cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Federalist Revisited: New Directions in Authorship Attribution

L'A. examine la valeur de trois techniques stylometriques permettant de determiner l'identite d'ecrivains utilisant des pseudonymes. Ces techniques sont une approche multivariee de la richesse du vocabulaire et de l'analyse de l'occurrence de mots a haute frequence. Un systeme base sur un algorithme genetique permet de rechercher les expressions relationnelles caracterisant les styles des auteurs
Evaluation of snowmelt simulation in the Weather Research and Forecasting model

[1] The objective of this study is to better understand and improve snowmelt simulations in the advanced Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model by coupling it with the Community Land Model (CLM) Version 3.5. Both WRF and CLM are developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The automated Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) station data over the Columbia River Basin in the northwestern United States are used to evaluate snowmelt simulations generated with the coupled WRF-CLM model. These SNOTEL data include snow water equivalent (SWE), precipitation, and temperature. The simulations cover the period of March through June 2002 and focus mostly on the snowmelt season. Initial results show that when compared to observations, WRF-CLM significantly improves the simulations of SWE, which is underestimated when the release version of WRF is coupled with the Noah and Rapid Update Cycle (RUC) land surface schemes, in which snow physics is oversimplified. Further analysis shows that more realistic snow surface energy allocation in CLM is an important process that results in improved snowmelt simulations when compared to that in Noah and RUC. Additional simulations with WRF-CLM at different horizontal spatial resolutions indicate that accurate description of topography is also vital to SWE simulations. WRF-CLM at 10 km resolution produces the most realistic SWE simulations when compared to those produced with coarser spatial resolutions in which SWE is remarkably underestimated. The coupled WRF-CLM provides an important tool for research and forecasts in weather, climate, and water resources at regional scales.
Chemostratigraphy of Neoproterozoic-Cambrian units, White-Inyo Region, eastern California and western Nevada; implications for global correlation and faunal distribution

Comparison of secular variations in carbon-isotopic compositions of carbonates from the NeoproterozoicCambrian succession in the Whiteinyo region of eastern California with similarly-aged sequences worldwide suggests that, in California, a hiatus potentially encompassing the latest Neoproterozoic and much of the Tommotian may be present. The hiatus is found between the carbonate units in the Lower Deep Spring Formation, suggesting that the lowermost Deep Spring, Reed, and Wyman formations are Neoproterozoic in age, and the remaining Deep Spring Formation is uppermost Tommotian or Atdabanian in age. It is unclear where the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian boundary may lie, since chemostratigraphic data is not available for the boundary in New foundland type section, but it is most-likely encompassed within the inferred hiatus
On the Construction and Frequency Localization of Finite Orthogonal Quadrature Filters

We introduce a new method to construct finite orthogonal quadrature filters using convolution kernels and show that every filter with value 1 at the origin can be obtained from an even nonnegative kernel. We apply the method to estimate the optimal frequency localization of finite filters. The frequency localization @c"p of a finite filter m"0 is given by the distance in L^p-norm between |m"0|^2 and the Shannon low-pass filter. For each N>0 there is a filter m^N"0 of length 2N minimizing the value of @c"p. We prove that for such a minimizing sequence we have @c^p"p(m^N"0)=O(1/N), 1=
Women of color in academic administration: Trends, progress, and barriers

Women of color in academic administration are a recent phenomenon due to their double oppression as women and people of color. Their small numbers are intimately tied to American history, legal restrictions, and traditional customs. Legislation, court orders, and executive orders have greatly increased the number of minorities in higher education, although they are still substantially underrepresented in the academy. Women Ph.D.s—and to a lesser extent, administrators—are growing as a proportion of all Ph.D.s, but there will be required the continued removal of burdens of sexism, lower salaries, and career impediments to achieve parity for women in general, and women of color in particular, in academic administration. The recent laxity of enforcement of affirmative action has added to the slow growth of their numbers. However, the historically black colleges can play a major role in empowerment of women of color in administrative positions.
Interaction of age and specific saliva component output on caries.

Background and aims: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between individual salivary components, dental caries and age, utilizing the data from the Oral Health: San Antonio Longitudinal Study of Aging (OH:SALSA). Methods: The study population comprised a well-defined stratified sample of 811 dentate men and women. Subjects were divided into four age groups from 35 to 75+ years old. Unstimulated and stimulated submandibular/sublingual saliva flow rates, unstimulated and stimulated parotid saliva flow rates, total protein, 6 individual proteins and 4 inorganic constituents were measured. Specific salivary components were lactoferrin, secretory IgA, albumin, lysozyme, mucin, cystatin, K+, Ca+2, Na+ and Cl−. Caries measurements were the DMFT Index for crowns and for roots, Tooth Health Index for crowns and roots, Tooth caries, Root caries and Tooth restoration. The data on saliva components were square root transformed for linearity prior to analysis. Analysis was carried out in two stages. Partial correlation was performed, in order to identify significant relationships between specific salivary components and caries measurements, controlling for age group. In the second stage, using caries measurement as the dependant variable, the effects of age, flow rate and specific salivary component output (product of flow rate and concentration) were examined. Results: Significant associations were found between caries, age and specific individual submandibular/sublingual salivary proteins (lactoferrin, albumin, lysozyme, mucin and cystatin) and specific inorganic constituents (K+, Ca+2, Na+ and Cl− ). Conclusions: Changes in submandibular/sublingual salivary component output during aging are correlated with high caries prevalence. These changes in saliva components over age may represent caries risk indicators.
The botanist effect: counties with maximal species richness tend to be home to universities and botanists

