cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Invasive species data applications and data sharing across the Americas

Invasive species databases can be effective tools for addressing the threat that non-native invasive species pose to native biodiversity and natural ecosystems. Data are not useful if they are not interpreted fully and shared. Accessible, well-designed databases can help address the difficulties of managing for biodiversity in a heavily invaded reality. In this workshop, attributes of useful databases were described and discussed. Las bases de datos sobre especies invasoras pueden ser herramientas efectivas para evaluar las amenazas que las especies invasoras no-nativas representan para la biodiversidad nativa y para los ecosistemas naturales. Los datos no son utiles si no son interpretados de manera completa y compartidos. Bases de datos accesibles y bien di-senadas pueden ayudar a resolver las dificultades que se tienen al manejar la biodiversidad en una realidad fuertemente invadida. En este taller se describieron y discutieron las caracteristicas de las bases de datos utiles.
Sub-Millimeter Isotropic MRI for Segmentation of Subcortical Brain Regions and Brain Visualization

Purpose: To evaluate a rapid sub-millimeter isotropic spoiled gradient-echo (nonselective SPGR) to facilitate the brain subcortical segmentation and the visualization of brain volume compared with the commonly accepted inversion recovery-prepared SPGR (SPGR-IR) technique. Materials and Methods: The feasibility of the nonselective SPGR was evaluated for two segmentation algorithms. FAST was used to segment the brain into constituent tissue classes (white matter, gray matter, cerebrospinal fluid) and FreeSurfer was used to segment specific subcortical structures (hippocampus, caudate, putamen, and thalamus). Localized apparent signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values for nonselective SPGR and the SPGR-IR were compared for the studied subcortical regions. The three-dimensional volume rendering was generated to evaluate the nonselective SPGR and the SPGR-IR for brain visualization. Results: In basal ganglia regions, nonselective SPGR allows for consistent segmentation results for both FAST and FreeSurfer. This sequence also better differentiated gray/white matter compared with SPGR-IR. An approximate two-fold improvement of image quality in apparent SNR and CNR was indicated for subcortical brain anatomical structures with nonselective SPGR versus SPGR-IR. The nonselective SPGR improved clarity and yielded a more realistic depiction of the brain surface for visualization compared with SPGR-IR. Conclusion: Compared with SPGR-IR, nonselective SPGR allows for consistent segmentation results for basal ganglia regions and improved clarity for visualization of the brain. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010;31:980–986. ©2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Remote Sensing of Nitrogen Stress in Creeping Bentgrass

Development of a remote sensing system that can reliably identify nutrient deficiencies may reduce time spent sampling turfgrass areas and allow for site-specific applications of fertilizers. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the use of a ground-based remote sensing system and partial least-squares (PLS) regression to predict the N concentration, biomass production, chlorophyll content, and visual quality of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L. 'Penncross') growing under varying N rates, and to compare PLS regression to other vegetative indices. The study consisted of three N treatments (0.0,12.2, and 24.4 kg ha -1 15 d -1 ) arranged in a randomized complete block design. Spectral radiance measurements were obtained from plots using a fiber-optic spectrometer to calculate vegetative indices. The PLS regression analysis yielded a strong relationship between actual and predicted N concentration of creeping bentgrass plant tissue during 2002 and 2003 (r 2 = 0.95 and 0.71 respectively). However, PLS regression failed to produce a prediction for the chlorophyll concentration. Regressing the normalized vegetation index (NDVI), Stress1 (R 706 /R 760 ), and Stress2 (R 706 /R 813 ) ratios against N concentration yielded better results in 2003 when there were distinct differences in N concentration between the N rates. These results indicate that the traditional vegetation indices like NDVI might be better suited for determining the relative N status of turfgrass plants when compared against a well-fertilized control. More research will be required to determine if the PLS regression analysis produces prediction models that are able to specifically identify a particular nutrient deficiency or plant stress, and how the results will vary between grass species.
Single Muscle Fibre Contractile Properties in Young and Old Men and Women

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was an age-related decline in the isometric and isotonic contractile function of permeabilized slow (MHC I) and fast (MHC IIa) single muscle fibres. Vastus lateralis muscle fibres from six young men (YM; 25 +/- 1 years), six young women (YW; 25 +/- 1 years), six old men (OM; 80 +/- 4 years) and six old women (OW; 78 +/- 2 years) were studied at 15 degrees C for in vitro force-velocity properties, peak force and contractile velocity. Peak power was 23-28 % lower (P 0.05) among the four groups. These data suggest that differences in whole muscle strength and function that are often observed with ageing appear to be regulated by quantitative rather than qualitative parameters of single muscle fibre contractile function.
Metal ligand substitution and evidence for quinone formation in taurine/α-ketoglutarate dioxygenase

