cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The dubious utility of the value-added concept in higher education: the case of accounting

Abstract Using data on CPA exam pass rates and various institutional variables, this research examines the potential usefulness of the value-added concept in accounting higher education. For a sample of 548 US colleges and universities, predicted pass rates were computed from regression equations relating observed pass rates to institutional variables. The value-added (or “adjusted”) pass rate is the difference between the observed (“unadjusted”) pass rate and the predicted pass rate. Because of the low explanatory power of the pass rate regression equations, a strong positive correlation exists between the adjusted pass rate and the unadjusted pass rate. Thus, a ranking of institutions by adjusted pass rate would be very similar to a ranking by unadjusted pass rate. In addition, for conventional levels of statistical confidence, judgments about relative CPA exam pass rate performance based on value-added statistics can only be made for a small number of institutions.
Morphological Structures in the Language of Disadvantaged and Advantaged Children

Two groups of preschool children, 25 culturally disadvantaged and 25 culturally advantaged, were matched by mental age and compared in their ability to apply morphological rules to unfamiliar situa...
Energetic and magnetosheath energy particle signatures of the low-latitude boundary layer at low altitudes near noon

The low-latitude boundary layer (LBL) and its separation from the cusp have previously been identified using observations of particle precipitation at magnetosheath energies. Using S3-3 satellite observations, we have determined that these identifications can also be made from energetic particle observations on polar-orbiting satellites. It is found that the equatorward boundary of the LBL is identifiable as an approximately discontinuous decrease in 33-keV electron fluxes from low to high latitudes. Both the energetic ion and electron fluxes decrease discontinuously at the boundary between the LBL and the cusp or polar cap. A distinct LBL is nearly always identifiable in energetic particle measurements in the 10-14 MLT region when counting rates are statistically significant. The identifications obtained using the energetic particle measurements have been compared to those obtained using criteria developed by Newell and Meng (1988, 1989) for magnetosheath energy particle precipitation. In this way, we have evaluated the accuracy of both techniques and used the energetic particle measurements to supplement the identifications obtained using the Newell and Meng criteria. We propose that the Newell and Meng threshold on ion energy flux can be reduced by a factor of 6. This modification provides identification of the LBL for lower ion intensity levels than has previously been thought possible. Source, acceleration, and scattering processes have also been studied within and in the vicinity of the LBL. Observed trapped pitch angle distributions of energetic electrons imply that the LBL is at least partially on closed field lines. Strong scattering of energetic protons is found within and equatorward of the LBL and thus must occur at least partially along closed field lines. Field-aligned electron acceleration by parallel electric fields can be discerned within and poleward of the LBL, but a more detailed analysis is necessary for a statistical study. Conical ion acceleration was seen relatively frequently within the LBL and about half as often poleward of the LBL. Neither acceleration process could be identified anywhere equatorward of the LBL.
Segregation of Loci for C-Type Virus Induction in Strains of Mice with High and Low Incidence of Leukemia

Multiple genetic loci for induction of murine leukemia viruses are demonstrated in cells of the high leukemic incidence C58 mouse strain. The biologic properties of viruses at C58 inducibility loci are clearly distinguishable from those of viruses activated from mouse cells containing a locus for virus induction of the low leukemia incidence BALB/c strain. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the genes for virus induction in normal mouse embryo cells represent viral structural information.
Planar shape representation and matching under projective transformation

This paper introduces a new representation for planar objects which is invariant to projective transformation. Proposed representation relies on a new shape basis which we refer to as the conic basis. The conic basis takes conic-section coefficients as its dimensions and represents the object as a convex combination of conic-sections. Pairs of conic-sections in this new basis and their projective invariants provides the proposed view invariant representation. We hypothesize that two projectively transformed versions of an object result in the same representation. We show that our hypothesis provides promising recognition performance when we use the nearest neighbor rule to match projectively deformed objects.
Delayed differentiation in embryonic stem cells and mesodermal progenitors in the absence of CtBP2

Mammalian embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are characterized by an ability to self-renew and give rise to each of the three germ layers. ESCs are a pluripotential source of numerous primitive progenitors and committed lineages and can make stoichiometric decisions leading to either asymmetric or symmetric cell division. Several genes have been identified as essential for maintenance of self-renewal, but few non-lineage specific genes have been identified as essential for differentiation. We selected the chromatin factor Ctbp2 from microarray data for its enriched expression in stem cells, in comparison to committed progenitors. RNA interference (RNAi) was used to knockdown gene expression in mouse ESCs and the potential for transduced cells to self-renew and differentiate was assessed in ESC and mesodermal assays. Here, we demonstrate an important role for Ctbp2 in stem cell maintenance and regulation of differentiation using an in vitro system. The knockdown of Ctbp2 increases the prevalence of ESCs in culture, delays differentiation induced by LIF withdrawal, and introduces developmental changes in mesodermal differentiation. A model is presented for the importance of Ctbp2 in maintaining a balance in decisions to self-renewal and differentiate.
Multiple pulmonary lesions in a patient treated with BCNU (1,3-BIS(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea) for glioblastoma multiforme