Aim To investigate the distribution of local flowering plant species richness in areas surrounding American universities. Methods Species richness in university counties was compared with neighbouring counties. Data were derived from Synthesis of the North American Flora (http://www.phylosystems.com/prepublication). Probabilities of the resultant distribution were calculated, and the results were also simulated. Results In almost every case there were more species reported in the university county than in its neighbours. Several possible explanations were considered. We conclude that the key element is the presence of botanists in these counties who have, apparently, paid more attention to plants near at hand, and found more species of them there. Main conclusions Ecologists must be aware that numerical data that appear very solid, collected over many decades, may represent not only the qualities of ‘nature’ but also something of the collectors of the data.
PTP-PEST targets a novel tyrosine site in p120 catenin to control epithelial cell motility and Rho GTPase activity.

Tyrosine phosphorylation is implicated in regulating the adherens junction protein, p120 catenin (p120), however, the mechanisms are not well defined. Here, we show, using substrate trapping, that p120 is a direct target of the protein tyrosine phosphatase, PTP-PEST, in epithelial cells. Stable shRNA knockdown of PTP-PEST in colon carcinoma cells results in an increased cytosolic pool of p120 concomitant with its enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation and decreased association with E-cadherin. Consistent with this, PTP-PEST knockdown cells exhibit increased motility, enhanced Rac1 and decreased RhoA activity on a collagen substrate. Furthermore, p120 localization is enhanced at actin-rich protrusions and lamellipodia and has an increased association with the guanine nucleotide exchange factor, VAV2, and cortactin. Exchange factor activity of VAV2 is enhanced by PTP-PEST knockdown whereas overexpression of a VAV2 C-terminal domain or DH domain mutant blocks cell motility. Analysis of point mutations identified tyrosine 335 in the N-terminal domain of p120 as the site of PTP-PEST dephosphorylation. A Y335F mutant of p120 failed to induce the ‘p120 phenotype’, interact with VAV2, stimulate cell motility or activate Rac1. Together, these data suggest that PTP-PEST affects epithelial cell motility by controlling the distribution and phosphorylation of p120 and its availability to control Rho GTPase activity.
Clinical Reasoning: An 85-year-old man with paresthesias and an unsteady gait

An 85-year-old man developed tingling in his feet, followed 1 week later by a similar sensation in both hands. He reported difficulty buttoning his shirt and unsteadiness when walking. There was no ascent of his symptoms proximal to the wrists and ankles. He denied pain, orthostasis, and bowel or bladder symptoms. He had had no prior similar symptoms, preceding illnesses, or recent changes in his health or medications. He had received the influenza vaccine 1 week prior to symptom onset.
A Far-red Fluorescent Contrast Agent to Image Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression

Recent developments in optical technologies have the potential to improve the speed and accuracy of screening and diagnosis of curable precancerous lesions and early cancer, thereby decreasing the costs of detection and management of epithelial malignancies. The development of molecular-specific contrast agents for markers of early neoplastic transformation could improve the detection and molecular characterization of premalignant lesions. In the oral cavity, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression has been identified in early stages of premalignant lesions of the oral squamous cell carcinoma; therefore, real-time assessment of EGFR expression could serve as a biomarker for oral neoplasia. The purpose of our study was to develop a molecular-specific optical contrast agent targeted against EGFR for in vivo assessment of epithelial neoplasia using a monoclonal antibody and the far-red fluorescent dye, Alexa Fluor 660 streptavidin. In addition to demonstrating the specificity of the contrast agent for EGFR in cell lines, we document the ability to achieve penetration through 500 lm thick epithelial layers using multilayer tissue constructs and permeability-enhancing agents. Finally, using the fluorescence intensity of the contrast agent on fresh oral cavity tissue sections, we were able to distinguish abnormal from normal oral tissue. This contrast agent should have important clinical applications for use in conjunction with fluorescence spectroscopy or imaging (or both) to facilitate tumor detection and demarcation.
Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica and difficult intubation: case report and perioperative recommendations for anesthesiologists

