cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The binary bootstrap: inference with autocorrelated binary data

We introduce the binary bootstrap for inference with autoconelated binary data. Weempirically evaluate the standard eirors and confidence intervals created with the binary bootstrap using four stochastic process with known results: Bernoulli trials, first-order Markov processes, and long customer delays in M/M/l and D/M/10 queues. The binary bootstrap has certain advantagesover the conventional batch means method for creating confidence intervals on the probability oflong delay using only one run of a discrete-event simulation
Equivalent valuations in cash flow and accounting models

This paper investigates the equivalence of equity valuation between the free cash flow model and the residual income model. Two conditions are found to be jointly sufficient for Residual Income and Free Cash Flow models to produce the same equity valuation: (a) the models’ discount rates jointly satisfy the Modigliani and Miller (Am Econ Rev 48:261–297, 1958) condition which relates discount rates for levered equity, unlevered equity, tax savings and debt, and (b) forecasts of the two models’ variables jointly satisfy the income statement and balance sheet identities. Past discussions fail by ignoring or misusing (a).
Cardiac sodium channel mutation in atrial fibrillation

Background Mutations in the sodium channel SCN5A have been implicated in many cardiac disorders, including the long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, conduction system disease, and dilated cardiomyopathy with atrial arrhythmias. Objective In view of the pleiotropic effects of SCN5A mutations, the purpose of this study was to examine a cohort of patients with familial atrial fibrillation (AF) for mutations in the SCN5A gene. Methods Probands with AF were enrolled in the study between June 1, 2001 and February 10, 2004. Each patient underwent a standardized evaluation, which included an interview, physical examination, ECG, echocardiogram, and blood sample for genetic analysis. Direct sequencing of the coding region of SCN5A was used to screen for mutations in genomic DNA. Results One hundred eighty-nine patients with AF were enrolled during the study period. From this cohort, a subset of 57 probands with a family history of AF in at least one first-degree relative was studied. Forty-seven subjects were men (82%); 45 had paroxysmal AF (79%). Echocardiography revealed ejection fraction 62% ± 6.4 % and left atrial dimension 40 ± 6.9 mm. A single mutation (N1986K) was observed in one family but was not present in more than 600 control chromosomes. Expression of the N1986K mutant in Xenopus oocytes revealed a hyperpolarizing shift in channel steady-state inactivation. Conclusion In a cohort with familial AF, a single SCN5A mutation causing the arrhythmia in one kindred was identified. These data extend the range of phenotypes observed with SCN5A mutations and suggest that variation in the SCN5A gene is not a major cause of familial AF.
Optimization of methylmethacrylate infiltration duration in undecalcified murine bone specimens

AbstractTo obtain high-quality, undecalcified bone sections,specimens must be properly fixed, dehydrated, cleared, infiltrated, embedded, sectioned, and stained. Here, we examine different infiltration durations for methylmethacrylateembedded mouse tibiae and lumbar vertebrae. Our data indicate that 24 h of vacuum infiltration allows for good sections in both lumbar vertebrae and tibiae, with minimal microtears. Furthermore, we show that with 24 h of infiltration, excellent results were obtained for all seven histochemical and immunohistochemical stains performed. In general, good results were obtained when specimens were infiltrated for 12–72 h. However, with 120 h of infiltration, the marrow retained methylmethacylate even after the sections were deplasticized. Also, when specimens were infiltrated for 6 h, they were underinfiltrated, resulting in increased numbers of microfractures in trabecular bone spicules. Therefore, in today's busy laboratory setting, in which quickly examining a bone phenotype, p...
Renin producing Wilms' tumor

A 4-yr-old boy with Wilms' tumor, hypertension, and hyperreninemia is presented. Three times as much renin was extracted from tumor tissue as from adjacent renal parenchyma, suggesting that the tumor itself was the primary source of the renin and cause of the hypertension. Other reported cases of hypertension and increased renin production with Wilms' tumor are reviewed. Hypertension is a very frequent finding in patients presenting with Wilms' tumor. The possibility that many of these neoplasms may be found to hypersecrete renin if properly investigated is discussed.
Policy Update: The multiple policy dimensions of carbon management: mitigation, adaptation and geoengineering

It is common in discussions about climate policy today to get so lost among the vast array of mitigation options that one forgets to consider the possibility of adapting to climate change, or geoen...
Cultivating HIV awareness in rural China.

