cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Familiarity between mates improves few aspects of reproductive performance in house sparrows

Summary Many hypotheses have been proposed to account for the increased reproductive success with age documented in most birds. One, the mate familiarity hypothesis, suggests that older individuals are likely to have partners with whom they have bred before, which may enhance reproductive success. We found that pairs of house sparrows that bred together previously fledged more young than pairs that were newly formed. This was primarily due to newlyformed pairs with at least one yearling having fewer nesting attempts than continuing pairs. We also examined the possibility that continuing pairs were better coordinated in parental duties, but found no evidence for this in terms of amount of overlap at the nestbox or amount of time nestlings were unattended. Our results suggest the higher success of continuing pairs may be a matter of female age and quality and not due to benefits accrued by coordination with their mate.
Locating digital divides at home, work, and everywhere else

Contributing to previous research that has identified differences in connection speed, user skill, and experience as mechanisms affecting digital divides among Internet users, this paper explores whether location of use should be considered a factor that limits or facilitates individual efforts to apply the Internet toward beneficial activities. At some locations, Internet users enjoy high levels of autonomy, while at others, users may be regulated by restrictions or concerns about surveillance. Results of analyses performed on Current Population Survey (CPS) data suggest that users who have many connection points including home are most likely to conduct four particular activities for which previous research has demonstrated some tangible benefit to users: searching for health and product information online, making purchases online, and banking online. Most broadly, results support the proposition that differences in Internet access point quality can be identified as a previously unexplored digital divide among users, and also that differences in locations of use can partly explain gaps in participation in some beneficial activities by income and education.
On Chebychev fits for pairs of lines and polygons with specified internal angles

Abstract This paper addresss the problems of determining pairs of lines and polygons that best fit a finite set of datapoints. We have determined the best-fit (substitute) feature by minimizing the maximum nromal deviation of the datapoints from the substitute feature. In other words, we have the Cheby-chev or the minimum zone solution. The substitute features of a subset of datapoints. Algorithms are formulated to identify this subset in a given set of datapoints.
The Synthesis of β-Aminoethyl Ketones as Potential Antagonists of β-Alanine

The organocadmium reagent was adapted to the synthesis of alkyl β-aminoethyl ketones from β-alanine. Some aryl β-aminoethyl ketones were synthesized from β-alanine through the Friedel-Crafts reaction. These two series of β-aminoethyl ketones were proposed as potential antagonists of β-alanine in the metabolism of certain microorganisms. Both the alkyl and aryl β-aminoethyl ketones show antibacterial effect when tested against S. aureus and E. coli in vitro .
Neonatal malnutrition: neurochemical, hormonal and behavioral manifestations

Abstract An effective state of malnutrition was imposed on rat pups throughout their postnatal period of development by feeding the lactating dams a 12% casein diet. Controls were fed a 24% casein diet. The malnourished pups exhibited such signs of retarded physical development as reduced body growth and delayed eye opening. At weaning brain weights were reduced and regional brain analysis revealed distortions of chemical composition. These changes included a general reduction of cholesterol concentration, decreased cerebellar DNA content (indicative of cell number), and reduced telencephalic and brain stem protein: DNA ratios (reflecting cell size). The cerebellum also displayed reduced AChE activity suggesting an appreciable effect on its synaptic elements, particularly involving the cholinergic system. Brain stem concentrations of 5-HT and 5-HIAA were increased, implying activation of the central serotonergic neurohumoral system. Possibly related to this, a concomitant increase of adrenal corticosterone was revealed, implicating the additional involvement of the pituitary-adrenal axis in the consequences of postnatal malnutrition. Behaviorally, the previously malnourished weanlings displayed a state of heightened ‘emotionality’. Their performance in a 2-way shuttle task was also markedly abnormal. It is proposed that the enhanced activation of the brain stem serotonergic system may, at least partially, underlie the state of heightened ‘emotionality’, which is the most characteristic behavioral manifestation of perinatal malnutrition.
IFRA Properties of Some Markov Jump Processes with General State Space

Consider a stochastically monotone increasing regular Markov jump process on a partially ordered measurable space X. It is shown that the first passage time to any upper set U is IFRA. A conjecture of Brown and Chaganty Brown, M., Chaganty, N. R. 1983. On the first passage time distribution for a class of Markov chains. Ann. Probab.11 1000--1008. is verified and results of Brown and Chaganty Brown, M., Chaganty, N. R. 1983. On the first passage time distribution for a class of Markov chains. Ann. Probab.11 1000--1008. and of Ross Ross, S. M. 1981. Generalized Poisson shock models. Ann. Probab.9 896--898. are extended.
Freezing-melting heat transfer in a tube flow

