cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dual- and triple-mode matrix approximation and regression modelling

We propose a dual- and triple-mode least squares for matrix approximation. This technique applied to the singular value decomposition produces the classical solution with a new interpretation. Applied to regression modelling, this approach corresponds to a regularized objective and yields a new solution with properties of a ridge regression. The results for regression are robust and suggest a convenient tool for the analysis and interpretation of the model coefficients. Numerical results are given for a marketing research data set. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Barrett’s Esophagus: A Review of the Literature

Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is the premalignant lesion of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) defined as specialized intestinal metaplasia of the tubular esophagus that results from chronic gastroesophageal reflux. Which patients are at risk of having BE and which are at further risk of developing EAC has yet to be fully established. Many aspects of the management of BE have changed considerably in the past 5 years alone. The aim of this review is to define the critical elements necessary to effectively manage individuals with BE. The general prevalence of BE is estimated at 1.6–3% and follows a demographic distribution similar to EAC. Both short-segment (<3 cm) and long-segment (≥3 cm) BE confer a significant risk for EAC that is increased by the development of dysplasia. The treatment for flat high-grade dysplasia is endoscopic radiofrequency ablation therapy. The benefits of ablation for non-dysplastic BE and BE with low-grade dysplasia have yet to be validated. By understanding the intricacies of the development, screening, surveillance, and treatment of BE, new insights will be gained into the prevention and early detection of EAC that may ultimately lead to a reduction in morbidity and mortality in this patient population.
Zn(II)-induced dimerization of human carbonmonoxy hemoglobin.

Abstract Binding of Zn(II) to the carbon monoxide complex of human hemoglobin was shown by equilibrium sedimentation and sedimentation velocity experiments at pH 7.0 to induce the dissociation of liganded tetramers to dimers but not to monomers. These results provide direct confirmation of previous kinetic and gel filtration experiments (R. D. Gray, (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255 , 1812–1818) that Zn(II) binding to liganded hemoglobin produces a change in aggregation state of liganded hemoglobin.
The Interactive Effects of Role Change Goals Andrelational Exchangeson Employee Upward Influence Tactics

Employee upward influence for role changes implicates involvement in decision making, fit, and organizational functioning. Porter, Allen, and Angle’s framework is used to explore employee upward influence with supervisors during role change. Tactic selection is hypothesized to vary as a function of role change goals (i.e., magnitude of change and degree of personal and organizational benefit sought) and the quality of the leader-member exchange (LMX). Regression analyses of employee surveys (N = 128) indicate that employee goals (i.e., both personal and organizational) and the magnitude of role change interact to predict employee use of rationality and coalition. Furthermore, LMX and the magnitude of change interact to predict employee rationality. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Tetralin dissolution of macerais separated from a single coal

Abstract The maceral density fractions separated from PSOC-106 and PSOC-852 bituminous coals were reacted with tetralin at 420 °C for 6min. Both THF and pyridine solubility decrease smoothly with an increase in density or a decrease in H/C atomic ratio. In addition, a higher carbon aromaticity leads to a lower conversion. The average molecular size of the THF soluble products decreases as the density of the starting sample increases. Inertinite consumes more hydrogen to reach the same degree of conversion. Possible reasons for this result are discussed.
Cardiac pacing during neurocardiogenic (vasovagal) syncope.

Cardiac Pacing and Neurocardiogenic Syncope. Head-up tilt testing is increasingly being used as a diagnostic modality in patients with unexplained syncope who are thought to have neurocardiogenic (vasovagal) mechanisms of syncope. Although large-scale placebo-controlled trials are still awaited, pharmacologic therapy is usually effective in preventing syncope or presyncope in this patient population. However, the role of permanent pacemaker therapy remains controversial. Because hypotension is usually associated with paradoxical bradycardia and occasionally asystole, it has been argued that permanent pacemaker therapy may be useful in preventing syncope and, thus, injury, in the so-called “malignant vasovagal cardioinhibitory response” in which the onset of syncope is thought to be abrupt. The onset of hypotension, however, usually precedes bradycardia during neurocardiogenic syncope, and pacing may thus not prevent syncope or presyncope in these patients. The role of cardiac pacing in patients with neurocardiogenic syncope is reviewed.
Structural and functional studies of Hemoglobin Wayne: An elongated α-chain variant☆