What is seldom heard on the streets of Heng County is discussion about another wave that has been hitting China—a wave that also has its origins in the 1980s. The first case of AIDS in China was reported in 1985 and since then the deadly disease has been surging with little restraint. In April of 2002 the Chinese Ministry of Health released an estimate of 850 000 people infected with HIV in China a rise of more than a quarter of a million over the previous year’s figure. The United Nations however reports that cases probably number about one to one and a half million. (excerpt)
An Evaluation of California's Mandated Commodity Promotion Programs

This article provides an overview of mandated commodity programs in California, and summarizes and interprets existing evidence on their economic impacts. The analysis draws upon the recent book edited by the authors: The Economics of Commodity Promotion Programs: Lessons from California. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, April 2005. The book documents the institutional arrangements, summarizes the history of recent litigation, and presents the results of a number of benefit-cost studies of mandated commodity programs in California. The overwhelming conclusion from the studies reported in the article is that the programs have been very profitable for California's agricultural producers.
Entrepreneurial self-efficacy in Central Asian transition economies: quantitative and qualitative analyses

In both quantitative and qualitative field studies, the self-efficacy of entrepreneurs in the transition economies of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan is examined. Using a social cognitive framework, the complex interaction among these entrepreneurs' (N=133) personal characteristics, environment, and self-efficacy is analyzed by structural equation modeling. Their self-efficacy was found to have a direct and mediating impact on performance. Another sample of entrepreneurs from these countries (N=239) qualitatively assessed what they actually do in their day-to-day activities. The findings from these two studies contribute to better understanding and have implications for successful entrepreneurial practice in countries undergoing the difficult process of transition to a market economy.
Gene Expression Profiling Following In Utero Exposure to Phthalate Esters Reveals New Gene Targets in the Etiology of Testicular Dysgenesis

Male reproductive tract abnormalities associated with testicular dysgenesis in humans also occur in male rats exposed gestationally to some phthalate esters. We examined global gene expression in the fetal testis of the rat following in utero exposure to a panel of phthalate esters. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated by gavage daily from Gestational Days 12 through 19 with corn oil vehicle (1 ml/kg) or diethyl phthalate (DEP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), dioctyl tere-phthalate (DOTP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), dipentyl phthalate (DPP), or benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) at 500 mg/kg per day. Testes were isolated on Gestational Day 19, and global changes in gene expression were determined. Of the approximately 30 000 genes queried, expression of 391 genes was significantly altered following exposure to the developmentally toxic phthalates (DBP, BBP, DPP, and DEHP) relative to the control. The developmentally toxic phthalates were indistinguishable in their effects on global gene expression. No significant changes in gene expression were detected in the nondevelopmentally toxic phthalate group (DMP, DEP, and DOTP). Gene pathways disrupted include those previously identified as targets for DBP, including cholesterol transport and steroidogenesis, as well as newly identified pathways involved in intracellular lipid and cholesterol homeostasis, insulin signaling, transcriptional regulation, and oxidative stress. Additional gene targets include alpha inhibin, which is essential for normal Sertoli cell development, and genes involved with communication between Sertoli cells and gonocytes. The common targeting of these genes by a select group of phthalates indicates a role for their associated molecular pathways in testicular development and offers new insight into the molecular mechanisms of testicular dysgenesis.
Monaural Speech Separation using Source-Adapted Models

We propose a model-based source separation system for use on single channel speech mixtures where the precise source characteristics are not known a priori. We do this by representing the space of source variation with a parametric signal model based on the eigenvoice technique for rapid speaker adaptation. We present an algorithm to infer the characteristics of the sources present in a mixture, allowing for significantly improved separation performance over that obtained using unadapted source models. The algorithm is evaluated on the task defined in the 2006 Speech Separation Challenge [1] and compared with separation using source-dependent models.
Changes in ice dynamics and mass balance of the Antarctic ice sheet

The concept that the Antarctic ice sheet changes with eternal slowness has been challenged by recent observations from satellites. Pronounced regional warming in the Antarctic Peninsula triggered ice shelf collapse, which led to a 10-fold increase in glacier flow and rapid ice sheet retreat. This chain of events illustrated the vulnerability of ice shelves to climate warming and their buffering role on the mass balance of Antarctica. In West Antarctica, the Pine Island Bay sector is draining far more ice into the ocean than is stored upstream from snow accumulation. This sector could raise sea level by 1m and trigger widespread retreat of ice in West Antarctica. Pine Island Glacier accelerated 38% since 1975, and most of the speed up took place over the last decade. Its neighbour Thwaites Glacier is widening up and may double its width when its weakened eastern ice shelf breaks up. Widespread acceleration in this sector may be caused by glacier ungrounding from ice shelf melting by an ocean that has recently warmed by 0.3 degrees C. In contrast, glaciers buffered from oceanic change by large ice shelves have only small contributions to sea level. In East Antarctica, many glaciers are close to a state of mass balance, but sectors grounded well below sea level, such as Cook Ice Shelf, Ninnis/Mertz, Frost and Totten glaciers, are thinning and losing mass. Hence, East Antarctica is not immune to changes.
A Museum of Living Architecture

Abstract This paper explores the design and construction of the Des Moines Art Center, revealing a set of distinct approaches to both architectural design and the preservation and extension of existing though not yet historic work. Three architects, Eliel Saarinen, I.M. Pei, and Richard Meier, designed the center in three separate phases. Each of these projects had to take the existing fabric of landscape and building into account, and each adopted startlingly distinctive methods for both preserving and extending the work of their predecessors. The resulting museum, seen as a place for experiencing and making art, and as a record of architectural strategies, forms a unique opportunity for investigation of and reflection upon attitudes toward renovation, preservation, extension, and alteration of recently completed work.
Showdown at Kykuit: Field-Configuring Events as Loci for Conventionalizing Accounts

