cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
US “Partnership” with the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood and its Effect on Civil Society and Human Rights

Looking at Egypt before, during and after the Arab Spring, this paper examines the intersection of Christian Copts, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Egyptian army, moderate Muslims and secular groups. In turn, it examines the Obama administration’s policies toward Egypt. It discloses the surprising finding that the only consistent aspect of the administration’s policy toward Egypt has been outreach to and engagement with the Muslim Brotherhood. At no time before or after the Brotherhood’s ascent to prominence in Egyptian politics and society did the administration make support of the Brotherhood conditional. At no time did it use US leverage - given the massive amount of financial and military aid Egypt was depending on, and given the new Egyptian government’s desire for prestige in the world community–to pressure the Morsi government to respect human rights, religious liberty and the impartial rule of law. Arguing that American foreign policy at its best is rooted in democratic ideals, this paper asks whether the United States, while respecting that Egyptians must choose their leaders and their political system, could have done more to encourage a positive strategic, moral and political outcome.
Transport of time-varying plasma currents by whistler wave packets

In a large laboratory plasma the properties of time-varying current systems have been studied experimentally. The parameter regime of interest involves magnetized electrons and unmagnetized ions. In the laboratory complete measurements of three-dimensional, time-varying vector fields of the total current density are obtained from magnetic probe measurements. Pulsed currents are observed to propagate at the speed of whistler wave packets. Their field structure forms flux-rope-like configurations which are electromagnetically force-free. Moving sources induce eddy currents which excite waves and form Cerenkov-like whistler wings. The radiation patterns of moving magnetic antennas and electrodynamic tethers have been investigated. The current closure between tethered electrodes across B/sub 0/ has been mapped. Nonlinear effects of large-amplitude, antenna-launched whistler pulses have been observed. These involve a new modulational instability in which a channel of high conductivity is formed which permits the wave/currents to penetrate deeply into a collisional plasma. >
A note on the bias of L-estimators and a bias reduction procedure

Abstract The bias of L-estimators is investigated. A modified L-estimator is proposed which reduces the bias. The variances as well as the mean squared errors of the L-estimator and its modified version are compared.
Improvement of LineROVer: A mobile robot for de-icing of transmission lines

This paper describes the improvements of LineROVer, a mobile robot for de-icing of overhead transmission lines. A low-voltage DC motor and a Lithiumion battery are used which increase the duration time without increasing the weight of the robot. A wireless transmission module that can be expanded arbitrarily with bidirectional transmission is applied. The electrical control box and battery are specially dealt and a new kind of water resistant joint is used. All these measures improve the waterproofness of the robot and enhance its reliability. Outdoor de-icing experiments were carried out, and the de-icing tools were then modified according to the results. An improvement of the performance was measured.
Utility Independence on Subsets of Product Sets

This paper investigates conditions for utility independence in the von Neumann-Morgenstern utility context when the set of consequences is an arbitrary subset of the Cartesian product of two sets. The strongest of three increasingly stronger conditions on preferences between gambles is shown to be necessary and sufficient for utility independence when the consequence set is finite. Examples show that this condition is not generally sufficient when the number of consequences is infinite.
Exploring the Optical Properties of Hg1−xCdxSe Films Using IR-Spectroscopic Ellipsometry

We have used infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry to interrogate the dielectric response of a series of Hg1−xCdxSe samples in a spectral range between 2000 and 40000 nm. Using a standard inversion technique, the experimental data obtained at multiple angles of incidence were modeled to deduce the dielectric function of each sample. The dielectric functions obtained for Hg1−xCdxSe samples allowed us to predict the band gaps for the samples, which increase as a function of the Cd concentration. Next, we modeled the dielectric function as a collection of oscillators, each of which represented a particular transition manifested in the spectrum. The most significant result obtained from this work is the recovery of their doping characteristics from the ellipsometric data. Specifically, two Hg1−xCdxSe samples with x = 0.21 and 0.28, grown on GaSb substrates, show a carrier concentration of 1.6 × 1017 and 1.8 × 1018 cm−3, respectively. These results are particularly helpful because conventional Hall measurements cannot be used for these specific samples due to the substrates (i.e., GaSb) used to grow them being highly conductive.
Two-dimensional planar flow of a viscoelastic plastic medium

The present study is concerned with finite element simulation of the planar entry flow of a viscoelastic plastic medium exhibiting yield stress. The numerical scheme is based on the Galerkin formulation. Flow experiments are carried out on a carbon black filled rubber compound. Steady-state pressure drops are measured on two sets of contraction or expansion dies having different lengths and a constant contraction or expansion ratio of 4:1 with entrance angles of 90, 45 and 15 degrees. The predicted and measured pressure drops are compared. The predicted results indicate that expansion flow has always a higher pressure drop than contraction flow. This prediction is in agreement with experimental data only at low flow rates, but not at high flow rates. The latter disagreement is possibly an indication that the assumption of fully-developed flow in the upstream and downstream regions is not realistic at high flow rates, even for the large length-to-thickness ratio channels employed. The evolution of the velocity, shear stress, and normal stress fields in the contraction or expansion flow and the location of pseudo-yield surfaces are also calculated.
A New Implementation of Sparse Gaussian Elimination