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica is a rare disorder characterized by cartilaginous or ossified submucosal nodules that project into the tracheobronchial lumen. It is typically discovered in the evaluation of chronic upper respiratory symptoms. A case of a completely asymptomatic man diagnosed with extensive disease throughout his upper airway after unanticipated difficult endotracheal intubation for elective surgery, is presented.
Service absorptive capacity: Its evolution and implications for innovation

The concept of absorptive capacity has been part of the strategy and innovation discourse for a few decades. As industry and business practices have evolved, so has the understanding of the mechanisms responsible for developing and growing the absorptive capacity of contemporary organizations. In this paper, we trace the evolution of this concept and its operationalization and measurement. We particularly investigate how absorptive capacity can be used as a potential anchor of innovation research in service industries. We suggested the conceptualization of a service absorptive capacity (SACAP) and propose different measures that could aid to this conceptualization. We also provide an alternative to the predominant focus on functional characteristics and research and development practices in innovation studies to date.
Citric acid and the RNA world.

How did the first life form originate? This fundamental question, which has fascinated philosophers and scientists alike, will almost certainly remain unanswered. Most scientists assume that today's terrestrial life forms originated on earth; but how? To identify the chemistry of the first life forms, one could, in principle, analyze sediments that might contain the first signs of life from more than 3.4 billion years ago.[1] However, only a small proportion of the surface of the earth has escaped severe metamorphosis since then, and most of the early biomolecules have degraded. Researchers have therefore attempted to identify universal principles that likely governed the emergence of life as we know it, and subjected them to constraints that are assumed to have existed on the early earth. The anticipated results would address several questions, such as: Were there only few or many different chemical possibilities for life to arise? Under the right conditions, would the origin of life be an unlikely phenomenon or would life inevitably arise?
Sensitive matrix gel diffusion test for the detection of Australia antigen.

Abstract A matrix gel diffusion (MGD) procedure with a sensitivity comparable to the complement fixation test (CF) has been developed for detecting Australia antigen in serum. The test utilizes a thin layer of agar (0.1 mm) with an applied plastic matrix. Reactants are introduced directly onto the surface of the agar through wells in the plastic matrix. End points obtained by CF with a panel of 11 sera varied from 1:8 to 1:512. When these sera were tested by MGD, end points for detection of antigen were within one dilution of that obtained by CF.
Russia through the Eyes of an American Nurse

This article describes the author’s preliminary fieldworkin the Russian culture, which tookplace during 10 days in November 1998 and 10 days in April 2000. During the time she spent in Russia, the author had two major goals. The first goal was to participate as part of a team of four American nursing faculty invited to teach at the Moscow Medical Academy, and her second goal was to learn about the culture of origin of the Russian immigrants who have migrated to the United States. With the aid of interpreters, the author participated in the culture, observed the activities around her, and learned from her Russian colleagues. This second goal reflected the author’s preparation as a nurse-researcher to study the experiences of Russian immigrants. The article includes reflections and general impressions of the overall experience.
A Novel Chemical Nitrate Destruction Process

The Sillamae hydrometallurgical ore processing plant has been in operation since 1948. During the Soviet era, the plant produced uranium as well as rare earths and rare metals. Since Estonia’s independence, the rare earth metal processing continued at a smaller scale. A tailings pond was established in 1959 on the beach of the Baltic Sea. The pond collects the waste water and slurry from the plant. Water permeates through the pond and into the nearby Gulf of Finland. Naturally this location makes it a matter of concern for all Baltic countries [1].
Kinetics of (Porphyrin)manganese(III)‐Catalyzed Olefin Epoxidation with a Soluble Iodosylbenzene Derivative

We examined the kinetics of a well-behaved system for homogeneous porphyrin-catalyzed olefin epoxidation with a soluble iodosylbenzene derivative 1 as the terminal oxidant and Mn(TPFPP)Cl (2) as the catalyst. The epoxidation rates were measured by using the initial rate method, and the epoxidation products were determined by gas chromatography. The epoxidation rate was found to be first order with respect to the porphyrin catalyst and zero order on the terminal oxidant. In addition, we found the rate law to be sensitive to the nature and concentration of olefin substrates. Saturation kinetics were observed with all olefin substrates at high olefin concentrations, and the kinetic data are consistent with a Michaelis–Menten kinetic model. According to the observed saturation kinetic results, we propose that there is a complexation between the active oxidant and the substrate, and the rate-determining step is thought to be the breakdown of this putative substrate–oxidant complex that generates the epoxidation products and the resting state porphyrin catalyst. Competitive epoxidations further indicate a reversible complexation of the active oxidant and the olefin substrate. The activation parameters ΔH‡ and ΔS‡ for the oxygen-transfer process (k2) in the cis-cyclooctene epoxidation were determined to be 12.3 ± 0.9 kcal mol–1 and–15.6 ± 3.2 cal mol–1 K–1, respectively. In addition, the Hammett constant ρ+ was measured for the epoxidation of para-substituted styrenes, and the value of –0.27 ± 0.04 is too low to be consistent with the involvement of a discrete carbocation in the transition state. We also prepared a (porphyrin)manganese catalyst immobilized on silica support, and found the epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene catalyzed by this heterogeneous catalyst proceeds at virtually the same turnover frequency as by the homogeneous porphyrin catalyst. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)
A Framework for Collecting Provenance in Data-Centric Scientific Workflows

