cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Islam, Ethnicity, and Conflict in Ethiopia: The Bale Insurgency, 1963-1970

Focusing on the role of religion and ethnicity in times of conflict, Terje Ostebo investigates the Muslim-dominated insurgency against the Ethiopian state in the 1960s, shedding new light on this understudied case in order to contribute to a deeper understanding of religion, inter-religious relations, ethnicity, and ethno-nationalism in the Horn of Africa. Islam, Ethnicity and Conflict in Ethiopia develops new theoretical perspectives on the interrelations between ethnic and religious identities, considering ethnic and religious groups as mutually exclusive categories by applying the term peoplehood as an analytical tool, one that allows for more flexible perspectives. Exploring the interplay of imagination and lived, affective reality, and inspired by the 'materiality turn' in cultural- and religious studies, Ostebo argues for an integrated approach which recognizes and explores embodiment and emplacement as intrinsic to formations of ethnic and religious identities.
The Fiscal Squeeze: Budgets Between Fiscal Illusion, Fiscal Commons, and the Tyranny of Experts

The combination of subsidiarity with the principles of fiscal federalism ensures that the government has the knowledge to provide the economically efficient number and amount of public goods without either leaving too much or too little productive activity to the sphere of private exchange. In this paper, we argue that, over the last 100 years, these two design principles of federalism have slowly eroded and we highlight one of the fiscal consequences of this process of erosion: increasing budgetary pressure at the state level. We call this specific consequence the fiscal squeeze, because states have remained fiscally responsible for decisions that are now made at the level of the federal government and, as a result, are experiencing systematically greater budgetary pressures. Empirically, paying for school funding, health care funding, and pension funds, to name a few, has strained the ability of many states to keep balanced budgets and avoid debt or default.
A Note on the Effect of Expected Changes in Monetary Policy on Long-Term Interest Rates

The ability of monetary policy to affect long-term interest rates is of central importance for economics and finance. Several recent studies have shown that long-term interest rates are virtually unaffected by monetary policy. This paper develops a statistical methodology to identify the expected and unexpected changes in monetary policy as measured by the federal funds rate. The empirical evidence shows that expected changes in the funds rate cause stronger and more significant movements in the long-term rates. Further, ignoring such asymmetry can erroneously generate the insignificant responses of long-term interest rates to the changes in the monetary policy.
Childhood and Education in the United States and Russia: Sociological and Comparative Perspectives: Katerina Bodovski (2019). Emerald Publishing Limited

What is childhood and how is it defined? Instead of providing a particular image of childhood or illustrating it as a static construct, Childhood and Education in the United States and Russia: Soci...
Admissions of COVID-positive patients to US nursing homes with personal protective equipment or staffing shortages.

Background US nursing homes are required to follow Centers for Disease Control guidance for COVID-19 transmission-based precautions (TBP) when admitting COVID-positive patients. Objective To assess how frequently nursing homes had shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) or staffing in weeks when they admitted COVID-positive patients, which likely made it more difficult to follow TBP, and to compare facility characteristics by admissions practices. Design and setting Facility-level data from the Nursing Home COVID-19 Public File for the period between June 7, 2020 and March 7, 2021 was combined with additional data. The percentages of nursing homes that admitted COVID-positive patients and that had shortages when admitting were calculated for each week. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between facility characteristics and the likelihood of admitting COVID-positive patients. Measurements Facilities were categorized as having admitted COVID-positive patients in a week if one or more admissions requiring TBP were reported for that week. Facilities that reported having less than a 1-week supply of any type of PPE or being short any type of staff in a week were defined, respectively, as having a PPE shortage or staffing shortage in that week. Results Over the 40-week study period, 39% of US nursing homes admitted COVID-positive patients in at least 1 week in which they were experiencing PPE or staffing shortages. Facilities that admitted COVID-positive patients with shortages generally had lower Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services overall five-star ratings than other facilities. Only a small percentage of facilities that admitted COVID-positive patients while facing shortages were located in counties with severe shortages of PPE or staffing. In logistic regression models, shortages were not associated with COVID-positive admissions. Conclusion The widespread practice of admitting COVID-positive patients while facing shortages may have put nursing home residents and staff at heightened risk of COVID-19 infection.
Lu Hsun contra Georg Brandes: resistiendo la tentación de la literatura mundial

Two architects of the modern breakthrough. Two transreaders of historical context and intellectual legacy. Both reimagine “world literature” while wrestling with conformity and fame. Each travels an idiosyncratic, though profoundly intertwined, path. Georg Brandes (1842-1927) captivates Europe and Asia with a work designed for Denmark; the moment he fashions it for the universe however, he loses ground. Lu Xun (1881-1936) devotes his translator’s life to unrecognized works in the construction of an alternative frame for Weltliteratur; these tune his writer’s voice that bestows upon him unrequested stardom in modern classics of the whole world. Brandes’s ironic paradox and Lu Xun’s iconoclastic prejudice allude to mirrored discoveries. Exploring their individual cases enables us to discern decisive moments in the evolution of comparative literature. Placing them in juxtaposition reveals a contrast between kindred spirits— an intricate distinction that informs our actions as comparatists.
Requirements for network payment: the NetCheque perspective