Abstract Consideration is given to the heat-transfer problem involving solidification of a flowing liquid onto a melting wall. In particular, an experimental study of hot Freon 112A (m.p. 40.5°C) in turbulent flow through a thick ice pipe has been carried out. The major emphasis was on the melting attack of the ice pipe wall by the flowing Freon. The effects of both Freon injection pressure and temperature on the amount of melted ice collected at the pipe exit for a fixed injection period were investigated. The shape of the melted ice channel as a function of time, injection pressure and Freon temperature was determined from the frozen Freon “casting” that remained in the ice pipe. Numerical results based on a simple quasi-steady melting model were compared with the experimentally determined ice melting results. The model was found to represent the data reasonably well for Freon temperatures above 70°C, indicating that the ice wall melting process is controlled by the growth and decay of frozen Freon layers on the ice pipe wall.
Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis Associated With Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis: A Case Report

Background: Hereditary gingival fibromatosis is a rare, genetically inherited overgrowth condition that is clinically characterized by a benign fibrous enlargement of maxillary and mandibular keratinized gingiva. A syndromic association between gingival fibromatosis and a wide variety of other genetically inherited disorders has been described. However, its coexistence with aggressive periodontitis has not been reported. Methods: A 24-year-old African-American female, patient (proband X, [Px]) reported with a chief complaint of tooth mobility and gingival enlargement. Clinical examination revealed moderate to severe gingival overgrowth on both mandible and maxilla. Generalized attachment loss and mobility of the teeth were observed. Radiographic evaluation demonstrated severe alveolar bone loss. The patient was diagnosed with gingival fibromatosis and aggressive periodontitis based on the clinical and radiographic findings. Her brother (Bx) and her mother (Mx) were evaluated and diagnosed with gingival fi...
Structural genomics of thermotoga maritima proteins shows that contact order is a major determinant of protein thermostability.

Summary Despite numerous studies, understanding the structural basis of protein stability in thermophilic organisms has remained elusive. One of the main reasons is the limited number of thermostable protein structures available for analysis, but also the difficulty in identifying relevant features to compare. Notably, an intuitive feeling of "compactness" of thermostable proteins has eluded quantification. With the unprecedented opportunity to assemble a data set for comparative analyses due to the recent advances in structural genomics, we can now revisit this issue and focus on experimentally determined structures of proteins from the hyperthermophilic bacterium Thermotoga maritima . We find that 73% of T. maritima proteins have higher contact order than their mesophilic homologs. Thus, contact order, a structural feature that was originally introduced to explain differences in folding rates of different protein families, is a significant parameter that can now be correlated with thermostability.
Probing Evolutionary Repeatability: Neutral and Double Changes and the Predictability of Evolutionary Adaptation

Background The question of how organisms adapt is among the most fundamental in evolutionary biology. Two recent studies investigated the evolution of Escherichia coli in response to challenge with the antibiotic cefotaxime. Studying five mutations in the β-lactamase gene that together confer significant antibiotic resistance, the authors showed a complex fitness landscape that greatly constrained the identity and order of intermediates leading from the initial wildtype genotype to the final resistant genotype. Out of 18 billion possible orders of single mutations leading from non-resistant to fully-resistant form, they found that only 27 (1.5×10−7%) pathways were characterized by consistently increasing resistance, thus only a tiny fraction of possible paths are accessible by positive selection. I further explore these data in several ways. Principal Findings Allowing neutral changes (those that do not affect resistance) increases the number of accessible pathways considerably, from 27 to 629. Allowing multiple simultaneous mutations also greatly increases the number of accessible pathways. Allowing a single case of double mutation to occur along a pathway increases the number of pathways from 27 to 259, and allowing arbitrarily many pairs of simultaneous changes increases the number of possible pathways by more than 100 fold, to 4800. I introduce the metric ‘repeatability,’ the probability that two random trials will proceed via the exact same pathway. In general, I find that while the total number of accessible pathways is dramatically affected by allowing neutral or double mutations, the overall evolutionary repeatability is generally much less affected. Conclusions These results probe the conceivable pathways available to evolution. Even when many of the assumptions of the analysis of Weinreich et al. (2006) are relaxed, I find that evolution to more highly cefotaxime resistant β-lactamase proteins is still highly repeatable.
TRANSFUSION OF PLASMA-PROTEIN FRACTION AND RENAL-ALLOGRAFT REJECTION

Abstract Evidence for an association between Summary prior blood-transfusion and renal cadaver-allograft rejection may be incomplete due to the absence of data on concurrent transfusion of blood derivatives. It is suggested that utilisation of one of these derivatives (plasma-protein fraction) may play a role in cadaver-allograft rejection.
Resting and postexercise phonocardiogram and electrocardiogram in patients with angina pectoris and in normal subjects.