The increasing ability for the earth sciences to sense the world around us is resulting in a growing need for datadriven applications that are under the control of data-centric workflows composed of grid- and web- services. The focus of our work is on provenance collection for these workflows, necessary to validate the workflow and to determine quality of generated data products. The challenge we address is to record uniform and usable provenance metadata that meets the domain needs while minimizing the modification burden on the service authors and the performance overhead on the workflow engine and the services. The framework, based on a loosely-coupled publish-subscribe architecture for propagating provenance activities, satisfies the needs of detailed provenance collection while a performance evaluation of a prototype finds a minimal performance overhead (in the range of 1% for an eight service workflow using 271 data products).
Fluorescent Detection of Lipid Droplets and Associated Proteins.

Most eukaryotic cells can store excess lipid in cytosolic lipid droplets. This unit discusses techniques for the visualization of lipid droplets and associated proteins in cultured mammalian cells. Protocols for the detection of lipid droplets with nile red and BODIPY 493/503 are included. The differences in the spectral properties of these two lipophilic dyes and advantages of each are discussed. The best method for combining visualization of intracellular lipid droplets with indirect immunofluorescent detection of lipid droplet-associated proteins is described. Techniques for sample fixation and permeabilization must be chosen carefully to avoid alterations to lipid droplet morphology. Immunofluorescent detection of adipophilin, a broadly expressed, lipid droplet-associated protein, widely used as a marker for lipid droplet accumulation, is presented as an example. Finally, a simple protocol for enhancing lipid droplet accumulation through supplementation with excess fatty acid is included.
Climatic Influences on Coastal Cave and Karst Development in Florida

Coastal karst development in Florida is a complex, temporally variable phenomenon that was influenced by eustatic processes and long-term climatic variability through the Cenozoic up through the present. Much of the past history involving coastal and climatic influences on cave and karst evolution in Florida is still not well understood. Currently, Florida is home to almost 20 million people that reside one of the world’s largest and most productive karst aquifer systems, featuring hundreds of springs, caves, and sinkholes as part of its karst geomorphology. The large carbonate platform is exposed to hurricanes, sea level rise, and continued groundwater withdrawal. Therefore, it is important to consider Florida’s karst landscape as an evolving geomorphological system under both past and current environmental conditions. It is important to understand the rock, structure, gradient, fluid, and time elements of Florida’s karst development, with a particular emphasis placed on the climatic influences that shaped the landscape. Focusing on the central and northern regions of the peninsula where the ridgelands and coastal lowlands contain the most exposed karst features, the elements of gradient, fluid, and time interact with climate in such a way that the karst landscape development can be partially explained by changes in the hydrology related to water table fluctuations, sea-level changes, and variability in precipitation patterns over time. Aquifer development, speleogenesis, and paleoclimatic changes on these processes are discussed, while noting that the primary mechanisms controlling cave development,sinkhole occurrence, and karst evolution are past changes in sea level and water table movement. The state’s karst regions are described within this context to organize the discussion of the coastal karst development of peninsular Florida under variable climatic conditions.
Reconciling the electronic and geometric corrugations of the hexagonal boron nitride and graphene nanomeshes

Abstract Monolayer hexagonal boron nitride on Rh(111) and graphene on Ru(0001) illustrate a trend of divergence between the density functional theory (DFT) calculated geometric corrugation, and scanning tunneling microscope (STM) measured apparent corrugation, of metal-supported 2D films that feature chemically distinct regions. Notably, the geometric and apparent corrugations differ by up to 2 A for boron nitride/Rh(111), whereas both the DFT-simulated and the experimentally observed STM images agree in the apparent corrugation over a wide range of bias voltages. The disparity is due to unequal contributions of the low/high-lying atoms to the local density of states in the vicinity of the Fermi level. This phenomenon has important implications for the structural characterization of certain supported 2D films, which are being explored for novel electronic and material applications.
Anticipatory Effects on Lower Extremity Neuromechanics During a Cutting Task

Context: Continued research into the mechanism of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury helps to improve clinical interventions and injury-prevention strategies. A better understanding of the effects of anticipation on landing neuromechanics may benefit training interventions. Objective: To determine the effects of anticipation on lower extremity neuromechanics during a single-legged land-and-cut task. Design: Controlled laboratory study. Setting: University biomechanics laboratory. Participants: Eighteen female National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate soccer players (age = 19.7 ± 0.8 years, height = 167.3 ± 6.0 cm, mass = 66.1 ± 2.1 kg). Intervention(s): Participants performed a single-legged land-and-cut task under anticipated and unanticipated conditions. Main Outcome Measure(s): Three-dimensional initial contact angles, peak joint angles, and peak internal joint moments and peak vertical ground reaction forces and sagittal-plane energy absorption of the 3 lower extr...
CFL learners' productions of relative clauses with demonstratives: From theory to empirical research

