cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Competition and cooperation among exchanges: A theory of cross-listing and endogenous listing standards☆

We analyze firms’ choice of exchange to list equity and exchanges’ choice of listing standards when insiders have private information about firm value, but outsiders can produce (noisy) information at a cost. Exchanges are populated by two kinds of investors, whose numbers vary across exchanges: sophisticated (low information production cost) investors and ordinary (high–cost) investors. While firms are short-lived, exchanges are long-lived, value-maximizing agents whose listing and disclosure standards evolve over time. The listing standards chosen by exchanges affect their ‘‘reputation,’’ since outsiders can partially infer the rigor of these standards from the post-listing performance of firms. We show that, while exchanges use their listing standards as a tool in competing for listings with other exchanges, this will not necessarily lead to a ‘‘race to the bottom’’ in listing standards. Further, a merger between two exchanges may result in a higher listing standard for the combined exchange relative to that of either of the merging exchanges. We develop several other implications for firms’
Police self-legitimacy and democratic orientations: Assessing shared values

Using a sample of frontline police officers from several mid-sized municipal police departments in the United States, this study explores the relationships between frontline police officers’ self-l...
Comparing constitutions: Cohesion and distribution in legislatures

Abstract This paper summarizes our recent work on analyzing the effects of constitutional features on legislative outcomes and voting behavior. It illustrates how a general framework may be used to examine the effects of one of the principal features of parliamentary democracy: the vote of confidence procedure. We show how the confidence procedure creates incentives for governing coalitions to vote cohesively on policy issues that might otherwise split them. As a consequence, legislative majorities in parliamentary democracies behave in a more disciplined fashion and capture more of the legislative rents than in non-parliamentary settings.
Detecting knowledge base inconsistencies using automated generation of text and examples

Verifying the fidelity of domain representation in large knowledge bases (KBs) is a difficult problem: domain experts are typically not experts in knowledge representation languages, and as knowledge bases grow more complex, visual inspection of the various terms and their abstract definitions, their interrelationships and the limiting, boundary cases becomes much harder. This paper presents an approach to help verify and refine abstract term definitions in knowledge bases. It assumes that it is easier for a domain expert to determine the correctness of individual concrete examples than it is to verify and correct all the ramifications of an abstract, intensional specification. To this end, our approach presents the user with an interface in which abstract terms in the KB are described using examples and natural language generated from the underlying domain representation. Problems in the KB are therefore manifested as problems in the generated description. The user can then highlight specific examples or parts of the explanation that seem problematic. The system reasons about the underlying domain model by using the discourse plan generated for the description. This paper briefly describes the working of the system and illustrates three possible types of problem manifestations using an example of a specification of floating-point numbers in Lisp.
Novel all-optical NRZ wavelength conversion employing SOA-based Sagnac interferometer

SOA-based Sagnac interferometers are traditionally regarded as optical RZ signal processing units. We first analyze and demonstrate NRZ wavelength conversion by introducing an interference bias for the Sagnac loop caused by the polarization control.
Killing Mosquitoes and Keeping Practice: Teacher Education as Sustaining Paradox

The moral and ethical charge of teaching and teacher education includes sustaining equanimity and paradox, and maintaining poise amongst contradicting policies and interests. This paper draws upon the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching to address some paradoxes in education and teacher preparation. Specifically, the article looks at four chapters of the Tao Te Ching. By examining these ancient Taoist proverbs from a Western perspective as a teacher and teacher educator in the US this article will discuss challenges and suggestions for teachers and teacher educators successfully navigating amongst, and growing from, paradoxes imbedded in the teaching career.
Trends in End-of-Life Care in Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplant Patients.

Background Decisions about end-of-life care may be influenced by cultural and disease-specific features. We evaluated associations of demographic variables (race, ethnicity, language, religion, and diagnosis) with end-of-life characteristics (Phase I enrollment, do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders, hospice utilization, location of death), and trends in palliative care services delivered to pediatric hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplant (SCT) patients. Procedure In this single-center retrospective cohort study, inclusion criteria were as follows: patients aged 0–35 who died between January 1, 2002 and March 1, 2014, and had been cared for in the pediatric hematology, oncology, and SCT divisions. The era of 2002–2014 was divided into quartiles to assess trends over time. Results Of the 445 included patients, 64% of patients had relapsed disease, 45% were enrolled in hospice, and 16% had received palliative care consultation. Patients with brain or solid tumors enrolled in hospice (P < 0.0001) and died at home more frequently than patients with leukemia/lymphoma (P < 0.0001). Patients who received Phase I therapy or identified as Christian/Catholic religion enrolled in hospice more frequently (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.03, respectively). When patient deaths were analyzed over quartiles, the frequency of DNR orders (P = 0.02) and palliative care consultation (P = 0.04) increased over time. Hospice enrollment, location of death, and Phase I trial enrollment did not change significantly. Conclusions Despite increases in palliative care consultation and DNR orders over time, utilization remains suboptimal. No increase in hospice enrollment or shift in death location was observed. These data will help target future initiatives to achieve earlier discussions of goals of care and improved palliative care for all patients.
TESTING FOR AFFILIATION IN FIRST-PRICE AUCTIONS USING ENTRY BEHAVIOR*