Abstract The three metal-binding ligands of the archetype Fe II /α-ketoglutarate (αKG)-dependent hydroxylase, taurine/αKG dioxygenase (TauD), were systematically mutated to examine the effects of various ligand substitutions on enzyme activity and metallocenter properties. His99, coplanar with αKG and Fe II , is unalterable in terms of maintaining an active enzyme. Asp101 can be substituted only by a longer carboxylate, with the D101E variant exhibiting 22% the k cat and threefold the K m of wild-type enzyme. His255, located opposite the O 2 -binding site, is less critical for activity and can be substituted by Gln or even the negatively charged Glu (81% and 33% active, respectively). Transient kinetic studies of the three highly active mutant proteins reveal putative Fe IV -oxo intermediates as reported in wild-type enzyme, but with distinct kinetics. Supplementation of the buffer with formate enhances activity of the D101A variant, consistent with partial chemical rescue of the missing metal ligand. Upon binding Fe II , anaerobic samples of wild-type TauD and the three highly active variants generate a weak green chromophore resembling a catecholate–Fe III species. Evidence is presented that the quinone oxidation state of dihydroxyphenylalanine, formed by aberrant self-hydroxylation of a protein side chain of TauD during aerobic bacterial growth, reacts with Fe II to form this species. The spectra associated with Fe II –TauD and Co II –TauD in the presence of αKG and taurine were examined for all variants to gain additional insights into perturbations affecting the metallocenter. These studies present the first systematic mutational analysis of metallocenter ligands in an Fe II /αKG-dependent hydroxylase.
Pneumocystis jiroveci Pneumonia in Patients With AIDS in the Inner City: A Persistent and Deadly Opportunistic Infection

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has decreased the morbidity and mortality of opportunistic infections including Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) among HIV-infected individuals. We performed a hospital-based retrospective cohort study among a population of medically underserved inner city persons living in Atlanta, Georgia, diagnosed with confirmed PCP to compare the epidemiology and outcomes of PCP during 2 defined periods: 1990 to 1995, or pre-HAART period, and 1996 to 2001, or HAART period. A total of 488 patients were available for analysis. The overall mortality rate was 47% during the pre-HAART era compared with 37% during the HAART era (P = 0.02). However, among those patients that required medical intensive care unit admission and mechanical ventilation, the mortality rate was particularly high, with over 80% of patients dying as a result of their episode of PCP during both periods. PCP was the initial presentation of HIV infection in 39.3% in the pre-HAART period with a mortality rate of 52%, in contrast with 37% in the HAART period, with a mortality rate of 45%, respectively (P = NS). Only 30.7% in the pre-HAART period and 31.1% of patients in the HAART period were receiving PCP prophylaxis. The overall risk of death, when we combined both groups in the analysis, was higher for those patients who did not take PCP prophylaxis, those who smoked tobacco, and those who were admitted to the medical intensive care unit and required mechanical ventilatory support. Our findings suggest that despite the availability of HAART, PCP continues to cause a significant burden of disease among inner-city HIV-infected populations.
One-loop vertex function in Coulomb-gauge QED.

The one-loop vertex function in Coulomb-gauge QED has been evaluated. The result is expressed in a parametric integral form. The ultraviolet divergence has been isolated, and the matrix structure of the result has been optimized for applications. Examples of the use of the vertex function are discussed.
THE PRESENCE OF AN INHIBITOR OF THYROTROPIN IN HUMAN URINE

By acetone precipitation and ultrafiltration methods, preparations were made from the mines of 3 hypothyroid patients. When administered along with bovine TSH in bioassays by the chick thyroid weight and the guinea-pig thyroid mean acinar cell height methods, it was found that these preparations contained a substance which inhibited the response to TSH. This effect was not observed in the bioassay method involving the uptake of P32 by the chick thyroid. When 2 of the 3 patients became euthyroid during treatment with thyroid hormone, the TSH-inhibitor was not found in the urine. The substance appears to be a nondialyzable protein.
Absence of Localization in Certain Field Effect Transistors

We review some experimental and theoretical results on the metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) observed at zero magnetic field (B = 0) in several two-dimensional electron systems (2DES). Scaling of the conductance and magnetic-field dependence of the conductance provide convincing evidence that the MIT is driven by Coulomb interactions among the carriers and is dramatically sensitive to spin polarization of the carriers.
CHARACTERIZATION OF A DINOFLAGELLATE CRYPTOCHROME BLUE‐LIGHT RECEPTOR WITH A POSSIBLE ROLE IN CIRCADIAN CONTROL OF THE CELL CYCLE1