Despite the centrality of fields as a concept in organizational research, the processes by which fields form and change have not been studied in great depth. By situating action in time and space, field-configuring events (FCEs) offer valuable settings for researchers seeking insight into such processes. This paper develops a theory of accounts as a way to understand a mechanism by which institutional entrepreneurs seek to shape fields and influence the institutions that govern them. Actors produce and distribute justified accounts – narratives that describe the way work in the field ought to be done – and attempt to persuade powerful actors in the field to adopt them as conventions. FCEs can thus be understood as loci for conventionalizing accounts. The theory of accounts and field-level change is illustrated with a case study of a turning point FCE during which competing institutional entrepreneurs in the field of ‘non-profit technology assistance providers’ present alternative accounts. Successful institutional entrepreneurship comes from recognizing political opportunities to align one's account with the dominant orders of worth in the field, thereby convincing powerful actors to accept one's account as convention.
Performance evaluation of the Red Storm dual-core upgrade

In 2007, the Cray Red Storm system at Sandia National Laboratories completed an upgrade of the processor and network hardware. Single-core 2.0 GHz AMD Opteron processors were replaced with dual-core 2.4 GHz AMD Opterons, while the network interface hardware was upgraded from a sustained rate of 1.1 GBps to 2.0 GBps (without changing the router link rates). These changes more than doubled the theoretical peak floating-point performance of the compute nodes and doubled the bandwidth performance of the network. This paper provides an analysis of the impact of this upgrade on the performance of several applications and micro-benchmarks. Performance results show that the additional core provides a performance boost of 20–50p for real applications on a fixed problem size per-socket basis on up to 2048 cores and that scalability is impacted relatively little by the upgrade. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Efficient Data Compression in Wireless Sensor Networks for Civil Infrastructure Health Monitoring

In this paper, we present an efficient sensor data compression process for civil infrastructure health monitoring applications. It integrates lifting scheme wavelet transform (LSWT) and distributed source coding (DSC), which can reduce the raw data size by 1:27 to 1:80 while having a minor effect on the modal parameters identified from the sensor data. We have compared our algorithms with other data compression algorithms for structural health monitoring. Results show that our algorithms can achieve 80% ~ 100% higher compression ratios with the same signal-restoration quality
suppressor of sessile spikelets1 Functions in the ramosa Pathway Controlling Meristem Determinacy in Maize

The spikelet, which is a short branch bearing the florets, is the fundamental unit of grass inflorescence architecture. In most grasses, spikelets are borne singly on the inflorescence. However, paired spikelets are characteristic of the Andropogoneae, a tribe of 1,000 species including maize (Zea mays). The Suppressor of sessile spikelets1 (Sos1) mutant of maize produces single instead of paired spikelets in the inflorescence. Therefore, the sos1 gene may have been involved in the evolution of paired spikelets. In this article, we show that Sos1 is a semidominant, antimorph mutation. Sos1 mutants have fewer branches and spikelets for two reasons: (1) fewer spikelet pair meristems are produced due to defects in inflorescence meristem size and (2) the spikelet pair meristems that are produced make one instead of two spikelet meristems. The interaction of Sos1 with the ramosa mutants, which produce more branches and spikelets, was investigated. The results show that Sos1 has an epistatic interaction with ramosa1 (ra1), a synergistic interaction with ra2, and an additive interaction with ra3. Moreover, ra1 mRNA levels are reduced in Sos1 mutants, while ra2 and ra3 mRNA levels are unaffected. Based on these genetic and expression studies, we propose that sos1 functions in the ra1 branch of the ramosa pathway controlling meristem determinacy.
A U-rich element in the 5' untranslated region is necessary for the translation of p27 mRNA.

Increased translation of p27 mRNA correlates with withdrawal of cells from the cell cycle. This raised the possibility that antimitogenic signals might mediate their effects on p27 expression by altering complexes that formed on p27 mRNA, regulating its translation. In this report, we identify a U-rich sequence in the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR) of p27 mRNA that is necessary for efficient translation in proliferating and nonproliferating cells. We show that a number of factors bind to the 5′UTR in vitro in a manner dependent on the U-rich element, and their availability in the cytosol is controlled in a growth- and cell cycle-dependent fashion. One of these factors is HuR, a protein previously implicated in mRNA stability, transport, and translation. Another is hnRNP C1 and C2, proteins implicated in mRNA processing and the translation of a specific subset of mRNAs expressed in differentiated cells. In lovastatin-treated MDA468 cells, the mobility of the associated hnRNP C1 and C2 proteins changed, and this correlated with increased p27 expression. Together, these data suggest that the U-rich dependent RNP complex on the 5′UTR may regulate the translation of p27 mRNA and may be a target of antimitogenic signals.
Low-cost low-power small-form-factor node for health monitoring wireless multi-hop Personal Area Networks with Dramatically Increased Range

