theoretical modelling indicates that strong dispersion forces dominate the interaction between the radicals, rationalizing the insensitivity of the bonding interaction to substituents: The stacking of polarizable pi radicals leads to attractive dispersion forces in excess of typical dispersion interactions of small molecules and helps overcome the Coulombic repulsion of bringing two cationic species into contact.
Habituation based synaptic plasticity and organismic learning in a quantum perovskite

A central characteristic of living beings is the ability to learn from and respond to their environment leading to habit formation and decision making. This behavior, known as habituation, is universal among all forms of life with a central nervous system, and is also observed in single-cell organisms that do not possess a brain. Here, we report the discovery of habituation-based plasticity utilizing a perovskite quantum system by dynamical modulation of electron localization. Microscopic mechanisms and pathways that enable this organismic collective charge-lattice interaction are elucidated by first-principles theory, synchrotron investigations, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, and in situ environmental breathing studies. We implement a learning algorithm inspired by the conductance relaxation behavior of perovskites that naturally incorporates habituation, and demonstrate learning to forget: a key feature of animal and human brains. Incorporating this elementary skill in learning boosts the capability of neural computing in a sequential, dynamic environment.Habituation is a learning mechanism that enables control over forgetting and learning. Zuo, Panda et al., demonstrate adaptive synaptic plasticity in SmNiO3 perovskites to address catastrophic forgetting in a dynamic learning environment via hydrogen-induced electron localization.
Crystal Structure of Hydrazinium Iodide by Neutron Diffraction

The structure of hydrazinium iodide, [H5N2]+·I−, at 100 K has monoclinic (P21/n) symmetry from single crystal neutron diffraction with a = 7.4599(7) A, b = 5.3185(6) A, c = 10.1628(11) A, β = 103.150(10)°, V = 392.64(7) A3, Z = 4. The refinement converged to R = 0.0575, wR 2 = 0.1602, S = 1.022. Data for the crystal structure was collected on the SNS TOPAZ single-crystal time-of-flight Laue diffractometer. The compound has a one-dimensional structure which displays N–H···N hydrogen bonding. Accurate intra- and intermolecular N–H distances have been determined. Extended hydrogen bonds among the hydrazinium cations in the crystal structure of N 2 H 5 I.
Abstract 15875: Relationship Between Door to Balloon Time Variability and Outcomes in Patients With ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Introduction: We aimed to determine the impact of a comprehensive STEMI protocol (CSP) on door to balloon time (D2BT) variability and patient outcomes. Methods: On 7/15/14 we implemented a CSP base...
Comparing Transfer Learning and Traditional Learning Under Domain Class Imbalance

Transfer learning is a subclass of machine learning, which uses training data (source) drawn from a different domain than that of the testing data (target). A transfer learning environment is characterized by the unavailability of labeled data from the target domain, due to data being rare or too expensive to obtain. However, there exists abundant labeled data from a different, but similar domain. These two domains are likely to have different distribution characteristics. Transfer learning algorithms attempt to align the distribution characteristics of the source and target domains to create high-performance classifiers. This paper provides comparative performance analysis between stateof- the-art transfer learning algorithms and traditional machine learning algorithms under the domain class imbalance condition. The domain class imbalance condition is characterized by the source and target domains having different class probabilities, which can create marginal distribution differences between the source and target data. Statistical analysis is provided to show the significance of the results.
The Metamorphosis of Tianxian pei: Local Opera under the Revolution (1949-1956)

Since its consolidation in Yan’an in the early 1940s, the Chinese Communist Party has tapped into a rich repertoire of popular stories, imbuing familiar characters and narratives with new meanings ...
Quantum-State-Resolved Scattering of Lithium Hydride

A technique for the determination of integral rotationally inelastic state-resolved cross sections, which involves electric quadrupole state selection of a molecular beam and tunable laser fluorescence detection of the final states, is reviewed. This method has been applied to the scattering of lithium hydride, and results with a number of targets (helium and several polar molecules) are presented. The experimental results are compared with calculations by M.H. Alexander and D.M. Silver which employed a number of theoretical treatments of varying sophistication. One clear result of this collaborative effort is the conclusion that rotational energy transfer, both for LiH-He and for polar molecule collisions, cannot be described adequately by simple models but requires detailed consideration of the interplay between translational and rotational motion, as well as a realistic description of the intermolecular forces.
Computerized Protocols for Ventilator Management

