cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cointegrating regressions with messy regressors and an application to mixed‐frequency series

We consider a cointegrating regression in which the integrated regressors are messy in the sense that they contain data that may be mismeasured, missing, observed at mixed frequencies or have other irregularities that cause the econometrician to observe them with mildly nonstationary noise. Least squares estimation of the cointegrating vector is consistent. Existing prototypical variance-based estimation techniques, such as canonical cointegrating regression, are both consistent and asymptotically mixed normal. This result is robust to weakly dependent but possibly nonstationary disturbances.
Including Adults With Intellectual Disabilities in Research: Scientists' Perceptions of Risks and Protections

Social and cognitive characteristics of adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) place them at risk for inappropriate inclusion in or exclusion from research participation. As we grapple with how to include adults with ID in research in order to secure their right to contribute to scientific advancements and be positioned to derive benefit from ensuing knowledge, it is critical to consider scientific gatekeepers' perspectives on risks of and protections for including adults with ID in research. We surveyed 199 Institutional Review Board members and intellectual disability researchers in the United States to identify their perceptions of specific risks and necessary protections in (hypothetical) research studies. The research studies varied as to whether they included adults with ID in the research sample and the level of harm to which research participants were exposed. Results suggest that identification of psychological, social, and legal risks and necessary protections varied by the disability status of the sample, the level of risk, and the role of the person reviewing the study. For example, participants identified more psychological, information control, legal, and social risks in higher harm research studies. Participants reported a need for more protections in high-harm studies as well as studies that included adults with ID. In some instances the nature of identified risks and protections and respondents' characterization of these risks and necessary protections suggested concerns related specifically to adults with ID. Implications for practice, policy, and future research related to access to research participation are discussed.
Identifying and Analyzing Extremes: Illustrated by CEOs’ Pay and Performance

This article presents statistical methods for identifying outcomes in a given sample that can be inferred as plausible extreme and whether the extremes on two variables are associated. Applications to CEO pay and performance of 50 top-paid CEOs illustrate these methodologies. Thresholds between extremes and nonextremes are found using high probability intervals under the probability distributions that govern sampling variations of the sample extremes. A Bayesian approach is used to compute odds on the association between the extremes of the two variables. The extreme pay—performance analysis of 50 top-paid CEOs reveals astonishing odds in favor of a company being extreme high only on one of the two versus on both variables. The result is considered decisive evidence for a negative association between extreme on CEO pay and extreme on performance among such top-paid CEOs. By contrast, analysis of the nonextreme CEOs yielded no evidence of any association between CEO pay and performance.
The Dual-Focus Approach to Creating Bilingual Measures

The dual-focus approach to creating bilingual research protocols requires a bilingual/bicultural research team, including indigenous researchers from the cultures being studied. The presence of indigenous researchers as full and equal members of the research team can guard against an unexamined exportation of ideas and methods developed in one culture to other cultural/linguistic communities. The team develops the research plan and a research protocol that express a given concept with equal clarity, affect, and level of usage simultaneously in two languages. The dual-focus method employs a concept-driven rather than a translation-driven approach to attain conceptual and linguistic equivalence. Examples of the application of this approach to creating new measures in Spanish and English, adapting existing measures, revising instructions to research participants, and correcting official translations are provided.
Surface-Grafted, Environmentally Sensitive Polymers for Biofilm Release

Controlling bacterial biofouling is desirable for almost every human enterprise in which solid surfaces are introduced into nonsterile aqueous environments. One approach that is used to decrease contamination of manufactured devices by microorganisms is using materials that easily slough off accumulated material (i.e., fouling release surfaces). The compounds currently used for this purpose rely on low surface energy to inhibit strong attachment of organisms. In this study, we examined the possible use of environmentally responsive (or “smart”) polymers as a new class of fouling release agents; a surface-grafted thermally responsive polymer, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAM), was used as a model compound. PNIPAAM is known to have a lower critical solubility temperature of ∼32°C (i.e., it is insoluble in water at temperatures above 32°C and is soluble at temperatures below 32°C). Under experimental conditions, >90% of cultured microorganisms (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Halomonas marina) and naturally occurring marine microorganisms that attached to grafted PNIPAAM surfaces during 2-, 18-, 36-, and 72-h incubations were removed when the hydration state of the polymer was changed from a wettability that was favorable for attachment to a wettability that was less favorable. Of particular significance is the observation that an organism known to attach in the greatest numbers to hydrophobic substrata (i.e., H. marina) was removed when transition of PNIPAAM to a more hydrated state occurred, whereas an organism that attaches in the greatest numbers to hydrophilic substrata (i.e., S. epidermidis) was removed when the opposite transition occurred. Neither solvated nor desolvated PNIPAAM exhibited intrinsic fouling release properties, indicating that the phase transition was the important factor in removal of organisms. Based on our observations of the behavior of this model system, we suggest that environmentally responsive polymers represent a new approach for controlling biofouling release.
Polyps of the gallbladder