In this article, we show that affiliation among potential bidders' private information (either private signals or entry costs) leads to affiliation among their entry decisions. We propose a test for affiliation among potential bidders' private information based on the implication of affiliation on the entry behavior, which is general and widely applicable to various scenarios. The test is implemented using the simulation based method. We then apply our method to timber sales in the Oregon Department of Forestry and find a small but strongly significant level of affiliation among all timber companies.
Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes small-plaque mutants defective for intracellular growth and cell-to-cell spread.

Abstract To dissect the regulatory and structural requirements for Listeria monocytogenes intracellular growth and cell-to-cell spread, we designed a protocol based on transposon mutagenesis and the isolation of mutants which form small plaques in monolayers of mouse L2 cell fibroblasts. Two different transposable elements were used to generate libraries of insertion mutants: Tn916 and a derivative of Tn917-lac, Tn917-LTV3. Ten classes of mutants were isolated and evaluated for growth and cell-to-cell spread in J774 mouse macrophagelike cells, Henle 407 human epithelial cells, and mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages. Mutants were also evaluated for secretion of hemolysin and phospholipase (assayed by egg yolk opacity) and association with F-actin in the cytoplasm of cells, using NBD-phallacidin staining. The ten classes of mutants included (i) mutants showing abortive intracellular and extracellular growth; (ii) mutants showing abortive intracellular growth; (iii) rough mutants; (iv) mutants showing greatly reduced hemolysin and phospholipase secretion but showing normal growth in cells and little or no association with F-actin; (v) mutants with mutations mapping to an open reading frame (ORF) adjacent to hlyA and referred to as ORF U, lacking phospholipase activity, and with 50% normal hemolysin activity; (vi) mutants with reduced secretion of both hemolysin and phospholipase; (vii) nonhemolytic mutants with mutations mapping to the structural gene, hlyA; (viii) mutants with 25% normal hemolysin secretion and absolutely no association with F-actin; (ix) mutants with mutations mapping to ORF U, lacking phospholipase activity, and with normal hemolysin activity; and (x) mutants showing a mixed-plaque morphology but normal for all other parameters.
Long-distance running, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia: A report of two cases

Abstract Four features of anorexia nervosa—increased level of physical activity, restricted food intake, depressive symptomatology, and episodes of binge-eating (bulimia)—are examined as they unfolded in two men who developed a manifest eating disorder only after they had become serious long-distance runners. Their cases suggest that extreme exercise, such as long-distance running, can serve as a trigger for eliciting anorexia nervosa in persons who are at risk, psychologically and biologically, for developing an eating disorder. A role for endorphins in mediating this clinical sequence is postulated.
A Method for Assessing the Importance of Body Force on Flow Boiling CHF

Experiments were performed to examine the effects of body force on flow boiling CHF. FC-72 was boiled along one wall of a transparent rectangular flow channel that permitted photographic study of the vapor-liquid interface just prior to CHF High-speed video imaging techniques were used to identify dominant CHF mechanisms corresponding to different flow orientations and liquid velocities. Six different CHF regimes were identified: Wavy Vapor Layer, Pool Roiling, Stratification, Vapor Counterflow, Vapor Stagnation, and Separated Concurrent Vapor Flow. CHF showed significant sensitivity to orientation for flow velocities below 0.2 m/s, where extremely low CHF values where measured, especially with downward-facing heated wall and downflow orientations. High flow velocities dampened the effects of orientation considerably. The CHF data were used to assess the suitability of previous CHF models and correlations
Adjoint-Based Sensitivity Formulation for Fully Coupled Unsteady Aeroelasticity Problems

A method to compute sensitivities for use in gradient-based shape optimization applied to unsteady aeroelasticity problems is presented. The method takes into account the coupling between all three fundamental aspects of computational aeroelasticity: namely, unsteady flow equations, time-varying structural response to aerodynamic loads, and dynamic meshes that accommodate geometric deformations. The devised method provides discretely exact sensitivities of time-integrated and non-time-integrated objective functions with respect to design variables that control the shape of geometry. The algorithm is formulated in a general manner and can be readily extended to coupled multidisciplinary problems involving any number of disciplines. The algorithm is applied to a simple two-dimensional flutter model to demonstrate the proof of concept.
The Difference Between Slow and Forced Vital Capacity Increases With Increasing Body Mass Index: A Paradoxical Difference in Low and Normal Body Mass Indices