Hemoglobin Wayne (Hb Wayne) is a frame-shift, elongated alpha-chain variant that exists in two forms, with either asparagine or aspartic acid as residue 139. Oxygen equilibrium studies showed that stripped Hb Wayne Asn and Hb Wayne Asp possessed high oxygen affinity (P 1/2 = 0.60 and 0.23 mmHg at pH 7, respectively), were non-co-operative and have a markedly reduced Bohr effect (-delta log P 1/2/pH (7 to 8) = 0.34 and 0.10, respectively). Adding organic phosphate results in a decreased oxygen affinity and increased Bohr effect for both Hbs Wayne. The overall rate of carbon monoxide binding at pH 7 (l' = 5.6 X 10(6) M-1 S-1) was similar for both stripped Hbs Wayne and was 25-fold more rapid than that of stripped Hb A. When organic phosphate was added, Hb Wayne Asn exhibited a homogeneous slower rate of carbon monoxide binding (l' = 2.6 X 10(6) M-1 S-1), whereas Hb Wayne Asp showed heterogeneous binding (l' = 6.1 X 10(6) and 2.6 X 10(6) M-1 S-1 for fast and slow phases, respectively). The rates of overall oxygen dissociation and oxygen dissociation with carbon monoxide replacement for both Hbs Wayne were found to be slow compared to Hb A and uniquely different from each other. Similarly, sedimentation velocity experiments indicated that, although Hb Wayne Asn and Hb Wayne Asp were both less tetrameric than Hb A, each hemoglobin exhibited a distinct degree of oxygen-linked subunit dissociation. These observed differences in the allosteric properties of Hb Wayne Asn and Hb Wayne Asp appeared to be directly attributable to residue 139. The equilibrium and kinetic data are consistent with the X-ray diffraction analysis of Hb Wayne Asp, which shows that the C terminus of the deoxytetramers are severely disordered, a condition that results in major destabilization of the T conformation and disruption of normal hemoglobin function.
The morphological basis of folded-wing posture in the American Kesrel, Falco sparverius

Gross dissection and histochemical analysis of the shoulder musculature of the American kestrel, Falco sparverius, revealed that four muscles are specialized for slow contraction and may function in the postural control of the folded wing. Mm. latissimus dorsi pars cranialis, scapulohumeralis cranialis, and brachialis were found to contain greater than 95% tonic fibers, whereas M. deltoideus minor was found to possess a relatively even mix of fast-twitch and tonic muscle fibers. M. latissimus dorsi pars cranialis, M. scapulohumeralis cranialis, and M. deltoideus minor all cross the shoulder joint caudally to the articulation, and M. brachialis crosses the elbow joint on the ventral surface of the forearm. This paper suggests postural muscles have largely been ignored in studies of avian musculature, and the need to consider a variety of possible muscle functions when analyzing locomotor muscle functions.
Direct current reduces plasma protein extravasation after partial-thickness burn injury in rats.

Objective : To observe the effect of 40 μA direct current (DC) on plasma albumin extravasation after burn injury. Design, Materials, and Methods : Silver-nylon wound dressings were used as anodes (-) on anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats with 20% total body surface partial-thickness scald burns. Burned rats with no treatment, or treated with siver-nylon dressing without current, were used as controls. Quantitative analysis of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-albumin leakage and accumulation in the wound tissue was performed using confocal fluorescence microscopy. Measurements and Main Results : In controls, the rate of albumin leakage was maximal at 1 hour postburn (PB) and then decreased, but remained higher than normal for 48 hours PB. The accumulation of FITC-albumin was maximal 4 to 6 hours PB and substantial for 48 hours. When DC was applied, leakage was reduced by 30 to 45 % and approached normal control rates by 8 hours PB. FITC-albumin concentration peaked 4 hours PB, was 18 to 48% less then in burned control, and approached the level observed in unburned control by 18 hours PB. Conclusions : DC has a beneficial effect in reducing plasma protein extravasation after burn injury.
Effect of processing on Charpy impact toughness of metallic glass matrix composites

In this study, compact Charpy impact testing was used to investigate the effect of processing history and dendrite morphology of bulk metallic glass matrix composites (BMGMCs) on impact toughness. Composite samples were fabricated via suction casting and semisolid forging, and the results were compared with crystalline alloys in the same geometry. A strong dependence on processing was observed, with samples exhibiting up to a 30-fold increase in impact toughness depending on processing and microstructure. Provided that attention is paid to processing techniques, BMGMCs are shown to have properties that equal or surpass some conventionally used crystalline alloys. These properties invite further exploration of these materials in structural applications.
Simultaneous multiple non-crossing quantile regression estimation using kernel constraints.