One hundred patients with angina and 100 normal subjects, mean age 51 years, had simultaneous phonocardiograms and electrocardiograms at rest and after a double Master's test. A fourth heart sound was present at rest in 43% of the patients and 14% of the normal subjects, and after exercise in 94% of the patients and 29% of the normal subjects. All patients and the normal subject who had a third heart sound at rest had a fourth heart sound at rest, and all who had a third heart sound after exercise had a fourth heart sound after exercise. Fifty-nine per cent of the patients and 4% of the normal subjects had an ST-segment shift ≥1.0 mm, and 67% of the patients and 6% of the normal subjects had an ST-segment shift ≥0.5 mm. After exercise, 97% of the patients and 30% of the normal subjects had a fourth heart sound or an ST-segment shift ≥0.5 mm.
The differential cost of anesthesia and recovery with propofol-nitrous oxide anesthesia versus thiopental sodium-isoflurane-nitrous oxide Anesthesia

Abstract Study Objective: To assess the recovery room profile of Propofol in outpatient anesthesia and to compare it to the profile of a standard technique. Design: A comparative, randomized, double-blind, third-party open .study. Setting: Ambulatory Surgery Center at The Emory Clinic. Patients: Ninety-nine ASA physical status I, II, or III nonpregnant female patients who had been diagnosed as needing breast biopsies. Interventions: All patients were given 1 μg/kg of fentanyl prior to induction. Those in the Propofol group were induced with 2.0 to 2.5 mg/kg of propofol and maintained with a 100 to 200 μg/kg/min infusion of Propofol with nitrous oxide (N 2 O) in oxygen (0 2 ). In the thiopental sodium-isofurane group, patients were induced with 4.0 to 5.0 mg/kg of thiopental sodium and maintained with isoflurane and N 2 0 in 0 2 . Measurements and Main Results: Recovery from anesthesia was assessed by an evaluator who was unaware of the anesthetic technique used for each patient. Immediate recovery time was measured in terms of awakening, response to verbal command, and orientation to time and place. A brief postoperative follow-up questionnaire was completed to assess the patients' subjective feelings regarding their ability to eat, concentrate, and resume normal activities. In the thiopental sodium-isofurane group, 15 of 50 patients (30%) had nausea and vomiting, but in the propofol group, only 4 of 49 patients (8.1%) had nausea and vomiting ( p p p Conclusions: The propofol group needed less nursing care and returned to more productive activity earlier than did the thiopental sodium-isoflurane group.
Famine in the Pacific losing the chances for change

The Pacific Islands are undoubtedly vulnerable to famine. There is varied evidence of past famines in the local Pacific languages, in the ethnographic accounts of Pacific islands, and in the reports of the missionary groups. This famine vulnerability is because of the prevalence of natural disasters and the limited ability of the different island social systems to adapt to these extreme events. The famine vulnerability in the Pacific islands bears both similarities and dissimilarities to the more researched vulnerability of South Asia. Five recent examples of famines or potential famines strongly suggest that the Pacific islands remain liable to famine and that the rapid influx of foreign food relief recently does not remove the islands' inherent susceptibility to famine. By masking the terminal symptoms of famine crises, the influx of food relief may cause loss of the opportunity to develop more sustainable island food systems.
Hispanic subgroup differences in prenatal care

Abstract Within SES categories in the United States, racial and ethnic minorities generally fare less well on a variety of health‐related indicators than do majority groups. Important differences exist within subgroups, however, and at present, these differences are poorly understood. In this paper we address Hispanic subgroup (Cuban American, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, and Central/South American) differences in utilization of prenatal care. Data from the 1986 and 1987 national Linked Birth/Infant Death files are used to assess patterns of prenatal care utilization across subgroups. Using Kotelchuck's Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization Index, we find that when controlling for other factors, Cuban American and Puerto Rican women are more likely to obtain adequate care than are Hispanic women of Mexican or Central/South American origin. Other factors important in understanding utilization patterns include marital status, education level, birthplace, and region of the country. We conclude with a disc...
Endogenous activated protein C signaling is critical to protection of mice from lipopolysaccaride‐induced septic shock