Secure methods of payment are needed before we will see widespread commercial use of the Internet. Recently proposed and implemented payment methods follow one of three models: electronic currency, credit-debit, and secure credit card transactions. Such payment services have different strengths and weaknesses with respect to the requirements of security, reliability, scalability, anonymity, acceptability, customer base, flexibility, convertibility, efficiency, ease of integration with applications, and ease of use. NetCheque is a payment system based on the credit-debit model. NetCheque is described and its strengths with respect to these requirements are discussed.
Strategies for Transforming Mental Health Care Through Data-Based Decision Making

The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health calls for the transformation of the U.S. mental health-care system. The use of informa- tion technology is a cornerstone in the preparation for this mission. Achieving transformation , however, means overcoming existing hindrances to high-quality mental health care for all Americans. Strategies in financing , human resources , rapid integration of evidence-based practices , adoption of performance measures , and expanding the use of information technology are crucial to transforming the behavioral health-care system. The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) is charged with providing leader- ship for the national system that delivers mental health services and with facilitat- ing the transformation of the mental health-care system called for in the report of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, Achieving the Prom- ise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America (1). This report calls for major change in how mental health-care services are organized and delivered. In a trans- formed system, the commission envisions that U.S. mental health care will be consumer- and family-centered, focused on recovery, and guided by informed de- cision making. In this system, the highest quality of mental health care and infor- mation will be available to consumers and families, regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, language, age, or residence.
Design and analysis of querying encrypted data in relational databases

Security and privacy concerns as well as legal considerations force many companies to encrypt the sensitive data in databases. However, storing the data in an encrypted format entails non-negligible performance penalties while processing queries. In this paper, we address several design issues related to querying encrypted data in relational databases. Based on our experiments, we propose new and efficient techniques to reduce the cost of cryptographic operations while processing different types of queries. Our techniques enable us not only to overlap the cryptographic operations with the IO latencies but also to reduce the number of block cipher operations with the help of selective decryption capabilities.
Environmentally Sound Assembly Processes

The sections in this article are 1 Environmental Awareness 2 Environmentally Benign Materials Selection 3 Assembly Process Considerations 4 Pollution Prevention 5 Product End-Of-Life Management
Bad Tax Shelters -- Accountability or the Lack Thereof: Ten Years of Tax Malpractice

In the 1990’s and early 2000’s the tax landscape in the United States was overrun by an epidemic of tax shelters that was unprecedented. The shelters were designed and sold by seemingly reputable large accounting and law firms. The same shelters were sold to many taxpayers. They became generic, off-the-shelf, products. However, the tax shelters had no business substance. The shelters were eventually found to be invalid by the courts. In light of the invalidity of the shelters, the large fees paid for the shelters and the large damages caused by participating in the invalid shelters, there were predictions that many malpractice suits against the sellers of the shelters would ensue.For this article I attempted to determine whether the predicted wave of tax malpractice suits occurred and what impact, if any, resulted in the area of tax malpractice litigation.Much to my surprise, there ended up being very few cases focusing on substance. There were several class actions that were settled but, in light of the settlements, offered no useful insights. Most of the other reported cases dealt with procedural issues such as whether the action must be arbitrated, federal versus state venue, statute of limitations, etc. In the end, there were only a few cases that addressed any issue of substance. The only exception was a huge case in Kentucky, Yung v. Grant Thornton LLP , that was decided in late November, 2013. The case was huge because of its length (over 200 pages) and because it awarded $20 million in compensatory damages and $80 million in punitive damages. In the article I analyze the few existing generic tax shelter cases and try to fit them into the general principles governing tax malpractice. I then also review the other developments in the tax malpractice area during approximately the last decade.
Arterial Cerebral Blood Volume-Weighted Functional MRI Using Pseudocontinuous Arterial Spin Tagging (AVAST)