BACKGROUND: Obesity reduces FVC, the most commonly used measurement of vital capacity (VC) and slow VC (SVC). It is unknown whether the difference between SVC and FVC is constant in different body mass indices (BMIs). We hypothesized that the difference between SVC and FVC increases as a function of BMI. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed pulmonary function tests (PFTs) that included spirometry and plethysmography and were performed in adults from January 2013 to August 2013. A total of 1,805 PFTs were enrolled. The non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare FVC with SVC, and to compare FEV1/FVC with FEV1/SVC ratio. Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine whether BMI has an effect on the discordance between FVC and SVC. Finally, we used the McNemar test for paired binary data to compare the prevalence rate of obstruction when using different measurements of VC. RESULTS: In individuals with BMI 25 kg/m2 (42 of 50). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that FVC is larger than SVC in patients with low and normal BMI and no evidence of obstruction in the PFTs, whereas FVC is smaller than SVC in overweight and obese individual. Our findings add to the existing literature that use of FEV1/FVC may lead to underdiagnosis of obstructive airway disease in overweight and obese individuals.
Purification of tumor mitochondrial malic enzyme by specific ligand affinity chromatography.

A two-step chromatographic procedure, based on a specific ligand-binding approach, for the purification of tumor NAD(P)+-dependent malic enzyme is described. The enzyme was purified to near homogeneity by extraction from mitochondria, negative cellulose phosphate chromatography, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and application of specific elution from a malate-agarose column. The rationale for the use of the affinity column is also described.
Fibers in the ventral spinal nerves of the frog.

The use of the electron microscope provides accurate data of the number, size, and distribution of fibers in nerve tissue. Nerve fiber counts determined by electron microscope mapping show increases of two to seven times in the number of fibers over those determined by light optics. The combined counts of fibers, on one side in Rana pipiens, from the ventral spinal nerves (1, 2, and 3) supply the forelimb with 14,000 fibers; from spinal nerves (4, 5, and 6) to the trunk, 4,050 fibers; and over 20,000 fibers from the ventral spinal nerves (7, 8, 9, and 10) pass into the sciatic and crural nerves which innervate the hind limb. The greatest total number of fibers, and especially of small and fine fibes, are in the second and ninth spinal nerves. Of all the nerves studied, the sciatic contains the greatest number of fibers (16,500). The high numbers and percentages of fine and small fibers in the spinal, sciatic, and crural nerves emphasize the importance of determining the function of these fibers.
Hamilton Decompositions of 6-Regular Cayley Graphs on Even Abelian Groups with Involution-Free Connections Sets

Abstract Alspach conjectured that every connected Cayley graph on a finite Abelian group A is Hamilton-decomposable. Liu has shown that for | A | even, if S = { s 1 , … , s k } ⊂ A is an inverse-free strongly minimal generating set of A , then the Cayley graph Cay ( A ; S ⋆ ) , is decomposable into k Hamilton cycles, where S ⋆ denotes the inverse-closure of S . Extending these techniques and restricting to the 6 -regular case, this article relaxes the constraint of strong minimality on S to require only that S be strongly a -minimal, for some a ∈ S and the index of 〈 a 〉 be at least four. Strong a -minimality means that 2 s ∉ 〈 a 〉 for all s ∈ S ∖ { a , − a } . Some infinite families of open cases for the 6-regular Cayley graphs on even order Abelian groups are resolved. In particular, if | s 1 | ≥ | s 2 | > 2 | s 3 | , then Cay ( A ; { s 1 , s 2 , s 3 } ⋆ ) is Hamilton-decomposable.
Improving evolutionary training for Sugeno Fuzzy Inference Systems using a Mutable Rule Base

The accurate modeling of a time series using a Sugeno Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) requires an algorithm that can train the FIS to minimize the error of seen and unseen data points. Many researchers have used genetic algorithms to optimize the parameters of the FIS membership functions with a great deal of success. It is presented here that incorporating FIS structure identification into the training process can greatly improve accuracy of predicting future time series data, by using the well-known Mackey-Glass time series as a benchmark. The main structural identification consists of optimizing the number of membership functions per input and total number of rules in the rule base.
Study of Turbulent Premixed Flame Thickness using Direct Numerical Simulation in a Slot Burner Configuration

Three-dimensional direct numerical simulation of a spatially developing slot-burner Bunsen flame has been performed. The simulation is aimed at better understanding the dynamics of turbulent premixed flames in the thin reaction zones regime. A reduced chemical model for methane-air chemistry consisting of 13 resolved species, 4 quasi-steady state species and 73 elementary reactions has been developed specifically for the current simulation. Using the new chemical model a lean premixed methane-air flame at preheated conditions and ambient pressure is simulated. The simulation is performed long enough to achieve statistical stationarity. The data is analyzed to study possible influences of turbulence on the flame thickness. The results show that the average flame thickness increases, in agreement with a few, although not unanimous, experimental results.
In-office Evaluation of Swallowing: FEES, Pharyngeal Squeeze Maneuver, and FEESST