An implementation of sparse ${LDL}^T$ and LU factorization and back-substitution, based on a new scheme for storing sparse matrices, is presented. The new method appears to be as efficient in terms of work and storage as existing schemes. It is more amenable to efficient implementation on fast pipelined scientific computers.
Dynamic Light Scattering from Multicomponent Polymer Solutions

Abstract Applications of dynamic light scattering to the characterization of multicomponent polymer solutions are described. Examples include block copolymers in a selective solvent, which can aggregate into micellar structures; block copolymers in a neutral solvent, in which an unanticipated mode due to chain diffusion appears; probe diffusion in refractive index-matched matrix solutions. The underlying linear response theory is summarized, and the main experimental aspects are noted.
Passage Rate of Feed in Very Young Chicks

Abstract White Leghorn chicks were reared on diets in which soybean oil at 4% or corn oil at 5 or 10% was substituted isocalorically for carbohydrate calories. The transit time (TRT) of diets was determined in these chicks with ferric oxide as a marker. The average TRT for three experiments was 167 min. Overall, there was no significant effect (P≥.05) for the addition of the vegetable oils to alter TRT. A significant interaction was detected for TRT to be shorter as chicks aged from 7 to 21 days of age when provided with 4 to 5% vegetable oil but not when provided with 10% corn oil. An extra metabolic effect was detected from the isocaloric substitution of lipid calories for carbohydrate calories but not necessarily only when TRT was longer. Thus, the chick was affected differently than the hen in which lipid produced longer TRT.
Pseudotumor cerebri and ciprofloxacin: a case report

Introduction We present a case of ciprofloxacin-associated pseudotumor cerebri in a 22-year-old African American woman. Withdrawal of ciprofloxacin in our patient resulted in complete resolution of ciprofloxacin-associated pseudotumor, as evidenced by a normal neuro-ophthalmic examination and a cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure of 140 mmH20.
Harmonic vibrational frequencies: Scale factors for pure, hybrid, hybrid meta, and double‐hybrid functionals in conjunction with correlation consistent basis sets

Scale factors for (a) low (<1000 cm(-1)) and high harmonic vibrational frequencies, (b) thermal contributions to enthalpy and entropy, and (c) zero-point vibrational energies have been determined for five hybrid functionals (B3P86, B3PW91, PBE1PBE, BH&HLYP, MPW1K), five pure functionals (BLYP, BPW91, PBEPBE, HCTH93, and BP86), four hybrid meta functionals (M05, M05-2X, M06, and M06-2X) and one double-hybrid functional (B2GP-PLYP) in combination with the correlation consistent basis sets [cc-pVnZ and aug-cc-pVnZ, n = D(2),T(3),Q(4)]. Calculations for vibrational frequencies were carried out on 41 organic molecules and an additional set of 22 small molecules was used for the zero-point vibrational energy scale factors. Before scaling, approximately 25% of the calculated frequencies were within 3% of experimental frequencies. Upon application of the derived scale factors, nearly 90% of the calculated frequencies deviated less than 3% from the experimental frequencies for all of the functionals when the augmented correlation consistent basis sets were used.
Multiterawatt laser as a front end for the OMEGA EP (extended performance) laser chain

We report on a laser system developed as the front end for a multipetawatt-class laser that uses an optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier as a preamplifier and a glass power amplifier. Early results are presented.
A study of large object spaces

This paper examines the design space for copying garbage collectors (GCs) in which "large objects" are managed in a separate, non-copy-collected space. We focus on two main issues:1. how to set the policy for classifying objects as "large"2. how to manage the large object spaceWe explore these issues experimentally using the Oscar GC testbed. In particular, we vary the threshold size of large objects and also whether the objects may contain pointers. Furthermore, we compare the performance of treadmill collection to that of mark-and-sweep collection for managing the large object space.We find that for some heaps there is a minimum cutoff size below which adding objects to the large object space does not result in a performance improvement, while for others no such cutoff exists. In general, including pointer-containing objects in the large object space seems beneficial. Finally, the exact method used to collect the large object space does not significantly influence overall performance.
Transistor behavior at high frequencies

The tee equivalent circuit for junction transistors has been modified to take account of electric field in the base region. This electric field is the result of a graded impurity density in the base region of the transistor. It is shown that a graded base improves the high-frequency performances of the common base stage; however, the improvement in common emitter performance is considerably less because of the increased "excess" phase which accompanies the improved high-frequency performance. The complex hybrid parameters are calculated for the common base and common emitter configurations; these calculations take into account the parasitic interterminal capacities of the transistor. The common emitter calculations are compared to measured data, and substantial agreement is obtained.
The Role of Blue/Green Laser Systems in Strategic Submarine Communications

A continuing interest exists in the Department of Defense to stress technology wherever it may result in the improvement of a military system. One important area where this is currently occurring is in laser communications. Specifically, an extensive effort is underway to exploit the "Blue/Green" transmission window in the ocean and develop a strategic laser communication system operating between an orbiting satellite and a submerged submarine. In this paper we discuss some of the operational motivations for such a system together with a generic system design.
Democracy and the Preparation for War: Does Regime Type Affect States' Anticipation of Casualties?