The individual components comprising a low-cost, low-power, small-form-factor wireless sensor node for simultaneous ECG and temperature monitoring over wireless personal area networks of dramatically increased range, have been successfully designed, tested and presented. A circular patch antenna has been created that can be integrated, the substrate material of which has been chosen in order to optimize size and reduce radiation lost from interactions with the body. In the future, our work will focus on adding extra reliability measures related to data traffic issues, introducing security layers in the WPAN and optimizing the design of the patch antenna for further miniaturization.
Cultural Science in Literary Light

On the basis of the author’s earlier “construction” of Alfred Schutz’s Sociological Aspect of Literature, it is shown how the themes and approaches of psychology, social science, and the historical sciences are clarified by him with references to aspects of literature.
A Trend Analysis of the 1930–2010 Extreme Heat Events in the Continental United States*,+

Extreme heat events (EHEs) are linked to mortality rates, making them an important research subject in both the climate and public health fields. This study evaluated linear trends in EHEs using the U.S. Historical Climatology Network (USHCN), version 2.0, dataset and quantified the longer-term EHE trends across the continental United States (CONUS). The USHCN-daily, version 1, dataset was integrated with the homogenized USHCN-monthly, version 2.0, dataset to create daily data for trend analysis. Time series and estimatedtrendsinmultiplecharacteristicsofEHEs(number,totaldays,meanduration,etc.)werecalculated as were the continental means and spatial maps. The differences between EHEs based on daily maximum temperatures, minimum temperatures, and both minimum and maximum temperatures were explored. To focus on warming and cooling periods, the trends were also estimated separately over thefirst half and second half of the study period (1930‐2010). The results indicated that the trends for different EHE characteristics were coherent (e.g., temporally correlated, similar spatial pattern of trends). Maps indicated negative trends in the interior of the CONUS and positive trends in coastal and southern areas. Continental-scale increases between 1970 and 2010 were mostly offset by the decreases between 1930 and 1970. Several daily maximum (minimum) EHEs near the 1930s (2000s) led to 1930‐2010 trends of daily maximum (minimum) EHEs decreasing (increasing). Last, the results suggest that linear trends depend on which daily temperature extreme is required to exceed the threshold.
The Preferred Substrate for RecA-Mediated Cleavage of Bacteriophage 434 Repressor Is the DNA-Bound Dimer

Induction of a lysogen of a lambdoid bacteriophage usually involves RecA-stimulated autoproteolysis of the bacteriophage repressor protein. Previous work on the phage repressors showed that the monomeric form of the protein is the target of RecA. Our previous work indicated that in the case of bacteriophage 434, virtually none of the repressor is present as a monomer in vivo. Hence, if the repressor in a lysogen is present as a dimer, how can RecA-stimulated autoproteolysis play a role in bacteriophage induction? We examined this question by determining the rate of RecA-stimulated 434 repressor cleavage as a function of repressor concentration and added DNA. Our results show that binding of 434 repressor to a specific DNA binding site dramatically increases the velocity of repressor autocleavage compared to the velocity of cleavage of the monomer and concentration-induced dimer. DNA binding-deficient hemidimers formed between the intact repressor and its C-terminal domain fragment have a lower rate of cleavage than DNA-bound dimers. These results show that the DNA-bound 434 repressor dimer, which is the form of the repressor that is required for its transcriptional regulatory functions, is the preferred form for RecA-stimulated autocleavage. We also show that the rate of repressor autocleavage is influenced by the sequence of the bound DNA. Kinetic analysis of the autocleavage reaction indicated that the DNA sequence influences the velocity of 434 repressor autocleavage by affecting the affinity of the repressor-DNA complex for RecA, not the chemical cleavage step. Regardless of the mechanism, the finding that the presence and precise sequence of DNA modulate the autocleavage reaction shows that DNA allosterically affects the function of 434 repressor.
Synthesis and pharmacology of potential cocaine antagonists. 2. Structure-activity relationship studies of aromatic ring-substituted methylphenidate analogs

accomplished by alkylation of 2-bromopyridine with anions derived from various substituted phenylacetonitriles. In most cases, erythro compounds were markedly less potent than the corresponding (()-threo-methylphenidate (TMP; Ritalin) derivatives. The ortho-substituted compounds were much less potent than the corresponding meta- and/or para-substituted derivatives. The most potent compound against [ 3 H]WIN 35,428 binding, m-bromo-TMP, was 20-fold more potent than the parent compound, whereas the most potent compound against [ 3 H]dopamine uptake, m,p-dichloro-TMP, was 32-fold more potent. Threo derivatives with morp-halo substituents were more potent than TMP, while electron-donating substituents caused little change or a small loss of potency. All of the derivatives had Hill coefficients approaching unity, except m,p-dichloro-TMP, which had an nH of 2.0. Although the potency of the (()methylphenidate derivatives in the two assays was highly correlated (R 2 ) 0.986), the compoundsm-chloro-,m-methyl-, andp-iodo-TMP were 4-5-fold more potent at inhibiting [ 3 H]WIN 35,428 binding than [ 3 H]dopamine uptake (cocaine has a ratio of 2.3). These and other compounds may be promising candidates for further testing as potential partial agonists or antagonists of cocaine.
Carcinoid syndrome and perioperative anesthetic considerations