Dysphagia matters and endoscopic examination of patients with swallowing complaints is an important part of their evaluation. The 3 key adjuncts to flexible fiber optic laryngoscopy are (1) flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, (2) assessment of pharyngeal squeeze, and (3) sensory testing. Patients undergoing flexible fiber optic laryngoscopy are then challenged with liquid or solid materials for intake. Fundamental clinical signs of swallowing parameters are noted. The threshold at which the laryngeal adductor reflex is triggered is believed to be helpful in predicting swallowing capacity. This report deals solely with adult dysphagia evaluation.
Validation of the AIRS radiative transfer algorithm using ECMWF datafields

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) was launched in early May 2002. This new high-spectral resolution sounder is the first of a new generation of temperature and humidity sounders for numerical weather prediction and climate change studies. In addition, AIRS should be able to detect several minor gases, including ozone, carbon monoxide, methane and carbon dioxide. This paper presents a preliminary comparison between observed AIRS spectra and spectra computed from the ECMWF (European Center for Medium Range Forecasting) model fields. A key component of this comparison is the selection of clear fields of view, which we limited to night views over ocean, allowing the use of the relatively well known sea surface emissivity.
Control of chromatic focal shift through wave-front coding.

Control of chromatic aberration through purely optical means is well known. We present a novel, to our knowledge, optical–digital method of controlling chromatic aberration. The optical–digital system, which incorporates a cubic phase-modulation (CPM) plate in the optical system and postprocessing of the detected image, effectively reduces a system’s sensitivity to misfocus in general or axial (longitudinal) chromatic aberration, in particular. A fully achromatic imaging system (one that is corrected for a continuous range of wavelengths) can be achieved by initial optimization of the optical system for all aberrations except chromatic aberration. The chromatic aberration is corrected by the inclusion of the CPM plate and postprocessing.
Acquired angioedema, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and lymphoma: resolution after therapy.

Abstract We describe the association of lymphoblastic lymphoma, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and acquired angioedema in a patient whose decreased levels of C1 inhibitor, C4, and CH 50 and elevated reticulocyte counts returned to normal after removal of a lymphomatous spleen and chemotherapy. The hemolytic anemia, angioedema, and lymphoma have not recurred over a 3-year period following therapy. We compare this patient to other similar reported cases and suggest a possible mechanism for this association.
Aseptic meningitic syndrome with cauda equina epidermoid tumor

Summary A case of cauda equina epidermoid tumorin an 8-year-old boy who experienced 2 preoperative episodes characteristic of aseptic meningitis, likely due to tumor leakage, is presented. The value of examining cerebrospinal fluid under polarized light to detect the presence of keratin, and the efficacy of glucocorticosteroids in the treatment of a keratin chemical aseptic meningitis are stressed.
Inhibition of the antimalarial activity of chlorguanide by pteroylglutamic acid.

SummaryThe antimalarial activity of chlorguanide against Plasmodium gallinaceum in the chick could be significantly but not completely inhibited by pteroylglutamic acid in vivo. Pteroylglutamic acid had no significant effect on the antimalarial activity of quinine, chloroquine or pamaquine, but completely inhibited the effect of sulfadiazine.
Dietary Myo-inositol Restores Diabetic Renal Arteriolar Reactivity to Angiotensin II but not to Norepinephrine

Objective: This study addresses the hypothesis that the diminished constriction of renal arterioles to angiotensin II (Ang II) and norepinephrine (NE) in diabetic rats is due to elevated activity in the polyol pathway. This activity results in reduced incorporation of myo-inositol into membrane phospholipids and impaired signal transduction.Methods: The left ureter of female Wistar rats (140-160 g) was surgically ligated. Four to six weeks later, streptozotocin (50 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected in half of the rats to induce diabetes. Beginning on the day of streptozotocin injection, diabetic and nondiabetic rats were fed either a standard diet or a diet enriched with 1% myo-inositol. Seven to 10 days later, all rats were anesthetized and the hydrone-phrotic kidney was bisected and exteriorized in a bath for direct visualization of the renal microvasculature. The constrictor responses of interlobular, afferent, and efferent arterioles to Ang II or NE (applied to the bath) were directly quantitated by in vivo m...
Altered urinary excretion of lysosomal hydrolases in pregnancy

Creatinine concentrations and the activities of five lysosomal hydrolases were measured in the serum and urine of 14 healthy nonpregnant control women and 19 healthy pregnant women. Fractional enzyme excretion (FEE) values for ,β-glucuronidase, β-hexosaminidase, α-galactosidase, β-galactosidase, and α-mannosidase were calculated and compared between the two groups of subjects. Fractional enzyme excretion was calculated as the ratio of enzyme clearance to creatinine clearance. The FEE values for ,β-galactosidase and α-mannosidase between the nonpregnant and pregnant populations were not statistically different; however, relative to the nonpregnant control group, the median FEE values for ,β-glucuronidase (P
Phytophthora capsici on Vegetable Crops: Research Progress and Management Challenges.