Immanuel Kant and more recent expositors of the democratic peace thesis suggest that citizens in a republic sanction leaders for resorting to war because, in part, citizens are loath to shed their own blood. This Kantian thesis in turn implies substitution. Just as consumers confronted with price shocks shift consumption to less affected goods rather than simply curtailing consumption, democratic leaders facing retribution for casualties can limit losses, not just by avoiding military contests, but also by substituting capital (ships, tanks, aircraft) for labor (soldiers, sailors, airmen) in the provision of security. A simple consumer choice model shows that citizens' leverage over leaders implies that democracies should consume disproportionately more capital in preparing for—and conducting—defense. Numerous anecdotes assert that democracies do shelter labor with capital, especially during war, but tests of defense-factor allocations on factor endowments, regime-type, and other variables show that defense-factor usage is explained by basic economic theory and not by democracy.
Política industrial, ventajas comparativas y crecimiento

En este articulo se analizan las relaciones entre el patron de especializacion internacional y el crecimiento. Para ello se utiliza el marco analitico de la literatura reciente que pone de relieve la importancia de las condiciones iniciales y las politicas publicas, y no solo de la dotacion de factores. Asimismo, se examinan las implicaciones empiricas y de politica economica de este enfoque. Tras una parte introductoria (seccion I), se presenta en la seccion II el marco analitico: un modelo con dos sectores de bienes transables en el ambito internacional y un sector de insumos no transables en ese ambito, con rendimientos crecientes a escala y externalidades pecuniarias dinamicas. En la seccion III se derivan las implicaciones del analisis en terminos de los efectos que pueden tener las politicas industriales sobre el patron de especializacion y el ritmo de crecimiento, mientras que en la seccion IV se hace el mismo analisis respecto a los efectos de las condiciones iniciales y de las perturbaciones (shocks) reales y monetarias. En la seccion V se examina la informacion empirica sobre las relaciones entre patron de especializacion, tasa de acumulacion de capital y crecimiento. Y por ultimo, en la seccion VI se resumen las principales conclusiones del trabajo en lo que se refiere al alcance y las limitaciones de una politica industrial.
Roles of DNA Adenine Methylation in Regulating Bacterial Gene Expression and Virulence

DNA methylation provides a mechanism by which additional information is imparted to DNA, and such epigenetic information can alter the timing and targeting of cellular events ([47][1]). DNA methylation occurs throughout the living world, including bacteria, plants, and mammals. Until recently,
Sonographic spectrum of the corpus luteum in early pregnancy: gray-scale, color, and pulsed Doppler appearance.

Purpose We describe the gray-scale and Doppler sonographic features of the corpus luteum during the first trimester of pregnancy. Methods Using transvaginal sonography, we prospectively evaluated the ovaries of 160 patients with spontaneous singleton intrauterine gestations between 5 and 8 weeks' menstrual age. Size, sonographic appearance, resistance index, and peak systolic velocity were recorded. Results The corpus luteum was identified in 157 (98%) of 160 patients. The mean diameter was 1.9 ± 0.6 cm. The most common appearance was a round hypoechoic structure, found in 54 patients (34%). Other appearances included a cyst with a thick wall and anechoic center (43 patients, 27%), a cyst containing internal debris (36 patients, 23%), and a thin-walled simple cyst (24 patients, 15%). Corpus luteal blood flow was visualized with color Doppler imaging in 92% (145/157) of patients in whom the corpus luteum was found. Color Doppler imaging typically revealed a circumferential rim surrounding part or all of the corpus luteum. Low-resistance blood flow was seen with pulsed Doppler interrogation, with a mean resistance index of 0.49 ± 0.08 and mean peak systolic velocity of 17 ± 10 cm/second. Conclusions The corpus luteum in early pregnancy is routinely identified with transvaginal sonography and has a wide range of sonographic appearances. Recognizing the various appearances of the corpus luteum is important to avoid confusing them with true ovarian abnormalities. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 27:55–59, 1999.
Surjectivity of the total Clifford invariant and Brauer dimension

Abstract A celebrated theorem of Merkurjev—that the 2-torsion of the Brauer group is represented by Clifford algebras of quadratic forms—is in general false when the base is no longer a field. The first counterexamples, when the base is among certain arithmetically subtle hyperelliptic curves over local fields, were constructed by Parimala, Scharlau, and Sridharan. We prove that considering Clifford algebras of all line bundle-valued quadratic forms, such counterexamples disappear and we recover Merkurjev's theorem in these cases: for any smooth curve over a local field or any smooth surface over a finite field, the 2-torsion of the Brauer group is always represented by Clifford algebras of line bundle-valued quadratic forms.
Validity of a Multi-Sensor Armband for Estimating Energy Expenditure during Eighteen Different Activities.