Quantile regression (QR) is a very useful statistical tool for learning the relationship between the response variable and covariates. For many applications, one often needs to estimate multiple conditional quantile functions of the response variable given covariates. Although one can estimate multiple quantiles separately, it is of great interest to estimate them simultaneously. One advantage of simultaneous estimation is that multiple quantiles can share strength among them to gain better estimation accuracy than individually estimated quantile functions. Another important advantage of joint estimation is the feasibility of incorporating simultaneous non-crossing constraints of QR functions. In this paper, we propose a new kernel-based multiple QR estimation technique, namely simultaneous non-crossing quantile regression (SNQR). We use kernel representations for QR functions and apply constraints on the kernel coefficients to avoid crossing. Both unregularised and regularised SNQR techniques are conside...
High Contrast Near-infrared Polarized Reflectance Images of Demineralization on Tooth Buccal and Occlusal Surfaces at λ=1310-nm

Background and Objectives: Sound enamel manifests peak transparency in the near-IR (NIR) at 1310-nm, therefore the near-IR is ideally suited for high contrast imaging of dental caries. The purpose of this study was to acquire images of early demineralized enamel on the buccal and occlusal surfaces of extracted human teeth using NIR reflectance imaging and compare the contrast of those images with the contrast of images taken using other methods.
The influence of quenching rate on precipitate-free-zones in an AlZnMg alloy

Abstract A high-purity aluminum alloy containing 6% Zn and 2.2% Mg was quenched at various rates between 3 × 10 −1 and 2.5 × 10 4 K/sec and was studied focusing on the relationship between precipitate structure near grain boundaries and quench rate. A theoretical prediction was made that the precipitate-free-zone width should vary linearly with respect to the inverse square root of quenching rate, a relationship which is consistent with a vacancy depletion model, and it was found to be near the observed behavior.
Language guiding therapy: the case of dehydration versus volume depletion

Indiscriminate use of the terms dehydration and volume depletion, so carefully crafted by our predecessors, risks confusion and therapeutic errors. These two conditions should be distinguished at the bedside and in how we speak to one another. Dehydration largely refers to intracellular water deficits stemming from hypertonicity and a disturbance in water metabolism. The diagnosis of dehydration cannot be established without laboratory analysis of p[Na +] or calculation of serum tonicity. In contrast, volume depletion describes the net loss of total body sodium and a reduction in intravascular volume and is best termed extracellular fluid volume depletion. The diagnosis of this condition relies principally on history, careful physical examination, and adjunctive data from laboratory studies. The pathophysiology of both dehydration and extracellular fluid volume depletion must be understood if these conditions are to be recognized and appropriately treated when they occur separately or together. There is no inclusive therapy for all situations. For example, indiscriminate treatment with 0.45% saline cannot be recommended when these conditions coexist because extracellular fluid volume depletion is often treated rapidly with 0.9% saline and dehydration is often treated more slowly with 5% dextrose.
Promoting Youth Health by Social Empowerment: A Media Campaign Targeting Social Capital

This article reports on a public health campaign that aims to promote social ties and social trust as a means to improve the health of youths. Analyses on data from telephone survey interviews at baseline, Year 1, and Year 2 consider the trends and predictor patterns of 2 traditional social capital measures—civic perceptions and civic participation. Civic perceptions increased over the course of the focal media campaign, whereas civic participation remained constant. Civic participation was positively associated with TV and newspaper campaign recall at Year 1, whereas both civic participation and civic perceptions were positively associated with TV and newspaper campaign recall at Year 2. In addition, newspaper and TV news use play positive roles in predicting the 2 social capital measures at Year 1 and Year 2. The findings are discussed in terms of literature in the areas of public health and mass communication.
Reliable multicast transport and integrated erasure-based forward error correction

Multicast networking is an important emerging technology area for both commercial and military group-based data dissemination. In addition, a number of emerging applications can benefit from a reliable multicast transport service. A variety of approaches have been developed regarding the general application of automatic repeat request (ARQ) techniques over Internet protocol (IP) multicasting to achieve reliable delivery. In this paper, we investigate the application of erasure-based processing and parity-based recovery to a reliable multicast protocol framework. The integrated design approach described is shown to have improved efficiency and scalability features over reliable multicasting techniques based solely on ARQ. These bandwidth utilization improvements are expected to be substantial when applied across future multipoint communication infrastructures, especially over bandwidth-constrained and/or asymmetric networks.
Estimating willingness to pay for watershed restoration in Flagstaff, Arizona using dichotomous-choice contingent valuation

Forest restoration reduces the probability of catastrophic wildfire and post-fire flooding; it therefore protects the quantity and quality of water in a restored watershed. The Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) is a landscape scale restoration initiative in Northern Arizona. 4FRI plans to restore the majority of the forested watersheds that provide the municipal water supply for theCityof Flagstaff,Arizona (population 65 000). While start-up funding is availablefor4FRI,fundingsourcesforfuturemonitoringandmaintenanceremainuncertain.Onewaytopromote financial sustainability for the restoration initiative is to establish a payments system wherein Flagstaff residents pay for a portion of the costs. I present results from a contingent valuation survey estimating Flagstaff residents’ willingnesstopayforrestorationoftheLakeMaryandUpperRiodeFlagwatersheds.Ifindtheaveragehouseholdis willingtopay �$4.89permonthtocontributetoforestrestoration,resultinginpotentialannualmonetarynetbenefitsofupto$1.3M.Thus,theresultsprovidestatisticallysignificantevidenceinfavourforestablishingapayments system. This survey focused solely on residents of Flagstaff, Arizona; however, the results are applicable in areas with similar ecosystems where forest restoration provides improved watershed services.
Gain of a Smith-Purcell free-electron laser