The decision-making capabilities of the HELP system have been applied to the management of patients requiring mechanical ventilatory assistance. The computerized system uses computerized respiratory care charting data (see Chapter 14) and computerized blood gas data to make suggestions regarding the management of the inspired oxygen fraction (Fi02 ) and positive end expiratory pressure settings (PEEP) in hypoxemic patients and respiratory rate, minute ventilation, and inspiratory:expiratory (I:E) ratio in patients with hypoventilation. The system is data-driven and new relevant clinical patient data automatically generate treatment suggestions. The decision logic employed in the system’s computerized protocols was decided on by LDS Hospital pulmonary and intensive care physicians over an 18-month period. As of early 1990, the system had been used with more than 40 patients in the STRICU for a total of 12,000 hours and had generated more than 9200 decisions. Physicians had agreed with the computer’s decisions logic (i.e., they had instituted the computer’s recommendations) in more than 9097b of the computer-generated decisions.
Fatty acid biosynthesis in aorta and heart.

Publisher Summary Fatty acid synthesis occurs in both cytosol and mitochondria of most organs, although one or the other system predominates in a given organ. This chapter discusses fatty acid biosynthesis in aorta. It discusses in which cellular subfraction fatty acid synthesis occurs. On the basis of current information, the three cellular subfractions from aorta are capable of incorporation of substrate into fatty acids. Using acetate or acetyl–CoA as the precursor, mitochondria have the greatest synthetic capacity. When malonyl–CoA is the precursor, the cytosol has the greatest capacity. The chapter discusses the pathways for fatty acid synthesis that have been shown to be present in aorta. The mitochondrial elongation system is well developed and utilizes acetyl–CoA and available acyl–CoA to produce a variety of chain lengths of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. The spectrum of fatty acids synthesized by the whole aorta or its constituent subfractions is not notably different from that of other organ. The chapter also discusses fatty acid biosynthesis in the heart and reviews the mechanism, products, and regulation of synthesis of fatty acids in the heart.
An eye-tracking analysis of instructor presence in video lectures

Abstract Research is needed to understand how to best design video lectures that foster learning. We tested whether instructor presence is better afforded through methods that increase students' access to the instructor's eye gaze, thereby enhancing learning through increased social agency. Specifically, we compared the eye-gaze behavior of college students who viewed an organic chemistry video lecture with the instructor using either a conventional whiteboard or a transparent whiteboard. These lecture methods differ in the degree to which they allow students to view the instructor's eye gaze. Using eye-tracking methods, we compared students' attention to the instructor's head during direct gaze events (i.e., when the instructor looked into the camera) and gaze guidance events (i.e., when the instructor looked at the whiteboard), and to the written and drawn information on the whiteboard. Results show that students who viewed a transparent whiteboard lecture attended more to the instructor and less to the material drawn on the board than students who viewed a conventional whiteboard lecture. The transparent group also performed equivalently to the conventional group on learning performance. Overall, this study demonstrates that the instructor's presence can compete with words and visuals drawn on the board by the instructor for students' attention.
Conscience Clauses: Too Much Protection for Providers, Too Little for Patients.

Lawrence Nelson (2018) argues that even if conscience protection statutes (“conscience clauses”) expressly or implicitly confer immunity from criminal liability on providers who refuse to perform l...
Fragmented Data Routing Based on Exponentially Distributed Contacts in Delay Tolerant Networks

Existing works in data forwarding in delay tolerant networks often simplify the data transmission during a contact between two network nodes. One common assumption is that once transmitted, messages will always successfully arrive at the encounter node in its entirety regardless of the contact duration. The other common assumption is that messages are unfragmented, and are successfully transmitted only if the contact duration is long enough. If the contact duration is too short, the transmission will not complete, and the message needs to be re-transmitted in its entirety in the next contact. While the first assumption is unrealistic, the second assumption makes the routing strategy inefficient for large data items in network environments where most contact durations are short. In this work, we eliminate the assumption of unfragmented data, and propose a single-copy fragmented data routing strategy (FDR) that performs well with short contact durations. FDR considers the exponential distribution of inter-contact time, contact duration time, and fragmented data sizes when making forwarding decisions. We show that under short contact durations and large message sizes, our scheme can achieve up to 37% higher delivery rate and 35% lower delay compared to other routing strategies.
Mobilizing Morocco: Recent works on society and state

Social scientific scholarship on the Kingdom of Morocco has long focused on elite and institutional facets of politics. Challenging Huntington’s (1968) claim that monarchs are incapable of accommod...
Ganglion Cell Complex Thickness and Macular Vessel Density Loss in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.