Karenia brevis (C. C. Davis) G. Hansen et Moestrup is a dinoflagellate responsible for red tides in the Gulf of Mexico. The signaling pathways regulating its cell cycle are of interest because they are the key to the formation of toxic blooms that cause mass marine animal die-offs and human illness. Karenia brevis displays phased cell division, in which cells enter S phase at precise times relative to the onset of light. Here, we demonstrate that a circadian rhythm underlies this behavior and that light quality affects the rate of cell-cycle progression: in blue light, K. brevis entered the S phase early relative to its behavior in white light of similar intensity, whereas in red light, K. brevis was not affected. A data base of 25,000 K. brevis expressed sequence tags (ESTs) revealed several sequences with similarity to cryptochrome blue-light receptors, but none related to known red-light receptors. We characterized the K. brevis cryptochrome (Kb CRY) and modeled its three-dimensional protein structure. Phylogenetic analysis of the photolyase/CRY gene family showed that Kb CRY is a member of the cryptochrome DASH (CRY DASH) clade. Western blotting with an antibody designed to bind a conserved peptide within Kb CRY identified a single band at ∼55 kDa. Immunolocalization showed that Kb CRY, like CRY DASH in Arabidopsis, is localized to the chloroplast. This is the first blue-light receptor to be characterized in a dinoflagellate. As the Kb CRY appears to be the only blue-light receptor expressed, it is a likely candidate for circadian entrainment of the cell cycle.
LOFA: software for individualized localization of functional MRI activity.

Although PET, SPECT, and fMRI studies have led to significant advances in functional mapping of the human brain, precise localization and quantification of activity in individual brains require additional procedures. Difficulties to be addressed by a localization strategy are: resolution of individual anatomic differences, differentiation of functional activity in closely juxtaposed brain regions, and management of multiple intricately shaped 3D anatomic structures. In this paper, we describe a localization tool, LOFA, which addresses these problems by forming ROIs with a user-driven interface. Using LOFA, complex 3D anatomy can be defined through open or closed loops and anatomic landmarks. Resulting partitions can be overlaid on top of each other to form multiple regions of interest (ROIs), and functional activity in these ROIs can be extracted individually, one after the other. LOFA introduces important paradigmatic advances over the other ROI analysis methods. The toolbox is interactive, fully compatible with AFNI (MCW), and requires Pv-Wave (VNI Inc.) license to run.
Astrocytes eyeball axonal mitochondria

Sustaining a healthy population of mitochondria in a neuron requires a balance of de novo biogenesis of new mitochondria or mitochondrial components and removal of damaged mitochondrial membrane, proteins, and DNA ( 1 , 2 ). Recent evidence suggests that mitochondria must be actively transported between the cell body and axon ( 2 ). A new study by Davis et al. ( 3 ) offers a surprising alternative: Axons expel mitochondria to neighboring astrocytes for degradation. This unexpected finding might reshape how we think of mitochondrial disposal in the nervous system.
Degradation and migration of facial foundations

Abstract The surface characteristics of a facial foundation on the skin affect not only photoprotection, but also aesthetic appearance. A 400× video microscope was used to study the movement of facial foundation on the face of 12 female subjects with oily, dry, and normal skin in a controlled environment over 8 hours. This evaluation revealed gradual degradation of the cosmetic film and accumulation of facial foundation pigment particles in the follicular ostia. This cosmetic migration decreases photoprotection and may explain the perifollicular nature of some cutaneous reactions to facial foundations. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2001;45:542-3.)
Shrinkage estimation of partially linear single-index models

Abstract In this paper, we propose shrinkage estimation for partially linear single-index models. A profile least squares approximation is used to estimate the model parameters and select informative variables simultaneously. The resulting estimator is shown to be consistent and to enjoy the oracle properties.
Density-functional theory applied to phase transformations in transition-metal alloys

A new theory of cluster expansions has been derived, which allows one, for the first time, to estimate the energy of a disordered system from first principles. The cluster variables are derived from a series of density-functional calculations on ordered compounds. The disordering temperatures calculated with this theory show the correct trends for binary alloys of $4d$ transition metals, and are in excellent agreement with the experimental phase diagrams in most cases.
The dimensional structure of medical students' perceptions of diseases.

First- and second-year medical students rated 35 diseases (e.g., cancer, heart attack, herpes, schizophrenia, alcoholism) on nine different rating scales (e.g., prognosis, ease of management). In order to uncover the underlying dimensional structure, mean ratings were subjected to multidimensional scaling analyses in which both diseases and rating scales were placed in the same configuration. The results indicated that a two-dimensional solution, accounting for 97% of the variance, was most appropriate. The first dimension distinguishes between diseases that appear to be more physiological in nature and those that have some psychological involvement as well. The second dimension seems most related to fear, seriousness, prognosis, patient desirability, and ease of management.
Supervising the child care counselor: A cognitive developmental model

A cognitive developmental model of counselor supervision was used to create a curriculum specific to the challenges facing supervisors in residential treatment settings for aggressive/assaultive youth. A significant body of research indicates that higher levels of cognitive development predict successful functioning in areas related to counseling and supervision, including greater empathic communication, more autonomy and interdependence, and more flexible counseling and teaching methods. Evaluations of the model were positive; supervisors reported feeling rejuvenated and more confident about providing supervision. The 14-week program model and curriculum are described, and implications for further application in the child care field are explored.
Socioeconomic differences in mortality among diabetic people in Finland.