Relative clauses (RCs), with their typological universality and structural complexity, have always been central to inquiries in generative linguistics and language acquisition. Although recent years witness a growing interest in psycholinguistic and acquisition research in Chinese RCs, few studies have attempted to make connections between psycholinguistic theories and Chinese as a second language learning and teaching. This paper tries to bridge the gap and uses an interdisciplinary approach to address the comparative difficulty of Chinese subject and object RCs in their interaction with demonstratives. Chinese L1 and L2 participants completed a written sentence completion task. More productions in a certain type of RC, when observed in both participant groups, were interpreted as evidence of structural preference, and differences between L1 and L2 patterns were analyzed as competence issues. It was found that both groups prefer subject RCs when the structure begins with a demonstrative, and this result corresponds to corpus studies of Chinese RCs as well as findings in previous acquisition research. At the same time, there was no asymmetry between the subject and object RCs produced when the demonstrative follows the RC. A multi-constraint model in which a “perspective” factor (MacWhinney 1977, 1982, MacWhinney and Pleh 1988) and a word order factor simultaneously contribute to production cost can explain the data. Meanwhile, L2 participants’ errors were often related to neglecting the obligatory gap within the RC. Pedagogical implications were put forward. 1 The experiment reported in this study was part of a bigger dissertation project referenced as Xu (2009). The original dissertation project was supported by the Language Learning Dissertation Grant in 2008, awarded by Language Learning, the journal, and the 2008 University of Arizona’s Social and Behavioral Science Research Institute Small Grant. Data from this particular experiment were recoded in 2012 with the help of a research assistant, enabling me to verify the reliability and statistical significance of the result. The interpretation of the results in this study is not entirely identical to Xu (2009), and this paper is intended for researchers as well as for CFL practitioners. I extend my gratitude to the students, the instructors, and the research program coordinator at the Defense Language Institute. I also thank Dr. Feng-hsi Liu, Dr. Heidi Harley, and Dr. Janet Nicol for their advice, Dr. Brian MacWhinney for communicating with me, and Ms. Jie Cui for her assistance in data coding. My appreciation also goes to two anonymous reviewers’ for their valuable suggestions. All errors remain mine. Brought to you by | University of Pittsburgh Authenticated | 132.174.255.116 Download Date | 4/25/14 8:14 AM
Theoretical Study of Interfacial Electron Transfer from Reduced Anatase TiO2(101) to Adsorbed O2

We study the electron transfer from a reduced TiO2 surface to an approaching O2 molecule using periodic hybrid density functional calculations. We find that the formation of an adsorbed superoxo species, *O2–, via the reaction O2(gas) + e– → *O2–, is barrierless, whereas the transfer of another electron to transform the superoxo into an adsorbed peroxide, i.e. *O2– + e– → *O22–, is nonadiabatic and has a barrier of 0.3 eV. The origin of this nonadiabaticity is attributed to the instability of an intermediate where the second electron is localized at the superoxo adsorption site. These results can explain the experimental finding that O2 is not an efficient electron scavenger in photocatalysis.
Intracellular Parasites and Phagocytic Cells: Cell Biology and Pathophysiology

cells, they are responsible for the body's microbicidal capacities. Yet phagocytic cells may become a haven where intracellular parasites can grow and divide, protected from various antimicrobial mechanisms. Study of the biology of this interaction offers us two main benefits. First, the evolutionary ingenuity of these organisms can teach us a great deal about the normal physiology of the phagocytic cell. Second, our approaches to the therapy of infectious diseases often depend upon the complementary actions of the host's defense mechanisms. Organisms that can evade these mechanisms and that may also be sequestered from the effects of antimicrobial drugs may require distinct therapeutic strategies for their control.
Baclofen Toxicity Responsive to Hemodialysis in a Pediatric Patient with Acute Kidney Injury.

Background Baclofen (para-chlorophenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid) is widely used for its therapeutic effect of providing muscle relaxation from the persistent muscle spasms and posturing often related to spinal and central nervous system injuries. However, baclofen is also a potent neuronal depressant which is most evident in cases of toxicity. In severe toxicity, respiratory failure and obtundation may occur. Case-diagnosis/treatment We present the case of a neurologically devastated 16-year-old on chronic baclofen therapy for bilateral spastic cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System level V) who presented with fever, leukocytosis, and hypotension. Initial management with fluid resuscitation and antimicrobials for presumed infection did initially improve the patient's mental status; however, he subsequently became comatose later during the same hospitalization. Comprehensive diagnostic studies and infectious work-up did not reveal an etiology. Upon further examination of history, acute kidney injury from chronic nonsteroidal use and complicated by vancomycin toxicity was suspected to cause acute baclofen toxicity. The patient underwent a single run of hemodialysis with resultant neurologic improvement and later laboratory-confirmed toxic baclofen levels. Conclusion Clinicians should consider possible acute baclofen toxicity in patients with impaired renal function who present with neurologic depression. Respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation, with its associated intensive care costs and complications, may be avoided with prompt treatment using hemodialysis.
Association of the California Tobacco Control Program with declines in cigarette consumption and mortality from heart disease.