Purpose: To examine the validity of an armband physical activity monitor in estimating energy expenditure (EE) over a wide range of physical activities. Methods: 68 participants (mean age=39.5 ± 13.0 yrs) performed one of three routines consisting of six activities (approximately 10 min each) while wearing the armband and the Cosmed K4b2 portable metabolic unit. Routine 1 (n=25) involved indoor home-based activities, routine 2 (n=22) involved miscellaneous activities, and routine 3 (n=21) involved outdoor aerobic activities. Results: Mean differences between the EE values in METs (criterion minus estimated) are as follows. Routine 1: watching TV (-0.1), reading (-0.1), laundry (0.1), ironing (-1.3), light cleaning (-0.4), and aerobics (0.4). Routine 2: driving (-0.6), Frisbee golf (-0.9), grass trimming (-0.5), gardening (-1.5), moving dirt with a wheelbarrow (-0.1), loading and unloading boxes (0.1); Routine 3: sidewalk walking (-1.0), track walking (-0.8), walking with a bag (-0.6), tennis (1.6), track running (2.2), and road running (2.1). The armband significantly overestimated EE during several light-to-moderate intensity activities such as driving (by 74%), ironing (by 70%), gardening (by 55%), light cleaning (by 15%), Frisbee golf (by 24%), and sidewalk walking (by 26%) (P<0.05). The arm band significantly underestimated high intensity activities including tennis (by 20%), and track or road running (by 20%). Conclusion: Although the armband provided mean EE estimates within 16% of the criterion for nine of the 18 activities, predictions for several activities were significantly different from the criterion. The armband prediction algorithms could be refined to increase the accuracy of EE estimations.
MIP-1α regulates CD4+ T cell chemotaxis and indirectly enhances PMN persistence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa corneal infection

The role of macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) in cell infiltration into Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected cornea and subsequent disease was examined. Greater amounts of the chemokine (protein and mRNA) were found in the infected cornea of susceptible B6 ("cornea perforates") versus resistant BALB/c ("cornea heals") mice from 1 to 5 days postinfection. Treatment of BALB/c mice with recombinant (r) MIP-1alpha exacerbated disease and was associated with an increased number of neutrophils (PMNs) in the cornea. Treatment of BALB/c mice with rMIP-1alpha also induced recruitment of activated CD4+ T cells into the affected cornea, converting resistant to susceptible mice. Depleting CD4+ T cells in r-treated BALB/c mice significantly decreased PMNs in cornea tissue, suggesting that T cells regulate persistence of PMNs at this site. In B6 mice, administration of neutralizing MIP-1alpha polyclonal antibody also significantly reduced PMN numbers and pathology. Collectively, evidence is provided that MIP-1alpha directly contributed to CD4+ T cell recruitment and indirectly to PMN persistence in the infected cornea.
A Common Brotherhood for Their Mutual Benefit: Sir Charles Macara and Internationalism in the Cotton Industry, 1904–1914

Unlike their national counterparts, international trade associations are a little-studied aspect of the global economic system. Much of the literature on trade associations has focused on rent-seeking behavior, although theories of transaction costs and social capital have been gaining influence. This article uses the early history of the International Federation of Master Cotton Spinners’ and Manufacturers’ Associations (IFMCSMA), still operating today as the International Textile Manufacturers’ Federation, to test different explanations for the formation and persistence of international trade associations. The IFMCSMA case illustrates the challenges of rent-seeking on an international scale, and highlights the importance of social ties in building cooperation. Firms and individuals used the IFMCSMA to pursue reforms across the cotton textile industry and enjoyed some success in collective negotiations with other actors and organizations.
Developmental Considerations in Pediatric Concussion Evaluation and Management

Evaluation and management of concussion in the child and adolescent requires a developmentally appropriate clinical model, emphasizing key factors relevant to the injury manifestation and needs of the child. This chapter presents a model for clinical evaluation and management of concussion in children and adolescents at the acute and postacute stages. Multiple methods and informants are incorporated with the evaluation guided by the specific goals and timing of the service in relation to the injury. Appropriate assessment and intervention tools are discussed for each stage, as well as reasons for referral for additional levels of care. The fundamental components of a pediatric concussion evaluation include the following: definition of injury characteristics; history of premorbid and postinjury risk factors; assessment of current neurocognitive functioning, postconcussion symptoms, and balance; and examination of social–emotional functioning. Different disciplines contribute to the evaluation and management of pediatric concussion. The concept of the concussion generalist and specialist service is introduced with suggested requisite training, skills, and knowledge to evaluate and manage the full range of complexity of pediatric concussion.
It’s OK to Talk About Sustainability