Aims: A clear socioeconomic gradient in mortality emerged among diabetic people in Finland from the early 1980s to the early 1990s. The present study examines whether this development continued bet...
When is angina good? Preconditioning in acute myocardial infarction.

ducted stud@ to more than 50% in other studies.7-9 SeveraI studies are small reports of fewer than 25 patients with limited power to detect plausible differences in outcome related to prior angit~.~~ 1 Few studies used multivariable analyses to attempt to adjust for important differences among patients with and without prior angina that could explain the different outcomes.7s~li,l* With the
Proposed study of tropic heat

A report released this summer outlines a proposed 5-year coordinated research program to study tropical circulation and air-sea interactions. The program, dubbed Tropic Heat, seeks to ‘measure and model the seasonal and interannual time-scale evolution of the heat and mass budgets of the central Pacific equatorial upper ocean.’ The proposal, which has been sent to the National Science Foundation for review, calls for the program to begin in January 1983. The result of discussions at two Tropical Upper Ocean Circulation Meetings during the past 18 months, the program aims to clarify further the air-sea interactions that have in recent years been linked to climate. One such phenomenon is the Southern Oscillation, a quasiperiodic fluctuation of atmospheric pressure in tropic and subtropic regions.
Repression of CC16 by Cigarette Smoke (CS) Exposure

Club (Clara) Cell Secretory Protein (CCSP, or CC16) is produced mainly by non-ciliated airway epithelial cells including bronchiolar club cells and the change of its expression has been shown to associate with the progress and severity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In an animal model, the lack of CC16 renders the animal susceptible to the tumorigenic effect of a major CS carcinogen. A recent population-based Tucson Epidemiological Study of Airway Obstructive Diseases (TESAOD) has indicated that the low serum CC16 concentration is closely linked with the smoke-related mortality, particularly that driven by the lung cancer. However, the study of CC16 expression in well-defined smoke exposure models has been lacking, and there is no experimental support for the potential causal link between CC16 and CS-induced pathophysiological changes in the lung. In the present study, we have found that airway CC16 expression was significantly repressed in COPD patients, in monkey CS exposure model, and in CS-induced mouse model of COPD. Additionally, the lack of CC16 exacerbated airway inflammation and alveolar loss in the mouse model. Therefore, CC16 may play an important protective role in CS-related diseases.
Coordinated control and communication for enhanced safety of highway vehicle platoons

Platoon formation has been identified as a promising framework in developing intelligent transportation systems. By autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle control and inter-vehicle coordination, an appropriately managed platoon can potentially offer enhanced safety, improved highway utility, increased fuel economy, and reduced emission. This paper is focused on quantitative characterization of impact of communication systems on platoon safety. By comparing different information structures and contents, we reveal some intrinsic relationships between control and communications. The findings of this paper provide useful guidelines in sensor selection, communication resource allocation, and vehicle coordination in highway platoon control problems.
Further examination of the basicranial anatomy of the megachiroptera: a reply to A.J. King.

Four basicranial characters supporting a single origin of megachiropterans and microchiropterans have been identified by Wible and Novacek. King was not able to find two of these characters in specimens of the megachiropteran Pteropus and concluded that these characters be rejected in analyses of chiropteran phylogeny. To address King's claims, the two characters in question (regarding the tegmen tympani and ramus inferior of the stapedial artery) are documented here for Pteropus. The discrepancies between this report and King's appear to result from different criteria for identifying the tegmen tympani. Employed here are the criteria generally accepted by students of the mammalian chondrocranium.
Gray code sequences of partitions

Abstract Herbert Wilf posed the following problem: Is there a way to list the partitions of integer n in such a way that an element differs from its predecessor on the list only in that one part has increased by 1 and one part has decreased by 1. (A part of size 1 may decrease to 0 or a “part” of size 0 may increase to 1.) We refer to this as a Gray code order . In this paper we show that this is possible for all n and give an effective procedure for constructing such a list. In fact, we show a more general result: For all n ≥ k ≥ 1, there is a way to list all partitions of n into integers of size at most k in Gray code order. Unless ( n , k ) = (6, 4), we can arrange for such a list to start at the lexicographically smallest partition and end at the lexicographically largest. As a consequence, we can also list each of the following in Gray code order for all n , k satisfying n ≥ k ≥ 1: (1) all partitions of n whose largest part is k , (2) all partitions of n into k or fewer parts, and (3) all partitions of n into exactly k parts.
Understanding the effectiveness of cognitive and social constructivism, elements of inductive practice, and student learning styles on selected learning outcomes in materials engineering