A formula is derived for the small-signal gain of a Smith-Purcell free-electron laser. The theory describes the electron beam as a moving plasma dielectric, and assumes that the electron beam interacts with an evanescent mode traveling along the surface of a periodic waveguide with a rectangular profile. The phase velocity of the evanescent wave is synchronous with the electron velocity, but the group velocity is actually negative. The electron beam amplifies the evanescent wave, which does not itself radiate. According to this picture, the radiation observed emanating from the grating is Smith-Purcell radiation enhanced by the bunching of the electrons due to the interaction with the evanescent mode. There will also be radiation from the part of the evanescent mode that is outcoupled from the ends of the grating. This radiation appears at a lower frequency than the Smith-Purcell radiation. The new results explain both the gain and the radiation observed in the experiments of Urata and Walsh, and the cube-root current dependence of the gain inferred by Bakhtyari, Walsh, and Brownell.
TRACK: A Novel Connected Dominating Set based Sink Mobility Model for WSNs

The core functionality of a wireless sensor network (WSN) is to detect deviations in expected normal behavior and report it to the sink. In this paper, we propose TRACK - a novel sink mobility model exploiting the connected dominating set (CDS) property of a network graph. TRACK, to the best of our knowledge, is the first contemporary sink mobility model to exploit the CDS property for WSN lifetime longevity and secure data aggregation. In TRACK, the CDS of the given network is computed and then the minimum spanning tree (MST) of the CDS is constructed. Using the CDS-MST as the underlying framework, a Hamiltonian circuit (HC) is constructed, along which the sink is mobilized to traverse the network. Since TRACK, by the very definition of CDS, passes through the transmission range of every node in the network, data can be relayed directly from the source node to the sink, eliminating the need for multi-hop routing. By virtue of this property, nodes in the WSN are discharged from their routing obligations and data aggregation becomes more secure. Additionally, we propose an extended version of TRACK called M-TRACK in this paper. The extended model trades higher fractions of sensor energy with the objective of minimizing the length of sink trajectory. This consequently minimizes the delay between consecutive sink visits, mitigating buffer-overflow of sensors. M-TRACK does necessitate multi-hop routing, but keeps it within a bounded number of hops. We confirm the efficiency and robustness of our models via simulation and analysis, and show that our model can extend the WSN lifetime up to seven times that which can be achieved using a static sink.
Repressive Coping, Emotional Adjustment, and Cognition in People Who Have Lost Loved Ones to Suicide.

Research indicates that a repressive coping style is psychologically protective against the stress of trauma, yet it is unclear whether this finding generalizes to suicide bereavement. Thus, we assessed cognitive ability and mental health among individuals who lost a loved one to suicide. The results indicate that repressive coping may be associated with greater emotional health during suicide bereavement. Interestingly, “repressors” also had lower scores on both cognitive tasks compared to “nonrepressors,” but it is unclear whether their more recent loss accounts for this difference. These results are based on cross-sectional data, and should be interpreted with caution.
Estimating seepage and hydraulic potentials near incised ditches in a homogeneous, isotropic aquifer

Soil erosion on upland areas is a highly complex phenomenon involving many component processes. One of the least explored processes is the role of subsurface flow. Rain or irrigation water entering the soil profile either accrues to groundwater or exits at some point downslope as seepage. In the latter case, the positive water pressure may lead to detachment of soil particles, aggregates, or bulk soil, that often is a prelude to incipient rilling or gullying. This article concerns the analysis of seepage to ditches with a water level lower than the adjacent field water table and the hydraulic pressures near the ditches in order to assess their contributing role in gully development. The approach taken is to analyze the subsurface flow regime under steady-state conditions using the theory of conformal transformations. First, seepage to a fully filled circular drain in a homogeneous isotropic layer overlaying an impermeable layer was analyzed. Subsequently, the case of drainage to a ditch partially filled with water and the effect of a buffer strip adjacent to the ditch on seepage reduction were studied using the same methodology. Two approaches were considered to approximate the water level in the buffer strip: (1) a confined boundary represented by a straight line between the ditch water level and the field surface water level; and (2) a free boundary in which the groundwater level was approximated by the pressure potential relationship for flow from a ponded surface area to a sink placed at the surface at a distance equal to the width of the buffer strip. The latter analysis yielded explicit expressions of seepage, and the groundwater hydraulic and stream potential functions in terms of the spatial coordinates. This relationship should facilitate the analysis of the role of the subsurface water regime on seepage, soil erosion, and gully development. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interrelationships among shrub encroachment, land management, and litter decomposition in a semidesert grassland