One of the unusual problems associated with gallbladder disease is a polyp discovered by either ultrasonography or by oral cholecystogram. We report a recent experience of two cases of polyps of the gallbladder removed by cholecystectomy. The incidence of gallbladder polyps of any type is quite varied in the medical literature. Eighty percent of polyps occur in females, and these occur after the third decade of life. The polyps can either be cholesterol or inflammatory polyps that are not really benign tumors but just reactions of the gallbladder wall. The true mucosal benign lesions are either adenomyomas or papillomas. The adenomyomas and papillomas have malignant potential. There are case reports of carcinoma in situ and cancer arising from these lesions. The treatment for a gallbladder polyp is a cholecystectomy.
Teachable robots: Understanding human teaching behavior to build more effective robot learners

While Reinforcement Learning (RL) is not traditionally designed for interactive supervisory input from a human teacher, several works in both robot and software agents have adapted it for human input by letting a human trainer control the reward signal. In this work, we experimentally examine the assumption underlying these works, namely that the human-given reward is compatible with the traditional RL reward signal. We describe an experimental platform with a simulated RL robot and present an analysis of real-time human teaching behavior found in a study in which untrained subjects taught the robot to perform a new task. We report three main observations on how people administer feedback when teaching a Reinforcement Learning agent: (a) they use the reward channel not only for feedback, but also for future-directed guidance; (b) they have a positive bias to their feedback, possibly using the signal as a motivational channel; and (c) they change their behavior as they develop a mental model of the robotic learner. Given this, we made specific modifications to the simulated RL robot, and analyzed and evaluated its learning behavior in four follow-up experiments with human trainers. We report significant improvements on several learning measures. This work demonstrates the importance of understanding the human-teacher/robot-learner partnership in order to design algorithms that support how people want to teach and simultaneously improve the robot's learning behavior.
A seasonal analysis of riverflow trends

This paper presents a trend analysis of monthly riverflows recorded at the Apalachicola River at Chattahoochee, FL during the 1930–2001 water years. The environmental concern is that increasing urbanization upstream (Atlanta and Columbus, GA) increases downstream riverflows. In statistical terms, our objective is to test whether there are months in which riverflows are significantly increasing. For this purpose, a parsimonious periodic autoregressive moving-average time series model is fitted to the error structure of the series. The covariances of this time series model are then used to assess the significance of monthly and yearly linear trend estimators. In the end, we do not find strong evidence of increasing riverflows.
A Variation of the Translation Attenuation Model Can Explain the Inducible Regulation of the pBC16 Tetracycline Resistance Gene in Bacillus subtilis

Expression of the tet resistance gene from plasmid pBC16 is induced by the antibiotic tetracycline, and induction is independent of the native promoter for the gene. The nucleotide sequence at the 5' end of the tet mRNA (the leader region) is predicted to assume a complex secondary structure that sequesters the ribosome binding site for the tet gene. A spontaneous, constitutively expressed tet gene variant contains a mutation predicted to provide the tet gene with a nonsequestered ribosome binding site. Lastly, comparable levels of tet mRNA can be demonstrated in tetracycline-induced and uninduced cells. These results are consistent with the idea that the pBC16 tet gene is regulated by translation attenuation, a model originally proposed to explain the inducible regulation of the cat and erm genes in gram-positive bacteria. As with inducible cat and erm genes, the pBC16 tet gene is preceded by a translated leader open reading frame consisting of a consensus ribosome binding site and an ATG initiation codon, followed by 19 sense codons and a stop codon. Mutations that block translation of cat and erm leaders prevent gene expression. In contrast, we show that mutations that block translation of the tet leader result in constitutive expression. We provide evidence that translation of the tet leader peptide coding region blocks tet expression by preventing the formation of a secondary-structure complex that would, in the absence of leader translation, expose the tet ribosome binding site. Tetracycline is proposed to induce tet by blocking or slowing leader translation. The results indicate that tet regulation is a variation of the translation attenuation model.
Determining whether an experimental group is stochastically larger than a control

Let μx and μy be the means of a control and an experimental group, respectively. The usual method of comparing the two groups is in terms of μx-μy by testing H0:μx = μy. This approach might suffice when the corresponding distributions differ only in location. When the distributions differ in other respects, a shift function can be more informative. For example, it might be the case that the typical subjects who perform poorly under a standard method will, on the average, benefit from a new treatment, while the new treatment is actually detrimental for the typical subject who does well under the established procedure. Another possibility, which is illustrated in the paper, is that μy>μx might be true even though for most subjects the experimental group is detrimental. This paper describes a simple method for determining whether these situations have occurred.
Persistent Activation of ERK Contributes to Glutamate-induced Oxidative Toxicity in a Neuronal Cell Line and Primary Cortical Neuron Cultures