Summary. Background: Activated protein C (APC) is known to protect animals from sepsis. Endogenous protein C is important in protection. It is unknown whether the cytoprotective or anticoagulant properties of protein C (PC) are responsible for the protective effect of endogenous PC. Objective: To determine if signaling by endogenous activated protein C contributes to survival in sepsis. Methods: We used an immunochemical approach to either block all of the known activities of protein C using mAb MPC1609 or, alternatively, selectively block the anticoagulant activity of activated protein C while sparing some of its cytoprotective activities using mAb MAPC1591. Results: MPC1609 blocked APC binding to endothelium whereas MAPC1591 enhanced binding. MPC1609 prevented APC protection of endothelial barrier function whereas MAPC1591 did not. Injection of MPC1609, but not MAPC1591, with a sublethal dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) caused lethality. At 18 h, the mice injected with MPC1609 plus LPS had much higher interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels than mice injected with LPS alone or LPS plus MPC1591. In these mice treated with LPS plus MPC1609, higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels suggested that an acute renal failure might contribute to a slow clearance of IL-6. Conclusions: These studies demonstrate for the first time that cytoprotective activities of APC, and not the anticoagulant activity, is required for protection in this sepsis model. Similar anti-human antibodies may prove useful in clinical conditions such as trauma and hemophilia where cytoprotection is desirable, but the anticoagulant activity of endogenous activated protein C may contribute to bleeding.
Apical diastolic and presystolic murmurs of proved functional nature

Abstract We have collected a series of thirty-two clinical cases in which a diastolic or presystolic murmur simulating that of mitral stenosis was recorded in the phonocardiogram. The functional nature of the murmur was proved in nine by autopsy, in ten by right heart catheterization (pulmonic stenosis or septal defect), and in thirteen by left heart catheterization, which revealed the absence of a mitral gradient. A clinical error was made in most cases, except those in which an entirely different clinical picture was present (congenital heart disease, recent myocardial infarct). The phonocardiogram was correctly interpreted in most cases. However, in five cases the tracing was interpreted as being consistent with mitral stenosis. In two of them a “dynamically insignificant” mitral stenosis was suspected, although not proved . In the other three, no stenosis whatsoever was finally admitted. A case in which the murmur was probably due to acute rheumatic carditis is discussed in detail and repeated tracings are presented. The various causes which can lead to a clinical error are listed and it is shown that, in many of these cases, a phonocardiogram helps to rule out mitral stenosis. It is further shown that in a few exceptions even the phonocardiogram can be misinterpreted. Left heart catheterization often reveals the absence of a mitral block thus reducing the doubtful cases (dynamically insignificant lesion) to a minority.
Non-natural olefin cyclopropanation catalyzed by diverse cytochrome P450s and other hemoproteins

Recent work has shown that engineered variants of cytochrome P450BM3 (CYP102A1) efficiently catalyze non-natural reactions, including carbene and nitrene transfer reactions. Given the broad substrate range of natural P450 enzymes, we set out to explore if this diversity could be leveraged to generate a broad panel of new catalysts for olefin cyclopropanation (i.e., carbene transfer). Here, we took a step towards this goal by characterizing the carbene transfer activities of four new wild-type P450s that have different native substrates. All four were active and exhibited a range of product selectivities in the model reaction: cyclopropanation of styrene by using ethyl diazoacetate (EDA). Previous work on P450BM3 demonstrated that mutation of the axial coordinating cysteine, universally conserved among P450 enzymes, to a serine residue, increased activity for this non-natural reaction. The equivalent mutation in the selected P450s was found to activate carbene transfer chemistry both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, serum albumins complexed with hemin were also found to be efficient in vitro cyclopropanation catalysts.
View representation in logical database design

The process of logical database design consists of four phases: view modeling, view integration, schema optimization and schema mapping. View modeling is defined as the modeling of the usage and information structure perspectives of the real world from the point of view of different users and/or applications. The view integration phase combines these views into a single community view which is subjected to further optimization and mapping. As a result, instances of users' model may be altered and application programs transformed.This paper proposes a scheme for view representation which will facilitate the process of view integration. This is done by enhancing the data abstraction framework proposed by Smith and Smith. It takes into account the instance-level interrelationships among data and the identification of instances via these interrelationships. The usage perspective is incorporated as rules and assertions about schema- and instance-level insertion and deletion.The problem of view integration is briefly addressed. Valid transformations of views are indicated as a part of the integration process.
Learning is a Process: Toward an Improved Definition of Learning

Abstract A more objective and accurate definition of learning than that commonly found in psychology textbooks is proposed. The more common definition is similar to the following: Learning is a relatively permanent change in behavior brought about by practice or experience. However, (a) learning as a process should be identified and distinguished from the behavioral results or the products of that process; (b) learning does not necessarily produce a change in behavior—the behavior may remain relatively unchanged while there is a change in the effectiveness of the stimuli eliciting it; (c) ambiguous words, such as practice and experience, are replaced by words that more clearly represent what happens during learning. The following is suggested as an improved definition: Learning is the process by which a relatively stable modification in stimulus–response relations is developed as a consequence of functional environmental interaction via the senses.
Improving Learners' Understanding of Environmental Accumulations through Simulation