Purpose To characterize the change rate of ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness and macular vessel density in healthy, preperimetric glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) eyes. Design Prospective, longitudinal study. Participants One hundred thirty-nine eyes (23 healthy eyes, 36 preperimetric glaucoma eyes, and 80 POAG eyes) of 94 patients who had at least 3 visits were included from the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study. The mean follow-up was 2.0 years for healthy eyes, 2.6 years for preperimetric glaucoma eyes, and 2.6 years for POAG eyes. Methods OCT angiography (OCTA)-based vessel density and OCT-based structural thickness of the same 3×3-mm2 GCC scan slab were evaluated. The dynamic range-based normalized rates of vessel density and thickness change were calculated and compared within each diagnostic group. The association between the rates of thickness and vessel density change and potential factors were evaluated. Main Outcome Measures The rates of GCC thinning and macular vessel density loss. Results Significant rates of GCC thinning and macular vessel density decrease were detectable in all diagnostic groups (all P 0.1). In contrast, the normalized rate (mean, 95% confidence interval) of macular vessel density decrease in the POAG eyes (–7.12 [–8.36, –5.88]%/year) was significantly faster than GCC thinning (–2.13 [–3.35, –0.90]%/year; P Conclusions Both GCC thinning and macular vessel density decrease were detectable over time in all diagnostic groups. In POAG eyes, macular vessel density decrease was faster than GCC thinning and was associated with severity of disease. Macular vessel density is useful for evaluating glaucoma progression, particularly in more advanced disease.
The Role of Music in the Diversifying Cultures (Africa, East Asia, South Asia)

We describe the different ways of understanding traditional music in Ghana for Africa, China and Japan for East Asia, and Indonesia for South Asia.
Impacts of control set-points on battery energy storage performance for peak shaving application

This article presents the impact of battery energy storage system's (BESS) control triggers on its performance during peak shaving application. With the increasing deployment of BESS for load leveling and grid capacity relief, the sensitivity of BESS performance to its set-points is yet to be investigated. Most utilities have defined thresholds to activate BESS discharging for peak demand leveling and baseload BESS charging. However, this study shows that without using optimal set-points for control applications, the BESS can remain under-utilized. In this work, simulation results of the peak shaving algorithm implementation in 30-minute time step over a period of 10 years show the impact of different BESS control set-points on distribution transformer loading, line and system losses.
Terahertz Channel Characterization Using a Broadband Frequency Comb Radiator in 130-Nm SiGe BiCMOS

The terahertz (THz) band has opened up a new frontier for high-speed, wireless communication, high-resolution radars, and highly precise remote sensing. Identifying the low-loss atmospheric windows is vital for these applications. In this study, a long-path THz communication channel is characterized in the frequency range of 0.32–1.1 THz using a custom, silicon-based THz pulse radiator chip. The chip radiates 1.7-ps pulses via an on-chip antenna at a repetition rate of 8 GHz, resulting in a broadband 0.1–1.1 THz frequency comb. It is fabricated in 130-nm SiGe BiCMOS process and consumes 45 mW of dc power. A specular link was created using the impulse radiator, parabolic reflector antennas, a plane mirror, and a downconverter mixer. The THz channel was characterized up to a distance of 110 m. The measurement results demonstrate channel path loss, atmospheric absorption, and low-loss frequency windows suitable for wireless links in the THz range. The results correspond well with the HITRAN database [1].
Real-World Experience of Bamlanivimab for COVID-19: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has strained healthcare systems with patient hospitalizations and deaths. Anti-spike monoclonal antibodies, including bamlanivimab, have demonstrated reduction in hospitalization rates in clinical trials, yet real-world evidence is lacking. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control study across a single healthcare system of non-hospitalized patients, age 18 years or older, with documented positive SARS-CoV-2 testing, risk factors for severe COVID-19, and referrals for bamlanivimab via emergency use authorization. Cases were defined as patients who received bamlanivimab; contemporary controls had a referral order placed but did not receive bamlanivimab. The primary outcome was 30-day hospitalization rate from initial positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR. Descriptive statistics, including Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U test, were performed. Multivariable logistic regression was used for adjusted analysis to evaluate independent associations with 30-day hospitalization. RESULTS: Between November 20, 2020 and January 19, 2021, 218 patients received bamlanivimab (cases) and 185 were referred but did not receive drug (controls). Thirty-day hospitalization rate was significantly lower among patients who received bamlanivimab (7.3% v 20.0%, RR 0.37, 95% CI 0.21-0.64, p<0.001), and the number needed to treat was 8. On logistic regression, odds of hospitalization were increased in patients not receiving bamlanivimab and with a higher number of pre-specified comorbidities (OR 4.19 CI: 1.31-2.16, p<0.001; OR 1.68, CI: 2.12-8.30, p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Ambulatory patients with COVID-19 who received bamlanivimab had a lower 30-day hospitalization than control patients in real-world experience. We identified receipt of bamlanivimab and fewer comorbidities as protective factors against hospitalization.
Association of Lifestyle Activities with Functional Brain Connectivity and Relationship to Cognitive Decline among Older Adults.