Oxidative stress can trigger neuronal cell death and has been implicated in several chronic neurological diseases and in acute neurological injury. Oxidative toxicity can be induced by glutamate treatment in cells that lack ionotrophic glutamate receptors, such as the immortalized HT22 hippocampal cell line and immature primary cortical neurons. Previously, we found that neuroprotective effects of geldanamycin, a benzoquinone ansamycin, in HT22 cells were associated with a down-regulation of c-Raf-1, an upstream activator of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERKs). ERK activation, although often attributed strictly to neuronal cell survival and proliferation, can also be associated with neuronal cell death that occurs in response to specific insults. In this report we show that delayed and persistent activation of ERKs is associated with glutamate-induced oxidative toxicity in HT22 cells and immature primary cortical neuron cultures. Furthermore, we find that U0126, a specific inhibitor of the ERK-activating kinase, MEK-1/2, protects both HT22 cells and immature primary cortical neuron cultures from glutamate toxicity. Glutamate-induced ERK activation requires the production of specific arachidonic acid metabolites and appears to be downstream of a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation characteristic of oxidative stress in HT22 cells. However, inhibition of ERK activation reduces glutamate-induced intracellular Ca2+accumulation. We hypothesize that the precise kinetics and duration of ERK activation may determine whether downstream targets are mobilized to enhance neuronal cell survival or ensure cellular demise.
Quantitative Microbiologic Models for Preterm Delivery

Preterm delivery (PTD) is the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality in the United States. An epidemiological association between PTD and various bacteria that are part of the vaginal microflora has been reported. No single bacterial species has been identified as being causally associated with PTD, suggesting a multifactorial etiology. Quantitative microbiologic cultures have been used previously to define normal vaginal microflora in a predictive model. These techniques have been applied to vaginal swab cultures from pregnant women in an effort to develop predictive microbiologic models for PTD. Logistic regression analysis with microbiologic information was performed for various risk groups, and the probability of a PTD was calculated for each subject. Four predictive models were generated by using the quantitative microbiologic data. The area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver operating curves ranged from 0.74 to 0.94, with confidence intervals (CI) ranging from 0.62 to 1. The model for the previous PTD risk group with the highest percentage of PTDs had an AUC of 0.91 (CI, 0.79 to 1). It may be possible to predict PTD by using microbiologic risk factors measured once the gestation period has reached the 20-week time point.
Extinction of diffusion flames adjacent to flat surfaces of burning polymers

Extinction of the diffusion flames in the stagnation-point flow above the commercial polymers, poly(methyl methacrylate), polyoxymethylene (two types), polyethylene (three types), and polystyrene, is studied. The extinction data are used in a theory developed to obtain overall rate parameters for gas-phase combustion of these fuels. Calculated overall rate parameters are corrected for surface heat loss by radiation. It is found that radiation corrections are most significant for polyethylene and polystyrene, in part because of their somewhat higher surface temperatures. Surface regression rates and corresponding surface temperatures are measured to aid in the radiation correction. The results are also used in an Arrhenius-type rate expression to obtain overall activation energies for the thermal degradation of these polymers for comparison with the literature. Effects of surface losses on flame extinction are discussed.
Pseudomonas syringae BetT Is a Low-Affinity Choline Transporter That Is Responsible for Superior Osmoprotection by Choline over Glycine Betaine

The plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae derives better osmoprotection from choline than from glycine betaine, unlike most bacteria that have been characterized. In this report, we identified a betaine/carnitine/choline family transporter (BCCT) in P. syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 that mediates the transport of choline and acetylcholine. This transporter has a particularly low affinity (Km of 876 μM) and high capacity (Vmax of 80 nmol/min/mg of protein) for choline transport relative to other known BCCTs. Although BetT activity increased in response to hyperosmolarity, BetT mediated significant uptake under low-osmolarity conditions, suggesting a role in transport for both osmoprotection and catabolism. Growth studies with mutants deficient in BetT and other choline transporters demonstrated that BetT was responsible for the superior osmoprotection conferred to P. syringae by choline over glycine betaine when these compounds were provided at high concentrations (>100 μM). These results suggest that P. syringae has evolved to survive in relatively choline-rich habitats, a prediction that is supported by the common association of P. syringae with plants and the widespread production of choline, but genus- and species-specific production of glycine betaine, by plants. Among the three putative BCCT family transporters in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and six in Pseudomonas putida, different transporters were predicted to function based on similarity to Escherichia coli BetT than to P. syringae BetT. Functional P. putida and P. aeruginosa transporters were identified, and their possession of a long C-terminal tail suggested an osmoregulatory function for this tail; this function was confirmed for P. syringae BetT using deletion derivatives.
Prior Circumcision Does Not Complicate Repair of Hypospadias With an Intact Prepuce