A patient with a glioblastoma multiforme who was treated with BCNU, developed rapidly progressive pulmonary disease. The pulmonary changes were studied pathologically and included atypical alveolar cell hyperplasia, hyaline membranes, and interstitial fibrosis. These lesions contributed to the patient's demise and may be related to the administration of BCNU.
The impact of the Iranian shortfall in the USA

Abstract The chaotic reaction in the USA to curtailed exports of crude oil from Iran following the downfall of the Shah exposed the vulnerability of the distribution system to shifts in production. Although US dependence on Iranian supply was not large, domestic refining and production activity was highly correlated with imports from that country. The integrated nature of the international petroleum industry together with minimum inventories and subsequent conservative refinery runs brought the shortfall, unexpectedly, to some regions like the west coast. Though active in the ensuing petrol crisis, the oil companies and the federal government were unable to deal with the emergency effectively.
Application of modern optimal control theory to environmental control of confined spaces and life support systems

Environmental control of confined spaces and life support systems by Pontryagin maximum principle of optimal control theory, discussing cabins, heat exchanger, etc
Effective electron-electron interactions and the theory of superconductivity

Electron pairing is examined from a viewpoint which treats electron-electron interactions first (both in a single band and two-band context) and only later adds in electron-phonon coupling. We report solutions to the Eliashberg equation for the one- and two-band interacting electron gas, in the absence of phonons and then with phonons included, using effective electron-electron interactions that are closely constrained by sum rules. No s-wave pairing is found for the one-band case in the absence of phonons but higher angular momentum pairing is possible. In some contrast, intrinsic s-wave pairing is found for the two-band case, and again nonzero angular momentum pairing may arise. With the subsequent inclusion of phonons, but treated on a completely equal footing with electrons, transition temperatures of several simple metals are determined, and found to agree to within 20% of measured values. For low density systems, significant deviations from the predictions of the McMillan expression assuming \ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\approx}0.1 are found. An important example is Li where we obtain ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{c}}$\ensuremath{\approx}0.4 mK in sharp contrast with previous approximations which give ${\mathrm{T}}_{\mathrm{c}}$\ensuremath{\sim}1 K, and are not supported by experiment.
Ventriculitis of the Central Nervous System

An infection of the ventricular system of the brain is referred to as ventriculitis. The signs and symptoms of ventriculitis include the triad of altered mental status, fever, and headache, as seen in the patient with meningitis. Identifying the organism responsible is important in determining the cause and in planning a treatment strategy. Nurses have a pivotal role in the early identification and management of the patient with ventriculitis.
A new twist on an old model for vortex-excited vibrations

A new twist on an old model for predicting the vortex-excited vibrations of flexible cylindrical structures is developed. A van der Pol equation, driven by the local transverse motion of the cylinder, is taken as the governing equation for one component of the fluctuating lift force on the cylinder. The second component of the lift force is represented by a stall term which is linearly proportional to the local transverse velocity of the cylinder. In previous models, the van der Pol equation has been employed as the governing equation for the entire fluctuating lift force on the cylinder. The new model preserves the modal scaling principle for the structural response, as initially predicted by the previous models and since verified experimentally. The empirical parameters in the model are related to the physical mass and damping parameters that define the structural properties so that the maximum structural response and the reduced velocity at which it occurs agree with experimental observations. Because of the stall term, the new model provides for an asymptotic, self-limiting structural response at zero structural damping. This asymptotic, self-limiting behavior was not captured by the previous models.
American board of clinical neuropsychology: Policies and procedures

Abstract The policies and procedures for obtaining a diplomate in Clinical Neuropsychology from the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology-American Board of Professional Psychology are briefly described. A brief historical background and rationale for the diplomate process is provided.
III. `Superserviceable Feminism': Revisiting Toward a New Psychology of Women:

In the academy, it has become customary to deconstruct, critique, and ultimately dismiss much of the academic production that precedes us. But viewing classic writings with a critical, contemporary eye can, regrettably, lead to the dismissal of some great contributions by earlier writers who may have captured nascent insights into their subject of study. This trend of debunking earlier academic work has, from my perspective, increased perilously in the past decade, stifling the field of feminist studies in general and feminist psychology in particular. When the current debates on feminism center on whether the field and the social movement should exist at all (Scott, 2008), it is refreshing to return to a more radical era when, as we say in Spanish, someone wrote ‘sin pelos en la lengua’.1 In Toward a New Psychology of Women (1986[1976]), Jean Baker Miller writes frankly about gender differences and distributions of power between wellto-do, heterosexual, white women and men. The limitations of Miller’s sample in no way diminishes the importance of her astute observations and the usefulness of her scholarship. My assertions about the value of her work are based on three overarching principles of intellectual production – the use of relational dovetailing as method, the connection between personal disadvantage and structural disadvantage, and the persistent devaluation of ‘women’s work’ – all principal mechanisms that unfortunately have been lost or marginalized in contemporary debates in feminist scholarship but all still deserving of merit. Miller’s prescient thoughts on women’s work reflect the thinking that exists even today regarding women’s values and their wide-ranging service to society.
Modulations of the Net Tropospheric Temperature during GATE