Carcinoid tumors are uncommon, slow-growing neoplasms. These tumors are capable of secreting numerous bioactive substances, which results in significant potential challenges in the management of patients afflicted with carcinoid syndrome. Over the past two decades, both surgical and medical therapeutic options have broadened, resulting in improved outcomes. The pathophysiology, clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and perioperative management, including anesthetic considerations, of carcinoid syndrome are presented.
Openness to Foreign Direct Investment in Services: An International Comparative Analysis

This paper quantifies and analyses the extent of restrictions on inward foreign direct investment (FDI) in the service sector in developed and developing countries. Services account for an increasing share of global FDI. Recognition of the economic benefits of FDI clashes with nationalistic economic, political and national security concerns about foreign takeover of ‘strategic’ sectors, such as telecommunications, finance and transport. Consequently, almost all countries impose restrictions on FDI in services. Several different types of restrictions are considered: limitations on foreign ownership, screening or notification procedures, management restrictions and operational restrictions. These restrictions on FDI are computed at the industry level and then aggregated into a single measure for the service sector as a whole for 23 developed and 50 developing countries. Notwithstanding the worldwide trend towards liberalisation of restrictions, there remain substantial disparities between regions and individual countries in the severity of restrictions on inward FDI in services. The lowest restriction scores are in Europe and Latin America, whereas East Asia, South Asia and the Middle East have the highest levels of restrictions. The evolution over time of FDI restrictions is also presented for developed countries over the period 1981–2005, showing liberalisation in all countries, especially since the early 1990s, although to varying extents across countries. The severity of restrictions also differs considerably by sector, with electricity, telecommunications, transport and finance most restricted. The paper also finds a strong negative correlation of restrictiveness with inward stocks of FDI in services, suggesting that restrictions impede FDI.
A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SANDSTONE AND LIMESTONE AS CULTCH FOR OYSTERS, CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA

Abstract Field studies were conducted to compare quartzitic sandstone to siliceous limestone in its ability to collect oyster spat, and to determine if sandstone is a suitable cultch for oysters. Thirty bags of sandstone and 30 bags of limestone were placed on each of 3 sites in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana–South Sister Lake (SSL), North Sister Lake (NSL), and Bay Junop. The bags were deployed in late May and retrieved in early to mid July. (The Bay Junop bags were missing upon retrieval.) All recruits to the substrate (live spat, articulated dead shells and single shells) were counted as spat. South Sister Lake had higher salinities and higher spatfall than did NSL. The mean number of oyster spat per bag at SSL was 2156.5 for limestone and 338.5 for sandstone; at NSL mean number of spat per bag was 315.3 for limestone and 16.8 for sandstone. The difference between sandstone and limestone was highly significant (P < 0.0001) at both sites. There was thus a clear preference of oyster larvae for limestone at...
REGION-SPECIFIC RECOMBINATION IN PHAGE T4. III. THE EFFECT OF HOST MUTATIONS ON GLUCOSYLATION-DEPENDENT RECOMBINATION IN BACTERIOPHAGE T4D

Mutations in the Escherichia coli genes recK, recL and (probably) uvrE and polA increase special (glucosylation-dependent), but not general recombination in bactriophage T4D.
Failed Citizenship, Civic Engagement, and Education

AbstractMany racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious groups are denied structural inclusion into their nation-state. Consequently, they do not internalize the values and symbols of the nation-state, develop a strong identity with it, or acquire political efficacy. The author conceptualizes this process as “failed citizenship,” compares and contrasts it with “successful citizenship,” and describes the role of schools in reducing failed citizenship and helping marginalized groups become successful and efficacious citizens in multicultural nation-states.
Seikan Undersea Tunnel

The 5.5m diameter Seikan Tunnel in Japan will extend 54 kilometers, crossing under the Tsugaru Straits. When completed the –2 billion tunnel will be the longest in the world, and will carry both standard-gauge rail traffic as well as the 260 km/hr Shinkansen passenger express trains. To construct this tunnel, however, it has been necessary to go through extremely difficult geologic conditions, including about a dozen major faults, volcanic strata, and areas with water bearing formations transmitting up to the full 250-meter hydrostatic head from the sea above. The main construction procedures are outlined, including excavation of a pilot bore and service bore as well as the main tunnel. Long horizontal exploratory drilling has been employed, and excavation itself is preceded by extensive chemical grouting.
Differences between patient and caregiver ratings of advanced cancer patients' quality of life and correlates of their disagreement.