Background. Poor public understanding of accumulation principles obstructs public engagement in environmental decision-making. Simulation-based learning environments SBLEs show promise for improving understanding. Purpose. This study tested the hypothesis that use of stand-alone, self-contained, online SBLEs can improve user understanding of and ability to apply basic principles of accumulation. Method. We used pretest/posttest measures to examine a whether user understanding of accumulations principles increased after exposure to a set of two SBLEs in an undergraduate Environmental Science course n =126, and b how the extent of simulation use affected depth of user understanding. Results. Understanding improved significantly after simulation use. Further, extent of simulation use affected performance although it is not a simple linear relationship. Those who ran the simulation a moderate amount of times total of 14-24 runs scored better than the low-range group 0-13 runs, p < .05 and better than the high-range users 25+ runs, p < .10. These results hold when controlled for prior systems understanding, graphing ability, motivation, and science background. Conclusion. The results support the value of simulations for building operational understanding of accumulations and suggest design considerations that may further increase the effectiveness of such SBLEs.
Chronic Dieting Among Extremely Obese Bariatric Surgery Candidates

Background Extremely obese bariatric surgery candidates report numerous episodes of both successful and unsuccessful dieting attempts, but little is known about the clinical significance of frequent dieting attempts in this patient group.
Single dose vs divided dose imipramine.

Twenty depressed patients given 150 mg of imipramine nightly improved as well as twenty depressed patients given imipramine in three daily doses of 50 mg. An earlier improvement was noted on the single dose schedule, whereas a better long-term effect was suggested for the divided dosage. No unusual toxicity or side effects were connected with the single dose schedule.
Purchasing Strategies for Environmental Restoration Projects

The field of environmental restoration is unique and highly complex. The purchasing function will be responsible for acquiring the restoration services for much of America′s estimated $500 billion clean‐up. Examines the specific characteristics of these projects and discusses how the unique nature of the work affects the function performed by today′s purchasing professionals. The scope and complexity of the purchasing job is vastly increased, requiring extensive teamwork and the development of dynamic and flexible purchasing strategies to handle the increased complexity and uncertainty at contaminated sites. Examines several alternative strategies for purchasing restoration services. No one strategy will fit every restoration project. The specific characteristics and unique nature of each project, and their effects on the purchasing job, must be considered in order to develop a well co‐ordinated and innovative purchasing strategy.
The halogens in Luna 16 and Luna 20 soils

The halogens, uranium, and lithium contents found in Luna 16, Luna 20, and some Apollo lunar soil samples are discussed. Chlorine and phosphorus pentoxide do not appear to exhibit the same correlation in soils from the Luna 20 and possibly the Luna 16 sites as they do in samples from the Apollo 11-15 sites.
Scalable synchronization of intermittently connected database clients

Synchronization performance is a major problem with intermittently connected mobile databases. A server periodically generates update files for each client, which are downloaded and applied when convenient. Unfortunately, the time required to synchronize clients in this way increases drastically with client population. We show that this trend could be altered by appropriately modifying the way that update files are designed, resulting in significant performance improvements.
Assessment of Tensile and Creep Data for Types 304 and 316 Stainless Steel

An evaluation is presented for variations in tensile and creep properties of types 304 and 316 stainless steels. United States data and data from two foreign countries, Japan (NRIM data) and Britain (BSCC data), were evaluated for different products separately and for the combined data on all products. United States data were shown to contain the largest variations in both tensile and creep properties, with Japanese data the least. For a given country no distinction could be made in variations in tensile properties of types 304 and 316 stainless steels but variations in standard error of estimate (SEE) for all creep properties analyzed were significantly lower for type 316 stainless steel than corresponding variations in creep properties of type 304 stainless steel. The data from each of these countries showed the same creep rupture strength (at 10/sup 4/ hr) for type 316 stainless steel; this was not true for type 304 stainless steel. Results of the analysis performed in this paper showed that the U.S. and foreign data on types 304 and 316 stainless steels could possibly be combined for the determination of design stress intensity limits.
Commutator and Anticommutator Green's Functions, Zero-Frequency Poles, and Long-Time Correlations

Previous studies of the commutator-type Green's functions are extended to the anticommutator type. The existence of an $\ensuremath{\omega}=0$ pole in the latter but not former case is demonstrated. Its residue is simply related to the long-time behavior of the corresponding correlation function.
Continuous Peripheral Nerve Blocks: A Review of the Published Evidence