For much of the recent past, state and local governments and a number of businesses have led in making sustainability operational in the United States, but federal policies have lagged far behind. Today, however, environmental, economic, and social pressures are beginning to move governments and businesses to more urgently and effectively adopt sustainable management policies and practices. This shift in public policy and business strategy reflects a new reality that today’s problems are more complex, involve new stressors and multiple environmental media, and thus require approaches that extend beyond traditional business practices or media-specific legislation. The transition to sustainability will not be easy. For the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), this means going beyond the existing regulatory framework and advancing an environmental policy and research agenda that promotes sustainability science, innovation, and problem solving. For business and government alike, this means that innovation and sustainability science must be major drivers to advance economic growth while protecting the environment and human health. More than ever, it is “OK to talk about sustainability.”
Systemic Imidacloprid Affects Intraguild Parasitoids Differently.

Toxoneuron nigriceps (Viereck) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) and Campoletis sonorensis (Cameron) (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) are solitary endoparasitoids of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). They provide biological control of H. virescens populations in Southeastern US agricultural production systems. Field and greenhouse experiments conducted from 2011–2014 compared parasitism rates of parasitoids that developed inside H. virescens larvae fed on tobacco plants treated with and without imidacloprid. The parasitoids in our study did not have a similar response. Toxoneuron nigriceps had reduced parasitism rates, but parasitism rates of C. sonorensis were unaffected. Preliminary data indicate that adult female lifespans of T. nigriceps are also reduced. ELISA was used to measure concentrations of neonicotinoids, imidacloprid and imidacloprid metabolites in H. virescens larvae that fed on imidacloprid-treated plants and in the parasitoids that fed on these larvae. Concentrations were detectable in the whole bodies of parasitized H. virescens larvae, T. nigriceps larvae and T. nigriceps adults, but not in C. sonorensis larvae and adults. These findings suggest that there are effects of imidacloprid on multiple trophic levels, and that insecticide use may differentially affect natural enemies with similar feeding niches.
Using embedded fibers to measure explosive detonation velocities

Single-mode fibers were cleverly embedded into fixtures holding nitromethane, and used in conjunction with a photonic Doppler velocimeter (PDV) to measure the associated detonation velocity. These measurements have aided us in our understanding of energetic materials and enhanced our diagnostic capabilities.
The psychiatric disorders of midlife.

The midlife phase of adult development, once viewed as a period of stagnation and involution, is now seen as a time with the potential for significant psychologic growth and development. The concept that women's psychologic health and physical health are closely tied to her reproductive function is coming under close scrutiny. The menopause is only one variable, along with other biologic, psychologic, and sociocultural stressors, that increases the individual woman's vulnerability to several psychiatric disorders. Careful attention to the patient's presenting symptoms and the specific diagnostic criteria for psychiatric illnesses allows for accurate diagnosis and treatment and avoids the pitfall of attributing these symptoms to the "menopausal syndrome."
Perceptions of the Social Psychological Climate and Sport Commitment in Adolescent Athletes: A Multilevel Analysis

The present study investigated the relationship between the social psychological climate and sport commitment on both the individual and team level. High school athletes (n = 400) competing on 27 different teams completed motivational climate, caring climate, and sport commitment measures. Multilevel models were constructed to examine the hierarchical relationship between the climates and commitment. Task-involving (γ20 =.15, t = 2.31, p =.02) and caring climates (γ10 =.33, t = 3.48, p =.002) were significantly related to commitment on the individual level, and a task-involving climate (γ02 = 1.13, t = 2.90, p =.008) was significantly related to commitment on the team level. In an effort to enhance commitment, coaches and sport psychology consultants may wish to employ strategies targeted toward the facilitation of task-involving and caring climates.
Evaluation of LIDAR Track Measurement Systems in Car Body and Truck-Mounted Configurations

This study presents track alignment and curvature measurement results from a Doppler LIDAR (light detection and ranging) speed measurement system, a non-contact speed and distance measurement system comparable to encoders found on research geometry cars. The system has multiple mounting capabilities with the primary implementations being body-mounted and truck-mounted. Track speed is measured using the individual rails as reference targets, producing two speed signals. Curvature data is obtained from the measured speed differential as the train navigates tangent and curved track. The different dynamic behaviors of the truck and car body influence the motion of the LIDAR system, and thus the results vary depending on the mounting configuration. The curvature, speed, and distance data obtained from the LIDAR system has been compared with results from a geometry car and manual track measurements. The results indicate the LIDAR system has strong potential in serving as a highly precise, non-contact speed, distance, and curvature measurement device suitable for implementation in rail geometry applications.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Isolation and Identification of Brucella melitensis firstly isolated from goat in Guizhou province