Research studies in engineering education indicate that students build scaffolds from existing cognitive structures to new information when the students are able to make connections to their existing knowledge base. That research is founded upon the basic principles of social and cognitive constructivism. The effectiveness of two such active course contexts is compared, thus evaluating the characteristics of effective context based active experiences. This study also investigated whether the two contexts resulted in different outcomes for students with different learning styles. The framework of the active experiences in a materials engineering course was changed from music strings and stringed instrument design to biomedical devices which experience significant loads in service because selected student outcomes were still below expectations. Simultaneously, the research project was changed from an individual activity to a cooperative learning experience. More in-class active experiences were also completed cooperatively. The net result was an improvement in thirteen student outcomes and in written and oral language usage. The effect of student learning styles on outcomes was not apparent, but they may be important in forming effective cooperative teams. Overall, stringed musical instruments were not as robust in building student outcomes when compared to the biomedical device approach.
Krichevskii Parameters and the Solubility of Heavy n-Alkanes in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Krichevskii parameters were calculated from measurements of the solubility of heavy n-alkanes in supercritical carbon dioxide and also from critical point measurements for lower n-alkane + carbon dioxide systems. The results show smooth behavior of the Krichevskii parameter with carbon number of the n-alkane. This behavior can be used to validate the consistency of data sets obtained in different types of experiments. They also demonstrate the potential utility of the Krischevskii parameter in interpolating/extrapolating limited data sets.
Does the Concentration of Parolees in a Community Impact Employer Attitudes Toward the Hiring of Ex-Offenders?:

Finding legitimate employment upon release from prison is an important, yet daunting, aspect of offender reentry. Researchers have argued that negative employer attitudes toward hiring ex-offenders act as a barrier during the job search process. This study explored existing attitudes of employers in their willingness to hire ex-offenders in the current labor market and determined whether these attitudes were dependent on the concentration of ex-offenders in the surrounding geographical community. Mail surveys and follow-up telephone contacts with a random sample of businesses that typically employ ex-offenders within 12 Texas zip-codes (six high parolee concentrations, six low parolee concentrations) were conducted. Respondents indicated a general willingness to hire ex-offenders, which did not vary by concentration of parolees in the surrounding area but was found to vary by the conviction offense. Other significant predictors included the respondent’s age and arrest history, whether their business was c...
CHARACTERISTICS OF TRANSITION METAL-ADSORBED ANHYDROUS ZINC PHOSPHATE COATINGS AS CORROSION BARRIERS FOR STEELS

Abstract In attempting to develop anhydrous zinc phosphate (Zn-Ph) conversion coatings suitable for use with a high-temperature performance polyphenylane sulfide (PPS) topcoat, the characteristics of Znfh deposited by immersing the steel in transition Co, Ni, and Mn cation-incorporated phosphating solutions were investigated. Two important features for the anhydrous 340°C-heated ZnPh were addressed. One was to determine if the electron trapping behavior of Co2+ and Ni2+ ions adsorbed in the crystal lattices acts to inhibit the cathodic reaction on the Zn-Ph, and the second was to determine! the less susceptibility of the a-Zn3(P02)2 phase to alkali-induced dissolution. The former affects the lifetime of the Zn-Ph layer as a barrier to corrosion of steel, and the latter reflects on the reduction of cathodic delamination rate of the PPS film from the a phase-steel substrate.
Direct imaging reveals stable, micrometer-scale lipid domains that segregate proteins in live cells

It has been proposed that membrane rafts, which are sterol- and sphingolipid-enriched liquid-ordered (Lo) domains, segregate proteins in membranes and play critical roles in numerous processes in cells. However, rafts remain controversial because they are difficult to observe in cells without invasive methods and seem to be very small (nanoscale) and short lived, leading many to question whether they exist or are physiologically relevant. In this paper, we show that micrometer-scale, stable lipid domains formed in the yeast vacuole membrane in response to nutrient deprivation, changes in the pH of the growth medium, and other stresses. All vacuolar membrane proteins tested segregated to one of two domains. These domains formed quasi-symmetrical patterns strikingly similar to those found in liposomes containing coexisting Lo and liquid-disordered regions. Indeed, we found that one of these domains is probably sterol enriched and Lo. Domain formation was shown to be regulated by the pH-responsive Rim101 signaling pathway and may also require vesicular trafficking to vacuoles.
Altered lower esophageal sphincter function during early pregnancy

Abstract To determine whether lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function was normal during early pregnancy, studies were performed in 8 pregnant women before and after abortion. Resting LES pressures were 22.1 ± 2.4 and 22.6 ± 2.3 mm Hg before and after abortion, respectively. During early pregnancy the LES pressure responses to pentagastrin were inhibited significantly. The LES responses to edrophonium and methacholine were decreased also. Finally, LES pressure responses to a protein meal were diminished in an additional 5 pregnant women. Serum concentrations of estrogen and progesterone were elevated during pregnancy, but the serum concentration of gastrin was unchanged. It can be concluded that in early pregnancy the basal LES pressure was within normal limits, but the LES pressure responses to hormonal, pharmacological and physiological stimulation were reduced (during demonstrated elevations of serum concentrations of estrogen and progesterone). These studies suggest that during early pregnancy, when no clinical symptoms of reflux are present, altered LES function may be demonstrated.
Diffusion of Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing: An Exploratory Investigation of Research and Practice