Phytophthora capsici was first described by Leon H. Leonian at the New Mexico Agricultural Research station in Las Cruces in 1922 (65). In his report, he described a novel species of Phytophthora that caused considerable damage to chili pepper plants in the fall of 1918. A year later, the disease reappeared at the same site and also affected surrounding farms. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, recurrent problems with P. capsici in the Arkansas River Valley of Colorado were described on several vegetable hosts (51– 55,103). The first reported occurrence of P. capsici on a cucurbit crop occurred in 1937, when a 3.2-ha field of cucumbers became diseased resulting in 100% of the fruit rotting (51). By 1940, P. capsici had also been described on eggplant, honeydew melon fruit, summer squash, and tomato fruit (52,103). The disease on tomatoes was reportedly so severe that the viability of the processing tomato industry in the region was threatened. These early reports mirror the situation with P. capsici today on many modern vegetable production farms, especially those in the eastern United States (4,72,84,94). Our research was initiated in 1997, when crop losses caused by P. capsici threatened to bankrupt a number of vegetable producers in Michigan. Growers wanted to know why crop rotation and the use of fungicides in well-drained fields had not provided adequate protection against full-scale epidemics. At that time, there were fundamental gaps in our understanding of P. capsici’s epidemiology in Michigan, and it was difficult to answer these questions with any degree of certainty. We did not recognize the extent to which sexual recombination and genetic diversity could influence management options and success. In particular, the fungicide mefenoxam was being applied by some growers, and the sensitivity of natural populations of P. capsici in Michigan to mefenoxam was unknown at that time. Here we review recent advances in our understanding of P. capsici’s biology, in particular the role of sexual reproduction, and provide an overview of some of the management challenges presented by this information.
Collecting birds: the importance of moral debate

In a recent article in this journal, Remsen (1995) attacked moral (and other) objections to killing birds for museum collections, objections that are frequently raised by the general public and scientific community alike. The only grounds for moral objections against killing birds that Remsen considers and rejects are reverence for all life or personal (p. 157; all page references refer to Remsen 1995), that is sentimental (p. 165) reasons. What Remsen ignores is avian sentience and the moral imperative of respecting it.
History of urolithiasis

The history of urolithiasis dates back to the dawn of civilization. The symptoms, signs, and treatment of kidney and bladder stones are chronicled in most extant ancient medical texts, and cutting for stones in the bladder is one of the oldest elective surgical procedures recorded. Physicians performed perineal lithotomy until the Middle Ages, when prejudice against surgical procedures relegated them to barber surgeons, lithotomists, and the clergy. The anatomical studies of the Renaissance led to the emergence of surgeon anatomists and a gradual integration of surgery and lithotomy into the medical profession. A part from instrumental refinements, surgical progress had to wait for the advent of anesthesia and aseptic techniques in the 19th century when suprapubic lithotomy became possible. Surgery for kidney and ureteral stones was not possible until the discovery of the X-ray. This was also the age when chemical analysis of stones began to provide a rational basis for the medical management of urolithiasis.
Simulation as a cure process design tool for aerospace materials

Composite aerospace materials, known for their good mechanical properties and low weight, present interesting cure process design problems to the engineer. It is shown that computer simulation can be used as a powerful tool in solving these problems.Using physical principles, simple mathematical models are constructed which describe observed phenomena. With the advent of high-speed microcompu ters and desktop workstations, the simulations can be run at low cost. It is shown that with a properly validated model, the process engineer can use simulation to efficiently optimize cure cycles, as well as map undesirable operating regions.Examples are presented, which show that "standard" cure cycles for these materials can be modified to shorten processing times. Also, conditions which could cause reaction runaway are exposed.
Hardware Upgrade for Klystrons in the SLC

The control and monitoring of the klystrons in the first third of the SLAC linear accelerator has been commissioned, and a program to complete installation by summer 1985 is in progress. A general overview of the new control system for SLAC klystrons is presented along with a detailed description of the Modulator Klystron Support Unit. The MKSU contains all the devices necessary to interface klystron monitoring and control to the SLC control system through a dedicated intelligent CAMAC module. Controlled devices include RF phase and drive controls, the high power modulator status, associated RF signals, waterflow and magnet controls.
Subgap and above-gap differential resistance anomalies in superconductor-normal-metal microjunctions.