Purpose Neurovascular regulation, including responses to neural activation that give rise to the blood oxygenation level–dependent (BOLD) effect, occurs mainly at the arterial and arteriolar level. The purpose of this study is to develop a framework for fast imaging of arterial cerebral blood volume (aCBV) signal suitable for functional imaging studies. Methods A variant of the pseudocontinuous arterial spin tagging technique was developed in order to achieve a contrast that depends on aCBV with little contamination from perfusion signal by taking advantage of the kinetics of the tag through the vasculature. This technique tailors the tagging duration and repetition time for each subject. The proposed technique, called AVAST, is compared empirically with BOLD imaging and standard (perfusion-weighted) arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique, in a motor-visual activation paradigm. Results The average Z-scores in the activated area obtained over all the subjects were 4.25, 5.52, and 7.87 for standard ASL, AVAST, and BOLD techniques, respectively. The aCBV contrast obtained from AVAST provided 80% higher average signal-to-noise ratio and 95% higher average contrast-to-noise ratio compared with that of the standard ASL measurements. Conclusion AVAST exhibits improved activation detection sensitivity and temporal resolution over the standard ASL technique, in functional MRI experiments, while preserving its quantitative nature and statistical advantages. AVAST particularly could be useful in clinical studies of pathological conditions, longitudinal studies of cognitive function, and studies requiring sustained periods of the condition. Magn Reson Med 73:1053–1064, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
MARGINAL OVERDOMINANCE IN DROSOPHILA

A reanalysis of Drosophila viability data was undertaken to determine the role of genotype-environment interactions in the maintenance of polymorphism. Between-replicate variances of viabilities in chromosomal homozygotes and heterozygotes with the same mean fitnesses were compared, with the expectation that if the heterozygote variance were on the average greater, conditional overdominance would be prevalent; if it were less, partial dominance would be prevalent; and if it were the same, marginal overdominance of the type considered by Wallace (1968) would be the prevalent type of variation. In fact, heterozygote variance was slightly less. The work of Dempster (1955) and of Gillespie and Langley (1974) is cited to show that this situation can still lead to balanced polymorphisms. Their general model for genetic variation in populations, consistent with the viability data, is reinforced.
Fluorescent affibody peptide penetration in glioma margin is superior to full antibody.

Object Fluorescence imaging has the potential to significantly improve neurosurgical resection of oncologic lesions through improved differentiation between normal and cancerous tissue at the tumor margins. In order to successfully mark glioma tissue a fluorescent tracer must have the ability to penetrate through the blood brain barrier (BBB) and provide delineation in the tumor periphery where heterogeneously intact BBB may exist. In this study it was hypothesized that, due to its smaller size, fluorescently labeled anti-EGFR Affibody protein (∼7 kDa) would provide a more clear delineation of the tumor margin than would fluorescently labeled cetuximab, a full antibody (∼150 kDa) to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
ASTER watches the world's volcanoes: a new paradigm for volcanological observations from orbit

Onboard NASA Terra spacecraft is one of the most sophisticated earth observing instruments ever flown, the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), created as part of a joint project between the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry and NASA. This instrument consists of three independent bore-sighted telescopes with 14 channels in the visible, near-infrared, and thermal infrared regions capable of being pointed up to 22.5° off-nadir. In addition, there is an additional backward-looking visible channel telescope for stereo-photogrammetric observations. The spatial resolutions are 15 m/pixel in the visible, 30 m/pixel in the near-IR, and 90 m/pixel at thermal wavelengths, and the swath width is 60 km. ASTER instrument offers unprecedented opportunities for observing volcanoes and their activity from low earth orbit. It is the purpose of this short paper to introduce ASTER to the volcanological community, highlight its capabilities, advantages and limitations, and to show some examples of ASTER data and related analyses. We will also explain how users can readily access ASTER data.
Nucleation and growth of quasicrystalline Pd--U--Si from the glassy state

A Pd–U–Si metallic glass transforms upon annealing to a quasicrystalline phase of the same composition. Electron diffraction patterns of this material verify its icosahedral symmetry. Differential scanning calorimetry and transmission electron microscopy are used to obtain both the nucleation and growth kinetics of this glass-to-quasicrystal, first-order phase tranformation. The homogeneous nucleation rate of the quasicrystaUine phase in the metallic glass achieves a maximum at a temperture where its growth is still relatively slow.
Early Italian Sources for the Braque Triptych

The Braque Triptych, at the Louvre (Figs. 1 and 3), is one of Rogier van der Weyden's most monumental conceptions. Its five solemn figures stand majestically before a pastoral landscape and take up nearly the full height of the panels on which they are painted. Christ, flanked by the Virgin and John the Evangelist in the center panel and the Baptist and Mary Magdalen on the wings, seems to officiate in a sacred ritual. The painting's oblong, half-length format is unprecedented in the North.
DNA-based immunotherapy to treat atopic disease.