A continuous peripheral nerve block, also termed "perineural local anesthetic infusion," involves the percutaneous insertion of a catheter adjacent to a peripheral nerve, followed by local anesthetic administration via the catheter, providing anesthesia/analgesia for multiple days or even months. Continuous peripheral nerve blocks may be provided in the hospital setting, but the use of lightweight, portable pumps permits ambulatory infusion as well. This technique's most common application is providing analgesia after surgical procedures. However, additional indications include treating intractable hiccups; inducing a sympathectomy and vasodilation to increase blood flow after a vascular accident, digit transfer/replantation, or limb salvage; alleviating vasospasm of Raynaud disease; and treating peripheral embolism and chronic pain such as complex regional pain syndrome, phantom limb pain, trigeminal neuralgia, and cancer-induced pain. After trauma, perineural infusion can provide analgesia during transportation to a distant treatment center, or while simply awaiting surgical repair. Catheter insertion may be accomplished using many possible modalities, including nerve stimulation, ultrasound guidance, paresthesia induction, fluoroscopic imaging, and simple tactile perceptions ("facial click"). Either a nonstimulating epidural-type catheter may be used, or a "stimulating catheter" that delivers electrical current to its tip. Administered infusate generally includes exclusively long-acting, dilute, local anesthetic delivered as a bolus only, basal only, or basal-bolus combination. Documented benefits appear to be dependent on successfully improving analgesia, and include decreasing baseline/breakthrough/dynamic pain, supplemental analgesic requirements, opioid-related side effects, and sleep disturbances. In some cases, patient satisfaction and ambulation/functioning may be improved; an accelerated resumption of passive joint range-of-motion realized; and the time until discharge readiness as well as actual discharge from the hospital or rehabilitation center achieved. Lastly, postoperative joint inflammation and inflammatory markers may be decreased. Nearly all benefits occur during the infusion itself, but several randomized controlled trials suggest that in some situations there are prolonged benefits after catheter removal as well. Easily rectified minor complications occur somewhat frequently, but major risks including clinically relevant infection and nerve injury are relatively rare. This article is an evidence-based review of the published literature involving continuous peripheral nerve blocks.
A dynamic model of counterinsurgency policy including the effects of intelligence, public security, popular support, and insurgent experience

A system dynamics model of insurgencies is built using the U.S. Army and Marine Counterinsurgency Manual (FM 3-24) as a basis. It must, however, be supplemented by additional theory from outside sources to enable calibration to a historical dataset. Parameter and policy analyses are conducted. These highlight the criticality of some features of insurgencies described by FM 3-24 such as the importance of obtaining and maintaining popular support and employing sufficient counterinsurgency forces to gather intelligence. Other features, not highlighted by FM 3-24, are also shown to be important such as the rate at which the number of violent incidents committed per insurgent increases during the insurgency and how easily detained/eliminated insurgents can be replaced. A number of sensitivity and policy tests are conducted. One finding, which supports conventional wisdom, is that the timing of withdrawal of counterinsurgency forces is critical. In particular, if the withdrawal is too early, the insurgency may end up being worse than if no counterinsurgency forces had ever been deployed. A second result is support for the contention that counterinsurgency policies are synergistic, which implies that policies are most effective if deployed together. Finally, contraindicating the expectations of FM 3-24 and other conventional wisdom, results from optimization simulations suggest that counterinsurgency forces should in many cases initially emphasize intelligence-gathering efforts and minimize direct combat action against the insurgents. Only later in the counterinsurgency effort should counterinsurgency forces reverse this policy and ramp up direct combat action against the insurgents. Copyright © 2011 System Dynamics Society.
Derlin-1 is a rhomboid pseudoprotease required for the dislocation of mutant α-1 antitrypsin from the endoplasmic reticulum

Endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) substrates must be dislocated across the ER membrane through a process driven by the ATPase p97/VCP, and Derlins are thought to be part of the dislocation machinery. New data identify Derlin-1 as an inactive member of the rhomboid family that facilitates the release of ERAD substrates from the ER, following their transfer across the membrane.
Beliefs, practices, and experiences of Korean women in relation to childbirth

Korean women's health beliefs and childbirth experiences in the United States were examined. A convenience sampling procedure was used, and face-to-face interviews were conducted in Korean. Interviews were audiotaped, typed, and translated from Korean to English. These women had a holistic concept of health. Some practices were influence by ancient Chinese medicine. Childbirth experiences indicated that language is a barrier requiring specific interventions. Recommendations include (a) development of an assessment tool with which health-care professionals can identify individual health beliefs early in pregnancy; (b) development of a bilingual pamphlet about medical terms and the U.S. health-care system; (c) development of a short bilingual dictionary of common foods for use in menu selection during hospitalization; and (d) provision of English practice periods based on anticipatory guidance principles to prepare women to ask for specific assistance.
Critical behavior of cubic and tetragonal ferromagnets in a field