This study examines the relationship of engagement in different lifestyle activities to connectivity in large-scale functional brain networks, and whether network connectivity modifies cognitive decline, independent of brain amyloid levels. Participants (N = 153, mean age = 69 years, including N = 126 with amyloid imaging) were cognitively normal when they completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, a lifestyle activity questionnaire, and cognitive testing. They were followed with annual cognitive tests up to 5 years (mean = 3.3 years). Linear regressions showed positive relationships between cognitive activity engagement and connectivity within the dorsal attention network, and between physical activity levels and connectivity within the default-mode, limbic, and frontoparietal control networks, and global within-network connectivity. Additionally, higher cognitive and physical activity levels were independently associated with higher network modularity, a measure of functional network specialization. These associations were largely independent of APOE4 genotype, amyloid burden, global brain atrophy, vascular risk, and level of cognitive reserve. Moreover, higher connectivity in the dorsal attention, default-mode, and limbic networks, and greater global connectivity and modularity were associated with reduced cognitive decline, independent of APOE4 genotype and amyloid burden. These findings suggest that changes in functional brain connectivity may be one mechanism by which lifestyle activity engagement reduces cognitive decline.
Classification with Nearest Disjoint Centroids.

In this paper, we develop a new classification method based on nearest centroid, and it is called the nearest disjoint centroid classifier. Our method differs from the nearest centroid classifier in the following two aspects: (1) the centroids are defined based on disjoint subsets of features instead of all the features, and (2) the distance is induced by the dimensionality-normalized norm instead of the Euclidean norm. We provide a few theoretical results regarding our method. In addition, we propose a simple algorithm based on adapted k-means clustering that can find the disjoint subsets of features used in our method, and extend the algorithm to perform feature selection. We evaluate and compare the performance of our method to other closely related classifiers on both simulated data and real-world gene expression datasets. The results demonstrate that our method is able to outperform other competing classifiers by having smaller misclassification rates and/or using fewer features in various settings and situations.
From Conquest to Constitutions: Retrieving a Latin American Tradition of the Idea of Human Rights

The article explores the historical roots of the Latin American region's strong commitment to the idea of universal human rights, focusing on four key intellectual moments: the ethical response to the Spanish conquest; the rights ideology of the continent's liberal republican revolutions; the articulation of social and economic rights in the Mexican Constitution of 1917; and the Latin American contributions to the genesis of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Constructing a narrative from these ex- amples, the article argues for the recognition of a distinct Latin American tradition within the global discourse of human rights.
Low-Cost Approaches to Promote Physical and Mental Health

Another advance relevant to the evolution of self-help in mental health interventions lies in low-cost approaches to promote physical and mental health. These approaches are based on the substantial evidence of positive outcomes in survival and mortality rates derived from (1) nutrition (diet, omega fatty acids, vitamins, and supplements); (2) nonverbal activities (relaxation, meditation, exercise, expressive movement such as dancing, and pleasant activities, such as gardening, playing cards, hobbies, etc.) (L’Abate, in press-b); (3) various types of writing (see Chap. 6 ); (4) close physical nonerotic contacts (massage, affection, hugging, holding, huddling, cuddling, etc.); and (5) relational bonds (friendships, social support, animal companions, prayer, spirituality, etc.) (L’Abate, 2007b).
Measurement of C-peptide Concentrations and Responses to Somatostatin, Glucose Infusion, and Insulin Resistance in Horses