9560 Background: Assessment of patient quality of life (QoL) by surrogates, particularly informal caregivers (e.g. spouse), is important to the care of advanced cancer patients. However, accuracy of such surrogate QoL assessments has been questioned. This study sought to assess differences between patients’ QoL self-assessments compared to assessments by their informal caregivers, and to determine characteristics associated with the disagreement. Methods: Data from 570 advanced cancer patient-caregiver dyads participating in the multi-site, Coping with Cancer study were included. Patients assessed their QoL with the McGill QoL questionnaire. Caregivers estimated patients’ QoL using the same questionnaire. Paired t-tests were used to compare the dyadic estimates of QoL scores. Multiple linear regression (MVA) was performed to examine factors potentially associated with the difference in dyadic QoL estimates. Results: Caregivers’ mean age was 53 years, 71% were female, and 51% were spouses. The overall mean...
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH IN SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION

These comments are based on my experience reviewing projects during the past 10 years in the Division of Research, Evaluation, and Communication of the National Science Foundation. Our division supports applied and basic research for the purpose of improving mathematics and science education in U.S. schools. With the assistance of advisory panels of published researchers in the study fields, program officers fund about 50 new projects each year and evaluate the progress of approximately another 100 projects. SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON EDUCATION Few of the best proposals to our programs are developed by or with researchers trained in the sociology of education; only 2 projects out of 160 active awards in 2000 came from departments of sociology. Most studies of education are not placed in sociological theoretical frameworks, yet they could be. Reviewers would give consi deration to education studies that explore broader social systems or social psycho logical behaviors, but few such studies are proposed. Nevertheless, many of the research topics submitted for review involve some aspect of sociological investigation, such as the use of techniques that have been developed and taught by sociologists for conducting survey research, statistical analysis, qualitative analysis, and single case studies. Other sociological concepts such as status, human interaction, and the role of whole systems in change are commonly used in many projects.
Transphyseal Femoral Neck Fracture in a Twenty-Month Old Male Child

Transphyseal femoral neck fractures are an extremely rare event, mainly occurring in children subjected to an significant traumatic force. The diagnosis is usually suggested by clinical examination with radiographic confirmation. Management varies; however, no consensus exists as to proper treatment. Intervention is primarily focused on the prevention of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral epiphysis. We present the case of a 20-month-old male with a delayed diagnosis of transphyseal femoral neck fracture. X-ray (XR) and computed tomography (CT) scan images were used for diagnosis, to track healing, and monitor the possible emergence of avascular necrosis. Final imaging demonstrated full healing without AVN at two years. This study demonstrates the successful treatment of a rare pediatric fracture type with possible life-changing complications. Reduction, surgical fixation with K-wires, and spica casting are demonstrated as being acceptable treatment in the very young transphyseal fracture patient.
A Scheme of Network Partition and Restoration in MPLS Networks

Due to the increasing of network service,current centralized restoration schemes are no longer matched for the increasing of the scale and complexity of networks.A novel network partition scheme for MPLS is proposed in this paper.A large scale network can be partitioned into several domains in this scheme.In each domain distributed failure management and distributed restoration is adopted.The relevant distributed restoration scheme is given.
Revascularizing the Myocardium

A revolutionary advance in diagnosis—selective coronary arteriography—opened the way to n revolution in surgery that has already provided relief from severe myocardial ischemia for thousands of patients. The three main categories of surgery currently in use for this purpose are described and suggestions given on how to extend their benefits to millions of patients with coronary artery disease.
Pharmacokinetics of (-)-β-D-2,6-Diaminopurine Dioxolane and its Metabolite, Dioxolane Guanosine, in Woodchucks (Marmota Monax)

The woodchuck (Marmota monax) is a useful animal model for evaluating the in-vivo efficacy of antiviral agents against hepatitis B viral infection (HBV). The pharmacokinetics of a newly synthesized antiviral agent (-)-β-D-2,6-diaminopurine dioxolane (DAPD) in woodchucks is reported. DAPD is a nucleoside analogue, having potent and selective activity against human immunodeficiency virus and HBV in vitro. DAPD is susceptible to deamination in vivo by the ubiquitously present enzyme adenosine deaminase yielding the active metabolite dioxolane guanosine (DXG). The pharmacokinetics of DAPD and DXG were characterized following intravenous (i.v.) and oral (p.o.) administration of 20 mg kg−1 of DAPD to woodchucks. Plasma and urine samples were collected, and nucleoside concentrations were determined by HPLC. Following intravenous administration, the half-life of DAPD averaged 6.7 ± 4.3 h, and that of DXG averaged 17.6 ± 14.5 h. The mean total clearance and steady state volume of distribution of DAPD were 0.33 ± 0...
Protein stabilization by naturally occurring osmolytes.