We present the results of differential resistance (dV/dI) measurement on high-transmittance Nb-Ag (or Al) microjunctions. At low bias, dV/dI has the conventional Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk double-dip structure plus a sharp single dip at zero bias. This zero-bias anomaly is completely suppressed by a modification in interface. It is insensitive to magnetic field. We relate it to the electron phase-coherence effect in the proximity of superconducting gap potential \ensuremath{\Delta}. Above \ensuremath{\Delta}/e, dV/dI exhibits an anomalous peak, whose position is found to be proportional to \ensuremath{\Delta}(T,H).
Energy dependence of cross sections in inverse photoemission

Two general types of energy-dependent cross-section variations are demonstrated for inverse photoemission: (i) an atomic effect based on the spatial extent of the wave function and (ii) a solidstate effect caused by peaks in the Fourier spectrum of bandlike states. As examples, data are shown on the photon-energy dependence of (i) the $5d$- to $4f$-intensity ratio in Gd and (ii) the intensity of broken-bond states on Si(111).
Latino Confidence in the Police: The Role of Immigration Enforcement, Assimilation, and Immigration Status

Police departments rely on residents to report crime in order to help keep communities safe. Research suggests that attitudes toward the police are influenced by race and ethnicity; however, research on Latinos is underdeveloped. Confidence in the police among Latinos is complicated by local law enforcement's role in immigration enforcement, which potentially discourages cooperation with the police. The current study examines whether Latino confidence in the police varies by experiences with immigration enforcement, level of assimilation, or immigration status. Study findings suggest that Hispanics who have been questioned about their immigration status have less confidence in the police than those who have not. The results provide some evidence that experiences with immigration enforcement may degrade confidence in the police among Latinos.
Theory for aircraft handling qualities based upon a structural pilotmodel

A theory for describing the manner in which aircraft dynamic characteristics determine pilot opinion ratings of aircraft handling qualities is discussed. The theory centers upon the role of pilot rate feedback in continuous tracking. A structural model of the human pilot is used to quantify the amount of rate feedback the pilot is required to use in the control of an aircraft in a specific task. Using the model, 35 vehicle configurations that have been evaluated in manned simulation are analyzed. The tasks range from simple single axis, single-loop pitch attitude tracking to precision hover and landing approach, in which control of both vehicle position and attitude are required. The manner in which control system sensitivity affects pilot opinion rating is also investigated. The rate feedback theory is supported by the results of the model-based analyses, where it is shown that the mean square value of the rate feedback signal in the model correlates with the pilot opinion ratings obtained from experiment.
Cost‐Effective treatment of coronary artery disease—the new imperative

Large lipid-lowering clinical trials have demonstrated a significant reduction in cardiovascular events and the need for cardiovascular procedures. These clinical and point trials used relatively weak treatment modalities, and when the cost savings of the reduced number of events is balanced against the estimated cost of treatment, the average difference is approximately $1,500 per patient per year. Arteriographic trials have used similar or more aggressive lipoprotein therapy over shorter periods of time. Estimates of cost savings from reduced clinical events balanced against the cost of treatment in these studies indicate a wide spectrum of estimated patient costs. These estimates range between a cost of $2,273 per patient per year to a cost savings of (-)$901 per patient per year. Extrapolation to the United States population with coronary artery disease (CAD) suggests that greater than one billion dollars per year could be saved if patients with CAD received similar treatment and responded in a similar manner.
SU-E-T-421: Commissioning of Brainlab Cones for 6×FFF and 10×FFF Beams On a Varian TrueBeam STx

Purpose: To the best of our knowledge no data has been published on the use cones at 10×FFF and very little for 6×FFF. We report our experience commissioning and validating beam models for 4, 6, 7.5, 10, 12.5, and 15 mm cones on a Varian TrueBeam STx (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA)). Methods: Scatter factors, radial profiles, and percent depth dose curves were measured per Brainlab protocol using a Sun Nuclear Edge Detector diode (Sun Nuclear Corp., Melboune, FL). The resulting Brainlab iPlan (Brainlab AG, Germany) beam models were validated with measurements of absolute dose and profiles at depths of 5, 10, and 15 cm in a polystyrene phantom using EBT3 radiochromic film (Ashland Inc., Covington, KY). Absolute doses were evaluated by comparing the average of pixels in the planned dose that had values > 80% of the maximum dose to the average of the corresponding pixels in the film. Results: The 6×FFF commissioning data was reviewed by Brainlab and found to be in good agreement with other user submitted data. Brainlab did not have a 10×FFF reference set at this time. The measured absolute dose agreed with planned dose to within 4.7% for all 6×FFF measurements (average difference of 2.1%) and within 4.9% for all 10×FFF measurements (average difference of 3.6%). Vertical and horizontal profiles through film planes gave full‐width‐at‐half‐maximum values that agreed with planned values to 0.4 mm for 6×FFF and to 0.2 mm for 10×FFF. Conclusion: The calculated dose distributions showed acceptable geometric agreement with measured values. The measured absolute dose for both energies was consistently lower than planned dose, with the difference more noticeable for the 10×FFF energy. This effect may be explained by reported over responses of diodes at small fields and under responses of EBT film at small fields.
Treatment of pancreatitis‐associated extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction by choledochal stenting in seven cats