This empirical study extends current Business Intelligence (BI) and Data Warehousing (DW) research by studying the discourse life cycle of IS fashion waves. Using bibliographic methodology and applying Diffusion of Innovation and Management Fashion theories, BI/DW related papers and articles were gathered from both, academic research and practitioner journals, published from 1995 to 2009. Formal diffusion models were employed to examine the level of adoption of BI/DW based on these papers and articles. Our findings demonstrate mixed-influence fashion waves of BI/DW across the academic and private sector communities, with the practitioner's research being influenced more by external factors compared to academic and academic research diffusion progressing differently than practitioner's literature diffusion and the latter has comparatively slowed down.
Editor’s Introduction: Canons, Classics and Publics

In this issue we offer a rich variety of papers that share some common foci, especially intellectual and historical traditions and relations with external groups. Some articles address very immediate issues, while others provide an historical perspective that seeks to link past events to contemporary work in sociology. There is also an international dimension, with a particular focus on Russia. We begin with Neil Smelser’s insightful analysis of sources of unity and disunity in the field of sociology. Consistent with his longstanding interest in the process of differentiation (which includes both difference and integration), Smelser probes the factors that operate to bring us together or to pull us apart. Although the tone is dispassionate, the discussion embodies Smelser’s deep concern for the well-being of his discipline. For him, as it was for his mentor, Talcott Parsons, sociology has always been an affair of the heart. Dmitri Shalin’s article is likewise oriented toward both unity and disunity, but with a particular focus on competing constructions of the work of George Herbert Mead. If Mead’s work is now generally regarded as canonical, how did that come to be? Moreover, who Bspeaks for Mead,^ and who should be regarded as the most legitimate interpreter of his writings? The discussion brings to mind a remark by Everett C. Hughes, years ago, while he was at Boston College. In challenging a proposed reading list of theoretical works (which I had helped to draft), Hughes demanded, BWho defines the canon?^ Pavel Sorokin begins by noting that, in the professional literature, the image of BRussian sociology^ remains Bfragmentary and incomplete.^ He therefore attempts to identify the basic features of sociology in Russia, to demonstrate its fundamental continuity over nearly two centuries, and to reveal its relevance to contemporary debates in the field. What is especially noteworthy, in his view, is that sociology in Russia has always had a deeply Bpublic^ character, in the sense that it has always been oriented primarily toward contemporary social problems (e.g., serfdom and tsarism) Am Soc (2015) 46:301–302 DOI 10.1007/s12108-015-9279-4
Accuracy and reliability testing of two methods to measure internal rotation of the glenohumeral joint.

Background We compared accuracy and reliability of a traditional method of measurement (most cephalad vertebral spinous process that can be reached by a patient with the extended thumb) to estimates made with the shoulder in abduction to determine if there were differences between the two methods. Methods Six physicians with fellowship training in sports medicine or shoulder surgery estimated measurements in 48 healthy volunteers. Three were randomly chosen to make estimates of both internal rotation measurements for each volunteer. An independent observer made objective measurements on lateral scoliosis films (spinous process method) or with a goniometer (abduction method). Examiners were blinded to objective measurements as well as to previous estimates. Results Intraclass coefficients for interobserver reliability for the traditional method averaged 0.75, indicating good agreement among observers. The difference in vertebral level estimated by the examiner and the actual radiographic level averaged 1.8 levels. The intraclass coefficient for interobserver reliability for the abduction method averaged 0.81 for all examiners, indicating near-perfect agreement. Confidence intervals indicated that estimates were an average of 8° different from the objective goniometer measurements. Pearson correlation coefficients of intraobserver reliability for the abduction method averaged 0.94, indicating near-perfect agreement within observers. Confidence intervals demonstrated repeated estimates between 5° and 10° of the original. Conclusions Internal rotation estimates made with the shoulder abducted demonstrated interobserver reliability superior to that of spinous process estimates, and reproducibility was high. On the basis of this finding, we now take glenohumeral internal rotation measurements with the shoulder in abduction and use a goniometer to maximize accuracy and objectivity.
H 2 optimal semistable control for linear dynamical systems: An LMI approach

In this paper, we develop H2 semistability theory for linear dynamical systems. Using this theory, we design H2 optimal semistable controllers for linear dynamical systems. Unlike the standard H2 optimal control problem, a complicating feature of the H2 optimal semistable stabilization problem is that the closed-loop Lyapunov equation guaranteeing semistability can admit multiple solutions. An interesting feature of the proposed approach, however, is that a least squares solution over all possible semistabilizing solutions corresponds to the H2 optimal solution. It is shown that this least squares solution can be characterized by a linear matrix inequality minimization problem.
Optical characterization of CV10-2568 RTV effluent