Objective To review the current literature regarding DNA-based immunotherapy with respect to signaling mechanisms, cytokine profiles, and the applicability and success of this strategy to treat allergic disease. Data Sources English-language articles were identified from the PubMed database using both standard and clinical queries. Search terms included C pG , allergy , atopic disease , immunotherapy , DNA vaccination , immunomodulation, and immunostimulatory DNA . Other sources included bibliographies from relevant articles. Study Selection Recent studies that provide information about the mechanisms or applications of DNA-based immunotherapy with respect to atopic disease are included in this review. Results DNA-based immunotherapy composed of unmethylated CpG repeats is capable of inducing a shift in the cytokine profile and immune response that favors the T H 1 arm. This observation makes DNA-based immunotherapy a promising candidate for the treatment of atopic diseases, which are known to be mediated by T H 2-based responses. Early animal and human trials of DNA-based immunotherapy have shown the strategy to be both safe and effective. Conclusions DNA-based immunotherapy, although still in the early stages of development, has thus far been shown to be both safe and effective for a variety of atopic diseases and offers the potential for significant improvements over current immunotherapy protocols.
MANET protocol simulations considered harmful: the case for benchmarking

In this article, we investigate the current best practices in simulation-based multi-hop wireless ad-hoc network (MANET) protocol evaluation. We extend a prior characterization of the settings and parameters used in MANET simulations by studying the papers published in one of the premier mobile networking conferences between 2006 and 2010. We find that there are still several configuration pitfalls which many papers fall victim to, which in turn damages the integrity of the results as well as any research aimed at reproducing and extending these results. We then describe the simulation "design space" of MANET routing in terms of its basic dimensions and corresponding parameters. We also propose four "auxiliary" metrics to increase simulation integrity. We conclude with several example scenarios that promote modeling simulations after real-world situations.
The role of mechanical tension on lipid raft dependent PDGF-induced TRPC6 activation.

Canonical transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6) can play an important role in governing how cells perceive the surrounding material environment and regulate Ca2+ signaling. We have designed a TRPC6 reporter based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to visualize the TRPC6-mediated calcium entry and hence TRPC6 activity in live cells with high spatiotemporal resolutions. In mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF) can activate the TRPC6 reporter, mediated by phospholipase C (PLC). This TRPC6 activation occurred mainly at lipid rafts regions of the plasma membrane because disruption of lipid raft/caveolae by methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) or the expression of dominant-negative caveolin-1 inhibited the TRPC6 activity. Culturing cells on soft materials or releasing the intracellular tension by ML-7 reduced this PDGF-induced activation of TRPC6 without affecting the PDGF-regulated Src or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor function, suggesting a specific role of mechanical tension in regulating TRPC6. We further showed that the release of intracellular tension had similar effect on the diffusion coefficients of TRPC6 and a raft marker, confirming a strong coupling between TRPC6 and lipid rafts. Therefore, our results suggest that the TRPC6 activation mainly occurs at lipid rafts, which is regulated by the mechanical cues of surrounding materials.
Temporal changes in Arikara humeral and femoral cross-sectional geometry associated with horticultural intensification

Humeral and femoral cross-sectional properties from three archaeological variants of the Arikara, an American Great Plains Indian tribe, were analyzed for temporal (16th to 19th centuries) changes in long bone architecture, asymmetry, and sexual dimorphism associated with intensification of horticulture during the late protohistoric and early historic periods. There were a number of significant changes in long bone, especially femoral, cross-sectional morphology and asymmetry among females through time that probably reflect increases in the workload necessary to produce surplus crops. Changes in long bone architecture among males are restricted to the humerus and may reflect a greater reliance on firearms. The pattern of sexual dimorphism also changes through time among the Arikara due to a combination of environmental (nutrition and disease) and mechanical factors.
Attitudes Toward the Use of Racial/Ethnic Profiling to Prevent Crime and Terrorism:

Research indicates that public approval for the use of racial/ethnic profiling to prevent crime is low. In contrast, recent research and polling data suggest the public is more supportive of the us...
Nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage in mechanically ventilated infants: technique, efficacy, and applications.

Bronchoalveolar lavage with the fiberoptic bronchoscope is commonly used for the diagnosis of pulmonary infections in mechanically ventilated adults and children. However, its use for intubated infants is precluded because the small artificial airway does not permit the passage of the bronchoscope. We have developed a technique for nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage, performed via a sterile, disposable feeding tube. We have used this technique in 15 infants with diffuse interstitial disease and/or atelectasis, while they were intubated and mechanically ventilated. The volume of the lavage effluent averaged 70.3% of the volume instilled. Specific diagnosis on the basis of the cytologic evaluation and/or culture of the lavage fluid was possible in 9 (SOYO) patients. Two patients with atelectasis showed radiographic evidence of improvement following the procedure. There were no complications. We conclude that nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage is well tolerated, and clinically useful in small, mechanically ventilated infants with respiratory failure due to diffuse pulmonary disease. This technique provides a lower risk alternative to more invasive, and costly procedures. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A central black hole in M32