Abstract The net vertically integrated temperature of the GATE B army is analyzed at each rawinsonde observation time for all three phases. Temperatures are adjusted to remove persistent intership biases and errors induced by solar heating of the rawinsondes. Modulation of the net temperature by direct solar heating, secondary circulation processes and latent heat release are explored. Latent heat release does not warm the troposphere on the observed time (3–6 h) and space scales indicating that condensation heating is dispersed very rapidly from cloud-cluster-scale systems to larger circulations. The net temperature undergoes a regular diurnal temperature oscillation modulated primarily by direct radiational heating and indirect circulation. These processes are of comparable magnitudes.
Why is the Partial Molar Volume of CO2 So Small When Dissolved in a Room Temperature Ionic Liquid? Structure and Dynamics of CO2 Dissolved in [Bmim+][PF6-]

When supercritical CO2 is dissolved in an ionic liquid, its partial molar volume is much smaller than that observed in most other solvents. In this article we explore in atomistic detail and explain in an intuitive way the peculiar volumetric behavior experimentally observed when supercritical CO2 is dissolved in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Bmim+] [PF6-]). We also provide physical insight into the structure and dynamics occurring across the boundary of the CO2 ionic liquid interface. We find that the liquid structure of [Bmim+] [PF6-] in the presence of CO2 is nearly identical to that in the neat ionic liquid (IL) even at fairly large mole fractions of CO2. Our simulations indicate, in agreement with experiments, that partial miscibilities of one fluid into the other are very unsymmetrical, CO2 being highly soluble in the ionic liquid phase while the ionic liquid is highly insoluble in the CO2 phase. We interpret our results in terms of the size and shape of spontaneously forming cav...
A GAUSSIAN WAVEPACKET APPROACH FOR CURVE-CROSSING DYNAMICS

We present a Gaussian wavepacket approach for curve-crossing dynamics that only requires a single Gaussian wavepacket per surface. Unlike other Gaussian wavepacket approaches to curve-crossing dynamics, the present method does not rely upon probability density being built up on a non-adiabatically coupled surface by the break-up of an evolving wavepacket. Thus, our trial solution for the time-dependent Schrodinger equation comprised of a single Gaussian wavepacket per non-adiabatically coupled surface. We also present a generalization of the method to treat multi-dimensional systems that is based on the time-dependent Hartree approximation. We present numerical results for both single and multi-dimensional curve-crossing dynamics and compare them to the exact results.
Invariant geometric characteristics of spatial arm motion

This paper examines up to third-order geometric properties of wrist path and the first-order property of wrist trajectory (wrist speed) for spatial pointing movements. Previous studies report conflicting data regarding the time invariance of wrist-path shape, and most analyses are limited to the second-order geometric property (straightness, or strictly speaking, curvature). Subjects performed point-to-point reaching movements between targets whose locations ensured that the wrist paths spanned a range of lengths and lay in various portions of the arm’s spatial workspace. Movement kinematics were recorded using electromagnetic sensors located on the subject’s arm segments and thorax. Analysis revealed that wrist paths tend to lie in planes and to curve more as movement speed decreases. The orientation of the wrist-path plane depends on the reaching task but does not vary significantly with movement speed. The planarity of wrist paths indicates that the paths have close to zero torsion—a third-order geometric property. Wrist-speed profiles showed multiple peaks for sufficiently slow and long lasting movements, indicating deviation from the well-known, bell-shaped profile. These kinematic findings are discussed in light of various motor control theories.
Modeling of Anode-Supported SOFCs with Samaria Doped-Ceria Electrolytes Operating at 500-600 °C

Abstract A two-dimensional isothermal mathematical model is developed for an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell using samaria doped-ceria as electrolyte. This model takes into account species transfer and electrochemical reaction processes for cell operating between 500 °C and 600 °C. In this model, it is assumed that the electrochemical reactions take place not only at the electrolyte/electrode boundaries, but also throughout the electrodes. The model is validated with the experimental data. The geometry and operating parametric analyses are conducted to understand the coupled electrochemical reaction and species transfer phenomena. The results indicate that the rate of leakage current increases with the increase either in cell operating voltages, or in cell operating temperatures. It is also found that higher hydrogen concentration in the fuel stream results in larger leakage current. Further, the current efficiency decreases with the increase either in cell active areas, or in cell operating temperatures.
Prospective, randomized trial comparing sodium phosphate solution with polyethylene glycol-electrolyte lavage for colonoscopy preparation.