Purpose: Hypospadias concealed by an intact prepuce is a concern to practitioners performing newborn circumcision, especially given reports that foreskin removal may complicate urethroplasty. However, distal hypospadias repair today less often relies on skin flaps, and some patients may have circumcision interrupted for suspected urethral anomalies when none is present. We evaluated outcomes in consecutive males with hypospadias and an intact prepuce to compare results of urethroplasty in those with vs without prior circumcision.Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of consecutive patients with hypospadias and an intact prepuce was performed. Patients circumcised before the urethral defect was recognized comprised group 1, while those presenting without circumcision comprised group 2. In all cases urethroplasty was accomplished by urethral plate tubularization without skin flaps, with coverage of the neourethra by a dartos flap.Results: A total of 63 patients with hypospadias and an intact prepuce...
Spectrum crowding and Cognitive Radar

The ever increasing demand on remote sensing capabilities directly conflicts with the accelerating loss of spectrum allocation. Increased spectral awareness and waveform diversity can be applied to this problem through cognitive processing and control of modern radar. This paper motivates the development of essential technology for this purpose.
Vault Prolapse after Hysterectomy

SummaryProlapse of the vaginal vault may follow either abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy, and is associated with herniation of the pouch of Douglas. The condition is commonly called enterocoele but the peritoneal sac does not always contain small bowel as this depends on the length of the mesentery. In recent years there have been fewer reports in the literature on the condition, presumably because it is less common. When vault prolapse does occur it can give rise to problems in management, mainly when there is a requirement to maintain sexual function.
The End of the Experiment: How ICANN's Foray into Global Internet Democracy Failed

ICANN's experimentation in running a representative and open corporate decision-making process to manage the domain name system has largely failed. This failure has manifested itself most explicitly by ICANN's retreat from its effort to enable the direct election of a subset of its Board members and, less explicitly, by the extent to which other efforts to engage the Internet user community in the decision-making process have proven ineffective. A systematic review of over 100,000 comments by public participants in ICANN, other inputs that the Board considered, and the Election of 2000 for five ICANN Board members, reveal that ICANN has never fully succeeded in integrating users into the governance model in other than an ad-hoc fashion. Instead, the Board appears largely to have based its decisions upon the recommendations of professional staff and of the powerful Supporting Organizations (SOs), in which users can participate. An Internet user approaching the ICANN process from the outside would have little way to determine how to participate meaningfully in the decision-making process. Three lessons emerge from this study. First, ICANN's failure shines further light upon the need for an overhaul of its governance structure. Second, ICANN should clarify the way in which users can involve themselves in the decision-making process for managing the domain name system, arguably through the Supporting Organization process. Third, we should look beyond the ICANN model, which has never been the appropriate venue for experimentation in global decision-making, toward new ways to govern the technical architecture of the Internet in an increasingly networked, less clearly bordered world.
A test of the hydraulic limitation hypothesis in fast‐growing Eucalyptus saligna

The hydraulic limitation hypothesis proposes that (1) reduced growth in taller trees is caused by decreased photosynthesis resulting from a decrease in hydraulic conductance promoted by a longer root-to-leaf flow path, and (2) this mechanism reduces stand productivity after canopy closure. This hypothesis was tested by comparing the physiology of 7 m (1 year) and 26 m (5 year) Eucalyptus saligna plantations where above-ground productivity for the 26 m trees was approximately 69% of that for the 7 m trees, and water and nutrients were not limiting. The study compared whole tree physiology [water flux (Q 1 ), average crown conductance (G T ), crown hydraulic conductance per unit leaf area (K L ), carbon isotope discrimination (δ 13 C)] and leaf physiology under light saturation (leaf water potential at the canopy top (Ψ LEAF ), photosynthetic capacity (A max ), and photosynthesis (A) and stomatal conductance (g s ). K L was 50% lower in the taller trees, but whole tree Q 1 and G T were the same for the 7 m and 26 m trees. Photosynthetic capacity was the same for leaves at the canopy top, but δ 13 C was -1.8‰ lower for the 26 m trees. A and g, were either lower in the taller trees or equal, depending on sampling date. The taller trees maintained 0.8 MPa lower Ψ LEAF during the day and had 2.6-times higher sapwood area per unit leaf area; these factors compensated for the effects of increased height and gravitational potential in the taller trees to maintain higher G T .The hydraulic limitation hypothesis (as originally stated) failed to explain the sharp decline in net primary productivity after canopy closure in this study. The effects of increased height appear to be a universal hydraulic problem for trees, but compensation mitigated these effects and maintained Q 1 and G T in the present study. Compensation may induce other problems (such as lower Ψ LEAF or higher respiratory costs) that could reduce carbon gain or shift carbon allocation, and future studies of hydraulic limitation should consider compensation and associated carbon costs. In this study, the combination of similar G T and lower δ 13 C for the 26 m trees suggests that total crown photosynthesis was lower for the 26 m trees, perhaps a result of the lower Ψ LEAF .
Jejunal hematoma in cattle a retrospective case analysis