Observations are presented of the stellar rotation and velocity dispersion in M32. The projected rotation curve has an unresolved cusp at the center, with an amplitude of at least 60 km/s. The stellar velocity dispersion is constant at 56 + or - 5 km/s to a radius of 20 arcsec; a central bump in the observed dispersion is an artifact due to the rotation. The form of the rotation is such that isophotes have constant angular rotation velocity. The three-dimensional rotation field is modeled and the internal mean rotation of the stars around the center of M32 must reach at least 90 km/s at a radius of 2 pc. Hydrostatic equilibrium then requires 3-10 x 10 to the 6th solar masses of dark mass within the central parsec of M32. The possibility that M32 is undergoing core collapse and that this dark mass consists of dark stellar remnants is discussed, but ultimately rejected because the time scale for core collapse of M32 should be 2000 Hubble times. A more likely explanation of this dark mass, especially because of the presence of an X-ray point source at the center of M32, is a massive black hole.
Invariance of charge to Lorentz transformation

Abstract We show that charge is conserved in a current-carrying wire loop. This finding contradicts a recent theory of Ivezic.
Les processus organisationnels d'information de marché: les antécédents culturels et les résultats d'un produit nouveau

La recherche sur les organisations suggere que la maniere dont l'information est utilisee est probablement fonction de la presence de systemes ou de processus organisationnels, en plus des activites individuelles du dirigeant. L'auteur suggere que les entreprises font varier leur insistance sur certains processus organisationnels d'information de marche, comme l'acquisition, la transmission, l'utilisation conceptuelle, et l'utilisation instrumentale d'information. L'auteur soutient que l'insistance est determinee, en partie, par la congruence, ou l'ajustement, parmi les normes culturelles et les valeurs d'une organisation et postule de maniere theorique que la presence de ces processus organisationnels d'information influe sur les resultats d'un produit nouveau. Les resultats de l'etude indiquent que les clans dominent les autres cultures en ce qui concerne la prediction des processus organisationnels d'information de marche, suggerant que les processus d'information sont fondamentalement des «processus d...
High capacity gel preparative electrophoresis for purification of fragments of genomic DNA

Abstract We have designed a high-capacity gel electrophoretic device for the purification of large amounts of restriction endonuclease fragments of genomic DNA. This device exploits the high resolution of gel electrophoresis in conjunction with an electronic system permitting discontinuous sample elution over a large gel surface area. This feature preserves resolution and greatly increases capacity and yield. The resulting DNA fractions may be used in restriction endonuclease, ligation, transfection, and transformation reactions without further extensive manipulation. Furthermore, DNA fragments of a broad size range are recovered with high efficiency from the gel.
Protein core packing by dynamic combinatorial chemistry.

We describe the first example of the recursive selection of biologically relevant macromolecules from a dynamic combinatorial library (DCL). A small library of 36 peptides was allowed to undergo se...
Comparisons of regional satellite sea surface temperature gradients derived from MODIS and AVHRR sensors

Regional sea surface temperature SST gradients were examined for a 6-year 2003–2008 period using data from the NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer MODIS on Aqua and the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer AVHRR on two NOAA satellite platforms. Two regions, one in the California Current System and the other in the Gulf Stream, representing an eastern boundary upwelling region and strong western boundary current, respectively, were chosen to investigate the seasonal variability, statistical differences and similarities, and correlations with respect to the two sets of SST gradients. Results indicated higher gradient magnitudes using MODIS SST in relative comparison to those derived from AVHRR that are attributed to instrument and algorithm differences. These observed differences are important for any studies that employ SST gradients, such as fisheries investigations that have traditionally relied on AVHRR SST gradients only.
Urbanization and disparities in China: challenges of growth and development ☆

Economic growth and development in China have been extraordinary. Accompanying the development, however, have emerged or become more acute problems that challenge the sustainability of the growth. The disparities between China’s coastal and hinterland regions, between the rural and urban sectors, and among individuals within each sector are among these problems. Regionally, China’s eastern and coastal provinces and municipalities have developed at a faster pace than its interior counterparts, leading to a severe disparity. As shown in Table 1, the top 10 provinces and municipalities with the highest per capita GDP are mostly from the eastern and coastal region, and those below top 10 are mostly from the hinterland region. Moreover, the severity of disparity is alarming: the highest per capita GDP in Shanghai, among the 31 units listed, is 9.65 times the lowest level in Guizhou. Furthermore, the western region had the highest concentration of urban poverty, and the income gap between the region and rest of China had widened over time (as will be shown by Fang, Zhang, and Fan in this symposium). The urban–rural income disparity in China has also widened compared with the situation in 1978. As shown in Table 2, the per capita urban disposable income as multiple of per capita rural net income in 1978 was 2.57 and became 2.79 in 2000. The slower growth, in 14
Object detection in color images using nonparametric Bayes classification and orthogonal functions