We performed a prospective randomized trial in a predominantly outpatient cotonoscopy population to see how preparation with oral sodium phosphate solution compares with polyethylene glycol-eiectrolyte lavage in terms of the quality of colon cleansing, ease of preparation, and gastrointestinal intolerance. Before colonoscopy, a nurse administered a questionnaire to the patient to assess how well the preparation was tolerated (scale from 1 to 5:1 = easy, to 5=unable to finish) and about the presence of four symptoms: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. The quality of colon cleansing was graded by the attending gastroenterologist, who was unaware of how the patient was prepared or tolerated the preparation (1 = excellent, 2=good, 3=fair, 4=poor). The overall quality of bowel preparation with polyethylene glycol lavage was slightly better than with sodium phosphate (mean score, 1.93 vs 2.07); however, the difference was not statistically different. No statistical difference was seen in the frequency of patients with poor preparations (14.2% for sodium phosphate, 9.6% for polyethylene glycol lavage). Patients found preparation with sodium phosphate to be somewhat easier than polyethylene glycol lavage (mean score, 2.07 vs 2.41; p = 0.05). No difference was seen in the incidence of abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting. Dizziness was more common with sodium phosphate but was mild and not believed to be clinically important. We conclude that the quality of colon cleansing is similar with polyethylene glycol lavage and oral sodium phosphate solution, with satisfactory preparation seen in 85% to 90% of patients. Patients found preparation with sodium phosphate to be slightly easier to tolerate. We found no difference in the frequency of gastrointestinal intolerance. (Gastrointest Endosc 1993;39:631-4.)
Contributions of extracellular and intracellular Ca2+ to regulation of sperm motility: Release of intracellular stores can hyperactivate CatSper1 and CatSper2 null sperm

In order to fertilize, mammalian sperm must hyperactivate. Hyperactivation is triggered by increased flagellar Ca(2+), which switches flagellar beating from a symmetrical to an asymmetrical pattern by increasing bending to one side. Thimerosal, which releases Ca(2+) from internal stores, induced hyperactivation in mouse sperm within seconds, even when extracellular Ca(2+) was buffered with BAPTA to approximately 30 nM. In sperm from CatSper1 or CatSper2 null mice, which lack functional flagellar alkaline-activated calcium currents, 50 microM thimerosal raised the flagellar bend amplitudes from abnormally low levels to normal pre-hyperactivated levels and, in 20-40% of sperm, induced hyperactivation. Addition of 1 mM Ni(2+) diminished the response. This suggests that intracellular Ca(2+) is abnormally low in the null sperm flagella. When intracellular Ca(2+) was reduced by BAPTA-AM in wild-type sperm, they exhibited flagellar beat patterns more closely resembling those of null sperm. Altogether, these results indicate that extracellular Ca(2+) is required to supplement store-released Ca(2+) to produce maximal and sustained hyperactivation and that CatSper1 and CatSper2 are key elements of the major Ca(2+) entry pathways that support not only hyperactivated motility but possibly also normal pre-hyperactivated motility.
Probing surface states in PbS nanocrystal films using pentacene field effect transistors: controlling carrier concentration and charge transport in pentacene

We used a bilayer field effect transistor (FET) consisting of a thin PbS nanocrystals (NCs) film interfaced with vacuum-deposited pentacene to probe trap states in NCs. We interpret the observed threshold voltage shift in context of charge carrier trapping by PbS NCs and relate the magnitude of the threshold voltage shift to the number of trapped carriers. We explored a series of NC surface ligands to modify the interface between PbS NCs and pentacene and demonstrate the impact of interface chemistry on charge carrier density and the FET mobility in a pentacene FET.
Microbial biosignatures in iron-mineralized phototrophic mats at Chocolate Pots Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, United States