Summary Reasons for performing study: Hyperinsulinaemia is detected in horses with insulin resistance (IR) and has previously been attributed to increased pancreatic insulin secretion. Connecting peptide (C-peptide) can be measured to assess pancreatic function because it is secreted in equimolar amounts with insulin and does not undergo hepatic clearance. Hypothesis: A human double antibody radioimmunoassay (RIA) detects C-peptide in equine serum and concentrations would reflect responses to different stimuli and conditions. Methods: A validation procedure was performed to assess the RIA. Six mature mares were selected and somatostatin administered i.v. as a primed continuous rate infusion, followed by 50 nmol human C-peptide i.v. Insulin and C-peptide concentrations were measured in horses (n = 6) undergoing an insulin-modified frequently sampled i.v. glucose tolerance test, and in horses with insulin resistance (n = 10) or normal insulin sensitivity (n = 20). Results: A human RIA was validated for use with equine sera. Endogenous C-peptide secretion was suppressed by somatostatin and median (range) clearance rate was 0.83 (0.15–1.61) ml/min/kg bwt. Mean ± s.d. C-peptide-to-insulin ratio significantly (P = 0.004) decreased during the glucose tolerance test from 3.60 ± 1.95 prior to infusion to 1.03 ± 0.18 during the first 20 min following dextrose administration. Median C-peptide and insulin concentrations were 1.5- and 9.5-fold higher, respectively in horses with IR, compared with healthy horses. Conclusions: Endogenous C-peptide secretion decreases in response to somatostatin and increases after dextrose infusion. Results suggest that relative insulin clearance decreases as pancreatic secretion increases in response to dextrose infusion. Hyperinsulinaemia in insulin resistant horses may be associated with both increased insulin secretion and decreased insulin clearance. Potential relevance: Both C-peptide and insulin concentrations should be measured to assess pancreatic secretion and insulin clearance in horses.
Measuring Parent-Child Shared Management of Chronic Illness

UNLABELLED Over time, most children with special health needs must become partners in their disorder management. Because most care of chronic conditions takes place in the home, parents assume significant responsibility in starting and supporting the child's role in parent-child shared management over time. This article describes findings from analysis of one attempt to measure this important construct. METHODS Cross-sectional descriptive study with 129 parents of children with chronic conditions. RESULTS Internal consistency of the shared management scale was adequate (Cronbach's Alpha: overall scale, 0.91; and subscales: desire, 0.79; knowledge, 0.76; and current actions, 0.86). Observed relationships were in theoretically expected directions. In unadjusted univariate analyses, there were statistically significant associations between parent-child shared management and each of the following variables: (a) condition grouping and severity, (b) parent self-efficacy and coping, (c) amount and frequency of child's limitation to do things, and (d) emergency visits in the past 6 months (all at p < 0.01 levels). Adjusted multivariable analysis retained condition severity, parent self-efficacy, and coping as significant factors. CONCLUSIONS The parent-child shared management tool can be used in research to broaden understanding of this important construct and identify precursors and outcomes of high or low shared management in a family. Nurses might use the tool in clinical practice to more accurately gauge parent desire for, knowledge of, and current actions in support of parent-child shared management so interventions can be individualized to the family's unique wishes.
Does intermarriage promote economic assimilation among immigrants in the United States

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether immigrants in the USA receive an earnings premium associated with marrying a native. Design/methodology/approach – The raw premium revealed by the 2000 US Census data is suspect due to possible endogeneity and selection bias. Instrumental variables estimation, a sample selection model, and a counterfactual construction method are used to address these issues. Findings – Results suggest a positive and modest intermarriage premium, although the magnitude varies with the estimation technique. The evidence is particularly strong for immigrants with high English proficiency, college graduates, and immigrants older than 12 upon arrival in the USA. Originality/value – It is shown that the size of intermarriage premiums varies significantly across different immigrant groups. The empirical results provide insights into the economic assimilation process and mechanisms through which intermarriage influences the labor market outcomes of immigrants.
Endosomal targeting of MEK2 requires RAF, MEK kinase activity and clathrin-dependent endocytosis.