In this paper, we present a supervised, nonparametric Bayesian approach to object detection problem in color images. The proposed method does not assume any a priori knowledge about the object color distributions and their forms. It estimates the underlying color densities directly from the given image data. In this respect, the algorithm is not affected by substantial variations in the input scenes. For density estimation, the object color distributions are expanded in a series of orthogonal basis functions in the (R,G,B)-color space. The basis functions selected are the Hermite polynomials since their region of orthogonality spans the entire red, green, and blue coordinate axes. Several color images of complex shaped objects are processed by the detection method in the computer simulation. The input images are varied in size to determine the computational cost of the algorithm. During the training phase, the object and background color densities of the selected images are estimated using the first seventeen Hermite polynomials. In the classification phase, the nonparametric Bayesian classifier is applied to the input images to detect the objects of interest. Even for noisy images of textured scenes, the algorithm has detected the regions of interest with high accuracy. The experimental results indicate that the seventeen lowest-order Hermite polynomials are sufficient for accurate color density estimation. The computational cost of the method is also reasonably low for this type of iterative density estimation process.
Sequence depth, not PCR replication, improves ecological inference from next generation DNA sequencing.

Recent advances in molecular approaches and DNA sequencing have greatly progressed the field of ecology and allowed for the study of complex communities in unprecedented detail. Next generation sequencing (NGS) can reveal powerful insights into the diversity, composition, and dynamics of cryptic organisms, but results may be sensitive to a number of technical factors, including molecular practices used to generate amplicons, sequencing technology, and data processing. Despite the popularity of some techniques over others, explicit tests of the relative benefits they convey in molecular ecology studies remain scarce. Here we tested the effects of PCR replication, sequencing depth, and sequencing platform on ecological inference drawn from environmental samples of soil fungi. We sequenced replicates of three soil samples taken from pine biomes in North America represented by pools of either one, two, four, eight, or sixteen PCR replicates with both 454 pyrosequencing and Illumina MiSeq. Increasing the number of pooled PCR replicates had no detectable effect on measures of α- and β-diversity. Pseudo-β-diversity – which we define as dissimilarity between re-sequenced replicates of the same sample – decreased markedly with increasing sampling depth. The total richness recovered with Illumina was significantly higher than with 454, but measures of α- and β-diversity between a larger set of fungal samples sequenced on both platforms were highly correlated. Our results suggest that molecular ecology studies will benefit more from investing in robust sequencing technologies than from replicating PCRs. This study also demonstrates the potential for continuous integration of older datasets with newer technology.
V-myc immortalization of early rat neural crest cells yields a clonal cell line which generates both glial and adrenergic progenitor cells.

We describe the isolation and characterization of an immortal cell line derived by infection of rat neural crest cells with a v-myc-containing replication-defective retrovirus. This clonal cell line, called NCM-1, contains a majority cell population with antigenic and morphologic properties that suggest it may represent a peripheral glial progenitor. In conditioned or in serum-free medium, these NGF receptor-positive cells differentiate to an elongated, bipolar morphology resembling that of primary Schwann cells. This morphologic differentiation is prevented by TGF-β_1, which also acts as a mitogen for the cells. The NCM-1 line is also able to generate clonal derivatives which have extinguished expression of most or all glial markers. Once generated, such cells are stable and do not revert to the glial phenotype. At least some of these cells have acquired sympathoadrenal progenitor-like properties, as shown by their capacity to coexpress tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and neurofilament (NF) in response to basic FGF and dexamethasone. These data imply that the NCM-1 line contains self-renewing cells with the potential to generate precursors in at least two of the sublineages that normally develop from the neural crest. This in turn suggests that the process of immortalization may preserve at least some of the developmental properties characteristic of multipotential neural crest cells. NCM-1 cells may prove useful for the study of neural crest cell lineage segregation, Schwann cell differentiation, and the mechanisms controlling the initial induction of TH and NF gene expression.
Synthesis, structures, and alkene hydrosilation activities of neutral tripodal amidozirconium alkyls

Aminolysis of Zr(CH2C6H5)4 with CH[(CH3)2SiNHAr]3 (Ar = para-tolyl and para-fluorophenyl) affords CH[(CH3)2SiNAr]3ZrCH2C6H51a and 1b (a: Ar = para-tolyl; b: Ar = para-fluorophenyl). Solution and solid state X-ray structural data suggest an η2-bonding mode for the benzyl group in 1a and 1b. Treating 1a and 1b with N,N-dimethylanilinium chloride or triphenylmethyl chloride yields CH[(CH3)2SiNAr]3ZrCl (2a and 2b). Complex 2a exhibits a fast dimer–monomer equilibrium in benzene. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction of 2a reveals a dimeric structure bridged by two μ-Cl atoms. Metathesis of 2a and 2b with n-butyllithium in toluene and then in hexane yields CH[(CH3)2SiNAr]3ZrnBu (3a and 3b). The crystal structures and the IR spectra of 3a and 3b in Nujol mulls reveal weak β-agostic interactions, but solution NMR spectra of 3a and 3b give no evidence for such a motif. Further, the larger Zr–Cα–Cβ angles and the longer Zr–Cβ distances suggest the β-agostic interactions in 3a and 3b are weaker than those in the previously reported cases of Group 4 metals. Complexes 1a, 1b, 3a, and 3b are active alkene hydrosilation catalysts. The catalytic activities exhibited by these complexes are in contrast to the inertness of the previously reported neutral molecules of the type X3MR (X = amide, alkoxide, or siloxide; M = Group 4 metal; R = alkyl or hydride). We attribute the improved activity to three factors: the small ancillary groups of the ligand, the accessibility of the coordination sites cis to the Zr-alkyl group due to the small “bite angle” of the ligand, and the weakened N(p) → Zr(d) π donation due to the coordination geometry imposed by the tripodal ligand.
Dynamic renormalization of discrete hydrodynamics