Sixteen years of adult cattle submissions to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System were examined and data captured from cases with anaerobic cultures of intestinal content....
Policies and Practices for Cost-Effective Transit Investments: Recent Experiences in the United States

A structured survey of transit agency staff and interviews with agency executives and other local leaders were conducted in areas that have undertaken a major transit investment project in the past 5 years. The purpose was to identify methods and procedures used to evaluate and select projects and, in particular, to document how land use considerations are being incorporated into project decisions. Staff members responsible for 41 projects were contacted, and 28 completed the survey, discussing projects in 23 regions of the United States. Supplementary interviews were conducted for 10 of the regions. The study found that most agencies use federal guidance and regulations on the evaluation of transit investment as a starting point, but give equal weight in project design and selection to state and local policy objectives such as social equity, economic development, and fair-share distribution of projects among local communities. A number of transit agencies give priority to projects in jurisdictions with transit-supportive land use patterns or plans. The availability of public or private funding contributions is increasingly important in prioritizing projects. Increasingly, transit agencies are hiring staff to work with local governments on land use planning and on funding partnerships and are working with them to develop a shared understanding of the area's transit needs and related development objectives. Staff and political leaders deem these efforts at least as important as technical evaluations of cost-effectiveness.
Interkinetic nuclear migration during the early stages of lens formation in the chicken embryo

The optic vesicle in the chicken embryo, after growing out sufficiently to establish contact with the overlying ectoderm, adheres very firmly to the latter for a period of 12-15 h (McKeehan, 1951). Within the area of adhesion the surface ectoderm is transformed into a lens placode under influence of the developing retina. Little is known about the biochemical changes involved in this tissue transformation. Langman (1959) and Langman & Maisel (1962) found a cytotoxic effect of lens protein antisera and specific a-crystallin antibodies on presumptive lens cells shortly after induction had started but before the first morphological changes characteristic for the lens placode were visible. They concluded that the synthesis of a-crystallin might be a prerequisite for lens placode formation. Recent studies with the fluorescent antibody technique, however, indicate that the first crystallins are not produced until the very end of the contact period (Zwaan I Ikeda &Zwaan, 1966). a-Crystallin appears even later, at about 3-5 days of incubation when the formation of primary lens fibers has progressed far enough almost to obliterate the lens cavity (Ikeda & Zwaan, 1967). While the appearance of crystallins can thus be regarded as a relatively late event during lens induction, striking cytological changes have been described for the earlier phases of this process (McKeehan, 1951). The nuclei of the surface ectoderm, which are at first irregularly shaped, become oval and arrange themselves with their long axis perpendicular to the apical end of the cell. First distributed at random, they are now displaced towards the basal parts of the presumptive lens cells which gradually increase in height. A similar nuclear orientation can be observed in the cells of the optic cup. This leads to close approximation of the nuclei of the future retinal and lens cells, as these two tissues remain firmly attached to each other at the base of their cells during this time. Weiss (1950) and McKeehan (1951) suggested that these visible occurrences might be associated with or be the consequence of a regrouping of macromole
Long-Term Supplementation of Green Tea Extract Does Not Modify Adiposity or Bone Mineral Density in a Randomized Trial of Overweight and Obese Postmenopausal Women

Background Green tea extract (GTE) consumption has been linked to favorable changes in adiposity and bone mineral density (BMD), although it is unknown if these effects are due to green tea catechins or caffeine. The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotype may also modify these associations. Objective We examined the impact of decaffeinated GTE on body composition (using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) and obesity-associated hormones. Methods The Minnesota Green Tea Trial was a 12-mo randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 937 postmenopausal women (aged 50-70 y) assigned to receive either GTE containing 843 mg (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate or placebo. This substudy was conducted in 121 overweight/obese participants [body mass index (BMI) (kg/m(2)) ≥25.0]. Results There were no differences in changes in BMI (-0.13 ± 0.11 compared with -0.05 ± 0.11; P = 0.61), total fat mass (-0.30 ± 0.16 compared with -0.12 ± 0.15 kg; P = 0.40), percentage of body fat (-0.15% ± 0.17% compared with -0.15% ± 0.16%; P = 0.99), or BMD (-0.006 ± 0.002 compared with -0.003 ± 0.002 g/cm(2); P = 0.49) over 12 mo between women taking GTE (n = 61) and those taking a placebo (n = 60). Interactions were observed between treatment and time for gynoid percentage of fat (%fat) and tissue %fat. Gynoid %fat increased from baseline to month 12 in the placebo group as baseline BMI increased and decreased over time as baseline BMI increased in the GTE group (P-interaction = 0.02). Tissue %fat increased from baseline to month 12 in the placebo group as baseline BMI increased. In the GTE group, tissue %fat decreased during the intervention as baseline BMI increased (P-interaction = 0.04). No changes were seen in circulating leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, or insulin concentrations. COMT genotype did not modify the effect of GTE on any variable. Conclusions Decaffeinated GTE was not associated with overall reductions in adiposity or improvements in BMD in overweight/obese postmenopausal women. However, GTE may be beneficial for reduction in tissue and gynoid %fat in individuals with higher BMI. This clinical trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00917735.
With Amici Like These: Cicero, Quintilian and the Importance of Stylistic Demeanor