To isolate Brucella strains from the blood of Brucella antibody positive goats in Guizhou province and identify the isolated suspicious strains with conventional and molecular techniques,blood culture method was used to isolate Brucella strains from the blood of anti-Brucella antibody positive goats detected with standard agglutination test(SAT).Conventional and molecular techniques were used to identify suspicious bacteria strains.The results showed that Brucella suspicious colonies were cultured in 4(GZB03,GZB04,GZB09,GZB11) of the total 11(GZB01-11) goat blood samples.4 strains were identified as B.melitensis biotype 3 by conventional tests and were further identified as Brucella spp.by genus specific BCSP31-PCR.Strain GZB03,GZB04,and GZB11 were classified as B.melitensis by species-specific AMOS-PCR,while GZB09 was unidentifiable to species.It is the first time to confirm that B.melitensis exists in Guizhou province.
Increasing use of antenatal corticosteroid therapy between 1990 and 1993 in Vermont Oxford Network.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the frequency of antenatal corticosteroid treatment changed between 1990 and 1993 and to identify patient characteristics associated with the use of this treatment. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 17,335 infants born in the years 1990 to 1993 with birth weights of 1500 gm or less and gestational ages of 24 to 34 weeks who were cared for at one of the 94 institutions participating in the Vermont Oxford Network were included in the study. Ninety-one infants were excluded from analysis because of missing data, resulting in a final sample of 17,244 infants. RESULTS: The percentage of infants whose mothers received antenatal corticosteroid treatment increased steadily during the 4-year study period (19.3% in 1990, 24.8% in 1991, 28.6% in 1992, and 34.1% in 1993; p < 0.001 by chi square test for trend in proportions). The results of a logistic regression analysis indicated that increasing year of birth, inborn location of birth, prenatal care, and multiple birth were associated with an increased use of antenatal corticosteroid treatment; black race and small size for gestational age were associated with decreased use of the treatment. In 1993, the median percentage of infants at an individual institution whose mothers received antenatal corticosteroid treatment was 25%; 10% of institutions had percentages less than 7% and 10% had percentages higher than 60%. CONCLUSION: Although the use of antenatal corticosteroid treatment increased steadily during the study period, this treatment was still used infrequently at many institutions in 1993. Considerable improvements in outcomes for preterm infants can be achieved if the recommendations of the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Panel regarding more widespread use of antenatal corticosteroid treatment are adopted by health professionals who provide medical care to pregnant women.
Follow My Recommendations: A Personalized Privacy Assistant for Mobile App Permissions.

Modernsmartphoneplatformshavemillionsofapps, manyofwhich request permissions to access private data and resources, like user accounts or location. While these smartphone platforms provide varying degrees of control over these permissions, the sheer number of decisions that users are expected to manage has been shown to be unrealistically high. Prior research has shown that users are often unaware of, if not uncomfortable with, many of their permission settings. Prior work also suggests that it is theoretically possible to predict many of the privacy settings a user would want by asking the user a small number of questions. However, this approach has neither been operationalized nor evaluated with actual users before. We report on a field study (n=72) in which we implemented and evaluated a Personalized Privacy Assistant (PPA) with participants using their own Android devices. The results of our study are encouraging. We find that 78.7% of the recommendations made by the PPA were adopted by users. Following initial recommendations on permission settings, participants were motivated to further review and modify their settings with daily “privacy nudges.” Despite showing substantial engagement with these nudges, participants only changed 5.1% of the settings previously adopted based on the PPA’s recommendations. The PPA and its recommendations were perceived as useful and usable. We discuss the implications of our results for mobile permission management and the design of personalized privacy assistant solutions.
Data imputation algorithms for mixed variable types in large scale educational assessment: a comparison of random forest, multivariate imputation using chained equations, and MICE with recursive partitioning

Missing data is a major issue with which researchers working on large scale assessments must contend. Such research efforts frequently collect a wide array of variables, including dichotomous, ordinal, nominal, normal, skewed, and counts. This variation in data distributions renders many recommended methods for missing data imputation less than optimal because they assume a single joint probability model for all variables. This simulation study compared four imputation methods, random forest imputation (RF), multivariate imputation by chained equations (MICE), and combinations of the two methods using either the recursive partitioning tree (MICE-RPT) or random forest (MICE-RF) methodologies. Results reveal that data imputed with RF, MICE, MICE-RF, and MICE-RPT yield more accurate parameter estimates than data treated with LD and that MICE-RF and MICE-RPT are associated with more accurate estimates than MICE or RF alone. Implications of these results and recommendations for practice are discussed.
Air Flows: Breath, Voice, and Authenticity in Three Recordings