To study spatiotemporal regulation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) signaling cascade in living cells, a HeLa cell line in which MAPK kinase of ERK kinase (MEK) 2 (MAPK kinase) was knocked down by RNA interference and replaced with the green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged MEK2 was generated. In these cells, MEK2–GFP was stably expressed at a level similar to that of the endogenous MEK2 in the parental cells. Upon activation of the EGF receptor (EGFR), a pool of MEK2–GFP was found initially translocated to the plasma membrane and then accumulated in a subset of early and late endosomes. However, activated MEK was detected only at the plasma membrane and not in endosomes. Surprisingly, MEK2–GFP endosomes did not contain active EGFR, suggesting that endosomal MEK2–GFP was separated from the upstream signaling complexes. Knockdown of clathrin by small interfering RNA (siRNA) abolished MEK2 recruitment to endosomes but resulted in increased activation of ERK without affecting the activity of MEK2–GFP. The accumulation of MEK2–GFP in endosomes was also blocked by siRNA depletion of RAF kinases and by the MEK1/2 inhibitor, UO126. We propose that the recruitment of MEK2 to endosomes can be a part of the negative feedback regulation of the EGFR–MAPK signaling pathway by endocytosis.
Attenuation of longitudinal-acoustic phonons in amorphous SiO 2 at frequencies up to 440 GHz

We report measurements of the attenuation of longitudinal-acoustic phonons in amorphous ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ for frequencies between 76 and 440 GHz, and in the temperature range 80--300 K. The samples are chemical-vapor-deposited films grown on tungsten substrates, and the phonons are generated and detected using picosecond optical techniques. The phonon attenuation is found to depend only weakly on temperature. In the upper part of the frequency range, there is some evidence that the frequency dependence is faster than quadratic, thus indicating that the attenuation cannot be explained by classical relaxation theory. A discussion of the relation between these results and the analysis of thermal-conductivity measurements is given.
Methods of recruiting and selecting residents for U.S. family practice residencies.

PURPOSE To describe the strategies used by family practice program directors to recruit and select residents. METHOD The residency directors of all 361 U.S. accredited nonmilitary family practice programs in 1992-93 were asked to complete three-page questionnaires regarding program descriptors, curriculum, benefits offered, interview process, and factors affecting their selection of residents. Each program was categorized into one of nine geographic regions. Variation of program characteristics across the regions was assessed using chi-square. RESULTS A total of 282 directors (78%) returned usable questionnaires. The programs did not differ in benefits offered except that (1) those with low fill rates in the 1992 Match of the National Resident Matching Program were more likely to have additional financial incentives and (2) the programs in areas of high competition went to extra effort and expense to market their residencies through the use of advertising materials (e.g., pens, mugs). The most important factor in selecting applicants was listed as the personal interview by 51% of the directors and performance on clinical rotations by 36%. CONCLUSION The residency directors' selection decisions were highly influenced by candidates' performances in interviews and on clinical rotations. The programs in the most competitive areas were characterized by greater efforts and increased expenditures of resources for recruiting. More research is needed to assess the values of the different strategies used by programs to recruit and select residents.
Mechanical behavior of the membrane during the polymer electrolyte fuel cell operation

A computational modeling framework is developed to represent the transport phenomena, electrochemistry and the mechanical stresses in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). The model is able to predict the mechanical stresses developed in the polymer electrolyte due to hydration changes, and restriction of the membrane swelling as a result of these hydration changes in the PEFC assembly. Anisotropy in the mechanical properties of the gas diffusion layers is accounted in the stress calculations. It is seen that hydration variations during the PEFC operation can cause significant mechanical stresses. The effects of operating voltage and relative humidities of reactants are investigated. It is observed that high inlet humidities result in a better performance; however, it can potentially cause the polymer electrolyte membrane to go through plastic deformation irreversibly. Thermal stresses due to temperature variations are also calculated and compared with hygral stresses; and it is found that thermal stresses are not negligible but are typically a fraction of the hygral stresses in a typical PEFC operation.
Comment: Natriuretic peptides as predictive biomarkers of stroke outcome