In the presence of sunlight, Volatile Condensable Material (VCM) emitted from commonly used room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) material can photochemically deposit onto optically-sensitive spacecraft surfaces and significantly alter their original, beginning-of-life (BOL) optical properties, such as solar absorptance and emittance, causing un-intended performance loss of the spacecraft. We have employed in-situ spectroscopic ellipsometry to monitor in real time the condensed and photofixed effluent of RTV CV10-2568. This technique is sensitive to nm thick layers and can be used to extract n and k as a function of wavelength.
Spatial models of delphinid (family Delphinidae) encounter rate and group size in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean

We use temporally dynamic environmental variables and fixed geographic variables to construct generalized additive models to predict delphinid (family Delphinidae) encounter rates (number of groups per unit survey effort) and group sizes in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. The delphinid sighting data and environmental data were collected simultaneously during the Southwest Fisheries Science Center’s cetacean line-transect surveys conducted during the summer and fall of 1986–1990 and 1993. Predictions from the encounter rate and group size models were combined with previously published estimates of linetransect sighting parameters to describe patterns in the density (number of individuals per unit area) of delphinids throughout the study area. Areas with the highest predicted densities were the Gulf of California, the equatorial cold tongue, and coastal waters, including the west coast of the Baja Peninsula and the Costa Rica Dome. Offshore waters in the northern and southern subtropical gyres had the lowest predicted densities. For both encounter rate and group size models, there was no geographic pattern evident in the residuals as measured by the ratio of pooled predicted to pooled observed values within geographic strata. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
When Politeness is Fatal: Technical Communication and the Challenger Accident

Severe icing on the space shuttle Challenger's launch pad should have halted the launch on the morning of January 28, 1986. One Rockwell International manager told his subordinates to be sure NASA knew that Rockwell thought a launch was not safe. When the Rockwell subordinates spoke directly to NASA managers, however, they used politeness strategies like those enumerated by Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson to blur the directness of the Rockwell manager's message. The NASA managers interpreted the politeness of the Rockwell subordinates as meaning it was safe to launch. The Rockwell subordinates did not mean it that way, but the Challenger was launched.
The role of turbulence stress divergence in decelerating a river plume

[1] Turbulence controls the composition of river plumes through mixing and alters the plume's trajectory by diffusing its momentum. While believed to play a crucial role in decelerating river-source waters, the turbulence stress in a near-field river plume has not previously been observationally quantified. In this study, finely resolved density, velocity, and turbulence observations are combined with a control-volume technique to describe the momentum balance in the Columbia River's near-field plume during 10 tidal cycles that encompass both large and small river flow. Turbulence stress varies by 2–3 orders of magnitude, both within a given ebb and between ebbs with different tidal or river forcing; its magnitude scales with the strength of the instantaneous ebb outflow, i.e., high stresses occur during peak flow of strong ebbs. During these periods, the momentum equation is represented by a balance between stress divergence and plume deceleration. As the flow relaxes, the stress divergence weakens and other terms (pressure gradient and Coriolis) may become appreciable and influence plume deceleration. While the momentum balance could not be closed during these weaker flow periods, during strong tidal pulses the time scale for decay based on observed stress is significantly less than a tidal half-period, indicating that stress divergence plays a fundamental role in the initial deceleration of the plume.
Self-triggered coordination of robotic networks for optimal deployment

This paper studies a deployment problem for a group of robots where individual agents operate with outdated information about each other's locations. Our objective is to understand to what extent outdated information is still useful and at which point it becomes essential to obtain new, up-to-date information. We propose a self-triggered coordination algorithm based on spatial partitioning techniques with uncertain information. We analyze its correctness in synchronous and asynchronous scenarios, and establish the same convergence guarantees that a synchronous algorithm with perfect information at all times would achieve. The technical approach combines computational geometry, set-valued stability analysis, and event-based systems.
C/EBPβ controls exercise-induced cardiac growth and protects against pathological cardiac remodeling

SUMMARY The heart has the ability to grow in size in response to exercise, but little is known about the transcriptional mechanisms underlying physiological hypertrophy. Adult cardiomyocytes have also recently been proven to hold the potential for proliferation, a process that could be of great importance for regenerative medicine. Using a unique RT-PCR-based screen against all transcriptional components, we showed that C/EBPb was downregulated with exercise, whereas the expression of CITED4 was increased. Reduction of C/EBPb in vitro and in vivo resulted in a phenocopy of endurance exercise with cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and proliferation. This proliferation was mediated, at least in part, by the increased CITED4. Importantly, mice with reduced cardiac C/EBPb levels displayed substantial resistance to cardiac failure upon pressure overload. These data indicate that C/EBPb represses cardiomyocyte growth and proliferation in the adult mammalian heart and that reduction in C/EBPb is a central signal in physiologic hypertrophy and proliferation.
Identifying Children with Vesicoureteral Reflux: A Comparison of 2 Approaches