Encroachment of woody plants into grasslands, and subsequent brush management, are among the most prominent changes to occur in arid and semiarid systems over the past century. Despite the resulting widespread changes in landcover, substantial uncertainty about the biogeochemical impacts of woody proliferation and brush management exists. We explored the role of shrub encroachment and brush management on leaf litter decomposition in a semidesert grassland where velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina) abundance has increased over the past 100 years. This change in physiognomy may affect decomposition directly, through altered litter quality or quantity, and indirectly through altered canopy structure. To assess the direct and indirect impacts of shrubs on decomposition, we quantified changes in mass, nitrogen, and carbon in litterbags deployed under mesquite canopies and in intercanopy zones. Litterbags contained foliage from mesquite and Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana), a widespread, nonnative grass in southern Arizona. To explore short- and long-term influences of brush management on the initial stages of decomposition, litterbags were deployed at sites where mesquite canopies were removed three weeks, 45 years, or 70 years prior to study initiation. Mesquite litter decomposed more rapidly than lovegrass, but negative indirect influences of mesquite canopies counteracted positive direct effects. Decomposition was positively correlated with soil infiltration into litterbags, which varied with microsite placement, and was lowest under canopies. Low under-canopy decomposition was ostensibly due to decreased soil movement associated with high under-canopy herbaceous biomass. Decomposition rates where canopies were removed three weeks prior to study initiation were comparable to those beneath intact canopies, suggesting that decomposition was driven by mesquite legacy effects on herbaceous cover-soil movement linkages. Decomposition rates where shrubs were removed 45 and 70 years prior to study initiation were comparable to intercanopy rates, suggesting that legacy effects persist less than 45 years. Accurate decomposition modeling has proved challenging in arid and semiarid systems but is critical to understanding biogeochemical responses to woody encroachment and brush management. Predicting brush-management effects on decomposition will require information on shrub-grass interactions and herbaceous biomass influences on soil movement at decadal timescales. Inclusion of microsite factors controlling soil accumulation on litter would improve the predictive capability of decomposition models.
A Neural Signature of Hierarchical Reinforcement Learning

Human behavior displays hierarchical structure: simple actions cohere into subtask sequences, which work together to accomplish overall task goals. Although the neural substrates of such hierarchy have been the target of increasing research, they remain poorly understood. We propose that the computations supporting hierarchical behavior may relate to those in hierarchical reinforcement learning (HRL), a machine-learning framework that extends reinforcement-learning mechanisms into hierarchical domains. To test this, we leveraged a distinctive prediction arising from HRL. In ordinary reinforcement learning, reward prediction errors are computed when there is an unanticipated change in the prospects for accomplishing overall task goals. HRL entails that prediction errors should also occur in relation to task subgoals. In three neuroimaging studies we observed neural responses consistent with such subgoal-related reward prediction errors, within structures previously implicated in reinforcement learning. The results reported support the relevance of HRL to the neural processes underlying hierarchical behavior.
Influence of the structure of babbitt on the stress-strain state in the zone of friction contact

The methods of mathematical simulation are used to study the process of contact friction interaction for homogeneous lead and heterogeneous intact or run-in B16 babbitt. It is shown that the hard and soft structural components of the run-in babbitt strongly decrease the size of the zones of plastic deformation in the material, improve its wear resistance, and promote the increase in the operating reliability and service life of plain bearings.
Treatment efficacy of laser photothermal therapy using gold nanorods

In vivo experiments are performed to induce temperature elevations in implanted prostatic tumours in mice using 0.1 ml commercially available gold nanorod solution injected into the tumour. Tumour shrinkage studies and histological analyses of tumour cell death are conducted, and the equivalent minutes at 43°C (EM43) for inducing tissue thermal damage are estimated based on temperature elevations during the treatment. It has been shown that the laser heating of 15 minutes in the tumour tissue containing gold nanorods is effective to cause irreversible thermal damage to the tumours, with a low laser irradiance on the tumour surface (1.6 W/cm2). The effectiveness of the heating protocol is demonstrated by tumour shrinkage to 7% of its original volume on the 25th day after the laser treatment and tumour necrosis events observed by histological analyses. The results are consistent with the EM43 distribution estimated by possible temperature elevations during the treatment.
Reliability of Observational Measures of the Movement Assessment of Infants

This study was conducted to examine the reliability of the Movement Assessment of Infants (MAI), a recently published neuromotor assessment tool. Interobserver and test-retest reliability data were collected on 27 full-term and 26 preterm 4-month-old infants. Reliability coefficients (Pearson r) were calculated for both the total-risk scores and the section-risk scores on the MAI. The total-risk score was calculated by summing the questionable or abnormal ratings on each of the 65 test items. For each of the four sections of the test, tone, primitive reflexes, automatic reactions, and volitional movement, an individual section-risk score was computed in a similar manner. Fair reliability was demonstrated for the total-risk scores (interobserver: r = .72; test-retest: r = .76). Section-risk score coefficients yielded a wide range of values for both interobserver and test-retest reliabilities (poor to good reliability). These measures provide needed technical data for therapists using this test and will assist the authors of the MAI in their attempts to improve the clinical validity of this assessment tool.
Vitellogenesis in the shrimp, Penaeus vannamei: in vitro studies of the isolated hepatopancreas and ovary