B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), along with an inactive N-terminal peptide fragment (NT-proBNP), is secreted by cardiac ventricular myocytes in response to excessive myocardial stretching. The plasma half-life of these peptides is 0.3 and 2.0 hours, respectively, so a single measurement mostly reflects recent cardiac stress that may, for example, reflect sympathetic stimulation in response to acute stroke. Results from a variety of clinical studies indicate that these peptides may be useful as biomarkers for a variety of both cardiac and cerebrovascular events. In a carefully performed meta-analysis, Garcia-Berrocoso and colleagues1 evaluate the relationship of BNP and NT-proBNP levels with mortality following acute stroke. Although individuals in the highest quartile for either of the 2 peptides had twice the risk of death compared to the lower quartiles, only the NT-proBNP measures added slightly (additional 8.1% of patients) to the typical clinical measures for predicting stroke mortality, including age, sex, and NIH Stroke Scale score. The results do not go far enough to establish a relationship between the cause of death and the highest natriuretic levels. Some suggestive data from the ARISTOTLE trial indicate that cardiac death has an important role, but more careful studies that focus on the usefulness of measuring BNP or NT-proBNP within the first 24 hours after acute stroke, along with an analysis of the explicit causes of death, are needed.2
Geophysical evidence for the lateral distribution of free phase gas at the peat basin scale in a large northern peatland

[1] Northern peatlands contribute to the global carbon cycle by way of gas emissions in the form of biogenic carbon dioxide and methane originating in the subsurface. Determining how much gas is present and where it is trapped is essential to understanding the role of northern peatlands on the global carbon cycle, particularly in regard to methane cycling. In this study, spatial variability in free phase gas content was estimated using ground penetrating radar (GPR) along a 1.4 km transect crossing distinct peat landforms including a bog crest, midslope lawn, and fen. Variations in gas content and distribution were observed in landforms crossed by this transect. Estimated gas content up to 25% by volume was observed in landforms dominated by woody surface vegetation. In areas of the midslope lawn, the estimated gas content was greater than 15%, while estimated gas contents between 0% and 7% were found in the fen. Changes in estimated gas content of up to 20% were observed over distances of 100 m across a transition between a stand of 10 m tall trees and an adjacent fen. The mean of the estimated errors in gas content is 1.3%, suggesting that these large changes in estimated gas content between landforms can be clearly determined using geophysical methods. A geophysical image of the distribution of free phase across this transect reveals evidence for gas storage in deep peat in intervals as thin as 0.35 m. These data support conceptual models based on accumulation and storage of free phase gas in deep peat.
On the Physical Basis of the Amino Acid Polar Requirement

Understanding how codons became associated with their specific amino acids is fundamental to deriving a theory for the origin of the genetic code. Carl Woese and coworkers designed a series of experiments to test associations between amino acids and nucleobases that may have played a role in establishing the genetic code. Through these experiments it was found that a property of amino acids called the polar requirement (PR) is correlated with the organization of the codon table. No other property of amino acids has been found that correlates with the codon table as well as PR, indicating that PR is uniquely related to the modern genetic code. Using molecular dynamics simulations of amino acids in solutions of water and dimethylpyridine used to experimentally measure PR, we show that variations in the partitioning between the two phases as described by radial distribution functions correlate well with the measured PRs. Partition coefficients based on probability densities of the amino acids in each phase have the linear behavior with base concentration as suggested by PR experiments.
Cohesive Energy Calculations and the Stabilization of Partially Ionic Lattices

Abstract The cohesion of organic ionic and partially ionic lattices is dominated by Madelung, polarization, and dispersion energies. Good atom-in-molecule charges and polarizabilities are important, and the cost of partial ionization needs a quantitative description. Several current inroads into these questions are discussed.
Flow field characteristics in the near field region of particle-laden coaxial jets

The effects of solid particles on the flow structure in the near field region of a coaxial water jet are investigated non-intrusively using molecular tagging velocimetry. Glass beads of 240 μm and specific gravity SG of 2.46 are used at three volume loadings of γv=0.03, 0.06, and 0.09% in the central water jet with a Reynolds number of 4.1×104. Measurements are acquired for four annular to central jet velocity ratios in the range 0.11≤ Uo/Ui≤1.15 at downstream distances up to six inner jet diameters and the results are analyzed for the effects of solid particles on the characteristics of flow. It is found that the addition of particles does not affect the mean fluid velocity profile in this region. The results also indicate a small and moderate enhancement of axial turbulent velocity and radial gradients of velocity fluctuations, respectively, due to the presence of particles.
Micro Silver Chloride Technique for Infrared Spectrophotometry

The infrared spectra of microgram and submicrogram quantities of sample can be obtained by a new technique in which silver chloride sheet is used to prepare the supporting matrix.