Objectives: To report the clinicopathological findings and outcome in cats with pancreatitis-associated extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction (EHBO) treated by choledochal tube stenting. Methods: Medical records of cats with EHBO secondary to pancreatitis that underwent choledochal stenting were reviewed. Information on outcome was obtained by re-examination of the cat or by telephone interview with the owners. Results: All cats had pancreatitis confirmed by histopathological examination of biopsy samples (n=6) or suspected based on gross examination at surgery (n=1). In six cats, a section of 3·5 to five French gauge red rubber catheter and in one cat a section of 22 G intravenous catheter were used as a choledochal stent. Two cats developed re-obstruction of the biliary tract within a week of the original surgery. One cat had confirmed episodes of ascending cholangitis postoperatively. Two cats had chronic intermittent vomiting in the postoperative period. Two cats died during the perioperative period. Five cats survived to discharge, three of which died seven to 24 months postoperatively and two of which remain alive to date. Clinical Significance: Choledochal stenting is an alternative to biliary diversion for management of feline pancreatitis-associated EHBO in select cases. However, there may be greater morbidity with this technique in cats compared with dogs.
Circulation Research The Impact of a Journal and Its Editor on a Career in Experimental Cardiology

In the early 1950s, the leadership of the American Heart Association recognized that much more fundamental knowledge of basic cardiovascular function was required if one was going to improve the treatment and diagnosis of heart disease. They believed that a journal dedicated to basic research on the circulation would foster an increased understanding of the cardiovascular system and founded Circulation Research . In 1953, when volume 1 of Circulation Research was published, the basic sciences relevant to cardiovascular research such as physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and pathology all had journals that were devoted to these disciplines in which there were scattered studies on the heart and circulation. However, these studies were not always read by basic scientists in other disciplines, and the field lacked a journal devoted primarily to understanding how the cardiovascular system worked in health and disease. Circulation Research provided a forum where studies on the heart and cardiovascular system could be published and has been eminently successful in fostering the application of the basic medical sciences to understanding the function of the cardiovascular system. At the time the journal was founded, basic research support was beginning to be available from the National Institutes of Health, and basic knowledge of biology was being developed at an enormous rate, but from meager foundations. Mitochondria had moved from objects difficult to discern by histological techniques to organelles of considerable interest to biochemists. Moreover, methods of isolating them from heart and studying their metabolism were under development. Energy metabolism in general, the use of electron microscopy to establish the ultrastructure of cardiac muscle, the isolation of …
Telling the American story to the world: The purpose of U.S. public diplomacy in historical perspective

Abstract This paper seeks to provide an historical reflection on the central purpose of U.S. public diplomacy through an examination of the manifest mandate of the three major institutional settings for such international communication programs, i.e., the Committee on Public Information, the Office of War Information, and the United States Information Agency, and to shed light on the current public diplomacy endeavor spearheaded by the Department of State. The review demonstrates that U.S. public diplomacy has been principally an ad hoc instrument of American foreign policy to meet wartime exigencies and has been underscored by the promotion of American values of democracy and freedom. Over the years, it has expanded to encompass multiple modes of engagement, while at the same time there has been constant tension concerning the role of public diplomacy as a strategic, policy function versus merely as a “mouthpiece” within the foreign affairs apparatus. All of these themes continue to reverberate in the contemporary practice of public diplomacy.
Animal behaviour: The evolutionary roots of lethal conflict

A comprehensive analysis of lethal coalitionary aggression in chimpanzees convincingly demonstrates that such aggression is an adaptive behaviour, not one that has emerged in response to human impacts. See Letter p.414 Studies of our closest living relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos, have been influential in efforts to understand the evolution of aggressive behaviour in our own species. In recent years, however, the validity of these studies has been questioned by proponents of the human impacts hypothesis, which argues that the occurrence of violence in chimpanzees is mainly the result of human activities. Now a meta-analysis of studies on chimpanzees and bonobos across Africa reveals that aggression between chimpanzees is the normal and expected product of adaptive strategies to obtain resources or mates, and has no connection with the presence or otherwise of human beings.
Noise and emotional stress

Abstract A review of the literature devoted to noise and its effects upon human beings reveals several hundred papers devoted to this particular subject. It is, however, difficult to find significant agreement as to the most important effects of noise. Part of the problem is that one man's noise is another man's music. In addition, there are cultural and environmental factors which may make noise acceptable in one situation and unacceptable in another. Many studies conducted during the 1930's and 1940's concluded that noise was ruining public health, was increasing the incidence of mental disease and even interfered with the birth rate. Other investigators have claimed that background noise impaired the industrial worker's performance. Experimental laboratory studies have been generally unable to substantiate these claims because of multiple uncontrolled factors. Some writers even suggest that individuals perform tasks better in the presence of background noise. Physiological studies may be divided into those pertaining to the individual as a whole and to those affecting only the ear. In the study of general body functions, most of the experimental data indicate minimal changes in such measurements as basal metabolism rate, respiratory rate and muscle tension. Individuals adapt rather rapidly to exposure to noise, and changes in bodily function appear to be insignificant following such adaption. Similar results are noted with factors more difficult to measure, such as irritability and subjective fatigue. More is known about the effects of noise on the ear itself. Exposure to noise of sufficient loudness will interfere with communication and may produce transient hearing impairment or permanent loss of auditory function. In conclusion, noise may or not affect human behavior, depending on the type of noise and the type of behavior involved. There is no direct proof that the increasing noises of our civilization result in additional emotional stresses. However, it is likely that the study of noise and behavior will become increasingly important in the years to come.
Genetic diversity of avian infectious bronchitis virus California variants isolated between 1988 and 2001 based on the S1 subunit of the spike glycoprotein.