This article examines the opening sections of competing amicus briefs submitted in the recently decided First Amendment case of McCreary County v. ACLU, which concerned the constitutionality of Ten Commandments displays in two Kentucky courthouses. In a case like McCreary, which involved a volatile mix of religion, history and politics, rhetorical style is especially important because the Court already knows what kind of arguments the parties will make. Given the predictability of the types of argument, the manner of argument becomes even more important. Because the McCreary case addressed controversial, high profile issues, numerous briefs (29) were submitted in the case, including a brief on the merits from each of the parties and twenty-seven amicus briefs. Predictably, the briefs varied widely in quality and rhetorical style. In one way or another, most of them underestimated the tone-setting potential of the questions presented, tables of contents, and argument summaries. Instead of crafting the opening sections to maximize their rhetorical impact, the brief writers rely too much on vague abstractions, they provoke emotions they cannot control, and they obscure their arguments with hyperbole. Above all, they miscalculate the needs and temperament of their audience - the Court.
Exploring Communities of Color Electoral Participation: Secondary Analysis and Data Sharing

We propose a session or part of a panel that addresses use of secondary data to examine voting behavior of underrepresented populations. In this session, we will focus on election studies in our collection and compare the results over time and use of variables that seek to measure the same or similar electoral behaviors. The behaviors include: electoral participation, racial interests/policy preferences, partisanship, collective interests, and values among various racial and ethnic groups. In addition, we will explore briefly the use of various sampling methodologies and how different approaches affect the resulting data and interpretations of voting behavior. The studies we will use include: 1) the 2004 National Politics Survey, 2) the 2004 National Asian-American Survey, 3) the 2006 Latino National Survey, and 4) the 2006 Latino National Survey – New England, 2006. As part of this session, we will introduce session attendees to the sample characteristics and compare variables tools that are present on the ICPSR and RCMD websites. Our goal is to demonstrate to NCOBPS participants how secondary data from RCMD can be used in the aggregate to answer questions beyond the scope of any one study in our holdings. Other publically accessible data sets will be identified. The Resource Center for Minority Data (RCMD) is housed at ICPSR. The data archive focuses on the distribution and archiving of the social science data focusing on underrepresented or minority populations.
Hydrodynamics of capillary imbibition under nanoconfinement.

Understanding fluid flow in nanoconfined geometries is crucial for a broad range of scientific problems relevant to the behavior of porous materials in biology, nanotechnology, and the built enviro...
Affinities and architecture of Devonian trunks of Prototaxites loganii

Devonian fossil logs of Prototaxites loganii have been considered kelp-like aquatic algae, rolled up carpets of liverworts, enormous saprophytic fungal fruiting bodies or giant lichens. Algae and r...
Contemporary management of isolated chronic infrarenal abdominal aortic dissections