Abstract 1. 1. Yolk proteins were isolated from ovaries of the shrimp Penaeus vannamei and used as an antigen for antibody production in rabbits. 2. 2. Protein synthesis was measured for both the hepatopancreas and the ovary in vitro, and proteins present in both tissues were immunoreactive with the antibodies. 3. 3. Extracts of shrimp eyestalks inhibited in vitro protein synthesis by both tissues. The inhibitory factor from the eyestalks was heat stable and had a molecular weight of 3300 daltons.
United Flight 232: Sioux City's response to an air disaster:

A study of the Sioux City, Iowa, response to the crash of Flight 232 was under taken from July 30 to November 28, 1989. The goal of this research project was to identify those characteristics of the planning effort which contributed to Sioux City's successful response to a major airline disaster, and to draw future policy implications. Among the findings, it was discovered that multi- agency planning was utilized; that the emergency committee served not only a planning function, but also allowed agency heads and planning personnel to become personally acquainted, which led to personal bonds conducive to coordinated efforts; that fortuitous circumstances must be considered and properly administered; and that the county-wide planning effort followed the four basic characteristics of good emergency planning.
Analysis of printed wiring board assembly system

A model for predicting the cost of manufacturing printed wiring boards is presented. The model represents manufacturing systems currently in use in the industry. It concentrates on surface-mount technology and considers a mixture of automatic, programmable assembly, and manual assembly techniques. The model includes elements to account for inventory, assembly, and test and rework costs. It also considers the effect of introducing a new component type on total manufacturing cost. Results of a simulation using typical data found in batch manufacturing of printed wiring assemblies are presented. >
The function of the aerenchyma in arborescent lycopsids: evidence of an unfamiliar metabolic strategy

Most species of the modern family Isoetaceae (Quillworts) some other modern hydrophytes, use a meta- bolic pathway for carbon fixation that involves uptake of sedimentary carbon and enrichment of CO2 in internal gas spaces as a carbon-concentrating mechanism. This metabolism, which is related to 'aquatic CAM', is characterized by morphological, physiological and biochemical adaptations for decreasing photorespirative loss, aerating roots and maintaining high growth rates in anoxic, oligotrophic, stressed environments. Some of the closest relatives of the Isoetaceae were the 'arborescent lycopsids', which were among the dominant taxa in the coal swamps found in lowland ecosystems during the Carboniferous and Permian periods (approx. 300 Ma). Morphological, ecological and geochemical evidence supports the hypothesis that the arborescent lycopsids had an unusual metabolism similar to that of modern Isoetaceae and processed a biogeochemically significant proportion of organically fixed carbon over a period of about 100 million years in the late Palaeozoic. The temporal coincidence between the domi- nance of plants with this metabolism and an anomalous global atmosphere (high O2 ;l ow CO 2) supports the idea that biosphere feedbacks are important in regulating global climatic homeostasis. The potential influence of this metabolism on the global carbon cycle and its specific adaptive function suggest that it should perhaps be considered a fourth major photosynthetic pathway.
Cranial nerve abnormalities in CHARGE association

Many children with the CHARGE association have facial paralysis and feeding and swallowing difficulties. Indeed, facial paralysis and pharyngeal incoordination may be important diagnostic indicators of CHARGE association [Davenport et al., 1986a; Mitchell et al., 1985]. We describe an individual with dysfunction of multiple cranial nerves (Mobius sequence) and CHARGE association, a previously unrecognized combination. Our review of 150 patients from the literature and 13 patients from this center with CHARGE association documented that dysfunction of cranial nerves is frequent in CHARGE association, and that often cranial nerve abnormalities are multiple. Such multiple cranial nerve abnormalities may be the primary underlying cause for the facial paralysis, feeding difficulties and sensorineural hearing loss seen in many individuals with CHARGE association.
Large-signal response of high speed p-i-n photodetectors to short pulses with small spot sizes

Summary form only given. We simulated the behavior of a feasible photodetector: a 25 x 25 /spl mu/m p-i-n diode. To determine the spatio-temporal behavior, we monitored the voltage change across the photodiode in response to the incident pulse. For that, we used a dual-diode structure that was comprised of a p-i-n photodiode with a bulk intrinsic region integrated with a p-i(MQW)-n reflective electrooptical modulator diode on the bottom.
Elites, Oil, and Democratization: A Survival Analysis*