Abstract The phase diagrams and critical behavior of cubic and tetragonal ferromagnets in a field are discussed using mean field, scaling, and renormalization group arguments. In particular we find that for cubic ferromagnets with three easy axes and H ∥|[111] there is a multicritical phase transition region for T T c which is described by the three-component Potts model. Competing predictions for the multicritical behavior can be tested experimentally.
Characterizing chlorine oxidation of dissolved organic matter and disinfection by-product formation with fluorescence spectroscopy and parallel factor analysis

[1] Relationships between chlorine demand and disinfection by-product (DBP) formation during chlorination and fluorescence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were developed. Fluorescence excitation and emission (EEM) spectroscopy was employed, and parameters including fluorescence index, redox index, and overall fluorescence intensity (OFI) were correlated to chlorine demand and DBP formation. The EEMs were also analyzed using a well established global parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) model which resolves the fluorescence signal into 13 components, including quinone-like and protein-like components. Over an 8-day chlorination period the OFI and sum of the 13 PARAFAC loadings decreased by more than 70%. The remaining identified quinone-like compounds within the DOM were shifted to a more oxidized state. Quinone fluorescence was strongly correlated to both reduced fluorescence intensity and to chlorine demand which indicates that fluorescence may be used to track the chlorine oxidation of DOM. Quinone fluorescence was also correlated strongly with both classes of regulated DBPs: total trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids. Quinone-like components were found to be strongly correlated to overall, short-term, and long-term specific DBP formation. The results of this study show that fluorescence is a useful tool in tracking both DOM oxidation and DBP formation during chlorination.
Randomized clinical trial of rotating-platform and fixed-bearing total knee arthroplasty: no clinically detectable differences at five years.

Background: For some surgeons, rotating-platform total knee designs are an intellectually appealing option to use for total knee arthroplasty because of the contention that they can self-align and accommodate small mismatches in the rotational position of the tibial and femoral components. We carried out a randomized clinical trial to determine if a posterior-stabilized, rotating-platform knee design provided better maximum knee flexion, better function, or better durability at five years of follow-up when compared with a fixed-bearing design. Methods: This randomized clinical trial of 240 primary total knee arthroplasties involved a single type of distal femoral implant (posterior-stabilized) and three different types of tibial implant (all-polyethylene fixed-bearing, modular-metal-backed fixed-bearing, and rotating-platform). The three tibial implant groups were balanced dynamically with a computerized randomization process that accounted for patient age, sex, and body mass index; surgeon; and implant type. Patients returned for examination and radiographs at three months, one year, two years, and five years postoperatively. Results: Knee range of motion was not significantly different among the all-polyethylene, modular-metal-backed, and rotating-platform tibial component groups at two years (mean, 111°, 111°, and 110°, respectively) or five years (mean, 110°, 109°, and 109°, respectively). Function, as measured with Knee Society scores, was not significantly different among the all-polyethylene, modular-metal-backed, and rotating-platform groups at two years (mean, 90, 91, and 91 points, respectively) or five years (mean, 88, 89, and 88 points, respectively). Stair-climbing scores were not significantly different among the three groups at two years (mean, 39, 40, and 39 points, respectively) or five years (mean, 37, 40, and 36 points, respectively). There were four revisions: one in the all-polyethylene group (patellar fracture), two in the modular-metal-backed group (aseptic loosening), and one in the rotating-platform group (deep infection). Conclusions: In this randomized clinical trial, the rotating-platform total knee design was reliable and durable but did not provide better maximum knee flexion, better function, or better durability at five years postoperatively when compared with a posterior-stabilized, fixed-bearing design incorporating either an all-polyethylene or a modular-metal-backed tibial component. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Effect of Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen on Nonmetal Emission Intensities in a Helium Microwave-Induced Plasma

The effect of the introduction of carbon dioxide and hydrogen on nonmetal atomic and ionic line intensities in a helium microwave-induced plasma is discussed. The addition of these gases is found to diminish the excitation properties of the 150-W He plasma. While the plasma excitation temperature, ionization temperature, and electron number density are not significantly affected by the introduction of these gases, decreases in the emission intensities of atomic and ionic analyte transitions of S, P, Cl, Br, and I are noted with the higher-energy ionic transitions being more greatly affected. A correlation between the energy of the excited state and the depressing effect of CO2 is found by examining the signals of atomic and ionic transitions of Cl. The greater signal depression of the higher-energy nonmetal transitions is found to be consistent with charge transfer theory. These findings emphasize the importance of analyte line selection when a He plasma is being employed for the purpose of element-specific detection of nonmetals in supercritical fluid chromatography.
Mimics of the Structural Elements of Type III Group B Streptococcus Capsular Polysaccharide. Part I: Synthesis of a Carboxylate-Containing Pentasaccharide

Abstract A carboxylate-containing pentasaccharide, methyl O-(β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→6)-O-{3-O-[(S)-1-carboxyethyl]-β-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-O}-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→3)-β-d-galactopyranoside (27) was synthesized by block condensation of suitably protected donors and acceptors. Phenyl 3-O-benzyl-4,6-di-O-chloroacetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside (17) was condensed with methyl 2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (4) to afford a disaccharide, methyl O-(3-O-benzyl-4,6-di-O-chloroacetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (18). Removal of chloroacetyl groups gave 4,6-diol, methyl 0-(3-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (19), in which the primary hydroxy group (6-OH) was then selectively chloroacetylated to give methyl O-(3-O-benzyl-6-O-chloroacetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-...
Development and optimization of a quantitative cell culture infectivity assay for the microsporidium Encephalitozoon intestinalis and application to ultraviolet light inactivation.