Natural selection is believed to be an unforgiving and relentless force in the evolution of life on earth. An organism that cannot adapt to a changing environment or an environment hostile to cell functions is at risk as a species. So it is important to understand the mechanisms used by plants, animals, and microorganisms in adapting to environments in the biosphere that would ordinarily denature proteins or otherwise cause disruption of life-giving cellular processes. These hostile environments involve such stresses as extremes of temperature, cellular dehydration, desiccation, high extracellular salt environments, and even the presence of denaturing concentrations of urea inside cells (1). It has been recognized for some time that many plants, animals, and microorganisms that have adapted to environmental extremes also accumulate significant intracellular concentrations of small organic molecules (1–4). From these (and other) observations comes the hypothesis that these small organic molecules, called osmolytes, have the ability to protect the cellular components against denaturing environmental stresses (1–5). In this chapter, we seek to understand the molecular-
Late Postoperative Changes Following Closure of Secundum Atrial Septal Defect

Right ventricular dilatation is the hallmark of patients with left to right shunts across an atrial septal defect. Echocardiography has made it possible to confirm the clinical diagnosis non-invasively by recording a large right ventricle and ventricular outflow tract. Closure of these defects is recommended routinely in order to prevent heart failure or pulmonary hypertension from developing in the fourth or fifth decade of life as a result of chronic right ventricular dilatation and increased pulmonary blood flow. Reduction of heart size in the majority of adult patients was not achieved by closure of the atrial defect in early adulthood. Therefore, earlier surgical repair of the defect was recommended and has been practiced in recent years in order to promote normalization of these hearts.
Career and staff development: a convergence

Point de vue d'un responsable de bibliotheque concerne par les carrieres des membres de son equipe, par le developpement et la promotion de leurs competences pour des raisons d'efficacite organisationnelle, de flexibilite…
cusFFT: A High-Performance Sparse Fast Fourier Transform Algorithm on GPUs

The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is one of the most important numerical tools widely used in many scientific and engineering applications. The algorithm performs O(nlogn) operations on n input data points in order to calculate only small number of k large coefficients, while the rest of n - k numbers are zero or negligibly small. The algorithm is clearly inefficient, when n points input data lead to only k
Benchmarking presidents’ compensations in institutions of higher education relative to sustainability and other institutional practices

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the strategic effects of academic institutional factors including environmental, social, and economic sustainability indices on the compensation of the president of an institution of higher education (IHE). The objective is to build relationships among variables to benchmark compensation measures for IHE presidents across US universities to proliferate sustainability initiatives. Some of the variables of the study were environmental sustainability, social sustainability, cost efficiency as a measure of economic sustainability, tenure, institutional control of the university such as public or private fundraising reputation, endowment and professor’s salary. Design/methodology/approach – In total, 236 universities have been included in the study. The data for various dependent variables were studied to see the relationship between the independent and select dependent variables. The OLS regression approach was used to ascertain the relationships between t...
Fucosylation of Cord Blood CD34+ Cells Improves the Rate of Engraftment without Compromising Long-Term Engraftment.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Delayed engraftment following cord blood (CB) transplantation remains a major challenge. While cell dose is clearly limiting, CB-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) also appear to have a deficit in homing and engraftment. CB HSC have low levels of surface fucosylation. Increasing the level of surface fucosylation might improve interactions with selectins expressed by the microvasculature of the hematopoietic microenvironment, potentially improving homing and engraftment. METHODS: Human CB CD34+ were fucosylated using a recombinant fucosyltransferase (FTVI, Engraftin™, America Stem Cell, Inc., Carlsbad, CA) prior to injection into sublethally-irradiated NOD-SCID IL-2Rγnull mice. Levels of fucosylation were determined by flow cytometry using an anti-sialyl Lewis X antibody (a fucosylated selectin ligand). Each mouse received ∼4.5x104 CD34+ cells. The rate of engraftment was measured by the appearance of human CD45+ cells in the peripheral blood (PB). Following engraftment, multi-lineage reconstitution was measured (lymphoid, myeloid, platelet and erythroid). At termination (11 weeks post-transplant), levels of multi-lineage human engraftment were measured in PB, bone marrow (BM) and spleen. RESULTS: 1% of CD34+ cells in non-fucosylated samples were heavily fucosylated as compared to >90% in the FTVI-treated sample, confirming that significant de novo fucosylation of CD34+ cells had occurred.(Fig 1) Human engraftment was detected in mice receiving CD34+ cells treated with FTVI ∼2 weeks after transplant, and by ∼3 weeks had reached >1%. In mice receiving non-FTVI-treated CD34+ cells, 1% human engraftment was only realized >4 weeks after transplant. By this time human engraftment in the mice receiving FTVI-treated cells was 5-fold higher.(Fig 2) At 11 weeks post transplant, human engraftment was present in both groups in PB (10±1% vs. 4±1%), BM (33±1% vs. 43±1%) and spleen (42±1% vs. 31±2%). Further, in both groups, evidence of a similar pattern of multi-lineage engraftment was observed in PB, BM and spleen. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that increasing the levels of fucosylation of CB CD34+ cells using FTVI, dramatically improved the rate of engraftment, provided multi-lineage reconstitution and did not adversely effect long-term engraftment. This study supports further clinical development of fucosylation as a method of improving CB transplantation. Download : Download high-res image (102KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure 1 . Download : Download high-res image (132KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure 2 .
Philosophers, Physicists, and the Time Travel Paradoxes