Purpose: Various screening approaches have been proposed to identify the subgroup of children with urinary tract infection who have vesicoureteral reflux. However, few studies have compared the sensitivity of screening approaches in a representative population of young children. We compared the sensitivities of the top-down (99mtechnetium dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scan to screen) and biomarker based (C-reactive protein level at presentation) approaches in identifying children with vesicoureteral reflux.Materials and Methods: We calculated the sensitivity of the 2 screening approaches in detecting vesicoureteral reflux and subsequently high grade (III or greater) vesicoureteral reflux in children.Results: The top-down and C-reactive protein based approaches missed 33% and 29% of cases of high grade vesicoureteral reflux, respectively.Conclusions: The sensitivity of the top-down approach for detecting high grade vesicoureteral reflux was lower than previously reported. Further study of novel methods to ...
Bidirectional Barbed Suture Migration: A Unique Complication After Intracuticular Closure

One of our body-contouring patients recently experienced a complication not reported previously for this type of procedure and closure. After gastric bypass, a 29-year-old woman desired body contouring aimed at the lower trunk and inner thighs. She underwent a 360 body-lift, posterior flap gluteal augmentation, and bilateral vertical thigh-lift. As part of the closure, an intracuticular 2-0 Quill SRS Monoderm (polyglocolide-poly-e-caprolactone copolymer; Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Vancouver, BC) was used. Approximately 2 weeks postoperatively, the patient experienced isolated cellulitis and wound breakdown on a portion of the left vertical thigh-lift incision, which resolved with antibiotics and topical Silvadene. The patient resumed her exercise routine 6 weeks postoperatively but noted pain and a cordlike structure at the medial aspect of her knee. This was suspected to represent inferior migration of the monoderm intracuticular suture (Fig. 1). The suture was removed with the use of local anesthesia and consisted of approximately 7 cm of unidirectional barbs (Fig. 2). The patient’s symptoms resolved, and she resumed her exercise routine. Bidirectional barbed suture was developed to remedy the disadvantages of traditional suturing techniques using knots. These disadvantages include increased foreign body reaction, ‘‘spitting,’’ increased operating room time, and tissue strangulation [1–8]. Early bidirectional barbed suture was noted to cause visible or palpable threads, skin dimpling, ecchymosis, and even suture migration and extrusion in face-lifts [9–13]. These problems have not been reported for the Quill SRS series. The cause for suture breakage and migration in the reported case may have been due to the resumption of exercise or to the previous episode of cellulitis. Increased inflammatory cells may have led to more rapid degradation of the suture in an isolated location. Because factors contributing to this complication are not entirely avoidable, we present this case as a cautionary note for other surgeons. As new wound closure devices are developed, they must be examined to ensure that their advantage extends to patient outcomes and not merely to time savings or novelty. Although bidirectional suture has the potential to improve operative time and offers a theoretical advantage in wound healing, long-term data are limited. We hope future reports will elucidate the frequency of complications with this product.
Particle Size and Reactivity of Aluminum Powders

A comparison of different experimental techniques for metallic particle size evaluation including light diffraction, scanning electron microscope analysis and nitrogen adsorption is presented. Nitrogen adsorption as an appropriate experimental method for particle size evaluation is proposed. Certain aspects of chemical reactivity of micron and submicron aluminum powders in the air, using thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), are discussed. Three metallic Al powders were analyzed: S-400 (Reynolds Co.), ALEX (Argonide Corp.) and WARP-l (Ceramic and Materials Processing, Inc.). TG/DTA analysis revealed that S-400 (specific surface area = 0.3m2 /g) does not react below melting point of Al (2% conversion); ALEX powder (specific surface area = 12.0 m2/g) starts reacting around T = 440°C and 16% reacts before melting point temperature is reached. WARP-1 samples (specific surface area between 16.0 and 26.5 m2/g) react already at T = 200°C and 25 wt% of aluminum is oxidized below melting poi...
Employer Rights, Employee Privacy and Aids: Legal Implications To Hospitality Industry Managers

This study looks at the employment issues of AIDS, employer rights, employee privacy rights and how those views relate to management's opinions on the discharge of and refusal to hire AIDS victims. The results indicate a strong understanding, on the part of one hospitality management group, of the legal constraints affecting their employment rights in the areas of collective bargaining, sex, race and religious discrimination, as well as a strong and positive correlation between such legal constraints and acknowledgement of an employee right to privacy in all areas with the exception of AIDS disclosure. The results suggest a continued misunderstanding of the disease and the inclination to view the AIDS victim as a threat to co-workers and the food operation itself.
Dual-wavelength asymmetric cladding InGaAs-GaAs ridge waveguide distributed Bragg reflector lasers

The design and operation of dual-wavelength InGaAs-GaAs asymmetric cladding ridge waveguide distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers are reported. DBR lasers with mode pair separations of 4.1, 8.4, and 16.9 nm exhibit stable, simultaneous, dual-wavelength operation in current ranges of 40-52 mA, 32-42 mA, and 28-35 mA, respectively. Within the stated current ranges, all lasing modes exhibit at least 20-dB sidemode suppression, and approximately 30-dB sidemode suppression under optimum operating conditions.