Twenty-nine isolates of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) recovered from commercial chicken flocks in California between 1988 and 2001 and identified as California variants by serotype and direct automated cycle sequencing of the IBV spike glycoprotein S1 subunit, were further characterized phylogenetically and by nucleotide sequence comparison. California variants were grouped according to production type of chicken, by comparison with public access sequence databases (NCBI GenBank and EMBL), or based on phylogenetic analysis. Fisher's Exact test was used to compare mutations per year, purifying and positive selection, predictive antigenicity, and a > or = 6 bp deletion between California variant groups.A high number of mutations at the nucleotide level ( p = 0.013) and a > or = 6 bp deletion in the nucleotide sequence ( p = 0.006) was significantly associated with broiler-type chickens. However, 88% of significant comparisons at the amino acid level such as purifying and positive selection were seen in layer-type chickens. A pronounced predictive antigenicity in the HVR2 region was also associated with layer-type chickens ( p = 0.001). The study indicates that IBV in California is in a phase of slow evolution with different evolutionary patterns being associated with the production type of chicken.
Project provides new look at Saharan low-level jet streams

Hot, dusty Saharan winds are known to influence atmospheric processes in the greater Atlantic region, but the desert's harsh environment makes meteorological observations of weather patterns originating in the Sahara nearly impossible. In the last few years, with the help of the multinational terrestrial, satellite, and modeling endeavor called the Fennec project, scientists have begun to quantify atmospheric phenomena over the remote central Sahara.
Droplet combustion near a cold surface

The combustion of a liquid droplet adjacent to a cold surface was studied experimentally. To isolate the effect of the proximity of the droplet to the surface, the ambient pressure (0.101 MPa), liquid composition ( n -heptane), initial liquid volume (7 x 10 -4 ml), surface material (quartz) and ambient temperature (20 ± 2°C) were held constant. A range of distances L from the surface were studied (1 mm L L the flame was observed to be closed around the droplet throughout burning. As L decreased, the flame was truncated. The droplet burning rate decreased as the droplet was brought progressively closer to the surface (in qualitative agreement with a relevant closed form potential flow solution to the analogous problem of a droplet burning adjacent to an adiabatic surface) and the burning rate of a droplet adjacent to a vertical surface was larger than for a horizontal surface. Surface orientation effects were observed to be absent for burning at low gravity. The extent of sooting as revealed by the flame colour was decreased, and fuel vapours condensed in a lens-like shape on the surface, as L was sufficiently reduced.
Preventing medication errors in hospitalized children

Carol Wesolowski is the point-of-care pharmacist in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. During her 18 years at Johns Hopkins, Wesolowski has always been affiliated with the NICU, although the decentralized pharmacist position in the unit has
Constraints in quark and lepton models

Abstract We investigate quark and lepton models in SU(2) ⊗ U(1) theory derived from two theoretical assumptions — natural absence of strangeness and μe flavor changing neutral currents and absence of Adler-Bell-Jackiw anomalies — and currently known weak interaction phenomenologies including the negative search for the parity violation in atomic physics. The simplest model has seven quarks (four Q = 2 3 quarks and three Q = − 1 3 quarks). Other possible models with exotic quarks (i.e. with Q = − 4 3 , 5 3 ) are also discussed.
Basic mechanisms leading to focal emphysema in coal workers' pneumoconiosis

Coal miners develop focal emphysema characterized by dilatation of second- and third-order respiratory bronchioles with coal mine dust-laden macrophages infiltrating the wall. A reticulin network with small amounts of collagen and atrophy of smooth muscle occurs. To evaluate the mechanisms of lung injury associated with this lesion, 17 long-term non- or ex-smoking West Virginia underground coal miners underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and were compared to healthy nonsmoker and smoker controls. The coal miners had evidence of an alveolar macrophage-neutrophil alveolitis with a significant increase in neutrophils/microliter of epithelial lining fluid and an increased gallium lung scan index (206 +/- 26 units). Alveolar macrophages lavaged from coal miners spontaneously released exaggerated amounts of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in vitro compared to nonsmoking controls. Coal workers had significantly elevated levels of neutrophil elastase in BAL fluid complexed with alpha 1-antitrypsin (P less than 0.01) and normal levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin. An accumulation of activated, dust-laden inflammatory cells with increased release of oxidants and elastase may contribute to the development of focal emphysema identified at postmortem in miners with coal workers' pneumoconiosis.