Objective. This study explores the relationship between natural resource wealth, most notably oil, and democratic survival. I contend that natural resources help sustain democratic regimes by easing social conflict between the rich and the poor. As such, the availability of abundant natural resource revenues alleviates the elites' fear of redistribution of wealth, thereby stabilizing the regime. Methods. I estimate a series of survival analyses for the period between 1960 and 1999. Results. Elite support and oil wealth independently help stabilize democracies. Conclusions. The results bring the widely held views on the link between oil and democracy into question and invite further scrutiny.
Minimum-variance time-frequency distribution kernels

When dealing with random processes, reduced spectrum estimate variance becomes an important property that augments the list of desirable time-frequency (t-f) distribution properties. In this correspondence, we derive the t-f kernel that satisfies the t-f constraints and provides the minimum variance for the power spectrum estimate for Gaussian white noise processes. >
Role of the Septum in the Excitatory Effect of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone on the Acoustic Startle Reflex

Intracerebroventricular administration of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) elicits a constellation of behavioral, autonomic, and endocrinological changes typically observed in stress. One of the behavioral changes after intracerebroventricular CRH is a profound increase of startle amplitude (CRH-enhanced startle). The present study examined the role of the septum in CRH-enhanced startle. The septum has direct and indirect connections to the amygdala and inhibits the amygdala. Electrophysiological data show that CRH in the septum is inhibitory. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that intracerebroventricular CRH inhibits the septum, which in turn disinhibits the amygdala, resulting in a constellation of changes via activation of amygdala efferent targets. In testing this hypothesis, it was found that electrolytic lesions of the medial septum, but not the lateral septum, blocked CRH-enhanced startle. However, fiber-sparing chemical lesions of the medial septum did not block CRH-enhanced startle, suggesting that the blockade seen with the electrolytic lesions was caused by damage to fibers of passage. A major fiber bundle passing through the medial septum is the fornix, the primary efferent pathway for the hippocampus. Fimbria transection blocked CRH-enhanced startle almost completely, whereas the large electrolytic lesions of the dorsal hippocampus did not block CRH-enhanced startle. Taken together, these data suggest that perhaps the ventral hippocampus and its efferent target areas, which communicate via the fimbria, may be critically involved in CRH-enhanced startle.
Constitutively Active Canonical NF-κB Pathway Induces Severe Bone Loss in Mice

Physiologic osteoclastogenesis entails activation of multiple signal transduction pathways distal to the cell membrane receptor RANK. However, atypical osteoclastogenesis driven by pro-inflammatory stimuli has been described. We have reported recently a novel mechanism whereby endogenous mutational activation of the classical NF-κB pathway is sufficient to induce RANKL/RANK-independent osteoclastogenesis. Here we investigate the physiologic relevance of this phenomenon in vivo. Using a knock-in approach, the active form of IKK2, namely IKK2SSEE, was introduced into the myeloid lineage with the aid of CD11b-cre mice. Phenotypic assessment revealed that expression of IKK2SSEE in the myeloid compartment induced significant bone loss in vivo. This observation was supported by a dramatic increase in the number and size of osteoclasts in trabecular regions, elevated levels of circulating TRACP-5b, and reduced bone volume. Mechanistically, we observed that IKK2SSEE induced high expression of not only p65 but also p52 and RelB; the latter two molecules are considered exclusive members of the alternative NF-κB pathway. Intriguingly, RelB and P52 were both required to mediate the osteoclastogenic effect of IKK2SSEE and co-expression of these two proteins was sufficient to recapitulate osteoclastogenesis in the absence of RANKL or IKK2SSEE. Furthermore, we found that NF-κB2/p100 is a potent inhibitor of IKK2SSEE-induced osteoclastogenesis. Deletion of p52 enabled more robust osteoclast formation by the active kinase. In summary, molecular activation of IKK2 may play a role in conditions of pathologic bone destruction, which may be refractory to therapeutic interventions targeting the proximal RANKL/RANK signal.
Prenatal alcohol exposure: An assessment strategy for the legal context

Studies over the last two decades have shown that people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have the kind of brain damage that increases risk of criminal behavior. Thus, it is generally accepted that FASD is likely to affect a sizable minority of individuals involved in the justice system. Most of these defendants have never been diagnosed because they lack the facial abnormalities and severe intellectual deficiency that would have improved identification and diagnosis in childhood. Despite the fact that an FASD diagnosis and associated cognitive deficits may be directly relevant to offense conduct and post-arrest capacities, screening for prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) by legal teams remains relatively rare. This article addresses the relatively straightforward screening process with strategies that may be used singly or in combination to produce information that can establish PAE and provide a foundation for diagnostic assessment by medical and mental health experts.
College Lessons: The Financial Risks of Dropping Out