Background The California Tobacco Control Program, a large, aggressive antitobacco program implemented in 1989 and funded by a voter-enacted cigarette surtax, accelerated the decline in cigarette consumption and in the prevalence of smoking in California. Since the excess risk of heart disease falls rapidly after the cessation of smoking, we tested the hypothesis that this program was associated with lower rates of death from heart disease. Methods Data on per capita cigarette consumption and age-adjusted rates of death from heart disease in California and the United States from 1980 to 1997 were fitted in multiple regression analyses. The regression analyses included the rates in the rest of the United States and variables that allowed for changes in the rates after 1988, when the tobacco-control program was approved, and after 1992, when the program was cut back. Results Between 1989 and 1992, the rates of decline in per capita cigarette consumption and mortality from heart disease in California, relati...
Minimizing extracorporeal circulation circuit in neonates and young infants undergoing cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of minimizing extracorporeal circulation(ECC) priming volume for neonates and young infants(young infants defined as age less than 3 months or weight less than 5 kg)on reducing exposures to exogenous packed red blood cells(PRBC) and perioperative inflammation reactions.METHODS 40 neonates or young infants suffering from congenital heart disease undergoing open heart surgery were put into 2 groups randomly: group A(control group,n=20),ECC circuit consists of a 1/4 inch arterial and venous line,infant oxygenator,modified ultrafiltration and infant arterial filter with 410 ml total circuit prime;group B(study group,n=20),ECC circuit consists of a 3/16 inch arterial and venous line,infant oxygenator,modified ultrafiltration and no arterial filter with 290 ml total circuit prime.PBRC transfused during operation were recorded.Blood samples were drawn from central venous line before bypass,at the end of operation,4 hours and 24 hours postoperatively for measuring IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-a.INVOS 5100 was used during the operation for monitoring rSO2.Postoperative neurological results were also recorded.RESULTS In group B,16 were exposed to two or less intraoperative exogenous PRBC unites while only 6 in group A received two or less(P0.01).Before bypass and 24 h after operation,the IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-a between the two groups are similar.At the end of operation IL-6(ng/ml) in group B is significantly lower than that of group A(43.3±19.1 vs 57.8±28.9,P0.05).At 4 h after operation,IL-8(ng/ml) in group B is significantly lower than that of group A(72.6±31.3 vs 94.4±44.7,P0.05).There is no significant difference between the two groups as to rSO2 and postoperative neurological results.CONCLUSION For neonates and young infants undergoing open heart surgery,decreasing the circuit priming volume by 120ml results in significantly fewer multiple exposures to exogenous PRBC units and reducing inflammation reactions without effects on postoperative neurological results.
Research on the Testing Method Based on the Object-oriented Software

This paper mainly discussed the testing about method and class after programming,and then gave the category with the practice.Finally we designed the testing case with the practice based on the object-oriented testing method,proposed a new testing method based on class set.This method mainly design the speed and aspect of class testing in order to improve the efficiency.
Transmission of onchocerciasis by local black flies on the Firestone Rubber Plantation, Harbel, Liberia.

Abstract A quantitative description of the transmission dynamics of onchocerciasis on the Firestone Rubber Plantation, Harbel, Liberia is presented. The putative vector, Simulium yahense, comprised 98.5% of the flies examined. Diurnal vector-host contact was unimodal, expressing a distinct peak between 0800 and 1100 hours, particularly during the wet season. Perennial breeding occurs in the Firestone biotope, and is manifested by a mean annual daily landing rate of 75 flies per person per day. S. yahense is considered an efficient vector by nature of its anthropophily, moderate infective worm burden (4.3 infective larvae per infective fly) and its spatial and temporal ubiquitousness. Onchocerciasis transmission peaked during the dry season, when 73.5% of the annual transmission occurred. The mean annual transmission potential for the study area was estimated to be 1,425 infective larvae per person. The significance of onchocerciasis as a public health problem on the Plantation is discussed, and the potential for limiting transmission is considered.
Biological features of premalignant disease in the human breast