The origin of oxidized iron in Precambrian iron formations has been debated for decades. Direct paleontological evidence for a microbial role in iron oxidation has been sought in the biosignatures in these structures. This study documents how several biosignatures of phototrophic iron-oxidizing communities form in modern hydrothermal iron deposits. The microbes, primary minerals, microfossils, and stromatolitic biofabrics from Chocolate Pots hot springs in Yellowstone National Park were characterized across a range of spatial scales via various types of microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and total organic carbon elemental analyses. Electron microscopic examination of the cyanobacterial mats reveals the formation of distinct dendritic-like biofabrics. Early-stage iron-permineralized phototrophic microfossils display taxonomic features that allow identification to the genus level. Selected-area electron diffraction analysis indicates that cells were permineralized by iron oxides (2-line ferrihydrite). Although permineralization by silica is considered to result in fossils with the highest cellular fidelity, this investigation suggests that iron permineralization may also produce exceptionally well-preserved microfossils. Characterization of biosignatures in this modern high-iron thermal spring provides a unique opportunity to establish a link between (1) our previous physiological measurements of iron oxidation by a phototrophic community; (2) production of biosignatures by the community; and (3) survival of these biosignatures during the earliest stages of diagenesis in the iron oxides underneath the microbial mats. This fossil evidence linking taxonomy, physiology, and biosignatures may be used to infer the paleobiology and paleoecology of similar fossil benthic microbial communities and may provide a means to assess the microbial contribution to ancient iron deposits.
Silica cycling within marine snow

The silica cycle within particles of marine snow from coastal waters off central California was examined. The ratios of biogenic silica to particulate organic nitrogen and to particulate org,mic carbon in aggregates were significantly greater than Redfield ratios, suggesting a large detrital silica compcnent within the particles. Silicic acid concentrations within aggregates were -IO-fold greater on average than those in the surrounding seawater, with interstitial concentrations up to 305 PM Si(OH),. Silica production rates within aggregates were sufficient to deplete the interstitial silicic acid in 0.3-4.0 h, suggesting rapid cycling of Si within the aggregates. Efflux of Si(OH), from the aggregates predicted from molecular diffusion theory was 20-fold greater than the known maximum possible rates of silica dissolution could support. Congruence between efflux rates predicted by diffusion theory and dissolution kinetics requires the diffusion coefficient for Si(OH), in marine snow to be 2 orders of magnitude less than in pure seawater. Experimental determination of the concentration dependence of silicic acid use by diatoms in aggregates and by those in the surrounding seawater indicated that assemblages from both environments would experience Si-replete conditions within marine snow. Aggregation of diatoms following silicic acid depletion at the end of blooms may provide Si-replete microhabitats suitable for the formation of the heavily silicificd resting spores that are central to the life-history of many species. Diatoms typically dominate the early stages of vernal phytoplankton blooms in coastal waters. The export of diatom biomass during bloom events can involve the aggregation of living cells into large particles of marine snow that can reach several centimeters in size (Smetacek 1985; Takahashi 1986;
Autonomy and relatedness in adolescent-family interactions as predictors of young adults' states of mind regarding attachment

This study examined the extent to which the diverging pathways taken by adolescents and their parents in establishing autonomy and relatedness in their interactions at age 14 served as stage-specific markers of underlying attachment processes that could help predict states of mind regarding attachment of the adolescents 11 years later as young adults. Adolescents in two-parent families (N=73) and their parents, originally selected from either a high school sample or a psychiatrically hospitalized sample, participated in a revealed differences family interaction task when adolescents were 14 years of age. At age 25, subjects were reinterviewed using the Adult Attachment Interview, which yielded ratings of specific states of mind and overall organization of models of attachment relationships. After accounting for the prior psychiatric history of the sample (which was highly related to attachment insecurity) and global indices of functioning in both adolescence and young adulthood, coherence/ security in adults' states of mind regarding attachment was predicted from maternal behaviors promoting adolescent autonomy and relatedness 11 years earlier. One indicator of adult preoccupation with attachment relationships, passivity of thought processes, was predicted from adolescents' autonomy-inhibiting behaviors, specifically from the presence of enmeshing behaviors and the absence of distancing behaviors. Results are interpreted as suggesting that establishing autonomy and relatedness with parents may be an attachment-related, developmental task for both normal and at-risk adolescents, and that serious psychopathology and difficulties establishing autonomy and relatedness in adolescence may represent two independent pathways to insecure attachment models in young adulthood.
An approach to switching activity consideration during high-level, low-power design space exploration

A novel approach is introduced that exploits characteristics of fixed-point, two's complement data in order to reduce power consumption related to switching activity. This approach is based on an intuitive switching activity model that captures the most essential data characteristics with statistical parameters. The approach is embodied in a heuristic that uses the model to systematically reduce switching activity of interconnect between data path units. The perspective provided by the model and heuristic allows efficient and intuitive high-level design space exploration. This approach is demonstrated through an example of high-level design space exploration for a low power processor dedicated to implementing the IS-54 vector-sum excited linear predictive (VSELP) speech codec. Application of the heuristic results in up to 56% activity reduction at high energy locations in the data path and estimated processor power reduction of about 15% on average during encoding compared to an obvious implementation.
Phase 1 oncology trials and informed consent