Educational policy is dominated by arguments to expand education. But the protective benefits of education are not linear, and not every educational effort after high school provides a corresponding financial advantage. In fact, Americans who have some college credit but did not earn a degree appear to be particularly vulnerable to financial failure. This chapter in the edited volume, Broke: How Debt Bankrupts the Middle Class (Stanford Press, 2012; ed. Katherine Porter) examines the overrepresentation of people with “some college” education in bankruptcy. In 2007, more than 43 percent of people in bankruptcy had some post-secondary education but did not earn a four-year college degree. At the time of bankruptcy, the incomes of people with some college and those with only high school educations are similar. However, those with some college have higher debt burdens. These findings may indicate that those with some college borrow to finance consumption on levels similar to higher-earning college graduates or that those with some college are willing to endure a long period of financial distress during which debts accumulate before resorting to bankruptcy. Student loans add to the debt burdens of those with some college. Among people in bankruptcy, borrowers who did not complete their educations have nearly identical student loan debts to borrowers who did earn their degrees. Over half of bankruptcy debtors without a four-year degree owed more than $10,000 in student loans. These obligations weigh heavily on those with some college, whose lifetime earnings are likely to be substantially lower than college graduates. While a college degree may pay (people with bachelor’s degrees or higher educational attainment are underrepresented in bankruptcy), an attempt at college may not. The bankruptcy data suggest that college attempts escalate the risk of financial failure. In promoting education, policymakers should be more aware of the financial consequences of attempting but not completing college. Bankruptcy law can have a modest role in softening the risks of college attempts by relaxing the prohibition on bankruptcy discharge for student loan debt owed by people who did not complete their degrees. Such a change has the potential to affect student lending, college tuition structures, and college admittance procedures. Perhaps most importantly, debating such a reform would call attention to the fragile economic state of the one-quarter of the American population who attempted college but did not earn a degree.
Pain Management After Outpatient Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background:Effective pain management after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction improves patient satisfaction and function.Purpose:To collect and evaluate the available evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on pain control after ACL reconstruction.Study Design:Systematic review.Methods:A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, UpToDate, Cochrane Reviews, CINAHL, and Scopus following PRISMA guidelines (July 2014). Only RCTs comparing a method of postoperative pain control to another method or placebo were included.Results:A total of 77 RCTs met inclusion criteria: 14 on regional nerve blocks, 21 on intra-articular injections, 4 on intramuscular/intravenous injections, 12 on multimodal regimens, 6 on oral medications, 10 on cryotherapy/compression, 6 on mobilization, and 5 on intraoperative techniques. Single-injection femoral nerve blocks provided superior analgesia to placebo for up to 24 hours postoperatively; however, this also resulted in...
Responsive polymer-coated mesoporous silica as a pH-sensitive nanocarrier for controlled release.

pH-responsive polymer poly(4-vinyl pyridine) is coated on mesoporous silica through the facile “grafting to” method. The grafted polymer nanoshell can work as a pH-sensitive barrier to control the release of trapped molecules from mesoporous silica.
A Review of the New World Acomatacarus (Acarina, Trombiculidae)

This paper is a review of the Acomatacarus of the Western Hemisphere including descriptions of five new species and a key for the differentiation of the twelve known species. This genus is widely distributed, having been recorded from Australasia, Europe, Africa, Mexico, and the United States. In a census of chigger populations, however, the group is represented infrequently, for the species appear to be relatively rare.
Implementing the evidence-based change in perinatal and neonatal nursing

Perinatal nursing and neonatal nursing both have a scientific base upon which to base care, and great strides have been made in translating research into practice in both of these specialties. However, barriers still exist for nurses in implementing evidence-based perinatal and neonatal care. Patient, provider, and systems factors that influence how evidence is translated into practice are discussed. Suggestions for how to implement practice change when evidence is inadequate are also discussed. Finally, examples of how the scientific base for both perinatal nursing and neonatal nursing can be more efficiently implemented are outlined on the basis of the state of implementation science in the United States today.
A quarter-long exercise that introduces general education students to neurophysiology and scientific writing.

Providing large numbers of general education students with an introduction to science is a challenge. To meet this challenge, a quarter-long neurophysiology project was developed for use in an intr...
The Local Lives of a Transregional Poet: ʿAbd al-Qāder Bidel and the Writing of Persianate Literary History

This article focuses on the different ways in which the personality and poetry of the Indian-born poet ʿAbd al-Qāder Bidel (d. 1721) has been interpreted and deployed in a variety of contexts across the Persianate sphere of West, Central, and South Asia, particularly in the nineteenth century. By highlighting different interpretations of Bidel as an obscurantist poet, agent of change, progressive voice, unabashed innovator, and canonic master, I present a more complicated historiography of the poet than the way he is typically presented in Persian literary history. An exploration of the ways in which different peoples and places in the Persianate world have interpreted Bidel reveals a larger complex historiography, which identifies transregional similarities among West, Central, and South Asia and contributes towards a more integrative literary history of the Persianate world.