Most human invasive breast cancers (IBCs) arise from preexisting benign lesions. There are many types of benign lesions in the human breast and only a few appear to have significant premalignant potential (atypical hyperplasias and in situ carcinomas). These lesions are relatively common and only a small proportion progress to IBC. They are currently defined by their histological features and their prognosis is imprecisely estimated from indirect evidence based on epidemiological studies. Although lesions within specific categories look alike, they must possess morphologically silent biological differences motivating some to remain stable and others to progress. Understanding the biological changes responsible for the development and progression of premalignant disease is a very active area of medical research. Progress in this area may provide new opportunities for breast cancer prevention by providing strategies to treat premalignant lesions before they develop or become cancerous. A large number of biological features have been evaluated in this setting during the past decade. This review discusses a few features that appear to be particularly important and have been studied in a relatively comprehensive manner.
Fire Degradation of Fiber Composites

This paper describes results from combined experimental and theoretical studies of compressive failures of polymer matrix glass reinforced composites which have undergone thermal loading. The materials discussed herein are composed of vinylester resins and E-glass, quasi-isotropic, fabrics with relatively high fiber densities in the 55 volume percent range. Both single skin and cored composite materials are addressed in our studies but the focus of the present paper is on single skin composites. Experimental studies have included structural collapse under combined thermal (i.e. fire) and mechanical loading; the mechanical loading included combined in-plane and out-of-plane loading of panels which were approximately 1 m 2 . Our theoretical studies include detailed finite element simulations ofpanel deformation and collapse to be compared with the experimental observations. The approach to the development of a quantitative methodology for structural fire protection is discussed in the context of the experiments and analyses. This approach is outlined using a simple analytical model for structural collapse; the model's predictions are compared with experiment and the numerical simulations.
Two approaches for tomographic density imaging using inverse scattering

Most acoustic tomography methods neglect density variations in order to obtain speed of sound and attenuation profiles. However, density may provide additional sources of image contrast. In this work, two approaches for density imaging using inverse scattering were explored through simulations in order to evaluate the feasibility of density imaging. The first method consisted of inverting the wave equation by solving for a single functional that depended on both speed of sound and density variations. Density profiles were separated by combining reconstructions at two frequencies (DF-DBIM approach). The second method consisted of solving for two functionals simultaneously: one that depended only on compressibility and one that depended only on density variations. A T-matrix approach was used to relate these functionals to the scattered data. The DF-DBIM approach allowed separation of density and speed of sound profiles at low termination tolerance values and less than an order of magnitude between the largest and smallest frequencies used. However, the convergence of DF-DBIM was compromised even when moderate (around 2%) termination tolerances were used. The T-matrix approach converged when multiple frequency data was used, but required a ka product smaller than one at the lowest frequency. The DF-DBIM requires a very high SNR to obtain reliable quantitative density reconstructions, while the T-matrix approach requires excessively large bandwidths when imaging large targets. These limitations will serve as reference points for further algorithmic improvements required for practical implementation of density imaging on ultrasound tomographic systems.
From blackbirds to black holes: Investigating capture-recapture methods for time domain astronomy

Abstract In time domain astronomy, recurrent transients present a special problem: how to infer total populations from limited observations. Monitoring observations may give a biassed view of the underlying population due to limitations on observing time, visibility and instrumental sensitivity. A similar problem exists in the life sciences, where animal populations (such as migratory birds) or disease prevalence, must be estimated from sparse and incomplete data. The class of methods termed Capture-Recapture is used to reconstruct population estimates from time-series records of encounters with the study population. This paper investigates the performance of Capture-Recapture methods in astronomy via a series of numerical simulations. The Blackbirds code simulates monitoring of populations of transients, in this case accreting binary stars (neutron star or black hole accreting from a stellar companion) under a range of observing strategies. We first generate realistic light-curves for populations of binaries with contrasting orbital period distributions. These models are then randomly sampled at observing cadences typical of existing and planned monitoring surveys. The classical capture-recapture methods, Lincoln-Peterson, Schnabel estimators, related techniques, and newer methods implemented in the Rcapture package are compared. A general exponential model based on the radioactive decay law is introduced which is demonstrated to recover (at 95% confidence) the underlying population abundance and duty cycle, in a fraction of the observing visits (10–50%) required to discover all the sources in the simulation. Capture-Recapture is a promising addition to the toolbox of time domain astronomy, and methods implemented in R by the biostats community can be readily called from within python.
Genetic, hematological, and immunological disorders transmissible with liver transplantation.