Abstract Microsporidia are unique parasites recognized as a major cause of intestinal illness among immunocompromised patients and occasionally in otherwise healthy hosts. These organisms have been detected in water and are likely transmitted by the fecal–oral route. The most common human pathogenic microsporidia for which cell culture methods have been established is Encephalitozoon intestinalis. This study describes the development of a quantitative cell culture infectivity assay for E. intestinalis and its application to assess inactivation by ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The method described here employs calcofluor white, a fluorescent brightener that targets the chitin spore wall, to visualize groups of developing spores in order to confirm infectivity. Serial dilutions of the spore suspension were seeded into tissue culture well slides containing RK-13 cells. Slides were then rinsed, fixed in methanol and stained with calcofluor white and examined microscopically. Large masses of developing spores were easily visible on infected cell monolayers. Positive and negative wells at each dilution step were used to quantify the number of infectious spores in the original suspension using a most-probable-number (MPN) statistical analysis. This assay was used to evaluate the disinfecting potential of ultraviolet light on E. intestinalis spores in water. The ultraviolet dose required for a 3-log10 or 99.9% reduction in the number of infective spores was determined to be 8.43 mW s/cm2.
Quantile Regression for Left‐Truncated Semicompeting Risks Data

Summary Semicompeting risks is often encountered in biomedical studies where a terminating event censors a nonterminating event but not vice versa. In practice, left truncation on the terminating event may arise and can greatly complicate the regression analysis on the nonterminating event. In this work, we propose a quantile regression method for left-truncated semicompeting risks data, which provides meaningful interpretations as well as the flexibility to accommodate varying covariate effects. We develop estimation and inference procedures that can be easily implemented by existing statistical software. Asymptotic properties of the resulting estimators are established including uniform consistency and weak convergence. The finite-sample performance of the proposed method is evaluated via simulation studies. An application to a registry dataset provides an illustration of our proposals.
Using measurements of Energetic Neutral Atoms from low Earth orbit to infer global magnetospheric ion distributions

[1] We show here that ENA observations from low Earth orbit (LEO) are worthy of consideration for remote sensing of the inner magnetosphere. We present simulations of energetic ion distributions retrieved from energetic neutral atom (ENA) images obtained from LEO. These simulations show that a large portion of the inner magnetosphere can be observed from a single spacecraft and that quantitative results can be extracted from such observations. We also demonstrate that even in a case where the assumed magnetic field topology is in error, useful results can still be obtained.
Diffusion of Moisture through Chocolate-flavoured Confectionery Coatings

The mechanism of moisture migration through chocolate-flavoured coatings was investigated. Approaches used by researchers in chemical engineering to study diffusion through heterogeneous systems were applied to study moisture diffusion in chocolate-flavoured coatings. The unsteady-state diffusivity of moisture through the coatings could be estimated from the diffusivity of water through the continuous fat phase and the partition coefficient of moisture between sucrose and cocoa powder and the fat phase. The experimental results obtained in this study were consistent with the proposed mechanistic hypotheses. For coatings containing just oil and cocoa powder, the diffusion of moisture in the dispersed phase, i.e. cocoa powder, occurred through the cocoa powder particle. In coatings containing sugar in the dispersed phase, moisture diffused along the surface of the sugar particles. When lecithin was added, the water molecules diffused through the cocoa powder particles as well as along their surfaces. The water vapour permeability of the coatings increased with addition of cocoa powder and lecithin while it decreased with the addition of sugar. With the diffusion of moisture, structural changes were observed within the coating that altered the diffusivity of moisture through the coating. These structural changes occurred due to the dissolution of sucrose particles in the migrating moisture and due to the swelling of cocoa powder in the presence of moisture.
A facile method for monoacetylation of symmetrical diols: application to the total synthesis of Z-8-dodecenyl acetate, the sex attractant of the oriental fruit moth

Abstract By the use of continuous extraction of the reaction mixture with a suitable non-polar solvent, several symmetrical 1° and 2° diols were converted in high yield to the corresponding monoacetate derivative in aqueous acetic acid solution.