Abstract A general prescription for dynamic renormalization has been found for discrete hydrodynamics (giving equations of motion for large-cell variables from those for smaller cells). The renormalization transformation is calculated explicitly, and found to consist of purely algebraic relations among a set of parameters which describe (arbitrarily accurately) the equations of motion. The discrete theory is therefore substantially easier to renormalize than continuum theories. The small-scale parameters have previously been calculated numerically for a soft-sphere model; it is therefore now possible to calculate transport coefficients by renormalization. Preliminary results indicate this method is substantially more efficient than earlier (Green-Kubo) methods.
Radiative Transfer in Packed Spheres

Radiative transfer through a packed bed of microspheres is analyzed on the basis of a new conceptual model, which combines the continuous and discontinuous models in predicting the scattering and absorption properties of packed microspheres. The basic elements of the formulation consist of the determination of the scattering diagram of a unit cell, the optical properties of a series of thin microsphere layers, and the solution of the two-flux equations. Results show a strong dependence of these radiative properties on the particle diameter and emissivity. Qualitative agreement is shown in the comparison of the predictions with existing experimental data.
A Carp-Goldfish Hybrid with No Caudal Fin

Dawson (1964, 1966, 1971) lists a number of reports of fish lacking caudal fins. There are several reports of naturally occurring carp. CyprintWs carpio, and goldfish, Garassius auratus, without tail fins (Fiebiger, 1907; Breder, 1953; Ward, 1965). Apparently this is the first report of a hybrid of these two species with such an anomaly. The first (ArkSU #624) was seined from an irrigation ditch near Jonesboro, T.13N, R.2E, Sec. 12, Craighead Co. Ark., (Fig. 1). X-ray plates, not illustrated, show the fin to be lacking directly behind the 33rd vertebra with no apparent malformation. The large foci of scales taken from the end of the tail, as compared to scales ab!ove the lateral l'ne, show tail scales to be replacement scales (Creaser, 1926) and indicate the tail was lost relatively late in life. The collecting site
Intraoperative factors and the risk of respiratory complications after pneumonectomy.

Background The potential effect of intraoperative factors on respiratory complications after pneumonectomy is still unclear. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study; charts of 129 patients who underwent elective pneumonectomy at the University of Virginia were reviewed. Logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of anesthetic factors on the odds of at least one respiratory complication. Linear regression models were fit to assess the impact of these outcomes on length of stay (LOS). Results The incidence of respiratory complications in this cohort was 21%. In univariate analysis total nonblood fluids (p = 0.001), and the blood products packed red blood cells (p Conclusions Blood product transfusion affects respiratory function and is an independent risk factor for respiratory complications after pneumonectomy.
Degradation of Spacesuit Fabrics in Low Earth Orbit

Six samples of pristine and dust-abraded outer layer spacesuit fabrics were included in the Materials International Space Station Experiment-7, in which they were exposed to the wake-side low Earth orbit environment on the International Space Station (ISS) for 18 months in order to determine whether abrasion by lunar dust increases radiation degradation. The fabric samples were characterized using optical microscopy, optical spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and tensile testing before and after exposure on the ISS. Comparison of pre- and post-flight characterizations showed that the environment darkened and reddened all six fabrics, increasing their integrated solar absorptance by 7 to 38 percent. There was a decrease in the ultimate tensile strength and elongation to failure of lunar dust abraded Apollo spacesuit fibers by a factor of four and an increase in the elastic modulus by a factor of two.
Effects of color, relative position, and the onset or offset of signals in a watchkeeping task

The present study was designed to isolate the relative effects of three stimulus parameters on performance in a 1-h watch-keeping task. The task required S to monitor a display consisting of a red and a green light mounted one above the other. One of the lights was normally on (offset was the critical signal), and the other was normally off (onset critical). A total of 128 Ss served in four groups that permitted all factorial combinations of color (red or green), spatial position (top or bottom light of the display), and direction of energy change (stimulus onset or offset). Response times were found to be more rapid for signal offset than for onset, and for the bottom as compared to the top light of the display. No significant effect was noted for color or for any of the interactions.
Vibrational overtone spectroscopy and coupling effects in monolayer CO on NaCl(100)