Miley Cyrus inhales audibly before launching into the final chorus of “Wrecking Ball”. Cellist David Soyer grunts as he tears through the Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge. Saxophonist Colin Stetson’s loud circle breathing on “Hunted” pushes the limits of the physically possible. These recordings all contain traces of the musicking bodies that they purport to represent. This article will treat the breath not as excess, but rather as part of the core musical content of recordings. The breath and the grunt are sounds are often considered excess – not properly musical – yet they are crucial to the affects of these tracks. They validate the recorded performance by pointing to the lingering aura of the musicians who produced them, even while they reveal the ways in which the recording studio can reconfigure, extend, and naturalize these mediatized musicking bodies. On recordings breath becomes a tool through which musicians and recordists can construct the embodied authenticity of the recording. This article argues that the sound of breath is essential to the perception of embodied authenticity on recordings – evidenced by the development of genre-specific conventions for treating breath and constructing the body on recordings.
Colonic “double twist”

A case of a middle-aged man with simultaneous sigmoid and transverse colonic volvuli is described. Preoperative radiograph and intraoperative photographs are presented. A discussion of simultaneous volvuli involving more than one colonic segment then follows, including diagnostic and treatment considerations. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Patient care, Medical knowledge. Republished with permission from: Wisler JR, Stawicki SPA. Interesting clinical image: Colonic “double twist”. OPUS 12 Scientist 2009;3(3):58-59.
The impact of group design projects in engineering on achievement goal orientations and academic outcomes

AbstractThis study examined the impact of incorporating group design projects into a second-year engineering class on achievement goal orientations and two academic outcomes: concept inventory and final exam scores. In this study, two sections were taught using lecture format, but one section also completed three group design projects as part of their curriculum. The intervention of incorporating group design projects had a positive effect on mastery goals and a negative effect on performance-approach goals. The effect of the intervention on academic outcomes was mediated by mastery goals but not performance-approach or performance-avoidance goals. Implications and future directions are discussed.
The statistical analysis of count data / El análisis estadístico de los datos de recuento

AbstractThis monograph provides an overview of the various regression models used to analyse count response models. We begin by defining counts and the methods used to model count data. We then discuss the basic count model — Poisson regression — focusing on the nature of equi-dispersion, which occurs when the mean and variance are identical in value. Equi-dispersion is a distributional assumption of the Poisson model. We examine how to determine when this assumption is violated, which results in extra-dispersion; i.e., either under- or overdispersion. Extra-dispersion biases the Poisson model standard errors, leading us to accept or reject a model when we should not. The negative binomial model is generally used to model generic overdispersion, but if we know the cause of the overdispersion we can select an alternative count model that appropriately adjusts for it. The same is the case with under-dispersion. Aside from looking at the Poisson and negative binomial models, we also evaluate models such as g...
Metal–Organic Framework-Derived CoWP@C Composite Nanowire Electrocatalyst for Efficient Water Splitting

Practical application of electrochemical water splitting demands durable, efficient, and non-noble metal catalysts for both hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we report a new hydrogen evolution nanowire electrocatalyst, consisting of S-doped CoWP nanoparticles embedded in S- and N-doped carbon matrix (S-CoWP@(S,N)-C), which is in situ transformed from Hofmann-type (Co, W)-based metal–organic framework (MOF) nanowires. Because of S and N doping to the carbon matrix and the S doping to CoWP nanoparticles, the obtained S-CoWP@(S,N)-C catalyst reaches a current density of −10 mA cm–2 at −35 and −67 mV (vs RHE) in acidic and alkaline electrolytes, respectively. Powered by a lead halide perovskite solar cell, an unassisted two-electrode solar water-splitting device using MOF-derived S-CoWP@(S,N)-C HER electrocatalysts and S-CoW@(S,N)-C OER electrocatalysts displays a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 10.98%. Our method is highly applicable for developing robu...
Interactions of Ethyl Alcohol and Other Drugs

Ethyl alcohol is a potent pharmacologic agent with a wide variety of biochemical and neurophysiological effects, most marked in the central nervous system but by no means restricted to it. The mechanisms of these pharmacological actions are not only poorly understood but are assumed to involve a wide spectrum of enzyme effects in addition to physiochemical effects on other parameters of drug activity such as membrane permeability, electrolyte activities, and so on. Consequently, it is not surprising that ethyl alcohol should both affect the action of other drugs and be affected by them. These interactions run the gamut from antagonistic effects with mutual neutralization to simple addition of similar effects to actual potentiating interactions where the total effect of the two drugs is greater than the sum of the effects of the two drugs alone. The mechanisms of these interactions are even less well understood than those for the individual drugs. The purpose of the chapter is to review those studies dealing with the empirical data describing the pharmacologic and behavorial effects of alcohol and drug combinations and also those studies which may illuminate the mechanisms of those interactions.
Problems Associated with Using Cannabis to Cope with Stress