Ethical concerns have been raised about the quality of informed consent by participants in phase 1 oncology trials. Interview surveys indicate that substantial proportions of trial participants do not understand the purpose of these trials-evaluating toxicity and dosing for subsequent efficacy studies-and overestimate the prospect of therapeutic benefit that they offer. In this article we argue that although these data suggest the desirability of enhancing the process of information disclosure and assessment of comprehension of the implications of study participation, they do not necessarily invalidate consent by phase 1 trial participants.
Events that Trigger Poverty Entries and Exits

Objective. This article examines how events—such as changes in household composition, employment status, disability status, and economic conditions—affect poverty entries and exits. We also examine whether the role these events play in poverty transitions differs in the pre- and post-welfare-reform periods. Methods. The analysis uses discrete-time multivariate hazard models along with monthly, longitudinal data from the 1988, 1990, and 1996 panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). Results. Analyses show that many events are related to the likelihood of entering and exiting poverty. Of the trigger events examined, individuals living in households that experience a loss or gain of employment are the most likely to enter and exit poverty. We also find that changes in employment are more important in the 1996 to 1999 time period—after welfare reform—than in the 1988 to 1992 time period—prior to welfare reform. Finally, changes in household composition, disability status, and educational attainment are found to play a role in throwing people into poverty and helping them exit from poverty in both time periods. Conclusions. There is no single path into or out of poverty, suggesting that multiple policies can be considered to help alleviate poverty. The U.S. poverty rate fell from over 15 percent in 1993—one of its highest levels in three decades, to 11.3 percent in 2000—its lowest level in two decades. 1 But even at this low, one in 10 people were in poverty,
Exploring the interplay of stability and function in protein evolution New methods further elucidate why protein stability is necessarily so tenuous and stability-increasing mutations compromise biological function.

A new split beta-lactamase assay promises experimental testing of the interplay of protein stability and function. Proteins are sufficiently stable to act effectively within cells. However, mutations generally destabilize structure, with effects on free energy that are comparable to the free energy of folding. Assays of protein functionality and stability in vivo enable a quick study of factors that influence these properties in response to targeted mutations. These assays can help molecular engineering but can also be used to target important questions, including why most proteins are marginally stable, how mutations alter structural makeup, and how thermodynamics, function, and environment shape molecular change. Processes of self-organization and natural selection are determinants of stability and function. Non-equilibrium thermodynamics provides crucial concepts, e.g., cells as emergent energy-dissipating entities that do work and build their own parts, and a framework to study the sculpting role of evolution at different scales.
World Wide Positioning System (WWPS) Data Base

This paper describes the World Wide Positioning System ("S) database, and its ability to provide information pertaining to permanent and semi-permanent positioning systems suitable for marine navigation throughout the world. The multitude of features in using the database as a mission planning tool will be discussed.
Effects of cadmium and dietary selenium on cytoplasmic and mitochondrial antioxidant defense systems in the heart of rats fed high dietary copper.

Abstract Rats were fed a high copper diet (50 ppm copper) supplemented with 0,0.1 and 0.5 ppm selenium and treated with either 50 ppm cadmium admixed with their feed or given 5 mg cadmium via osmotic minipumps. Only rats fed the low-selenium basal diet and treated with cadmium via the osmotic minipumps showed a significant rise in thiobarbiturate-reactive substances. This was associated with marked reductions in the activity of the selenoenzyme, glutathione peroxidase in heart cytosol and mitochondria. Cytosolic superoxide dismutase was unaffected and catalase activity was increased as a result of cadmium treatment. Dietary cadmium also resulted in marked reductions in the activities of cytosolic glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. These biochemical lesions were not accompanied by decreases in the corresponding mitochondrial enzymes and no increase in thiobarbiturate-reactive substances was observed. Heart metal levels indicate the formation of cadmium-selenium complexes in rats treated with cadmium via the osmotic minipumps. Dietary cadmium does not appear to interact with selenium in a similar fashion. Heart copper levels were increased by dietary cadmium treatment. Thus, heart mitochondria appear to be the site of the primary biochemical lesion for cadmium and involve increased lipid peroxidation only when mitochochondrial antioxidant defense enzymes are compromised.
Shortness of breath and chest discomfort in a young woman: panic disorder is not always a case.

A 27-year-old, non-obese, non-smoker Caucasian woman with no medical history came to the emergency department, because of vague chest discomfort, shortness of breath and palpitations. Family history was significant only for lung cancer in her father at age 72. ECG showed sinus tachycardia with a rate of 112/min; chest x-ray did not show any evidence of pulmonary or chest pathology. Troponins …
The Role of Oxidative Stress, Metabolic Compromise, and Inflammation in Neuronal Injury Produced by Amphetamine-Related Drugs of Abuse