It is well recognized that solid organ transplantation can transmit bacterial infection and chronic viral hepatitis as well as certain cancers. As indications for liver transplantation (LT) have expanded, it has been used to treat and even cure certain genetic cholestatic disorders, urea cycle defects, and coagulation abnormalities; many of these conditions are potentially transmissible with LT as well. It is important for clinicians and transplant patients to be aware of these potentially transmissible conditions as unexplained post-LT complications can sometimes be related to donor transmission of disease and thus should prompt a thorough exploration of the donor allograft history. Herein, we will review the reported genetic, metabolic, hematologic, and immunological disorders that are transmissible with LT and describe clinical scenarios in which these cases have occurred, such as in inadvertent or recognized transplantation of a diseased organ, domino transplantation, and with living related liver donation. Liver Transplantation 23 663–678 2017 AASLD.
Biogeography-based rule mining for classification

Rule-based classification is a popular approach for solving real world classification problems. Once suitable rules have been obtained, rule-based classifiers are easy to deploy and explain. In this paper, we describe an approach that uses biogeography-based optimization (BBO) to compute rule sets that maximize predictive accuracy. BBO is an evolutionary algorithm inspired by the migration patterns of species between the islands of an archipelago. In our implementation, each species corresponds to a classification rule, each island is occupied by multiple species and corresponds to a classifier, and the fitness of an island is computed as the predictive classification accuracy of the corresponding classifier. The archipelago evolves via mutation, selection, and migration of species between islands. Successful islands have a decreased immigration rate and an increased emigration rate. In general, such islands tend to resist invasion and to colonize less successful islands. This results in an evolving set of habitats that corresponds to a population of classifiers. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by comparing it to several traditional and evolutionary based state-of-the-art classifiers.
Structural characterization of two solvates of a luminescent copper(II) bis-(pyridine)-substituted benzimidazole complex.

Copper(II) complexes of benzimidazole are known to exhibit biological activity that makes them of inter­est for chemotherapeutic and other pharmaceutical uses. The complex bis­(acetato-κO){5,6-dimethyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1-[(pyridin-2-yl)meth­yl]-1H-benzimidazole-κ2N2,N3}copper(II), has been prepared. The absorption spectrum has features attributed to intra­ligand and ligand-field transitions and the complex exhibits ligand-centered room-temperature luminescence in solution. The aceto­nitrile monosolvate, [Cu(C2H3O2)2(C20H18N4)]·C2H3N (1), and the ethanol hemisolvate, [Cu(C2H3O2)2(C20H18N4)]·0.5C2H6O (2), have been structurally characterized. Compound 2 has two copper(II) complexes in the asymmetric unit. In both 1 and 2, distorted square-planar N2O2 coordination geometries are observed and the Cu—N(Im) bond distance is slightly shorter than the Cu—N(py) bond distance. Inter­molecular π–π inter­actions are found in 1 and 2. A weak C—H⋯π inter­action is observed in 1.
Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Scores Are Responsive to Early Changes in Patient Outcomes Following Arthroscopic Partial Meniscectomy

Purpose The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) computer-adaptive testing (CAT) physical function and pain interference scores can detect early variations in postoperative outcomes following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and to determine whether age, sex, body mass index, mechanical symptoms, duration of symptoms, and the severity of chondrosis affect these scores. Methods Seventy-five patients who had undergone a partial meniscectomy between September 2015 and March 2016 and had both preoperative and postoperative PROMIS-CAT data for physical function, pain interference, and depression were included. Demographic, clinical, and surgical data including the presence of intraoperative chondral lesions were collected for statistical analysis to assess for factors that led to differences in PROMIS-CAT outcomes. Results Preoperatively, patients had decreased physical function and increased pain interference in excess of 1 standard deviation from the general population with mean PROMIS scores of 38.5 and 63.5, respectively. At the 6-week postoperative visit, patients had significant improvements in both physical function and pain interference with mean scores of 43.4 ( P P P = .03) and depression ( P = .02) scores postoperatively compared with male patients. Patients with high-grade articular cartilage lesions had less improvement in physical function ( P = .014) and pain interference ( P = .010) at 6 weeks postoperative compared with patients with low grade or no chondral lesion. Conclusions PROMIS-CAT provides responsive outcome measures to early postoperative changes in physical function and pain following arthroscopic partial meniscectomy and has prognostic value in patient outcomes 6 weeks after procedure. Level of Evidence Level IV case series.
Colonialism and African Womanhood

In indigenous African society, the concept of ‘woman’ or ‘womanhood’ signified: a high level of responsibility; an embodiment of social etiquette; and familial and community expectations of an adult female as a wife, mother, and responsible member of society. African womanhood embodied the versatility, independence, hard work, and resilience of adult females contributing to the socio-economic well-being of their households and communities. This chapter explores how European colonialism altered African womanhood by massively transforming African indigenous institutions, worldviews, and livelihoods. It argues that colonialism had an ambivalent impact on African womanhood by creating opportunities, challenges, and barriers that enhanced, diminished, or placed African women in ambiguous situations as they physically and culturally negotiated the migration from old ways of life to new ones, and as they carved out new spaces for themselves. It showcases women’s agency as they negotiated and challenged the normative gender relations; and their diverse experiences and heterogeneous modes of resistance, adjustment, and negotiation in defense of African womanhood, their households, and communities.
Business Process Benchmarking: Finding and Implementing Best Practices

(1995). Business Process Benchmarking: Finding and Implementing Best Practices. Quality Management Journal: Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 10-11.