Previous research has uncovered a link between stress and cannabis. The overall goal of the present study was to further elucidate the nature of this link by examining whether cannabis use motives (e.g., using cannabis to cope with negative affect) mediate the putative associations between stress (early life stress, chronic stress) and cannabis (frequency of cannabis use, problematic cannabis use). A sample of 578 cannabis-using college students completed an anonymous online survey designed to measure early life stress, chronic stress, frequency of cannabis use, and problematic cannabis use. The results indicated that early life stress was significantly associated with more frequent cannabis use and that both early life stress and chronic stress were significantly associated with more problematic cannabis use. The results of a series of parallel multiple mediation models further revealed that cannabis coping motives (i.e., using cannabis to cope with negative affect and other problems) was a significant mediator of all three of these relationships. These findings suggest that both early life stress and chronic stress may lead to the use of cannabis to cope with stress, and that the use of cannabis for this purpose may, in turn, increaseproblematic cannabis use. We propose that enhancing cannabis users’ coping skills, so that they are notreliant on cannabis for coping, may help sever the connection between stress and problematic cannabis use.
Protocol optimization for cardiac and liver iron content assessment using MRI: What sequence should I use?

Abstract Objective To determine the optimal MRI protocol and sequences for liver and cardiac iron estimation in children. Methods We evaluated patients ≤18 years with cardiac and liver MRIs for iron content estimation. Liver T2 was determined by a third-party company. Cardiac and Liver T2* values were measured by an observer. Liver T2* values were calculated using the available liver parenchyma in the cardiac MRI. Linear correlations and Bland-Altman plots were run between liver T2 and T2*, cardiac T2* values; and liver T2* on dedicated cardiac and liver MRIs. Results 139 patients were included. Mean liver T2 and T2* values were 8.6 ± 5.4 ms and 4.5 ± 4.1 ms, respectively. A strong correlation between liver T2 and T2* values was observed (r = 0.96, p Conclusion MRI protocols for iron concentration in the liver and the heart can be simplified to avoid redundant information and reduce scan time. In most patients, a single breath-hold GRE sequence can be used to evaluate the iron concentration in both the liver and heart.
Identification of transmembrane protein 237 as a novel interactor with the intestinal riboflavin transporter-3 (RFVT-3): role in functionality and cell biology.

The apically localized riboflavin (RF) transporter-3 (RFVT-3) is involved in intestinal absorption of vitamin B2. Previous studies have characterized different physiological/biological aspects of t...
A Near-IR Fluorescent Dasatinib Derivative That Localizes in Cancer Cells.

Kinase inhibitors (KIs) have had a huge impact on clinical treatment of various cancers, but they are far from perfect medicines. In particular, their efficacies are limited to certain cancer types and, in many cases, provide only temporary remission. This paper explores the possibility of covalently binding a fluorophore for in vivo optical imaging to the KI dasatinib where the particular fluorophore chosen for this study, a heptamethine cyanine (Cy) derivative, tends to accumulate in tumors. Thus, we hypothesized that the dasatinib–fluorophore conjugate might target tumor cells more effectively than the parent KI, give enhanced suppression of viability, and simultaneously serve as a probe for optical imaging. As far as we are aware, the dasatinib conjugate (1) is the first reported to contain this KI and a probe for near-IR imaging, and it is certainly the first conjugate of a tumor-targeting near-IR dye and a KI of any kind. Conjugate 1 suppressed the viability of liver cancer cells (HepG2) more effect...
Holistic tactical-level planning in liner shipping: an exact optimization approach

Effective liner shipping is important for the global seaborne trade. The volume of cargoes transported by liner shipping has been increasing over the past decades. Liner shipping companies face three levels of decision problems, including strategic, tactical, and operational problems. The tactical-level decisions are commonly made every three to 6 months. These decisions include: (1) port service frequency determination; (2) fleet deployment; (3) sailing speed optimization; and (4) vessel schedule design. Most of the concurrent liner shipping studies have addressed the tactical-level decision problems separately. Even though a few studies have proposed joint planning models that capture multiple decision problems at the same time, none of the conducted studies has integrated all the four tactical-level decision problems. To address this gap in the state-of-the-art, this study presents a holistic optimization model that addresses all the tactical-level liner shipping decision problems, aiming to maximize the total profit obtained from liner shipping services. The key route service cost components, found in the liner shipping literature, are considered in this study, which include: (1) vessel operational cost; (2) vessel chartering cost; (3) port handling cost; (4) port late arrival cost; (5) fuel consumption cost; (6) container inventory costs in sea and at ports of call; and (7) emission costs in sea and at ports of call. An exact optimization approach is adopted for the developed mathematical model. The computational experiments, conducted for a set of Asia-North America liner shipping routes, showcase the efficiency of the proposed approach and offer some important managerial insights.