Methamphetamine (METH) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) are amphetamine derivatives with high abuse liability. These amphetamine-related drugs of abuse mediate their effects through the acute activation of both dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons. Long-term abuse of these amphetamine derivatives, however, results in damage to both dopaminergic and serotonergic terminals throughout the brain. This toxicity is mediated in part by oxidative stress, metabolic compromise, and inflammation. The overall objective of this review is to highlight experimental evidence that METH and MDMA increase oxidative stress, produce mitochondrial dysfunction, and increase inflammation that converge and culminate in the long-term toxicity to dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons.
Mineralocorticoid Receptors in Myocardial Infarction

In this issue of Hypertension , Mihailidou et al1 provide important new information regarding the role of corticosteroids in myocardial infarction (MI). These findings are timely and of particular relevance because mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists are now thought to be among the first drugs used for treatment after MI along with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, β-blockers, and aspirin. The authors found in an ex vivo model of regional myocardial ischemia (30 minutes) followed by reperfusion with Krebs-Henseleit buffer (2.5 hours) that aldosterone or cortisol infusion could increase infarct size. These effects were blocked by spironolactone, suggesting that both of these corticosteroids act to promote damage through MR stimulation. Dexamethasone and mifepristone (RU486), a glucocorticoid receptor (GR)/progesterone receptor antagonist, also increased infarct size, and, surprisingly, both of these effects were reversed by spironolactone as well. However, spironolactone alone had a protective effect against reperfusion injury in the absence of aldosterone or cortisol infusion suggestive of a direct, inverse agonist action. The ability of spironolactone to decrease baseline infarct size was maintained in hearts from animals that were adrenalectomized 2 to 5 days earlier and provides strong evidence that the mechanism of the protective effect of spironolactone is not dependent on the presence of endogenous corticosteroids. These studies expand our view on the role of corticosteroids in end-organ damage and how MR antagonists may work to provide cardiac protection. The present study is consistent with the observations of Dorrance et al,2 who found that spironolactone treatment reduced the size of cerebral infarcts in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. Triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride staining was used to assess viable tissue in both of these studies. Several studies have described the ability of chronic in vivo treatment with spironolactone …
Equivalent Circuit for Frequency Response of a Static Var Compensator

A model at harmonic frequencies is developed for a static VAR compensator. The model consists of a harmonic voltage source in series with a variable source admittance. The model is shown to be useful in predicting resonance problems using digital simulation. Equations are also developed which show that a static VAR compensator can be described by a system of linear differential equations with periodic coefficients.
Factors that determine stability of highly concentrated chemically defined production media

High cell density perfusion processes for the production of therapeutic antibodies require large volumes of media to meet cellular stoichiometric and energy demands. The use of media concentrates provides a way to reduce the cost of manufacturing. Reducing the number and size of liquid media batches reduces the media footprint in the manufacturing plant and cuts costs associated with single-use systems for preparation and storage of liquid media. Concentrates that can be stored at room temperature also reduce costs by eliminating the need for refrigerated storage. To meet these economic and operational objectives, we developed a complete concentrated medium system consisting of a 5X medium concentrate that can be used in conjunction with a concentrated supplement of cystine, tyrosine, and folic acid. The effects of pyruvate, bicarbonate, and glutamine on the stability of the 5X concentrates were studied. Pyruvate and bicarbonate were found to have profound impacts on media stability, including media coloration, precipitate formation and ability to support cell culture. Bicarbonate was found to have detrimental effects in 5X concentrated media, resulting in precipitation of pyruvate-free media and accelerated glutamine degradation. Pyruvate prevented precipitation in bicarbonate-containing concentrates. Moreover, the presence of pyruvate in bicarbonate-free, glutamine-free 5X concentrates resulted in the substantial preservation of the functional activity of the medium for 1 month at room temperature.
Improving resource allocation strategies against human adversaries in security games: An extended study

Stackelberg games have garnered significant attention in recent years given their deployment for real world security. Most of these systems, such as ARMOR, IRIS and GUARDS have adopted the standard game-theoretical assumption that adversaries are perfectly rational, which is standard in the game theory literature. This assumption may not hold in real-world security problems due to the bounded rationality of human adversaries, which could potentially reduce the effectiveness of these systems. In this paper, we focus on relaxing the unrealistic assumption of perfectly rational adversary in Stackelberg security games. In particular, we present new mathematical models of human [email protected]? behavior, based on using two fundamental theory/method in human decision making: Prospect Theory (PT) and stochastic discrete choice model. We also provide methods for tuning the parameters of these new models. Additionally, we propose a modification of the standard quantal response based model inspired by rank-dependent expected utility theory. We then develop efficient algorithms to compute the best response of the security forces when playing against the different models of adversaries. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the new models, we conduct comprehensive experiments with human subjects using a web-based game, comparing them with models previously proposed in the literature to address the perfect rationality assumption on part of the adversary. Our experimental results show that the [email protected]? responses follow the assumptions of our new models more closely than the previous perfect rationality assumption. We also show that the defender strategy produced by our new stochastic discrete choice model outperform the previous leading contender for relaxing the assumption of perfect rationality. Furthermore, in a separate set of experiments, we show the benefits of our modified stochastic model (QRRU) over the standard model (QR).
Control and Rotation Rate Estimation of Vibrational MEMS Gyroscopes