More than 30 years ago Quentin Smith, a philosopher who believes in a finite length to the past, wrote a refutation to those who believe in an infinite past and, while that paper has nothing to do with the paradoxes of time travel, in the course of presenting his reasoning he included the following curious passage:
Measuring the (Good) Solvent Quality of Water for Disordered Proteins from a Single SAXS Measurement

Significance: Proteins adopt non-native geometries during their synthesis, folding, transport, and turnover and a significant fraction of the proteome is intrinsically disordered. The characterization of disordered proteins is challenging in part due to difficulties in the interpretation of techniques including SAXS and FRET. We have developed a method to extract the dimensions and solvent quality from a single SAXS measurement. We apply it to intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), finding them to be expanded in water, which behaves as a good solvent.Abstract: SAXS has been used to measure the properties of denatured proteins and IDPs. Many ensembles are expanded in water, with little dependence on denaturant. These findings appear at odds with FRET studies, suggesting issues with data interpretation. We conduct SAXS measurements on IDPs up to 334 residues using in-line size-exclusion chromatography. The IDPs are expanded and the Flory exponent, describing the solvent quality and a chain's collapse propensity, is ν∼0.53. This value is between the ideal self-avoiding random walk (ν=0.59) and the theta solvent limit (ν=½) where intra-chain attraction exactly counterbalances excluded volume terms. Addition of denaturants results in a mild expansion, most noticeable in longer sequences, and an increase in ν to 0.59. Simulations generate a molecular form factor applicable to IDPs that can be used to determine the Rg and ν from a single measurement. The methodology is robust (hetero- or homopolymers, energy function, Ramachandran maps). This new analysis procedure and the dependence on chain length, along with recent FRET studies, largely resolves the controversy concerning the dimensions disordered proteins in water. These studies reaffirm that an early stable collapse often is not the first step in folding of single domain proteins upon dilution of denaturant.
Disease and Gender Gaps in Human Capital Investment: Evidence from Niger's 1986 Meningitis Epidemic

This paper examines whether disease burdens, especially prevalent in the tropics, contribute significantly to widening gender gaps in educational attainment. We estimate the impact of sudden exposure to the 1986 meningitis epidemic in Niger on girls' education relative to boys. Our results suggest that increases in meningitis cases during epidemic years significantly reduce years of education disproportionately for primary school-aged going girls in areas with higher meningitis exposure. There is no significant effect for boys in the same cohort and no effects of meningitis exposure for non-epidemic years. Our findings have broader implications for climate-induced disease effects on social inequality.
Arthroscopic Mechanical Chondroplasty of the Knee Is Beneficial for Treatment of Focal Cartilage Lesions in the Absence of Concurrent Pathology.

Background:Articular cartilage lacks the ability for intrinsic repair after acute injury, and focal articular cartilage lesions cause significant morbidity worldwide. Arthroscopic debridement (chon...
Secure Online Transaction Algorithm: Securing Online Transaction Using Two-Factor Authentication

Abstract Identity theft is a very scary and real threat to everyone. In an attempt to give people peace of mind a new algorithm of mitigating risk is presented, the Secure Online Transaction Algorithm (SOTA). The proposed SOTA seeks to use two-factor authentication with the random codes. This form of user authentication has become widely accepted and many companies have started to implement this security feature. This can be utilized to identify users and establish secure way of purchasing items online. The proposed SOTA uses mobile devices to log into card accounts via an application to view the randomly generated code. This is then inputted on an online retailer’s website when prompted in order to authenticate the individual making the purchase. This minimizes the possibility that an illegitimate user can use someone else’s information to make fraudulent purchases. Without a valid code, identity thieves cannot use the stolen card information to make purchases. This in turns protects both the consumer and the credit card companies, which could be harmed financially. In order to better understand how our model could protect someone from having a stolen credit card used, we provide one case study to showcase the security.
Reframing language allocation policy in dual language bilingual education

This article addresses language allocation policies in what is increasingly called “Dual Language Education” (DLE) in the U.S., offering a challenge to the strict language separation policies in th...
Inpatient morbidity after spinal deformity surgery in patients with movement disorders.

Background: To investigate the inpatient perioperative morbidity rate of patients with movement disorders (MD) after spinal deformity surgery. Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2002 to 2011 was queried to identify adult patients with MD who underwent spinal deformity surgery. Complication rates were compared between patients with MD and controls. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the effect of MD on outcome. Results: A total of 365 patients with MD (3.3%) were identified among 11,043 patients undergoing surgery for spinal deformity. Patients with MD were on average 8 years older than the control group (67 vs . 59 years of age, P Conclusions: Patients with MD who undergo spinal deformity surgery may be at risk of higher rate of complications compared to patients without these disorders.