Objective The purpose of this study was to report the presentation, treatment, and follow-up of isolated infrarenal aortic dissections. Methods A review of 37 patients with isolated infrarenal aortic dissections was performed. Computed tomography scans with intravenous administration of contrast material were examined for all patients; catheter-based angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, and duplex ultrasound were used selectively. In dissections associated with the development of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), the aneurysm growth rate was determined by measuring the change in maximum aneurysm diameter over time and dividing that by the duration of observation. Results The majority of infrarenal abdominal aortic dissection patients were male (67.6%). Hypertension (77.1%) and hyperlipidemia (77.1%) were the most common comorbidities among these patients. Aortic atherosclerosis was present in the majority of patients (60.0%); 67.6% of dissections were discovered incidentally and were asymptomatic. The mean dissection length was 5.84 ± 4.23 cm. Concomitant AAAs were present in 48.6% of cases with an average maximum diameter of 4.38 ± 1.41 cm. The aneurysm growth rate was 1.2 mm/y. Aneurysms were significantly larger in men than in women (4.87 ± 1.31 vs 3.12 ± 0.67 cm; P = .001). Endovascular intervention was performed on 14 (37.8%) patients, open surgery was performed on 1 (2.7%) patient, and surveillance with conservative medical treatment was used for 22 (59.5%) patients. Ten patients were treated successfully with endovascular repair for progressive aneurysm expansion. At the time of intervention, the mean AAA diameter was 5.04 ± 1.39 cm. The mean growth rate for aneurysms that were intervened on was 2.3 mm/y. The mean diameter of AAAs that were not intervened on was 3.56 ± 1.04 cm. Type II endoleaks were observed in three (30%) patients who underwent endovascular repair. None of these were associated with aneurysm growth and none required reintervention. The mortality rate for endovascular intervention was 0%. The only open surgical repair performed was on a patient with a ruptured AAA, which the patient did not survive. Angioplasty with stent or stent graft placement was performed in four patients for the treatment of symptomatic arterial insufficiency resulting from aortic dissection. No patients experienced restenosis, and no reinterventions were performed. Conclusions Isolated infrarenal aortic dissection is an uncommon vascular disease that is related to hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerosis and may be associated with infrarenal AAA formation. The presence of dissection does not appear to increase the risk of complication or mortality for repair of concomitant aneurysm or for treatment of stenosis.
Surgical correction of isolated left innominate artery with right aortic arch.

An 8-year-old girl had a right aortic arch with an isolated left innominate artery which was in continuity with the left pulmonary artery via a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The surgical management of this heretofore unreported anomaly is presented.
In Silico Assembly of Carbon-Based Nanodevices

Carbon nanostructures are 0D, 1D and 2D nanomaterials with potential to enable new markets in the electronic industry due to their novel properties which have been recognized recently with the awarding of Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry. However their very small size constitutes a great challenge in the manufacturing industry, demanding extraordinary and expensive efforts in experimentation. Thus, the best way to avoid unneeded trial-and-error experimentation is by using theoretical-computational tools for the molecular analysis and simulation of prospective devices and systems, allowing us to observe properties at the nanoscale that are practically difficult and sometimes impossible to observe experimentally. We decided to review in this Chapter the use of these tools in order to analyze several scenarios on the assembly and characterization of carbon-based nanodevices. In an in silico experiment, by using molecular dynamics, we analyzed the outcome of bombarding carbon nanotubes with argon ions and we found that for very high energies the type of defects created were almost exclusively single vacancy, which is important in the development of spin-based electronics. On the other hand, combining carbon nanostructures with DNA molecules offers the possibility of exploiting the chemical sensitivity of DNA and the transduction of electrical signals. Therefore, by using molecular dynamics, we predicted a stable structure for a non-covalent DNA junction with a carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene as interface electrodes. The electronic structure calculations predicted that the DNA electronic structure is coupled to the carbon electron nanodevices, which allow the sensing of a chemical environment. Finally, in the field of drug-delivery, biological barriers and the immune system constitute challenges for the effective delivery of drugs to targeted areas of the human organism. Therefore, by using molecular dynamics, we predicted the structure and stability of maximum PEGylated carbon nanotubes. We found the size of the PEG-CNT complex to be smaller at conditions of maximum PEGylation and in the nanosized regime, which is an important requirement for the effective delivery of drugs.
Girlfriends, Gun-Holders, and Ghetto-Rats? Moving Beyond Narrow Views of Girls in Gangs

What is the role of girls in gangs? Are girls “real” gang members? As with many questions, it depends upon whom you ask. The director of a multi-agency gang task force in southern New Mexico talked at length with me in 1996 about gangs and gang members in the area, but when I asked him about females’ involvement, he replied, “Oh, there aren’t any female gang members.” His answer surprised me, as a recent survey that our Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program evaluation team conducted in Las Cruces middle schools showed that 40% of self-reported gang members in that sample were female (Esbensen and Peterson Lynskey 2001). Law enforcement data over time consistently report that females make up less than 10% of gang members (see, e.g., Curry et al. 1994; National Youth Gang Center 2007). Similarly, several (though certainly not all) male gang members interviewed in Miller and Brunson’s (2000) study voiced their opinions that whereas girls hung around the gang, they were not to be considered gang members: “There ain’t no girls in our gang. Like the girls we talk to, they’ll try to say they from our ‘hood, but…they ain’t from our gang” (p. 431).
Star Trek and Technologies of Empire

The Star Trek franchise outlines the key political tension/disagreement in modernity: pragmatism versus the attaining of justice (as explained in Chapter 2). At the heart of Star Trek is an explicit critique/rejection of pragmatism—that is, an excessive fixation on stability—and the active argument that free, thriving, and stable societies are those that are based on justice, and not on intersubjective agreement (neopragmatism).
A Typology of Childhood Sibling Subsystems That May Emerge in Abusive Family Systems