There are two major control problems associated with vibrational MEMS gyroscopes: to control two vibrating axes (or modes) of the gyroscope, and to estimate a time-varying rotation rate. This paper demonstrates how a novel active disturbance rejection control addresses these problems in the presence of the mismatch of natural frequencies between two axes, mechanical-thermal noises, quadrature errors, and parameter variations. A demodulation approach based on the estimated dynamics of the system by an extended state observer is proposed to estimate the rotation rate. The simulation results on a Z-axis MEMS gyroscope show that the controller is very effective by driving the output of the drive axis to a desired trajectory, forcing the vibration of the sense axis to zero for a force-to-rebalance operation and precisely estimating the rotation rate.
More than military sexual trauma: interpersonal violence, PTSD, and mental health in women veterans

Military sexual trauma (MST) is reported by 20–40% of female veterans. The purpose of this study of female veterans referred for MST treatment was to examine the relationships between lifetime trauma (physical, sexual, and psychological) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, physical health, and quality of life using retrospective cross-sectional data from medical records. Of the 135 participants, 95.4% reported at least one trauma in addition to MST, most notably sexual abuse as adult civilians (77.0%) and as children (52.6%). PTSD, depression, and sleep difficulty rates were clinically significant. Chronic pain (66.4%) was associated with childhood abuse, physical health, sleep difficulties, and coping. Integrating mental and physical health treatment is necessary to treat MST and PTSD in female veterans. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 34:457–467, 2011
Congruence, Contingency, and Theory Building

It is proposed that congruence and contingency are central features of Dubin's conditions for constructing and testing a theoretical model. Placing congruence and contingency research within an accepted framework for scientific inquiry is essential to understanding and predicting organizational phenomena. After reviewing select research, the present authors argue: (a) that congruence is defined by the laws of relationship of a theory's variables, and (b) that contingency is defined by the system states where the integrity of the system is maintained, but in a markedly different condition. Additional conceptual and empirical issues relating to congruence and contingency hypotheses are then discussed.
The Sale of Ideas: Strategic Disclosure, Property Rights, and Contracting

Ideas are difficult to sell when buyers cannot assess an idea's value before it is revealed and sellers cannot protect a revealed idea. These problems exist in a variety of intellectual property sales ranging from pure ideas to poorly protected inventions and reflect the nonverifiability of key elements of an intellectual property sale. An expropriable partial disclosure can be used as a signal, allowing the seller to obtain payment based on the value of the remaining (undisclosed) know-how. We examine contracting after the disclosure and find that seller wealth is pivotal in supporting a partial disclosure equilibrium and in determining the payoff size.
Energy transfer through single- and double-pane windows subject to wintertime environmental radiation

This work applies a new model that treats solar and longwave radiative transfer, thermal conduction, and sensible heat transport to quantify the flow of energy across single- and double-pane windows. A set of radiometers based in Chicago, Illinois, observed solar and longwave irradiances incident on and emerging from a window on a low-rise building. The incoming radiation fields, averaged over a 10-day period in January, drive the energy budget calculations, while a comparison of measured and computed outgoing irradiances validates the results. The indoor–outdoor temperature contrast creates a gradient in longwave radiative heating across the glass. This drives a heat flux that increases sensible heat flow to the exterior atmosphere by approximately a factor of 3 over what would exist without thermal radiation. Absorption of sunlight by the glass also increases energy lost to the atmosphere. For the conditions analyzed, approximately 40% of the solar energy absorbed by the window-plus-interior system is r...
High-frequency acoustic volume backscattering in the Georges Bank coastal region and its interpretation using scattering models

High-frequency (120 and 420 kHz) sound was used to survey sound scatterers in the water over Georges Bank. In addition to the biological sound scatterers (the plankton and micronekton), scattering associated with internal waves and suspended sediment was observed. Volume backscattering was more homogeneous in the vertical dimension (with occasional patches) in the shallow central portion of the Bank where there is significant mixing. In the deeper outer portion of the Bank where the water is stratified, volume backscattering was layered and internal waves modulated the vertical position of the layers in the pycnocline. The internal waves typically had amplitudes of 5-20 m, but sometimes much higher. Species composition and size data from samples of the animals and suspended sediment used in conjunction with acoustic scattering models revealed that throughout the region the animals generally dominate the scattering, but there are times and places where sand particles (suspended as high as up to the sea surface) can dominate. The source of the scattering in the internal waves is probably due to a combination of both animals and sound-speed microstructure. Determination of their relative contributions requires further study.