Abstract Monolayer physisorbed CO on NaCl(100) single crystal surfaces has been investigated with polarized Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy at 5 K. While the fundamental (v = 1 ←v = 0) transition of the monolayer has been studied previously, we report for the first time the overtone (v = 2 ←v = 0) transition. Its integrated absorbance is very weak, being only 0.5% of the fundamental. Comparisons of the transition frequencies, the bandwidths and absorbances for these two transitions together with those of dilute isotopes allow us to isolate the contribution of dynamic and static coupling effects of molecules within the monolayer. We can also distinguish homogeneous and heterogeneous effects from band profiles of these various transitions. The method of analysis of these data is the exciton model appropriate to treating the coupling of the electric multipoles of molecules within the adlayer.
The Michigan Ion Beam Laboratory for Surface Modification and Analysis

Abstract The Michigan Ion Beam Laboratory for Surface Modification and Analysis was established in October of 1986 for the purpose of advancing our understanding of ion-solid interactions on both the fundamental and applied levels. The facilities consist of a 1.7 MV Tandetron accelerator, a 2 MV Van de Graaff accelerator and a 400 kV ion implanter. One of the major objectives of the laboratory is to provide an understanding of how ion beam surface modification can be used to improve physical and mechanical properties of engineering materials. As such, several programs have been established to determine the mechanisms by which ion beam surface modification affects properties such as fatigue, corrosion, stress corrosion cracking and wear. These programs provide an interface, or technology transfer, between fundamental aspects of ion-solid interaction and their application to engineering products.
Prednisone and prednisolone interconversion in the rabbit utilizing unbound concentrations

Prednisolone (POH) and prednisone (PO) were both administered via seven different intravenous infusions (three POH and four PO) in each of six rabbits to obtain steady state. Bolus doses of POH and PO were also administered to four of the rabbits. Plasma samples of POH and PO were analyzed by normal phase HPLC. Unbound concentrations of both compounds were estimated in each rabbit using equilibrium dialysis and computer fit of the nonlinear or linear binding. The unbound fraction of POH ranged between 3 and 15 per cent from tracer to total concentrations of 2000 micrograms-1. The unbound fraction of PO ranged between 23 and 34 per cent and appeared nonlinear for four of the rabbits. The mean apparent unbound clearances of POH ranged from 4.4 to 6.1 lh-1kg-1 and from 4.1 to 5.9 lh-1kg-1 for PO, and were dose-independent for both compounds. The available fraction of POH from PO was 50 to 70 per cent and independent of dose. The available fraction of PO from POH averaged 44 per cent at the low infusion rate decreasing to 16 and 20 per cent at the medium and high infusion rates. Although saturability in the formation of PO from POH was noted, this nonlinear step is apparently not large enough to induce observable changes from linearity in the overall disposition of unbound POH.
An additive analysis of multiplicative Schwarz methods

We present an analysis of multiplicative Schwarz methods for symmetric positive definite problems that is based on the theory of additive Schwarz preconditioners and discuss applications to multigrid methods and domain decomposition methods.
In these uncertain times: Educators build cultural awareness through planned international experiences

Abstract This narrative inquiry explored the effectiveness of planned international experiences in promoting cultural awareness, understanding and appreciation among American educators. Participating educators (n=12) were immersed in foreign cultures for 2–3 weeks during three different summers. To document the effectiveness of cultural immersion, participants completed pre- and post-visit surveys. Pre-visit data showed lack of cultural awareness. After the visit, however, participants had gained broader awareness, understanding and appreciation of host cultures such that familiar cultural practices were rarely used as the only point of reference. Follow-up interviews showed possible sustained acculturation.
Cytophysiological features of hemocytes in cockroaches

The wide range of functional activities of circulating and sessile insect hemocytes expresses itself in highly specialized cytological terms. Electron microscopic studies carried out in five species of normal and experimentally manipulated cockroaches, in conjunction with light microscopic information, reveal a broad spectrum of structural organization and an apparent capacity for cellular modulation. In addition to conventional organelles, these hemocytes contain a class of unusual cytoplasmic inclusion bodies which seem to undergo striking transformations in response to specific functional demands. A variety of transitional forms attests to the existence of close links between tubule containing (type 1), electron dense (type 2), and large globular (type 3) inclusion bodies, and reveals the derivation of yet another special (lamellated, fusiform) inclusion from type 2 bodies. Confluence of the type 3 configurations into still larger lacunae may precede the release of their contents into the hemolymph, a process whose major effect seems to be the initiation of the clotting process.