Approximately 90% of the American population has grown up with at least one sibling, and this is often the longest lasting relationship most people will have in their lives (Milevsky, 2011). Yet, t...
Agroinfiltration of Strawberry Fruit — A Powerful Transient Expression System for Gene Validation

Agrobacterium-infiltration (agroinfiltration) transient expression systems facilitate rapid primary characterization of candidate gene function, protein localization, protein interacting partners, or other information from a delivered construct. Most of these characterizations have been performed in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, which offer a limited set of cell types, metabolites, and developmental plasticity. As efforts to characterize genes associated with fruit and vegetable quality increase, the strawberry fruit has emerged as a useful tool to study the effects of transient gene expression. Introduction of active Agrobacterium cultures bearing loss- or gain-of-function constructs into developing fruits can provide robust gene silencing or modest overexpression within days of treatment. Fruits can then be assessed for transgene effects on endogenous gene expression, metabolism, physiology or development. The approach also allows introduction of VIGS-mediated silencing constructs as well as the assessment of promoter activity in fruits. This review details how the strawberry agroinfiltration system has been used as an efficient system to characterize an increasing number of genes associated with fruit development, physiology and metabolism.
On nearsightedness in metallic systems for O ( N ) Density Functional Theory calculations: A case study on aluminum

Abstract We investigate the locality of electronic interactions in aluminum as a function of smearing/electronic temperature in the context of O ( N ) Density Functional Theory calculations. Specifically, we determine the convergence in energy and atomic forces with truncation region size for smearing of 0.001–0.15 Ha. We find exponential convergence accompanied by a rate that increases sub-linearly with smearing, with truncation region sizes of 48–64 Bohr required to achieve chemical accuracy for typical smearing values of 0.001–0.01 Ha. This translates to O ( N ) scaling for systems larger than O ( 1000 ) atoms.
EFFECT OF LEFT ATRIAL REMODELING ON PREDICTION OF INCIDENT ATRIAL FIBRILLATION WITH CHARGE-AF SCORE: DATA FROM THE FRAMINGHAM OFFSPRING STUDY

Introduction: CHARGE-AF score is a strong predictor of incident atrial fibrillation (AF). Left atrial (LA) remodeling promotes the development of AF. We evaluated the effect of LA remodeling on the performance of CHARGE-AF score in predicting AF. Methods: We measured maximum and minimum LA volumes
Total and isomeric-state cross sections for the Ge 76 ( n , 2 n ) Ge 75 reaction from threshold to 14.8 MeV

The cross sections for the reaction $^{76}\mathrm{Ge}(n,2n)^{75}\mathrm{Ge}$ to both the isomeric state and the ground state of $^{75}\mathrm{Ge}$ have been measured with the activation method between 10 and 15 MeV in small energy steps to help resolve inconsistencies in the existing database. The $^{197}\mathrm{Au}(n,2n)^{196}\mathrm{Au}$ reaction with its known cross section was used for normalization of the data, which are compared to experimental and evaluated data of the EXFOR, EAF, JENDL, ENDF, and TENDL libraries. Model calculations using the talys-1.8 code are presented which also allow for the extrapolation to higher neutron energies. The data are important to estimate potential neutron-induced backgrounds in currently running large-scale experiments aimed at the discovery of neutrinoless $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay of $^{76}\mathrm{Ge}$.
DRILL: An Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry Interface for Improved Sensitivity via Inertial Droplet Sorting and Electrohydrodynamic Focusing in a Swirling Flow

We describe the DRILL (dry ion localization and locomotion) device, which is an interface for electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometry (MS) that exploits a swirling flow to enable the use of inertial separation to prescribe different fates for electrosprayed droplets based on their size. This source adds a new approach to charged droplet trajectory manipulation which, when combined with hydrodynamic drag forces and electric field forces, provides a rich range of possible DRILL operational modes. Here, we experimentally demonstrate sensitivity improvement obtained via vortex-induced inertial sorting of electrosprayed droplets/ions: one possible mode of DRILL operation. In this mode, DRILL removes larger droplets while accelerating the remainder of the ESI plume, producing a high velocity stream of gas-enriched spray with small, highly charged droplets and ions and directing it toward the MS inlet. The improved signal-to-noise ratio (10-fold enhancement) in the detection of angiotensin I is demonstrated using the DRILL interface coupled to ESI-MS along with an improved limit of detection (10-fold enhancement, 100 picomole) in the detection of angiotensin II. The utility of DRILL has also been demonstrated by liquid chromatography (LC)-MS: a stable isotope labeled peptide cocktail was spiked into a complex native tissue extract and quantified by unscheduled multiple reaction monitoring on a TSQ Vantage. DRILL demonstrated improved signal strength (up to a 700-fold) for 8 out of 9 peptides and had no effects on the peak shape of the transitions.